COMO Magazine | The Outdoors Issue | June 2025

e Great Outdoors

A flock of Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) takes flight at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area.

PUBLISHING

David Nivens, Publisher david@comocompanies.com

Chris Harrison, Associate Publisher chris@comocompanies.com

EDITORIAL

Jodie Jackson Jr, Editor jodie@comocompanies.com

Kelsey Winkeljohn, Associate Editor kelsey@comocompanies.com

Karen Pasley, Contributing Copyeditor

DESIGN

Jordan Watts, Senior Designer jordan@comocompanies.com

MARKETING

Charles Bruce, Director of Client Relations charles@comocompanies.com

Kerrie Bloss, Account Executive kerrie@comocompanies.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Hannah Caldwell, Melanie Cheney, Columbia Parks and Rec, Sam Cox, e District, Carrie Elliott, Eronie Kawukama, Trish Koetting, Abby Lankitus, Local Motion, Roger McKinney, Missouri Department of Conservation, Todd Narrol, Chris Padgett, Alex Prentice, Vicki Richmond, Show-Me State Games, Steve Schnarr, Dennis Smarr, Laura Stephens, McKenna Stumph, Marcus Wilkins, Kelsey Winkeljohn, Barry Underwood

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Casey Barwick, Beth Bramstedt, Scott Charton, Caroline Dohack, Andrew Grabau, Jodie Jackson Jr, Hoss Koetting, Roger McKinney, McKenna Stuwmph, Michelle Terhune, Marcus Wilkins, Craig Williamson, Kelsey Winkeljohn

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Magazines are $5.95 an issue. Subscription rate is $54 for 12 issues for one year or $89 for 24 issues for two years. Subscribe at comomag.com or by phone. COMO Magazine is published monthly by e COMO Companies.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT COMO Magazine and comomag.com strive to inspire, educate, and entertain the citizens of Columbia with quality, relevant content that re ects Columbia’s business environment, lifestyle, and community spirit.

The COMO Mojo: Pinnacle of Chaos

I’ve been told many times that I “have an old soul,” so it feels tting to say I’m lucky I grew up just before technology really took o and that I spent my childhood outdoors.

e rst iPhone came out when I was six, but most adults I knew still carried trusty ip phones or the ultra-chic sliding keyboard models for a few more years. Instagram didn’t exist until I was in third grade, and even then, it didn’t gain real traction until sixth. Most of my friends and I had a shared family computer, which meant our portal to the digital world was stationary — usually reserved for special occasions.

Don’t get me wrong — iPods and tablets were on the rise during my middle school years. (We all remember the Angry Birds era.) But many of us Gen Z kids still clung to the call of mourning doves, the scent of leaf burns and barbecues, running through sprinklers, and, weirdly enough, the mosquito bites that reminded us of happy summer evenings.

e world has changed a lot since then. Technology has taken over our attention, replacing a substantial amount of intimate human interaction and keeping us glued to our screens. e entire world is now at our ngertips, and so often, our feet stay rmly planted indoors.

Still, I feel deeply connected to the outdoors. While it might sound cliché, some things really do feel better when you touch the grass. And sometimes, life’s chaos is best re ected in the beauty (and unpredictability) of nature.

I’ll never forget hiking e Pinnacles for the rst time in late 2020 with my friend Ashley. I’d hiked before, but since

Ashley is basically an outdoor pro, I let her lead the way. And look — Missouri might be the butt of jokes, but it really does have some breathtaking spots. With every bit of elevation, I kept pausing just to soak it all in.

en came the chaos.

It started when I, distracted by the beautiful scenery below, ran into a low-hanging branch and cut my forehead. It wasn’t anything serious, but let’s just say (to keep the content safe for my squeamish peeps) it left a good mark.

Later, I found a rocky vantage point to sit and admire the landscape. When I stood up, I ripped a hole in my favorite athletic pants. Annoying, but manageable. Until it got worse.

Toward the end of our ascent, I took my phone out to snap a photo. When I went to slide it back into my pocket, the imsiness of the fabric gave out, and I watched as my phone tumbled down the cli .

So … maybe I wasn’t quite as “low screentime” and “nature-over-technology” as I’d thought because I immediately panicked. We hiked down, and I crawled up an incline on all fours, ipping over leaves and sticks in a frantic search. After some time, I remembered that, in a rare move, I’d turned my phone’s ringer on earlier that day (I was expecting a text), and thankfully, Ashley was able to call it. I was beyond relieved to nd my phone. And even more relieved that our hike was over for the day.

Despite the chaos of that rst Pinnacles trip, it became a must-visit when my best friend from Florida, Larissa, came to town in 2023. We also explored Devil’s Icebox — my rst time there — and it lived up to the hype.

Nature might’ve humbled me that day in 2020, but now it’s one of my favorite stories to share. I still love the outdoors, and that experience taught me two lifelong lessons:

1. Choose better pants.

2. And this one — which I’m sure my mom will be thrilled about —keep your ringer on.

KELSEY WINKELJOHN ASSOCIATE EDITOR kelsey@comocompanies.com

ON THE COVER

A flock of Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) takes flight at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area south of Columbia.

