This is a column from deep in the archives. It was published on Father's Day --June 19, 1994 -- by the Jacksonville Daily News. At the time my dad was almost two years past a heart transplant and he would live another 14 years before passing away in June of 2008. I doubt he ever … Continue reading My old man and Ralphie’s old man shared a common language
Author: madisontdawg
County support for election funding is appreciated
Last week I wrote about a county funding shortfall that could possibly impact local voting in the presidential election in November to what might be a serious degree. Presidential elections have the highest turnout by far and the greatest probability for problems. But the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the economy has crippled governments … Continue reading County support for election funding is appreciated
Updated: Now is not the time to cut funding for an election
Update on June 16. Monday night, June 15, my friend, Times-News reporter and former newspaper colleague Isaac Groves posted this on Twitter from the budget hearing of the Alamance County Board of Commissioners. I'm glad to see the commissioners make a move to help make the November elections process smoother. Thanks. It was something that … Continue reading Updated: Now is not the time to cut funding for an election
Understanding bias, privilege and what really matters
When nationally syndicated newspaper columnist Leonard Pitts spoke at Elon in September of 2015 as part of a lecture series featuring Pulitzer Prize winners, it was only a few months after the massacre of nine African-Americans by a white supremacist during Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. It touched … Continue reading Understanding bias, privilege and what really matters
Out of STEAM in downtown Burlington
When I saw the note via Facebook on June 1 I was not surprised. Deeply saddened, but not surprised. To our members, supporters, friends, family, and the community here in Alamance County: It is with a sad heart that I must report to you that as of 5pm Sunday May 31st we have ceased our … Continue reading Out of STEAM in downtown Burlington
Carrying a life and death message forward from now on
As a newspaper reporter, editor and now community blogger, I have written about the evils of racism for almost 40 years. I have pointed out biases, called out politicians, noted historical incidents like lynchings, attempted to define the idea of privilege, saluted black and white leaders who mattered, taken part in Rev. Dr. Martin Luther … Continue reading Carrying a life and death message forward from now on
Faded memory: Not just another goat tale
This is a column I wrote for the Jacksonville Daily News in 1996 from a collection compiled by my wife Roselee just before we got married in 1997. In those days I wrote often about growing up in Stokes County, especially during the summer months when childhood memories for me are strongest. And in those … Continue reading Faded memory: Not just another goat tale
Blanche Moore: Not the biggest story but the toughest I was involved in
Last fall I sat down with two Elon students for coffee at The Oak House, a popular spot downtown across from the main campus for coffee by day and something a little more potent at night. I was meeting them as part of their newspaper internship with the Burlington Times-News. Elon's School of Communications requires … Continue reading Blanche Moore: Not the biggest story but the toughest I was involved in
Just a phase: What’s reopening and how in downtown Burlington
A few hours after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper unfurled the new and slightly confusing "Safer at Home" phase two plan for reopening the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants and other impacted businesses in Alamance County began their own rollouts for how to serve customers safely in the weeks and months ahead. And it's … Continue reading Just a phase: What’s reopening and how in downtown Burlington
A prediction that was eerily accurate
Several years ago, just about a year before we got married, Roselee created a really cool gift for me. It was a bound booklet of nearly two years worth of my columns published in the Jacksonville Daily News when I was managing editor there. It took a lot of work to put it together. She … Continue reading A prediction that was eerily accurate
