Grandma Daly never had a TV. more

In February, I welcomed a few hundred electric cooperative friends to Jefferson City for our 2026 State Legislative Conference. They came from every corner of the state with one shared purpose - to make sure rural voices are part of the policy conversations happening under the Capitol dome. more

The sun is beginning to peek through the forested hills. Annie is at the trout park, waiting with rod in hand. She is visiting with the men on both sides of her. It’s a cool morning. The fishermen and one fisherwoman talk about the weather. more

The weather has been nice for a few days. Sunday evening we had a shower like I like, a slow drizzle that soaks into the ground and doesn't cause flash floods. If you live across a creek you always think of that when you have some place to go. We have been promised rain each day this week. more

I personally believe there is a God and that He created the outdoors for all of us to enjoy, and for us to introduce kids and other adults to the beauty and wonder of it all. It’s a great way to escape from worries and frustrations caused by the news media and social media. more

I drove past Potter’s Ford last Wednesday and stopped at the old catfishing hole. more

The final weeks of my senior year in high school —1965 — marked the beginning of a new and exciting time in my life. more

A few weeks ago, I got up that morning and looked out the window. The thermometer said it was below zero. I decided it would be a good day to get my fishing stuff ready for days with beautiful sunny skies and gentle breezes. Some wise person once said, “No winter will last forever, and no spring skips its turn.” more

The Nixa High School Bowling Team had their first competition of the 2026 Bowling Season on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Enterprise Park Lanes in Springfield. Coach David Evans said the team made a strong showing at the event. more

February always takes me back to the farm, more specifically those cold, blistering mornings. more

Had a call from a past student of mine. He is quite an artist and is making train pictures for this year's Railroad Day in June. There was a second planning meeting for that day on Friday evening. More and more folks are getting involved with great ideas. Maurice Harris will be doing the ham bar-b-q again this year. Watch for a list of new events after the March meeting. We want rain again this year, but not like last year when we were wading in mud. We need grass. more

The League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri strongly believes that voters in Southwest Missouri should be deeply concerned about the unjust redistricting map passed by the Missouri Legislature during the special session in September 2025. This action is an attempt by the Republican majority in the Missouri Legislature to create congressional districts favorable to Republican candidates. To put it plainly: Missouri politicians sliced up communities to pick their voters. The League of Women Voters believes voters should pick their politicians. We are adamantly opposed to any attempt to strip any voters of their collective power in Missouri. Passing this redistricting map during a September special session was not only unprecedented—it was a blatant attack on our democratic process. more

I’m back. I got the cows up and fed last week. This week, it’s down to the business of actually milking: more

February is nearly always a cold month. We tend to stay indoors as much as possible, but it is important to challenge ourselves to get outdoors during this time. Seek to find beauty and joy even on the coldest February days. Dress warm and get outdoors. Most importantly, enjoy being out there. more

It is so good for the snow to have gone. That was too much of a good thing for we farmers who had to feed hungry cows and break ice for them to drink. I ask friends who have no livestock what they did during all that cold, snowy spell, and they just say, “I stayed in the house and did nothing.” more

I really liked the results of the sign that Twila made for Marie Davis's drive. She and her husband do such good work. more

Years before four-wheel-drive pickups rutted fields, before big round bales were stored by fences, before government buy-outs and rashes of farm sell-outs, many of us milked cows for a living. more

My son, a friend of mine, and I were crappie fishing in a quiet cove on Stockton Lake. It was a cold, but tolerable day in February. We had almost reached our limit when we heard it. The sound was almost like a scream. Sounds we are accustomed to hearing were the wind through the trees, waves on the rocks, crows cawing, geese honking, or the sound of an eagle who was out fishing like we were. more

The man said to his wife, “Mom and Dad sure are looking older. They both have a lot more wrinkles. Dad’s cheeks are a little gaunt. He was always skinny, but he looks even more so now. He is almost eighty years old, and Mom is already there. I am beginning to wonder how much longer they will be around.” more

We all want our children, friends and co-workers to succeed, but when Governor Mike Kehoe announces with glee that he wants to give away 71 percent of Missouri’s income, I worry. That’s what he means when he says “no more income tax” for Missourians. more

There is one thing we can expect as we enjoy living in Missouri; the weather can change in the drop of your hat. And just look at the crazy stuff that just happened all over the place. I do not enjoy this long spell of very cold and snowy weather. The animals don't much like it either. It looks like it is here to stay. It is not tennis shoe weather, and my coveralls are a bit thin. more

I grew up drinking water from Greasy Creek, a tributary of the Niangua River running from near Elkland in Webster County to the Niangua near Buffalo. more

While giving a talk at one of our local high schools, I could tell that a few of the kids really enjoyed hearing about all the opportunities to get out and enjoy our great outdoors. It was comforting to know that some had parents and grandparents who loved the outdoors and passed it on to them. more

Across the U.S., lawmakers are gathering in their state capitols and Washington, D.C. to begin another year of debating and passing legislation. more

Just a reminder that there will be a Celebration of Life for Darlene Applegate at the Chadwick Community Building on Saturday, Jan. 24. Her ashes will be placed at the Joe Applegate Cemetery just off Highway H. Lunch will be available for friends and family at the community center. The family hopes to see many of Darlene's friends whom she grew up with in Chadwick with stories of her earlier days. more