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...
Easy to forget
Turns out it is easy to forget something you’ve done for years and take it for granted. Likewise, it’s easy to forget where your electricity comes from today. We all know the luxury of just flipping a switch or plugging in a cord. But it wasn’t long ago those of us who lived in rural America were in the dark.
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...
100,000-mile man
Runner Rod Williams pounds the pavement around Warrensburg On July 22, Rod Williams toed the starting line on the University of Central Missouri track, a place he knew well from his time as one of the Mules’ distance runners. Then he backed up 30 feet to ensure he was...
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...
Glass bender
Jim and Becky McCarter keep history alive through neon signs Every sign has a story, and every sign is worth saving — at least to Jim and Becky McCarter. The couple from Columbia have been dedicated to the craft and history of neon signs for more than four decades....
New year, new day
Front-row parking at the grocery store, stopping at the gas station and finding my cellphone on the tailgate of my truck or catching the biggest trout at fish camp opening day — if you ask my wife or any of my buddies, I’m a pretty lucky guy. I’m going to let you in...
New leaders for AMEC
Loren Haines new association president The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, the statewide service organization for Missouri’s electric cooperatives, has a new president. He is Loren Haines, CEO of North Central Missouri Electric Cooperative based in...
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 —...