Opinion | Sedalia Democrat

Remembering your purpose during trying times

As my family and friends know, I am a hot mess. If I don’t pay close attention to my purpose and perspective, I can quickly slip down a rabbit hole. Physically, I have junk DNA that has … more

By Stephanie Lefevers, Contributing Columnist | 8/5/22 | 1 comment

Thoughts about the landfill

Dear Editor: The recent editorial by the former editor of the Sedalia Democrat reminded me that not all the facts and information surrounding the proposed landfill have been fully understood. … more

8/5/22

The first step to November election is August primary

In case your mailbox being stuffed full of campaign mailers wasn’t any indication, there’s an important election on Tuesday, Aug. 2. Of course, all elections are important. I really … more

By Nicole Cooke, ncooke@sedaliademocrat.com | 7/30/22

Hoping for the best with Supreme Court’s future

Our contracts professor told us that sometimes, judges decide an answer to a case, and then they just find a way to get there in an opinion that sounds plausible. He called that “bad … more

By Deborah Mitchell, Contributing Columnist | 7/30/22 | 1 comment

Tapping into garden wisdom

My 5-year-old wants me to write a story about “fruits and vegetables,” and so I shall. I come from a long line of fabulous gardeners. My paternal grandmother fed 10 kids … more

By Liz Schleicher, Contributing Columnist | 7/30/22

Christians need company

I received a gift the other day that I was not sure what to do with. It was three large zucchinis in a plastic bag. Zucchini is one of those vegetables that I did not grow up eating. Give me … more

By Rev. Dr. Chad McMullin, First Christian Church Sedalia | 7/30/22

Downtown Historic District’s nomination reveals a building’s history

In addition to recognizing individual historic properties, the National Register of Historic Places also identifies districts that have a concentration of historic properties. The first step in … more

By Rhonda Chalfant, Contributing Columnist | 7/27/22

Some memories need Capital Letters

As someone who deals in nostalgia in most of my writings, I believe there are two categories of memories; at least there are for me. There are my regular memories, and then, there are … more

By Jack Miller, Guest Columnist | 7/27/22

Newsroom Operations: Demystifying the opinion column

In the last few weeks, I’ve gotten several questions about our Opinion page. How do I contact columnists about a recent column? Can so-and-so write about this particular topic next week? Why … more

By Nicole Cooke, ncooke@sedaliademocrat.com | 7/26/22 | 1 comment

Debating the separation of church and state

After I returned from Afghanistan, many civic groups, including a veteran’s group in Warrensburg, invited me to share my experiences in a war zone. Members of the Warrensburg group were vets … more

By Deborah Mitchell, Contributing Columnist | 7/26/22 | 1 comment

Love your homeless neighbor as yourself

The year is 2028. The Midwest is deep in drought, crippling farmers and those who do business with them. Inflation is out of control. Prices are skyrocketing. Reminiscent of Weimar Germany, people … more

By Liz Schleicher, Contributing Columnist | 7/26/22 | 1 comment

Reasons not to pray

In talking with people, they have given a number of reasons they choose not to pray. Yet when everything is on the line, when someone is sick, when they want that new job, or when tragedy strikes, … more

By Bob Wauchope, Lead Pastor, Maplewood Church | 7/25/22

C.C. Hubbard School on the National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places recognizes places “that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history.” Since the … more

By Rhonda Chalfant, Contributing Columnist | 7/20/22

When will landfill have to close?

A major consideration in the dispute over the proposed landfill in western Pettis County is, how much life is left for the one we’ve got now? There are various answers to that question. … more

By Doug Kneibert, Contributing Columnist | 7/20/22

The right man for commissioner’s job

If you have been out and about recently, you may have noticed campaign signs that say “Bill Taylor for Presiding Commissioner.” I have had a few friends ask me who Bill is and I can … more

By Stephanie Lefevers, Contributing Columnist | 7/20/22

Memories of old cars

Like many of my friends, I love old cars and believe the ones of my youth were the best. A lot of my Facebook friends, like Vince Murray and Shane Ulmer, must agree with me because they … more

By Jack Miller | 7/15/22

Mush brain awareness month

COVID and Monkeypox, by virtue of their highly visible physical symptoms, have received nearly all the attention of the scientific community and the public over the past two years. But … more

By Liz Schleicher, Contributing Columnist | 7/15/22

Is it Constitutional or not?

I read last week that one of the Supreme Court Justices, one who concurred with Dobbs, saying that abortion is not a Constitutional right because, among other things, the word … more

By Deborah Mitchell, Contributing Columnist | 7/15/22

You can still find goodness around you

Is it easier to be cynical than it used to be? Many people are unhappy with the state of affairs in the world. There are many things to be concerned about, so I empathize with people’s … more

By Rev. Dennis Harper, Wesley United Methodist Church | 7/14/22

Celebrating the library building

I love to watch people who come into The Sedalia Public Library for the first time. They are the ones who walk in, stop with wide eyes and an open mouth, just taking it all in. They walk slowly, … more

By Jamie Sparks, Library Director | 7/14/22