In prison placing someone in solitary confinement can have detrimental effects on the mind and body. more

I'm five hours into Sunday night after Sophia's landing. Sophia is an 11-week-old toy poodle who is going to be my new companion dog. I keep taking her outside to do her duty, but she instantly wants to get back on my lap. She is lying on my chest as I write this column. more

My mother never made cinnamon rolls for breakfast or an apple pie for supper, leastways none that I can recall. more

All a telephone was good for when I was a boy was talking to people beyond earshot. more

My late husband was a sensitive soul. He had a big heart and liked to help others, but that’s not the kind of sensitivity I’m talking about. I’m referring to touch. more

In December, the group I moderate, DIVAS, decided to celebrate Thanksgiving every Thursday. The ladies try to thank at least one person extra every Thursday and be thankful throughout the day. A word of encouragement goes a long way for someone feeling down or not on top of their game. Anyone can participate in Thankful Thursday, so join the bandwagon and beat the kindness drum. more

Chocolate chip cookies, the Slinky, Play-Doh, Post-It notes, and potato chips. The one thing they all have in common is this: They’re losers. more

It was one of those random conversations spurred by a bit on the news about population growth: Benton County, Arkansas, has experienced phenomenal growth. more

Dear Friends and Neighbors of the City of Buffalo/Dallas County R-1 Schools: more

Many of us at the Montgomery Senior Center have great concerns about our crossing the street to get into the center without getting run over. There have been many close calls. What would it take to get the city of Buffalo to put a flashing light or better signage to alert the drivers to slow down? I understand our Board has contacted the city and were told it cost too much. What has to happen, one of us getting hit by a vehicle or someone getting killed, you can’t put a cost on someone’s life. It would be nice to come up with a solution for this problem. more

As losses go, this isn't a big one. I shouldn't even care. Still, I'm sad about it. It's hard to accept that the best jeans in my closet – and possibly the world – are on their last threads.   more

I told myself I wouldn’t write this column, but Angela just won’t let go, nor would I wish it so. This is for all who mourn Angelas of their own: more