Photo by Dennis Smarr

COMO’S ADVISORY BOARD

We take pride in representing our community well, and we couldn’t do what we do without our COMO Magazine advisory board. Thank You!

Beth Bramstedt

Church Life Pastor, Christian Fellowship Church

Heather Brown

Strategic Partnership Officer, Harry S Truman VA Hospital

Emily Dunlap Burnham

Principal Investigator and Owner, Missouri Investigative Group

Tootie Burns

Artist and Treasurer, North Village Art District

Chris Horn

Principal Treaty

Reinsurance Underwriter, American Family Insurance

Kris Husted

Investigative Editor, NPR Midwest Newsroom

Laura Schemel

Director of Marketing and Communications, MU Health Care

Art Smith

Author & Musician, Almost Retired

Megan Steen

Chief Operating Officer, Central Region, Burrell Behavioral Health

Nathan Todd

Business Services Officer, First State Community Bank

Casey Twidwell

Community Engagement Manager, Heart of Missouri CASA

Wende Wagner

Development Manager, DeafLEAD

Have a story idea, feedback, or a general inquiry? Email Jodie@comocompanies.com.

The Outdoors Issue

Photo by Keith Borgmeyer

Walk This Way

Downtown pedestrian mall may get another look.

BY MICHELLE TERHUNE

There’s no doubt that many people are wedded to their private vehicles. Freedom, independence, and exploration are some of the reasons for our love a air with the automobile.

But autos fall short on building a sense of camaraderie and community, and that’s what e District in downtown Columbia wants to see. A pedestrian mall may be one element of making that happen.

e concept has been bandied about for decades. And it’s back as a hot topic of conversation once again. Will it come to fruition this time? ere’s no guarantee. But it soon might be the newest thing afoot downtown.

A FRESH LOOK AT AN OLD IDEA

“Last year, the mayor tasked us with looking at such a project again,” says Nickie Davis, executive director of e District. e organization hit the ground running, revisiting old ideas that have been raised before and surveying its members for new ones.

“In the surveys, most people are saying they want this,” Davis says. “But where and how long is a big question.”

e District isn’t alone in dealing with those devilish details, along with others like safety, parking, and access for deliveries to a ected businesses. e city, of course, is heavily involved, as is Local Motion, the nonpro t that advocates for the safety and access of those who get around without a car.

Many of those on the working committee have visited other cities with pedestrian malls.

“We’ve seen really successful ones and some that haven’t been so successful. On both of those fronts, we are taking what we see working and what we don’t see working into account. It’s very important that we learn from others,” Davis says.

“ is has happened in a lot of other cities in the United States and certainly around the world, so we have a lot of models to look at, both in big cities and cities smaller than Columbia,” says Mike

Burden, Local Motion chief executive o cer. “In all the places I’ve visited that have these features — in cities like Boulder, Colorado, and Burlington, Vermont — these are great places for businesses to expand into the streetscape for festivals, for conversations. And there’s a sense of security you get from being in a thriving downtown but being able to walk, or sit, or relax without having to cross the street or interact with vehicles.”

One of the rst decisions to be made is where to put the mall. Davis says there are multiple locations downtown, but the Ninth Street and Eighth Street corridors appear to be early contenders.

“Some businesses absolutely want this in front of their businesses. Some businesses absolutely do not. at’s why the decision is so hard to make right now,” she observes.

Establishing a pedestrian mall requires much more than just blocking o a street. ere are changes to infrastructure and ordinances, not to mention access for law enforcement, the re department, and emergency services. Such a feature could change curbs, sidewalks, and crosswalks, and it would probably require the installation of bollards, seating, and more.

“ ere are many things to consider, but there are two, in particular, that come to mind,” says Shane Creech, director of Public Works, namely safety and parking.

“How do we ensure that residents and visitors are safe from vehicular trafc? How do we ensure that emergency services can still access these areas during an emergency?” Creech asks.

Perhaps the biggest concern about such a mall is unsurprising. It’s parking.

PARKING PERCEPTION

During the hours the street is used for pedestrians only, those parking spaces won’t be available. And people want to park right in front of whatever business they’re entering, even though they’re willing to walk much farther at a shopping mall or big box store. It’s just a perception, but as Local Motion’s Burden notes, “Perception is reality, right?”

“It references our car-centric approach to a lot of the development in the United States,” Burden says. “Envisioning something di erent really takes a deliberate e ort and people willing to shift their perspective a little bit and engage in some behavior change.”

“ ere are 2,000 parking spaces on the street downtown, not including the garage parking spaces,” says Davis from e District. “And if we take away ten of them for

a pedestrian mall where you can sit and eat your food, have a co ee, read a book, listen to some good music, and then at night, have something fun to do that would bring three times as many people out versus ten parking spots, that’s huge for our small businesses down here.”

