Created in 1941, Wappapello Lake has brought in tourists and vacationers from all over to visit the beautiful getaway. Wappapello Lake has 288 available campsite stations, 29 boat launch locations and four swimming beaches for public use. Once summertime arrives, these locations fill up quickly with thousands of people...

A few years ago, I was supposed to meet with a family to plan the funeral for their family's elderly patriarch. One of his four children called me and said, "You'll have to meet with us all separately. We cannot even stand to be in the same room together." My mind was reeling over what could possibly be the cause of such a traumatic level of division. ...

There have been two recent anniversaries of courageous acts. First, the 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy where young men parachuted behind German lines and stormed the beaches, driving back the German army from the evil perpetuated across Europe. ...

Back a bunch of years we met a couple in Nebraska who had a ministry that had both music and speaking. Both of them would sing and play the piano and the guitar and then he would speak an evangelistic type message. Marge and I loved to listen to them. ...

Born as Missouri dismantled lawful enslavement, Frank Carroll was among the first generation born in freedom. His parents, Abram and Mary, had been enslaved by legendary Gen. Nathaniel W. Watkins, serving their master on his Jackson property. When freedom came, Watkins' former slaves were offered no assets of acreage or a mule. ...

I have dedicated my career and most of my life to conservation, so wildlife is very important to me. It's the idea of passing on fisheries and wildlife resources to future generations through wise management. Of all my duties as a conservation agent, one of my most challenging comes this time of year. I sincerely hope this information (wise conservation) reaches those who really need it, either directly or indirectly, and is absorbed. I cannot stress the importance of this enough...

The outdoor furnishings market has been dominated for years by wicker-look resin furniture and beachy prints. Spindly folding lawn chairs have given way to deep, comfy seating, and fabric choices have grown from sweaty, rough plastics to weatherproof linen, soft cotton, even velvet. The living room has most certainly moved outdoors...

Zachary Hodges of Cape Girardeau recently attended Space Academy at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, home of Space Camp, Space Camp Robotics, Aviation Challenge, U.S. Cyber Camp and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's Official Visitor Center. The weeklong educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math, while training students and with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and problem-solving...

Submitted by Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary Juliet is a 1-year-old kitty looking for a loving forever home. She is available for adoption at Safe Harbor; call (573) 243-9823.

Monday: Sloppy Joe with oven-fried potatoes or chicken tot bake, green beans, fruited gelatin, whole-grain bun or bread and chilled peaches or cookies. Tuesday: Brunch menu: Sausage patties, scrambled eggs, baked hash browns with onions, biscuit with gravy and fruit salad...

The beautiful flowers shown here are from a catalpa tree. The catalpa can grow to over 50 feet tall in ideal growing conditions, but is more often a sprawling tree. The catalpa can be easily recognized in spring by its large, heart-shaped leaves. In early summer it often hosts a multitude of yellow-and-black-colored sphinx moth caterpillars. And during autumn the catalpa is often recognized as "the bean tree" because of the long, slender seed pods that resemble green beans...

HONOLULU -- A snake stowed away in a man's bag and remained undetected until it completed the trip from Florida to Hawaii, officials said. The southern black racer snake slithered out of the man's backpack when he arrived on Maui. Snakes have no natural predators in Hawaii and pose a threat to Hawaii's native species. ...

Don Carlos Authentic Mexican Restaurant & Taqueria is nestled just inside the front entrance of West Park Mall. I will admit, I have walked by it many times, but I was never curious enough to stop and eat. Recently, when I read Don Carlos was opening a restaurant in Jackson at the old site of a barbecuse joint in front of the Riverside Regional Library, which is just a little closer to home to me than Cape, well, you can color me curious. ...

Warm weather and cool, refreshing citrus seem to be a natural go-together. I love lemon-flavored anything; from pasta or chicken to iced tea and desserts; if it has lemon in it, I'm sure to enjoy it. When a recipe calls for lemons in the ingredients I am drawn to make it and enjoy the party in my mouth...

