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Outdoors with Larry: The toughest fish

I figure the toughest little fish in the Midwest, and the Ozarks, is the green sunfish. You might know him as the black perch. He can get over a pound in size, and I remember catching them 8 or 10 inches long. They survive everywhere … in the muddiest, smallest farm ponds, creeks and rivers…

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Pearls: Every stage of life holds its adversities

One evening this past week, I was able to spend time with some close friends, one of whom called me because her mother – a longtime member of my church family – was nearing her final moments here on earth. I’ll not share names, not because it wouldn’t delight me to speak with you about…

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Outdoors with Larry: The goggle-eye

Rock bass are to Ozark flowing streams what crappie are to reservoirs. Creel census figures show that they make up the largest percentage of fish caught and fish kept by stream fishermen in the Ozarks. Missouri fisheries people once kept track of the fish coming out of the Big Piney, Current, Niangua, Huzzah, and Courtois,…

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Pearls: I enjoy helping my students succeed in life

It will sound a little strange to you when yo read this, but it’s the truth: I think I’m pretty good at sorting people. Now that’s not a judgy remark; I am not boasting about my ability to divide people or separate them into piles of race, color, creed or any other real profile or…

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Social Security: Check the status of your claim online

If you applied for Social Security benefits, or have a pending reconsideration or hearing request, you can check the status online using your free personal my Social Security account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to review the following information about your appeal: • Date of filing. • Current…

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On the Brighter Side: An Easter message for families

Every morning the employees at a well known publishing company face a major decision. Who is going to empty the dishwasher? You see, it is really no one’s job to empty it. It is just one of those tedious chores that is hated by all and everyone tries to ignore it as they grab their…

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For Your Health: Spilling the beans on coffee and health

For the morning coffee drinkers out there, a recent study found there may be one more reason to enjoy that first cup of the day. In a study of over 40,000 people in a national health survey, researchers found that morning coffee drinkers had a lower risk of dying prematurely than non-coffee drinkers. And the…

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Pearls: This isn’t Reagan’s America

An autopsy is a procedure performed following one’s death, the purpose of which is to discover either a cause of death or the extent of whatever illness or abnormality from which an individual suffered at the time of the time of said death. That’s the literal definition. Sometimes today, though, we speak figuratively about an…

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View from the Front Porch: A medical drama junkie

“Yep, it’s almost midnight. Let the screaming begin.” -Dr. Susan Lewis from the TV show ER My addiction began innocently enough. It was December of 2023 and I was looking for a new television series to watch while I worked in my art studio. I love having something on in the background while I work…

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