Bloody Hell!

This has a nice ring to it. If you are addicted to English mysteries as I am, you are familiar with the expression. In British, and other Commonwealth English, 'bloody hell' is an informal, mildly offensive expletive used to express surprise, annoyance, disbelief, anger, or frustration. Like, "Bloody hell, I can’t believe we missed the … Continue reading Bloody Hell!

Stepheny’s Reflection: Ward 3 Election – A Prayer Left Unspoken

Let Our Ballots Be the Prayers for Rocky Mount’s Future An election is meant to be a chorus of voices, but in Ward 3 this October, only a handful sang. Just 9.70% of registered voters turned out (570 out of 5,874) to cast their ballots. There will be a run-off in November. The outcome will … Continue reading Stepheny’s Reflection: Ward 3 Election – A Prayer Left Unspoken

Will This Rocky Mount Crisis Finally Bring Justice?

“A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define and limit the possibilities of each other’s lives.” -Wendell Barry I looked for Berry's wisdom to help me think about Rocky Mount's financial scandal. I have used one of his quotes … Continue reading Will This Rocky Mount Crisis Finally Bring Justice?

A Familiar Refrain: Blame Without Accountability

A public meeting took place for City Council Wards 1, 2, and 3 about the city budget. I find this ironic. A meeting is held, an exercise, in my eyes, where the councilmen tried distancing themselves from blame for the mess that has engulfed our city’s leadership. The lecturing and posturing feel like the same … Continue reading A Familiar Refrain: Blame Without Accountability

When Mismanagement BecomesCorruption and Theft

Rocky Mount is in the middle of a financial mess, and no one can pretend otherwise. Misused funds, hidden accounts, and the long shadow of mismanagement have left us angry, and wondering if justice will this time be served. Monday through Friday, I will have a one minute post with a Wendell Berry, quotation, the … Continue reading When Mismanagement BecomesCorruption and Theft