The start of a new year brings a sense of new beginnings and hope for many of us. Maybe you are like me and are vowing to give up a bad habit. Mine is cutting back on eating too many desserts!
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By Chief Justice Mary R. Russell,
Missouri Supreme Court
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1/17/25
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Sometimes, life’s most beautiful moments come not from the choices we make, but from the ones that are thrust upon us. We all know that life doesn’t always follow the path we expect. Every so often, it jolts us in a new direction, and we find ourselves somewhere we didn’t even know we wanted to go.
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By Chris Herbolsheimer,
Quill Contributing Writer
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1/15/25
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I heard on the news some schools are banning cell phones.
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By Jim Hamilton
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1/15/25
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This morning, I stirred the white powder into a steaming mug of Earl Gray tea, watching it scatter and swirl like a freshly shaken snow globe until it melted from view. The powder is unflavored, but I added a generous dollop of honey so the tea would feel more like a treat and less like a treatment.
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By Gwen Rockwood
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1/14/25
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Have you ever heard the saying, “When we are born, we look like our parents, but when we die, we look like our choices?” It’s a powerful reminder that while we may start life shaped by genetics and circumstances, it’s the decisions we make along the way that define us.
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By David Burton,
Community Development Specialist,
University of Missouri Extension
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1/14/25
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What a beautiful snow we got Friday morning, wouldn’t you agree?
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1/10/25
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One winter, after a heavy snowstorm, I decided to shovel the sidewalk for my elderly neighbors who had recently moved to our neighborhood after living in 14 different cities. When I finished, the wife came out with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and said, “Of all the places we’ve lived, you’re the best neighbor we’ve ever had.”
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By David Burton,
Community Development Specialist,
University of Missouri Extension
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1/8/25
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I thought it peculiar when I first read a recent auto crash report in the local paper that the names of the people involved were omitted.
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By Jim Hamilton
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1/8/25
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We’ve waited all year for this annual event at the Summersville Branch Library!
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By Kathie Ledgerwood-Cox,
Branch Librarian
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1/8/25
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At the beginning of the year, I like to take some time to look over our web and social media stats to see which of our stories got the most attention.
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1/4/25
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You all may know me as a newspaper lady — a hat I proudly wear — but you might not know my love for newsprint goes far beyond the joy I derive from curating, writing and editing the content that fills each newspaper’s pages.
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BY ABBY HESS,
ABBYH@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET
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12/28/24
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It’s Monday morning as I sit at my desk, a cup of freshly percolated hazelnut coffee within arm’s reach. It’s brewed in my trusty 1960s Corningware percolator, a relic that seems to make coffee taste better simply because it’s been around so long. There’s something timeless about the gentle bubbling and the rich aroma that fills the room — a comforting prelude to the reflections that come with the season. By the time you read this, Christmas will have passed, and I hope yours was filled with love, warmth, and a little bit of magic.
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By Chris Herbolsheimer,
Quill Contributing Writer
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12/25/24
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Let's sneak one more recipe in before the year ends, it's a gift from me to you.
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By Sue Neitzel,
Quill Contributing Writer
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12/25/24
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Earlier this week my kids beat me at poker. No money changed hands, other than colored plastic chips. But the bragging rights will last a while, at least until next December. Our college-aged kids taught us how to play Texas Hold ‘em this year. We ordered cheap pizza and listened to Kenny Rogers sing “The Gambler” while we played.
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By Gwen Rockwood
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12/25/24
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I like old things.
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By Jim Hamilton
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12/25/24
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Many years ago, my wife and I had a friend who came home to find her husband had passed away on their front porch. Their house was on a busy street, and we often wondered how many people might have seen him lying there but didn’t stop to help. This story reflects a troubling trend — people passing by without noticing or caring about someone in need.
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By David Burton,
Community Development Specialist,
University of Missouri Extension
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12/23/24
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How many of you remember the days when "It’s A Wonderful Life" aired on primetime network television every December? It was practically the unofficial kickoff to the Christmas season, like a beacon calling us to gather around the television with family. There was no DVR, no streaming services, no instant access to any movie at any time. And yet, I can’t help but think that made it all the more special.
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By Chris Herbolsheimer,
Quill Contributing Writer
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12/18/24
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Yes, that was Mrs. Claus in the library on Saturday! No, she wasn't checking out books, but she was reading books to our young visitors and answering their many questions about Santa, his reindeer and the elves. After Christmas crafts and cookies, Mrs. Claus was on her way to meet Santa but promised to come visit us again next year.
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By Kathie Ledgerwood-Cox,
Branch Librarian
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12/18/24
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“For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
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By Jim Hamilton
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12/18/24
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It’s not often that Santa’s “better half” has time to come to the library this close to Christmas, but Mrs. Claus will be paying our branch a special visit from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday!
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By Kathie Ledgerwood-Cox,
Branch Librarian
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12/11/24
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