Independence Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Wilson welcomed all those in attendance and those watching online to May's First Friday festivities bright and early Friday morning. As per usual, the agenda for the morning was tightly packed and Wilson introduced Melissa Lunsford, with Four County Mental Health Center, the morning's sponsor.

Dementia is an umbrella term that alludes to various conditions arising from damage to brain cells that affect the cells’ ability to communicate. This damage can affect a person’s ability to think clearly and his or her behavior and emotions, says the Alzheimer’s Association. There are several types of dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is one of them.

(StatePoint) The health care system can feel uncoordinated and costly. One in 10 U.S. adults ration medication because they can’t afford their prescriptions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, the more a patient must pay at the counter, the more likely they are to abandon their treatment. Other Americans simply lack convenient access to primary care providers and pharmacies, and go undertreated as a result.

Dear Annie: I grew up never allowed to have pets. I’ve been married almost 30 years to a man who allowed me to have a small inside dog, and he doesn’t mind her so much but hates the two we have outside.

Have you ever felt like you’re supposed to be learning a lesson but don’t know what it is? I know that feeling in a way that I hope I will never forget. Not once but twice in a single month, the power went out at our home.

Last Saturday was the 9th annual Love Independence Day and, despite the threat of severe storms (which proved true!) later in the afternoon, a number of Independence residents got out early and showed their love around town. With the threat looming over them, groups such as the Lions Club and Riverside Park and Ralph Mitchell Zoo decided to postpone their random acts of kindness for another, dryer day.

The beautiful dancer swung the ruffled tiers of her bright red dress, lifted her arms dramatically and hammered the stage with rapid-fire steps as a guitarist played and a vocalist wailed. My foot throbbed, almost keeping time with the rhythms of the flamenco show in Seville, Spain.

In the realm of wireless connectivity, two products stand out for their specialized features: Google Nest Mesh WiFi for home users and the Unifi Dream Machine for small to medium-sized businesses. HOME CONNECTIVITY WITH GOOGLE NEST MESH WIFI Google Nest Mesh WiFi is designed to address the common issue of weak signals in various corners of a house.

OPEN ARMS DINER The Open Arms Diner will open Tuesday, April 23 at 5:00 p.m at the First Christian Church in Independence. The church asks that people limit their meals to four per person.

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