Boonville

Mendocino Flavors: Winery news, vegetarian Indian pop-up in Willits, Boonville pepper producer on PBS and more tasty news • The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CAThe Mendocino Voice

MENDOCINO Co., 8/3/23 — Summer is flying by, and in the world of wine, harvest is right around the corner. Wineries throughout Mendocino County are reporting veraison, the process in which green wine grapes start to change color, signifying the beginning of the ripening process. Red wine grapes, like pinot noir and cabernet, will shift from green to purple and white wine grapes, like chardonnay and riesling, will turn translucent. Harvest could start between 30 and 70 days depending on the wine varietal.

Speaking of wine, if you’re looking for a delicious, locally crafted rosé to sip this summer, be sure to check out my ten favorite rosés to drink right now.

Phillips Hill’s tasting room in 2022. (Courtesy photo)

Philo’s Phillips Hill Winery to cease operations

Toby Hill and Natacha Durandet announced in July that their winery, Phillips Hill, will sell its final bottles and welcome its final guests at the end of October. Hill purchased a property in the Mendocino Ridge in 1997 and produced his first pinot noir from Oppenlander Vineyard in Comptche in 2002. Inspired by Burgundian winemaking styles, Hill’s wines are produced with native yeast and as little intervention as possible. Durandet oversees the tasting room component, serving Hill’s creations in the winery’s historic appel dryer barn to thirsty guests.

In an email, Hill wrote “after twenty seasons of discovery, exploration, passion, and hard work, it is time for us to continue our evolution and embrace new undiscovered territory.” Hill shared that he will pursue his passion for the visual arts, transforming the winery into an artist studio. He was an artist before becoming a winemaker. Durandet, a sommelier, plans to continue to work in the wine industry.

Phillips Hills’ remaining wines are still available for purchase online and at its tasting room by appointment through October 30, 2023. 5101 Hwy 128, Philo, (707) 895-2209, phillipshill.com.

Moberly comes-from-behind to take down Osage | Prep Sports

Moberly flipped the script on Osage in the second half and held on for a 21-14 victory Friday night at Osage.

Osage looked to capitalize on a late drive in the fourth quarter, but the Spartan defense held strong. The Spartans had a sluggish start, yet they managed to tag along with Osage before taking a seven point lead early in the fourth.

kAm~D286 925 2 72DE DE2CE[ D64FC:?8 EH@ 7F>3=6D 2?5 C6=J:?8 @? 2 962GJ CFD9:?8 2EE24<[ H9:=6 42A:E2=:K:?8 EH:46 H:E9 EH@ A2DD:?8 E@F495@H?D :? E96 7:CDE 92=7] %96 ~D286 5676?D6 =@@<65 7@C>:523=6 367@C6 E96 92=7E:>6 3C62<[ C64@G6C:?8 EH@ >@C6 7F>3=6D @77 @7 E96 $A2CE2?D 2?5 E2<:?8 25G2?E286 @7 2 >:DD65 6IEC2 A@:?E E@ 9@=5 2 `c`b =625]k^Am

kAmp7E6C E96 32?5 2?5 4@?46DD:@? 3C62<[ |@36C=J C@==65 @FE 2 >@C6 A@=:D965 AC@5F4E 😕 E96 D64@?5 92=7] p7E6C EC25:?8 A@DD6DD:@?D[ |@36C=J >6E9@5:42==J 5C@G6 5@H? E96 7:6=5 2?5 D4C2>3=65 E@ E96 6?5 K@?6 7@C E96 8@29625 E@F495@H?]k^Am

kAm~D286 >256 2 G2=:2?E 2EE6>AE 2E 2 4@>6324< 5C:G6[ 3FE :E H2D 92=E65 3J E96 $A2CE2? 5676?D6 @? E96 5@@CDE6A @7 E96 C65 K@?6[ 2==@H:?8 |@36C=J E@ CF? E96 4=@4< @FE 7@C :ED D64@?5 H:? @7 E96 7C6D9 D62D@?]k^Am

kAm|@36C=J 😀 @77 E@ :ED 7:CDE a_ DE2CE D:?46 DE2CE:?8 @77 H:E9 7:G6 4@?D64FE:G6 H:?D 324< :? a_a_] %96 $A2CE2?D 9625 324< 9@>6 E@ 9@DE (:?7:6=5 7@C 2?@E96C ?@?4@?76C6?46 82>6 DE2CE:?8 2E f A]>] ?6IE uC:52J 😕 |@36C=J]k^Am

kAm~D286 72==D E@ _a 7@C E96 D64@?5 J62C 😕 2 C@H 27E6C E96:C D64@?5 4@?D64FE:G6 =@DD E@ |@36C=J] xE D66] ?6IE uC:52J 2E ~D286]k^Am

kA DEJ=6lQE6IE2=:8?i C:89EjQm(:==:2> (:4

kAmkDEC@?8m$@FE96C? q@@?6 ch[ |6I:4@ `cik^DEC@?8m $@FE96C? q@@?6VD @776?D6 H2D E@@ >F49 7@C |6I:4@ E@ @G6C4@>6 😕 |6I:4@[ |:DD@FC:]k^Am

kAm$@FE96C? q@@?6 D6?:@C BF2CE6C324< pFDE:? tG2?D 925 2? 6=64EC:4 ?:89E[ D4@C:?8 7:G6 E@F495@H?D 7@C E96 t28=6D] %96 qF==5@8D @776?D6 H@F=5 6G6?EF2==J C6DA@?5[ =65 3J BF2CE6C324< %JD@? r2CC[ H9@ H6?E @? 2 ecJ2C5 5C:G6 42A:E2=:K65 3J 2 dJ2C5 D4@C6 3J qF==5@8D CF??:?8 324< !6JE@? w@@G6C]k^Am

kAm%96 |6I:4@ 5676?D6 DECF88=65 E@ DE@A E96 @AA@D:?8 t28=6D @776?D6 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J DF776C65 7C@> 8:G:?8 FA 3:8 J2C5286 27E6C E96 42E49] %96 82>6 8@E @FE @7 92?5 BF:4<=J 27E6C t28=6D H:56 C646:G6C r92D6 |@CC:D E@@< 2 D9@CE A2DD 7C@> tG2?D 7@C 2? gaJ2C5 E@F495@H?] %@ >2<6 >2EE6CD H@CD6[ E96 qF==5@8D 4@>>:EE65 EH@ EFC?@G6CD @? 4@?D64FE:G6 5C:G6D 😕 E96 C6>2:?:?8 >:?FE6D @7 E96 7:CDE 92=7[ E9FD 2==@H:?8 $@FE96C? q@@?6 E@ 6IE6?5 :ED =625 E@ caf 367@C6 92=7E:>6]k^Am

kAm%96 t28=6D H@F=5 255 2?@E96C E@F495@H? E@ E96 D4@C63@2C5 3J E96 6?5 @7 E96 E9:C5[ 3FE E96 qF==5@8D H@F=5 C6DA@?5 H:E9 2? g`J2C5 D4@C:?8 5C:G6 9:89=:89E65 3J 2 d_J2C5 A2DD:?8 E@F495@H? E@ H:56 C646:G6C $92?E6K s@CD6J] w@H6G6C[ :E F=E:>2E6=J H2D E@@ =2E6 7@C |6I:4@ E@ >2<6 2 4@>6324<]k^Am

