E-Newsletters

Just outside of Mound City, Missouri, lies a wildlife refuge named Squaw Creek. The pristine land, known for being a haven for snow geese, was made a federal refuge and given its moniker by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935. The name "Squaw Creek" evokes many memories and a proud history in Holt County.

In North Missouri, we cherish our 2nd Amendment rights. We value the opportunity to teach our children how to safely hunt or target practice, and we feel far more secure knowing that we can capably defend ourselves if necessary. Unfortunately, our rural values always seem to take a backseat to the latest reactionary ideological crusade to take away our gun rights.

We have a crisis on our southern border. Just ask anyone who has worked or lived there. Ask any Border Patrol agent or military personnel who has seen the crisis firsthand. Ask family members of those who have lost their lives to fentanyl or heroin overdoses. Politics can never get in the way of their facts.

Sometimes you read something that makes you think it must have come from a satire website. I had that experience last week when I read about a plan that said we could save the planet if we just replaced or upgraded every building in the United States and "get rid of airplanes and farting cows!" It turns out it wasn't a joke or a bad dream, it was the "Green New Deal."

I was honored to attend another State of the Union address this week. I was pleased to see that President Trump was finally allowed to give the address and I was even more pleased with what he had to say.

The fact is, our economy is shattering records left and right with job growth and wages up, unemployment down and Americans finally putting more money in their pockets. The current economic strength of America is due to our pro-growth policies. Undoubtedly, raising taxes and increasing regulations would be a step in the wrong direction.

On May 8, 1945, Winston Churchill announced that the Allies had secured Victory in Europe. Later that year, Japan would finally surrender, and World War II would end. It's hard to believe but in 2020, we will mark the 75th Anniversary of the end of the war.

Known as the "Greatest Generation," our World War II veterans made incredible sacrifices and did so without expecting any honor in return. Yet, it is so critical that we continue to honor and thank them along with their families as well as those who made great contributions to the war effort here at home.

There was a time in America when one of the only methods of communication was by mail. Since 1912, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has served as a lifeline for Americans, specifically in rural areas.

With the advent of the internet, things have changed. We can communicate wherever we are with the click of a button. Some say that means the Postal Service should reduce services like six-day delivery.

I disagree.

There is no greater gift than life itself.

I am reminded of that with my own children and my 1-year old grandson. They are all the light of my life and I can't fathom it without them.

It's been 46 years since the Supreme Court decided that the right to life only existed once a child was born. Many strides have been made towards reversing this disastrous decision and, at the very least, reducing the consequences of it. The good news is that the number of abortions performed continues to fall. Yet, it is still legal and the fight to end abortion continues every single day.