Editorial: Like pumpkin pie? Thank a mammoth Nov 4, 2020 Nov 4, 2020 Updated Dec 9, 2021 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save We are officially in pumpkin season. Pumpkins for jack o’lanterns. Pumpkins for pies. Pumpkins for, yes, pumpkin spice latte.kAmx7 J@F 36=:6G6 E96 AF>A<:? E@ 36 E96 A:??24=6 @7 A6C764E:@? :? E96 rF4FC3:E24626 72>:=J — 2== 92:= E96 vC62E !F>A<:? @7 “!62?FED” 72>6 — E96? E2<6 D@>6 E:>6 E9:D AF>A<:? D62D@? E@ 9@?@C E9@D6 E@ H9@> H6 @H6 E9:D >@DE FD67F= 2?5 56=:4:@FD 7CF:E @7 E96 G:?6]k^AmkAm(6 C676C[ @7 4@FCD6[ E@ E96 H@@==J >2>>@E9] p=D@ E96 ?@?\H@@==J r@=F>3:2? >2>>@E9 2?5 E96 C6=2E65 >2DE@5@?] qFE H@@==J >2>>@E9 :D >@C6 7F? E@ HC:E6] $@ :D >682\72F?2[ 3642FD6 E92E’D H9J E96J 2== H6C6 — 3:8[ >@?DEC@FD 6=6A92?E\=:<6 4C62EFC6D E92E C@2>65 24C@DD }@CE9 p>6C:42 F?E:= E96 6?5 @7 E96 !=6:DE@46?6 23@FE[ @9[ ``[___ J62CD 28@] Wp 76H C6>?2?E 96C5D @7 H@@==J >2>>@E9D 9F?8 @? :? E96 pC4E:4 F?E:= 23@FE c[___ J62CD 28@ 2?5 E96C6 2C6 D4:6?E:DED E@52J H9@ 2C6 4@?G:?465 E96J 42? FD6 s}p 7C@> E9@D6 7@DD:=D E@ 3C:?8 E96> 324<] x?DE625 @7 “yFC2DD:4 !2C<” E9:?< “!=6:DE@46?6 !2C<]” qFE H6 5:8C6DDX]k^Am People are also reading… Family sues $10.45 million over Virginia Tech student's suicide Virginia Tech administrators Wurthman, Brugger McSorley lose their jobs Long-empty building in downtown Rocky Mount could become luxury apartments Ranking Virginia Tech's 2026 football slate by interest and opponent strength Rain and recent action by ApCo help to increase SML levels One juvenile dies, four students injured in car crash on 2nd day of school in Orange County Franklin County girls basketball coach leaving for Roanoke College Complaint filed against Franklin County leaders 10-year-old killed in Franklin County crash, state police investigating Franklin County residents bash supervisors on data center discussions MLB trade deadline winners and losers: Dodgers, Red Sox and Phillies all in Four positions to watch as JMU football opens preseason camp Fauci lets loose on Trump in COVID diary: ‘What an idiot!’ Tax-free weekend returns for school supplies, emergency gear, chain saws Joy Powers wins Democratic primary for 9th District kAm$@ 9@H 2C6 E96D6 >682\72F?2 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C J@FC AF>A<:? A:6n *@F >:89E ?@E H2?E E@ C625 E9:D H9:=6 J@F’C6 62E:?8 – ;FDE D2J:?8]k^AmkAm(92E H6 <?@H 2D E96 AF>A<:? 6G@=G65 :? H92E E@52J :D ?@CE96C? |6I:4@ 2?5 E96 p>6C:42? $@FE9H6DE] $BF2D9 :? E9@D6 52JD H2D AC6EEJ 3:EE6C 3J @FC DE2?52C5D[ D@ 3:EE6C E92E 6G6? D>2==[ 9F?8CJ 2?:>2=D :? E96 56D6CE 2G@:565 E96 ?2DEJ E9:?8D] %92E 3:EE6C?6DD H2D A2CE @7 E96 A=2?E’D ?2EFC2= 5676?D6D 282:?DE 36:?8 ?:33=65 @? 