kAm$@FE96C? q@@?6 W“X =@@] ?6IE uC:52J 😕 r2=:7@C?:2[ |:DD@FC:] |6I:4@ W_aX H:== 2EE6>AE E@ 62C? :ED 7:CDE H:? @7 E96 D62D@? 282:?DE ~56DD2 2E f A]>] ?6IE uC:52J 😕 |6I:4@[ |:DD@FC:]k^Am

kA DEJ=6lQE6IE2=:8?i C:89EjQm!:<6 %6>A=6k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mq@@?G:==6 ca[ |2CD92== a_ik^DEC@?8m xE H2D E96 s2<@E2 %C@@DE D9@H 2E q@@?G:==6]k^Am

kAm%96 D6?:@C H:56 C646:G6C C64@C565 D:I E@F495@H?D 2D q@@?G:==6 56762E65 E96 |2CD92== 7@C :ED 7:CDE H:? @7 E96 D62D@?]k^Am

kAm%C@@DEVD D:I E@F495@H?D 42>6 😕 2 G2C:6EJ @7 H2JD] %96 7:CDE EH@ D4@C6D H6C6 E9C@F89 E96 2:C E@ r@@A6C !7:6776C 2?5 s2<@E2 (:==:2>D] w:D ?6IE EH@ H6C6 @? E96 8C@F?5 7@C 7@FC 2?5 b_ J2C5D[ C6DA64E:G6=J] w:D 7:?2= EH@ H6C6 3@E9 42E496D 7C@> ;F?:@C BF2CE6C324< tG2? q:D9@A]k^Am

kAm|2CD92== 925 E96 FAA6C 92?5 😕 E96 7:CDE 92=7[ 8@:?8 :?E@ E96 =@4<6C C@@> =625:?8 `cf 7@==@H:?8 E@F495@H?D 7C@> D6?:@CD $E6A96? r2G:?6DD 2?5 y2ID@? r2D6] w@H6G6C[ :ED 5676?D6 4@F=5 ?@E <66A :ED >@>6?EF> 8@:?8 😕 E96 D64@?5 92=7 27E6C 72:=:?8 E@ C64@C5 2 DE@A @? 2== 7:G6 @7 q@@?G:==6’D 5C:G6D]k^Am

kAm$A64:2= E62>D H2D E96 “)u24E@C” 7@C E96 !:C2E6D 😕 E96 D64@?5 92=7] u@==@H:?8 E96:C 8@29625 E@F495@H? 😕 E96 E9:C5 E@ 8@ FA @?6 D4@C6[ q@@?G:==6 DF446DD7F==J 4@?G6CE65 2? @?D:56 <:4<[ H9:49 C6DF=E65 :? 2?@E96C D4@C:?8 5C:G6 7@C E96 !:C2E6D] q@@?G:==6’D DA64:2= E62>D 7@C465 J6E 2?@E96C EFC?@G6C @? E96 ?6IE <:4<@77[ AFEE:?8 E96 7:?2= ?2:= :? E96 4@77:? 7@C E96 ~H=D]k^Am

kAmq@@?G:==6 H:== =@@< E@ 3F:=5 @? E96 H:? H96? :E 9@DED w2==DG:==6 W``X 2E f A]>] ?6IE uC:52J] |2CD92== H:== C6EFC? 9@>6 E@ 7246 #:49>@?5 W_aX 2E f A]>] ?6IE uC:52J]k^Am

kA DEJ=6lQE6IE2=:8?i C:89EjQm|2EE #6:?4<6k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mr2=:7@C?:2 b`[ uF=E@? bik^DEC@?8m r2=:7@C?:2 4@?E:?F65 :ED 9@E DE2CE E@ E96 D62D@? H:E9 2 H:? @G6C uF=E@?] !:?E@D ;F?:@C qC@@:?2?46 7C@> =2DE H66< 3J D?288:?8 2? :?E6C46AE:@? 62C=J :? E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C]k^Am

kAmq@E9 5676?D6D H6C6 7:C:?8 @? 2== 4J=:?56CD 5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C[ 2D 3@E9 E62>D DECF88=65 E@ 7:?5 E96 6?5K@?6 2?5 925 E@ D6EE=6 7@C 7:6=5 8@2=D 62C=J]k^Am

kAm%96 w@C?6EDV 5676?D6 D9@H65 D:8?D @7 :>AC@G6>6?E D:?46 =2DE H66256 E9:?8D 5:77:4F=E 62C=J 7@C E96 !:?E@D] w@H6G6C[ E96 !:?E@D 7:?2==J 3C@<6 E9C@F89[ 2D '@=<2CE D4@C65 E96 7:CDE E@F495@H? @7 E96 82>6 H:E9 `ib_ =67E 😕 E96 D64@?5 BF2CE6C E@ 8:G6 r2=:7@C?:2 2 `_b 92=7E:>6 =625]k^Am

kAmu@==@H:?8 92=7E:>6[ r2=:7@C?:2 DE2CE65 E@ 7:?5 :ED C9JE9> H:E9 BF2CE6C324< (2=<6C uC:65>6J6C E9C@H:?8 2 aaJ2C5 E@F495@H? A2DD F?56C 5FC6DD E@ :?4C62D6 E96 !:?E@D’ =625 E@ `fb]k^Am

kAm%96 s@F8=2D 3C@E96CD @7 uF=E@? EC:65 E96:C 36DE E@ C68C@FA[ H:E9 CF??:?8 324< |2=:< s@F8=2D 2?5 "q %JD@? s@F8=2D 5C:G:?8 E@ E96 C65K@?6 >F=E:A=6 E:>6D 😕 E96 D64@?5 92=7 3FE 4@>:?8 FA 6>AEJ 6249 E:>6]k^Am

kAm%96 7@FCE9 BF2CE6C D2H E96 !:?E@D @776?D6 DE2CE E@ CF? FA E96 D4@C6 @? E96 w@C?6ED] pJ56? qCJ2?E 925 2 bfJ2C5 E@F495@H? CF? E@ @A6? E96 BF2CE6C[ :?4C62D:?8 r2=:7@C?:2’D =625 E@ acb] #q %J=6C ~56? AFE E96 7:?2= ?2:= 😕 E96 4@77:? H:E9 2 D9@CE E@F495@H? CF? @7 9:D @H?]k^Am

kAmr2=:7@C?:2 2?5 ?6H 4@249 z6??J vCF33 9@A6 E@ 249:6G6 E96:C 7:CDE b_ DE2CE E@ 2 D62D@? D:?46 a_`c H96? E96J 9@DE $@FE96C? q@@?6 2E f A]>] ?6IE uC:52J]k^Am

kAmuF=E@? EC:6D E@ 2G@:5 DE2CE:?8 E96 D62D@? _b 7@C E96 D:IE9 J62C 😕 2 C@H 282:?DE (6DEC2? 2E f A]>] uC:52J 2E 9@>6]k^Am

kA DEJ=6lQE6IE2=:8?i C:89EjQmt=:;29 y2>6Dk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m{FE96C2? }@CE9 bg[ q=2:C ~2A=6I 😕 (2CC6?DG:==6]k^Am

kAm%96 rCFD256CD[ H9@ 2C6 4FCC6?E=J E96 D64@?5C2?<65 E62> 😕 r=2DD c[ 42>6 :?E@ E96 82>6 D66<:?8 C6G6?86 27E6C =@D:?8 E@ q=2:C ~2

kAm{FE96C2? }@CE9 ;F>A65 @FE E@ 2? 62C=J =625 27E6C q=2:C ~23=65 566A 😕 :ED @H? E6CC:E@CJ 2?5 ?6G6C C6=:?BF:D965 E96 =625] q=2:C ~2@C6 E92? EH@ D4@C6D]k^Am

