Detours Magazine Winter 2012

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WESTON a tiny town with a big personality

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I N

M E M O R I A M

Elizabeth Koch

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Winter 2012 Vol. 17 No. 1 $3.99

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The family has asked for memorials to be directed to the Truman State University Journalism Foundation: Detours/Elizabeth Koch or to St. John United Church of Christ in New Athens, Ill.

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Detours Magazine

detours 02 winter 2012

contents 32 ENTERTAINMENT 08 Echoes of History

Museum honors deceased WWI soldiers

12 The House That Built Grant Wood Iowan home inspires well-known painting

14 Cardinal Red in the Ozarks

Minor-league pride thrives in southern Missouri

ADVICE 18 Traveling in the Heartland

Trip-planning advice from a travel agent

19 Budget Booking

Make the most out of how you travel

20 Packing Essentials

Ten tips to pack for any trip

DESTINATION

08 FOOD

RESOURCE

22 Uncle Frank’s Cabin

32 The Spirit of Nauvoo

37 Angles and Curves

26 Small Town Strength

36 Burgers with a Kick

42 Material Girl

Oilman’s retreat preserves spirit of the West

Community’s love helps town flourish

Family-owned winery celebrates history

Columnist explores one-of-a-kind burger joint

Photo contest winners

Mother discovers her passion for designing

44 25 Places to Get Your Money’s Worth Top attractions to visit in the Midwest

48 Calendar

Upcoming events in the tri-state area

>>TABLET EXCLUSIVE The Vintage Lifestyle Anti-fashionista makes her mark in St. Louis

Bottoms Up Homebrewers turn dream into a business

44

Up, Up and Away Iowan museum showcases hot air balloons

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Editor-in-Chief JESSICA SCHEETZ Executive Editor ELIZABETH KOCH Art Director BURGUNDY RAMSEY Digital Editor CARLY ROBISON Advice Editor EMILY BRENNAN Destination Editor KATY SPENCE Entertainment Editor JULIET DESNOYER Food Editor GENNIE AVELLINO Resource Editor SARAH EBLEN Contributors SARAH ANDERSON, MELISSA BRADFORD, SARAH EBLEN, JENNA HURTY, JANE KRIENKE, ELIZABETH McBRIDE, MIA POHLMAN, CALLI PRICE, JESSICA SCHEETZ, SAM SHERMAN, REBECCA SMITH, KATY SPENCE, BROOKE VANCLEAVE and ANDI WATKINS DAVIS Designers CHELSEY COFFEE, SARAH EBLEN, LAUREN MOLL and REBECCA REITZ Photo Editor LAUREN MOLL Photographers JESSIE POOLE and REBECCA REITZ Adviser JAMES CIANCIOLA In Memoriam ELIZABETH KOCH (1991-2012) • WEB • Online Editors CASEY HENDERSON and BROOKE VANCLEAVE Copy Editors CHELSEY COFFEE, JENNA HURTY and ALLISON TRAY Weekly Bloggers LAURA KENNY and ALLISON TRAY Contributors SARAH ANDERSON, KATHLEEN BARBOSA, MELISSA BRADFORD, DANIELLE BRESHEARS, SARAH EBLEN, ERIC HALLAM, CHI HOANG, JENNA HURTY, ROB JONES, ASHLEY JOST, JANE KRIENKE, MEREDITH KUSKY, MAXWELL LAW, ELIZABETH McBRIDE, NATASHA McCALLISTER, MIA POHLMAN, CALLI PRICE, HANNAH ROGERS, GRACE SALERNO, JESSICA SCHEETZ, SAM SHERMAN, KATY SPENCE, ANUSHRI THAKKAR, BROOKE VANCLEAVE, ANDI WATKINS DAVIS, EMILY WICHMER, FORREST WILSEY, KATHRYN WILSON and JACKIE YOO • ADVERTISING AND PUBLICITY • Advertising/Publicity Manager JENNIFER LESH TMN Advertising Manager HANNAH RICKMAN TMN Advertising Representatives ADAM ANTOR, SAM MINNER, BRITTANY NEWTON, ALEXANDRA SHETLER, DAVID STODDEN, ISAAC STRAUB and TAYLOR WILSON Publicity Representatives CAROLINE HAMERA, JESSIE POOLE and BETHANY WILLIAMS

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EDITORIAL POLICY detours Truman State University Barnett Media Center 100 E. Normal Kirksville, MO 63501 Phone: 660.785.7438 Fax: 660.785.7601

LETTER FROM THE

editor@detoursmagazine.com tmn.truman.edu/detours

EDITOR DEAR READER, I tend to think of the seasons as nature’s way of renewing itself, helping to clear out what’s old and replace it with a new and improved version of itself. Each, however, is beautiful in its own right. Falling snow during winter allows a wonderland filled with sledding and snowmen. During spring, the earth truly comes alive — complete with budding flowers and green grass. Sunshine and warm weather fill the summertime, while during autumn, green, yellow, orange and red hues fill the horizon.

Similar to the seasons, this year was a year of change for detours. We kept some of our best tributes while sprucing up our overall content, format and design. First and foremost, you’ll notice we’ve incorporated new types of content, including Q&As, travel tips and profiles, in addition to our regular features about Midwestern places to visit.

Second, with our new format, you’ll hopefully find detours easier to navigate than ever before. Each story is now conveniently packaged into one of our five sections: Entertainment, Advice, Destination, Food and Resource. The color used on our contents page also corresponds with the color of the square found in the top left corner of each story.

In the Entertainment section, you’ll find

SPRING

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noteworthy attractions, festivals and museums to visit. We bring you some of the best travel tips to date in our Advice section. Destination includes features about towns, parks and more, while Food includes wineries, restaurants and delicatessens in the area. Resource encompasses profiles about Midwestern people and our all-new #25, where we highlight 25 aspects of a particular topic.

This year, we’ve also created a digital version of detours, which you can conveniently access via your iPad. Check out our web- and tablet-exclusive content, such as Borough Vintage, a vintage boutique in St. Louis, and Public House Brewing Company, a brewery two hours southwest of St. Louis in Rolla, Mo. If you haven’t already, check out our website, tmn.truman.edu/detours, where you’ll find new content every Friday.

However, more importantly, begin in this issue by exploring the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Mo. (pg. 08), and visiting the Springfield Cardinals, the double-A affiliate of St. Louis’ major league baseball team in the Ozarks (pg. 14). If you have a love for small towns, don’t forget to stop by Baxter’s Vineyards, Illinois’ oldest operating winery, and Weston, Mo., our cover story about a small town with a big personality (pg. 26).

We’ve also compiled some of the best advice from fellow travelers and travel agents

detours is a copyrighted publication, produced biannually by Truman State University students. No material can be reproduced in any form without prior written consent of the detours adviser and staff. The editor-in-chief is responsible for all decisions. detours is distributed across the country, mainly in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. Opinions expressed in detours are not necessarily the views of staff. detours is not responsible for the full cost of an advertisement if an error occurs.

for our Advice section. “Budget Booking” incorporates how to get travel deals based upon the type of transportation you use from home to your final destination (pg. 19), and “Packing Essentials” helps you get the low-down about packing everything you’ll need for your upcoming trip (pg. 20). Our profile features Jenna Johnson-Jones, a mother who started up her own purse designing company (pg. 42).

As always, detours is a collaborative effort between the many different sections that comprise our publication. We’re only as strong as our staff, and this past summer, we sadly discovered how true that was. Our executive editor, Elizabeth Koch, passed away in a car accident — a tragedy that shook us all. It’s important to note these changes are a culmination of both of her and my visions, and our staff’s, in our never-ending effort to improve detours. Never forget to take in the beauty of the world around you, and always remember to celebrate the small victories.

Enjoy life’s detours,

Jessica Scheetz Editor-in-Chief

The theme for the Spring 2013 photo contest is New Beginnings.

The contest is open to any and all kinds of photos. Entries must include the photographer’s name, address and telephone number as well as the photo’s location and title. We also encourage contestants to include a short caption about the photo.

The deadline for entries is February 15, 2013. The winning photo will be published in the Spring 2013 issue, and the winner will receive a free, two-year subscription to detours.

For full rules and regulations, visit tmn.truman.edu/detours.

Submissions should be emailed to photo@detoursmagazine.com.

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ARCHIVES

FROM THE

ECKERT’S

Belleville, Ill. Summer 2009

Eckert’s Country Farms in Belleville, Ill., began more than 150 years ago when Henry Eckert began planting the first fruit trees near his home on Turkey Hill in St. Clair County.

In 1910, Henry’s son Alvin began selling the fruit at a roadside stand, and since then, the business has continued to grow. Today, Eckert’s is the largest family-owned and -operated pick-your-own farm in the U.S. The sixth and seventh generations now manage the ins and outs of the year round family business, with Gingerbread House Workshops and Holiday Storytime during the winter months. The main attraction, however, occurs during the summer and fall, when 300,000 to 500,000 visitors flock to Eckert’s to pick-your-own peaches, strawberries, blackberries, apples and pumpkins.

WINTERFEST The Amana Colonies, Iowa Summer 2007 When it’s cold outside, most people want to curl up with a blanket and a good book. However, some, like Kate Fuller and Kevin Michael, can’t wait for the 20-degree weather. In 2006, the Amana Colonies, Iowa, began Winterfest, a one-day event used to promote the colonies during the winter months. Educational events like wool spinning demonstrations and the scavenger hunt offer insight to Amana history and education, but events like the eagle watch and cross-country skiing promote more healthy outdoor activities. The big attraction, however, is the Amana Freezer 5K Run/Walk.

BOB KRAMER’S MARIONNETTES St. Louis Summer 2010 Since Bob Kramer was five, he knew what he wanted to do with his life — puppeteering. In 1963, Kramer’s dream came true when he founded his own studio, Bob Kramer’s Marionnettes, in St. Louis. Kramer’s partner, Dug Feltch, has more than 20 years of experience and has traveled around the world with touring puppet troupes. The duo begins every show with a nearly hour-long demonstration detailing the art of puppetry and the extensive amount of work that goes into each marionette. Sometimes the craft can take as many as 1,500 hours, or a little more than two months, the duo explained.

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ON THE COVER

The tiny town of Weston, Mo., whose population resides at less than 2,000, has as much to offer as any Midwestern city. Weston Tobacco, behind the motocycle, allows visitors to watch workers create hand-rolled cigars from cured tobacco leaves, one of Weston’s main staple crops since the mid-19th century. Read more about Weston in our cover story on pg. 26. (photo by Jessie Poole)

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ENTERTAINMENT

STORY BY SOMEONE

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The Liberty Memorial Tower’s deck contains the two exhibit halls, two sphinxes and the tower, with the entrance of the museum below.

WWI MUSEUM

echoes of history MUSEUM HONORS DECEASED WWI SOLDIERS STORY AND PHOTOS BY CALLI PRICE

W

World War I, or the Great War, lasted more than four years, ending Nov. 11, 1918. British author H. G. Wells coined it “the war to end war” because he believed once German militant forces were defeated, there would be no more wars. Although this phrase was eventually disproved, it remains the sixth deadliest conflict in world history. Many museums and memorials are dedicated to this story throughout the world, but the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Mo., shares the comprehensive story, giving the Midwest a historically significant landmark.

The Liberty Memorial was built during the early 1920s as a dedication to those who fought in World War I.

Kansas City leaders met two weeks after the armistice to end World War I to discuss the need for a lasting monument.

