It’s late November and my mind begins to dwell on Thanksgiving dinner— not eating, but cooking. more

Fads are a way of life in society. Diet fads, exercise fads, clothing fads, linguistic fads, animal fads - all these fly-by-night things that come barging into our lives, inspired by some sense of “fear of missing out,” then just as quickly, they are gone again. I am not a person usually affected by the concept of FOMO, I am at an age where I dress to look nice AND be comfortable, I like what I like without a care if it is popular; this is just one of the perks of aging, I suppose. more

Sweet potatoes may be stars; cornbread dressing a contender. Dinner rolls are divine and green bean casserole a go-to. But Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without turkey. more

I’m not a Black Friday shopper. I’m a Black Friday sleeper. While the stores see black on the bottom line, the only black I see is the inside of my eyelids while I dream about which Thanksgiving leftovers to eat first. more

Bolivar Middle School recently released its first-quarter honor roll. According to a school news release, the following students earned spots on the list: more

Pleasant Hope Middle School recently released its first-quarter honor roll. According to a school news release, the following students earned spots on the list: more

The forty years after WWII were a time of upheaval in the United States Military. The world war had ended only five years earlier, and the veterans who saw combat were still adjusting to civilian life. The war’s former allies, the United States and the Soviet Union, were at each other's throats, often using other nations as a means of taking jabs at their nemesis. The spread of communism and the fear of it coming to the Western hemisphere prompted conflicts throughout the world for the next few decades. The Cold War was upon us. As proxy wars waged across the oceans the military at home had its own battles to fight. more

Most Americans hold the military in high esteem, and rightfully so; they bravely go places many of us avoid. Since the beginning of our nation, nay, before we were a nation, our fighters have led the United States to multiple victories, keeping us a free nation, at the detriment of their safety, mental well-being, and lives. Unlike Memorial Day, which pays homage to those service members no longer with us, Veterans Day respects those still able to feel the praise of a grateful populace. Every nation, be it Canada with Remembrance Day, France with Armistice Day, Britain with Remembrance Sunday, or America with Veterans Day, has a day established for demonstrating pride in their fighting forces. Interestingly, all of these countries chose on, or near, November 11 to have this holiday. What is it about the eleventh day of the eleventh month that makes it a prime choice for celebrating the military? more

On my desk, there are three essential things – my laptop, a computer mouse, and a no-frills, lined pad of paper. Without the computer and mouse, nothing could get done. But without that humble pad of paper where I scribble my to-do list, I wouldn’t remember what needed doing in the first place. more

For most of my life our nation’s commanders-in-chief were seasoned by military service, nine tempered in the fire of combat service. more

There should be a warning on this column because it’s graphic, and if your stomach is as weak as mine, perhaps you should turn back now and save yourself. more