Moonshining began very early in American history. Shortly after the American Revolution, a federal tax was placed on liquor. The American people, who had just fought a war to get out from under oppressive British taxes, were not particularly pleased. In rebellion, they decided to just keep on making their own hooch, completely ignoring the federal tax. In 1920, Congress passed the law of prohibition, the ban of any distribution of alcohol that angered Americans even more. Suddenly, there was no legal alcohol available and the demand for moonshine shot up like a rocket. At this time, moonshining became one of the most popular illegal activities. When Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the market for moonshine grew thin. Today, the significance of moonshine is remembered and revived in several brands on the market. Even though the people at the Crown Distillery, in Ste. Genevieve County, don’t sport long hillbilly beards and corn pipes, they are producing some good old fashioned hooch.
Recently we met up with the real deal, a modern-day moonshiner. Meet Scott Eckl, the mad moonshiner at Crown Distillery who is kinda like a mad scientist only more fun. 573: Tell us about yourself. My name is Scott Eckl. I grew up on a farm outside of Bonne Terre and graduated from North County in 1982. After I graduated I moved to Norman, OK for 8 years where I learned the printing trade. I spent 20 years doing that for a living but I finally had enough of being laid off and having to start over so I got out of that and I went into business for myself as a landscaper. I did that for a few years and then I saw an ad for a cellarman at Crown Valley winery. I started working here in July of 2005 and worked my way up to head distiller. Today I live in Bonne Terre with my girlfriend, her son and our Blue Healer, Jango. I have 2 grown children of my own who also went to North County. I spend off time fishing and hunting and learning about distilling of course.
573: It’s obvious that you love your job -what’s the best part? I think the best part of this job is getting to experiment and making new products. It allows me a creative outlet based on science that I really enjoy. When you can take nothing but a few ingredients and come up with something completely new to the market it’s extremely satisfying. 573: Tell us how you first became interested in hand crafted distilling. I grew up on a farm and we lived on a ridge that had a spring coming out below our house. As a child I would hear stories from some of the elderly neighbors about the moonshiners that had made whiskey there during Prohibition. There were still pieces of pipe and rusty old metal lying around, left over from their operations. You can only imagine how intriguing the idea of moonshiners was for a young kid and I never lost that interest.
573: Tell us about your specialty distilling training. In 2009 I went for training with the American Distilling Institute at a working distillery in northern California. It gave me practical hands- on training over a wide range of spirits. Then in 2010 I went to Wisconsin and did some specialized training to make whiskey. Most of my education, however, came from hands- on experience here at the Crown Distillery. I was actually doing brandy distillations before I ever went for any training. As you know we have a very large vineyard so there was plenty of wine for me to practice on. In 2010 I made my first sellable product which is our original Crown Valley vodka. I am thankful that the Crown organization had the faith and trust in me and the wonderful opportunity I was given. MY DREAM JOB. 573: Tell us how a still works and what goes into making a good shine. A still works by heating a wash to the point where the alcohol contained in it begins to boil. The alcohol vapors rise up in the still to the head where they enter a pipe called the lyne arm. They travel through the lyne arm to the condenser which is cooled by water. The alcohol vapor is then converted back into liquid form before exiting. This is distilling at its most basic. Good shine is made by using fresh ingredients and by careful distillation. By that I mean temperatures are closely monitored and cuts are made correctly. I mostly use taste and smell to determine when to make my cuts.
573: How has it changed from the old days? The process of distilling does not change but the equipment to distill on does. In the old days you made a mash in a tub and when it was ready you distilled on a copper pot still. Many people continue using these methods with excellent results. Today there is more modern equipment to work with. Instead of a tub to make mash you have automated kettles which will boil your mash at exact temps so you can get the highest amount of alcohol with the grains you have. Instead of a plain pot still you have reflux columns attached, some with computer monitoring that will automatically make cuts for you. These stills can take an 8% ABV wash and in one pass convert it into 96% alcohol. This wasn’t possible for the old moonshiners. Most of today’s large distilleries use continuous stills these day though. These stills are capable of running 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 573: Describe the two processes -grain and grapes mash. You can make alcohol out of anything that will ferment but in our operation we use either grain or grapes as our base material. With grain we’re making different types of whiskey and limited amounts of vodka. With grapes we’re making brandies, vodka, absinthe, and one of the only gins in the world that uses grapes as its base. I have also done some experimenting with blue agave tequila but that’s a long way off... 573: What makes a good hand- crafted moonshine? Well, I could give you a lot of technical mumbo jumbo but in the end it’s really about the distiller and his knowledge of his craft. You can have the best equipment and best ingredients and turn out subpar liquor or you can have a little backwoods setup and turn out an amazing product. I’ve had some really good shine come through my office that was made on the simplest of setups. And then there’s the rest...
