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Columnists

BOB BROWN: The American Flag

All my life, I’ve loved the American flag. I was taught there is something special about our flag, that it is never trampled upon in war or peace, and...

ROBERT L. MARONIC: There Is No Need For A U.S. Ground War In Venezuela

The easiest way to overthrow Nicolás Maduro, the narco-terrorist dictator of Venezuela, is to finance an insurgency....

SCOTT DREYER: Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

Americans celebrate Thanksgiving today, and along with Canadians in October, are the only people on...

DAWN CUSTALOW: Pocahontas Reframed and Thanksgiving

I just returned from the 9th annual Pocahontas Reframed film festival 2025 in Richmond, VA,...

SCOTT DREYER: “Forgive Me When I Whine”

This poem, of unclear authorship, reportedly comes from the dark Great Depression days of the...

DEVOTIONAL: Three Lessons From Ezra

For Ezra had set his heart to learn the Law of the Lord, to live by it, and to teach His Laws in Israel. ...

SCOTT DREYER: Roanoker Fed Up With Outrageous City Taxes/Fees Circulates Petition

Roanoke native Jeff Hayslett is a man with a mission. His personal motto, which he says anyone is free to use, is "Let the Star...

FRED FIRST: Nature Literacy Is In Our Hands

If we can’t put the genie back in the bottle, let’s be thankful for an educationally-broadening benefit from our use of the ubiquitous tool...

SERWAN ZANGANA: Council Members Fail To Improve Safety of Roanoke

It is apparently unacceptable for Councilwoman Trish White-Boyd to be criticized by her own team member. As Councilman Luke Priddy thinks the Gun Violence...

MIKE KEELER: Honor The Herb . . .

With Earth Day coming up, I scrolled through the archives looking for past stories about nature, and I found a lot of them. In...

FRED FIRST: Earth Day 2070 – Leopold’s Land Ethic As If Earth Mattered

Finally, in April, the year truly begins. In every shade of green and gold, buds burst into leaf and flower. Bees buzz, birds nest,...