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upon a time (right now actually) there was a boy named Jonna and a girl named Jane. They live in a time when love is blind. A time when what you think is love, is sometimes truly not. A time when a girl kinda has his heart and a boy kinda has hers. A time when the opposite of two is only a lonely YOU. We all know this feeling. We’ve all been there once—and some of us twice.
say you never lose by loving; some say hold back and protect your heart. Others say love is a waste of time. But once a heart is found, it tends to only beat faster, and you begin walking more and more slowly...perhaps hoping to get caught. Love is tricky that way.
ometimes the people you can’t live without find it easy to just fly away and live without you. You’ve learned your lesson and now deep in your heart, you know nothing lasts forever and many things aren’t real from the start. So what do you do now that you’ve loved and lost? All you can do is cry and love again.
Wardrobe provided by GLIKS Farmington/Festus/Cape Styling by Noelle Wagner Hair and Makeup by Salon Prodigys www.salonprodigys.com Hair by James Hoff Makeup by Kayla Davis Special thanks to: Tanner, ZuZu, Photo assistant T.J. and the gang at Gliks
he fifteen-foot-high Mississippi River floodwall along the historic eastern edge of downtown Cape Girardeau, just south of where Jean Baptiste de Girardot first set foot in the 1730’s, was a dull, gray, water-stained behemoth of concrete that protected the city from overzealous floodwaters but did nothing to enhance the aesthetics of this river town. All of that changed in 2004 when the wall turned 40. It was then that Chicago muralist Thomas Melvin and his team completed a set of colorful illustrations entitled Mississippi River Tales Mural. The 18,000-square-foot mural beautified the imposing concrete wall and documented the history of the Missouri settlement.
Mississippi River Tales Mural features twenty-four panels that run two city blocks down the floodwall parallel to Water Street, beginning near the terminus of Broadway and ending at Independence Avenue. The journey begins with “Nature’s River,” which depicts the area before human settlement, dense with plant and animal life. The journey continues with the explorations of Lewis and Clark, the Civil War Battle of Cape Girardeau, and the animated 1909 visit of President Taft.
downstream from River Tales is The Missouri Wall of Fame, created by Cape Girardeau artist Margaret Randol Dement in 1995. It includes famous state residents, from Laura Ingalls Wilder and Harry Truman to Walter Cronkite and astronaut Linda Goodwin. A decade after painting the mural, Cape Girardeau’s River Heritage Mural Association commissioned the same Chicago artist who created the Mississippi River Tales Mural two years prior to restore and enhance Dement’s original work. Thomas Melvin and his team did just that and brought the number of Missourians honored up to 47 people and two Missouri mules. The Wall of Fame Mural takes up at Water Street and Independence Avenue, where the Mississippi River Tales Mural ends, and continues another city block, about 500 feet south to Merriwether Street. It ends just four blocks north of the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus and the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, a magnificent cable-stayed edifice named after a Missourian famous in his own right.
Come along with 573 as we take a stroll along the red brick pavers that run in front of the muralized floodwall that now protects the city from floodwaters and documents the story of the cape that hugs this mighty muddy river. There are many more photographs and video to enjoy in the Digital 573 Magazine at 573mag.com
The simple truth of the matter is that when you walk into a room, half of the people will dislike you for one reason or another and the other half will consider liking you. Humans are very judgmental and normally know instantly if they will like you or not, or what kind of person you are. You can read all the “how-to-winfriends” books you want, but truth be told no matter what you do, you will not be friends with everyone you meet. Everyone is a critic and everyone has their own options. This 50/50 concept is freeing if you think about it. If you say to yourself that not everyone will like you, you can then stop putting yourself down and start focusing on the people who do. Worrying about the haters in your life will get you nowhere. In fact, worrying about what other people think of us is one of the main things keeping us from achieving more. That holds true in business as well. You can’t do business with everyone and there are many people not worth doing business with in the first place. When an assumption is set, our minds are so powerful and complex that our actions immediately begin to line up with that expectation. Robert K. Merton coined the phrase “self-fulfilling prophecy” to describe this phenomenon in his 1957 book Social Theory and Social Structure. Wikipedia defines a self-fulfilling prophecy as “a prediction that, in being made, actually causes itself to become true.” So why let your perceptions of what others think define who you are and how you succeed in the world? Maybe you need to take a who-cares attitude for a change.
You are the most important person in your life in determining your place in this world.
