I was at the Zizzers boys basketball game vs. Waynesville, a week-ago Tues night. more

Feb. 22 is the 38th anniversary of the day my family moved from a rental house on the Shannon-Oregon county line to our Summersville home. It was an unforgettable experience for all. more

I love the outdoor sounds of spring and summer. I am beyond thrilled to hear the first batch of peepers (frogs) singing their high-pitched songs in March or April. Some years they come on strong for a few days and then get quiet again. But when they do decide the time is right, they are out and incredibly busy. Peepers mean spring to me- the promise that everything that seemed to wither and die during winter will come back. The reawakening of the world. more

Often I miss the good old days of my farm boy youth. more

Fifty years ago, the world changed! more

Work at the Capitol is rapidly picking up in the 2024 legislative session. In this report, we’ll focus on the upcoming state budget, ongoing work to reduce taxes, the fentanyl crisis, and supporting after-school programs.  more

Right now, our nation is facing an unprecedented border crisis. In just December alone, more than 300,000 illegal immigrants were caught trying to cross our southern border — the most ever in one month and a 300% increase from December 2020 when President Donald Trump was in office. In total, there have been more than 10 million illegal border entries under President Joe Biden. more

The calendar may show February, and while Missouri still has another month and a half of winter ahead, this recent bout of warm weather has kicked spring fever into high gear. We all know more snow and cold weather will return, but it sure is nice to see the sunshine and think spring thoughts.  more

To the editor: more

Dear Readers, more

Driving south of Buffalo one morning just a few days before the Missouri Conservation Department’s designated Eagle Days, Martha and I saw at least a half-dozen bald eagles, some aloft, some in trees. more

Now we combine two presidents' birthdays into Presidents’ Day as a legal holiday, but when I was growing up in central Illinois, we always celebrated Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on Feb. 12 and George Washington's birthday on February 22nd. Lincoln's was a legal state holiday and meant a day off from school! For me, Feb. 22 is not only George Washington’s birthday but also the day in 1986 that my family moved into my present home, so it’s a very memorable date. more

I saw the Zizzers vs. Kickapoo girls basketball game on Thursday. We lost by a two and a three. The good news if we had played up to our capability we would have been within 10. more

The first needs of any settlers to the Missouri in the 1800s would be to find food, water, and shelter. Hopefully, most arrivals timed their stopping spot in good weather. Scouting for fresh water from rivers, creeks, or springs was one of the first requirements for any home. In the Ozarks, large and small springs and even small groundwater sources called seeps were bountiful due to the karst topography of the hills and valleys. more

Year after year, as I prepare to cover the annual Pink Out event hosted by the West Plains High School Lady Zizzers basketball team, a sense of anticipation and pride swells within me. It's more than just a game; it's a testament to the strength of our community, the compassion of our hearts, and the relentless spirit of those battling cancer. Under the leadership of Head Coach Scott Womack, the Pink Out event has grown into an incredible fundraiser that embodies hope, support, and the collective effort to make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. more

Dear Readers, more

Each January, voting delegates from all around the country gather at American Farm Bureau’s (AFBF) annual convention. Appropriately themed “New Frontiers,” this year’s gathering was held last week in Salt Lake City, Utah. more

To the editor: more

To the editor: more

To the editor: more