back to top

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...

Everyone Has Something to Write

by Hayden Hollingsworth It was four years ago today I wrote my first column for The Roanoke Star-Sentinel. Now, 114 columns later I took a...

My Dogs Don’t Do Time Zones

by Jon Kaufman The state of Arizona does not believe in daylight savings time and neither does my dog Roscoe.  Along with Hawaii, Arizona...

A Few Thoughts at 63 and Counting

by Lucky Garvin Flying across the highway in front of me was a crow; and in its beak, a long piece of limp brown...

Bittersweet Memories

by Mary Jo Shannon One Saturday in early November as my granddaughter and I strolled through the Roanoke City market area, admiring the colorful...

Here’s How Things Happen, And How They Don’t

by Mike Keeler On November 11, 1918, "the war to end all wars" ended. Armistice occurred on the 11th hour of the 11th day...

Richmond Marathon A Real Kick

by John Robinson I’m padding up a fairly long, straight, and in this case rather bleak section of North Boulevard, at mile 19, when...