Columnists
10 Players Who Helped Boiler Hoops Power Forward
Purdue may be known as “Big Man U” these days but it historically also has produced outstanding power forwards. This top 10 list is talented, led by three first-team All-Americans. It also is the third time in this series that an active player has been selected. The “Big Dog” was the most dominant player in…
Read MoreBranna’s Profound Platform for Purposefulness
Branna’s Profound Platform for Purposefulness At age 65, Colonel Harland Sanders established the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise and Laura Ingalls Wilder began writing the “Little House on the Prairie” series. Grandma Moses didn’t earnestly aspire to her artistry until her mid-70s. Today, ardent aging adults are achieving goals and pursuing passions like never before. I…
Read MoreA Little Herstory and a Little Basketball History
From Time to Thyme By Paula Dunn It’s finally spring! I know that, not because the calendar says so, but because Gatewood’s Vegetable Farm is open again. (They’re more dependable than the robins.) It’s time for a little spring cleaning of reader feedback. Lisa Hayner responded to the column about obstacles females used to face,…
Read MoreWalk half a mile in someone’s shoes
“Walk a mile in someone’s shoes,” the saying goes. It’s true. I discovered more about the 1965 Civil Rights marches and of myself doing that. Last year, I found myself in Selma, Ala. to walk the same steps the Selma to Montgomery marchers walked 60 years before on Bloody Sunday. We’ve seen documentaries, and many of us have watched the 2014 movie Selma. I decided to go for a walk in Selma following the march route…
Read MoreDr. Arrowood Shares Heights Update
The Kiwanis Club and our Hamilton Heights Key Club Chapter have cooked up something truly fun. Together, they’re hosting a community dance, Dancing with My Hero, this Sunday, March 22, for students and their families in grades K–8. The event features music, face painting, an obstacle course, and plenty of activities to keep families smiling…
Read MoreAsk Rusty – I’m Still Working; Why Didn’t my Benefit Amount Increase?
Dear Rusty: I have been working somewhat consistently since commencing my Social Security benefit income. I’ve been collecting since my full benefit age of 66, approximately. I’m now 81, and customarily, in about October of each calendar year, Social Security notifies me of additional benefits from my additional work. Not this year. I earned some $18,000-$19,000 in…
Read MoreRoller-Coaster Season for Purdue’s Boilermakers Continues Into NCAA
The roller-coaster ride taken by the Purdue men’s basketball team since the dawn of 2026 is once again on an upward trajectory. Becoming the first No. 7 seed to win the Big Ten Tournament has renewed some faith in the eighth-ranked Boilermakers, who were viewed as a preseason national championship contender. Beating the Michigan all-star…
Read MoreCelebrating “Tea-riffic Herbs”
From Time to Thyme By Paula Dunn When I learned that the 2026 Herb of the Year was turmeric, my initial reaction was, “Oh. Great.” Not being into spicy food, I’ve never had occasion to use turmeric. I do, however, know a few things about it. Turmeric comes from the rhizome of the plant, Curcuma…
Read MoreTaking Care of the Caregiver
More than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aging family member during any given year. Whoever said that family matters must stay out of the workplace has never been a caregiving family member. So just who are these folks who are juggling responsibilities in the workplace as well as their…
Read MoreAbraham Lincoln’s Younger Brother
In 2012, NPR did a survey on Abraham Lincoln. How many books were written about him? The estimate came out to around 15,000. To read a few is to presume to know the man. His is an American story: ancestors moving from the east coast after the Revolutionary war to settle in the Midwest. Going from rags to riches, and going from…
Read More