Boonville

COOPER COUNTY – One year later, parts of Wooldridge still stand after a fire burned at least 3,000 acres and 23 structures.

But some of the town’s residents have picked up their lives and moved on to other communities.

Most homeowners who lost their homes in the October 2022 fire are displaced or still living in Wooldridge, but under tough conditions.

“We were scared, we were empty,” Jessica McComb, a former Wooldridge resident who lost her home in the fire, said. “We were all these emotions and physically exhausted.”

Officials activated Missouri’s statewide mutual aid effort to fight the fire, prompting at least 50 fire departments to respond.

One year later, Kathy Mapes is renovating the Wooldridge Community Club. She said the club was one of the few buildings not affected by the fire, like the town’s post office. But, it still needs updating. During the fire, the club’s building was not able to shelter first responders or citizens because it needed repairs. 

“It was in horrible disrepair. It was just unusable,” Mapes, the treasurer of the club, said. She will assume the president’s role in January 2024. 

Mapes said the community club is accepting membership applications. 

State Insurance Dept. says most homes uninsured

Target 8 requested an incident report filed by Wooldridge Mayor Kelly Murphy that detailed how many insured homes were damaged in the fire. 

There were 10 homes damaged in the fire, according to Mike O’Connell, the spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Only two of the homes damaged had insurance, the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance confirmed.

There are 69 homeowner insurance companies that have over 1% of the homeowner’s insurance market in Cooper County, according to the insurance department. The listing doesn’t contain farm, county and town mutual property insurance companies established under Chapter 380, RSMo.

Wooldridge Mayor Murphy did not respond after numerous requests via email and cell phone for comment.

“It makes me sad that there were good people down here and they’re gone,” Mapes said. “It’s a floodplain. So, for any of them to rebuild, it’s just not feasible financially.”

What is a flood zone?

A flood zone map from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shows much of Cooper County in a flood zone. Courtesy of Federal Emergency Management Agency▲

A floodplain or flood zone is an area of high and moderate to low flood risk. Due to Wooldridge’s and Cooper County’s proximity to the Missouri River, the area is in a flood zone. 

Homeowners who have property in a flood zone are advised to purchase homeowner’s insurance and flood insurance, Carrie Couch, the division director of consumer affairs at the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, said.

“Your home is your largest investment,” Couch said. “So it’s important to have that protection.”

Why Wooldridge didn’t get financial aid from the government

O’Connell said the fire didn’t cause enough damage to uninsured property to declare a federal emergency. 

“Missouri does not have a state law or budget appropriation for assistance to individuals if there is not a federal disaster declaration,” O’Connell said. “There is not a program to transfer state tax dollars to victims of a fire.”

Some families couldn’t afford any type of insurance. And with no federal or state aid on its way, they were stuck living under tough conditions.

Some who lost their homes still live on the same property, but in trailers instead of houses.

A family member of a Wooldridge resident who lives in one of the trailers said they are devastated. 

They did not want to be interviewed, but they told Target 8 off-camera that their family member lives on a fixed income and couldn’t afford to rebuild their house.

Starting fresh

When homeowners didn’t have anywhere to sleep after the fire, some of them took shelter at the Open Bible Praise Center in Boonville. McComb and her family didn’t spend the night at the shelter on the night of the fire, but they eventually relocated to Boonville permanently.

“It’s family here, it’s always been,” McComb said. 

She and her family lost their house, their dog and what they called a “beautiful” view of the Missouri River. They got $1,400 in April 2023 out of a local fundraiser in Boonville.

She said it’s impossible to prepare your mind for disaster, but she got through it because she prioritized her mental health.

“We learned the tools that cannot fix the problem for you, they can’t magically make money appear, they can’t magically get you a house,” McComb said. “But they can help you stabilize and get you tools to help you just gently be kind to yourself to get through it.”

The Boonslick Heartland YMCA helps McComb focus on the future, as she called it her second home. She said the family has lived in mid-Missouri since 2008. 

Jessica McComb (left), a former Wooldridge resident, helps her daughter, Amira McComb (right), off the steps at the Boonslick Heartland YMCA in Boonville, Mo.  Avery Grosvenor, KOMU 8 Reporter
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“When the fire happened, that was the first place we went,” McComb said. “I had not even washed my hair yet from the soot and smoke. We just wanted something that was normal.”

The insurance department said the state offers a program called the Missouri Property Insurance Placement Facility or the Missouri FAIR plan. It helps anyone in Missouri get coverage if they aren’t able to through the normal insurance market.

To fill out a form to see if you qualify, click here.

“Anger is a part of life. But I’m not going to let us stay there because we have joy and happiness that’s also on the table. But allow yourself enough time to grieve,” McComb said.

Originally Appeared Here

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Transportation is expecting large crowds across the state for Monday’s solar eclipse and advising Mid-Missourians to plan ahead.

Janice Poole, of Boonville, has been planning for Monday’s eclipse since October. Even then, she said it was hard to find anywhere to stay in the path of totality.

“We were hoping to camp somewhere, but everywhere I looked was full,” Poole said. “So, then I started looking at hotels, Cape Girardeau all up and down, and they were either full or very expensive.”

ABC 17 News looked up prices of hotels in Cape Girardeau for Sunday night. Many were sold out, with the only available rooms being around $1,000. According to Choice Hotels, a room on Sunday night cost $998. Next Sunday night on April 14, a room at the same hotel is $98.

Poole and her husband ended up booking a hotel in Willow Springs, three hours west of Cape Girardeau for $131 a night. They plan to drive east on Monday morning to get closer to the path of totality.

“I thought I was planning, you know, I had six months,” Poole said. “So, I’m really glad I went ahead and booked it because there’s nothing hardly now.”

Poole is an amateur photographer and knew after 2017’s eclipse, that she wanted to photograph the 2024 eclipse. She’s crossing her fingers for no cloud cover.

“It was so exciting for it to look like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” Poole said. “So, I’m hoping that happens again.”

Poole isn’t the only Mid-Missourian expecting to travel. MoDOT is expecting people from all over the state and the country to come to Missouri for the eclipse. Spokesperson Taylor Brune said while the southeast part of the state will be the busiest, other parts of the state aren’t immune from traffic impacts.

“Interstate 70 and Highway 63 are both considered major routes here in Missouri, they definitely have the potential for increased traffic leading up to the eclipse and day of the eclipse as people are flocking out of southern Missouri,” Brune said.

Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, show up to their viewing site early and avoid traveling after the eclipse, if possible.

The path of totality. Graphic by The Associated Press.

“Get to where you’re going early and then stay put for a little bit after the eclipse,” Brune said. “Allow that traffic time to filter out so that we’re not clogging up the highway system.”

Some safety tips for drivers include:

• Don’t stop on the shoulder along major roadways.
• Don’t take photographs while driving.
• Don’t wear eclipse glasses while driving.
• Turn on headlights during the eclipse, since it will get dark.
• Be aware of pedestrians along smaller roads.

Travelers can check traffic conditions on MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map.

