Vox Magazine September 2018

BELLY UP TO THE BAR AT THESE 4 FRIENDLY DIVES

PAGE 38

THE LOCAL BUSINESS THAT GETS GAMERS TALKING ... AND MOVING

PAGE 25

OUR CITY’S BEST FRIEND

When Paul Pepper, one of the defining faces of Columbia television, went off the air after 40 years, radio brought him back to the community he can’t leave behind.

PAGE 30

BEST OF THE FEST

YOUR GUIDE TO THE ROOTS N BLUES MUSICIANS TO CATCH

PAGE 19

WE LIKE LE BAO’S BUNS AND WE CANNOT LIE PAGE 7

Ailey II

Tuesday, October 30 | Jesse

Rosario Andino, pianist

Twenty years, no matter who you are, is a significant milestone. For me, it is precisely 80 percent of my life as of this month. It marks the exact amount of time since Google registered its domain name, and it’s also how long this magazine has existed as a weekly publication. Each week, for about the past 1,000 weeks, Vox has been tucked inside the Missourian or on newsstands across Columbia, available to those interested in a peek into our city.

But like the nights of me sneaking into the kitchen at midnight 20 years ago to eat a carton of ice cream, the value of weekly magazines has changed. The rapid-fire 24-hour news cycle has altered how publications deliver the news and how readers consume it. So much of the information weekly magazines share — community calendars, event previews and insight about trending topics — can be found online, including on our own website. But the mile-a-

minute information overload often lacks two things: a local focus and a local voice.

Providing those is what our goal has been and will continue to be. Beginning with this first edition of Vox as a monthly, in each issue we’ll tell stories that matter to our community, whether it’s a profiling one of Columbia’s most recognizable faces, Paul Pepper (Page 30), an inside look at hidden gems in the city’s bar scene (Page 38) or simply introducing you to a new restaurant you might not have known about (Page 7). We strive not only to inform, but to entertain, to inquire, and most of all, to listen. Our mission from the start has been to be the voice of Columbians ( “vox” means voice in Latin). And though our print frequency has changed, that aspiration remains the same.

FROM OUR ARCHIVE

The first edition of Vox Magazine came out May 21, 1998. Inside the mag, stories covered the opening of Tellers Gallery & Bar, the Foo Fighters visit to The Blue Note and a local pet grooming shop.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KEEGAN POPE

DEPUTY EDITOR STEN SPINELLA

MANAGING EDITOR ELIZABETH ELKIN

DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR MCKENNA BLAIR

ONLINE EDITOR LAUREN PUCKETT

ART DIRECTORS KELLYN NETTLES, MOLLY NAGEL

PHOTO EDITOR JESSI DODGE

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR HUNTER BASSLER

ASSISTANT EDITORS

CULTURE JENNA ALLEN, KELSEY HURWITZ, BOBBI WATTS

EAT + DRINK ELIZABETH QUINN, CATHERINE WENDLANDT

CITY LIFE LAUREN LOMBARDO, LIBBY MOELLER, ROSEMARY SIEFERT

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MEG CUNNINGHAM, JASMINE-KAY JOHNSON, CHRISTINA LONG, LUCY SHANKER, HANNAH SIMON, NOEMI VALLONE

DIGITAL EDITORS KAELYN ADIX, CAMERON FLATT, JENNA GRUNDTNER, MCKAYLA HELM, JOHN HENIFF, ALEXA HODGES, NAT KAEMMERER, CONNOR LAGORE, HAYLEY ODOM, ABBEY PERANO, MADI SKAHILL, GABBY VELASQUEZ

MULTIMEDIA EDITORS YANRAN HUANG, MADISON LAWSON, ZACHARY SAYER, JIAYI SHI, MAURICIO VENEGAS

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR HEATHER LAMB

DIGITAL DIRECTOR SARA SHIPLEY HILES

EXECUTIVE EDITOR JENNIFER ROWE OFFICE MANAGER KIM TOWNLAIN

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SEPTEMBER 2018 VOLUME 20, ISSUE 21

PUBLISHED BY THE COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN 320 LEE HILLS HALL COLUMBIA, MO 65211 MAGAZINE

Cover Design: Molly Nagel

Cover Photo: Andrew Dent

KEEGAN POPE Editor-in-Chief

“We strive not only to inform, but to entertain, to inquire, and most of all, to listen.”

19

The Road to Roots N Blues

Heart pumpin’, foot stompin’, finger snappin’. It must be time for the 12th year of this beloved music festival. Check out our roundup of artists to watch.

25 Game On!

Ukatsu is a youth development program started by MU alumni. It creates a community for gamers by connecting them with activities that go beyond the screen.

30 The Man Behind the Mic

You might know him as the broadcaster who has been in our hearts and homes for nearly 50 years, but privately, Paul Pepper is more reserved than you might imagine.

Photography courtesy of Elizaveta Porodina

Amanda Shires

37

Burger Bonanza

It doesn’t matter if you like them thin, thick or chunky, we’ve got the patty for you.

38

5-Star Dive Bars

Grab a friend and head to these spots where everyone knows your name.

40

Breakfast Club

Top of the morning! Here’s a breakfast breakdown for your grumbling stomach.

CITY

41

Whet Your Whiskers

Cuddles and coffee? Yes, please. Enjoy a fresh brew with a few feline friends.

42

Mark Your Calendars

The ins and outs on celebrating Mexican Independence Day.

46

Keepin’ It Green

Meet the couple who use their passion for nature to give back.

Photography by Zhihan Huang, Shauna Yates, N. Andrew Dent

Buns on the run

Le Bao brings a distinct cuisine that draws from American classics.

BY KEEGAN POPE

Fast-casual and high-quality aren’t always synonymous in the culinary profession, but that’s exactly what Jina Yoo aims to accomplish with her new Asian eatery, Le Bao. Inspired by a love for street food passed down from her father, the new eatery features open-faced bao buns, four variations of ramen and more traditional bao dumplings. Each treat combines the familiar flavors of Asian cuisine and American comfort food staples. Try the fried chicken bun, which has been a favorite of early customers. “Who wouldn’t like a spongy, steamy, sweet bun?” Yoo says. “Who wouldn’t like American comfort food? Who wouldn’t like fried chicken? I mean, it’s a no-brainer for me.”

Photography by Bailey Valadez

Le Bao’s Fried Chicken Bun

Some studies show hallucinogens can help treat anxiety and depression.

Magic mushrooms and mental health?

Researchers explore links between hallucinogens and emotional stability.

BY CORIN CESARIC

On a summer night in 2012, teenagers Israel, Nick and Mac* sat in the basement of Israel’s house in Columbia and cut magic mushrooms into tiny pieces with a pocket knife. They stirred them into their McDonald’s chocolate milkshakes and slurped down the chunky drinks. It wasn’t the best plan, but at least the chocolate flavor masked the typical bitter, dirt-like taste of the mushrooms.

Psychedelic mushrooms, also called magic mushrooms or shrooms, contain psilocybin, which is the psychoactive ingredient found in over 200 fungi that generate hallucinogenic experiences. Their long, slender stems set them apart from non-hallucinogenic mushrooms, and when ingested, they cause your pu-

pils to dilate. Beyond that, everybody’s experiences with them might be different. Sense perception is heightened. Sounds. Colors. Tastes. Touch. Smells. Everything can become blissful or intoxicating. Beyond youthful curiosity, psychedelic mushrooms are now the focus of a growing body of research looking into the possible health applications of hallucinogenic drugs.

1960s counterculture

Hallucinogenic drugs date back far in recorded human history. As early as 1000–500 B.C., Central and South American cultures erected temples to mushroom gods and carved the images of the fungi into stone.

In the 1960s, recreational use of psychedelic mushrooms peaked. Mu-

sicians Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Pink Floyd popularized illicit drug use. Before there were music festivals such as Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo, there was Woodstock. In 1969, the music festival took place when psychedelic use was at an all-time high. Although psilocybin had become an illegal drug in the United States in 1968, Woodstock’s attendees still used the drug over those three days. Research with psilocybin continued until 1977 and came to a stop in the ’80s and ’90s due to government regulation. Today, mushrooms are used recreationally, though illegally.

There are risks, but according to research from Brown University, misidentification of psilocybin-containing mushrooms is one of the biggest dangers because poisonous mushrooms can also

Photography by Jenna Kieser

induce hallucinogenic effects. Ingesting toxic fungi can cause stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea and death.

Research into medical use

Researchers are realizing the possible medical benefits of psilocybin. At Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and New York University, the effects of psilocybin have been studied for decades. In a study at Johns Hopkins, researchers found that the majority of cancer patients felt relief from their anxiety and depression for up to six months after a single high dose. Patients at New York University had similar results.

Now, researchers are planning to conduct studies to see if the drug can be used to treat depression and anxiety. Their hope is that at the end of the studies, the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency will reclassify psilocybin so that it can be prescribed to treat mental health disorders.

Psilocybin is not intended to be prescribed and taken repeatedly to treat mental illness, as is done with antide-

pressants, says William Richards, a researcher from Johns Hopkins. University researchers use different doses while testing to see the shifts in behavior.

And the process must be controlled, or a bad experience is much more likely to occur. That’s why Richards doesn’t recommend trying these psychedelics at home.

“Say you lost your mother when you were a child, and you never completed the grief work, and all of the sudden you tap into that unresolved grief, and you’re sobbing uncontrollably,” Richards says.

“Is that a bad trip, or is that a therapeutic breakthrough?”

People still experiment on their own with hallucinogens. Nick was one of them.

When he went to the doctor at age 16 for what he thought was depression, he was surprised when he left with a diagnosis of ADHD and adjustment disorder. The doctor told him a lot of times depression can be a side effect of these two disorders.

Before he, Israel and Mac took

Photography by Jenna Kieser

While psilocybin may provide relief from depression and anxiety, it has not been proven to cure it completely.

psilocybin in the form of psychedelic mushrooms, they did some of their own research. He didn’t initially take the hallucinogen for its healing power, but after the trip, he noticed a difference in his emotions and confidence. Mushrooms helped him stop worrying so much about what other people thought of him.

While sitting on the basement’s carpeted floors, Nick had a profound experience where he sorted things out. He describes it as if he were thumbing through records. “I was able to look at and modify the files who make up who I am,” he says.

Higher doses (22 or 30 milligrams) are more likely to facilitate transcendental or peak experiences for the person. When the researchers at Johns Hopkins used psilocybin on cancer patients to help them live more fully without anxiety or depression, they used a high dose. “Those experiences often trigger profound changes in self concept, so that afterward, people feel like there is intrinsic self worth within them,” Richards says.

As a treatment, there are risks to taking mushrooms, but they are man-

ageable. Shrooms should be taken in a comfortable space with people that the user trusts. If you’re worrying about who might walk into your bedroom while you are tripping or what you need to be responsible for during the trip, you can never truly let the drug fully alter your state of consciousness, Richards says.

Letting go is the first factor in having a successful experience. The second and third are having a supportive setting and taking the appropriate dosage. The amount of effort that goes into the process is the reason researchers don’t recommend trying this at home.

“You really have to be grounded in a secure, honest, open relationship with someone,” Richards says. “Maybe it wouldn’t have to be a formal psychotherapist down the road if these drugs ever become legal, but it would certainly be with someone that you really deeply trust.”

Recording history

During their trip, Israel, Mac and Nick kept what they called their trip notebook, so they could write down what they were experiencing throughout the

night. Nick had made a playlist that echoed through the basement as the trip continued, and they sporadically scribbled on the pages.

“As the night wound down, I still felt control over my identity and my personality,” Nick says.

The night was so meaningful to the teenagers that Nick and Israel even got commemorative tattoos. It’s a circle with a triangle that cuts through it. “This circle represents everything that is intangible. Our relationships, ideas, everything we use to communicate,” he says. “The triangle represents everything the circle is not.”

Almost six years later, all of the boys — now young men — have left Columbia and gone their own ways. Yet they are still bonded by this hallucinogenic experience. Nick kept the black composition notebook with his tattoo sketch inside and multiple notes to themselves and each other. One note still resonates.

Nick: Do you guys feel as happy as me? I can give you some...

*Editor’s Note: Only the first names of the subjects are being used.

WHAT ABOUT LSD?

Lysergic acid diethylamide, also known as LSD or acid, is another debated hallucinogen that might benefit those with anxiety and depression.

1938

Albert Hofmann, a Swiss scientist working at the chemical company Sandoz, discovered LSD by accident while trying to create a blood stimulate. The company saw no medical benefits, so the compound was disregarded.

