Tag: Opinion

There was a time when hobbies were simply for your enjoyment. You had one or two, at the least, that perhaps you were good...

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...

We have lost another old friend. Not to be morbid, but I’ve come to that age in life where I begin each new year...

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,...

Do you know the Hokey Pokey song? It begins with, “You put your right foot in, you take your right foot out. You put...

The Cullman Tribune supports open public discussion on issues that affect community safety, criminal justice and accountability. Those conversations matter, and strong emotions are...

Death comes to everyone and we all realize that devastating fact. However, there are some deaths that are extremely brutal, and difficult to ever...

For years, residents across Cullman County have endured inconsistent and unacceptable mail delivery. Nowhere has that frustration been louder than in the 35057 ZIP...

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...

Once upon a time, long, long ago, there lived a young lady named Mary. Mary was engaged to be married to a man named...

I went into my pregnancy journey knowing the absolute basics. I’d read all the highly praised books and even listened to a few parental...

Over recent months I have noticed an increase in AI content on social media. It was horrific to see several people interacting with the...

I’ve done some dumb things in my life. Over the years, I’ve displayed an All-American level of stupidity on a number of occasions. Once,...

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...

There is a kind of tired that has nothing to do with sleep. It does not go away with rest, routine or time. It...

‘Tis the season to be jolly. ‘Tis also the season when we hear the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” For some, that...

Pregnancy is the closest equivalent to a baptism/rebirth I have ever experienced. You spend your life in this daze and suddenly you just –...

You know him. You’ve sung about him, watched him on TV and probably even worn his likeness on an ugly Christmas sweater. But how...

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...

We have spent 50 of them together. Jean and I spent our first Christmas together as husband and wife in 1975. We were still...

The Alabama Press Association Journalism Foundation is stunned by the recent decision by the University of Alabama to suspend the publication of two student...

‘Twas the day after Thanksgiving, when all through the store – shoppers came early, for bargains galore – Some arrived early, to wait in...

Let’s talk about the one-hour glucose test.   For those of you who don’t know what this is, allow me to explain. This is a mandatory...

There is an old story of a person who used to complain because he had no shoes, until he saw someone who had no...

Ah, Thanksgiving — the holiday built around gratitude, family and, of course, food. I could add football to the list, but most games on...

The penny has been pronounced dead. Well, actually, there’s plenty of them still rolling around, but rumor has it that their production has stopped....

Recently I have been re-reading some my favorite books. I just finished Ann B. Ross’s novel, “Miss Julia to the Rescue” and Ann George’s “Murder...

I left the doctor’s office, got into my car and began screaming obscenities at the top of my lungs. I have had enough. When...

When I was a kid, I loved to make crazy faces. I think I learned it from watching the late, great Red Skelton. Skelton,...

A couple of days after our recent visit to Andy Griffith’s hometown of Mt. Airy, North Carolina, we visited the home and library/museum of...

It was total chaos at the Dollar General store in Margaret, Alabama. People rushed out the doors carrying poster board, silver balloons and rolls...

The third week in October is one of my favorite weeks of the year. No, I’m not talking about a game…I’m talking about fall,...

Over the past month, changes at the Cullman Post Office have begun to show. Packages and letters are moving again, thanks in large part...

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...

During the 2025 regular session of the Alabama Legislature, lawmakers have worked hard to address the needs and issues in every portion of our...

America’s economic future hinges on energy — its reliability, affordability and availability. Nowhere is that future being written more decisively than in Alabama. While much...

The need for accountability and broader perspectives In recent times, Cullman County residents have witnessed a concerning trend among some elected officials: a shift in...

Wait for a rainy, cold, black-and-white movie kind of afternoon. Have a box of tissues handy, then grab a pint of Ben and Jerry’s....

I’m wondering if Saturdays have always been cake-baking day. That seemed to have been the case when I was a child, and now, many...

President Abraham Lincoln said, "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but...

I did not grow up in a family of readers. Oh, I don’t mean my family was illiterate.  My parents could read; they simply...

Here’s a friendly reminder to all of you travelers hitting the road this spring and summer: your GPS routing system is only as good...

Keeping to his word, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has initiated the re-renaming of military bases. Renaming, not to their original names, but their rightful...

Editor’s note: This column was written last week. I am a Baby Boomer. There, I said it, and I’m not ashamed of it. I was...

Happy NCAA Division III Week from Alabama’s only NCAA Division III institution – Huntingdon College in Montgomery. This week, Huntingdon joins the over 400...

If you have a minute to read an excerpt from long-winded Lauren’s heart:  I run. I run often. I enjoy it. It relieves stress for...

Today (March 19, 2025) is the 15th legislative day of the 2025 regular session, which marks the halfway point allowed by the Alabama Constitution,...

ADDISON, Ala. – In today's world of instant gratification and what have you done for me lately, it begs the question, what does a...

Well, I said, “Let it snow,” and it did. Thankfully, this one was no blizzard, but it was deep enough to make some snow...

To those feeling trapped in a desperate place — whether by financial burdens, the absence of meaningful relationships, or an overwhelming sense of being...

When residents of Cullman County open their wallets to donate or when city and county entities contribute significant funds to local organizations, there’s an...

I began shaving when I was around 13. Why, you might ask? Not because I needed to, but because I wanted to. I did have...

I was born in the South. And I live in the South. That means I eat fried food – me and about everybody else...

People can say some strange things. Some of these statements are quite annoying, while others may be funny and enjoyable. Some of the things...

