If you’re a regular reader, you know that our dog Charlie has been in a years-long feud with a possum that often sits on top of our back fence. Charlie is our elderly Beagle mix who grows a new lump, bump or raised mole every month or two, as if he’s decorating his 14-year-old body with interesting new doodads. Even though Charlie is old and somewhat cosmetically challenged, he has the nose of a much younger, sleeker Beagle. That’s how he always knows when the possum is back on the fence. more

I remember the first time I met Ervin Spry, he knocked on my back door on East 24th Street and passed me a well-worn note that said, “Can I pick up your walnuts?” I later found out that Ervin couldn’t speak — a note was his way of communicating. more

Living in the lake area these last eight years has made me more aware of the changes in nature that come with each season. This time of year, I can never get enough of the colorful splashes that collect on the vast canvasses of the outdoors. With the fall come sights and sounds that it alone among the seasons brings to life. more

Even if you are sick of reading about giving thanks this week, I find it necessary to offer one more homage to the fourth Thursday in November. more

Shortly after my first cancer diagnosis in 2017, I contacted a peer mentor program for synovial sarcoma, my kind of cancer. I was matched with a woman from Kansas who had been a patient for several years, and I called her to ask her advice for dealing with the mental hardships of our aggressive disease. When she answered the phone, I asked her how she was doing. more

The fact that drones have revolutionized warfare is becoming increasingly evident. They are playing a major role in the war in Ukraine, Israel is using drones both for surveillance and as a weapon, and China, Russia and the United States are locked in a competition to develop next-generation drones. more

At the turn of the nineteenth into the twentieth century, the crime of arson was defined by legal scholars as the deliberate or malicious burning of a dwelling, a public building, or the personal property of another person. more

It is November, and I have just thrown the remains of the last watermelon I will eat until next summer into the garbage. more

I’ve always been a “jeans girl,” and I still am. They’re a classic for a reason. But certain times in life require kinder, gentler clothing. And because we’re smack dab in the middle of that season — which stretches from October 31st to New Year’s Day — it’s time to talk about pants. more

I am grateful to God for the many individuals and ministries that have contributed toward my spiritual development. more

No matter our struggles, Thanksgiving reminds us to be thankful and reflect on our blessings. Remember, life could be a lot worse. more

I never did like Rush Limbaugh. I didn’t like his bombastic belligerence, his pugilistic and confrontational invective, his bellicose blathering. This is all before stating the obvious: I didn’t like what he said. I didn’t like that he dismissed those whose opinions differed from his in the slightest. I didn’t like his continual fostering of anger. I didn’t like that he was plain mean. more

I’m not even 40 years old, but I’m already an old lady. I can feel it in my bones and in my soul. The new world is a strange and unfamiliar place, and to be honest, I don’t like it. It’s fast, it’s rude, but most of all, it’s just too darn loud. Now, I know some things are meant to be loud: rock concerts, demolition, crying babies, football games. I enjoy that kind of loud. A place for everything and everything in its place, right? What I can’t get used to is the steady march of noise into places that used to be sanctuaries of silence. more

Every Thanksgiving, after the farm chores are done, the turkey is consumed and the football games have been both played and watched, I bask in the silence for just a few moments. In years past, I’ve written here about how grateful I am for the family, friends and colleagues who play such a huge role in my life. I’ve noted how blessed we have been to work in agriculture despite the ups and downs. I’ve shared how excited I am about the weeks to come with our Missouri Farm Bureau annual meeting and the holiday season that comes with the turn of the calendar. more

A photographer was snapping pictures of first graders at an elementary school, making small talk to put them at ease. “What are you going to be when you grow up?” he asked one little girl. “Tired”, she said. Evidently, she had been watching all the adults in her life, working long hours, busy with a million things, and running around from place to place, and concluded that she was going to be just like them: “tired.” That’s a hard way to live, isn’t it – having nothing to look forward to except being tired? Well, I’ve got good news for you! The Bible presents a much better way to live for the believer in Jesus Christ. more

Each year, the Pettis County Court (now the County Commission), appoints a group of citizens to serve on the Pettis County Grand Jury. Their primary task is to return indictments against suspected criminals. They also examine county buildings, report on their condition, and make recommendations for improvement. more

I have been thinking about my uncles a lot lately, and how important they were in my life as I was growing up. more

After years of working in the Florida heat, treating everything from tropical illnesses to traumatic injuries, I wanted a challenge that would allow me to help people in an area like the one where I grew up. A challenge that would let me make a deeper impact in a close-knit community. more

It’s often said that when the aged die, it’s somewhat like a library burning down; all of their experiences, stories and life lessons are poof — gone. more

Those who have been paying attention to the Democratic Party’s growing port list weren’t surprised by Zohran Mamdani’s election as mayor of New York. more