In 1919, the Liberty Memorial Association organized a communitybased fundraising drive to help pay for the monument. The fundraiser accumulated $2.5 million in just 10 days, which is the equivalent of roughly $40 million today.

The site was dedicated Nov. 1, 1921, when the Supreme Allied Commanders spoke to a crowd of more than 100,000 people. When completed, the memorial included a 217-foot tower on the Liberty Memorial deck, two sphinxes, two exhibit buildings and a dedication wall on the northern edge of

the site. Then-President Calvin Coolidge delivered the dedication speech to a crowd of 150,000 spectators at the museum’s opening in 1924.

Since the 1920s, the Liberty Memorial Association placed documents and artifacts, such as wartime letters, army gear and propaganda relating to World War I, it had collected in the two exhibit halls on the Liberty Memorial’s deck. It wasn’t until the memorial needed to be restored in the late 1990s that the idea of a new and bigger museum materialized.

After years of fundraising, a new site under the Liberty deck was excavated to create more room for the growing collection of artifacts, and the

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ENTERTAINMENT

museum was built. Congress designated it as the National World War I Museum of the United States in 2004, and it opened to the public on Dec. 2, 2006. The memorial is the only one of its kind that commemorates everyone who served in the war, including those from countries other than the U.S. Denise Rendina, senior vice president of the museum, has worked for the museum for the past five-and-a-half years. She said the collection is comprised of more than 75,000 World War I artifacts, making it the largest collection in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world. “[This museum] tells more than the American story,” Rendina said. “It really shares the comprehensive story of World War I, and I think that’s one of the things that makes us such a great international treasure is that our collection is so comprehensive.”

The underground museum begins with a glass bridge over a field of 9,000 poppies, each of which represents 1,000 combats who died during the war. The bridge leads to a film outlining the events that led up to the war.

From there, the museum opens up into a large room holding artifacts from 1914 to 1917. Here, a large timeline of the war is shown, breaking down each year of the war into months with in-depth descriptions of the events. Cases of guns, various countries’ army gear and wartime photographs are spread throughout the room.

Another room shows a film describing the U.S.’s decision to enter the war. The exhibit then moves forward to 1919, showing another large breakdown of the years. American artifacts such as war gear, propaganda and artillery line the walls.

Rendina said throughout the years, the

museum has encountered some changes, and employees are still collecting World War I artifacts. In 2012, the museum added a World War I-era Ford Model T Ambulance to its permanent collection. The exhibit halls on the Liberty Memorial deck, however, house special, temporary exhibitions.

Rendina said the exhibitions are replaced once or twice per year.

“The exhibitions are a way to explore a different part of the story,” Rendina said. “There are so many stories to share about [World War I], and so we use those collections to branch out and talk to people in ways that are meaningful to them.”

“Panthéon de la Guerre,” a football field-sized mural to which 128 different artists contributed, is housed in Memory Hall. The mural is a panorama of World War I, and the exhibit describes the mural’s progress, from its completion in Paris in 1918 to its display at the Chicago World Fair in 1934. Forgotten, it remained on display there until Baltimore restaurateur William Haussner bought the deteriorating canvas during an auction. He later donated it, cutting, pasting and rearranging pieces of the canvas so it could fit into Memory Hall. Although the mural is a permanent fixture of the museum, the exhibit detailing the mural’s progress will only be displayed until Feb. 24, 2013.

The other hall contains an exhibit dedicated to the Inter-Allied Games of 1919. The games were held in Paris for military persons who were currently serving or had formerly served in the armed forces during World War I. A special arena, named Pershing Stadium, was built and dedicated for the games as a present

for France from the U.S. The exhibition, on display until March 2013, contains uniforms and sporting equipment used during the games as well as footage and photographs of the games.

At the end of their museum tour, visitors can ride to the top of the memorial.

Spectators get a direct view of Union Station, which is due north of the memorial. The Kansas-Missouri border lies to the west, and scenic views of the downtown landscape are accessible from all angles.

When Julie Barrett, of Wichita, Kan., visited the museum for the first time, she said the museum exceeded her expectations.

“I’m an educator, and this is something I think students as well as anyone who has an interest in American history would enjoy,” Barrett said.

Jacob Dvorak, of Ames, Iowa, has visited the museum four times. He said he enjoys the amount of World War I artifacts, and he particularly enjoys the fact the story includes pre-World War I events.

Although World War I occurred nearly a century ago, Dvorak recommends for everyone to visit the museum, especially young adults like him.

“I would recommend it because the problem with my generation specifically is that people have forgotten the past,” Dvorak said. “It’s something people need to remember.”

>>WEB EXCLUSIVE Read more about the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Mo., on our website, tmn.truman.edu/detours.

(photo courtesy of the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial).

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WWI MUSEUM The tower, located on Liberty Memorial deck, is 217 feet tall and was built in 1926.

A life-size replica of a trench depicts trench warfare on European battlegrounds during World War I.

From the top of the tower, spectators can view landmarks of downtown Kansas City, including Union Station (bottom left).

The American forces used a few different types of cannons during the war, displayed here.

THE DEDICATION WALL The Dedication Wall at the Liberty Memorial is located at the northern end of the complex. Facing outward from the memorial, directly across from Union Station, it is a stone wall holding the bronze busts of five Allied leaders: Lieutenant General Baron Jacques, of Belgium; General Armando Diaz, of Italy; Marshal Ferdinand Foch, of France; Admiral Lord Earl Beatty, of Great Britain; and General of the Armies John J. Pershing, of the United States. These five leaders were present during the site’s dedication on Nov. 1, 1921. This event was the only time in history the five commanders were together in one place.

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ENTERTAINMENT

That Built

HOUSE Grant Wood IOWAN HOME INSPIRES WELL-KNOWN PAINTING STORY BY JANE KRIENKE

Grant Wood, “American Gothic” (reprinted with permission from the Art Institute of Chicago).

“My parents wore the costumes, and I took a picture of them.”

— Jikhan Jung

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On the banks of the Des Moines River, in the quiet town of Eldon, Iowa, a small whiteframed house can be found. Mostly unchanged since its construction in 1881, the house has served as a muse, historic landmark and photographic backdrop.

Built by Charles and Catherine Dibble, the American Gothic House served as the inspiration for American painter and Iowa native Grant Wood’s most famous piece of art. Wood’s painting, entitled “American Gothic,” features a father holding a pitchfork beside his daughter in front of the iconic house.

Wood fell in love with the house when he first saw it while teaching a class, said Holly Berg, museum and visitor center administrator.

He completed the painting in stages and sketched the house on the back of an envelope during his only visit.

Wood later convinced his sister, Nan Wood Graham, and his dentist, Dr. Byron McKeeby, to pose together to complete his vision for the painting. He painted them in his art studio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The two models had never seen the house at the time of the painting.

Berg explained neither was keen about the idea of modeling, but they agreed because Wood said he would portray them in such a way that no one would recognize them. Unfortunately, Berg said, the two were quickly identified.

“It actually hurt his friendship [with Dr. McKeeby],” Berg said. “For awhile, he actually said it wasn’t him in the painting.”

People also comment about the window’s missing curtain, Berg said. In the painting, a curtain of Wood’s own design hangs in the window. Mary Hart Jones, the resident at the time, took down the curtains to clean them when she saw Wood sketching the house. Jones expected Wood to come back a second time to finish his sketch, but he never did, Berg said.

The house exhibits several architectural elements of the 1880s housing trend Carpenter Gothic. Because Wood was well-versed in carpentry and architecture, he incorporated every

AMERICAN GOTHIC

The Dibbles’ home, built in 1881, was Wood’s inspiration for the painting (photo by Jane Krienke).

detail of the house into his sketch.

“These elements include the board and batten siding, the steep-pitched roofs and the gothic windows,” Berg said.

The windows are what initially piqued Wood’s interest though. The original owners, the Dibbles, ordered the windows from a catalogue to spruce up their house. These gothic windows were the inspiration behind the name of the painting, Berg said.

Wood entered his painting into a contest the Art Institute of Chicago sponsored in 1930.

He won third place and $300. The winning paintings were displayed around the U.S. as part of a traveling exhibit. Eventually, the institute bought the painting back, paying Wood another $300. The painting, one of the most famous in American art, is still on display there.

Wood’s artistic style completely changed after he painted “American Gothic,” Berg said.

Wood was one of three Midwestern artists to begin and popularize the Regionalism movement, a new style of painting focused on depicting scenes from typical American life. “[Regular people] knew about working in the garden or on a farm,” Berg said. “The Regionalism movement was painting what was in your backyard.”

The famous house is not open to visitors, often a surprise to tourists. The sign outside the house denotes a private residence because the Iowa State Historical Society rents it out. The benefits of having someone actually living in the house are numerous, Berg said. There are fewer pests and the house is better taken care of with someone living in it compared to only having someone check on it every so often.

In 2003, the Vision Iowa fund awarded a grant to a committee and four women, “the Eldon Four,” to create a visitors’ center. The grant required the community to match the money the state donated. With a requirement of $62,000, the women set off to encourage their small community of less than 1,000 people to participate in a variety

“I saw the signs and thought it might be about the house in the painting.”

— Jeremy Veach of fundraising efforts such as bake sales and quarter collections. They also sent letters to business owners and applied for more grants.

Eventually the community’s efforts paid off, and the center opened in 2007.

More than 10,000 visitors from around the world flocked to see the museum the first year it opened. Now the center averages 15,000 visitors annually.

“We have had people come from all 50 states,” Berg said. “We just had a guy from Tokyo stop by today, and we just hit our 53rd country, Kyrgyzstan.”

Berg and 30 museum volunteers are able to keep track of where visitors come from through the use of two wall maps — one of the world and one of the United States. Colorful pins denote where a visitor’s home is located.

The bright colors span the breadth of both maps, leaving few places left unpinned.

Visitor Jikhan Jung came to the museum with his parents, who flew in from South Korea. Two years ago, Jung took his parents to visit Chicago to see the “American Gothic” painting. A year after this trip, he took them to visit the house in Eldon.

“I wanted them to see the actual house,” Jung said. “My parents wore the costumes, and I took a picture of them in front of the house.”

Many visitors like Jung and his family schedule time to stop by the house. However, some visitors, like Ohio resident Jeremy Veach, discover the museum while driving down the interstate. Veach, who was headed out west, had been in Iowa for about an

hour when he saw a large brown sign for the American Gothic House. Although he arrived after hours, he still took a moment to photograph the house with his cell phone.

“I saw the signs and thought it might be about the house in the painting,” Veach said.

“I stopped at a gas station and the guy said, ‘Yes, it was.’”

The museum sponsors a multitude of community education programs such as lecture series and school presentations. The museum also participates in Gothic Days, an event celebrated citywide during the second weekend of June. For 42 years, the citizens of Eldon have sponsored events during the celebration such as a 5K run, a bike ride and an art contest.

Although the painting is world-renowned, a number of parodies exist of the stoic pair and the simple house. A variety, such as those featuring the Muppets and the Mona Lisa, are displayed inside the museum, many of which began appearing around the mid-1940s.

Visitors to the museum are encouraged to continue the tradition of parodying the painting by donning costumes the museum provides.

A pitchfork is provided for those who take photographs, but visitors are encouraged to bring items of their own, including pets.

Berg said she was surprised she could utilize the costumes as an educational tool.

Visitors often question why the man, who some assume to be a farmer, was wearing a jacket over his overalls. Berg explained the man and woman in the painting are representative of townspeople rather than farmers. For example, the man’s gold neck pin and the woman’s large brooch both indicate a more affluent status.

