Last week at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., President Obama made insensitive remarks about Christianity that deeply disappointed me and many other Christians across the nation. While rightly criticizing the atrocious violence by the Islamic State, the president wrongly compared this behavior to the Christian faith to make a political point. His remarks oversimplified history and did not acknowledge the real threat radical Islam poses to all faiths. The Christianity I know spreads a message of love and hope that we see throughout southeast and southern Missouri. In Cape Girardeau, La Croix Church collects money to build clean wells for villages in Africa and supports Feed My Starving Children. In Rolla, volunteers from Grace Fellowship Church and churches

Ozark Federal Credit Union made a $100 donation to the Poplar Bluff High School Competition Cheer Squad toward their trip to compete over the weekend in the Universal Cheerleader Association’s National High School Cheerleading Championship in Florida. The cheerleaders ended up placing eighth out of 14 teams in the preliminary round of the Large Varsity Division II, missing out by a single place for advancement to the semi-finals. To watch the performance, visit: http://goo.gl/GraV2b.

I enjoy an early February warm front as much as the next guy, but the 20 mph south wind that accompanies it I could do without. But alas, that is the nature of early spring, which regardless of what that Pennsylvanian varmint sees or doesn’t see, starts for us outdoorsmen the day after duck season ends. The golden opportunity for us weekend warriors came Saturday morning, before the wind gusts exceeded the speed limit on most city streets. Thanks to the wonders of social media and my vast array of friends, I was able to see monster crappie coming from every body of water between Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Erie! Reelfoot Lake is turning out some slabs in the shallow,

Dental Arts Group donated $100 to the Iron Mules—the Poplar Bluff High School Robotics Club—toward funding an encoder, a piece of equipment needed so the students could compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge state qualifier this past weekend at Ballwin. Dr. Eric Blaich used to take a robotics class at PBHS under the instruction of retired teacher Bill Reeves, and the dentist is interested in supporting the program’s reinstatement, he said.  

The Mules Booster Club has selected Poplar Bluff High School basketball star Joseph Eyler and swimming prodigy Taylor Norwood as Athletes of the Month for December. Norwood, a freshman, has made the state cut and holds the school record in the 200 individual medley and relay; 200 and 400 free relay; 200 and 500 freestyle; 100 backstroke; and the 100 butterfly. She also made the state cut in the 100 freestyle. She holds meet records at the Rec Relays in the 100 and 400 free relay, the 200 medley and the 200 butterfly, as well as at the City of Roses in the 200 medley. Last but not least, she holds the Jackson Pool record in the 200 medley and