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Where’s the beef? Some want to do away with red meat
Fake meat is not for me BY KYLE LOVERN The political discussion around meat consumption has become increasingly divided in recent years. I just don’t think our government officials should debate our food. I believe they have more pertinent issues they should be worried about. But it is a debate that seems to divide the…
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Eating healthy costs more than junk food
BY KYLE LOVERN There was a hit novelty song in the 1970s titled “Junk Food Junkie,” written by Larry Groce, who resides in Charleston. “And I pull out some Fritos corn chips, Dr Pepper and an Ole Moon Pie, Then I sit back in glorious expectation Of a genuine junk food high.” That is just…
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Summers and Fourth of July of youth
BY KYLE LOVERN The Fourth of July holiday was always a fun time when I was growing up. My sister Karen and I were recently reminiscing about those lazy (and recently hazy) hot days of summer. School had been out for over a month, which was a great thing as far as I was concerned.…
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Remembering a few old country sayings
BY KYLE LOVERN Growing up in Mingo County, I always got a kick out of many old country sayings. My dad always had a few – many that have stayed with me to this day. There are times I find myself using some of them. Some sayings I heard while just sitting back and listening…
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Remembering the boys of summer
BY KYLE LOVERN Growing up in Nolan, it would be a big surprise if you didn’t play baseball and softball. You could have called us the “boys of summer.” We were known for having good softball teams. Those were some of the best times and my greatest memories of growing up in this little hamlet…
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Be proud to live in Appalachia
BY KYLE LOVERN I was talking to an old-timer a few years back, interviewing an elderly person for a story. She lived deep in at the top of a mountaintop above what we call a “holler.” As you might imagine, the view of the mountains was just fantastic. As we sat there and gazed over…
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Glass soda pop bottles meant money back in the day
BY KYLE LOVERN Many kids today have money and a steady allowance. They never have to worry about buying things, and that’s OK. But back in the 1960s, we would turn in reusable pop bottles for money. If you lived near a grocery store in most communities, you could turn in those glass bottles for…
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Government taking away your gas cooking stove?
BY KYLE LOVERN I’m sure many of you grew up in a time when your moms or grandmothers cooked on a gas stove. Many of us heated our homes with gas heaters or furnaces. We had an electric cooking stove in our old home place at Nolan, but we heated our home in the winter…
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Remember those who gave all in the Vietnam War
BY KYLE LOVERN Growing up in the 1960s, I paid attention to current events even though I was young – especially the Vietnam War, which was in full swing from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s. I remember watching Walter Cronkite on the news and some reporters in-country bringing home the news of Southeast Asia…
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Rhubarb pie and memories of the past
BY KYLE LOVERN I often write about my memories of the past and growing up. Recently a photo of a rhubarb and strawberry pie on social media brought back many memories. My mother, Charlotte Hope, was a great cook and made everything from scratch. (I know most everyone thinks their mom is a great cook.)…