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Original stories, photography and ideas you won’t find anywhere else. The 573 embodies the area’s unique lifestyle by presenting the best of what the area has to offer. The 573 is always fresh and its content is 100% original. It is all about the people! People like yourself who understand the wonderful gifts we’ve been given here in the 573 and sometimes take for granted. publisher editor marketing design photography copy editors arts editor style editor travel editor bridal editor cuisine editor business consultant distribution
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Published by Image Maker Marketing. All content of this magazine is Copyright 573 Magazine 2012. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be copied or reprinted without the express written consent of the publisher. Subscribers and Advertisers You are valued and vital to our success. If you have any questions, call us at 573.756.9933. Letters to the Editor We welcome your comments or suggestions. Send letters to 573 Magazine, P.O. Box 684, Farmington, MO 63640 or editor@573mag.com. Writing Opportunities We will always consider freelance writers or story ideas. Please email queries to the attention of the editor at editor@573mag.com. 573 Magazine is printed by a certified green printer using 100% green paper, inks, and processes. Our Circulation is verified by an independent auditor. It conducts and ensures actual and honest print counts, distribution, circulation and readership studies.
The Mayan prediction of the 2012 end of times came and went. The election is over. Your guy won or lost. Black Friday panned out for you or it didn’t. It was a good year for you or it wasn’t. Now what? Over the last year, positive response to the 573 Magazine grew tremendously. Magazine requests went up, retail sales went up, subscriptions went up, and digital readership increased in 2012. According to the Internet, print is dead and the growth of a magazine could never happen (and we all know the Internet is omnipotent and never lies). Now what? What are we at the 573 Magazine doing about our “now what?” We will give you more of what you love. To begin with, we’ve increased our print numbers. We are introducing special editions designed exclusively for the people of your town and the surrounding areas. Starting with this edition, 573 Magazine will deliver more of what you love about the 573 with more local stories. We will explore even more restaurants, entertainment, history, and of course the people.
Enjoy the digital 573 magazine free at 573mag. com on both desktop and mobile. Stay informed on our Facebook page about story needs and model requests. Get information on local and regional events delivered to your inbox with the 573 Weekend Update. Have the 573 hard copy delivered to your home, to collect and display on your coffee table, to show your pride for your town and the 573. Start the new year off with a positive element in your life. It’s all right here. Get out there and best wishes for your New Year!
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Happy New Year! It is 2013, time to head off into the future and make some changes. But first, lets take time to reflect on all those wonderful social and family gatherings. The food, presents, time with the cousins you haven’t seen in a while, that kiss under the mistletoe... A little older, a little wiser, maybe a little heavier, but you had one heck of a good time over the holiday season. For someone with hearing loss, however, these memories may be bittersweet. We all know a person who sits quietly smiling, acting like they are having fun at the party when they have no idea what anyone is saying. Social environments and noisy parties can exacerbate communication difficulties and all the frustrations that keep the hearing impaired from fully connecting with friends and family. Why won’t they do something about it? With the New Year we all make resolutions, and typically those resolutions are about improving one’s life and well-being. So what about your spouse, or mother, or grandfather, the one with the hearing problem? Now is a great time of year to encourage them to seek help and to remind them of the importance of not missing out on life. How do you go about helping these people, many of whom are very resistant to even admitting they have a hearing loss problem, let alone do something about it? We met up with Dr. Karen Melton, an audiologist, to find out how we can help our family and friends with poor hearing. And what a better place to meet than a noisy bowling alley?
573: Tell us about yourself. Dr. Melton: I’m Karen Melton and I love working in my hometown! I graduated from Farmington High School. I got my Bachelors degree from Southeast Missouri State University, my Masters degree from University of Georgia, and my Dr. of Audiology degree from Arizona School of Health Sciences. I’m proud to say I am the only Doctor of Audiology in the area. My husband is a foreman for Layne Christensen, a global water management, construction and drilling company. We have three kids, Kylie age 9, Eli who is 11 and our oldest Ian is 14. They keep us pretty busy. 573: Why did you become an audiologist? Dr. Melton: As a child I always enjoyed conversations with my grandparents. They were always so interested in what I was up to. It seemed like they always had a million questions for me to answer. When I was in high school, I sat down next to my grandpa at Christmas dinner to have a chat. He just smiled at me and looked away. I didn’t understand why he wasn’t interested in me and I kind of got my feelings hurt. Later, I found out that his hearing had degenerated and he couldn’t hear in noisy environments. I began to wonder why that happened and started researching to find out how to help him. I learned that many people feel very isolated and separated from their loved ones when they can’t participate in conversations. How awful it must be to be in a room while others are telling jokes and laughing, yet it is not funny for the person who couldn’t hear the joke. That always stuck with me and led me to become an audiologist. My goal is to bring people back into conversations with their loved ones. That’s really my passion. 573: What can a person with poor hearing do to have a better experience in a noisy environment? Dr. Melton: Hearing instruments have come a long way in removing background noise. They now have advanced technology that allows the unit to cut down background noise and increase the speech closest to the listener, resulting in better understanding of conversations. If you find yourself in a situation with a hearing impaired person without this new technology, you can try positioning the person with their back to the majority of the noise. This can make a huge difference. When you have problems hearing in busy rooms like a restaurant or other noisy place, look around you. Where is the door, the cash register, the kitchen, or other noise creators? Place yourself with that noise behind you and the people you want to hear in front of you. 573: We all know someone who resists the idea of getting help with his or her hearing problem. Why is this? Dr. Melton: Everyone knows someone who has a hearing aid that is sitting in a drawer or on a shelf or who simply rejects the idea of getting a hearing aid altogether. For many years, hearing aids just didn’t cut it and many people developed an aversion to them. They were big, ugly and screamed out “I’m old!” Today, like everything else, they are tiny and high tech. The digital era and amazing advancements in technology have made hearing aids the cool and smart thing to do. And they certainly no longer scream “I’m old!” 573: Are there any other new technologies on the hearing front you’d like to tell us about? Dr. Melton: Technology is constantly improving and hearing instruments are advancing just as quickly! The newest instruments now offer wireless connectivity so you can hear your cell phone, TV, iPod, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device directly into the hearing aid! Imagine talking on your cell phone without holding it. It’s amazing! In addition, instruments are becoming much more visually pleasing. Most hearing aids now are virtually invisible! The only thing people notice is that you are hearing better and engaged in the conversation.
