We know that the second greatest Christmas story (Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”) is essentially a ghost story (with that great opening sentence: “Marley was dead: to begin with.”)  I …

When I was an intern and worked on the Term Paper back during the summer, I wrote about my excitement and impatience for my time to walk across the stage and receive my undergraduate diploma from …

The young man was born to wander.  Although his roots are anchored deep in the rich, Western North Carolina soil farmed for centuries by his ancestors, this boy was born with a heart full of …

During the Christmas season, I like to pause and reflect on how fortunate I was to have been a child during the Renaissance – the Toy Renaissance, that is. The 1970s were a glorious period – a …

Welp, three weeks ago, I predicted that the men's Freedom team would beat the Patton men's team in basketball and win the Powder Puff tournament. Not only did I believe we were going to win, but I …

I look forward to the Christmas season, with its nostalgia and tradition. I come by this naturally. It is a part of my DNA. My mother loved Christmas.  At one time, I took holiday decorating …

Dr. Robert McAdams was educated in Morganton Public Schools from first to ninth grades when his father worked at the N.C. School for the Deaf.  He returned to Morganton in 1984, after his …

When I told my husband I was going to write a column about trees this week, his response was predictable. He assumed, because we are merely days away from Christmas, I was planning to wax sentimental …

In mad pursuit of ingredients for one of life’s greatest pleasures, a bowl of corn flakes and bananas, I stopped at the grocery store the other day. The familiar sound of a ringing bell floated …

Attributed to an unknown author is a quote about life that I’ve discovered is so very true — “Time passes by so quickly. Change happens all around us every day whether we like it or not. Enjoy …

If you travel up the Drexel Road right off Hwy. 18 S during the Christmas season, you will find a luminous light display. The lights mark the home of the Johnnie and Brenda Carswell family. Their …

This vignette is an educational moment in American history.  It is about those who made a difference during the Revolutionary War era and how they served our country. J osiah Bartlett was an …

Yes, Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I still think Thanksgiving is a great holiday. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving is overlooked too often in favor of the much flashier Christmas. I will not launch …

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics-Morganton is proud to have its students go out into the world and achieve unimaginable heights in their academic and personal pursuits. As the first …

I have written a series of columns based on interviews with local pastors and senior ministers about the future of the church in our community. I would like to adapt this series to discussing with …

Dr. John Whalley went on a mission trip in October with the respected North Carolina Baptists on Mission organization to the Roma people in Romania. This organization’s mission statement is: …

I had the honor of doing something this week for the first time. I attended the celebration of life for a precious saint who was a “nonagenarian.” What is a nonagenarian you may ask? It is a …

It was an especially busy Sunday morning. I had taken the lead in designing a new format for the worship service before Thanksgiving, so I was a little nervous.  Especially since my colleagues …

Advice from an etiquette expert. Host's toast: "Raise a glass and set a positive tone and say, 'Remember to be civil and kind at our holiday table.'" Such a toast would get you hooted from the hall at my house... A better one might be, "Y'all behave." Or, "Y'all act like you've had some raising." Or, my favorite, "Y'all act like you got some sense!" — Bill Poteat

THE authoritative and unassailable source of information, Wikipedia, has this to say about tradition. “Tradition refers to beliefs, objects or customs performed or believed in the past, originating …

I came to Freedom High School from Morganton Day School. The differences between those two schools are immense. For one, Morganton Day has about 110 students from kindergarten through eighth grade, …

Thanksgiving was my Daddy’s favorite holiday. I don’t know why. He always worked the hardest of anyone that day. He would put the turkey in the oven the night before. Then, he would act surprised …

Thanksgiving is a day that I’ve always looked forward to since first grade... While I do my best to stay at school, to immerse myself in the NCSSM experience, sometimes I just miss home too much. This Thanksgiving break I have a lot to be thankful for...

The sign at check-in stated plainly, in all caps:  SUBJECT: REFUNDS THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS GIVEN OUT IF YOU ARE IN A ROOM MORE THAN TEN MINUTES AND DECIDE TO CHECK OUT EARLY ON THE DAY OF …

In my opinion, the ’90s and early 2000s were network television’s heyday. I’ve never been a dedicated television watcher. I like to have the set on for background noise when Marty and I get …