Opinion | Sedalia Democrat

I've gravitated toward blues music more in the past several years, and it was a delight to catch two "Fish" with one pole on Friday, May 23, at the Gillioz Theatre in Springfield. … more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney, faithb@sedaliademocrat.com | 5/26/25

Crash Reports for May 23

Wheaton woman hurt in Henry County crash A Wheaton woman, 49, suffered minor injuries at 11:52 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, in Henry County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol … more

5/22/25

Words are important

Over the past few years, I’ve heard complaints about having to be “politically correct” so that people can’t really say what they mean. What I figure is what those … more

By Deborah Mitchell Contributing Columnist | 5/22/25

Do you know what you’re eating?

I welcomed the natural/organic foods that began showing up in supermarkets in the 1970s. But food technologists didn’t, for they’re now loading foods with a blizzard of additives, … more

By Doug Kneibert, Contributing Columnist | 5/22/25

Defining a country heritage

The lyrics of an Alan Jackson song played recently at my cousin Jerry’s funeral have me thinking about family, particularly extended family. In “Small Town Southern Man” … more

By Debbie Noland Guest Columnist | 5/22/25

What Sedalians read

The 1866 Missouri Constitution mandated that free public schools be provided for both black and white children. While some Sedalians did not want to pay taxes to educate working class children, … more

By Rhonda Chalfant Contributing Column | 5/19/25

What the wind can’t blow away

A year ago, a tornado hop-scotched through our town. It was past midnight, and I was watching a movie at home with our teenagers. When our phones screamed a long, loud beep, we switched to local news … more

By Gwen Rockwood Syndicated Columnist | 5/19/25

Missing heavy coins

So many things have disappeared over my lifetime, such as familiar buildings like Garst Drive-in, my hair, and boat neck shirts, but that isn’t what I am writing about today. As I … more

By Jack Miller Contributing Columnist | 5/19/25

Letter: A word on the Biblical Counseling Center

Dear Editor, I was raised in Sedalia and grew up in First Baptist Church. It was once a place of hope—but under its current leadership, it has become a place of fear and control. FBC … more

5/19/25

Advanced skin care, close to home

As a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Sedalia, I’ve seen firsthand how challenging it can be for individuals in rural communities to access timely, high-quality dermatologic care. My … more

5/19/25

Rules are rules – or are they?

In 1989, Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Bart Giamatti announced that Pete Rose had accepted a permanent ban from baseball. This meant Rose could not play anymore, could not manage a … more

By Deborah Mitchell Contributing Columnist | 5/15/25

An American pope means big responsibilities

I had just left my holy hour at church last Thursday when I saw on the news that the cardinals of the Catholic Church had come to a decision – we had a new Pope. I was supposed to get … more

By Liz Schleicher, Contributing Columnist | 5/15/25

WOTUS: The rule that keeps coming back

You may wonder as to how we could be talking about “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) again. The new administration under President Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are trying to … more

By Kayden Guymon Guest Columnist | 5/15/25

We all need people

As it's been said, no person is an island, or at least they shouldn't be. We all need people. Good people. Poet John Donne wrote: No man is an island, Entire of itself; Every man … more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney, faithb@sedaliademocrat.com | 5/15/25

Traveling with our risen savior

Here we are in the middle of May, and this is still the season of Easter. Our celebration of Christ’s resurrection happens in more than one way and the many ways that we celebrate and … more

By The Rev. Anne Meredith Kyle Christ-Trinity Lutheran and Calvary Episcopal Churches | 5/15/25

Remembering Mom on Mother's Day

This past weekend was Mother's Day, and I'm sure many of us turned our thoughts to our mothers, both those living and those who have passed on. My mother passed away in 2003, and it is … more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney, faithb@sedaliademocrat.com | 5/12/25

Score one for the fidgeters

I used to be a fidgeter. I'd tap on things and bounce my leg so fast that Tom would sometimes reach over and put his hand on my knee as if to say, "Enough. That's driving me nuts." Fidgeters don't … more

By Gwen Rockwood Syndicated Columnist | 5/12/25

Soundbites

Not long ago, as I watched a movie on World War II, it occurred to me that much of the younger generation probably only knows the history of my generation by the soundbites they hear as part of a … more

By Jack Miller Contributing Columnist | 5/12/25

Sedalians and reading

Between 1865 and 1875, the Sedalia Democrat printed several columns about reading. Most of these columns dealt with what people should and shouldn’t read. Surprisingly enough, none of the … more

By Rhonda Chalfant Contributing Columnist | 5/12/25

Amended soil supports healthier produce

Food Quality is directly tied to Soil Health. To create healthy soil growers need more than just dirt to till up and plant in. Soil and dirt are considered to be completely different; with dirt being … more

By Franziska Malsy-Murphy Sedalia Area Farmers’ Market Board Member | 5/12/25