-The following first appeared in Floyd Times on February 5, 2026. Author Jeffery Bennett was hosted by The Floyd County Historical Society for an Author Talk and book signing at the Jessie Peterman Memorial Library on Saturday. Bennett’s book, The Black Belt of Virginia: Untold Stories of African American History details the little-known history and […]
1. I went to cover an Author’s Talk at the library for a book titled The Black Belt. When I told Joe where I was going, he thought I was going to a martial arts event. 2. The term Black Belt is used the same way as the Bible Belt. It refers to concentrations of […]
-The following was first published at Floyd Times on February 18, 2026. New River Medical Reserve Corps volunteer and Licensed Professional Counselor Paula Markham gave an informational presentation at the Jessie Peterman Library on how to promote mental health during the winter months. Markham was introduced on February 14th by MRC coordinator of volunteers Susanna […]
-I was commissioned by Tom Ryan in 2009 to write the following. It appeared on Tom’s Republic of Floyd webpage and Joey’s webpage for a time. Our friend Joey left this world several days ago. A dreadlocked country boy who grew up fur trapping, raising fighting cocks, driving his dad’s 18-wheeler, and playing golf, Joey […]
1. Our Valentine time started with dancing to Dead Reckoning at Dogtown. The band played a lot of love songs: They Love Each Other, Turn on Your Lovelight and more. 2. I once asked Joe what song with the word ‘love” in the title comes to his mind first. He answered, “Love Me Do,” by […]
Even under the influence of ibuprofun for an out-of-whack knee. It was worth the price of admission to dance and sing along with Brown-eyed Women and Red Grenadine and other songs with friends. And see Bobby Weir’s smiling face up in lights. The Sun will shine in my back door someday. March winds will blow […]
When the ending is never finished because words have unmovable limits I’m an Einstein determined to break a code to solve interchangeable theories But I can only prove that nothing is final that thoughts and words are waves and particles that nothing is permanent but nothing is destroyed Outcomes are influenced by conscious observers Intentions […]
1. “Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.” – Carl Jung 2. Don’t poison earth’s apples / Don’t drop bombs on people / Don’t be fooled by a flag / or ruled by a fool / Thou shalt not oppress / or bear false witness / Let […]
The following 2025 review was done by excerpting the first few lines or paragraph in one post from each month last year. You can click on the name of the month for a full accounting. January – The “Nest of Singing Birds” ballad singers lost their town and their monthly Appalachian Ballad Swap venue when […]
1. “Nobody is illegal on stolen land.” Billie Eilish during her Grammy acceptance speech for Song of the Year (“Wildflower”). 2. I told Joe to put on a big log in the woodstove before we went to bed, and then we played THIS song. 3. In the case of the Led Zeppelin song, Big Log […]
-The following was first published in Floyd Times on 1/27/2026 Floyd Chamber of Commerce’s executive director Kathy Fett introduced Dr. Angelica Perry of Full Spectrum Wellness Care to Chamber members at a Chamber Luncheon, held at the Town Offices Community Room on Oxford Street on Tuesday (1/20/26). Perry, a Chamber member who sponsored the luncheon, […]
