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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,...

Recipe of the Week: The Extraordinary Gift of Homemade Bread

by Leigh Sackett I recently ran into an old friend who is going through a very difficult time. In the short time we visited I...

“I Thought You Said . . . ”

by Mary Jo Shannon In the early 60’s when my oldest son was in elementary school, he was obviously quite disturbed after hearing a...

Living with Terror in the Modern World

by Hayden Hollingsworth Is that something we have to do . . . live with terror?  Unfortunately, the answer is yes.  In the past...

Are We Religious or Spiritual?

by Frances Stebbins Recent polls on the worship habits of Americans show that fewer are committing to membership in a formal faith group such...

Diary Entry #2: Raising Young Boys Always an Adventure

by Lucky Garvin I gave son Cailan some money some months ago.  I shouldn'ta done it; puts him under too much pressure.  We were in...

When Things Turn South, Turn to Family

by Jon Kaufman Unemployment brings out different things in different people.  I was always told that one’s true character emerges only when disaster awaits, a...