tobacco

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When it comes to North Carolina architecture, there is no more ubiquitous an example than the humble tobacco barn. You can barely drive half a mile in the rural farming areas without seeing at least one or two dotting the landscape. With some of them dating back a century and more, they once exemplified this state’s agricultural acumen like nothing else could.

And it is not without some sadness that in the modern era, most of them have fallen into disuse. Once they hummed with hard work and a handsome payoff. Now, no more. But the barns still stand: a testimony to times gone by and a tradition that many families maintained for generations.

For those reasons and more (not the least of which is the gorgeous cinematography and editing by Stewart Pittman) I can’t recommend enough that y’all check out this Buckley Report story by WGHP Fox 8 reporter ...

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That’s my father Robert Knight in the photograph on the right, sitting next to friend and fellow farmer John Ashe, in a pic taken for a news story that’s gotten national circulation (The Republic out of Columbus, Indiana has it along with a whole slideshow of photos) about tobacco farmers trying to stay profitable in spite of new trade deals.

I’ve known John for most of my life. He’s a solid dude and everyone around here is proud of the success he’s had as a farmer. It’s really good to see him getting coverage like this on behalf of farmers everywhere. But I want y’all to click on the link and see the full photo taken by Ted Richardson. The entire pic of Dad and John sitting on the tailgate of Dad’s truck, it’s just a classic pic about modern farming. I’d even say “award worthy” 🙂...

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It’s a scene I’ve watched on television damn too many times: a chief executive like a president or governor sitting behind a desk and smugly signing away another right or liberty, with a backdrop made up of the sorry-a$$ed legislative bastitches, also grinning like they’ve just made some legitimate contribution to the betterment of mankind, who passed the effin’ law to begin with.

In today’s case it was Bev Perdue – who I have already declared to be the worst Governor that North Carolina has ever had with just four months into her term – signing the state-wide smoking ban into law.

That dumb blond and the twits who stood next to her today are now patting themselves on the back for their show of force over the common people of this state. Because, let us be candid folks: the legislators in the General Assembly who passed this, by ...

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For the record: I don’t smoke. I don’t recommend anyone taking up smoking. It’s a nasty habit and I’ve seen what it can do to one’s health. It’s not something I’d wish on anybody.

But I’m also of the mind that it’s left to the individual whether or not he or she chooses to smoke. And that means that it should be up to business owners to decide whether or not they allow smoking in places they own like restaurants and bars.

And I also have come to believe that in the few short months since she was sworn in, that Bev Perdue has already become the worst Governor that I have ever seen North Carolina have in my lifetime. She’s already “effed”-up our educational budget bigtime. Now this…

“An important and historic day for North Carolina.” That’s what Perdue declared today as she announced she would immediately sign ...

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Just to be clear on some things…

1. There is no such thing as the U.S. Department of Public Health.

2. Reidsville does not have a deputy mayor.

3. Irving “Bud” Wombler is a fictitious character that I made up this morning.

4. Rockingham Regional Medical Center only exists in my mind, and will likely never be built in the Midway area.

5. Fritz Hippler was a real-life filmmaker who ran the Film Department of the Propaganda Ministry under Joseph Goebbels during the reign of Nazi Germany. I “borrowed” his name since this story needed someone likewise doing propaganda. And I’ll admit that I liked the sound of the name. But other than that there was no other reason why I chose to use it, in case anyone’s wondering.

6. The murals are not in any danger.

7. This whole thing was not meant to be a reflection at all ...

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EDIT 9:50 p.m. EST 04/01/2008: Click here for a MAJOR BREAKING UPDATE regarding this news story!

Details about this will soon be released to the press via regular channels, but here is what The Knight Shift has learned…

Rockingham County, North Carolina – the #1 tobacco-producing region in the entire country – will soon become the first 100% tobacco-free area in the United States.

What this means is: no smoking anywhere in public, no smoking in private homes, and no cultivation of tobacco on the many farms throughout the county.

It’s part of a deal between county officials and the U.S. Department of Public Health. In exchange for “willingly” giving up tobacco, the federal government will disburse $120 million to assist Rockingham County’s medical and preventative health infrastructure.

If all goes according to plan, there won’t be a cigarette, cigar, pouch of chewing tobacco, or can of tobacco seed ...

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