Opinion
Janet Mills: The most honorable man I ever knew
Is the road to acquiring genuine compassion only found by traversing painful experiences? Is it in times of trials and suffering when our deepest bonds of connection to others are formed? Maybe a transformation takes place when we personally connect with our own pain and then we can truly begin to understand the pain and suffering of others. The hurdles and obstacles we face can easily embitter our outlook and cause us to become self-centered and even angry.
Trout Tales, May 29
It’s been a while since I’ve been on assignment, but I wanted to pop in this week to show you my new office! I felt perfectly at home on Sunday when all that rain was coming in, so I did some renovations myself.
Kyle Troutman: The ides of May
The saying goes, “Beware the Ides of March,” but fore the last two years, it has been the “Ides of May” bringing the bad to Barry County. At this time last year, we as a community were dealing with a lot, most significantly the disappearance and death of Dr.
Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights — The Tragedy of B. F. Randolph
On Wednesday, January 15, 1868, Benjamin Franklin Randolph opened the second day of the South Carolina Constitutional Convention with a prayer. Brief but moving, Randolph exhorted God to “fill our hearts with love for the general welfare” of all South Carolinians. “Help us in our work here, and when we finish our earthly course, receive us into that welcome abode in heaven.”
Kyle Troutman: A worthy and colorful cause
Inever ceased to be amazed by the extent and variety of our local philanthropic organizations. From the Cassville Education Fund’s support of our school teachers to the Cassville Community Foundation’s support of all things Cassville and Roaring River and the Soroptimist Club’s support of local women to the Cassville Rotary Club’s support of the Cassville community — and many, many more organizations I don’t have all the space to name — there is no shortage of neighbors helping neighbors in our slice of southwest Missouri.
Michell Hilburn: Summer fun with a side of learning
Summer is underway in the Hilburn household. This season comes with a whirlwind of activities for our family.
Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights — Lincoln at Independence Hall
The president-elect reached Philadelphia at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 21, 1861. In response to warm greetings, Lincoln told a crowd that he hoped “to restore peace and harmony and prosperity to the country.” He added, however, “I shall do nothing inconsistent with the teachings of those holy and most sacred walls” of Independence Hall. “I have never asked anything that does not breathe from those walls,” Lincoln said. Paraphrasing Psalm 137, he added, “May my right hand forget its cunning and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I ever prove false to those teachings” of the Constitution and the Declaration.
Scott Mitchell: Cannibal Christians
In nature, various species of insects and animals use their mouths as tools for both defense and offense. For example, the praying mantis not only defends itself by biting but also attacks and consumes its prey, sometimes even its own kind.
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.