EAGAN, Minn. -- Dalvin Cook's rookie year was dominated by his rehabilitation from reconstructive knee surgery, and his second season included recuperation from a significant hamstring strain. The arduous process of recovery from injuries quickly made the Minnesota Vikings running back realize the necessity of eating right...

NEW YORK -- Joy Harjo, the first Native American to be named U.S. poet laureate, has been ready for a long time. "I've been an unofficial poetry ambassador -- on the road for poetry for years," the 68-year-old Harjo wrote in a recent email to The Associated Press. "I've often been the only poet or Native poet-person that many have seen/met/heard. I've introduced many poetry audiences to Native poetry and audiences not expecting poetry to be poetry."...

NEW ORLEANS -- Louisiana's governor said floodwaters from the Midwest are severely hurting people who make their living from coastal seafood, so he's asking the federal government to declare a fisheries disaster for the state. Floodwaters rushing from the Bonnet Carre Spillway north of New Orleans have killed oysters, hurt fish catches and damaged livelihoods, Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross...

LAS VEGAS -- The National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas has outgrown its space east of the Las Vegas Strip, according to museum officials, who are looking for a new location to expand the facility's nuclear testing exhibits. The museum, which opened in 2005 and became affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution in 2011, chronicles the development of atomic weapons and Nevada's history hosting above-ground tests for the weapons for decades...

While most seniors spend their retirement years relaxing, Carl and Donna Holmes are spending theirs raising their great-grandson, Jayce. Across an age difference of 65 years, Carl, 70, and his wife Donna, 65, care for Jayce, 5, who lost his mother to the opioid epidemic about two years ago...

As I was growing up, I was very aware of gardens. My grandparents would take me out to the back lot and I would watch as they picked tomatoes and beans. I would pick a few, but got bored very easily and decided to run and jump in the dirt. Now that was fun...

Are you amazed at how you can go from doing one thing to performing another? If your life is anything like mine, you know that things become very sticky sometimes. The happenings that take place, daily, sometimes weigh me down. If I don't watch myself, I can become overwhelmed and pressured. I wonder if whatever I'm experiencing will ever end...

On a recent Friday, I felt tired. More than tired, actually; I felt exhausted, the kind where I questioned my ability to physically do one more thing. My strength was gone, and my will was gone; I felt physically, mentally and spiritually depleted. It had been a busy, hard week; I was done. I needed to rest...

In a few months, I'll be 61 years old. I like this time in my life, perhaps more than any other time that has come before. Recently, I learned something that rattled my general sense of equanimity. Interested in family history, lately I've been investigating my maternal roots, ancestors I've never met but about whom bits and pieces have been shared over the years...

A busy summer schedule for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways includes several learning opportunities for area residents related to river safety. Park rangers have expanded the number of dates this year for the American Canoe Association paddling clinics and guided floats because of the high amount of interest at previous events, explained Dena Matteson, chief of interpretation, planning and partnerships at the Riverways...

Buchheit of Jackson raised $400 for the Jackson High School FFA chapter and $313 for the Saxony Lutheran FFA chapter. Customers of each Buchheit store raised funds for the FFA promotion from Feb. 13 through 26 by purchasing donation cards at the registers. Customers received an exclusive FFA coupon to use in store with their donation. The money raised goes toward supporting FFA members and agricultural education. Buchheit donated a total of $3,468.00 to local FFA chapters in 2019...

Submitted by Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary Jack andJill are 8-week-old Chihuahuas. They are full of energy and are available for adoption at Safe Harbor; call (573) 243-9823.

The weather has turned off better for the farmers and gardeners, so those who were needing to work their soil might be able to. Many worked their gardens when it was too wet, which really messes up the soil especially when there is some clay in it. I sure appreciate some dry cool days...

Monday: Cheeseburger or smothered bratwurst, seasoned Tater Tots, steamed zucchini, whole-grain bun and cinnamon applesauce or lemonade cake. Tuesday: BBQ pork chop or chopped steak with bacon and onion gravy, baked potato, Brussels sprouts, whole-grain hot roll and sugar-free peach crisp or blonde brownie...