1947

Sandoz started to sell LSD, calling it Delsid, as a cure-all for a range of conditions.

1954-1960

Dr. Humphry Osmond contended LSD could cure alcoholism and mental illness. He treated alcoholics and found 40 to 45 percent did not return to drinking.

1950s-1960s MK-ULTRA, the government operation in which the CIA experimented on unwitting citizens, began testing if the drug could be used for mind control. In 1964, the project ceased because LSD was determined too dangerous. The drug was officially banned in the U.S. in 1968.

Today Microdosing— very small doses taken over several days—has become a popular trend in attempting to treat depression.

Illustration by Keegan Pope

When used as a medical treatment, controlling the environment and dose are vital, says William Richards, a researcher from Johns Hopkins University.

Vox’s guide to

SEPTEMBER

Try

A succulent pumpkin workshop Upgrade your fall decor by creating a succulent-speckled pumpkin centerpiece, courtesy of Callaway Fields. Following owner John Graham’s step-by-step instruction, you’ll select a pumpkin and 15 to 30 succulents, ranging from echeveria to string-of-pearls, before gluing them onto the pumpkin’s depressed top. Sept. 15, 22 and 29, 2 p.m., 1201 S. Elmwood Drive, Mexico, $65, 386-2329

Buy

Outline by Rachel Cusk at Skylark Bookshop

Visit

The Heritage Festival to see accomplished calligrapher Leslie Tardy, who first picked up ink and nib during high school in 1974. Tardy eventually started drawing letters for record companies and artists such as RCA Records, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Now living in Warrensburg, Missouri, Tardy will demonstrate traditional copperplate calligraphy at the festival, where he’ll letter bookmarks for $1 and quotes of the customer’s choice for $5 to $10. If calligraphy doesn’t spark your interest, the time-honored — and time-honoring — festival offers arts and activities of old, including candle dipping and rope making, as well as blacksmithed and wood-carved treasures. Best of all, there are turkey legs and funnel cakes available. Sept. 15–16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nifong Park, Free, 874-7460

Eat

City more than 15 years ago. Since then, they’ve perfected the sweet-andsavory blend served at their popular food truck’s brick-and-mortar spot — open

The new bookstore’s owner, Alex George, relishes in the opportunity to lead customers to his favorite novels. Outline is one he raves about: The first in a trilogy, the plot follows a creative writing teacher as she absorbs the stories of the people she meets. Mon.–Thurs., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fri.–Sat., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 22 S. Ninth St., $17, 777-6990

Photography by Evan Cobb and courtesy of Amazon, Wikimedia Commons and Max Pixel VOX MAGAZINE •

Brown stew chicken with a side of fried plantains at Jamaican Jerk Hut’s new takeout location, which opened in April. Co-owners and Jamaica natives Rex Scott and Colin Russell first dished out jerk chicken at block parties and homecoming celebrations in Jefferson

yearround on Vandiver Drive. Wed.–Sat., 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., 711 Vandiver Drive, $10, 607-9779

Each issue, Vox curates a list of our favorite shops, eats, reads and experiences in and around Columbia. We highlight the new, trending or criminally underrated — so you’re always informed of the best our city has to offer.

BY LAUREN PUCKETT

Dystopian by design

This genre is more relevant than ever in today’s cultural and political climate. Learn what makes it work.

BY TARYN PARKER

After the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2017, appetite for the genre of dystopian novels, films and graphic novels increased. For instance, the publisher of George Orwell’s 1984 had to order 75,000 new copies to meet demand, and overall, the novel’s sales have increased 9,500 percent. But the genre is one that maintains its therapeutic and creative value no matter what’s going on in the world, in part due to three key attributes.

Photography by Shauna Yates

Character traits

The protagonists of these novels and movies are often categorized as outcasts by society, or they remain invisible until they challenge the status quo. They demonstrate the strong influence one person can have in a community. Claire Curtis, a professor and associate chair for the Department of Political Science at the College of Charleston, says she thinks the world of young adult, dystopian books have done a good job of characterization in its genre.

“It seems often that young adult authors think a little bit more about their readers, and they know that they want their readers to be able to potentially see themselves or make a real connection to it,” she says. In her opinion, young adult dystopian authors want readers to be able to relate their lives to what they’re reading.

World building

People gravitate toward the dystopian genre because the stories feel honest and predict what could potentially be the future, says Craig Workman, a professor of English and Literature at the University of Missouri- Kansas City, who teaches courses on dystopian literature. Although many of the dystopian societies are seen as exaggerations, they still give readers alarming insight into a world that isn’t far from reality. “Dystopian novels, films, graphic novels and all other multi-modal forms of dystopia will always be relevant

to one degree or another in that they give us the thought experiment we need to deal with either what we see in our society, what could occur, and so on,” Workman writes in an email.

Curtis says the setting in dystopia needs to be recognizable or familiar enough so the reader or viewer can relate it back to reality. “There needs to be things that make you uncomfortable,” she says. “I think the best world-building is able to draw you in through the stuff that is really familiar and then really surprise you and make you uncomfortable with the stuff that is not familiar.”

Themes

Workman says that social injustice, class inequality and gender are major themes throughout the genre. “Generally speaking, they’re up against something, whether it’s a totalitarian government or supernatural force and so on,” he writes.

Curtis says it is up to the reader to be open to the warnings that are central to these novels, and that different novels work for each reader. “If you think everything in your society is great, and if you find the warnings about some sort of future to be implausible, then you are less likely to read a given dystopia as a warning,” she writes in an email. “But clearly we are in a dystopian moment — meaning a moment where dystopian warnings seem particularly meaningful and current.”

From M-I-Z to EDM

Teasley captures a summertime sound.

BY JASMINE-KAY JOHNSON

Catch up on some classic dystopian novels.

Utopia

Thomas More created one of the first dystopian novels with his book, Utopia, about a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean.

1984

George Orwell gives a chilling outlook at how the advancement in technology rules over a society.

Fahrenheit 451 Guy Montag is an arsonist fireman in this Ray Bradbury novel. In his world, television rules, and literature is turning to ash.

The Hunger Games series

Teenagers and children fight one another for survival as entertainment for the Capitol in Suzanne Collins’ novel.

Just four days before a sold-out show at The Blue Note with Timeflies in 2012, Josh Teasley, who was a junior at MU, was offered the chance to perform. He had just returned to Columbia after a wild spring break, during which he’d lost his voice. Plus, he’d only been making music for a year, so he was a bit nervous about performing. Teasley went back and forth on what to do. He wanted to play it safe, but he also wanted to see what could happen. He concluded that if he said no, he would regret it. He took the gig.

On the night of the show, from backstage he heard someone yell, “Let’s go, Josh!” So, without a voice or a DJ, Teasley took the stage and sang for a crowd of 900 people. It was the biggest performance of his life at that point, and it proved to him that he could make something of his music.

Teasley, now 27, initially gravitated to R&B, but his love of dance led him to EDM, or electronic dance music, which combined his tendency to groove with his R&B roots.

Teasley, which is also his stage name, started by making music in his

When Teasley enters the studio, he knows exactly how he wants a song to sound.

Photography by Shauna Yates and courtesy of Josh Teasley

fraternity bedroom. His desire led him to a self-booked regional Midwestern and Southern tour, and he opened for artists such as G-Eazy, Hoodie Allen and White Panda.

“I threw myself into the fire,” he says. “I didn’t know what I was doing.”

In college, he witnessed friends’ excitement grow only when school breaks neared. As vacations approached, he asked, ‘Why can’t every day be like this?’

In 2015, a year after graduating from MU, Teasley packed up and moved to Los Angeles. He wanted to create a life he didn’t need a vacation from, he says.

When describing his music to people, he likes to say, “Think Chris Brown on the beach.” Teasley released his first single “Hit It” in 2016. The song reached No. 8 on the MTV Dance Chart in Italy.

With his signature pineapple emoji on tweets and palm trees across his Instagram, Teasley exudes his “good vibes and summertime” brand. Looking at Spotify, his music resonates with listeners from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles — places known for getting a little sand between their toes.

NO ONE GETS A DIPLOMA ALONE.

If you’re thinking of finishing your high school diploma, you have more support than you realize. Find teachers and free adult education classes near you at FinishYourDiploma.org.

Everybody, listen to Paula

Paula Poundstone brings her award-winning wit to the Missouri Theatre with a show that promises honesty and autobiography.

BY MEG CUNNINGHAM

Paula Poundstone has always had something to say. Her kindergarten teacher once wrote, “I enjoyed Paula’s humorous comments about our activities.” Poundstone is proud of that response from her teacher, and she boils her career down to one line: “I’ve always loved the sound of laughter; who doesn’t?”

Poundstone was born in Huntsville, Alabama, but soon after moved to Sudbury, Massachusetts. She began her comedy career at 19 while bussing tables at restaurants in Boston and performing at open mic nights. She speaks openly about her mental health issues during this time period but says despite her struggles, she never lost her sense of humor.

Poundstone’s comedic journey began when she saw a flyer advertising open mic nights at a small club in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After watching a standup show, she thought, “I can do this.” Shortly after, she started getting involved in the open mic circuit in Boston.

Despite her natural wit and ability to make a room roar with laughter, there was a learning curve. After that first open mic night, Poundstone eagerly approached local organizers and managers. They invited her to audition, which she did — but with no material memorized or written down. “I didn’t think you had to develop that much,” Poundstone says. “I honestly thought that [Johnny] Carson went on and just said those things.”

That naiveté guided her to realize the amount of work that went into preparing an act. “I just sort of wandered around the stage, and it was agony,” Poundstone says.

After a year of working in clubs, Poundstone felt she didn’t appeal to the crowds in Boston. She took a bus around the country to experience different audiences and finally landed in San Francisco, where she found a home at The Other Cafe, her favorite place to do comedy.

Eventually, Poundstone went to Los Angeles and made fast friends with popular comics Robin Williams and Dana Carvey. She quickly signed on with their management, Rollins & Joffe, though she later changed management teams.

Poundstone has been telling jokes for 39 years and shows no signs of slowing down. She has even written two books. The latest, The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness, uses each chapter as an experiment Poundstone performs to find more happiness in her day-to-day life. She is a frequent panelist on NPR’s “Wait, Wait...Don’t Tell Me!”, a weekly comedy quiz show, and she recently launched a comedy podcast, “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone,” described as a “comedy field guide to life.”

As her career was soaring, in 2001, Poundstone was charged with crimes related to drunken driving with her children in the vehicle. She pleaded no contest to one count of felony child abuse and a misdemeanor charge of inflicting injury upon a child. She has since been candid on the subjects of her children and her struggle with alcoholism, and she incorporates the topics into her sets.

Although Poundstone describes her comedy as largely observational and autobiographical, audience interaction is her favorite part of the night. “Just talking to the audience and doing that time-honored ‘Where you from, what

do you do for a living?’...that’s really the heart and soul of the whole thing,” she says. With a mix of scripted jokes and off-the-cuff remarks, Poundstone cultivates a conversational atmosphere that’s never derogatory or caustic to viewers. Her sets often include anecdotes related to understanding politics and raising a household.

Poundstone will be at the Missouri Theatre on Sept. 7 as a part of the University Concert Series. She says the audience can expect two hours of content that involves “just plain talking” to audience members, which she says is part of her personal quest to know more about the world.

Photography courtesy of Michael Schwartz

You might have heard the 39-year comedy veteran as a panelist on NPR’s “Wait, Wait...Don’t Tell Me!”or on her own podcast titled “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone.”

“I didn’t think you had to develop that much. I honestly thought that [Johnny] Carson went on and just said those things.”

Paula Poundstone

Avery’s LIVE turns it up to 11

With its community in mind, the new music house will focus on being an embassy for local talent.

BY CHRISTINA LONG

Cymbals crash. Drums thump. Hands and phones wave in the air. Rock ’n’ roll fills the room. This is how Avery’s LIVE owner Jason Schrick imagines the venue’s first show. Avery’s LIVE, named for Schrick’s 8-year-old daughter, is set to open by the end of the year. Schrick wants the venue to be a hub for homegrown musicians, and he plans to include merchandise from community shops such as Access Percussion and One to One Print Shop.

What inspired the venue?

Jason Schrick: It’s hard when you’ve got really one venue — Rose — because The Blue Note doesn’t have locals play there much. My plan with this is to continue to grow the local scene. I want to be able

Jason Schrick hopes Avery’s LIVE will be a go-to setting for local bands. to take what I learned from all of those people in the industry and give back.

