Memorial Day is quickly approaching, and what a great day to remember our nation’s fallen heroes. If it wasn’t for these brave men and women who fought for our country, we would not be enjoying the freedoms we have today. Although some end up in the military without a thought of patriotism, in need of the stability it can offer, and others via drafts, some are in it solely for the love of our country.

Family protection occurs in some interesting ways in the bird world.

I’ve heard enough about the “good ol’ days” of a half a century or more ago. I’ve stewed about it for awhile, but what finally brought the cream to the top was a newspaper article I read last week about air conditioning in public schools.

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day. Thank you is simply not enough. As a society, we often take for granted all of the women who mother us.

Graduation has begun in Webster County. Those graduates will hear thousands of pieces of advice ranging from "Hard work pays off," "Good Luck," and many others. Well, for this article, consider me the thousandth and one piece of advice you will hear.

It is commendable that we remember our own mothers with cards and other tokens of love this Mother's Day, but it is even more fitting that we thank God and pray for mothers everywhere.

April was a musical month for schools, as it was time for the District and State Music Festivals. Fordland, Marshfield, and Logan-Rogersville received numerous exemplary ratings at the District festival on April 11.

As our school year starts winding down, it is time to think about our students and their summer plans. Summers are a time of fun and enjoyment for kids, full of outdoor activities, bike rides, swimming, and more. For students in the age group we serve, however, it can also mean lots of unsupervised time. Many parents work Monday through Friday jobs, and kids ages 9-11 are often considered old enough to stay home alone. With this in mind, we will be having a Shook Safety Night on Tuesday, May 16 from 6:00-8:00 pm. This event is designed to provide parents with the knowledge necessary to keep their children safe, in hopes we will see all of our kiddos again in August, happy and healthy.

Marshfield Seniors have been finishing their senior projects for the last few months. These projects have ranged from concerts, diaper drives, 5k runs, and many others focusing on improving themselves, the school, or the community. One senior has wrapped up her project with incredible success.

Kindergarten screenings are happening all over Webster County

The Marshfield FFA Chapter and Booster club held its annual Career Development Event (CDE) on Mar. 18. Over 1,800 students from over 80 schools throughout the state were registered to compete in this competition. Events included Ag Mechanics, Agronomy, Dairy and Livestock Judging, Dairy Foods, Soils Evaluation, Entomology, Nursery and Landscaping, Floriculture, Forestry, Meats Evaluation, Poultry, and a variety of leadership events such as Ag Sales, FFA Knowledge, and Public Speaking.

On November 8, 2022 Missouri voters made history when when they voted to legalize Marijuana for recreational use in the state. The new law goes into effect on December 8, 2022.

It is no secret that Marshfield is full of small businesses: from local eateries to coffee shops to boutiques, the small business industry in Marshfield seems to be thriving. However, where small businesses ARE thriving-there is a distinct lack of focus on offering small business owners with help.

"This cross country season was another year of breaking statistical categories for our team. This year beat the previous 2 seasons regarding cutting time from the start of the year to the finish with the most noticeable time being that of Junior Zach Mitchell who was able to qualify for the State cross country meet for a 3rd consecutive season. Zach also finished with his best time and placing in the state meet at 45th overall with a personal best time of 17:14. I am very proud of every individual on our team with their ability to adapt to changes in practice scheduling and a change in the demand they were asked to put on their bodies. This group is an amazingly talented group and I am looking forward to bringing all but 1 runner back (Senior Austin Palubicki who shattered his own personal records every week). Overall this season was very successful in the aspect of the growth that our team has made and the foundation this group has set for the future." - Marshfield's Head XC Gage Miers

Thanks to the Wild Honey Boutique, helping those in need is not only more accessible but more fun too. Three months ago, they started making mystery bags. These bags could contain a baby onesie to three outfits to benefit foster children. All purchased bags are then dropped off at the Department of Family Services monthly.

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" As kids, we would give answers such as an astronaut, president, or bullfighter, which was fun. But, as years went on, that little question started to loom over and cast a shadow filled with anxiety and dread, primarily as graduation from high school drew closer. "What do I want to be when I grow up?"