kAm%96 u2=4@?D H6C6 =65 3J 2 DEC@?8 A6C7@C>2?46 7C@> BF2CE6C324< %J=6C q2I[ H9@ E9C6H 7@C @G6C a__ J2C5D 2?5 EH@ E@F495@H?D] #F??:?8 324< w2J56? {24<>2? 42F89E @?6 @7 E9@D6 E@F495@H? A2DD6D 2?5 CFD965 7@C 2?@E96C]k^Am

kAm{2E6 😕 E96 7@FCE9 BF2CE6C[ q=2:C ~2 {24<>2? 4FE E96 =625 E@ 6:89E]k^Am

kAmxE 42>6 5@H? E@ E96 7:?2= >:?FE6[ H:E9 q=2:C ~26 FA =6DD E92? 2 J2C5 D9@CE @? E96 D64@?5] q2I C@==65 @FE @7 E96 A@4<6E 2?5 7@F?5 2 D=:5:?8 y@6J (:=56 @? E96 D:56=:?6[ 3FE H2D ;FDE D9J @7 E96 >2C<6C @? E96 {FE96C2? }@CE9 cgJ2C5 =:?6[ 2==@H:?8 E96 rCFD256CD E@ 6 @FE]k^Am

kAm%9:D H2D ;FDE E96 `aE9 9@>6 =@DD 7@C q=2:C ~2A=6I @A6?65 😕 a__d] %96 u2=4@?D >@G6 E@ “ @? E96 D62D@?[ 2?5 =@@< E@ 86E 324< E@ E96:C H:??:?8 H2JD H96? E96J 7246 ~D286 W_aX 2E f A]>] uC:52J 2E ~D286]k^Am

kA DEJ=6lQE6IE2=:8?i C:89EjQmsJ=2? q2C?2Dk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mw2??:32= ca[ y6776CD@? r:EJ a`ik^DEC@?8m y6776CD@? r:EJ 925 EC@F3=6 <66A:?8 FA H:E9 w2??:32=VD CFD9:?8 2EE24<]k^Am

kAmu@FCDE2C }@EC6 s2>6 4@>>:E CF??:?8 324< p?J62D (:==2:>D =65 E96 H2J 7@C E96 !:C2E6D[ D4@C:?8 7@FC E@F495@H?D 😕 E96 H:?]k^Am

kAm%96 y2JD 6?E6C65 92=7E:>6 5@H? a`f 27E6C 2? :?E6C46AE:@? 2?5 2 7F>3=6 =:>:E65 E96:C @776?D:G6 AC@5F4E:@?] y6776CD@? r:EJ’D 7:CDE E@F495@H? 42>6 >:5H2J E9C@F89 E96 D64@?5 BF2CE6C 2D D6?:@C BF2CE6C324< y24@3 (:=D@? 4@?G6CE65 @? 2 CFD9:?8 E@F495@H? 7C@> `J2C5 @FE]k^Am

kAm%96 y2JD D4@C65 282:? 😕 E96 E9:C5 @? 2 dgJ2C5 C646AE:@? 7@C ;F?:@C H:56 C646:G6C z6?5C:4 y@9?D@?]k^Am

kAmy6776CD@? r:EJ 6?E6C65 E96 7@FCE9 BF2CE6C EC2:=:?8 ca`c] $6?:@C CF??:?8 324< z2?EC6== y@C52? D4@C65 2 `fJ2C5 E@F495@H? E@ EC:> E96 567:4:E E@ a` A@:?ED] w@H6G6C[ y6776CD@? r:EJVD @?D:56 <:4< 2EE6>AE 72:=65[ H9:49 6=:>:?2E65 2?J 492?46 @7 2 4@>6324<]k^Am

kAmy6776CD@? r:EJ =@@< E@ 86E 324< :? E96 H:? 4@=F>? H96? :E 9@DED #@4< qC:586 2E f A]>] ?6IE uC:52J 2E p5<:?D $E25:F>]k^Am

kA DEJ=6lQE6IE2=:8?i C:89EjQmr9246 |:DD@FC:k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m~H6?DG:==6 bd[ t=5@? b`ik^DEC@?8m ~H6?DG:==6 9F?8 @? E@ 362E t=5@? 😕 2 4=@D6 82>6 😕 t=5@?]k^Am

kAm%96 sFE49>6? DE2CE65 @77 DEC@?8 @? 3@E9 D:56D @7 E96 32==[ 9@=5:?8 E96 |FDE2?8D E@ 2 E9C662?5@FE @? E96:C @A6?:?8 5C:G6 2?5 D4@C:?8 E@F495@H?D @? E96:C 7:CDE EH@ 5C:G6D @7 E96 82>6]k^Am

kAm(:E9 ai_b =67E 😕 E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C[ t=5@? E:65 E96 82>6 H:E9 2 a_J2C5 CFD9:?8 E@F495@H?[ 3FE ~H6?DG:==6 C6DA@?565 H:E9 2 aaJ2C5 E@F495@H? A2DD E@ ;F?:@C +2:56? v2E6D E@ E2<6 2 a``c =625]k^Am

kAm$6?:@C %2??6C |6J6C 925 2 3:8 82>6 7@C ~H6?DG:==6[ D4@C:?8 E96 sFE49>6?VD @A6?:?8 E@F495@H?] |6J6C 2=D@ D4@C65 @77 2 <:4<@77 C6EFC? :? E96 D64@?5 BF2CE6C 2?5 =2E6C 42F89E 2 fdJ2C5 E@F495@H? A2DD E@ 6DE23=:D9 2 hA@:?E =625]k^Am

kAm(:E9 `ide =67E 😕 E96 82>6[ E96 |FDE2?8D >2?2865 E@ 4FE E96 =625 E@ 7@FC A@:?ED[ 3FE E96 sFE49>6? 96=5 @? E@ D64FC6 E96 H:?]k^Am

kAm~H6?DG:==6 H:== ECJ E@ 3F:=5 @77 :ED 62C=J D62D@? >@>6?EF> H96? :E 7246D (2CC6?E@? 2E f A]>] uC:52J 2E 9@>6]k^Am

kAmt=5@? =@@] uC:52J 😕 t=5@?]k^Am

kA DEJ=6lQE6IE2=:8?i C:89EjQm{:==J |2CD92==k^Am

Originally Appeared Here

Bill Caldwell: Ralph Hammons found black walnuts to be black gold

The ability to see an opportunity in an everyday environment marks an entrepreneur.

Ralph Hammons took a chance on marketing black walnuts found throughout Southwest Missouri. It grew into a family business that is the world’s largest buyer and processor of eastern black walnuts.

Burney Ralph Hammons was born July 8, 1913. He grew up in Southwest Missouri and married Faye Summers in 1931. The couple lived in Springfield and Fair Play before moving to Stockton in 1937.

They operated a small retail grocery and produce store in Stockton.

In 1945, he thought he saw an opportunity as a sidelight to his grocery in black walnuts found throughout the area. He took a chance and bought 3 million pounds of the nuts and shipped them to a plant in Virginia. That proved to be profitable. But the next year, he wondered if a processing plant could be located in Stockton to save the shipping costs. He purchased a nut-cracking machine from Tennessee.

Hammons Products Co.

During the initial years, the operation was contained in a 36-by-72-foot building with a capacity for holding about 100,000 pounds of nuts. The processed nuts were marketed as the Missouri Dandy brand. Improvements to cracking machines allowed the company to increase its production.

