1

w

SEMO TIMES NEW YEAR, NEW SEMO TIMES

Todd Richardson, Doug Libla, and more kick off a new legislative session

BEST REPRESENTATION IN THE CAPITOL

FEBR

UARY

2015

SHERYL CROW ON KENNETT CROSSROADS SUCCESS, GROWING UP IN THE BOOTHEEL

2 | SEMO TIMES | FEBRUARY 2015

CONTENTS

'05 FORD F150 EXTENDED CAB 4X4

$6,500

'01 PONTIAC BOONEVILLE V6 AUTO GREAT CAR 127,XXX

MILES

$4,950

'02 Ford Explorer LEATHER, LOADED

$3,950

FORD EXPLORER '93 LEATHER SUNROOF 4X4, 89K MILES

$2,459

LOCAL TRADE - DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!

1997 FORD F1502 WHEEL DRIVE LONG BED

$1,959

4-5 CROSSFIT HITS BOOTHEEL AND CROSSES BARRIERS

6 ACTIVE KAT YOGA GROWS

IN DONIPHAN

7 REYNOLDS COUNTY HOSTS

WEIGHT LOSS COMPETITION

8SHERYL CROW SPEAKS TO ST

10 KENNETT CROSSROADS A SUCCESS

10 WOMEN TAKING TO THE ROADS AND TRAILS

11 WHAT CAN STOP JOE WEBER?

12 -13BEST REPRESENTATION IN THE CAPITOL

1410 ON A TANK

15 BUTCHER BLOCK & BOURBON

semotimes.comset it as your homepage and always be up to date.

3

Like the owners and investors of SEMO Times and many of you, I started off the year with a resolution. I resolve, as the new publisher of SEMO Times, to provide Southeast Missourians with diverse and quality current coverage. I see a demand as I get to know more and more of your neighbors - a demand for relevant and original, thoughtful content. This demand is fueled by social media - mostly Facebook!

Since I took the helm just weeks ago, I’ve noticed that over 90% of our traffic comes from Facebook. So, will you do me a huge favor and go like our page if you haven’t yet? I’ll return the favor and increase the diversity and regionalism of coverage. We will get you your news, but we will also get you features and profiles on the most interesting events, people, and places in Southeast Missouri. We will reach from Farmington and Cape Girardeau to the Bootheel and Poplar Bluff.

I’ve got plenty of ideas, but I’m sure you have some too. If there’s an event you want included or a question about a business you want answered or you want to know what’s going on down the street, shoot me an email at publisher@semotimes.com.

We’re growing and I want you to come with us in 2015. My resolution boils down to having

the best resource of a website in Southeast Missouri - we have the news, features, profiles, announcements, calendar, classifieds, photos, etc. I invite you to check out (are you really still reading?) the website and even make it your homepage, because there will always be something new, interesting, and relevant.

It was truly an honor to be asked to be publisher of SEMO Times. I have a lot to learn, but I and many that know me believe I have even more to bring to the table - and I hope they’re right.

You will see more of SEMO at SEMOTimes.com.

Thanks for having me,

Rachael Herndonpublisher@semotimes.com

SEMO Times is very excited to see 2015! Like most of you make New Year’s Resolutions, so did we. As owners of this publication serving you fine readers, we resolve to make this the best publication serving the entirety of the bootheel. This is the first issue printed with Rachael Herndon as publisher, who we have utmost faith and trust in. I hope that you will embrace her and share with her your experiences.

In case you’ve missed it, there have been some changes online. Obituaries are posted and updated daily. The event calendar is updated daily. We are working to post birth, engagement, and wedding announcements and we need your help to know who is on the verge of a life changing event. Be sure to like us on Facebook to ensure you don’t miss any news and feel free to write on our wall, send us a message — or better yet, post in our forum at semotimes.com. We want you to use the forum online to post your rants, raves, announcements, opinions, reviews, and all.

Also, don’t forget that we have classifieds! They will be free! Our website gets thousands of hits a day and all of our classifieds are verified and modified - so you don’t have to worry about scams like you do with other websites.

ST will continue to increase coverage and distribution - if you want your business to be noticed, please be sure to contact Angela Hankins and get your ad in! She can be reached at (573) 614-8564.

SEMO is a community and we resolve to present the Times of it. Look for the print every first of the month and be sure to check our website regularly and like us on Facebook!

Best,

Owners and Investors of SEMO Times

FROM THE OWNERS FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the Spirit of the Blues River Spirit Gallery of Van Buren Missouri is happy to sponsor:

Tickets are $5.00 at the door. All ticket proceeds will go to benefit the community center.

Come out and support the first Bulldog Blues Festival...the first of many to come!For more information call: Vickie Glassman at River Spirit Gallery at 417-247-1495

The First Bulldog Blues FestivalSaturday Feb. 7th 6:00 p.m.

Van Buren Community Center, Van Buren, Missouri

Bands Include:Michael Blindcat McIntire and Sandie Mamacat Zemblidge

Darin Stevens and the Black River Blues Band | Violet and the Stolen Smokes

4 | SEMO TIMES | FEBRUARY 2015

BY TAMMY HILDERBRAND

It was probably after the 1950’s that Americans first realized something was going terribly wrong with their bodies.

Before that, America was largely a rural country. People stayed in decent physical shape for two reasons. First, there wasn’t a huge surplus of food, and second, people still did physical labor to work off the calories of everything they ate.

But once Americans made their mass exodus from farms into cities, things changed. The jobs changed. Food changed.

All of the sudden they started gaining weight because they were spending their time every day in offices rather than working on farms. People start-ed buying their food at grocery stores rather than raising it on their own farm.

By the 1960’s, it was start-ing to become obvious that America had a weight problem. By the time the 1980’s rolled around, there was already talk of an obesity epidemic, and suddenly exercise became in vogue.

Then it became a multi-mil-lion dollar business, with peo-ple flocking to gyms in spandex to “get physical”. Gyms got busier and fancier, with weight machines, personal trainers, saunas, massages, and even swimming pools. Some even developed salons and put in tanning beds.

