REMEMBERING MY HEROES * On Saturday, May 14th, the town of Greenville, Texas will honor my hero, Audie Leon Murphy, the Hunt County native who was the most decorated American soldier of World War II. Murphy was born near Kingston in 1924 and enlisted in the Army in Greenville on his 18th birthday.

Watching the evening news and the latest reports on the war in Ukraine is both heart-wrenching and gut-wrenching. Such overwhelming evil has taken over that country, where civilians are being targeted, whether they are young or old, men, women or children. It’s one of those things that is hard to watch, but also hard NOT to watch. We need to be aware of such atrocities happening in our world so we are not uninformed or lied to as are the Russian people. We do not live in a bubble, and we cannot put blinders on or be detached in any way from the horrors of this war.

THIS AND THAT * The best Mother’s Day gift you can give your mom is the one she already has…..you! * I may have to sign up for Twitter. * Something a mom would say….“Sometimes I like to mess with my family and hide their stuff where they can’t find it.

We sure do love our animals. They become members of our family, especially if they are indoor pets that are used to getting a lot of attention. At least that’s how Charley has us trained. She’s been on a kick lately that she wants to play fetch with her spikey ball everytime one of us is around. But for her, part of the fun is not wanting to give the ball back. I will tell her that we can’t play if she doesn’t drop the ball, and then finally she drops it, but likes to grab it right back before I can get it. Her latest thing is to use her nose or her tongue to roll spikey ball towards me. She will do anything to get attention. I love this little mini-lab, even though she has made me “cat-less” for the first time in my life, as we have decided to be a one-pet family. For now.

April 2022 Dear Editor: As we approach the As we approach the 2022 primary and general elections, I would like to share important information about the measures in place to ensure a secure election process and encourage my fellow Kansans to participate in this year’s elections. First, Kansas has some of the most robust election security laws in the country.

* All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. * I am done with Disney.

Dear Editor: April is recognized nationally as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Now is the time to create positive childhood experiences that enable families to succeed.

I didn’t think I would ever meet a slice of pie that I didn’t like. But I did, just recently, at the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale in Hutchinson. Actually, I need to amend that statement to say: I didn’t think I would ever meet a slice of pie at the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale that I didn’t like. I mean, we Mennonites are known for awesome pies and zwieback and dinner rolls and bread, etc. But on Friday night of the two-day event, the luck of the pie slice was not on my side, and I got a bad piece. The real trouble here is that at least five other people also got a bad slice of that same pie. But before the tale of the pie, let me set the stage.

EARTH DAY Earth Day is this Friday, April 22nd. Do your part! Plant a tree, take a walk, or throw that pop can in the recycle bin! Every little bit helps! And here’s to the Stockton PRIDE committee, volunteers and high school students who will be out in full force next Wednesday sprucing up the town! Each person conserve energy.

Grace Notes The Kansas Jayhawks sure made us The Kansas Jayhawks sure made us proud as they put up a fight to the finish, bringing home the National Championship for the sixth time, second for Coach Bill Self. This was no “ordinary” ballgame.