Opinion

By: Travis Naughton Totally Awesome, and Worth the Wait I learned how to ride a bicycle in 1977 when I was six years old. Mine was a Western Flyer model with metallic-flake purple paint, gooseneck handlebars (with purple and white tassels), a banana seat, and a racing slick on the back. It was a gorgeous

By Jason Andringa President Biden is in ongoing talks to discuss his multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan. Ever since its release, critics have claimed that many aspects of the plan have nothing to do with infrastructure. However, that isn’t really fair. Today’s economy requires the definition of infrastructure to go beyond traditional transit systems like roads and

By: Travis Naughton When I stopped drinking alcohol four and a half years ago, I made a calculated decision to write about my struggle with addiction here in the pages of the Boone County Journal. I did so for two reasons. First, I hoped that my message might resonate with someone out there in Readerland

By: Cathy Salter In life, exploring new territory can be both an opportunity and a daunting challenge. For months, Kit and I have been downsizing in preparation for a life-changing move to California where we first met in 1977. As spring began to show its colors in the Midwest, we packed up possessions that were

By: Travis Naughton When I stopped taking substitute teaching assignments back in March, in order to be available to watch my grandbaby Freya while her mom and dad dedicated themselves to their college studies, our household of seven humans, two dogs, two cats, and a half-dozen fish become a one-income household. (Thankfully, my lovely wife

By: Cathy Salter Spring happened suddenly this year. Redbud trees burst onto the scene as if Mother Nature had dipped her paintbrush in a palette of plum hues and raced through the woods with abandon. White dogwood flowers deep in the woods mirrored the evanescence of fireflies. Fruit trees bloomed in our orchard. Bees buzzed.

By: Travis Naughton Just before the 2020-2021 school year kicked off last September, I received a notification from Kelly Educational Staffing alerting me that my subbing services had been requested by my friend and coworker Misti Post. When I saw that Misti would need coverage for the first two weeks of the school year, I

When I moved my family here, back to my wife’s hometown of Ashland, Missouri 23 years ago…Ashland was a small place where everyone knew everyone and everyone knew everyone’s business. Coming from the big city of Raytown, Missouri, I was impressed by the God-fearing, moral-loving, family-oriented town and it was exactly where I wanted to

By: Cathy Salter The first purple on spring’s palette always comes from the most delicate of flowers. Weeks before the official arrival of spring, crocuses push their way up through the hard winter ground. Cheered on by a few days of false spring temperatures, tiny purple crocuses emerge with variegated arms outstretched and saffron tongues

By: Travis Naughton Maybe it’s true that no day can be absolutely perfect, but today (Sunday, April 25) came as close as any I can remember. The day started with sleeping in until 9:00am and waking up beside my beautiful bride of nearly 25 years. And it kept getting better and better after that. After