Column
Community Voices — Lynn Hilburn: Barry County and people
In previous editorials, I’ve discussed land in Missouri and in Barry County and how things developed for the first white settlements in Barry County. I will review some of that briefly.
Community Voices — Terry Held: The radical spirit of Cassville
The word radical has become a strange word in modern America. Turn on the television or scroll through social media, and it is usually used as an accusation. A radical is someone unreasonable. Someone extreme. Someone bent on tearing things down.
Publisher View — Kyle Troutman: Mission accomplished
The last week of February every year has repeatedly come to be one of the most coverage-heavy weeks of the year — and while 2026 gave no shortage of challenges, it gave as many rewards.
American Insights — Dakoda Pettigrew: A centennial call for freedom
American independence at one hundred years, The New York Times wrote on Tuesday, July 4, 1876, was nothing short of “a complete century of trial.”
Local Devotional — Randy Crane: The Book of Life
If there is a personal, infinite God who created all things including human life (and I believe there is!)….and, if this infinite, personal God wants us to understand how we are to navigate through life understanding good from evil, right from wrong and even more importantly how we are to understand the truth about who God is and how He wants us to be in a genuine, loving relationship with Him, then the question we must ask is this: Could this God make Himself and His will known to us in an understandable way which is absolutely true — true for all people throughout all time?
Publisher’s View — Kyle Troutman: A busy week ahead in Barry County
On Saturday, I took a day away to go visit Jacob Brower, my old boss and former publisher of the Cassville Democrat and The Monett Times, and he asked me a question many people hint at but don’t ask outright — how many hours per week do you work these days?
Community Voices — Jon Horner: The meanings of March 1st at Roaring River
It’s almost March First, as we all know. For many reasons March First has special significance. When I was much younger than I am now, I had a special jacket. It was a Kansas City Chiefs coat. That coat also had a March First significance.
Local Devotional — Donnie Spears: Make a stand for God
First, live in the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 14:26-27: “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.”
Publisher’s View — Kyle Troutman: Bringing back ‘Everyday Heroes’
Every now and again, when leafing through our bound editions for the weekly Through the Years page, my wife, Jordan, or I come across things from those days of old that make us ask: Why did the Democrat ever stop doing this?
PUBLISHER’S VIEW — KYLE TROUTMAN: El ganador super
A year ago today, I wrote a column about Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show, and this year, the performance by Bad Bunny was unlike any other, yet there were many…
