Commentary on Current Events of Interest to Columbus, and the Surrounding Counties of NC
I was taken aback the other day while talking with a random diner at one of my favorite eateries. I didn’t know him from Adam’s housecat, but we struck up...
When we were little and made silly faces, many of us were warned by our mothers that our faces would stick that way. I have come to the conclusion that...
I was involved in a conversation the other morning, but I have no idea what was said. That’s life with goats. Breakfast is usually served to our livestock as I...
Recently, amidst the ever-changing North Carolina weather, I found myself looking up at the clouds in wonder. From one side of the horizon to the other stretched a great blanket...
I got out of the truck and a gust of wind threatened to steal my Stetson. I caught it before the Stratoliner could live up to its name, pulled the...
It’s no secret that time changes things. Sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. Change can be your friend and change can be your enemy. For our little...
In those days, a newspaper office was a magical place. People were always moving, talking, coming and going. A single BB-sized hole in the darkened front door allowed the sunlight...
I wasn’t intending to dress any different than usual. It was a Monday. I was an hour behind schedule. The weekend had left too many chores incomplete, too many plans...
Editor’s note: Bladen County Board of Education member Steve Kwiatkowski published this opinion piece on his personal social media this week. It is shared here with his permission. On this...
I happened to catch maybe two minutes of the Country Music Awards the other night. For reasons I cannot fathom, a bunch of the new stars were singing Phil Collins...
I crumpled gratefully into my grandfather’s chair, and moaned a little as I took off my shoes. I had to wonder how many other men in my family had done...
When did parenting become mainstream? I certainly couldn’t pinpoint the pivot in society where we decided that marketing the idea of being a good parent became a good idea. I’d...
I was on an already unpleasant errand when a friend called with the words that would shake the coldest stone statue. “There’s a little kid been shot,” he said. It...
I got my digital hands slapped the other day because of my choice of words when I identified an animal track. Some friends were sharing pictures of their camping trip,...
In the woods beside our house is a half-forgotten colony box for martins. It was knocked into the trees and vines during one storm or another, and restoring it to...
When I was a kid, there were words that would get your tail torn up, and words that might, in some families, mean you were never seen again. Maybe it...