But there was one problem: a lot of people didn’t really like that. It was a fad, not a way of life. People would switch health clubs, looking for the “hot” club, looking for social-ization as much as exercise. Sure….they’d come for a few weeks, maybe a few months in their spandex, with ear phones plugged in to walk on the treadmill. But….they were getting bored

And as Americans were aging, they came to realize it was fine to make your body look better. But what they re-

ally wanted was to make their bodies work better.

During these years, a lot of American service people were serving their country overseas, in places like Iraq and Afghani-stan. Soldiers needed a place to stay in shape, but on the typical military base, there wasn’t the space or money for high-tech fitness gadgetry.

So….they went back to basics. They built modest gyms with low tech exercise equip-ment like free weights and maybe some gymnastics equip-ment. The idea became not to exercise for the six-pack abs, but to stay strong and healthy.

The “Crossfit” star was born, and many of those military people brought their back to basics gyms with them back to the United States.

One of those people was Charles Williams, a 33-year-old Cape Girardeau man who served in the National Guard in Iraq. That’s where he became involved in Crossfit and came to really like its simple princi-ples.

He opened “Muddy Water Crossfit” in Cape Girardeau in 2012. His gym consists basical-ly of free weights and rowing machines.

‘The beauty of Crossfit is that anyone can do it,” explained Williams. “I’ve had everybody in this gym from a 76-year-old to people who are professional athletes, to people who just want to strengthen their body’s core.”

It’s a very simple idea, but many people at first find Cross-fit intimidating.

“The idea of lifting weights scares a lot of people at first. They think they can’t do it,” said Williams. “But once they get past that psychological hur-dle, there is no stopping them, and they always surprise them-selves at what they can do.”

As a matter of fact, they are so thrilled with their own prog-ress that they inevitably tell all their friends and family about what they are accomplishing.

“Literally, I have had to do

no advertising,” said Williams. ‘This has spread just by word of mouth.”

One of the things people like about Crossfit is that it allows them to develop their own goals.

“Most people come four days a week, but once they get to a certain point, often they back down to just three days a week to maintain themselves,” he explained. Some will get so into it that they start attending competitions.

The other thing Williams says people like about Crossfit is the social aspect of it.

“For a lot of people, it be-comes a center to their life. All of the sudden, all their friends are into it,” said Williams. Part of that is because part of the Crossfit culture is encourage-ment of one another, and also holding one another account-able.

“If someone misses class, another person from that class is sure to contact them and find out why they weren’t there,” said Williams. ‘That keeps people involved. They are less likely to drop out. Every-one wants to see every single person succeed.”

Williams gym membership is $79 a month, which he notes is very reasonable for Crossfit. That’s because Crossfit is very heavily dependent on having trainers. Trainers are what help people be successful in meet-ing their fitness goals.

Travis Hotop is one of Wil-liams’ Crossfit converts, and he freely says Crossfit changed his life. He was born with Triadd Syndrome, which basically means he was born without abdominal muscles. He says Crossfit helped him learn to focus on what he can do rather than on what he can’t do.

“It has helped me in my everyday life,” said Hotop.

Katie “Binky” Stoneking says she started Crossfit two years ago. She had never been involved in any sort of fitness program before.

“Now I am the fittest and

CROSSFIT HITS BOOTHEEL AND CROSSES BARRIERS

Trever Hotop, courtesy of Tammy Hilderbrand

Bill Mosley in Crossfit gym, courtesy of Tammy Hilderbrand

5

CROSSFIT HITS BOOTHEEL AND CROSSES BARRIERS

healthiest I have ever been in my life,” said Stoneking. She came to Crossfit with a friend, and was hooked very quickly.

“At first I was a little intim-idated,” she said. “But then I learned I could do far more than I ever thought I could.”

Ironically, Crossfit seems to attract even more women than men.

Williams said he sees that trend at his gym, and so does Billy Mosley, who has Poplar Bluff Crossfit.

Mosley says he thinks women are attracted to Crossfit because in many ways, they are much less prideful than men.

“Notice we have no mirrors here,” said Mosley, pointing to the bare walls around the room. “That’s because Crossfit is not about how you look. It’s about how you feel.”

Women are drawn to that, he says, because they can separate themselves from their egos.

“There are a lot of men who have trouble leaving their pride at home,” said Mosley. “They are more competitive in nature. If they see a woman lifting more weight than they are, and it’s a blow to their ego. But this is not about ego. It’s about health.”

As a matter of fact, he has

just opened a 10,000 square foot gym that features Crossfit, but also a traditional gym.

He brought the traditional gym equipment to one side of the gym to help people get across that psychological hurdle.

“They come in with what they are comfortable with, but once they start seeing the Cross-fit, they want to try it, too,” said Mosley.

To get people in, his tradi-tional gym has a membership fee of just $14.95 per month. This traditional part of the gym is open 24 hours a day, so people can come according to their own schedules. Crossfit is more expensive because it requires trainers. Poplar Bluff Crossfit offers three –day-a week pack-ages for $99 a month, and four day a week programs from $120 a month.

“We basically wanted to take away every excuse a person tells themself that keeps them from getting in shape,” said Mosley. “We’re even going to add a day-care here so parents can bring their kids while they exercise.”

Already his gym operates about ten classes per day with about 25 people in each class. As is usual with Crossfit, he has plenty of trainers to work with

people and help them develop their own individual goals.

When asked if diet plays a part in the regiment, Mosley said that is up to the partici-pants.

“It really depends on what they want for themselves. It’s true that what we eat has an enormous impact on our bod-ies,” said Mosley.

As a matter of fact, he is training even his own children to stay away from processed foods and to develop a more natural diet.

“Really, as a society we need to get back to eating whole foods like we did two or three generations ago. Most of our health problems have to do with our diet. Early man didn’t die of heart disease and diabetes. Those are modern problems be-cause of our modern, processed diet,” stressed Mosley.

But as for the Crossfit workout, he says people never get bored with it because it con-stantly changes.

“No two workouts are ever the same,” he said. “And all of the movements are natural for our bodies. It’s very organic rather than superficial exercise.

