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Positive Parenting: Facing head-on the stress that often accompanies ‘When Baby Makes Three’
by Kelsey Rasmussen Imagine you’re exhausted, recovering from the physical trauma of giving birth. Physically, you need to heal and replace pints of blood for yourself while producing milk for this new life who is dependent on you for food, touch, and diaper changes, to name a few. This attention is required nearly constantly—day or […]
Rural Perspectives
Muskrats are active at night, eat aquatic plants by Diane Constable We can find muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) throughout our area living in our marshes and waterways. The common name came from the Algonquian word muscascus, meaning “it is red,” due to the color of the muskrat fur. The scientific genus name “Ondatra” is the Wyandot […]
Ask an Expert: Auto repair involves many decisions
by John and Thersa Kightlinger Generally the only pre-planning consumers do to prepare for a potential automotive damage claim is to purchase insurance. Insurance is an interesting purchase, as we buy it hoping we’ll never need it. We buy insurance as a safeguard should something unexpected occur and to be prepared… but are we truly […]
Staff Spotlight
A kid at heart, Michael Gurecki blends action and learning to keep his second graders engaged by Mary Jo David “I’ve always been a kid at heart,” said Michael Gurecki, with a smile I could sense across the wireless phone waves. “When I’m at school, I get to turn play into learning for 6-, 7-, […]
Reading Between the Lines
‘The Anxious Generation’ explores the effects of growing up entirely in the Digital Age by Jessica Martell Most books I read add some dimension to the way I see the world, but every so often I encounter a book that really changes me, changes not just the way I see the world, but changes […]
Matters of the Heart
Forward-thinking groom saves the day when Gary and Kay Gee married in 1967 by Mary Jo David, as told to Kaytlyn Higgins Many are familiar with the longtime area business known as Gee Farms. Founders of the business, Gary and Kay Gee, will be married 58 years this month—a huge accomplishment for anyone, but especially […]
Don’t fear the blank page
by Jill Ogden This year, after the ball dropped in Times Square—apparently the last in the long-standing tradition—Natasha Bedingfield performed “Unwritten.” This song is a wonderful reminder that we are all the authors of our own stories. Often, we go through life as if we were nonplaying characters in a video game. We believe that […]
Matters of the Heart
Innate skills and ongoing friendship fuel the marriage of Jim and Patrice Johnson by Kelsey Rasmussen Jim Johnson and Patrice Weddon both worked at Spadafore’s grocery store and graduated from Stockbridge High School together in 1970. The couple married in 1974. They cannot believe it was 50 years ago! Over the last five decades they […]
Matters of the Heart
The Hartkas’ friendship has fostered a happy union of 55 years by Mary Jo David When Ken and Loretta Hartka think about giving advice to couples who are contemplating marriage, they begin with, “Make sure you’re friends first.” Friendship is the magic formula that worked for this couple, who will be celebrating their 55th wedding […]
Matters of the Heart
Pam and Fred Wilson focus on faith and family in their 62 years together by Joan Tucker Just this past December 22, Pam and Fred Wilson celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary. Where does the time go? These two met at Stockbridge High School. They became an item their senior year when Fred, a Stockbridge football […]