Yarbrough: Voters, not courts, should decide presidential choices

In case you haven’t noticed, there is an election scheduled for this November to choose the Leader of the Free World. As of this writing, the choice is between two candidates that a majority of the American people don’t particularly care for.

Editorial: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

According to King biographer Jonathan Eig, when Martin Luther King, Jr. told his father he had decided to become a minister, his father warned him, “You’re not going to make a whole lot of money.” The young man responded, “I’m not looking for money; I’m looking to serve.” And serve he did.

Rich: The river birch trees

Three river birch trees surround our home. I planted them three years after I built this house. River birches are pretty trees. They grow long, toward the sky, and spread a beautiful canopy of shade. The trunks are interesting and artistic as the bark is constantly curling into pieces.

Yarbrough: Some advice for the new year

Dear Cameron: Well, here we go again. To Cameron Charles Yarbrough, it’s a new year so here’s some more unsolicited advice from your great-grandpa. We have been at this quite a while, so I hope these observations have been of some value to you.

Crane: Much more still to be done

I remain a strong son of the South, the product of a Mason-Dixon marriage (Mom from Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham, Dad and the Crane family hailing from upstate New York).

Rich: The high cost of Crisco

From the car, I toted in bags of heavy groceries. I have become my mama. Mama mostly bought staples: five-pound sacks of flour and cornmeal as well as gallon jugs of sweet milk and buttermilk.

Rich: The South I’ve met

Most of the best stories I’ve heard come forth from the South. The most memorable people I have met, by far, are Southerners. I’m a Yankee and moved here by way of California.

Crane: In celebration of the non-traditional

I can’t even remember the first time I heard the phrase, but I think it was related to one of Olivia’s school meetings when we were referred to as a “non-traditional” family.

Rich: Facing the new year

A new year has arrived and a half-ragged one lies behind, reduced now to memories. It seemed, at times, I couldn’t enjoy the wonderful things popping around because of such bone-deep sorrow brought on by the home-going of loved ones.

Yarbrough: When going to the dogs is a good thing

You’ve heard the old saying that things are going to the dogs. After talking to Jennifer Arnold, we should be so lucky.