Both men admit that Crossfit is designed for every body. But

they realize that not everyone who tries it will love it.

And that is fine.The most important thing,

they agree, is for everyone to find the form of exercise that works for them and their goals, and their lifestyle.

Trudy Hibler of Poplar Bluff says she likes online workout programs because she can easily accommodate them into her daily life, and she can constant-ly change routines and try new things, which keeps her workout from being boring.

Skip Rothenberger, a retired civil engineer who is now wheel-chair bound, says some form of exercise is important for every-one, even those who are disabled in some way.

“It will help your overall health to maintain the strength that you do have,” he comment-ed.

Mosley agreed.“There is a lot of research

that shows exercise is important for maintaining health. There are never any guarantees that someone is going to live to 100 because they exercise, but in general, the years they do live will be better years.”

6 | SEMO TIMES | FEBRUARY 2015

BY TAMMY HILDERBRAND

Kat Robinson believes exercise can be good for the mind and the spirit as well as the body.

She teaches yoga at Active Kat Yoga in Doniphan, which might seem to be an unlikely place for a yoga studio. But she has found yoga fits in very well in a small town.

“I’ve been teaching yoga since 2002,” said Robinson. “I started doing yoga my-self several years before that.”

She says she knows what an impact yoga has had on her own health.

“I can do things in my 50’s that I couldn’t do in my 20’s,” she says. She teaches to all ages of people, from their teens to their 60’s.

The thing that makes yoga so great for everyone is that every person who prac-tices yoga starts at their own place, their own level.

“If you’ve had a sedentary lifestyle and aren’t in great health, you can start with something gentle. As you increase your strength and flexibility, you can expand your work out,” explained Robinson.

Yoga is all about bringing one’s whole life and body back into balance.

“Really, yoga works at the cellular level. It is so rejuvenating and restoring,” said Robinson. “It will help lower blood pres-sure, decrease stress, decrease cholesterol levels. It helps to “reintroduce yourself to yourself.”

She says one of the greatest hurdles her students face is understanding that yoga is not competitive.

“We may have 15 people in a class doing the same pose, but they all look different, and they are each having their own indi-vidual experience,” commented Robinson, adding a laugh. “Yeah…it’s pretty groovy.”

Robinson also helps students take yoga with them. She sells yoga mats, blocks, straps and helpful DVDs.

“Yoga isn’t really about a class. It’s about a lifestyle and a way of thinking about yourself and the world around you,” she concluded.

If you are interested in learning more about yoga or taking a class, you can reach Active Kat Yoga at 573-996-7481. The studio is located at 106 South Grand Ave. in Doniphan.

Active Kat Yoga Grows in Doniphan

Reynolds County Hosts Weight Loss Competition

“Really, yoga works at the

cellular level. It is so rejuvenating

and restoring,” said Robinson.

IT’S ON THE CALENDARCHECK OUT THE SEMOTIMES.COM EVENT CALENDAR AND ALWAYS KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON

7

BY TAMMY HILDERBRAND

Rural areas are facing a huge problem when it comes to the battle against obesity.

“The problem of being in a rural area is that we don’t have access to fitness gyms, or organized fitness and diet programs,” explained Reynolds County Sheriff Tom Volner.

But he decided the battle against obesity was a battle he can win and help his community win.

All it takes, he says, is a little friendly competition.

So last year within the sheriff’s department, he started that friendly com-petition.

The idea is that each participant paid $20 to join the competition. Weekly weigh-ins were required. To not weigh in cost a penalty. To gain weight cost a penalty. All the money went in to a pool, and then the person who lost the most weight won the pool of money.

It was so successful that word of the com-petition started spreading throughout the community. All of the sudden other county office workers wanted in. The local bank wanted in.

The beautiful thing about it, says Volner, is it is actually helping to build a stronger sense of community.

“We’re all in this together,” he says. “We all want to be healthier, and it is easier to stay motivated when there are people around to encourage you.”

Some of the participants are going for the weight loss simply by diet. Others are de-veloping exercise programs for themselves to double the benefits of the diet.

It’s fun. It works. And it doesn’t hurt to get to take home a little extra cash.

Lori Campbell, Volner’s secretary, was the first winner. She got to take home about $200 from winning the competition.

Once the competition started spreading, and the winnings pot grew, the payoff also grew. An employee of the Reynolds County Ambulance District end up taking home $1,000 because of his weight loss.

Volner says now about 30 people have become involved in the competition.

The competitions run about 90 days.

A new one starts this week, and will run through the end of March.

“We’ve found it works better to limit the amount of time for the competition,”

explained Volner. “If it goes on too long, people tend to lose interest. It makes it easier to keep the interest up for shorter periods of time. That way each person can develop a new goal for each competition.”

Volner admits it was a group decision to stop the competition for the holidays.

“There were a lot of people who didn’t think they could continue the weight loss, or possibly even maintain it, through the hol-idays. And we don’t want people to give up. We want them to keep trying,” said Volner.

Those who wish to take part in the com-ing competition need to get their entry fee to the sheriff’s department by January 8.

“This has grown a lot, but the more people we get involved, the more fun it will be, and we’ll all be getting healthier,” said Volner. “I hope this time a lot of people from the community join us.”

Weigh-ins will be held weekly at the Reynolds County Health Center, the Missou-ri Highlands Health Care Center, and South-east Health Center of Reynolds County.

In the past, all the prize money went to

the top loser. But this time, Volner said they hope to encourage more people by splitting up the money.

The first place prize will go to the person with the highest per-centage of lost weight, which will amount to 40 percent of the prize money. A second prize will go to the person who lost the most total pounds, which will amount to 25 percent of the entry fee funds collected.

“But we also wanted to encourage people short term, so we’ve decided to do priz-es every two weeks. Those prizes might be money, or they may be other types of prizes gathered,” said Volner. “Two weeks makes it a more attainable goal, and we think it will help to keep people encouraged.”

The program has worked so well in Reyn-olds County that Vol-ner definitely thinks it is a concept that can

work in any county.With Missouri having the 16th highest

obesity rate in the nation, Volner feels any-thing that can help is a good thing. Almost one third of Missourians are no considered obese.