Poole said her and her husband will arrive in Willow Springs on Sunday and leave on Tuesday morning.

“We’ll probably go out a little early (Monday), try to find the best place and set up my camera equipment and be ready to go,” Poole said.

In Columbia, the Convention and Visitors Bureau said it is not anticipating an influx of visitors since Columbia is not in the line of totality. Multiple hotels in the area say they have not had an increase in bookings.

Missouri’s state parks are hosting special eclipse viewing events both within the totality and near it. A full list is posted on the parks’ website. Sites include Finger Lakes State Park, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and Jefferson Landing in Jefferson City.

Originally Appeared Here

FORISTELL, Mo.— Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and others gathered at a weigh station on Interstate 70 Monday to celebrate the $2.8B in the state’s 2024 budget that will see the highway widened to three lanes in both directions for the 200 miles between Wentzville and Blue Springs. 

Parson held a ceremonial bill signing for House Bill 4 that authorized the project. Parson had proposed adding the third lanes in the St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City areas before state lawmakers instead chose to make it a statewide move between Missouri’s two largest suburban regions.

Monday’s ceremony came almost 67 years to the date—Aug. 13, 1956– when work began in St. Charles County on the interstate highway system. Whether it was the first project nationally is still a matter of some historical debate between Missouri, Kansas and Pennsylvania. 

“Missouri was a leader in 1956 when the interstate that connects America was built. When President Eisenhower predicted that its impact on the American economy, the jobs it would produce in manufacturing and construction, the rural areas it would open up, was beyond calculation,” said Linda Moen, President and owner of  EFK Moen, a St. Louis area civil engineering firm. “Adding a third lane to I 70 across the entire state will be an improvement to our state’s highway system, it will create jobs to benefit our communities for generations.”

The widening project will take the next five to seven years to finish and is currently in the planning stages. The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold a series of public meetings starting later this month with an event in Wentzville to get public feedback.

“This is without a doubt the key to the future not only of St. Charles County but of this entire region,” said St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann. “You know I’ve been saying for years that St. Louis is the Gateway to the West and if you want to go west of St. Louis, you’ve gotta squeeze under a railroad track on two lanes of traffic that backs up for miles and miles every afternoon, and that’s something that if not taken care of, is going to hold us back.”

“I will tell you in today’s world, the time we’re in right now, when you talk about the economic side of it, the safety side of it, just all the things that will go with I-70, the new I-70 will be another point in history where we’re gonna start doing something we always talked about doing for years,” Parson said.

MoDOT’s schedule of statewide open house meetings for the project are as follows:

• Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Wentzville City Hall Board of Alderman Meeting Room located at 1001 Schroeder Creek Boulevard, Wentzville, MO.
   

• Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Warren County Administration Building located at 101 Mockingbird Lane, Warrenton, MO.
   

• Wednesday, Aug. 30, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Concordia Community Center located at 802 S. Gordon Street, Concordia, MO.
   

• Thursday, Aug. 31, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Jonesburg Elementary School Gym located 106 Smith Rd., Jonesburg, MO.
   

• Tuesday, Sept. 5, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Jackson County Fire Protection District Education Center located at 4715 W U.S. 40 Highway, Blue Springs, MO.
   

• Wednesday, Sept. 6, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Battle High School Auxiliary Gym, located at 7575 St. Charles, Rd., Columbia, MO.
   

• Thursday, Sept. 7, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Hannah Cole Primary School Gym, located at 1700 W. Ashley Rd., Boonville, MO.

The public can also comment through an online form.

 

Originally Appeared Here

Within the heartland of the United States, Missouri boasts a collection of charming small towns that beckon travelers with their unique blend of history, culture, and hospitality. Visitors to these small towns are in for a treat with vibrant local communities, delectable regional cuisine, and hidden gems that define the character of each town. 

From the historic streets of Sainte Genevieve to the picturesque beauty of Hermann, you will come across antique shops, local flavors at family-owned diners, or the festivities of seasonal celebrations. So, delve into the heart of the state and explore nine towns that stand out for their unforgettable allure in the heart of America’s Midwest.

Ste Genevieve

Ste. Genevieve, Missouri: County Clerk building.

With French colonial architecture adorning the charming streets exuberating the 1880s vibe, it is easy to see why Ste Genevieve has a National Historic Landmark District. You can admire the Poteaux Sur Solle-style Bolduc House Museum, a meticulously restored French Colonial home. Another must-visit is the 1818 Felix Valle House State Historic Site, offering a glimpse into early American life through “modern” American articles.

Those looking for interaction with nature can make their way to the 25-minute away Hawn State Park, which features hiking trails through lush forests and limestone canyons. Local flavors at the Audubon’s Grill & Bar, serving up a fusion of French and American cuisine, are the best. The Inn St. Gemme Beauvais, a historic bed and breakfast established in 1848, provides an authentic ambiance for a cozy stay.

Boonville

Boonville, Missouri: MKT Depot. By robertstinnett from Boonville, MO, USA – Boonville MO MKT Depot, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The 19th-century air in Boonville beckons you beside the Missouri River. As the Katy Trail State Park, more than 200 miles, weaves through the town, visitors will find breathtaking river views and a perfect setting for cycling and hiking enthusiasts. Automobile lovers will have a fantastic time at the Mitchell Antique Motorcar Museum, a hidden gem showcasing vintage showrunners. 

History buffs will appreciate the Boonville Heritage Days festival, a lively celebration of the town’s past since 1989. The Thespian Hall, the longest operating theater the west of Allegheny, is a cultural centerpiece hosting live performances on any fine evening. Afterward, indulge at Maggie’s Bar & Grill, known for its signature burgers. Opt for the historic Hotel Frederick for accommodations, blending Victorian elegance with modern comfort in a 1905 structure.

Arrow Rock

Arrow Rock, Missouri: Bank building. By pasa47 – Flickr, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The quaint allure of Arrow Rock, a National Historic Landmark frozen in the 19th century, is hard to miss. Known for its association with the Santa Fe Trail, the town boasts the Arrow Rock State Historic Site, offering hiking trails and stunning vistas of the Missouri River. 

Those interested in history will love the town. The Dr. Sappington Museum unfolds the story of early medicine in the region, housed in a Federal-style mansion. The Lyceum Theatre, finding a place among “Missouri’s oldest professional regional theater,” stages captivating performances in an intimate setting. You can also walk through the historic district, where the J. Huston Tavern, the state’s oldest operating restaurant, beckons with home-cooked delights. 

Hermann

Hermann, Missouri: Train tracks along the Missouri River.

Hermann, amidst rolling vineyards, radiates German heritage and hospitality. Deutschheim State Historic Site makes for a good starting point, a living museum portraying German-American life right from its establishment in the 19th century. You will come across two original Pommer pianos, a house garden that is replicating a German kitchen garden, a workshop, and a souvenir store. 

A scenic drive along the Hermann Wine Trail will take you to boutique wineries like Adam Puchta Winery and six other renowned vineyards. You can also choose to explore Stone Hill Winery, Missouri’s oldest, where you can sip wines in a cellar dating back to 1847. Accommodations at the Hermann Hill provide a luxurious retreat amid Norton Grape Vineyard. 

