Opinion
Robert Balek: Mulch much?
Adding mulch to your garden and landscape is the most often recommended way to reduce weeds, improve soil, reduce water requirements and improve the environment. There are many kinds of mulches available and many reasons to use mulch, but not all mulches are created equal, and not all do the same thing.
Janet Mills: Plant with a purpose
I have a suggestion for all you green-thumbed gardeners out there: plant with the intention of giving back to your community. Imagine if a percentage of your garden harvest went directly to those in need at a food pantry.
Jim Erwin: Being fruitful in the seasons of life
“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1:3, CSB) It’s gardening season.
Trout Tales, May 10
A Cassville graduation tradition carried on this week. For those who couldn’t see from the stands, quite a few of the Class of 2023 handed High School Principal Tyler Willis a rubber ducky of some kind. I wasn’t keeping count, but I bet by the end of Sunday’s ceremony, he had at least 50 new rubber friends, if not more.
Kyle Troutman: Grad week in Barry County
In the past 10 years, I can’t even begin to count how many graduations I have attended. Locally, I shoot at least three or four every May for the paper, but this year, I have another special one of my own to attend, and one that will look vastly different from the Barry County way.
Lisa Roark: Doctor’s tips for summer skin protection
Spring and summer are my favorite times of the year in Southwest Missouri. Graduates are throwing their hats while family members roast in the sun.
James Weaver: Don’t ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’
This devotional and directory is made possible by these businesses who encourage all to attend worship services. Let’s be honest, Christianity doesn’t have a great “popular” image in our country.
Trout Tales, May 3
The SKITS crew has done it again! I spent Friday at their “Mission Possible” play, which left the room laughing harder (but less maniacally) than Silverthumb in Act I. These professional amatuers deserve credit for the time they put in, the confidence in their deilvery, and their ability to laugh off a mistake or two. SKITS pretty much sticks to comedy, but I’d love to see them take on something new. Maybe an adventure story where yours truly could play a part? I know who I would be, but who would be Ishmael?
Kyle Troutman: A home and a pathway
I have spent a lot of time in the past couple weeks talking to people about addiction, drug use and the dangers and solutions for both. Last week, I talked to Chad Allison, commander of the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, for about half an hour.
Bill Hodgson: In the Beginning…of eternity
The opening words of the Bible “In the beginning…” (Genesis 1:1) introduce a work in progress.
