There is no feeling in a workplace quite like the one when a colleague is taken in the prime of life by either accident, incident or unspeakable disease. For the Burlington Times-News in the spring of 2013 the culprit was No. 3. It was tough to watch how quickly cancer swallowed Mike Wilder, a longtime … Continue reading Still in Mike Wilder’s corner and still helping those battling cancer
Author: madisontdawg
A story without end, until
The lead prosecutor in the controversial 1990 murder trial of Blanche Taylor Moore died Saturday when she stepped into traffic on Interstate 485 in Charlotte, authorities said. Winston-Salem Journal This post was originally from Oct. 15, 2015 -- shortly after I read the story referenced above. Since it was written, little to my knowledge … Continue reading A story without end, until
The endgame for UNC and the NCAA is nothing to cheer about for anyone
For the University of North Carolina, seven years of scrutiny by the governing body of collegiate athletics, the NCAA, came to a close Friday. It ended not with a bang, but hardly a whimper either – unless UNC’s “Anybody but Carolina” rivals can be counted. Upon further review I might classify the latter’s response more … Continue reading The endgame for UNC and the NCAA is nothing to cheer about for anyone
Throwback Thursday: A reminder about the treachery of politicians
I wrote this in October, 2015 about something that impacted my home county. This still pisses me off to be blunt about it. Never forget what politicians are capable of doing -- ever. --- In Stokes County, where I was born and raised, a lot of good people I know very well fought the good … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: A reminder about the treachery of politicians
Talking technology, jobs and the future at Community Connections
In October of 2013 LabCorp offered a reporter, editor and publisher for the local newspaper an opportunity to tour its massive testing laboratories on York Court in Burlington. I was fortunate enough to be part of it. The highly structured tour occurred at night, after 7 p.m., just before the overnight shift arrived for work. … Continue reading Talking technology, jobs and the future at Community Connections
Elon’s incoming president was a journalist first
Connie Ledoux Book impressed me right from the start. I saw her for the first time several years ago, nearly a lifetime it seems today. I was in attendance at the then-annual lunch hosted by the North Carolina bureau of the Associated Press in conjunction with the annual Winter Institute and awards ceremony conducted by … Continue reading Elon’s incoming president was a journalist first
Goodbye to a true citizen of the world
The first time I recall riding in a Volkswagen beetle the man behind the wheel was Alan Gordon. It was a dark green bug and to that point in my life – age four or five at the outside -- constituted just about the most astonishing thing seen to date on the tar-covered or dirt … Continue reading Goodbye to a true citizen of the world
Something to be proud of
I wrote this editorial for the Burlington Times-News on the occasion of the first Alamance Pride festival in 2015. On Saturday the group will hold its third in downtown Burlington. Happy birthday to a more inclusive day in the Burlington, North Carolina community. This area still has its bumps in the road but this event … Continue reading Something to be proud of
Throwback Thursday: My best friend at work
Five years ago this week my spouse, the lovely, talented and now long-suffering Roselee Papandrea, announced she would be leaving the newspaper business and the Burlington Times-News for a position at Elon. I wrote this on her last week but thought today might be a good time to share it again. The newspaper business … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: My best friend at work
Reality crashes in America’s Land of Make Believe
I traveled to Las Vegas for the first time in August of 2001. I’ll always remember the date because approximately a month later I would learn that the bastard terrorists who commandeered jet airliners then used them as missiles on Sept. 11, 2001 were on the infamous Vegas Strip at roughly the same time we … Continue reading Reality crashes in America’s Land of Make Believe
Madison's Avenue 