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Columnists

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, and it has been hard to figure out where and how to jump back...

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...

ROBERT L. MARONIC: Sometimes President Trump Needs To Think Before He Speaks – Part II

Contrary to what President Trump believes, I think that Lakanwal was adequately vetted before September 2021,...

Say What?

How is your communication?  What do your unscripted, daily, in the moment communications sound like?  As my wife reminded me recently when I...

Ten Ways To Be Miserable In Church – By Pastor Quigg Lawrence

Explain this to me.  Every Sunday we have people who come to worship at our church and they leave uplifted, encouraged in the...

Out of the Wild, a Snake Story

“Let’s try to take it home.” Hmmmm, I contemplate Eric’s suggestion and quickly come to the conclusion that yes it’s an excellent plan....

Beware the “Free” Haircut

It’s time for me to get a new barber. I get my haircuts and trims for free, but Sabrina always takes too much...

Retirement: Just One More Rite of Passage

I expect any day now to find in our green mailbox an official-looking envelope from the federal government. It will mark both closure and...

Return to Your Local Roots

As a child, I vividly remember my mom handing me a few dollar bills and sending me off on my bike to get...