The American Gothic center provides exhibits that change every year, a gift shop, gardens and walking trails. With history, parodies, costumes and gifts, the American Gothic center caters to a variety of tourists who wish to learn a little more about the house and the two stern people standing in front of it.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Ca

rd

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ina

In T l he O zark s

Red

SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS

MINOR-LEAGUE PRIDE THRIVES IN SOUTHERN MISSOURI STORY AND PHOTOS BY SAM SHERMAN

N

Nestled in downtown Springfield, Mo., a city smack-dab in the middle of the Ozarks, is Hammons Field — home of the St. Louis Cardinals Double-A team, the Springfield Cardinals. The classic redbrick design of the stadium resembles some of the most famous major league ballparks, only shrunk down to minor league proportions, holding 8,000 fans.

At the main entrance of the field, ushers greet fans while taking tickets, and for the fans who are early, a few Springfield players sign autographs and take pictures with them.

Surrounding the stands is a walkway loaded with food and beverage vendors and souvenir shops. Ushers wearing Hawaiian shirts stand at the entrance to each section, directing fans to their seats or to various places around the stadium.

Behind the left and centerfield walls is grass seating littered with young fans hoping to catch a glance from an outfielder or a ball from the away team’s bullpen.

On a Monday night at the stadium, eyes are drawn to the action on the field as the Springfield Cardinals take on the Tulsa Drillers in a Texas League matchup.

It’s a fairly quiet night at the ballpark. The crack of the bat can be clearly heard from anywhere around the stadium, and applause always follows a play in favor of the Cardinals.

THE ENTERTAINMENT

As the fifth inning draws to a close, the cool summer breeze sets the mood for everyone in the ballpark — everyone except for the group sitting alone in the first and second rows next to the third base dugout. The inning might be over, but for them, the job has just begun.

As soon as the players exit, a Cardinals cheerleader, a young fan, two mascots, a cameraman and Cardinals ballpark personality J. Fotsch rush onto the field for the between-inning entertainment. In response to the London Summer 2012 Olympics, they stage a mock medal ceremony for the biggest

Cardinals fan. The two mascots, a large cardinal named Louie and a dog named Fetch, receive the bronze and silver medal while the young girl receives gold. The crowd cheers as the girl smiles and waves to the camera, all before rushing off the field and back to her seat.

Performances like this are put on for the fans after every inning, ranging from a tricycle race around the warning track to ice cream eating contests on top of the dugouts.

This entertainment demonstrates the priority of the staff at Hammons Field — to create an enjoyable experience for all ages.

THE FIELD

Springfield businessman John Q. Hammons, whose name can be found plastered on buildings across the community, was responsible for the new stadium’s funding. Hammons hoped to persuade the St. Louis organization to bring its minor league system back to the city. The field now serves as a landmark of the city of Springfield.

The Cardinals organization originally moved its Double-A affiliate to Springfield in 1932. The team remained there until after the 1946 season, when they moved to St. Joseph, Mo. Joe Cooper, usher at Cardinals home games, said when the team moved back in 2005, they brought with them a renewed sense of community pride.

“It’s our ballpark,” Cooper said. “We have a professional baseball team and it kind of brings everybody together. … You can be 3 or you can be 83, and you’re going to enjoy being down there.”

Cooper said the difference between the Springfield Cardinals and other minorleague clubs is the enhanced major league connection. Every season, the St. Louis Cardinals make a trip to Springfield for an exhibition series against the Springfield Cardinals, giving fans a chance to see major league favorites like St. Louis third baseman David Freese and catcher Yadier Molina.

John Miller, Springfield resident and radio broadcaster, said it’s that connection

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ENTERTAINMENT to the big leagues that brings the baseball junkies to the stadium. The team provides fans with an opportunity to see future bigleague players. For example, current St. Louis Cardinals starting pitchers Lance Lynn and Jaime Garcia and first baseman Allen Craig both suited up for Springfield en route to the big leagues.

“It does have a major-league feel,” Miller said. “[The fans] have this interest in what’s happening on the field because they know that sooner or later a lot of those guys that they’re watching will be playing for their beloved St. Louis Cardinals.”

THE COMMUNITY

Miller said even non-baseball fans are drawn to the stadium because of its location and environment, and that draw has served the Cardinals organization well. The Springfield Cardinals won the team’s first Texas League title since moving back to Springfield in the 2012 season. The team finished fourth in the Texas League in average attendance in 2012 and was ranked 43 out of 142 minor league

“You can be 3 or you can be 83, and you’re going to enjoy being down there.”

— Joe Cooper teams in average attendance in 2011.

“The stadium is beautiful, … but I think that what really makes the stadium awesome is the atmosphere inside with the fans,” Miller explained.

Lifelong Springfield resident Matt McQueary said the field has made downtown a more enjoyable place to be in the summer.

“It really opened up the entire downtown area,” McQueary said. “Beforehand, there wasn’t a lot of entertainment downtown, but around [when the stadium was built,] more businesses started showing up, people had more of a reason to go downtown. There was a lot more nightlife after games.”

A walk around downtown Springfield will most likely provide a glance of how much the Cardinals’ presence has increased the major league fan base. The close relationship to a crucial part of the St. Louis organization has turned Springfield into even more of a Cardinals town. Cardinal red is a prevalent theme on the city streets, especially around Hammons Field on summer nights.

“It gives us some local pride that we have [a professional baseball team] here, and everybody’s kind of around it,” Cooper said.

“If we lose a ballgame or we win a ballgame, it doesn’t affect my life one way or the other, but I sure feel better and I sleep better when we win, and that’s just the way it is.”

>>WEB EXCLUSIVE Read more about how the St. Louis Cardinals’ double-A affiliate has become a part of the Springfield community on our website, tmn.truman.edu/detours.

Fans gather in Hammons Field for a Springfield Cardinals game against the Tulsa Drillers.

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SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS

Springfield Cardinals pitcher Justin Wright completes his windup in the seventh inning.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS From the minors to the major leagues, these three players got their start in Springfield, Mo., and now play for the St. Louis Cardinals.

JAIME GARCIA

ALLEN CRAIG

LANCE LYNN

Garcia just finished his third season in the pitching rotation for the Cardinals. He earned the love of Cardinals fans everywhere after his rookie season, during which he finished fourth in the National League in ERA, finishing the season at 2.70. Garcia was also part of the Cardinals’ rotation during their 2011 World Series run, posting a 1.80 ERA.

Craig spent three-and-a-half seasons in the minor leagues, hitting 76 home runs during his time in the Cardinals’ farm system.

He was called up to the majors in 2008, appearing in his first game on April 8, 2010. During the Cardinals’ 2011 World Series run, Craig became the first pinch hitter in World Series history with two go-ahead RBIs.

Lynn made his professional debut for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011 and was named the Cardinals organization Pitcher of the Year in 2009. Lynn began the 2012 season as one of the hottest pitchers in the major leagues. He was the second pitcher to reach ten wins that season, propelling him to the starting rotation of the 2012 National League All-Star team.

Starting Pitcher #54

First Baseman #21

Starting Pitcher #31

In 2004, Springfield businessman John Q. Hammons built Hammons Field, home of the Springfield Cardinals and Missouri State Bears.

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ADVICE | KIM EDDY Q&A

Traveling in the Heartland

TRIP-PLANNING ADVICE FROM A TRAVEL AGENT STORY BY CALLI PRICE

When it comes to planning family vacations, people may have a hard time figuring out where to start. Kim Eddy, a travel agent since 1984, helps families plan vacations every year through her home business, Away with Kim, in Kansas City, Mo. We recently met with Kim for some of her tips to make your trip fun — and affordable!

Detours: What is the first step families should take when planning a vacation?

Kim Eddy: I always look at the availability of the flights first. It’s also good if they’re flexible on their dates because if they’re wanting to travel, say, a Saturday to Saturday, those get booked more. If they can travel on a Wednesday to Wednesday, they could probably get better airfare. So, I would definitely say looking at their dates of travel and seeing if they’re flexible enough to move their dates to find out the best availability and price.

D: How far in advance should you start planning vacations?

KE: Come spring, we’ll start on summer vacations. When the kids are out of school, the families are going to travel more in the summer, so we’ll start

looking in the spring. The more people, the sooner you should start planning.

I would say, for the average person, probably six weeks.

D: If you’re on a tight budget, when is the best time to travel?

KE: I say the weeks after Thanksgiving and before Christmas because people aren’t traveling. Also, October and the first of November are definitely good.

Your hotel rooms and accommodations are pretty much standard daily, where with your airfare, it can cost $100 more per person one day than it does the next.

D: What are the most common mistakes people make when planning vacations on their own?

KE: If you’re planning ahead and you’ve got small children or you’ve got older parents, you should always look into taking out travel insurance. Some things can come up, and when things come up at the very end and you don’t have any kind of insurance, you really just lose your money.

D: Where would you recommend traveling in the Midwest?

KE: A lot of people like to go to the Omaha Zoo. Definitely Chicago and the Miracle Mile — that’s a lot of shopping

Kim Eddy runs her travel agency out of her home (photo courtesy of Tom Eddy).

and dining. People like St. Louis as well.

It really depends on what people want to do. For Midwest travel, Branson’s gotten really big, too. People just love it with all of the shows down there.

(illustration by Rebecca Reitz)

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TRAVEL DEALS | ADVICE

BUDGET BOOKING MAKE THE MOST OUT OF HOW YOU TRAVEL STORY BY JENNA HURTY

Y

(illustrations by Rebecca Reitz)

You don’t have to break the bank when planning a trip. Researching your destination, combining modes of transportation and booking in advance will help save you time and money.

After consulting experts and fellow travelers, we’ve compiled some of the best trip-planning suggestions for your next adventure.

>TRAVEL BY PLANE You should book plane reservations around three to four months in advance, suggested Gayle Ailshie, manager of Travel Haus travel agency in St. Louis.

After this window, airlines will raise prices 21, 14 and seven days in advance, with prices peaking the final week. If you’re traveling during the holidays, Ailshie recommended booking flight reservations about six months in advance. You should also consider traveling standby if you’re alone or with only one other person and aren’t in a hurry. While this can be significantly cheaper, make sure you research thoroughly, otherwise your expenses can quickly add up.

>TRAVEL BY TRAIN Train tickets should be booked about 30 days in advance, but prices are likely to increase two weeks before the departure date, Ailshie said. Train companies often give discounts to customers. Amtrak, for instance, has discounts for children, seniors, AAA members, military personnel, NARP members, students, veterans and groups of 20 or more. Tickets must be purchased at least three days in advance in order to receive the discount. The time of day you travel can also affect the price of a ticket. Certain times such as rush hour are sometimes more expensive than off peak times.

>TRAVEL BY CHARTER BUS Ailshie recommended purchasing bus tickets about 30 days in advance. You can wait until as close as one week in advance, though prices might have increased by then. Many bus companies also give group, student, military, veteran and senior citizen discounts. Make sure you read the fine print because some discounts only apply to tickets purchased in advance while others are for walk-up fare only. When you are looking for a bus company, look at both national, such as Greyhound and USA Bus Charter, and local companies. For instance, if you are traveling through Nebraska, Illinois or Iowa, you might want to check out Windstar Bus Lines or Midwest Coaches Inc., which specifically serves Iowa.

