Opinion & Editorial

The people who built a brand

By Erin Etris A familiar portrait hangs in Cracker Barrels (CB) across America. An older gentleman sits in his neat button-up and overalls, smiling as he overlooks the bustling kitchen. He is Herschel McCartney or “Uncle Herschel” to CB insiders.

The South’s American Queen

By Ronda Rich A reader from Minnesota recently wrote and in her email, she mentioned that she lives near where the Mississippi River begins. There is no greater, more besotted fan of the Mississippi than I. Of course, I had questions. Where does it start? How deep and wide is it?

Standing at a crossroad

By Paul Kimbell Violence has no place in politics.” That is a quote I heard recently from one of our elected talking heads. “Really,” I said to myself, “well that’s certainly reassuring.”

Our View: Thumbs up, thumbs down

This week, the White County News editorial board decided to give a thumbs up ̶ also known as a high five, atta-boy or a pat-on-the-back ̶ to the following individuals and organizations.

Blue-ribbon service brings customers back

By Dink NeSmith As the old saying goes, “You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.” But I think that’s what happened when I stepped out of my muddy truck. And my farmhand attire matched the dented 2004 GMC Sierra. Those two things might have sent a signal.

Two of my favorite first responders

By Erin Etris White County News general manager   When I think back on the horrific events of 9/11, I recall our nation ral- lying around the men and women who ran into that fateful calamity while Manhattanites fled in terror and the rest of us watched in shock.

Paul's Perspective

Have you ever just been minding your own business when something reaches out, grabs your attention, and all you can ask is, “What?” “Why?” and “Who thought that was a good idea?” Happened to me just the other night. I was watching college football when a commercial came on.

Notes from the Grillo Pad

This column marks the end of a short but fruitful run at the newspaper, and I’d like to spend some of my boss’s ink on gratitude.

Our View: Truth Before Power

“Every time a newspaper dies, even a bad one, the country moves a little closer to authoritarianism.” That quote from Pulitzer Prize–winning author Richard Kluger is just another way of saying that we need each other. That is, the White County News needs its community, and the community needs us.