Carthage

Carthage, Missouri: Carthage Courthouse with fall foliage in downtown. Editorial credit: Rachael Martin / Shutterstock.com

The southwest Missouri town of Carthage is an artistic gem. Begin at the Precious Moments Chapel, a unique art gallery adorned with iconic teardrop-eyed characters. Stop by the Civil War Museum, which showcases artifacts and stories from the Battle of Carthage, including a wall-sized battle mural.

Do not miss the 1895-constructed Historic Phelps House, a Victorian masterpiece offering insight into Carthage’s architectural heritage. You can try El Charro, a family-owned Mexican restaurant with authentic cuisine, and then find your way to the iconic Red Oak II, an outdoor museum preserving Route 66’s heyday. The Boots Court Motel, a Route 66 classic, offers a nostalgic stay. 

Weston 

Weston, Missouri: Downtown Main Street in Weston. Editorial credit: Matt Fowler KC / Shutterstock.com

In the rolling hills of northwest Missouri, Weston exudes small-town charm with a distinct flavor. The over 1,000-acre Weston Bend State Park, where 1.5 miles of hiking trails wind through picturesque landscapes, boasting panoramic views of the Missouri River Valley and Fort Leavenworth, is at the top of the list. A trip down Main Street, lined with 19th-century buildings housing eclectic shops, notably the McCormick On Main- the distilling company store, is a must.

The Weston Brewing Company, housed in a historic 1800s limestone building, offers not just craft brews but also a fascinating underground brewery tour showcasing Prohibition-era history. Do not forget to relish a meal at O’Malley’s Pub, a local favorite for its Irish-inspired cuisine.

Hannibal

Hannibal, Missouri: Colorful downtown buildings on a sunny morning. Editorial credit: Sabrina Janelle Gordon / Shutterstock.com

Hannibal calls out the literary legacy of Mark Twain. It is an excellent idea to visit the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, where you can explore the house that inspired “Tom Sawyer” and “Huckleberry Finn.” You can also cruise the river on the Mark Twain Riverboat, a scenic journey that evokes the spirit of Tom and Huck.

Furthermore, The Hannibal History Museum delves into the town’s rich past, from river trade to Civil War events. You also consider strolling along the 5 acres of Lover’s Leap, a bluff with panoramic river views. When hunger strikes, grab a bite at LaBinnah Bistro, known for its eclectic menu.

Fulton

Fulton, Missouri: Kappa Alpha Order fraternity house on the campus of Westminster College. Editorial credit: Nagel Photography / Shutterstock.com

Fulton pays homage to one of the 20th century’s defining moments. You can dive into the details at the National Churchill Museum, housed in a reconstructed church from London, presenting Winston Churchill’s famous Iron Curtain speech on the “Breakthrough” sculpture. 

A trip to the Westminster College campus, home to the vast Blue Jay Field and the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, is also worth it. The scenic grounds of the Serenity Valley Winery, surrounded by lush vineyards, are a beautiful place for a picnic with family or trying out wines. For a delightful meal, reserve a table at Beks, a local favorite known for its farm-to-table fare. Stay at the Loganberry Inn, a Victorian-style bed and breakfast offering a tranquil escape. 

Kimmswick

Kimmswick, Missouri: Street view of 2nd Street featuring historic buildings and signs to various attractions. By Paul Sableman – Kimmswick, MO, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Stepping into Kimmswick is like entering a storybook village frozen in time. It will become a reality on the grounds of the 1867-built Anheuser Estate, an elegant mansion offering guided tours through its rich history spread on 23 acres. Kimmswick’s historic district is where quaint shops like the Blue Owl Restaurant & Bakery, known for its award-winning Levee High Apple Pie, offer a taste of local craftsmanship and cuisine. Kimmswick is renowned for its annual Apple Butter Festival, a celebration of small-town charm with crafts, music, and, of course, delicious apple butter in fall. You can check out the quaint The Greenhouse Inn for a cozy retreat.

A Journey Through Missouri’s Unforgettable Towns

In the heart of Missouri, these nine small towns unfold as chapters in a captivating story, each contributing a unique melody to the symphony of the Show-Me State. From colonial time capsules to riverside retreats and literary legacies, each town invites travelers to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Missouri’s history and charm. Whether exploring the vineyards of Hermann, the Victorian elegance of Carthage, or the literary legacy of Hannibal, it will be a unique and unforgettable vacation experience.

Originally Appeared Here

Jocelyn June, specializing in cosmetic and restorative tattooing, works at her studio in the Victory Theater on State Street, tattooing a lip blush, a tattoo pigment, that will last for 2-5 years.(photo by Karen Rifkin)

Jocelyn June moved from Oakland in 2019 to be closer to family members who live in Ukiah and Boonville and has been open for business on the second floor of the Victory Theater for two years specializing in cosmetic and restorative tattooing.

The aesthetics of the building and its affordability attracted her to the site.

“This is a place where I can build my business.”

Previously a hair stylist, during Covid she took the time to reinvent herself, to remain in the same industry, but geared in a direction towards helping people in a more significant way, not just the beauty side of it.

Ruby McKay receives a lip blush tattoo from Jocelyn June. It enhances the natural color of lips, intended to fade over the years, and gives her lips a natural pop. It does not replace lipstick.(photo by Karen Rifkin)

“I’ve always had a dream of being a healer. In this kind of work, I can help people and also enjoy myself while doing it.”

She trained in Oakland at a studio that a long-time friend owns and operates.

“I came down to have my brows done and she asked me why I wasn’t doing this.”

She trained with her for 3 years and practiced on friends and family…those who would allow her touch them with a needle.

“This is a healing art; these are healing tattoos. I work with people who are usually at the end of a journey whether it be a surgery or a time in their life when they are looking in the mirror and want to change something about their appearance. I have the ability the diminish the appearance of scars or stretch marks.

“I’m a 5th generation artist; and all of this is a dream come true for me.”

She started with cosmetic tattooing—eyebrows, eyeliner, lips, freckles, beauty marks. In microblading eyebrows, she uses a tattoo instrument with tiny multiple blades and she mimics the hair stroke of each individual hair. The initial appointment is 2 ½ hours but once the foundation is there, clients come in every one to two years for a quick touch up.

“We spend a lot of time mapping, talking about the shape; because it’s on your face, it’s really important that we’re on the same page.”

She uses tools to measure—based on mathematical equations—the lips, the corners of the eyes, where the pupils are, where the tear ducts are in relation to the sides of the nose. She draws out the lines and she and the client decide on the shape, based on their natural features instead of a “signature, I like these, put them on me, brows.”

“I like everybody to look as natural as possible, the best version of themselves, not somebody else’s features on their face.”

Other brow services include waxing, brow lamination and lash lifting, basically like a perm. Instead of using the crimper every day, the lashes will stay lifted for a few months.

“It’s a nice enhancement; if you don’t want to wear the big lashes, but just want a little lift, it’s great.”

