Misplaced aid?
Let me get this straight. There was a disaster halfway around the world, we want to help these people by sending tons of food and other kinds of aid, and the leaders of that country don't want it.

Let the 'blitz' begin
In its simplest form, Habitat for Humanity is about people helping other people. That being said, folks in Caldwell County have a wonderful opportunity to do just that.

Give mom a hug and kiss; it's her day
Mothers don't ask for much. In fact, they mostly give of themselves, even when it might be their turn to take rather than receive.

It's time to do our duty
Well, the time has drawn near - the time to vote. Registered voters across Caldwell County and North Carolina will head to the polls today to cast their votes. At least they should be heading to the polls.

Just pray
I confess. I'm probably the worst pray-er in the whole world. That's why it's so unnerving to be a guest speaker in today's National Day of Prayer.

We only have one so let's protect it
Have you ever stopped to think about the world we live in, taking a look back at what it was like 10, 20 years ago and thought about what it may be like 10 for 20 years from now?

A few words about freedom of information
A few weeks ago I wrote about the importance of open meetings laws as they provide citizens with a form of oversight on government actions.

A small, but important part of Caldwell
Despite having only a small sliver of the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway touching the far northwest corner of Caldwell County, the country's most visited national park remains an incredibly important part of our future.

Reading event draws a crowd
Inaugural events sometimes can be difficult to get off the ground. Judging by the turnout at the initial Caldwell Reads Kickoff, that wasn't the case with this first-time event.

Stolen dogs' fate worse than death?
What's worse than finding approximately 80 dogs, most likely used for entertainment in the form of fighting, on private property with varying degrees of physical abuse? Having saved those 80 dogs from a cruel and unusual fate, then losing nearly half of them - likely associates of those responsible for the abuse in the first place.

Animal abuse case is shameful
The revelation that approximately 80 malnourished pit bulls were being kept at a residence in Dudley Shoals last week should serve as an eye opener for our community, and one that brings with it plenty of outrage.

Caldwell's on the right track
Too often, people want to talk about the things that Caldwell County isn't doing correctly. This is especially true during an election year when everyone has a better idea or way of doing something.

Time to address traffic issues at Gamewell school
It's been talked about for quite awhile now. Parents have mentioned it, school personnel have discussed it, and law enforcement officers have shared their concerns.

What are we fighting for again?
Though unfortunately expected, the number still came as a shock while listening to the news on the radio.

Historic store will be missed
Stores come and go. Just in the brief time that I've lived in Caldwell County, I've watched one grocery store close after only a few years in business, then another take its place. I've seen a Kmart go out of business and Belk take its place. The two former Belk spaces now house government offices and AMP-RTI.

The right decision
People who attend governmental meetings sometimes leave them feeling bad about decisions that were made or announced during that particular gathering.

We need more sunshine
Does the media put enough pressure on government at all levels? Are the state and federal open government laws strong enough? Do common citizens have enough access to government information, records and officials?

The life you save may be your own
If you knew there was something that could save your life and the lives of your family members and friends, wouldn't you want to take advantage of it?

‘Nothing to do' is the wrong answer
I've heard this story three times, from three different people in the last three weeks. Jeff Almond of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation shared it with a group of local business people gathered for an awards breakfast prior to the Chamber of Commerce and CCC&TI Small Business Center Business Expo Wednesday morning.

Now it's just Mondays that get me down
Lyrics from several songs make reference to people's feelings about rain. Some “love a rainy night,” while “rainy days and Mondays” get some people down.

What's your vision for Caldwell?
Local government and business leaders have begun casting a vision for Caldwell County's future through an effort now known as Caldwell 20/20.

Adventures in reading
Some 25 to 30 years ago, when I was a student at Collettsville Elementary School, there were a number of reading contests at our school. The goal, I thought then, was to read the most books possible, and I sure read like crazy.

Stay tuned
Unless you have been hermetically sealed in a cave for the past year, you know another political season has descended upon us.