How did this go from an idea to reality?

JS: Through the years I’ve been in Columbia, I’ve worked at almost every single venue here. I was a sound engineer, a

GETTING TO KNOW JASON SCHRICK

Schrick has worked at practically every music venue in Columbia, including The Blue Note, Mojo’s (Rose), East Side, Roxy’s, The Penguin, The Social Room, Sideshow and Cafe Berlin.

Schrick’s dream bands to play at Avery’s LIVE are Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters.

Schrick also owns JPS Productions, where he works with bands to produce and promote music.

talent buyer, I’ve done doors, stagehand. I have a different vision, and it was time for me to do something on my own.

What makes this venue different?

JS: I want to instill a local feel again. With The Bridge closing and Social Room quitting live music, it’s hard for locals to get as many dates as they want to. The scene, talent-wise, is flourishing right now; there’s a lot of talent, and there’s a lot of bands that need spots. I wanted this to be a spot where locals can celebrate their music and their triumphs.

What kind of music do you listen to?

JS: I love rock ’n’ roll. I was born and raised in the grunge scene. I like a little bit of everything, though.

What’s best about the music scene here?

JS: The camaraderie. There’s a lot of bands supporting bands, which is how you build a scene.

Photography by Mariah Brannan

Roots N Blues N BBQ 2018

Columbia’s biggest music festival is back with a bevy of local artists, show-stopping headliners and brand-new features to keep things refreshing. Here’s your go-to guide for the 12th Roots N Blues.

Opening act

Roots N Blues has a new festival lead-up with more than ever before.

BY CHRISTINA LONG

When you think of a music festival, you might think of mosh pits, hipsters and crazy nights under tents. The words “family-friendly” probably don’t come to mind.

That’s what Assistant Festival Director Shay Jasper says makes Roots N Blues N BBQ different — there’s something for everyone.

The festival’s 12th year promises a few new and improved services and features, including The Road to Roots N Blues. Beginning the Saturday before, Roots N Blues will bring all of its excitement and sounds to Columbia with a week of events leading up to the festival. Events include an adventure through The District, concerts for the whole family and a free documentary screening.

“This is something that we wanted to make happen this year,” Director of Development and Marketing Jamie Varvaro says of festival week, “and it’s something that we’re going to look to continue doing.”

Last year, Roots N Blues went cashless. Wristbands served as both festival tickets and digital wallets. Festivalgoers could double-tap their bands to pay for food and drinks with money already loaded onto the wristband.

Joe Moseley has attended the festi-

val for the last 10 years and says he felt the cashless system went well.

“I had some concerns going in that it wouldn’t be accepted,” Moseley says, “but I think it was widely accepted and it certainly is a much improved system.”

Jasper says fans can choose to donate any leftover money on their wristbands to the Roots N Blues Foundation at the end of the festival. “Our foundation promotes music education in the mid-Missouri area,” Jasper says.

This year, festival sponsors are also contributing to the foundation. Varvaro says Johnsonville Sausage will donate half of the proceeds from its Big Taste Grill, a 65-foot semi-truck equipped with 40 square feet of grilling surface, to the foundation.

In addition to charity, Jasper says Roots N Blues hopes to impact the community by “ramping up” its sustainability efforts.

“This year, we’re going to take better steps to measure our waste,” Jasper says. “In 2019, we’re really going to move toward bigger initiatives that will allow us to basically send less things to the landfill.”

Over the years, the community atmosphere has remained throughout all the festival’s changes. “I really like what it adds to the city of Columbia,” Moseley says. “It’s a great billboard for the city.”

A NEW ROAD TO ROOTS N BLUES

By Christina Long

SATURDAY, SEPT. 22

Get a taste of some Roots N Blues artists during a free pregame show at the Mizzou Football Concert Series before the Tigers play Georgia.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 23

Explore shops in The District and get your “passport” stamped to enter a drawing for two VIP festival tickets.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 25

Families can enjoy live music when children’s musician Jim Valley plays at Flat Branch Park.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26

The Missouri Theatre hosts comedian and juggler Marcus Monroe. The Burney Sisters, who open the 2018 festival, also open for Monroe’s show.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 27

Attend a free screening of May it Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers, a documentary about the folk rock band playing the festival, at Rose Music Hall.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 28

The 2018 Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival kicks off at Stephens Lake Park at 5 p.m.

Illustrations by Kellyn Nettles

Southern charm meets rock ’n’ roll

Amanda Shires will rock Roots N Blues in the last leg of her tour.

BY LUCY SHANKER

When Amanda Shires had a concept for her latest album, she set up a meeting with legendary producer Dave Cobb at the place she thought they could best flesh out their ideas — Chili’s.

“We were just two outlaws eatin’ at a Chili’s,” Shires says in a twangy drawl as sweet as the fruit she grows in the garden of her Nashville home. The results of that meeting were wildly successful. In one of America’s most popular restaurant chains, Shires expressed her ideas for her latest work, To the Sunset

The album documents Shires’ arrival in the country music scene. In 2017, she received the Emerging Artist of the Year Award at the Americana Music Honors and Awards. She’s also a member of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, a band led by her Grammy-winning husband.

Shires paid her dues long before she was given such recognition. She started touring at just 15 years

old as a fiddle player for the Texas Playboys and Billy Joe Shaver. After years on the road, she mastered her instruments but desired a better avenue for her expression, so she obtained a master’s degree in fine arts, specifically poetry, from Sewanee, a private Tennessee liberal arts college.

“[I] wanted to be more precise because I was saying things, and what I meant wasn’t lining up exactly,” Shires says.

solitude, which is sometimes unattainable in her house with her toddler, Mercy, and her husband.

“It just turns into a jam session with us,” Shires says. “My daughter is really good at playing the tuba, but not in the keys I want yet.”

Naturally, Shires headed into the crevice she found most acceptable: her closet. “We don’t have a California closet, OK?” she says with a laugh. “This isn’t some Kardashian bullshit.”

Her lyrics are simple but cutting, often detailing specific situations in her life that are delivered with such conviction that they become all-encompassing: “A phased golden light/ rained down from the street light,” Shires sings on “Harmless.” “It fell across your shoulder/ Paused above your collar/ Like it had something to show me.”

But don’t shove Shires into the ballad-writing box — the one that so many women in country music have been forced into. As her husband sang on his latest album, “Mama wants to change that Nashville sound,” and boy, is she changing it.

“I don’t give a shit. I’m not gonna make media music,” Shires says. “I’ve got more to say than that.”

The widely anticipated To the Sunset is a vastly personal work that reflects her life. It can largely be considered rock ’n’ roll, which deeply contrasts with her country repertoire.

“Some people just write about boobies and beer, but there are other times in your life where you don’t want to hear that kind of stuff,” Shires says of the country genre.

She says lyrics have come to her as if she had a radio antenna receiving signals in her head, especially in writing songs for her new album. In response, she commenced the writing process. She craved

Mostly, she wants listeners to take away a sense of optimism from To the Sunset. “There is a whole bunch of light and hope left for all of us,” Shires says. “We just need to find it.”

Shires will sing at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 30 on the Great Southern Bank Stage.

Amanda Shires defies expectations in her most recent album, To the Sunset, straying away from her classic country sound.

I

GIVE A SHIT. I’M NOT GONNA MAKE MEDIA MUSIC. — AMANDA SHIRES

Roots N Blues N BBQ 2018

Nothing like home bookin’

The festival is sharing its stages with a number of talented Missourians this year.

BY LUCY SHANKER

In 2018, the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival celebrates its Missouri roots more than ever. While its initial lineup in 2007 featured exclusively local acts, the festival has now hosted rising stars like Leon Bridges and The Avett Brothers. Even with exponential growth in the past decade, the festival doesn’t stray far from its foundation, as it has invited a number of talented acts from the Show-Me State to prove what Missouri’s music scene has to offer. Here are some of the folks who make up that scene and are playing at this year’s festival.

Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats

Nathaniel Rateliff is the human equivalent of the state of Missouri — quiet, surprisingly charming and relentlessly tough. Maybe even easy to overlook. But once you stop and give him a little bit of your attention, he’ll prove himself. If you struggle to find Rateliff’s hometown of Hermann on a map, just refer to the one that’s permanently inked on his left arm. He’s spent a majority of his adult life living in Colorado, but he refers to Hermann frequently: “There are things I hate about [Missouri], too,” Rateliff told Rolling Stone last year. “But the landscape will forever be a part of me.”

7:30 p.m. Sept. 30, MO Lottery Stage

Ben Miller Band

The Ben Miller Band is loyal to the state of Missouri. After a devastating tornado ripped through the band members’ hometown of Joplin in 2011, these folk-rockers sprung to action. Not only did they establish a charity to help rehabilitate the town, but they also released a benefit album titled Record For Joplin. They’ve been thorough in using their platform for positive change in Missouri, and it manifests in their performance.

1:30 p.m. Sept. 29, Great Southern Bank Stage

Ha Ha Tonka

OK, this one’s kind of obvious. I mean, the guys actually named their band after Ha Ha Tonka State Park, one of Missouri’s astonishing locales. The natural masterpiece served as the band members’ inspiration because of their proximity to it growing up. Guitarist Brett Anderson and his family even have a house across from the lake in the park. For over a decade, these guys have been creating quality music largely inspired by ol’ Missou ri.

4 p.m. Sept. 29, MO Lottery Stage

Israel Nash

Israel Nash’s bio might say he’s from Texas, but a few lines down, the truth is revealed: he hails from Lake of the Ozarks. So, he kind of counts as having Missouri roots, too. His Americana sound definitely resonates with a local audience, and apparently, Rolling Stone, too; his track “Rolling On” was featured on its “Top 10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week” for the last week of May.

2:45 p.m. Sept. 30, Great Southern Bank Stage

Samantha Fish

Samantha Fish has a story that probably resonates with a lot of young music lovers who grew up in Kansas City. After beginning her love affair with music, she became an avid attendee of Knuckleheads Saloon, one of the city’s legendary venues. After learning from watching the best, she began playing her own sets at other local clubs. She credits KC’s music scene for her start, saying it was “such a blues and jazz town traditionally.”

5 p.m. Sept. 28, Great Southern Bank Stage

Photography courtesy of Jason Gonulsen and Kris Wixom

Roots N Blues N BBQ 2018

Navigating country waters

Sturgill Simpson brings songs from the heart — and his resilience — to CoMo.

BY NOEMI VALLONE

Sturgill Simpson’s latest album, the Grammy-winning A Sailor’s Guide To Earth, takes his listeners on a journey through different types of musical genres.

Boasting similarities to the soul of ’70s Motown, Simpson’s music combines “the stomping R&B flash of the DapKings, the reckless rave-ups of the Stones and the Clash, even the countrypolitan flare of legendary Nashville producer Owen Bradley,” as described by the bio on his website.

Simpson wanted the album to be an exploration of all the music genres that he loves — not that his style has changed radically since his previous album. In his bio, Simpson makes sure to explain that country is still his No. 1 type of music: “Some people will say I’m trying to run from country, but I’m never going to make anything other than a country record. As soon as I open my mouth, it’s going to be a country song.”

Pitchfork’s Corban Goble calls Simpson “progressive country’s lead tastemaker” in a review of A Sailor’s Guide To Earth. Goble writes that the album is denser and bolder than Simpson’s previ-

ous albums, like “a musical combination of Moby Dick and Elvis,” yet its brighter moods stray away from his previous albums.

Born in Jackson, Kentucky, Simpson says in an interview with Rolling Stone that he started to love country music when he was introduced to Merle Haggard. Since then, his passion for country has converged with other genres, including rock and ’60s soul.

After his parents divorced when he was in seventh grade, school became an uphill battle, and music was relegated to the back of his mind. He graduated from high school with difficulty, joining

a romanticized view of the world; he wanted to sail the Seven Seas. But after leaving the Navy, he was lost. Only when he came back to his hometown did Simpson reconnect with his passion for music.

He recorded his first album in 2013, but it was his second album, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, a year later that was an international hit. The New York Times featured it on best-album lists during 2014 while American Songwriter recognized it as the year’s best album. Additionally, Rolling Stone named it the No. 2 album that year.

