It's time to get out of the city and head for the hills, especially if the hills are in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, a corner of the world that's been attracting visitors since Colonial times and native Americans before then.

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Historic sites in Mark Twain's hometown are open and safe despite reports of some flooding.

Within walking distance of Southeast Missouri State University, this two-story, all-brick home with unfinished attic and mostly finished basement has a level yard with established landscaping in a charming neighborhood on a tree-lined street.

They give birth. They give food. They nurture and teach. And they get a day. Mother's Day. One day above the rest that children of all ages show appreciation for all that mom does.

The main reason my trip north in March across the Peruvian border and into the southern Ecuadorian Andes was hotly anticipated was because of the heat itself. Piura was Missouri in July without air conditioning. If I'd ever sweat so much, I'd never had to look so good doing it.

Mom. Working mom. Household manager. Coach. Bouncer. Bodyguard. Craftsman. Nurse. There never seem to be enough titles to try to capture all that Mom is.

Handbell concert will be held at Grace United Methodist

Psychologists suggest ways to cope with life, be happy and feel less pain. Christian ministers offer God's plan for dealing with ups and downs and suffering. My mother had her own method of dealing with catastrophes, disappointments and rejection.

A legend surrounding St. Francis is that he preached to a flock of birds in a tree about the many reasons they should be thankful for God's love. The birds sat attentively listening and did not fly away until St. Francis told them they could leave.

SCHOLARSHIPSn Zachary Wachter of Chaffee, Mo., has been awarded the Charter Collegiate Scholarship Award for 2008.n Brooke Heischmidt of Cape Girardeau has been awarded the Pepsi-Cola Public Affairs Scholarship.

FRIDAYNew Movies"Redbelt," Rated R, running time 1 hour 39 minutes @ Cape West 14 Cine"Speed Racer" Rated PG, running time 2 hours 15 minutes @ Town Plaza Cinema"What Happens in...

Have you ever tested your kinesthetic sense? This is important for any body movement and here's an experiment that will get you tuned into your kinesthetic sense. Ingredientn BlindfoldInstructionsSTEP 1: Cover your eyes using the blindfold.

On Monday and Thursday afternoons at Cape Bible Chapel you can find 10 children ranging in ages from 9 to 14, two women and a pile of jump ropes. They are the jumpers and two coaches of a program called "Alpha Omega Jumpers."

I can grill up a burger, hot dog or even a swordfish steak with the best. But truth be told, perfecting the chicken breast — juicy in the middle, caramelized exterior — is a nerve-racking experience.

Last week I told you about the cookbook I pulled off of my shelf to share recipes with you. As I mentioned, I am continuing this week from the same book, "The Dinner Doctor," by Anne Byrn. There are several books in the doctor series, but this is one of my favorites.

April showers have brought May flowers to my neck of the woods.

CalendarTodayn Preparation for childbirth class: 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Saint Francis Medical Center. Guide to expected bodily changes, labor signs and stages, pain control techniques and basic infant care. Tips on relaxing, positioning and breathing will also be discussed.

WASHINGTON — Everyone's genes spell out a risk for some disease, and a coming anti-discrimination law is about to give genetic testing a boost.But discrimination is just one hurdle.

CHICAGO — Insulin pumps are used by tens of thousands of teenagers worldwide with Type 1 diabetes, but they can be risky and have been linked to injuries and even deaths, a review by federal regulators finds.

WASHINGTON — The challenge was to come up with an idea that can transform public education, particularly in poor communities. The winner: an educator with a passion for making school fun.

This three-bedroom ranch in the Dalhousie subdivision has hardwood flooring and crown molding throughout, an in-ground pool, gas fireplace and sprinkler system.

It's hard to fear a biker with a teddy bear strapped to the back of a Harley.Bikers often get a reputation for fighting. On April 26, 75 of them, clad in black leather with their motorcycles, gathered at the flagpole at Cape County Park to fight child abuse.

As a parent, one of the things that I enjoy the most is reading to my kids. There are the silly crafted phrases of Dr. Seuss, the outrageous shenanigans of talking animals. With each book there is another adventure, another discovery, another spark of imagination.

The Bible says nothing about ozone depletion, ocean acidification causing possible extinction of certain forms of sea life or melting polar ice caps. You don't expect the Bible to say anything about those things. It's not that kind of a book.

Summer Bible study on James to begin in JuneThe eight-week Stonecroft Bible Study at the park for the summer will be "James, the Christian Faith." Studies will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.