Opinion | Sedalia Democrat

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

Shopping local isn’t just about the food

When I was young, my best friend’s mother owned a butcher shop. Pluester’s Meat Market, it was called. It sat at the bottom of a steep, forested hill that trailed off into the flat flood … more

By Liz Schleicher, Contributing Columnist | 5/8/25

The law says...

When I returned from Afghanistan, for a while, I felt like a celebrity. Civic groups and school classes asked me to come and talk about what I learned, what Afghanistan was like, what the … more

By Deborah Mitchell, Contributing Columnist | 5/8/25

Shipping money to our main enemy

The world trade crisis that President Donald Trump ignited has simmered down some after he put a 90-day hold on most tariffs. But he slapped a 145% tariff on China, which retaliated with a 125% … more

By Doug Kneibert, Contributing Columnist | 5/8/25

Her name was Lydia

While in Asia on a second missionary journey, God gave Paul a vision of a MAN saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." Interestingly enough, however, the first European convert to Christianity … more

By Pastor Jon Church Katy Park Baptist Church | 5/8/25

Jimmie Thompson receives visitors, returns to Sedalia

Jimmie Thompson, the cashier whose embezzlement of funds caused the failure of Sedalia’s First National Bank in 1894, fled to Mexico City, where he lived for many years. While he was in … more

By Rhonda Chalfant, Contributing Columnist | 5/5/25

My memory of the thing

The other night, as I scrolled through the TV channels, I came across an old movie that has always been a favorite of mine, titled “The Thing from Another World,” with James Arness as a … more

By Jack Miller Contributing Columnist | 5/5/25

What I’ve learned in waiting rooms

I have a long relationship with waiting rooms. I’ve attended medical appointments for three kids, two dogs, one cat, and one husband. For nearly a decade, I also waited in rooms with my dad, … more

By Gwen Rockwood Syndicated Columnist | 5/5/25

Reconnecting with Sedalia's icons

Sedalia icons make the world and town we live in a better place. I've always enjoyed talking with and photographing Sedalia's Anna Lee Bail. She has always loved attending the Scott Joplin … more

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

Is slow news good news?

Last week, Pettis County residents were shocked by a Friday morning press release from the City of Sedalia. It read in part: “The City of Sedalia announces that Tom Oldham, Councilman … more

By Liz Schleicher, Contributing Columnist | 5/1/25

Spring will be a little late this year

Gray, gray, go away. Come again another day – preferably in August when the temperature is close to that of the surface of the sun. If April showers bring May flowers, we ought to … more

By Deborah Mitchell, Contributing Columnist | 5/1/25