Pettis County was not the site of any major battles during the Civil War, but it was the scene of a great deal of guerilla activity. There were numerous incidents as Union supporters, sometimes called bushwhackers, attacked farms and homes of Southern sympathizers and as Confederate partisan rangers, often called guerillas, attacked farms and homes of Union sympathizers. more

I would like to address Deborah Mitchell’s Jan. 27 column in which she addressed several concerns regarding the Missouri Legislature by way of state Rep. Bradley Pollitt. more

February is Black History Month. According to History.com, the origins date back to 1915, when “the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) ...” was formed. The group “sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass” (https://bit.ly/3HBhxcR). President Gerald Ford, in 1976, formally recognized February as Black History Month, saying that he thought all Americans should know more about the contributions of Black Americans to our country’s history. more

This is an open letter to Margie Vandeven, Commissioner of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: more

Jan. 23-27 was designated as “National News Literacy Week.” It could not be more important or timely as we continue to be bombarded with misinformation, disinformation and downright lies in all corners of the public square. more

When Sedalians need to go to a big city for some reason, Kansas City is the logical choice, being only 85 miles away. more

We are surrounded by all kinds of “resurrections” every day. Just when it seems that something dies, new life emerges. more

Bio Box Looking for some gardening tips for your mid-Missouri garden? The Democrat publishes a monthly column from the Show-Me Master Gardeners. For more information, contact MU Extension at 660-827-0591. more

By the end of the Civil War, Sedalia’s population had grown from 300 in 1861 to 1,000 in 1865. The town was still very undeveloped; the 1882 History of Pettis County describes it as “a village of ‘box houses,’” with fewer than a “dozen buildings that would have been considered substantial.” more

Opportunity. more

Good morning. more

The legislature is at it again. more

High feed and input prices are impacting ag producers. Often, the initial reaction to high prices for feed or fertilizer is to reduce the use of these inputs to cut production costs. While this strategy may reduce production costs in the short term, there may be long-term negative consequences to consider. more

Few verses in the Bible are better known than Matthew 22:39, where Jesus gives the second greatest commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This verse has been used on myriad occasions to motivate others to any action for perceived good. But as good as Jesus’s command sounds, what does it actually mean? Do we self-determine how to love others or are we given instructions on how to do it? And even if we know how to do it, what motivates our love for one another? more

There is nothing that aids a person like me, who is always searching for nostalgic moments to enjoy, like children and grandchildren. more

After the first passenger train of the Pacific Railroad arrived in the newly established town of Sedalia in January 1861, the town began to grow. One of the enterprising men who built a business here was David Phillips, who opened a store at the northeast corner of Main Street and Osage Avenue. more

When traveling by air anywhere in the world, most airlines charge an additional fee to carry extra baggage. more

The Pettis County Ambulance District is introducing a Special Needs Tracking & Awareness Response System, or STARS, that will improve emergency care for children with complex medical issues. more

In my first column of the new year, I wrote that I had a lot of learning experiences in 2022, ranging from how to style my naturally curly hair to embracing new perspectives. It seems that theme is already carrying over into 2023. more

I don’t know what got me thinking about hometowns; maybe it was a phone call from an old girlfriend telling me about her visit to Poplar Bluff and meeting up with members of her high school crowd. more