We asked Jamie Lashley, one of the Crown Valley marketing executives, to tell us about the tasting room and other components at the Distillery. Here is what she said. Crown Valley Brewery and Distillery is open year-round, Thursday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. We offer a variety of tastings, tours and food options. Live music is featured on Saturday’s and special events are planned throughout the year. We offer group rates and reserved seating when booked in advance (subject to availability). Crown Valley is a premier Midwest destination situated on 600 scenic acres in Ste. Genevieve county. Spend a few days and stay at one of our lodging options and visit all of Crown Country locations including Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary. “Close to home, far from ordinary.”
Use it or lose it.
K BRIDGE Most people’s favorite swimming hole. Lots of activity. Clear water, float trips and lots of partying. The Black River below Lesterville runs about 14.3 miles to Reynolds County Highway K bridge east of Redford and north of Clearwater Lake.
PARADISE COVE The Paradise Cove is simply a place to swim or jump off cliffs at your own risk. There is a charge to get in, but it’s well worth the fee. Clear spring feed fun. Sorry 21 or older only. Hwy OO north of Fredericktown.
ST. FRANCOIS STATE PARK Killer swimming. High bluffs and clear water. Plenty of privacy. Hwy 67 just north of Bonne Terre.
COUNCIL BLUFF RECREATION AREA Take a dip at the 54,000 square foot Chapel Hill Beach. A concession stand and play area are available. Located on Rte. DD in Belgrade.
YMCA TROUT LODGE Rope swing, beaches, large lake and anything else a family would want in a place to swim. Located in Potosi. BRIDGE OVER SALINE CREEK Highway N off 55 north of Perryville. Find the old bridge at Minnith. Clear water and friendly people. Never very crowded. WHITEWATER CREEK From Fredericktown take 72 towards Jackson, turn left on 51, turn right on KK and right on 200. There are 2 bridges over the White Water Creek. Have fun! JOHNSON SHUT-INS The Shut-Ins are back. Nature’s waterpark. One of the best. Located off Hwy 21 near Ironton. ST. JOE STATE PARK Two large lakes, one with sand beach. The water’s clean and cool. It’s a state park so you have to follow the rules. SAM A. BAKER STATE PARK Unspoiled natural landscape. Crystal clear and cool waters of the St. Francois River and Big Creek. One of our favorites. It’s all there. You can get inner tubes at the Park Store. And it’s a great place to try snorkeling. PINK ROCK Located in the Amidon Memorial Conservation Area at Castor River Shut-Ins. Super cool place among the large pink granite stones. Fredericktown. WASHINGTON STATE PARK Famous for the petroglyphs, Washington State Park is also an awesome place to cool off in the Big River. Located in De Soto off of Hwy 21. MARBLE CREEK RECREATION AREA Swim in the old mill pool at Marble Creek within the St. Francis Mountains. Located in Arcadia Valley south on 21 then east on Hwy E. BLUE SPRINGS Go to Jack’s Fork River and jump into crystal clear water. Northeast of Mountain View, Missouri, Hwy 60 to OO Hwy. CAVE SPRING Located at Jack’s Fork on the Current River this clearwater spring emerges from a cave opening.
SUTTON BLUFF RECREATION AREA Located near Centerville on the Black River. The natural gravel beach is perfect for wading and swimming. ROCKY FALLS SHUT-IN Hailed as one of the Ozark’s best-kept secrets, Rocky Falls clear water streams down 40 feet of rock to a natural pool perfect for swimming. Highway NN, nine miles southeast of Eminence. OLD BRIDGE AT OLD APPLETON A very popular swimming spot. Located on Main Street in Old Appleton over Apple Creek. Rope swing and many college students. The 573 Magazine does not advise anyone to swim without a lifeguard on hand. Be careful my friends.
hrough the years I have photographed many a politician, I lay no claims of vast political knowledge and I pretty much try to stay out of the fray. I do admit though, I have a morbid fascination with politicians and celebrities, well anyone in the public eye for that matter. My fascination with politicians and celebrities is, and has always been, the tough persona they project. You’ve heard it all before, “You have to have a tough hide to make it in politics”, “You have to be able to take the criticisms.” “You have to be able to take the darts in the back from the media and the social headhunters on the internet”...they go on and on. Although politicians, actors, singers, and the like always seem tough and in control, I can tell you right now that being a photographer of celebrities and politicians is no easy task and that whole “in control” thing is a facade. No one is more unsure of their fate or as nervous as an inmate on his first day in prison meeting his new buddies than a celebrity is in front of a camera. Yup, from the president, to major movie stars, to comedians, to the singer who stands up in front of 40,000 people to sing... none of them really enjoy being in front of a camera. They are so used to having control over every aspect of their life, their brand, their speeches, their scenes... that the thought of someone pointing a camera at them and telling them what to do, will make even the most hardened celebrity cringe. It takes a lot of trust and that trust has to be handed over in order to get good photography-to get to the real person.
