Profiles
How one local family is changing the game for cafes
MARYVILLE, Mo. — On any given Sunday morning coffee and game enthusiasts can find Scott Copeland, co-owner of the Board Game Cafe, behind the counter brewing up earthy-scented freshly ground coffee. For nearly two years Board Game Cafe owners Scott and Thuy Copeland have been serving up coffee, smoothies, chai tea and baked goods to…
Read MoreLocal church secures stained glass
MARYVILLE, Mo. — First Presbyterian congregation members this summer raised funds for a project to protect the church’s 132-year old stained glass windows. Longtime congregation members Jeff Funston and Brock Pfost were at the church last week to discuss this year’s project. “It’s a big deal,” Pfost said. “It’s a really pretty church and it’s…
Read More‘Big Bird’ plans to shutter bow, bait business
MARYVILLE, Mo. — For 20 years Tom “Big Bird” Ciak has shared his love of the outdoors with Maryville residents by way of his business Big Bird’s Bait & Bows. Now that time is coming to an end and Ciak hopes to pass the business on to someone younger with a strong interest in archery.…
Read MoreWard retires after 30 years teaching youth in Maryville
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Local day care teacher Joyce Ward has officially retired after 30-plus years offering knowledge to area children, however the decision did not come easily. The graduating class of 2019-2020 will be her final one and she leaves with just a bit of sadness. “It was my heartbeat,” Ward said. “It was hard…
Read MoreFamily’s cancer journey inspires Healing Garden gift
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Growing up on a farm between the rural communities of Tarkio and Burlington Junction, Beverly (Smith) Blackford and her four siblings learned the important values of hard work, prayer and family support. Their parents were farmers and their food mostly came from the family’s huge garden and animals they raised. Little did…
Read MoreSkidmore restaurant owner hopes to sell rather than close
SKIDMORE, Mo. — Restaurateur, history buff, nurse, volunteer, community builder and alderman are just a few of the titles bestowed upon Skidmore resident Sandy Wright, but in the near future she’ll need one fewer. Since being told she will need two knee replacement surgeries, the restaurant owner has begun the search for someone to buy…
Read MoreCoffee Club gift supports new garden
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Walking into the Mosaic Medical Center – Maryville cafeteria on any given weekday morning between the hours of 10 to 11 a.m., one likely would be drawn to the chatter and laughter from a little group that likes to refer to themselves as The Coffee Club. The group began meeting more than…
Read MoreCyclist crossing country to reduce suicide discussion stigma
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Daniel Hurd hasn’t always been a cycling enthusiast, but on Thursday, after 19 months and 14,000 miles on the road, he stopped his bike in Maryville, midway through his cross country journey to tell his tale of trauma, travel and truth while working to reduce the stigma of talking about suicide. He…
Read MoreCattery raises, sells unique felines in Burlington Junction
BURLINGTON JUNCTION, Mo. — Starting at noon on Tuesday, the local Naked Ladies Cat House opened its waitlist for those interested in bringing into their home a unique and “hairless” feline friend. Within two minutes, the list was filled. The cattery, located in Burlington Junction, got its start in 2014 in Dayton, Ohio, where sphynx…
Read MoreCemetery cleanup restores link to past
MARYVILLE, Mo. — On Sept. 22, around two dozen people squeezed into the historic Barnard train depot to get a peek into their past, connecting across generations to both long lost relatives and strangers alike. The attendees gathered to hear about — and see, though forced by rain into a slideshow rather than a visit,—…
Read More