On the last day of July, a storm blew through Springfield and surrounding areas, leaving thousands without power. Our house missed that first wave of outages in the middle of the night. more

Dear Readers, more

I recently made a remark in a column about being a “rhubarb fan” and Melinda Ray picked up on it with an interesting introduction. She said her 90-year-old mom has been eating this since childhood, so it is an heirloom in her family. It sounds delicious! (Next on my dessert menu.) I love fruit dumplings! She prefers pink rhubarb. Thanks, Melinda. more

Kids are back in school and yellow buses run up and down country roads night and morning. more

Years ago, at the old library, we had a strange oddity that could never be explained. I had purchased one Curious George stuffed toy for the children’s corner, but a second one just appeared one day without explanation. Very weird, indeed. more

Missouri became a state in 1821 but had no official flag for the next ninety-two years. The Louisiana Territory was first claimed for France by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, in 1682 when he traveled down the Mississippi River and named the territory “Louisiana” in honor of King Louis XIV of France. Three golden fleur de lis on a blue field was the flag they carried and handed out to the Native Americans on the way. more

Labor Day has come and gone. It is a holiday that honors the working men and women in our country. Labor Day began in the late 1800s and is celebrated each year to recognize the social and economic achievements of American workers. more

The future of our community is in our hands. We can choose to make it a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, or we can let it be a place where only the privileged few thrive. more

Daer Readers more

As summer reluctantly gives way to autumn, heralding cooler winds and golden landscapes, there is another transformation that takes place, this one in the depths of my soul. Each time the calendar page turns and the air takes on that familiar crispness, a flutter in my heart reminds me that it's time for my annual rendezvous with a novel that has been both a touchstone and a mirror over the years—Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms." more

Every turn of the calendar page heralds a moment of significance for me. As the air gets crisp, and golden leaves flutter to the ground, there's another kind of flutter that takes place in my heart. It's time once again for my yearly rendezvous with Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms." more

So, you want to be rich and famous! I can show, and tell, you how. It’s not all that hard. more

“O come, angel band, Come as’ around me stand, O, bury me ‘way on your snowy wing, To my emortal home, To my emortal home.”- Angel Band more

It’s often said money makes the world go ‘round, but that’s not entirely true. What keeps it spinning is the selfless leadership and service of legions of folks who never get paid a dime — volunteers. more

The loss of another dear soul in our community last week has brought memories of many others to mind who will never walk through our library door again. I've learned so much from each and every one over the last 31 years as they shared their life experiences with me during library visits.  more

The 2023 Missouri State Fair was another one for the books, with a record number of exhibitors and new all-time highs in the Sale of Champions. From the livestock shows to the carnival rides, the concerts, fair food, and everything in between, there was something for everyone to enjoy. For many farmers, that included talking about farm policy. more

I always get excited as the county and state fair seasons wrap up. I know it's that time of year when the morning air is a little crisper and I get to spend my weekends watching my Mizzou Tigers and Kansas City Chiefs play football. There is nothing better than a tailgate full of friends supporting their team while consuming more barbecue than any medical doctor would recommend. more

Dear Readers, more

“Dady, won’t you take me back to Mohlenberg County, down by the Green River where paradise lay…” more

I flirted last year with returning to college to complete my master’s degree. It wouldn’t have advanced my career. That’s mostly over with. more