Welcoming Back The Sun

I went to the Unitarian Universalist celebration of the winter solstice last night. Members of the church sang and danced around a bonfire to celebrate the Sun God.

Also check out posts from Grant Hindsley and Matt Busch.

Tater's Test

Tater passed his test and went up for adoption at the Central Missouri Humane Society.

Stephanie Lanham shoves a fake hand into Tater's bowl during the food test portion of his behavior evaluation. Dogs are graded A though F in five behavior tests including face hold, body rub, pinch test, tag test and food test to determine if they are eligible for adoption. If the animal does not pass the tests they are reevaluated by the manager to determine if they will be adopted, it is sent to another rescue, placed in foster care or euthanized.

Holidays are here

Annika Donnell, 6, reaches for a light on the Magic Tree on Thursday in the Village of Cherry Hill. The tree has been lit every year in Columbia since 1995.

Children grab lights hanging off the Magic Tree on Thursday in the Village of Cherry Hill. The tree is lit every year by Randy Fletcher.

Francesca Viator sits on John Viator's shoulders at the Magic Tree lighting on Thursday in the Village of Cherry Hill.

Kimaya Davis and Master of Ceremonies Nkiruka Omeronye speak before a presentation starts at an early Kwanzaa celebration on Thursday in the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center. Kwanzaa begins Dec. 26 and ends Jan. 1.

Freshman Hannah Alexander sings during an early Kwanzaa celebration on Thursday at the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center. The African American and Pan-African holiday has 7 principles and emphasizes family, community and culture.

MU v KU: The Rivalry

Missouri quarterback James Franklin is tackled by Kansas safety Bradley McDougald near the end of the first quarter of the Missouri versus Kansas game on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Missouri defensive back Robert Steeples looks at the scoreboard after Kansas returned an interception for a touchdown in the second quarter of the Missouri versus Kansas game on Saturday in Arrowhead Stadium.

Rain

Fire

I was sent by the Columbia Missourian to cover a fire at an abandoned University of Missouri research building.

A fire spits flames into the sky on Sinclair Road at about 9 p.m. Thursday. 

MU Police Department officer Justin Patlan blocks southbound traffic on Sinclair Road at about 9 p.m., close to where a fire broke out Thursday

First Day in the new Catholic high school

Father Tolton Regional Catholic High School had its first day in its new facility. The mass was held in the gymnasium while parts of the school remain under construction. The skylights in the gym made for some nice afternoon light onto the bleachers.

Madeline Baggett talks to her father Dennis Baggett in her kitchen before her mother Jennifer Baggett (right) drives her to her first day in the new building for Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School. The Baggetts said they chose Fr. Tolton because it brings values from home into her school. 

Caroline Parker sits in class in the gymnasium.

Students receive Communion from Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School principal Kristie Wolfe in the school's gymnasium on Tuesday. This was the first Mass to be held in the new school. 

Caroline Parker studies in her class held in the gymnasium on Tuesday at Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School. Because construction of the facility has not been completed, classes are being held in any available rooms, including the weight room, art room and music room.  

Students sit in the gymnasium in their uniforms during class.The dress code has restrictions on all clothing except for socks.

Olivia Oglesby, Heidi Gundy and Caroline Parker hold hands during mass at Fr. Tolton Catholic High School. The school opened for its first day in the new facility at U.S. 63 and East Gans Road. 

The sky through a 17-foot lens

The biggest lens. Seventeen feet to be exact. I was able to see jupiter and its moons!

Steve Bornemeier looks into the sky at the Morrison Observatory in Fayette, Mo. The observatory has several telescopes, including one that is more than 130 years old.

Cameron McCalister climbs the stairs to the 130-year-old telescope housed in Fayette's Morrison Observatory on Oct. 27. The observatory is open for public viewing on Thursday evenings.

A photograph titled "The Moon at Twenty Days" hangs in the Morrison Observatory in Fayette. The observatory has been on Central Methodist University's campus since 1936.

Zane Rice, 9, and Steve Bornemeier look into a telescope at the Morrison Observatory in Fayette. The observatory has several telescopes, including one that is more than 130 years old.

Footies

The Hickman High School soccer team prepares for their district semifinals game against their rival team the Jefferson City Jays.

Extreme Makeover: Joplin

Morgan Grawe, Courtney Padgitt, Lauren Vienravee, Stephanie Rasch and Emelie Henzel prepare to be filmed by the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" crew on Tuesday in Joplin. The MU architecture students traveled from Columbia to volunteer. The The students traveled from Columbia to volunteer by unwrapping furniture and rolling artwork.

A Crate&Barrel home decor truck delivers furniture on Jackson Street in Joplin, where homes are being built by "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Seven families are having homes rebuilt only blocks away from St. Johns Regional Medical Center, which was destroyed by the May 22 tornado.

Two men work on one of the seven houses being built for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

A volunteer works on one of seven houses being built for Extreme Home Makeover.

For more information about the event read the Columbia Missourian's full written piece here.

Rooster Chase

Children chase the infamous rooster around Peace Park in hopes of trapping him before the winter.

To be an athlete

Whiskey Wild Saloon

Columbia Regency mobile home park

Residents gathered during a tour for Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe to discuss the possible rezoning of Columbia Regency mobile home park.

Children play in Columbia Regency before the tour for City Councilwomen Barbara Hoppe and Helen Anthony.

Fifth Ward Councilwoman listens to residents during a tour of Columbia Regency mobile home park.

 Mary Kelley sheds tears during the tour of the Columbia Regency mobile home park while she speaks to city council members Barbara Hoppe and Helen Anthony on Thursday. Kelley said the safety she feels at Columbia Regency is important to her because her son was killed in a home invasion. 

Children play on the playground at Columbia Regency mobile home park.

Mizzou's 100th Homecoming