So, who cares? Maybe we need to take the power away from the critics and other people who love to influence our opinion of our abilities. Maybe we just need to pursue our true life purpose and simply ignore the naysayers and the others who skillfully try to crush our dreams by planting doubt with us or those around us. Let’s say you truly believe you have an ability to write and you want to pursue writing as a career. What’s stopping you? Think hard. Is it nothing more than self doubt installed by others? If you think you can write, why aren’t you doing it? Have your friends and family planted doubts about your skills or opportunities, thinking that they are protecting you from hurt? Are people telling you there are easier ways to make a living? Is a less risky path better for you really? Are they saying negative things about you in envy? Don’t forget jealousy and envy. Some people are skillful artists delivering negative gossip for their gain. You are the most important person in your life in determining your place in this world. If you think you can’t do something, you won’t. If you listen to negative, gossipy people, you’ll be a negative, gossipy person. If you tell yourself it’s too hard, it will be too hard. If you want to change your life, surround yourself with positive people. Free yourself from gossip and bad news. Believe in yourself. Who cares what other people think? You are on a higher level. Vote for who YOU like. Pray to the God YOU like. Eat what YOU like. Do what YOU like. Be who YOU like. It’s your life to live. Stop letting others tell you how YOU should live it.
Dear Editor, My name is Morgan Campbell. I am 17 years old, I live in Kelso, MO, and I attend Notre Dame High School. Ever since 8th grade I have dreamed of becoming a journalist. I recently came across 573 Magazine at Cape Girardeau’s Art Festival and took home a couple of issues to peruse. I instantly fell in love with the well-written articles, breathtaking photography, and how local subjects adorn the magazine covers. Your magazine is simply amazing. I would like to become a journalist. I have had some experience writing: I was head editor every year for my grade school newspaper (started it actually!). I have written and published a book (Shots, Lies, and That Party, available at www.publishamerica. com), and I’m currently enrolled in Notre Dame’s journalism course. However, I would like to know more and further my knowledge of reporting, deadlines, etc. I would like to inquire if 573 Magazine has any opportunities for an internship, junior reporter, or simply positions available that would allow me to add to my experiences with journalism and writing. If so, I would be delighted to work with 573 Magazine. Please let me know if such a spot is open. Thanks!
A Ginormous Day Out
-by Morgan Campbell
I love the feeling of being on top of the world. Who doesn’t love the adrenaline rush and confidence boost as you look at something you’ve conquered? There are very few places that can give me that feeling. I count Elephant Rocks State Park as one of those places. An adventure from start to finish with its majestic views from the top of large red granite boulders certainly gives one a feeling of grandeur. Anyone would feel at least a little bigger standing atop this granite gargantuan. The best part about Elephant Rocks is it gives me a chance to let my hair down and loosen up, so to speak. Exploring these rocks always transforms me into a curious child, the self-guided trail giving me freedom to roam without getting lost. Touching and slipping through the smooth granite structures makes one satisfied. Over the summer, the call was strong. It was time to explore Elephant Rocks State Park again, so I gathered up a few friends and set out to conquer the
ROCKS.
On top of the massive granite mountain lie mammoth granite structures faintly resembling elephants lazily sprawled in a pattern perfect for climbing and hiking. From this point of view, Elephant Rocks itself seems to be set up like a giant natural playground. There are gaps to jump, crevices to squeeze through, and even a couple of ponds to add to the pleasure. And if you aren’t a fan of heights, don’t worry! When you climb at Elephant Rocks, it does not feel like you’re going higher until you look down at the gorgeous, hilly woods below. Adding to the adventure between, around, and on top of every rock are little surprises like names and comments carved in the rocks. Through a little research, I learned the carvings are from 19th-century miners, who inscribed them on the rock surfaces. I also learned through my research that the boulders themselves are nearly a billion years old! I was stunned by how strong and big the boulders still are, even though a million millennia have passed since their massive beginning. If Elephant Rocks were women, they should be pleased to know they look very, VERY young for their age.
