Feature

In his youth, David Shaw had his head in the clouds, but instead of dreaming up a future in sports or traveling the world, David had his mind set on something much higher, literally. He dreamed of owning his own aerospace business right on his family’s farm. He told his friend, Adam Wesley, his plans […]

His hands were like leather, gnarled from years of hard labor, and he stooped as he walked. His clothes, which may have fit at one time, hung on his frame and gray hair poked out from under the dark, worn hat that shaded the bright light in his eyes. He moved briskly, for someone his […]

By Jerry McDonald In the movie, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” a character proclaims, “Sir, this is the West. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” And so, legends and stories about men like Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp, Buffalo Bill Cody, Billy the Kid and Sam Bass have shaped popular perception of […]

Every summer thousands of youngsters enjoy the experiences of summer camps. They make new friends, enjoy new experiences ranging from hiking and swimming to zip line trips, and take in all  the great outdoors offers. Scout organizations, church camps and even athletic groups give campers summer adventures they will never forget. While most camps cater […]

That first bite makes the taste buds tingle from the juicy, ripe, red berries to the tender, slightly-sweet cake and the luscious whipped cream; it’s a tower of heavenly delight! Strawberry shortcake – is there anything better? It’s a great way to kick off grilling season and usher in summer, and there is that feeling […]

In a room of some 6,000 meeting attendees you can hear a pin drop. Every eye is on the man at the podium. There’s something captivating about his message delivery. His preparation, knowledge of the topic and sincerity clearly demonstrate that he is worthy of your attention. Phil Carson’s experience as a farmer, pastor and […]

By Jerry McDonald What do Bobby Flay, Kate Middleton (aka The Princess of Wales) and your Food Network obsessed neighbor have in common? Yes, they are all human, but let’s cut it a little finer than that. They all use cutting boards from John Boos & Company, a small manufacturing firm in Effingham, Ill. Today, […]

With the flick of a fingertip, we brighten a room by flipping on a light switch. Feeling a sudden chill, we bump the thermostat and instantly our furnace responds with warm air. We even charge our computers, phones and – in some cases – our automobiles by plugging them into electrical outlets in our office, […]

Down the hill we go I had started a new job in September, 1976, and while there was a Christmas tree in the recreation area for the residents, there didn’t appear to be one in the administrative offices. Since my dad had a farm, he always kept an eye out for the perfect tree for […]

Americans love having lots of options. We flock to buffets, subscribe to more television channels than we can ever watch, and are overwhelmed by the choices presented at the local coffee shop. We also enjoy a huge array of plays and ways to do our shopping, too. It used to be that we did all […]