The typical school bus is around 40-feet long and weighs in the neighborhood of 30,000 pounds – without passengers. Buses are huge and can be unwieldy. The last thing any school bus driver needs is distractions of any kind.
All tagged mike parker
Mike Parker: Homelessness: The fate of too many foster kids
I received a text from a friend on Wednesday that posed a disturbing question: “Hi Mike, can this be true? Almost half of all homeless are foster kids who aged out of the system?”
Mike Parker: ‘A.I.’ back in the spotlight
As I was looking through some of my old columns, I found one from 24 years ago on the subject of – drum roll – artificial intelligence. The column addressed one critic’s response to the film: “A.I. – Artificial Intelligence.” Bart Kosko, then a world-renowned expert in the field of artificial intelligence, attacked the film not for its plodding plot or bleak vision of the cruelty of human against defenseless robotic creatures. Instead, Kosko makes several assertions based on what seemed fuzzy logic at best.
Mike Parker: Colonies’ last-ditch effort to avoid revolution
Too often when we think about the American Revolution 250 years ago, we do not stop to ponder just how long the colonies struggled against the efforts of the British Crown and Parliament to control, even suppress, the colonials. History has a way of becoming compacted in our minds.
Mike Parker: Time to seriously consider term limits for elected officials
What do Chuck Grassley, Ed Markey, Ron Wyden, Chuck Shumer, Hal Rogers, Chris Smith, Steny Hoyer, Dick Durbin, Marcy Kaptur, and Mitch McConnell all have in common? They are the 10 longest serving members of Congress – and each one has served 40 years or more in the U.S. House or U.S. Senate.
Mike Parker: Library ‘Friends’ begins a new year
Several years ago, I served on the board of directors of “Friends of North Carolina Public Libraries.” Known by the acronym FONCPL, this statewide organization promotes the interests of 384 public libraries and tens of thousands of library friends.
Mike Parker: Kinston & Lenoir County to Remember WWII Heritage
Although I never met Floyd Dawson of La Grange, my wife Sandra's father, we have a photo of him and a fellow soldier standing in front of an ambulance. Sandra’s father was part of a team that went to the front lines of World War II to pick up the wounded and take them to the nearest field hospital.
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.
Mike Parker: 250 years ago, Washington appointed Commander-in-Chief
Yesterday – Sunday, June 15 – marks the 250th anniversary of George Washington’s appointment from the Second Continental Congress to serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.
Mike Parker: ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ takes off again
I had a break from high school graduations after my oldest four grandchildren earned diplomas. Courtney was first, followed by Haley, Taylor, and Jaxen. Jaxen’s graduation coincided with COVID, so he had no real commencement ceremony until he finished his degree at Johnston Community College. As you may recall, I call my first four grandchildren “The Old Guard.”
Mike Parker: Beware ‘smishing’ toll texts
Just Thursday I received three threatening text messages regarding my non-payment of tolls. All came from different email addresses, but instead of coming as emails, the messages were delivered as text messages to my phone.
Mike Parker: Celebration recognizes conservation education
On Wednesday evening, I had the joy and privilege of attending the 2025 Annual Education Celebration sponsored by the Lenoir Soil and Water Conversation District.
Mike Parker: When a plan comes together
As the fictional Col. John “Hannibal” Smith, leader of the A-Team, was known to say: “I love it when a plan comes together.” These words best describe the intense effort and planning that goes into making Kinston’s BBQ Fest on the Neuse a success year after year. This year marked the 44th year our city has put on the festival.
Mike Parker: Early May – My wife’s favorite time
May is my wife’s favorite month. Within two weeks, Sandra has two big days. May 1st is her birthday. The second Sunday is Mother’s Day. So, for two weeks, she is the queen – the center of the universe for each day’s celebration.
Mike Parker: BBQ FEST takes aim at world record
Kinston is gearing up for our area’s largest festival of the year – BBQ Festival on the Neuse. On part of Thursday and Friday and all-day Saturday, the extended Herritage Street downtown area will be packed with activities for all ages.
Mike Parker: First 2025 ‘Breakfast on the Boat’ set for Saturday, April 26
The CSS Neuse Foundation is hosting this year's first “Breakfast on the Boat” on April 26, 2025. The food will be ready by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday at the CSS Neuse II, the replica gunboat in dry-dock at the corner of Herritage and Gordon streets.
Mike Parker: An Evening Out with ‘The Old Guard’
Last Wednesday evening, I was blessed to eat dinner with three of my older grandchildren. Those of you who have read my column for years will remember that I have two sets of grandkids. The “Old Guard” are my first four: Courtney, Haley, Taylor, and Jaxen. The “Young Guns” are the last eight: Isaiah, Abby, Alex, Ben, Hannah, Laney, Alli, and Luke.
Mike Parker: Fourth Renaissance Faire transports back in time
The Lenoir County Fairgrounds may not have a TARDIS or Star Trek Transporter, but during April 12 and 13, you can be whisked back in time to when King Arthur ruled from Camelot and his knights took their place at the roundtable.
Mike Parker: The Outer Banks ‘Paul Revere’
As we come to the close of Women’s History Month, I want to share the Outer Banks story of a midnight ride that came just a few months after Paul Revere’s ride to warn the patriots that the British were coming.