March 6, 1971, I married an 18-year-old girl from South Dakota. I barely knew her, but in the span of three months, I’d learned all I needed to know. more

Being the victim of theft is never fun. Anyone who has seen their dashboard contents spewed all over their front seats can attest to that sinking feeling of violation. For those affected by a break-in, their sense of safety and security was taken, along with the items from their home. Emotions are high; anger, vulnerability, sadness, and frustration all swirl inside at the blatant disrespect of a stranger. more

What to do when the explosive has a pulse more

It is the fourth subzero day of January as I put pen to paper, every day of which I have devoted to mining for inspiration for my February columns. more

Enjoying spring peepers is a listening experience, not a visual one. more

Mom and daughter hit some turbulence more

It was a good idea for “Bob Marley: One Love” to open on Valentine’s Day. Not just because there hadn’t been a decent box office performer in weeks (and even “Mean Girls and “The Beekeeper” were only mild hits) and the market was ripe for a takeover. Not just because the holiday weekend needed a blockbuster and “Madame Web” wasn’t up to the task. But because the movie had “Love” in its title, it could dominate the couples’ scene on Wednesday and ride that insurmountable lead to winning the weekend. The result was a domestic take of over $50 million, enough to already make it the 2nd-biggest movie of the year, behind only “Mean Girls,” which it will probably overtake before the week is out. The film can be associated with a brilliant commercial decision, but not so much its creative ones. more

I’ve never depended on farming for my bread and butter, but I can thank FFA —Future Farmers of America, in my day — for launching my career as a journalist. more

Writer remembers Barbies in bloom more

It’s time for a little-publicized, but very obvious sign that winter is drawing to a close in the Ozarks. more

Often I miss the good old days of my farm boy youth. more

Starting the new year off right with a visit to the recycling center is a good thing. In fact, any visit to the recycling center is good because you are doing your part to help save the earth…even in a small way. Lots of little ways can add up to big results when they are done right. more

Writer looks at the truth about “can’t” more

Driving south of Buffalo one morning just a few days before the Missouri Conservation Department’s designated Eagle Days, Martha and I saw at least a half-dozen bald eagles, some aloft, some in trees. more

She creeps through the streets, her head low, avoiding eye contact with passersby. Her identity must remain hidden, yet she feels the gazes of those who walk past her, she can feel them turn their heads to eye her attire, her gate, her person, sizing up the opposition. No one must discover who she really is and what she really stands for once they do, her cover will be blown. For few know her true identity - she is a Denver Broncos fan. more

Wetlands are an important – and in some areas – a disappearing – part of Missouri’s more

Starting the new year off right with a visit to the recycling center is a good thing. In fact, any visit to the recycling center is good because you are doing your part to help save the earth…even in a small way. Lots of little ways can add up to big results when they are done right. more

How well do you know Polk County? more

Whether or not a groundhog can predict weather is questionable, but this animal has other characteristics that make it an interesting member of Missouri’s wildlife world. more

The first day of spring is three months away as I pen these lines with the season’s first seed catalog in hand. more

Don’t be such a hagfish more

Last week I wrote about “Mean Girls” and the problem of having seen a version of the movie more

A friend called a few days ago asking if I had a lantern she could borrow, not an unusual request from someone needing a light, but she had another purpose. more

How the jingle jangle can mangle the mind more

Key points from the Aldermen Meeting on Jan. 23: more