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Columnists

BOB BROWN: When the Underdog Bites Has Rabies, and a Mean Owner

We have a strong human urge to identify with the “underdog.” There is nothing new about this tendency. The biblical story of David and Goliath, reported 3000 years ago,...

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

Unfortunately, Trump’s present ceasefire as of October 9 is analogous to the armistice signed between...

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...

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...

A Husband’s Diary – Entry #2

by Lucky Garvin We do things differently.  If we're going out, I get dressed once.  She averages 6-8 changes. "Does this match, Gahvin?" "I...

Recipe of the Week – Happy’s Super Hot Salsa

by Leigh Sackett I made this salsa Tuesday night on a whim. It turned out to be really delicious but HOT! I love spicy things...

All Trails Lead to Blue Ridge Mountains

by Fred First A city girl, my mother used to say wistfully that she was born with the country in her bones. I lived, early...

Sadly, You’ve Heard This One Before

by Mike Wheeler And you have Daniel Butterfield to thank.  He was just a kid from Utica, New York, who attended Union College and...

Recipe of the Week – Thomas Jefferson’s Sweet Potato Biscuits

by Leigh Sackett When celebrating Independence Day a standard hot dog, hamburger, watermelon cookout with sparklers in hand is great but what I am...

Rural Church Centers Encourage Reflection

by Frances Stebbins With summer upon us, it's a good time to visit one of the several conference centers maintained nearby by churches to...