Jerry Moore
Chicago, New York
Longtime editorial writer and columnist.
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Articles by Jerry Moore
Jerry Moore (1941–2026) of Fairview Heights, IL | Obituary
Jerry Wayne Moore, Sr., 85, passed away peacefully in his sleep Thursday, June 4, 2026 at his home in Fairview Heights, IL after a long battle with cancer. Jerry was born Tuesday, April 22, 1941 in Corinth, MS to Cecil and Alta Moore. He had a long and varied career that saw him travel abroad and across the country. He spent four years as a navigator on B-50 planes in the Air Force.
DAVID ATTENBOROUGH AT 100
If the natural world could plead its case for better protection in a clear voice, it would sound just like David Attenborough. The renowned British broadcaster and naturalist once said: “No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced.” Attenborough has dedicated his life to helping people experience the wonders of nature through his many film projects, thus enabling them to care more deeply about everything that inhabits our the planet.
Lifelong Tennessee fan is fed up with college sports | Letter Original
Jerry Moore Letter to the editor April 2, 2026, 5:02 a.m. ET I am a 79-year-old lifelong Tennessean and onetime supporter of Tennessee Vols athletics. The current state of college sports in Tennessee has given me a different perspective on this subject. I think coaches are at a great disadvantage when 5-star athletes and elite transfers are given millions of dollars to play college sports. I have no problem with players receiving compensation for playing, but it has gotten out of hand.
Remembering ROB REINER
Actor and director Rob Reiner earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999. When your directorial debut feature film is This is Spinal Tap, you know you’ve made the right career choice. In 1984, Rob Reiner presented what would become a cult classic with the mockumentary of a heavy metal band in his first try as a director. His final film was the 2025 sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. Reiner displayed his brilliance behind the camera in all those years in between.
Jerry Moore: A peacenik’s appetite for war
WATERTOWN — While campaigning for the presidency in 2024, Donald Trump repeatedly promised not to push us into armed conflict with other countries. He pledged to be the anti-war candidate who would focus on America First. Well, Trump has lied to his constituents once again. In less than three months, he’s launched our nation into yet another hostile situation. On Feb. 28, Trump announced that he ordered airstrikes against Iran in coordination with Israeli forces.
Jerry Moore: Polish military leader gave his life for our freedom
WATERTOWN — As we prepare to commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding this year, it’s important to reflect on all those who helped us achieve our independence from the British monarchy. This coming Monday will allow us to focus on one of these heroes. A Polish nobleman greatly enhanced the fighting capabilities of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, and my home state observes a holiday in his memory.
Remembering ROBERT DUVALL
Robert Duvall (1931-2026) Bull Meechum and Mac Sledge could not be more different in their personalities. The quintessential alpha male, Meechum nearly always feels the need to dominate an interaction with another individual. The lieutenant colonel browbeats members of his family, U.S. Marine Corps subordinates and anyone else he encounters (except for his military superiors). No one is going to tell him that he’s not the best at anything he does, particularly when he flies a jet.
Jerry Moore: ‘This isn’t white enough for me’
WATERTOWN — MAGA influencer Laura Loomer cut right to the chase with her review of Bad Bunny’s halftime performance during Super Bowl LX. “Illegal aliens and Latin hookers twerking at the Super Bowl,” Loomer wrote Feb. 8 on X, criticizing the Puerto Rican singer’s 13-minute show staged earlier that evening. “Not a single white person or English translation at the Super Bowl.
Jerry Moore: Guns don’t kill people; Trump’s hit men kill people
WATERTOWN — That so many MAGA devotees appear eager to rationalize the violence that the Trump administration is meting out in communities across the country is mind-numbing. They claimed yet another victim Jan. 24 in Minneapolis, the second U.S. citizen murdered by federal law enforcement agents in less than three weeks.
Jerry Moore: Wilson didn’t deliver goods
WATERTOWN — Imagine my disappointment when reading that Lawrence Wilson, in his recent submission, asserted that I lied in a Oct. 25 column — and then he didn’t call attention to a single untruthful statement! This debate originated with a column written by Martha Hodges titled “Trump views Israel as a playing chip,” published Oct. 16 on this page. My piece, titled “Ideologues more interested in narrative than in truth,” served as a rebuttal. Wilson began his column, published Dec.
