Taking the Luttrell Loop

A Day Away by Mike Steely If you are tired of being cooped up with the rain and winter weather, you may want to take the family for a brief drive and visit some of the smaller communities that surround Knoxville. Just north of Knoxville are several interesting...

Crab Orchard is almost forgotten

Crab Orchard is almost forgotten A Day Away By Mike Steely Crab Orchard atop Cumberland Mountain is one of the most historic communities in our region. The drive up the mountain west of Kingston gives you a small idea of what early travelers and settlers faced. The...

MLK and the 14th Street Bridge incident

MLK and the 14th Street Bridge incident By Mike Steely When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed I was stationed in Washington, D.C., at Coast Guard HQ. The evening after his death many towns erupted with demonstrations, violence and theft. Being one of the petty...

What do you collect?

What do you collect? By Mike Steely My wife and I collect cups and photos from the places we visited or lived, campaign and promotional buttons.. During the recent holiday break, I asked other folks what they collect. The replies came from Focus newspaper and online...

Remembering Family Christmas Trees

Remembering Family Christmas Trees By Mike Steely As I get older, I think about past holidays and remember many Christmas trees. Throughout my life, my family has always had a tree of one sort or another. I remember my stepfather and mother would take the family out...

What was your childhood Christmas present wish?

What was your childhood Christmas present wish? More Than A Day Away By Mike Steely The holidays are upon us and every child has a secret, or not-so-secret, wish for a Christmas present. Although traditionally the Christmas season begins right after Thanksgiving, it...