Smith: Viva Las Vegas

Early morning brings time for reflection and inspiration—a time to assess your environment, connect with humility, and graphically underscore positive thinking. Makes one wonder if such moments ever came about for Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao, the Unabomber, and Al Capone.

Rich: The dried flowers

Sentiment is not something I was taught. It was born in me. Both my parents were hardscrabble Appalachian folks where sentimentality was a luxury that could be afforded no more than new, wool coats for the entire family or a simple, gold wedding band for my grandmother. But me?

Crane: Georgia winning water wars

Though a long way from the Dust Bowl Droughts of 1924-1927, and again from 1930-1935, which contributed to national food scarcity and further complicated the Great Depression, Georgia is in a state of continuing drought, which looks increasingly like the drought of 2007.

Rich: Southern Gothic Murder (Final Installment)

Seton Tucker is the reason that I all a sudden packed a suitcase on Sunday night and said, casually, to Tink, “I’m going to South Carolina for the Murdaugh trial tomorrow.” He chuckled. “Be safe.” He is used to my spontaneous ideas. He never interferes or tries to make sense.

Letter to the Editor: Dr. Maggie Kjer for BOE District 4

Dear Editor, Republicans voting in the May Primary will have a choice between two Maggies. It is a no-brainer choice. Dr. Maggie Kjer is an educator, her opponent is not. Dr. Maggie Kjer has a Master’s and PhD in Education. She taught Special Education for 14 years.

Yarbrough: Giving thanks at a special time of year

I am thankful. I am thankful that while you may see other Thanksgiving columns appear at this time of reflection, you took the time to read this one.

Smith: So many things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving and every other day

Each of us is given the gift of 86,400 seconds each day. How often have you used one of those seconds to say, “Thank you,” to those who extend a helping hand or those who are doing good for the world? It may be a neighbor, a family member, a waitress, a bellman, a construction worker, or a friend.

Rich: A Waffle House Thanksgiving

For about 27 years, I hosted Thanksgiving – long before I knew John Tinker – for family and friends who did not have a place to celebrate the blessings (and sometimes even the tribulations of the past year). It was a full week’s work.

Letter to the Editor: Blue Star Memorial Marker

Dear Editor: As we observe Veterans Day 2023, is anyone other than myself upset that the Blue Star Memorial Marker located in the Garden Club garden at the intersection of Highway 15 North and Highway 278 in Greensboro has not been repositioned after being hit by a vehicle months and months ago?

Letter to the Editor: Confronting Conflict

Dear Editor: Although the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, fueled by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israeli citizens, exists some 6,800 miles to our east, the response here at home has included dueling pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations across college campuses.