There is something different about this place and you notice it as soon as you walk through the doors. Sure it’s new, it’s pretty, it’s designed especially for women... but there is much more to the new Bloomsdale Medical Centre. What makes this place so special? It’s passion. Passion is the word that comes to mind when you talk to anyone surrounding the Health and Wellness Center Project. The people who work here all have reasons for wanting this to be perfect and it shows. Their past experiences and frustrations led the way and the perfect women’s sanctuary was born. It’s always been my opinion that passion is a mix between frustration and love. Frustration usually being the motivator and love providing the necessary energy to carry through with a plan to create change. And why not have a medical center dedicated to the comfort of women - one filled with the latest medical technologies? Designed by women for women, everything thoroughly thought out: from the comfortable furnishings, to the business casual dress code, to the commitment to addressing health concerns privately and immediately. Health monitors for education and information are included in all exam rooms. If a problem is discovered, a biopsy can be immediately performed. Why suffer for days wondering if you have a real problem? Details like that make the center thoughtful. Privacy hinged doors, coffee and tea station, private consultation and scheduling rooms in the Women’s Wellness Services truly make it a woman’s world. The goal of the center is to provide women a place for boh traditional and holistic health care options.
Mary Crecelius, N.P., one of the many passionate and motivated staff of the Women of Wellness Center.
My name is Theresa Cavins. I am a surgeon with a practice dedicated to breast surgery. I am also actively involved with the Ste. Genevieve Art Guild. I believe that the only way to predict your future is to create it, and surrounding yourself with talented, enthusiastic people is the first step. I believe creativity is the channel to a higher power, and the seed for all happiness. Performing your work with love can certainly be the ultimate reward. We designed the Bloomsdale Medical Centre to have a natural, warm and serene environment with an ambiance similar to that of a women’s spa including a soothing fountain and relaxed seating. I think this fosters self-care and healing. The Women’s Health Center focuses on prevention of disease, and healthy habits for the whole person, family, and community. Métis Breast Center is a full service breast care center. If an abnormality is found on screening studies, a minimally invasive biopsy can usually be performed that day with results available in 24 hours. If further treatment or risk assessment is needed, that’s also available. Comprehensive breast care close to home. A great service! Our main goal is to help keep women healthy. We offer annual exams that focus on preventative care. We look holistically at each individual woman and create a personalized health plan. We are excited to offer “Make A Day” of It where women can get their pap test, mammogram, and bone density all on the same day. They are given coupons and encouraged to go and explore beautiful Ste. Genevieve. We also care for women through all their exciting transformational life experiences including adolescence, pregnancy and menopause. We plan to offer massage therapy along with looking towards offering integrative medicine. We are so lucky to practice medicine in a center that focuses on wellness and preventative care. The surroundings both inside and outside are so serene and lovely. State of the art breast care and women’s wellness services in a natural, calm environment. What a concept! This is the realization of a dream for me, personally, and I have been fortunate to be able to work with Tom Keim, our CEO, Dr. Joseph Sharlow, my surgical associate, and Mary Crecelius and Kelly Donze, our women’s health nurse practitioners. Dreams do come true, and everything truly is connected. The Bloomsdale Medical Centre also houses a pharmacy and Bloomsdale Family Health Care and Extended Hours, office of Drs. Don Balacuit and Jon Bird; and Nurse Practitioners Lu Miller, Kathy Hammond, and Christine Herrington.
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The airlines have one thing right and that is to put the oxygen mask on yourself first. You have to be alive and healthy to be able to take care of your family. In most families, women are the primary decision makers and care givers. A place like the Women’s Wellness Center just makes sense. The new Bloomsdale Medical Centre is located in Bloomsdale off Hwy. 55 between Ste. Genevieve and Festus. The Bloomsdale Medical Centre is part of the Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital (SGCMH) group and is very impressive. The centre is the new home of the SGCMH Women’s Wellness Services and Me’tis Breast Care.
Like many craft brewers, Mike began his career as a hobby. As fate would have it, he received a homebrew kit for his 21st birthday which allowed him to perfect some of his brew recipes out of necessity; he was a college student with a serious lack of beer money! A year later he had heard that the owner of the restaurant, where he was working, needed a brew master for his new concept. “Why not me,” Mike thought. After all, he’d been shoving his home brews in owner Phil Brinson’s face and he liked them. It worked. Mike got the nod to move his timecard down the street and assist with the construction of a brewpub in an old clothing store where Buckner Brewing Company was born.
Mike received a scholarship from the the Master Brewers Association of the Americas to further his education at America’s oldest brewing school, Siebel Institute in Chicago. Mike now has an artist’s sensibilities when it comes to his brewing philosophy. After all, he did trade in an art education degree for his brewer’s boots. He prefers starting with a classic beer style then giving it a bit of his own character, whether it would be toasted grains or woods, fruits, blending of historically compatible yeast strains, oak aging or the addition of a local herb. The creative aspects of a regional brewpub like Buckner’s is representative of the region’s own uniqueness and creativity. Beer has always assisted in defining cultures. It has brought people together for 6,000 years and a culture’s beer is, in many ways, a reflection of its own advancement. Buckner Brewing Company now produces about 500 barrels (almost 16,000 gallons) of craft beer a year including five styles on tap year round (Honey Wheat, Raspberry Wheat, Pale Ale, Amber Ale, and Porter). In addition to these, Mike typically introduces at least one, sometimes two, seasonal brews a month.