Hammons led the development of better methods of hulling the walnuts, which made production of the kernels economically viable. He came up with the intricate machinery by working in his own machine shop. Instead of discarding the shells, he found ways to crush the shells for a variety of uses.

Walnuts grew wild across the Ozarks. He contracted local feed and produce stores in the area to serve as buying stations. Ads were placed in local newspapers advertising the location of those stations, to which individuals and families would bring their walnuts. Prices in the 1950s could average $3.50 per hundredweight of hulled nuts.

Children earned school or Christmas money picking up walnuts while other families took a more focused approach. They would check with neighbors, scout out roadsides and wood lots for walnut trees. Then they would haul in truckloads of nuts for sale.

By 1959, Hammons had leased 70 hulling machines to buyers in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma. Cities as far as away Sedalia, Marshall, Columbia, Boonville, St. Joseph and Kirksville had Hammons buyers.

Hammons continued to direct the company until his death at age 59 in 1973. Operation of the company passed to son, Dwain, who continued the expansion of the business.

Search for better trees

The eastern black walnut is a tree native from central Texas to southern Minnesota to the East Coast. It had a tendency to produce nuts in alternate years. The trees tend not to self-pollinate, which means the character of the nuts can vary widely. This is important because for every 100 pounds of walnuts, about 8 pounds of salable nutmeats are obtained.

Hammons set up Sho-Neff Plantation on a 790-acre farm. There, research into the most productive varieties for wood and nut production began.

Cloning studies were conducted by grafting wood from a desired tree, which was then encouraged to grow rootstock in individual containers with water mists on an automated schedule.

Research into better varieties led to two patents for the seedlings Hammons Select 1 and Hammons Select 2 in 1996. The patents were the culmination of 10 years of study. This was the first time a private company had secured such a patent.

Select 1 was suited to upland locations, Select 2 performed better in bottomland. According to their research, an acre with 54 of the patented trees could produce up to 3,000 pounds of walnuts a year.

The requirement for consistent harvests was seen when rainy summers, frosts or droughts often drastically affected walnut harvests. Bumper crop years produced as much as the record 48.6 million pounds of nuts in 1999, while the drought year of 1981 returned just 27 million pounds. These numbers were from the 18 states the company buyers drew upon. Moreover, as demand for walnut lumber increased along with the clearing of wood lots for urban development, the company looked to the creation of walnut orchards as an alternative, reliable source.

Diverse walnut products

Beginning with sales of walnuts as packaged nuts, the company’s offerings grew into a variety of snacks, candies, baked goods, oils and flavorings. The company has expanded to include retail and online sales of its walnut products, such as the Missouri Dandy Pantry brand.

Products made from the shells have grown into another whole division of the company. Uses for crushed shells include abrasive cleaning agents, water filtration, an ingredient in oil industry sealants for fracture zones, filler for dynamite, uses in plywood and particle board, and as an ingredient in resins for the creation of cold castings. And, last but not least, as an ingredient in cosmetics such as soap and cosmetic cleaners.

Dwain Hammons led the company from 1973 until he stepped down in 1997.. His son, Brian Hammons, is the CEO at the present.

The company still depends upon individual harvesters for its supply of walnuts. To spur on harvesters in 2016, prices for hulled walnuts were increased to $15 per 100 pounds of hulled nuts. They have 215 hulling stations in 11 states.

“We want to be sure that people are motivated to get out and harvest the cash from the trees that’s going to be falling on the ground,” Hammons said.

As Brian Hammons’ son David said in a 2010 Globe interview, “We are no longer just selling an ingredient. We are selling a whole product.”

Originally Appeared Here

Springfield artist Carol Snyder goes from museum classes to a First Friday Art Walk solo show

Classes at the Springfield Art Museum awakened Carol Snyder’s creative urge. Years later she’s preparing for a solo exhibition of her paintings at Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe. You can see them on Sept. 1 during First Friday Art Walk.

Gailey’s, a popular brunch spot at 220 E. Walnut St., is one of two new venues for Art Walk, a monthly effort in which galleries and businesses line up arts-related events across downtown Springfield. Everyone is encouraged to walk around the neighborhood and pop into galleries in what organizers call a “self-guided tour.” There are 18 venues participating this month. They’ll be open for variable hours between 5 and 10 p.m.

Snyder draws inspiration from observing nature

Carol Snyder credits classes at the Springfield Art Museum with awakening her creative urge. Her work will be on display at Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe during the September First Friday Art Walk. (Photo: First Friday Art Walk)

Snyder made her first step into art after a decade of work at radio station KMET, 94.7 FM, in Los Angeles. She served as a staff photographer and did voiceover work for the station.

“I moved to Missouri, where my creative urge was truly awakened by inspiring art classes at the Springfield (Art) Museum, which took my studies further to (Missouri State University),” Snyder said in a press release.

She also spent 16 years as a volunteer for the Missouri Department of Conservation.

“There, I discovered a passion for painting: birds, landscapes and now abstracting all of those things,” Snyder said. “I inhale inspiration from observing nature, which surrounds me.”

Snyder’s work has been displayed around Springfield, including at Bambinos Cafe, Finley River Fine Art Gallery, Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, Springfield-Branson Regional Airport, Springfield Conservation Nature Center, Springfield Regional Arts Council and Walnut Inn Bed and Breakfast.

“The need to learn has brightened every day of my life,” Snyder said. “This entails learning to have compassion for my tools and letting them tell me, giving me permission to stay loose and feel the next step. My interests lie in adding elements taken from every environment in nature, museums and architecture, and relaying them to colors, lines and textures. Freedom of pushing the color is an adventure. Then, by the end of the day, I’ve learned something about my chosen art.”

Springfield artist Carol Snyder spent 16 years as a volunteer for the Missouri Department of Conservation. There she discovered a passion for painting birds and landscapes. (Photo: Carol Snyder)

Historic Holland Building is another new addition to Art Walk

The historic Holland Building (205 Park Central East), is also making its First Friday Art Walk debut in September. It’s displaying a collection of new works by Springfield artist and chef H.J. Schumer.

Schumer’s show features recent abstract paintings and renditions of popular Springfield scenes and locations. Schumer’s work has been shown in galleries from the Midwest to the East Coast and has been selected for national competitions including Watercolor U.S.A. and PhotoSpiva.

Interested in seeing the show? It will be on display from 6-8 p.m. To see the exhibit, enter the Holland Building through the St. Louis Street lobby and take the elevator or stairs to the second floor.

A collection of new works by Springfield artist and chef HJ Schumer will be on display at the Historic Holland Building during September’s First Friday Art Walk. (Photo: First Friday Art Walk)

College galleries are busy now that classes are back in session

Galleries from Drury University and Missouri State University are all back on the map after a somewhat quiet summer. MSU’s Brick City Gallery (215 W. Mill St.) is opening a co-curatorial project called “i’m sorry for your loss… Meditations on Discomfort and Change.” Alexandra Chamberlain and Jodi McCoy have selected works from Kim Brandt, Rick Briggenhorst, Michelle Burdine, Charles Clary and Axelle Kieffe that explore the ways humans visualize and internalize experiences with change associated with loss.

Drury University is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a display of campus photographs at the Pool Art Center Gallery. It includes work by Allin Sorenson. (Photo: First Friday Art Walk)

Over at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center (326 N. Boonville) is “Enmeshed Worlds,” which features work from Alejandro T Acierto, Jon Chambers, Tiffany Funk and Britt Ransom. The First Friday Art Walk press release said “Enmeshed Worlds” is a critical examination of how technology affects our social structures and relationships.”

