Opinion

Right is right and wrong is wrong

Scott Kamps
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
I’m unashamedly a “conservative Christian, right-wing Republican, straight, white, American male” who voted for Donald Trump.  While I’d reject the Leftists pigeonholing me as hateful, racist, bigoted, etc.

‘Baby Ben’ ran the house

Maeburl Tincher
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
This clock provides a callback to the writer’s childhood with “Baby Ben.” Daddy had a lot of children, but his favorite was Baby Ben. The youngest among us were Phyllis and Joe, but it was Baby Ben who ruled the roost – and he let us all know when it was time to roost.

500 years of Tyndale’s New Testament

Eric Reece
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
The English-speaking world has a great anniversary to celebrate this year, as 2026 is the 500th anniversary of the publication of William Tyndale’s English New Testament.  Tyndale was a gifted, devoted and determined priest.
Members of the "Older American Program" learned it was never too late to obtain an education, or improve their life skills. All names are listed from left. Front row: Mildred Holder, Lillian Slaughter, Dina Wachacha Waldroup and Jura Mae Jordan. Back row: Chester Bradshaw, Oleta Nelms and Tri-County Community College GED Instructor Tonia Walsh. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service

Members of the "Older American Program" learned it was never too late to obtain an education, or improve their life skills. All names are listed from left. Front row: Mildred Holder, Lillian Slaughter, Dina Wachacha Waldroup and Jura Mae Jordan. Back row: Chester Bradshaw, Oleta Nelms and Tri-County Community College GED Instructor Tonia Walsh. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service

‘Older American Program’ gained national attention

Marshall McClung
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
* Conclusion of a 3-part series The “Older American Program” on the Cheoah Ranger District continued into the 1990s, while I was still with the U.S. Forest Service.  I have mentioned that the program ran smoothly, with only a few minor problems.

A necessary evil

Lynne Stevens
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Thank goodness for tax day!  Bet that got your attention.  Yes, it’s the time of the year to file for that refund.

Deus ex machina: ‘God from the Machine’

Eric Reece
Monday, March 9, 2026
Do you know your favorite hit country or worship songs may be a creation of Artificial Intelligence? There may be a name or group attached as it rises in the charts, but it is completely generated by AI.

Breaking down ‘shrinkflation’

Lynne Stevens
Monday, March 9, 2026
Every day, it seems we go to our local grocery store and see higher prices and shrunken boxes that are tall – but skinny.  We buy a box and open it to see the bag is half-full; only to be told it is sold by weight not volume.
Older American Program employees (from left) Edna Woods, Jura Mae Jordan, Winnie Cook and Chester Bradshaw. Photo by Marshall McClung/The Graham Star

Older American Program employees (from left) Edna Woods, Jura Mae Jordan, Winnie Cook and Chester Bradshaw. Photo by Marshall McClung/The Graham Star

‘Older American Program’ experienced growth

Marshall McClung
Monday, March 9, 2026
* Part 2 of a 3-part series Soon after it began, the senior citizen workforce at the U.S. Forest Service began to grow rapidly. We were allotted 41 slots and kept them filled.  Almost no one quit unless their health prevented them from working any longer.

The hovering

Maeburl Tincher
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
In the mountains of western North Carolina, life has long been shaped by distance: the distance to town, to neighbors and especially to a doctor, when something went wrong.  For generations, mountain families learned to endure illness and trust God when help was far away.

Raisin’ young’ins in today’s world

Scott Kamps
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
After over 20 years of raising young’ins (five of my own), I’ve learned a few things.  Some of the things my wife and I did we weren’t 100% sure we were doing right, but looking back now, I am glad we did. Navigating youth sports is a challenge nowadays.