Don’t let the stones’ old age keep you from jumping, climbing, and playing amidst these almost magical rocks. It would be your loss if you didn’t indulge yourself with the rewarding experience of exploring this park. Nothing could keep Paige Cummins, Olivia Jordan, and Emily Cieslewicz from coming with me to these marvelous boulders. When we arrived at Elephant Rocks, I asked who had been there before. All but Emily had been there before, so I was especially curious to see how she would respond to the might and beauty of these lichen sprinkled rocks. Emily had no obvious first reaction, but throughout the day you could tell she enjoyed climbing around and wedging through the rocks. When I asked her about the rocks later, Emily said, “Elephant Rocks was like, wow. It’s a local landmark, and everyone should do it at least once.” Olivia nodded, and added, “It’s someplace I’d take my kids to. Elephant Rocks is like a playground for little kids and big kids. It’s definitely an adventure, and you have to explore it all.” Personally, I liked seeing all the names and shapes and wondering about the people who made them. The carvings made the rocks feel timeless to me. If I had the opportunity, I would have carved my name into the boulders so I would be forever immortalized like the miners are now. Emily, Olivia, and Paige agreed. Curiously though, Emily added, “If you mean now, no! That would be defacing the rock now. I mean, if everyone were doing it back then, I probably would have, but now? No.” Olivia agreed. Situations and consequences change with time, I guess. Emily’s reaction to the rocks caused her to want the rocks to stay bold, majestic and unscarred. She surmised, “My memories with Elephant Rocks will be enough to immortalize them without causing any latent damage.”
What a beautiful way to suggest how deeply Elephant Rocks had awed her. I remember my first time at Elephant Rocks feeling the same way, like the rocks were a giant adventure giving me memories to last a lifetime. I was not expecting them, though, to give me a base on which I would gauge my future adventures; there is nothing like feeling on top of the world like I did when I first climbed at Elephant Rocks. And every time I go back, I get that same rush (as well as sore legs, but the rush and exploration are well worth it). My name might not be carved in stone, but these rocks’ majesty will be immortalized in my memory. .
After a fun-filled day of climbing and laughing at each other’s attempts to scale larger-than-life rocks, it was time to treat my friends and myself for our hard work. We all went out for ice cream at the Arcadia Valley Academy Ice Cream Shoppe. We ate our ice cream from waffle cones dipped in chocolate...both the homemade smooth, creamy frozen custard and cones are made fresh daily. The shop was crazy with flavors, from regular ones like chocolate and vanilla to special flavors like cotton candy and birthday cake. My friends and I had a hard time deciding which flavor to pick. Thankfully, we got to sample a few flavors to help in the decision-making process. It was obvious that this was Emily’s favorite part. We all thought hard on such an important decision. Olivia chose cheesecake flavored ice cream, the perfect balance of sweetness for her. Emily decided on birthday cake ice cream. After much sampling, I got brownie surprise, being a big fan of chocolate and brownies. And after trying the cotton candy flavor, Paige instantly knew what she wanted. She was the most ecstatic about her ice cream as she proclaimed, “The ice cream is amazing! It tastes like cotton candy fluff. Definitely my favorite flavor.” Emily’s ice cream was “just right.” Olivia agreed with Emily’s assessment. We all were highly satisfied exiting the ice cream shop, bellies full and legs promising soreness.
573: Morgan, tell our readers about yourself.
I love to write (of course!) and read. Librarians and I have always had a good relationship, seeing as I’m a frequent customer. I enjoy listening to all types of music, everything from rock to rap to reggae to even pop. Name a genre, and I’ve probably listened to it and have one like it on my IPod. And if not, I soon will have. I guess you could call me a music collector. I also like to draw, generally portraits and people, because I like a bit of a challenge. The expressions people make provide just that. I sing just about everywhere I go, except in public so I don’t irritate anyone. My voice isn’t bad; I just like singing louder than most. I run cross country and love race days so I can try to beat my PR. My favorite color changes daily (today’s is periwinkle). I prefer black coffee over creamer and sugar and have an intense fear of chickens and birds.
