Editorials, columns, letters to the editor
Evening view of Civic Plaza with an upside-down American flag, symbolizing distress, against a backdrop of vintage architecture and classic cars. Damaged campaign signs for multiple WF candidates were found cut and tossed on the ground on November 2, 2025—screenshot taken at 6:30 p.m. by Tom Baker IV. It would be easy to dismiss this […]
Old fear in a new form — a white hood fades into the glow of a smartphone screen. What once hid in the woods now spreads online. The message hasn’t changed; only the tools have. In the summer of 1966, the Ku Klux Klan burned a cross in front of the Franklin County Board of
For generations, the Wake Forest Christmas Parade was the heart of the holiday season. As a child, I remember standing with my family and neighbors along Main Street, feeling the shared excitement that filled the chilly winter air. Those memories — the music, the laughter, the sparkle of the season — still bring a smile
Mayor Ben Clapsaddle delivers his inaugural State of the Town address, centered on the theme “We Move Forward Together.” The phrase is a translation of the motto Katchi Kapshida, which he adopted from his time as a strategic planner with the Third Republic of Korea Army. On Monday night, the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre was
Context isn’t spin, it’s honesty. Misleading mailers don’t just twist policy; they corrode trust in how local democracy works. A season of sharp mail and short memories Municipal elections are where democracy meets the curb—literally. The stop-sign arguments about growth, traffic, and taxes in Wake Forest are as local as it gets. Yet this year’s
Moral panics start anywhere; outrage can spread fast and has evolved as an “…innate reaction to social change.” The exact mechanics you see in local controversies play out in statehouses, cultural institutions, and national politics. The details shift — books, drag shows, vaccines, immigration — but the workflow stays the same. How it works It
I grew up in Wake Forest. My family has called this area home for generations, long before the Baptist college or the seminary came here. This land, where my family has lived for generations, was first the home of the Tuscarora, Shakori, and other Siouan-speaking peoples. They tended these forests and rivers long before settlers
Wake Forest, North Carolina, is the kind of town where decisions usually happen face-to-face. I’ve lived here all my life; my family’s roots stretch back to the 1700s. In early September 2025, a single misspoken announcement at a meeting sent this small town into a week-long storm of emails, phone calls, and quiet political pressure,
As winter approaches, federal cuts to food-assistance programs like SNAP will ripple through every North Carolina town, including ours. While these decisions are made far from Wake Forest, their effects land here at home, in grocery lines, classrooms, and kitchen tables. For many of our neighbors, the difference between stability and hunger may soon depend
When people ask what this year’s election is really about, I tell them it’s simple: growth — and how we handle it. For all the talk about national politics, most of what shapes our daily lives happens right here in town — the roads we drive, the water we drink, the neighborhoods we live in,
(This commentary is offered in the spirit of civic reflection, not political endorsement. Its purpose is to encourage respect, understanding, and neighborly relations in Wake Forest’s public life.) I believe that everyone in Wake Forest, North Carolina — candidates, elected officials, and all residents alike — should join in a commitment to civility. In an
Civic responsibility in Wake Forest starts at the local level. The heartbeat of our democracy resides right here locally, in the zoning meetings, the town council votes, and the quiet decisions that define our daily lives. My connection to this community runs deep. My family’s roots here stretch back further than the town’s charter itself—predating
Wake Forest civic discourse is something I think about often — especially late at night, when the noise of the day fades and what remains is love for this community. It’s late, and I’ve been thinking about my family, my town, and my country — about how much I love this place and the people
The Fear That Never Left Across North Carolina, some stories never made it into the history books — stories passed quietly between generations, in kitchens and on porches. Stories about white hoods flickering in torchlight. About meetings held after midnight in the woods. About the sound of engines idling at the edge of someone’s land.
When Fear Comes Home: Before I Speak at the Wake Forest Town Meeting a few thoughts about harassment, belonging, and what happens when intimidation becomes civic culture. Tom Baker IV I’ll be speaking at the Wake Forest Town Board meeting tonight about something that’s been weighing heavily on me — not just as a journalist,
Wake Forest Matters — Independent local journalism for Wake Forest, NC
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