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Remembering small-town Christmas in Williamson
Every year, as we get closer to Christmas, I start getting nostalgic. I always reminisce about the holidays of the past – especially the days of early December. It has been great to see so many of the small towns in our region, like Inez, Warfield, Kermit, Williamson, Delbarton and others, putting together Christmas events…
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Advice for graduates
Many of you have a son or daughter or maybe, like me, a granddaughter graduating this month. This is always a momentous occasion for the teenager and their families. Most of us who have a few years under our belts know that time flies. Before these graduates know what hit them, they are thrust into…
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Mom and the alien bug
BY VICKI LOVERN A few years before my mom passed away, she stumbled upon an alien bug sunning itself on her front porch. After a sun-filled Fourth of July, she stared down at the eerily cute creature and wondered if the heat of the day was causing her to hallucinate. It was both cute and…
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The lost art of letter writing
The art of writing a letter to a family member or friend is a thing of the past. Writing a letter and mailing it to someone has become very rare indeed. Handwritten correspondence between individuals has become a thing of the past. With email, social media and other internet platforms – communicating by letter just…
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The upcoming presidential election is so important
My dad always said not to get into a discussion about politics or religion – that it would usually cause arguments with friends or even family members. Those were wise words but I just cannot keep my mouth shut about this year’s presidential election. Kamala Harris is just too left-wing and liberal for the United…
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JD Vance has eastern Kentucky roots
James David “JD” Vance, the Republican nominee for vice president, has eastern Kentucky connections. Vance grew up in Middletown, Ohio, but he was raised by his mamaw (grandmother for those of you reading this who are not from our region). His parents divorced when he was a toddler. His ancestors are from Kentucky and Appalachia.…
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What it means to have Appalachian roots
There is a certain bond between people born and raised in Appalachia and where they grew up. Most of us spent our childhoods in small towns or up a holler (hollow for you city slickers) and we have a special attachment to those communities and the people who live there. The place where we were…
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Halloween was a special time growing up
One of my favorite holidays as a youngster in the 1960s was Halloween. We all looked forward to Trick or Treat night. We were not allowed out after dark so it was one of the few nights we could roam the neighborhood on a cool autumn evening. Leading up to Halloween, we always got a…
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Kyle’s Korner: Did we really land on the moon? Some still say ‘no’
BY KYLE LOVERN On July 20, 1969, one of the most amazing achievements in human history happened. The United States landed on the moon, and the first men walked on its dusty surface. Or did it really happen? I was just a 12-year-old, skinny, freckled-faced kid that summer, but I loved watching the rocket launches…
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Kyle’s Korner: Missing the old general stores and simpler times
BY KYLE LOVERN The idea of the super department stores where you can do a lot of things in one place is not such a new marketing strategy. Many of us can remember the old general stores that were located in most communities. Sure you can go into certain large “box” stores now and get…
