About

I am a journalist from East Tennessee. (If this were written in third-person I would say “award-winning journalist,” but I don’t want to appear a bragger.) I attended Roane State Community College and Tennessee Tech University after graduating from Scott High School in 1997.

Currently, my wife (Melanie) and I reside near the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, where I work as editor of the hometown newspaper and she is an elementary school teacher. We have two children, twins Toby and Rachel. Charlie lives here, too. (He’s a fish.)

I am a political enthusiast but I’m independent…that doesn’t mean that I don’t adhere to political ideology, only that I’m not beholden to any political party or candidate. In addition to politics, I blog about my hometown, the weather, outdoor lifestyles, the University of Tennessee and life in general.

View From the Cumberlands was launched in 2004 as a blog about my hobby of meteorology. The focus of the blog eventually shifted but the weather remains a major subject matter around here, especially during times of wintry or severe weather.

Send me an email, if you’re so inclined, to bengarrett at highland.net.