The Nashville Way: Racial Etiquette and the Struggle for Social Justice in a Southern City , by Benjamin Houston, is the winner of the 2012 Tennessee History Book Award, presented annually by the Tennessee Library Association and the Tennessee Historical Commission.  Published by the University of Georgia Press, the well-written history gives a new perspective on race relations ... (click for more)

First Contact   The first Europeans to encounter the Indians of Tennessee, of course, were the Spanish would-be conquistadors of the 16 th century.  The expedition of Hernando de Soto passed through both ends of Tennessee in 1540 and 1541.  That of Tristan de Luna came northwest in support of their allies from Coosa into the Chattanooga area.  Juan Pardo ... (click for more)

A woman was killed in a single-vehicle crash in the 1200 block of Thrasher Pike early Saturday morning. Soddy Daisy Police Chief Phillip Hamrick said a female passenger was ejected from the vehicle. She was transported to Erlanger Hospital by LifeForce helicopter about 3:15 a.m. The driver was transported by Hamilton County EMS. It is believed he had non-life threatening injuries. ... (click for more)

City officials may move forward on a $47 million project to upgrade the narrow Wilcox Tunnel through Missionary Ridge. The City Council on Tuesday is to consider a resolution to apply for a $25 million federal TIGER grant. The city would still have to come up with $21,825,000 through "local funds or grants." The city has already spent $175,000 on the project. Improving ... (click for more)

Memorial Day is the time for Americans to reconnect with their history and the core values that make this country great by honoring those who gave their lives for the ideals we cherish. Soldiers are people who come from all walks of life, from every corner of this great land of ours. They are our fathers, our sons, our mothers and our daughters, our friends, and our neighbors.  ... (click for more)

During my quest this week for jokes and funny stories that would brighten my day, a surprising number of friends sent me hilarious samples of “fox-hole humor” and it made perfect sense. It was the most famous Marine – Chesty Puller – who once announced to his troops in Korea, “All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind ... (click for more)