A Denney for Your Thoughts: Remembering Ralph Hood
Ralph Hood
By Connie Denney
Soon after hearing of his death, I knew that I wanted my next words …
Viewpoint
Conservation in Mind: Nature can teach important lessons about sustainability, relationships
By Frances Lamberts
The yucca plant, common in our area, displays numerous large, creamy-white, nodding flowers on tall stems during …
Plants are great lures to increase bird diversity
Erwin Record Photo by Bryan Stevens • Scarlet bee balm is a powerful attractant for pollinators ranging from insects …
The Spirit of ’76: Protecting us against the Putin Playbook
Ken Paulson, Dean, College of Media and Entertainment, Middle Tennessee State University.
By Ken Paulson
As we gather to …
A Denney for Your Thoughts: Patriotism’s alive and well
By Connie Denney
Whether you clicked onto your planning calendar or literally turned the page, I hope you paused a …
From the Managing Editor’s Desk: Go get a library card and support UCPL
Contributed Photo • The UCPL offers a variety of family-oriented programs. One recent event invited the public to create …
Red-headed woodpecker less common than its kin
Photo by Pixabay • The red-headed woodpecker is accurately named for its entirely red head. Male and female red-headed …
Prepared to win
By Ralph Hood
I have a friend who helps coach would-be Olympic male wrestlers. He always starts with the same …
Some reflections on the recent Earth Day 2022
By Frances Lamberts
I got to know a student from a foreign university (Aachen, Germany) who, taking a study semester …
Northern parula ushers in rush of spring’s colorful tropical migrants
Photo by Hans Toom/Pixabay • A male Northern parula looks splendid in spring plumage. These warblers attract attention with …
Ralph Hood talks germs, God and Mom
By Ralph Hood
Mother was bad down on germs.
Daddy wasn’t overly fond of germs, but Mother was in a …
Erwin woman reports early date for spring return of hummingbirds
Photo by Amy Tipton / A male ruby-throated hummingbird perches in a quince bush at the home of Amy …
Hood’s Winks: Happy trails and a pony
By Ralph Hood
My father did a lot of wonderful things and more than a few very dumb things. He …
If robins are back, spring must be close
Photo by Bryan Stevens • An American robin sits tightly on a nest with eggs. Robins have long been …
Bluebird welcome the inevitable approach of spring
Photo by NatureLady/Pixabay • A male Eastern bluebird perches atop a nest box. The region’s bluebirds are already actively …
Man’s enthusiasm for eagles expanding the knowledge of region’s nesting birds
Photo courtesy of Ryan Rice • Nesting bald eagles are no longer a rarity in Northeast Tennessee and surrounding …
Conservation in Mind: Consuming less helps the Earth
By Frances Lamberts
A 1998 report by the Worldwatch Institute dealt with “the role of materials in our lives.” Noting …
A story of four nice persons
By Ralph Hood
This is a true story about some nice people, Bob, Nell, Ralph (not the author), and Mindy …
Of Groundhog Day and shadows
By Bryan Stevens
It’s Groundhog Day, 2022.
It feels a lot like Groundhog Day 2021 and Groundhog Day 2020. …
Conservation in Mind: Appreciating Biden’s climate actions
By Frances Lamberts
Extreme weather events seem to happen so often now that the statistics on their consequences may no …