Editorial: Facebook is not a free-for-all
There is a dangerous misunderstanding on social media that needs to be addressed.
Just because something is posted on Facebook does not mean it is...
Editorial: Alabama’s age-of-consent debate is not as simple as a Facebook comment
Every time Alabama sees a case involving an educator, a school employee and a student, the same public argument erupts.
One person says the age...
Editorial: Protect Cullman’s children, but stop hiding the playbook
No one should mistake this position for sympathy toward anyone who attempts to prey on a child. If a person knowingly seeks sexual contact with...
Editorial: This is not ding-dong ditch anymore
There was a time when a childish prank meant ringing a doorbell, running away and hiding in a ditch while your friends tried not to laugh...
EDITORIAL: As cameras go up, questions follow
What is Flock Safety? What does it do? What does it mean for residents and visitors?
They are small, often mounted high on poles or along...
Editorial: The first thing I remember isn’t that she’s gone
Publisher’s note: Some stories aren’t about answers. This is one of them.
I don’t think about her death first. That’s what I didn’t expect.
It’s her smile.
That big, effortless smile that showed up before anything...
EDITORIAL: Legal, but not local: Medical cannabis access bypasses Cullman
Alabama has legalized medical cannabis. That is not a debate; it is law.
Yet as the program begins to take shape across the state, a new...
Editorial: It’s time for a moratorium on campaign promises
Election season produces a familiar pattern.
Bold promises. Absolute declarations. Assurances that sweeping change will occur the moment one candidate takes office.
Then governance begins. And...
Editorial: Standards matter in news, especially when trust is involved
There is a difference between launching a Facebook page and operating a newsroom.
In recent days, a newly created local social media news platform generated...
Editorial: Valentine’s Day and the performance of love
Every Feb. 14 arrives with the same confidence, dressed in red, trailing balloons, chocolate and the unmistakable belief that it is doing the Lord’s...
Editorial: Changing the standard
There comes a moment, sometimes quietly and sometimes after damage has already been done, when you realize your level of self-respect was never where...
Editorial: Cullman County’s mental health gap is a choice, not an accident
There is a quiet truth many families in Cullman County already know but rarely see acknowledged in public.
If you are experiencing a mental health...
Editorial: There is no place I can go and leave Cullman County behind
I have come to understand that rest is not simply a matter of distance.
I can leave town. I can change scenery. I can stand...
Editorial: The last rest stop is closed
Learning when to stop being available to those who never planned to stay
There comes a point when you realize you have been the last...
Editorial: Killing the part of me that walks away
I have a character flaw, one I can no longer dress up as self-preservation or strength.
When relationships fracture in my life, with family, friends,...
Editorial: Public accountability requires real names, not fake profiles
The Cullman Tribune supports open public discussion on issues that affect community safety, criminal justice and accountability. Those conversations matter, and strong emotions are...
Editorial: When the mail stops, accountability should not
For years, residents across Cullman County have endured inconsistent and unacceptable mail delivery. Nowhere has that frustration been louder than in the 35057 ZIP...
Editorial: I quit New Year’s resolutions and nothing fell apart
Most years, New Year’s Eve arrives with a familiar ritual. Resolutions are made. Promises are declared. Jan. 1 is treated like a universal reset...
Editorial: Christmas, every day it counted
Christmas meant something different to me growing up.
Santa was never part of the equation. Not because I was cynical or angry or deprived of...
EDITORIAL: The weight that never leaves
There is a kind of tired that has nothing to do with sleep. It does not go away with rest, routine or time. It...
EDITORIAL: The cost of chaos, blogs, livestreams and the erosion of local news
There is a growing sickness in our information culture. It is not new, but it is getting bolder, louder and far more destructive.
It is...
Editorial: Hope as the next step
Fear alerts us. Courage responds. But hope, well, hope is what carries us forward when the dust settles and the long road lies ahead.
Hope...
Editorial: Courage in action
Fear may sound the alarm, but it is courage that carries us forward. Time and again, history reminds us that progress is never written...
Public safety matters in site selection
When companies scout new locations, the standard checklist includes availability of a quality and skilled workforce, infrastructure, and operating costs. Yet public safety, too...
