The 30th annual Old-Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival will celebrate Missouri culture June 7 and 8 in downtown West Plains, and as part of the festivities, the pie competition will return for a fifth year. more

Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce Director Kim McCormick has announced that the “Talk Derby to Me” Kentucky Derby watch party has been canceled, citing unforeseen circumstances. more

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) on Tuesday issued a vital health advisory concerning potential risks associated with the consumption of hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids. more

A team of researchers at the University of Missouri in Columbia is uncovering how the juice from red cabbage, long used in traditional medicine, can alleviate inflammation-associated digestive health conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice, offering hope to the estimated 3 million Americans who suffer from IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. more

On April 7 the waters of Norfork Lake became the epicenter of intense competition and fervent hope. The 39th Annual Cystic Fibrosis Buddy Bass Tournament, hosted at Lake Norfork Marina, Henderson, Arkansas, drew an impressive roster of anglers from across the region, all converging with a dual purpose: to claim victory in the water and to fight cystic fibrosis on land. more

The phrase "you are what you eat" has long resonated as a cautionary maxim, emphasizing the profound impact of our dietary choices on overall health. This idea serves as a backdrop for a deeper exploration into how the foods we consume can either nurture or undermine our health. more

All our vendors, which are your local farmers/ranchers/bakers/Artisan Crafters, say a BIG thank you for all your support! We appreciate you all!! more

We've gotten past our annual blackberry winter so no better time than to make a blackberry pie to celebrate! I did just that the other night, I had just enough blackberries in the freezer for one, and boy it was good.  In case you are new to our part of the country and have no idea what I'm talking about, blackberry winter is a cold snap in late spring when the blackberries are in bloom and it was right on time this year. Now, I don't need a excuse to make a pie but this one was fitting, plus I freed up space in my freezer.  more

Baxter Health and KTLO Classic Hits 97.9 and The Boot 101.7 have announced the 43rd annual Health Fair and Expo will take place in October, moved from its usual April date out of consideration for several factors including the proximity of the original date to the April 8 total solar eclipse. more

Baxter Health in Mtn. Home, Ark., recently welcomed board-certified vascular surgeon Dr. Heath J. Broussard to its medical staff. He has joined the Baxter Health Heart and Vascular Clinic and the practice of Drs. F. Michael Bauer, James Munns and Kent Nachtigal, and nurse practitioners Emily Brown and Kathy Prinner.  more

Hello fellow food lovers and welcome back to my kitchen. Today, we embark on a thrilling journey to craft the ultimate Strawberry Cheesecake Quesadilla. This dish combines the creamy, dreamy delight of cheesecake with the crisp, comforting embrace of a quesadilla, all while starring the sweet and luscious strawberry. Perfect for brunch, dessert, or anytime you crave a slice of something extraordinary, this recipe is not just a treat—it's an experience. more

Below are several upcoming events at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP), many of which are open to the community. Feel free to clip this calendar and keep it for your reference to make sure you don’t miss any events that might interest you. Also listed are several important dates on the university’s calendar that area residents might want to keep in mind.  more

You have been man and wife for some seven years now. You have been blessed with four children, one of whom died in infancy. Since leaving your parents, and your brothers’ and sisters’ families in Tennessee, you have been alone. You have only each other to rely on. The responsibility of taking care of and providing for every need a small family of five could have weighs heavily on both of you. “Are we doing the right thing?” is a question that has been unspoken, but heavy during each of the many miles since your journey began. more

Area educators interested in learning how to hone their teaching skills or prepare for leadership roles among their peers are encouraged to enroll in two new degrees being offered locally by Missouri State University’s Outreach office on the Missouri State University-West Plains campus. more

In the intricate world of agriculture and gardening, the health of plants is deeply intertwined with the quality of the soil in which they are planted. While some plants exhibit remarkable resilience, thriving under various conditions, many are sensitive to their environmental substrate. Among the various types of soil-related challenges that gardeners and farmers may face, sodic soil stands out as a particularly problematic issue due to its unique chemical composition and physical properties. more

I took my grandson to the library for the first time last Friday. J enjoys being read to, so I hoped he would eagerly pick out books. He was more interested in playing with toys in the children's room, so I allowed him to play for 20 minutes before I picked out four books for us to read later. more

Today we have GPS to tell us the way to a location. Fill in your starting point and your destination, and the way is described for you in words and a graphic. To find our way geographically, we need specific directions, like…take this street, turn left at the park, etc. To find our way in life, we need God’s guidance. In Psalm 86:11 we read, “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.” In John 14:6, Jesus told his disciples, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He asked them to follow him, to follow his teachings and way of life. Jesus taught them God’s way. Did you realize that one of the earliest names for Christians was people of the Way? (See Acts 9:2 and 24:14). Our faith is not primarily a set of beliefs but a way of life that reflects all that Jesus has shown us. May others recognize that we too are people of Christ’s way. God bless your week! Diane Cooke, Pastor, Presbyterian Churches, Willow Springs and Mtn. View. more