Buckner/ Ragsdales started out as a general mercantile store (think Buchheit) a little over 100 years ago. In the mid-1900’s, a boiler fire in the basement caused a great deal of destruction in downtown Cape. After that, the building was rebuilt with the addition of a 3rd floor which was to become a secretarial college. Eventually B/R was defined as a clothing store above everything else. In the 1980’s, it was a home-cooking style smorgasbord which featured a revolving circular buffet. In 1998, Phil Brinson and Mark Sprigg took over the building and opened Ragsdale’s Pub. In 2000, they began renovations on what is now Buckner Brewing Company. In Nov of 2002, they rolled out the first batches of beer, fired up the hickory char broiler, and opened Cape’s first brewery since Prohibition.
When we think about the holiday season, our thoughts instantly shift to memories of goodies. The aroma of Mom’s baked turkey and her savory homemade dressing, the pies and candies... Eating rich, traditional food for one meal of the year doesn’t really hurt you. Yet, when the overindulgence goes on for days or even weeks, it may add extra unwanted pounds. You can enjoy the holiday season and still make good eating choices. The keys to healthy eating are simple - plan ahead, choose sensibly, eat in moderation and don’t stress out over your weight. OK, so you think you’ve gained a few extra pounds for the holidays -now what? Park farther away from work. Walking a bit more to get to work really pays off. You might even take a brisk walk with a coworker at lunch. This extra activity will speed up your metabolism and help burn off the extra calories from the holiday treats. Eat smaller portions of food. The key to eating healthy during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s is to control those portions. The danger lies not just in what you eat, but in how much you eat. Choose the items you want to try and eat a small portion of each. Eat slowly. Get more enjoyment out of dinner conversation by taking more time to eat. Eating slowly allows your stomach to signal you when you’re full and this will prevent overeating. Avoid fast food. Nutritional information available from many food chains can also help you make healthier choices. Look for the menu items lowest in fat, sodium, and sugar. Usually a plain sandwich with lettuce and tomato, a salad (limit dressing) and water to drink would be a great meal choice if you have to eat on the run. Buy dark chocolate with a high cocoa content. Dark chocolate not only provides a useful dose of minerals, but the richness means you will also be satisfied with less. Choose low calorie drinks. Limiting the calories you drink can significantly reduce your daily calories and will help you lose weight.
We invited the area homecoming queens for a friendly competition to find out who was the best queen of all. This competition was not based on popularity, congeniality, or beauty. No, 573 had a more twisted competition in mind. From Cape to Festus and Ironton and all in-between, the challenge went out and the date was set for the standoff. The rules were simple: show up at a back alley in your homecoming queen dress, wear tennis shoes, and be ready to find out who truly is the toughest queen around.
Kresen Triller—Perryville I am a senior at Perryville High School. I am a volleyball captain and a student council vice president. I am also involved in FBLA, PSI, NHS, and Friends of Education. My volleyball team went to state this year for the first time in school history placing fourth, so it has been a very exciting senior year so far. I work at the bowling alley and at a preschool. I enjoy hunting with my grandpa, shopping, and spending time with my family and friends. 573: Are there politics or did you have to pay someone off to be queen? There are no politics that I am aware of and I could not have paid anyone because I’m always broke. 573: Was it hard to get the “queen wave” down? The “queen wave” was difficult but I practiced it for hours in front of the mirror. 573: Is there a king in the works? Yes, my king is my boyfriend, Chris. 573: They say once a queen always a queen; do you plan to run for queen as an adult? I do not currently have any plans to run for queen as an adult, but I guess you never know. 573: What are your plans for the future? I plan to go to college for a career working with children with special needs. 573: What is the funniest thing that happened to you as queen? The whole experience as queen was amazing and humorous. The weather was so horribly rainy and cold that we all wore long johns and rain boots under our gowns. It was a muddy mess. Our dresses were trashed by the end of the night, but we still managed to make the most of it and had a blast.
Morgan Grither—Ste. Genevieve Along with sports, family and friends have played an important role in my life and they have made me who I am today. During high school, I really enjoy being involved. I have joined many clubs such as FCCLA, StuCo, NHS, Spirit Club, Math Team, Spanish Club, and mentoring. 573: Are there politics or did you have to pay someone off to be queen? I am a jobless high school student. I do not have money to pay someone so I could get queen. I did no bribing or campaigning to get my votes. 573: Was it hard to get the “queen wave” down? EXTREMELY! I have grown up in a neighborhood of boys and playing sports all the time so I’m not quite the girly girl type. I rode in the parade with king, Adam Schwent, and we laughed the entire time because we didn’t know how to wave properly. 573: Who do you think is the toughest queen? After the photo shoot, I believe all of us are pretty tough. Together, we could definitely take on a fight! 573: They say once a queen always a queen; do you plan to run for queen as an adult? Yes, one day I plan to be the Queen of England. 573: What are your plans for the future? I plan to attend a four year university, possibly Missouri State University. I plan to go into graphic design, journalism, or possibly mass communications. 573: What is the funniest thing that happened to you as queen? I was riding in a 1966 Blue Corvette Stingray. About halfway through the parade, the old hot rod overheated and we had to ditch out of the parade. At first it was a little upsetting, but as my dad took us flying down vacant town roads to cool the engine off, we realized that it was more fun going fast. We laughed so much because it looked as if we lost the parade and were rushing around to find it! 573: Have you ever hit anyone with a chain? I’d like to say yes because that would make an interesting story, but unfortunately, I have not. Nor do I ever plan to.
