Opinion

Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. “Drive Faster. The Mountains are close by”. That’s a bumper sticker I’ve seen on a number of cars throughout western North Carolina. Yes, living in the mountains is special. A lot of people are beach groupies or mountain …

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. How is the best way to reinforce our belief in America?  How is the best way to show that America is truly a part of a unique experiment called democracy?  How is the best way to declare that you …

Sallie HollisSallie Rose Hollis is a native of Rocky Branch and retired Journalism Professer from Louisiana Tech University. Contact her at sallierose@mail.com. With National Punctuation Day just a few days in the rear-view mirror, let’s pause to appreciate something we rely on daily but sometimes neglect: punctuation. Yes, Sept. 24 was National Punctuation Day – a holiday you may not …

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. What a mess has been witnessed. The economy is not in good shape despite what some politicians tell us. Out of control government spending coupled with poorly selected projects followed by wage and price inflation is a cocktail for …

Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. It’s a national scandal and a call to arms. Our country is under attack by dog and cat eaters. So says our former president. That’s right.  Donald Trump is saying that in some communities, immigrants are prowling neighborhoods …

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. The world took a big hit when it shut down for COVID. The United States took a bigger hit when it remained shut down for so long. Government mandated long-duration closures followed by Government subsidized living had the adverse …

Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. It’s been a standing joke for a number of years. No matter how bad things get in Louisiana, the state could say at least it’s not Mississippi. Well not anymore. A new national study by Wallethub.com has just …

Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. OK, Ok, I know it’s just early September. But to me, autumn is in the air. Sure it’s still hot in the deep South. But there is a tinge of lower temperatures, leaves are slightly turning and we …

Sallie HollisSallie Rose Hollis is a native of Rocky Branch and retired Journalism Professer from Louisiana Tech University. Contact her at sallierose@mail.com. As the echoes of my former chorus, Piney Hills Harmony, fade into cherished memories, I find myself stepping into a new chapter – a fresh melody, if you will. Southern A’Chord, my new women’s community chorus, based in …

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. America is losing a certain edge that has made it such a unique place to live, such a wonderful example for other countries to aspire to be.In the 1770s America was made up of 13 colonies; 13 colonies that …