She tints lashes and clients come in every 2-3 months to get them redone.

She does cosmetic tattoo removal with a saline removal system that she tattoos into the skin where the undesirable pigment is located. Through the process of osmosis, the solution will eventually push the pigment out of the skin. It can take from 2-10 sessions.

“Then we can start over fresh; put another tattoo down or not. I’ve heard it’s less painful than laser and it’s less expensive as well.”

Inkless restorative services include inkless scar revision for surgical scars, burns, acne, self-harm scars and any type of hypertrophic scarring, raised texture, dark in color, that lightens and softens pigment.

She does inkless stretch mark revision, a non-invasive needling technique that stimulates collagen and elastin production and improves aged stretch marks to improve in tone, texture and color using a serum that reduces the texture and appearance.

“I go over the scar with a serum and tattoo that in. After about 8-10 weeks, the scar usually flattens out and elasticity and collagen are restored. The color will often return or the darker color will get lighter.”

She does a quick needling session—pigmentation therapy—for dark spots, sun spots, sun damage and melasma that stimulates cell regeneration and allows for a high absorption of corrective serum.

This technique improves the tone, color, texture and appearance and stimulates the collagen and elastin by creating thousands of micro injuries, waking it up to produce what it needs to heal properly.

She has developed a protocol for an after-care serum to use at home after the procedure.

“I’m very excited about that.”

She sells carefully curated medical grade skin care products that aid in restoring the skin’s health and appearance including skin tools, pigmentation kits, lip balm and oil, skin clarifier, tropical mango barrier recovery mask, restorative facial oil, epidermal repair serum and retinal serum.

She offers a wide range of services with cosmetic and corrective tattooing.

For scar camouflage, that includes scars, skin grafts and hypopigmentation, she looks at all her pigments to find a match to that person’s skin color and inserts pigment into the scar with a tattoo needle, in effect, a tattoo being inserted into the scar, so it eventually blends. This can take from 1-3 treatments for completion.

“It depends on the texture of the scar, the person’s natural skin tone. Darker pigments can take longer to work in. I work slowly; it’s like a layering process because it’s easier to add more to than take out.”

She works with cancer patients, those who are recovering from mastectomies with a non-invasive technique that is much less painful than laser.

“I get a lot of clients who have been damaged by laser, made it worse.”

After a mastectomy, with a nipple mound reconstructed by a surgeon, she can create 3-D areola restoration by shading, creating folds and putting in all the fine details to make it look dimensional.

She works with clients after breast augmentation and top surgery.

She does corrective tattooing for harelip scars, missing toenail and fingernails, webbed toes, radiation markers, vitiligo, birthmarks, lupus, freckles and 3-D belly buttons.

“Sometime after a tummy tuck, the belly button is flattened and I can create shadows and lines to make it look more realistic.”

Although the technology is better and scars have gotten smaller, surgery still leaves people with scars. There is still a pigmentation loss.

“People want to look perfect. I feel I can be an extension of what that person’s vision is and I can work within what they want to accomplish. Paramedical tattooing can help bridge the gap between medical treatment and cosmetic aesthetics restoring a natural appearance and assisting in completion of the healing journey.”

Originally Appeared Here

HALLSVILLE — The South Callaway Lady Bulldogs’ Lilli Lewis (190 pounds) and Dalayna Hargis (125) won their weight classes in the Hallsville Girls Invitational Monday at Hallsville High School.

North Callaway also participated, and Abigail Schmidt recorded its best finish, winning in the 170 division.

South Callaway scored 62½ points as a team and took third out of 12 scoring teams, and North Callaway finished seventh with 25. Francis Howell topped the leaderboard with 130 points.

South Callaway results

120

Lotus Gwaltney (1-2) placed third and scored nine team points.

Round 1: Kenadee McDowell (Francis Howell) won by fall (1 minute and 13 seconds) over Gwaltney (South Callaway).

Round 2: Evie Ryan (Francis Howell junior varsity) won by fall (1:15) over Gwaltney (South Callaway).

Round 3: Gwaltney (South Callaway) won by fall (3:01) over Jashayla Johnson (Mexico).

125

Hargis (7-1) placed first and scored 24 team points.

Round 1: Hargis (South Callaway) won by fall (1:42) over Addison Fansler (North Callaway).

Round 2: Hargis (South Callaway) won by fall (:40) over Ava Rasmussen (Macon JV).

Round 3: Hargis S-(South Callaway) won by injury default (1:36) over Kaitlynn DeLeon (Kirksville).

First-place match: Hargis (South Callaway) won by fall (1:38) over Anna Bowles (Francis Howell).

130

Shelby Doster (0-7) placed fourth and scored four team points.

Round 1: Morgan Molitar (Francis Howell JV) won by fall (1:12) over Doster (South Callaway).

Round 2: Jenna Smith (Francis Howell) won by fall (1:10) over Doster (South Callaway).

Round 3: Emma Higgins (North Callaway) won by fall (1:53) over Doster (South Callaway).

190

Lewis (8-1) placed first and scored 25½ team points.

Round 1: Lewis (South Callaway) won by fall (1:21) over Keely Hicks (Macon).

Round 2: Lewis (South Callaway) won by fall (1:17) over Ella Hodges (Stover).

Round 3: Lewis (South Callaway) won by technical fall 1.5 (3:45, 17-2) over Tessa Higgins (Mexico).

Round 4: Lewis (South Callaway) won by fall (:37) over Hayleigh Rock (Kirksville).

Round 5: Lewis (South Callaway) won by fall (1:23) over Emma Faszold (Francis Howell).

South Callaway will face California, Holden and Tipton in the California Quad at 5:30 p.m. today at California High School in California, Missouri.

North Callaway results

105

Brooke Giboney (0-2) placed third and scored zero team points.

Round 1: Mialee Copeland (Francis Howell) won by decision (5-0) over Giboney (North Callaway).

Round 2: Candace Calvert (Hallsville) won by decision (14-9) over Giboney (North Callaway).

125

Fansler (1-3) placed seventh and scored four team points.

Round 1: Hargis (South Callaway) won by fall (1:42) over Fansler (North Callaway).

Round 2: DeLeon (Kirksville) won by fall (:56) over Fansler (North Callaway).

Round 3: Rasmussen (Macon JV) won by fall (5:50) over Fansler (North Callaway).

Seventh-place match: Fanser (North Callaway) won by fall (5:20) Kiya Smith (Mexic0).

130

Higgins (1-2) placed third and scored nine team points.

Round 1: Smith (Francis Howell) won by fall (1:54) over Higgins (North Callaway).

Round 2: Molitar (Francis Howell JV) won by fall (1:12) over Higgins (North Callaway).

Round 3: Higgins (North Callaway) won by fall (1:53) over Doster (South Callaway).

170

Schmidt (3-1) placed second and scored 12 team points.

Round 1: Schmidt (North Callaway) won by fall (1:45) over Nevaeh Mitchell (Macon).

Round 2: Schmidt (North Callaway) won by fall (4:39) over Kelsey Robinson (Francis Howell).