>TRAVEL BY CAR If you’re renting a car, reservations should be made about 30 days prior to departure, Ailshie said. Make sure to request a sedan rather than a gas-guzzling SUV. One way to save is to use resources such as GasBuddy via your phone or computer. After selecting your car’s make and model and inputing your destination, GasBuddy will show you the best and cheapest places to get gas along your route. It will also give you the total amount your trip will cost in gas. Talk about saving money!

Don’t Forget! Researching should always be the first step in your trip-planning process. If your trip coincides with a large event, prices and availability of hotels, rentals and attractions may be affected. Don’t be afraid to combine modes of transportation either. For example, flying to an airport three hours from your destination and renting a car or taking a train the rest of the way could be cheaper than just flying. Packing magazines and snacks can also help you avoid costly airport and rest stop purchases.

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ADVICE

TEN TIPS TO PACK FOR ANY TRIP STORY BY ANDI WATKINS DAVIS AND PHOTOS BY REBECCA REITZ

One of the most stressful aspects of a trip can be deciding what to pack. From choosing between your five favorite pairs of shoes to predicting every possible clothing situation you might encounter, packing can be an unpleasant experience. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be if you remain realistic about your packing expectations and follow these ten easy tips.

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OLD IS IN Remember that pile of clothes in the back of the closet you don’t wear anymore?

It’s time to pull them out! Pack items you don’t mind parting with, such as old tennis shoes and almost-empty bottles of toiletries. The more you get rid of on the road, the more you can bring home.

ROLL IT UP When actually putting items in a suitcase, try rolling clothes instead of folding them. This makes clothes more compact and creates extra room in your bag. Rolled clothes can also be packed into small spaces that aren’t normally used in bags.

USE AND REUSE Clothes can be worn multiple times when on the road. Now, you don’t have to wear the same two outfits all week, but it saves space to pack a few essentials that can be worn a couple of times, like a comfortable pair of jeans or a sweater. That being said, it’s probably a good idea to wear fresh undergarments and socks every day.

PLAN AHEAD Pack a small, flexible bag into your larger luggage that can be used daily during your trip. Small backpacks are great for keeping necessities with you during the day. Plus, they can easily be rolled up and repacked into a suitcase.

LAYERS UPON LAYERS Sometimes it’s hard to plan for unexpected weather changes, so try packing articles of clothing that can be layered. An extra long-sleeved shirt or a pair of shorts might be a lifesaver during a drastic weather change.

PACKING TIPS

PACKING FOR ALL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION Traveling by plane: Put toiletries, medications and an extra outfit in your carry-on in case your checked luggage gets lost.

Traveling by train: Trains have small aisles and cabins, so giant suitcases might become an issue when trying to get on and off the train car.

Use a bag that can move around easily.

MINIMIZE TOILETRIES It’s easy to take up a ton of space in luggage with toiletries. For the most part, the basics of makeup, hair care and showering products will get you through any vacation and be less of a hassle. Buying travel-sized toiletries or putting your own products into travelsized bottles is a good way to limit the amount you bring on vacation.

DOUBLE-CHECK VALUABLES Valuables can be stolen or lost while traveling, so evaluate which jewelry or important documents you will actually need. Take a thorough count of any valuables you plan to take, and make note of where you pack them. Be sure to check on them during your trip to make sure they haven’t gone missing.

DRESS FOR MOVEMENT It is inevitable you will be moving a lot during your vacation, so it’s important to dress accordingly. Your trip will be more enjoyable if you are comfortable.

Pack clothes that aren’t too tight or restrictive, and be sure to have an outfit that will allow for easy movements during any train, plane or car ride.

YOUR FEET ARE IMPORTANT More often than not, vacations require a considerable amount of walking.

Make sure to pack a comfortable and functional pair of walking shoes to avoid injury or discomfort. It’s also good to have a pair of shoes that will provide some air and space for your feet after a long day of walking. A general rule is to bring no more than two pairs of shoes that can function in different circumstances while you are on vacation.

LESS IS MORE Ultimately, the most important part of making any packing situation less painful is to pack the items you absolutely need and nothing more.

Eliminating the extra stuff before you try to fill your bags will make the experience quicker and easier.

Traveling by car: Use luggage with soft shells so they will form to whatever space is available in the trunk of your car.

Traveling by foot: A comfortable hiking backpack is the key to traveling by foot.

Research brands like The Northface® and Kelty to find a pack that suits your size and travel needs.

Traveling by bicycle: Mentally prepare yourself for a trip with few material items. There isn’t much space to pack luggage while on a bike trip, so you may have to leave your favorite jeans behind.

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Uncle Frank’s

cabin OILMAN’S RETREAT PRESERVES SPIRIT OF THE WEST

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KATY SPENCE

Paintings and photographs are scattered throughout the museum among displays of antique pioneer goods.

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WOOLAROC

“As he acquired more things, he would add a room or two. Every time the ceiling changes, that’s a different addition.”

A long-horned steer watches as cars full of visitors drive slowly through the preserve.

Woods, lakes and rocks may be Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve’s namesake, but this Bartlesville, Okla., attraction holds more than scenic cliffs, rolling grass hills and lakes surrounded by trees.

Founded in 1925 by Frank Phillips, owner and co-founder of the Phillips Petroleum Company, Woolaroc was known around the country as being the oilman’s home. The land was originally intended to be a retreat for “Uncle Frank,” as he was known to family, friends and employees.

Today, Woolaroc is a tribute to Phillips’ legacy. Phillips, whose company merged with Conoco Inc. in 2002 to become ConocoPhillips, was an avid collector of Native American artifacts, native and exotic animals, and Colt firearms.

Art Curator Linda Stone said after Phillips’ company was incorporated in 1917, he had become wealthy enough to buy the ranch. He bought the land in 1925, built the fence and started bringing in animals.

Visitors enter the ranch at the south end, driving on a paved loop through a fenced-in 3,700-acre wildlife preserve more than 700 native and exotic mammals and birds inhabit. The land, almost six square miles, is home to freeroaming animals such as buffalo, elk, longhorn cattle and other plains species.

Water buffalo, llamas and ostriches are enclosed in roadside pens. A CD is

provided at the gate to act as a guided tour of the grounds.

A side road winds from the main loop to a lakeside camp with teepees and campfire smoke called the Mountain Man Encampment. From March to early September, visitors can learn what an 1840s trapper camp looked like as well as how to shoot a black powder rifle, throw a tomahawk, and construct and furnish a teepee.

The main attraction, however, is at the top of the hill. The museum, originally built as a hanger for a small plane, houses a collection of sculptures, old saddles, antique dolls and vintage gasoline merchandise as well as firearms and Native American artifacts. The renovated hanger holds more than 10,000 works of art and the largest Indian blanket collection in the world, according to Woolaroc’s website.

One room holds “Woolaroc,” a plane used in a 1927 race pineapple mogul James D. Dole sponsored in Hawaii.

Since the plane’s retirement at Woolaroc, Phillips’ collection has grown, and the building has expanded as needed.

“As he acquired more things, he would add a room or two,” Stone said.

“Every time the ceiling changes, that’s a different addition.”

According to a sign in the museum, the five large rooms that compose the building are roughly divided into time eras, ranging from prehistoric times to the

— Linda Stone

The Pioneer Woman Models and other artifacts surround a sculpture depicting native dance attire.

This model depicts a prehistoric village in Le Flore County, Okla.

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The Russell Straight collection of Winchester rifles includes rare models from the company’s earliest years.

“I love it here.

Everybody does once they’ve been here.”

— Anne Poe

modern commercialization of gasoline.

Maintenance worker Bill Tucker said the building is undergoing remodeling to update the wiring and add state-of-the-art lighting in each room.

Visitor Gary Buford, of Conroe, Texas, said he first came to Woolaroc with his brother 20 years ago. He and a friend were on a business trip when he decided to visit the park again.

“This is a very beautiful museum,” Buford said. “It’s got a lot of history.”

Buford said he especially enjoyed the animals and the museum’s collection of Colt and Winchester firearms, one of the largest in the world because of Phillips and his generous friends.

The Lodge and the Bunkhouse, originally Phillips’ home and guesthouse, are down the hill from the museum. The eight-room cabin overlooks one of the five lakes and is today called the Lodge. Phillips and his wife’s belongings fill the rustic building, and mounted heads of donated animals or of animals that didn’t survive on the ranch cover the walls.

“He didn’t have great luck with them for awhile,” Stone said. “A lot of the critters you see on the wall, and especially down in the Lodge, were not successful.”

Phillips did not hunt, Stone added, and many of the mounted heads were gifts from his wealthy hunter friends. Phillips’ friends would often donate pieces from their world travels or will items to the museum after they passed away.

Across from the Lodge is the Bunkhouse, a gallery that hosts local and regional artists

who display their work in the renovated building. Roger Hale, of Bartlesville, Okla., is one such artist whose paintings, digital artwork and wood carvings have been displayed in the Bunkhouse.

“This place gets business from everywhere,” Hale explained. “To be out here and be seen by a worldwide audience — it’s quite an honor. I felt real lucky to be invited out here.”

Hale said after he did a painting demonstration outside the museum, Stone invited him back for a two-month exhibit in the gallery. As a former employee of ConocoPhillips and an amateur artist, Hale explained he was happy to oblige.

“This will be a big boost for us, being out here for two months,” Hale said. “It kind of gives you some clout.”

As well as hosting local artists, Woolaroc holds events throughout most of the year, such as Kidsfest and OK Mozart during the summer and horse trail rides during the spring and fall. Woolaroc’s biggest and most historic fundraiser is Cow Thieves and Outlaws, which Phillips started in the 1920s.

“One day a year, he would have this tremendous party,” said Stone, smiling. “He would invite all the outlaws, local Indians, war veterans in uniform, lawmen and anyone he needed to impress.”

Stone said the men had to leave their guns at the gate, and no one could arrest anyone else.

“They’d all come in here and just have a heck of a party,” she explained. “At the end of the day, the outlaws had an hour or two

The Woolaroc Plane The Woolaroc museum was originally a hanger for a small plane. “Woolaroc” was flown in a race James D. Dole sponsored in Hawaii during 1927.

Stone said Dole thought a race from the mainland to Hawaii would be good publicity, so he organized it thinking legendary pilot Charles Lindbergh would participate.

“It was a really bad idea,” admitted Stone, with a laugh. “Almost everybody was crashed or lost or something. Two planes made it out of eight that took off. There were a number of people killed just trying to get to the race.”

Phillips sponsored the winning plane, and after a year of touring the country, “Woolaroc” was retired at his ranch.

Since the plane’s retirement, Phillips’ collection has grown, and the hanger has expanded as needed into the large museum it is today. detours 24 winter 2012

WOOLAROC

head start.”

The fundraiser has recently been adopted again, and oilmen and politicians gather at the picnic grounds in October for live music, dancing and food, Stone continued.

During the winter holiday season, Woolaroc is covered in lights. Docent Anne Poe explained everything — including trees, fences, buildings and pathways — has strands of lights on it. The concession stand offers hot chocolate, choirs sing in the little theater and a man in a red suit makes a visit for the children.

“It’s gorgeous as long as the weather cooperates,” Stone laughed. “There have been years where you can see the lights under the snow.”

Poe has volunteered at Woolaroc for 15 years, and she said many people, including one of her grandparents, have rented lakeside venues for weddings.

“I love it here,” Poe said. “Everybody does once they’ve been here.”

Phillips’ most prominent success may have been in the oil business, but his work to preserve Native American goods and other historic artifacts earned Woolaroc an induction into the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Although petrol was his path to success, Phillips’ collections are undoubtedly his most valuable legacy.

