David Ashley: Pick Up Your Cross
WITH EVERY heavy step down the road, Pastor David Ashley’s rugged hands grip the weight of a wooden cross — a symbol of strength and sacrifice — carried not for himself but for the countless victims...
Matthew McPeak: Guardian on Campus
YOU’LL SEE him roaming the halls during class time. You can find him in the cafeteria at lunch, sitting with a group of students, getting the news of the day. He lends a hand whenever an instructor...
Jan Parker: The Most Honorable Thing in the World
JOE’S (REAL name withheld for privacy) brain did not work. The man was unconscious. He had been that way for a while now in the trauma unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after suffering a...
Lucy Nelson: Fighting Fires and Opening Doors
FEW PEOPLE have the chance to become pioneers in their field, and even fewer take that risk and blaze new paths. Lucy Nelson — wife, mother, and lieutenant at the Lebanon Fire Department — is one of...
A Safe Haven
HEROES COME in many shapes and sizes, but at the end of the day, each has the same important quality: they are willing to do difficult things to help people in need. A hero might rescue someone from...
Letter From The Editor
SHE FLASHES her lights and pushes the gas pedal a little harder. The walkie-talkie is too quiet, so she spins the dial and makes her bulletproof vest a little more comfortable. She worked hard to...
Officer Abigail Jones: A Hero In Blue
THE NIGHT began like any other for Lorah McCarter and her husband as they fed their precious baby girl, Rhylee — one of their newborn twins. Having just returned from the NICU days earlier, life was...
Kansha Japanese Express
KANSHA JAPANESE Express was an excellent choice for a quick lunch date. It’s a charming restaurant with a nice variety of Japanese cuisine. The atmosphere was laid-back, with a few subtle touches to...
Demeter’s Common: Celebrating The Seasons of The Earth
APEACH SO juicy it drips down to your elbows, fresh and creamy pimento cheese, crisp yellow squash — all of this can be found at Demeter’s Common, lovingly gathered from growers and artisans across...
Neal Farms Beef Co: Nothing Like Having Beef with Family
THE MOST important agricultural industry in the United States is cattle production, which persistently “accounts for the largest share of total cash receipts for agricultural commodities,” according...
The Meyers Family: Sowing the Seeds of Generosity
KRISTEN AND Shane Meyers have made a life out of giving for well over a decade by being a vital part of the farming community in both Lebanon and Watertown. From Shane’s managing a 1,000-acre...
Kelly Orlowski: Planting Imperishable Seeds
WOMEN WHO have experienced trauma — suffering from the aftermath of human trafficking, addictions, assault, domestic violence, and more — are the people to whom Kelly Orlowski is dedicating her life...
Charles “Tommy” Lowe: A Legacy Built on Faith and Family
STEPPING INTO a Cracker Barrel kitchen feels like walking into the heart of a Southern home. The air is warm and fragrant, filled with the rich aroma of biscuits baking in the oven and the savory...
Letter From the Editor
OUR FOOD nourishes us, from the soil beneath our feet to the table where we gather with family and friends. The hot sun beams from the sky into the field of sprouting seeds. Farmers rise early,...
A Cast Iron Community
SIZZLING STEW, sweet cobblers, and crumbling cornbread are all staple dishes for the Wilson County Cast Iron Community, and their commitment to teaching and serving means that anyone in Lebanon and...
Mary Lee Burkett: Celebrate the Spirit of the Special Olympics
THE FIRST Special Olympics took place in Chicago’s Soldier Field in July 1968 and hosted 1,000 athletes from across the U.S. and Canada. In its second year, the event grew internationally and...
Zion Logue: Driven to Make a Difference
SITTING ON a cozy couch in a living room in Lebanon, excitement and nerves filled the room for a local athletic hero and his family. Zion Logue, a young man with an infectious smile and a humble...
Brice Njezic: Going against the Grain
THE SECOND oldest of six children, Brice Njezic grew up in Lebanon. Following in his parents’ footsteps, he loved sports. Baseball swooshed into his life at 5 years old. Basketball and football came...
Vintage Vibes & Delicious Eats at Town Square Social
ON A nice day, it’s always a treat to walk around Lebanon’s square and check out the stores and restaurants. If you are looking for a great place to eat, Town Square Social is a must. My husband and...
Christy Mock Opens the Prom Doors
THE PROM is an American rite of passage that has, through cultural ups and downs, become an enshrined part of adolescence for almost a century. Yet the costs associated with the prom — costs that...
Sherry’s Run
FOR NEARLY 20 years now, in August and September, green bows have been found all around Wilson County, Tennessee. Some people pass by the vibrant bows not knowing what they represent, while others...
Ryan and Kristi Scott: Meeting a Need
SPORTS ARE vitally important to any community, especially those geared toward youth, teaching responsibility, teamwork, commitment, personal drive, and any number of other values. Sports provide a...
Mark Sandoval: Uniting the Community Through Basketball
EVERY SATURDAY in the spring, the gym of First Baptist Lebanon is filled with the sound of sneakers squeaking on glossy floors, balls swishing through hoops, and rousing cheers as members of...
Letter From the Editor; Where Champions are Made
THE CROWD fills the stands, row after row, of people in our high school’s colors. The family in front of you sits down with a fresh hot dog from the concession stand. It’s still steaming with a...
A Perfect Blend of Taste and Service
A FRIEND AND I recently visited a local favorite in Lebanon, Sake Japanese Grill, for the first time. The menu features hibachi, teriyaki, sushi, and various Japanese dishes. It has a cozy...
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