Round 3: Madisynn Crawford (Kirksville) won by fall (4:13) over Schmidt (North Callaway).

Round 5: Schmidt (North Callaway) won by fall (1:44) over Abigail Seibert (Mexico).

North Callaway will take on Boonville, Buffalo and Versailles in the Versailles Quad at 5 p.m. Thursday at Versailles High School in Versailles.

Originally Appeared Here

It is that time of year again when families that celebrate Christmas consider whether they want to buy a real tree or opt for an artificial tree.

For those who are thinking of getting a real tree, maybe for the first time, there are a few options within a one-hour drive of Columbia, and one a little further afield.

Lloyd’s Family Farm

Lloyd’s Family Farm at 7015 East Route Y in Ashland is about a 20-minute drive from Columbia.

It now is open weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays until pre-cut trees are sold out for the weekend. Fresh wreaths also are available for purchase. Balsam fir and Scotch pine varieties are available.

The farm asks that families do not bring pets, and the children’s play area is closed during the Christmas season.

While the farm still is selling pre-cut trees, it aims to be a choose-and-cut site by next year.

Starr Pines

Starr Pines Christmas Tree Farm at 21298 Pleasant Hill Road in Boonville, a roughly 30-minute commute, opened 33 years ago.

The Christmas tree farm now is open daily 9 a.m. until dark through Christmas. Guests can choose and cut their tree, either a pine variety for $9 per foot or fir variety at $12 per foot. Wreaths and other gifts are available.

Sleds are available to transport trees from close fields, and tractor rides to fields also are available as weather allows. To replenish the farm, three seedlings are planted for every tree cut down.

S&K Christmas Tree Farm

S&K Christmas Tree Farm and Craft Shoppe at 17236 Hunter Ave. in Marshall is roughly an hour’s drive from downtown Columbia.

Open weekends starting at 9 a.m., this choose-and-cut site has three pine tree varieties, wreaths, hanging baskets and a variety of other gifts. New this year are tabletop-sized precut trees.

There are some weekends where guests may get a chance to meet Santa. Updates are provided regularly on the farm’s Facebook page. Signs will be out along the route to the farm for first-time guests.

Spring Branch Acres

Spring Branch Acres at 730 Northeast Route FF in Knob Noster is about 90 minutes from Columbia.

This farm opened Nov. 18 and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The last day the farm is open is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 16.

Up to 10-foot pre-cut trees are available (Fraser or balsam fir or white pine), or guests can choose and cut Scotch pine varieties up to 8 feet tall in the farm’s fields. Fresh wreaths and other greenery are available.

Guests also can enjoy hot chocolate, apple cider and popcorn.

From 2022:Columbia area Christmas tree farms provide classic tradition for the holidays

What to do with real Christmas trees after the holidays

The big question may be what do we do with the tree when the Christmas season is over. There are a couple of options available.

Missouri Department of Conservation, usually in the new year, starts accepting old trees at its Central Region Office in Columbia at 3500 E. Gans Road. It generally accepts 200 to 300 trees to be sunk into public lakes to serve as fish habitats.

The City of Columbia from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31 accepts trees curbside on your typical trash day. It will not count as a bulky item during this period and does not need to be cut into smaller pieces, or even stripped of decorations. Curbside collected trees go directly into the city’s landfill aiding gas production for electricity creation. After Jan. 31, trees must be cut into pieces that fit into a regular or yard waste bag.

Trees also can be dropped off at yard waste centers on Parkside Drive or Capen Park. Trees are mulched. Trees also are accepted near the city landfill for the composting program at 5700 Peabody Road.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

Originally Appeared Here

HANNIBAL — Louise Cruikshank exchanged wedding vows with William H. Logan in June 1915, while standing on the porch of her father’s grand mansion overlooking the Mississippi River valley.

Today, that porch is undergoing major repairs.

The porch columns of the Cruikshank mansion, now known as Rockcliffe, are literally suspended in the air to allow a contractor access to replace rotting wood on the porch floor and foundation.

The project, which has been on the drawing board for about seven years, is being undertaken by the mansion’s owners, Warren Bittner and Juan Ruiz.

“When we purchased the property in 2010, everything seemed to be hunky dory,” Bittner said. Then, seven or eight years into their ownership, “we observed rain water coming through the ceiling of the front porch onto the southeast corner where the columns are. We investigated. When we looked out on the roof from the observatory above, instead of draining back to the house and going down the spouts, the rainwater was running over the sides of the built-in gutters above the porch and onto the columns and porch floor below.”

“The pillars were sitting on a wood floor. The joist system, all that wood began to rot, causing the large columns, which are very heavy, to slowly sink down and get worse and worse and worse.”

They contracted with Mark Twain Construction; which is owned by Mark Twain Chapman from Boonville, Ind. to do the carpentry repairs.

Chapman told Bittner and Ruiz that the porch must be jacked up so that he can make the necessary repairs.

They then reached out to Jonassen Structural Movers from Hartfield, Mo., a family that has been in the house-moving business for generations, Bittner said.

On Saturday night, Nov. 18, the Jonassen firm lifted the porch, under the supervision of the contractor, leaving the structural columns literally dangling in the air.

Ongoing project

Each year, as funds permit, Bittner and Ruiz are making repairs to the mansion’s porches. Thus far, repairs have been made to the west porch, off of the music room and the kitchen porch, which was completed last year. After the current project is finished, they will move on to repairing the car port porch.

There used to be one big undivided veranda, which wrapped three of the four sides of the mansion. Once the final porch project is finished, “we will restore the circular porches” that were burned off in a fire in 1959, Bittner said.

During these projects, “the carpenter is following the original 1898 blueprints to the letter.”

Although identical in-kind materials are being used whenever feasible, an exception to that rule, is necessitated by product availability.

For example, “Cruikshank used old growth yellow pine tongue-and-groove wood” for the porch floor. “Old growth wood is no longer available; today, lumber yards only sell a new growth wood tongue and groove that rots away in a couple of years.

“Accordingly, we decided not to go with wood,” Bittner said, and instead they are going with a product approved by the Secretary of the Interior’s standards. The product is called Aeratis, a tongue-and-groove porch flooring. “It is made of PVC, and, when laid in a waterproof application specified by the manufacturer, water won’t get between the pieces of flooring and it literally lasts forever. This same product was used at Oak Alley Plantation near New Orleans; they replaced all of their wood porches with this material.”

While the mansion has been listed on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1980, and the owners have recently met with the state Historic Preservation Officer (SPO) in Jefferson City to review their plans, these repairs on the mansion probably will not qualify for historic tax credits (“HTC”) repairs on the mansion do not qualify for tax exemptions.

“The investment thresholds for qualifying for HTCs are exceedingly high, Bittner said, “Consequently, and unfortunately, we’re left only with sweat equity and earning the money as we go,” to fund the repairs. Funds are raised exclusively through guided tours and bed and breakfast accommodations.

“We are both the number one rated ‘thing to do’ and ‘B&B’ in Hannibal on TripAdvisor,” Bittner said.

