As the lights dim and the gentle hush of anticipation sweeps through the gathered audience, there's an undeniable magic that blankets the Avenue Theatre. It’s a palpable energy, a vibrant heartbeat that I've come to know, cherish, and vehemently protect in my role as Executive Director. This isn't merely a job or a position of leadership; it is an intimate dance with a building, an institution, that has seeped deeply into the core of my being. more

Like many folks of my generation, I tend to see much as it once was, not as it is. more

Every day life, and every day living, I love it. I love the people, all people everywhere! What a joy to just love people! Every person has stories to tell. Some about misfortune, some about ill-will, some about family and especially grandkids, some about work, and some about play and some about… someday! more

Some of us complained about the cost of sugar and the amount of time we spent cleaning and refilling their feeders all summer, but I think most of us are beginning to miss the activity of the hummingbirds around the feeders. more

Dear Readers, more

It is with a heavy heart that I pen my memories of George, my ever-vigilant squirrel chaser, my silent confidante, and my faithful friend who, after nearly 18 lively years, has chosen to chase squirrels in the infinite meadows above. His departure, a little over a week ago, has left a void in my life that no amount of treats or belly rubs can fill. more

“In 1848, gold was discovered in California. Thousands of people migrated west to seek their fortunes in the gold fields. Over the following ten years, hundreds of towns were built in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to meet the needs of the miners. Most of those towns died when the gold gave out and became known as ghost towns. This is the setting for this story.” (Excerpt from Adventure on Cherokee Ridge by author, Bruce C Isham) more

Bear with me as we take time to remember Dee, for more than 23 years my South Dakota Bride, but much more than just the local newspaper editor’s wife. more

In the year 1920, a large crowd of people looked on as one of the most exciting accidents in the history of West Plains occurred. An object fell from the sky and crashed into the downtown area of West Plains. more

Did I see a leaf on a tree turning color from green to yellow in my neighbors yard? I did. more

Dear readers, more

Social Security strives to deliver great customer service and helpful information to everyone, including people who are more comfortable reading and speaking Spanish.    more

Editor’s note: Author Lacey Miller and her family are Missouri Farm Bureau members. After losing her father, Ralph Griesbaum, in a rollover tractor accident on their Marion County farm, the family has become farm safety warriors, working to spare others a similar tragedy.  more

In 1837, a ten-year-old boy named Washington P. Hawkins embarked on a journey with his family to the Ozarks of Missouri, traveling by oxcart. Wash, as he was affectionately called, happened to be my 3x great grandfather. His family, hailing from Warren County, Tennessee, found themselves in a situation where the encroaching presence of neighbors and civilization had become rather uncomfortable. The old saying "If you could hear your neighbor's dog bark or rooster crow, it was time to move!" applied in this situation. They loaded up the wagons and headed West. more

Jim told me, “I would write in a notebook with a pin several pages; Marilyn would type them, and she would cry.“ more

I never understood as a young man why Dad didn’t fix the barn door. All it needed was a proper hinge. more

“Hey hey. Hey hey, baby, hey.” That’s all it took, I was hooked. more

I love witnessing the power of Missouri agriculture throughout the entire month of August. From watching children and adults of all ages roam the grounds at the Missouri State Fair to producers from all over the state attending the annual Missouri Farm Bureau Commodity Conference, it’s an invigorating time. It’s a reminder of the impact that farmers and ranchers have not just here at home but throughout the country and the world.  more

Dear Readers, more

I took care of my baby brother Stephen when he was a baby. I never wondered what he would grow up to be, and I never had the chance to see. more