Editorial: Fear has its place, but cannot rule us
Fear is a curious thing. It is both a gift and a burden, a spark that keeps us alive and a shadow that can...
Editorial: Suicide Prevention Month matters — but so does every month (especially for men)
Every September, we say the right words about Suicide Prevention Month. Then October comes, and too often the conversation goes quiet. We can’t afford...
Editorial: Thank your carriers; push management for more
Over the past month, changes at the Cullman Post Office have begun to show. Packages and letters are moving again, thanks in large part...
Editorial: USPS cannot pick and choose
The United States Postal Service (USPS) was built on one promise: to deliver the nation’s mail, fairly and without exception. But this week in...
Editorial: PACs v. SIGs – What’s the difference and why it matters in Alabama politics
In today’s highly charged political landscape, the terms “political action committee” (PAC) and “special interest group” (SIG) are often used interchangeably; however, they are...
Editorial: Tribune debate series puts voters first
No candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in the State House District 12 Special Primary Election on July 15. That means Republicans...
Editorial: Know before you vote
Cullman deserves more than familiar names and empty chairs.
In a time when every vote carries weight, too many are still cast based on little...
EDITORIAL: A plea to step back from the edge
To those feeling trapped in a desperate place — whether by financial burdens, the absence of meaningful relationships, or an overwhelming sense of being...
‘Icemageddon’ 2024: How Cullman weathered the storm
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County was enveloped in a thick sheet of ice and sleet in the early days of the week, creating the...
EDITORIAL: Christmas is over, now what?
Ah, Christmas.
This writer has never seen the community of Cullman pull together so tightly until wreaths are strung amid streetlights, the Warehouse District is...
Editorial: The great debate…back to the basics for the 2024 Primary Election
Ah, yes it’s the time of year when politicians and those with political aspirations fill out paperwork as they prepare for the upcoming election...
Editorial: What is motherhood?
I have been tasked with the insurmountable feat of summing up motherhood, in honor of
Mother's Day. For reference, I like to call myself an...
Editorial: Simple swaps toward sustainability
Today, April 22, is Earth Day! www.earthday.org/earth-day-2023
Sustainability can be a hot topic these days, and in a world as busy as ours, it's typically...
(Editorial) Nutrition is key: Recipes for boosting immunity and overall wellness
The road to a healthier you starts with your nutritionally-sound diet choices and making those choices a habitual lifestyle. Along with elevating your heart...
Editorial: Parenting—It’s not a contest
Here’s a question for you: Why do we, as humans, feel the need to go completely overboard when it comes to everything to do...
(Editorial) The Policies of Starting Over: The Final Policy
There are few things that we are in constant opposition to than change. As I began this column, I envisioned something quite a bit...
Editorial: High School marching bands—Cullman’s pride and joy
Last weekend, the City of Cullman was bustling as Oktoberfest celebrations were happening in Depot Park and the Cullman County Fair Parade made its...
Editorial: I Love How I Drive
My best friend of nearly a decade visited me this past week. He lives in Mississippi and though we try to have face-to-face visits...
Editorial: The 2021 Paralympic Games – inspiration in the midst of tragedy
Over the past two weeks, it seems every news story has brought more and more sad news. With Afghanistan, Hurricane Ida, COVID-19 and wildfires...
Editorial: The Policies of Starting Over – Forgiving Yourself
I have never been able to see the forest from the trees. At 5’2, I have needed to stand on my toes to see...
Editorial: Plagiarism – The heist of ideas
Plagiarism—quite possibly the dirtiest word in academics and journalism. Oxford Languages defines plagiarism as “the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and...
Editorial: Rock The South 2021- Grey skies and happy times
There is a nearly constant negativity in the Cullman community surrounding the mere existence of Rock the South. This year was no different and...
Editorial – The Policies of Starting Over: Continuing the Conversation
Isn’t it funny how if you hear something repeated enough, it begins to sound like the truth? I am not referring to actual statements...
Editorial – The Policies of Starting Over: Stop apologizing
How many times a day do you apologize? I am not talking about when you actually feel as if you did something wrong either....
Editorial: How the Olympics inspired me
In 1977, my kindergarten teacher asked each of us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Overwhelmingly, the answer was an Olympian....