“The guided tour of the interior is all history based, about the Cruikshank family, the architecture of the building, art, furnishings that the family owned, the plumbing fixtures, the lighting fixtures, the wallpaper … it just goes on and on,” Bittner said.

He describes the work involved in making repairs to the mansion “a labor of love. This building has so much history, and detail, and architecture; it’s a masterpiece that John Cruikshank put together.”

John J. Cruikshank Jr., was married to Annie Louise Hart Nov. 2, 1886. Together, they had four daughters, Gladys, born in 1888, Louise, born in 1890; Helen, born in 1892; and Josephine, born in 1894.

John J. Cruikshank died March 20, 1924. On June 1, 1925, his daughter, Helen, had her wedding ceremony on the mansion’s porch, when she was married to Milton P. Knighton.

Another daughter, Gladys, chose a wedding ceremony inside the mansion, when she was married to Williams Warren in 1912.

Originally Appeared Here

Inflation will force many families to scale down spending for the holidays this year. Luckily, there are many wonderful food- and drink-related gifts that are also affordable. Yes, even in the Bay Area.

Here, the Chronicle Food + Wine team recommends 15 local gifts priced at $30 or less. This price point still gets you to special-occasion territory for home cooks, such as with an intensely fruity vinegar made by noted chefs or a fancy new salt created via an ancient process. For food lovers who don’t spend much time in the kitchen, consider cute baguette-shaped accessories by a local artist or a coloring book depicting restaurants in Oakland’s Chinatown. And there’s always wine, or more fittingly given recent trends, a nice bottle of sake.

Hog Island Saltworks

A pantry boon for any home cook: Hog Island Saltworks, Camino Red Wine Vinegar and Boonville Barn Collective’s Piment d’Ville Pepper.

Francesca Tamse

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Like its briny Tomales Bay oysters, Hog Island’s salt, a new product for the company, channels the waters it comes from. It’s created with an ancient process, using evaporation from sailcloths and finished over a wood-fired stove. These delicate, flaky crystals are for adding that perfect final sprinkle. — C.P.

Boonville Barn Collective’s Piment d’Ville Pepper 

The smoky, tomato-like flavor of Espelette pepper is a hallmark of Basque cooking, and also of  the flavors at the Boonville Hotel in Mendocino’s Anderson Valley. But because imported Espelette was costly and less fresh, the restaurant’s former sous-chef, Krissy Scommegna, started growing and drying a version of the prized peppers in California. The result, Piment D’Ville, rivals the original, adding depth and brightness to everything it touches. Sold as a pack of two 1.2-ounce jars, you could split them up as two stocking stuffers, and there are options for spicy or smoky versions, too. — C.P.

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Camino Red Wine Vinegar

The Bay Area food world was devastated when Oakland’s Camino, often heralded as one of the best restaurants in the region, closed in 2018. The owners also closed their casual restaurant, the Kebabery, last year. But there is one thing fans can still enjoy from chefs Russell Moore and Allison Hopelain: red wine vinegar ($25), barrel-aged for at least four months. The result is intensely fruity and complex, a joyous tool for any passionate home cook to brighten up their dishes. — J.B.

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The Crown Jewel Tasting Collection

The Crown Jewel Tasting Collection comes in three elegant canisters. 

Francesca Tamse

The Crown in Oakland is among the best of the best coffee shops in the Bay Area. Coffee nerds will appreciate the tasting collection, a sampling of three different single-origin coffees from Ecuador, Kenya and Ethiopia. Each has its own style and characteristics. The Ecuador is bright and full of berry flavors; the Kenya delivers tropical fruit notes; and the Ethiopia, the most delicate of the bunch, tastes more floral and tea-like. Each box comes with three tubes of whole coffee beans, with QR codes linking to more information about each one.  — C.H.

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Electric wine opener

Sommeliers, winemakers and oenophiles like to turn their noses up at this handy gadget. While a traditional corkscrew is certainly more romantic, it’s not foolproof. The electric version ensures that you pull the cork out clean every time and with minimal effort (typically the push of two buttons). There are plenty of solid options for $30 and under, but you can also find fancier versions for more. Make sure you purchase one with a foil cutter; your loved one will never again slice their fingers removing the sharp foil casing. — J.L.

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Sake from Den Sake Brewery

Sake from Den Sake Brewery is a favorite at local restaurants.

Francesca Tamse

A tiny experimental operation in West Oakland, Den Sake Brewery has gotten semifinalist nods from the James Beard awards twice since launching in 2018. With the Bay Area’s recent sake boom — seen on menus at hip restaurants like Daytrip and sharing space with wine at shops like Millay — now is the ideal time to share one of these special bottles with a loved one. Made with Sacramento Valley rice, these sakes are unusually high in acid, with notes of stone fruit and umami followed by a tart, clean finish. You can find bottles at True Sake in San Francisco and Umami Mart in Oakland, but you’ll get the best deal if you buy directly from Den Sake online and pick up your order at the brewery. — J.B.

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Squid-shaped oroshigane from Bernal Cutlery

A grater that’s functional and adorable? This squid-shaped oroshigane, made in Japan and sold at Bernal Cutlery in San Francisco, can be used to finely grate ingredients like daikon, ginger or garlic. Plus, it looks cute on the counter. Round out your gift with special goodies from the Mission District store’s incredible pantry section, like Taiwanese soy sauce that ferments for 180 days or a punchy pineapple-miso hot sauce. — E.K.

Baguette hair clips from Black Jet Baking Co.

Jenny Lemons makes a variety of food-themed accessories, including baguette hair clips.

Francesca Tamse

A gift for the person in your life who wants to rep bread at all times: baguette-shaped hair clips. They’re made by Jenny Lemons, a San Francisco artist, and sold at San Francisco bakery Black Jet Baking Co. If baguettes don’t feel right, Jenny Lemons makes an abundance of food-themed accessories, from a bright red mushroom-shaped hair claw to a pickle-embroidered hat.  (This also provides a perfect excuse to grab a treat while you’re there).  — E.K.

McBride Sisters wine 

The sisters behind the largest Black-owned and women-founded wine company in the U.S. have a compelling story. They grew up separately, not knowing of each other’s existence, reunited later in life and started their business together. They also make compelling wines, both in New Zealand and on the Central Coast, with a particular interest in sparkling and aromatic wines. Give your sister, sibling or other loved one the gift of bubbles with their Black Girl Magic California Sparkling Brut, a line they describe as bigger and more opulent in style. — C.P.

Chocolate gift box from Casa de Chocolates

Casa de Chocolates makes gift boxes, prime for the holidays.

Francesca Tamse

Skip the chocolate boxes with cashew brittle and sour quince logs this year. Berkeley’s Casa de Chocolates offers boxes of bonbons filled with more exciting flavors like passion fruit caramel, spicy mole, rose petals and smoky-salty mezcal. Each piece, with shells decorated with patterns or bright colors, is made by hand with Mexican cacao. Build your own six-piece box from Casa de Chocolates’ over 25 flavors, or pick a pre-assorted box for a series of fun, bite-size surprises. — M.C.

