Success is the norm for Northwest Missouri State basketball Walking into the sold-out Sanford Pentagon arena in March 2017, it didn’t take Dray Starzl long to realize Sioux Falls, South Dakota, had turned into Maryville North. Dray was a sophomore on the Northwest...
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Blue Jacket Journey
Grant Norfleet earns a spot on the National FFA stage In 24 hours, Grant Norfleet made his inaugural trip to Washington, D.C., witnessed two turkeys be pardoned and took a selfie with President Joe Biden. That epic trip was just the beginning of a life-changing year...
2024 Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest
Year after year, our readers have been eager to show us how much they love to spend time in Missouri’s state parks with their friends, family and furry companions. And why shouldn’t they? The parks draw nearly 20 million guests annually with more than 400,000 nights...
Chocolate-Covered Goodness
Dessert artist crafts mouthwatering sweets and treats For Ciara Kennell, Valentine’s Day is a series of numbers: 900 strawberries, 95 pounds of chocolate, 14-hour days and hundreds of happy customers. She wouldn’t have it any other way. Since 2021, Ciara has been...
IDK Cafe
Fried chicken is the thing at this northeast Missouri gathering spot Employees of the IDK Cafe have a standard response when newcomers ask: “What does IDK stand for?” Their answer is, “I don’t know.” Eventually the guests get the texting abbreviation, but not the...
Travels with Greg
Doniphan man roams in the slow lane When Greg Ponder retired from his job as the manager of finance for M & A Electric Power Cooperative in Poplar Bluff, one of his coworkers, Steven Austin, suggested he spend his newfound free time driving the length of Highway...
Never too old to hunt
Missouri Baptist Homes helps seniors get outdoors There comes a time in the life of every hunter when it seems like hanging up the blaze orange is inevitable. It could be because the legs no longer hold up long enough for a trek into the woods. Or maybe the eyes grew...
Painterly realism
The heroic art of Kyle Carroll If a roomful of people were asked how they know Kyle Carroll, the answers would be as varied as the respondents. As a former Missouri Department of Conservation agent, retired Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, Dekalb County...
From trees to pies
One family’s two pecan businesses span five generations Sometimes you meet a person so dedicated to their craft their passion is infectious. For Jennifer Cassaday, that was her grandfather Vernon Byrd and his love of pecans. As Jennifer — and anyone who knew Vernon —...
Savory Soups
Thai Chicken and Rice Soup One 4.4-ounce cup instant cilantro and lime jasmine rice 1/2 cup cooked rotisserie chicken, chopped 1/2 cup chicken broth 1/2 cup coconut milk 1 tablespoon Thai green curry paste 3 small shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced 1 scallion, thinly...