On May 2, U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (MO-8) held a reception in Perryville to recognize high school students from Missouri’s 8th Congressional District who made it to the final round of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. At the event, Smith announced that Miah Bressie, a senior at Houston High School, took home first place for her piece, “Mistique.” more

May is an exciting time of year. Students and teachers are wrapping up the school year, and summer vacation is approaching. more

As public awareness grows about the harmful effects of invasive plants, the Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP) seeks to recognize individuals and groups performing outstanding work detecting and controlling invasive plant species in Missouri with its Invasive Plant Action Award Program. MoIP is accepting award nominations through June 15. more

As springtime's gentle breezes give way to the warmth of early summer, a palpable sense of anticipation and celebration sweeps through communities all across the United States. In this season of new beginnings, both bustling university campuses and the intimate grounds of small town high schools become stages for one of life's most cherished rites of passage: graduation. more

The Lamborghini Miura, introduced in 1966, stands as one of the most iconic and groundbreaking vehicles in automotive history. Celebrated for its astonishing beauty, formidable power, and engineering ingenuity, the Miura not only redefined sports car aesthetics but also established Lamborghini as a paragon of luxury and performance. This article explores the genesis, evolution, and enduring legacy of the Miura, a car that remains a symbol of the golden age of motor racing and a pinnacle of 1960s automotive design. more

Arts Alliance member events and activities: more

The grace and unconditional love of God is something that I have become intimately acquainted with in my life, both through the experience of living as a believer in Christ and through the explicit teachings found in the Word of God. more

Local artist Barbara Williams will present “What Rock Buildings Say About the People of the Ozarks” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC). more

“Help your Uncle George set those truss hoops, Charles,” Matt Myers said as he looked up from the flour barrel he was making and saw his 13-year-old son standing in the doorway. more

As I walked to my car following a very busy Sunday, a man called across our parking lot, “Are you the pastor?” I answered I was one of the church’s pastors and asked what he needed. He began crying as he told me this sad story. He had been hired by a lady in a subdivision near our building to cut down a tree in her front yard. They agreed on a price, but no formal contract was drawn up. However, as he completed the job, she called the police, claiming he had cut down her tree, and she did not know why. According to him, the police refused to get involved, explaining it was a dispute over a relatively small sum of money and there was no contract. The gentleman said the police officers were very kind to him, but he was not paid and was relying on the money from the job for his rent. I bought him something to eat and drove him home. more

Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: more

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7 (NIV) Our God wants us to trust him. To trust God is to believe in God’s reliability, truth, and strength, and the Bible shows us the many ways God cares for us. Again and again in the scriptures we are encouraged to “trust in the Lord with all our heart.” (Proverbs 3:5) Jesus said that he longed to gather his people and shelter them like a mother hen shelters her chicks under her wings (Matthew 23:37). Our God gave us life, and God provides for us, shelters us, and, through Christ’s sacrifice, saves us. This is the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ. May we trust God in all things and experience the peace he offers, the peace that passes all understanding. May God bless your week! Diane Cooke, Pastor, Presbyterian Churches, Willow Springs and Mtn. View. more

The time has come for a real, honest conversation about faith. Not the tidy Sunday school version, but the gritty, everyday kind that has you wrestling with doubts before your morning coffee. In the world of Christianity, faith is often seen as this gold standard—a measure of how tight you are with the Big Guy upstairs. The more unshakeable your faith, the closer you're perceived to be to the divine. It's like spiritual street cred. For some, faith is as natural as breathing. They hear "God created the Earth and everything on it, and Jesus died for our sins," and they nod along, no questions asked. To them, it's as obvious as the nose on your face. more

Willow Springs High School’s Class of 2024 celebrated graduation exercises Saturday. more

The Zizzer Pride Band has a new leader. more

A total of 250 students will be candidates for graduation from Missouri State University-West Plains during the 2024 commencement ceremony Saturday at the West Plains Civic Center. more

Each year, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) recognizes top sponsorship groups for excellence in serving their local communities, while helping to share the nonprofit’s yearlong mission to Remember, Honor, Teach. more

Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center's Patient Experience Team announces its upcoming Spring Fling Carnival, a celebration in honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month. more

We celebrate National Women’s Health Week from May 12 through 18. more

ALTON — Winners in Alton Elementary School’s recent "Under the Sea" themed art show are among entries from 280 students. The event showcased the work of all students in the school and was part of an elaborate and colorful display by art teacher Annie Whitten that filled the halls of the school and ended with an awards ceremony. more