Columnists | The Prairie Press

National Pollinator Week culminated June 24 with the 9th annual Bee Blitz for Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. Nature lovers were asked to snap pictures of honey and bumble bees and upload them … more

By Terry Sullivan | 6/26/23

Longing for some energy

Rosie and I have been visited by great grandkids this summer, and we have sure enjoyed watching them. One time was at our family reunion, and we have an 11-year-old staying with us for a couple … more

By Roger Stanley | 8/20/23

"No matter what happened in 2023, it is time to pull your pants up a little bit and look forward to the new year."

The beginning of a good year

Psychologists use the theory that if you have a positive outlook on life then more good stuff will happen than bad. If you grump and cry about all things that might happen then you will … more

Stanley Roger - Notes from the Prairie | 1/8/24

The late Roger Beals

It's no secret I started my journalism journey covering sports for the Paris Beacon-News when I was 16. My first assignments were freshman-sophomore football games, riding the bus with the team … more

By Nancy Zeman | 6/26/23

Don’t skip breakfast

Schools are back in session and in the rush between sleeping as late as possible and getting to school on time, breakfast is too often overlooked. Skipping breakfast is a bad idea. According to … more

By Mary Liz Wright | 8/20/23

Deciding when to bail out

(A power outage and a computer glitch prevented the Old Codger from submitting a new column. Here is an encore of one that was printed in 2020.) … more

By Allen Englebright | 7/10/23

Is your power on yet?

After the recent severe thunderstorms, a frequent question was, “Is your power on yet?” Answers varied, but the most frequent response was, “No, not yet,” or perhaps, … more

By Gary Williamson | 7/10/23

Increasing tick population means larger risk of disease

One of the consequences of living in a warmer climate is the increasing population of hematophagous or blood feeding insects. They are impacted by changing climate just like the Derecho storm fronts … more

By Terry Sullivan | 7/10/23

Finding a family at The REC

Hi, I am Kelly Nicholson – the Membership Director at the Rec Center. For those who know me, the Rec probably is not the most natural place they would expect to find me working. In fact, … more

By Kelly Nicholson | 7/10/23

Our summer outlook is hot and hotter

Meteorological summer began June 1, and all the major weather bureaus across the globe recently published predictions for summer 2023. The one thing every weather agency agreed upon is new heat … more

By Terry Sullivan | 6/5/23

When to seek help, and how

Stress is a natural part of life, but when it becomes overwhelming and starts to impact your daily life, it's important to seek help. Mental health issues can also arise and affect anyone at any … more

By Jonathan Burns | 7/10/23

Being nice can backfire

Woodrow Trace is a friendly old peckerwood who attends our church on Easter Sundays. He’d come more often, but he’s gimpy most of the time. Ninety years old, I’m told. He … more

By Allen Englebright | 6/5/23

We all seek wisdom, right?

These past few weeks I have witnessed and celebrated many young people finishing their course of study, whether it be junior high, high school, or college. While I am happy for them, I know their … more

By Kurt Speece | 6/5/23

Out of the Past

Here is a compilation of stories appearing in the July 1924 issues of the Paris Beacon-News. The July 1923 volume is misplaced so Out of the Past will be 99 years instead of a century ago. PARIS … more

By Callie Baber | 7/10/23

Life is stochastic and so should be math education

Throughout history a coin toss has been used for major decisions. The city of Portland, Ore., was famously named in 1845 with a coin toss between business partners Asa Lovejoy, of Boston, Mass., and … more

By Terry Sullivan | 10/23/23

Being thankful

First, I am really glad that I am writing this on the Fourth of July. On the way to town today, we met the Impromptu Fourth of July Parade featuring a lot of old tractors, convertibles, old cars … more

By Roger Stanley | 7/10/23

Somebody goofed

It didn’t seem so at the time, but the sale of Manhattan Island for something like $20 in value to Caucasian colonists will never go down in history as one of the smartest decisions ever made. … more

By Allen Englebright | 10/23/23

Drought damage continues after rains return

We are starting to hear that dreaded word, “drought,” mentioned a little too often. I hope between my writing this column and its printing, the dry conditions will no longer be the … more

By Jan Phipps | 7/10/23

Deborah was a powerhouse to emulate

I find Deborah fascinating because in the ancient Israeli male-dominated society, she was highly esteemed. She was known for her wisdom, intelligence and courage. Deborah was a prophet. … more

By Laurie Williams | 10/23/23

Watching where I am going is challenging

Every once in a while I make a fool out of myself because Rosie says I should pay attention a little better. Today we were eating lunch at Wendy’s and when we were waiting in line we met … more

By Roger Stanley | 10/23/23