Opinions

Patriot Games

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Monday, August 13. 2018

By Anthony Vinson
advkdv@att.net

In the aftermath of 9/11 patriotism became less a matter of principle and more a matter of pride. The American flag went from symbol to selling feature. Lapel pins, soda cans, beer bottles, blankets, beach towels, bumper stickers and more came stained in the likeness and colors of Old Glory. When political candidates neglected to stick ceramic flag pins to their clothing, they were quickly called out by the media and denounced by the public. Flyovers by military aircraft became standard fare at professional sporting events. The country bristled and crackled patriotic. More so than during the year-long Bicentennial Celebration of 1976. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Faces and Heels

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, August 7. 2018

I used to watch professional wrestling. [Full story »]

Geiger’s Counter: Back to school back in the day

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, July 31. 2018

Though August is only just about to begin, we are busy writing about and covering the start of school. Yes, I’m old but I never started a school year until after Labor Day. [Full story »]

Watching ‘Sharp Objects’ a surreal experience

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, July 17. 2018

Watching the first two episodes of HBO’s ‘Sharp Objects’ has been a true education for me in that I was privy to some of the preparation and location scouting that preceded the filming of the series’ exterior scenes here last summer. [Full story »]

The Star-Spangled Banner

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, July 10. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

As the sun arose on Sept. 14, 1814, a man on a ship several miles away from Fort McHenry, which guarded the Baltimore harbor, saw that the American flag still waved over it after many hours of British bombardment. Inspired by the sight, that man, whose name was Francis Scott Key, wrote the first verse of a poem that he later expanded to four verses. And thus was born what we know as “The Star-Spangled Banner.” [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Stick to the point

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, July 3. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

Latin terms name the two basic choices we have when discussing, debating or arguing with someone.

We can use ad hominem arguments. Ad hominem literally means “to the man” (we would say “to the person”). Someone using an ad hominem argument attacks the other person rather than discuss the issue. [Full story »]

Thanks to those who honored Flag Day

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, June 26. 2018

For those who showed up to the June 14 National Flag Day Observance and Flag Retirement Ceremony, thank you! I also thank those of you who gave up your faded, worn and tattered flags to be properly retired. For those not present and who provided their flags, I can assure you that your flag was respectfully retired and individually honored. Approximately 100 flags were retired. If you missed out on dropping off your flag or flags, in the future, you can drop it at the Post 197 Flag Drop Box (repainted mailbox) in front of the American Legion Post facility on Meansville Street in Zebulon or the Boy Scout Troop 37 will accept your flag to be retired. [Full story »]

Receive a heavenly Daddy for Father’s Day

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Rachel McDaniel

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Monday, June 18. 2018

By Barbara Latta
kbkj@bellsouth.net

Fathers are an important part of our lives. We receive protection, provision and instruction from these all-important men. Kids love to curl up in their daddy’s arms to read a book or just snuggle down into that warm lap and fall asleep. [Full story »]

Paper tariffs challenge freedom from the market

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, June 12. 2018

The Brunswick News

We believe it is important to keep jobs in America, but not at the expense of rocking a longstanding industry and the people in this country who depend on it. From our own recent experience, we found a textbook case of where a free market is the right market for the local newspapers, the communities they serve and the hundreds of millions of people who depend on the local information they produce. [Full story »]

Believe you me!

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, June 5. 2018

By Anthony Vinson
advkdv@att.net

Our country is littered from sea to shining sea with citizens who believe, among other things, that vaccinations cause autism, that the former president was not a citizen and that the president before that one was behind an elaborate conspiracy to launch an attack on the country and blame it on terrorists. But wait, there’s more! Some believe that the earth is flat, that we never went to the moon and that the planet is routinely visited by aliens from distant galaxies who catch-and-release simple country folk. Others insist that man and dinosaur inhabited the planet at the same time. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Test results

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Rachel McDaniel

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Monday, May 28. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

I walked into the church office one morning and checked the voicemail on the prayer line. Someone had left the following message: “Please pray for my friend. She’s having an autopsy tomorrow.” [Full story »]

The Friday before Memorial Day is National Poppy Day

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, May 22. 2018

The tradition of wearing a poppy dates back to 1920, when it became the memorial flower of The American Legion Family. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: The press

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, May 15. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

May 3 was World Press Freedom Day, which is promoted annually by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). [Full story »]

Parental advice from a mother mockingbird

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, May 8. 2018

By Barbara Latta
kbkj@bellsouth.net

Watching nature this spring reminds me of an experience I had last year with a mother mockingbird and her chick.

Squawking and screeching filled the air as she warned of her displeasure at my presence near her home. Knowing her alarm was not sounded without reason, I looked around for a nest nearby. [Full story »]

The U.S. Army - from horses to helicopters

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, May 1. 2018

By Bill James
bjamesaso@aol.com

On Saturday, May 12 at 10:30 a.m., a ceremony to rededicate Williamson’s Army Huey 609 is scheduled at the new helicopter pavilion next to the Williamson Library. Everyone is encouraged to attend and see what has turned out to be an absolutely beautiful aircraft restoration. In the meantime, please enjoy the following tidbits of Army helicopter history and Georgia’s role in that history: From Horses to Helicopters and What Does It Have To Do With Georgia? [Full story »]