Inside this week's edition of The McKenzie Banner you will find the Celebrating Black History special edition featuring local residents of color and their accomplishments. Pick it up at the newsstand … more

Today, Bethel University is a strong, vibrant, and diversified campus because of Reverend Joel Rice’s decision to break barriers and attend Bethel College. more

In an exclusive interview with Coach Michael Jasper, Bethel University’s head football coach, I gained invaluable insight into his journey and the profound significance of representation in leadership roles within the football industry. Coach Jasper shared his experiences, challenges, and vision for a more inclusive future. more

Burlap bags may not be at the top of most children’s Christmas list for shiny new toys, but these “grass sacks” provided fun play for young Willie Huffman, who rode along as his mother dragged him across a field on the bag she filled with cotton, picked by hand. As Huffman grew a little older, he would also find himself picking cotton from the fields, in addition to mowing lawns and hauling hay at only 12 years old. more

In 1974, Ricky Price was a senior at McKenzie High School. While many of his fellow graduates visited area colleges on their ‘career day’, Price chose instead to visit Pepsi, based in Martin at the time. In 2024, Price celebrates 50 years at the family-owned Pepsi MidAmerica and as a graduate of McKenzie High School. more

On February 21, 2024, Cheryl Oglesby-Townes walked up the sidewalk to McKenzie High School, not as a student as she did some 30 years ago, but as an honorary speaker for a program held at the school to commemorate Black History Month. more

McKENZIE — Geneva Bledsoe had the best career and many precious memories of the many students she taught. She now moves slower but still enjoys a car ride with her daughter, Jennifer, who moved back home to live with her mom and is helping her celebrate 100 years of life. The official birthday was Tuesday, February 20, but the celebration continued as cards, e-mails, and flowers continued to arrive in celebration of Mrs. Bledsoe. The goal was 100 cards for her 100th birthday. Jennifer said the cards, letters, texts, and flowers keep coming. more

NASHVILLE (February 22) — The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and National Weather Service (NWS) are partnering to encourage Tennesseans to prepare ahead of spring severe weather threats. more

McKENZIE (February 26) — Bethel University announces the winners of the Hendrix Scholarship Competition. After a rigorous selection process, Jayden Hendricks from Cottontown, Tenn., and Lauryn Russell from Paris, Tenn. have emerged as the recipients of this esteemed scholarship. more

Growing up, I had a love/hate relationship with my birthday, of all things. From the minute I was born, 12:40 a.m. to be exact. I was robbed of something every other person takes for granted: their birth date. more

Leap Day is Thursday, February 29, adding a day to February to correct the calendar in a four-year cycle. more

HUNTINGDON (February 21) — Huntingdon High School students will change their academic schedule next year as a new five-class school day goes into effect. more

Strawberry Salad 1 small pkg strawberry jello 1/2 cup boiling water 1 small can crushed pineapple 1 (10 oz.) pkg frozen strawberries 2 small bananas, crushed 1/2 pint sour cream more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the heels of the Senate’s hearing with Big Tech CEOs, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) lead sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, announced growing U.S. Senate support for the bill, with 62 senators now cosponsoring the legislation. Following conversations with stakeholders and colleagues, Blackburn and Blumenthal also announced new bill supporters and several changes that have been made to strengthen the legislation and ensure it becomes law. more

McKENZIE — Bethel University students will soon head to Spring Break, leaving some students to remain on campus, unable to travel home. more

TENNESSEE (February 19) — Average gasoline prices in Tennessee have rose 12.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.96/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 3,821 stations in Tennessee. more

The Inglenook Book Club held its February 14 meeting at 2 p.m. at Lakeside Senior Living Community in McKenzie with 18 members in attendance. President Gail Mack was absent, and Vice President Shirley Martin called the meeting to order. She thanked the hostesses Victoria Ard and Carolyn Potts for the beautifully decorated and delicious homemade heart-shaped cakes made by Victoria, along with fresh grapes, medley mix, and assorted beverages. more

There were nine members present for the February meeting in the home of Mary and Penny Mays. The hostess was Gail Eubanks, our president, who called the meeting to order with the reading of the Club Pledge in unison. more

MURRAY, Ky. — Progress toward a new School of Veterinary Medicine at Murray State University continues to be made, as House Bill 400 was passed by the Kentucky House of Representatives on Feb. 15 after advancing from the House Agriculture Committee on Feb. 7. more

McKENZIE (February 6) — Bob Jackson, president of Murray State University, was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of McKenzie on February 6. Dr. Jackson spoke about the school’s efforts to start a veterinary school of medicine at the Murray, Kentucky-based university. more