My “writing” began when I was about two. I would dictate stories to my mom. She would write them down, and then I would illustrate them. I think my first story was called Tubby the Turtle. I made up short stories until about 6th grade, and then I branched out to writing poems and song lyrics. They were dramatic with halfway done metaphors, and I always laugh when I look back at them. My best writing then was for the school newspaper that I started up in seventh grade with my teacher. I had a whole column to myself to write about whatever I felt like. I also helped classmates revise and edit their pieces. Going into high school, I was a bit disappointed that freshman couldn’t take journalism, but I continued to write poems—usually in the margins of my class notes or homework. The summer between my freshman and sophomore year, two years ago now, I got bored on a car trip to Niagara Falls and asked my mom what I could do. She told me, “Write a book.” So I wrote. And wrote. And by September that year, I finished the book. I then decided to get it published, just to prove I could. I sent my story to multiple publishers until one accepted it. Shots, Lies, and That Party will come out in print next April, around my birthday. Best birthday present ever! I started writing the sequel around the end of last school year. Now, I’m finally taking Notre Dame’s journalism class this fall. And this summer, I scored an internship at 573, which I am extremely happy about! 573 is a great magazine, and I feel like I’m going to get a lot of good experience here. After I graduate high school, I plan on majoring in journalism. Hopefully, I’ll attend SEMO since it’s close to home and has a strong journalism program. I’m also going to keep writing on my sequel and hopefully finish it sometime this year. Maybe I’ll even collect all my poems, revamp them, and try to get a volume of poems published. Who knows? As long as I can keep writing, I’m fine with whatever comes my way.
Certified therapeutic riding instructors and specially
selected and trained horses are the centerpieces of the therapeutic model at the Perryville facility. The goal is to help clients become sufficiently comfortable with horses that everyone gets involved in riding, grooming, and/or caring for thses magnificent animals. In the interaction between client and horse, hope is reborn and sometimes magic happens. In addition to the general therapy sessions and therapeutic riding programs for disabled individuals that are at the heart of The Hope Center’s model, programs such as Horses for Heroes and Silver Saddles are offered. Horses for Heroes is a seven-week training opportunity in which veterans become capable horsemen/ horsewomen. They, in turn, train their horses to be part of The Hope Center’s therapy programs. The objective of Horses for Heroes is to help returning veterans reduce their stress at reintegration and increase trust and normalcy, while forming a bond with their horse. Silver Saddles is for anyone, abled or disabled, veteran or civilian, who has a touch of silver—is at least 55 years old. Horseback riding aids in better posture and better balance, both essential to good aging, which makes horseback riding the perfect exercise for the second half of life. If you’ve never been near a horse, no worries—no previous experience is required for any of the activities at The Hope Center. Trained professionals are with the client every step of the way; and the horses—beautiful Annie Rose, Hickory, Sitta, Spirit, Chazzie, Diablo, and Smokey Joe—are always eager to make another human friend.
name is Krystal Evans. I am the CRI, Certified Riding Instructor, at the Hope Center in Perryville, founded by Richard and Claire Schemel. I am also the volunteer coordinator and I am responsible for equine management.
573: What’s your day-to-day routine?
I check the horses over daily, making sure they are not injured or sore for any reason. I also work horses if they need to be refreshed on manners, for example. I ride any that need to be exercised more than they get from lessons.
573: How long have you been riding horses?
I have been riding my entire life. I grew up on the back of a horse. I have been teaching lessons and training horses professionally for over 15 years.
573: How did you get involved with The Hope Center?
The founders of The Hope Center, Rick and Claire Schemel, believe that helping others become better riders and owners of horses is rewarding. They have both enjoyed and appreciated horses throughout their lives. Today, because of their continuous generosity, people of all ages, of all abilities, now have a chance to learn, grow and heal through horsemanship therapy. I was in from the beginning. I, myself, have had experiences with what horses can do for their caregivers. I was kept on the straight and narrow growing up because I didn’t want to lose my horses. I have seen shy girls come out of their shell with horseback riding. I have seen lazy kids who begin riding transformed to super workers who take responsibility for themselves and for others.
573: When did this program begin?
The program officially kicked off in April of 2014. We are starting to get our numbers up. The Clydesdales’ visit brought a lot of attention to our facility and we are very thankful for that.
573: What is the primary goal of The Hope Center?
The primary goal is to make a difference in the lives of our students. We all know the power of a horse and want to share that with everyone. The veterans can learn to live everyday life with the power of a horse; the kids who are looked at differently can be equals in the saddle; the crutch- and wheelchair-bound get to be “free” on the back of a horse. Muscle is developed, spirits are lifted, and miracles happen in and around horses.
573: Tell me one of your many success stories at The Hope Center.
The success story I go to is Hope Huston, herself. Hope, 14 years old, suffers from the rare connective tissue disorder Hajdu-Cheney syndrome, which causes neck pain, headaches, slurred speech and vision problems. She has had numerous surgeries, which often left her wheel-chair bound. Her inspiration, determination, love and passion for horses, led us to the decision to name the organization in her honor: “The Hope Therapeutic Horsemanship Center.” I swear, in the eight weeks she has been taking lessons, she is two inches taller. This is because she is developing muscles that are hard for her to use in everyday life. Her balance has improved. She stands up better and can walk greater distances. I have seen her twirl a hula hoop for over 10 minutes since this short time of therapy with the horses.
