George was a big, burly man. He always picked up his check in person at my Grandpa’s home office. He was quiet and gentle, very polite—always said "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am" to my grandmother, and he never called Grandpa anything but "Boss." I never heard him call Grandpa any other name. The first time I saw The Green Mile, I thought of George. Same kind of build, same kind of spirit.

“We need more competition." We only have one grocery store.”“Why can’t we get a Walmart?” “Our hardware stores don’t carry enough; we need a Lowe’s.” These statements seem reasonable. At first glance, they suggest progress, more choices, convenience, and growth. But many small towns may not realize that not all development helps the local economy.   In many cases, it quietly takes money away. What people call “economic growth” often turns into a long-term trade-off, where loc

At the end of 2025, both my shrimp and I were on the edge of disaster. Now, at the beginning of 2026, I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel (and hopefully it's not a train.) There is hope. Clearer, warmer waters are ahead. Sometimes those of us who have been in business a long time get complacent. We think we’ve seen it all. We think nothing can take us down. That couldn’t be further from the truth.