His latest album is deeply personal, with songs reminiscent of letters to his son that reflect one drawback of fame. Tours and concerts often take Simpson away from time he could be spending with his family.

the Navy shortly after. In the same interview with Rolling Stone, Simpson also admits that he had

“I might be out there in the middle of tour, wondering how I’m going to keep doing this when I’m missing everything at home,” Simpson writes on his site. “But it’s also making a lot of people happy that I’ve never met before. So it’s worth it. I think my wife understands that. Hopefully, my son will too.”

Simpson will be playing at 9:15 p.m. Sept. 29 on the MO Lottery Stage.

Despite feeling lost in his youth, Sturgill Simpson found his way to music. He wrote three albums in three years, his most recent one winning Best Country Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.

AS SOON AS I OPEN MY MOUTH, IT’S GOING TO BE A COUNTRY SONG.

— STURGILL SIMPSON

Daughter of the blues

Valerie June has been belting out tunes since her days in gospel choir.

BY NOEMI VALLONE

With her “organic moonshine roots music,” Valerie June sings of nostalgia and her past on her newest album, The Order of Time, which came out in 2017. She blends soul, blues and folk in her lyrics to create the feeling of time passing and to show how concepts transcend time.

Born in Humboldt, Tennessee, she moved to Memphis with her boyfriend

Roots N Blues N BBQ 2018

behind the music. Her father was a parttime music promoter, and sometimes she would help him backstage — but that wasn’t her passion. She was convinced she wanted to be the one out front.

When she formed Bella Sun, she tried to do everything to promote it, even auditioning for America’s Next Top Model. But all the efforts put a strain on her relationship, and in 2005 both the band and her marriage dissolved.

June didn’t give up. If the band didn’t work, she could still succeed on her own. In the same article, June says she “worked like a dog” but still made time to learn as many instruments as she could. “Whenever I had 20 minutes, I would practice a new chord or write a new verse.”

after finishing high school. They formed the soul band Bella Sun after they got married in 2001.

However, June’s passion for music is deep-rooted in her childhood.

“As soon as I could talk, I was bellowing at the top of my lungs,” June says in a 2013 O, The Oprah Magazine article.

“But no one was gonna shut me up.”

She sang gospel three times per week at her local church and also got a chance to see the work of the people

She had a breakthrough in 2009 with MTV’s series $5 Cover. Then multi-talented singer, banjo-harmonica-and-fiddle player Ketch Secor, of the band Old Crow Medicine Show, co-produced her 2010 album Valerie June and the Tennessee Express. “She had a real old-time voice. It’s got a drawl and a whine. It sounds like the drone strings on a fiddle,” Secor says in a 2017 interview for Rolling Stone.

And this voice, rarely heard on mainstream music charts, combined with her lyrics attracts people to June’s music.

“I don’t really think very much when I am writing a song,” June tells Rolling Stone. “The voices come to me, like when a composer writes a symphony. They sing to me, and I sing to you what I hear.”

June will perform at 4 p.m. Sept. 30 on the MO Lottery Stage.

Photography courtesy of Clement Caron

Valerie June’s breakthrough came on MTV’s $5 Cover. She did everything she could to perfect her sound.

AS SOON AS I COULD TALK, I WAS BELLOWING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS.

— VALERIE JUNE

Roots N Blues N BBQ 2018

A star is reborn

Kelly Willis’ “rootsy, very country and a little bit folky music” returns just in time for this year’s Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival.

BY NOEMI VALLONE

Kelly Willis has a new energy. Her previous solo album from 2007, Translated from Love, could be considered both country and alternative country. However, her new album, Back Being Blue, mixes in a new genre: R&B.

“I was trying to capture and honor the type of music that makes me excited to become a musician,” Willis says. Her music is described by The New York Times as “country music before Nashville embraced power ballads and cute happily-ever-after songs.” Willis sticks with a classic sound — both simple and universal.

In her website bio, Willis writes that early in her career, mainstream radio often hasn’t known what to do with her music. “I haven’t followed trends, and I’m not trying to get on the radio. I’m trying to make music that I like, and that makes me happy. What’s selling isn’t what I use to influence what I’m doing,” Willis writes.

— KELLY WILLIS

Willis was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, and started singing when she was little. In her late teens, she moved to Austin, Texas, and formed a band called Radio Ranch. It was short-lived, but Nancy Griffith, a fellow singer and songwriter, liked Willis’s voice and recommended her to her future producer Tony Brown, who helped her sign a contract with MCA.

Between 1990 and 2007, Willis recorded

seven solo albums, including Easy, her fifth album, which was released in 2002.

“After repeated listening, Easy’s quiet nature builds into a powerfully reflective experience that’s touching in ways that few albums these days are,” The Austin Chronicle writes in a review.

During her 11-year break, she didn’t leave the stage; she just went in another direction. She and her husband both worked as musicians and had four children, so she decided to slow down. She went for what let her keep both motherhood and musicianship. She partnered with her

While you’re there Saturday, check out:

• The Mighty Pines 1 p.m.

• Margo Price 7:30 p.m.

husband, Bruce Robison, and the duo released two albums together between 2006 and 2014. When she decided to go solo again, she hired the best producer she knew: her husband.

Robison says they don’t have any immediate plan to go back to being a duo. “There are some such singers that have a singular voice,” Robison says. “Her hard voice is like nobody’s else.” Nearly a decade later, Willis welcomes change in her long-awaited return.

Willis will take the Great Southern Bank Stage at 3 p.m. Sept. 29.

Photography courtesy of Todd V Wolfson

After an 11-year break, singer-songwriter, Kelly Willis returns with an all new sound.

I WAS TRYING TO CAPTURE AND HONOR THE TYPE OF MUSIC THAT MAKES ME EXCITED TO BECOME A MUSICIAN.

Game On!

Ukatsu levels up young gamers and teaches physical, mental and social health.

BY KATHERINE WHITE  PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABIGAIL YOUNG

When Joe Chee began online gaming in the mid-2000s, he strategized and battled alongside strangers from across the nation. He huddled over his desktop, a headset plugged in with the voices of his teammates echoing in his ears. He was 12 years old, but he played with doctors and lawyers. His World of Warcraft guild, a group of players who work together to maximize success in the fantasy game, was more of a family than an army. Its leaders were a husband and wife. As he joined the weekly meeting, his screen filled with the characters of 49 other people, all conversing about the humdrum upkeep of the guild in the friendly tone of old pals reuniting at a coffee shop. Chee still remembers the sense of belonging he felt when the 50 of them would gather, all in a virtual space.

Joe Chee co-founded Ukatsu to give gamers a place to meet and interact.

His passion for gaming never left him, and in 2016, he worked at summer day camps in Columbia for kids interested in video gaming. The camps were arranged by a company called EpicEd and led by its three co-founders: then–MU student Connor Hall, MU alumnus Jack Jones and former MU College of Education Dean Dan Clay. Three counselors helped with the camps, and an average of 15 kids attended during popular times of the summer. The camps’ goal: Help kids learn about the competitive gaming world while also learning skills like teamwork and responsibility.

health, and, of course, the kind of coaching that helps someone win games. “All the values I learned from being a part of team sports really helped me become a better person and helped me learn the social skills that I wouldn’t have if I just played video games,” Brooks says. “I wanted to provide an environment and a place for kids to develop those same skills, but for video games because there wasn’t infrastructure for those kids.”

Located off of Grindstone Parkway, Ukatsu hosts events ranging from gaming competitions to graphic design classes and physical training sessions. Most events center around something to do with gaming, whether it’s playing a specific game or learning how to build a gaming computer. Social interaction and physical fitness are always included; their venue sports a weightlifting station as well as a concession stand stocked with healthy snacks. Chee and Brooks often include mindfulness exercises like journaling or goal-setting to promote good mental health.

MORE THAN A GAME

Ukatsu provides a physical space for young gamers to come together to play and compete in a safe and healthy learning environment. Most gamers are ages 10 to 18, though the business also offers adult events.

Mission

The mission of the organization is to encourage positive problem solving and social interaction. Ukatsu teaches kids to balance gaming with relationships, physical activity and personal development.

Future prep

Chee and fellow counselor Ben Brooks fostered relationships with the campers while running events. But they knew in the back of their minds that unlike the kids at football or soccer camps who would have tryouts in the fall and teams to join, these gamers would be back in their own rooms without a formalized structure to support their interests. EpicEd disbanded in late 2016, and that’s when the pair decided to start their own company, Chee says.

Becoming a reality

In February 2017, the pair founded a youth development program called Ukatsu, named after “katsu,” the Japanese word for “win.” Chee, now 25, and Brooks, now 21, wanted to provide what traditional team sports offered but to gamers: a physical space to meet others who share the same passion. They also wanted a safe spot for young gamers to engage in competition and learn methods for improving physical and mental

When Ukatsu first started, the founders’ personal savings powered the operation. Now, Ukatsu generates its revenue by charging for individual events, offering monthly memberships and from its high school eSports league sponsorships.

Going competitive

Through the company, Chee wants to give kids a community like the one he had growing up with his WoW guild. “Looking back at my past, (Ukatsu) is very similar to that kind of atmosphere, but in a physical setting,” Chee says.

Chee’s experience playing with such a positive online community is not the norm. According to a 2017 Pew Research Center survey, four in 10 American adults say they have been bullied online. For young adults, gaming is the culprit behind some of the harassment. Of the youngest age group studied, 18to 29-year-olds, 18 percent said gaming was the platform where they were most recently harassed, compared with 5 percent of those 30 and older. It’s not

just aggressive banter, either. One survey respondent writes, “Anything perceived as poor in-game performance can lead to name calling and escalate to personal threats and attacks in seconds.”

While online gaming has a growing reputation for toxicity, eSports is becoming more popular, according to Business Insider. In eSports, teams in a league compete against one another in a video game, often for an audience. If casually playing online games for fun is equivalent to kicking around a soccer ball with friends, eSports is like being in Major League Soccer. Just like traditional sports, you have teams of players, cheering fans and a game of choice.

Gamers are given the chance to explore career opportunities within the gaming and eSports industry like graphic design, video content creation and game development.

Services Customers can pay for individual sessions or monthly memberships. Monthly memberships range from $24.99 to $249.99. In addition to its regular workshops and events, the organization also hosts camps and eSports tournaments.

Ukatsu 1413 Grindstone Plaza Drive Suite 113 ukatsu.org 673-2841 (703) 597-3823

Another similarity with athletics: The best players go pro by joining professional organizations and making competitive gaming their career. Prize pools can be in the millions. Matches have sold out the likes of Madison Square Garden. In 2017, eSports drew 258 million viewers compared to the 204 million during the 2016 NFL regular season in the U.S., according to USA Today.

Colleges have started to move into the eSports game. In 2015, Columbia College was the fifth college in the U.S. to establish a varsity eSports program. For the 2017–2018 season, the team placed second in the “League of Legends” College Championship in Los Angeles. Stephens College also has its hat in the ring as the home of the nation’s first all-female collegiate varsity eSports team, which began its first season last fall competing in the online shooter game Overwatch last fall with 12 players.

Missouri is at the center of the eSports boom. According to ESPN, Missouri is the state with the most collegiate eSports programs, at nine. Second place is a four-way tie between states with four programs each, all of which are in the Midwest. Compare that with California’s two programs, or Texas’ one.

Mid-Missouri high schools have also joined the eSports trend. Ukatsu partnered with Columbia Public Schools and Jefferson City Public Schools to form the first live high school eSports league in the nation in 2018. “I think it’s really forward-thinking for a school district

GAMING IS NOT JUST A DEAD END. IT’S A VERY VIABLE WAY TO SUPPORT YOURSELF DOING SOMETHING THAT YOU ENJOY.

— JACK JONES

Jefferson City High School’s eSports league requires participants to carry a 2.7 GPA, higher than the 2.0 required to participate in MSHSAA activities.

be involved in something like this,” says Columbia Public Schools superintendent Peter Stiepleman. The league even requires a 2.7 minimum GPA compared to the 2.0 required by Missouri State High School Activities Association for traditional sports and activities. “That really pushes me to get my work done, and it really pushes me to ask for help,” says Rock Bridge eSports player Jordan Taylor, a 16-year-old sophomore. “It actually makes me feel ready to take on school.”

Building friendships is one of the benefits of the league for the students. Cameron Day, a 16-year-old sophomore on Jefferson City’s team, moved there from St. Louis two summers ago. “I didn’t have very many friends, and I joined the club,” he says. “It actually helped me get a lot more friends.”

