The new year is fast approaching. Many wonder what the new year will bring while planning their own ways of ringing in 2026.

Guitarist Mick Ralphs (81) was a founding member of Mott the Hoople as well as Bad Company. In June, this “Shooting Star” joined the ranks of 2025’s fallen stars.

During the holidays, I like to listen to Christmas songs. Also, at this time of year I reflect on the stars who recently passed away. Here are some wintertime tunes from some of the musicians who died in 2025.

It was once called the War to End All Wars, but World War I dragged on year after year. Governments were shattered, lives were destroyed, and many more wars came in its wake.

Leonard L. Northrup, Jr., was born in Houston in March 1918. His father was an inventor, and both parents had deep roots in Texas History.

Jesse Chisolm was born in the Great Hiwassee area in the mountains of southeastern Tennessee around 1805, inside what had been Cherokee territory.

The proposed peace plan to end Russia's devastating war in Ukraine is a capitulation to Russia, and it rewards an invading hostile country.

I went to the road meeting 3 Dec. I intended to thank the commissioners for having the meeting at a time working folks could attend.

It came to be called "the Day Which Will Live in Infamy." The attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was a devastating loss for the nation.

Well Newt, the voters and residents of Fannin County have for months been asking you to resign the office of Fannin County Judge. Your only reply has been to continually complain that the courthouse has not been completed.

One of the most well-known and one of the earliest Thanksgiving feasts was that of the Pilgrims at the Plymouth Colony on November 22, 1621. It had been a difficult year for the English settlers who had arrived in Massachusetts the previous November. The Wampanoag tribe, which controlled most of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, made offers of friendship to the Pilgrims, sharing their food as the colonists struggled through the winter and then taught them about farming in the completely new environment.

"If we are strong, our strength will speak for itself. If we are weak, words will be of no help." -- President John F. Kennedy