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Today's Opinions

  • LOOSELEAF LAUREATE: Who has rocks in their head? Probably me

    When my youngest brother, Rick, was in the first grade, and I was in the sixth, his teacher tapped on my classroom door and called me into the hall.

    Rick hovered behind her.

    She opened her palm, revealing an impressive pebble. I say impressive, because she said it came from Rick’s nose.

    “He says he didn’t put it in there,” the teacher said.

    I stared at her a minute, wondering if she had rocks in her head, then pulled Rick aside.

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  • IMPRESSIONS: The Shadow knows ... what gift to get his wife

    Ages ago, Santa brought me one of the most wonderful Christmas presents.
    Actually, I’m pretty certain he had some help from the cutest elf ever to work in his toy shop at the North Pole.
    Most times my darling wife, who happens to be height-challenged because she stands several snowflakes shy of 4 feet, 11 inches, would take offense to being referred to as an elf.
    But when we tear off the November calendar and start marking up December, well, she turns into one of Santa’s most energetic helpers.

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  • Some clergy’s response to Masons offensive

    I’m writing this letter in response to a few local clergy who believe that there is something wrong with Masons.
    We are not plotting to take over the government, and we are definitely not devil worshippers.
    We are a fraternal organization, and we do a lot of good work in our community.
    You should know that you have to be a Mason before you can be a Shriner.
    I don’t know any one who is against free health care for children who have been burned or have other physical disabilities.

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  • Time to give credit where credit is due

    We would be remiss in our duty if we did not, on these pages, acknowledge the the death of Henry Wattenbarger.
    Wattenbarger was a friend to this newspaper — and to many individuals and groups in and around the community.
    We sometimes wondered of Wattenbarger felt his contributions — and they were many — would be forgotten after he was gone.
    They won’t be — not by the people who knew him.
    Wattenbarger lived past the age of 90 and was one of the busiest retirees we have ever known.

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  • Residents proud to call Clifty Manor home

    We are proud to be living at Clifty Manor for quite a few years. Not everyone has bedbugs — maybe four or five apartments.

    We have an excellent pest control company. They do a good job here. They can only do so much to treat a problem if the tenant doesn’t do his part to oust their bedbugs. That’s the biggest problem.

    There are always a few bad apples in every bushel. There’s no reason not to be clean and respect your place of residence.

    Thank you for printing the good of Clifty Manor tenants.

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  • The view behind the lead dog isn't pretty, writer says

    This letter is in response to the county commissioners voting unanimously to borrow money to purchase new school buses.

    Our forefathers set up a system so we, the people, would have representation at the county, state and federal levels of government.

    In the past, our commissioners were voting their will, and not the will of the people of Roane County.

    We thought we had corrected this problem when we voted several of the commissioners out of office during the last election.

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  • A View From Lick Skillet: On friends and neighbors past and present

    By Gerald Largen

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  • Holiday season doesn't have to be a big stress fest

    Tensions run high during the holiday season.When high expectations meet the demands of reality, it can dash the brightest moods.

    What can we do to make our holiday season brighter? Change our expectations.

    Perfection isn’t all it’s cut out to be. Let’s aim for good enough instead.

    Don’t worry if the main course came out a bit dry — that’s what gravy is for.

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