“We realize as a rural area we have some disadvantages, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything about it. And this has been fun. It’s fun to walk into the local bank and have people tell me how much weight they are losing. It’s fun to see the friendly compe-tition among people,” said Volner.

And being in a business where he sees too few positives, he thinks the weight loss competition has been a great bridge from the sheriff’s department to the people of his county.

“I’d say this has been nothing but posi-tive. I’m really glad we did it, and I’m really glad to see the idea spreading,” concluded the sheriff.

“We all want to be healthier, and it is easier to stay motivated when there are people around to encourage you.”Reynolds County Sheriff Tom Volner

Reynolds County Hosts Weight Loss Competition

8 | SEMO TIMES | FEBRUARY 2015

BY STEVE HANKINS

It's really good when we discover mega-stars who are true to their roots, who are certain their lives could not be better if they were influenced by others any-where else.

So when folks at Kennett decided it was time to hon-or a beloved music educa-tor, hometown girl Sheryl Crow and a few more home-grown musicians agreed.

That brings us to the Ken-nett Crossroads event Jan. 18 and 19 at Kennett.

The two-day affair fea-tured a sold-out acoustic guitar pull the 18th at the Kennett Opry House, and a concert the 19th at the Kennett High School audi-torium with Sheryl; coun-try-music star David Nail; insurgent country's Trent Tomlinson; and Noll Bill-ings with his country-rock-in' band, Blackjack Billy.

And all to raise money for new gear for the music department and athletics, and to honor someone close to the hearts of all the per-formers, Crow says.

"Viretta Sexton," she tells SEMO Times Wednesday from her Nashville home. "She's the head of the music department at Kennett.

"We all realized the benefits of singing in her choirs at school," Crow continues. "I mean, I sang in church for years under her direction. She's inspir-ing because she doesn't just teach choir. She teaches how to sing. All four of us were lucky enough to sing in Viretta's choirs. So we're doing this in the hopes we raise some money for new equipment for the music department and to include the athletic department with one big gift."

It wouldn't be the first time Crow has offered her services to benefit the com-

munity. She was a member of Kennett's swimming team and was instrumental in bringing the Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center from the drawing board to fruition. In addition, she's supported the Delta Children's Home and its annual auction for many years.

"All four of us have re-ceived a lot of support from the people of Kennett," the nine-time Grammy Award-winner says. "It's a wonderful place to live, and it's a wonderful place to call home.

"I mean, as a kid growing up there were all these towns around us and the kids were just wilder," she adds. "Kennett was differ-ent, and it's because of the grown-ups who raised us. The 'Puritan work ethic' my dad calls it. Work hard and do the best you can."

And Crow certainly lives up to that philosophy. She's shared stages with every icon from Michael Jackson and Eric Clapton to Willie Nelson and Pavarotti. She performed at televised gui-tar pulls that featured Elvis Costello, Neko Case, the late Jesse Winchester and Ron Sexsmith. Jammed with the glimmer twins. Even the late-great Robin Williams jumped on a Sheryl Crow stage to rap along with the band.

Regarding the sold-out, acoustic song-writing event - or guitar pull as its known in professional circles - Crow says its the opportuni-ty for folks to hear all four performers in an informal environment. The show was limited to 250 seats.

"The audience listens to snippets and we tell some of the stories behind the songs we've written," she says. "We all really are ex-cited about coming home."

So are the folks at Ken-nett. Both shows drew packed houses.

SHERYL CROW TALKS TO ST

9

BY STEVE HANKINS

The nearly unbelievable sounds of world-class music filled the halls of Kennett High School Monday night as a once-in-a-lifetime event unfolded for a stand-ing-room-only crowd.

It was a welcome home party the likes few of us are privileged to witness when the school played host to the second round of Kennett Crossroads and the return of former students Noll Bill-ings, Trent Tomlinson, David Nail and Sheryl Crow.

No seats were empty inside the auditorium as the attentive, enthusiastic audience of friends and family cheered for their favorite hometown artists who pulled out all the stops to make the event a singular, heart-stopping success. It was almost an impossibility to choose a favorite song from the multitude of hits that echoed through the room.

Noll and Blackjack Billy thrashed their way through an incendiary, raucous set

of material that promises to burn down billboard charts.

Trent Tomlinson and his band of outlaw country renegades thrilled the crowd with hit after Nashville hit that culminated with an inspired cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain.”

David Nail performed what many would think the im-possible by following Tom-linson’s Springsteen-like show with his own brand of soulful, country-flavored skyrockets that included his top 10 wonders “Let it Rain,” and “Whatever She’s Got.” Nail proved his father was correct when he advised him, “Country’s not the way you talk – country’s the way you are.”

And all this preceded the evening’s headliner, nine-time Grammy-Award winner Sheryl Crow and her band.

Crow was in wonderful, powerful voice Monday as she ripped through a torrent of hits that included “Soak Up The Sun,” “If It Makes You Happy,” “The First Cut is the Deepest,” and “Picture.”

She played a giant Guild bass guitar, her acoustic Gibsons, and her beloved sunburst Fender Telecaster.

And yes, that was Crow blowing harp like Delbert McClinton in a Jacksboro Highway barroom on a sum-mer Saturday night.

Crow’s band was right on the money, with acclaimed guitarist Peter Stroud and his bandmates never miss-ing a lick. Instruments were passed among Crow and the band seamlessly by a crew that added to the program with its quiet profession-alism and well-rehearsed game plan. It definitely was not the crew’s first rodeo.

The overall mix was smooth and full without being over-whelming – except when it was called for by Tomlinson and company. Kudos to a Sikeston sound engineering firm who served to hit the ball out of the park.

So Kennett Crossroads was a success for the school’s Fine Arts and Athletic Departments, which will receive the show’s proceeds for new gear.

It was a success for the friends and family in the audience – probably the finest ever to attend a show of this magnitude. No antics that could minimize a great evening. No smoke-laden at-mosphere. No attitude save for a good time.

It was a success for Viretta Sexton, who was the hon-ored music educator of the event. It was a success for the stellar performers who put away egos and gave their all for their alma mater.

