All in Columns

Kristy Kelly: Kinston doesn't need performative outrage

Yesterday, I witnessed a handful of adults berate the city council and call for the reallocation of police funds because an officer allegedly abused his power and was caught on video doing so. The police department gave a canned “we are investigating the issue” statement, and the mayor co-signed their message by way of copy and paste.

Cooking with Tammy Kelly: North Carolina peach season has arrived ahead of schedule

According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, due to our exceptionally warm weather a bumper crop of high-quality has arrived earlier than usual.  Peaches typically peak during July, but many peach farmers are already selling fresh ripe early peach varieties.  Warm weather tends to make the peaches ripen not only earlier but faster so don’t wait to pick your peck of peaches!! 

Faith Forward with Jason McKnight: GPS for a Great Marriage

I’ve married 45 couples over the last two decades. It’s a joy to help a man and woman stand before God, family and friends, and step into a whole new life: oneness, family, covenant from God. You’d think, since God gave humans the gift of marriage, it would be filled with power, ease and endless delights. In reality, it is a LOT of hard work. 

Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Extension Master Gardeners of Lenoir County Children’s Garden

If you missed the Business After Hours at the Extension Master Gardeners of Lenoir County’s Children Garden (Children’s Garden), you really missed out! Great food, with a summer-time theme, as well as great fellowship was had by those that attended! Many exclaimed how amazing the garden space is, and how they cannot wait to visit again and bring their children, grandchildren, etc.!

Mike Parker: ‘Wings Over the Neuse’ seeking sponsors

When the first “Wings Over the Neuse” fundraiser occurred, I was not part of the CSS Neuse Foundation Board. In 2009, board members decided to do something special to raise funds to place a monument for Alton “Doc” Stapleford to recognize and honor all the work and supervision he provided during the construction of the CSS Neuse II.

Mike Parker: Juneteenth and the end of slavery

Last Thursday, many observed the latest federal holiday – “Juneteenth.” The term “Juneteenth” is the compression of “June Nineteenth” – the day in 1865 that Union Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War. Roughly 250,000 enslaved people received their freedom that day.

Cooking with Tammy Kelly: “Sardine Summer”

In case you haven’t heard, and I am not sure how you missed it, but the latest trend made popular by Tik Tok is “Sardine Summer.”  The last I remember sardine talked about was way back when my Daddy used to open the rather smelly can for a quick lunch, but apparently everything from clothes, accessories, home goods and recipes are now featuring the tiny, sometimes tinny fish. 

Kristy Kelly: The Red Queen gets married

There’s something deeply humbling about being wrapped in the love of an entire town—a thousand small acts that made our wedding day unforgettable. From the moment my eyes opened on the morning of June 13, it was clear that someone had already come through and smoothed the way.