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Missouri meanderings

Missouri is the Show Me State, so when my wife and I recently visited Kansas City we decided to see what Missouri had to show us. We pointed our car at Springfield, the third most populous city in Missouri. Upon arriving at our hotel, we were told that our room wouldn’t be ready for several hours. All I can say about this is that my wife is the type of person who believes that if you aren’t early, you’re late. We asked the clerk if there was anything that one could do in Springfield for a few hours, and she immediately recommended a visit to the Bass Pro Shops. This sounded ...

Vic Roznovsky and memories

Raise your hand if you remember Vic Roznovsky? Unless this gets to Vic’s hometown of Shiner, Texas, that would be none of you. Vic had a small Major League career as a backup catcher for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1960s. It coincided with summers when I played dice baseball with my brother and nephew. This was before video games, when kids had to use what was at hand to entertain themselves. For us, that was two dice, our baseball cards, and the kitchen table if my mom didn’t chase us away. We used teams of cards to “run the bases” while the dice dictated the action. ...

Celebrating student achievements and community engagement

As we approach the end of the academic year, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Pride in the Tiger board and generous donors. Their unwavering support has made a significant impact on our schools. Recently, Pride in the Tiger approved over $45,000 in spring teacher impact grants for both public and private schools in our district. These grants empower our educators by providing funding for supplemental materials that enhance teaching and learning experiences. From field trips to specialized instructional items, these grants allow our teachers to offer additional ...

Naming of cars: every great car deserves a good name

I’ve owned three different cars in my life, and all three have had a carefully chosen name. I’ve only owned three because I believe in saving up for at least 10 years, buying a brand new car and keeping it as long as possible. It doesn’t make sense to buy used. You have no idea what you’re getting. There’s no way to know how the car has been treated. I bought my first car with help from my parents in 1986. It was a 1986 Chevy Nova. My step great grandfather came with my dad and I to the dealership. That told me it was a special occasion. It must be special when a man in ...

The eclipse enthusiast

My wife and I have been chasing moon shadows. Like millions of Americans, I felt the urge to keep a date with celestial destiny when the moon totally blotted out the sun. I’ll admit it: I’m an eclipse enthusiast. The area where we live would see only a partial eclipse. Longing to have the full experience, I pulled up a map that displayed the path of totality. My finger followed the path until it landed on Poplar Bluff, Missouri. This seemed to be as good a place as any to observe the eclipse. That our toddler grandson and his parents live nearby may have had something to do ...

Donations that make life-Saving differences

Are you registered? It’s an election year, and voting is important. But we’re talking about organ donation. Registering as a donor is something you can do today that could save a life tomorrow. April is National Donate Life Month, an observance focusing national attention on the need for and importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. You can register simply by asking for it to be indicated on your driver’s license. It’s also important to let your loved ones know that you wish to be a donor. Donors save lives every day. The decision to offer vital organs, like heart, ...