The largest high school league in the country, simply called the High School ESports League, began in fall 2017, but most of its matches occur online instead of live with both teams in the room. Jefferson City eSports coach Evan Rowland, an MU senior studying biochemistry, prefers that Ukatsu runs

to be involved i doing something like this,” says Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Peter Stiepleman. “When you see students so engaged and excited about their peers, you know that there’s a real interest.”

the league live instead of online, because it’s “really not the same as getting to load up on the bus and come here and play, and get to shake hands with the other team afterward,” he says. “It’s something I would’ve killed for in high school.”

For many eSports players, the league is the first time they have represented their school by competing. The matches are typically held at Ukatsu with a crowd of about 40, depending on the night. Taylor recalls the excitement from his very first match: “My heart was really pumping. I had never been on a stage before, never really performed anything in front of a lot of people, so it was really just a mind-racing event.”

Of the approximately 110 children and teens involved with Ukatsu, Chee estimates that about 50 are high schoolers. Most of these students do not participate in sports outside of eSports, so the league brings them a sense of being part of a team, says Leah Johnson, sponsor of the Jefferson City High School eSports club.

Justin Zhang, an 18-year-old who played on Rock Bridge’s eSports team before graduating in May, says he didn’t do any extracurriculars before, but in his last semester he looked forward to Wednesdays and Fridays to show his passion to his teammates and family. “It definitely has given me more purpose,” he says.

Zhang had a similar experience. “It definitely feels like a rush,” he says. “I never felt like that way before. Playing on stage, you always get that rush for the first five minutes, and then you calm down, and you get in the zone.”

Room for improvement

Competition isn’t always pretty, and combating the hostile nature of competitive gaming is an important challenge for Ukatsu. A

One of the biggest benefits for educators is the accountability that comes with an extracurricular. Players have to maintain their grades and school attendance up to be eligible, and Johnson says she’s seen both increase for her players since Jefferson City started its eSports club.

The league requires a 2.7 minimum

lot of these students haven’t competed on a team before and grew up as the best gamer in their household, so loss is new, Chee says. Whether it’s a high schooler storming out of an eSports match, or a kid at summer camp getting beat at their favorite game by kids they never met before, raging can be an issue.

“They’re dealing with loss for the first time, and there’s a turning point,” Chee says. “You can either quit, or you can analyze why you lost, not make the same mistake twice and practice to get

Every Tuesday, gamers likd Lucas Newman, 15, left, can play in single, double and squad video matches. Newman comes every Tuesday and won the singles tournament on July 24, 2018 with a final score of 37 points.

better. We obviously gravitate toward the latter in our program.”

Another issue in eSports that Ukatsu hopes to tackle is its gender disparity. Data from Entertainment Software Association’s annual report in 2016 shows women made up just under half of all game players and 30 percent of the eSports fan base, according to ESports Insider. However, professional teams are still largely male-dominant.

Ukatsu sees this disparity in its programs, with a ratio of about 10 boys to one girl, Chee says. To combat this, the organization hosted a ladies night event in March in partnership with Stephens College’s all-women’s eSports team.

“Ladies Night is a night not to say that that’s their only night, but to say that hey, you are welcome here, and it’s a safe place for you, and you should come to all the events,” Chee says. About 16 female players attended the event.

Building careers and community

As the eSports industry grows, there are opportunities in the field beyond being a professional gamer. Ukatsu offers career-building programs for children and teens who might be interested in joining the industry, not as a gamer, but in a role like social media manager, graphic designer

GAMES OF CHOICE

Missouri is a hotspot for eSports, in which teams compete in multiplayer video games. The popular high school league hosted by Ukatsu in Columbia exemplifies this. But not all games are suited for competitive gaming, so don’t start training too hard in Wii bowling just yet. Here are three of the most popular games for eSports leagues.

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

or YouTube video editor.

Jack Jones, one of the EpicEd co-founders, now runs The Healthy Gamer, his media company that focuses on combining gaming with fitness. He says that parents often don’t realize their kids can make a career out of their interest in games. “They think there’s no future here, (but) there’s a whole massive industry around gaming now,” he says. “Gaming is not just a dead end. It’s a very viable way to support yourself doing something that you enjoy.”

Although the games are what initially draw kids to the program, the community is what keeps them coming back, Chee says. The kids respect Chee and Brooks for their gaming talent, and then they start going to the pair for guidance in other areas – even dating advice. “Some of them say things like, ‘I’ve never worked out a day before in my life, but every time I come to Ukatsu I work out,’” Brooks says. “One has said before, ‘I never had friends before I joined this program, and now I feel like I’m part of a community that I belong in.’”

This communal aspect is one of Ukatsu’s biggest strengths, Jones says. “It’s just hugely beneficial for gamers to have a social outlet,” he says. “When I was growing up, I felt really kind of ashamed that I was playing video games

Although it launched in 2009, League of Legends is still the most popular title for eSports. Columbia College and Ukatsu’s high school league compete in this fantasy-inspired game where players control champions with unique abilities. Two teams of five battle, and the win goes to the team that destroys the other’s “nexus,” a structure defended at the core of the enemy base. Players take on different roles in the team depending on where they situate themselves on the map and what their main objective is as a player, just like how football has positions like wide receiver and linebacker.

OVERWATCH

Overwatch, a first-person shooter game that began in 2016, is the game of choice for the nation’s first all-women collegiate varsity eSports team at Stephens College. Two teams of six compete in the four main game modes. One example is the assault mode, where an attacking team tries to take control of two specific points on the game’s map in order, while the defending team tries to prevent this. The game is known for its diverse cast of characters to play as, which are split into four categories: offense, defense, tank and support.

CALL OF DUTY

Instead of a singular game, Call of Duty is a franchise started in 2003 with 14 main series games to date, and a 15th coming in October. If you watch the Call of Duty World League Championship in August, you’ll be watching the latest release, Call of Duty: WWII. What connects each iteration of the first-person shooter is that they all place you as a soldier in war, whether it’s in World War II, the modern day or outer space.

Devin Buckley, 18, sets up Fortnite on July 24, 2018 at Ukatsu. This was his sixth time at the weekly tournament night.

so much.” He says that with Ukatsu, kids will be able to share the effort they’ve put into games, motivate one another and then be encouraged to put effort into other aspects of their lives.

“It’s helped me have more time to play actually with my friends in person instead of stuck to the computer, and meet new friends,” says Kevin Brooks, an eighth-grader at Smithton Middle School. “They also provide a lot of opportunities for people of all ages to play some games in a nice, friendly environment.”

Kevin was one of the players at a weekday event focused on Fortnite, a multiplayer survival game released last year which has the players compete by attempting to be the last person or team standing. Guns are the main weapon used to take out enemies, but the game’s cartoonish style negates any graphic violence. The game isn’t just about shooting, either; in order to win, players strategically build forts out of collected materials to defend themselves. The nerdy talk is evident when one player runs across the map to find opponents and says: “It’s a long trek. This is like Fellowship of the Rings.”

Chee sits next to one boy and gives him advice during the match. “Make sure you’re always scanning the horizon,” he says. “Try to get to a roof and see if you can scan the city.” When the player is eliminated by a surprise attacker, he asks, “What did we learn? The lesson, I think, is we need to check to see if people are landing around us.”

In a separate match a few computers down, a player calls out, “We’re sieging, come on Eli, we’re sieging,” as he races toward an enemy fort during a team match.

“But I’m scared!” the friend responds. “Siege!” he repeats in encouragement.

Kevin Brooks’ father, Jeff Brooks, laughs as he watches his son and his friends play. (Ben Brooks is not related to Jeff and Kevin Brooks.) Jeff Brooks pays for a monthly membership, so his son can attend plenty of events like the Fortnite Night. Dad is a gamer, too, and he often drives the carpool of his son and his friends to Ukatsu and sticks around to watch them and learn a bit about games himself. “Ben and Joe are great with the

kids; they’re really good teachers,” Jeff Brooks says. “(The kids) are not just going to sit here for six hours and play a game, they’re going to exercise. They’re going to learn about sportsmanship.” This was clear when halfway through Fortnite Night, Chee, Brooks and the kids took advantage of the nice weather by playing a game of Frisbee.

Working for the future

Keeping this community alive takes a lot of work, especially as a two-person operation. “It always feels like our hair is on fire, to be honest,” Brooks says. The pair holds events at Ukatsu every day, arriving at 10 a.m. and leaving as late as 1 a.m. the next morning.

“There’s not a single day Ben and I are not working, which sucks,” Chee says. “We’re so exhausted right now because it’s only a two-man team, and I wish I had more free time. But, if you asked me what would I do with that free time, I would just continue putting it into Ukatsu.”

To help out Chee and Brooks, there are about 10 regular volunteers, either friends or people who reached out because they heard about the company’s vision. They assist with things like dayto-day operations, maintenance, selling concessions and setting up equipment when they travel for eSports.

In the future, Chee and Brooks hope to expand beyond Columbia and even-

tually go nationwide. Connor Hall says this dream isn’t unrealistic. “ESports is developing so fast,” he says. “The college scene was not that big a year ago. Ukatsu and that age group are going to be a very large market in the coming years.”

Even if they don’t go national, Chee and Brooks say they will feel successful knowing they made a difference in Columbia. “It’s pretty cool what we’ve built here, just Joe and I, and the excellent volunteers that we’ve had,” Brooks says. “I just hope that even if we don’t make it big, that someday there’s a program like this, for kids to be able to come together and socialize in a physical space, even though they’re surrounded by video games.”

At Ukatsu’s first high school exhibition match last September, Chee remembers when a player’s father, a strong, burly man who had never played a video game in his life, walked up to Chee. On the stage, two teams of five stared intensely at their computers, headphones on, hands gripping their mice and ready at their keyboards. In front of each player, a screen displayed their name, roster photo and their username in the game.

“I played college football back in my day, and I have no idea what’s going on right here,” he says, motioning to the League of Legends match. On the stage was his son, with his teammates, each wearing a team jersey, as the crowd seated in front of them cheered. “But I get it.”

Ben Bruce, left, the coach of Hickman’s eSports team, and volunteer Tyler Jennings set up television screens for Battle High School players. Jennings is one of approximately 10 consistent volunteers at Ukatsu.

The man behind the microphone

Paul Pepper found his way onto TV screens, radio waves and into people’s lives in Columbia. He’s managed to stay there just by being himself.

BY CONNOR LAGORE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABIGAIL YOUNG

Paul Pepper airs his program, Radio Friends with Paul Pepper, every weekday morning on KBIA. Pepper went to the station after 40 years of broadcasting on KOMU.

When Paul Urzi was in high school in the early 1960s, his father, John, would drive him out to the local radio station, KJCF-AM in Festus, Missouri. He didn’t have a radio show to do or even a job at the station. He would just hang around. Really, he made a sort of pest of himself.

But he was eager to be there, and his excitement didn’t go unnoticed. “Boy, you really are a red-hot pepper,” a disc jockey told him.

“Paul Pepper” had a nice ring to it, he thought.

When he finally got on the air later in high school, he did so under the name Paul Pepper. His parents, both from Italy, couldn’t understand why and worried that “Urzi” hadn’t been good enough for their son. Paul reassured them it was, but he had a good reason for the moniker.

“This is show business!”

That was nearly six decades ago, when Pepper was growing up in the countryside about 30 miles south of St. Louis. Now, at age 72, he’s in his ninth year as host of Radio Friends with Paul Pepper on KBIA, a 10-minute interview segment every weekday at 8:50 a.m. Before Radio Friends, he hosted an hourlong weekday community television show on KOMU called Pepper & Friends, which ran from 1982 to 2009. Pepper has remained a mainstay in Columbia broadcasting for nearly 50 years, and the reason he’s been a beloved figure for that long lies in his commitment to the community.

Before there was Paul Pepper, there was a young Paul Urzi, and he was fascinated by television, specifically The Charlotte Peters Show , an hour-long, weekday St. Louis daytime TV show. Peters, who was known as St. Louis television’s First Lady, hosted the show. She was — and still is — Pepper’s biggest role model. “That was my dream,” Pepper says. “To do a television show, a local television show, and bring on local people and musicians.”

In anticipation of one day being a television host, Pepper would practice in his family’s basement and set up a small studio for his show. “My mother would get so upset because I’d go up in the bedroom and living room and take lamps,” Pepper says, laughing. “She’d ask, ‘What are you doing?’ I’d say, ‘I’ve got to have lights!’”