Tanner Lynn—Farmington Tell us about yourself. No comment. Tell us why you were the one chosen for homecoming queen? I’m very involved with my student council and that’s who I represented. I make friends easily, and I’m nice to everyone around me. Are there politics or did you have to pay someone off to be queen? I didn’t pay anyone off but the politics were rough. Each girl who was running deserved the title. Was it hard to get the “queen wave” down? It did not come naturally. It took a lot of practice. Is there a king in the works? I’m still waiting on Prince Charming. Who do you think is the toughest queen? If I ever got into a tussle with one of them, I wouldn’t be able to choose. Each queen has a tough side. What are your plans for the future? To end up happily ever after which would mean getting into nursing school. What is the funniest thing that happened to you as queen? When they called my name I was so surprised my escort had to walk me to the throne. Have you ever hit anyone with a crowbar? No, and it’s not very queen-like.
Abi Cordia—Potosi I have always been involved in football at Potosi High School. When I was a little girl, my mom was the football cheerleading coach. One year, one of her cheerleaders won homecoming queen. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to be queen when I was a senior. Are there politics or did you have to pay someone off to be queen? The only pay off there was in my case was the years of support I gave our team. Was it hard to get the “queen wave” down? I was nervous, at the start of the parade, that I wouldn’t be able to pull off the queen wave. After we got started, I quickly realized that it was going to come natural. Every girl is a queen, right? Is there a king in the works? Who needs one of those! Who do you think is the toughest queen? I can for sure say that Morgan was the toughest queen. She kicked all of our butts in arm wrestling! What are your plans for the future? My future plans involve becoming a pharmacist. What is the funniest thing that happened to you as queen? My grandma stepped out into Main Street and stopped the entire parade just to get a picture. She is usually a very quiet and reserved lady, but she was not the least bit shy about being a proud Queen Grandma. Have you ever hit anyone with a crowbar? I have never personally hit someone with a crowbar. There have been times where I probably would have if I would have had a crowbar handy.
Whitley Bieser—Ste. Genevieve Valle I go to Valle Catholic High School. I absolutely love my family and friends. I am truly a blessed person, with many things to be grateful for. I have a passion for dance and enjoy playing volleyball. I am a student dance teacher during the week and a waitress over the weekend because I can’t stand to not constantly be busy. I want to live in a big city some day. Are there politics or did you have to pay someone off to be queen? I may have threatened a few freshmen for votes. Also, there could have been some money invovled, but a politician never tells her secrets. (sarcasm, of course) Was it hard to get the “queen wave” down? Oh, please. I was born waving like a queen. Is there a king in the works? There is no king in the works. I am still waiting for a prince charming to sweep me off my feet. (Preferably tall, dark and handsome.) Who do you think is the toughest queen? I’d like to say I am the toughest queen, but the others come in a close second. They say once a queen always a queen; do you plan to run for queen as an adult? I have always been a queen, and I plan on staying a queen for the rest of my life. What are your plans for the future? Well first, I plan on moving to a large city and marrying my king. Then I will run the city, or just a business in the city, and have a little prince and two little princesses. What is the funniest thing that happened to you as queen? The funniest thing that happened to me as queen, hmm this is a hard one. I believe that would have to be going to the restaurant and the waiter asking me if I had just eloped. Have you ever hit anyone with a crowbar? I’m not going to say I have hit anyone with a crowbar, but the other candidates may have shown up with a few black eyes on Election Day.
Do you have what it takes to be a homecoming queen? Are you willing to do whatever necessary? Take this test to find out. When the teacher asks me a question, I… 1 ignore him and keep texting. 2 tell him I have an upset stomach. 3 give him my most intelligent answer. If you were chosen homecoming queen, what would you wear? 1 The sexiest dress ever. 2 Something frumpy, don’t want to give any boy the wrong idea. 3 A Cinderella dress so I can truly be my daddy’s princess. A nerdy guy asks you to the prom… 1 Are you kidding? Nerds don’t talk to me. 2 Won’t go with anyone if I can’t go with someone good. 3 Turn him down gently and set him up with your girlfriend. The cutest guy just asked you to the prom, but he’s not your type. You… 1 dump the guy who asked you first and go with the cute one to show him off. 2 text friends and ask them what to do. 3 be honest and tell him no. A classmate asks for help on an assignment. What do you do? 1 I just say, ”Yeah, right,” and walk on. 2 I’m too busy with my own schoolwork to help anyone else. 3 I help her with her school work. What would you do to be homecoming queen? 1 I would cheat, steal and lie to be queen. 2 I’d do whatever it takes as long as I don’t hurt anyone else. 3 I would only be myself and nothing more. If your score is… 0-6 points You might want to seek professional help. If you’re not careful, you may end up depicted on an episode of Women Behind Bars. 7-12 points Ok. So you aren’t willing to put out a contract on your competition, but you still need to keep things in perspective. What good would it do being homecoming queen if you are only surrounded by like-minded people that you can toss farther than you can trust? 13-18 points It sounds like you have your head on straight. The other students will notice your character and integrity with their votes. You go girl!
Hopefully, as a small business owner, you already have a good understanding of brand—the name and visual reference associated with your business. Unfortunately, many small business owners have so many things to worry about that they do not have a clear concept or understanding of brand and how it affects profit. These business people tend to rely on advertising sales reps for their marketing. The problem is that the newspaper, the radio station, the outdoor company, the social media guy all have different interpretations of your company—who you are with your brand. Not understanding what brand is and how it affects your marketing budget is a big mistake for any small business. Even if you can’t wrap your head around all this brand stuff, take this little tidbit of advice for the new year: This year come up with one single message that you want the world to know about your business and stick with it for the entire year. For example: John’s Auto detailing. “We make you shine at a reasonable price.” Now pick a color and font for your brand and do not change it. Put it on everything you do. Insist that the radio, newspaper, web guy all keep the same message, color and font. Now you can do your real job. Make every car shine and make it shine at a reasonable price. There you have it; you’ve created an attractive brand that people can understand. Never let anyone change or deviate from your brand. Soon you will see a big difference in your business: brand loyalty.
