I am writing this in defense of wine. Wine is an alcoholic product that is produced naturally by the greatest winemaker of them all, Mother Nature. To confirm the last statement, take some unwashed … more

World Cancer Day was on Wednesday, Feb. 4.  Normally I don’t care for “awareness holidays,” but I make a yearly exception for this one. Too many people are still unaware of what could be … more

Think with me for a moment on the three days that stand out in February—The Feast of Jesus’ Presentation (the 2nd), St. Valentine’s Day (the 14th), & Ash Wednesday (the 18th this year)—as … more

I am pleased to introduce myself as a monthly contributor focusing on horticulture and gardening topics relevant to the readers.  I serve as a Field Specialist in Horticulture and bring … more

Let’s talk about how the first three weeks of Missouri’s legislative session are going. In short: Gridlock in the Senate. Scandal in the House. Senate Democrats entered the year divided … more

Among the least known of the red wines is the Shiraz, or as the Australians have dubbed it, the Shraz. Whatever name you use, the variety produces some excellent and often affordable red wines. … more

Dear Editor,  George Orwell once wrote, “The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” On January 7, a U.S. citizen, … more

Last Friday I walked with my dogs on the trail. Heavy gray clouds were spitting snow and the wind was bitingly cold. I had a hard time getting out the door because my house felt warm and cozy. By the … more

“He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?” -Psalm 147:7 Congratulations! If you’re reading … more

Red wines have the ability to bring out the critic in all of us.The white and pink rose wines are nice and gentle, while the red wines are deeply flavored and will invariably engender comments and … more

Dear Editor,  The Warrensburg Lions Club would like to express its disappointment concerning the recent decision of Parks and Recreation to charge user fees at the Warrensburg Community … more

Years ago the first thing that attracted me to visit the Warrensburg Church of the Brethren was learning that since their founding, along with Quakers (aka Friends) and Mennonites, they were a … more

Ever heard the term “sad beige children?” It’s used to describe those kiddos whose mothers dress them only in neutral tones, usually in expensive natural fibers. They’re all gentle parented, their toys are made of non-toxic bamboo, and they’ve certainly never set foot inside a McDonalds. Although, if they did, they’d fit right in. All the McDonalds are beige now too. The bright colors and cheeseburger-shaped chairs were stolen by the Hamburglar sometime in the early 2000s and replaced with an ambience de coffee shop, sucking the whimsy out of Ronald McDonald and like some kind of sad cartoon. A lot of people like to blame Millennials for this tragedy due to the closely related color phenomenon called “millennial gray.” This term refers to a sterile, gray, white and black color scheme for newly built homes. Lots of sleek, polished surfaces and sharp corners. Very cold. But I’m here to tell you this is NOT the millennials fault either. We can’t afford to buy homes, much less new ones. Bah-dum-tss. more

Just as we are recovering from the tumult, anxiety and over-eating of the December holidays we get one month and a few days when we run into another holiday, Saint Valentine's day. more

To Whom It May Concern (and you know who you are): more

I am intrigued with the phrase, “It came to pass.” In the NKJV it is used 177 times. Sometimes it refers to the actions of men that conflict with God’s will. But often it refers to an event that fulfills the will of God, like this one. God is faithful. He keeps His promises. This promise is central to all His promises. It began in Genesis in the garden. It continued for millennia. As Hebrews says, “God at various times and in various ways spoke to the fathers through the prophets.” more

Dear Editor, more

There was a time when the only oriental restaurants in my town were Chinese. Back then, if you wanted a wine with your dinner, the choice was simple: Wan Fu. more

A few years ago, I did some freelance projects for an online agency that assigned writers to do work for business clients. Most of it was marketing copy, but the pay was decent. Then, in November 2022, a little thing called ChatGPT was released — one of the first widely used artificial intelligence chatbots. more

One sure thing about gardening is that there will be changes. more