But most important, it was a success for the city. These kinds of triumphs are few and far between. They really are beautiful symbols that build lasting memories and foster hopes for successful futures – the gift of what is possible when people come together to achieve a com-mon, positive purpose.

KENNETT CROSSROADS A SUCCESS

SEE MORE PICTURES AT SEMOTIMES.COM

10 | SEMO TIMES | FEBRUARY 2015

BY TAMMY HILDERBRAND

Women are no longer content to stay in the passenger seat, and that is good for sellers of motorcycles and ATVs.

Nationally, the number of women motorcycle operators has increased to about 7.2 million of the about 27 million total operators. Now, about one in ten women own motorcycles.

And it is not just motorcycles. Women are also moving into the world of all terrain vehicles (ATV).

Gwen Horner, finance manager at Bluff River Sports in Poplar Bluff, says that is welcome news.

“I like to see women taking control of motorcycles and ATVs,” said Horner. “It’s kind of indicative of the changing role of women in society.”

Now manufacturers are keeping women in mind when they design vehicles, and accessories and riding clothing is being designed for women’s bodies. Now jackets, gloves, and helmets are being designed for women.

And, with the addition of women to the market, motorcycle and ATV safety is up. Studies indicate women are generally more interested in formal safety training than men. Fifty-eight percent of women will choose to take a safety rider course, versus only about 44 percent of men.

That movement of women into the motorcycle and ATV world is a big change from the sales back in the year

2000, when Bluff River Sports occupied a much smaller building across the highway from where they are now.

For all riders motorcycles and ATVs represent freedom. Many ATV owners use their vehicles for both work and fun.

“In a rural area like this one, people used their ATVs for day to day work on their farms and properties, and then they also love them for hunting, and for just getting out in the woods and

running around,” said Horner.Bluff Powersports gives

customers maximum choices. They care Honda, Polaris, and Kawasaki vehicles.

“We have a lot of side by sides, ATVs, motorcycles and scooters,” said Horner, adding that generally they have around 300 machines in their inventory.

Though Bluff Powersports still have middle aged men as their number one sales

demographic, there is no doubt that is changing, said Horner.

“We are seeing more women all the time who buy their own sports vehicles,” said the finance manager. “And at Christmas, we do a lot of sales intended for women and even kids.”

Horner agreed at one time, not everyone could afford an ATV. Financing used to be difficult to come by.

“But not anymore,” said Horner. “It only takes about 15 minutes to find out if someone qualifies for financing, and usually they do.” She said Bluff Powersports has financing packages with zero down, and six months no interest.

“We’ve really got the most competitive interest rates around,” smiled Horner.

Horner says their business has flourished at the new location, giving them more room for inventory, and room to sponsor some cool events.

“We love getting involved in the community. We were sponsors of the Boat Races and Brick’s, and we just loved it,” she said.

She invited everyone to come by to see their inventory.

“We’ve got something for everyone,” said Horner. “And with spring just around the corner, people are going to want to start getting out. We’re ready for them!”

Women Taking to the Roads and Trails

“I like to see women taking control of motorcycles and ATVs,” said Horner. “It’s kind of indicative of the changing role of women in society.”

11

BY STEVE HANKINS

Joe Weber is not built to sit still.Maybe his middle name should be "Ser-

vice."At age 84, Joe serves his community as a

businessman.And he's served the people of Dexter as

mayor - unchallenged - for the last 14 years.Perhaps he can't sit still because staying

busy is genetic. The fraternal side of Joe's family emigrated to Dexter from Germany in 1860 and set up shop. His maternal side was named Norman and those folks "were in the farming racket" just north of town, Weber tells SEMO Times.

"There still are lots of Normans running around up there," he says. "Good people."

Or, maybe it's because as a fidgety boy, Joe looked to the blue skies of the Bootheel and longed to fly airplanes.

"It's the only thing I was really ever passionate about as a kid," he says of flying combat jets. "It's the only thing I ever wanted to do."

And he set out to accomplish that by volunteering for the United States Air Force.

"Right at the outbreak of the Korean war," Joe recalls. "I decided to volunteer and that's what I did."

He trained for pilot status and, sure enough, became a jet fighter jock. Weber flew combat sorties over Korea, and was not afraid of a dogfight if one happened to develop.

"I never splashed one," he says of his enemy combatants. "But it wasn't because I didn't try."

After the war, Joe had the opportunity to fly commercial aircraft. But that didn't quite suit him. So he packed up and returned home.

"There's no place else I'd want to live around here," Joe says. "I might have lived in Cape Girardeau once if I was dragged there.

"But it'd be a fight," he adds. "Dexter is just a great place."

Upon arrival Joe was asked to help operate the family's store. It grew from a general store about 105 years ago, added a hardware store and became a Ben Franklin store in the 1930s. It remains a downtown anchor and an area mainstay.

But even that role was not enough to ground the Dexter native. At age 70 he decid-ed to toss his hat in the political ring.

And he's served his beloved town in the mayor's position ever since.

Even then, at the city's helm, Weber just could not keep still. Joe was instrumental in changing the city's council-mayor form of

government to council-administrator-mayor.He says that division of labor is proactive,

allows for greater input, and the reaping of greater rewards over time.

"I served for a couple terms on the city council before I became mayor," Weber says. "It didn't take long for me to see how an ad-ministrator could really help things here."

So when then Dexter Mayor John Pruett made the decision to hire an administrator, Weber was on board.

"When Mr. (Mark) Stidham came along and we reviewed his accomplishments we sold - rather, he sold himself, to the council and the community," he says. "His abilities and commitment to Dexter, and I mean he's very committed to see that Dexter continues to remain healthy, to be a nice place to work and live, are evident every day."

Stidham serves in the administrator's slot still, as he has since Weber took office.

"We like to live in a nice town with a nice quality of life," Weber says. "I can't take credit for that.

"Before I became mayor, there were a few issues here that were straightened out," he continues. "I have to credit Mr. Stidham, our department heads and employees with performing the lion's share of the work. We have really good people in the Police and Fire departments. And the (Stoddard) county Am-bulance District people do a terrific job."

