SMILE AWHILE
Long timeout a foul call for our football fanatics
By IRENE HASKINS
"I caught my husband doing something strange last Sunday afternoon," a new bride confided to her mother.

SNAPSHOTS
By IRENE HASKINS
The Mid-Missouri LGBT Coalition hosted its fourth-annual celebration and chili cook-off Feb. 11 at the Unity Center. The organization’s mission is to unify, inform, support and mobilize the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) individuals, groups and allies in our community through education and advocacy.

NEWTON'S BOOK NOTES
Newbery winners tell tales of community, relationships
By HOLLY NEWTON
The Newbery awards were recently announced. Below is a review of three of the honor award books for this year. I reviewed "Princess Academy" by Shannon Hale not too long ago.

Middle school students need involved parents
By JOYCE HULETT
Q: My daughter will enter middle school next year. What should I expect?

LET'S TALK ANTIQUES
American flags can be a valuable piece of history
By NANCY RUSSELL
There is just something about the Olympics that I can’t resist. The human efforts, the pageantry and the patriotism are a thrill. My favorite part is when the national anthem is played for the gold medal winner and the flag of their nation rises above the crowd.