Turns out I have always had whatever it is
that puts people at ease. They trust me and I trust them. The point of this whole thing is usually I only get 10 to 15 minutes to meet the person, gain their trust and then shoot 5 or 6 sets. That sounds simple enough right? Well, to pull it off you better be prepared and you better have your act together. Before every shoot I always do my research on my subject. Well, actually, I just Google them and see what the word is on line. I know there is little truth online; you take whatever is there with a grain of salt. That holds true for politicians. The bad things and lies are always on the top of the page and they never go away. This is partly due to the media’s thirst for dirt and heavy political agendas. When I read about Peter Kinder on line I thought, oh boy another poor dog with political enemies in high places. My kinda people. The 573 Magazine is not a political magazine at all. We believe we all deserve an opinion and everyone’s opinion deserves to be heard. It doesn’t matter what you do or what side of the tracks you live. If you live in the 573 or have an attachment to the 573, we will do your story without bias or judgement. In spite of pressures to conform we stay true to this conviction and even though it might cost us advertisers every once in awhile it’s worth it. Black, white, rich, poor, ignorant, kind, baker, doctor, stay-at-homer, employed, unemployed, self-employed, male, female, straight, gay, happy, sad, goat herder, carne, roofer, student, teacher, mayor, senator, congressman, governor... we are willing to let your story be heard. You don’t have to like all of who we talk with, just repect us for being fair.
Like most celebrity photo shoots, I didn’t get to speak to Peter in advance of the day. I admit I do have a bit of an advantage with my long association with the 573 Magazine and the quality we put out, so Peter was at ease from the start. After reading the trash on line, I was amazed how much more human he was in person. I was shocked when he didn’t show up wearing a confederate flag hat and a swastika tattooed on his neck. He’s a Republican after all. (that’s a joke) Nope, just a cool guy from a small town with an opinion is all I got. Actually, we have many things in common. We both love the 573, we both love the outdoors, we both love to hike, we both love good food, we both appreciate family... The only thing we didn’t talk about was his political views. Meet Mr. Peter Kinder. A very put together, fun loving guy and did I mention he’s wanting to be your governor? You go boy!
I am an eighth generation Southeast Missourian, born and raised in Cape Girardeau. My father was a pediatrician and my mother was a homemaker known for her hospitality and beautiful singing voice in church and in the community. They were close friends with Millie and Rush Limbaugh, Jr., and the Kinder and Limbaugh boys grew up together and consider each other family. The third of four boys, I grew up in a loving and supportive home. My parents were very active in Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau, where I still worship and attend services regularly. My family still resides in Cape, and we enjoy weekly family dinners whenever I am home. Family is the cornerstone of who I am, and I cherish my time spent with them. My mom and dad supported us in scouting; Dad achieved the rank of Eagle. All four of us boys are Eagle Scouts, and some years ago my nephew became the 9th Eagle Scout in our family. I always spent my summers at Camp Lewallen near Silva in Wayne County. Scouting with my brothers and my years at summer camp provided us all with marvelous, formative learning experiences.
Whenever I take time off, I am often outdoors hiking with my family, working out at my local gym, or inside with a book. When at home on weekends, I always check out the Cape Farmer’s Market (when in season). I’ve always been fascinated with history, especially military history, and Civil War or World War II are special areas of interest. From boyhood on, my bookshelves are filled with historical books and biographies.
I began reading the National Review in junior high and continued my earlier habit of reading two newspapers daily. My parents were basically apolitical, but encouraged me to stay informed on current affairs. Much of my political influence came from my parents’ close friend, Rush Limbaugh, Jr. (father of the radio host). We would sit around the dinner table and listen to ‘Mr. Rush’ talk politics. The Limbaugh family had a profound influence on my political beliefs. At age 18, I took a summer job as driver for Missouri Attorney General, Jack Danforth. In 1980, having finished law school and passed the bar exam, I managed Bill Emerson’s congressional campaign as he became the first Republican congressman in Southeast Missouri since 1928. I then took a break from politics and worked in the private sector as a real estate attorney for Drury Industries, building Drury Inn Hotels for four years. In 1987, I became associate publisher of the Southeast Missourian newspaper. In 1992, I ran successfully for the state senate, beginning representation in six counties in Southeast Missouri.
