Phyllis Benedict and I have a lot of things in common. For starters, we both learned how to type on manual typewriters several years ago, and we both get a real kick out of collecting and repurposing things. And since one of my sons married one of her daughters, we happen to share a couple of terrific grandchildren in common. more

I grew up in a house with cold running water in the kitchen sometimes and an outdoor toilet always. Anywhere I’ve lived since has been a mansion in comparison. more

Missouri Prime Beef applies for a permit to release wastewater into the Pomme de Terre River. more

I heard a sermon by Josh Thompson at Hope Church a few years ago that made an impact. He said (I’m paraphrasing): “Many of you have built a fortress using bricks of subtle hopelessness.” more

It’s been a whole two weeks since “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” opened, so it’s about time we had another superhero multiverse movie. This one takes place in the DC Extended Universe, which means... more

During the 2019 legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly reauthorized the 50-cent scrap tire fee applied to the retail sale of every new tire. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is authorized to distribute up to 45% of the revenues generated from the fees for grants focused on scrap tire market development. more

Our truck and car both have cruise control. more

The National Youth Cutting Horse Association (NYCHA) is seeing members. Scholarships are available. For free flyer packets, call Danny Sayre at 417-955-2103 anytime. Deadline for scholarships is June 30th, 2023. more

Here it is the middle of June, and I’ve yet to wet a line. more

Yesterday, Tom and I went to Walmart Supercenter and split up to find what we needed. Ten minutes later, I got a phone call from him. more

Few blockbuster franchises are as reviled by critics as “Transformers.” The 2007 original and its 2009 sequel “Revenge of the Fallen” both have... more

If you want a giant display of green leaves, I’ve got you covered. If you prefer a vase full of stunning hydrangea blooms, I’ve got nothing. For the last three summers, my blooms have been a bust. more

Country and small town churches are windows to the heart and sinew of this country. more

How wrong I was about 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” When I saw the first trailer, I remember groaning about starting a fourth big-screen Spider-Man continuity when we were still in the middle of the... more

After spending this past holiday weekend having a garage sale, I heard so many people commenting on how good it was to be able to be out and about and enjoying being outside. There was a lot to enjoy, too. Some of the folks who stopped by had been attending community activities, visiting cemeteries, local parks, having family reunions and partaking in all the garage sales. Their destinations were all different, but the thing they had in common was noticing how their surroundings were taken care of or particularly how they were not taken care of. more

Do you remember the old game show called "Name That Tune"? There have been plenty of spin-offs and reboots of the show, but I remember the one on TV in the 1980s when I was a kid. Two contestants stood across from each other and wagered about how quickly they could name a tune before it was played. more

I am writing this while sitting on a sofa that is set catawampus in a living room cluttered with stacks of cardboard boxes, pieces of furniture, luggage and computer parts, recuperating from the exertion of two hours spent unloading a truck about half the size of a railroad box car. more

Back in 1989, the animated version of “The Little Mermaid” ushered in what came to be known as the “Disney Renaissance,” an era of creative and commercial prosperity where the company reclaimed its position as the king of animated family entertainment. Now in 2023, the company is looking to a live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” to put it back on top of that mountain, minus the animation. Sure, the MCU is doing well, but the studio hasn’t really been connecting with younger audiences lately, at least not at the box office. The pandemic forced “Soul,” “Luca,” and “Turning Red” to go directly to streaming, “Raya and the Last Dragon” opened too soon after theaters reopened to be a blockbuster, “Encanto” didn’t perform as well as its legacy would suggest, and “Strange World” simply did not find an audience. The best performer since 2019 was last year’s critical flop “Lightyear” with $118 million domestic, a number “The Little Mermaid” was projected to nearly match or even beat by the end of the four-day Memorial Day weekend. more

“Catch and release” has become an important phrase in the fishing world. more

There are times that we encounter negative thoughts that can be overwhelming. more

Every summer, my mother packed my bag and dropped me off on my grandparents' farm with a week's worth of travel-size cereal boxes and a can of bug spray. more

The vacant gaze of boy soldiers stares off the page. more

As the tenth (non-spinoff) installment of the “Fast” franchise, “Fast X” has a certain duty to its fans. It needs to... more

I’ve heard enough about the “good ol’ days” of a half a century or more ago. more

My warning bark pierced the morning stillness. From my defensive position by the front window, I could see and hear the beast approaching. My furry legs are short, but my ears are mighty. I’m built for a job such as this. My canine comrades rushed to my side and saw the imminent danger. The big one let loose a string of deep, baritone woofs, and the beagle joined in with his signature howl. more