The founders of The Hope Center, Rick and Claire Schemel, believe that helping others become better riders and owners of horses is rewarding.
During it’s grand opening celebration, The Hope Center was graced with a visit from the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales who were in Perryville for the Bikers on the Square celebration. The Clydesdales stayed in the Hope stables for nearly a week while they did appearances in Perryville and Cape. To watch the Clydesdale team perform a full dress demonstration is an amazing sight. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the local community to get an up close and personal look at those wonderful Clydesdales. One of the coolest things to see was the Budweiser Dalmatian run around greeting everyone. It truly is inspiring to be around a group of people with such a passion for what they do. Everything is totally spotless—from hoof to tail.
Recently we hooked up with two of our fine sponsors, Carpet One Floor and Home in Farmington and Custom Woodworks in Peidmont, to have a kitchen makeover contest. The contest was simple. We asked people to send in a photo of their ugly kitchen, along with a sad story about why they deserved the makeover. We narrowed the field down to five, then we asked our readers to pick the very best one—well, the ugliest one anyway. With more than a thousand votes placed, one kitchen took the prize for a custom makeover consisting of hand-made custom cabinets by the area’s premiere custom cabinet maker, Woodworks; and interior design, flooring and counters by the quality home and flooring company, Carpet One Farmington. All coming together to give our couple a beautiful new kitchen—a $10,000 value!
Rachel and Rob Nash have been married for six years and have a two-year-old named Rylan—oh, and an old Puggle named Rag-z. Upon hearing about winning the kitchen makeover, Rachel said, “At first I was unsure about entering the contest. I wasn’t sure I wanted to share our wretched kitchen with the 573 audience, but decided why not. I almost didn’t believe it when we found out we had won.” In the last issue of the 573, we followed along with the Nash family as they met with the designer, Nicole Hahn from Carpet One Gallery where they selected the flooring, counters and backsplash designs. Then they met with Lucas Edgy, owner of Woodworks Custom Cabinets, to design the custom cabinets. It was then time for the Nash family to get their hands dirty. Time for some DIY demo to happily bid bon voyage to the old kitchen once and for all. Time for some sweat equity!
Our winning couple began pulling, prying, hammering, smashing, hauling, ripping, and tearing until the room was bare and ready for the transformation. The actual install went pretty quickly. The Carpet One installers showed up and removed the old flooring. They installed subflooring and laid down the new floor. A few days later, Lucas and the guys at Woodworks installed the cabinets. Carpet One came back out and installed the backsplash. It all went exactly as planned. Nothing left to do, but celebrate!
TURN THE PAGE.
just can’t say enough about Carpet One Home and Floor and Woodworks Custom Cabinets. They were all so professional and knowledgeable. We think the Nash’s kitchen is wonderful. From start to finish, Capet One and Woodworks did nothing but absolutely perfect work with 100% attention to details. The beautifully distressed hardwood cabinets and Woodworks design is amazing. The natural stone and glass backsplash is out of this world, and the stone floor (actually an Armstrong-simulated stone grouted vinyl tile) along with the 3D simulated, mica-infused granite counter, accent the custom hardwood cabinets perfectly. And look at the smiles on the faces of the homeowners. That certainly makes all this hard work worth it. We will definitely be doing this again, very soon.
Make sure you check out the digital edition of the 573 or visit our web site at 573mag.com. You will be able to hear from all the people involved in our production video. You will giggle as you watch our DIYers demo the kitchen and the Carpet One and Woodworks do the install. You’ll hear from the design at Carpet One and the owner of Woodworks as they discuss the project and the materials. You’ll also get some helpful tips on how to pick the correct materials and how to DIY. Also, don’t forget to follow Carpet One, Woodworks and 573 Magazine on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with new products and to learn about new upcoming contests.
First I would like to say, we love the 573 Magazine because it’s different, fun, and unique! It’s so neat to discover the different stories and talent right in your own community. You never know what you’ll find next. I can’t begin to say thanks enough to the 573 fans. I WON a completely new fabulous kitchen because of their votes. I would like to give a final thank you to everyone who made this possible: 573, the readers, Carpet One, and Woodworks. This has been such a wonderful and exciting experience and we are truly appreciative of the update to our home. From my family to yours THANK YOU to everyone who made this possible! Sincerely, Rachel Nash
573: Tell us about yourself.
