During the last two decades of the 19th century, most small towns in Missouri worked to find factories that would locate in their towns, bringing jobs and more money into the community. Most were successful. Some found a food processing firm to can locally grown vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers. Others found shoe or garment manufacturers to produce their products. more

Amazon has a new competitor that is currently making a strong push to become the leading e-commerce mega-store worldwide. more

The Missouri State Fair must be uppermost in a lot of people’s minds at this time of the year, as it was in mine most of my growing up years. In 1955, however, I was living with my aunt and uncle in Kansas for the summer. That year what was uppermost in my mind was the Kansas State Fair in Hutcheson, Kansas. Wait-no, what was uppermost in my mind was the Kansas girls I was meeting thanks to my good fortune of having two teen age girl cousins to introduce me to all their girlfriends. more

The Supreme Court’s recent series of decisions – overturning Affirmative Action, basing a decision on a hypothetical case rather than a real one, muddying the waters regarding separation of powers – has challenged my good humor. Taken together, they are overwhelming, but I have room for only one case today: the one where the Court has again ignored precedent for a disingenuous reason. I fear it will have far-reaching consequences. more

I work out at the Heckart Community Center gym three days a week, with the other two weekdays devoted to an hour each of tai chi. more

As we are now in the middle of hummingbird season, here are some tips to attract hummingbirds to your yard and how to properly care for feeders. more

There are two memories from my childhood in this column – one is about the Missouri State Fair and the other is about “Old Smokie,” which sits on a short piece of track on the fairgrounds. I have written about both before and will probably do so again somewhere down the road. more

Late 19th-century Sedalia seemed to attract a large number of cons artists and swindlers who preyed on the unsuspecting. The Sedalia Bazoo reported on them as they came and went, sometimes without attracting the notice of law enforcement until the con was completed and the swindler had vanished. more

Bits and pieces: more

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.” – Deuteronomy 15: 7-8 more

In early September 1890, according to the Sedalia Weekly Bazoo, a man who called himself Porter arrived in Sedalia. The 35-year-old man was about 5 feet, 5 inches tall and had square shoulders, auburn hair and a heavy mustache. He wore cowboy boots and told people he was a mule buyer from LaJora, Colorado. He wore a Grand Army of the Republic badge, meaning that he was a veteran of the Civil War, and was from Custer Post, No. 2, in Saguachi, Colorado. more

Our family had an amazing vacation staying with our oldest daughter just outside of Destin, Florida, last week. It was much needed. more

I made a momentous decision last month. I had been thinking about it for a while, but something about change and the unknown kept me from jumping. Finally, though, I took the leap. I “retired” from playing or directing music at Broadway Presbyterian. more

Our air conditioner bit the dust the other day. It will need to be replaced. It was 33 years old, a grand old age, so while I’m frustrated about the upcoming purchase, we sort of saw this coming. I just wish it would have happened when it was a little cooler. We’re going to be pretty sweaty around here for a while. more

Revival! Awakening! Renewal! These prophetic words have been spoken often over the churches of America in recent months. Certainly, such is needed in our nation growing more divided, violent, corrupt and immoral each day. Certainly, repentance, humility and a genuine seeking of the Lord are needed and must precede revival of any kind, according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. more

Sedalia’s morbid interest in crime was fed by the thorough coverage of Thomas Williamson’s murders, his trial, and his hanging written by Sedalia Bazoo Editor J. West Goodwin. more

Do you ever wish that you could wake up and simply make a decision to be happy? Did you know that it’s possible? more

Like sports teams and the armed forces, Bothwell Regional Health Center recruits, and the competition is fierce. more

Because I write about Sedalia and my past growing up in the city, I get a lot of “Do you remember” questions from people who read my columns in the Sedalia Democrat. Sometimes, however, I may not recall a place or event the same way the questioner does, which can lead to some good discussions. more

“Fatherhood is a vocation in God’s service not to be held lightly or frivolously, but with the serious determination of serious men.” – Fr. Lawrence Lovasik more