If I didn't have to share mental space with an inner 12-year-old, I would've already put on a pair of progressive glasses or bifocals and been done with it. That's what most people my age do. more

As Americans, we don’t have much influence on the U.S. Supreme Court. The president, who we indirectly elect via the Electoral College, decides who to appoint, and then the U.S. Senate votes whether or not to confirm. more

Finally. The election is coming to a close. more

As you walk into your polling place this Tuesday you will likely find a quiet, almost somber atmosphere with elderly volunteers and little booths for secrecy. As we participate in our election on Tuesday, I wanted to write to you about that secrecy. Is your vote truly done in secret? more

I purchased my first chicken in 1962 at a five and dime store in Rolla, Missouri. Every Easter locally owned retail businesses would sell dyed chicks, ducks and bunnies. They came in assorted colors of yellow, blue, or pink. The dye is not harmful and disappears in a few days. Apparently, vibrantly colored baby animals look like Easter eggs and cause you to forget what a commitment they are. more

The 1882 History of Pettis County describes Sedalia in 1865 as a “village of box houses” with only a handful of buildings that could be considered “substantial.” more

I’m not sure how it happened, but Tom and I raised three kids who love scary movies. It wasn’t genetic. more

Democrats have embraced the “politics of joy” as their election theme. Be nice if they’d tell the voters where they find such joy, for 75% of the American people told Gallup pollsters this month they think the nation’s on the wrong track. more

When I was a kid, my little sister used to watch the Disney movie The Fox and the Hound over and over again when she got sad. I never understood it. If you’re already in a low mood, why would you want to watch the most maudlin animated film of the twentieth century? The Fox and the Hound could make a grown man weep! It’s all about orphans and friendships that can never be. Is intentionally wallowing around in your own sadness going to make you feel better? Isn’t that kind of perverse? more

You may remember Kevin Strickland, the man who was wrongfully convicted of three murders and spent over 40 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. more

It was a dark and stormy night. Well, maybe not stormy—and maybe not quite dark either. Flickering black candles and a small hand-held lantern contributed to the eerie atmosphere of “Tales by Twilight,” a reading of spooky short stories at the Cole Camp branch of Boonslick Regional Library on Oct. 18. more

I have a problem. And if the first step is admitting it, here goes: I'm a snooze abuser. If there's a snooze to use, I'll do it. Again and again. more

The murder trial of John Warren, accused of first degree murder in the shooting death of John Wilkerson, ended after just two days in the court room. Preparations by the Criminal Court took much longer than the trial itself. more

This morning, when I flipped the switch on my thermostat from cool to heat to be ready for cold weather, it brought back some memories from days gone by when I was just a boy. more

A few nights ago, in the middle of the night, the dog woke us up barking and pawing at the front windows. My husband peered into the dark, expecting to catch a glimpse of the fox that occasionally stalks our yard. more

TUSCANY, Italy — Rain and smiles are universal, and that’s what I found on our trip to Italy and to the Tuscan countryside. more

With the autumnal equinox having taken place on Sept. 22, we find ourselves almost a full month into the fall season. more

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to reflect on prevention, early detection and treatment of breast cancers. more

The closer we get to 2025, the more I realize that the science fiction comics and other books I read as a kid lied to me.  more

In addition to hearing the murder trial of John Warren, who was charged with shooting Thomas Wilkerson, the Criminal Court was busy during 1908 and 1909. more