However, based on what she’s seen in other cities, Davis admits the idea that “If you build it, they will come” doesn’t work.

“We’re not just going to close o a street and call it a day,” Davis says. “We’re going to close o a street and make sure we have places for people to eat, sit, and congregate while enjoying whatever event or program might be going on in that area. If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right.”

As for parking, Creech from Public Works points out that there’s more than just a perception issue at play. It’s also a budgetary issue.

“Since Public Works is responsible for the Parking Utility, which is funded 100 percent by meter fees and garage passes, we also have to consider the impact a pedestrian mall would have on parking revenue,” he says. “ is revenue goes to the mainte-

nance of the parking garages, meters, as well as funding sta , as it is assumed parking would be lost in these locations.”

CREATING A COMMUNITY DESTINATION

“Something like a pedestrian mall opens people up to how a space can be transformative. And in changing a space, you open up a conversation about ways we get around and interact,” Burden says. “It’s changing the expectations of what you do when you come downtown. I think this would encourage that perception shift because, now, you’re not just necessarily going to one place. You’re going to a destination.”

Whether that destination will be created or not will probably depend on the success or failure of a pedestrian mall pilot project.

“I have a feeling that we and the city will do a pilot program,” Davis says. “We want to make sure it’s working the way we want it to work, the way the public wants it to work, before we do anything permanent.”

Davis is targeting 2026 for the pilot project. Maybe this time, the downtown pedestrian mall will take o .

Paying Homage to Fallen Offi cers

Upcoming golf tournaments raise money for the 10-33 Benevolent Fund.

BY SCOTT CHARTON

When Roger B. Wilson was growing up in Columbia, his family name was already locally famous and respected, partly for a tragic reason. His grandfather, Boone County Sheri Roger Isaac Wilson, was a popular Depression-era o ceholder cut down in the line of duty by a bullet.

On June 14, 1933, Sheri Wilson and Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Ben Booth put up a roadblock near today’s intersection of Columbia’s Business Loop 70 and Rangeline. ey were watching for two men eeing a bank robbery in Mexico, Missouri. As the ocers approached a 1932 Ford V-8 Coupe, shots rang out, and Sheri Wilson, 43, fell dead. Sergeant Booth, 35, was shot and died later, the rst Missouri highway patrolman to die in the line of duty.

e sheri ’s widow, Cora, was left with ve children, four of them still at home. One of Cora’s sons, Roger Woodrow Wilson, often told his son, Roger Byron Wilson, about the family’s hardships after the sheri ’s death.

“It was a poor existence,” Roger B. Wilson says, “and she raised those kids by herself. I am sure the community helped some, but there was no formal assistance from the state or the county. So, Cora moved the family to a farmhouse out of town, and she came downtown at 3 a.m. every day to bake pies at a café on Broadway.”

Public service was in the family tradition — Roger Woodrow Wilson served for three decades as Boone County collector, and Roger B. Wilson succeeded his father in o ce when he died. Later Roger B. was elected to the Missouri Senate and as lieutenant governor. He closed his career in public service as governor for three months, ascending to the state’s highest o ce in October 2000 after the untimely death of Gov. Mel Carnahan.

Roger B. Wilson developed strong ties with and admiration for the Missouri Highway Patrol during his years in o ce, and when he retired, he decided to keep up hosting an annual golf tournament — no longer to raise campaign funds, but to gather donations for a new charitable organization he co-founded: the 10-33 Benevolent Fund.

e law enforcement radio code for an o cer in need of assistance is “10-33,” and that captures the essence of the organization’s purpose. It provides immediate nancial assistance to the families of public servants who die in line of duty.

“We realized there were a whole lot of people in the same situation my grand-

mother was in, and I thought, if we can make enough to help with the funeral and other immediate expenses, it can do something to ease a bit of anxiety,” Roger B. Wilson recalls.

Other local charities serve law enforcement in speci c regions, but the 10-33 Benevolent Fund is the only statewide organization helping families of the fallen. Over twenty- ve years, the 10-33 Benevolent Fund has accumulated about $1 million in donations and has paid out some $500,000. Most checks to recipients are for $5,000.

And over time, the types of public servants covered have expanded beyond law enforcement to include emergency

Former Governor Roger Wilson and his daughter, Erin

10-33 Benevolent Fund

FOUNDED

2000 PURPOSE

The 10-33 Benevolent Fund is dedicated to providing immediate financial support for the families of fallen Missouri public safety representatives whose deaths occur in the line of duty.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Roger B. Wilson, Founder

• Rick Wilson, President

• Mike Cox, Director

• Cheryl Grazier, Director

• Don Hillis, Director

• Lenny Lenger, Director

• Brent Stewart, Director

FACTS

• The Missouri 10-33 Benevolent Fund, the only such organization in the state of Missouri, reaches all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. It serves families of public service officers from multiple branches of government, including state and local law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical, transportation, corrections, and utilities sectors that work to provide protection to all citizens of the state of Missouri.

