To the editor: more

I’ve learned a lot about farming in my 75 years, but most of it I’ve forgotten within the last 10. more

The cheapest things in grocery stores are bananas. Sue and I buy them when they are a little green. They are perishable and the retailers have to keep them moving. Anyway they are a bargain. more

My days off from the library are always crazy busy, but this week included a trip to the veterinarian’s office that I hadn’t counted on. more

How many people remember driving down the road and seeing a train going on tracks alongside of your car? Back before kids could watch their laptops and play games on them, just about anything out of the ordinary was interesting. Especially trains. How many engines did it have? Did it have passenger cars? Cars that haul automobiles? Was it carrying big machinery or loads of coal? But the real excitement came at the end of the train- the little red caboose! more

Let's talk about something that's probably a part of all our lives but doesn't get enough spotlight - comfort movies. You know, those films we keep returning to, like a favorite sweater or a trusted old friend. For me, that movie is "Apollo 13." And here's the kicker: it's not even what I'd call my favorite movie. It's just... special. more

Missouri Farm Bureau’s 109th annual meeting runs this Sunday through next Tuesday, following a special meeting for County Farm Bureau Presidents today. Our annual meeting is full of tried-and-true traditions. more

Just like it is for many people, the holiday season is a rough time for me. more

Dear Readers, more

I was standing in the backyard taking a little reprieve from raking leaves and picking up sticks. Trust me, it’s good for the heart, I hope. We have been at 2112 Cambridge Drive for 50 years. I was observing some of the neighbors’ houses and yards, keenly observing how many of the leaves were blowing into our yard and how many were leaving by way of the wind; of much greater importance, I was remembering some of the neighbors who had lived in our neighborhood in the significance of their lives. more

I live in West Plains, Missouri, about five miles west on Highway 160. I know I live here because even though I don’t live in the city limits, that is my postal address. My cellphone shows West Plains as my location – most of the time. A few years ago, the town that showed up occasionally on my screen was Cottbus which I found very strange. I did some research and found that Cottbus was a small town with a discontinued post office in Howell Township. more

Alright, let me take you on a little journey – a journey that’s all about my love for vinyl records. You know, there’s something downright magical about dropping the needle on a record and hearing the music come alive. It's like the physical contact between the needle and vinyl creates not just sound, but an entire experience. I mean, sure, listening to tunes on a phone or CD is convenient, but it just doesn’t hold a candle to the vinyl experience. more

Now that we are past Thanksgiving Day, the library is being decorated for the holidays and welcomes patrons to come check out a few of our Christmas books to add to the holiday spirit at home! more

The Willow Springs Tuesday Study Club met at the Willow Springs Senior Center on Nov. 7 with Mary Knott as hostess. After a brief business meeting, Mary gave the following presentation: more

The holiday season is officially upon us! With the longer days and warm weather behind us, we have just celebrated Thanksgiving. more

Dear Readers, more

The new Hummer is a pretty big deal. It will cost you $115,000, built in the semblance of an army tank, all electric and lots and lots of horse power. But what is really important is our faith in God, our family, and our love for one another! more

As Thanksgiving rolls around, with its promise of turkey trots and battles over the last piece of pumpkin pie, it’s easy to get lost in the whirlwind of festivities. Yet, amidst the frenzy of stuffing and cranberry sauce, lies the heart of Thanksgiving—a time to reflect, to appreciate, and to acknowledge the cornucopia of blessings we often take for granted. more

Last week, I wrote about the lovable, cussable, ever-present Missouri white-tailed deer. After thousands of years of plentiful numbers of the creatures in North America, they almost disappeared. Massive overkilling, loss of habitat, and the mistaken belief that there was an infinite supply of the creatures led to near extinction levels in the United States. more

This week, I am answering reader requests for international recipes. Some of these even sound edible. more