Pleasant Hope Middle School recently released its first-quarter honor roll. According to a school news release, the following students earned spots on the list: more

The forty years after WWII were a time of upheaval in the United States Military. The world war had ended only five years earlier, and the veterans who saw combat were still adjusting to civilian life. The war’s former allies, the United States and the Soviet Union, were at each other's throats, often using other nations as a means of taking jabs at their nemesis. The spread of communism and the fear of it coming to the Western hemisphere prompted conflicts throughout the world for the next few decades. The Cold War was upon us. As proxy wars waged across the oceans the military at home had its own battles to fight. more

Most Americans hold the military in high esteem, and rightfully so; they bravely go places many of us avoid. Since the beginning of our nation, nay, before we were a nation, our fighters have led the United States to multiple victories, keeping us a free nation, at the detriment of their safety, mental well-being, and lives. Unlike Memorial Day, which pays homage to those service members no longer with us, Veterans Day respects those still able to feel the praise of a grateful populace. Every nation, be it Canada with Remembrance Day, France with Armistice Day, Britain with Remembrance Sunday, or America with Veterans Day, has a day established for demonstrating pride in their fighting forces. Interestingly, all of these countries chose on, or near, November 11 to have this holiday. What is it about the eleventh day of the eleventh month that makes it a prime choice for celebrating the military? more

On my desk, there are three essential things – my laptop, a computer mouse, and a no-frills, lined pad of paper. Without the computer and mouse, nothing could get done. But without that humble pad of paper where I scribble my to-do list, I wouldn’t remember what needed doing in the first place. more

For most of my life our nation’s commanders-in-chief were seasoned by military service, nine tempered in the fire of combat service. more

There should be a warning on this column because it’s graphic, and if your stomach is as weak as mine, perhaps you should turn back now and save yourself. more

Most of us have some pretty special furry friends, specifically dogs and cats in this instance, that we love to spoil. Unfortunately, there are so many equally special furry friends that are not in their forever homes (yet) and the dedicated people at the Polk County Humane Society work hard to provide for them until they find their forever homes. It takes a lot to keep the shelter going and you can help! more

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds deer hunters that it will be again holding mandatory CWD sampling during the opening weekend of the November portion of firearms season, Nov. 11 and 12. Hunters who harvest deer in 39 MDC CWD Management Zone counties are required to take their harvested deer or the head on the day of harvest to one of MDC’s numerous mandatory CWD sampling stations located throughout the CWD Management Zone. Sampling and test results are free. more

October is about restraint. It’s about resisting the urge to buy those giant bags of candy until the day before trick-or-treaters show up to collect it. Years ago, I learned – the hard way – that if you buy the chocolate too early, your house will be haunted by the siren song of Snickers. more

If statistics are to be believed, I’m part of a shrinking minority: I go to church every Sunday. more

The question has returned. It plagues my mind every October. It happens when the “Happy Halloween” signs start popping up all over the place. more

Bet you didn’t know our lovely state has a national day, did you? Well, we do, and why shouldn’t we; there is a lot to offer here in the “Show Me State.”. First and foremost, here is a disclaimer: if you look up National Missouri Day, you will get conflicting information; some sites say it is Jan. 4, and other sites say it is the third Wednesday in October. I am using the latter since it was officially ratified by a constitutional convention for Missouri Day to be in October. more

Dear Ragweed, more

Dear Editor, more

I had lime Jello for breakfast today. Guess what I'm having for lunch? Lime Jello. And dinner? You guessed it. Lime Jello is on repeat today unless I get crazy and have a little chicken broth before the Jello. I'm also drinking water, white grape juice, Sprite, and tea. more

Life really keeps us guessing. I began my professional career in Colorado Springs after I graduated college in 2014 with a Master's in History. I was offered a job at my alma mater, the University of Colorado, as a co-professor in a few history and humanity classes. I then began teaching history at a community college, then moved on to teaching middle school history for a couple of years. Initially, teaching college was not on my radar, but I loved it. Then teaching pre-teens about WWI and the Cold War was never a consideration, but I thrived doing it. I figured everything was set. I was going to be a historian, teach history, and grow old in Colorado. As is often the case, however, things do not always go to plan. more

Like many folks of my generation, I tend to see much as it once was, not as it is. more

Bear with me as we take time to remember Dee, for more than 23 years my South Dakota Bride, but much more than just the local newspaper editor’s wife. more

Dear Editor, more

I never understood as a young man why Dad didn’t fix the barn door. All it needed was a proper hinge. more

If you enjoy seeing hummingbirds, put up a hummingbird feeder and get ready for a lot of action: The fall feeding frenzy has begun. more

Nomination period open through September 15 more

I took care of my baby brother Stephen when he was a baby. I never wondered what he would grow up to be, and I never had the chance to see. more

I’m not sweaty, you’re sweaty! more

Perhaps no arachnid symbolizes what’s wrong with many human’s perception of spiders more