The Charlotte Peters Show had a studio audience that Pepper frequented. He and his mother would drive to his grandmother’s house in south St. Louis, and from there they’d take the bus downtown to Peters’ show. “I’d get to watch Charlotte do it live,” he says. “I was just in seventh heaven being in a television studio.” One time, when Pepper was around 9 years old, he brought vegetables from his family’s large garden to give to Peters. She was impressed that he had grown them and invited him to appear on the “Kids’ Corner” segment of the show, a segment that Pepper and his partner of 35 years and former cohost, James Mouser, would mirror down the line. So, Pepper went back a couple

of weeks after that meeting to show off what he had grown. The experience was intoxicating. “That was a highlight,” he says. “I guess I was bitten by that bug.”

In 1969, after his time at Jefferson Junior College in Hillsboro, Missouri, Pepper saw an ad in Broadcasting Magazine for a job opening as a booth announcer at KOMU, and he applied. He had auditioned using the show business moniker he got from KJCF in high school and landed the job. He started on Sept. 14 as a booth announcer and later became the weathercaster, not needing any real training for the position. Then-general manager of KOMU Tom Gray approached Pepper in 1982 with the idea of doing a half-hour show at 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Pepper said yes and took it one step further by suggesting they record the show with a live audience, just like The Charlotte Peters Show that Pepper had grown up with. Pepper’s dream was becoming reality.

In February 1982, Paul Pepper took the stage as the assembled audience applauded, and the words “PEPPER & FRIENDS” flashed across television screens for the very first time. Dressed in a beige jacket with a light shirt and a dark tie, he sat in a white chair on the stage and said, “Welcome to our brandnew show, Pepper & Friends,” with his smiling face and thick mop of black hair, his dark eyes gazing into the lens. Even in his first few years, Pepper was able to channel what he thought local television should be into the show. “Pepper & Friends was a community show,” Pepper says. “It belonged to everyone.” Over time, segments that featured pets up for adoption, craft demonstrations, local theater and arts groups and more made their way into the show’s production. Because many of the segments featured members of the community, it really was their show.

Paul Pepper provided viewers and guests with a chance to advocate for causes through his show, Pepper & Friends.

After three years of the Saturday night show, Pepper again changed duties at the suggestion of Gray; this time, it was moving the once-a-week, nightly show to a five-days-a-week, daytime show. It would be a lot more work, of course, but Pepper couldn’t say no to that kind of opportunity. That’s when Mouser officially came aboard. He had already been doing the weather on the

noon news, a gig that Pepper had encouraged him to go for in 1983, and he was helping out with Pepper & Friends. When the noon news segment was combined with Pepper’s show, Mouser continued to do the weather — but now as a part of the new show. Over time, Pepper would invite Mouser to be involved in more of the show’s segments until he evolved into Pepper’s co-host.

The show became the voice of mid-Missouri for 27 years. Oftentimes, Pepper and Mouser didn’t have to search for guests; people were eager to appear. Even though Pepper had become a sort of local celebrity, people felt comfortable watching and participating on his show because of the atmosphere he created. “We weren’t trying to be something we were not,” he says. “People thought of us as their friends, and we thought of them as our friends. People would come out to the station all the time, just to say hello.”

Longtime guest and friend Jo Manhart, known as Missouri’s Egg Lady, would often appear on Pepper & Friends and whip up a recipe or give egg information to viewers. She says the show’s accessibility made it special. “You could always find something to like. He was really a mirror of the community.”

Pepper was also a producer, and while the show’s success came from the teamwork of Pepper, Mouser and the rest of the crew, sometimes Pepper was all the show needed. “He made it work just by being Paul Pepper,” Mouser says. Pepper and Mouser agree that they made a great team, on and off the air, and while Mouser did a lot of the organizational, behind-the-scenes work, Pepper was able to sell the show to guests. “Paul supported them, and they supported Paul,” Mouser says. One of those guests was Manhart. “I would get out of a sickbed to go and do his show,” she says.

Todd Davison, the artistic director at the Maples Repertory Theatre in Macon, was a frequent guest on Pepper & Friends and continues to pop up on Radio Friends from time to time to promote the theater’s shows. Part of the reason he keeps coming back is because Pepper is “the consummate host.” And sometimes, Pepper and Mouser show up in the audience at Davison’s productions. “We always enjoy having them come,” Davison says. Forming these relationships with Manhart, Davison and others was one of the more rewarding aspects of Pepper’s career. “The most special people are the ones that have become dear friends,” Pepper says.

Of course, the show had its fair share of problems. Sometimes microphones wouldn’t

work. Or camera shots weren’t quite right. Some gaffes stand out to Pepper more than others. Once, he had a group of dancers on the show, and they were performing in front of a flat, which is a fake wall used as a backdrop and held up by cement blocks. “Somebody apparently did not put enough cement blocks to hold it up,” Pepper says. “And one or two of them must have kicked back a little bit harder, and the set came tumbling down on them. James and I ran in, and we held the set up. They did not miss a beat. They just kept dancing!”

There are moments Pepper remembers that serve as a testament to the show’s impact on the community and its people. During a show in the mid-’90s, Judy Cave, a singer and piano player who is blind, sang a particularly inspirational song, Pepper says. After the show, he got a call from a woman who told him that she had been contemplating suicide until she heard the song Cave sang on his show. “You never know whose life you’re touching at any time,” Pepper says. Pepper can rattle off names of guests and crew members he has had over the years that, though he might not see them all the time, are still important to him. He offered to help take care of former Columbia Daily Tribune humor columnist and good friend Irene Haskins when she was dying. He visited former Pepper & Friends crew member and current show director Travis McMillen at the hospital when McMillen’s children were born. He cares about the people around him. Longtime friend and occasional show guest Libby Gill, who now lives in Sacramento, California, can still recall what he meant to the community during her time in Columbia. “He was the beacon for goodness,” she says.

On Pepper’s birthday one year, he was out celebrating at a restaurant. Somehow, the wait staff found out it was his birthday and, as Gill recalls, came over to their table, clattering pans and singing “Happy Birthday” to him. Pepper, despite making a career out of being on television, did not enjoy attracting attention in public. “He was mortified,” Gill says.

In fact, off the screen, Paul is more Urzi than Pepper. He likes his privacy. “I’d be totally content not leaving my house for two to three weeks at a time,” he says with a smile.

Pepper and Mouser live in the countryside near Harrisburg, in a house they called “Spirit of the Woodland,” which they had built 18 years ago. When Pepper was out driving and looking for property, he says a voice came to him and told him to stop. As he halted his car, he realized he was in front of the perfect spot

PEOPLE THOUGHT OF US AS THEIR FRIENDS, AND WE THOUGHT OF THEM AS OUR FRIENDS. PEOPLE WOULD COME OUT TO THE STATION ALL THE TIME, JUST TO SAY HELLO.

— PAUL PEPPER

Paul Pepper knew from a young age that he wanted to one day host a local television show after his childhood visits to the set of The Charlotte Peters Show

Photography courtesy of Paul Pepper

to build a house. The land, which they named “Jomapaja” — using the first two letters of his parents’ names, John and Marie, and his and James’ — is Pepper’s peaceful escape with 80 acres of trees, rolling hills and a garden. “He would be a hermit if he could,” Mouser says.

In January 2009, Pepper’s career took a sharp, unexpected turn. He and Mouser were told by then-KOMU general manager Marty Siddall that Pepper & Friends wasn’t profitable enough. The show would be cancelled.

“It came as an absolute shock,” Pepper says. They agreed that the last show would be in September, so Pepper could celebrate his 40th year at the station. Pepper & Friends continued that year with both hosts knowing the end was coming. The news was made public in May. Pepper and Mouser did what they could, cutting costs of production and taking pay cuts, but nothing worked.

A silver lining, however, was the outcry at news of the cancellation. It started as somewhat of a grassroots movement. Protests began at the station and on MU’s campus. “For people to go through that effort, it meant everything,” Pepper says. “It made all of the hurt feelings worthwhile because you saw that the people did love that show, and they felt that it was their show also.”

On Sept. 18, 2009, Pepper & Friends

came back from commercial one last time to the tune of Floyd Cramer’s “Last Date.” It was the same song Pepper played as he signed off the air at KJCF all those years ago. He was surrounded by the people who made Pepper & Friends what it was, from current and former staff to frequent guests and longtime friends. They all shared his somber feelings, and they supported him through what he calls “the most difficult hour of my life.” “I wore a black hat with a black veil, like I was going to a funeral,” Manhart says.

“I said, ‘I can’t do it; I can’t say goodbye,’” Pepper says. “And then I realized, ‘Wait a minute, you’ve been doing this for 40 years. You’ve got 2½ minutes left on the air. You can’t not do this.’”

And he did it.

Four decades is a long time to be at one job. Pepper spent nearly three of them as the face of mid-Missouri. What made the show so special and kept it around for so long? McMillen has a reasonable guess.

“Paul.”

Fast forward more than 8½ years later, and Paul Pepper is sitting behind his set desk in the Reynolds Journalism Institute studio, looking over a list of guests for Radio Friends with Paul Pepper The third button from the top on his

Spidey pepper

Paul Pepper, along with James Mouser and Travis McMillen, will be rappelling from the roof of the Tiger Hotel on Sept. 15 for Love INC’s Over The Edge fundraiser.

Joining Pepper to support the organization that raises poverty awareness are former Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel, Tiger Hotel owner Glyn Laverick and many others.

light-blue Hawaiian shirt is unbuttoned. The shirt, along with his khaki pants and sneakers, is a far cry from the suits he wore every morning on Pepper & Friends, but this is his typical workday attire now.

As he gets ready to interview his guests for the next few hours, Pepper, wearing glasses that are missing most of each of their arms, discusses the list with McMillen.

One by one — and sometimes two — guests are ushered into the studio by Mouser. Some of the guests Pepper knows well, and some he doesn’t know at all, but based on his small talk with them before the taping, it’s impossible to tell the difference. He only has so much time to chat. As Pepper looks up into the camera, he raises his thick, dark eyebrows and flashes a wide grin. All of a sudden, it’s show time.

Pepper started at KBIA shortly after the TV show ended. The arrangement he made with Mike Dunn, the station manager, was simple; Pepper would come in two times a month and record two weeks of shows for Radio Friends with Paul Pepper. The partnership worked out for both parties. Now, Pepper doesn’t have to travel 30 miles into Columbia at 4:30 a.m. and drive home every day. They record every other Tuesday from 9 a.m. until around noon, and the show is set for the next two weeks. For KBIA,

IT MADE ALL OF THE HURT FEELINGS WORTHWHILE BECAUSE YOU SAW THAT THE PEOPLE DID LOVE THAT SHOW, AND THEY FELT THAT IT WAS THEIR SHOW ALSO.

— PAUL PEPPER

Paul Pepper found a new broadcasting home at KBIA less than a month after the cancellation of Pepper & Friends. In addition to airing every weekday at 8:50 a.m. on KBIA, Radio Friends with Paul Pepper is also broadcast on Columbia Access Television.

Pepper brings the same community connection he did at KOMU to new listeners. “One of the things that we were lacking was that our audience did not perceive that we were giving back to the community enough,” Dunn says. “We thought that with Paul, and the types of interviews he was doing, that would resonate with that audience, and it has.”

Pepper has also reunited with McMillen, who left Pepper & Friends in 2008 to work at the Reynolds Journalism Institute and is now the new show’s director. With many of the same guests appearing on Radio Friends, McMillen likens the feeling to a rebooted TV show. “I was like, ‘Whoa, is this really happening?’” he says. The transition for Pepper was comfortable. He also asked Mouser to be involved, and so he works behind the scenes, booking guests and keeping things organized. The day Pepper started there, they had a cake for him to celebrate the start of his new role at the radio station.

He has a lot more free time now, some of which he uses to tend to his garden. The patch of land where he grows tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis and, yes, peppers, has increased in size over the years, currently a little bigger than the studio he records his radio shows in. “When I’m in nature, I feel like I’m a part of nature,” he says. Pepper and Mouser have more time to vacation to Hawaii too, which Mouser calls “a second home.”

Pepper says he is in a good place. “Hey, I’m 72. I did (Pepper & Friends), and I lived my dream. Now I’m living a new chapter of a different dream.” If he needs assurance that his show was a success, he can look to McMillen. Similar to a young Paul Urzi, McMillen watched the local show as a boy, sitting in the audience, appearing on a segment. He went on to work on the show for 12 years, starting in high school and developing his own career. “I attribute where I am now to a small handful of people that worked out there when I first started,” McMillen says. “But it all goes back to him.”

Pepper doesn’t plan to leave broadcasting anytime soon. “‘I enjoy it,” he says. “And I hope that I can continue doing it for quite a while.”

