Archive By Section - Local Columns
As is the case with many small town papers, much of what we share in our once-a-month columns here on the 'perspective' page is of a personal nature. It's a way for readers to get to know the reporters and myself a little better; what makes us tick, our likes and dislikes.
Many of you responded with emails, personal contacts, phone calls, and even a couple of sympathy cards when I shared the loss of my nearly 18-year-old cat a few months ago. The cat had come with me when I made the cross country relocation from upstate New ...
August 05, 2009
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Marg
Jackson
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Local Columns
Okay, here's the scenario. You're on the tail end of a late drive home and you're less than a mile away from the house when the fiery red lights of a fire truck and ambulance catch your eye in front of you on the horizons.
Obviously you pick up speed and you make the second to last right to get to your house and the ambulance tailing the fire truck in seemingly guiding you to your destination.
The fire truck stops directly in front of your home and the ambulance pulls in behind the multiple-ton emergency vehicle ...
August 05, 2009
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Jagada
Chambers
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Local Columns
In Oregon, they say, it rains nearly every day and the residents have webbed feet to prove it. That's an exaggeration. I've just returned from a week's vacation in Oregon and can testify the overcast sky cleared by noon on five days out of seven and the locals do not have skin between their toes like ducks.
The temperatures were in the low 70s and balmy by my reckoning. The kind of summer weather I was used to while growing up in England.
July 29, 2009
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John
Branch
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Local Columns
By the time you read this I'll have returned from my business trip but as I'm writing ahead of schedule, I haven't left yet. It's kind of like writing about the future!
So, each year, I go to the Romance Writers of America national conference and each year I run around like a chicken with its head cut off because I'm not prepared.
You'd think that with a year to prepare I'd be ready to go but you see, that's not in my personality. I'm the kind of girl who likes ...
July 22, 2009
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Kim
Van Meter
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Local Columns
It is a day I will not soon forget.
July 15, 2009
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Teresa
Hammond
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Local Columns
There were plenty of illegal fireworks bursting in the air Saturday night, July 4 - and a few fires as a result, one of which burned 11 acres at Duck Cove at Woodward Reservoir - but while several illegal fireworks were confiscated, no citations were given within the City of Oakdale, said officials.
July 08, 2009
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Kim
Van Meter
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Local Columns
I am preparing to play my first real golf game. I've been taking private lessons with a pro for a little while and it's time to hit the links. My significant other - who's always itching to play golf - says I'm ready for a round. I'm not sure that I feel ready but I'm going to give it a try anyway. Until now, about the closest I've gotten to playing is driving the cart.
July 08, 2009
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Dawn M.
Henley
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Local Columns
How nice of California to heat up to triple digits just as soon as I returned from a vacation to lush, green, rainy and non-humid upstate New York. What a welcome back.
July 01, 2009
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Marg
Jackson
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Local Columns
Slowly but surely Americans seem to be taking to the 'green' movement. Referred to by some as a 'trendy,' I will openly admit this is one 'trend' I am happy to be a part of.
July 01, 2009
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Teresa
Hammond
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Local Columns
It's felt like forever (10 months between releases is too long in my estimation) but finally, my sixth book will hit the shelves the second week in July and I'm so excited.
June 24, 2009
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Kim
Van Meter
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Local Columns
This column began as a piece about summer; the revival of ones spirit as they smile at the sun, embrace each day and perhaps reminisce on days gone by.
June 17, 2009
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Teresa
Hammond
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Local Columns
I was having a conversation recently with a girlfriend about our upcoming class reunion. We were talking about being in our 30s and lamenting about changes in how we looked - I was actually doing more of the lamenting. Though I'm a lot the same since the last reunion, some things are now definitely different. Instead of just talking about the right dress and a suntan, now it's about the right dress and sun damage.
June 09, 2009
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Dawn M.
Henley
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Local Columns
Thank you for calling the Oakdale Leader.
June 02, 2009
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Teresa
Hammond
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Local Columns
The good news is my 13-year-old is not cut out to be a mother. The bad news is, if she was; I would most likely fail as a grandmother.
June 02, 2009
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Marg
Jackson
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Local Columns
Weeks ago I talked about my sleep apnea and the resultant recommendation for a CPAP machine. Well, the machine has arrived.
May 27, 2009
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Kim
Van Meter
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Local Columns