I have lived in Farmington my whole life with my parents, Rusty and Heather, who are both teachers. I have one younger brother, Bryce. He’s 13 and we’ve always been really close. My family is very sports oriented; that’s what we do with all our time. Both my parents were great athletes growing up. My dad has also coached football, soccer, and basketball. My brother also plays sports and is very athletic.
573: How did you get into sports?
I got into sports when I was in kindergarten. My parents put me in the indoor soccer league at the Civic Center. At first, I did not like being out there, and it was hard to get me to play. As I progressed, though, I began to enjoy the game. By first grade it became one of my favorite things to do. I started playing with an all-boys team in second grade since there were no club teams or traveling teams for girls. We went to local tournaments and played several games. At one tournament in St. Louis, I was scouted by some coaches that were a part of the then Busch Soccer Club. I was nine years old when I tried out, and I’ve been with that club ever since. We’ve evolved from Busch Soccer Club to St. Louis Soccer Club to the current St. Louis Scott Gallagher Club. It was a long drive, a lot of hours, commitment, and hard work, but playing with them has given me so many opportunities I never would have had around here. I believe it has been a big part in getting me to where I am today.
573: Why soccer?
Soccer has primarily been my life, and I often get questions about regrets. I thought it over and wouldn’t change anything because soccer has given me the best memories of my life. The experiences presented to me over the years were beyond my expectations. We traveled to 22 different states in the league I played for. We also went to showcases across the country where in a single game I would play in front of at least 40 college coaches. I’ve also been to Nike identification camps and invite-only camps for college scouts to get a closer look. These opportunities are what make all the hard work worth it. In my free time I love spending time with my family and friends. I’ve always been close to my family so it’s nice just to get away from sports for a while and have other fun. I also love to shop, read, write, swim, and travel. I am always on the go looking for places to visit and things to do.
573: What about the future?
I am getting ready to go to college in August at the University of Arkansas to play soccer on a full scholarship. I graduated early last school year and went to Arkansas for the last semester of my senior year, so I’ve actually already had a semester of college. I plan to play my four years of soccer at Arkansas, get into the nursing program there my junior year, then work my way toward becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner.
573: Tell us about yourself.
I’m eighteen. I graduated from Central High School in Park Hills. I’m an extremely shy person until I get to know someone, but I love competing. I‘ve done just about any sport you could think of: dance, gymnastics, wrestling, soccer, softball, volleyball, and basketball. I begged my mother to let me play tackle football when I was like 10 and she flat-out refused. I’m signed to a track scholarship to Missouri State University in Springfield. I will pole vault and do the heptathlon. My dream is to go to the Olympic trials. Even if I don’t make it to the Olympics, I just want to get to the trials.
573: What is your favorite sport and why?
I have two favorite sports: softball and track. I really can’t choose which one I like best because I love them both. I love softball because it is something that I excel at. I felt like I was born to play ball. I also like softball because I got to travel all over the country, meet new friends, and play teams from other countries. The main reason I love track is the individuality of the sport. I like the feeling that it is just me, and I’m the only person I can depend on to do the best. But then, you also have the team feeling because you’re helping your team earn points and win meets. Another reason I like track is because I love to pole vault. There is no other feeling in the world that can compare to the three seconds of flying through the air and over the cross bar. It is amazing.
573: What does your future look like?
My future as of right now looks like a lot of hard work in college. I plan to major in nursing and to run track, which is going to be very difficult. Learning to balance my crazy track workout schedule and my classes is going to be interesting, but I am excited for it all nonetheless.
573: Mrs. Jones, please tell us about your guys.
As you can tell, I am very proud of my boys. They all wrestle for Ste. Genevieve. All three are great students. Travis is a senior and is 18. He is a four-time state qualifier, a two-time state champion, a twotime All-American and USA coach. He coaches for the Ste. Genevieve Youth Program. Everything about Travis is wrestling. Tyler and Tanner are 17-year-old juniors. They are both three-time state qualifiers. Tyler was a fourth place finisher his freshman year. The three boys are very close. Travis, being the oldest, is of course the leader and in a good way; he keeps his brothers focused and driven. They really don’t have a lot of interests outside of wrestling. When they were younger, they played little league baseball, did some boxing (Travis was a golden gloves champion when he was around seven or eight), and they were pretty involved in boat-racing for several years…all except for Tyler who is my safe child and never saw any point in getting in one of those little boats and going fast.
