All a telephone was good for when I was a boy was talking to people beyond earshot. more

Kathy’s Pasta and Savour, at 329 S. Main Ave, have been in Bolivar for years but came under new ownership in December, when husband and wife, Iris Pogue and Edward Cahoj, took over the business. more

All Branches Closed May 8 more

My brother often tells me that a favorite expression among gardeners is “maybe next year” when things didn’t necessarily go according to plan. Maybe the weather conditions weren’t exactly right that year or maybe there just weren't enough hours in the day to implement whatever it was, but there was always that hope that perhaps next year would be different. more

The value of making mistakes more

It was one of those random conversations spurred by a bit on the news about population growth: Benton County, Arkansas, has experienced phenomenal growth. more

The unmistakable, all too familiar sound came from outside the living room window, on the west side of the fence where the yard and pasture meet. At first, I sat in my designated recliner at my boyfriend’s house, listening to the complaint of his residential killdeer giving an earful to whoever was wandering too close to her nest. After her chirps became more incessant and, in my mind, panicked, I jumped up and quickly made my way outside to the area where she created her nest. “Be careful, don’t slip, it’s wet outside,” I heard Tom, my boyfriend, yell as I bolted out the door. I didn’t care if I was being dramatic. I had a soft spot for this bossy little bird and the treasures she was guarding. Unfortunately, she hasn’t had the guidance of a top-notch real estate agent espousing, “location, location, location,” for she picked the least optimal spot to lay down her nest - on the rocky driveway inside the cow pasture. more

The Matilda Polk Campbell chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, will hold its monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Open Hearts United Methodist Church, Bolivar. more

Writer says goodbye to true blue companion more

Spring turkey season has begun and, alas, you haven’t harvested a bird yet. more

I told myself I wouldn’t write this column, but Angela just won’t let go, nor would I wish it so. This is for all who mourn Angelas of their own: more

Church folks are my parents’ type of people and they are, to my surprise, a sometimes cheeky group to be around. There are four specifically that, when joined by my parents, form a group of six who tend to hang out quite a bit. They have monthly game days, go on excursions to antique shops or hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and gather for occasional holidays when the rest of their families aren’t coming out to visit. They have always been exceedingly kind to me, even extending invitations to join their game festivities or visit for holiday meals when my parents were out of town. more

Sunshine Bowls and Bakery more

Due to the Elections on April 2, the Aldermen meeting was moved from its usual Tuesday to Thursday evening. The session began with the approval of the elections followed by the swearing-in ceremony for the four Aldermen elected at the beginning of April. more

How to beat the “I don’t wanna” beast into submission more

Good news, armchair critics: Young people can still write compelling and coherent prose and poetry with exceptional candor and grammatical skill. more

No matter how much is written about how beneficial black snakes are to humans, these rodent-eating reptiles will always be at the top of many people’s fear lists. more

Spring fever more

Writer witnesses bird-on-bird violence more

I can’t predict as I write this what the weather will be like when you read it, but one thing I’m fairly sure of: We are into the gardeners’ cover/uncover season. more

April already! With the recent literally freezing temperatures, I’ve done fairly well at keeping my spring fever at bay. Yes, I have planted a few seeds just for the pure joy of watching them sprout, but I haven’t gone crazy. Yet. The temptation is always there, though. Intellectual, I understand that it is still too early for most things, but I am ready to get this gardening party started. more

If we were bison, we’d probably have a much higher opinion of brown-headed cowbirds. You’d be hard-pressed to find a birding enthusiast – or anyone else, for that matter – that holds much love for the brown-headed cowbird. This bird, which is common throughout Missouri and many other parts of the U.S., has earned the ire of many people because it parasitizes nests of other birds. Mid-April is usually when female cowbirds begin plopping their eggs into nests of various species. Although there’s little appreciation for these nest-infiltration tactics, even the most ardent cowbird-hater would have to admit it’s a rather remarkable method of producing the next generation. more

As you may know, the Bolivar R-1 school board recently took action against one of its own. The board, at the urging of the board president, voted to censure a fellow member. The reason listed is the violation of board policy BBF. more

Writer gets loose with a goose more

What has happened to the “Ghostbusters” movie franchise? For over a quarter century Hollywood resisted the temptation to spoil the one-two punch of the 1984 comedy classic and its decent-enough 1989 sequel. Then there came the 2016 reboot, which was controversial for its female cast, and the controversy is all anyone remembers. The 2021 legacy sequel didn’t always nail its humor, but there were some charming new characters and a nice kick of nostalgia at the end. But now with “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” this once-mighty property has officially become, well, a ghost of its former self. more