As another Independence Day approaches, I am mindful of the patriotic foundations and shared heritage of our celebration. more

Being a professional writer has a few perks, like knowing when “i” comes before “e” and eavesdropping on strangers’ conversations in the name of “research.” But being a writer does not, unfortunately, come with a cure for procrastination. Our inner 15-year-old still puts things off, just like we did with that term paper in 10th grade. And every time we wait too long, we feel tremendous guilt for being lazy. Then we wonder what’s wrong with us — why we can’t just be a grown-up who gets things done. more

There have been many contributions to astronomy that have moved forward the true nature of how the universe works. Many new discoveries have come from bold, radical departures from the established view. more

Another day, more money spent. I may need to spend more time off the road. Of course, I spend the most money on the farm ( a place I love). more

Sometimes, this feeling comes over me, and I know I must get away for a while, by myself. Some place where I cannot do much of anything. I feel that urge coming on. It has been building for a few months, and I must go. more

Summertime has sure come, and the wind has made the heat feel worse. It doesn't help that my air conditioner stopped on Friday evening, and they can't get here to fix it until early Monday morning. Oh well, I lived without an air conditioner for many years, and a few days won't hurt me. It will make me appreciate it more when it gets fixed. more

One thing is for certain: now that I’m a white-haired old man, none of my neighbors will likely call to see if I can help haul in a few hundred bales of hay. more

It has been 23 years (not 28, somewhat frustratingly) since British audiences were first introduced to the mind-and-body-ravaging Rage virus in “28 Days Later.” The virus turned everyone it affected into zombies, known as The Infected, obsessed not so much with feeding as with turning more people into zombies. The film’s heroes had a hard time evading The Infected, and then just when it looked like they were safe, they had to deal with the degenerate humans who had appointed themselves to power after the collapse of civilization. The Infected were still at large five years later in “28 Weeks Later”, and humanity was more monstrous than ever. Nothing interesting must have happened 28 months later from the events of that film, because the series skipped right over it. Instead, it jumps to 28 years later, when older children and even adults have never known a world not affected by The Infected. more

It is early on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. The sun is rising over the forested hills surrounding the lake. Birds are singing. Deer are at the edge of the water for a drink. On a distant hill, a turkey gobbles. more

“Thunderbolts*” certainly scared off the competition in its second weekend at the domestic box office. This sometimes happens the weekend after the opening of a huge blockbuster. Other studios will know that they can’t compete against the powerhouse, so they hold off on releasing anything that they think has the potential to be a big or even midsize hit. When that happens, I have to review either a holdover or a newcomer that can only hope to become, at most, a tiny hit. “Clown in a Cornfield” definitely falls into the latter category. This thing is cheap even by horror movie standards, yet in a minor victory, it managed to open in fifth place for the weekend. I’d admire its pluck, but there’s no sleeper hit here, just a movie that didn’t fail too badly when it was sent out to die. more

A year ago, a tornado hop-scotched through our town. It was past midnight, and I was watching a movie at home with our teenagers. When our phones screamed a long, loud beep, we switched to local news to see a meteorologist — sleeves rolled up to the elbows — urging viewers to get into a safe place. A tornado had been spotted in the heart of town. more

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Jamie Ray Gragg (HD-140) is issuing the following statement to express concerns with the City of Springfield regarding the upcoming 2025 Ozarks Pridefest. This event is taking place in downtown Springfield on June 14th featuring drag performances that will have detrimental effects it will have on children and families in the Ozarks community. more

Don’t give up! In 1952, Florence Chadwick attempted to swim the ocean waters between Catalina Island and the California shore, through foggy weather and choppy seas. more

Sixty years ago, I was a 17-year-old high school senior in what now seems another time and country. more

I used to be a fidgeter. I'd tap on things and bounce my leg so fast that Tom would sometimes reach over and put his hand on my knee as if to say, "Enough. That's driving me nuts." Fidgeters don't often realize that our small yet frenetic movements can make the table shake just enough to be annoying. more

My name is Kelsey Brabo, and I am writing to express my gratitude for the invaluable support that Care to Learn provides to our community and to share our need for increased funding. more

Dear Editor, more

Cosmopolitan Club of Ozark, a Christian County service organization, held their final meeting of the year on May 6 at Estes Farms, Cassidy Station. Cat Edie, event coordinator, gave club members a tour and a history lesson of this amazing property. more

Sixty-eight years ago, Nixa mayor and local barber Finis Gold came up with an idea. When spring arrived, most of the men from Nixa took off work, and teenagers skipped school to go sucker grabbing in local rivers and streams. Locals always called it sucker grabbin’. I was 10 years old back then. A few years later, I became a sucker grabber. more

We all go through our busy lives each day, never really thinking about how there will be a time when tomorrow never comes. We postpone things we want to do or should do until a future day, but in most cases, we never do them. more

Gardening season has awakened in me a troubling vice — impatience. I didn’t use to be this way, but digital cameras ruined me. more

Christian County has a new nonprofit, Christian County Cares. Our goal is to help our neighbors with currently unsupported emergency needs. We are also working with established nonprofits to help increase the impact, with the goal of maintaining shelters, utilities, and meeting basic needs. more

(Editor’s note: Given the tremendous efforts by many line workers and others to restore electricity to homes left powerless after the April 29 storm, it seemed only fitting to include this article in this week’s issue.) more

Have you ever gotten good at the wrong thing? I think it might have happened to me. more

In many homes, discouragement is the language everyone speaks. The home is a war zone, and the warriors have names like Stupid, Dummy, or Little Pain in the Neck. They live with scars and treat their open wounds. more