Sherry, Sherry, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Not so good, but thanks for asking. more

During June and July, newspapers across Missouri are publishing tens of thousands of names of people for whom the State Treasurer’s Office is holding unclaimed property totaling more than $1 billion. This is not the state’s money – it is Missourians’ money, and I am committed to returning it to its rightful owner. more

I feel guilty. I’ve done a bad, bad thing. And yet, I can’t say I wouldn’t do it all over again, given the opportunity. more

Dear Editor: more

Sedalia Democrat editor Nicole Cooke is leaving her position this week and moving on to new adventures after 11 years at the newspaper. more

I thought I’d be able to pontificate about the Supreme Court’s end-of-the-term opinions today, but the Supreme Court hasn’t released, as of Thursday morning, several eagerly-awaited opinions, so I’ll work with what I have. more

There is nothing that brings the generation gap more into focus than a talk with your grandchildren or great-grandchildren. more

In the past, I’ve spent a lot of time discussing the importance of hay testing to determine appropriate feeding programs but not much time discussing how to actually collect the samples. Many producers are concerned about hay quality this year, so a quick discussion on sampling techniques is warranted. more

I called it “Googie’s Attic.” more

It’s been two years since the Sedalia Democrat moved into its current office on West Fourth Street. I think we still catch ourselves saying it’s our “new office” from time to time, even though we’ve more than made ourselves at home. more

In 1977, when I was about 5 years old, my father bought a new Ford dump truck for his one-man landscaping business. It was big, green and loud. My 11-year-old brother Greg and I thought this was the greatest thing that could have ever happened to us. more

As a lover of trees, I like living in a town that takes care of its trees. more

One year ago, the Center for Human Services set out to support the community’s growing need for high-quality children’s services by establishing the Dawn Compton Early Learning Center. more

A new Pettis County Jail opened in July 1872. The building cost $10,000 (approximately $2.3 million today) and was considered a very fine facility. Pettis County prisoners were held in other counties’ jails while the new jail was being built. more

The summer programs for the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri have seen a huge increase in attendance for the 2024 summer. more

I’ve been getting up early to go to my garden. I have an old metal chair in there, and I sit and watch my tomatoes grow. Black and yellow swallowtail butterflies float in and out among the onion tops, and a pair of hummingbirds comes to drink from the feeder. Sometimes, I wander up and down the rows of vegetables in my pajamas, stooping to peer closely at the buds getting ready to blossom. The mailman and my neighbors probably think I’m insane. more

I thought 1998’s “Saving Private Ryan” was the best movie about war I had ever seen. Steven Spielberg wasn’t shy about showing, not “guts and glory,” but instead, guts, blood, fear, and horror that would stay with soldiers for the rest of their lives. The first 24 minutes depicting the landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day was harrowing. more

When driving through Warrensburg, I often observed a tall figure walking slowly but purposefully and felt comforted knowing that Larry was out birding. As his obituary concluded, Larry will be missed by those of us who knew him, and indeed, we all knew him as a “jolly good fellow.” more

Recently, my 4-year-old son and I were on vacation at Table Rock Lake. He was so excited to go to White Water for the first time – water, slides, and wave pool! What 4-year-old wouldn’t love that? My son is what you would call a daredevil. Me, on the other hand? I’m terrified of heights. more

Volunteering for a nonprofit organization offers many benefits, both personally and professionally. Engaging in such work can be a transformative experience, enriching your life in ways you might not initially expect. From building lasting relationships to enhancing your career prospects, becoming a member of a nonprofit group is a rewarding endeavor that goes beyond mere altruism. more