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by Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler Each November we celebrate a number of important occasions. We take time to honor our nation’s veterans on Veterans Day, remembering those brave men and women who chose to wear the uniform in defense of our country. We celebrate the children and parents who have become a family through adoption.  And,

Garegiving tips for long-distance caregivers Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend any long-distance caregiving tips that can help me help my elderly father who lives in another state? He has physically declined over the past year, but is determined to stay living in his own house. Worried Daughter Dear Worried, Providing care and support for

Two days after Christmas in 1947, the Saturday Evening Post featured a cover of iconic painter Norman Rockwell’s “Tired Salesgirl on Christmas Eve.” In Rockwell’s beloved painting, a dazed sales clerk slumps against a wall with her shoes kicked off amid a scattering of disheveled dolls and wrapping paper remnants. While we may smile at

Health tips and advice for senior travelers Dear Savvy Senior My husband and I are recently retired and would like to do some traveling both in the United States and abroad, but worry about health issues, such as insurance, finding a good hospital if we get sick, etc. What tips can you offer health conscious

If you’re like most people, there are a few times a year when you sit down to review your expenses – your cable bill, entertainment expenses and grocery receipts, for example – and try to figure out where you and your family can save money. One item you should consider is your healthcare costs in

Everyone knows it is important to save for retirement in order to build a nest egg and enjoy the “golden years.” So why is it that state and local governments many times act irresponsibly when it comes to saving for the future of public employees? Government pensions are the way in which state and local

At the airport, you take a moment to thank a solider in uniform who is returning home. On Veterans Day, you hold up a sign at your town’s parade to let those who have served know how much you care. Throughout the year, whenever you encounter veterans or someone currently serving in the armed forces,

Where words fail, the creative arts have the ability to speak. Art therapy is an empowering technique that allows for self-discovery and has the power to produce insight and expression in a non-threatening way. That is why the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) encourages creative arts as a therapeutic, and often lifesaving, tool

Nominations are being accepted for the January election of the Vernon County University of Missouri Extension Council members, according to Council Chairman Leslie Carroll-Bartlett.  The Extension council meets monthly and supports the activities of the local Extension Center. Council members are elected or appointed to two-year terms and may not serve more than two consecutive

Many spring flowerbeds awaken with the vibrant colors of tulips. Once a valuable currency, tulip has a history as vibrant as its petals. Plant tulip bulbs in October, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Look for plump bulbs free of gray discoloration, an indicator of disease. Spade soil to a depth of about