Opinion

It is Springtime which brings about all the fun of softball season for our household – nights spent under the lights, dinners on the go, lawn chairs and concession stand snacks. Our lives get filled with all the things that go into recreational sports in a quaint small town. Our daughter enjoys sports and it is a choice we allow her to make each season - one she whole heartly commits to once she laces up her cleats or ties her sneakers. I was reminded recently though, now that she is getting older, the importance of teaching our children through these seasons in life the valuable lessons of humility, humbleness and character building. “ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

My late mother would have been tickled by a front-page Wall Street Journal story that appeared on her 99th birthday.

Dolly Parton has been in the news a lot lately, and she appears to have overcome some health concerns. 2026 is a milestone year for Dolly, marking her 80th birthday, the 60th anniversary of her marriage to the late Carl Dean, the 40th anniversary of Dollywood, and the 30th anniversary of her Imagination Library. There is no better time to send a love letter to “our Dolly.” Born January 19, 1946, in Sevierville, Tennessee, Dolly Rebecca Parton has risen from humble beginnings in the Great Smoky Mountains to become one of the most successful people in the entertainment world. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has written such classics as “Jolene,” “Love is Like a Butterfly,” and “I Will Always Love You,” the latter becoming a worldwide hit when recorded by Whitney Houston.

Eric Swalwell was forced out of the California governor’s race, then his Congressional seat, when one of the worst kept secrets in politics, his sexual assaults came to light. Whoever takes his Congressional seat best Lysol it first. Swalwell was the rare white male face of the Democrat Party. He spent more time on CNN and MSNBC than some of their anchors. He was the Democrat attack dog, and his mentor, Nancy Pelosi, held the leash. She kept him on the Intel committee; even after he was found to be cavorting with a Chinese spy (Fang Fang), he was on Impeachments and J6 shams as well.

Tennessee has endless opportunities for warm-weather fun. No matter if you’re someone who likes to be on the water, in nature, or surrounded by neighbors at a fun festival, there’s something exciting to be had for everyone.

As a TV news anchor, I try to avoid clichés, because they turn up on the news (local and national) a lot. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard, “The investigation is continuing,” I’d have some serious cash. I mean, that should be obvious. We all know that cops aren’t going to leave the scene and say, “You know what? I’m stumped. Let’s just go to Wendy’s and hope the whole thing blows over.” And then there’s “literally.” Reporters often say, “Police are literally combing this neighborhood for clues.” That must be one big comb.

What a glorious day each Easter Sunday brings as we reflect on the stone that was rolled away to reveal Jesus was in fact alive!