• The Missouri 10-33 Benevolent Fund has provided financial assistance to families whose loved ones represented the Missouri Sheriff Officers, Missouri Police Officers, Missouri State Highway Patrol Officers, Missouri Firefighters, Missouri Department of Transportation employees, Missouri Department of Corrections employees, and representatives of Missouri Line Workers.

medical technicians, re ghters, prison guards, highway workers, and utility linemen. Wilson added, “ ese are the folks working every day in tough jobs, serving to keep everyone safe.”

One key to the 10-33 Benevolent Fund’s e ectiveness is a small and nimble board of directors, which means no red tape and no administrative overhead beyond tournament costs.

“We have cut a check for delivery within six hours of learning of a death, though it usually takes a bit more time, and we coordinate with the appropriate agency for details and e cient delivery,” Roger B. says. “It at least gets some money into the hands of a stricken family that is suddenly faced with unexpected expenses.”

e tournaments are actually a series of four golf events spread from June through September:

• e opening tournament is scheduled for June 25 at Tanglewood Golf Course in Fulton, hosted by e Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, the statewide organization of 47 electric co-ops. (Contact Linda Welch, 573-659-3418.)

• e Department of Corrections bene t tournament is on August 15, also at Tanglewood in Fulton . (Contact Lenny Lenger, 573-864-1264.)

• e third tournament, on September 5 at Columbia Country Club, is the gathering of hundreds of friends Wilson accumulated through his decades in public service. is event is focused on law enforcement. (Contact Cheryl Grazier, 573-353-1315.)

• e closing tournament of the series is for the Missouri Department of Transportation, on September 8, also at Columbia Country Club. (Contact Don Hillis, 573-821-3314.)

For more information about the 10-33 Benevolent Fund and its work, visit missouri10-33benevolentfund.ngo

10-33 Benevolent Fund 3708 Lansing Avenue Columbia, MO 65201 info.missouri1033@gmail.com 573-875-2000

Garden Variety

The Mizzou Botanic Garden offers more than a thousand acres of fantastic flora.

BY CAROLINE DOHACK

We often think of gardens as contained spaces for cultivated splendor. But the Mizzou Botanic Garden (MUBG) is no such thing. ere are no walls, no gates, no hours of admission. at’s because the garden encompasses the entire 1,252acre University of Missouri campus. ere’s a lot that can be done on that kind of expanse, and the MUBG crew makes the absolute most of it. Here you’ll nd eighteen specialty gardens, 6,000 trees — in fact, MUBG recently attained two arboretum certi cations — and an array of artful container plantings. Of course, well-known landmarks such as the Francis Quadrangle and Chancellor’s Residence are always dressed to the nines, but hidden treasures abound.

e wildlife pond between Stephens and LeFevre Halls is a peaceful place to enjoy the shade of the river birches. Outside Eckles Hall, where you can buy a scoop or two at Buck’s Ice Cream, a butter y garden beckons winged guests.

MUBG Horticultural Manager Jenna Sommer says the gardens incorporate a mix of both native and ornamental species over a range of landscape features. “ e point is to show people what’s possible,” she says.

And the possibilities are ever-changing. Between 3,500 and 4,000 new plant cultivars hit the market each year, and warming weather patterns — in 2023 the USDA updated its

Canna ‘Striata’ and SunPatiens at the Eighth Street circle garden. Photo courtesy of the curators of the University of Missouri/Hanna Caldwell.

Japanese zelkova at Lowry Mall.

Photo courtesy of the curators of the University of Missouri/Sam Cox.

A Mizzou student relaxes beneath the cooling shade of trees in Peace Park, a favorite green space on campus.

Photo courtesy of the curators of the University of Missouri/Abbie Lankitus

Hardiness Zone Map, shifting Boone County from zone 6a to 6b — means some plants that previously might not have ourished might now make spectacular garden additions.

“Why not push the envelope a little?” says MUBG Director Joe Kovolyan.

Visitors wishing to learn more about how MUBG is pushing the envelope — and how they themselves might do so in their own spaces — have ample opportunity. ere currently are three self-guided tree tours, and groups can request guided tours as well.

Blooming pink peonies in the Ellis Library Perennial Garden. Photo courtesy of the curators of the University of Missouri/Hanna Caldwell.

e pawpaw tree in the Native Tree Collection outside the Life Sciences Center. Photo courtesy of the curators of the University of Missouri/Hanna Caldwell.

‘Storm Cloud’ amsonia at theEngineering Building. Photo courtesy of the curators of the University of Missouri/Hanna Caldwell.

e Southern magnolia is found in various locations across the Mizzou Botanic Garden. Photo courtesy of the curators of the University of Missouri/Hanna Caldwell.

Umbrella magnolia near Jesse Hall. Photo courtesy of the curators of the University of Missouri/ Eronie Kamukama.

Purple cone ower at the Carnahan Quad.

Photo courtesy of the curators of the University of Missouri/Hanna Caldwell.

