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Gun control is not the answer to mass shootings
BY KYLE LOVERN School shootings and workplace violence are terrible, but taking guns away from everyone is not the answer. I have my concealed permit. I’ve had it for a few years now. West Virginia has a reciprocal agreement with several other states, including Kentucky, where if you have a permit, it will be honored…
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Kyle’s Korner: We’ve come a long way from party-line phones
BY KYLE LOVERN When growing up at Nolan, not many people had telephones in their homes. It was indeed a luxury to have a phone in your house. I can remember having ours at a young age while in grade school and being able to call a couple of friends who also had the privilege…
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Remembering the devastating 1977 Tug River flood
If you lived through it, you will never forget BY KYLE LOVERN The devastating and horrendous Tug Fork River flood of 1977 forever changed the Tug Valley area. The natural disaster overwhelmed residents who lived along the watershed in southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, including Mingo, Pike and Martin counties. Torrential rains fell from…
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I love spring but hate what it brings
BY KYLE LOVERN I truly love spring. I love hearing the echoes of the first frogs croaking on a mild evening. I love daylight saving time and getting that extra hour of sunshine. I love baseball season. I love watching the green grass grow again. I love seeing the trees like dogwoods and redbuds blossom…
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New bill could allow West Virginia athletes to more easily transfer
BY KYLE LOVERN The West Virginia Legislature recently passed a bill that will significantly change the transfer rules for West Virginia high school athletes. HB 2820 would allow students in grades 9-12 to transfer one time for any reason to another school without losing a year of eligibility. The bill has been sent to Governor…
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Kyle’s Korner: March Madness brings excitement
BY KYLE LOVERN March Madness is once again upon us. For those who don’t follow college basketball or may live off the grid in a cave, the term describes the crazy excitement many hoops fans feel for the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament. Over the years that feeling has spilled over to women’s and high school…
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Kyle’s Korner: Growing a garden is rewarding
It takes us back to our roots BY KYLE LOVERN Growing a garden has become trendy. But that’s not a bad thing. There is something about planting your seeds and plants and nurturing them. Watching them grow, then reaping the benefits of getting fresh vegetables right out of your own backyard is quite rewarding. Of…
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Kyle’s Korner: Whatever happened to good manners?
BY KYLE LOVERN Times have changed with many things in our society, but whatever happened to teaching our youngsters good manners or being considerate of others? Simple acts of kindness should never go out of style. Growing up, many of us “baby boomers” were taught certain manners and being nice to other people, especially the…
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Volunteer firefighters should be praised
BY KYLE LOVERN Volunteer firefighters are important to small towns and rural communities throughout the United States. These brave men and women need our praise and respect. They are the backbone of the firefighting industry. Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) state that approximately 70% of firefighters in the United States serve in…
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The house that built me; fond memories of the past
BY KYLE LOVERN Every once in a while, a song comes along that touches you inside. A few years ago one of my favorite country music stars, Miranda Lambert, had a huge hit with “The House That Built Me.” The video shows her visiting the house where she grew up. I can definitely relate to…