Tell us about yourself and your family. I was born and raised in Washington, Missouri, a small town 45 minutes west of St. Louis. I had an interest in photography and videography at an early age and helped start a local access cable channel in Washington at the age of 16. I graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications, Corporate Video. My passion for using videography as a communication tool led to my desire to learn about the many other marketing tactics available to effectively brand a business. I am a member of the Tri-State Advertising and Marketing Professionals, Missouri Association for Healthcare, Public Relations and Marketing, and the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development. I have been married to Laura for over 10 years and have two children. Kaleb is nine, Larissa is eight and both attend Clippard Grade School in Cape Girardeau. We are members of La Croix United Methodist Church. Tell us how you came to be the marketing manager. Right after I graduated from college, I had the fortunate opportunity to work at an advertising agency in Cape Girardeau. I was hired as a videographer, but was also exposed to the many other functions of an agency. One of our clients (Southeast Hospital) was looking for a full-time videographer so I applied for the job and was hired. I first started out as a video specialist and was responsible for the video production for marketing, communication and advertising purposes. After expressing an interest in the media buying process, I was also responsible for the television and radio schedules and traffic reports. This led to having a larger role with planning and implementing marketing campaigns and being the liaison with our agency of record. Over time, experience with establishing priorities and timelines for all forms of production and preparing budgets allowed me the opportunity to become Marketing Manager. I feel honored to have worked with the same company for over 16 years.
Can you give small business owners a little marketing advice? With so many avenues to advertise your business, it is important to evaluate the most effective way to reach consumers. Knowing your target audience and how to reach them is very important. Think about how to get the right message to the right person at the right time. For most businesses, only a small percent of people are looking for your product or service so it is important to market your brand on a regular basis with a consistent message. There are also many free ways to market your business through press releases, social media and uploading your own stories to media websites. And don’t forget to walk in the shoes of your consumers! Take the time to see how other people view your business and make sure what and how you market matches the experience people have doing business with you. Conducting focus groups or surveys is another way to find out how people view your business. You have created a strong brand for SEH. What is brand and why is it so important for a small business? Brand is the name and visual reference associated with a business. The logo is an important symbol for a company of any size and is used to help identify the product or service. It is important that a brand uniquely stands out from your competition and is easily identifiable, especially to those who are looking for your store front.
Developing a consistent brand is key to achieving top of mind awareness in the marketplace. In addition, integrating the brand throughout your business is important. Creating a strong brand is one of the best investments you can make, especially since you use the brand within all advertising investments. (Having recently completed a brand strength analysis and achieving the number one spot in the healthcare market with regards to top of mind awareness has been a recent accomplishment.) Advertising is so confusing now with so many outlets -print, radio, television, Internet, direct mail, outdoor, social media... Why is it important for small business owners to find the right mix on numerous outlets? If you don’t find the right mix of marketing tactics, you will not receive a good return on investment. It is very important to understand your target audience and to find the most effective way to reach them. When budgets allow, I believe that investing in several marketing tactics is better than focusing on one in order to increase the audience reach. All too often, businesses put all of their time and investment into one medium and do not effectively reach their potential customers.
If you have a small business, let’s say an auto repair shop with five employees, what would your advertising program look like? There are many factors, such as budget, competition, goals and objectives which would determine the proper marketing mix. If you are one of many businesses in a city who provide the same service, make sure to include your niche in the advertisements. In addition, keep track of where your customers live, and if you are satisfied with the market reach geographically, target your advertisements to those same areas. If it is a large geography, you may need to use television, radio, online ads or several print media. If your target area is smaller, it is better to focus on cable television, local radio and/or local newspapers. If your business is difficult to find and there are well-established traffic patterns in your area, outdoor boards can be beneficial. Direct mail is also an effective way to reach a targeted audience since you can easily select the age, gender and location of those who receive your message. Don’t forget the benefits of social media, yet don’t rely solely on this tactic either.
Every advertising medium has its pros and cons. From number of viewers and readers to number of direct mailers and outdoor boards, the owner of an auto repair shop should consider all of these variables. Since consumers can use auto repairs throughout the year, it is good to spread the advertising investment throughout a year. Even if auto repairs took place more often during certain months, keeping top of mind awareness throughout a year is important so your business becomes ‘top of mind’ when people need your services. After establishing a marketing mix, allow some time to pass to measure the results because you cannot measure the effectiveness immediately. It is good to review your marketing mix annually as new advertising opportunities become available, along with other changes in the marketplace such as competition, which could modify your advertising investment. Having the right marketing mix will help you successfully position your business in the market.
For this interview we met Keith at the Cup ‘n Cork, Cape’s Coffee House. It’s located on N. Main in the center of the historic downtown district, They specialize in gourmet coffees and espresso-based drinks. Cup ‘n Cork also boasts a full menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps, as well as a mouthwatering selection of homemade desserts. In addition to its delicious food and drink menu, Cup ‘n Cork features an extensive collection of fine wines from around the world. But by far the best thing about this coffee house is the full service outdoor patio. Bring the dog if you like! Man’s best friend is always welcome on the patio with a doggie-dish of cool water and a locally baked doggie-treat.