I am so thankful to be in the position I am in as Lieutenant Governor. I find it most rewarding when I can assist in helping the lives of everyday Missourians. One day I was approached by a friend at church. She explained to me that she adopted a homeless girl whose mother recently died. The girl suffered from severe scoliosis, preventing her from living the life of which she dreamed, but the mom could not find insurance that would cover the surgery required for a full recovery. I was able to use my knowledge of state government to find insurance for her daughter to receive the life-changing surgery. Her daughter is now fully recovered and has recently earned a degree. Those are the moments as a public servant that I cherish the most.
Politics is not for the faint-hearted, but it is a calling of mine and therefore I know I must take the good with the ugly. When times are difficult and uncertain, I rely on prayer and my faith in God’s plan for my life. Exercise always helps to clear the mind, and I am committed to exercising several times a week to maintain my focus. It’s important to have a few good mentors in life, and I had the benefit of several, including the late Congressman Bill Emerson, newspaper publisher Gary Rust, and former Chairman of the FCC Al Sikes. I have endeavored since then to return the favor with those I work. I am blessed with extraordinary family, friends and colleagues, who are always near with love and guidance.
None at the moment - my energy and focus is on this race. No matter what, I want to stay here in Missouri and find ways to make a positive impact on my community and region.
When asked what the favorites were at La Panchanga, the waiter quickly replied that you simply cannot beat the shrimp, steak and chicken fajitas served with grilled tomatoes and onions on a bed of rice and beans served with a side salad. And wash it all down with an oversized margarita on the rocks. Great service, great food, friendly staff. 20 North Wood St., Bonne Terre Hours: Mon-Thur 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri-Sat 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Whether you like spicy or savory, El Bracero hits the spot. Their salsa is delicious, but if you need something cool to calm your palate, the chunky table side guacamole uses ripe avocados, fresh tomatoes, jalapenos, diced onions, cilantro and fresh squeezed lemon juice.  Their menu boasts six different types of nachos in the appetizer section alone, and the tacos taste as authentic as if your abuela had made them herself. I had the chicken tacos with onion, cilantro and squeezed lime. You don’t get more authintic Mexican without driving to Mexico. 1103 S. Main St., Sikeston Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
A little more upscale than most local Mexican restaurants, Casa Sol offers authentic traditional Mexican dishes and a few things for folks with a taste for something more American. Signature traditional style tacos, chile verde (pork or beef served with mild green sauce and a side of rice and beans), and the ribeye texano-a ribeye steak served with mushrooms, onions, peppers and covered in cheese dip are just a few of the dishes this contemporary cosmopolitan has to offer. The margaritas are out-of-the-world, the salsa and pica de gallo are amazing and the staff is incredibly friendly. If Adam, the owner is there, you will surely meet him because he truly cares about his customers and their comfort. The food, the service, the ambiance -Casa Sol has it all. 204 South A Street, Farmington Hours: Mon-Sat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Adornded with decrotive palm-trees out front with ample seating inside and out, Muy Bueno offers some of the most authentic Mexican food in Cape Girardeau. First spotted on the menu is the traditional Mexican spicy pork sausage chorizo-cooked with onions, topped with a mix of chopped white onion, and cilantro on a corn tortilla accompanied with a lime wedge-one of the nine types of tacos offered. Another classic is the Muy Bueno family tamales recipe: a corn dough stuffed with meat or vegetables wrapped in a corn husk leaf, available with pork, beef or vegetarian style. Pork and beef shown above. The authenticity and friendly service definitely makes Muy Bueno on our favorites list. 1751 Independence St., Cape Girardeau Hours: Mon- Sat 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
As two young waitresses race around Lalo’s, it’s not uncommon for them to call out their customers by name. Dishing out jumbo margaritas along with endless chips and salsa, local Fredericktown families spend time together and catch up, sometimes on a weekly basis. Some of the more popular dishes are Eduardo’s Special: a steak, shrimp or chicken base topped with carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, and bell peppers that is served with Mexican rice and covered with cheese sauce and the tacos Jalisco-a corn or flour tortilla stuffed with steak, chorizo sausage, onions, cilantro, pico de gallo, Lalo’s special sauce and a slice of avocado. 275 Jennifer St., Fredericktown Hours: Sun-Thur 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fri-Sat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The El San Felipe Grill opened its doors in Ste. Genevieve one year ago, and ever since then the young couple Mauricio and Maria Alvares have taken the town by storm — El Nino actually. Mauricio and Maria take great pride in their first restaurant with all the usual Mexican fair along with many original dishes created by Mauricio. I tried the Pineapple Fajitas. A pineapple bowl filled with shrimp, bacon, steak, chicken, yellow and green peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, pineapple, shredded cheese and chopped salad. It came with a taco bowl filled with pica de gallo, sour cream and guacamole. All I can say is WOW! It’s a fantastic twist on fajitas. 634 Ste. Genevieve Dr., Ste. Genevieve Hours Sun, Mon, Tues 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thurs 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Fri and Sat from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Many people new to business think they have to find a NEW niche in the market. They think they have to find something that no one else knows or do what hasn’t already been done. This really isn’t the case. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel or finding some magical niche, but it helps if you find a good small niche. The smaller the niche the bigger the business potential. At times I have tried to be everything to everyone and I quickly learned it is way better to do one small thing passionately and then distribute it to a large area. That is the idea of a successful niche. I know for a fact that you CAN wake up one day with a passion and without money, or connections, or support from family or government... you can move from rags to riches if you are willing to work hard and learn. Recently, we have encountered a man who took his passion to the market. A true testament to the American dream as I believe it to be. Meet Dave Couch - husband, father, businessman.
