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Those who long to take a walk on the wild side will have that opportunity tomorrow night at the Sixth Annual Howling at the Moon event hosted by the Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri. The event takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Westwood Center. Catering will be provided by Maya’s and “Thin Blue Line” will provide the entertainment. Sponsors for the event include Coffman & Company, Key Drugs, Hicks Animal Hospital, the Ripley County Veterinary Service, Budweiser, First Midwest Bank, Dental Arts Group, and Pack’s Do-It Center. Charlotte Craig, organizer of the event, says that a silent auction will also be included in the evening’s festivities, and all money raised through the event will go towards

Artfully Framed will be hosting its 8th Annual Christmas Open House this weekend. Owner Barbara Pelton says that many people have come to view her Open House as their official kick-off for the holiday season. “We have up to 200 people visit our store for this event,” said Pelton. Hours for this year’s event are 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov.7, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8. Pelton said that a favorite feature of her event are her theme-decorated Christmas trees. “Most of our ornaments are hand-crafted from artisans from this area, and we have some from around the world,” she explained. Some of the themes included this year are the Religious Tree, the Peacock Tree, and

PHOTO: Sara Scott Stafford with her brother Case and Dad Scott, with her 7-point buck killed in Missouri's youth deer season Youth deer season, that time honored tradition when precarious adolescences are escorted into the wild by the seasoned outdoorsman in their life, in hopes of encountering the majestic whitetail deer, and subsequently assassinating your majesty by means of a lead projectile through the lungs. A challenging adventure for both; the youth, thrust into the woods in the dark, surrounded by sights and sounds that are quite foreign, and the instructor, tasked with both protection and patience, in a constant attempt to muffle the young hunter while holding their fickle interest and answering their relentless questions. That is the essence

PHOTO: Josh Gowan with a couple Lake Kinkaid, Illinois crappie Oh sweet fall, how I adore thee! The leaves are a turnin’ my friends, and if there was anything I could do to accelerate the process I’d be on it. The crappie are biting at every lake in the Midwest right now, so if you're not in a tree waiting on a big buck, get out there and go fishing! Being that I will be afield and “awater” for the next three weekends, I was intent on spending every minute with my wife and son, and getting some real quality family time in the books. We watched movies, played some board games, and kicked the ball around in the yard,

Some have likened America’s educational system to an imperiled ship, buffeted about and taking on water with each so-called reform that blows through like a hurricane. The current ugly storm rocking Missouri’s public schools surrounds the implementation of the Common Core State Standard Initiative (CCSSI) brought into our state by Governor Nixon and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in 2009/10. Multiple laws prohibit federal involvement in the details of education. Missouri law requires that the legislature be responsible for educational standards and that each local school board be allowed to alter as they see fit. But none of that stopped the governor from bypassing the legislature and signing Missouri onto the CCSSI anyway. The CCSSI encompasses hollow