Learning about an individual can be interesting for the historian and delightful for a genealogist. The task can also prove frustrating. more

It has taken a long time, but I have finally arrived. The goal is not something I actively sought, and I even tried to delay its coming, but alas, it has caught up with me. more

The underside of Donald Trump’s bus more

While last week’s news about the debacle surrounding the Speaker of the House was bad enough, this week’s news of Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel was stunning in its cruelty. Israel’s Prime Minister has declared war on Hamas, and the people in Israel have suffered unspeakable horror at the hands of terrorists. more

“One of the pleasures of being General-in-Chief of the Army is the opportunity to travel around this great country. That pleasure includes speaking to bodies such as this. But as I look upon the many eager young faces here at this Michigan Military Academy, I have a feeling that there are many of you who look upon war as all glory, and look to the day when you can use the skill you have acquired here. SUPPRESS IT! SUPPRESS IT, I SAY! You don't know the horrible aspects of war. I've been through two wars and I know. I've seen cities and homes burned and in ashes. I've seen thousands of men lying on the ground, their dead faces looking up at the skies. I tell you, WAR is HELL! more

Fall is in the air and it’s a little spooky at the library this month! more

Over the past weekend, I commented to Darren that I had noticed a difference in the amount of hot water I was able to utilize at one time. If the washing machine or dishwasher is running, I tend to run out of hot water while taking a shower, which is a change. more

The 1903 Sedalia City Directory identified individuals by name, address, employer, and telephone number. The Street Directory indicated whether the individual owned or rented his or her home. more

Americans have more media options than ever. We are inundated with stories, memes, videos and promotions 24 hours a day. Most of us are on social media, which is built to provide an endless feed of content to keep us glued to our screens. And unfortunately, misinformation is prevalent and much of that content isn’t fact-checked, verified or professionally produced. The result is that we’re not always shown what we need to know, or the information that is most likely to impact our lives. That’s where local newspapers come in. Your local newspaper takes a different approach. more

When I was growing up about 20 miles south of Fort Smith, Arkansas, I had multiple newspapers to choose from: the daily Southwest Times Record out of Fort Smith that covered the River Valley region, plus the weekly Mansfield Citizen and the Greenwood Democrat, as well as the school paper I cut my teeth on, the Mansfield Tiger Tale. For statewide news, there were the Arkansas Democrat and the Arkansas Gazette dailies. In college, I added the Jonesboro Sun (owned by the Troutt family until 2000), the ASU Herald and The Commercial Appeal out of Memphis to my repertoire. more

There. I said it. more

It’s been quite a week for a politics and law junkie! The House of Representatives fired the Speaker, and the trials centering on Donald Trump moved forward, mostly in ways he doesn’t like. more

I listened to Dolly Parton sing “Coat of Many Colors” on the radio as I showered the other night, and it occurred to me that she and I had something in common when we were kids: We both wore clothes to school that were not bought in stores. more

A City Directory was designed to show people what made up a community. It provided a brief history of the town, gave lists of city officials, and listed churches, clubs, service organizations, parks, and other amenities. more

Nearly 220 million American adults turn to their local newspapers regularly for news and information they need to stay informed, feel more connected to their neighbors and improve their lives and communities. more

We planned to watch football last weekend with Emily and James in Little Rock. Though we rarely watch college football, we were going to watch the Razorbacks take on the LSU “Tigahs” on Saturday, and revel in the Chiefs’ mauling the Chicago Bears on Sunday. As it turned out, the Razorbacks game was a go, but we lost the Chiefs game to the Fox Network’s dispute with Direct TV or some other media conglomerate. more

It’s no secret that many of former President Donald Trump’s supporters speak of him in almost godlike terms. more

BEFORE more

The spring grass hay crop was extremely poor across many regions of the state. Beef cattle producers are turning to alternative feeds in order to find winter forage for their herds. Baled corn stalks are going to be one of the more available forage sources for many producers. A discussion of their quality and use is certainly appropriate. more

There is a slight chance that I may be turning into a grumpy old lady, but I honestly don’t believe that my age has anything to do with my observation of behaviors that have changed so rapidly. more