Newswriting

Terra.com • 1st October 2019

Peace Be Upon Us: The Truth About Islam

Hasan S., the imam, or prayer leader, of the Islamic Center of South Florida in Pompano Beach, Florida, is not surprised that Americans have come to associate the religion of Islam with terrorism.

Terra.com • 1st October 2019

Nightmare in America

MIAMI, FLORIDA — As images of the toppled twin towers at the World Trade Center in New York City played across a bank of TV screens at a Best Buy outlet here, Travis T., 30, of Hollywood, Florida, just wished the nightmare would end. "You feel like you're just waiting to roll over and for the alarm clock to go off," he said. "You want to wake up and have this be over. And then you realize that you aren't waking up -- and it's real."

Billings Gazette

Billings Gazette • 1st October 2019

Children Find New Lives

Stacey (not her real name) is one of more than 380 foster children in Yellowstone County and 3,580 in Montana. She hopes soon to cut all ties with her birth mother, legally take on her foster family's name and attend Montana State University-Billings to study biology. She hopes to put her past, wracked by sexual abuse, behind her and get on with her new life — a life that's been made possible through the Department of Family Services foster care program.

Billings Gazette • 1st October 2019

Mobile Home Park Defended, Cursed

Billings Heights resident Rusty P. has a cousin who does manure art. "He puts a little dye in it and covers it in lacquer, but the truth of the matter is, it's still manure," he said.

Billings Gazette

Billings Gazette • 1st October 2019

Boyz II Men Fans Camp Out in Comfort to Get Choice Tickets

The Mellgren family's kitchen is going to sparkle for the next few days. Because of a deal that he struck with his parents in exchange for permission to camp out at MetraPark Sunday night, 14-year-old Chris Mellgren now has to clean the kitchen.

Billings Gazette

Billings Gazette • 1st October 2019

Catching Up with Life

Monte H., a diabetic for 31 years, has thrown his insulin and needles away. On Oct. 25, 1994, the Billings resident underwent a pancreas and kidney transplant at
Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle. Now the 34-year-old is no longer diabetic and is eager to lead an active life.

Billings Gazette

Billings Gazette • 1st October 2019

End of the Campaign Trail

As Sen. Conrad Burns approached the voter registration table at Sandstone Elementary School Tuesday morning, a pollworker asked him if he had any money left. Always the jokester, Burns reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wad of bills. He counted $24. "We're down to the last day of the campaign," Burns said. "It's been a long haul ... I'm glad it's over."

Sedalia Democrat

Sedalia Democrat • 1st October 2019

Reform May Mean School's Out Forever

LA MONTE, MISSOURI — Pettis County R-1 School, one of Missouri's smallest school districts, has been warned by the state for 20 years that it would have to close. But this year's warning, which comes with a new school-reform tax, might be more serious.

Sedalia Democrat

Sedalia Democrat • 1st October 2019

Rural Roots

LA MONTE, MISSOURI — With two classrooms, a gymnasium/cafeteria, two full-time teachers, a full-time aide, a cook and 20 students, Pettis County R-1 School is one of the smallest in the state. It may be small in size, but it's big on fun and smiles.

Sedalia Democrat

Sedalia Democrat • 1st October 2019

When Teenagers Plan to Have Babies

Mary R. rolled her eyes, smiled and said, "I love you, too, Brian," as her 2-year-old son peeked around the bedroom door, yelled that he loved her then zealously slammed it.

Sedalia Democrat

Sedalia Democrat • 1st October 2019

Veteran Rooster at State Fair

Solo's an old bird, but he came back to reclaim his first-place trophy, strut his stuff one more time, and show the other birds how do it right. And after the State Fair, he'll retire.

Billings Gazette

Billings Gazette • 30th September 2019

Older Workers in New Jobs

After working most of his professional life as a yard man in the New York City subway system, Frank Jackson retired in 1981 and moved to Billings to live off of his
pension. But his pension wasn't enough.

Billings Gazette • 30th September 2019

Pounded by Hail

HARDIN, MONTANA — Conrad Yerger, a wheat and beet farmer who lives about three miles north of Hardin, joked Sunday that his house looked like the site of a Freeman standoff that turned ugly.

Billings Gazette

Billings Gazette • 30th September 2019

Bucking Horses Kick Other News Aside in Miles City

MILES CITY, MONTANA — Freemen? Who are the Freemen? The 45th Annual Miles City Jaycee Bucking Horse Sale proceeded full-throttle this year, even with the news of a possible breakthrough in the Freemen's standoff with FBI agents in Jordan less than 90 miles northwest of the Cow Capitol.

Billings Gazette

Billings Gazette • 30th September 2019

2 Slain, Killer at Large

MILES CITY, MONTANA — When Jeff Wyman approached his neighbors' door Saturday night, covered in blood and yelling to be let into the house, the neighbors thought he was up to his usual Halloween antics. "Jeff is a character," the neighbor woman said Sunday. "When he came to our door, I thought he was pulling a Halloween prank. He looked like a monster."

Billings Gazette

Billings Gazette • 30th September 2019

Tickling the Ivories

"I'm gonna put my cheaters on so I can see better," says Hart Glumbik, 87, breaking a moment to don his glasses. "It would help a little bit, wouldn't it?"

Billings Gazette - Montana Magazine • 30th September 2019

Montana Magazine - Business Annual

There are big bucks in Montana, and we're not talking deer. Accounting for 40 percent of the state's economy, agriculture brings in $2.5 billion a year and yields an average gross annual income of $102,500 per producer.

Sedalia Democrat • 30th September 2019

Ballroom dancer gets into the swing

Sharon Shea lights a cigarette with a slight theatrical air, crosses her legs and perches on the edge of her sofa with a straight, dancer's back. She looks across the room with her dark, flashing eyes at a petite man in a peach-colored shirt and pants and white sweater and shoes. He's her father, Vaughn Hills, and she admires him deeply.

Terra.com • 30th September 2019

Movie Review - Chocolat

One could say, as some critics have, that "Chocolat" is sickeningly sweet and promotes nothing short of celluloid-induced tooth decay. Or, one could say that it's a delectable treat for the heart and soul and a veritable feast for the senses.

Greenwich Time - Panorama • 13th May 1991

Seriously Folks, She's a Stand-Up Comic

Jane Condon sat on a stool in her all-white kitchen, sipping a Diet Coke out of a wine glass. "I used to care about world peace, but now I just want a big red tomato," said Condon, 40, gazing out at her backyard.

Greenwich Time

Greenwich Time • 6th January 1991

Winging It

In July of 1988, Eric Weintz, 27, took on a job with AmeriCares — a job that would put his instincts and intelligence to the test while he traveled around the world to help victims of natural and political disasters.