Commentary

In May 1869, John Wesley Powell, a former Union Army major who had lost most of his right arm in the Battle of Shiloh, led 10 explorers in launching four heavy wooden boats loaded to the gunwales with 10 months of supplies.

My Sunday column touched on President Joe Biden’s decision to mandate vaccinations for certain groups of workers in this country.

President Joe Biden decided to go “all in” this week, requiring not only all federal employees, but businesses across the country with more than 100 employees, to either get vaccinated or regularly tested for COVID-19.

Are you there, God? Just checking. We have troubles from the Afghanistan war. Hard to read about, much less comprehend what just happened.

When the terrorist attacks took place Sept. 11, 2001, my first reaction to my college roommate was, “You’re crazy.”

Usually, most Americans celebrate Labor Day with parties, cookouts, street parades and athletic events as the three-day weekend symbolizes the end of summer.

When are we too old to drive? That question has been on my mind for a while now. This is a topic I have written about before.

Yavapai College recently announced a new three-year pilot program that’s going to change the game when it comes to education in our community.

I wear lipstick. And I dye my hair. There, I have said it – all secrets are out – I am admitting to you, dear readers, that some of my “beauty” comes from a tube and a bottle.

I was recently contacted by several constituents expressing great concern over the increasing lack of civility in our country, state, and an alarming increase within Yavapai County.

When I became a father years ago, I used to research countless stories, lessons to teach my children as they grew up.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidelines for mask policies, stating that fully vaccinated people should wear masks indoors in areas of high transmission of COVID-19 in the wake of the onset of the delta variant.

The political tit for tat going on between Gov. Doug Ducey, Arizona schools and now President Joe Biden has been interesting to watch.

Recently, our community suffered a horrific loss when 16-year-old Faith Moore was swept away in a flash flood on Camino Real Road on July 24.

Recently, the Independent ran a poll asking our readers a question:

Sure, everyone has tribulations when they’re growing up, but we also have experiences worth remembering.

Since most of us aren’t millionaires and can afford the average home price of $1,346,944 in Sedona’s market, we tend to look other places to find suitable housing in the Verde Valley.

Oh, those Olympics. Inspiring, incredible, heartbreaking, fun and heartwarming. No other sporting event on Earth can produce so many plots, twists, turns and moments to enjoy and ponder as the games of summer.

Having to write news briefs about hikers being found deceased, or alive but needing search and rescue, is never a fun part of the job.

Missing a few neighbors and friends? We might all be in San Diego. The locals call us “Zonies,” poking gentle fun at us. Californians claim that every other person in their state is a vacationing Arizonan from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Due to the Delta variant, COVID-19 cases are on the rise again not only in Yavapai County, but our state and across the country.

Stay alert! Watch the crosswalks! Yes, school has started again and parents everywhere are rejoicing.

Every day I make the 62-mile drive into work, it provides me with another opportunity to think about how blessed I am to be the editor of The Verde Independent.

Oh to be a billionaire. They seem to have all the fun. When Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galatic, launched his Unity 22 rocket plane last week, he went where few have gone. Into space on his own spacecraft.

The Verde Valley is the poster child for debates over consolidated vs. layered government representation.