‘A Long, Strange Trip Indeed’

How one cyclist turned a daily ride into an almost decade-long habit.

BY CAROLINE DOHACK

TODD NARROL IS A STREAKER.

No, no. Not anything like that. What I mean is that Narrol has taken a bicycle for an outdoor spin every single day since December 29, 2015. rough rain and shine, in sickness and in health, Narroll’s made a mission to get in at least a little mileage every twenty-four hours.

Narrol, 54, has been an avid cyclist since he was 4. He remembers his father trying to teach his elder brother Matt, then 7, how to ride a bicycle.

“I said, ‘Gimme dat ting,’” Narrol says. “I rode o with no problem. I knew how to do it naturally.”

To reward young Todd’s cycling acumen, his father bought him his rst bike: a sparkly blue Schwinn Stingray. Since those early years on the banana seat, Narrol’s built up an impressive eet of bikes to get him through a range of terrains and weather conditions. ese include his main roadie, a Trek Domane AL5; a Diamondback fat bike with studded tires for snow and ice; and “an old-man bike with suspension in the bike seat for when my back hurts,” Narrol says. “I have scoliosis. Many with my condition turn to cycling for exercise.”

Narrol’s cycling streak started when a friend — a Wisconsin-based cyclist who was embarking on a streak of his own — challenged him to make every day of 2016 a bike day. e rules are fairly simple.

“I have to ride at least one mile outside regardless of conditions for it to count,” Narrol says. “When it’s not safe due to ice or extremely low temps, I just get a few miles in my neighborhood. I have ridden in minus 40 wind chill and up to 117 heat index. Rain, ice, sleet, snow: You name it, I’ve been through it.”

But it’s not just the weather that can pose an obstacle. Since starting his streak, he’s been struck by a car on two occasions. A dog attack led to a crash, which resulted in a broken rib. ere also was a squirrel incident, in which Narrol swerved to avoid

squishing a bushy-tailed critter only to hit a curb and crash.

“It’s been a wild ride,” Narrol says. “A long, strange trip indeed.”

But the long, strange trip isn’t over yet. Now a third of the way into his tenth year of streaking, Narrol starts each morning at 5:54. After taking the dog, Roxanne, out for a quick potty and returning her to his wife, Laura, Narrol logs between ten to fteen miles before work. He also uses his workday breaks to get in some extra bike time.

At times, streaking has been a family a air. Before he left to attend Dartmouth College, Narrol’s elder son, Jordan, achieved a 1,031-day streak of his own. Narrol’s younger son, Joel, also used to ride with him.

“ en he got his driver’s license and lost interest,” Narrol says.

But Narrol is in no danger of losing interest. When we spoke, he had just knocked out his 3,417th consecutive day. A committed statistician, Narrol has a spreadsheet he uses to record his mileage and other fun facts he’s learned about his sport, himself, and the world around him.

He averages about 33.4 miles a day and so far has traveled the equivalent of 4.58

trips around Earth’s circumference. at’s a lot of time for thought. Narrol says he often re ects on gratitude — for his health, as well as for the support he’s received from his family. Sometimes he works through solutions to life’s little problems. Music is a must, and Narrol’s got an impressively eclectic playlist.

In addition to regular rides through Columbia’s trail system — he says the new Perche Creek Trail, which runs from the MKT Trail to Gillespie Bridge Road, is a nice addition — he’s biked in thirty-two states. Notable destinations have included Moab, Utah; Yellowstone National Park; and Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota. He’s also cycled the 137.1 miles from Columbia to Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Eureka, Missouri.

“ en I went to a concert,” Narrol exclaims. “Toddy’s got energy.”

Perhaps he’s got more energy than most of us, but Narrol is quick to o er an encouraging word.

“Whatever it is you love to do for exercise, do it as much as your heart desires,” he says. “‘Ride to the level of our smile’ is a phrase I like to coin.”

A STROKE occurs when the blood flow that carries oxygen to the brain is cut off by a blockage or ruptured artery. Without oxygen, brain cells begin to die, causing a loss of function and potentially death. Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States. Stroke is a medical emergency, but fast treatment can save lives and brain tissue.

If you notice stroke symptoms, call 911 immediately! EMS professionals can start your care before you get to the hospital.

Stroke symptoms happen suddenly and can include

• Numbness or weakness in your face, arms or legs, usually on one side

• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes, including double vision

• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech

• Loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, and trouble walking

• A severe headache that feels like the worst headache of your life

If you have any of these symptoms, BE FAST!

Balance

Watch for sudden loss of balance

Eyes

Check for vision loss

Face

Look for uneven smile

Arm

Check if one arm is weak

Speech

Listen for slurred speech

Time

Call 911 immediately

COMO’s Fauna From A to Z

When it comes to humans and wildlife, just who invaded whom?