Pepper is as kind and caring a person as one can be, Manhart and Gill say, and he treats everyone that way. That kindness has defined his long-standing career and came naturally to him. Pepper doesn’t see how unusual his gift is. As he puts it, “Isn’t that what human beings do?”

The “It’s Not Like I’m Drunk” Cocktail

2 oz. tequila

1 oz. triple sec

1/2 ounce lime juice

Salt

1 too many

1 automobile

1 missed red light

1 false sense of security

1 lowered reaction time

Combine ingredients. Shake. Have another. And another.

Never underestimate ‘just a few.’ Buzzed driving is drunk driving.

Burger bonanza

Don’t feel like grilling? Head to one of these local spots where the burgers won’t disappoint.

BY MARGAUX SCOTT

Americans eat a lot of burgers – 50 billion of them a year, according to PBS’ “Food for 9 Billion” project. There is little written history of who actually invented the burger, but one thing is certain: Whoever created this edible masterpiece knew what they were doing. Thankfully, Columbia has plenty of local restaurants that offer the straight-off-the-grill taste necessary for a burger without having to lift a finger, other than stuffing a patty in your mouth. We’ve got five joints for you to hit up this year.

Photography by Jason Vance

A burger at Just Jeff’s

Billiards

If you’re looking for something substantial to fill your belly, the double burger at Billiards is the way to go. It’s made with Midwestern ground chuck and served with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles on a sesame seed bun. This burger has the charred flavor you want and is messy in the way it should be. The pool hall has several side options, but with the size of this sandwich, you won’t need them.

514 E. Broadway, $4-8.50

Booches

This pool hall is known for its burgers and has been around since 1884. Booches’ hamburgers are small but packed with big flavor. This is a classic burger place, so don’t expect a fancy plate. Your burger comes as is on a piece of wax paper without fries. Whatever you choose, it will stand out at this Columbia staple. Oh, and you’ll need cash because Booches doesn’t accept debit or credit cards.

110 S. Ninth St., $4-11

D. Rowe’s

Want something similar to a burger but maybe sans meat? D. Rowe’s has just the thing. The restaurant’s veggie burger is a favorite among herbivores.

The quarter-pound black bean pat-

ty is made with roasted corn and chipotle peppers. This hearty sandwich will make you forget all about beef.

1005 Club Village Dr., $8.99

Just Jeff’s Don’t blink! You might miss this tiny building in the parking lot of the Parkade on Business Loop 70. This walk-up or drive-thru-only business started as a hot dog cart on MU’s campus but is now a steady brick-and-mortar store. The double cheeseburger is the most popular item on the menu and for good reason. Two juicy patties, lettuce and a host of other toppings — everything you could want in a burger.

701 Business Loop 70 W., $3.50-7

Mugs Up

This old-school drive-in opened in 1956 and has been a local gem ever since. Its homemade root beer is a must-have, and its “zip” burgers — similar to a sloppy joe — and hot dogs are equally popular. They’re made with ground beef and standard burger toppings. Fries are sold separately but are definitely a go-to side order. Make sure to bring cash or local checks, and leave your debit card at home.

603 Orange St., $2.15-2.95

5-star dive bars

Being a “dive” is a badge of honor for bar owners in Columbia. 13 MILLION

The number of Beyond Meat plant-based patties sold since 2016, according to its website.

$800 MILLION

The projected sales for plant-based patty companies by 2022, according to Euromonitor.

222.2 POUNDS

The amount of red meat and poultry that will be consumed in the U.S. this year per person, according to Bloomberg.

10 OUNCES

The amount of meat and poultry eaten each day per person, according to Bloomberg.

BY STEN SPINELLA

These establishments, teeming throngs of thirst and sound, are havens for townies. A harmonica or guitar plays in the background as you take a seat, a shot, a beer, a turn at the pool table. You’re invited to talk to a best friend, the person next to you, a stranger or maybe a bartender. Depending on how long the place has been around, you might sense the multiple generations that have passed through before you. You’re in a dive bar, and Columbia has a magnificent selection.

Dive Bar

Dive Bar is a five-minute drive outside of downtown, and it lives up to its title. Conversations, couples and banter mix with country and rock music to make for a simple escape from day-to-day life. Owner Karen Geotz opened Dive Bar in December 2017 after The Tiger Club, which previously occupied the building, shut down. Geotz says she and her spouse, Jeff Nichols, worked together to buy the place and update the vibe, making it more inviting. “A dive doesn’t necessarily have to be dark and dingy,” Geotz says. “A dive is a place where you wanna go and you wanna hang out.” There are three patios and a sand volleyball pit outside, and inside there’s a pool table that employees push into a corner when live bands play on Saturday nights.

1116 Business Loop 70 E., 607-9523 Mon.–Fri., 3 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.–1:30 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Klik’s

Tucked away on Tenth Street, Klik’s caters to locals in an area otherwise dominated by college students. Karen Krone, who also owns Snapper’s, created Klik’s to make it the kind of place where you can get a PBR, Stag or High Life for

Photography by Zhihan Huang

Billiards has been serving locals and visitors its renowned burgers stacked with all the toppings since 2008. Just 96 days after buying the building, Billiards opened.

$1.50 Monday through Friday. “People are wanting a good deal,” Krone says. “The type of person that isn’t much into the glitz and the glamour, but more, ‘I wanna have a beer at an affordable price with my friends.’” The bar has a pool table, a dartboard, pinball and TouchTunes — a jukebox patrons can control from their phones.

205 N. Tenth St., 449-6692

Mon.–Fri., 11 a.m.–1 a.m.; Saturday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. to midnight

McGinty’s

Located on the outskirts of Columbia’s downtown, McGinty’s is the working-class dive locals deserve. The 24 brews on tap appeal to beer enthusiasts, and the clientele does not often feature young millennials but rather the 30plus crowd. Although Shaun Blevins has owned the dive for nine years, he says McGinty’s has been in business since the ’80s and attracts customers from other similar bars in the area. “We share a lot of the same customers as Klik’s,” Blevins

says. From the outside, McGinty’s seems small, but the bar makes the most of its space. Rustic wood paneling makes it feel like a cabin, and the bar area is large and shaped like a square. There’s a pool table surrounded by stool seating and a shuffleboard nearby. If you step outside, there’s a spacious, tented patio ideal for the cigarette smoker and the summertime drinker.

1312 Old 63 S., 442-0274 Mon.–Sat., 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. to midnight

Snapper’s Boasting TouchTunes, classic bar games, cheap drinks and an unpredictable and diverse clientele, Snapper’s is the epitome of a Columbia dive. Found on Seventh Street, Snapper’s is a place for people to gather before their evening festivities begin, end after a long night of $1 Jell-O shots, sip a quiet drink in the afternoon, or meet up with old friends. Krone has long kept disposable cameras behind the bar for patrons to use because she thinks they represent dive bar

Bartender Sydney Barton tends the taps at Dive Bar, a local joint known for sand volleyball and live music on Saturdays.

culture. “People want to feel nostalgic; they have a little piece of themselves there,” Krone says. “They can walk in and show their friends, ‘Hey, I’ve been here before.’”

12 S. Seventh St., 256-4901 Mon.–Fri., 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Photography by Zhihan Huang

Sincerely yours, the breakfast club

Feast your eyes on this flowchart to find your morning meal BY BREA CUBIT

My stomach sounds like a thunderstorm. I'm pretty hungry.

You just woke up. How hungry are you?

I just need something light to get me through morning.

How much time do you have?

I'm willing to wait if it means I get to stuff my face.

The sooner I get some grub, the less likely I am to rip someone's head off.

budget?

I'm feeling boujee, so I'm willing to splurge. I can pretend to be rich today.

Are you health-conscious?

Um, sometimes? OK, no, not really.

You bet I am.

Do you eat vegan, vegetarian or organic?

Sure do. I like to eat and save the planet at the same time.

Do you want to stick to the good ol' downtown eateries?

Oh, you know, I'm making my way downtown and walking fast.

I'm hungry but also ballin' on a budget. So, I'm not looking for anything too pricey.

Do you want to snap an Insta-worthy photo?

Yeah, give me something colorful so I can rack up the likes.

Sunrise Quesadilla Main Squeeze, $8.75 28 S. Ninth St. The Sunrise Quesadilla at Main Squeeze gives you the choice of having eggs or tofu with jack cheese, almond cheese, enchilada sauce, avocado and scallions on wheat tortillas.

No, thanks. I just want to eat.

Scratch Sprinkles doughnut

Harold’s Doughnuts, $2

114 S. Ninth St.

This vibrant treat from Harold’s Doughnuts is a quick and delicious morning snack.

Sausage Eggwich

B&B Bagel, $3.68 124 E. Nifong Blvd.

It’s simple sustenance done right and will give you ample energy to get through the a.m.

I'd rather not deal with the downtown crowd when my stomach is literally roaring. Not necessarily. I just like to enjoy a nutritious meal.

Eggs, Bacon and Ham Crepe Cafe Poland, $7 807 Locust St.

It’s filling enough to hold you over for the morning — and perhaps even the early afternoon — without completely stuffing you.

French Toast Custard

The Upper Crust Bakery, $9.95 3919 S Providence Road

The French toast’s creamy and crispy texture is complemented by a serving of strawberries and Bavarian cream.

Eggs and Bacon Platter

Broadway Diner, $6.75, $2–3 22 S. Fourth St.

Add in a side of Biscuits and Gravy if you really want to throw down and get the full diner experience.

Shrimp N Grits Room 38, $16 38 N. Eigth St. Room 38’s Shrimp N Grits includes rock shrimp, fried eggs, peppers, onions and parmesan grits served with white wine chipotle sauce.

Black Bean Scramble Cafe Berlin, $8 220 N. 10th St.

Get your breakfast fix with Cafe Berlin’s Black Bean Scramble. Two eggs are scrambled with vegetables and greens and sprinkled with jack cheese.

Whet your whiskers

Many a match is made over a cup of coffee, but at Papa’s Cat Café, the matches are more about pets than people. Owner Ryan Kennedy’s new java joint, opened July 31, allows customers to sip Fretboard Coffee and nosh baked goods with adoptable cat companions in the next room. Inspired by similar cat-centric coffee shops he witnessed on vacation in Seoul, South Korea, Kennedy brought the concept home to Columbia — a tricky task, given health code regulations. The solution? Separate, sealed rooms for the cafe and the kitten zone, each with its own HVAC system and a twice-daily cleaning regimen for litter boxes. Through a partnership with Boone County Animal Care, most of the cats are available for adoption, so if you fall for a fuzzball, you’re encouraged to apply for ownership. For $5, you can walk in and get a half hour with the cats, or make a $10 reservation online for a full hour and a small drip coffee.

14 S. Second St., papascatcafe.com

Photography by Zhihan Huang

Mark your calendars

Mexican Independence Day is approaching, and remembering the context is more important than the party.

BY HANNAH SIMON

For many in the United States, September is typically associated with a change of season, back-to-school and Labor Day, but one holiday that doesn’t show up on your calendar is Sept. 16 — Mexican Independence Day. Unlike the United States’ Fourth of July holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Mexican Independence Day kicks off a whole month of celebrating Mexican heritage. Here’s what you need to know to celebrate respectfully.

Doesn’t Cinco de Mayo celebrate Mexican Independence?

No. Cinco de Mayo is commonly confused with Mexican Independence Day, but the two are actually very different. For starters, Mexican Independence Day falls on Sept. 16 with celebrations starting on the 15th. Guadalupe Pérez-Anzaldo, associate professor of Spanish at MU, says Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday in Mexico, but not many people actually

celebrate it. Cinco de Mayo pays homage to the 1862 Battle of Puebla, in which the Mexicans defeated French troops. Mexico’s president makes a speech at Puebla, and that is about the extent of Cinco de Mayo’s celebration.

In contrast, Mexican Independence Day commemorates Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla who urged fellow Mexicans to rise up against the Spanish government. There are fireworks, food, dancing and tequila. The president walks out onto one of the balconies of Los Pinos, the presidential palace, and yells out what translates to “long live Mexico,” and Mexicans echo the phrase. There is also a military parade.

How should Americans celebrate without appropriating Mexican culture?

