A few weeks ago my youngest grandson was at my house. I was teaching him about the “special” tree in the Garden of Eden and how God had instructed Adam and Eve to eat from any tree in the garden, …
It was back in 1906 the forward pass became legal in football. Turns out, in the later downs, if the ball was too far from the line to gain, a forward pass was most effective against a wild …
Long before escape rooms were part of anyone’s vocabulary, our FFA chapter built them out of small square straw bales. They were among the attractions at Barnwarming, the annual fall dance. While …
My granddaughter, Addie Grace, called me on Aug. 25, very distressed. “Grandma, Dolly died.” I reassured her. “No, I hadn’t heard that. It’s probably just fake news.” But sadly, it …
We are registered to this political affiliation with the state. However, for the first time in decades, there is some embarrassment in saying this. Actually, a lot of embarrassment. …
After almost every golf practice or event our team has a P.O.W meeting. The acronym stands for positives, opportunities and what’s next. The goal of the meeting is to …
For too long, rural America has had to chase the Small Business Administration instead of the other way around. In towns across Missouri’s 4th District, the people starting shops, farms and family …
Every thriving small town has one thing in common: people who are willing to step up, invest their time, and work alongside others to make their community better. Strong leaders don't just keep good …
We have reached an important milestone this week. It is the first anniversary of the installation of the crown jewel of Morgan County: the Versailles roundabout. …
Most people probably don’t spend much time thinking about the shoes on their feet. We put them on in the morning, wear them wherever the day takes us and kick them off that evening without much …
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” I remember that phrase from “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” It was described as an old Klingon proverb, although I am pretty sure “Star …
Our ongoing parish projects continue at St. Andrew’s School. The installation of the exterior school doors has been completed. The new doors are constructed for a high level of …
In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 21, Jesus tells the chief priests and the elders two stories related to vineyards. The first is about a man with two sons and he asks them separately to go work in …
As Halloween nears, we need to be careful that we don't become zombies. Not the version that you see in the movies. The kind that slogs through life without paying any …
For too long, rural America has watched from the sidelines as big cities got the lion’s share of federal health care attention. In towns across Missouri’s Fourth District, our local hospitals are …
People sometimes tell stories about childhood memories that scarred them for life. The stories vary. Some involve being told to clean their plates because children were starving somewhere far away. …
The Conservation Reserve Program, better known as CRP, came along in the mid-1980s, and on our farm it meant one more job. For me, that meant several days mowing grass from a tractor seat, which also …
Hopefully, the air conditioning units on which you depend will be getting a break for a while. I worked mine like a rented mule this summer. Around here, half of the power we use to …
Every Sept. 17, America celebrates Constitution Day. But for me, the Constitution is something worth thinking about far beyond one day a year. My father gave me a pocket Constitution that I …
It is interesting to see what we cling to as a society, and never wonder why. For instance, the 40-hour work week. No one today cares why it was instituted, but we all continue to honor it, even …