Nathan Sparks 115 posts 0 comments

As a small business owner, my company, like most others, was adversely affected by the pandemic. Anything to help survive was welcome. And, like almost every other business, I heard about the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) program, but…
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Pushing the Envelope Many years ago, my now friend Scott Jones placed an ad in the Cityview Top Attorney issue. We photographed him seated, flanked by Mandy Hancock and Joni Stewart. We didn’t know Joni’s name, and the creative director…
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The Best of Times I was standing in the large arena at STAR for the Bridles and Blue Jeans fundraiser when a blast from my past tapped me on my shoulder. Sometimes when you run into an old friend, it’s like the universe is trying…
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Donde Plowman joined the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2019 with big plans, and nothing’s going to stand in her way of achieving them—innovative initiatives, exceptional sport teams, and unbridled growth abound. Over the…
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Sometimes all it takes is a fly rod and a quiet stretch of river to renew the spirit It is nearly noon, and I have temporarily retired my fly rod in favor of a camera, hoping to capture the moment. I stand behind my friend Edwin…
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Dangerous Things I remember when I learned I might have an attention deficit disorder. I was shocked. But then I laughed out loud. But not for the reason you might suspect. It was true. I had lots of challenges paying attention as a…
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I confess. I was not the best student during my school years. But one day, in Mr. Odell’s math class, I was struck by a comment he made. “The best mathematicians are lazy,” he said, adding, “the smartest people always look for…
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Much of my life has been based on split-second decisions. Looking back, I can clearly say that my best and worst decisions often occurred in a split second. While many, or maybe even most people, don’t relish the idea of having to make…
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No matter the season, getting off the beaten path and into the wilderness will heal your soul. We have set up our campsite, and I am helping my son Troupe with the evening’s firewood collection. We are in the Smoky Mountains for a few…
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Skirting Chicago on the east side, private planes often fly just over the water around 1,000-1,500 feet AGL in the VFR flyway to view the Chicago skyline. This was today’s plan. A group of us from Knoxville had joined up at the Lansing…
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