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Columnists

ROBERT L. MARONIC: Is Phase Two Of Trump‘s Peace Plan In The Gaza Strip Doomed To Fail? – Part I

Phase one of Trump‘s twenty-point peace plan in the Gaza Strip, which began on October 9, called for a ceasefire, cessation of military operations, along with a hostage and prisoner...

FRED FIRST: Approaching the Longest Night

Yes, you’re right—if you’ve even noticed—that this space has been neglected for some weeks now,...

A Life Well-Lived: Shirley Padgett Lester (1947-2025)

Shirley Padgett Lester of Vinton went to her heavenly reward October 4. Below is the...

BOB BROWN: How the White House Functioned With a Diminished Biden “Presidency”

Permit me to think out loud as an old-fashioned person who respects authority, history, and...

JOHNNY ROBINSON: The Gratitude Perch

On the old road up Mill Mountain, part of Roanoke’s fabulous greenway system, there’s a...

SCOTT DREYER: A Comfortable Myth: “Federal Funds”

Yes, truth is lacking. - Isaiah 59:15 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. - Proverbs 22:7 I am no economist,...

MELINDA MYERS: Debunking Hot Pepper Myths

Enjoy the spicy heat hot peppers add to your meals without concern for the many myths surrounding these garden vegetables. Here are a few...

Managing Your August Garden

Watering July was a dry month for most of us here in Southwest Virginia. August is looking similar with nice hot days predicted for the...

SCOT BELLAVIA: Relational Authority

We know online discussions are severely inhibited by a sense of anonymity, missing tone, lack of body language, and faux connection. Another obstacle is...

SCOTT DREYER: Drive-by Media Attacks Patrick Henry Graduate

As America has tragically become more violent, the phrase “drive-by shooting” first appeared in 1968. From that came the spin-off expression “drive-by media,” in...

MELINDA MYERS: Support Native Bees and Enjoy the Many Benefits

Pollinators are responsible for about 75% of the food we eat. The European honeybee is the most well known but our native bees are...