George Harrison’s song of spring is a fitting start to this Sunshine Week salute to everyday heroes bringing light to local government. “Why do you want to know that?” is a question most reporters hav...

Government functions best when different branches, elected officials and agencies maintain good working relationships. To his credit, Governor Kevin Stitt understands the value of maintaining collegia...

"God was very content when he first saw it," says Cooper. "He also relaxed." "Relaxed"? Cooper, I think you mean "rested." God rested on the seventh day from his creation work. Somehow, the image of G...

The Living Faith Our entire life as human is fully based and centered on promises; this is hundred percent true in our deals with other human beings. It includes also our dealings with God. In the Scr...

Time for another set of recipes usually purchased in bottles at the store. This week, I am going to discuss salad dressings. A couple weeks ago, I did a column on condiments and enjoyed it immensely. ...

March 10th is designated as Harriet Tubman Day. Harriet was born into slavery in Dorchester County, MD sometime between 1820 and 1821. Escaping from slavery into the State of PA she later returned to ...

Mom Starbuck took her place behind the lectern. A stickler for faithfulness in Christian duty she let nothing short of pneumonia deny her its privilege. Hugging a Bible close she offered a prayer. It ...

DEAR ABBY: I am a 30-year-old divorced male. I suffered from a stroke six months ago and have paralysis on one side of my body. After rehab, I returned home able to walk with a cane. I have started te...

For many people, it seems like every minute of every day is scheduled with some activity. If it’s not in meetings or at work, it’s keeping appointments or shopping. If it’s not preparing or consuming ...

Before she even came to Congress, Rep. Omar has been reported as making anti-Semitic remarks about the Jewish people. Should Nancy Pelosi’s Democratic Party continue to stand behind Rep. Omar and her ...

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, It was with a great deal of fascination and deep thought that I read last week’s Fairy Tale in the Free-Lance. Those who remember me as we grew up together in Henryet...

What exactly is a raised bed garden? It is a garden area that is elevated anywhere from a few inches up to 2 or 3 feet above the soil level. It can be as simple as a rectangular plateau of soil or a m...

The Living Faith While our Master Jesus was living physically in our world, he had been frequently giving surprises to his disciples-many times in his speeches, sometimes in his performing miraculous ...

Last week was an important milestone for this year’s Legislature, as any bill that had not been passed out of scommittee by Thursday (2/28) is now dormant for the remainder of the year. Of the approxi...

It’s National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day! It’s a day to celebrate all those of us that love the creamy (or crunchy) spread. Peanut butter accounts for about half of the U.S. edible use of peanuts—accou...

I stepped in, then stood silently, surveying the church sanctuary. When the pastor up at the platform, spotted his new visitor, he left the platform and started my way. A gray-haired couple had arrive...

March 3rd, we celebrate World Wildlife Day. Patricia MacLachlan was born March 3rd, 1938 in Cheyenne, WY and is an American children’s writer best known for her novel Sarah, Plain and Tall – a 1986 Ne...

Dear Abby DEAR ABBY: My husband is a physician with a heavy call schedule. For years I have struggled with how to RSVP to invitations to cocktail parties and/or dinner. Many times I can go and would l...

How many young people do you know personally that graduated from a local high school, went off to college, and never returned? Wouldn’t it be great if we could get more of those young adults to return...

As a father of five, I cannot express enough how precious the lives of innocent children are. The first time I heard my son’s heartbeat in my wife Christie’s womb, I knew then and there—that wasn’t a ...