Growing up with brother Sam

After the recent death of my brother Sam McClung, a cousin of mine – Betty Smith, who lives in Knoxville – suggested I write a story about growing up with Sam. All four of us children were born at home and delivered by a midwife. Sam was five years old when I was born.

Come together … right now

Aesop told the story of a group of four oxen that lived in a lush field.  There was a hungry lion that would prowl the field and on occasion, attack the oxen. The oxen would work together, get tail to tail and any direction the lion attacked they fended him off together.

Reasons to vote Republican

Election time is finally upon us.  Measured in sunrises and sunsets, 2020 has been like any other year. Measured in mental stress, it has been a lifetime.   First and foremost, you should cast a well-informed ballot. I do not believe in the random vote that doesn’t consider the consequences.

Biden/Harris is the best ticket forward

The best conversations with someone of opposing views begin with the discovery that there might be some areas of agreement. For instance, we might all agree that political ads painting your opponent as the devil incarnate doesn’t garner many votes.

Fear, panic increase risk to pandemic virus

While the number of positive cases have been increasing in a certain locality, the level of intensity from people concerned with COVID-19 virus have also heightened their fears causing panic to some.

How do ‘dog people’ get to be ‘cat people?’

Confession: I have never wanted a cat. So, how did we wind up with three different cats? The quick answer is that kitties 1, 2 and 3 found us. And since we are animal lovers, these cats found a royal welcome, with certain restrictions.

The longest search, Part 2

On Oct. 5, 1988, the Graham County Rescue Squad was advised of the search for Jim Michelic, a 25-year-old Wisconsin man who went missing after last being seen on the Wolf Laurel Trail on Sept. 27.

Dear Santa: Please bring civility back to elections

When I was a boy, I would count the days until Christmas. Santa Claus was coming.  Today, I count the days until the election. Some relief is coming. Right now, as I write this, the calendar tells me there are 26 days left – 26 more days of hateful political ads on television.

Goin’ against the grain

Shout-out to the first presidential debate for reinforcing why I hate analyzing, discussing or even thinking about politics. With less than a month left before the general election, I realize that as an editor, people crave my thoughts on politics. Where do I stand? Who will I endorse?

The longest search, Part 1

What is considered to be the longest search for a missing person in Graham County to date occurred in 1988.  That year, Jim Michelic, 25 from New Berlin, Wis., came to the Cheoah Ranger Station on Sunday, Sept. 25. Michelic spoke with U.S.