When I was a boy, dinner and supper were much different from today. more

For over 43 years, I was in the pharmacy industry owning a 26-store pharmacy chain. I saw local families come in every day, getting medications to help with their health needs. Increasingly, I and many others in this industry were seeing patients – people we have grown to care for deeply – struggling with a new challenge: opioid addiction. It is a constant struggle to look out for fake prescriptions, watch for signs of abuse, and defend our stores from theft. more

It was dusk on an evening in mid-April several years ago. My wife and I were at our cabin near Mark Twain National Forest. I was on a hilltop where I could see something I had heard about from our neighbors. A rarely seen bird called the woodcock. more

In 1995, I got my first job after college from a "help wanted" ad posted in a newspaper's classified ads. (Remember those?) The headline on the ad said they were looking for an "aspiring journalist" to serve as assistant to the newspaper's executive editor. At the time, I didn't know if I was aspiring to be a journalist, but I was aspiring to pay rent and buy food. I was aspiring to put my newly earned English degree to good use. more

That old wind just keeps on blowing and moving things around. When I look out and things look strange, it is because that was either in the backyard or maybe out in the field the day before. more

Jason Statham has a new movie out. He plays with a guy who used to work in a violent profession, but he’s sworn to leave that life behind. But now some bad people have messed with his employer (the only people to help him out when he was at a low point), and he’s going to make the bad guys pay. Cue a series of investigations, interrogations, and of course, action sequences. He’ll go through several tiers of bad guys until he’s contending with a huge crime empire that probably could have gone on unimpeded if a low-level employee hadn’t caused problems for Statham. Oh, and the whole thing is directed by David Ayer. The movie is called “The Beekeeper 2.” Okay, not really, it’s called “A Working Man,” but as similar as it is to that Statham vehicle from last year, it might as well be. more

The old gobbler is searching for me. I’ve done a good job making him think I am a hen. He is literally tripping over his beard as he comes in looking for love. His bronze feathers shine in the light of the early morning sun and the red, white, and blue of his head stand out against the emerging spring greenery. more

Some of you are carrying around a sack of stones. Stones of all sizes and shapes. All unwanted. Some are stones of rejection. Others are stones of regret. Some stones you don’t deserve. Some of them you do. more

During a special Board of Education meeting on Friday, April 4, the Board named David T. Snider as the new Ozark Transportation Director. more

One week of April is behind us, and we had every kind of weather this past week. I feel for all the folks whose life had been destroyed by floods, tornadoes, fires, or just plain old heavy winds. The water went across my pasture in three small streams. It didn't take the fences out like it had in the past. more

Once upon a time, I was nearly famous. more

Let me set the scene. We were at a restaurant with the whole family, including my mom, all three of our college kids, plus two roommates brought home by our 20-year-old son Jack, who was in town for spring break. His roommates were both born and raised in Michigan, and this was their first trip to a city in the South. We were on a culinary mission to show them the best Southern cuisine has to offer. more

In a few weeks, I will close out a public service career of nearly fifty-one years. As I do so, I have spent a good deal of time reflecting on those experiences and values which have stood me in good stead. I see those same qualities in Mayor Don Currence. more

Most days I wish I could turn off the evening news, but I can’t. more

Buford and Buddy live up the road from me. They are inseparable. You don’t see one without the other. Buford is Buddy’s best friend and an old farmer. Buddy is Buford’s best friend and a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Beagle. more

“Mickey 17” is the kind of movie where you just have to trust the filmmaker to take you on a more

I’ve learned a lesson this week, and here it is: Sometimes, it’s okay to lower your standards. more

“Novocaine” stars Jack Quaid as Nathan Caine, a man with a condition that makes him unable to feel pain. This is an action movie, and it sounds like a man who can’t feel pain would fit right into the role of action hero, right? Actually, no. more

Congratulations to the Class 1 Boys and Girls State Champions – the Chadwick Cardinals! more

For over 50 years, a huge oak tree stood near the corner of our house. Two oak trees had grown together at the trunk many years ago. It was massive in circumference and stood over 80 feet tall. The shade over our house and the oxygen it produced were invaluable to us. The fall colors added beauty to our yard. more

If you are like me, you do not watch or listen to our negative news much anymore. So, you might have missed this. more

Spring is a time to be on the lookout for colorful birds, blooming plants… and wildfires. more

We always planted potatoes on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, when I was a boy on the farm. more

My husband and I were born five years and two days apart in March. Since it’s birthday season again, here are 52 things I’ve noticed about turning 52. more

There has been a super amount of excitement in and around our community for a few weeks. Our two basketball teams qualified to play in the State playoffs in Columbia over the weekend. The last game the girls played they beat by just one point (one couldn't get closer than that). The last game the boys played, they beat 52 to 73. The kids and their many fans are going to have great memories for many years. Congratulations to everyone. Now is the time to celebrate! Lots of parties in the near future. I was really glad that folks who were at games kept putting what was happening on Facebook. I, for one, enjoyed every game I went to. more