Contimo Provisions Biscuit Kit 

Most Napa Valley tourists understandably flock to Model Bakery for its famous English muffins, but locals have adopted a new cult favorite breakfast item: The buttermilk biscuit sandwiches at Contimo Provisions. Sold in a variety of combinations, like bacon and molasses or pimento cheese, Conitmo’s Biscuit Kit ($11) brings Napa’s best-kept breakfast secret to your loved one’s home. The kit makes 10-12 biscuits and only requires butter and buttermilk to complete the recipe. If you want to attempt to re-create Contimo’s signature Ham & Jam biscuit, you can add the sliced molasses-brined ham (from $6) to your order, but you’ll have to pick out your own jam. — J.L.

Oakland Chinatown coloring book from Felicia Liang

Coloring is more fun when the pages are full of Oakland Chinatown restaurants.

Francesca Tamse

This coloring book, made by Bay Area artist Felicia Liang, is a charming ode to Oakland’s Chinatown. Get your friend a nice set of pencils or pens so they can pay homage to the neighborhood’s best restaurants — from Ruby King Bakery to Shan Dong and Peony Seafood Restaurant — by coloring in 16 scenes of steam baskets filled with plump dumplings, dangling noodles and egg tarts. — E.K.

Flour + Water dried pastas

Your friend who always seems to be on the waitlist for a table at Flour + Water should probably cook pasta at home more. Encourage them with a few boxes of Flour + Water’s own dried pastas, available at Flour + Water Pasta Shop in the Mission District, Whole Foods and other grocery stores. Launched last winter, the line of yellow boxes includes spaghetti, macaroni, penne and campanelle. (If you’re just gifting one box, make it the latter. It’s a short shape that feels fancy with its fluted edges.) They’re made with organic semolina and extruded through bronze dies for a rough, textured surface that grips to sauce better than your typical American-made pasta. — J.B.

Winters Fruit Tree farm banana nut butter

Winters Fruit Tree farm banana nut butter.

Francesca Tamse

The list of ingredients in this product, made by a century-old farm in Yolo County, reads like a riddle. Banana seasoning? Creme brulee? A spoonful of the stuff, which tastes, as advertised, like banana pie in a jar, might not resolve all your questions. But it will have you reaching for more. The texture is like Speculoos, or cookie butter, with a slight crunch from the caramelized sugar, and the mixture of almonds and walnuts is fluffy and luxurious. It’s the farm’s best-seller for a reason. You can buy it online or find jars at many Bay Area farmers’ markets. — C.P.

You Guava Be Kidding Me from Far West Cider Co. 

If getting into wine seems intimidating and getting into craft beer seems outdated at this point, there is always cider. For your cider-curious friend, Far West Cider Co.’s pink guava cider is a great choice. The Richmond company presses apples grown on a 100-year-old farm with pink guava. The end result is refreshing, neither too dry nor too sweet, with the guava adding tropical, flowery notes. It also pairs well with holiday leftovers. — M.C.

Reach the Food + Wine team: food@sfchronicle.com

Originally Appeared Here

Missouri is a small state with the largest amenities. You will feel like Jack at the top of the beanstalk when you gaze up at the humungous Community Bookshelf in Kansas City, which Paul Bunyan could have read; the 160-foot-tall Giant Eight Ball tower in Tipton; and the World’s Largest Pair of underwear and pencil in the City Museum in St. Louis.

These are among many colossal attractions beyond the Gateway Arch at St. Louis. But as big as these titanic treasures are, it is the small towns beyond “Gateway to the West” that are truly worth visiting. These top-rated towns may not be as gargantuan as the cities, but they hold enough historical appeal and geographic wonders to leave lasting memories as surely as a castle in the clouds. Venture past the Gateway to the West and give yourself a chance to experience the simple delights of Missouri’s must-visit small towns.

Arrow Rock

Arrow Rock, Missouri, a historic tavern from the 1800s. Image credit Logan Bush via Shutterstock

Arrows point the way, so what better spot to start than one of the places where the arrows began? Only 68 miles west of Fulton and 20 miles from Boonville, the town of Arrow Rock has been deemed a National Historic Landmark because of its association with Westward Expansion. The flint-bearing, high limestone bluff overlooking the town was first identified on a 1732 French map marked “Pierre a fleche” (in English, “rock of arrows”). Nearly 12,000 years of indigenous cultures manufactured flint tools and weapons from the bluffs. You can learn all about the town’s history following the Emancipation in the Arrow Rock African-American Experience Museum. Furthermore, consider visiting the George Caleb Bingham House, where the famous 19th-century Luminist artist George Bingham lived, and the Dr. John Sappington Museum, similar to the one in St. Louis, which explains how Dr. Sappington’s mass-marketed quinine pills treated malarial fevers nationwide.

If you would rather spend some time in nature, no problem because you can also take the Lewis & Clark Trail of Discovery and explore the Big Muddy US Fish and Wildlife Refuge along the Missouri River. Like weary travelers on a pioneering journey, you can find a suitable place to rest at Arrow Rock Station Bed & Breakfast, Latch House, and Borgman’s Bed & Breakfast.

Kimmswick

Street view in Kimmswick, Missouri.

Along the banks of the Mississippi River, about 23 miles south of St. Louis, the town of Kimmswick represents a splendid riverside journey. One can tour the Anheuser Estate, lovingly known as Fredmar Farms, the ancestral home of Fred and Mabel Ruth Anheuser. Take a look at the El Camino Real Marker, one of the many markers that highlights one of the oldest roads in the region, or visit the nearby Mastodon State Historic Site, where the bones of mighty mastodons were discovered.

Walk along the Windsor Harbor Road Bridge, said to be the oldest known wrought iron bridge in Missouri in the National Register. Attend the Apple Butter Festival and the Strawberry Festival in October and June, respectively, and maybe go on a trip on the Mississippi from Hoppie’s Marina. Either way, you have to stay awhile in The Greenhouse Inn.

Rocheport

Cyclists at Rocheport station on Katy Trail. Image credit marekuliasz via Shutterstock.com

Merely two hours away from Kansas City, Rocheport is a town of uncomplicated tranquility. Find simplicity and relaxation through Les Bourgeois Vineyards, where visitors can learn about the process of crafting their selection of dry and sweet wines and then sampling them in luxury. You might also consider taking your delightful drinks beside the Old Railroad Storm Shelter, along the Katy Trail State Park, or while canoeing on the Missouri River. Although not much history or events can be experienced in this quaint town, Rocheport offers peaceful and soothing places to stay, like Amber House Bed and Breakfast, Mount Nebo Inn, and The Bluff House.

Weston

Weston, Missouri, downtown Main Street in Weston, Missouri. Image credit Matt Fowler KC via Shutterstock

Just a stone’s throw away from the state border of Kansas, Weston has preserved an impressive array of pre-Civil War edifices since its founding in 1837. Among these buildings are O’Malley’s 1842 Pub, where you can get a rowdy taste of Irish-American life with fierce refreshments. Or, you can go straight to the source of all the fine lager in the Weston Brewing Company, one of the first lager beer breweries in the US since 1842.

