Early June in 2008 was hotter than most. That’s saying a lot these days, when the late spring and early summer months seem to turn up the swelter to “darned near unbearable” more often than in the past. Or so it seems anyway. I was taking a walk. Not all that unusual. I like to … Continue reading He lived a long time with that new heart
Past imperfect
Throwback Thursday: The man who actually invented ‘The Wave’
This is a column I wrote way back in June of 1997 about life in my hometown of Danbury, North Carolina in the 1960s and '70s when I was growing up there. Danbury in those days was full of interesting people, charming rogues and, well, characters. All were and still are special to me in … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: The man who actually invented ‘The Wave’
A first lesson in you never know what you might find
Sometime in 1983 while on my first reporting job after college my then-new friend and newspaper colleague Fletcher Waynick told me about something I thought was pretty interesting. He thought it would make a pretty good story and I agreed. It was my first lesson in "you never know what you might find in the … Continue reading A first lesson in you never know what you might find
The billions of thank yous I owe Mom
This is a column I wrote in 1997 with the Jacksonville Daily News -- published on Mother's Day, May 11. I'm still thanking my Mom, by the way. ---------------------------------------- My mother was a journalist. She was apparently pretty good at it too. At least the North Carolina Press Association thought so. They gave her an … Continue reading The billions of thank yous I owe Mom
Throwback Thursday: Ric Flair used to date a girl from Richlands
Another in a series of recently unearthed columns written for the Jacksonville Daily News last century, Feb. 23, 1997 to be exact. This one was sparked by what else, a random newsroom conversation. I'm still friends with the major players and Richlands -- pronounced Rich-lands -- is still the center of the known universe (I … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: Ric Flair used to date a girl from Richlands
Shame on display (Updated with more details)
My longtime friend Lisa Ashmore messaged me Sunday night with a question. She noted the recent opening of the new Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Incarceration as well as the National Memorial for Peace and Justice both in Montgomery, Alabama. While exploring the website for these two joined projects -- one marking the horrifying legacy … Continue reading Shame on display (Updated with more details)
Throwback Thursday: The story of the Potato Salad Kid
A few weeks ago I ran across an old manila folder containing a collection of columns I wrote for the Jacksonville Daily News more than 20 years ago -- 1997 in fact. Because I still like a few of them, I'll share one or two over the next few weeks. Today I'm offering one first … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: The story of the Potato Salad Kid
The astonishing Bartolo Colon started in Burlington and is still rolling along
Everything old is, well, old again. Make that older. Sunday night I decided to tune into the ESPN Sunday night game. The defending World Series champion Houston Astros were on the schedule. They're an interesting team. Seemed to beat watching the Oklahoma City-Utah NBA playoff game anyway. Turned out it was. The Astros were playing … Continue reading The astonishing Bartolo Colon started in Burlington and is still rolling along
Memories of friend and colleague Mike Wilder still vivid after five years
When Burlington Times-News reporter and friend Mike Wilder was in the final days of his 45 years on earth I began compiling a list of things I would remember about him most. Funny how the little stuff sticks with you. I thought I’d share it again today, the five-year anniversary of his death from cancer … Continue reading Memories of friend and colleague Mike Wilder still vivid after five years
Can’t you smell that smell? Industrial hog farm practices go to court, finally
I saw an Associated Press story this morning about the start of a federal civil trial involving pork-producing giant Smithfield Foods and folks who unfortunately live near massive industrial livestock operations -- sites labeled quaintly as "farms." This is apparently the first of dozens of lawsuits stemming from neighbors of the facilities where millions of … Continue reading Can’t you smell that smell? Industrial hog farm practices go to court, finally
Madison's Avenue 