"Graduation season always prompts an introspective moment" by: Jessica Shepard

   Graduation season has always had this strange way of yanking me back to my own commencement ceremony.   I mean sure, the songs, flowers and mottos always seem to change, but the seniors don’t.

"More new and little or no answers to the problems" by: John Sample

   We posted a gain last week with the S&P 500, while interest rates climbed higher. The summit in China seemed to be a slight distraction with little to report.   Of interest was the saber rattling by China over Taiwan. It seems that China will take the island.

PSA: Four estate planning myths that could cost your family

   Many people think that estate planning is just for wealthy people, but that’s a myth.   An estate plan is for anyone of any means who has assets to distribute.   They could include a house, investment accounts, or family heirlooms.

"Reel Reviews: ‘Sheep Detectives’ CGI flick funnier than expected overall" by: Jessica Shepard

   I realize it has been a few weeks since my last kid-friendly movie review and when I was eyeballing our local theater’s online ticket sale page, I decided to take a chance on “The Sheep Detectives.

Caught off guard

   There is a quiet tension at the heart of every parent’s love - the pull between protecting your child from the world and allowing the world to teach them.   We want to shield them from every stumble, every poor choice, every consequence.   But deep down, we know that’s not how wisdom grows.

"The sneakiest feline to ever join the Reddell family" by: Jessica Shepard

   We’ve finally reached the point where our orange rescue cat Jack-Jack has clocked into life for a full year old under our roof.  I’m surprised that he’s taller than our other cats purely because his legs are longer.

"Make hay while the sun shines, but don’t be afraid to take some off" by: John Sample

    We have all sorts of news to digest this week.   There will be inflation data followed by confirmation of  Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair.  While that is interesting, it is nothing to compare with the rise in chip stocks.  We have seen Micron double in value in little or no time.

PSA: Is your home really protected from natural disasters?

   As temperatures rise and storm season approaches, it’s time to review your homeowners’ insurance policy.  Natural disasters can strike with little warning, and outdated coverage could leave you unprotected when you need it most.  When reviewing your policy, focus on three things.

Letter to editor: Banning Plackers in our national interest

To the Editor,  America seems to be facing significant problems right now, and many people have shared their thoughts on the causes of this unrest.   Some attribute it to politics, arguing over which party is to blame, while others point to wars and rumors of war.

"Reel Reviews: ‘MKII’ blows previous film out of the water at box offices nationwide

When someone asked me about my first ‘Mortal Kombat’ experience, I vividly remembered a flurry of buttons being mashed and slamming a joystick around in an arcade where I could barely see the mid-point of the screen that yawned above my head.