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Columnists

BOB BROWN: Lost and Found

All of us encounter loss. The meaning we attribute to loss influences our response to it. Our losses accumulate. They range from minor to unimaginable. Last week, two sets of...

FRED FIRST: Where You’re From

In the very early years of writing, I was exposed to a poem called “Where...

ROBERT L. MARONIC: I No Longer Watch Baltimore Orioles’ Baseball Games

I no longer watch Baltimore Orioles’ baseball games. I now only watch innings, and if I...

ANDY PITZER: “Look Mom! No iPhone!”

A very interesting visually recorded interview showed up on my feed the other night. In...

FRED FIRST: There And Back Again

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

Saints, Souls, Soldiers And All That Sustains Us by Pastor Joe Lehman

How many, O Lord my God, are the wonders and designs that you have worked for us. Should I proclaim and speak of...

Garden Debriefing: Some Wins, Some Losses, and Lessons Learned

Last night’s hard freeze in mid-October abruptly ended our hope that we might watch our visiting grand-daughters pick the last of this summer’s green...

From the Older Brother’s Room by Ed Dunnington

Recently I’ve been studying Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son(s) in the 15th chapter of Luke’s gospel.  I grew up, as I’m sure...

Sugar Factories Shutting Down!

Sugar factories are shutting down throughout the Roanoke region.  But this denouement is not due to any sad downturn in our regional economics.  Billions...

If You Don’t Thank Anyone Else, Thank a Veteran

“The First Battalion’s home. So run to your home Virginia girls and fix your hair with pins; and give them tea and...

The Recipe of the Week from The Happy Chef: Fried Oysters with Horseradish Cream and Tomato Corn Salsa

I found this recipe a while back when it caught my eye on the internet. (Emeril’s cooking always does!)  I saved the recipe...