Drury University is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a display of campus photographs at the Pool Art Center Gallery (900 N. Benton Ave.). It includes work by Rebecca Miller and Allin Sorenson.

Obelisk Home presents a trio of shows

Head over to Obslisk Home (214 W. Phelps St., Suite 101) between 6 and 10 p.m. to see three different exhibitions, including the opening of their 17th Annual Birdhouse Auction benefitting Habitat for Humanity. Local artists have created and donated special birdhouses for the event, which has raised thousands of dollars over the years. Obelisk Home is donating 100% of the proceeds from the silent auction to help Habitat for Humanity provide safe, comfortable housing for families in need in the Springfield area.

Obelisk Home’s main gallery is hosting the opening reception of “Spirit Animals: Tracking Time by Kat Allie. The lower gallery, meanwhile, is the site of the closing reception for “You Are What You Eat: The Search for a Corporate Sponsor” by guest artist Trevor McDonald.

In addition to the art, there will be live music from 6:30-8 p.m. and complimentary refreshments will be served throughout the evening. The music is courtesy of a string quartet, featuring Graham Arnold and Malcolm James on violin, Bracken Potter on viola and Eli Parks on cello.

Obelisk Home is hosting a trio of shows at September’s First Friday Art Walk. they include the opening reception of “Spirit Animals: Tracking Time by Kat Allie. (Photo: First Friday Art Walk)

Other venues for August’s First Friday Art Walk are:

Artistic Photography, 600 W. College St.
BookMarx, 325 E. Walnut St., Ste. 101
The Downtown Church, 413 E. Walnut St.
Formed: An Artist Collective, 210 E. Walnut St.
Forming Art Studios, 330 South Ave.
Fresh Gallery, 401 N. Boonville
Hold Fast Brewing, 235 N. Kimbrough Ave.
Hotel Vandivort, 305 E. Walnut
J.L. Long Traders, 318 W. Walnut St.
Park Central Branch Library, 128 Park Central Square
Springfield Regional Arts Council at the Creamery Arts Center, 411 N. Sherman Parkway
Transformation Gallery & Tattoo, 330 E. Walnut St.

For more information, visit the official First Friday Art Walk website, or find them on Facebook.

Jeff Kessinger

Jeff Kessinger is the Reader Engagement Editor for the Springfield Daily Citizen, and the voice of its daily newsletter SGF A.M. He covered sports in southwest Missouri for the better part of 20 years, from young athletes to the pros. The Springfield native and Missouri State University alumnus is thrilled to be doing journalism in the Queen City, helping connect the community with important information. He and wife Jamie daily try to keep a tent on the circus that is a blended family of five kids and three cats. More by Jeff Kessinger

Originally Appeared Here

Lady Pintos compete in Columbia-Battle volleyball jamboree

After a long summer of workouts, camps and tournaments, California Lady Pintos volleyball began a new season with two exhibition matches at the Columbia-Battle Volleyball Jamboree between the Fatima Lady Comets and Battle’s Lady Spartans.

In their first match against Fatima, the teams went back and forth in the first set until Fatima capitalized on mistakes to win the first set 21-14. After a pep talk with head coach Julie Bailey, the Lady Pintos came back to win the second set 21-14 and end the match in a 1-1 tie.

Bailey said the struggles against Fatima came from a combination of inexperience, nerves and miscommunication. Once the team was able to put those setbacks behind them, they were able to take care of business like they wanted to in the second set.

“We were struggling with communication and passing, which made it difficult to get our offense going. We also have some younger girls playing varsity for the first time and I believe nerves were part of the problem as well,” Bailey said. “Our serve receive improved in the second set. So we were able to take advantage of our offensive attack. I think by the second set some of the nerves were calming down, and the girls were better able to focus on executing.”

In their second match against Battle, the two teams went back and forth in the first set to a 12-12 tie. California was able to pull away and win the first set by scoring nine of the last 10 points to win the first match 21-13. Battle came back strong in the second set and made numerous diving digs to stay alive. The set came down to the wire with California winning 21-19 to sweep the set.

Bailey was happy about the response her team made after their slow start against Fatima. She was particularly pleased with how the players were able to compete at a high level against a high-level program.

“It is always nice to compete with a bigger school. They had some big hitters and blockers as well as a scrappy libero. We were able to dig their big hits and capitalize on our offense to put them in defensive mode more than they would have liked,” Bailey said.

Since the jamboree was a pre-season event, Bailey had the opportunity to mix and match the lineups on the court to build team chemistry. The experiment produced multiple outcomes Bailey will take into account as the regular season gets under way this week.

“Macie Trimble and Ella Bailey have been a pretty good duo for years. They have played together for a long time and read each other well. When Ella gets the ball to Macie she is a powerful force at the net and is able to pick apart defenses. Penelope Cotten was also a key in our offensive attack as well,” Bailey said. “We tried Emilia Collier and Tayte Higgins in the middle opposite of Macie Trimble. I also used both Amberlie Traver and Amelia Motley as the libero. We have younger players who we are trying to develop and give as much experience as possible.”

Bailey said her team needs to improve their communication to improve serve-receiving and defense. In her own words, “Without good passing, it is impossible to take advantage of our strong offensive attack.”

After taking on Father Tolton Catholic in their season opener Tuesday, California will host their conference rival, the Boonville Lady Pirates, on Thursday.

   Democrat photo/Evan Holmes Senior Ella Bailey serves the ball to Fatima at the Columbia-Battle Volleyball Jamboree on Aug. 22.
     Lady Pintos compete in Columbia-Battle volleyball jamboree Democrat photo/Evan Holmes Senior Paige Morris spikes the ball for a point against the Fatima Comets.
     Democrat photo/Evan Holmes Senior Macie Trimble goes for a dig against the Fatima Lady Comets
     Democrat photo/Evan Holmes Junior Amberlie Traver goes for a dig against the Columbia-Battle Lady Spartans.
     Democrat photo/Evan Holmes Head coach Julie Bailey talks with her team after defeating Columbia-Battle 2-0 on Aug. 22.
     Democrat photo/Evan Holmes The Lady Pintos bench watches the match against Fatima from a court-side seat.

Originally Appeared Here

Photos: 135th Boonville-Oneida County Fair

The Boonville-Oneida County Fair returned for its 135th year on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 and runs through Sunday, July 30, 2023. The fair includes rides, various vendors, a Demolition Derby, Contests, Cattle Shows, Horse Events, Truck and Tractor Pulls and more.

