'WILD” LANDS CAN BE RURAL OR URBAN

MATTHEW PURDY, BENTON CO. CONSERVATION
May 31, 2013 11:56 am

Centuries ago, “wild” prairies, wetlands, forests, and savannas soaked up water, holding it on and in the land like a sponge. Floods were rare.

Heroes among us: Still leading us in times of peace and war

VINTON TODAY
May 27, 2013 1:52 pm

While most of the crowd was facing south or east during the end of the 2013 Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Park, I looked west and south for a moment.

With a cluck, cluck here, and cluck, cluck there

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
May 23, 2013 10:06 pm

One of our favorite shows is America's got talent.  Usually it's not for the talent in the beginning of course, but because of the lack of it.

Tribute to heroes: A serious lesson from a toy helicopter

VINTON TODAY
May 23, 2013 3:56 pm

I will try to describe with words, the post-holiday sounds in the Close house since I opened my most unusual Christmas gift as an adult: Whine. Thump.

Judge Judy vs. Jeopardy: Smart, relevant people choose smart, revelant TV

VINTON TODAY
May 23, 2013 6:35 am

Is most modern American TV programming really that measurably intellectually inferior, or does it just seem to be stupid, boring and spectacularly unoriginal? Before I answer that question, let me offer you two quotes.

Praying for rain -- til Saturday night

VINTON TODAY
May 22, 2013 10:33 pm

The extra batteries are in the camera bag; the spare knee brace in the suitcase. As I prepare for a late week trip to Tennessee and Kentucky, I have one huge fear: That something big will happen in the news while I am away.

Letter to the Editor: Benghazi Answers?

VINTON TODAY
May 21, 2013 8:45 pm

  Supporters of President Obama will stand by him no matter what.  It is interesting that Chris Mathews is now a critic at least temporarily.

Lessons in news photography

VINTON TODAY
May 21, 2013 8:04 am

I've been asked to teach the basics of photography to some area teens. I enjoy this part of my job -- sharing what I know (or think I know) with others, especially the people we call "kids.

Pastor's Blog - PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

PASTOR LANETTE S. VAN
May 17, 2013 11:06 am

  The show, "Neat," on the ION network has inspired me to get back to a regular practice of going through my stuff and organizing it by the "keep, give away, toss or recycle" method.

Fantasy Explorers: Why men REALLY refuse to ask for directions

VINTON TODAY
May 16, 2013 7:57 am

  “Why are we going this way?” “Where are we going?” “Why can’t we just go the way we always go?” I have heard these questions countless times from my kids in the back seat.