A year ago, I graduated from the University of Missouri. 

And honestly, what I remember most about graduation day was wanting it to be over. 

Not because I wasn't proud, 

but because by the time I crossed the stage, I was exhausted. 

Originally, I didn't even want to walk the stage. 

If it were entirely up to me, I probably wouldn't have crossed the stage at all. I mostly did it for my family, for the expectations that had followed me through most of my academic life. 

April is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

For many, that means a post. A ribbon. A moment of recognition. 

But for millions of people, it’s not a moment. 

It’s a reality they’ve lived. 

In the United States, more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. 

It’s a statistic that's often shared. 

But rarely understood. 

Because numbers don’t show what it feels like to live through it. They don’t show the confusion, the fear, the manipulation, or the slow realization that something isn’t right. 

And they don’t show how hard it is to leave. 

I know that—because I’ve lived it.

Today is my golden birthday…. 27 on the 27th.

The kind of birthday that’s supposed to feel magical. Lucky. Like everything is falling into place exactly when it should.

But instead, I feel aware.........

As Palmyra High School seniors near graduation, April 30 marked a pivotal moment in their lives as they celebrated Decision Day and finalized their plans for life after high school. This is the deadline by which many students commit to their post-graduation plans, whether that means attending a university, enrolling in a trade program, or entering the workforce. 

A local Palmyra resident recently had her home tested for radon and received a reading of 16 pCi/L – four times higher than the threshold where mitigation is recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Because radon gas is invisible and odorless, this result underscores just how easy it is to…

Palmyra, MO – What began as a routine Thursday night City Council meeting quickly evolved into a heated public forum on surveillance, civil liberties, and the limits of safety technology in small-town America.

At the center of the controversy: Flock Safety cameras, a system of license plate readers enhanced by artificial intelligence, recently installed but not yet activated in Palmyra. As residents filled the City Hall Chamber Quarters on June 19th, questions and criticisms flew faster than answers could be offered.

Growing up in Quincy, Illinois, offered a unique perspective, one close enough to Palmyra to feel the familiarity, yet distinct enough to appreciate the differences. The newly elected council member, Rex Thomas Jr., spent most of his adult life building a solid career at Motion Industries, where he dedicated 36 years of service. That length of commitment isn’t just a résumé line, it’s a statement of character. It reflects someone who doesn’t just show up but sticks around and builds things from the ground up. 

Palmyra High School senior Brayden Pillars took second place at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) State Wrestling Championships on Thursday, Feb. 27. 

Lovegreen Motors, a family-owned business known and loved by locals for 90 years, began humbly in the 1930s. It was founded by E.D. Lovegreen, a farmer facing financial difficulties while raising a family. At 45, Lovegreen decided to start selling cars on the side to generate extra income. Eventually, he changed careers entirely, purchasing the Ford franchise from Glisten Motor Company in 1934. The dealership was originally located across the street from where Lovegreen Motors stands today. 

Chief Eddie Bogue of the Palmyra Police Department has announced his retirement from law enforcement earlier this month, stating that “he did not want to hold his men down and lose an opportunity to grow because he is still there.”