Dear Belle, more

What will it take to wake us up to protect and fight for our democratic form of government with all its imperfections and the way of life it provides? It has not survived thus far without courageous voices defending it. more

There's nothing better than a good county fair. Corn dogs, funnel cakes, the 4-H cake decorating contest, every kind of critter you can imagine — and usually a pretty good tractor pull to top it off. more

Every fall, Missourians come together to celebrate Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28-Oct. 4). This annual effort encourages residents across the state to engage in small but meaningful acts of kindness, from checking in on a neighbor to organizing a community event. But the week also shines a spotlight on the University of Missouri Extension and its deep commitment to building community, connection, and belonging. more

I never got into the habit of morning coffee with the good ol’ boys. more

Dear Belle, more

Here are the top 10 most-read stories at www.westplainsdailyquill.net in the past week, followed by their publication dates: more

We thank Ang Pereira for her thoughtful letter regarding the "Historical Record" section published Aug. 23. more

To the editor: more

I hear voices. There, I admitted it. And I’d bet good money you hear them, too.   more

Dear Belle, more

To the editor: more

I’m going to switch gears on you all, this week. more

If you are over 70 years old you likely remember a school dress code that made no sense, but you likely followed it anyway. more

I’ve owned 17 pickup trucks in my lifetime, seven of them brand-new. I may someday buy another new one, but it’s not likely. more

To the editor: more

My mom and I have joint custody of a fancy vacuum cleaner. A few years ago when we both needed a new one, we decided to pool our money because we live just a few steps away from each other and can easily share. We figured if we joined forces, we could afford to get one with a few bells and whistles designed to make a vacuum cleaner truly suck — in a good way.  more

Who knew 85 degrees could feel so divinely autumn-like? more

Our dog Otis is not a large creature by any means. He’s small (10 pounds), fluffy, and generally friendly — a sweetheart who loves belly rubs and curling up in a warm lap.  more

To the editor: more