My name is Dave Couch. I live in
Fredericktown with my wife Erin Couch (Boushie) and our two girls, Cora (four) and Kendall (two), and another on the way. My family is a little different than most. I own a custom body shop, White Trash Customs, and my whole family is into cars & motorcycles. Cora, my oldest, learned to ride at the age of three after getting her own gas powered dirt bike, and Kendall has learned to ride at the age of two and a half. Our family life mostly revolves around car stuff, no dolls or tea parties. My wife’s twin sister even runs the parts department for me. The name, White Trash Customs, is a marketing gimmick to make you remember us. Kinda like Hooters, it’s a fun entertaining name that makes for easy conversation. WTC was started about fifteen years ago. We are in our fourth shop now, having outgrown the others. I graduated from UTI in Houston, TX. I started with just me and my grandpa, [he] giving me a hand as I needed something. Fastly learning that I had a strong interest and talent for taking the everyday ordinary into something off the wall and over the top. I had originally started by adding air suspension to lower cars and trucks flat on the ground, then started removing door handles and welding up the holes (shaving them) so they could open by remote. Today we are building high end custom semis, party buses and custom automobiles which go to auction every few months. White Trash Customs is a one-stop shop. We do painting, fabrication, upholstery, glass, tires, wheels. Our new location has everything under one roof, we even offer collision repair. We are the only shop in the area housing a 46 ft paint booth for semis and RVs.
The green Chevy is a 2011 model
with only 4,000 miles as of today on it. We bought it for the wife, new with 16 miles on it. We put about 1,000 miles on it before we cut it up to make a show truck out of it. The truck was built in 25 evenings, not days. I built the truck while we were still a parttime shop, and I never missed one hour of work at my full time job. It has undergone many changes: bagged, body dropped, color change, sheet metal bed, 24’s, custom interior. To help understand “bagged” a little more, we remove all the stock suspension and install “air ride” allowing it to be fully adjustable. For the body drop, we had to modify the frame by removing all framework rails that hung below the body, add a step notch so the rear axle will go up past the frame, and cutting the upper and lower control arms off and relocating them so that when all the air pressure is released it will lay the body on the ground. The truck started its life as a base model black work truck. Erin had decided on the color change so while I was at my full time job, she had taken it apart and sanded the entire truck so that we had to paint it. The black leather and ostrich gave the interior a very classy touch while sitting with 24 in. rims tightly tucked underneath the truck. I remember building the truck and we tried to take a shortcut by not body dropping it and Erin walked out in the shop and said “It is not low enough and looks like crap and the body isn’t touching the ground”. Away she went and away we went working through the night, completing the body drop in 16 hours while she slept. We were finished by morning, and the wife is now happy.
The blue truck is a ‘93 Chevy
Dually; we built in 4 weeks. It’s running a 454 automatic black leather with alligator seats. The front end is a 2006 Cadillac Escalade that we custom-made for that truck by cutting Escalade fenders and the Chevy fenders and welding them together. The wheels are off a semi. They started as 22.5 and we had them machined to a 22 so that we could run low profile tires. There is 125 ft. of tubing in the bed and cab to make the spikes and framework. We smoothed out the inside of the bed removing the ridges, shaved the door handles so they open by remote. The old Ford is a 1947 Ford on an S10 chassis running a 6 cyl 4.3 automatic. The truck is on air ride. It has a fully adjustable suspension which allows it to lay flat on the ground. We custom painted the truck and put our shop logo on it. The bed floor is colored with food coloring (shop secret). The seat is a dolphin hide and we added the Bel Air trim and spikes to the bumper to enhance its attitude. The Kenworth is a customer truck. We build custom semis for Terry Aslinger of Patton. His love for trucks has turned into a full time business. He drags in old rough ones and we add new life to it. The Kenworth was a complete redo from paint to upholstery. The frames are stretched when redone, we add lower body skirts to them and then repaint. Making them look great all over again. The Kenworth was actually bought new for the 1984 Olympics. As it nears completion it will be for sale.”
