A few weeks ago, The New York Times ran an article noting that with the US preoccupied by the coronavirus pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests, and massive unemployment, “its competitors are moving to fill the vacuum, and quickly.” Russia, China, North

Growing up in eastern Georgia deep in pines, I wakened to the wail of chainsaws six days a week. Yellow McCullochs and red Poulans sliced through green resinous pines as Dad and his partner, Bobby Cooper, tested saws they had fixed. Not repaired, mind you

Last week Charleston joined Columbia and Greenville in passing regulations requiring the wearing of masks in public areas. Other municipalities, both large and small, around the state are considering similar ordinances. The ordinances are being passed in

Author’s note: This story was originally published in Saying Grace Over Edible Underwear, 2016. Some names have been changed to protect the innocent – and the ugly. Cousin Zach was always getting into mischief with authority figures like school principal

Following is the third of three editorials in a series entitled “COVID-19 Creates a Double Crisis for People of Color.” The COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the health, social fabric and economies of our communities, our country, and in fact the world. In 2

My back-road explorations take me to little eateries tucked neatly in the middle of nowhere, whistle-stop places. Country folks run these deep-fried, lonely roadside stops so you’d think they serve fried green tomatoes. Like some character in a Fannie Fla

Following is the second of three editorials in a series entitled “COVID-19 Creates a Double Crisis for People of Color.” Congress passed three major pieces of legislation this year, providing more than $3 trillion in stimulus and relief to help prevent t

Following is the first of three editorials in a series entitled “COVID-19 creates a double crisis for people of color.” The COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the health, and economies of our communities. But two very powerful revelations have occurred becaus

A botanical superstar lives in the South. It’s exquisite, ephemeral, and periled, in that much of its habitat lies beneath lakes. I’m writing about the rocky shoals spider lily. As status goes, it’s a national plant of concern, but you’ll find it in just

Some of the nicest people I’ve known have been police officers from county to state to city cops. I have some dear friends who wear badges and they are good people. The police officers who killed George Floyd on May 25th in Minneapolis at that moment and

I would like to take this opportunity to thank many people who helped my family and me with a very successful event for the Florence One School District. For 19 years, I raised thousands of dollars to recognize and honor the six most outstanding high scho

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. It provides an opportunity for the South Carolina Department of Social Services to draw attention to the need for foster parents across the state. Children come into foster care when their parents cannot safely

There is an age-old adage that is proven itself to be true every single time: One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. We live in a throwaway society and junkyard junkies seek bargains. Making use of discards is frugal. My late Uncle Joe found many a us

Over the last nine weeks, the COVID-19 crisis has tossed much of what we considered the norm to be tossed to the wayside. It would be a significant blow to our nation, state and local communities if the U.S. Census becomes yet another victim of the virus.

If my wife, Sparky, ever leaves me, it won’t be because of the dazzling good looks that make me the target of other women’s desires, nor will it be the fact that I’m always right about everything. It will be because of our irreconcilable differences. We l