Opinion & Editorial

When New Year’s traditions took an unexpected turn

By Carly Henderson As we enter a new year, I’ve found myself thinking about past New Year’s celebrations. While I’d like to believe each one gets better than the last, I’m not sure anything will ever top Jan. 1, 2025.

Our View: New Year, New Beginnings

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King Jr. Even before the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, many of us were already looking forward to this new year of 2026. A new year offers us a clean slate.

Just a Baby

By Paul Kimball Today in church, we had a service of Lessons and Carols. I was privileged to read Luke 2:8-16 which is a beautiful passage immortalized for many of us through the classic Peanut’s Christmas special and Linus’s monologue on the true meaning of Christmas.

'It is more blessed to give than to receive’

By Dink NeSmith “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Our View: ‘Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus’

(Editor’s note: Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897.

The Family We Became Part 2

By Ronda Rich When Gunnar Nelson opened the door of his beautiful home, even before I had reached the top step of the porch, and greeted me cheerfully with a big hug, I felt I was being embraced by family. I was there to interview Gunnar and his twin, Matthew, about them and their famous family.

Thankful at Christmas for memories of Mama Hudgins

By Phil Hudgins It was 1979, the year of a memorable Christmas. My paternal grandmother, Hattie Mangum Hudgins, died on Christmas Eve that year.

Shining a light in a great darkness

By Denise Etheridge I initially awoke in a cheerful mood last Sunday in anticipation of the first night of Chanukah.  We planned to make latkes for dinner before lighting the first candle on our menorah. I had gifts wrapped in white, blue and silver for my children and granddaughter.

If you missed this 60 Minutes program, go back and watch it

By Dink NeSmith There aren’t many TV programs that I will rearrange my schedule to watch. CBS’s 60 Minutes is on top of that short list. Well, second if you count the Georgia Bulldogs during football season.

A frantic search for Taylor’s signature red cardigan

By Carly Henderson Around the age of 5, I heard Taylor Swift sing about a “stupid old pickup truck” someone never let her drive, and my life changed forever. She has been my top listened-to artist for 10 years (probably longer- that’s just according to Spotify).