Daniel DeLoach/Utica Observer-Dispatch

Exhibits from the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development are displayed at the 135th Boonville-Oneida County Fair on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

Daniel DeLoach/Utica Observer-Dispatch

Exhibits from the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development are displayed at the 135th Boonville-Oneida County Fair on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

Daniel DeLoach/Utica Observer-Dispatch

Exhibits from the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development are displayed at the 135th Boonville-Oneida County Fair on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

Daniel DeLoach/Utica Observer-Dispatch

Daniel DeLoach/Utica Observer-Dispatch
Originally Appeared Here

Missouri tax free weekend 2023, discounts and sales

Missouri’s 2023 back-to-school tax-free weekend starts Aug. 4, includes supplies, clothes and diapers

Sales tax holiday runs from Aug. 4-6

Updated: 8:07 AM CDT Aug 4, 2023

The back-to-school supplies are crowding aisles at many stores.Keep in mind that Missouri’s back-to-school sales tax holiday by law begins on the first Friday in August, and continues through the following Sunday. This year’s event starts Aug. 4.Certain back-to-school items, such as clothing, school supplies, and computers, are exempt from sales tax during the three-day period, and yes, even supplies like disposable diapers for infants. Check out a supply checklist here.The sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 4.Kansas does not do a sales tax holiday for back-t0-school season. FULL LIST OF EXEMPT ITEMS FROM SALES TAXClothing: any article of wearing apparel intended to be worn on or about the human body, including, but not limited to, disposable diapers for infants or adults and footwear. The term shall include, but not be limited to, cloth and other materials used to make school uniforms or other school clothing. Items normally sold in pairs shall not be separated to qualify for the exemption. The term shall not include watches, watchbands, jewelry, handbags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, scarves, ties, headbands, or belt buckles. Each article of clothing must have a taxable value of $100 or less.School supplies: Any item normally used by students in a standard classroom for educational purposes, including but not limited to, textbooks, notebooks, paper, writing instruments, crayons, art supplies, rulers, book bags, backpacks, handheld calculators, graphing calculators, chalk, maps, and globes. The term shall not include watches, radios, CD players, headphones, sporting equipment, portable or desktop telephones, copiers or other office equipment, furniture, or fixtures. School supplies shall also include computer software having a taxable value of $350 or less and graphing calculators valued at $150 or less.Personal computers: A laptop, desktop, or tower computer system which consists of a central processing unit, random access memory, a storage drive, a display monitor, and a keyboard and devices designed for use in conjunction with a personal computer, such as a disk drive, memory module, compact disk drive, daughterboard, digitizer, microphone, modem, motherboard, mouse, multimedia speaker, printer, scanner, single-user hardware, single-user operating system, soundcard, or video card. Personal computers and computer peripheral devices cannot exceed $1,500.Check out some of these back-to-school deals. FULL LIST OF CITIES NOT PARTICIPATING IN SALES TAX HOLIDAY*These cities will continue to collect city sales tax on qualifying items. (City sales tax, not state sales tax)AltonAsh GroveAshlandBattlefieldBellerive AcresBerkeleyBeverly HillsBlack JackBlackwaterBlandBloomfieldBolivarBoonvilleBransonBrentwoodBridgetonByrnes MillCaboolCaliforniaCantonCape GirardeauCarl JunctionCarthageCassvilleCentertownChamoisCharlackChillicotheClaycomoClaytonCollinsColumbiaConcordiaCool ValleyCrestwoodCrystal CityDes PeresDeslogeDeSotoDoniphanEdmundsonEldonEldorado SpringsEllsinoreElsberryEvertonFair GroveFarmingtonFayetteFergusonFestusFlint HillFreemanFremont HillsFrontenacGarden CityGeraldGlasgowGranbyGrandinGrant CityGreen CityGreendaleHalf WayHartvilleHawk PointHigginsvilleHollisterHolts SummitHoustonIrontonJaneJefferson CityJoplinKingdom CityKirkwoodKoshkonongLadueLaurieLeadingtonLiberalLickingLoma LindaManchesterMaplewoodMarble HillMarcelineMarlborough VillageMarshfieldMarthasvilleMerriam Woods VillageMetaMoberlyMonettMontgomery CityMoscow MillsMount VernonNaylorNeoshoNew HavenNew MadridNew MelleNoelNorborneNorthwoodsOaklandOverlandOwensvilleOzarkPalmyraParisPattonsburgPeculiarPevelyPlatte WoodsPoplar BluffPurdyQulinReeds SpringRichmond HeightsRiversideRock HillRockaway BeachSavannahSedaliaSeligmanShelbinaShrewsburySkidmoreSmithtonSmithvilleSpringfieldSt. AnnSt. ElizabethSt. MarySt. PetersSte. GenevieveStocktonSugar CreekTaosThayerTown & CountryTrentonTwin OaksUniversity CityUrichVandaliaVeldaWalnut GroveWarson WoodsWashburnWaynesvilleWebster GrovesWest PlainsWillardWillow SpringsFULL LIST OF COUNTIES NOT PARTICIPATING IN SALES TAX HOLIDAY*These counties will continue to collect county sales tax on qualifying items.AudrainBarryBentonBollingerBooneCallawayCamdenCarrollCedarChristianClintonColeCooperDadeDallasGreeneGrundyHenryHowardIronJasperLawrenceLinnLivingstonMercerMoniteauMorganNewtonOregonOsageOzarkPhelpsPikePolkPulaskiPutnamRayReynoldsSalineShelbySt. CharlesSt. FrancoisSte. GenevieveStoddardStoneTaneyTexasWebsterWright**Additional local districts may also continue to collect special sales taxes. Click here for the full list.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

The back-to-school supplies are crowding aisles at many stores.

Keep in mind that Missouri’s back-to-school sales tax holiday by law begins on the first Friday in August, and continues through the following Sunday. This year’s event starts Aug. 4.

Certain back-to-school items, such as clothing, school supplies, and computers, are exempt from sales tax during the three-day period, and yes, even supplies like disposable diapers for infants.

Check out a supply checklist here.

The sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 4.

Kansas does not do a sales tax holiday for back-t0-school season.

Clothing: any article of wearing apparel intended to be worn on or about the human body, including, but not limited to, disposable diapers for infants or adults and footwear. The term shall include, but not be limited to, cloth and other materials used to make school uniforms or other school clothing. Items normally sold in pairs shall not be separated to qualify for the exemption. The term shall not include watches, watchbands, jewelry, handbags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, scarves, ties, headbands, or belt buckles. Each article of clothing must have a taxable value of $100 or less.

School supplies: Any item normally used by students in a standard classroom for educational purposes, including but not limited to, textbooks, notebooks, paper, writing instruments, crayons, art supplies, rulers, book bags, backpacks, handheld calculators, graphing calculators, chalk, maps, and globes. The term shall not include watches, radios, CD players, headphones, sporting equipment, portable or desktop telephones, copiers or other office equipment, furniture, or fixtures. School supplies shall also include computer software having a taxable value of $350 or less and graphing calculators valued at $150 or less.

Personal computers: A laptop, desktop, or tower computer system which consists of a central processing unit, random access memory, a storage drive, a display monitor, and a keyboard and devices designed for use in conjunction with a personal computer, such as a disk drive, memory module, compact disk drive, daughterboard, digitizer, microphone, modem, motherboard, mouse, multimedia speaker, printer, scanner, single-user hardware, single-user operating system, soundcard, or video card. Personal computers and computer peripheral devices cannot exceed $1,500.

Check out some of these back-to-school deals.