BY JODIE JACKSON JR | PHOTOS BY DENNIS SMARR AND THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

Acoyote suddenly appears. Or was it already there, stealthily entering your subdivision under the cover of darkness? Just a mile away, someone nervously posts on social media that a dog screamed out — an awful, horri c sound — “probably being attacked by a fox.” A great-horned owl hoots, and an alert homeowner checks to be sure her outdoor cat is taking cover. Stepping out the door, she’s immediately breathless, certain that the snake slithering across her patio — probably a copperhead — is going to chase and bite her. Elsewhere, at a local quarry, an angler pulls in a net that is teeming with snakes. A “nest” of cottonmouth water moccasins?

Now let’s check those scenarios.

If your house is in a subdivision that is near or was once a wooded forest or open eld, the coyote has been there quite a while. And that describes most of Columbia. e screaming dog being attacked by a fox? In all likelihood, it was a fox. eir bark is a piercing scream. And they do not prey on dogs.

e hooting owl? Either calling for a mate or letting all the other critters around know that it saw the coyote. Your kitty is not the feathered hunter’s preferred dish. As for that snake on the patio, the one that you’re sure is a venomous copperhead? First, it’s not going to chase you. No matter what your grandma told you — God bless those old wives’ tales

— people are not prey for snakes. ere’s a good chance it’s a prairie kingsnake which, by the way, eats copperheads. e quarry cottonmouths? ey’re harmless though nasty-tempered common water snakes, and they do not “nest.” Quarries are not suitable habitats for cottonmouths, and the big-bodied venomous reptiles are rarely seen north of the Missouri River. ey prefer springfed streams in the southeast part of the state. And one peer-reviewed herpetological atlas noted in 2020 that zero cottonmouths had been positively identi ed in Boone County since 1987, and the unocial census showed the number was zero for several decades prior to that date.

Raccoons are among the more common wild creatures we see almost as much in urban as in rural settings. The critters on these pages are amazingly adept at making themselves at home in our neighborhoods — which used to be their neighborhoods. Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation

Dispelling myths and misidenti cation of the wild things that are increasingly living among us in Boone County and Columbia is a regular part of the job for Conservation Agents Brandon Cotter and Adam Doerho . eir message for all of us is that wildlife hasn’t invaded our spaces.

We have moved into theirs.

“When we’re able to get up in a helicopter and look around Boone County, often during deer season looking for wildlife crimes like baiting deer, you’ll see that Columbia is quite rural,” Cotter said. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful place. So many parks and trees and wildlife. It’s incredibly inviting for a lot of these animals. And as Columbia expands and grows, we are invading their space — and they’ve been here longer than we have.”

Some creatures are becoming more common because of successful conservation e orts and the innate ability of animals to adapt to human environments. at’s how coyotes have managed to proliferate even in New York City. In Missouri, the black bear population is well established in southwest and southern Missouri.

“Our bear population has exploded down south in the Mark Twain National Forest,” Cotter added. He hasn’t had any reports of bears in Boone County in his two years on the job, but he’s con dent that will change.

“In years to come, we will start seeing more and more of them,” he said. “ ey’re just going to expand [to the] north.”

Doerho has been a Boone County Conservation Agent since 2012. He said armadillos are a prime example of adaptability and expansion. Not long ago, an armadillo anywhere in Missouri was a rare sighting. But now, they claim most of Missouri as their habitat, and even managed to get across the Missouri River — and occasionally into residential lawns in Columbia, where they can be especially destructive.

Top: Wily coyotes see a lot more of us than we see of them.

Middle: Red foxes seem to make themselves at home in both urban and rural settings.

Bottom: Barred owls are just one bird of prey that love to snack on the mice that snack on the seeds that fall from our bird feeders.

Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation

Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation

Photo courtesy of Dennis Smarr

Doerho said most of us can’t recall a time when white-tailed deer, bald eagles, and wild turkeys were rarely seen, even though those creatures are native to Missouri.

“In our parents and grandparents’ lives, they were a lot less common,” he noted. Overharvesting, the indiscriminate use of now-banned pesticides, and habitat loss led to catastrophic population declines for many animal species. Since the establishment of the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1937, those declines were reversed and, in some cases, animals that were extirpated in Missouri — elk and river otters, for example — were reintroduced or have recolonized.

Making a de nitive A to Z list of animal species in Boone County isn’t too challenging: Armadillo, bobcat, coyote, deer, elk, fox, gray squirrel, honeybee (hey, let’s give our land- and air-loving invertebrates some love, too), indigo bunting, junco, killdeer, little brown bat, muskrat, North American river otter, oriole, prairie lizard, quail, raccoon, skunk, turkey buzzard, underwing moth, Virginia opossum, woodchuck (groundhog), xainthotype geometers (you’ve seen this moth’s “inchworm” caterpillars), yellow warbler, and zebra mussel.

Wait a minute ... elk? Zebra mussels? And why isn’t mountain lion on the list? Doerho explains.

A deer hunter shot an elk just north of Hallsville in 2017. e closest elk in Missouri is at Peck Ranch Conservation Area, 200 miles away in southeast Missouri, where the rst herd of elk was reintroduced to the state in 2011.

