Back when I was 11 or 12, I lived the American Fourth of July dream in Illinois.

THE QUESTION: Some boaters complain about the "lack of respect" or "inconsiderate behavior" on the lake. What constitutes respectful/considerate boating?

Politeness and personal responsibility should rule weekend

Once or twice a week, we’ll send out a question of local importance or interest and ask E-board participants to respond with short answers, typically from 50-75 words on up to 200-250. In other words, the kind questions that will produce a “I think such and such” answer as opposed to an essay-type response.

I recently read an article about Bisphenol-A (BPA) that eerily reminded me of the movie, “Thank You for Smoking.” In the movie, the “merchants of death” or MOD Squad, as they call themselves, are lobbyists for the alcohol, gun, and tobacco industries and meet for lunch while plotting to keep vital information about the harmful health effects of their products out of the hands of the public. And they do so with great success, not to mention, great profit.

There are those who will lambast the Missouri State Water Patrol for violating Constitutional rights when they must pass through sobriety checkpoints. The Supreme Court has ruled random checks do not infringe upon the Constitutionally guaranteed protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

DogDaysApalooza to the Max, Water Safety Council, MoDOT vs. DNR upper management stonewallers

America — born on the 4th of July — has as its founders a collection of men who were persecuted for signing their names to the Declaration of Independence. Like them, contemporary patriots serve a nation that should recognize their sacrifices and contributions to the republic.

A constituent took exception to the way an entity he lives in was being governed. Instead of carping about the actions of the board or specific member, he did something about.

Stoneridge, methheads, no Apocalypse, developers who deliver, news from DNR that isn't a "Roaring Silence"

THE QUESTION: Are you concerned about the outbreak of the H1-N1 flu (often improperly referred to as swine flu) virus at Camp Sabra, a Lake of the Ozarks summer camp?

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has posted AmerenUE’s Shoreline Management Plan for Lake of the Ozarks online for public comment.
Residents have until July 10 to post their comments.

Koko Taylor passed away earlier this month. The “Queen of the Blues” was 80.

OK, we’ll say it. First it was heavy rain – the Noah’s Ark kind – then it was beaches closing, now it’s a summer camp shut down by a dangerous strain of flu. These aren’t signs of THE Armageddon (the Cubs have yet to win a World Series!), it’s just a news cycle.

It is encouraging to note the change in the air in Lake Ozark. We hear it’s a change you can actually feel. Much of the credit belongs to the air of calm interim city administrator Joe Barfield appears to have brought to the town.

THE QUESTION: Should the Lover's Leap site at the  31.5-mile marker be purchased and made into a public park?

There is a property owner here at the lake who is gracious enough to allow people onto her undeveloped land. The site offers a breathtaking view of Lake of the Ozarks at the 31.5-mile marker.
 

Cheers To Jack Tezak, Sunrise Beach property owner

 America’s health-care system has problems — all traceable to government intervention — but it could be worse. And if the so-called reform emerging in Congress is enacted, it will be worse.