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Columnists

FRED FIRST: Approaching the Longest Night

Yes, you’re right—if you’ve even noticed—that this space has been neglected for some weeks now, and it has been hard to figure out where and how to jump back...

A Life Well-Lived: Shirley Padgett Lester (1947-2025)

Shirley Padgett Lester of Vinton went to her heavenly reward October 4. Below is the...

BOB BROWN: How the White House Functioned With a Diminished Biden “Presidency”

Permit me to think out loud as an old-fashioned person who respects authority, history, and...

JOHNNY ROBINSON: The Gratitude Perch

On the old road up Mill Mountain, part of Roanoke’s fabulous greenway system, there’s a...

ROBERT L. MARONIC: Sometimes President Trump Needs To Think Before He Speaks – Part II

Contrary to what President Trump believes, I think that Lakanwal was adequately vetted before September 2021,...

Four Year Forecast Not So Pretty

The political ads featuring extensions of the truth (lies) have been quelled. The fact-checkers, whoever they are, have returned to their alternate occupations....

Uneasy Rider

My road rash had an even, almost artistic pattern across my upper body.  Knees and hands went without saying. Apparently converse tennis shoes...

Future Uncertain for Labor Unions

In the early days of the USA as a Republic, unions tried for monopoly control over the local supply of labor by advocating...

Sandy Creates Some Very Confused Adults

 I got the call from my soccer teammate soon after the power came back on Wednesday morning. He's got two young kids and...

Thinking Before You Act Generally a Good Idea

One day, many years ago, I was as frightened as I’ve ever been. Cailan, my son, his mom, my wife at the time,...

A few More From The ER Diary

There was a muscular young man who presented to the ER following an auto accident. He was not injured. One look at him,...