573: Tell us how they got into wrestling.
We got the boys started in the youth program when we lived in Desoto. Travis was five and Tanner and Tyler were four. Larry, my husband, helped to coach that program until we started going to Ste. Genevieve. Then Larry started coaching there. He is currently the Director of Wrestling for the Ste. Genevieve Youth Program where Travis coaches. I guess they were all just born into it as it was in their parents’ blood.
The boys enjoy training together, competing, and the recognition. They work hard, train hard, get beat up, and sometimes beat each other up in practice. They come home tired and hurt. Sometimes there is blood; sometimes they have to ice pulled muscles. Sometimes there is even surgery involved. But when they get out on that mat, they put it all out there. This is a somewhat of a team sport but it is more an individual sport. It is you against your opponent. Win or lose (although they despise losing), they know that whatever happened on the mat, it was just them, their training and their heart that made that happen. If they lose, they go train harder so that the next time, or the time after that, they can avenge themselves.
573: What is in the future for your sons?
Travis has always known exactly what he wants from life. He wants to go to a Division 1 college, win the NCAA’s, hopefully four times, then go on to win the Olympics. After that, he wants to run his own wrestling clinic, coaching youth. He hasn’t altered from this plan since he was a little boy. He is looking at several colleges right now but hasn’t committed to anything yet. Tyler and Tanner will wrestle one more year in high school. Tanner wants to go to a D-1 college also and continue his wrestling career. Tyler isn’t sure right now if he wants to continue wrestling after high school or not. He would like to pursue a career in conservation.
ecently we received a book for review. It was from a local guy who is crazy for ducks. He raises them, he observes them, and he notices many ironic and funny behaviors in them that others overlook. But there is much more to this odd duck than just a retired guy with time on his hands who writes books about ducks. Meet Carl Armstrong—engineer, historian, DIYer, husband, father, grandfather and lover of all things what quack.
Carl is living back at his boyhood home on South Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau. He and his wife came back to Missouri a few years ago to retire and restore the family farmhouse. The place was once a thriving dairy farm located near a large, cold-water spring that kept the milk bottles cool before delivery. It was a sweet childhood for Carl there—collecting arrowheads in the nearby fields, helping with the milk processing, swimming in the cool waters. It was an easy decision to come back home.
It wasn’t until Carl and his wife began restoration on the old farmhouse that they discovered it was actually a log cabin built in 1795 and one of the oldest homes in Missouri. According to Carl, the original cabin was built by Andrew Ramsey, who was the first English Settler in the Cape area. The immigrant from Dalhousie Castle in Scotland arrived in 1795 and settled adjacent to Lorimier on a grant that stretched all the way from the Mississippi to just west of what is now Interstate 55. Ramsey was instrumental in establishing the first English speaking school west of the Mississippi at Mt. Tabor, which is located about one mile west of the home. The log cabin survived the three earthquakes of 1811-1812. It is most likely the oldest standing cabin between Ste. Genevieve and Memphis.
Some of Ramsey’s success was based on slave labor. After the Civil War, however, the place declined and went through several owners, additions and modifications, until 1925 when Carl’s dad, F. J. Armstrong, established the dairy. It was not until 2004 when Carl and Connie Armstrong started the remodel, that they learned of the history of the home.
Along with remodeling, Carl stays busy writing. His book Of Human Bonding by Ducklings is well-written, sometimes funny,
sometimes sad and thoughtful. Carl shows us the interesting side of ducks and the curious trait of imprinting. Ducklings bond with whatever animated being they see when first emerging from the eggshell. Carl tells a story of a duckling who seemed to think that he was a human because a human is what he first saw as he came into the world. His story is one of joy, a few tears, and comedic antics that both children and adults will enjoy. Like the adage goes—write about what you know.
573: Tell us about you and your family.
My wife Connie is a nursing graduate of Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and worked in neurosurgery. I have a chemical engineering degree from Missouri S&T and was involved in making products ranging all the way from aspirin to petrochemicals such as ethylene. My family has lived in Texas, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Now, we are finally back in Missouri. We have 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
573: You’ve spent a lot of your life on the farm. Do you have any regrets? Actually, I’ve spent about 30 years of my life on the farm and 46 years around the country—25 years of that time was in Texas. My earlier years on the dairy farm, dawn to dusk type care of cows, I suppose developed character. But, I “escaped” from the farm. When I returned, I decided to replace cows with pet ducks, which are fun and not a lot of work.