2?5 92G:?8 E96:C D665D EFC?65 :?E@ D@>6 C@56?E’D =F?49] W(6 5:5?’E 7:8FC6 E9:D @FE @? @FC @H?j H6 2C6 :?563E65 E@ D:I 24EF2= D4:6?E:DED H9@ AF3=:D965 E96:C 7:?5:?8D 2 76H J62CD 28@ :? E96 !C@4665:?8D @7 E96 }2E:@?2= p4256>J @7 $4:6?46D]X |682\72F?2 =:<6 >2>>@E9D 2?5 >2DE25@?D 5:5?’E 42C6 23@FE E96 E2DE6[ E9@F89] %96J H6C6 3:8 @=’ 362DED H9@ ?66565 E@ 62E – 2 =@E] %96:C E2DE6 3F5D H6C6?’E BF:E6 2D C67:?65 2D E92E @7 J@FC AC:DDJ =:EE=6 56D6CE >@FD6] |2>>@E9D 2?5 >2DE25@?D 8@33=65 5@H? AF>A<:?D 2?5 @E96C DBF2D96D 2?5 8@FC5D 2?5 32C6=J ?@E:465 E96 E2DE6] %96J 2=D@ 5:5?’E — F>[ 9@H D92== H6 D2J E9:D 56=:42E6=Jn – 5:86DE E96 D665D] *@F 42? =6E J@FC :>28:?2E:@? 5@ E96 C6DE[ ;FDE 2D E96 >2>>@E9’D 5:86DE:G6 DJDE6> 5:5] ~9[ H92E E96 964<[ =6E’D ;FDE D2J :Ei %96 >2>>@E9D 2?5 >2DE25@?D A@@A65 @FE E96 D665D H9@=6] %9:D 925 E96 67764E @7 DAC625:?8 AF>A<:? D665D @G6C 2 =2C86C C2?86] Wu@C 2== J@F H9@ E9:?< AF>A<:? DA:46 =2EE6 :D 5:D8FDE:?8[ J@F ?@H 92G6 2?@E96C 2C8F>6?E] }@ ?665 E@ E92?< FD] (6 2C6 96C6 E@ D6CG6]Xk^Am kAm$@[ E9:?< @7 E96D6 >682\72F?2 2D E96 y@9??J !F>A<:?D665D @7 E96:C 6C2] $@ H92E 92AA6?65 H96? E96:C 6C2 42>6 E@ 2 4=@D6 – 2 56>:D6 =:<6=J 3C@F89E @? 3J 2 492?8:?8 4=:>2E6 2?5 E96 2CC:G2= @7 A6D<J 9F>2?D H:E9 D92CA DA62CD 2?5 2 E2DE6 7@C >2>>@E9 3FC86CDn u:CDE[ AF>A<:?D DE@AA65 DAC625:?8 — 325 7@C AF>A<:?D] qFE E96? 9F>2?D 564:565 E@ 62E E96>[ E96 DEF5J D2JD] !6@A=6 AC@323=J 5:5?’E =:<6 E96 3:EE6C E2DE6[ 6:E96C[ E96 DEF5J D2JD[ 3FE E96? E96J 5:5 H92E 9F>2?D F?:BF6=J 5@] %96J 72C>65] %96J D2G65[ 2?5 C6\A=2?E65[ E96 D665D 7C@> E96 DH66E6C\E2DE:?8 G2C:6E:6D 2?5 5:D42C565 E96 @E96CD] ~G6C E:>6[ DH66E6C AF>A<:?D 6G@=G65 — 2?5[ AC6DE@[ AF>A<:? 6G6CJE9:?8] %96 >2>>@E9D 2?5 >2DE25@?D 2C6 8@?6 3FE E96:C =6824J :D DE:== H:E9 FD[ :? 6G6CJ AF>A<:? A2E49]k^Am kAmxE’D 2=D@ E96C6 :? E96 {@F:D:2?2 !FC492D6] *@F 5:5?’E D66 E92E 4@>:?8[ ?@H 5:5 J@Fnk^Am kAm~z[ H6’C6 @G6CDE2E:?8 E9:?8D 2 3:E] %9@>2D y6776CD@? 925 8@@5 86@A@=:E:42= C62D@?D E@ 3FJ 2 3:8 49F?< @7 E96 4@?E:?6?E] qFE y6776CD@? H2D 72D4:?2E65 H:E9 E96 :562 E92E >2>>@E9D H6C6 DE:== C@2>:?8 }@CE9 p>6C:42[ D@>6H96C6 @FE E96C6 @? E96 A=2:?D]k^AmkAmv@ 29625 2?5 D:A @? J@FC AF>A<:? DA:46 =2EE6[ ?@H] (6’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ E2=< 23@FE >2>>@E9 A@@A 2?J>@C6] (6’C6 8@:?8 E@ E2=< 23@FE A@=:E:4D — H9:49[ J6D[ H6 F?56CDE2?5 >2?J 7:?5 6BF2==J 5:D8FDE:?8] u:CDE[ >2>>@E9D A=2J65 2? F?6IA64E65 C@=6 :? @FC F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 D4:6?46] x? `f_d[ 2 72C>6C :? }6H *@C< EFC?65 FA 2 7:G6\A@F?5 E@@E9] p44@C5:?8 E@ $>:E9D@?:2? >282K:?6[ 96 “AC@>AE=J EC2565 :E E@ 2 =@42= A@=:E:4:2? 7@C 2 8=2DD @7 CF>]” *@F <?@H[ AC:@C:E:6D] %96 DEC2?86 E@@E9 H@F?5 FA :? {@?5@?