“ ere’s absolutely no way an elk from our Ozark herd would make it to Boone County,” he said, noting that the Peck Ranch elk are collared and their movements are tracked. “Did it come from the Rocky Mountains? Did someone have an elk penned, and it got loose? We don’t know.”

Zebra mussels are an invasive, non-native, and teeny, tiny creature that can clog water intake pipes and smother native mussels, leading to signi cant damage to both aquatic ecosystems and human infrastructure. e mussels have been found in the Missouri River. Doerho said it’s crucial to keep them out of local lakes. ink of zebra mussels as the invasive bush honeysuckle, callery (Bradford) pear, and multiora rose of aquatic systems.

Photo courtesy of Dennis Smarr

Photo courtesy of Dennis Smarr

Top: Bald eagles are opportunistic feeders. That’s helpful when it comes to cleaning up after others.

Bottom: A nesting pair of bald eagles, right at home at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area.

Top: The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial in North America. When the joeys get too big for Mama’s pouch, they still manage to hang around a while.

Bottom: Mallards take to the sky at Eagle Bluffs.

“If you get some on your boat and you go to Finger Lakes, you might be the one who transports them there,” he added, encouraging boaters to let their boat completely dry out and rinse it with soap and water before moving from one body of water to another.

And what about mountain lions? e increasing popularity of trail cameras and bird feeder cameras has ratcheted up reported sightings of all sorts of critters. Conservation agents know it’s a touchy subject, because while sightings have increased, the Conservation Department has no conclusive evidence to determine that mountain lions have an established presence in Missouri.

In 1996, the department started the Mountain Lion Response Team to investigate reoprts and evidence of mountain lions. e team has conrmed 120 sightings as of May 2025, but most reported sightings and tracks turn out to be bobcats or large dogs. ere have been two conrmed sightings in Boone County in the last ten years — one by a trail cam near Rocheport and the other more recently in the Sturgeon area, con rmed by a trail camera.

“We con rm what we can,” Doerho said. “I’ve had people show me pictures and videos of what is 100 percent a house cat. ey get very angry with me when I don’t agree it’s a mountain lion.” Both Cotter and Doerho dismiss a common myth that the department is “covering up” the existence of mountain lions in Missouri.

But what about coyotes, foxes, hawks, eagles, and owls being a threat to pets and children?

“ e likelihood of a kid or a pet being attacked — it’s possible, but it’s highly, highly unlikely,” Doerho said.

Cotter, who grew up in Kansas, said his mother often warned him that a red-tailed hawk might come and snatch up his little dog.

“I’ve actually never heard of that happening,” he said. “But, just like us, [animals] want food to be as convenient as possible, so they’re going to be opportunistic.

However, foxes and coyotes are proli c mouse and rodent hunters

“ ey would rather eat 200 mice than try to get your dog,” Cotter said, “because the more of a mismatch it is, they’re guaranteed to win and not get injured.”

Photo courtesy of Dennis Smarr

Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation

A Heart of Worship

What

do you really, truly want?

BY BETH BRAMSTEDT

What does your heart really, genuinely want?

Last summer I mentioned that during my next time of silence and solitude, I was going to spend time with this question. And I did. I wrote the question in my journal and took it with me on vacation to the Island of Isla Mujeres in the Gulf of Mexico.

I found myself in times of solitude and silence daily, mostly while sitting on a rock with the ocean water splashing on my legs. Or while discovering seashells buried in the sand behind our Airbnb.

When I returned home, I found the experience hard to describe. It was a vacation but felt more like a retreat. It was intensely spiritual, yet not in the way you might think. It felt like worship.

e beginnings of ve statements began to take shape related to what my heart was truly seeking.

More recently, I have re ected on that time and been reminded of a gospel story in John 12: the story of Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus’ feet in worship.

e story takes place just a few weeks before Jesus’ cruci xion. He has returned to the Jerusalem area for the Passover feast. Two stories are being built as he comes to this juncture. On the one hand, a growing number of people are praising Jesus. His raising Lazarus from the dead in chapter 11 has brought a lot of attention. On the other hand, the authorities are increasingly determined to stop him. His popularity had become a problem.

Yet in this space, in the town of Bethany, Jesus gathered with his friends for dinner. Martha served, Lazarus reclined with him at the table, and Mary took a pound of rare and expensive perfume and anointed his feet and wiped them with her hair.

Mary took the most precious thing she possessed and spent it all on Jesus.

Amidst the tension, Mary performs an elaborate act of worship.

Mary’s actions declared what her heart genuinely wanted — to praise the one who would die for her and set her free. Worship spontaneously owed out of Mary when she came face to face with Jesus. It was her natural response to who he was and all he had done and would do for her.

Jesus a rms Mary’s decision. He knew who he was. He knew his worth. He was about to die, and the focus of Mary’s worship should be on him.

Mary’s response to Jesus was an act of vulnerability, strength, and courage. She chose to be secure in their relationship and expressive in her actions.