With the onslaught of social media and the old school media pressing their agendas like fat Italian ladies stomping grapes, sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the magnificent gifts this beautiful and diverse country affords it’s citizens. Luckily our forefathers had the insight to know that we need to take time to remind ourselves how lucky we are to be Americans — enter the 4th of July.
It’s true that we’re not a perfect nation. But we are a country that is always willing to grow and evolve. We are a country made up of different people with differences so great we have a hard time not killing each other . It is these differences that make the U.S.A. the greatest country in the world and the place that people are willing to do whatever is needed to become an American citizen. So this 4th of July let’s celebrate and appreciate our differences and this spectacular country we call home.
On any given clear, moonless night, you can simply look up into the sky and see shooting stars and the Milky Way. Sure you saw it when you were a kid, but have you really taken the time to look up as an adult? It is always time well spent if you ask me. Standing alone in my backyard looking at the bright star-filled sky is one of my great passions in life. It reminds me of how insignificant everything (myself included) really is and it makes me truly appreciate what I have in family and friends. Lastly, it makes me mindful of what little time we all have on this planet. There is no greater motivator, or slap in the face, than spending time staring at the stars – and we can all use a good slap in the face from time to time. You may think I’m full of it, but I dare you to go spend 30 minutes alone tonight just you and the quiet night sky. You’ll see. We are so lucky to be where we are. Our unpolluted skies make the 573 the perfect place for stargazing. You don’t even need a telescope; just a flexible neck. Most of you have a flexible neck. Just remember, there are a lot of people in the big cities who will live their entire lives without ever seeing the Milky Way in the night sky. So, get off that sunken sofa and get out there; who knows, you may be the first on your block to see a UFO.
You just can’t resist the sweet temptation of the honeysuckle.
With the help of Anna and Leah Burcham, we went on a honeysuckle safari. It didn’t take us too long to find our quarry. The 573 is thick with the stuff! Grown on vines and sometimes as shrubs, the white and yellow honeysuckle blooms begin to appear in late winter and early spring remaining throughout summer. Hummingbirds, bees, and moths are attracted to the sweet aroma of the flower and it is no wonder. The trumpet-shaped flower can produce large amounts of sweet, delicious nectar.
Gently pull the calyx away from the base of the flower and a long, thin, white tubular string called the style should appear. Slowly pull the style from the flower. At the other end of the style is a small ball called the stigma that pushes the nectar out of the flower as the style is pulled. As the stigma nears the base of the flower, you should see a drop of clear liquid nectar form. Let the nectar drip onto your tongue. Mmmm.
Anyone can enjoy this tasty treat of nature. First, pick the entire flower from the vine including the green area where the flower meets the stem. This green area is called the calyx. Firmly pinch the flower just above the calyx at the base of the bloom. While pinching, break through the outer skin of the petals just slightly without cutting through the inside.
lthough some may feel that art education is a luxury, the truth of the matter is just the opposite. The simple act of creativity is vitally important for kids and the way they perceive the world around them. Drawing, painting, and working with clay all develop visual skills that are more important than ever in our online world. Making art, holding a paintbrush, or scribbling with a crayon are essential in building motor skills. The act of creation is not a team sport and the internet cares not about living in real time, most importantly alone time. Art helps build self-esteem in ways not fully understood. It helps people to cope and understand the importance of being able to spend time with yourself. Quality ME TIME. According to the National Institutes of Health, 33% of kids are visual learners. Kids paint, use scissors and make art way before they begin to read or write. In a world filled with computers and smartphones, art encourages kids to give more attention to the physical threedimensional world that surrounds them. They need to draw, paint, smear, bend, paste. As our high schools put less and less emphasis on art, with most only offering minimum graduation requirements, one can’t help but wonder how this might affect our young people over the long-term. We say we’re preparing our young people for the workplace. We say we’re preparing them to be good citizens. Shouldn’t we also be teaching them to enjoy deeper forms of creativity and beauty? I think so. We’re happy to see a yearly event that emphasizes precisely that - the art of young people. The K-12 Art Show sponsored by Mineral Area College, a community college located in Park Hills, holds a yearly K-12 art show that gathers entries from all over the region. Of course they hold judging and pick winners and give away ribbons and prizes, but we go to see the art. To be fair, we conduct a sweep through the show and simply photograph the art we like without looking at the name of the artist or school to be sure we are not influenced. After we photograph what we thought was stellar, we then go back and collect the names and schools. I know one thing for sure, we have some pretty great art teachers in the area. Our kids are super duper talented. I wish we could show them all. A special thanks out to Danielle Basler and the gang at Mineral Area Council on the Arts for putting on such a wonderful display of talent.