Dexter boasts many economic supports under the community table and continues to provide residents with opportunities, Weber says. He points to agriculture of course; industry, including a Tyson poultry process-ing plant and the Faurecia automotive parts manufacturing facilities; healthcare - an addition was made to the existing South-east Health-operated hospital, and a new, cutting-edge 45,000 square-foot facility operated by St. Francis Medical Partners opens in 2016; education, including a Three Rivers College campus headed by Malden's Bill Hampton; retail stores and restaurants, some located in a vibrant downtown area; media - Dexter sports a daily newspaper, radio and television stations; parks and recreation, with a new-ish gymnasium and a public swimming pool that rivals any area water park; and a substantial airport with a responsible, pro-active board of directors, all are found in this community of fewer than 8,000 people.

So is all that Joe Weber's legacy?"Legacy?" the modest Weber asks. He's

close to laughing out loud."That's something people read about," he

says. "What matters most is how we treat one another, the things we strive to achieve, and what we accomplish now."

It's obvious. Joe Weber can't sit still.He's only begun."Legacies are for magazines and newspa-

pers," he says with a sly grin. "Magazines and newspapers."

What Can Stop Joe Weber?

12 | SEMO TIMES | FEBRUARY 2015

BEST REPRESENTATION IN THE CAPITOLRichardson Leads SEMO Colleagues

BY RACHAEL HERNDON

Southeast Missouri has possibly the best representation in the Capitol. From representatives to senators, the area is not forgotten as state law is made. From Farmington to Cape Girardeau to Poplar Bluff, Southeast Missourians can rest easy knowing their representatives and senators are influential and reputable.

In the senate, Sen. Gary Romine (R-Farm-ington), Sen. Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeau)and Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff) all sit on influential committees.

Rep. Linda Black (R-Farmington) joined the Republican Party this winter, abandon-ing her post as one of the last Democrats from Southeast Missouri and has since gained access to resources she never had been able to provide as a Democrat for her district.

Rep. Kevin Engler, also from Farmington, is a former senator from the area who is also one of the most popular individuals in the Capitol, as well as a committee chair. Reps. Kathy Swan of Cape Girardeau and Holly Rehder of Sikeston both passed major legislation as freshmen in the body and enter their sophomore terms as committee chairs.

“We’ve got a good crew,” said Rep. Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff.

The list goes on and on, but the influence the region has cannot be discussed without mentioning Rep. Richardson’s role. Rich-ardson is the Majority Floor Leader of the Missouri House of Representatives — the second-in-command for the chamber.

“I’m still figuring it out,” Richardson said. “It is my responsibility to manage the floor calendar and debate. As legislation is filed, it is my responsibility to move legislation forward.”

Richardson had a quick rise to power. His father, Mark Lee Richardson, was a state representative and served as Minority Leader, the highest ranking Republican in the chamber, before his party seized power and the majority in both chambers. But Todd Richardson’s success isn’t nepo-tism. One can hardly throw a stone in the Missouri House without encountering a member claiming he is “the best politician [they’ve] ever met.”

Richardson is undeniably charismatic, intelligent, and witty. He has good hair, wears a suit like a pro, and has the kind of gentle southeast Missouri drawl you’d expect to hear on old-timey radio. Todd Richardson is the real deal when it comes to a man in politics with integrity, a man who never loses his ties to the district.

Surprisingly, Richardson was surprised by one responsibility of his new office in particular: establishing the dress code for women.

“One of the first things we do is pass House rules,” he said. “We had to establish the dress code for women and I can’t imag-ine anything I could be less qualified for.”

The dress code for women members of the House of Representatives remains the same as it has been for previous sessions.

Speaking of women, freshman Rep. Tila Rowland-Hubrecht (R-Dexter) agrees that Southeast Missouri may very well have the best representation in the building.

“The area has some amazing represen-tatives and senators,” Rowland-Hubrecht said. “Todd has been a great resource for me. He has given me so much advice and been able to connect me with resources to allow me to serve my constituents in the best way I can.”

Rowland-Hubrecht started her term in September at veto session. She represents the 151st District, which was formerly served by Republican Rep. Dennis Fowl-er. Fowler resigned his post when he was appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon to serve on the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole. The senate did not confirm his appoint-ment, but the people of the 151st District, which includes Dexter, Bernie, and Bloom-field, were left without a representative in the House. Hubrecht’s term started early thanks to a special election and she’s hit the ground running by ramping up her community involvement.

Rowland-Hubrecht’s entrance onto the scene in the House further proves that Southeast Missouri may very well have the best regional representation in the Capitol building.

13

BY RACHAEL HERNDON

Unlike many legislators in Jefferson City, Senator Doug Libla has lived in southeast Missouri, where he represents in Jefferson City, for his whole life. He went to high school in SEMO. He went to college in SEMO. He started his businesses in SEMO. He start-ed his family in SEMO.

Libla was born and raised in Greenville and went onto attend Three Rivers Community College. Today, visitors to his Capitol office will see a rug with Three Rivers’ logo outside his office door.

Elected in 2012, the senator has taken his experience in business and transportation to the Capitol. Now halfway through his first term, he was appointed this month as the chairman of the powerful committee on Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety. This committee sees all bills regard-ing road improvements and bridge repairs, as well as many of the bills filed that deal with law enforcement.

Libla expects that Southeast Missourians will see improvements in infrastructure and transportation, as well as agriculture, at home.

“Agriculture is huge in our district,” said Libla.

There have already been pushes for agri-cultural bills in both the House and Senate, including bills to make it easier to start a farm within Missouri.

The senator sees passionate constituents daily and reads the emails, letters, and mes-sages he is sent with stances and opinions on issues. More importantly though, the senator says he wants you to come to Jefferson City to share your opinion on legislation in com-mittee meetings.

“People need to come to committee hear-ings and have their voice be heard on legisla-tion,” he said. “While they’re here, they can roam the halls and learn about this state’s history. This is their Capitol.”

Session started the second week of January and the senator wants readers - especially his constituents throughout Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Shannon and Stoddard Counties - to know that it gets very busy as session goes on.

