Opinion

As the holidays are approaching, we go from the spooky fun of “what will I be?” To the fast movement to the Christmas spirit of, “I wonder what will be under the Christmas tree?” What happened to Thanksgiving, a thankful heart, a faithful heart? Today’s society has us fueling our trains on our feelings or false facts, leaving out what truly fuels the train and that is faith. Without my faith through all the obstacles I have faced, I wouldn’t have a thankful heart.

Journalism in a small community frequently flies from one event to another, each with their own emotions and presenting their own challenges for coverage. Such was the case over the last few days, shifting coverage from Saturday’s somber memorial of Eric Hahn, the diver who died while working in the Roaring River Spring, to Monday’s elation of winning the first ever district softball championship.

The first author I ever met was David L. Harrison, the author of “Wake Up, Sun.” I was mesmerized with the idea of meeting an author and was instantly starstruck.

What is in a name? Throughout the 180-year life of Cassville and the 200-plus year life of Barry County, there have been many names, many people, many families that have contributed to the growth and history of this city and county. Although Lewis Cass, a former United States Senator and Secretary of War and William Barry, a U.S.

My wife is a trooper. To say Jordan is injury-prone is a slight understatement. Where she provides an overabundance of beauty, brains and entertainment, she has an equal excess of clumsiness, bad luck and low pain tolerance.

Last Friday night, our football team enjoyed a big homecoming victory over the Springfield Catholic Fighting Irish on a beautiful fall evening in the Ozarks. The crisp, cool air carried the earthy scent of the freshly mowed grass and the beginning of fallen leaves throughout Wildcat Stadium.

“Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the Glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me.” John 11:4041 Wow! What powerful four words Jesus said, “Father I thank thee!” Before He received the miracle, before He received what He has asked for, He thanked the Father.

Not long ago, I found myself on the other end of the phone being interviewed by a freelance journalist working for a national news website. One of the questions he asked me was, “What do you see as the state of newspapers in this country today?” I have been in the newspaper industry professionally for 12 years now and been asked that question time and time again, but now as a publisher and owner of a smalltown weekly newspaper, it hit me a little different.