Mitigation after Helene

While Robbinsville was mercifully denied the tragedy of our Western North Carolina neighbors, serious concerns lie ahead. There are economic realities the politicians and parts of the country who question the science of climate change must reconcile. FEMA is out of regular funding as of Aug.

Logging almost stunted national forest

Of the many visitors that come to Joyce Kilmer Forest each year, very few probably know that it was almost logged by Gennett Lumber Company. In 1935, Andrew Gennett and a crew of young foresters were exploring timber land on Big and Little Santeetlah creeks in Graham County.

Perseverance through the storm

News outlets have reported Hurricane Helene as being a storm of Biblical proportions.  This metaphor recalls the story of Noah and the flood in Genesis 6-8. The rain came down for 40 days and nights, and flooded the earth. The flood was caused by the wickedness of humanity.

A stubborn and undeniable fact: the brevity of life

Leo Tolstoy brilliantly described a common reaction in The Death of Ivan Ilyich, when he wrote, “…the mere fact of the death of a near acquaintance aroused, as usual, in all who heard of it the complacent feeling that, ‘it is he who is dead and not I.

IVFs present family dilemma

For years, the overturning of Roe v. Wade was in the GOP’s sights and Trump’s Supreme Court brought forced pregnancy into reality.  The GOP knows that wealthy women will not be forced to bare children they are not prepared to raise.

With September comes changes

A number of songs dealing with romance have been written about the month of September.  February is supposed to be the month of romance since we celebrate Valentine’s Day then. It seems for some reason that a number of disappointed lovers were left hoping for a change in September.

Diversity: for the greater good

Once I was serving a church that had two Sunday morning worship services, 9 a.m., and 11 a.m. The 9 a.m. service was upbeat and growing; while the 11 a.m. service was traditional and stable.  Some of the 11 a.m., folks decided we needed to cancel the 9 a.m.

Kamala, or a chameleon in high heels?

The Presidential race is in full sprint now.  The most interesting thing about the race so far has been the coup resulting in Biden’s replacement with Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate.

Candidates, address inflation

It is very clear that the economy is very much on the mind of most Robbinsville voters – and rightfully so.  Going to the grocery store isn’t quite as frightening as it was a while back, but still not wallet-happy. Prices at the discount stores are still not wallet-happy.

Call 9-8-8: no judgment, just help

A number of common sayings are phrases from the Bible that have taken a life of their own.  One – usually heard in business and politics – is, “Fall on your own sword.”  The modern definition means to take responsibility for mistakes and accept the consequences by resigning.