Alton
Ash Grove
Ashland
Battlefield
Bellerive Acres
Berkeley
Beverly Hills
Black Jack
Blackwater
Bland
Bloomfield
Bolivar
Boonville
Branson
Brentwood
Bridgeton
Byrnes Mill
Cabool
California
Canton
Cape Girardeau
Carl Junction
Carthage
Cassville
Centertown
Chamois
Charlack
Chillicothe
Claycomo
Clayton
Collins
Columbia
Concordia
Cool Valley
Crestwood
Crystal City
Des Peres
Desloge
DeSoto
Doniphan
Edmundson
Eldon
Eldorado Springs
Ellsinore
Elsberry
Everton
Fair Grove
Farmington
Fayette
Ferguson
Festus
Flint Hill
Freeman
Fremont Hills
Frontenac
Garden City
Gerald
Glasgow
Granby
Grandin
Grant City
Green City
Greendale
Half Way
Hartville
Hawk Point
Higginsville
Hollister
Holts Summit
Houston
Ironton
Jane
Jefferson City
Joplin
Kingdom City
Kirkwood
Koshkonong
Ladue
Laurie
Leadington
Liberal
Licking
Loma Linda
Manchester
Maplewood
Marble Hill
Marceline
Marlborough Village
Marshfield
Marthasville
Merriam Woods Village
Meta
Moberly
Monett
Montgomery City
Moscow Mills
Mount Vernon
Naylor
Neosho
New Haven
New Madrid
New Melle
Noel
Norborne
Northwoods
Oakland
Overland
Owensville
Ozark
Palmyra
Paris
Pattonsburg
Peculiar
Pevely
Platte Woods
Poplar Bluff
Purdy
Qulin
Reeds Spring
Richmond Heights
Riverside
Rock Hill
Rockaway Beach
Savannah
Sedalia
Seligman
Shelbina
Shrewsbury
Skidmore
Smithton
Smithville
Springfield
St. Ann
St. Elizabeth
St. Mary
St. Peters
Ste. Genevieve
Stockton
Sugar Creek
Taos
Thayer
Town & Country
Trenton
Twin Oaks
University City
Urich
Vandalia
Velda
Walnut Grove
Warson Woods
Washburn
Waynesville
Webster Groves
West Plains
Willard
Willow Springs

*These counties will continue to collect county sales tax on qualifying items.

Audrain
Barry
Benton
Bollinger
Boone
Callaway
Camden
Carroll
Cedar
Christian
Clinton
Cole
Cooper
Dade
Dallas
Greene
Grundy
Henry
Howard
Iron
Jasper
Lawrence
Linn
Livingston
Mercer
Moniteau
Morgan
Newton
Oregon
Osage
Ozark
Phelps
Pike
Polk
Pulaski
Putnam
Ray
Reynolds
Saline
Shelby
St. Charles
St. Francois
Ste. Genevieve
Stoddard
Stone
Taney
Texas
Webster
Wright

**Additional local districts may also continue to collect special sales taxes. Click here for the full list.

Originally Appeared Here

Concerns linger over proposed Pipkin Middle School site

Members of the Springfield Board of Education saw what the inside of a new Pipkin Middle School could look like, but they stayed silent about concerns and questions dealing with the land on which the school would be built.

In its first meeting after acquisition of property at 3207 E. Pythian St. was rejected by the Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission, Springfield school board members received an update about design plans for a new Pipkin Middle School and a new Reed Academy. Officials with Paragon Architecture, Sapp Design Architects and Navigate Building Solutions discussed how the schools would look inside, and where the buildings would sit on their respective properties.

Board President Danielle Kincaid said after a meeting Aug. 21 that the school district has been aware of those concerns for a while, and is working on addressing them.

“Something that has been clear to me is that the concerns that have been raised are not new concerns,” Kincaid said. “Those individuals at the district who had been tasked with identifying an appropriate site for Pipkin were aware of those concerns, and we are addressing those concerns.”

No timetable has yet been set for that, however. As of Aug. 21, the board had not announced the finalization of a sale for 20.99 acres of land that would house the new school.

Closed sessions

The rear engines of a freight train pushing coal cars passes through the railroad crossing at E. Pythian Street on tracks that border the western edge of the proposed site for a new Pipkin Middle School. (Photo by Jym Wilson)

Earlier Tuesday, the board entered into a closed session — real estate matters, as well as legal and personnel matters, were cited as the reasons for the session. Later Tuesday evening, another closed session was announced for 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, for the same three reasons.

Missouri’s Sunshine Law allows a governmental body to close a meeting to the public for real estate negotiations, “where public knowledge of the transaction might adversely affect the legal consideration therefor,” according to Chapter 610.021.2 of Missouri Revised Statutes. March 30, Springfield Public Schools announced it had entered into a contract with 4GS Investments to buy the 20.99-acre site.

Kincaid and Chief Communications Officer Stephen Hall declined to say whether the Pythian site was on the agenda for Tuesday’s or Wednesday’s closed sessions.

Voicing concerns

East Pythian Street, looking east towards US Highway 65, borders the south side of the proposed site for a new Pipkin Middle School in Springfield. (Photo by Jym Wilson)

During the meeting Aug. 21, four of the nine speakers in the public comments period expressed mostly concerns about the Pythian Street property. Eight others sent emails to the school board expressing uncertainty about that location.

Their comments mirrored questions raised during the July Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, where the commission voted 6-1 against the acquisition. Commissioners said that a school did not belong in an area zoned for heavy industrial use, and worried that a nearby railroad crossing would block access to the school in the event of an emergency.

Pythian Street is currently the only road that accesses the property, and the road ends near the property’s southeastern corner. BNSF railroad tracks run north and south along the property’s western edge. U.S. Highway 65 runs along the property’s eastern edge, and does not allow access to Pythian. The northern edge of the property is wooded.

School district officials said in July that the Pythian site was determined to be the best option after a long search for available space within the district, performed with the assistance of an ad hoc committee.

The Pythian property is large enough to hold a campus similar to the new Jarrett Middle School, located at 906 W. Portland St. It has more than six times the space as the current Pipkin Middle School, which sits on 3.07 acres at 1215 N. Boonville Ave.

This overhead rendering shows where a new Pipkin Middle School would be built, and how traffic would enter from Pythian Street to the south. Railroad tracks border the property to the west. (Image courtesy Paragon Architecture, SPS)

Design updates

Lindsay Reichert, a project manager for Paragon Architecture, told board members that a current design for Pipkin Middle School would offer about 114,750 square feet for about 550 middle school students.

The design included a change to expand the amount of space for special education classrooms to about 4,200 square feet. Reichert said that change was made after interviews with Pipkin staff members indicated the school has one of the largest populations of those students, she said.

It would feature about 52,700 square feet of space for classrooms, career and tech programs, flex programs and special education. Another 27,500 square feet inside the school would be used for physical education, while 13,600 square feet would be used for art, media, choir, orchestra and band rooms.

About 10,800 square feet would be used for a cafetorium — a combination cafeteria, gym and auditorium — and kitchen, while the remaining 10,500 square feet would be used for administration and maintenance.

A traffic study concerning the Pythian Street property, conducted by engineering firm Olsson, is expected to be delivered to Springfield Public Schools in the future.

View looking west on the proposed site for a new Pipkin Middle School on 20.9 acres at 3207 E Pythian in Springfield, MO. Photographed on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023.
(Photo by Jym Wilson)

Joe Hadsall

Joe Hadsall is the education reporter for the Springfield Daily Citizen. Hadsall has more than two decades of experience reporting in the Ozarks with the Joplin Globe, Christian County Headliner News and 417 Magazine. Contact him at (417) 837-3671 or jhadsall@sgfcitizen.org. More by Joe Hadsall

Originally Appeared Here

North Callaway volleyball has lofty ambitions with experienced team

The North Callaway Ladybirds return a lot of experience, with most playing the first two seasons of coach Andrew Klein’s tenure.

“My first year, we started a lot of freshmen and sophomores on varsity, and now they’re juniors and seniors,” Klein said. “They’re getting the same varsity run that they’ve had the last few years. So we have high expectations. We want to be able to compete for conference, and the girls get better every single day. It’s more player-led now, I think because it means something to them. I’m just excited for this year.”