573: What do you suppose will happen to Silver Springs Farm once you and your wife move on to a better place?
We hope the house will continue to be preserved as a historical site. Southeast Health has a medical center on the land and Central High School and the Vo-tech Center are adjacent to the farm. We would like to see the farm developed as ‘Silver Springs Campus’ for both medicine and technology, a university type education. “What a surprise! I spent the first twenty years of my life living in the house, but it was not until I reached fifty that I realized I had been brought up in a log cabin.” Learn more about the Armstrong-Ramsey House at www.1795logcabin.com.
“...it was not until I reached fifty that I realized I had been brought up in a log cabin.”
According to Wikipedia, “Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin after injury. Scar tissue is composed of the same protein as the tissue that it replaces, but the fiber composition of the protein is different; instead of a random basket weave formation of the collagen fibers found in normal tissue, in fibrosis the collagen crosslinks and forms a pronounced alignment in a single direction. This collagen scar tissue alignment is usually of inferior functional quality to the normal collagen randomized alignment. For example, scars in the skin are less resistant to ultraviolet radiation, and sweat glands and hair follicles do not grow back within scar tissues.” Scars are usually a sign of a dramatic or traumatic event. They all tell stories and they all build up the older we get. I look at my own scars and I’m reminded of my past. My scars are a private time machine that transports me back to a memory. For good or bad, they are mine and they mean something to me. Recently, I met up with a couple (uncle and niece) with some very meaningful scars.
When you first lay eyes on Travis Clayton, you want to know more. With dreadlocks that reach down his back, a quiet expression and a great smile, you just know there’s a story behind this mysterious looking man. Yes, there is much more to Travis than just his outward appearance. Travis is hiding something. In fact, most people who know him have no idea what he is hiding; it’s not something Travis shares with many people. Yet, he carries with him a permanent reminder in the form of a scar. Travis is no stranger to helping others. He has worked in hospice care and currently works as a Learning Behavioral Specialist at Mental Health and Development Center. A short while back, Travis’s 17-year-old niece, April Cossey, was involved in a life-changing car accident. Until then, it wasn’t known that she had a rare disease called Branchiooto-renal Syndrome. B.O.R. is a genetic disorder that affects 1 in 40,000 people. It causes serious kidney problems and April was in serious need of a kidney transplant. After a battery of testing, it was discovered that Travis was the only family member who was a genetic match. The decision was made that he would undergo surgery to remove one of his kidneys, which would then be transplanted into his niece.
Today when Travis looks at himself in the mirror, he sees the scar and looks upon it as a testament of his love for his niece with whom he has always been very close. And today when April looks at her scar in the mirror, she is reminded of the extraordinary love her uncle has for her. According to the National Foundation for Transplants, there are eighteen people that die every day waiting for a transplant. One organ donor has the potential to save eight lives and change the lives of more than fifty people. Almost anyone can be an organ donor, regardless of age or medical history. Travis lives daily with the scar that reminds him that sometimes love hurts, in a good way. He wouldn’t trade it for all the tea in China. The scars remind both uncle and niece of their devotion to one another. Unfortunately, however, about a year after the kidney transplant, April’s body rejected her uncle’s kidney. It had to be removed. Today, she’s back on dialysis, awaiting another gift of life. Her top priority is staying as healthy as possible and being forever grateful to her uncle.
Today, April is 34. She says that going through this with her uncle has only strengthened their bond. If the roles were reversed, she says that she would have done the same for him. When asked about how difficult this has been for her, she responded with this, “You never know how strong you are until that strength is tested.”
was totally blown away by the level of talent the performance showcased. The passion and comedic timing were something that one would expect from a seasoned troop of performers OffBroadway or better. From the music, to the singing, to the choreography—the direction was amazing. I just can’t say enough about the Southeast’s art programs, both performing and graphic arts. Not sure what is in the water over at the River Campus, but they are hitting on all cylinders and have become a force to reckon with, giving art schools around the country a run for the money. We shot a lot of video of the show. Go to 573mag.com and get a glimpse of the behind the scenes and the on-stage performance.