Columnists

Am I the village idiot?'

A few months ago, I read an article from the Associated Press which stated that raising the price of wine actually made the wine taste better.

I used to watch offenders as they appeared in court, particularly those who were on my probation caseload.

In Kip's first life, he was chained up to a post, night and day. He was never let off the chain, and although he had a dog house for shelter, he never came in a house or ran free.

QUESTION: When churches need ministers, how do they get them?

Do you recognize me?" a woman asked following a service at her church.

Since this is a family newspaper, we must approach this week's canine problem in a delicate fashion. However, mounting behavior in dogs is a serious problem that is seriously embarrassing. After watching commercials (during football) this weekend, I've learned that embarrassing problems are given initials -- so, from here on out, I am going to refer canine mounting behavior as CMB -- those of you who have read the first paragraph will know what I mean henceforth. And those who skipped the first paragraph -- well, you're reading it now, aren't you?

What happens when a common man with a simple dream buys himself a ranch in the rugged mountains of California? He works hard day after day, living the life he's wanted to live most all his life.

If you were to examine a 1958 political map of California, it would look much different from today's version.

Once upon a time, a man bought a mobile home, saying he planned to rent it. Instead, he let it sit empty and unattended for several years, doing nothing in the way of upkeep. Eventually he entered into a dispute with the park's owners over some structural damage and neglect of the lot, never resolving the issue. He was ineffective in dealing with it because he didn't want to bother and he tends, by nature, to procrastinate. He also stopped paying the fees. When asked by friends or relatives what was happening, he insisted he was taking care of things, but he wasn't.

Question: When the world seems so controlled by fear, how do we keep our faith that love can overcome this fear?

Merced County Courthouse Museum is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibit entitled: "Waterfowl Heritage of Merced County" on Sept. 25. In addition to the history of duck hunting and wetland preservation, the exhibit will also explore the many colorful stories of the good, the bad, the ugly, and the interesting. Among these tales is the story of Market Hunter Levi Smith as told by Westside pioneer Bill Knight:

In this dream, you're standing on a dirt road in a town out of the old west. You hear the clicking of toenails as your pet steps out into the street to face you -- there's going to be a showdown. Your pet flexes his paws; his long nails glinting in the hot sun. He gives you the squinty-eyed look that says, "Do you feel lucky? Well, do you?" He's ready for a fight, and your heart starts to beat fast, because it's another "Showdown at the Toenail Corral."

Merced Golden Lions Club will host its eighth annual chicken to go dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the Boys & Girls Club of Merced County, 15th and M streets.

As my daughter and I were walking through town once, a vehicle stopped. The driver got out, looked around (it was a gorgeous spring day), and then called out to us, "Do you folks actually live here in this beautiful place?"