Jerry Moore: A president with no restraints
WATERTOWN — Remember when Trump supporters chastised protesters last year during their “No Kings” demonstrations? MAGA groupies couldn’t grasp why anyone would accuse President Donald Trump of acting like a king. Certainly, no king would permit his subjects to oppose him in such a public manner, they said. That last observation was very humorous given that protests against kings have been common throughout history.
Jerry Moore: Ideologues more interested in narrative than in truth
WATERTOWN — The falsehoods that Martha Hodges spewed in her North Country Perspective column on Oct. 16 demonstrated once again that partisan activists often pursue a compelling story more than they do the facts. She offered what seemed to her to be a reasoned analysis of the history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
HUMBOLDT HISTORY: Fixing the Earth With Music and Dance
It was a warm day in early October. The trees in the valley were starting to turn gold and brown. A light breeze was in motion, and I was watching a centuries-old tradition of making the world a better place through performing the right songs, in the right place, with the proper regalia, the right movements, and the proper spiritual intent. I was watching a performance of the Hupa Jump Dance, which is performed in a ten-day sequence every two years.
Remembering ROBERT REDFORD
It takes a master storyteller to summarize an essential part of his early life in relatively few words. Norman Maclean proved himself up to this task a few years after retiring as a professor at the University of Chicago. His novella “A River Runs Through It” brought him acclaim for how he so beautifully crafted the account of his childhood in Missoula, Montana. It was one of three stories published in a 1976 book of the same title, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Letters in 1977.
Susan McConnell Foster Haigler - Lowndes Signal
Published 1:00 pm Thursday, September 18, 2025 Susan McConnell Foster Haigler passed away on Sept. 13 at her home after an extended illness. She was born Dec. 21, 1939, in Tyler, Texas to the late Mildred McConnell Foster and George Lunsford Foster. Susan was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Brightman Haigler, Jr. and their daughter Mary Susan.
Jerry Moore: Gop Thought Police
WATERTOWN — A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a column about what seemed like the worst idea to spring from lawmakers in Albany so far in this session of the New York State Legislature. It pertained to a proposal involving “masked harassment.” If passed into law, the measure would make it a crime to wear a mask to conceal your identity while harassing or attacking someone as well as engaging in vandalism.
Jerry Moore: Power, Meet Truth
WATERTOWN — The announcement this past week that an immigrant mother and her three children would return to their Sackets Harbor home is indeed welcome news given the harsh reality of Trump administration policies. After hearing that members of this family had been detained for possible deportation, people from throughout Northern New York held a rally April 5 in Sackets Harbor. This show of support appeared to have the right kind of effect.
Jerry Moore: Unmasking Albany’s Nonsense
WATERTOWN — It’s irksome that more public officials in New York don’t see the futility of prohibiting wearing masks in public under designated circumstances. Last year, state legislators introduced a bill to ban wearing masks in public; this bill responded to concerns expressed over how anti-Israel protesters get away with harassing and attacking Jewish people and Jewish businesses/institutions because they’re concealing their identities with face-coverings.
Letter: Compared to Obama's costs, Trump's are a bargain
To the editor — Karen Anderson is whining about President Trump's travel costs. (Opinion, Feb. 25). According to Judicial Watch, Barack Obama's eight years of travel amounted to just under $90 million. Since Trump says he isn't taking a salary, again, we've got a pretty good deal.
Remembering GENE HACKMAN
Cast him in a movie, and Gene Hackman could accomplish just about anything. He could play a dominating character (Capt. Franklin Ramsey in Crimson Tide) or fill a minor role (Harold, a blind hermit in Young Frankenstein). He was adept at drama (Gene Garrison, a conflicted son in I Never Sang for my Father, for which Hackman earnedan Oscar nomination, for Best Supporting Actor), action (the Rev. Frank Scott, an outspoken minister in The Poseidon Adventure) and comedy (U.S. Sen.
