(NAPSI)—For kids, summertime should mean food, friends and fun. For many families fighting to make ends meet, however, summer can mean struggling to stretch tight food budgets even further.

Early Sedalia saw itself as a thriving, “live,” city, “worshipping the new business gospel.” Its prosperity was apparent, according to the 1882 History of Pettis County, in Sedalia’s “fine, broad, paved streets, substantial two- and three-story brick business houses and dwellings, churches, and schools.”

(NAPSI)Theres good news for those who love to snack. Snackingdone rightcan give you a quick energy boost and help curb hunger between meals without adding unhealthy fats and oils to your diet.

On May 11, rural and letter carriers from the area including Sedalia, Marshall, Clinton, Knob Noster and Slater participated in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

The Lyceum Theatre, 114 High St. in Arrow Rock, will open its 2013 season with “The Wizard of Oz” June 7 through 16.

(BPT) - While children long for the lazy carefree days of summer, many adults view the season as a reason to be active and get healthy. Whether it's to look good for an upcoming beach vacation or simply to have the energy to enjoy the season to the fullest, setting health goals is a great first step.

Representatives from the Sedalia Post Office and area social service agencies pose on Wednesday morning at the post office for the kickoff of the Postal Carrier Food Drive, which will take place Saturday. Postal customers may leave food out by the mailbox for postal carriers to pick up. All food collected will be distributed locally. Pictured, front row, from left: Cynthia Hopper, Salvation Army social work director; Julie Taylor, food drive coordinator; Mayor Elaine Horn; Jack Menges, Open Door executive director; Darren White, regional coordinator for Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri; Deborah Arney, letter carrier; and Linda Hoffmann, president of Letter Carriers’ auxiliary. Back row: Dustin Nolting, customer service worker for U.S. Post Office; Jimmy Muin, letter carrier; David Simmons, letter carrier; and Kevin Stals, letter carrier.

Two Smith-Cotton spring vocal music concerts will be at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Smith-Cotton High School show choirs will perform in the Heckart Performing Arts Center, Smith-Cotton High School, 2010 Tiger Pride Blvd. in Sedalia, and the Smith-Cotton Junior High bands and orchestra will perform in the junior high auditorium at the corner of Broadway Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue in Sedalia. Admission is free to both shows.

The La Monte FFA chapter has been awarded $2,500 as part of the FFA: Food for All program. The nationwide program provides grant money to local FFA chapters to support year-long service-learning projects focused on developing and implementing sustainable hunger relief projects.

(BPT) - You need to come up with the perfect Father’s Day gift this year. But combing through the vast array of items on his wish list can be a challenge. Here are some great ideas to make your selection easier - and make any dad feel like the king he truly is.

(BPT) - The number of people living with type 2 diabetes continues to grow. In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 23 million Americans are currently living with the disease. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease and is a progressive and chronic condition. Patients should work with a health care professional to manage and monitor their disease.

What started as a garage sale among fellow Rotarians has become an annual event that pumps thousands of dollars into community programs and projects.

(NAPSI)—Many Americans are helping each other, others in need and themselves by assisting with tax preparation.

(BPT) - Bipolar disorder is a condition of extremes that can affect both how you feel and how you act. It includes bipolar mania–extremely high moods that last at least a week–and bipolar depression–depressive moods or lows that last for at least two weeks and for most of the day, nearly every day. Most people suffering from bipolar disorder experience more lows than highs, which can make manic symptoms even more difficult to spot.

(NAPSI)—Cooking at home can be simple, affordable and heart-healthy. The bad news is that it’s becoming increasingly rare.

While training to win a national championship, the Smith-Cotton JROTC program is also fighting world hunger. This year, the S-C JROTC Academic Team, commanded by Cadet Derek Patton, is trying to qualify for the national championship competition in Washington D.C. The team consists of all sophomores, something that has never happened in the history of the program. The five cadets, Haleigh Carson, Megan Wilbanks, Maddy Ash, Kylar McNeal and Patton arrive at school early two days each week in hopes of one day achieving a national title.

(BPT) - Studies show and experts agree: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. After a good night’s rest without eating, kids’ brains and bodies are ready to refuel. Breakfast can help kick-start a child’s metabolism, energy and focus for learning according to a report published in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. So it’s an alarming reality that the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports nearly one in five children across our communities goes without breakfast every day.

(BPT) - Rather than sitting down to a wholesome meal, do you spend your lunch break running errands, catching up on bills or organizing your kid’s next big activity? Too often busy parents and working professionals have to choose between eating well and doing important tasks during the lunch hour. With the start of the new year, it’s time to take back lunch with a few healthy ideas that will makeover your meals in just minutes.

Local churches will again tackle hunger in our area through the Souper Bowl, the annual canned soup drive to benefit Open Door Benevolent Ministries’ food pantry.

Setting small, achievable goals and giving in to little rewards.

The State Fair Lady Roadrunners have not played since a 60-54 win at Illinois Central on Dec. 8.

(NewsUSA) - A new study from the University of Toronto suggests that not all snacks are created equal when it comes to filling up kids' rumbling tummies. The new research found that California raisins, when compared with other snacks such as grapes and potato chips, helped kids feel more full off of fewer calories.