JACKSON, Tenn. — It’s Christmas, the time of the year when travel gets busier as people move to and from their holiday destinations.

Christmas is underway and the holiday travel is in full affect across the region.

Here in West Tennessee, many are traveling for the holidays. A report from the Automobile Association predicted that more than 119 million Americans have at least 50 miles to travel for end of the year holidays. One traveler tells what their Christmas experience means to them.

“For me it was getting to be with family. I have sisters and stuff that I went to visit. One of them invited us up for dinner so, even though it’s a two-and-a-half hour drive, it’s always good to see family,” said Andrew Knox, traveler.

Knox says the Christmas menu did not disappoint this year.

“We had greens, macaroni and cheese, stuffed shells, dressing, ham, chicken wings — BBQ and plain, it was off the chain,” said Knox.

We asked about their end of the year reflections and what they expect for the new year.

“Grateful to have my wife with me of 17 years, my best friend and stuff, so I’m grateful that everybody is doing well. The family is doing well and that’s the main thing. Just so much to be thankful for and I just want everybody to be kind to each other. That’s all I would hope for the new year coming,” said Knox.

More than half of holiday travelers will return home on the same night. Airlines expect their busiest days to be on friday and Sunday, December 27 and December 29.

“We drove up this morning and we’re on our way back home now,” said Knox.

If your looking for last minute holiday attractions, see our 2024 Guide to the Holidays in West Tennessee.

For more news in the Jackson area, click here.

Holiday traditions run the gamut in North Texas. For some, it means a yearly dinner at a popular Dallas Chinese restaurant. But not just any dinner. These are gatherings reserved months in advance. And Wednesday’s festivities just happened to fall on Christmas day and the start of Hanukkah.

Ask April Kao when they plan to close the Royal China restaurant for the night, and she’ll tell you simply whenever the last person leaves. It’s what she’s grown accustomed to. When the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, with all its excitement and frenzy, comes breezing through the front door of the Royal China restaurant off Preston Road and Royal Lane.

Kao and her husband George, both owners of the restaurant, said opening on December 25 was never part of the original business plan.

“We didn’t used to open on Christmas day,” she said. “And in 2008 after the renovation, people begged and begged, ‘Please you have to open.’”

So, they did, and there’s been a massive turnout ever since. People from surrounding neighborhoods in North Dallas and people from different faith communities rely on Royal China.

“Before we open the door, we have lines outside and it’s getting busier and busier. So we take reservations a year before,” Kao said.

One Dallas family made reservations during the summer just to be sure their 15-year tradition wouldn’t miss a beat.

“My son-in-law, Berry, was the one who first suggested that we come to a Chinese restaurant on Christmas day,” said Lynn Harnden. “And we make our reservations like in July to be sure to come.”

As the years pass, seats are added to the reservation. This year, the Hardens occupied two tables with seventeen guests.

As for upholding family traditions, the Kaos have their own wall of memories at the restaurant. It’s a reminder of how far they’ve come from 1974, when George Kao’s father came from Taiwan with a dream and a plan.

“He is very proud,” he said. “He would smile. He’s smiling from above.”

Beloved Virginia TV news anchor Mark Spain has died of pancreatic cancer. 

The 64-year-old journalist had spent decades anchoring the news at ABC affiliate WSET-TV in Virginia before working in Indianapolis, Cleveland and Jacksonville. 

The seasoned newsman was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer on November 27 and began undergoing chemotherapy on December 16, according to his Facebook posts. 

However, two days later his wife, Lynita announced that he had succumbed to the disease. 

In a lengthy social media post, the grieving wife said Spain was ‘a pillar of the community’ and spent his last weeks staying positive and fighting the disease.

Lynthia also commented on how much the journalist loved his job and thanked well-wishers for their messages.  

‘Hello sunshines! It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my loving husband Mark. Our family along with the city of Lynchburg lost a man of hope, someone who loves his city and stood for equality, treating others with respect and kindness. He was a husband, father, brother, friend and a positive light in the community. 

‘My first true love. He brought so much joy, compassion, love and strength into our lives, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him. The last 23 years have been a wonderful journey filled with love, laughter and many wonderful memories. A journey that I would do all over again.

His wife noted how ‘surreal’ the loss felt just about three weeks after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 

‘He fought hard, he stayed positive throughout the battle and wasn’t afraid. We have comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering, it was not easy watching him fight for his life and battle this disease, but he was not alone., and neither were we,’ she wrote.

‘He encouraged those around him. He loved to help others and longed for peace and was an ambassador for positivity. He loved his family and was extremely proud of his children. He also loved his job and felt so blessed to do what he did for a living. He was one hell of a journalist and took his job very seriously.’ 

Lynthia called him ‘a pillar of the community,’ adding how people loved to share how much they enjoyed watching him on the news.

‘As we navigate this difficult time, we take comfort in remembering the wonderful moments we shared with him. Your kindness and support mean the world to us. Friends, you showed up and showed out with love support during his fight!! You have all been amazing and a true village! I can’t thank you all enough for all of the prayers, cards, flowers, blankets, texts, comments and checking in on us,’ she said.

‘This new journey, one I never thought I’d be on, as a single parent will be a new and challenging one. God is walking along side us, guiding and protecting us. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers,’ she wrote. 

Kristen Mirand, a reporter and anchor at Buffalo-based WKBW-TV and a former colleague of Spain’s at Sinclair-owned WSET-TV posted tribute for him – remembering him as an ‘incredible person who inspired everyone he met’. 

The seasoned newsman was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer on November 27 and began undergoing chemotherapy on December 16, according to his Facebook posts. However, two days later his wife, Lynita announced that he had passed away from the disease

In a lengthy social media post, she noted that Spain, who was ‘a pillar of the community’, spent his last weeks staying positive and fighting against the disease

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Lynthia also commented on how much the journalist loved his job and thanked well-wishers for their messages

Spain had started his news career as a paperboy for the Cleveland Press at merely nine years of age

‘To know Mark Spain was to know positivity, faith & kindness. He was the anchor at my last news station in VA. 

More than a gifted journalist, he was an incredible person who inspired everyone he met Mark passed away after battling pancreatic cancer. His legacy will live on,’ she wrote in a sentimental X post. 

Spain’s colleagues at WSET memorialized him and said in a statement: ‘His smile and positivity were known to his family, our team here at WSET, and the thousands across Lynchburg and beyond who welcomed Mark into their homes each night on TV. 

‘When he first addressed the community regarding his cancer diagnosis in early December, he echoed that familiar sunny outlook despite the heavy situation. His battle against cancer was not fought alone.’

Jacksonville’s First Coast News, where Spain worked for 14 years, also remembered the anchor. 

‘We are deeply saddened to hear of Mark’s passing. He always worked to better the First Coast in every story he produced. 

‘Our thoughts are with his wife Lynita and his three children during this difficult time,’ General Manager Tim Thomas said. 

Spain had started his news career as a paperboy for the Cleveland Press at merely nine years of age. 

He went on to major in Communications from the Cleveland State University and collected accolades like 2018 and 2019 Best News Anchor award from the Association Press of the Virginias. 

Apart from his wife, Spain is survived by two daughters and a son.