Opinion

Hills are greening up, fiddlers are tuning up and visitors from around the globe are showing up as the entertainment mecca of Branson, MO, gears up for a record-breaking season in the beloved Ozarks.

It’s a magical place known for musical excellence where God is honored — and where there are so many fiddlers — it’s difficult to predict whether “Cotton-eyed Joe” or “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” gets more play.

Most of us can’t get enough of either number, unflustered if the instruments go up in smoke as the music intensifies.

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Prom was a success and it is over! The Old Gym Venue was transformed to a beautiful garden and the kids danced until just past midnight! King Tommasso Trezi and Queen Baylee Gray were crowned and numerous prizes were given away throughout the evening.

Thank you, Class of 2025, and hope you, the Class of 2024, had a great time at your party!
“Dance with the one that brought ya!”

Since I was a small boy, I have heard older family members and friends discussing the old days, how things used to be, and how things have changed. I’m definitely a victim of this tradition as well. I watch society transpose before my eyes each day. Year after year, it seems the world is descending more rapidly into a strange vortex of technological noise and fury.

A very Happy 70th Anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Laylon Peacock! Seventy years is a long time! Thank you for the example you have set and for showing us that love and commitment is the way to go. Jean and Laylon, you are beautiful people.

Spring break ended.

Belated Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I hope you wore green and no one was pinched!

The Woodson Volunteer Fire Department will sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30 at the community center on FM 209. There will be three age divisions. Bring your baskets, kids ages 12 and under! Thank you WVFD!

To most mortals — mere or otherwise — the thought of jumping rope 30,660,000 times causes hair to stand on end, eyes to cross and regimens to crumble.

Not so to a preacher man named Van Minter, whose morning routine is vital to each day.

He has kept this commitment for almost 12,800 days, having begun his 36th year on “leap year,” February 29. He made the pledge to himself upon completing his collegiate basketball career in 1989.

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Spring came early this year. When we experienced temperatures over ninety in late February, I understood that the almanac missed it. An unanticipated early spring changes the entire dynamic on a small farm like ours. The ensuing scramble to till the garden and plant has overtaken me.

When planting a garden, timing is everything.

In the last few years, our garden has been attacked by the cruel Texas elements and malevolent grasshopper swarms that embody Biblical plague status... at least to us.

Dear Rusty: I will be 64 in March and currently receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments. My full retirement age is 67, but I’m thinking about trying to return to work.

If I work and my earnings exceed the monthly disability payment limits, but do not exceed the annual limit, how will my disability payments be affected? Will working while receiving Social Security disability payments change my Social Security benefit amount when I reach my full retirement age of 67?

We are among the dwindling few who still answer the doorbell when it chimes between sunup and sunset. (If we don’t hear it, we can rely 100% on our new rescue dog, Archie, to “bark” an alert.)

Oh, it’s not quite that simple. First, we use the peephole to see who is seeking entry. If the person is exceedingly short, the visitor may be a Girl Scout. I figure I can hold my own with her, knowing her mom is likely nearby, fading into the background after pressing the bell button.

Spring break is here! School resumes March 18.

Y’all come and enjoy the Woodson One Act Play Community Performance of THE MAGIC WELL at 6 p.m. Monday, March 18! It’s free but donations are welcome! Desserts are rumored to be available that evening.

One Act Play has practice from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, March 17. Dress rehearsal. Wear green!

The one act play cast and crew will put on their community performance of THE MAGIC WELL  at 6 p.m. Monday, March 18. Y’all come and watch! It’s free but donations are welcome!

That said, one act play cast and crew have practice from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, March 17.

Dress rehearsal. That’s the last Sunday of spring break! Wear green!

Spring break begins this Friday! No school March 11-14!

Track is underway! Run fast! Turn left! Jump high! This Thursday in Munday!

Golf is in full swing! They played through at Archer City this week.