Category Archives: Opinions
Apathy — the silent killer
Revelation 3:15-16 NKJV “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, 
I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
High blood pressure or hypertension has been classified by the medical profession as “the silent killer.” Primarily it is called that because we do not realize we have a problem until it is
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Parents, please join me
I had the amazing experience recently of traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet with my representatives in our nation’s capital. I, a working mom of two children, one of 
whom is currently in child care, had the opportunity to share my story about what a difference it makes for my family that my youngest child is able to go to a quality child care program in my community. And while it’s not cheap, the program is affordable, and I am able to work knowing not only that my child is being cared for, but in an educational setting where she is learning, exploring and making
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Courier Letters to the Editor 6-25-25
Above and beyond
Dear Editor,
May I share the story of a local store owner going the extra mile to solve a problem?
On Saturday, June 14, the hand controls on the lift chair of a person with dementia stopped working. Such a problem can escalate quickly for a person dealing with memory loss. Where could I find help on a Saturday afternoon.
The chair had been purchased nine years earlier from Nalley’s Bedding and Furniture
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Finding peace in avoiding the news
One month ago I wrote here about having avoided the television news for seven days. During that time, I didn’t have the stress from constant bombardment and media 
hysteria about all the problems and chronic chaos in the world. I felt better for it, both physically and mentally, but I knew I couldn’t keep it up forever.
At some point I figured I would have to rejoin the
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Dropping the stones, searching within
Those who have never experienced an addiction can seem unsympathetic and uncaring. Why?
There are several reasons, like thinking that self-inflicting destruction does not deserve compassion, or maybe it’s the arrogance of thinking they themselves would never be so blind as to let something like that happen to them. I feel the
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Daddy taught me to fit in
Proverbs 1:8-9 “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.”
Normally when I think of the many things my dad taught me, I think of plumbing, electrical and carpentry skills. Teaching me to fit in was one lesson at which he was, in most cases, unsuccessful. I just never saw the point.
One day we were installing the electrical system in a new house build in a neighboring county. I was about twelve years old. By then he had taught me how to wire in switches,
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Van Yandell is a retired industrial arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary. He can be reached at vmy2121@outlook.com.
Courier Letters to the Editor 6-18-25
Prepare to meet your maker
Dear Editor,
Here’s an unpopular subject no one likes to talk about. You’re also never too old to learn something.
I recently found out that in the old days when, people would die, they were worried about being buried alive! Back before the 20th century, people were not embalmed when they died. The scary thing was that sometimes they weren’t dead! They had
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Salvation is free, but it’s not cheap
The Christian faith believes that God draws people to Himself when they hear the gospel message about how much He loves them. This is why evangelism is important, since the idea is that the more the gospel is presented, the more people will be convicted and respond to Christ.
After a person has made their public profession of
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Stick-built evangelism
Matthew 7:26-27 “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
Carpenters sometimes use the term “stick framing” to describe a type of residential construction. Stick framing utilizes dimensional softwood lumber (spruce, pine,
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Courier Letters to the Editor 6-11-25
Courthouse, Carolina Investors
Dear Editor,
The Pickens County Courthouse has been overcrowded for a while, when it comes to space inside the building and parking outside. The county government has taken two steps to address this. First, we bought the old Carolina Investors building at 208 Garvin St. That building is two floors and 10,000 square feet and will help alleviate overcrowding inside the courthouse.
Moving from the courthouse to Garvin St. will be the Department of Juvenile Justice; Probation, Parole and Pardons; and possibly the public defender. They will be on the
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
