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Columnists

ANDY PITZER: “Look Mom! No iPhone!”

A very interesting visually recorded interview showed up on my feed the other night. In 1966, several British adolescents were interviewed about their vision of the future (circa year...

FRED FIRST: There And Back Again

RECAP: I would be able to visit southwest Virginia again–home for almost 40 years, and...

SCOT BELLAVIA: Am I Proud to Be an American?

How proud are you to be an American? I posted that question on Facebook a few...

BOB BROWN: “Portraits of the Human Person”

On the night of June 21, 2025, President Donald Trump said all seven B2 Bombers...

BECKY MAUPIN: The After Bedtime Search

Picture this: You manage to get everyone fed and the dinner aftermath cleaned up. Then...

MELINDA MYERS: Tips for Designing and Maintaining a Low-Maintenance Garden

Don’t let your spring garden enthusiasm lead to overplanting and the creation of a summer gardening nightmare.  A design with maintenance in mind and...

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...