September 12, 2017 09:31September 12, 2017 09:29September 12, 2017 09:28September 12, 2017 09:26September 12, 2017 09:25September 6, 2017 10:01

Hen pheasants down dramatically in 2017 count

It was several years ago that I started noticing the decrease in the number of hens per pheasant rooster in the spring. It could/should be three hens per rooster for best nesting. This spring it was worse as I noticed mostly one hen per rooster. From a high of three hens with one rooster it occasionally dipped to an occasional rooster that was very lonesome as it displayed its beauty and crowed to no one. Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Small Bytes

Last week Equifax, one of the world's largest credit reporting services, had a data breach that has affected an estimated 143 million people, including a good chunk of local residents. Sensitive personal information was exposed, including everything hackers need to steal identities. If you've used Equifax or had a credit report done you should take action. Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Back to school - gut check time!

By now most, if not all of our young people are back to school and beginning to expand their brain power and book knowledge. Parents and guardians have spent lots of time and money preparing them for the first day of classes with supplies. At any age, however, a young person may be affected by various forms of violence and not be prepared for how to recognize it, or process what they are experiencing. Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Show Capital of the Midwest

It never ceases to amaze me how a city of just over 10,000 people could create an entertainment mecca like Branson, Mo. I'm not sure if the city's slogan is "Show Capital of the Midwest," but it should be. At night, when you drive down the strip that features a multitude of stage theaters and restaurants, it is lit up like what I'm guessing is a miniature version of Las Vegas. It really is quite spectacular. Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Protecting emergency vehicles

Saturday morning, while watching The Weather Channel's wall-to-wall coverage of Hurricane Irma, a story about rescue workers caught my attention. Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Swami turns to reverse psychology

Anyone who knows me knows there isn't a professional sports team I cheer for more than I cheer for the Minnesota Vikings. My first memory of a sporting event was Ahmad Rashad's Hail Mary catch against Cleveland to win a division title. And for as much as I rail about the Pearson push-off, I'll admit that it occured in 1975. I would have been two years old. As always, I'm optimistic about the Vikings' chances this season. But as I sat at my desk Thursday, contemplating that night's fantasy draft, something came to my mind. Thursday, September 7, 2017