Opinion

Whistling while waiting

From the porch

I try not to be cranky, but in recent days my meter has been hovering on the red-zone line. Lack of information is at the root of it. Much of the frustration comes from the apparent dissipation of the Lazestar project, which seemed ready to come on in when the Water Authority of Dickson County granted it a sewer permit […]

Rage? How about some actual data on this?


A new book on “white rural rage” argues that rural Americans are the most racist, xenophobic, conspiracist, anti-democratic and violent “geodemographic” subgroup of Americans out there. The authors, Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman, say that their book is driven by data and that even if you don’t like their conclusions the evidence is clear. (Editor’s note: A column by the […]

Editorial cartoon

Appalachia is seeing a boom


Once known for its rustic beauty, moonshine stills and impoverished residents, southern Appalachia’s population is expanding as baby boomers from around the country relocate from more expensive regions. “The boomer migration to North Georgia, East Tennessee, the Carolinas and western Virginia is reshaping housing prices, traffic patterns, restaurant options and how local governments cope with something they haven’t had to […]

On the mound

75 years of serving community

From the porch

With this issue, the Hickman County Times observes a milestone, especially notable in this day of newspaper struggles: We have completed 75 years of weekly publication in Centerville. In our office here, on North Central Avenue, inside a dusty frame, is a copy of the first issue — Vol. 1, No. 1 — as completed by James B. Spann, the […]

Letters To The Editor

Auxiliary’s stew: a success The American Legion Auxiliary gratefully acknowledges all our friends and family that came out to support our annual Riding the Rails Stew Contest. This fundraiser helps our group with its operating expenses to service local veterans and their families as well as creating an opportunity for our local high school junior girls to attend Volunteer Girls […]

Editorial cartoon

The way a meeting should occur

From the porch

Several sheriff’s deputies were on hand for the duration of the long Planning Commission meeting the other night, after indications of possible violence filtered into Building Inspector Robert Atkinson’s office. No disorderliness erupted, though. Indeed, given the length of the meeting — 6:30 to shortly after 10 last Tuesday — it was the most orderly session I have been to […]

Anyone paying attention to rural voters?


“We pretty much own rural and small-town America,” bragged Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell in 2022, and he was right: According to data from the Pew Research Center, 59 percent of rural Americans voted for Republican House candidates in 2018, then 65 percent voted for Donald Trump in 2020, then 69 percent for Republicans in 2022. The numbers for white […]


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