Artist Roger Hale’s works were displayed in the Bunkhouse Gallery for a two-month exhibition.

>>WEB EXCLUSIVE Read more about Frank Phillips, the petroleum industry and Woolaroc on our website, tmn.truman.edu/detours.

Phillips’ cabin overlooks Clyde Lake, one of five lakes at Woolaroc.

“Woolaroc” hangs above vintage gasoline merchandise and moving models demonstrating early crude oil drilling and refinement.

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small town STRENGTH

Decorative awnings, signs and window displays line the sidewalks of Main Street’s shopping district.

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WESTON

COMMUNITY’S LOVE HELPS TOWN FLOURISH STORY BY BROOKE VANCLEAVE PHOTOS BY JESSIE POOLE

The winding, tree-lined highways and hilly river bluffs of northwest Missouri make a beautiful weekend drive for adventurers wanting to escape the chaos of city life. If they drive far enough, they might come across Weston, Mo., a tiny town north of Kansas City with a big personality.

Weston was founded on the banks of the Missouri River in 1837 as a river trading port. By 1858, it was the second largest city in Missouri, surpassed in population only by St. Louis. However, because of considerable flooding throughout the next few decades, the river changed direction and cut itself a new channel, leaving Weston high and dry. Today, the population remains around 1,600 residents.

Despite its decline as a port city, Weston has retained its vitality through a strong tourism industry and its significant history. Numerous specialty shops, restaurants, activities and festivals draw crowds from all around the country, and travel organizations have given the city many awards, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Midwest.

SPECIALTY SHOPS ON MAIN STREET

When visitors turn off the main road that leads into Weston’s downtown area, they might not think the little town has much to offer. A steep decline leads to a five-block stretch of sidewalks and buildings that ends at the old railroad tracks where the river once flowed 150 years ago. Some stores have decorative awnings or large display windows, with signs clueing shoppers as to what they might find inside. After getting out of their cars and walking around to explore the shops, visitors can get a new perspective of Main Street’s oneof-a-kind vendors.

Local artisans and collectors own many of the shops. 5B & Company sells hand-poured

The people of Weston are proud of its Civil War-era heritage and celebrated the town’s 175th anniversary in 2012.

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More Information O’Malley’s Pub, Irish Fest and The Celtic Ranch have certainly made Weston a fun place to celebrate Irish culture. However, the town itself technically does not have a definitive Irish heritage. Although it wasn’t originally a place known for Irish immigrants, the town has embraced the culture as its own. The pub’s presence has increased local interest in Irish food, music and customs. Bob Reeder, regular weekly performer at O’Malley’s, specializes in Irish music and storytelling. The America Bowman Restaurant serves authentic Irish dishes like bangers and mash and corned beef. The newest homemade brew from the Weston Brewing Company is a dark stout beer similar to Guinness, a favorite in the United Kingdom.

candles in nearly 150 different scents. The Sundance Photo Gallery refurbishes and sells vintage cameras and photography equipment, and it specializes in prints from renowned Vaudeville-era photographer Orval Hixon.

Several antique stores, craft galleries, home furnishing stores and thrift clothing shops highlight the varied talents and interests of the Weston community that give the town its flair.

Tobacco has been one of Weston’s main staple crops since the mid-19th century. At Weston Tobacco Company, visitors can watch workers create hand-rolled cigars from cured tobacco leaves, carefully trimming and shaping them until they are formed.

The sound of fiddles, flutes and mandolins streaming from outdoor speakers lures shoppers to The Celtic Ranch, which opened in 2004 to sell authentic Irish and Scottish goods and celebrate Celtic history. Real wool sweaters, scarves, caps and kilts hang on racks in the front room. A large display on the main counter contains dozens of silver Claddagh rings, which portray the symbol of two hands holding a crowned heart signifying love, marriage and friendship. Other authentic goods include leather bags, jewelry, home and wall décor depicting Irish themes, and CDs of traditional Irish music.

Customers can drink complementary hot Irish tea every day in the side room. The back room is decorated like a fairy realm, full of twinkling lights and mossy branches. Half-Pint McGee, a miniature pony, is brought to The Celtic Ranch every Saturday to greet shoppers in his stall in the fairy room, where they can pet and take pictures with him.

Although the Weston community doesn’t have definitive Irish roots, The Celtic

Ranch manager Jennye Rose said the nearby O’Malley’s Irish Pub and its annual Irish Fest made the town an ideal location for this type of store. Rose said specialty stores do well in small tourist towns like Weston because they don’t have to compete with large chain stores.

Cheryl Boisson, a former Celtic Ranch customer who has worked at the store since November 2011, enjoys interacting with visitors and making them feel welcome.

“We get some really fun customers from all over, especially Nebraska,” Boisson said.

“People from Nebraska just seem to love Weston! They’re kind of taken aback by the lights and fairy branches. It’s a lot of fun.”

She said she thinks a big reason many customers come back is because of the thought and care the owner and the manager put into the store. “[Owner Terry Kast] goes over to Ireland a couple times a year for merchant shows to bring merchandise back,” Boisson said. “[She and Rose] have an energy and passion for this store and their customers.”

FOOD AND DRINK

O’Malley’s Brewing Company and Public House is one of Weston’s most historic and popular tourist destinations. Although the pub didn’t open until the late 1970s, its structure has been in the town since 1842. It is composed of large stone rooms, tunnels and steep stairs that stretch four stories underground beneath the America Bowman Restaurant. General Manager Deedee Jacobson said the rooms were originally lager cellars for a brewery until Prohibition shut it down during the 1920s.

An Irish family named O’Malley purchased the property in 1977 and gradually

Chief of Police Terry Blanton has been on the force for more than 30 years.

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WESTON

began restoring the cellars and converting them into bars until all three bar areas were completed by the 1990s. She said the pub is definitely not your average bar because of its underground appeal, which is what drew her to O’Malley’s in the first place.

The pub features live music performances every week, and many bands play fast-paced Irish music to complement the setting. Pub grub includes traditional Irish fare like corned beef sandwiches and Guinness beer as well as Weston Brewing Company’s own specialty beers.

Corey Weinfurt has been co-owner of O’Malley’s since 2005. He said he enjoys preparing for Irish Fest, which the pub has hosted every fall since 1999. The crowds grow consistently each year. In October 2011, Irish Fest attracted around 10,000 visitors during one weekend.

“This will be the 13th year for Irish Fest,” Weinfurt said. “We try to do our best to provide some Irish beers and brew our own. There are no [food] vendors — we make authentic food all by hand here, which is pretty unique for a festival this size.”

The pub is just one of Weston’s many “spirited” attractions. The McCormick Distillery is located on the outskirts of town, producing McCormick-brand vodka and liquors for more than 150 years. Although the distillery is closed to the public, tourists can visit the McCormick Country Store on Main Street to learn more about the distillery, buy McCormick products and try samples of flavored vodka.

Pirtle Winery, located inside an old German Lutheran church, has been a staple in the town for 34 years. The wine garden offers complementary breads, cheeses and

snacks to accompany its wine tastings, and nearby restaurant The Vineyards serves Pirtle’s signature wines with its menu.

Other restaurants in town range from humble comfort food favorites at the Weston Café to gourmet meals like rack of lamb at The Vineyards to wild boar loin at the Avalon Café.

Visitors can choose from eight different bed and breakfasts to relax with a welcoming meal and warm bed.

SEASONAL ATTRACTIONS

Weston’s other autumn festival is Apple Fest, which usually takes place during early October each year, a couple weeks before Irish Fest. As Weston’s biggest festival, Apple Fest makes the downtown area come alive.

Booths full of artisan crafts line the sidewalks while bands play live music all day long on an elevated stage in the middle of the street. The smells of food vendors fill the air, especially ones that feature the star of the show — apples.

Visitors can’t leave without sampling some homemade apple cider, applesauce, caramel apples or apple pastries.

During the winter, the people of Weston anticipate the arrival of Father Christmas. For 25 years, local personality Tom Hooper has dressed up as the celebrated character and walked around downtown every weekend during November and December. He tells stories, takes pictures with families and hands out hand-carved wooden toys to children. He dresses in rich red robes and carries a walking stick. Unlike the typical plump man in a red suit that often personifies the Christmas season, Hooper is tall and lean.

“He’s a real old-time Father Christmas instead of the jolly Santa Claus everyone is

A sign guides visitors to the entrance of the America Bowman Restaurant.

“We try to do our best to provide some Irish beers and brew our own.”

— Cory Weinfurt

Andrea Priddy owns an interior design shop in downtown Weston.

Wool caps fill the shelves of The Celtic Ranch.

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The McCormick Country Store has a wide variety of McCormickbrand spirits that visitors can taste-test before making purchases.

“The experience itself convinces [visitors] to come here.”

— Andrea Priddy

used to seeing,” said Cathy Egan, owner of The Murphy House Bed and Breakfast and chairperson for the Candlelight Homes Tour committee. “He just kind of embodies the whole spirit of Christmas. People will come to Weston just to see him.”

The Candlelight Homes Tour is the other main winter attraction in the town. Weston is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its nearly 100 historic homes and buildings dating back to the Civil War era. Each December for the past 31 years, the committee chooses a small selection of these homes from a pool of volunteers to open up to the public. Homeowners decorate their homes in whichever holiday theme they desire and then allow people to take tours and learn about the history of the structure.

“The homes tour has become a tradition,” Egan said. “You drive by a pretty house and always wonder what it looks like on the inside, so it’s nice to actually get to do that here.”

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

The river bluffs area of northwest Missouri has the ideal landscape for visitors wanting to explore the great outdoors. Weston Bend State Park has hiking and biking trails, campsites, picnic areas, historic tobacco barns and a scenic overlook of the Missouri River.

The Weston Bluffs Trail allows visitors to experience what it would have been like to travel with Lewis and Clark. The trail begins at City Hall, which features an exhibit detailing the duo’s two-year expedition. The trail then

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extends through Old South Bluff Road toward the Missouri River, eventually connecting to the state park.

Snow Creek Ski Resort operates almost year round. The hills surrounding Weston provide the right terrain for skiing and snowboarding, and even if it isn’t winter, huge snowmaking machines produce enough powder for adequate snow coverage. It has been a popular day trip destination since 1985 for area churches, schools, youth organizations or active families looking for an adventure.

COMMUNITY

Weston makes up for its low residential population with award-winning shops, attractions and entertainment venues.

“We’ve gotten a lot of awards, like best day trip [from Ingrams] and number one best overnight trip [from VisitKC.com],” said Bonnie Stewart, Weston resident and Chamber of Commerce employee.

However, the reason people keep coming back to Weston isn’t just because of its popularity or history. Many residents and visitors say it’s the friendliness of the community and the people who live and work there that make Weston feel so welcoming.

Andrea Priddy, president of the Chamber of Commerce, has been involved in the Candlelight Homes Tour committee for more than a decade. She said the town is important to her because her mother grew up in Weston, and she remembers visiting as a child. She also thinks small towns are a good place to

WESTON

O’Malley’s Stout is one of Weston’s newest brews. raise a family.

“The experience itself convinces [visitors] to come here,” Priddy said. “The town does half the work for you.”

O’Malley’s owner Corey Weinfurt agreed Weston was the right fit for him and his family, allowing him to turn his passion for brewing into a new career path.

