As I’ve mentioned before, sometimes the expectations I have to manage are my own. Whew.
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2/8/25
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A couple of weeks ago, I found myself on the road to Springfield, eager to catch the new Bob Dylan biopic, "A Complete Unknown." The film was, as critics have unanimously praised, fantastic — a masterful portrayal of an enigmatic artist whose influence has rippled through generations. Yet, as compelling as the movie was, it is not the film itself that has lingered with me. Instead, it was the resonance of Dylan's music, a soundtrack to my younger day.
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By Chris Herbolsheimer,
Quill Contributing Writer
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2/5/25
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Building strong relationships with our neighbors is a lot like growing a Chinese bamboo tree. At first, it may seem like nothing is happening, but with patience, effort and care, incredible growth can occur over time.
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By David Burton, Specialist,
Community Development,
University of Missouri Extension
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2/5/25
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I digressed again about Alvie Owen. I will not digress anymore right now, but reserve the right to do so if I lose my train of thought.
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By Dwight Thirkield,
Quill Contributing Writer
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2/5/25
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Remember when a nickel would buy a bottle of Coca Cola?
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By Jim Hamilton
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2/5/25
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Blind dates may not be for everyone, but the library hopes to change some minds about that this month!
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By Kathie Ledgerwood-Cox,
Branch Librarian
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2/4/25
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Our communities, our state and our country are at a crossroads, facing the intersection of energy security, food security and property rights.
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By Garrett Hawkins, President,
Missouri Farm Bureau
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2/1/25
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Stop reading this article.
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2/1/25
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There they were, scattered out in the pasture, lots of them! But they were not ready.
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By Dwight Thirkield,
Quill Contributing Writer
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1/29/25
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In Derek Thompson’s cover story for The Atlantic, titled “The Anti-Social Century,” he explores a critical social trend: Americans are spending more time alone than ever before, and this shift has profound implications for our personalities, politics and overall societal health.
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By David Burton, Specialist,
Community Development,
University of Missouri Extension
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1/29/25
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I’m pretty particular when it comes to my reading selections, but I discovered an author this week that may become one of my favorites.
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By Kathie Ledgerwood-Cox,
Branch Librarian
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1/29/25
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I call myself a writer and newspaper columnist, but I’m increasingly doubtful that’s my most important job.
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By Jim Hamilton
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1/29/25
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Every week when I sit down to write this column, I try to find a naturally-occurring overarching theme. I ask myself, “What have we encountered a lot of this week?”
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1/25/25
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Welcome back to “Chris' Corner,” where I try to steer clear of politics to focus on the common threads that connect us all. However, just this once, I need to veer slightly into that thorny territory. Not to stir the pot, but to address a deeper concern that transcends individual issues.
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By Chris Herbolsheimer,
Quill Contributing Writer
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1/22/25
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Once every five years or so, we get a new television. Sometimes it's because we actually need one — like that summer when a lightning strike electrocuted several of our appliances. But most of the time, it's because Tom starts reading about the incredible picture quality on the newest TV screens, and he just can't stand it anymore. He needs to see it for himself.
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By Gwen Rockwood
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1/22/25
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January is National Book Month, so why not get lost in a couple of great books this month to celebrate? Some of my favorite older titles in the New Year to consider:
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By Kathie Ledgerwood-Cox,
Branch Librarian
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1/22/25
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When it comes to being kind and helpful to your neighbors, people might wonder if it fits with liberal or conservative values. The truth is, kindness doesn’t belong to just one political side — it’s a universal idea that connects to both perspectives.
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By David Burton, Specialist,
Community Development,
University of Missouri Extension
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1/22/25
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Few sounds in winter are more unwelcome than that of a pitchfork scraping the hay loft floor.
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By Jim Hamilton
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1/22/25
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Recoiled and camouflaged against the aquatic vegetation they call home, the chain pickerel is a finely-tuned ambush predator that is arguably among America’s most underrated gamefish. Opinions of them are as varied as the striking emerald green chain-link patterns on their bodies, but for diehard fishermen like me who refuse to put down the stick in the middle of winter, they are a tackle-busting blessing.
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By David Woods,
Quill Contributing Columnist
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1/18/25
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The title of this column is “Managing Expectations” and as I write this, I’m asking myself, “Whose expectations am I managing? Mine or theirs?”
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1/18/25
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