February 2023

Innovation is Essential for Ag

I’ve often said that farmers are some of the smartest people I know. In large part, because of how innovative farmers are. In my younger days, I thought innovation was finding different ways to use baling wire to fix things! But people in agriculture are always trying new things or seeking to make something work better. This experimentation drives the development of new technologies, breeds, and new ways to tackle issues in an industry that is very dynamic and challenging.
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Unpopular opinion

Last week I logged an unpopular opinion in this column. For those keeping track, my opinion last week was pretty wellreceived, and over the course of the week, I have had a number of readers, many Chiefs fans, say they agree.
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Monett brings out 55 donors

A recent American Red Cross blood drive hosted at Church of Christ in Monett saw some major milestones for local donors. A total of 55 donors turned up of the blood drive, and four first-time donors, Samuel Brubacker, Steven Smith, Orl Reyes Lagunas and Jan Feldman, made their first appearance at a Monett drive.
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Washburn man chairs national organization

Jerry Varner, owner of Making Memories Tours in Washburn, will chair the National Tour Association board of directors in 2023. NTA, founded in 1951, is composed of tour operators who package group travel and connect with other NTA members – representatives of destinations, hotels, attractions and experience providers from all 50 states and more than 35 countries around the world – to create unique multiday tours.
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Monett amends marijuana ordinance

Monett city leaders this week approved an amendment to city code to allow for the production, distribution and sale of adult use marijuana. The amendment was approved to keep the city in line with state laws voters approved last year that allows for the recreational use of marijuana by adults in the state.
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Kayna Kay Sims

Kayna Kay Sims, age 85, of Mt. Vernon, passed away at 11:15 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. She was born Oct. 10, 1937, in Mt. Vernon, the daughter of Frank and Katheryn (Snyder) Young.
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