Columns

Bioethanol chemical manufacturing plant: The risk

I want to talk again about the proposed RYAM 2G bioethanol chemical manufacturing plant a bit more. Specifically, the risk. In a small town just north of here, a horrible tragedy occurred 53 years ago.

The rules that free us to live better lives

In today’s culture, the Ten Commandments don’t carry the kind of weight as they used to. Should our non-believing friends think of them at all, they likely think about a set of old-fashioned rules, better suited to another time.

Campaign cash sparks doubts about local government

There is a belief that I have heard regarding local governments and has been mentioned every now and then about our own government: Commissioners, and others, are on the take. They are willing to approve developments or grant variances because they are being paid off.

Quack!

RYAM’s Sr. Director of Project Management, Mark Homans, at a recent city commissioners meeting was posed one simple question: “Is the manufacturing of bioethanol a chemical manufacturing process?” Homans replied, “It is not.”

Pimento cheese: Share the love

Today I made a large batch of pimento cheese. My family and I have a love relationship with this “Southern Caviar.”

How did emojis come into our lives?

Emojis, small yellow smiling faces, started entering our lives 20 years ago. First, it was facial expressions, including laughing, crying, and screaming, then a variety of other images joined the inventory. Considering that more than 3,782 emojis are available is scary. There are plans to add more.

No hankering to hit the road

Unless you’ve been residing beneath a metaphorical boulder since 2006, you’ve likely heard of “Eat, Pray, Love.” The bestselling memoir penned by Elizabeth Gilbert recounts her epic real-life journey of self-discovery as she traversed three distinct cultures and locales, Italy, India, and Bali.

Two weeks from heck

It all began a couple of Tuesdays ago. I had just finished my morning shower and turned on the hot water at the bathroom lavatory. I rinsed the various lotions and potions I had used and then turned the water off. Except it didn’t. Turn off, that is.

Why you gotta be so mean?

Even if pop music is not quite your jam, you’ve likely come across the term, “Swiftie.” This colloquial classification for Taylor Swift superfans emerged when Swift materialized on the music scene, seemingly enchanting the world.

Local news matters

In a time where national headlines often dominate our screens and social media feeds, it's easy to overlook the importance of local news. But it's the stories from our towns and neighborhoods that truly shape our daily lives and foster a sense of community.