“Last I saw, the Senate had filed over 200 bills and the House has filed over 500.”

Libla is known through the Capitol to not make his stance known on any legislation until it goes through committee and Mis-sourians testify and ultimately comes to the floor for debate.

Southeast Missouri is well served in the House as well, with Rep. Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff serving as the House Majority Floor Leader. As floor leader, Richardson is the second in command and works closely with the Speaker of the House to control what legislation makes it to the floor of the House for consideration and voting. Richard-son is widely expected to be the next Speaker of the House.

“I look forward to working with Todd,” Libla said.

As would be expected of any public servant, Libla is incredibly involved in the region - he’s on the boards of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Three Rivers College Endowment Trust as well as serving as the past President and current Troop E Director of “THE MASTERS” - The Missouri Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief Society.

Being on boards may seem swanky, but Libla was personally pumping gas, changing oil, fixing flat tires, and washing cars at the first business he started. Libla started his own service station - Doug’s Sinclair & Tire - on the corner of North Main & Davis Street in Poplar Bluff.

Libla joined his brother, David, in business in 1977. Mid Continent Nail Corporation, which recently announced the need to hire 91 new employees, was their flagship com-pany.

The senator touts the growth of Poplar Bluff to many of his fellow businessmen, includ-ing Jim Bailey. Poplar Bluff is one of the few cities in the state to see strip malls at capaci-ty and parking lots full to the brim. The area is even seeing the addition of a Hobby Lobby.

Libla and his wife, Elaine, can be seen regularly volunteering and supporting the Baptist Children’s Home, Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff, and more. They’re long time members the First Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff.

Senator Libla Taking Lessons from SEMO to Jefferson City

BEST REPRESENTATION IN THE CAPITOL

14 | SEMO TIMES | FEBRUARY 2015

BY STEVE HANKINS

Although we all love living in Southeast Missouri, it sometimes is necessary to escape this bubble of tranquility, don our favorite road shoes and feed that traveling jones.

We can't stay away too long, though. Who'd mind the farm?So welcome to the premier of this column, 10 On a Tank with Hank.Here SEMO Times has the opportunity to share 10 activities we

might not get to experience at home, all on a tank of gas to and a tank of gas from the event.

And gas is cheap now, so load up your favorite folks, fill the tank and take off.

For more events throughout the month that you can get to on a tank of gas, check out semotimes.com for additional postings, as well as a complete listing of community events.

The number one event for me, which I think most folks around here might appreciate is a trip to Springfield to take in the Feb. 13th Samantha Fish blues-rock performance at Cartoon’s Oyster Bar, 1614 S. Glenstone Ave., (417) 889-6500.

If you’ve never been to Springfield, it’s a beautiful, albeit transient, city to visit. Plenty of culture to absorb, as well as locally-crafted adult beverages and fine dining experiences. If your tastes are less adventurous, there’s all of that also, including art museums, shopping and downtown variety centers.

If you’ve never been to Cartoon’s Oyster Bar, the venue boasts two rooms, a nice lounge that features a full bar and complete menu, and a larger room adjacent to it to accommodate live acts. The best of both worlds, so to speak.

If you are not acquainted with Kansas City’s Queen of blues-rock guitar, Samantha Fish, please read on.

Fish has toured extensively since her 2012 Ruf Records debut release, Runaway. Nothing tightens up a band like the road, and Fish has logged some miles. She’s traveled the U.S. and Europe a time or two, and won global accolades. Fish took home the 2012 Blues Music Award in the Best New Artist Debut category for Runaway, and continues to set ‘em up and knock ‘em down to world-wide acclaim.

Her style reminds us that without a doubt, girls rock. She doesn’t just rap on the blues-rock door. She kicks it down without apologies, demands no quarter and takes no prisoners.

In addition to her original offerings from her second Ruf LP, Black Wind Howlin’ , Fish is not afraid to approach covers like the Tom Petty-Stevie Nicks classic-rock duet, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” with label-mate Devon Allman singing Petty’s part. Yep. Devon Allman.

Also, Fish gets down and dirty with covers of the Rolling Stones-Keith Richards penned “Wild Horses,” and the Stones’ drunken-country ballad “Dead Flowers.” She backs these titles with a haunting rendition of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ 1956 hit “I Put a Spell On You,” then blasts Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” Howlin’ Wolf’s “Killin’ Floor,” and the James Gang’s “Funk 49.”

Whoa. Fish was kind enough to take a break from

her current tour and talk with SEMO Times. Here she shares a bit of personal history, life on the road, and what it takes to be a woman

who steps up to the blues-rock plate and take a healthy swing.

“We’re on our way from Kentucky to Memphis,” Fish says. “We’re playing the Hi Tone.

“We’ve never played there before,” she adds. “We’re really looking forward to playing this gig, then going home for a while.”

Not content to listen to regurged FM, Fish says her iPod is filled with wonderful music from a cross-section of genres. Her selections mirror her live shows - bit of blues, country and of course, classic rock.

“I just added a really great country and western LP recorded by Ray Charles,” she says. “I added a lot of music lately. I’m listening to Paul Thorn, Luther Dickenson, my friend Tab Benoit, Etta James and a lot of rock.”

And she’s quick to mention songwriters as well.

“John Hiatt,” she says. “My absolute favorite and one of my heroes I grew up listening to.

“I met John Hiatt and picked his brain about songwriting, his process,” Fish continues. “We opened for him a couple of times. I saw him again in Columbia and he remembered my name, which really was surprising. I don’t know how he does it. His catalog is extensive. He writes album after album and continues to connect. Really amazing.”

Although Fish might be regarded as one of blues-rock’s fresh faces - she graduated high school in 2007 - that doesn’t mean she’s a newcomer to the scene. She’s just returned stateside from a European tour and told SEMO Times her audiences overseas are enthusiastic and welcoming.

“They really have a great attitude and a love for American blues music,” Fish says. “They jump around and throw up their hands.

“We drove from Germany to Denmark,” she adds. “We played the Czech Republic and it was a great moment for us.”

Her duet with Devon Allman was a treat for her, and a first for the enormously talented musician.

