I first met Sheila Davidson when she was asked to return to North Lenoir High School to be the keynote speaker for an awards ceremony. The 1985 North Lenoir graduate had distinguished herself in her field – Environmental Studies.
All in Columns
Michael Spears: Your mortgage and the pandemic
Since mortgage rates are at record lows, I have received calls from many of my clients inquiring whether it would be beneficial to refinance.
Reece Gardner: The light at the end of the tunnel
Well, the comeback from the current Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic appears to have officially begun.
"No Empty Bowl" faces empty cupboard
A nursery rhyme goes something like this: “Old Mother Hubbard / Went to the cupboard / To get her poor dog a bone: / When she got there / The cupboard was bare / And so the poor dog had none.” Despite the generosity of area citizens, “the cupboard is bare,” as the nursery rhyme says. As of May 7, all the food and supplies donated through “No Empty Bowl” have been distributed. Donations on Saturday, May 9, were down. Unless donations pour in on Saturday, May 16, the cupboard will be only sparsely supplied.
Library services continue on
We at Neuse Regional Libraries understand how difficult the stay-at-home order can be, and how much everyone misses their normal activities in the community. We certainly miss seeing all of our regular library users in person. However, the Library is still providing vital services to the community in several ways, and your library card can still be used to access a wealth of knowledge and enjoyment from home.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Healthy hearty veggie main dishes!
Whether you are a vegetarian or not, veggie friendly, and flavor packed recipes are a great addition to your family menus.
A prayer for education by Pastor Michelle Gooding
A prayer for education by Pastor Michelle Gooding.
Reece Gardner: The hand that rocks the cradle
As I began putting this column together, an old "saying", which I hadn't really thought about for many years, came to mind. That "saying" is "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." That is a profound truth because it highlights the powerful influence Mothers have on our lives, for which we can all be eternally thankful.
John Hood: Numbers missing from lockdown debate
To put it simply, most people infected by the virus never get sick at all or present only mild symptoms. Protocol doesn’t subject them to testing. Indeed, most infected people wouldn’t even bother to seek it. So, how many North Carolinians truly are infected? We need to think more broadly. According to University of Chicago professor Casey Mulligan, a rough estimate of the cost of the current lockdowns nationwide is about $20 billion a day in lost economic production. On a proportional basis, that would translate to $540 million per day in North Carolina.
A prayer for the church by Pastor William Hudson
A prayer for the church by Pastor William Hudson
Mike Parker: During the COVID-19 confusion, please do not forget to complete the Census
I should have written this column about two months ago. Like most of us, I have been distracted. Today’s subject is crucial to our local, state and national government. The census still contains a few questions I think are unnecessary. For instance, I am not sure what questions about ethnicity or marital status have to do with apportioning representation in the U.S. House, but I answered those anyway.
A prayer for education by Pastor Wandra Williams
A prayer for education by Pastor Wandra Williams.
A prayer for businesses by Pastor Justin Barnett
I was asked recently to submit a prayer for businesses that would be a part of a National Day of Prayer series for Neuse News. I immediately thought of all the small businesses that are struggling and many that are closed right now. I am intimately acquainted with the struggles of small businesses and small business owners. My grandfather opened and ran a small family business.
A prayer for military by Pastor Selma Corbett
A prayer for military by Pastor Selma Corbett.
A prayer for government by Pastor Hank Jarman
A prayer for Government by Pastor Hank Jarman
Mike Parker: First ‘No Bowl Empty’ Saturday blessed with generous support
Tammy Kelly, director of the Lenoir County Extension Office, reached out to the Lenoir County SPCA and a number of pet owners to pull together a special project. The goal is assisting pet owners struggling to provide for their pets during the economic shutdown surrounding the COVID-19 virus. Here’s how you can help.
Reece Gardner: Why did China develop the 'Wuhan Virus'?
One more question about the Wuhan Virus: What was China's purpose for its development in the first place? If the purpose was to wage warfare on the rest of the world, which seems to be the case, then it's the equivalent of China sending its aircraft over our country and reigning bombs down on us indiscriminately.
John Hood: Cooper plan reopens too slowly
If you give North Carolinians a binary choice — lift all restrictions immediately or keep most of them in place for another month or two — most will opt for the latter option. But those are not the only choices. There is a middle course, a phased reopening that starts within days and gets people back to work while keeping hospitals from being overcrowded.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Healthy sheet pan dinners
In my opinion, the only thing as easy as a crock pot and forget it recipe is a sheet pan dinner! I know we are all running out of great meal ideas that may are healthy, easy, and require few ingredients.
‘No Empty Bowl’ project kicks off; three more Saturdays to give
People are not the only ones impacted by COVID-19. Reports are beginning to surface detailing the impact the virus is having on pets. When economic pressures come, lack of finances often causes people to struggle with providing for their pets. Some pets eventually end up at shelters because their owners are no longer able to provide for them.