The saga of the Sedalia Public Library has played out over the past eight months, and it is a cautionary tale for a community that claims to value its history.

Since 1895, Sedalia Public Library has stood majestically on the corner of Third Street and Kentucky Avenue as a reminder that education and the pursuit of knowledge has always been of utmost importance to the citizens of Sedalia. That sentiment still holds true today even though the historic Carnegie building is undergoing extensive repairs due to foundation issues that were caused by extreme drought conditions in the area last summer.

(NAPSI)—Joan Creviston was an interior designer for 12 years before retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye disease that leads to tunnel vision and sometimes complete blindness, forced her to make a full-time career out of her longtime love: fitness instruction.

The Sedalia High School, located at Sixth Street and Massachusetts Avenue, was built in 1895. The massive stone building cost $40,000 and served grades nine through 12. After Smith-Cotton High School was built in 1925, the building served as Martha Letts Junior High School. Though Sedalia was proud of its high school, the building lacked several facilities including shower rooms, a cafeteria and a library.

1 Drought strikes area

The Sedalia City Council has rightly included in Resolution 1825 the repair cost of our public library gifted to us by Andrew Carnegie in 1900.

Some people love cars, and I love books. Having books housed in a beautiful Carnegie library makes them feel special. It’s like having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a gourmet restaurant. It enhances the experience.

There is no doubt that the Sedalia Public Library building is one of the most striking architectural structures in the city. Dedicated in 1901, it was the first Carnegie library in the state of Missouri and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

There are book repositories all over the world which are casually referred to as “Carnegie libraries” because their construction was personally bankrolled by one of the richest men to ever make his home on the North American continent, Andrew Carnegie. All right, that’s a little too modest: He was one of the richest people in all of recorded history.

The Sedalia Public Library has been closed for nearly two weeks due to structural concerns and depending on what a structural engineer says today, it could remain closed until repairs are complete.

By Emily Jarrett

The first two decades of the 20th century were called the Progressive Era because of the many improvements and social reforms accomplished during the time.

WARRENSBURG — The University of Central Missouri has been invited to make a significant contribution to a landmark art exhibit celebrating the impact of the Arabian horse on civilizations of the Near East and Islamic worlds.

There is probably something positive to say about all human endeavors, but if you want to be honest you have to admit that many things have a negative aspect to them, as well. That’s why there are usually two sides to every story.

I know who my readers are.

ART EXHIBITION OPENS

The Sedalia Symphony Orchestra will kick-off its 74th season in October.