Remembering DAVID LYNCH
Few filmmakers had a knack for the surreal than did David Lynch. Eraserhead, Lynch’s directorial debut, gained a cult following after its release in 1977. Although I saw the movie more than three decades ago, I’ve never joined this gang of groupies. My friend who persuaded me to watch it with him loved it (he had previously seen it), but the film left me totally perplexed — to this day! But I became a devoted viewer of Lynch’s television show Twin Peaks, which premiered in 1990.
Why the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post dropped their presidential endorsements
Upon hearing that both the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post would refrain from endorsing a presidential candidate this year, one thought popped up in my mind: What took them so long? This may sound odd coming from someone who made a career out of writing editorials and opinion columns for newspapers, but I’ve never supported endorsing political candidates. In fact, I strongly advised against the practice at each place where I’ve overseen the editorial pages.
Opinion - Newspaper endorsements have outlived their purpose
Upon hearing that both the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post would refrain from endorsing a presidential candidate this year, one thought popped up in my mind: What took them so long? This may sound odd coming from someone who made a career out of writing editorials and opinion columns for newspapers, but I’ve never supported endorsing political candidates. In fact, I strongly advised against the practice at each place where I’ve overseen the editorial pages.
Palestinian situation deeply complicated
Many in Ireland say they identity with Palestinians because both cultures have endured “settler colonialism.” For centuries, Irish people lived under oppression from the British Empire. Only an armed revolt brought forth the Irish Free State in 1922. The six counties in the province of Ulster remained part of the United Kingdom. The Irish Free State became the Republic of Ireland in 1937 when it adopted a constitution. Naturally, an island divided by politics and religion has a turbulent history.
Jerry Moore: Reducing crime to a partisan hammer
WATERTOWN — Decades of political bickering over ways to fight crime hasn’t really produced effective solutions. In 1971, President Richard M. Nixon declared an all-out attack against drug addiction and trafficking. More than 50 years later, we still have rampant drug use and numerous people incarcerated for various drug crimes.
Jerry Moore: Reducing crime to a partisan hammer
WATERTOWN — Decades of political bickering over ways to fight crime hasn’t really produced effective solutions. In 1971, President Richard M. Nixon declared an all-out attack against drug addiction and trafficking. More than 50 years later, we still have rampant drug use and numerous people incarcerated for various drug crimes.
Jerry Moore: Free speech - and its champions - must be defended from all enemies
WATERTOWN — In a 2005 column about a controversial law proposed in Britain, renowned author Salman Rushdie wrote this: “It does matter that people have the right to take an argument to the point where somebody is offended by what they say. It’s no trick to support the free speech of somebody you agree with or to whose opinion you are indifferent. The defense of free speech begins at the point when people say something you can’t stand.
Jerry Moore: Free speech - and its champions - must be defended from all enemies
WATERTOWN — In a 2005 column about a controversial law proposed in Britain, renowned author Salman Rushdie wrote this: “It does matter that people have the right to take an argument to the point where somebody is offended by what they say. It’s no trick to support the free speech of somebody you agree with or to whose opinion you are indifferent. The defense of free speech begins at the point when people say something you can’t stand.
Ex-business partner of murdered East Cobb man gets 20 years
Ross Byrne A former bakery owner charged with plotting the murder of his former roommate and business partner in East Cobb more than eight years ago was sentenced this week to 20 years in prison. Ross Byrne, 58, pleaded guilty in Cobb Superior Court on April 8 to charges of violating the RICO Act, conspiracy to commit concealing a death, conspiracy to commit hindering apprehension of a suspect, and criminal solicitation to commit murder, according to the Cobb District Attorney’s Office.
Reel Theology: RIGHTEOUS ANGER and THE BIRTH OF A NATION
Note: “Reel Theology” is a special section devoted to editorial interpretations of various movies. The readings you may find here might very well be unintended on behalf of the filmmaker, and in many cases are subjective to the individual writer’s point of view. You may find yourself not agreeing, but we hope you will find yourself engaged. Director: Nate Parker/2016 Slavery is no doubt one of the darkest blemishes on the American republic’s soul.
