Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer It shouldn’t surprise you that some reporters, talk show hosts and columnists are lazy. They find a meme and then plug in a detail. The meme today is the phrase “Washington is broken.” This phrase allows the speaker to avoid taking responsibility for a judgment orContinue Reading
Jim Coonrod /Contributing writer The distinction between religion and spirituality has come to change. Some will say it cannot be separated. Of course, one can undergo a very personal spiritual experience inspired by the persuasiveness of a speaker, a sermon, music, and the elegance of the surroundings, however, what is theContinue Reading
Dan Eakin/Contributing writer Many years ago, the late Dr. W.A. Criswell, longtime pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, preached a powerful message titled, “Loving the Unseen Christ.” His text was I Peter 1:8: “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing,Continue Reading
Newspaper went too far… Dear Sirs, I am new to the Jefferson area. As soon as I moved to town, I subscribed to your newspaper because I wanted to know what was going on in my new community. I was disturbed about an article in your most recent issue. TheContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer The authors of the Texas Constitution supported public education. They wrote: “A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision forContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Houston had long been an important city for Texas. Businessmen like Jesse H. Jones helped make it an international center for commerce. He had arrived in Texas as a young man and worked his way through the ranks of his uncle’s Dallas-based lumber company before coming to Houston where he would soon invest in all sortsContinue Reading
Dan Eakin/Contributing writer Do we actually believe in a God who can create a baby in a virgin’s womb, or who can, three days after a man has died, raise him from the tomb? Do we believe in a God of miracles, who can make things happen which cannot be scientificallyContinue Reading
Austin Lewter/Jefferson Jimplecute Jock Lauterer, the director of the Carolina Community Media Project, defines a “community newspaper” as a newspaper that serves a specific location with a circulation of 50,000 or less. The Jefferson Jimplecute proudly fits this criteria and serving our community is something we take very seriously. Community newspapersContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer As a child, and as a parent, I’ve watched enough Sesame Street to have its images and songs drilled into my head. One of the most useful is the categorization song: “one of these things is not like the other.” It prompts a child to do aContinue Reading
Austin Lewter/Jefferson Jimplecute A few years ago, we had a highly contested referendum on the ballot in a community where I managed the local newspaper. It was one of those issues that you were either for or you were against. There was plenty of rhetoric on both sides. The newspaper hadContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer Old sayings are a good way to remind us not to do stupid things. For example, I’ve often heard, “Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face.” This phrase warns us against acts of self-harm. We often act out of anger and end up hurting ourselves.Continue Reading
Hunter Bonner During a regular city council meeting, the issue of railroad quiet zones was on the agenda. This is an issue that many people, including homeowners, businesses, and members of the council, have expressed an interest in exploring. The consensus overall is to obtain more information. That is exceptContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon One of the best parts of my job as a historian is reading. Because I work at a small teaching university rather than a large research university, I take a broad approach to my continuing education. This morning I read a fascinating genetic study about prehistoric dogContinue Reading
Ken Bridges The borders of the United States have expanded considerably since independence was declared. As the nation grew, newer and more detailed maps were needed so the country could plan ahead and utilize the landscape and resources available. Gen. William Emory, an army cartographer, was a vital part ofContinue Reading
Anyone who reads my articles knows that I am a political nerd. It’s a badge of honor that I wear proudly and I make no apologies for it. I got involved in politics, because it is easy to sit on the sidelines (social media) and gripe about the government. InContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer In October of 1929 the New York Stock market crashed and took down the global economy. Conservative President Herbert Hoover chose to keep government help limited. For the next three years the economy remained in free fall. This horrible experience taught voters that something had to change. Continue Reading
To the editor, Learning lessons from history has been an endless source of moral beliefs and free advice. We learn from wars, epidemics, and plagues of the past, and economic failures and successes. History teaches us another valuable lesson which is playing out in America today. When false Gods comeContinue Reading
To the editor, In 2019 Medicare quietly launched a scheme called Direct Contracting allowing insurance companies to control the healthcare of tens of millions of traditional Medicare and Medicare supplement beneficiaries. Direct Contracting inserts a for profit company between patients and medical providers. Companies are paid a monthly fee toContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer The Gospel of Luke starts with the most recognizable image of Christmas: a babe, wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger. The manger scene certainly is touching, but it is also powerful. It tells us everything we need to know about Christianity. The Christ childContinue Reading