Opinion

Staff View — Sheila Harris: Swallowing a horse-pill
It’s that time again. The Parks, Soil and Water (PSW) Sales Tax will appear on the Aug. 4 ballot this year as Amendment 1. The amendment, which appears on the ballot every 10 years, gives voters the chance to renew the one-tenth-of-one-percent sales tax that benefits Missouri State Parks and the Missouri Soil & Water Conservation Program.

Community Voices — Terry Held: Crossroads in rural educationl; Keeping opportunity close to home
“The Times Are A-Changin’.” Bob Dylan’s famous song of the 60’s became a cultural anthem with universal appeal. Today, it has become a phrase often heard in small towns when difficult decisions arrive quietly and without ceremony: Usually, those words are spoken with a shrug, a sigh, or a little disbelief. But behind them lies something larger, a recognition that institutions we once assumed would always remain steady are now being forced to adapt to realities few people fully see.
Letter to the Editor — Sarah and David Dalton: Kudos to local animal clinics
As animal lovers but career individuals, we want to give a huge hats off to Barry County Veterinary Clinic and their team.
Letter to the Editor — Kathy Casey: Sickened by social media posts
Every person is solely responsible for his own actions. Not father, mother, siblings, children, grandma, grandpa, friends or anyone who happens to enter his orbit for any reason. None of those people are responsible parties for his acts.

Publisher View — Kyle Troutman: A nod to Faith for exemplifying courage
Most people — myself included — know Faith James for her accomplishments on the wrestling mat, but for the last seven years, she has been wrestling with a different opponent.

Staff View — Sheila Harris: Hungry giants this way come
Some say the mushroom-like proliferation of data centers across the country can’t be stopped.

Devotional Column — Jeff Fugitt: How Christ brings meaning to life
Rootedness is a good thing. I’ve recently been transplanting some flowers and vegetables and have been reminded of the connections we as human beings have that, like roots, nourish our…

Publisher’s View — Kyle Troutman: Letting the shutter fly
In the month of May, my camera goes into overdrive.

Staff View — Sheila Harris: Let’s cry foul — Our nest is in danger
My recent columns about the land-application of meat-processing sludge peeved our Barry County commissioners.
Community Voices — Skip Easter: Gardening with natural methods
One of the benefits of growing your own food is that you are in control of the types of chemicals, both natural or man-made, used in garden beds and on your plants.




