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Veterans Day … so much more than just another day

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. For some citizens, they will see the holiday as merely another three-day weekend. Another day in which to sit and relax. Watch television or work around the house or yard. Perhaps get an early start on their Christmas decorating. Because that ... that is a holiday they will remember. For others, Monday will be a day which is recognized. Although not in the way that it should be. Some schools will be closed. Some businesses — especially the ones that pertain to the federal government, such as banks — will not be open for business, either. If you ...

From the pulpit/One thing

Fifteen years ago, I was honored to take a young man from my church to a steak dinner for his 12th birthday. Because his wonderful, and very godly father had passed away when he was just a few years old; I was blessed to be very involved in his life. Along with the usual joy and fun of a birthday celebration, I wanted the evening to be remembered as his entering into manhood. After a huge steak with all the trimmings, followed by a delicious dessert I was ready to share one very important word with him about serving Jesus Christ. I placed the gift I had bought for him in the middle of ...

Recognizing success

Monday night’s 80th-annual meeting and banquet held by the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District offered a chance to look back at the accomplishments of the past year, a glimpse at what lies ahead and the presentation of a couple of annual awards. It also was a chance for the organization to recognize the work of Irene Moore, its longtime administrator who recently retired from her post. “As I look around this room, the true winners here tonight are the landowners, stakeholders and officials of Jefferson County. The reason for this designation of all of us being winner ...

There’s just some things I’ll never understand

So, I actually passed out candy this year for Halloween. You probably don’t think that’s a very big deal. But I have never given out candy before. Not one time in 53 years. I was always in the frame of mind that if I was in possession of chocolate, I was certainly not going to share it with somebody else. Especially strangers. I mean, who does that? This year however, I changed my mind. About 30 minutes before it was time for trick-or-treating to begin. Don’t ask me why. I rushed to the store and purchased five packs of “fun size” Reese’s Cups, Kit Kat, Nestlé ...

Sharing Halloween spirit

If you have been through just about any neighborhood during the past couple of months, you no doubt have noticed the growing number of people who are going all out when they decorate their homes and yards for Halloween. The decorations cover a wide range, from 12-foot-tall skeletons and grim reapers; to life-size witches who stir cauldrons containing an icky-green substance while steam rises and spooky music plays; to giant inflatable pumpkins and ghosts, giant spiders and webs, old-fashioned projectors that display black cats and bats on garage doors and orange front lights; to ...

History in the Hills: Finding buried history

Fall is a special time of year here in our area. I love to watch the seasons change and our local colors come out on the trees. There is a chill in the air, but it is not too cold to be uncomfortable. There seems to be an anticipation, too, of the holidays just around the corner and all the fun that season brings as well. Usually this time of year, my family and I are going between horseback riding for our twins, football and scouts from my son, and dance for my daughter, but we still manage to squeeze in some fun at festivals and pumpkin patches. Fall is traditionally a spooky time ...