The Policies of Starting Over – Putting your best foot forward
When in the process of moving forward in life, do you ever find yourself gravitating toward what you ran from in the first place?...
Hiding behind a screen – the negative impact of social media
When will I ever learn? I know better, but it’s so hard to fight the urge. I’m talking primarily about indulging in the horrible...
Editorial: The Policies of Starting Over – Patience
It has been a few weeks since I last wrote anything for The Policies of Starting Over, and for this, I feel I owe...
Editorial: Arrest records and the dominos which fall…
For as long as the newspaper industry has existed, issues have included arrest reports and incidents reported in the given area by the county...
Editorial: Don’t feed the ducks
A few years ago, I was employed in an area which harbored a substantial feral cat colony, 20 or so, with kittens. I was...
Editorial: ‘It’s just like this for now’
I heard a phrase the other day that sat with me for a while before it really began to settle. “It’s just like this...
Editorial: Has Generation X been lost in the shuffle?
Over the past several years, there’s been plenty of chatter about generational differences between the boomers, millenials and Generation Z. It's been mostly insults...
Editorial: I’m not pregnant and yes, I am sure
One of the most awkward interactions that a person can experience is when an unsuspecting woman is asked if she is pregnant or when...
Editorial: Summer recommended reading list
Something magical happens when you first reach for a book. The possibilities become endless and worlds you knew nothing about become visible- fallen cities,...
Editorial: A love letter to my son
As I strolled around the Cracker Barrel gift shop Monday night, I passed a display that’s been there for a long time; one that...
Editorial: Don’t honk at me! I live here!
I’ve noticed that as the City of Cullman grows, so do the unexpected consequences and problems. One of those problems is the traffic on...
Editorial: The policies of starting over – Asking for help
When it comes to writing, I have always enjoyed getting things done. I love the feeling that comes when I have completed a piece...
Editorial: The policies of starting over pt. 2
Change is a largely evolving concept. Occasionally, we are swept up in this giant wave of newness and gives us a feeling of being...
She Reads: ‘One Step Behind’ by Lauren North
Any time you open a new book, you are introduced to a world of endless possibilities. There are a thousand--no, a million different places...
Editorial: Laying stress at the door
As a certified yoga instructor who has taught for over seven years, Beverly Dotesy found her neighboring passion in massage therapy. She had always...
Editorial: The policies of starting over
There are few things that we as people seem to love less than change. The disruption to our daily patterns, motions and moments rattles...
Editorial: Education dedicated to community
The city and county schools always do an amazing job at taking care of Cullman’s students and with summer just around the corner, they...
Editorial: Music’s comeback in Cullman
CULLMAN, Ala. - While live music may have been a staple for many before the pandemic hit, it has certainly dwindled to a crawl...
Editorial: Time to check your wall heaters
I consider myself quite lucky after discovering a fire in my living room Monday afternoon. For anyone with older homes with built-in electric wall...
Editorial: What Do Moms Want?
Mother’s Day is just a week away and compared to last year’s quarantined Mother’s Day, this year, shopping and planning a special day for...
Editorial: The guide to ‘one-uppers’
We all know someone who seems compelled to ruin any and every conversation. I call them the one-uppers. Regardless of your experience, they feel...
Football field graduations are underrated
“I can’t wait to graduate in Wallace State’s gym!” said no high school senior ever. After spending the end of last year wondering if...
Editorial: 2021 fashion trends? Yeah, no thanks
I have never claimed to be an expert fashionista, but I know ugly when I see it. Lately, as I have walked through some...
To the Class of 2021
To the Class of 2021, I applaud you! Last year, as the school year came to an abrupt end, there was profound sadness followed...
Whitmire: Alabama is dead last for open records. The Legislature could fix that.
You’ve probably heard something like this before: another national ranking, another instance when Alabama ranked dead last.
But I promise you, this one is different,...
Tornado safety tips from State Farm Insurance
During the peak of storm season, our greatest concern is for the safety of everyone who will be affected by a storm. State Farm...
Editorial: Clearing the fog on COVID’s effects
The doctors call it “COVID fog,” and it doesn’t get nearly as much attention as respiratory issues and ventilators. It is a very real...
