I know there are many wonderful mothers residing in this region, however, my personal best is my wife, Lynn, and for good reason.

She has raised our four children: Brandia, Meredith, Stanhope and Anna from birth, and has selflessly given much of herself to do so.

Our children will grow older and wiser with time on their side, but they will never experience anything again resembling the unconditional love that was showered upon them by both of their parents, but especially by their sweet, lovely mother.

My greatest decision in life was to ask Lynn Womble to marry me. My children's greatest fortune will always be their mother.
Pictured above: Meredith Deatherage Loughlin (left), Anna Alyss Deatherage (middle). Lynn Womble Deatherage ... Read More

I recently had two experiences that have taught me a great deal. The first was covering the School Board presentation of its budget request to the County Commissioners and the other was watching the debate this week in the N. C. House on the state budget.

To understand what I'm about to say requires you to either accept that this nation, state and county are in serious financial trouble. If you do not accept that then you can stop reading this. Maybe I'm wrong but I believe most people know this. They know the national debt is unsustainable. They know inherently that the state, city and county cannot continue to spend more than they take in.

So when I sit and listen to a School Board and its superintendent ask for more money such that it ... Read More

Artist and arts advocate Amy Scheidegger continues to enjoy overwhelming support for her Artistic Rebuttal Book Project. As of Mar. 25, Scheidegger reported that 357 people have confirmed to contribute from 83 cities across America and Canada. The finished product of the Artistic Rebuttal Book Project will be marketed to galleries, arts councils, tourist departments and libraries across the country. Scheidegger will also now be collaborating with teachers and students across the country on a children's edition of the project.

Nearly 200 entries have already been submitted. Beaufort County Now published the first batch on Feb. 8, which can be viewed by clicking here; the second batch on Feb. 13, which can be viewed by clicking here; the th... Read More

I'm writing to address Ms. Winborne's letter, published in Greenville's Daily Reflector on April 29, which accused the Tea Party and the GOP of trying to put grandma in an early grave by seeking budget cuts. Well, that is simply outrageous and ridiculous. The fact is that our government promises too much to too many people but continues to relieve too many of them from contributing. We continue to fund lifestyles that place a huge burden on our fiscal well-being. You eventually run out of other people's money, which is where we are now. If Ms. Winborne wants to accuse leaders of sending grandma to an early grave, then she should look no further than Obama himself and his group of healthcare advisors.

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a bioethicist c... Read More

The government funding of illegal immigrants, that don't claim U.S. residency nor pay taxes, is adding to the nation's debt. Millions of U.S. dollars go to help illegal immigrants pay for k-12 and secondary education (some even pay in-state tuition for college) as well as their welfare, Medicaid and other social services due to a lack of verification. Helping to finance illegal immigrants in a time of economic crisis is further putting the country in debt. Some undocumented immigrants do pay taxes out of pay checks (with fake social security numbers) and state taxes from purchases at the store. This is thought to counterbalance the burden of educational costs, but is actually far from it. Illegal immigrants should not receive government f... Read More

Young adults often wonder what their rights are in the public school system with respect to religion. On the one hand there is the First Amendment right to religion itself (free exercise and the freedom from being forced to belong to a religion established by Congress), and then are a plurality of Supreme Court decisions which have interpreted the First Amendment, there are the views of religious groups and atheist groups, and then finally there are anti-religion "watch" groups which are ever vigilante to make sure that religion (in any form) is not brought up in schools or in any other public/government-sponsored activity. And then caught in the middle of all this are the children themselves who have Constitutional first amendment rights ... Read More

The Democratic Party is in need of a new source of inspiration and hope, after sustaining political losses in 2010; but following Saturday's annual Democratic convention at the Beaufort County Courthouse, the Party walked out divided and weak.

Though Surry Everett did not have any trouble getting elected as Chairman of the Beaufort County Democratic Party, he did have some difficulty finding the words for a post-election speech to the party and remarks to the press.

Everett--the nominating committee's choice, elected unanimously by the delegates--approached the lectern without any emotion or excitement whatsoever and read two manuscripts written by Democratic Party State Chair David Parker and Governor Bev Perdue, instead of delivering... Read More