The Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education announced the hiring of Kendra Barton as assistant principal at Smith-Cotton Junior High School.

Dave Brown is a man on a mission — 14 miles a day.

As a resident of Sedalia, I am excited that the city government is considering a smoke-free ordinance.

Teachers, administrators and support staff were honored Monday at the Sedalia Community Educators’ Association’s annual banquet.

(BPT) - As college students graduate and begin the job search, their career decisions won’t be driven by the same factors that drove their parents’ decisions. While baby boomers tended to focus on the vertical climb to find job happiness, today’s graduates and professionals want meaningful and challenging work that satisfies them personally.

(StatePoint) You may remember your parents telling you to turn off the television and go outside or read a book. But these days, it’s harder than ever to separate kids from media devices, especially as their options become more mobile.

Valedictorian Zach Wolf solved a Rubik’s cube on stage Saturday at the Smith-Cotton High School Class of 2013 graduation ceremony. It was a metaphor for the complex puzzles students have to solve en route to getting that diploma.

LA MONTE — It’s a tough life being a dog.

Reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future were the themes at the Whittier High School graduation ceremony, held Friday at Smith-Cotton Junior High School.

(BPT) - Often, we don’t think about heroism until we see it in action - when disaster strikes and ordinary people exhibit extraordinary courage and compassion to help victims in their time of need. The truth is, however, that the best of human nature is on display every day in the lives of millions of Americans who work in public service jobs across the country. Sometimes all it takes to tap that inner hero is an opportunity – and the education – to serve others.

Bothwell Regional Health Center will hold a Surgical Weight Loss Seminar on Wednesday in the Bothwell Education Center.

Smokers interested in kicking their habit can find the tools they need to be successful through Bothwell Regional Health Center’s “Freedom from Smoking” class.

MONDAY

(StatePoint) In a world full of noise -- from everything from city traffic and lawnmowers to hairdryers and earbuds on personal music devices -- hearing problems are a growing issue. Chief among these problems is tinnitus, a medical condition affecting 50 million Americans.

(NAPSI)—If you or someone you care about is among the one in five people affected by dyslexia-a disability that makes reading difficult-there may be good news for you.

(BPT) - Learning that you have a disease or medical condition can be overwhelming. You need to learn more about your condition. You may get advice from all directions – from well-meaning friends and family, the Internet, magazines, newspapers and television. But in the end, you want to understand your treatment options so that you can discuss your choices with your health care provider.

The Democrat was recently named the winner of the Associated Press Media Editor’s Community Journalism Public Service Initiative and will receive a $1,000 grant for a summer-long project on the impact of meth in the community.

A Sedalia education can prove a valuable lifelong asset.

Universities are taking online degrees to a whole new level, giving college students opportunities and experiences that are not often found in a traditional college classroom.

(StatePoint) For families, summertime is all about active fun -- from vacations to ballgames, and fireworks to poolside picnics. But being on-the-go can mean lots of downtime in transit and waiting for activities to start.

(BPT) - From January 2010 to February 2013, the average unemployment rate was 8.8 percent, a stark contrast to the average of 5.3 percent from January 2003 to December 2006. Though the unemployment rate - currently at its lowest point since 2009 - has begun to improve, it is a slow recovery; the percentage of unemployed Americans out of work for more than one year has skyrocketed from 10 percent in 2007 to more than 30 percent today, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts.