Opinion
Jeremiah Buntin: Artificial history
When I was a child, I often wondered how a fish could be so dumb as to be fooled by artificial baits and lures. Later, I learned that it was just the fish’s nature to bite hard on anything that looked like the real thing.
Trout Tales, March 22
Like about half of the March Madness field this year, I’m upset. I entered the Cassville Chamber’s bracket challenge, but my poor bracket is more busted than Tom Izzo’s white board. I picked Kansas to win, and I know here I will get little to no sympathy for the Jayhawks’ exit. How ‘bout them Hogs, though? It’s not your Kansas, it’s Arkansas! A certain Cassville School Board member was openly supporting Illinois at the meeting on Thursday, much to his fellow board members’ chagrin. How the tables have turned. It sure was nice Missouri won its first tourney game since 2010. Maybe in a few decades they’ll have a run of three straight Sweet Sixteen berths like Arkansas! Shout out to bracket contest top three Kristen Houston, Gerry Mann and Mindi Artherton. Hope more upsets don’t upset you!
Amanda Reed: Surrendering all
My whole life, I always felt out of place, with no sense of belonging or direction in life. I knew in my heart something was missing.
Master Gardeners: What to plant in your garden?
Barry County Master Gardeners have been invited to write a monthly column for the Cassville Democrat and we will take turns writing articles about a variety of topics. Master Gardeners take 30 hours of classes, online or in person, covering a wide variety of gardening topics.
Kyle Troutman: Examples to follow
As I venture deeper and deeper into business ownership in Cassville, being employer rather than employee, nights like Saturday’s Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet also take on an expanded meaning.
Trout Tales, March 15
Strutted in my tailored scales this weekend at the annual Cassville Chamber Banquet. The sweet southern sounds of the 221 Band had my tail flipping all night, and I was relieved to see pork, brisket and chicken on the menu — no fish! I want to congratulate my friend David Cupps on his Lifetime Achievement Award. His speech was a tear jerker. According to unoffishial reports, leakage from Cupps and others in the room has led to a 6-inch rise in Roaring River Spring. Thanks for keeping our dogs, cats, cows, horses and fellow trout alive, David!
Jon Horner: The financial impact of public education
I love public education! As a product of public education in Missouri and a board member of Cassville R-IV School District, I find the impact and the concept of offering all children in our state an education to be amazing and life changing. Other than my parents, some of the greatest influences on my life have been educators.
Janet Mills: Making lemonade from lemons
Eww — Mushy tomatoes, rusty lettuce, and decomposed squash commonly take up residency in the bottom of our refrigerator crisper drawers. We cringe and moan about letting them go to waste and promise ourselves not to allow that to happen the next time around.
Jim Erwin: The weather may change, but God and his goodness never does
ERWIN There is a saying in the Ozarks: “If you don’t like the weather, just wait long enough and it will change.” The weather here can change dramatically. Temperatures can rise or fall within a couple of hours.
H. Lynn Hilburn: Placing animal processing effluent on farmland
In addition to having a house in the city, my wife and I have recently purchased some acreage southeast of Cassville that is cleared and produces a lot of hay when we want to put up hay bales, or we can lease it out to someone who is raising cattle.