Can't they find a better use for our $18B?
I nearly swallowed my tongue when I heard it. During a news brief on National Public Radio Monday the commentator was talking about a bill in Congress to provide incentives to study environmentally-friendly forms of energy and to encourage citizens to become more energy efficient. However, in order to do this, Congress would have to repeal $18 billion in tax breaks for oil companies.

Candidate requests
Dear candidates,

Adult business opponents can't celebr ate yet won a battle
A week ago, opponents of adult-themed businesses in downtown Lenoir claimed a victory when an alleged “swingers” club was closed down.

Maybe they should sing for support
Desperately needing a break from local news commentary of late, I thought I'd take a swing at some national issues. (Pardon the pun).

Facility renamings deserve support
The Caldwell County Board of Education placed proposals for the naming of athletic facilities at Hibriten and West Caldwell on a one-month public comment period during its meeting last week.

Swingers club raises serious questions
Before we break out the pitchforks and torches and camp out on the doorstep of Western Carolina Friends - a newly-opened swingers club in downtown Lenoir - several questions must first be answered.

Don't get sucked in by the scam
It seems like people will do anything to make a buck these days.

Overtun Roe? Look at Romania first
In 2007, the Cannes Film Festival jury awarded the top prize, known as the Palme d'Or, to a Romanian film whose translated title is “Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days.”

A good problem
Caldwell County is changing, right before our eyes. Long a bedroom community primarily for the furniture industry and associated businesses, the economy and demographics will never be the same again.

You've got junk...mail
Isn't e-mail a great thing? You bet it is. The invention of e-mail has allowed us to communicate so much more readily with each other. No longer do we have to put postage on a letter, drop it in the mail and wait two or three days for it to get to its intended recipient.

Blood, sweat and jeers
I want to talk about politics again this week as my “Open letter to our next president” column on Jan. 24 brought about more reader response than I expected. Unfortunately it has yet to garner much response from the candidates.

Following highway laws can be life or death
There's a reason motor vehicle laws were created in North Carolina and across the country. It's not so law enforcement officers can write tickets to meet their monthly “quotas.” Plain and simple, it's for the safety of people driving and riding in vehicles on the highways.

The retirement of a true gentleman
When you think of the word “class,” who pops into your mind? Is it a family member like your mom or dad, a religious figure such as Rev. Billy Graham or Pope John Paul II, or an actor like Michael Caine or Katharine Hepburn?

An open letter to our future president
Being a North Carolina resident and feeling a little left out of all the attention and hoopla surrounding the race for the White House, I decided to write an open letter to each of the remaining candidates for our nation's highest executive office.

Beautiful, beneficial and enjoyable
Wasn't last week's first taste of winter precipitation great? The snowfall that blanketed Caldwell County was both beautiful and beneficial, and it didn't lead to any major catastrophes like numerous injuries from accidents or loss of power for residents.

We can do better
I'll admit that I was one of the lazy Lenoir residents who stopped recycling when the city discontinued curbside pick-up in 2005. Now that I've started again and realize the difference it makes, I'm ashamed that I failed to continue participation during the last two years.

Be wary of predators
Parents can't have easy jobs keeping up with children. The young tykes are full of energy, often running here and there, making it difficult for moms and dads to monitor their every move.

Put a lid on that idea
What an amazing and fortunate discovery. That was my initial reaction to reports that in testing land for a future reservoir, workers found tremendous underground aquifers in the Yadkin Valley community of Caldwell County.

Cold and homeless
As I walked down Pennton Avenue in Lenoir near the News-Topic office last week on a brisk and chilly day in early January, I harkened back to my days as a college student at Appalachian State University.

Paul's predictions for 2008
A few predictions for the new year. Be advised, these come from a person who regards horoscopes as trifle (notice how they never say “Stay home! You will die if you leave the house!”) and Nostradamus as a badly misunderstood poet. Also, I did come in last in the paper's 2007 football forecast.

Looking back at 2007
This time of year, there is no shortage of time spent looking back at the previous 12 months.