really no secret that we create our own reality with out thoughts. Everything that we are or have is because we wanted it. Whether it’s conscious or not, we bring things, people, and experiences to our lives with our way of thinking. As with anything that we try to do, we must program our minds. We all need to find a place where we can relax. The difference, in a going to a good place rather than a bad is to relax and let your mind take you to that positive place. Let your mind take you to a place and the person that you want to be in life. You want to make this place as comfortable and inviting as you can, but also a place that you can’t live without. It could be a million dollars, a doctorate, to be a famous musician or outstanding athlete, or any number of other things you want. When you dream big your psyche will start acting and you will begin seeing yourself differently. That is why people often refer to someone going after a dream as being “dreamers”. My niece dreamed of getting a masters degree and being able to help other people, so she went after what she wanted with a vengeance, working two jobs and studying hard. People referred to her as a dreamer. Guess what? Her dreams came true. Today she has her own therapy practice and helps many people each day to cope with their emotional problems. When dream of something we really want, whether it is something we want to accomplish, own or be, we need to be clear with ourselves then we’ll start on the correct path. To excel, we must be specific and ask for what we want. If I say I want to lose weight, then just saying it is not specific enough. I should say that I want to be healthy, live longer, eat less, and look better.
And then work towards that goal.
to be patient if your dreams do not come true in hours, days or even months. Just keep believing and sending out positive thoughts and feelings and continue to keep negative thoughts away. Remember to be grateful and really enjoy your gift when you do receive it. Surround yourself with the luxury of having the gift and enjoying it. Make it part of your life, nurture it, and let it grow. Look for the positive parts and always follow that path. Your life will be full of smiling, sweetness, happiness, and inspiration. Enjoy your life and expect it to be good. NEVER GIVE UP CHASING A DREAM.
My mother taught me that. Thanks mom.
Being able to see the stars at night has always been one of
my most favorite things about living in the 573. If you have lived in large polluted cities where you can’t see the stars, then you know what a gift it is. Sure it’s a lot easier to go online and see all the stars you want, but seeing it with your own eyes in real time gives me a chance to think about time. Wondering about time, I believe, has made me a happier person. When I look up at the night sky, I’m able to remember things from my past. I wonder what the places look like at this very moment in time. I wonder how they have changed. What about the people I knew? What are they doing? Do they wonder about time? Do they value their time? Do you? How we spend our time on earth should be important to everyone. After all, time and the amount of time we have on this earth is finite. Here is something to ponder. When you look up at the night sky, the number of stars that you can see on a clear (moonless) night in a dark area (far away from city lights) is about 2000. When you look up to the night sky, chances are that what you are looking at occurred long, long ago in time. It takes 2.5 million light years for the image of the Andromeda galaxy to appear in our night sky. If you think about it, looking up into the night sky is like looking into a time machine and images of things the way they were long ago. The cool thing about this is, we can in fact, travel further back in time with a telescope. Billions of years back. That’s a lot to ponder if you think about it. Recently, we met a man who is obsessed with time travel. Meet Dennis Vollink - astro-photographer and his amazing time machine.
573: Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Battle Creek, MI, and attended St. Philip Catholic High School, where I met my wife, Kathy. I went to college at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, and graduated in 1974 with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering (distinguished Graduate). After graduation I married Kathy, then attended Undergraduate Pilot training in Del Rio Texas, graduating in 1975. For the next 7 years I was an Air Force instructor pilot in T-38 advanced jet trainers, both at Del Rio and also Randolph AFB in San Antonio. While I was in San Antonio I attended Trinity University night school and worked towards Masters in Physics/Solar Engineering. When I was transitioning out of the active Air Force and into the Air Force Guard, I was introduced to Bob Drury and was hired as a pilot and engineer with Drury Southwest, Inc. Kathy and I moved to Cape Girardeau in October 1981 and we have been here since then. I retired from the AF Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Cape Girardeau has been a great place for our family. We raised our two sons and daughter here. Tim, our oldest son, graduated from SEMO with degrees in Horticulture and Graphic Arts. He is a graphic artist with Drury Southwest Signs and does photography both for the company and on the side. Matt, went to Quincy University, married Laura Burdick of Cape Girardeau, and is a teacher and soccer coach at Notre Dame High School here in Cape. He teaches world history and philosophy. Mary Beth, our daughter, went to the University of Illinois at Champaign and graduated last year with a degree in Physics. She is now a Physics teacher, also at Notre Dame High School. We are blessed to have them here. Tim and Matt each have two children; our 4 grandchildren are Connor (13), Anna (11), Leo (3) and Josephine (1). Kathy & I are active in our parish, St. Mary Cathedral. I am also active as a volunteer with the St. Francis Hospital Board, SEMO River Campus Board of Managers, Discovery Playhouse, SEMO Engineering Physics Advisory Board, Northern Arizona University HRM Board of Advisors, and Knights of Columbus. I continue to act as the liaison officer for SE Missouri for the USAF Academy.
