Hey there, food lovers, and welcome back to my kitchen. Are you ready to take a traditional comfort food and spin it into something extraordinary? Today, we're tackling a classic - meatloaf and mashed potatoes - and giving it a gourmet makeover that will make your taste buds dance with joy. Let's dive into a recipe that's fun, a bit adventurous, and oh-so-delicious! more

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites turkey hunters, landowners and managers, and others interested in Missouri’s wild turkeys and turkey hunting to its “MDC Wild Webcast on Talkin’ Turkey” on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at noon.   more

Ozarks Healthcare has announced the 2024 schedule for its comprehensive series of prenatal classes for expectant parents, to be held in the Women’s Center Education Room on the hospital’s main campus, 1100 Kentucky Ave. in West Plains. more

Baxter Health in Mtn. Home, Ark., announced it is offering a 15% discount on all hospital accounts if outstanding balances are paid in full before April 30. This offer applies to all patients and employees of the hospital and will be applied automatically upon payment, said officials. more

The West Plains Council on the Arts will host a “Starting with Watercolor” workshop by area artist Lee Copen from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. in the Walnut Room at the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St. more

Arts Alliance member events and activities:  more

Tools that may help laypersons start a conversation about suicide and mental health with someone who is in crisis are available at no cost through the QPR evidence-based suicide prevention/intervention training offered by AgriSafe online or in person in their QPR training program at www.agrisafe.org/courses/qpr. more

A lifetime of moments, framed in the blink of a shutter, graces the walls of the Ozarks Small Business Incubator, 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. more

Get ready to witness the celestial event of the decade in West Plains. From April 5 to 8, the town will be abuzz with the "Party in the Path" festival, celebrating the highly anticipated total solar eclipse. This isn't just any ordinary gathering; it's a four-day extravaganza packed with thrilling concerts, vibrant parades, a spirited 5k run, and an array of food trucks offering delicious treats. Each day brings a new adventure, with music that'll make your heart sing, activities that'll pump up your adrenaline, and culinary delights to tantalize your taste buds. Mark your calendars for a festival that promises to be as spectacular as the eclipse itself. West Plains is the place to be for an unforgettable experience where the sky is not the limit but the beginning. more

I recently finished, Before We Were Yours, a fascinating novel by Lisa Wingate. Her book tells the story of families severely traumatized by social worker, Georgia Tann. She was widely respected in Memphis until it eventually became obvious she was mistreating children. Tann was at the center of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society scandal of 1950. Though the specific families’ stories Wingate told are fictional they are representative of Tann’s victims. more

Many of us pray each day for healing….for ourselves, our loved ones, and for people around the world. We pray for the healing of bodies, hearts, minds, and relationships. The gospels record many instances of Jesus healing people. “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” (Matthew 4:23) The Old Testament describes God’s healing presence. Psalm 147:3 reads, “God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Our God heals, and we are invited to pray trusting that healing will come. It may not occur the way we expected, and it may not happen as quickly as we would like, yet healing will come. I have never forgotten what a wise pastor told me years ago. He said that death is the final healing. Ultimately our Lord will heal us, and we will be made whole. May God bless your week! Diane Cooke, Pastor, Presbyterian Churches, Willow Springs and Mtn. View. more

Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. more

The Epiphany, in the context of the Christian church, is an event of profound theological and historical significance, encapsulating the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world. Its origins, rituals, and implications are deeply embedded in the fabric of Christian tradition, reflecting a complex interplay of theology, history, and cultural practice. more

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, had good tidings to share with its members over the holiday season. The company’s members are set to receive a combined $19.9 million in cash and equity in exchange for doing business with the co-op. The company announced the planned distribution at its 94th annual Delegate Meeting on Dec. 11. more

In an ongoing commitment to community health, say officials, Ozarks Healthcare’s Mobile Mammography Unit will continue partnering with area businesses to travel and offer mammogram services to surrounding communities through January.  more

The Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce announces its annual Awards Banquet, themed “Boots and Bling,” will be held Feb. 3 at Pine Meadows Venue, 1449 Highway 76 in Willow Springs. more

Editor’s note: This column first appeared in the Quill on Jan. 9, 2018. more

Associates across the Cable One family of brands, which includes Fidelity Communications, donated more than 10,000 pounds of food to local food banks over the holiday season to help alleviate food insecurity across the communities served by the leading broadband provider. more

Bird-feeding is a popular hobby that can be enjoyed by all ages, but the first key to bird feeding enjoyment is to be able to attract birds to your backyard. more