“There was some acting involved, so I was sort of out of my comfort zone there,” she says. “We recorded the song at Ardent Studios in Memphis, then went to New Orleans for the video shoot.

“It was a lot of fun, and a real challenge,” Fish continues. “But Devon (Allman) is a really good friend. We have a lot in common.

He took time from touring with RSB (Royal Southern Brotherhood) to do the video. He’s a great artist.”

Like Sheryl Crow, Fish is a Missouri girl who makes her own way in a very competitive, male-dominated environment. Very deserving of SEMO Times’ No. 1 choice for an entertaining evening and worthy of a trip out of our own comfort zones. Try to catch her act now. She’s sure to rocket to the top in years to come. You can say SEMO Times told you.

In the runner-up position is three-time Grammy Award winner ‘Keb’Mo. He’s as accessible as he is talented. For those of us who weren’t around in blues-great Robert Johnson’s day, ‘Keb’Mo is as authentic as they come. He performs at 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Sheldon Concert Hall at St. Louis.

BUT WAIT ...wait for it ...the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam. My testosterone level increased just thinking about monster trucks facing off in an arena setting. The mayhem happens beginning at 7:30 p.m. Jan 30 and again at 2 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Edward Jones Bowl at St. Louis.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, CHECK OUT St. Louis Blues Hockey - last but not least. All games are at 8 p.m. except Toronto, which begins at 7 p.m. All games are played at the Scott Trade Center, 1401 Clark Ave, Saint Louis.

Samantha FishCourtesy of Stellar Press

GO TO SEMOTIMES.COM FOR MORE “ON A TANK” TRIPS AND IDEAS, AS WELL AS OUR REGIONAL EVENT CALENDAR!

15

BUTCHER BLOCK

& BOURBONWith L. Jack Hitchens

The intention of Butcher Block and Bourbon is to be a guide of sorts to men who may be befuddled by the kitchen, or may just need some advice on how to clean up old habits.

I’m Jack, I am a man. I have a beard and the fruit of my loins is a young man who will carry on my name. I have a lovely wife who is far too good for me and much too kind to me. I enjoy woodworking, sports, brown liquor, and cooking. I will not discuss politics or religion with you, I feel they are to be treated like women – be passionate about and toward them at home but be respectful whilst in public.

Please feel free to contact me directly with questions, and should you have concerns regarding my writing or replies please feel free to address those concerns by sending an email to publisher@semotimes.com. I’ll get it.

Dear Jack,I’m a 30 yr old single guy. I’ve never

learned to really cook for myself and survived for the greater period of my life on fast food and eating out. I’ve recently embarked on a journey toward healthy living and eating habits but I am having trouble coming up with meals I can easily make at home that aren’t out of a box or microwaved. Help me.

Thanks,Fast Food King We’ve all been there, friend. We

hit a wall where we stumble into the kitchen at 6am and survey two empty crave cases and a 24 pack of empty Milwaukee’s Best cans and we feel shame. We look down at the gut hanging over the Comfort Soft waist-band of our freshly laundered (three days ago) Hanes, and we wonder how we found ourselves here. The truth is, the journey is different for each of us – but the path to retribution is the same, we cut out the junk food, and we put in a little more effort each day than we put in the day before. It is important to remind you of three important factors about us as men (or women).

Fire is good.Meat that isn’t processed is good.Vegetables taste delicious.

Let us put these three tidbits to practical use, almost anything grilled is better for you than every-thing fried. You’re not Paula Dean, stop cooking everything in butter. Seasonings are your friends, find what it is you like and play around with spice combinations to suit your palette. Tried and true combina-tions are sweet and sour, savory and tangy, and spicy and more spicy. The best tasting thing you will ever eat is something you cooked on your own, the way you meant for it to be cooked, on a fire you built – or at least lit.

Buying bulk meats and slicing them or cutting them into propor-tional sizes yourself takes time, but in the end, it saves you some money and it winds up being a healthier route. There’s not a lot in life that beats the feeling of slicing your own steak or grinding your own ham-burger and then walking outside to throw that fresh hunk of beef down on your grill to be tickled by the

flames of a fire stoked by your own hand. The sexiest smell in the world is the combination of meat and wood in my beard after I cook.

We grow up and for some reason everyone conditions themselves to hate vegetables, but why? Vegeta-bles taste delicious and they are the most versatile things in the world, they will take on the flavor palette of any combination of spices you adorn them with. So stop skipping your veggies, buy fresh and cut them yourself or buy frozen and steam them.

Now, to help you on your journey. You’re a single lad who is pressed for time, you’re working, and back in the gym, and you need time for a social life – how can I expect you to eat properly and pass up a quick and easy meal at Taco Bell? Stop making excuses and start making an effort, friend. Take Sunday afternoon and make it your shopping, cooking, and preparation day. Head out to the store, buy your week’s veggies and meats and any additional things you need, don’t buy two weeks worth. Your veggies taste better fresh and so does your meat, If you buy only enough for one week you never need to freeze it.

Return home, cut your meat into portion sizes of your choosing and either wrap them in butcher’s paper and tape or stick them in a sandwich bag. Plan your meals for the week as cooked vegetables for dinner, raw or fresh vegetables for lunch. Pre-cook the meat for your week’s lunches now. Put the vegetables or salad for each day into a container with that day’s portion of meat. Then place your wrapped meat and the evening’s vegetables into containers to be opened for dinner.

Take an hour each night to cook for yourself and eat your meal. It’s time you’d be wasting scrolling through Tweeter feed anyway. Use this time to decompress from your day and reward yourself with the stimulating and sultry smells of cooking meat and freshly steamed vegetables. Consume water at every possible opportunity throughout the day, don’t waste calories on soda or sugary drinks, and reward yourself with some whiskey at dinner time. You sir, are eating like a gentleman who is health-conscious.

16 | SEMO TIMES | FEBRUARY 2015

Find and like us on Facebook!

WHY ISN’T YOUR AD BEING SEEN BY THOUSANDS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURIANS EVERY DAY!?CALL ANGELA NOW AT (573) 614-8564