There are an estimated 12.5 million Americans who hunt. It’s a number that has fallen in the past 15 years, yet the number of female hunters has grown. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1.2 million women hunt in America. They account for nine percent of the total hunting population. When we posted a search for All American Girls Who Hunt on our Facebook page, I had no idea how many responses I would get. We received hundreds of letters and photos of females from ages 6-33 dressed in stylish camo gear (most with pink accents), holding high powered rifles and proudly displaying their kills. But they all have one thing in common; they all say the exact same thing - I love to hunt with my daddy. I admit it, I’m not a hunter and I’ve never been hunting outside of the time I hit that deer on the highway. Yikes! My car and the deer suffered the same fate. I had no idea what kind of damage was possible when a car hits a deer at 65 miles per hour. I was fortunate because I wasn’t hurt. But I do understand that from a revenue, conservation, and safety viewpoint, hunting is important to the state. In Missouri, deer hunters spend 750 million each year. According to the American Marketing Association, if you total up all the money spent on hunting and fishing in Missouri you come up with 1.4 billion in taxable revenues. That’s a lot of jack, Jack! Most male hunters I’ve talked to say when you go hunting every hair on your body will stand up. There is nothing more exhilarating. It’s all about being outdoors, breathing in the fresh air, getting great exercise, and having plenty of quiet time to let your thoughts ramble. Come to find out it’s the same for women with a little twist of beauty added to the adrenaline and a little bit of feminine added to the sport. So, do women and hunting go together? Oh yeah.
My name is Terrah Stratton and I’m a country gal from the farmlands of Southeast Missouri. I’m a businesswoman, a certified firearms instructor, President of Pistols & Pearls, and I own just as many high heels as I do firearms. I have an amazing eight-year-old princess named Lunden, who is definitely my best friend and sidekick. Because I am an outdoor enthusiast, avid hunter and total firearms junkie, nothing brings a grin to my face any faster than to see my daughter have those same passions. I consider being born and raised in the country a true blessing, and I attribute a lot of my accomplishments to my family and how I was brought up. At the age of four, my dad handed me a .22 rifle and told me it was all mine! Heck, my cheeks were sore from smiling so big. From then on, I toted that rifle everywhere! I’ve been an avid hunter and have had a passion for shooting sports ever since. As a single mom, my #1 priority has always been to keep my li’l princess safe. A few years ago, I decided to obtain my conceal carry permit. I signed up for the class. Both the instructor and the class were very informative, but I was the only lady in the entire class. Male instructor, male assistant instructor, male students and as crazy as it sounds, I even felt as if all the firearms were men, too! Once I passed the class and was legally a pistol-packin’ momma, I began to realize that there were a lot of ladies that were intimidated to take the class for that reason alone. I decided to start offering a “ladies only” class that is taught in a way women learn, by a female instructor, with female assistants and even girly firearms, all in a comfortable environment! Now, a few years later, let me introduce you to my second child…Pistols & Pearls. Pistols & Pearls offers top-notch firearms and self-defense training while representing Missouri in the nationwide “ladies only” organization, She Can Shoot. Both organizations together have over 3,000 members and continue to grow steadily. My aim for Pistols & Pearls is to educate and equip ladies with the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare and protect themselves and their families, no matter what they may encounter. The Firearms, Tactical, Conceal & Carry, Self-Defense and Prepper classes I offer will do just that. Armed with these newfound skill sets and the right attitude, these ladies find a new confidence in life. Although Pistols & Pearls is a “ladies only” club, I also provide training solutions for businesses, organizations and families. Some of these classes include Self-Defense, Basic Firearms, Tactical Firearms, Advanced Conceal & Carry, Archery, Hunting and more.
My name is Lily Tripp. I am a thirteen-year-old student in eighth grade. I play volleyball, basketball, saxophone, and plan to be on the academic team. I’m active in our church, love to volunteer with mission projects, and work with the younger children. I have a fifteen-year-old brother, Cameron, who is in ninth grade. My mom, Carrie, is a seventh grade communication arts teacher and my dad, Chris, works at CertainTeed in Piedmont, Missouri. My family got me started hunting last year, and I was hooked. My dad, brother, Uncle Joe, and Aunt Suzi all hunt with me and have supported me all the way. I took my hunter safety course last fall with my brother and passed it with a 100%. Last year was my first year hunting. This year on November 3, 2012, I was relaxing at our stand out in our field at our farm. My dad quickly whispered, “Hey, Lil! Look over there by that fence.” I moved around to get my gun settled as my dad used the grunt call. “Shoot!” he said, “while you have a chance!” The deer was about 70 yards away, and I had done it! I got my second deer, but not just any deer, a 7-point buck! In the future, I plan to be a photographer/journalist/missionary or a dentist. I love photography, which includes being behind the camera and in front of it. I also love writing. I love being creative and throwing weird and random twists into stories. I hope someday to have a happy family. I hope I can inspire others in any way I can.
My name is Rachel Hampton. I grew up on my family’s cattle farm outside of Ellington. My parents, Phil and Christy Roberts, were great examples and taught my brother and me about success and failures in life, and of course about the great outdoors. I am a recent graduate of Missouri State University and a newlywed. I graduated with my Bachelors degree in graphic design and since then have opened my own business, Rachel Hampton Design. My family treats deer season like a national holiday. On the opening weekend of rifle season, my immediate family of 20, from the Roberts, pile into a cabin located around Elsinore. We spend all weekend together eating, laughing, and hunting. I am the only girl who hits the woods, however. Because of this family tradition, I have been hunting since I was literally old enough to hold a gun. My dad and I have always had a great relationship and he was the one who took me on my first hunt. My most exciting hunt is no doubt this year’s rifle season. Even hunting since I was nine, I had never bagged a nice buck and only had one opportunity to do so. On November 16 of this season, I had gotten my biggest buck of my hunting career! After hunting three days a week since September 15, I was ecstatic! Hard work paid off. I plan to continue hunting in the future. I want to spend as much time in the woods as possible. My goal for next year, or even the remaining season this year, is to harvest a deer with my bow.
