Zoning approvals can cause a domino-effect for disaster when public safety is overlooked and development quickly pushes forward . Patricia Smith Across North Florida, propane storage and distribution facilities are expanding rapidly in rural and semi-rural areas, prompting safety experts to raise concerns. While economic development and energy demand are driving growth, the placement of…
When WWJD isn’t enoughNancy Kennedy Years ago, a woman called me with an idea for my column.She was discouraged by all the turmoil in the nation — things haven’t changed much, have they? — and suggested we should all start wearing WWJD bracelets again.Back in the 1990s, WWJD (“What Would Jesus Do?”) was trendy among…
Slim Randles Now before you can sneak away, here comes that pharaoh of the feed-store, that baron of the bunkhouse, that titan of the tack room…Windy Wilson. Well, t’other day I meandurated around town until I crept into Sarah’s bookstore. You know the one. Has that sign on them bookshelves says “Love and other Fiction.”…
If you’re not Betty CrockerJudy Conlin I invited a couple of friends over this week for coffee and conversation. Being of Italian descent, I , of course, wanted to feed them. Not being Betty Crocker, my culinary and baking accomplishments are pretty iffy. On top of that, I never want to make something I have…
King’s dream was never finished George Cassidy Payne On a cold January morning, a small group of visitors walks through a National Park, expecting to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. The gates are open, but the celebration is absent—no banners, no programs, no recognition. Juneteenth, too, has vanished from the federal calendar. Last year,…
Slim Randles “Boys, I gotta tell you,” said our old pal Windy Wilson, “This cold transmits me reversely to the winter of ’47. Cold? It thicklicated your blood so much you could hardly walk. You remember it, Doc? Ol’ Miller at the dairy had to ignitiolize a fire under the milk separator to liquinate it….
Faith when the world feels out of controlSheryl Boldt In the erratic times we live in, when emotions run rampant, do you ever wonder if you’re living with the right focus? I do. As Christ followers, what does God require of us? When the enemy seems to be gaining ground in our culture, relationships and…
Building a sustainable future, one penny at a time Most of us have heard the old saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” But what does that really mean for our everyday lives, our families, and our future?Life has a way of surprising us while sometimes with joyful moments, other times with challenges we…
Slim Randles It was Herb who first saw Janice Thomas, the art teacher, come in.“She’s putting something up on the bulletin board,” Herb said.“Wonder what it says,” said Doc.“Might be something from school,” Herb said.Steve is of a more practical way of thinking. “You ever thought about going over there and seeing what it is?”Steve…
Baby, it’s cold outsideJudy Conlin Here it is-the brand new year of 2026, and it is freezing outdoors. Everyone knows I hate cold weather. Moving from near Buffalo, New York to sunny Florida was a no brainer for me. I was happy with north Florida because it had seasons – even a little winter but…