“My wife and I had looked all the way to Iowa and back around to try to find a location for a brewery or something in a small town like this,” Weinfurt said. “We were already living in Kansas City, [Mo.,] so Weston was actually perfect. … [The pub] combines brewing and keeping up a historic place, which is something extremely important to me.”

No matter the reason for coming to Weston, most residents say the experience is one visitors won’t soon forget. Its historic roots give the town a solid foundation, and its tourism industry keeps visitors coming back for more each year. However, the overall feeling of a community actively caring for the town they love is what really makes it special.

“You instantly get that feeling that there’s sort of like this magic here, like time stopped,” Priddy said. “The river really moved, and we stayed the same.”

Colorful ornaments fill the branches that decorate the fairy room at The Celtic Ranch.

>>WEB EXCLUSIVE Read more about O’Malley’s Pub and The Celtic Ranch in Weston, Mo., on our website, tmn.truman.edu/detours.

Shoppers admire the window display of Pacific Breeze.

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FOOD

the

spiritof

Nauvoo

FAMILY-OWNED WINERY CELEBRATES HISTORY

detours 32 winter 2012

BAXTER’S WINERY

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JESSICA SCHEETZ Baxter’s Vineyards is comprised of 17 acres, with four dedicated to its apple orchards.

Baxter’s keeps mementos of old equipment and awards as tributes to its unforgotten past.

Stainless steel vats such as this house the juice during primary femintation.

A

Across the banks from Iowa along the winding Mississippi River lies the tiny town of Nauvoo, Ill. The dense vegetation hides the town from travelers on Illinois State Highway 96. After driving up a steep hill and through a forest, the area begins to open up, revealing farmland and houses.

Nauvoo’s importance varies depending upon whom you ask — Native Americans, European settlers or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, for Baxter’s Wine and Vineyards, its history is tied to one man: Emile Baxter.

Previously occupied by Native Americans, Nauvoo became the home for many Mormons that had fled Missouri to escape religious persecution. By 1844, however, continuing violence forced most Mormons to leave. The following years proved crucial for the Icarians, a movement based on the ideals of French philosopher Ètienne Cabet.

The Icarians moved to the area in 1849, shortly after their Texas colony failed because of a lack of supplies and

difficult living conditions. Baxter and his wife joined the commune in 1855, but Cabet’s death the following year caused many members to move elsewhere.

Baxter, however, decided to stay and start a winery using what he had learned from the Icarians.

A tradition since 1857, Baxter’s Vineyards has experienced its fair share of trials and tribulations. It has endured the Prohibition, pressures from largescale industries and the Great Depression.

However, Kim Orth, accountant and sixth-generation Baxter, said she’s content with the way Baxter’s Vineyards is today.

“We are happy at our 3,000 to 5,000 gallon range, and we’d kind of like to stay that way if we can,” Orth explained. “A lot of the bigger wineries have automated bottling systems where they can do 2,500 cases in four hours. Twenty-five hundred cases would take us four days.”

Baxter’s Vineyards, Illinois’ oldest winery, grows many different types of grapes. Some of its American varieties include Catawba, a “foxy”-flavored red

hybrid grape that makes a fruity pink wine, and Niagara, a crossbreed between Concord and white Cassady grapes.

Beyond the wine business, the vineyard has managed to dedicate some acreage — four of its 17 to be exact — to its own apple orchard. Visitors are encouraged to pick as they like, and the winery often serves fresh apple cider during the harvest season as well.

Filled with Red Delicious, Jonathon and Empire, the dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees create a colorful foreground to the endless green of vineyards behind them.

When visitors begin the self-guided tour, they are directed to the kitchen, where Carol Zumdome, mastermind behind Carol’s Pies, eagerly awaits them.

Zumdome’s been making pies for the past 30 years, two-thirds of which have been spent with Baxter’s Vineyards. She rolls each pie crust by hand and makes her own fruit fillings, such as apple, butterscotch meringue, peach and strawberry rhubarb.

“A lot of people in this day and age expect instant gratification,” Zumdome

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FOOD

During the fall, pickers help gather grapes and fill tubs to transport back to the winery.

“The Icarian Red and White tie back to our Icarian heritage.”

— Kim Orth

detours 34 winter 2012

explained. “There are some things that take time, and pies are one of them.”

During some of her peak times throughout the holidays, Zumdome can make as many as 75 pies in a single day, but she admits she eventually stopped counting. She said the best policy to follow when trying to acquire one of her tasty treats is to order in advance. Otherwise, it’s hard to tell how many pies she might have on hand.

After visiting Zumdome — and maybe acquiring a bite or two of pie — families, couples and individuals alike can continue the self-guided tour to the next stop: the fermenting room. Used mainly during September and October, eight to 10 pickers fill 25-pound grape lugs, a tub used to transport the grapes from the vineyard to the winery.

After loading the lugs onto a tractor, the grapes are poured through the destemmer-crusher, which splits the skins, allowing the juice to flow into the stainless steel vats.

Primary fermentation begins to take place shortly after adding yeast to the mixture inside the vat. Once completed, the juice is drawn from the vat, leaving behind only the seeds and skins. To make sure as much of the juice is used as possible, the scraps are sent through a grape press to squeeze out the remaining liquid.

Turning the corner, visitors then find themselves in the former aging room, the next step in the wine-making process. In 1947, professional coopers from Ohio built the 2,985-gallon aging casks in the very room where they currently reside. Unable to move them because of their large size, Baxter’s Vineyards keeps the mementos as tributes to the winery’s unforgotten past.

“We try to keep at least one of everything,” said Orth, who also works as Nauvoo’s tourism director. “They had 12 of them in here at one time, but they’re not economical to use for current wine-making processes.”

One of the benefits of working with a

BAXTER’S WINERY

bed&breakfast Affixed prominently across the street lies the Nauvoo Grand Bed & Breakfast. Originally built by Emile’s son Cecil J. Baxter, the twostory brick home served as the Baxter’s primary residence while taking care of the vineyards. Since then, it has transformed into a time capsule, offering a glimpse into Victorian times and Baxter family history. Its authentic, and often considered dramatic, copper ceilings and time-period furnishings will immediately catch visitors’ eyes as they step into the entryway. Although the vineyard no longer owns the B&B, the Nauvoo Grand still serves as the primary housing for those who wish to visit the area for an extended period of time.

smaller winery is its connection with the local community. In the late 1800s, more than 600 acres of grapes and 40 wine cellars could be found in Nauvoo. Although the winery has downsized since then, the community remains a large part in its continued success and often comes to Baxter’s Vineyards for assistance in making wine of their own.

“Just little things that they might need,” said Orth, while pointing to a few wine kits, bottles and corks. “We usually answer questions and supply yeast.”

The winery supplies grape juice if the individual needs it as well, which John Sherrill often takes advantage of during his winemaking expeditions. Sherrill has been working with the winery for the past three or four years, though he began making wine much earlier than that.

“I’ve helped my uncle and my mom make wine since I was younger,” he explained. “Around the Nauvoo area, it seems to be fairly prominent.”

The winery has offered Sherrill winemaking advice, including measuring the brix, or sugar content, of the wine and telling him which types of yeast to use. Although he prefers sweeter wines, Sherrill has found Baxter’s Vineyards will help him with experimenting.

Orth said individuals like Sherrill who support the winery have been essential for its continued operation, though new exhibits have been established in the winery and community along the way. Orth has been working heavily with the Illinois Humanities Council and Smithsonian Institute to implement Journey Stories, an exhibit that describes the area’s personal heritage.

“It’s really generating a lot of local excitement,” Orth said. “It tells the rest of Nauvoo’s history — not just the [Latter-day Saints] portion.”

Many have called Nauvoo home throughout the years, and Baxter’s Vineyards has sought to integrate that history into its

processes. Many of its wines are named after Baxter family members, including Orth’s father.

“I won’t let them name a wine after me,” Orth said with a laugh. “The Purple Fang was the one we teasingly named after Dad because he always had purple teeth as he was drinking wine. Then the Icarian Red and White tie back to our Icarian heritage.”

When leaving Nauvoo, the rolling hills of the winery and vineyards often become lost in the trees that encompass visitors on their way out of town. For those who know Nauvoo, however, it’s a place they call home, along with the many generations of Baxters, Icarians and other ancestors before them.

>>WEB EXCLUSIVE Read more about Emile Baxter, his journey to Nauvoo and Baxter’s heritage on our website, tmn.truman.edu/detours.

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FOOD | HAMBURGER MARY’S

A “Faux Femme” Friday night bears no resemblance to the more low-key form Hamburger Mary’s assumes during the week.

In business since January 2012, this open air bar and grille attracts hundreds of visitors each week.

BURGERS WITH A

KICK

COLUMNIST EXPLORES ONE-OF-A-KIND BURGER JOINT STORY AND PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH McBRIDE

H

“How much time do you think we’ll need?” my mom asked, standing tentatively with an open wallet full of quarters. We stood by a parking meter outside Hamburger Mary’s Bar and Grille in St. Louis — one of 12 in the nation.

“Maybe about two-and-a-half hours,” I offered, though I knew perfectly well once inside the dimly lit hamburger joint, the vivacity teeming from every stiletto and chandelier would render time inconsequential.

As the Friday evening sun set over Olive Street, we pulled open the double glass doors of this “open-air bar and grille for open-minded people” for the second time that week. Hamburger Mary’s welcomes all to “eat, drink and be … Mary!”

That previous Tuesday, we’d joined my dad and brother for the eating and drinking part of the deal. Greeting us as we entered was a four-foot-tall statuette of a curvy blonde posing with a cheeseburger.

After making our way past walls adorned with pictures of Madonna and Audrey Hepburn, we arrived at our onstage table. I ordered the St. Louis Blues Burger, a basic burger with bleu cheese and bacon, and seasoned fries with a side of ranch dressing.

In the tradition of ’Tini Tuesday,

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our waiter set my mom up with a “Molly Ringwald.” The best piece of martinirelated advice I can offer is this: When you start making joke after joke about your delicious side of “tasty ta-tas,” maybe you’ve had enough.

Ta-tas — tater tots for the more traditionally minded — are just one item on the large menu at Hamburger Mary’s, replete with starters, entrées, “hot and juicy” burgers, “souper” salads and suggestive humor. As we finished, our waiter delivered a check in the sole of a red stiletto, size seven, which he enthusiastically encouraged me to try on.

As we walked out, I shot a final glance at the gigantic chandelier hanging from the ceiling behind me. Somehow I knew my next visit would feel drastically different.

So Friday, while walking beside my mother in my own pumps through the darkened lobby, I assumed an air of naïve expectancy. I had just started ordering spinach artichoke dip when music began to play. I looked to my right where the stage gave way to a voluptuous blonde singing the show tune “Let Me Be Your Star” in a tight, neon orange dress and white stilettos.

We’d returned for Mary. “Being Mary” has alluded to the restaurant’s “Faux Femme Fridays” since the franchise’s St. Louis debut in January

2012. Once a week, men dressed as women with mile-long eyelashes dance to pop tunes from today and decades past, sashaying through a crowd as diverse as the wigs and costumes.

The funny thing about drag shows anywhere is they tend to provoke audience members to keep reminding themselves, “That’s a man.” After all, these are men in drag — complete with skintight dresses, heels and lipstick. Although at Hamburger Mary’s, the situation becomes more complex when audience members of varying sexualities become part of the equation. Patrons and performers alike can drop their identities at the door and enter an atmosphere that celebrates innocent flamboyance and open hearts.