I have been blessed with a very exciting job, helping our team develop, build, and plan hotel and commercial developments across the country for Drury Southwest, Inc. I am the company president in addition to mechanical engineer, one of the company pilots (8,500 hours), and have board duties for both Drury Southwest, Inc. and Drury Hotels Company.
advancements the amateurs were making with digital equipment vs film. I started planning an observatory so I would not have to set up the complicated mounts every night and would be able to enjoy the views and photography more. We finished the observatory in 2006 and have been making improvements to our equipment and processes since then.
573: Tell us about your cool hobby.
To help learn the hobby, I have attended astrophotography and astrophysics conferences for amateurs in Arizona and California three times and will be going back next year. There are a number of very dedicated astro-photographers around the world that attend these conferences and share their work and techniques. It changes every year with the advancements in equipment and processing. There are a number of professionals that have training courses and materials that also help greatly.
I got interested in astronomy and physics while in grade school. I got my first telescope in the 7th grade and used it visually quite often while growing up in Battle Creek. I was always amazed at the views and the wonders of space. When we moved to Cape Girardeau, I was able to get a Meade 10” and also 14” reflector telescopes. I would set these up in my driveway and use them mostly visually but I also did some film photography. It was difficult and time consuming to set up, so I never had much luck at good pictures. I have always received an astronomy magazine and was able to see the big
It’s really cool to see the photos come to life, realizing that the photons that make them travel thousands to millions of light years end up in my 6” scope here in Cape. Creation is going on in every direction of space.
There are two main classes of photos – fast and long exposure. The fast exposures are done on bright objects like the sun, moon and planets. Photos are taken with both conventional commercial digital cameras and high speed video cameras. The challenge with these bright objects is getting out the turbulence of the atmosphere that is very prominent at high power in a telescope. The turbulence blurs the objects and makes it look like you are looking through boiling water. Your eyes can compensate, but a camera cannot. With a standard camera, to help eliminate the blur, you can stack multiple photos and pick the clear parts from each. With high speed video you do the same thing, only with thousands of photos. Amateurs have written software to make this possible – but it’s not easy. You can get phenomenal pictures this way, as good or better than was possible from earth in the big observatories only a few years ago.
Most of the objects in space are dim so that’s when you use very long exposures. The sensors (astro-camera) are very sensitive so you can record almost every photon of the wavelength you are trying to catch. The sensors are not color, so you have to use filters to get the color (wavelength) you want. You also can work in wavelengths that you cannot see with your eyes.
As an example, the photo of the Andromeda Galaxy is a composite of 134 exposures (74 ea., 10 minutes exposures and 60 ea., 5 minutes exposures taken over three nights, for a total of 13.7 hrs.). The exposures were in 5 wavelengths: Luminance, Red, Green, Blue, and Hydrogen Alpha. The photos were taken in our home observatory here in Cape Girardeau in October 2015 using a 6” refractor telescope and a second 5” refractor for guiding the first telescope. Over the 13.7 hours of exposure, you have to track the stars so there is no movement – even a drift of a few pixels will ruin an exposure. The equipment to do this is very good and takes lots of attention to keep aligned. While shooting, I can sleep for 30 minutes at a time until I have to reposition the dome and check computers. After I take the three nights of exposure, I have to process and combine the exposures. It takes about another 8 to 12 hours of work to do this processing. I first remove noise from the exposures, align all of them, stack each type of wavelength exposures to increase resolution, then combine the wavelengths to get the color and final photo.
573: What is it about space and infinity that so captivates you?
The physics of God’s creation. I am inspired by the father of the theory of the Big Bang, Fr. Georges Lemaitre. His knowledge built on discoveries by Einstein, Hubble, etc. And now, our rapidly increasing understanding of how stars, galaxies, black holes form and live is an amazing, fantastic story.
573: Where does this go next for you?
I want to continue to improve the astro-photos I produce, learn new techniques, and attend more conferences with amateurs that are much, much better than me. I also want to share my hobby and wonder of science with local kids and spend more time at the observatory at Notre Dame High School.