My name is Chloee Sheets. I’m 10 and I love to hunt and fish with my dad. I have an older brother and sister. Mom says I am a little clown. My family is very close and loves to do outdoor activities together like camping and floating, but my favorite is hunting with Dad. My dad and I used to watch hunting videos together when I was little. I would always get excited when a big buck would come across the screen. When I was old enough, he started letting me shoot his .22. He tells me I am a really good shot. My most exciting hunt was my first deer that I shot at Crown Farms in 2010. It was a six-point buck and I dropped it in its tracks. Dad and I hugged and cried! He was so proud of me! I have also got an eight-point buck, a five-point buck, and two squirrels. When I grow up, I want to be a nurse and work with babies. (And, I hope to keep hunting.)
My name is Katelyn Swaringim. I am 14 years old. I attend Arcadia Valley high school in Ironton, Mo., where I am a freshman. In addition to hunting, I enjoy hanging out with friends and family, singing in concert choir, and cheerleading. I enjoy church and youth group activities. My parents are Clayt and Karen Swaringim. I have a younger brother, Cole, who is 12. I have many hunters in my family. My dad enjoys hunting during most hunting seasons. He bow hunts, rifle hunts, and black powder hunts. He hunts locally as well as traveling to hunt. My brother began hunting as soon as he was old enough to hunt during youth season. After seeing the excitement he got out of hunting, I couldn’t wait to try it myself. My dad has been taking us both along hunting and fishing since we were small. I began rifle hunting in 2011. My whole family enjoys cooking and eating deer meat. We make it into burger, deer steaks, deer jerky, etc. Our home resembles a hunting lodge with many deer, turkey and antler mounts decorating the walls. In the future, I plan to attend college. I hope to study at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. I plan to continue hunting for recreation and food. When I have my own family, I would like to take them hunting and continue this strong family tradition.
My name is Taylor Robinson. I am 17 years old, and live in Belgrade. My parents are Norman and Sue Robinson. I first started hunting when I was in fourth grade. It was opening day of youth season. We had been hunting all day, and the sun was just about to go down. We took off for our final walk to see if we could jump something up. Just as we peaked the hill, there were two does eating in the field 200 yards away from us. Shaking nervously, I doubted I could make the long 200 yard shot. I looked through the scope, aimed at the biggest doe, and shot. The deer instantly dropped. I had never experienced something so exciting with such an adrenaline rush. We took pictures with it, gutted it, and began our long walk back to the four-wheeler. This wasn’t only exciting for me because I had just killed my first deer on opening day, but because I got to share the experience with the person I look up to the most, my brother-in-law, Greg. This year I went hunting by myself for the first time and I got one. This was definitely something I thought I could never do, but I learned from the best. I proved to myself that I really could do it. I gutted it, and headed back to the house grinning from ear to ear. When I got back, Greg said, “Okay, let’s go gut it.” We walked out and he saw that I had already done it. I had never seen my brother-inlaw so proud of me in my life. My future plans are to become an accountant.
I am Whitney Amsden and I live in Farmington. I am 23 years old. My love of hunting started early. My dad, grandpa and family live to hunt. The seed was planted early when my dad bundled me up and took me out at the age of three. As I grew older, it was evident that I would also choose hunting as a life-long hobby. Beyond my feminine persona, there is a true country girl that loves to hunt. If I am not hard at study attaining my degree in nursing you will find me enjoying nature.
Hi, my name is Catlin Bender and I am 16 years old. I got into hunting when my dad took me with him bow hunting when I was four. I loved to go with him and see the wildlife even when we couldn’t get a shot at them. My dad always encouraged me to be outside and play. I got my first turkey when I was 10-yearsold. It was a jake. Later that year when I turned 11, I got a button buck for my first deer. When I was 15, I got my first deer with a bow, which happened to be a 10-point buck. I really love hunting and being outside. But, I love to do another thing almost as much as hunting, shopping! Mostly, I like to try on dresses at the stores. (Preferably prom or formal dresses!) I love going to the mall and Kohl’s. Almost every year, my mom and I go to St. Louis to go on a shopping spree. I save my Christmas money and my birthday money to spend on the spree in the summer. I am on National Honor Society and I am the Student Council Representative for our Ag Club at Saxony Lutheran High School.
My name is Paige Kaminskey and I live just outside of Cape. I enjoy hunting and the outdoors. I have hunted turkey and dove. I have gone deer hunting every year since I was 12 but yet to get one! For me, it’s the enjoyment of going and being outdoors! I do shoot a lot though. My family and I use clay pigeons to target practice and to have family contests. My outdoor activities include kayaking in the summer (about 150 miles a year), four wheeling, and horseback riding.
My name is Lexi Dorsey. I am ten years old. I live with my mom and dad (Chuck and Debi), my two dogs, and my fish. I like to hunt, fish, shop, camp, play volleyball and swim. I am in 4-H with Bear Creek Kidz. I spend a lot of time at my grandparents’ (Del & Danny Kemp) house on the weekends. They have 40 acres that I can play on. I got into hunting because of my family. My dad has taught me a lot about hunting and so has my grandpa. My mom doesn’t hunt, but she takes me shopping for my gear. My grandpa taught me about tracks and how to look for deer signs. My most exciting hunt was this year when I shot my first button buck during youth season. I got up early with my dad and we headed up to my grandparents. I sat, watched, and waited forever. Finally, three deer came into sight. I was so excited and nervous I started shaking. My dad told me to just breathe. I finally calmed down enough to get that deer. I don’t care if it was a buck or doe because they taste the same. I used my grandpa Charlie’s 243. He liked to hunt as well and I’m sure he was watching me from heaven that day. My plans for the future are to keep hunting, fishing, shopping, and hopefully get into duck hunting, too. I also want to be a second grade teacher so I can teach my students about nature.
My name is Holly Johnson. I’m a senior at Central High School. In school, I’ve been very active in cheerleading, student council, volleyball, and golf. I started fishing about two years ago and trout fishing is my favorite. Last year I started hunting. I’ve had the most luck with squirrels, but really like turkey hunting. I’m still looking for my first deer. I like being outdoors and I really get excited when I see a deer or turkey coming my way, especially if I called it in. My goal for the next year is to learn to bow hunt. I like a challenge, and that way I’ll have more time to look for that big buck!
