The Unconvential Conventions

The election of a president for the United States has become a phased process.  We watch the winnowing of candidates through political party debates. Since the Democrats were on the outs, more than 20 candidates beat on each other through a series of debates.

The duties of a ‘free’ society

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” (James Madison). A common theme of mine is that of liberty.

‘The shot lady’ Ann Dudley worked to save lives

“Some kid would always spot Ann Dudley’s car as soon as she pulled into the school yard,” my friend Myles Godfrey wrote in a newspaper column in 1987. “Word would spread quickly, through whispers and fearful glances, and a tremor would go through the student body.” The Shot Lady had arrived.

Voter suppression is alive and well

The right to vote is so important that it appears in Article 1 of the Constitution.  Responsibility for keeping the voting process fair was granted to the legislatures in 1787. The goal of suppressing votes began in earnest, nearly immediately.

Mount St. Helens: A look back

In 1980, I had been employed with the U.S. Forest Service for 13 years and had already been on numerous large wildfires in the western United States. None of that prepared me for what was to come though – an active volcano. I had not realized that it had been 40 years since the Mount St.

The fin and feather

It is with sadness we announce that because of the pandemic, the Fin and Feather will not be held this year. Many of you will recognize this of the annual fundraiser of Robbinsville United Methodist Church.

Kids remember acts of kindness

I have heard a number of adults – including some that were well along in years – recall some kindness that someone had shown to them when they were a young child.  They could recall everything about the event as if it were only yesterday.

Replace toothbrush every month

Contrary to what dentists would tell us, we need to replace our toothbrushes every month, and not every three months. Germs can hide in toothbrush bristles and lead to reinfection, said Brett M, Scotch, D.O., an osteopathic physician.

“Until it’s safe” means “never”

I saw a meme on the internet a while ago that said, “Until it’s safe, means never.”  In the midst of the COVID-19 panic, this is a thought that should really make us think about life and how it should be lived.   Is life safe? Does safety provide joy? What liberty will we trade for safety?

Politics and how it impacts the U.S. Postal Service

One person’s reform is another person’s disaster.  Change is never easy.  When change impacts a unionized governmental entity such as the U.S. Postal Service, the process requires cooperation, negotiation and most importantly, trust.