There is no problem in celebrating, says Eduardo Crespi, founder of Centro Latino de Salud, a nonprofit working with immigrants in mid-Missouri. Crespi himself appreciates sharing an observance that’s not part of his heritage, as he grew up in Argentina. He is adamant

about respecting the culture and not mocking it. Pérez-Anzaldo agrees that cultural appropriation is accepting certain parts of a culture while rejecting others. “Some people are very reluctant to accept the fact that Mexicans were here before it was the U.S.,” Pérez-Anzaldo says. “So for them to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, it is saying ‘OK, I ...like the food and the drinks that you prepare, but I don’t want to know anything about your heritage.”

Photography by Davis Winborne

Eduardo Crespi talks to dinner guests at the Central Latino de Salud, a community resource center started to work with immigrants in mid-Missouri.

TO-DO LIST

Your curated guide of what to do in Columbia this month.

CULTURE

Sherlock Holmes and the Suicide Club

Take a step back from reality and immerse yourself in a game — a game of murder. This play takes you on a journey of unexpected twists. Sept. 6-9, 8-11 p.m., Maplewood Barn Community Theatre, $10; $3, children under 10, 227-2276

Tuesdays with Morrie

Based on the best-selling novel by Mitch Albom, the play follows Mitch, a career-focused journalist who becomes reunited with his former college professor, Morrie, who is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Sept. 6-9 and 14-16, 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., Talking Horse Productions, $13-15, 607-1740

Thomas Hart Benton’s Perilous

Visions

Missouri artist Thomas Hart Benton created art as the U.S. entered World War II. The event will showcase 10 of his pieces that reflect his own emotional journey through the war. Sept. 6-7, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sept. 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., State Historical Society, Free, 882-7083

EcoArt Fest

Relax riverside and enjoy the arts for the 13th year at this activity-filled festival. With bands, poets and dancers as well as artists creating and selling their

DON’T MISS IT

Author Karen Piper will discuss her novel, A Girl’s Guide to Missiles, a comingof-age memoir about growing up on a naval missile testing base in the deserts of California. Sept. 22, 10:30 a.m., Boone County History and Culture Center, Free, 443-8936 wares, there’s something for everyone. Sept. 8, noon–9 p.m.; Sept. 9, noon–8 p.m., Cooper’s Landing, Free, 657-1019

The Bridge Movie

Discussions:

American Creed

Explore what identifies and connects us as Americans in this documentary screening. Sept. 10, 4 p.m., The Bridge, 220 Townsend Hall, Free, 882-0511

Cabaret

This musical centers around Clifford Bradshaw, an American writer searching for inspiration for his next book. Bradshaw discovers a strange nightclub called the Kit Kat Klub and meets a cast of characters unlike any

he’s known before. Sept. 13-16, 20-23 and 27-30, Columbia Entertainment Co., $14, adult; $12, students and seniors; $10, Thursdays, 474-3699

Art Uncork’d

Showcase your artistic side with a little wine and a lot of creativity. No matter your experience level, unwind and explore new art mediums and techniques. Open to anyone over 21. Sept. 14, 5:30–7:30 p.m., $25; $20, members, Columbia Art League, 443-8838

Heritage Festival and Craft Show

In its 41st year, the Heritage Festival and Craft Show brings 5,000 to 10,000 visitors to Nifong Park. The festival spans

two days and incorporates arts and crafts, dance, storytellers, food and drink vendors and more. Sept. 15 and Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Historic Nifong Park, Free, 874-7460

Fun Home

Based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir, this thought-provoking story continually unfolds new secrets. Watch as the musical reveals the mysteries of her life and those closest to her. Sept. 21 and 22, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 28 and 29, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 23, 2 p.m., Macklanburg Playhouse, $18; $9, students and seniors; $8, Stephens faculty and staff; Free, Stephens students, 876-7199

CIVIC Vet Center Bike and Car Show

Vote for your favorite vintage, classic and modern cars as well as custom/ stock motorcycles or enter your own vehicle for a $10 donation. Lunch will be served. Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Truman VA Hospital, Free, 335-8519

Party on the Roof

Support the North Village Arts District at their annual First Friday fundraiser complete with light fare and sunset views. Enter the raffle and art auction for a chance to win a local artist’s work. Sept. 16, 5:30-8 p.m., The Roof at The Broadway Hotel, $20, 442-2999

Harry Potter Trivia Night

Test your wizarding knowledge with two

options: First Years (moderate difficulty) or OWLS (expert level). Come cloaked in your best Hogwarts attire, and don’t forget your wand. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. Sept. 20, 5:30-10:30 p.m., ELKS Lodge, $25, individual; $160, team, 442-6416

Rock Bridge Lion’s Club

Charity Picnic

Honor mid-Missouri veterans while noshing on barbecue and sipping Logboat brews. Sept. 24, 5-8 p.m., Logboat Brewing Company, $30, 445-2334

South Farms Showcase

Interested in Columbia’s rich agricultural scene? Learn about the impact of farming locally at the South Farm Research Center’s annual showcase. Activities include corn and strawbale mazes, interacting with barnyard animals, cow milking and more. Sept. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., South Farm Research Center, Free, 882-4450

FOOD

Günter Hans Waffle Bar

Back by popular demand, Günter Hans reopened its Saturday waffle bar and bottomless mimosas. The brunch bar includes 12 to 15 toppings in a helpyourself fashion. Every Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Günter Hans, 256-1205

Tomato Festival

Whether you’re a gardening aficionado or just a fan of the fruit, this festival provides presentations from tomato experts, a tour of the

research center and even a kid’s corner. There will be over 220 varieties of tomatoes, peppers and tomatillos for tasting.

Sept. 6, 4-7 p.m., Bradford Research Center, $5; Free, kids under 12, 884-7945

MOYFC and CCUA Potluck

Urban Farm and the Missouri Young Farmers Coalition partner up to bring local food to a community event. Attendees should bring a dish to share. Sept 9., 6-8 p.m., Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, Free, 514-4174

Dinner and Wine Series

Experience a four-course dinner paired with wine in this extravagant spread. With gourmet chefs and a sommelier, you can enjoy a luxurious feast while learning more about selecting the perfect wine. Sept. 11, 7-11 p.m., Glenn’s Café, $55, 447-7100 for reservations

Five Course Wine Dinner

Churchill’s Steak and Seafood will host a fivecourse dinner with a portion of the profits going to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Missouri. The dinner includes an appetizer, soup, salad, entrée and dessert with wine pairings for each course. Sept. 18, 6-9 p.m., Churchill’s, $100, 445-8531

MUSIC

Joshua Allen

Meeting at the crossroads of alternative rock and red dirt country, Alabama artist

DON’T MISS IT

Joshua Allen brings his southern flare to Columbia. Sept. 7, 8 p.m., The Dive Bar, Free, 607-9523

Black Jack Row

Gear up for the soulful and eccentric sounds from Black Jack Row as band members take over the stage. Sept. 7, 8 p.m., Yin Yang Night Club, $5, 21+, 303-5663

Orchard Fire & Tanner Lee Band

Support two local bands as they debut their latest projects in a dual album release party. Orchard Fire brings the country rock style, while Tanner Lee Band delivers the high-energy southern rock sound. Sept. 7, 9 p.m. doors; 9:30 show, Rose Music Hall, $5, 875-0588

Ha Ha Tonka

Enjoy the indie rock sounds of Ha Ha Tonka brought to you by Missouri Athletics’ second annual Tailgate Concert Series. Sept. 8, west side of Hearnes Center, Free, 884-7297

Family and Friends

Celebrating the mantra “good music, good people,” this Georgia band strives to leave crowds in bliss as they showcase their lively and dynamic anthems. Sept. 11, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, Rose Music Hall, $10 in advance; $12 day of show, 874-1944

DJ Pauly D

Are you down to fist pump? Turn up with reality television star Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio, from the hit MTV show “Jersey Shore,” as he brings the house down with his music mixes. Sept.13, 8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show, The Blue Note, $30 in advance; $35 day of, 874-1944

Hummingbirdhouse Music Storytime

Bring your little ones, ages 1 to 6, and a favorite book for 30 minutes of musical storytelling that’s sure to delight. Sept. 18, 11 a.m., Hummingbirdhouse Music Studio, $5 per child, 874-6814

See more in Vox’s online calendar.

To submit an event, e-mail vox@missouri.edu or submit via online form at voxmagazine.com.

New Franklin native and country artist Sara Evans will hold a concert at The Blue Note sponsored by Compass Health Network to raise awareness for its Mental Health First Aid course. Sept. 15. Doors open at 7 p.m., show is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $44.50 in advance $45 the day of and there’s an $5 optional donation. Call 874-1944 for more.

Nick Schnebelen Band + The Mojo Roots

Blues is in Schnebelen’s blood — he was a member of Trampled Under Foot with his brother and sister, and both his parents played in the Kansas City blues scene.

Sept. 21, 8:30 p.m. doors; 9 p.m. show, Rose Music Hall, $6 in advance; $8 day of, 874-1944

Tootie Heath Trio feat. Emmet Cohen

“We Always Swing” Jazz Series kicks off its 24th season with drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath, Emmet Cohen and Corcoran Holt.

Sept. 23, 3:30 and 7 p.m., Murry’s, $20-46, Boone County History and Culture Center, 449-3009 ext. 1

Merry Ellen Kirk

Part of the Boone Piano Concert Series, the poet shares her introspective vocals in a set that subverts and adapts pop music, teeming with string accompaniments.

Sept. 24, 7 p.m., Boone County History and Culture Center, $20, adults; $10, ages 5-14, 443-8936

SPORTS

Super Casual Bikecamping Trip

If you’ve got the gear, join in on a weekend bikecamping adventure hosted by Walt’s Bike Shop. The 35-mile route winds north toward Harrisburg and ends beside Bennitt Lake. Sept. 8 and 9, noon, Walt’s Bike Shop, Free or $20 with meals included, 886-9258

Charity Puppy Yoga

Looking for a reason to finally get into yoga? Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue will have puppies roaming throughout the room. Sept. 9, 1-2 p.m., Bur Oak Brewery, $20, 314-374-2351

Kick Cancer in the Cornhole

Stick it to cancer while enjoying a few brews at Northwestern Mutual’s Cornhole Tournament to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand. There will also be a silent auction.

Sept. 15, noon-5 p.m., Logboat Brewing Co., $25, individual; $50, team, 446-5511

Gold Rush vs. Georgia

Wear your gold as the Tigers try to start off SEC play with a win over the Bulldogs. Sept. 22, TBA, Faurot Field, prices vary, 882-6501

Caretakers driven by love for the land

BY SHANNON WILSON

Curt Barrett always wanted to be a park ranger when he grew up, and in a way, he got his wish. He and his wife, Cindy, have been caretakers at the Pinnacles Youth Park near Sturgeon, Missouri, for 10 years. The pair maintains the park, collects lost items

and keeps an eye on visitors so they can get help if someone is lost or injured. The privately-owned park was established in 1965 by Don Burk, whose son, Phillip, is president of the Board of Directors. Today, it runs entirely on donations, and despite the difficulty in maintaining the park on such a limited

budget, the Barretts have worked to make it as well-kept as possible.

“They take ownership of the entire park as if it was theirs, which is a great relief for the entire board,” Phillip Burk says. “We trust them. I don’t think we could get anything better.”

Curt attended MU when he was 50 years old and earned a degree in secondary education. He and Cindy share a love of nature and hope everyone who comes to the Pinnacles will leave with the same respect for the outdoors that they have.

Did you have experiences growing up that really brought out your love for the outdoors?

Cindy: I was just a tomboy. If I had my dolls, it was out in the barnyard with my little brother, and we were burying them and bombing them and building tunnels for them. We were raised on a farm, had relatives that had farms, and I was just outside all the time. So, we made the best of it.

Curt: My dad worked for Uniroyal, and he got four to six weeks of paid vacation every year. One year in Canada — I don’t know how he even came across these people — but we ended up staying in a lodge in a miner’s camp, or a logger’s camp up in Quebec. There was nobody but miners or lumberjacks there but us. You get to see how they live, how they really are.

What are your favorite national parks?

Cindy: I’ve never been to a national park. Well, Dad helped build Truman Dam and Reservoir down in Warsaw. We had to move with his work, wherever there was work, and that put him there for years, building the dam. That was exciting, going to see the dam after it was done, saying, “My dad helped build that.”

Curt: I think I’ve been to Yellowstone about five times, and every time was in a different area. It’s just, like, not even Earth. You can go see Old Faithful, but Dad would take us to these other places that most people didn’t see.

Photography by India Garrish

Curt and Cindy Barrett know natural beauty isn’t free. The couple has spent the past decade preserving Pinnacles Youth Park for all to enjoy.