This editorial was made possible with the support of Arcadia Sporting Goods. Arcadia Sporting Goods has the largest collection of new and used firearms in southeast Missouri. And their staff understands it’s no longer a man’s world when it comes to hunting. They love helping women get into the sport.
I can’t do It, or how can I do it? Are you having trouble achieving goals or getting through a period of little or no success? You need to set goals. I know what you’re thinking, “Another new year goal setting story. Who needs that?” Well, that kind of thinking gives the law of nature just what it needs to provide you with failure.
Like it or not, setting specific goals is the key to all success. Research, such as that conducted at Harvard University, has proven it. There they followed a class of students who were divided into two groups: those who made goals and those who did not. Goal-setting students were then placed into smaller and smaller groups: those who made goals only occasionally, those who made them on a yearly basis, and then those who made them on a monthly, weekly, and finally daily basis. Each subset of individuals ended up making more money, having more free time and far more happiness than the others. And guess what? The no-goal group was left out in the cold and achieved almost nothing in comparison to the goal-setters.
So we know setting goals is important, but more importantly, you have to get started. Many people can’t get started because they tell themselves, “I can’t do it,” instead of asking themselves, “How can I do it?” When you tell yourself you can’t do something, then your brain tells you to head back to the sunken sofa and turn on the television. The truth is, some of us will spend all our free time watching T.V. or on the computer while others will be at the gym exercising our bodies and trying to figure out “How to do it.” Simply put, in the short run seeking immediate pleasure makes us feel better but in the long run it’s damaging to our lives. Like it or not, it is instant gratification and fear of failure that holds most people back from achieving their dreams. If you want something badly enough, you will find a way to make it happen. That’s a fact! If you develop a positive attitude and develop new skills and abilities, you will somehow find the financial capacity to achieve them. One step at a time you will begin to uncover new opportunities as long as you don’t tell yourself, “I can’t do it.” Keep in mind that with the Internet, social media, and the globalization of the marketplace it’s easy to be sucked into a false sense of easily obtainable success. Remember, sooner or later you have to put a lot of effort into your goal. It’s all about asking, “How can I do it?” Think about that.
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With so many women entering the hunting scene, it only makes sense that hunting fashion would soon follow. From subdued pink camo, to pink rifles, to sexy form fitting DBU’s, women are changing the look of the sport. We decided to round up the latest in hunting fashion and one of our hunters for a shoot. Whitney Amsden was more than happy to model for us.
At 1630 acres, Amidon Memorial Conservation Area is one of Missouri’s wonderful assets and where Pete and I began our Sunday exploration. We entered at the south end off Highway 72 and Madison County Road 248 which is just a hundred yards east of the bridge at Castor River. We traveled north on 248, a gravel road, for just a short way. The entrance, though not much of one, consists of a simple open gate with an Amidon Conservation Area sign. It is easy to find and accessible by any motor vehicle. The Conservation Department’s map indicates part of this property lies in Bollinger County, although we failed to see the painted dotted line separating counties anywhere along the hike (just kidding). If you would like to access the area from the southern end, I’d recommend printing the map and taking it with you as several side roads could cause you to prolong your drive. Pete and I drove to the Primitive Camping Area where we found a well-maintained parking lot and one of those little sign standards with a rustic, little roof. Stapled to it was a map of the area identical to the one I printed and a sign with the area’s rules and regulations. Several bow hunters were in the area so I wore an international orange hat for safety. Following the map we headed in a westerly direction through a large meadow until we found the trail leading across the creek and uphill to the north. Signs of deer and turkey along this western border are plentiful. We noticed, as you also will, that the trail we were walking on isn’t a trail at all but a logging road. Due to the storm a few years back, you will notice many fallen trees. I recommend enjoying the tremendous views afforded at the higher elevations of this 2.8 mile round trip, and keep in mind that trees will grow back. Stumps along the way provide seating where you can pause and gaze out on the surrounding rolling hills and valleys. If you’re carrying a map, you’ll want to locate the small water hole in the saddle marked as a blue dot. This area is where you may spot deer if you approach quietly. This small, and I mean really small, water hole has a wood duck nesting box placed in it and has several unidentifiable minnows swimming about.
We continued our right turns and arrived back at the parking lot in about an hour and 20 minutes. Please note too, this hike has a long hill which is taxing but not insurmountable by taking your time and resting along the way. The views from the top are well worth the hike. This is a great place to enjoy a hike without much or any other human interfacing. We did run into a bow hunter who was stalking along the road, but I suspect this road has few travelers. Since we weren’t really finished hiking, we climbed back into the truck and headed towards Fredericktown to Madison County Road 208. We took it north and onto County Road 253 where the Castor River Shut-ins are located. A short hike there includes picturesque views and we were anxious to set out again. At just a little over .2 of a mile from the parking lot, you’ll be rewarded with a view which has remained relatively unchanged for thousands of years. The distinctive pink granite of the shut-ins is another unique feature in Missouri. The water is so crystal clear that you’ll think there ought to be trout in it. Surprisingly, after arriving at noon this Sunday, we hiked the entire 1.18 miles, stopped at nearly every place with an overlook of the shut-ins, took plenty of images, and were the only ones there for nearly two hours! During the summer months, get there early because this is a very busy place with people playing all day in the deeper water holes. Pete enjoyed climbing over the rocks and loved exploring as much as I did.
Here are my recommendations: Bring a lunch and sit on the rocks, soak up some wintery sun, and enjoy the sounds of water coursing over the rocks just like it has been doing for centuries. Glass bottles are NOT allowed. Even having them in your possession carries a $250 fine so make other arrangements for containers. Pack everything out you take in plus any additional trash you find. Enjoy the solitude while you can.