One of the most revered summer vegetables by home gardeners is the tomato. The fruit typically begins to ripen in mid- to late July for most tomato varieties in home gardens, and this is when many tomato fruit disorders are noticed. more

Editor's note: This week's column from Stephanie is from the Democrat archives and was originally published March 10, 2021. more

The 1882 History of Pettis County praised Sedalia’s manufacturers by identifying the increase in business done by each category between 1880 and 1881. It explained the process involved in compiling the data, noting that the process started by visiting each factory in December 1881 and asking the proprietors and managers for information from the previous two years. more

Long ago and far away: In 1975, I was struggling to decide what to do with my future. I had no idea what I wanted “to be,” and so I lived at home, worked part-time for the Blue Springs Bank, and took additional music hours at Jewell. more

Editor's note: OK, so I know last week I said I'd get back to regular column writing, but I'm going to take one more week-long hiatus. In my defense, I'm out of office for a few days to enjoy a family lake vacation, and I just ran out of time in my preparations to leave. But, here is a rerun of a light-hearted column I wrote last summer that apparently resonated with many of you. Although the destination is different, my boyfriend and I battled lake traffic again this week and we had all the same complaints, so this seems like a fitting fill-in column.  more

Long ago and far away: In 1975, I was struggling to decide what to do with my future. I had no idea what I wanted “to be,” and so I lived at home, worked part-time for the Blue Springs Bank, and took additional music hours at Jewell. more

Barbie by Greta Gerwig is finally out in theaters. I’d like to see it. Even though I was never much of a Barbie girl, there’s something irresistible about a toy that was present in the background of every American girl’s life since 1959. more

As I am getting older, I have discovered that sports are something I watch more than participate in. But every once in a while, I will jump in and try to create the illusion that I know what I am doing and have the skills to make it happen. more

Lack of pasture growth and extremely poor hay yields have producers seeking feed options for beef cow herds. Here are some general ideas to consider. Each of these has specific details for implementation, which can be covered at a different time. more

Meeting people where they are has its challenges. Each of us has different experiences in life that create a pattern of how we receive, process and react to certain situations. more

In June 1881, J. West Goodwin, outspoken editor of the Sedalia Bazoo, published a list of things “we would like to see” in Sedalia. His rather pointed list included perhaps impossible things as “less loafers on the street corner at night” and “a place where the sun don’t shine so hot.” more

I’d never encountered the word “presentism” until recently, but it helps explain a lot of the crazy stuff that’s going on today. more

Hi! I’m back! Did you miss me? (Don’t answer that, it’s rhetorical.) more

Some mornings are just for lying in bed and reading a book. The sky is gray, thunder rolls in the distance, rain begins to pelt against the windows in the house – yes, a day for staying in bed and reading a book. more

It’s hard to believe, but summer is halfway over and back-to-school thoughts and promotions will soon be replacing summer activity plans. more

My husband, Darren, and I saw the movie “Sound of Freedom” over the weekend. more

Sedalia, established in 1860, thought of itself as a “live” city, the term used by editors of the day to describe a progressive town. It demonstrated this attitude in part by the number of amenities it offered, ones that many towns equal to it in size did not have. more

Perhaps the most disappointing ruling from this year’s Supreme Court term is — oh, for heaven’s sake. Many were disappointing — but predictable. Well, I was disappointed in the Court’s decision regarding a person’s expression of “religious freedom” when it comes to not serving a group of people. The case centers around a web designer who doesn’t want to design wedding web sites for gay couples, as the idea of same-sex marriage goes against her religious beliefs. She sued the State of Colorado, stating that the state’s law against discrimination against LGBTQ people infringed on her First Amendment rights of free speech and freedom of religion. more

I like to think of myself as pretty eloquent, in print. I can write a good poem or a witty turn of phrase. I easily switch between humorous and charming, or stern and strident, or filled with pathos. God seems to have given me some small talent for the written word. more

Lately, my daily walks have included listening to a book on Libby while I get my steps in. You can listen on the Libby app too – you just need your library card number! more