By Jeremy McGinnis FIRST PLACE In the summer of 1996 I came to Iola, to start training for a soccer scholarship I earned at Allen Community College. To make some extra money and to get…

By Chelsea Buck Travis and I have known each other since grade school. We originally met at Harvest Baptist Church in Iola. We unknowingly had a crush on each other for years. We became high…

By Beverly Franklin  Ours isn’t a romantic or funny story, just a long one.  Jack and I met at a carnival at Riverside Park in the spring of 1955. He was home on leave from…

All you need is love … except when it stinks. That’s why it’s important this Valentine’s Day to take a moment to reflect on the health of our relationships, and to consider the advice of…

Dear Carolyn: I moved into my first house of my own late last year. It’s a twin home, and I figured it was important to have a good relationship with the people next door. They…

Dear Carolyn: My husband is driving me crazy with food habits, obviously exacerbated because we now eat more of our meals at home. I do 100 percent of the cooking, which is fine because historically…

Dear Carolyn: My boyfriend of five years, “Max,” misses “novelty” in our relationship. We are in our mid-20s with career-oriented lives, and we make quality time together a priority. We have explored hobbies, traveled and…

Dear Carolyn: “Susie” and I separated last year. Our divorce will be final soon. We have a young son and maintain a friendly relationship. When we separated, Susie moved with our son. Susie’s new next-door…

Dear Ms. Hax: Six months ago, reduced circumstances led me to move to a neighborhood with very small yards. Each house is roughly 15 feet away from the next, and the backyards are tiny. For…

Dear Carolyn: Our son was born early, spending weeks in intensive care. His first name is my father-in-law’s, middle name is my dad’s, and he has a combo last name — part of both families.…