Columnists | The Prairie Press

Here is a compilation of stories appearing in the late June and early July 1923 issues of the Paris Beacon-News. Spelling and punctuation have not been changed except where necessary for better … more

By Callie Baber | 7/5/23

Telling stories about history

We all like to tell stories about what has happened during our lifetimes, sometimes these stories grow to become legends that … more

By Roger Stanley | 7/5/23

Taming a kitten might give you a devoted friend.

Taming a wild kitten

Back when I was a boy in high school my parents always had a few cats on our farm. The general intention was for them to be barn cats, and they basically were, but that didn’t prevent them … more

By Allen Englebright - Old Codger | 2/7/24

Tech is bringing us closer to a Brave New World

It is time to give serious thought to privacy and the surveillance made possible by technology since law and civil norms always lag behind technology. With policy issues, the pendulum swings too far … more

By Terry Sullivan | 5/31/23

Counting the days

I have been thinking about the Bicentennial for Edgar County and for Paris and how that fits the passage of time. There are 73,000 days in a two-century span. If we only celebrate the 200-year … more

By Roger Stanley | 5/3/23

WHAM is a holistic approach to wellness

Wellness is an essential aspect of a healthy life, and it encompasses various dimensions such as physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual wellness. Unfortunately, many people … more

By Jonathon Burns | 5/31/23

Out of the past

Here is a compilation of stories appearing in the April 1923 issues of the Paris Beacon-News. Spelling and punctuation have not been changed except where necessary for better understanding. BLOW … more

By Callie baber | 5/3/23

Morton is still a mystery

The strange thing about Ben Morton was there were three different versions of how he became a crippled man. He limped badly, dragging his crippled right leg, often described as a club … more

By Allen Englebright | 5/31/23

Do we walk or sit?

Tomorrow is Pentecost, the birthday of the church. All Christians are part of that church, but too many only want to be parts getting the good of it rather than active parts giving the good to Jesus … more

By Kevin Don Levellie | 5/31/23

Saving lives in a drug epidemic

As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities across the United States, there is growing concern about the prevalence of fentanyl in other common street drugs like meth and cocaine. This … more

By Jonathan Burns | 7/5/23

Pondering the what-ifs

What if all the things that could happen actually happened? Sometimes it would be an unmitigated disaster, sometimes it would be a delightful surprise. As a little boy, my mom and my brother … more

By Roger Stanley | 5/31/23

Out of the Past

Here is a compilation of stories appearing in the late May 1923 issues of the Paris Beacon-News. Spelling and punctuation have not been changed except where necessary for better understanding. … more

By Callie Baber | 5/31/23

Out of the Past

Here is a compilation of stories appearing in the May 1923 issues of the Paris Beacon-News. Spelling and punctuation have not been changed except where necessary to better understanding. BROCTON … more

By Callie Baber | 5/19/23

Planting soybeans

My first experience with soybeans was using it as hay in the wintertime for feeder cattle in the early 1940s. As far as I was concerned, it was the awfullest stuff to handle because it was … more

By Roger Stanley | 5/19/23

Out of the Past

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

By Callie Baber | 9/14/23

There's a Begonia for all

There is a begonia for everyone. Grow them outside in light shade in the summer and then enjoy them as a houseplant the rest of the year. There are 7 categories of begonias from which to choose and … more

By Jan Phipps | 5/19/23

Lunar cycle sets rhythm of life for many life forms

July 17 is the new moon, or dark of the moon, for July. There will be no moon in the night sky because it will be on the same side as the sun. The two cross together with the moon just slightly below … more

By Terry Sullivan | 7/18/23

Remembering school buses

About 75 years ago the Unit Four kids got the pleasure of riding the bus to school. That was the plan worked out for the first year of consolidation. Instead of having three trustees per 51 … more

By Roger Stanley | 7/19/23

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. NEW … more

By Callie Baber | 7/19/23

On Monday the eclipse activities will last three hours, but other than peak time it will be slow. The first hour and the last hour are worth checking in on but be social, enjoy the day and the company.

Lunar topography and the eclipse

Monday, March 25 will be the “Worm Full Moon.” It will be the first lunar eclipse of 2024. Starting at midnight, the Earth’s shadow blocking the sun will begin covering the … more

Terry Sullivan - Armchair Science | 3/27/24