Opinion

It’s been a busy past week in the Loftis household and things aren’t likely to settle down much over the next few weeks. But I’m not complaining. Those of you who read the most recent ramblings in this space know that I planned to marry my sweetheart, Lisa, sometime last week. ...

Every two weeks, usually on Thursday, Gideon and I venture to Bentonville for date night. Date night on a Thursday, you ask? I’ll explain. We kick things off on the drive itself, listening to my “Likes” playlist on Youtube Music. Every week when writing stories, I listen to Youtube Music’s “Discovery Mix” to hear new tunes — new to me, that is. The songs range in genre and release date...

I moved into a new home a little more than a year ago, thinking at the time that it was much more space than I really needed. I had planned on buying a smaller house, but I fell in love with this one the first time I saw it and a low interest rate made it affordable...

This Thanksgiving, we have a special feature in Carroll County News. I spent much of last week calling local nonprofit leaders asking what they are most thankful for this year, and the responses reminded me why I’m so thankful to live and work in our wonderful community...

W hen you move into a new home, you’re preoccupied with a bunch of general stressors: moving the boxes, unpacking the boxes and finding someone to take all the broken-down boxes that now reside on your back deck. It mostly has to do with boxes. At least, that’s what I thought the first few months after moving in...

A s the dreary economic news continues, the needs in our communities become ever more obvious. Friends and neighbors struggle to make ends meet. Local businesses face tough financial decisions. Our charitable organizations scramble to serve more people on fewer dollars. ...

Veterans Day always leaves me in a contemplative mood. Growing up in a house with my grandfather, a World War II veteran and longtime member of the VFW, I don’t remember a time when I haven’t attended a Veterans Day ceremony somewhere. Most follow the same format, featuring some sort of parade, a few speakers, a rifle salute and scores of people all ages, gathered to pay tribute to those who served — and still serve — our great nation...

The debate rages on day after day, week after week, year after year. Gideon and I watched a variation of it on an early episode of How I Met Your Mother last night. Ted calls his girlfriend Victoria and asks if she likes cats. She says she does. Ted loses his mind — this must mean she hates dogs, right? What kind of person hates dogs? Can a dog person even exist in the same vicinity as a cat person? Wouldn’t they implode within five feet of each other?...