“I caught a snake!” my mom yelled as she quickly left the pole with my husband and darted to the other end of the pier. Of course, all of us ran over…
Category: Editorials
From the sunny side: Gettin’ my shot
I was finally able to do it. Last week, I went to get my first COVID vaccine. As strange as it may sound, I have actually been looking forward to being able…
Emerald’s Gem Box: The Front Porch … where the tea is sweet and the talks are long
One of the best things about growing up in the newspaper business has been giving back to the community and keeping all the local citizens informed of what’s happening in their corner…
St. Paddy’s Day
Rick Patrick: Columnist I know that by the time you read this, St. Patrick’s Day will have already passed. But, as I write this, it is still “St. Paddy’s Day,” a day…
Learning As I Go: Letting Them Drown
My fingers dug into the silty soil. Desperate, my eyes darted in every direction, hoping to see through the murky water. Out of air I resurfaced and dove again. It had only…
From the sunny side: Nice words
It’s funny that sometimes something small will happen at just the right time, when you least expect it, but when you need it the most, that lifts your spirit and helps you…
Learning As I Go: Skunked
“Daddy! Frank and Yella Dog caught something black. Hurry. Get out here, quick!” my oldest excitedly instructed. Next thing I know I hear David out there yelling, “Get back inside Carter and…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Who cares about public notices? You should!
Each year, there are a select few politicians that try to change the way public notices are handled, throughout the State of Florida. As it now stands, by law, every municipality is…
From the sunny side: Canceling
I promise you, I am really trying hard to keep my promise to you. It gets very difficult, but I am giving it a sincere effort to keep most of our visits…
Learning As I Go: Watching Papa die
Some things are always supposed to be open invitations to stop by, play cards and eat supper. Fishing trips on the Little River in Papa’s john boat. Homemade ice cream churning on…
Learning As I Go: When leaders fall
Rarely do I write about politics or news events, but this week, my heart is burdened over the recent investigation into the life of a well-known Christian apologist, Ravi Zacharias. For decades,…
From the sunny side: The big white house
Over the past several months, I have had the occasion to make the drive along U.S. Hwy 90 between Madison and Monticello. That stretch of road takes me past the big white…
Learning As I Go: Hug them twice
What a tragic loss our community has suffered this weekend. My heart is heavy, and it aches for all involved and connected. Every time we lose a younger person, I wonder why….
Emerald’s Gem Box: “Heaven, like earth, needs children too” Heaven has gained two more angels
This past weekend my heart broke into a million pieces, for a sweet, loving, and caring young lady and her unborn son, who died in a car wreck. Nicole Blair Surles was…
Midnight Meditations: Be an ant
There have been many nights where I stared into the darkness of my room, trying fruitlessly to fall asleep. Unfortunately, there’s nothing entertaining keeping me awake – just my mind and my…
From the sunny side: One step closer to normal
Since last spring, life has felt like it was missing something. I think it has something to do with the way baseball and softball was so rudely interrupted, thanks to that virus…
From the sunny side: Something good
This week’s visit has nothing to do with the lovely song from the Rogers and Hammerstein musical “The Sound of Music,” although it is one of my favorite songs from the musical….
Learning As I Go: It’s not my vineyard
King Ahab and his Queen, Jezebel, were infamous for so many terrible actions. This week, I was reminded of one of those. It was when Ahab looked out of his palace and…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Judgment Day
Judgment Day – it will happen, one day, for each and every one of us. The question each one of us needs to ask ourselves is, “What will be written in MY…
A trip down memory lane: Family isn’t always blood
I was four years old when I met her for the first time — my now step mama, who I simply call “mama.” I’m here today to tell everyone that Disney was…