While wearing shoes

Anyone reading my columns has no doubt noticed a heavy emphasis on the family.   Until yesterday, this would not have been controversial: it would’ve simply been understood that family is the bedrock of civilization and that the family has a natural patriarchal structure.

Love thy neighbor

The discovery like many happened by accident.  I was moving an old table at the church when I noticed writing under the top. Written in cursive with a pencil were the words, “Robbinsville M.E. South Church Sept 5, 1917 Ice Cream Supper at Court House.

Lake Tahoe, on fire: who’s to blame?

My wife Beth and I had the pleasure of visiting Incline Village, Nev. for two weeks in late August and early September.

Missing man still a mystery

A man who disappeared almost 30 years ago in Graham County remains a mystery to this day.  Gilbert Andrew Vasquez, 31 from Houston, Texas, was camping with relatives near Beech Gap on the North Carolina-Tennessee state line when he disappeared on Halloween Day of 1991.

Refusing to comply

Well, here we are: President Biden has contradicted himself about vaccine mandates.  I know – it’s a shocker, but it happened.

Unity can make everyone safer

The year was 1767 – May 10 – when several hundred people gathered at Isaac Long’s Barn in Lancaster, Pa. for a Great (revival) Meeting.  The preacher that day was Martin Boehm, a Mennonite farmer who had been chosen by Lot (Acts 1:26) to serve his church as minister.

Census results define challenges

Adopted 231 years ago, Article 1 Section 2 of the US Constitution says, “Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states…according to their respective numbers…”  The Census numbers decide who loses or gains seats in the House of Representatives and in the Legislature.

Rough, N.C. lived up to its name

This story first ran in the Dec. 19, 1996 issue of The Graham Star. It is being published again, at the requests of readers. A section of West Buffalo was once known as “Rough,” and according to stories from past and present residents of that area, it was appropriately named.

Not the bad guys

In a recent monologue, talk show host Bill Maher had some interesting things to say.

Never forget

I had just turned 13.  Even 16 years later, I still vividly remember Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. While myself and my family evacuated and made it through unharmed – with some damage to our home – much of my hometown of Gulfport, Miss. faced near-total destruction.