McMurry University has rejoined the American Southwest Conference for athletic competition beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. McMurry will join Hardin-Simmons University once again as members of the same athletic conference. McMurry previously was a member of the American Southwest Conference before joining the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2024. According to a news release, the move was imperative for
Read moreSecond part of two-part series. Click here to read Part 1. By Danny Minton In the early months of 1807, Queen Louise was requested by her husband to do something that she dreaded, yet for the sake of Prussia, and at her husband’s request, she agreed to obey his wishes. Napoleon had overcome Prussia, and the country’s fate under his
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First of two parts By Glenn Dromgoole We hear a lot these days about food allergies. That’s not what this little collection is about. It’s about Food Elegies, melancholy tributes in verse to some of the foods we grew up with–and the loving hands who prepared them. A nostalgic reflection on the importance of food and family. Maybe as you
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Had a Texas Aggie been a Rip Van Winkle wannabe in 2011, he (she) might hardly recognize the university upon awakening from slumber in 2025. There might be understandable confusion. Is real time clearly in focus or is the awakening accompanied by swirling figmentary dream extensions from a heap of sleep? Surely the eye-rubbing
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Ben Siburt, executive director of Youth Voice, a drop-in center for teens, will tell about the center and its work at the March 19 meeting of the Abilene Association of Congregations. The public is invited to the meeting, which will be held at Youth Voice, 141 Mulberry St. (North 1st and Mulberry in a remodeled fire station). Lunch begins at
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Editor’s Note: March is Women’s History Month. Spirit of Abilene will highlight influential women, including biblical figures during the month. Click here to read Hephzibah, Hezekiah, and Beulah BY Grace SosaClick here to read Delivering the Deliverer: The Women of Exodus 1 and 2 by Leslie Strader. By Shellie Evans In an era when women could not vote and certainly were not considered religious leaders,
Read moreFirst part of a two-part series. Click here to read Part 2. By Danny Minton “The day on which, one hundred years ago, Louise, afterward Queen of Prussia, beheld the light of this world deserves to be honored by all Germans as one of the great memorial days in their country’s history. The life and sufferings of the noble Princess
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By Jim Nichols I am not a golfer, but I have played it a few times and understand the game to an extent. In what seems now a lifetime ago for me, I was in a locker room with colleagues after exercising. It was the fiftieth birthday for one of them and, included in the banter he said, “Yes, I
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Taxation without representation is tyranny. Though it’s hard to nail down who initially coined this statement, it was the hue and cry of “British Americans” when they fought during the American Revolution 260 years ago. My Uncle Mort–a homespun philosopher lazily whittling away the day from a cane-bottom chair on the porch of the thicket’s
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