Editorial: Hopes for 2021 from the perspective of a young college student
At midnight on Jan. 1, 2020, I was at Goat Island listening to the band perform with my dad and thinking about the year...
Editorial: 2020 hasn’t been all bad
This year has seemed longer than others, and it's hard to believe that J. Lo and Shakira’s Super Bowl halftime performance was less than...
Editorial: Masks up: We can get through this school year together
In a few weeks, kids will be heading back to school for the first time in five months. Wednesday, Governor Kay Ivey addressed the...
Editorial: College in the time of COVID-19
Since August of 2017, I've been surrounded by orange and blue and calls of "War Eagle." Auburn became my second home (though Cullman will...
Look twice, save a life
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. If you remember my piece from last year or know me outside of my profession, you know I’ve...
Editorial: I miss my senior friends
The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted everyone’s lives in many ways. Those of us in the media are no exception. There are those, especially on...
Editorial: Our seniors deserve more. Cullman can do better!
At the heart of every great community are its seniors. Cullman County is no exception, and with hard-working entities such as the Cullman County...
Editorial: ‘Make me look good, now!’ A guide to positive media relations
More than half the time I conduct interviews, the episode concludes with the interviewee saying one of two things (actually the same thing in...
Tribune Editorial: To audit or not? A chamber of misdirection
For several months there has been discussion and downright controversy surrounding the use of lodging tax dollars by the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce....
EDITORIAL: The First Amendment and an elected Cullman official
If you gonna write for us, I want you to write positive. Anytime the commission name is in an article, it’s all positive. No...
GUEST EDITORIAL: Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell urges Congress to ratify USMCA trade agreement
Farming Feeds Alabama, but our state’s farmers also help feed the world.
That’s why the Alabama Farmers Federation is urging Congress to ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada...
GUEST EDITORIAL: Alabama Bicentennial: 200 ways to save Alabama for the next 200 years
Ben Johnson South (Cullman Tribune file photo)
The following is a guest editorial by local author Ben Johnson South, who offers Gov. Kay Ivey his...
OP-ED: In Alabama, we have our veterans’ backs
Dedication. Honor. Commitment. Sacrifice.
Those are the traits that come to mind when I think about our nation’s veterans. I saw these qualities lived out...
Guest Editorial: Part 1 of 3: Where is the American Church?
Following is an opinion/guest editorial piece- Part 1 of 3: Where is the American Church?- submitted by Pastor Tom Fillinger, IgniteUS Ministries- info@igniteus.net.
There are...
Moving forward
Moving forward...
CullmanSense was launched on Dec. 31, 2010 as a daily e-publication and quickly grew into Cullman's only Monday print publication in less than...
EDITORIAL: ATRIP2 and how it will affect Cullman County
The following editorial was submitted by Association of County Commissions of Alabama Executive Director, Sonny Brasfield:
Tomorrow morning millions of folks in Alabama will turn...
On the topic of headlines…
Last night we posted a news story about the grand opening of the new Cullman County Democratic headquarters in Cullman. The headline of that...
OPINION: First Source for Women
Photo: Members of First Baptist Church of Cullman giving a check to First Source with funds they raised through our Baby Bottle Boomerang program.
Have...
Letter to the Editor: true meaning of Memorial Day
This month, our nation will observe Memorial Day. This is the one day each year that we pause to mourn those Americans who have...
The Force is Strong in Cullman
CULLMAN – Ten years waiting for the announcement that there would be another movie. Waiting a month and a half after purchasing tickets for...
Opinion: Go Green Regardless of Your Stance
Climate change has become a phrase that can spark a debate in no time at all. The debate of whether or not mankind is...
Why You Should Care About Net Neutrality
You have probably heard the term before, and chances are the term slipped by you. It’s easy enough to understand, but it is has...
OPINION: No(ah)-It All: Mystery leak at crypt not so mysterious
Following wild reports of a mystery fluid leaking from crypts at Cullman Memory Gardens, I decided to go out to investigate this peculiar claim.
Upon...
Cinderella Leaves a Lasting Impression at St. Bernard Prep School
CULLMAN - St. Bernard Preparatory School’s production of “Cinderella” was held recently and their talented students and staff presented the story like no other....
