The entire wine industry in every wine-producing country around the world is facing a series of daunting challenges, global warming and the threat of higher tariffs from one of their best customers, the United States. more

The Missouri drought monitor shows no drought conditions for our county. Having adequate rain this spring means that most plants are going into the heatof summer in good condition. However, the frequent rains we have had can promote other problems. more

Yesterday, I drove past a house a few doors down from ours and noticed that new neighbors had just moved in. For the past several months of renovation, that house has been a blur of contractors, carpenters, and tile deliveries. But yesterday, I spotted the king of the renovated castle — a small bulldog sitting a few feet outside the new front door, surveying his freshly mowed empire. more

Recently, on a mission trip in Honduras, I watched a video that showed some footage of some of the horrible conditions that people face. This video displayed children who were deep in starvation, it showed trafficking of teenage girls, and it even showed someone throwing a baby into a dumpster. As I sat there watching this, my stomach twisted inside out, and I could not believe the horror before my eyes. To sum it up in one phrase, I was broken hearted. more

My older brother was one of those guys — a fireworks guy. Do you know one? A guy who loves fireworks so much that the 4th of July becomes more like Christmas — the most wonderful time of the year. For fireworks guys, "wonderful" goes "boom." more

l know what one accompanies a fine meal, special events and even weddings, but the question must arise, “what wine accompanies watching fireworks”? more

I am a terrible gardener. I do not like to admit this, but I have tried five times to cultivate the ground, plant seeds and bring forth vegetation. Five times I failed. My efforts were not without a tiny reward. In our family garden of 2020, there was a literal handful of carrots. That was it. Each member of our family got a few bites of beautifully colored carrots. more

Margaret J. Wheatley said, “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” I believe our community hopes to be a place where its members have … more

Being a professional writer has a few perks, like knowing when “i” comes before “e” and eavesdropping on strangers’ conversations in the name of “research.” … more

We all know the rules of wine that are ancient and have been written in stone; red wine at cool room temperature when being served with red meats and a slightly chilled white wine with everything … more

Dear Editor,  We Missourians lost a right this year. The “Let Politicians Lie Act” (SB22) is now law. It gives the Secretary of State the power to kill citizen initiatives by … more

Dear Editor, We had a great No Kings rally in Warrensburg on June 14th! The people at the rally are committed to genuinely making America great again. We will do that by restoring respect … more

I wanted today to write about the multiple horrible shootings over the past weekend, including the cold-blooded murders of a Minnesota legislator and her husband, and the attempted murder of a … more

One of my dad’s favorite television shows was Sanford & Son, which aired through most of the 1970s. I was a little kid then, but what I remember most about the show, other than its iconic … more

The last couple of months, the First Christian Church and First United Methodist Church have been jointly working together to host a Vacation Bible School that starts this Sunday, June 22. Since … more

As a new parent, everyone braces you for how challenging the newborn phase will be. They make jokes about sleeping while you can because once the baby shows up, you’ll be up around the clock … more

In a room full of professionals, I was the only Luddite. I do not use generative artificial intelligences, also known as AI. As my husband likes to tease, I can barely operate my own iPhone. So I sat … more

When one needs undeniable and emotionless facts, the best place to go, in this time period, is to consult AI, which is exactly what I did.  I asked AI “what percentage of wine in the … more

In the landscape of human experience, we often find ourselves burdened, thirsty and longing for a connection that truly satisfies.  Amidst our struggles, Jesus extends three profound … more

Once again, just when we need it, Portugal or a Portuguese citizen comes to our rescue.  Perhaps you are not aware that it was a Portuguese soldier who assisted us during the Revolutionary … more