Yarbrough: I wish I had been in Bethlehem

These words are dedicated to the memory of my friend, the late Otis Brumby Jr., publisher of The Marietta Daily Journal. He encouraged me to run this column each Christmas season. It is also dedicated to those who believe.

Smith: Don’t mess with me, fool

According to The New York Times, Jordan Neely got on the northbound F-Train at the 2nd Avenue subway station at around 2 p.m. on May 1, 2023.Before the F-Train reached the Broadway-Lafayette Street station, Daniel Penny had placed Neely on a submission hold.Neely would die at the Lennox Hill...

Rich: Memories of mistletoe and more

I remember and cherish the Christmases of my childhood.

Yarbrough: Word of the year leads to ‘brain rot’

May I have a word with you, please? Two words. Brain rot. You just never know what kind of surprise awaits you when you check out this space, do you? I have a feeling brain rot wasn’t on your radar.

Crane: Be wise and exercise

As fall-to-winter temperatures dip and the endemic, former COVID-19 pandemic and flu season again make their presence known, I am reminded of two life maxims for this time of pumpkin spice and the holidays: get your shots, and for even better, year-round advice wise an exercise.The pandemic perhaps...

Farley: Short-lived Christmas joy

It was Christmas morning 1951, and 11-year-old Edge Farley was scampering around the dairy barn, helping his mother and uncle finish the morning chores of milking their 52 cows.Starting each morning at 4 a.m., they didn’t eat breakfast — or celebrate Christmas — until all the cows were milked, the...

Letter to the Editor: We are all in this together

Dear Editor,There is a great divide in this country, but MAGA politicians do not want us to notice: the top 1% of Americans hold 10 times more wealth than the bottom 50% of us.MAGA knows that division creates conflict and a divide-and-conquer, winner-take-all society.

Yarbrough: A gross deviation from common sense

It seems as though my mother was a criminal, and I am just now finding out. All this time, I thought she was a conscientious parent who was active in the PTA, fixed my school lunch, washed and ironed my clothes, and ensured I went to church.

Crane: Free advice for Elon

Instead of penning something for Santa this year, I thought I might instead try to leave a note for Elon Musk, Genius and Budget Cutter in Chief, for helping another jolly man with a big, round belly … though perhaps better known for keeping an enemy list than for checking things twice.The...

Rich: The good publisher

In today’s newspaper world, one person works for two or three.They sleep less, drink much coffee, and rarely have time to fellowship with co-workers.I used to say that I believed one of the hardest jobs is that of a manicurist -- slumping over a small, white table and working relentlessly.Having...