Treat yourself to history lessons in the Weston Historical Museum, where you can learn all about the town’s turbulent ties with the Missouri River, and the National Silk Art Museum, which houses the largest collection of rare silk art tapestries from the 18th and 19th centuries, primarily from France and England. Finally, have fun in Snow Creek for skiing and sledding, or trek through Weston Bend State Park for panoramic views of the Missouri River. You will need a break after all the activities here, so book rooms at Benner House B&B, The St. George Hotel, and The Inn at Weston Landing B&B.

Hermann

Black Shire Distillery in Hermann, Missouri. Image credit RellMade via Shutterstock.com

Designated by National Geographic as one of America’s best Adventure Towns, Hermann is rife with local activities. The German Settlement Society of Philadelphia first established the town in 1837, situating it about 80 miles west of St. Louis and on the banks of the Missouri River. Visitors can glean the daily life and traditions of these 19th-century German immigrants in the Deutschheim State Historic Site or can be spooked and enthralled in Hermann’s History & Haunts, which provides walking tours exploring ghost stories of certain buildings in Hermann.

Because Hermann hails itself as Missouri’s sausage capital, it celebrates a 30-year tradition called Wurst Fest, in which the town welcomes many of Missouri’s leading sausage vendors to promote their banger products. Alongside this meaty fete is Hermann’s own Oktoberfest, reminiscent of the Oktoberfest in Germany from which Hermann’s ancestors originated. When you have had your fill of the best of the wurst, settle down at 1000 Parkview, 1910 Guesthaus, or 2nd Street Lodging B&B.

Marceline

Street clock sits on the corner in Marceline, Missouri. Image credit Adam McCullough via Shutterstock

Where would the world be if the whimsical quaintness of Marceline hadn’t inspired Walt Disney? In this laidback and nostalgic town halfway between St. Joseph and Hannibal, the man who defined a generation spent much of his childhood in Marceline. If you want to know more about Mickey Mouse’s maker, head to the Walt Disney Hometown Museum for deeper insights into the man’s childhood.

But if you want to experience what Walt Disney felt about the town, run along like a child embodying young Disney’s imaginative spirit and sprint across Main Street, once Kansas Avenue in Disney’s time, a thoroughfare whose designs match Disneyland’s Main Street USA. Hop towards the Santa Fe Railway and fly like indomitable youths to the Marceline Railroad gallery, where you can learn about Marceline’s history of railroading and coal mining and the Santa Fe Railroad’s influence on the town. Then. journey to the EP Ripley Park, which inspired Walt Disney to name the first steam engine at Disneyland “the EP Ripley.” Everyone gets tired occasionally, so get your energy back in Circle O Lodge or Hotel Marceline.

Sainte Genevieve

Historic buildings at the 3rd and Market Street in Sainte Genevieve. Image credit Roberto Galan via Shutterstock.com

As Missouri’s oldest permanent European settlement, Sainte Genevieve retains much of its French attitudes. The Jacques Guibourd Historic House, for example, constructed for Jacques Guibourd in 1806, was fashioned in the “poteaux-sur-sole” (post on sill) style. Other French-influenced architecture can be toured in the Bolduc & LeMeilleur Houses, the Jean-Baptiste Vallé House, and the Beauvais-Amoureux House. Visitors can learn more about this town’s involvement in the Revolutionary War and the Louisiana Purchase at the Centre for French Colonial Life.

In this town nestled between St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, get a chance to see the French Heritage Festival, where visitors can witness La Veillee folk dancing at the Felix Valle State Historic Site. Later on, embark on a wildlife trek through Hawn State Park and Ste. Geneviève Levee Wildlife Refuge. Lodgings are not a problem: Inn St. Gemme Beauvais, La Fleur de Lis, Maison Huberdeau Guest House, and others are all at your service.

Van Buren

View of Van Buren across a campground from US 60; courthouse square in the distance. Image credit Brian Stansberry – Own work, CC BY 4.0, File:Van-Buren-from-US60-mo.jpeg – Wikimedia Commons

Many major locations are named after famed leaders, but few small towns are honored these historic names. The town of Van Buren in the Ozarks is a stunning river community named after President Martin Van Buren, who served as the 8th president of the United States. As the doorstep to the Mark Twain National Forest and the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the town boasts plentiful scenic natural views along the Current River.

In addition to these majestic riverways amidst the rolling Ozark Mountains is the Big Spring, a magnificently blue geologic wonder reputed to be the biggest spring in Missouri and among the biggest in the US, with a daily flow of about 286 million gallons of water. Start cooling down in one of the coolest small towns in the Ozarks by booking rooms in The Rosecliff Lodge or Current River Inn.

Fulton

Family Video store in Fulton, Missouri. Image credit Logan Bush via Shutterstock.com

As the county seat of Callaway County, located 26 miles northeast of Jefferson City and only an hour away from the renowned Lake of the Ozarks, Fulton is a special town to visit. Not merely because of its amenities in the Brick District or natural splendors like the Stinson Creek Trail, but because it was here, specifically at Westminster College, that Sir Winston Churchill delivered his Iron Curtain speech on March 5, 1946, forewarning the threat of the Cold War. In commemoration, Westminster College reconstructed the 12th-century Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, on its campus grounds, which you can visit at your leisure.

America’s National Churchill Museum details the Prime Minister’s harrowing ventures during England’s “darkest hour,” and one can see the Breakthrough sculpture made by Churchill’s daughter, Edwina Sandys, to celebrate the Berlin Wall’s dismantling. You can find grand accommodations at the Loganberry Inn Bed and Breakfast.

Boonville

Katy Trail State Park in Boonville, Missouri.

Boonville is a prime strategic location, and it was not just tourists who recognized the town’s geographic value. Because of Boonville’s railroad and approximation to the Missouri River, and being almost halfway between Kansas City and St. Louis, the Confederate and Union armies fought for the town during the American Civil War. This intersection of the cardinal directions has been the site of two Civil War battles and two occupations.

Visit the Hain House, Memorial Garden, and Kemper Military School, formerly Kemper’s Family School, to glimpse life in the 1800s. Tour Thespian Hall, the longest continually operated theater west of the Alleghany Mountains, which served as a hospital during the Civil War. Then, learn more about Boonville’s strategic influence in the River, Rails & Trails Museum, which showcases the town’s history of transportation. If you feel fatigued, relax at Boonville Luxury Lodging, Hotel Frederick, or Isle of Capri Casino Hotel.

These small towns may not be the stars of the state, but they may just leave the biggest impressions on your journey through Missouri. Get some sunshine and touch the sunny grasses in one of the many heartlands of central US, and find yourself mesmerized by the state from which monumental figures like Mark Twain, Walt Disney, Dick Van Dyke, Eminem, and President Harry S. Truman spent much of their life at. Rich in history, nourished by the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, and with the Ozark Mountains looming in the southern part of the state, these must-visit small towns each have tokens and takeaways waiting to be treasured.

Originally Appeared Here