"If I didn’t consider the severity of Covid years ago, I do now" by: Mike Reddell

When I was a boy, I hated being sick and missing school.    We lived near my school when I was in the fifth grade and those times when I was ill I’d look at my friends and others outside, wishing I was with them.

"Not how I pictured spending quality time with Sister" by: Jessica Shepard

As most of you read several weeks ago: I’m not a person who subscribes to or participates in setting resolutions at the start of every year.  I think resolutions are no better than pipedream goals and other daydreams – not realistic enough to go the 365-day distance.

"Spring just around corner and it looks awfully sunny" by: John Sample

Believe it or not, the various indexes and averages had a down week which was the first in over a month.      This is getting redundant, but the Big 7 still lead the way.      Together, they returned over 100% last year.      The other 493 stocks in the S&P 500 index were up but barely.

PSA: What should you do with your tax refund?

It’s almost that time of year when many people start receiving their tax refunds.  If you get one, what will you do with it?  Here are a few suggestions:First, you could contribute to your traditional or Roth IRA.

"Reel Reviews: ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ mixes variety of nostalgic 80s teenage genres" by: Jessica Shepard

There’s sort of a slump in movie releases lately with choices seemingly at the bottom of the barrel – at least in my opinion.  Then again, maybe it’s just the fact that February is such an uninspiring month for me.

‘Addicted to Approval’

Calling all people pleasers!      When gathered, we make a fine-looking group, until we seek out the approval (ad nauseum) of each other while we’re gathered.  People pleasing goes way, way back.

"Unapproved, unwanted election sign appears on my front yard" by: Mike Reddell

The political season is underway and I discovered an annoying side of that this afternoon.  Our news room looks out over our front lawn and as prepared to sit down at my computer and work on this week’s paper I noticed something I didn’t see earlier today.  It was election placard on our yard.

"Shutting down rumors is just part of our job" by: Jessica Shepard

Sometimes in this job we’re presented with rumors or hearsay about nonsense things – especially when it comes from social media.  However, it has other aggravating and irritating effects to hear them in person no matter who delivers it.

"Life almost too good to be true" by: John Sample

The S&P 500 closed above 5000 for the first time Friday.  The index has climbed well over 20% over the last 15 weeks, with 14 of those weeks posting gains.  This is the largest move since 1972.  We will get a report on inflation this week and it’s expected the rate could fall just below 3%.

PSA: How can women bridge the ‘retirement gap’?

March 8 is International Women’s Day, a day for celebrating the accomplishments of women around the globe.  But many women still need to make up ground in one key area: retirement security.