Columnists

“Wherever you may go; Life is a beautiful thing. Life is like a passing season. It comes and goes. Whatever may come, it’s better to enjoy the changing seasons.” ― Diana Rose Morcilla. Life is different now. I am nearly 56 years old, my kids are adults and I’m a grandma. Nearly 20 years ago…

It may have been years or even decades since you thought about how much you earned at your first job. Did you know that you can find out how much you made that first year? Or any year you worked? Your earnings history is a record of your progress toward your future Social Security benefits.…

I had the great privilege of attending the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Conference last month in Lexington, Kentucky. Besides getting to commiserate with fellow newspaper junkies, I was proud to attend and accept a highly coveted Golden Quill Award on behalf of our own Geoffrey Woehlk. Geoffrey not only writes wonderful and striking columns,…

Like everything else in this country, the price of fertilizer has gone through the roof. Last year, we were paying around $400 a ton for anhydrous ammonia. This spring, it was over $1,500 a ton. That’s a huge deal, and not just for those of us that farm for a living. It impacts everyone in…

You have never seen a more stereotypical bachelor in your life than I was in the first half of my twenties. I say this with certainty: I never cooked, and I only cleaned a bare minimum. I cracked my first egg after I was married – and I didn’t get married until I was almost…

It may be hard to believe, but many of our local schools will soon be back in session. All of the hardworking teachers in our districts have been busy preparing for the new school year to begin. They start much sooner than the official first day of school, developing lesson plans and getting their classrooms…

You can apply for Medicare online even if you are not ready to start your retirement benefits. Applying online is quick and easy. There are no forms to sign, and we usually do not require additional documentation. We’ll process your application and contact you if we need more information. Knowing when to apply for Medicare…

The August 2 primary election left me a happy camper. The turnout in Nodaway County was solid for an election step that is often bypassed by busy people; indeed, the results for a conservative like me were as ideal as one could hope. The vote went thunderously for Republicans. Roy Blunt’s approaching retirement from the…

The United States entered a recession today—despite the best efforts of President Biden and his team to change the definition of recession over the last couple of weeks. I’m sure they’ll keep talking themselves in circles, but the reality is that our economy is shrinking, wages are down, and Americans are struggling to get by.…

A State Senatorial district that stretches from Rock Port to east of Brookfield, from Eagleville to Carrolton, is absolutely ridiculous. I know three of the four individuals running for the office, two of them pretty well. I don’t think I ever met a person who could, with the specific needs of his/her constituent counties in…