First, decide on an area to solarize. Then purchase a clear plastic sheet that will cover the entire area with some overlap. The plastic must be clear; no black, white or translucent will work. Look for sheeting in the paint department of larger stores. It's best to do this in the heat of the summer since it will give better results the hotter it is. more

I doubt that you could talk to any man with normal emotions who would not have a love story about an old car. more

The 1882 History of Pettis County comments on the soil fertility of the Blackwater Township and notes, “among the representative farmers of this county, none stand higher than those of this township.” The farms discussed in the History lay in “rich and exceedingly attractive portions of the township.” more

The summer after I graduated from college, I had no job and zero prospects. I opted not to return to my summer job as I had done every year since high school in case I found full-time employment. So when my boyfriend asked if I wanted to tag along to his family’s annual Fourth of July vacation, I quickly agreed. more

Just when I thought the FBI couldn’t get any worse, it does. more

It’s Lent. Forty days of dedication to prayer, penance, almsgiving and fasting in the name of the Lord. Not fasting like medical fasting before a scan or surgery. Not trendy intermittent fasting for weight loss, either. This is fasting invented by those mean old religious people. They want you to eat less meat and just eat less in general, and they expect that to have some kind of an effect on your relationship with God. Ridiculous. more

We heard this week that former President Jimmy Carter has entered hospice care. I hate to hear this, because Jimmy Carter is a wonderful example of what Christians, and humanity in general, should aspire to. His words and actions are beacons to us all. more

There are roughly 60 days from now until we can reasonably expect to have some pasture available for our cow herds. This still allows adequate time to make adjustments to winter feeding programs and realize some feed cost savings. more

I wrote about this many years ago, but I believe it’s time to revisit the topic. more

Blackwater Township, located in the far northwestern corner of Pettis County, was, according to the “1882 History of Pettis County,” one of the largest townships in the county, containing 34,560 acres. It was also the wealthiest and most productive township. more

We’ve had a week to ruminate over the Super Bowl, now cast in red and gold. What a game! I never doubted the Chiefs, but watching them get the win was almost painful. In 2019, the Chiefs started slowly and won the Super Bowl in the final minutes. They did it again this year. They should take pity on people who suffer through their shilly-shallying and simply step on the gas at kickoff! more

Last weekend, I spent three days at the Sigma Kappa Sorority Emerging Leaders Conference in Indianapolis. Keeping with my “always learning” mindset, I thought I’d share a few insights with my favorite readers. more

Sedalians who have become accustomed to hearing the growl of stealth bombers overhead have no doubt noticed the recent silence. more

I have recently had two distinct privileges to visit Smith-Cotton High School. more

Lincoln School was built after two events. The first event was statewide — the adoption in 1866 of a new Constitution for Missouri that mandated that any school district having over 15 children had to provide free public education in separate schools for white and Black children. The second event was local — the 1867 contentious tax levy election held to raise the tax money needed to build two new schools in Sedalia. more

Apparently, cooler heads prevailed in the Missouri Senate. The bill regarding education in Missouri as it pertains to teaching about “race,” has been amended, and omits some of the previous version’s restrictions. Although the original draft included a ban on teaching CRT, which was not defined in the bill, the new version omits that ban. The bill now “also includes a provision stating that the bill does not ban teachers from teaching lessons on sexism, slavery, racial oppression, segregation or racial discrimination” (http://bit.ly/40JtQwm). This is helpful, because the classes I’ve taught in business law often contain these topics, as we talk about workplace discrimination and hostile work environments, among other kinds of cases. At least I won’t have to worry about violating the law when I teach the history of and encourage discussion about those issues. more

It’s not quite time for gardening, but it’s getting close. I’ve been kicking around at the piles of leaves in the yard, peering at the tiny shoots of crocus and poppy and daffodil living green underneath. more

Well, Chiefs Kingdom, here we are again: somehow, heading to the Super Bowl has become familiar territory for our beloved football team. more

A lot of writers have storyboards to help jog their memories and lead them into a story. My storyboard is just a wall behind my computer, but it has given me a lot of inspiration through the years. more

The month of February can be cold, gray and dreary, but if you come to the library this month, it’s warm, pink and full of love! It’s “I Love My Library” month at the Sedalia Public Library and we are recognizing all the ways the library is a special part of our community. more