North Callaway’s returning starters are libero Riley Blevins, outside hitters Natalie Shryock, Rylee Horstman and Avis Endres and setters Jaden Smithee and Lakyn Hartley.

Blevins made first-team all-conference last season, and Shryock was also one of the top players in the Eastern Missouri Conference. According to MaxPreps, Shryock recorded conference highs in hit percentage (.248), kills (163), serving aces (50) and blocks (nine) while finishing second in digs (22).

Meanwhile, Smithee will replace 2023 graduate Ellie Pezold, who led the EMO in assists with 205 a season ago, as North Callaway’s primary setter.

“She’s gonna be a big part of our success this year,” Klein said.

Blevins, Shryock and Smithee may come into this season with high expectations, but Klein mentioned all of his starters and role players as being key.

Bailey Hill, North Callaway’s starting middle blocker in 2022, tore her ACL playing volleyball this summer. Hill broke the Ladybirds’ single-season block record as a sophomore last year.

“She’s not going to be able to play with us,” Klein said. “She’ll be at games and definitely be a vocal player-coach, which is going to help me out a little bit. We’re gonna get her healthy and ready to go, so she can have a great senior year. We’re a little bummed about that. But she’s going to be with us, and she’s still part of the team.”

While it’s unfortunate for Hill to miss an entire campaign, an exciting opportunity has arisen for Alexandra Craighead and Ainsley Marx, who played junior varsity last season, to show what they can do as a middle blocker.

“There’s some competition there for that middle block position, now that Bailey’s out, but I’m gonna let that competition grow and grow and grow until I have to pick a starter,” Klein said.

Craighead is one of seven or eight freshmen who played on North Callaway’s inaugural middle school volleyball team that went 7-1 last season.

The Ladybirds’ strong freshmen class is joined by a group of upperclassmen who have taken on leadership roles.

“They’ve matured tenfold, and I’m kind of leaning on them to run the show while I just tried to put them in good places to succeed,” Klein said.

Additionally, Klein credited Ladybirds assistant Rachel Boulware, who has been helpful in the program’s success.

“Her willingness and eagerness to be the life of the team is unmatched!” Klein said.

Leadership qualities will only help North Callaway in Eastern Missouri Conference matchups, which have greater importance this year as Intensity Prep left the conference, and only four teams are in it.

North Callaway recorded a program-record 12 wins overall and went 1-7 in the EMO a season ago. The Ladybirds won their first conference game in six seasons when they beat Wright City on Sept. 27 in Kingdom City.

Montgomery County went 6-0 to win the EMO last season, while Bowling Green finished 5-3 and Wright City went 4-4.

“Bowling Green has been really good,” Klein said. “They play really well against us, typically. They’re somebody that we competed with last year, took a set or two from them, but never quite get the whole thing done. We really want to get back at them.

“The big one, Montgomery County, I think they probably won conference the last two or three years; it could be even longer than that,” Klein said. “…We played them in districts last year, the first round, and they did beat us, and they swept us. But something the girls remember is that first set went; I think we ended up losing 28-26 in the first set, and we had them on the ropes there. We didn’t quite get the job done.

“But I think for us, they’re so well coached, but that’s always going to be a competition for us. Always going to be circled. It doesn’t matter how talented or not they are; that’s a game that I know that we play our best, and we’d like to compete with them.”

Klein expects North Callaway to do better in the EMO in 2023.

“Now, I think that instead of going for one conference win, we’re thinking let’s win them all,” Klein said. “I think that’s how much we’ve improved in the summer. We’re just excited to be able to play good teams in our conference that are meaningful games.”

The Ladybirds’ unofficial start to the season is today when they participate in the Centralia Jamboree at 5:30 p.m. at Centralia High School. North Callaway faces Tolton at 5:30 p.m. and Boonville at 6 p.m.

“I’ve heard really good things from people in the community about them playing and being involved in travel teams and stuff like that,” Klein said. “I just think that’s how you really get better. There’s only so many days that you can play as a school in the summer, and I know the girls worked really hard to be a team and unify this summer and get better on their own accord. I just applaud that because that just shows maturity. I’m hoping that helps us take a step in the right direction.”

North Callaway’s Jaden Smithee chases down a ball during a summer scrimmage at Hallsville High School. Smithee will start as a setter for the Ladybirds this year. (Mexico Ledger/Jeremy Jacob)

Originally Appeared Here

Sporting KC Weekly Schedule: Aug. 21-27, 2023

THROWBACK NIGHT SET FOR SATURDAY

With a three-week break in the rearview mirror, Sporting Kansas City will continue the club’s 2023 MLS regular season campaign on Saturday when the San Jose Earthquakes visit Children’s Mercy Park for Throwback Night.

The highly anticipated occasion will see Sporting celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its 2013 MLS Cup season, headlined by the halftime recognition of several fan favorites including Matt Besler, Benny Feilhaber, Chance Myers, Paulo Nagamura, Jimmy Nielsen, Ike Opara, Seth Sinovic and other members of the championship team. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. CT matchup are available at SeatGeek.com while supplies last.

Saturday’s showdown will be broadcast live for free on Apple TV in English and Spanish. Local radio coverage will air on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM with streams in the Sporting KC app, while pub partners in the Sporting Pub Network will also show the game.

Hot off consecutive home wins, Sporting Kansas City II will continue their push to the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro playoffs by visiting Austin FC II on Friday. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT at Parmer Field at St. David’s Performance Center with live coverage on Apple TV.

ACADEMY CONTINUES PRESEASON

Three Sporting Kansas City Academy teams will continue their 2023-24 preseason preparations on Saturday. The U-15s and U-17s will travel east to meet St. Louis City SC at 11 a.m. CT at Missouri Soccer Park in Boonville, Missouri, while the U-19s will face Rockhurst University at 4 p.m. CT at Bourke Field in Kansas City, Missouri. Fans can follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for updates throughout the 2023-24 MLS NEXT season.

Sporting Kansas City supporters can click here to enter the Rivalry Road Trip Sweepstakes presented by Bud Light. Entrants will have the chance to win two tickets to Sporting’s road match at St. Louis City SC on Sept. 30, two Amtrak travel vouchers, a one-night hotel stay and Sporting merchandise.

AWAY TICKET REQUESTS OPEN

Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Members and members of Sporting KC supporters groups are eligible to receive complimentary tickets for Sporting away matches. Requests are currently open for Sporting’s match at St. Louis City SC on Sept. 30 while supplies last. Away ticket requests for Sporting’s match at Real Salt Lake on Oct. 7 will open Friday. Requests close two weeks before each away match or once the allotment of away supporters tickets is reached.

SPORTING CLASSIC THIS WEEKEND

Sporting Kansas City will host the Sporting Classic youth soccer tournament from Friday to Sunday with matches to be played at Central Bank Sporting Complex, Compass Minerals Sporting Fields and Compass Minerals National Performance Center. The competition will feature U8/U9 (2016/2015) to U15 (2009) boys and girls teams from across the country. For more information, click here.

Lastly, fans can enjoy 20% off all orders at MLSstore.com until 10:59 p.m. CT Tuesday with the code 20MLS, including a wide variety of Sporting Kansas City merchandise for the summer, fall and winter.

Originally Appeared Here

Boonville

Hammons Products Co.

Search for better trees

Diverse walnut products

Snyder draws inspiration from observing nature

Historic Holland Building is another new addition to Art Walk

College galleries are busy now that classes are back in session

Obelisk Home presents a trio of shows

Jeff Kessinger

Closed sessions

Voicing concerns

Design updates

Joe Hadsall

Footer