David Peyton

Dave Peyton: Nativity scenes redraw Grandma's barn

This column by Dave Peyton first appeared in 1988. It was a favorite of many readers and is offered again. I cannot think of barns without thinking of that special barn on Cyrus Creek in rural Cabell County where the cow named Pet dwelled. Pet was a…

Fans remember Dave Peyton's life and words

Following are tributes and remembrances of former Herald-Dispatch columnist Dave Peyton after his death Wednesday afternoon. James E. Casto, former associate editor of The Herald-Dispatch and (theoretically) Peyton’s supervisor: I can’t remember when…

Dave Peyton: Get ready for a fun and different election season

It ought to be an interesting campaign season during the general election craziness. And what’s to blame? The virus of course. Or as we are likely to call it, “the varse.” Masks, six feet of separation and outright fear will change the local…

Dave Peyton: An annus horribilis, as usual

I am back, but I am here — just barely. It has been an annus horribilis at Peyton Place. It began in late winter when Susie, my wife, suffered a stroke. She spent weeks in the hospital and therapy. As soon as she returned home, I woke up one morning…

Dave Peyton: Are you screaming at the TV more?

“People hoard because they believe that an item will be useful or valuable in the future. ... Those most often associated with hoarding are obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),…

Dave Peyton: Bits and pieces spawned by the coronavirus

I wouldn’t want to deny freedom of speech to anyone, but those who make $200,000 a year or more and complain that he or she is bored during this disaster ought to be assessed a year’s salary by the IRS or give a year’s salary to “Grab and go.” Why…

Dave Peyton: Prayer, meditation might help us through

Anyone out there remember those words from early radio? They came from the mouth of Don McNeill, the host of the wildly popular “Breakfast Club.” I recalled those words as I ruminated on how we are reacting to a worldwide disaster that has affected…

Dave Peyton: Sanders will pretend he's going down fighting

After all the hoopla about Bernie Sanders and his “revolution,” it appears Biden is the one the Democrats think is most likely to defeat Donald Trump in the November general election. I realize this topic is not the most important one in America…

Dave Peyton: Trump has upper hand, but can he maintain it?

I suspect that if the presidential election were held today, Donald J. Trump would be re-elected president. His base, which believes everything he says, including his bald-faced lies, would all vote for him at least once. They like the way he abuses…

Dave Peyton: End of time has been coming for centuries

Donald Trump, according to his “spiritual advisor” Paula White, will shortly be a leader in the battle that will lead to “the rapture” and the end of the world as we know it. “God came to me last night and showed me a vision of Trump riding alongside…

Dave Peyton: Drug crisis hurting kids the most

You never know where the opioid disaster that afflicts West Virginia will lead the state. In addition to other major problems, it is affecting the state’s children. And in doing so, it threatens to bring the state to its knees because the future of…

Dave Peyton: Could a cure for cancer be coming soon?

Has the cure for all forms of cancer finally been discovered? Scientists at Cardiff University in Wales have discovered part of our immune system could be harnessed to treat all cancers. say scientists. The team discovered a method of killing…

Dave Peyton: Lack of civics education hurts U.S.

When I was in civics class in the seventh grade at Beverly Hills Junior High School, I received a good dose of American studies, its history, current affairs and why we should love this country. The teacher was Miss Virginia Lewis, and she drilled…

Dave Peyton: United Methodists headed for disunity over LGBTQ policies

I was virtually born in the Guyandotte Methodist Church before it became the Guyandotte United Methodist Church. I can’t remember when or who the Methodists merged with to change the name to the United Methodist Church. But I remember when the…

Dave Peyton: Who is hateful? Let's look at that

The email (misspellings and all) started out as if it were an apology. “Yesterday while surfing the net I came across Candace Owens debating democrats during a congressional hearing. She so eloquently described how democrats used despicable to…

Dave Peyton: Christmas has little to do with Jesus

For those of you who believe Jesus was magic, I wonder if he would have ever been born if he had known what his birthday would turn into. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, but I can understand why others wish happy holidays or other…

Dave Peyton: Josephine the cat loved Christmas morning

On this first day of Christmas week, my thoughts turn to Old Cat Josephine. She has been gone a long time after having lived two decades, most of them at Peyton Place. I know of no other species, human or otherwise, who enjoyed Christmas any more…

Dave Peyton: Looking for unusual gift? How about salt?

The well we had dug for water was about a hundred feet deep and was salty. The reason? The driller had tapped into the Iapetus Ocean, which is trapped under the Appalachian mountains and has been there for a few million years. The folks who own the…

Dave Peyton: Early riser not at top of list of attributes

Woody Thrasher, who is running for West Virginia governor under the Republican banner, starts one of his TV commercials by proudly announcing he has always been an early riser. So what? I suppose that the candidate believes that the fact he gets up…

Dave Peyton: Continued strong economy means win for Trump

So here’s the question: If the economy is still on fire a year from now, will it sweep Donald Trump into office for a second term? It could happen. If you have read my anti-Trump columns, you may have noticed that I have never said he would never win…