Hosea 2:14 But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. more

In the Upper Room, Jesus spoke with his closest friends for the last time. Soon Judas would betray him, he would be arrested, tried, and crucified. On that last night Jesus surely tried to share the most important things with them. What was first? He washed their feet. He did the job of the humblest servant, and then he said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you more

The topic of law versus grace is one that is debated in the Christian world. Most people ascribe to the theological view of Sola Fide, which means “Faith Alone”. This view is part of Soteriology, or the study of the process of salvation in the Christian faith. more

Officials at Missouri State University-West Plains on Tuesday were mourning the passing of former chancellor Kent Thomas. more

Ozarks Healthcare recently announced Dr. Joseph Barnard, board-certified family medicine physician, is now caring for patients at the health system’s clinic in Gainesville.  more

With spring right around the corner, we can start thinking of warmer activities and planning for outdoor adventures. National Nutrition Month, recognized in March, is a great time to learn about making healthier food choices, developing better habits and teaching kids about making good choices at the table or store. more

The Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra will be in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at the historic Star Theatre in downtown Willow Springs. The program to be presented, “A Musical Buffet,” will feature a “smorgasbord of musical delights,” said officials with the Willow Springs Arts Council, which is sponsoring the performance. more

West Plains R-7 School District officials extend their congratulations to high school sophomore Emily Ritter for her acceptance into the Missouri Fine Arts Academy at Missouri State University in Springfield. In honor of Ritter’s “exceptional talent and unwavering dedication,” district officials shared one of Ritter’s captivating colored pencil drawings, a honey dipper dripping with honey. more

Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston has received a resignation letter from Dr. Jessica King, family medicine physician. King, an employee of TCMH since 2020, said she is leaving TCMH for personal reasons, officials report. She will work at TCMH until April 23.  more

In honor of Autism Awareness Month in April, the TJ Swift House A.S.C.E.N.D. Program at Missouri State University-West Plains and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks will present an exclusive showing of the award-winning documentary “In a Different Key’ at 7 p.m. April 11 in the West Plains Civic Center theater, 110 St. Louis St. more

The Compassus hospice program serving south-central Missouri was recently recognized as one of the organization’s top three programs in the country during the company’s Excellence Awards ceremony in Phoenix, Ariz., officials announced. more

“2023 was a great year for the Ozarks Small Business Incubator — our team spent nearly 600 hours working one-on-one with 143 unique business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs,” OzSBI officials announced. “We helped start 15 new businesses in our service area ranging from consulting to coffee shops to dog boarding.” more

This Thursday is our Annual Meeting for the “Go Farm” Farmers Market and Ozark Farmers Agricultural Cooperative at 6 p.m. at the Missouri Department of Conservation - Ozark Regional Office, 551 Joe Jones Boulevard. New market vendors are always welcome! Please call 417-293-0590 if you would like more information. more

Hello fellow food lovers, and welcome back to my kitchen. Today we’ll be taking on the creation of an extraordinary dish that combines the comforting layers of traditional lasagna with a vibrant twist of red bell peppers and a trio of exquisite cheeses. Get ready for the ultimate 3-Cheese Lasagna with Red Bell Peppers! more

In case you didn't know, because I didn't until recently, Easter is in March this year, the 31st to be exact.  Is anyone else feeling like everything this year is coming at us early? Let's get a jump start on the Easter menu and all the lovely dishes we plan to prepare, with a dessert first.  We don't have any local little kids, but the adults still appreciate a homemade treat and Easter is a fun time to make rice crispy treats, spring style. These key lime-enhanced treats scream spring and are perfect for Easter baskets or the table. These are a tasty upgrade from the originals. White chocolate adds to the richness of this old favorite. I love it when something good gets even better and these are just that. Make a batch, share a batch is my motto.  It's spring peeps, enjoy!  more

This spring, the Midwest is set to witness an entomological phenomenon of almost mythic proportions. Billions of cicadas, specifically from Broods XIII and XIX, will emerge simultaneously from their subterranean slumber for the first time since 1803. This rare dual emergence, a marvel of the natural world, presents an opportunity to observe a unique biological event that will not recur for another 221 years. According to University of Missouri Extension specialist and entomologist Tamra Reall, also affectionately known as "Dr. Bug," this spectacle promises to transform the landscape into a buzzing epicenter of cicada activity. more