Inside Look: The war on meth
By Tim Krakowiak, Managing Editor I knew nothing about methamphetamines five years ago when I moved to Southeast Missouri, a place commonly believed to be the crystal meth capital of the country, thanks to an episode of “True Life” MTV filmed here in 2001. That’s not to say I was oblivious to recreational drugs—people get [...]
Real Estate: But I don’t know how to write an offer!
Real estate agents (just like those in most other professions) get to a point where we take lots of things for granted. We understand the basic day-to-day stuff of buying and selling houses. So we assume everyone else does. We forget that not everyone is involved in a real estate transaction or two every week. I was reminded [...]
Personal Style: Winter white
By Tammy Hilderbrand, SEMO Times Columnist Fashion always takes a cue from nature. Bright colors pop on the clothing racks like flowers bursting into a June bloom. The golden colors of fall make an appearance on fashion runways in anticipation of the reds, golds and browns of turning foliage. And even though the old rule [...]
Ask Joy: Bieber Fever
Dear Joy, I’m afraid my girlfriend has Bieber Fever (It’s a real medical condition – see for yourself: www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bieber+fever). She listens to Justin Bieber’s new album all the time, “Under the Mistletoe.” She has posters of him on her wall, a computer wallpaper, she even made a scrapbook of all his photos. I can’t help [...]
Capitol Report: History of Qulin
By Rep. Kent Hampton, 163rd By 1918, nearly a thousand people lived in and around Qulin. Most who didn’t have a business, or worked in one, worked in timber. Most of the timber workers lived in the hotel or the numerous rooming houses in Qulin. These workers rode railroad flatcars to and from the logging [...]
Personal Style: To Sparkle? Or not to sparkle?
The holiday party season is here. And the big question is, “What do I wear?” Really, it’s easier to deal with the situation by determining what you should NOT wear. First, pay attention to the invitation. Frequently the invitation gives you subtle hints as to dress code. First, if it’s a nice invitation that arrived [...]
Real Estate: Available? Let me hook you up with my realtor!
The right real estate agent can make buying or selling a home easier, more profitable, and sometimes downright fun. The wrong real estate agent can… well, let’s just say, “You need to find the right agent.” Poplar Bluff has 60 or 70 licensed real estate agents. We’re easy to find. But what makes one “right for you” and [...]
Ask Joy: Cutting off old ties
Dear Joy, My girlfriend and I recently got back together after a three-month split. We are trying to give our relationship another go but we’ve already ran into some bumps. A guy that she went out with a few times while we were apart has been trying to contact her. She tells me there is [...]
The Rambler: Beer can turkey and other Thanksgiving adventures
Last year, I had a very civilized Thanksgiving dinner with friends deep in the wilds of Texas County. My dad once described access to a similar location as “three creek crossings, four barbed wire gates, and you swung in on a grapevine.” Well, it wasn’t quite that bad, and anyway, the food and fellowship were [...]
Healthy Lifestyle: Being thankful
During the holidays, it sometimes gets so chaotic that we forget it is supposed to be fun. Family gatherings, shopping for that perfect gift for that special someone, and a tendency to eat lots of treats can be pretty overwhelming. First off, let’s remember that we are social beings and togetherness of the “tribe” is [...]
Personal Style: Have a creative Christmas
I have always enjoyed making things. Even when I was a kid, one of my favorite hobbies was finding unusual bottles and then painting them to make vases out of them. Some of them turned out pretty cool… in a 1970s bohemian kind of way. One of my aunts was always very good at sending [...]
Real Estate: Foreclosure… tummy turn or wallet wiggle?
Fortunately, while foreclosures dominate the national news, they aren’t nearly as common in Poplar Bluff. But there are a few things you need to know about them. The word “foreclosure” tends to have one of two effects. If you’re currently facing one or ever have, your tummy turns just a little. If you’ve ever grabbed one up [...]
Ask Joy: Peace at home vs. education
Dear Joy, I’ve been a homemaker since I got married. I have recently begun taking some college classes just to get out of the house. At first my husband of 10 years fully supported me. My freshman semester went great, but when I told him I signed up for a second semester, his attitude changed. [...]
573 Dining: Flapjack’s Cow Shed
SEMO Times Review Team Every fall, my husband’s parents come in from out of town, and they love going out to eat. My father-in-law used to own a restaurant in the hill neighborhood of St. Louis, and absolutely hates chain restaurants, so we always look for locally owned joints. We selected a locally owned restaurant [...]
Game Review: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
By Rob Burson, SEMO Times Review Team “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” was released on Nov. 11 by Bethesda Softworks. It was labeled the “most anticipated game of the year” and has already been nominated for “game of the year” as well as multiple other awards. After a couple of hours of playing, I found [...]
This week we report about the upcoming special election for the Poplar Bluff Public Library to collect an additional sales tax and replace its existing property tax; the Poplar Bluff Garden Club turns 75; Apron Liberation Day is today; and our Healthy Lifestyles expert is back, encouraging readers to celebrate!