I could have sat there all night with my chin in my hand, forever wondering about who is attracted to whom, the personalities of the performers out of drag, what they really look like and so on. At some point, though, I just had to look around at the lights and the people, become a part of my surroundings and stop thinking. Concrete explanations seem practically impossible to come by in real life, and the theatrical world of Hamburger Mary’s certainly offers no relief from this.

However, if you’re truly open and willing to embrace life’s inevitable ambiguity, Mary is your girl.

PHOTO CONTEST | RESOURCE

ANGLES P H OTO C O N T E S T W I N N E R S

WINNER “The Road Less Traveled”

by Danielle Breshears Kirksville, Mo. winter 2012

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RESOURCE

“Transparency”

by Amanda Shetler Berlin, Germany

“Rising High”

by Tara Harrison Ft. Madison, Iowa

H O N O R AB LE ME NTI O N S “Untitled”

by Katy Spence Rome, Italy

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PHOTO CONTEST

“Untitled”

by Erin Twenter Pilot Grove, Mo.

“Untitled”

by Andie Davis Cape Air Kirksville Air Fest, Kirksville, Mo.

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RESOURCE

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PHOTO CONTEST

FACEBOOK FAN FAVORITE

“Green Lakes Valley”

by Cara Ascarrunz

The City of Boulder Watershed, Nederland, Colo.

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l a i r e t a M irl G

RESOURCE

MOTHER DISCOVERS HER PASSION FOR DESIGNING

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIA POHLMAN

U

Upon walking through the front door of Jenna Johnson-Jones’ boutique that doubles as her workshop and home, the customer’s attention is drawn to the shop’s vintage décor.

Old pieces of mismatched carpet hang on the walls substituting as wallpaper, paintings hang sideways and an old iron bed covered in lacy antique pillows protrudes from the corner. The atmosphere, like the pieces Jenna designs, is friendly, worn-in and comfortable.

Jenna, stay-at-home mom and designer, makes vintage-inspired purses, head wraps and jewelry for her line Jeorgie Miley, based out of her home in Harrisburg, Ill. Formerly known as Random Cargo, Jenna renamed her line in honor of her grandmother. In addition to selling her merchandise at her boutique, Jenna tours craft shows in Illinois and southeastern Missouri. In 2012, she was also accepted into the Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio, as well as the Bella Rustica Show in Pulaski, Tenn.

Jenna never expected to be designing purses as a business. As a child and teenager, she loved fashion and would often put together outfits from her grandmother’s closet. Upon graduating from high school, Jenna attended Rhema Bible Training College in Tulsa, Okla., and then worked at a prayer line ministry in St. Louis. She said she waited and prayed that God would lead her to her passion.

When her best friend from high school died at age 19 from cystic fibrosis, Jenna moved back

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Jenna Johnson-Jones laughs while sitting among her purses and other vintage finds. to Harrisburg, Ill., to be with her family. At that time, she met her husband, Dustin Jones. When their son was born, she decided to become a stay-at-home mom. She said she loved being a mom and thought that was the passion she had been praying for. Then, in 2008, she decided to sew a purse for herself as something to do while taking care of her newborn.

“I ordered five sewing books from Amazon for my birthday,” Jenna recalled.

“I read every book I had, and I started doing

purses just because I was going to make myself one. At first, I didn’t even know how to handsew a button. Neither sewing or reading a pattern came naturally to me.”

Jenna said her mother, Kathy, bought her an inexpensive sewing machine because Kathy knew Jenna didn’t always follow through with new interests. However, she later encouraged Jenna to make a business out of this new hobby, though Jenna didn’t initially take Kathy’s advice seriously.

JENNA JOHNSON-JONES

ALL IN THE FAMILY Jeorgie Miley is a family effort.

Here’s what each member of Johnson-Jones’ family does to help out with the business:

A few Jeorgie Miley vintage purses are on display in an old suitcase inside Jenna’s boutique.

Shortly after, Jenna’s older sister, Kerry, began sewing purses, and the duo signed up to be dealers at the Heritage Festival, a craft show at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, Ill. The show went well, so Jenna bought two booths at the Heritage Festival the following year. She said that’s when she knew she wanted to make her merchandise line into a business.

Today, Jenna, Kathy, Dustin and her sisters all play a significant part in the business.

Jenna refers to her mother as her business partner. Kathy handles the business aspects of Jeorgie Miley, helps with assembling the purses and goes “junking” to look for vintage finds to attach to the purses. Junking is a hobby Jenna has inherited from Kathy.

“We were young when her dad and I got married,” Kathy said. “I got into [antiquing] because I couldn’t afford anything else. We don’t want anything to be cookie cutter.”

Jenna’s style has evolved from sewing her own bags to collecting old leather bags and covering them with antique jewelry, lace and fabric. She uses walnut ink as well as tea and coffee stain to create the shabby, chic look of her purses. Jenna also creates dyes from other materials to get the perfect color and sometimes rips and burns the fabrics. Each piece that embellishes her creations comes from estate sales, antique stores or thrift stores.

Jenna usually starts working three months

in advance to get ready for a show. She typically makes 10 bigger bags or 15 smaller bags during her five-hour shift each day. To get ideas for a purse design, she said she prays, talks with her mother and lays out different options. Getting a new idea for a design is her favorite part of the job.

Jenna’s younger sister, Jessie, said it’s hard to spend time apart before shows because of how close she is with her sister.

“I hate that my best friend disappears when it’s time to start working,” Jessie said.

Jenna understands boutiques are about the atmosphere and feelings the customers get while they’re in the store. Jenna wants every customer to be able to buy a bag, so she creates bags for a variety of budgets, costing between $15 and $150 on average. The price of each bag depends upon the antique pieces she uses as well as the amount of time she puts into making it.

The grunge bag is her signature item.

To make one of these, Jenna stains a vintage bag with tea and covers it with vintage pieces of jewelry and fabric. When she first began making these bags, it was a turning point in her business. Jenna sold one at a show and had 20 more orders for them. She said it was then she realized no matter how different her designs were from what people in her area were used to seeing, she shouldn’t be scared to do what she wanted to do creatively.

Jenna Johnson-Jones — Jenna is the designer and creator of Jeorgie Miley. She designs and assembles purses, head wraps and jewelry; shops for vintage pieces to attach to merchandise and dyes fabrics.

Kathy Johnson — Kathy is Jenna’s mom and business partner. She runs the business aspects of Jeorgie Miley, helps assemble purses and buys vintage pieces to decorate the purses.

Dustin Jones — Dustin is Jenna’s husband. He helps set up displays at each craft show and loads and unloads the merchandise.

Jessie Johnson — Jessie is Jenna’s younger sister. She helps assemble purses, uploads photos and takes care of Jeorgie Miley’s Facebook page.

Kerry Johnson — Kerry is Jenna’s older sister. She initially took care of the business aspects of Jeorgie Miley, got them into their first craft show and helped sew the purses.

Julie Gott — Julie is Jenna’s older sister. She babysits Jenna’s son while Jenna is working at shows.

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25

RESOURCE

Places to Get Your

Money’s Worth

STORY BY SARAH EBLEN, JESSICA SCHEETZ AND KATY SPENCE

KANSAS CITY, MO.

>American Jazz Museum

Honoring jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker, the American Jazz Museum features old tracks, interactive displays and live music.

>City of Fountains

Kansas City has more than 250 fountains — the second largest collection in the world behind Rome, Italy. Many of the fountains were built in dedication of a cause, such as the “Eternal Flame” fountain that was built in memorial of John F. Kennedy’s untimely death.

>Gate’s Bar B.Q.

Get your finger-licking fix. Started by a Kansas City family in 1946, Gate’s remains a staple in the city because of its slow-cooked meat, friendly staff and delicious sauce.

J.C. Nichols Fountain Kansas City, Mo. (photo by Sara Degonia)

>Sporting Events

Cheer on Kansas City, Mo., in a new way! Get up-close coverage of the minor league baseball team, the Kansas City T-Bones, or cheer for U.S. Open Cup champions Sporting KC. Feeling daring? Try getting behind the wheel of a NASCAR racecar at Kansas Speedway through the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

>Starlight Theatre

As one of the last self-producing theaters in the nation, Starlight offers a variety of Broadway productions, concerts, plays and musicals in this time-honored outdoor theater.

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The Fountain of Bacchus Kansas City, Mo. (photo by Sara Degonia)

MONEY’S WORTH The Muny St. Louis (photo by Aliy Abbenhaus)

Forest Park St. Louis (photo by Aliy Abbenhaus)

ST. LOUIS

>Delmar Loop

Locally known as “the Loop,” these six blocks of downtown St. Louis offer a variety of alternative entertainment. Live music stages, restaurants, retail outlets and Walk-of-Fame earned this street a place on the American Planning Association’s “One of the 10 Great Streets in America” list. Other venues include a bowling alley, cultural center and movie theater.

>Forest Park

Since 1876, Forest Park has allowed city

St. Louis Art Museum St. Louis (photo by Aliy Abbenhaus)

dwellers to experience the natural world without straying too far from home. The park, one of the largest in the country, has 1,371 acres of lakes, hills and trees. Home to an art museum, an outdoor theater, a zoo and a science center, Forest Park brings getaways a little closer to home.

>Katy Trail

The Katy Trail continues for 237 miles on a converted “rail trail,” and bikers and runners can travel as long as they like, staying in B&Bs along the way.

>Missouri Botanical Garden

As the oldest botanical garden in the country, the Missouri Botanical Garden has been making 79 acres of lush and exotic gardens available to city folk for more than 150 years.

>Riverfront and the Gateway Arch

Ride to the top of the nation’s tallest monument to get a spectacular view of the Mississippi riverfront below, which is filled multiple shopping venues, boat rides and theaters. If you look toward the west, you can see Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals.

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RESOURCE

CHICAGO >Ed Debevic’s

Leave your manners and self-esteem at the door of this one-of-a-kind restaurant. Expect tasty treats — and infinite insults — during your dining experience.

>Millennium Park

If you’re an avid art fan, you’ve come to the right place. Cloud Place, Crown Fountain and more dot the 25 acres of landscape. The focal point, of course, is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion — home of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

>Navy Pier

Enjoy Lake Michigan from one of the Midwest’s top tourist destinations, attracting a whopping 8.6 million visitors a year. The view from the 15-story Ferris wheel will leave you breathless, and the endless shopping and entertainment venues don’t hurt either.

>Shedd Aquarium

Hosting a variety of exhibits for a variety of budgets, Shedd Aquarium connects you with the underwater world. Explore sea- and freshwater animals in exhibits such as the Abbott Oceanarium and Wild Reef.

>Skydeck Chicago Shedd Aquarium Chicago (photo by Emily Brennan)

Millennium Park Chicago (photo by Emily Brennan)

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Step out — only if you dare. The mere 4.3-foot ledge allows you to look straight down into the city of Chicago from Willis Tower, the second tallest building in the western hemisphere.

MONEY’S WORTH

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.

>Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Celebrate the life of our 16th President. The museum details Lincoln’s boyhood and much of his adult life through his presidency, while the library contains artifacts dating back to the Civil War. Many of the exhibits are stationary, but some change from year to year.

>Camp Butler National Cemetery

Formerly the second-largest military training camp in the state, this national cemetery honors deceased veterans of the Civil War, the World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

>Dana Thomas House

An independent thinker, Susan Lawrence Dana hired Frank Lloyd Wright to design the Dana-Thomas House in 1902. The house holds the largest collection of Wright’s furniture and art glass.

