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Columnists

A Life Well-Lived: Shirley Padgett Lester (1947-2025)

Shirley Padgett Lester of Vinton went to her heavenly reward October 4. Below is the powerful eulogy her daughter Kelly Kiser wrote and calmly delivered at the memorial service...

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,...

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

I read an article in the New York Post written by Ryan King on November 27 entitled...

Recipe of the Week: September Tomato Soup

by Leigh Sackett My garden was a late bloomer but it produced and some of its last tomatoes are lined up on my kitchen...

September 11, 2011

by Hayden Hollingsworth The day dawned, the warmth of late summer and clear skies stretching toward the mountains.  Other than putting out the American...

The Soft Knocking of Wind and Bird

by Lucky Garvin I went to church today for the first time in too long. The timing was ‘coincidental’ as I had been recently...

Support Your Local Teacher

by Keith McCurdy Ahh!  School has started.  The children are occupied for the day.  Bedtimes are in force again and all is right with...

Facing Conflict Opens Possibilities by Donna Hopkins Britt

Late last fall, when it was time to take the pumpkins off the front stoop, we composted them in our garden.  Over the...

History Always Has A Soundtrack

by Mike Keeler 9/11 will be forever bracketed by two songs by the poet laureate of New Jersey Bruce Springsteen was born in Long Branch,...