Opinion
Kyle Troutman: Moving the APR ball
In recent years, state evaluation of public education has been a challenge for schools. With the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) standards continually evolving, it seems as soon as districts get close to adapting to a formula, the ball is punched out of their hands like the Chiefs’ L’Jarius Sneed stealing a touchdown from the Ravens’ Zay Flowers in Sunday’s AFC Championship.
Janet Mills: Tales from the other side of frozen
Do we tend to complain when life gets tough? Most definitely the answer is “Yes.” We share our thoughts about the inconveniences and challenges we face each day with our friends and loved ones. Who didn’t share a grievance with someone else about the inconveniences created by the temperatures plunging below zero during the arctic blast that settled in over the last couple weeks? We all have made some adjustments to allow for the discomfort of the cold.
Jon Horner: New Year’s resolutions — one month in
As we approach the second month of the year, it’s a great time to reflect upon many of our new year’s resolutions. Hopefully your resolutions aren’t becoming as realistic as the Buffalo Bills or the Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl plans for this year.
Rich Cummings: ‘Do you do well to be angry?’
This devotional and directory is made possible by these businesses who encourage all to attend worship services. There is a line from God that may fit our present climate in the U.S.
Trout Tales, Jan. 24
I went down to Roaring River State Park a couple of times last week in search of the almighty Bald Eagles said to frequent the spring area this time of year, and after a few attempts, I think I’m giving up. I’ve seen a few of America’s birds, but they are soaring so high up in the sky I can’t get any good pictures of them.
Kyle Troutman: Winter, winter, go away
Without fail and about the same time each year, a case of the winter blues creeps in. I used to think I avoided this phenomenon, but I think instead I just buried my head in the proverbial snow.
Drake Thomas: Jekyll at school, Hyde at home — Navigating the school-home behavior disconnect
You’ve heard it a million times — a teacher bolsters your child’s behavior at school. They consistently clip off the chart for good behavior, are the teacher’s helper, and even receive awards for their positive behavior.
Angela Brattin: Spring garden preparation is upon us
As a gardener, at the start of the New Year comes the hope of a fresh garden season. With a little planning and preparation before the daylight hours lengthen and the soil temperatures warm up, we can set ourselves up for a more productive garden season.
Trout Tales, Jan. 17
I got put on a sports assignment last week and who should I run into while under the basket? None other than Cassville Superintendent Merlyn Johnson, who was half the whistle for the Exeter Diamond matchup on Thursday. Here we see Dr.
Kyle Troutman: In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Though the snowy roadways would have canceled school and kept many others at home from work, Monday was a federal day off for another reason, the celebration of the Jan. 15, 1929, birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
