The trial of John Cookman, being tried for killing John McBride near Dresden on May 21, 1901, continued with the cross examination of John Jackson by Cookman’s attorney Shain, who asked Jackson if he had taken been interested in the case and had helped hire attorneys Sangree and Lamm to assist the prosecutors. more

I like to tell a Sea Story every once in a while just so I don’t forget how to do it. more

Yesterday, I drove past a house a few doors down from ours and noticed that new neighbors had just moved in. For the past several months of renovation, that house has been a blur of contractors, carpenters, and tile deliveries. But yesterday, I spotted the king of the renovated castle — a small bulldog sitting a few feet outside the new front door, surveying his freshly mowed empire. more

Life can change in an instant — I know this firsthand because I lost two family members due to tragedies three and four years ago. Our family almost lost another one this past week. more

Agritourism—the intersection of agriculture and tourism—has become a vital part of the rural economy in Missouri and the United States. According to the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, U.S. farms and ranches generated an impressive $1.26 billion in agritourism income, marking a 12.4% increase from 2017 when adjusted for inflation. With 57% of U.S. counties reporting agritourism income, it’s apparent that these niche agricultural enterprises are becoming a mainstay in the industry and a major source of revenue for those farmers and ranchers. more

Dear Editor, more

My dad was not a fan of Ivy League colleges. When teaching methods or ideas changed, he grumbled, “I don’t want hippies from Harvard wearing love beads telling me how to teach a class!” While I just rolled my eyes when he kvetched during my junior high school days, I learned later that he was using an ad hominem attack – criticizing or dehumanizing a person instead of criticizing an idea. In other words, he was arguing that the idea was bad because a person was “bad.” more

Have you ever completely forgotten about a lunch, a meeting, or a commitment? I tend to be hyper-organized. Last fall, I no-showed for a commitment. No text. No call. Nothing. I felt awful. When I realized it later that evening, I braced myself for a cold shoulder or a passive-aggressive reply. But instead, they just said, “Hey, I figured something must have come up.” That was it — no guilt trip, no bitterness — just mercy. more

A few years ago, the term "downsizing" was frequently used by businesses and the government as they reduced their workforces due to inflation and other problems the country was experiencing. more

On May 21, 1901, John Cookman of the Dresden Township shot and killed his neighbor John McBride. His trial began on June 17, 1901. more

Last month, I focused on French rose'. Since we are just past the Fourth of July and the heart of summertime, I wanted to talk a bit about American rose'. After that, I want to finish talking a bit about French whites (before tariffs rock the prices). more

What makes someone an American? more

I am trying to rationalize what has happened over the past week, and frankly, I can’t. more

David Goodson gave the mayor and City Council an earful at a recent meeting, urging repeal of the new good and welfare ordinance, telling them: “We should not limit free speech. It’s our God-given right in the United States of America, and you guys are trampling on it.” more

Some people will do almost anything to avoid doing what they should. Many centuries ago, the prophet Jonah was such a person. more

Philippians 2:14 New Living Translation Bible – “Do everything without complaining or arguing”. Another translation says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” Let that sink in a moment. Everything, all things, big or small things, do without murmuring, grumbling, complaining or bickering. This verse emphasizes the importance of having a positive attitude and calls for unity. Complaining and arguing can destroy unity in the church, your family, and the community where you live. more

Being a professional writer has a few perks, like knowing when “i” comes before “e” and eavesdropping on strangers’ conversations in the name of “research.” But being a writer does not, unfortunately, come with a cure for procrastination. Our inner 15-year-old still puts things off, just like we did with that term paper in 10th grade. And every time we wait too long, we feel tremendous guilt for being lazy. Then we wonder what’s wrong with us — why we can’t just be a grown-up who gets things done. more

Author’s note: I do not know if the McBride or Cookman families discussed in this article are related to any of the McBride or Cookman families living in Pettis County today. more

Several nights a week, my wife and I are awakened by a loud car that always seems to wait until we are asleep to drive by our house. more

With all the heavy news in the world today, sometimes it's just fun to read something a little lighter. You never know what you might get when you type "weird news" into an internet search engine, and this week, it was all about animals. more