BORG VS. MCENROE - Film Review
Two Tennis Greats and the Finals Match That Brought Them Together. DIRECTED BY JANUS METZ/2018 The documentary director of Armadillo, Janus Metz, directs his non-documentary feature film debut with the sports film Borg vs. McEnroe. Chronicling the classic 1980 Wimbledon final between the number one tennis player in the world, Björn Borg, and the number two player, John McEnroe. Borg vs.
Film Review: CHUCK (2017)
The real life boxer you don’t know, who stands behind the fictional one you do. Director: Philippe Faladeau/2017 “You know me, but you don’t know you know me” These are the opening lines of the new boxing biopic on Chuck “The Bayonne Bleeder” Wepner, aptly titled Chuck. If you don’t know Wepner, he was the Heavyweight Champ of New Jersey.
HACKSAW RIDGE - Film Review
Director Mel Gibson/2016 Hacksaw Ridge is the true story of Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield) who was the first Conscientious Objector to win the Medal of Honor for his bravery and service in World War II. Just as unlikely as a pacifist being a hero in war is Mel Gibson finding redemption in Hollywood, yet with this film, both are seen to be true.
THE RED BALL EXPRESS (1953) - Blu-ray Review
Jeff Chandler and Sidney Poitier Fuel Patton’s Third Army in This Different Kind of WWII Film. DIRECTED BY BUDD BOETTICHER/1953 BLU-RAY STREET DATE: AUGUST 18, 2020/KL STUDIO CLASSICS Stories of “the heroes behind the heroes” are far rarer than they ought to be. For every grandstanding glory, there is always a team of devotees working diligently and selflessly to make victory possible. It’s the stories of these inglorious grunts that are all too often overlooked.
Stefanik guilty of stolen valor
Stefanik guilty of stolen valor Return to homepage × Please subscribe to keep reading. You can cancel at any time. Already a subscriber? Log in or Activate your account. Loading&hellp; U.S. Rep Elise Stefanik, seen here at Fort Drum with Army Secretary Mark Esper, has made much of her support for the U.S. military. Unfortunately, the way she recently took credit for a bill for which she doesn't deserve credit is reminiscent of stolen valor claims.
Commentary: Stefanik guilty of stolen valor
Commentary: Stefanik guilty of stolen valor Return to homepage × Please subscribe to keep reading. You can cancel at any time. Already a subscriber? Log in or Activate your account. Loading&hellp; U.S. Rep Elise Stefanik, seen here at Fort Drum with Army Secretary Mark Esper, has made much of her support for the U.S. military. Unfortunately, the way she recently took credit for a bill for which she doesn't deserve credit is reminiscent of stolen valor claims.
Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore: Oregon must protect investments in early childhood programs
Jerry Moore, Guest Opinion Published 4:29 p.m. PT May 29, 2020 When I announced my retirement plans last November, I had no idea what 2020 had in store for all of us. While continuing to serve this city as Salem’s Chief of Police, I knew I would certainly spend some time reflecting on my four decades in law enforcement and to thank the many men and women with whom I’ve been honored to serve with. A global pandemic changed those plans.
Jerry Moore: Uncertainties leave music fans blowin’ in the wind
ARTICLE OPTIONS Staging an updated Woodstock music festival has proven to be more problematic today than it was 50 years ago. In 1969, organizers of the event were sent packing after they tried to obtain permission to hold it in Wallkill, Orange County. They then appealed to officials in Saugerties, Ulster County. But this again resulted in no permits. So they moved their operations to Max Yasgur’s dairy farm near White Lake in the town of Bethel, Sullivan County.
Jerry Moore: Whitewashing the evil history of the Confederacy
ARTICLE OPTIONS It’s dreadful that we still argue over the purpose of the Southern Confederacy. And it’s pathetic that many people continue to perpetuate falsehoods about the meaning of the symbols used to bolster its foundation. It was based on the egregious notion of white supremacy and a desire to keep black people perpetually enslaved.
Jerry Moore: A very somber occasion
ARTICLE OPTIONS One quote by English philosopher John Stuart Mill has haunted me for years. In reflecting on the American Civil War, Mill declared that he could not “join with those who cry Peace, peace.” Months after the war began, he recognized the tragedy unfolding here in the United States but believed it would ultimately serve a noble objective.
