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Opinion

  • The party of no

    Liza Minnelli once sang that „life is a cabaret old chum, life is a cabaret.” It’s true that “all the world’s a stage.” Ancient Greek philosophers agreed that politics is a theatrical performance, played out before the large audience of mankind. Modern man is Virtual Man: much of what we think is the product of what we see.

  • You can go come home again

    They say once you leave home that you can never come back again.

    I’m a journalist so my first question is who in the heck is ‘they’ and what do ‘they’ know about it anyway? That being said, I am leaving home. But someday, I plan on coming back. My family and my friends are here. And after working as a reporter for the LaFollette Press for two-plus years, I’ve realized I will be leaving more family and friends behind than I ever knew I had.

  • Pearls of wisdom for the class of...

    As you go out into this great big world and begin your journey, remember that there is a few things to remember.

    As you go, remember that you are no better than anyone else and no one else is any better than you are. We’re all equal and God put us on earth for the same reasons and purposes. We all have to learn from one another to make it work. Can you imagine how boring life would be if everyone was exactly the same?

  • Editorial cartoon
  • Our Own Worst Enemy

    No matter where you are on the planet today, chances are that your country is in the midst of a financial crisis brought on by the unethical behavior of investment banks and other financial institutions. The banking crisis was the cue ball that brought us the credit crunch which, in turn, beckoned the housing crisis and bailout of the automotive industry. In Europe, entire nations—Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Ireland—are facing bankruptcy, due largely to the shenanigans of banks.

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    Editorial Cartoon
  • Anyone Can Be A Mother, But Only A...

     Webster’s dictionary defines a mother as being, “A woman who has given birth to a child.”

    It’s a fact that any woman can me a mother, but it takes a lot to be called a mom. What’s the difference between mother and mom?

    A mother is someone whose children observe her from a distance, but a mom is someone whose children look up to her. A mother provides because they feel it’s just her duty, but a mom provides to the point she’d give her own life for the sake of her child. Well, you get the idea.

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    Editorial Cartoon
  • Tales from the trail

    On Earth Day, I went for what felt like an incredibly long hike along the Cumberland Trail in order to benefit Relay for Life and the American Cancer Association.

    While I raised money and hopefully a little awareness, I was really the one who benefited from the experience.

    Two days walking 18 miles through the mountains with my best friend and my dog through sunshine and fresh air taught me a lot about myself, who I am and what life is really about.

  • Police protection or property tax?

    For nearly three years, I have witnessed the way small town governments work.

    I have gotten to see elected officials battle against falling revenues, downtrodden economies and shortages of employees. I have seen hours reduced, equipment reduced and even manpower reduced.

    But when a mayor that truly cares recently made a suggestion for the betterment of his town, I was shocked that only two board members backed him up.

  • Remembering Mama Lou Nealy

    The Bible (Hebrews 13:2) says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers. For thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

    This past week, a community and church lost a very special lady. Everyone who read the obituary knew her as Lou J. Nealy. To those of us who had the pleasure of knowing this special lady, she was Mama Lou and she touched my life in a special way no one knows about until now.

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    Editorial Cartoon
  • The Good. the bad, the ugly, we...

    I’m mad.  

    Okay, maybe not really mad, but more than a little irked.

    It all started on Tuesday night at the board of education meeting, which is a little unusual considering that is one of the least controversial beats I cover.

    Anyway, I walked into the meeting just in time to catch a presentation by members of the Campbell County High School Student Council outlining all of the great things the school has to offer.

  • In Search of Lost Time

    Marcel Proust, the famous French writer and philosopher, penned between 1913 and 1927 one of the most famous works in the western literary tradition. Entitled In Search of Lost Time, this seven-volume novel remains today a bestseller. It is little wonder man is perpetually searching for, or trying to recapture, lost time.

  • Signs, Signs, Everywhere there is...

    So what’s the deal with all the signs?  

    Now before someone starts thinking I’ve gone ‘round the bend, let me just say I am well aware that there is an election coming up.

    But I still don’t get it.

    What does putting up signs from one end of the county to the other accomplish except a whole lot of post-election work for candidates who can’t remember where they put them all?  Or do they really mean something?

  • In case of doom and gloom, remember...

     That’s right, my friends, today is a very special day.

    It’s a holiday.

    While you’re reading this, I want to wish you a Happy Play Dress-Up With A Raccoon Day, a Happy Talk Like A Mad Scientist Day, and a Happy Chocolate Cake Appreciation Day.

    Now, I know what you’re thinking. You probably think I’ve lost my marbles or perhaps I’m one brick shy of a load. Please allow me to explain my fascination with such an unusual thing.    

  • An Ominous Perspective

    Life, we all know, is a matter of perspective. In America, the nation of boundless freedom and wide open spaces, perspectives are as numerous as our citizens. We are a hyper-pluralistic society, one where everyone’s perspective, mainstream or off-the-wall, generally finds its way to the public forum. That’s what makes America the great nation it is.

  • Just doing my job

    I recently wrote a sad story about drug use and child abuse, but there was a small ray of light; the police and the Department of Children’s Services had intervened in the situation.

    After writing that article, I was alleged to have placed the DCS worker in danger, by using her name. When writing articles about crime, my information comes from police reports, which are public documents and therefore public domain. This means that anyone can access these records.

    I did not write anything that was secret information.

  • What makes a story?

    Journalists are always looking to land the exclusive interview.

    We all want to sit down with the “It” person of the moment and garner  details that no one else has uncovered.

    It seems that no matter how outrageous, wicked or just plain stupid someone acts there is a journalist waiting to interview them.

    So, being a journalist, when Phillip Pack began talking to me last week at his murder trial I stopped to listen, until I heard what he was saying.

  • “The United Soviet States...

    The word socialism has come up a lot in our political debate over the last year.

    Perhaps you’ve noticed whenever a commentator has used this term, usually in context of some new Obama initiative, there’s nervous laughter and awkward gestures of embarrassment. Ever wonder why?  Let’s take a look at the definition: