R-T Columns
My favorite Republicans | Ott Observations
I have been writing recently about how the current Republican party has become unhinged from any foundational principles and logic. Although I often disagree with politically conservative perspectives, I have…
Read MoreWhite noise | Mark’s Remarks
I’m pretty late to the game on a lot of stuff. I had heard people talking about noise machines and how they used “white noise” while they worked or…
Read MoreMoving back home | Mark’s Remarks
While I was in college, I lived in my own apartment. By the time I got to college, I had already been to junior college for a couple of years…
Read MoreLet’s play ’20 Questions’ | Ott Observations
Many of us are familiar with a game called “20 Questions.” The object is to be able to guess a specific person, object or place by asking questions to eliminate…
Read MoreThe benefits of shutting up | Mark’s Remarks
Back in school, there were very few days that I didn’t get in trouble for talking too much. I’m pretty sure my teachers mentioned that I visited too much in…
Read MoreCheese! | Mark’s Remarks
I think we put enormous pressure on ourselves as parents. Would you agree? I blame Facebook. I blame society. I blame misguided priorities. Somewhere along the line, people started…
Read MoreTake your party back, please | Ott Observations
My very first letter to the Republic-Times was an appeal to my Republican neighbors after the 2020 election. I’d like to make another appeal. Please restore the Republican Party back…
Read MoreThe Great Bus Tirade | Mark’s Remarks
When I start thinking about how disrespectful and silly kids can be at school, and when I get to the almost nth degree of crazy, I think the Lord whispers…
Read MoreA year of goodbyes? | Mark’s Remarks
When you read this, I will have completed my 33rd year of teaching. Maybe not a big deal to you, but dang. Time seems to have gone by at…
Read MoreDefying reason | Ott Observations
As I digest many current events, I find myself thinking about the word “reason.” The dictionary defines the word as “a cause, explanation or justification for an action or event,”…
Read MoreCarol Burnett’s birthday | Mark’s Remarks
I was born in 1967, the same year Carol Burnett’s television show went on the air. So you could say I sort of grew up watching her. I remember being…
Read MoreLay off | Mark’s Remarks
I was having a great conversation with a group of folks the other day. Some were retired and some were close to retiring. The truths spoken at this meeting…
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