Jerry Moore: More newsrooms need ideological diversity
ARTICLE OPTIONS The news that journalism is confronting perhaps the most serious challenge to its credibility and relevance in our society is by no means fake. A story published Sept. 12 by the Columbia Journalism Review reported on the judgment many people have rendered on the media. And for those of us who work in this industry, it wasn’t favorable. As the Society for Professional Journalists commemorates Ethics Week, it’s a good time to look at where we are.
Jerry Moore: The truth-seeking process
ARTICLE OPTIONS Is there any merit to deliberating over theistic beliefs? Many people would say “No,” seeing that numerous individuals are deeply committed to their convictions on this topic. If we accept this mindset, changing minds is rather unlikely.
Jerry Moore: Our Lady of Paris weeps
ARTICLE OPTIONS Millions of us around the world watched in horror Monday as fire consumed one of the most iconic structures ever built. Over the past 855 years, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris has earned a special place in the hearts of many people. Regardless of whether or not they are Roman Catholic, whether or not they are religious, whether or not they’ve ever visited France, countless individuals look upon Notre-Dame as their spiritual home.
Jerry Moore: Less is actually more with tax refunds
ARTICLE OPTIONS Hopefully, everyone filed their income taxes on time! Monday was the deadline, and I’m sure many people waited until the very last minute. I used to be a tax procrastinator. And the process was much more of a hassle before the blessed existence of the InterWebs. Many a times, I had to dash from my office after work to a nearby U.S. Postal Service facility so I could have my returns post marked on that date.
Jerry Moore: An all-season retreat
ARTICLE OPTIONS The splendor of seasonal change in the north country enthralled me for nearly three weeks — and I had one of the best seats in the house. My friends Shirley and John McFadden asked me to care for Traber, their lovable yellow Labrador retriever, at their residence in Adams. They spent a few weeks on the road visiting family members and friends. I always enjoy looking after Traber. He has his goofy side, but his happy-go-lucky personality will lift anyone’s spirits.
Jerry Moore: Comic fans tell newspaper, ‘Stop gherkin us around’
ARTICLE OPTIONS If social unrest can be gauged by letters to the editor, a revolution was apparently underway this week — and those of us in this newsroom could have become trampled underfoot! From Wednesday to early Thursday, I’ve received five letters and one phone call on a topic of grave importance to our readers. They noticed something missing from the newspaper over the past week, and they weren’t happy about it at all. “Pickles” is the beloved comic strip created by Brian Crane.
Jerry Moore: Destruction by inaction
ARTICLE OPTIONS Some members of Congress are so averse to adopting new ideas that they won’t even consider a resolution declaring a commitment to reducing the effects of climate change. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-Bronx, and U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., introduced companion resolutions in February regarding an ambitious program called the Green New Deal. U.S. Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., was one of the co-sponsors of the Senate’s version.
Jerry Moore: Taking a chance on long odds
ARTICLE OPTIONS Perhaps someone among my readers can answer this question: Can I sue Multi-State Lottery Association for giving me crummy numbers in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing? If there are any lawyers out there willing to address this for me, I’d be most appreciative. Any legal advice would need to be offered pro bono, of course, since I didn’t win the $768 million jackpot. Per usual, I used the Quick Pick method rather than selecting my own numbers.
Jerry Moore: The face of freedom or tyranny?
ARTICLE OPTIONS Former Watertown Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham doesn’t believe that abolitionist hero Harriet Tubman is a prominent enough historic figure to grace our currency. In 2016, then-U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced that Tubman would replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. Jackson often displayed a vicious streak. He brutalized many of the slaves he owned, particularly runaways.
Jerry Moore: Ensuring free expression through presidential fiat?
ARTICLE OPTIONS Wow! Who knew Donald Trump was a fan of free speech? You wouldn’t have guessed this based on his campaign rallies as he sought the presidency. They made it clear that Trump doesn’t tolerate dissent. Every time someone spoke out, he had security guards escort the individual from the venue. Presidential candidates should demonstrate that they’re willing to hear from critics, seeing we’re a “yuge” society with diverse opinions.
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