Opinion

Kyle Troutman: Dialing in on some summer fun
For the next 14 weeks, school-age children in Barry County — and their parents (myself included) — will have to find things to do. As part of the millennial generation that loves a little nostalgia, I can’t help but think about what my summers were like as a kid, how it differs from today and how I can ensure my kids have a summer worth remembering.

Merlyn Johnson: Keeping an eye on education finance
As the fiduciary leader of Cassville R-IV Schools, my role is critical in overseeing the financial health and well-being of our school district. Acting as the steward of public funds, I strive to ensure that financial resources are allocated effectively to support the district’s mission of providing quality education to our students while adhering to legal and ethical standards.

Randy Crane: Making the best of ‘tipping over’
This devotional and directory is made possible by these businesses who encourage all to attend worship services. My wife and I stopped at a small town cafe for some breakfast one morning.

Kyle Troutman: Spotting storms in Barry County
The Cassville area received its first true taste of tornado season in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Just after midnight, storms that had been spinning off tornadoes in Oklahoma approached Missouri, leading to a tornado warning in McDonald County, and ultimately, the same for Barry.

Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights: The Two Worlds
On September 19, 1796, the president’s farewell address appeared in Philadelphia’s Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser. The address, written by George Washington with the aid of Alexander Hamilton, contained many important themes.

Jim Erwin: Reaching My Potential — Ephesians 3:20-21
We often hear promises about reaching our potential. They tell us to follow a certain path, subscribe to a social media influencer or simply believe in ourselves. However, the Bible guides us differently. It teaches that God is the one who helps us reach our potential.

Kyle Troutman: Annual dose of Vitamin C ahead
Grab your family, friends and boxes of tissues — graduation season is upon us. Five local schools will send off their seniors between Thursday and May 17, about 300 freshfaced adults, thrusting them into the worlds of college, trade school or the job market after having guided many for over a decade.

Jeremiah Buntin: Pioneer of Oak Hill Cemetery
This past week, the headstone for my grandmother’s grave at Oak Hill Cemetery was finally set. Visiting the Cassville cemetery to see the stone brought to mind an obituary I had read a few months ago in a Springfield newspaper from 1845 for Hugh W.

Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights: Rescuing the Experiment
As the snow fell at Mount Vernon in March 1785, George Washington was deeply concerned. Two years after the Treaty of Paris ended the War of Independence, America faced imminent ruin.

Donnie Spears: Make a stand for God
First, Live in The Fear of the Lord; Proverbs 14:26,27 ”In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.“ What is it to walk in the “Fear of the Lord”. It is obedience, it is trust, it is complete confidence, it is comfort and a place of safety .