I realized yesterday that this coming Monday is what I now call my “Homecoming.” Feb. 12, 2013, I landed in Kansas City, having left Kabul some 36 hours before, flying through Dubai, and then to Atlanta. The trip from Atlanta to KC dragged by, but eventually, I was on the ground. Max was waiting, and he took me to a Starbucks to get a vanilla latte before we headed back to home sweet home. more

Wow, what a month to celebrate. Sunday, we have the Super Bowl, and a few days later, Valentine's Day. Both are perfect days for entertaining groups or intimate dining with unique dishes and excellent wines. more

Valentine's Day is next Wednesday. Men, this is your reminder. Women, you need no reminder. It is just one day, and that one day cannot make up for not loving the other 364 days of the year. more

There’s a possibility that another Arctic blast could be heading south this month. If so, let’s hope it’s not as bad as the one we endured in early January. more

On Tuesday, April 22, 1890, J. West Goodwin, editor of the Sedalia Bazoo, printed items about activities in Sedalia in his usual biting way. He spoke of the glories of springtime, improvements being made to Sedalia, and, of course, crimes being committed against innocent Sedalians. more

When a thought or a random fact circles around and around in your head, looking for a place to land, sometimes it’s trying to tell you something. Lately, it’s elephants who keep tromping around in my brain. more

Missouri’s Senate is heading into uncharted territory that could disrupt the legislative process for the remaining months of this year’s session. more

I’m sure you’ve heard all about it. Taylor Swift is an operative for the Democratic party. more

Men! Have you been personally harmed by this year’s Taylor Swift NFL storyline? Do you hate KISSING? And GIRLS? There is a solution! It’s very simple. Cross your index fingers in an “X” and repeat after me: more

Happy Love Month. February is here, the month dedicated to love, friendship and all things romantic. I do celebrate the sentiment of the month, however, I do not do Valentine’s Day because I don’t have a Valentine. I’ll be home on the 14th watching the ID channel, "Dateline" or "48 Hours." It’s all good when you think about it; most true crime episodes are about love – love gone very, very wrong. more

As we were listening to this past weekend’s readings at Holy Mass, we heard of Jesus casting out a demon from a man in the synagogue on the Sabbath. (Matthew 1: 21-28.) The demon said to Jesus, while still in the man, “Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” So, even the demon(s) can tell us that they know of Jesus; they know about Him or they know something of Him. more

Before I had teenagers of my own, I interviewed a child psychologist for an article I was writing at the time. During the interview, I asked the doctor for tips on how parents could better relate to teenagers. His answer stuck with me: “Parents need to remember that almost all teenagers have the same number one fear, and it influences nearly everything they do and say.” more

On Tuesday, Dec. 6, 1931, two years after the stock market crash that signaled the start of the Great Depression but two years before Sedalia had recognized the Depression, Sedalia Chamber of Commerce President Charles Botz entertained a group of local businessmen. After dinner was over, Botz presented a business proposition he believed would benefit Sedalia. more

As I picked up a dime from my floor the other day, I started thinking about how little I use change any more. When I was a kid, finding a coin of any kind would have been a huge deal. more

“Believe Science! Trust the science!” more

I bought “Romney: A Reckoning,” by McKay Coppins, a while back, not knowing what to expect. The book reads like a novel: Coppins tells the story of a man who began his life admiring his father and how his father stuck to his principles, changed his tune during the middle of his life, but has returned to the idea that standing immutably for something is the right thing to do. more

Extreme cold weather has an enormous impact on animal energy demands. Wet weather also results in increased energy demands for livestock. To illustrate these points, I’ve formulated some beef cow diets for varying temperatures, hair coat conditions, and hay quality. more

At least once a day, I run across a room yelling, “No, no, no!” Then I lunge for the remote control, the way a soldier dives for a grenade before it explodes. more

In February 1931, in Birmingham, Alabama, officers arrested a 30-year-old man called Joe Haton, alias Joe Rogers, but really Joe Larkin, for robbing a cafeteria. After he confessed to his involvement in the robbery of Union Savings Bank in Sedalia, they notified Pettis County Sheriff Herrick. more

As we remember and reflect on the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., there are valuable lessons that should give us hope that we can overcome what we face today in a divided and teetering America. more