>Legacy Theatre

Look no further than this old-time theater.

The Legacy Theatre brings the best Broadway musicals and plays, films, music and more to Springfield.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Springfield, Ill. (photo by Brandon Tillman)

>Shea’s Gas Station and Museum

Visit this old-time gas station on the allAmerican classic Route 66. The museum is filled with gas-related memorabilia.

Iowa State Fair Des Moines, Iowa (photo by Sara James)

DES MOINES, IOWA >Des Moines Art Center

The building itself is a piece of art, welcoming artists and non-artists alike. Once inside, you can view one of the largest collections of modern art in the country.

>Big Treehouse

Making rounds since 1998, Heritage Carousel can provide more than 45,000 rides in one season. This hand-carved replica is sure to make your time spent memorable.

At 12 levels tall, the Big Treehouse is built around a maple tree and has more than 5,000 square feet. Electricity powers a fully functioning kitchen that features a microwave oven, a refrigerator and running water, and porch swings are scattered throughout the 55-foot-tall structure.

>Iowa State Fair

>Union Park

> Heritage Carousel

Big Treehouse Des Moines, Iowa (photo by Dana Bruxvoort)

include Heritage Village and a talent search.

With more than a quarter of the fairgrounds reserved for campers, fair enthusiasts can rest assured they won’t miss any attractions.

The Iowa State Fair, one of the largest in the country, hosts the largest art show in the state and one of the largest livestock fairs in the world. Other attractions on the fairgrounds

Originally established in 1892, Union Park combines the best of all things fun with a water park, tennis and basketball courts, and a zip-line tour.

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RESOURCE

JANUARY events A Dickens Christmas

Holiday Wreath Exhibition

Santa’s Magical Kingdom

The area’s top floral designers create their own wreaths.

(314-577-5100)

Holiday lights fill this display, which includes state-of-the-art custom lighting.

(636-938-5925)

01 02 03 04 05 Until Jan. 6 Wauconda

A special exhibit accompanying Dicken’s classic, “A Christmas Carol.”

(847-968-3400)

Twelfth Night

David Plowden

Nov. 22 - Jan. 2 St. Louis

Eureka

Eagle Days

World’s Toughest Rodeo

St. Louis

WinterFest Ingleside

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 St. Louis

Come and celebrate Mardi Gras with the second largest celebration in the country.

(314-711-5110)

Nov. 8 - Jan. 13 Sioux City

This traveling exhibition features Plowden’s Iowan photographs.

(712-224-5242)

Held annually, this event allows visitors to spot and watch live bald eagles in their natural habitat.

(314-877-1309)

Des Moines

Visitors have a wild time at this rodeo, featuring bull and bareback riding.

(515-564-8000)

Napoléon and Propaganda

Ice Skating Rink

Held at Volo Bog, this event features live music, awards, winter-themed crafts, skiing and hikes.

(815-344-1294)

Snow Sculpting

The Sheldon

Watch as enormous blocks of snow are transformed into art.

(815-987-1603)

This exhibition tells the story of The Sheldon, which Louis C. Spiering designed in 1912.

(314-533-9900)

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Dec. 1 - Jan. 31 Chicago

Until Jan. 29 Iowa City

Enjoy the winter weather by skating in Millenium Park near downtown.

(312-742-5222)

The Jack Race

Come explore Napoléon’s use of propaganda during the 1800s.

(319-335-1727)

The Progress of Love

St. Louis

Jan. 16 - 19 Rockford

Auto Show

Iowa Games

Winterfest

Cedar Falls

Amana Colonies

This Olympicstyle event provides winterthemed fun for natives and tourists alike.

(319-277-1154)

Participate in a variety of winter activities, such as log sawing, snow sculpting and more.

(800-579-2294)

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Jan. 18 - 20 Clear Lake

Until April 20 St. Louis

This weekend is filled with snowmobiling fun for family and friends.

(641-357-2159)

Experience this exhibit that embraces “love” quite literally.

(314-754-1847)

“Can’t Stop Singing”

Wildlife Weekends

The Book of Mormon

Elmo and his furry friends will show you why it’s fun to sing.

(800-745-3000)

View live bald eagles as they are rehabilitated at the Treehouse Wildlife Center.

(618-466-2990)

Considered the Best Musical of the Year, come watch Broadway at its finest.

(515-246-2340)

Jan. 24 - 27 St. Louis

Come look at hundreds of the newest models of cars, trucks and SUVs. (203-371-6322)

27 28 29 30 31 Until Jan. 27 St. Louis

Jan. 1 - Feb. 28 Dow

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Jan. 23 - Feb. 3 Des Moines

COLOR KEY Illinois Iowa Missouri

CALENDAR

FEBRUARY events Charlotte’s Web

Eagle Days

Based on the book, this play tells the tale of Wilbur, the pig, and Charlotte, the spider.

(515-294-3347)

This special conservation program allows visitors to watch bald eagles in their natural, wild habitat.

(800-877-8339)

Puxico

01 02 Ames

Maharaja

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Until Feb. 3

Eighth Blackbird

Winter Hikes

The Intergalactic Nemesis Rolla

Until March 31 Utica

Enjoy theater in a new way — through this liveaction graphic novel.

(573-341-4219)

Every Saturday and Sunday, enjoy a guided hike and see frozen waterfalls.

(800-868-7625)

03 04 05 06 07 08 09 Chicago This collection of nearly 200 Indian treasures showcases 250 years of dramatic change.

(312-922-9410)

Jan. 29 - Feb. 10 St. Louis An outrageously funny musical about three traveling friends.

(314-534-1678)

The Exit Interview

Iowa City

You will love spending an evening with this contemporary music sextet.

(800-426-2437)

Sculptures on the Avenue

Dailey and Vincent

The Civil War in MO Until March 17 St. Louis

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Jan. 25 - Feb. 17 Iowa City This hilarious musical entails Professor Dick Fig after he’s been fired.

(319-338-7672)

Chocolate Wine Trail

Until April 2014 Effingham

More than 30 Midwestern sculptors bring the streets to life.

(217-342-5310)

Iowa City

This hilarious pair has been named IBMA Entertainer of the Year for three years.

(319-335-1160)

This exhibit reflects on Missouri’s torn and bitter Civil War history.

(314-746-4599)

Feb. 16 - 17 Hermann

Charlie Brown

Until Feb. 18 Chicago

Shrek the Musical

Charles Dickens

Antler Shed Hunt

Fulfill your chocolate cravings by pairing it with select wines.

(800-932-8687)

Explore Schulz’s personal history as well as his inspiration behind Peanuts.

(773-684-1414)

Enjoy your favorite duo, Shrek and Donkey, with new musical numbers.

(712-279-4850)

This exhibition features a rare collection of objects, documents and his famous works.

(847-968-3400)

This event introduces youth to the outdoors, including a kiddie hunt to find sheds.

(573-735-4097)

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Sidewalk Sales

Sioux City

Snowshoe Hike & Lunch

Wauconda

Monroe City

Chanticleer St. Louis

24 25 26 27 28 Jan. 1 - July 27 West Bend

Stroll the sidewalks of West Bend for the latest and greatest deals.

(515-887-2181)

Great Rivers Country

Enjoy a scenic walk through the woods along the river bend.

(815-777-1320)

This GrammyAward winning vocal ensemble will take your breath away. You don’t want to miss this.

(314-533-7662)

winter 2012

49 detours

Your heart.

Our life’s work.

Our life’s work.

Your heart.

Our life’s work.

Our life’s work.

The 30-Minutesor-Less E.R. Service Pledge.

eliot nissenbaum, d.o.

dana valencia, m.d.

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Northeast Regional Medical Center proudly welcomes two new cardiologists, Dr. Dana Valencia and Dr. Eliot Nissenbaum.

Both physicians are skilled cardiologists who believe in providing a personal and attentive healthcare experience. Northeast

Regional Medical Center proudly new cardiologists, Dr. Dana Valencia and Dr. Eliot Nissenbaum.

Northeast RegionalNortheast Medical Center proudly welcomes twoproudly newwelcomes cardiologists, Dana Valencia and Dr. Nissenbaum.

Northeast Regional Medical Center welcomes twotwo new Dr. cardiologists, Dr. Dana Valencia and Eliot Dr. Eliot Nissenbaum. is the area’s first and only hospital to be accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, the national Chest Pain Center Both physicians are skilled cardiologists who believe in providing a personal and attentive healthcare experience. Northeast

physicians are skilled cardiologists whocare believe providing a personal and about attentive healthcare Northeast Both physicians areBoth skilled cardiologists who believe afor personal and attentive healthcare experience.

Northeast accreditation agency.* Together we look forwardintoproviding helping thein hearts in our town.

To learn more our cardiac care andexperience.

Chest is the area’s first and only hospital to be accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, the national Chest Pain Center

isaccreditation the area’s first to and only hospital tothe be Society accredited by thePain Society of Chest Pain Centers, Painand Center accreditation, visit NERMC.com today. is the area’s first only hospital be accredited by of Chest Centers, the national Chestthe Painnational Center Chest Pain Center agency.* Together we look forward to helping care for the hearts in our town. To learn more about our cardiac care and Chest

Center accreditation, visit NERMC.com accreditation Together look forward to care the hearts in more our town.

Toour learn morecare about our cardiac care and Chest n agency.* Togetheragency.* wePain look forward to we helping care for today. thehelping hearts in ourfor town.

To learn about cardiac and Chest

Pain Center accreditation,today. visit NERMC.com today. accreditation, visit NERMC.com

Members of the Medical Staff at Northeast Regional Medical Center

*According to the Society of Chest Pain Centers, scpcp.org.

Members of the Medical Staff at Northeast Regional Medical Center Northwest Regional Medical Center is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff. *According to the Society of Chest Pain Centers, scpcp.org.

Northwest Regional Medical Center is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.

the Medical StaffCenter at Northeast Regional Medical Center Members of the Medical Staff atMembers NortheastofRegional Medical

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6/26/12 11:56 AM

*According to the Society of Chest Pain Centers, scpcp.org. he Society of Chest Pain Centers, scpcp.org.

62679_NRMC_Heart_10x10c.indd 1 6/26/12 11:56 AM Northwest Center is directly indirectly that owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician including certain members the hospital’s medical staff. onal Medical CenterRegional is directlyMedical or indirectly owned by a or partnership proudly includes physician owners, including certainowners, members of the hospital’s medical of staff.

The 30-Minutesor-Less E.R. Service Pledge.

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Emergency medicine is about three things: compassion, skilled care and speed. You’ll find these at Northeast Regional Medical Center.

The experienced E.R. physicians and the entire

6/26/12 11:56 AM

team are committed to working diligently to have you initially seen by a physician within 30 minutes of your arrival. If you need an E.R. fast, try our fast E.R. Once you do, you won’t want to go anywhere else. For more information, visit NERMC.com.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

62846_NRMC_ERpldg_6_625x10c.indd 1

6/15/12 5:11 PM

Ranked Named a Best Buy School.

— Fiske Guide to Colleges, 2013

for 16 consecutive years as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest region.

— U.S. News & World Report’s, “America’s Best Colleges,” 2013

admissions.truman.edu • 800.892.7792 • Kirksville, MO

Kirksville MISSOURI’S NORTH STAR Remember Kirksville? Remember the home of the Palonza and the home of the secondbest hamburger? Remember the lake?

Remember all the good times here?

Come back to Kirksville and see what is new!

K

KIRKSVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.visitkirksville.com • (660) 665-3766