Around Town: May 1, 2024
By: Ernie Wren As we watch the continuous growth of the population of Ashland, the need for smart growth becomes vitally clear. Our population has grown from 1,869 in the
What the World Needs Now
Clutching a couple of dandelions in his chubby fist, the toddler came in from the backyard, held the dandelions up to his mother and told her “I love you.” Tears
Around Town: April 24th, 2024
By: Ernie Wren All-in-all a slow week in news and drama for Ashland and Southern Boone. Which is fine, given the recent hostilities in the municipal elections and Southern Boone
Thou Art With Me
“The Lord is my shepherd” – fact or figment of our imagination? We go to a funeral home for a visitation and are handed a folder that almost always has
Around Town: April 17, 2024
By: Ernie Wren There’s been a lot of issues with the high school track’s construction progress, but I’m not going to get into that as it has been extensively covered
In Perfect Love, He Died
“Were you there when they crucified my lord”? A hymn asks the question. The crucifixion of Jesus happened nearly 2000 years ago. Of course we were not there. Or were
The True Costs of Charter Schools
Opinion By: John Downs, Superintendent of Hallsville R-IV School District As the superintendent of a rural district, I’ve been told repeatedly the schools in Hallsville would not be impacted by
Around Town: April 10th, 2024
By: Ernie Wren I’m not going to get into the election results and specifics, most of which you can find in the other Journal articles, but I do want to
May Your Joy Be Complete
“That your joy may be complete” – so wrote the apostle John in the first chapter of his first letter, verse 4. Is there such a thing as complete joy?
Wistful? No
Continuing the Spiritual Journey by: E. Jane Rutter Most mornings my 4-year-old grandson Mason has two requests of me: “Grandma, I want warm milk and to have a conversation about
