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It’s football season, so my mind is quickly turning to my glory days on the gridiron. Not that I was Lexington High School’s first female to strap on the pads and hit the tackling dummies. I did, however, spend every fall Friday night on the field.
At half-time. I was in the band. Before I continue, here are some heartfelt disclaimers. First, I love the band. I think band members are some of the most talented, hard-working people on the field on Friday nights. I admire the talents of folks who can play an instrument on key while marching sideways in a straight line. I think the whole excitement of the football experience is enhanced by a good band, great cheerleaders and a competitive team. Full story »

There are many financial decisions we make daily or monthly that impact our financial future, but many fail to realize the significance of these decisions. We often forget they impact our finances or do not give them a second thought.
The first one which comes to my mind is the use of the credit card. The use of credit is no longer a thoughtful process as it was when I was a child watching my parents’ use of money and credit. We are so accustomed to its use we are now buying hamburgers and toothpaste on credit. Today, it is more about the minimum payment amount than the total debt. Full story »

It’s that time of year: Football season! Weekend food choices during the fall are often simple, yet substantial, as we look for something to fill us up, but still easy to handle before, after or during a game or tailgate party. These two recipes are quick and easy but go a step beyond light finger foods. These can be prepared in 15 minutes or cooked the night before and reheated.
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What could be better than waking up in the morning to the smell of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls? We all deserve an occasional indulgence, and these rolls can even be prepared the day before and popped in the oven the next morning. Full story »

When was the last time you made certain all of the beneficiary statements you have created are still appropriate? If you are like most of us, the answer is, “I am not sure when the last time I did a review.” Full story »

What an exciting week we are having at Blount Today! On Tuesday, Aug. 26, we celebrated our fourth birthday. It has been a great time to look back at our newspaper and what we have tried to do in this wonderful county. Full story »

Your Blount Today looks a little different this week. We’ve turned things upside down with this special youth football section. While consistency is a good thing -- none of us like too many surprises -- we also pride ourselves at Blount Today on being flexible. This is our community’s newspaper, so we feel we need to be able to roll with what’s happening in our community.
What’s happening right now is that more than 600 of your little boys are putting on the pads, hitting the helmets and grinding it out on the gridiron. The PeeWee, Midgets and Grasshoppers are in full force in Blount County.
And they’re just so cute! Full story »

When my sister, Gail, had apples coming in, I knew I wanted to use some in a recipe. Gail ordered and planted apple trees about eight years ago, and this is the largest bearing year she has had.
The varieties I was most interested in were a couple of old fashion ones, especially York and Summer Rambo.
Sometimes a simple recipe can yield a good surprise. Sister Becky had just such a surprise for us when she made a Waldorf Salad using some of Gail’s apples.
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Hint of fall arrived this week with cooler morning temperatures. High school as well as college football players are gearing up for the season. School zones are flashing once again. There is nothing happening that says it is time to do year-end tax planning. But, when investment markets have been like they have been lately, taking time to review your accounts now can be beneficial. Full story »

If you are craving a little zesty flavor at mealtime, try this simple recipe. You can add a lot of different ingredients to this dish and customize it to your family’s favorites. Full story »

As we head into prime hurricane season and brace ourselves for news stories and video footage from the coasts, I always wonder about the folks who live in those target areas…how do they carry on in the face of storm season when loss of some kind seems inevitable? Full story »

Chilled fruits can take the heat off the kitchen in the good ole summertime and add a sweet ending to a summer meal. Full story »

When do most individuals invest in the markets? Generally, history tells us there is considerably more buying activity during extended bull periods. Full story »

It’s blackberry season, and time for cobblers, pies, jams and jellies, or just eating them by the handful. Full story »

If you believe many of the headlines and have been unnerved by your June statements which showed a drop in the value of your nest egg, you are not alone. Full story »