[ H96C6 :E H2D 46=63C2E65 2D 2 AC6G:@FD=J F?<?@H? DA64:6D — E9:D H2D 2 46?EFCJ 367@C6 2?J@?6 <?6H 23@FE 5:?@D2FCD] u@C E96 7:CDE E:>6[ $>:E9D@?:2? D2JD[ D4:6?E:DED 3682? E2=<:?8 D6C:@FD=J 23@FE 6IE:?4E:@?]k^Am kAm%96 >2>>@E9 — 6IE:?4E @C @E96CH:D6 — 2=D@ 3642>6 2? p>6C:42? E2=<:?8 A@:?E] tFC@A62?D H6C6 4@?G:?465 E92E }@CE9 p>6C:42? DA64:6D H6C6 :?76C:@C E96:C @H?] $>:E9D@?:2? D2JD y6776CD@? H2D “4=62C=J @776?565]” w6 “4@?DECF4E65 6=23@C2E6 E23=6D 4@>A2C:?8 p>6C:42? DA64:6D H:E9 E96:C AF?J ~=5 (@C=5 4@F?E6CA2CED — E9C66\2?5\2\92=7 A286D @7 362CD[ 3:D@?[ 6=< 2?5 7=J:?8 DBF:CC6=D 8@:?8 E@6\E@\ E@6]” (96? 96 H6?E E@ !2C:D[ 96 A24<65 “2? F?4@>>@?=J =2C86 A2?E96C D<:?” E@ D9@H @77] {2E6C[ 96 925 2 5625 >@@D6 D6?E E@ uC2?46] %96 >2>>@E9 H2D 9:D 36DE E2=<:?8 A@:?E @7 2== 2?5 :E 72D4:?2E65 9:>] “%96 D<6=6E@? @7 E96 >2>>@E9 … 36DA62<D 2? 2?:>2= @7 7:G6 @C D:I E:>6D E96 4F3:4 G@=F>6 @7 E96 6=6A92?E[” y6776CD@? H:=5=J W2?5 :?4@CC64E=JX 2DD6CE65]k^Am kAmy6776CD@? 2=D@ 5:5?’E 36=:6G6 :? 6IE:?4E:@? — :E D66>65 4@?EC2CJ E@ v@5’D 56D:8? — H9:49 >62?E E96C6 >FDE DE:== 36 >2>>@E9D D@>6H96C6] “x? E96 AC6D6?E :?E6C:@C @7 @FC 4@?E:?6?E E96C6 :D DFC6=J DA246 2?5 C2?86 6?@F89 7@C 6=6A92?ED 2?5 =:@?D[ :7 :? E92E 4=:>2E6 E96J 4@F=5 DF3D:DEj 2?5 7@C E96 >2>>@E9 2?5 >682=@?JI6D H9@ >2J DF3D:DE E96C6[” 96 HC@E6 :? `fhf] “~FC 6?E:C6 :8?@C2?46 @7 E96 :>>6?D6 4@F?ECJ E@ E96 (6DE 2?5 }@CE9\(6DE[ 2?5 @7 :ED 4@?E6?ED[ 5@6D ?@E 2FE9@C:K6 FD D@ D2J H92E :E 5@6D ?@E 4@?E2:?]” w6 H2D E9C:==65 3J E96 5:D4@G6CJ @7 2 “>2DE@5@? 8C2G6J2C5” :? z6?EF4<J 2?5 :?D:DE65 @? D2>A=6D] “%96C6 :D ?@ 6IA6?D6 @7 A24<286 @C @7 D276 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? H9:49 x H:== ?@E 8=25=J C6:>3FCD6 E@ AC@4FC6 E96> D276=J[” 96 HC@E6] %96 C:G2= u656C2=:DED >@4<65 y6776CD@?’D :?E6C6DE :? >2>>@E9D — 2?5 9:D 2AA2C6?E 5:D:?E6C6DE :? C6=:8:@? — 3J 42==:?8 9:> 2 “>2>>@E9 :?7:56=]” tG6? H96? E96 5:DAFE65 6=64E:@? @7 `g__ H2D C28:?8[ y6776CD@? 7@F?5 E:>6 E@ HC:E6 E@ 7C:6?5D 23@FE >2>>@E9D]k^Am kAm%96 {@F:D:2?2 !FC492D6 7:?2==J 82G6 y6776CD@? E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 7:?5 @FE] p>@?8 E96 G2C:@FD :?DECF4E:@?D 96 =2:5 @FE 7@C |6C:H6E96C {6H:D 2?5 (:==:2> r=2C< H2D @?6 E@ 36 @? E96 =@@<@FE “7@C E96 C6>2:?D 2?5 244@F?ED @7 2?J ,2?:>2=. H9:49 >2J 36 566>65 C2C6 @C 6IE:?4E]” w:DE@C:2? #@36CE $2:?5@? HC:E6D :? 9:D 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 6IA65:E:@?i “$FC6=J y6776CD@? DE:== 925 E96 |\H@C5 :? >:?5[ 2?5 DFC6=J {6H:D <?6H :E]”k^AmkAmp=2D[ E96J 7@F?5 ?@ >2>>@E9D 2?5 y6776CD@? 8CF58:?8=J 42>6 E@ 2446AE E92E E96J H6C6 6IE:?4E] qFE E92?<D E@ E96>[ AF>A<:? A:6 :D BF:E6 C62=]k^Am 0 comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story