Mama had a mysterious situation. Her dried apples kept disappearing. Each day their number seemed to be less than it had been the day...

Youth football has changed in the past handful of years. Gone are the days of “Good game!” and “We will work harder next time.”...

On Monday, July 29, Auburn University announced that the Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID) would be dissolved by Aug. 15. In an email...

October will be here before we know it, and we all know what that means, bow season opener. July is a great time to...

Several years ago, working on a garden design project at the Governor's Mansion (Montgomery), I discovered the FREE resources of the Library at the...

We must change our laws in Alabama so that people with mental illness can get adequate mental health (care). Today, what we have in...

It’s springtime, and I knew it was bound to happen with all this warm weather we’ve been having. Today, I almost stepped on a...

On Feb. 22, 2024, Cold Springs High School Family and Consumer Sciences classes took 25 students on a field trip to tour local Cullman...

Carrying a heavy burden is not the easiest thing in life, but for the rare few it's something we know has to be done...

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...

Recent changes in the newspaper landscape in Alabama have us wanting to share some good news about newspapers. Alabama newspapers are alive and printing.  Like...

Love is in the air, and what better way to celebrate than with a romantic movie? From heartwarming love stories to steamy romances, here...

In January of last year, Governor Kay Ivey awarded $18.2 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to fund infrastructure improvements and upgrades all...

“If we all just lend a hand, we can lift some hearts.”—Melody Minagar  HEART IN HAND is a centuries-old symbol of compassion and a willingness...

“When do we learn that the world, like any diner worth its salt, is open 24 hours a day?”—Daniel Handler  American diners are the perfect...

Remember when America was all about freedom-loving fun and people fought for “The Right to Party?” Even in 1773 (evening of December 16), our...

                                                        ODE TO JOY-ZINES                                    A self-pub, a journal, a dream board, a zine;                                    All the positivity one might glean.                                    For you and by you,...

                                                                      ODE TO MY DAD                             Dad, I’m glad you were one of my favorite parents,                             Even though we disagreed about most sermons and nearly...

NEVER TRUST A GERONTOLOGIST UNDER 70! Please hear me saying that playfully. However, I’ve done my 70 years and spent much of it studying...

                                                                       ODE TO SUMMER                                                   My longtime favorite season is summer.                                                   Though fall, spring nor winter is a bummer.                                                   At 70, this thought’s not a...

Since the early part of 2020, Covid-19 has been a major element in our daily lives. It’s rare to speak to a neighbor, coworker,...

                                                        AMERICAN HEROES by Cheryl Alexander (American poet, Cheryl Alexander, about her ode to heroes: “This poem is dedicated to all the heroes in our...

I LOVE LIBRARIES and I have a dream of a beautiful, FREE, public one with happy colors, patron-selected seating, art murals, craft/study/activity areas, cubbies,...

CULLMAN, Ala. - In its April 2022 term, the Grand Jury of Cullman County issued felony and misdemeanor indictments in 257 cases with a...

                                                             When I get the urge to purge,                                                              I first put on some music.                                                              A little more punk and a little less dirge,                                                              Then...

                                                                ODE TO ZZZ                                                      ZZZ are A-okay methinks,                                                      Each regarded with great esteem.                                                      A long sleep or just 40 winks,                                                      To doze, perchance to...

                                                                    ODE TO WANDERLUST                                                  I long to walk there, maybe there and then there.                                                  More joy-filled I’ll return, you may surely trust.                                                  In my...

l. His death was certain A. Joseph of Arimathaea came to Pilate the Governor after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and requested the privilege of...

                                                              ODE TO REINVENTING                                                   Any given day can be a time to start over,                                                   It just takes hard work, luck and good intention.                                                   So,...

In the five years since I became Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, nothing has been a higher priority than making sure we...

Each and every job is different and unless you have done that occupation, you may not realize the challenges involved. My page, Alabama at...

There’s an extremely antiquated mindset of masculinity that was passed down by our fathers, grandfathers--including our matriarchal figures that have embraced that men have...

CULLMAN, Ala. - Well, here we are, we have made it to the conclusion of 2021 and as we’re introduced to 2022, we might...

“When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife.You will assume she is obsessed...

There are some novels that we return to after a while; books that resume their places in our hearts as we turn their pages...

“Of Women and Salt” by Gabriela Garcia, follows Jeanette, a young woman who is battling addiction and in search of the deeply hidden truths...

CULLMAN, Ala. - Whether on warm summer evenings or brisk winter nights, people head into local  venues to shake off the work week and...

The Iron Bowl: Any time the Tide of Alabama travels to the plains of Auburn magic happens, and unlike the norm this time the magic...

Another One Bites The Dust: Another week, another chaotic outcome that's beginning to paint a clear picture. No. 23 Utah ended the first half with...

-Don't Forget Your Popcorn: Lane Kiffin's Rebels were able to notch their biggest win of the season against the surging Texas A&M Aggies. Ole Miss...

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...

There are few things that we are in constant opposition to than change. As I began this column, I envisioned something quite a bit...

After quite an eventful summer season, we transition into fall with a cloudy sky freckled by falling leaves, or rainy weekends that blur into...

Last weekend, the City of Cullman was bustling as Oktoberfest celebrations were happening in Depot Park and the Cullman County Fair Parade made its...

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...

Long time, no see, readers. We are picking after She Reads’ small hiatus and hitting the ground running with this week’s story, ‘A Simple...