Friday, December 13, 2024

“Gladiator II” has some awfully big sandals to fill, both commercially and creatively. Its predecessor, 2000’s “Gladiator,” made $187 million at the domestic box office. The new film has thus farmade an estimated $132 million after three weekends of release. With a lot of money up for grabs in the upcoming holiday season, another $55 million isn’t out of the question. Maybe I could even stretch to see it making the $68 million it needs to hit the $200 million mark. Yes, inflation means that it’s less impressive to make these numbers now than it did nearly a quarter-century ago, but these are attainable goals. What I do not see as attainable is the sequel ever becoming as well-regarded as the original. That film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, so already the new one has to live up to an impossibly

When life is far from fa-la-la-la-la

For some area birds, winter is a time to come together.

I get in trouble sometimes for complaining about changes in the Ozarks.

As the holidays approach, it is common to look back at memories from our past - the people who are gone, the moments we shared, and the times that can’t be recaptured. Recently, my thoughts drifted to autumn days in Calhan, Colorado where my grandparents owned a seven-acre homestead with a small collection of animals. One critter in particular was a grey goose with a major attitude. His name was Gus, and for much of my childhood, he terrified me.

As summer vacation comes to a close, it’s almost that time of year when parents rush to the stores for supplies and teachers dress up their classrooms to welcome back fresh-faced students.

While donations of supplies have poured in, organizers of Saturday’s Tenth Annual Polk County Back to School Extravaganza say more are always needed.

A Missouri State University student from Halfway was awarded for her success at the 2023 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Collegiate National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 22-25.

Registration for all Humansville R-IV students will take place Aug. 9 through Aug.11, from 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration packets will be available for parent pick up starting Tuesday, Aug. 8.

Sullivan Bank in Pleasant Hope will be doing a school supply drive for the Pleasant Hope School District.

St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 9, 2024 – As the year winds down, Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) is writing its naughty list of the top 12 holiday scams.

Get out of your house and go to a quiet place. Escape the politics, diversity and division.

Monday, Dec. 16 — Ham and Beans, tomatoes and zucchini, WG cornbread, peanut butter fudge.

Do you recognize where this might be? Watch each week for a picture to see if you can guess where it is. A new picture of the same spot will be featured each Wednesday and Friday. Winner will be chosen in a random drawing from the entries with the correct guess. Winner will be announced in the last edition of that month’s Friday paper. Place your guess for the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the sponsoring business.

Friday, Dec. 13