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Columnists

BOB BROWN: The American Flag

All my life, I’ve loved the American flag. I was taught there is something special about our flag, that it is never trampled upon in war or peace, and...

ROBERT L. MARONIC: There Is No Need For A U.S. Ground War In Venezuela

The easiest way to overthrow Nicolás Maduro, the narco-terrorist dictator of Venezuela, is to finance an insurgency....

SCOTT DREYER: Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

Americans celebrate Thanksgiving today, and along with Canadians in October, are the only people on...

DAWN CUSTALOW: Pocahontas Reframed and Thanksgiving

I just returned from the 9th annual Pocahontas Reframed film festival 2025 in Richmond, VA,...

SCOTT DREYER: “Forgive Me When I Whine”

This poem, of unclear authorship, reportedly comes from the dark Great Depression days of the...

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...

Old Order Brethren (German Baptists) Still Flourish in Roanoke

If you're new to the Roanoke Valley, or even if you've been here for many years, you've probably wondered about the bearded men...