Greg Johnson writes with a worldview shaped by an Appalachian heritage, a global perspective from ministry work in Russia, Kenya and the Caribbean, an eye on economics from years in the financial services industry and a foundation in his faith.
-
Greg Johnson: Relax, U.N. no threat to take over Smokies country
Published 8/15/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 29 comments
Tear sheets on the wall, multi-colored markers in hand, Stefanie Johnson began the visioning process of "Our Smokies, Our Future" like any other visioning process — with a question. "What can we do to make Sevier County the best it ...
-
Greg Johnson: A hike on the AT is time well spent
Published 8/8/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 0 comments
Naively optimistic some 20 years ago, I staggered onto the Appalachian Trail, which turns 75 this month, at Davenport Gap, N.C. I'd walked on the A.T. before in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, usually headed somewhere, like Charlies Bunion ...
-
Greg Johnson: Ministry with local ties helping in Eastern Europe
Updated 8/1/2012 at 7:04 a.m. 1 comment
SIBIU, Romania — Here in the historic capital of Transylvania, Dracula is an aside, a popular culture figure mentioned mostly to appease uninformed Americans.
-
Greg Johnson: Hughes pushes conservative credentials in race against GOP foe Overbey
Published 7/25/2012 at 3:00 a.m. 4 comments
State Sen. Doug Overbey, a Maryville lawyer, has pocketed a passel of endorsements in the 2nd District Republican primary. Newspapers, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Tennessee Education Association endorsed Overbey, along with Republican heavyweights Gov. Bill Haslam ...
-
Greg Johnson: House race pits energy against knowledge
Published 7/18/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 3 comments
An energetic challenger in the 12th House District Republican primary in Sevier County has energized everybody, including the electorate and the longtime incumbent.
-
Greg Johnson: A closer look at race for 17th House District
Published 7/11/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 3 comments
The race for the Republican nomination for state representative in the newly created 17th District could come down to voter turnout. Straddling the boundary between Sevier and Jefferson counties, district demographics tilt toward Jefferson, with 55 percent of the electorate.
-
Greg Johnson: Celebrating independence on the Fourth of July
Published 7/4/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 3 comments
A short jag off the Appalachian Trail, just east of Mount LeConte, hundreds of hikers come each year to a bump of a rock outcropping in hopes of a glimpse of glory in the high country. Charlies Bunion stands above ...
-
Greg Johnson: Claude Ownby's passing a loss
Published 6/27/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 0 comments
The loss of candor can be devastating in any relationship, especially in an organization that constantly deals with issues that affect the lives of thousands. The city of Sevierville lost a champion of candor last week. Long-serving Alderman Claude Ownby, ...
-
Greg Johnson: Book pays tribute to Sevierville
Published 6/20/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 1 comment
Scenes from Sevierville: Central Hotel, where Dallas McCroskey gave me my first haircut
-
Greg Johnson: Montgomery right on target about teacher evaluations
Published 6/13/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 1 comment
A report on Tennessee's innovative teacher evaluation system released this week by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education, an outfit founded by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, came as no surprise to a high-ranking Sevier County legislator.
-
Greg Johnson: Judge Blackwood must be taken off torture-slaying cases
Published 6/6/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 8 comments
When your concerned columnist last week lambasted Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood for accepting a plea bargain between 4th Judicial District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn and former Sevier County Clerk Joe Keener that allowed Keener to escape jail time for ...
-
Greg Johnson: Justice for who in the Joe Keener case?
Published 5/30/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 3 comments
A Sevier County district attorney general and Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood have struck again.
-
Greg Johnson: Pigeon Forge leader irks old guard
Published 5/23/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 8 comments
The calls come unsolicited and the conversations usually start with a question: "What do you think about Randall Robinson?"
-
Greg Johnson: Some seek less glitter in golden years
Published 5/16/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 0 comments
Friends from out of town dropped by yesterday. These folks used to call Sevier County home. They vacationed here for years, then, when retirement came, they pulled up roots up north and came here to be cradled by the Smokies ...
-
Greg Johnson: It's a long way from East Tennessee to liberal-minded Amsterdam
Published 5/9/2012 at 4:00 a.m. 13 comments
AMSTERDAM — OK, travel bugs, here's a Rorschach of sorts: What is the main attraction of this city below sea level? Canals? Tulips? The Van Gogh Museum, full of masterpieces by the tortured artist who left behind his pastor father ...
- Newer Stories
- Older Stories