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Saturday: Weekend

A birthday to celebrate: Parade honors 101-year-old Black WWII veteran

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The boat crested a wave that seemed a mile high and then started to plunge. Romay Davis looked over the edge as the bow dropped. The trough looked bottomless. Davis had never been on the ocean before, now she was headed to France to serve in WWII as part of an all-Black, all-female Army unit. Car trips made her sick, but here on the ocean the nausea never hit. She clung to the ship and took it all in. “I was just enjoying it because I had never seen anything like it,” Davis said. On Nov. 4, a birthday parade made up of city and state officials, volunteers, ...

Taking note: Kindness is key

EDITOR’S NOTE: This column originally ran in the March 14 edition of The Mining Journal. We all endure challenges and hardships that we don’t share with others. Sometimes because we feel ashamed of our struggles. Sometimes because we feel like others might not understand. Sometimes because we just can’t bear to talk it. Regardless of the reason, most people carry burdens that they don’t wear on their sleeves. But this isn’t about the importance of being fully open and honest with others about what we endure. We’ve all heard that before. This is about recognizing that ...

Taking note: Curling up with a good book

EDITOR’S NOTE: This column was originally published in the Feb. 8 edition of The Mining Journal. Someone from a much warmer locale recently asked me what people here do to get through the winter. I told them about the wealth of winter recreation opportunities, such as fat tire biking, skiing, snowshoeing and winter camping. And although it hardly seems as exciting by comparison, I also mentioned reading, because, for me, that’s one of the best ways to get through a long winter — or anything, really. Reading has been a constant source of entertainment and joy throughout my ...

Love of job keeps 80-year-old EMT at work

CHARLOTTE, Mich. — Most people don’t start a full-time career in their 60s. Lyle See isn’t most people. At 80 years old, he’s been an EMT for decades alongside a career in human resources and working as a firefighter. His first run was in 1962, shortly after he graduated from ...

Taking note: Sharing joy

It’s a strange sight: a collection of crisp autumn leaves covering a blanket of snow, with just a few spots of bright green grass exposed. Everything is quiet, except a few drops of water dripping gently from a steadily shrinking icicle. But then, a breeze picks up. Compared to the cutting, ice-cold wind of recent days, it’s almost as refreshing as a spring wind. It carries the same rich scent of dirt and grass, a whisper of humidity. So much different than the scentless, frozen wintry gusts of the preceding days. The past week seems to have contained fall, winter and now, a ...