Like Mary, we were created to pour out our hearts in worship to Jesus.

Six months after being in Isla and drafting the answers to my question, I realized that I saw everything on my list as an act of worship. It came to me as an epiphany! And so, I reworded my list to begin, “My heart truly wants to worship God by …”

As Louie Giglio writes in e Air I Breathe, “It’s like I woke up to the idea of worship only then realizing it was the thing I’d been doing my whole life. Only now, God was prompting me to redirect its ow.”

Worship is our whole life response to God’s greatness and glory. What our hearts genuinely want are to bring glory back to God. at is what we were created for! When we are honest about what our hearts genuinely want, we realize that what is on our hearts is what is on God’s heart as well. Mary wanted to know Christ. And her heart responded in worship. What does your heart genuinely want?

Beth Bramstedt is the Church Life Pastor at Christian Fellowship.

Beyond Charity: Advancing a Vision for Transformational Philanthropy

BY ANDREW GRABAU

In late December, I transitioned from my role as president and CEO of the Heart of Missouri United Way to one that I believe will be a monumental step forward in advancing upward mobility in central Missouri. When Bill Little shared his vision for the William Guitar Little Foundation, he expressed a long-held belief that creating pathways to prosperity can fundamentally transform individual lives and our community.

I remain inspired by his vision and am honored to advance it — building on the forward momentum underway in our community and uncovering new connections to drive a deeper collective impact. is belief of prosperity has become the cornerstone of the foundation as we build an exciting and refreshing approach to creating positive impact through systems change. With my background in nonpro t leadership, I’ve witnessed how traditional philanthropy can address symptoms while leaving systems unchanged. Systems change is an understanding of how to address the root causes of social problems, including the underlying structures, rela-

tionships, power dynamics, and mindsets that keep problems in place. ink of some local e orts like Boone County’s Upward Mobility or Veterans United Home Loan’s Summer Internship Program as examples of systems change.

Bill’s vision of systems change involves identifying where meaningful connections and collective action converge to create transformational philanthropy.

Transformational philanthropy — as we de ne it — challenges the limits of a scarcity mindset by asking: What becomes possible when we reframe how we collaborate and invest in change? What can happen if we focus on a “yes, if,” rather than “no, because” approach to community challenges? roughout my career, I’ve seen how scarcity thinking constrains vision and limits impact.

While constraints and challenges are real, solutions often emerge from working di erently. When organizations are constantly worried about survival, their vision for meaningful change takes a backseat.

e William Guitar Little Foundation seeks to change that and build a stronger way.

Authentic partnership with the foundation means a shared commitment to raising the bar through high expectations — not just for individual success, but for collective transformation. We want organizations to join us and to think beyond traditional boundaries, to measure what matters, and to continually challenge ourselves to do more, do better, and do di erently.

e framework we have adopted to advance Bill’s vision recognizes that nonprofit organizations, not just individuals, can achieve new heights through raising expectations, supporting innovations, and and committing to continuous improvement. We believe this approach helps nonpro ts shift to an abundance mindset by connecting them with collaborative partners, identifying untapped resources within the community, and building operational capacity that enables strategic thinking. is isn’t about having unlimited resources; it’s about maximizing what exists in the community through strategic collaboration, resource optimization, and rigorous outcome measurement at the organizational level.

e William Guitar Little Foundation applies business acumen to philanthropic challenges, understanding that the most powerful solutions come from thinking systemically. We believe this approach creates sustainable positive change by building strong organizations — not creating ongoing dependency.

e truth is, central Missouri already has all the ingredients needed for unprecedented prosperity: dedicated organizations, talented leaders, and neighbors who care deeply for one another. By leveraging resources and working di erently — connecting them in innovative ways — we believe we will help catalyze solutions we couldn’t have imagined on our own.

At the William Guitar Little Foundation, we’re excited to take these bold steps, challenge conventional philanthropy, and reimagine together what’s possible for our community. is isn’t just philanthropy. It’s transformation.

Andrew Grabau is the executive director of the William Guitar Little Foundation.

Hoss’s Seafood Mixed Grill

BY HOSS KOETTING

Father's Day is a bit of a reason to celebrate, I suppose. ank goodness I don’t get ties, or cheap cologne, or many of the other cliché gifts that are associated with this Hallmark holiday, but some of the items I’ve received are pretty humorous. I think that, by this time in their lives, the kids have gured out not to get me any o -the-wall cooking gadgets, as I’m pretty particular about culinary tools and the like. ey know that if they are going to get me something in that vein, it should be of professional quality.

If you’re looking for something along these lines, and you need to drop a hint to your kids, Ford Restaurant Supply here in Columbia is open to the public, and you can get the same equipment that the restaurant chefs use.

Back to celebrating, and guring out a menu for Father's Day, it should revolve around the grill. at is, of course, the dominion of Dad, the

man who builds the perfect charcoal pyramid to start the re. e Guru of Grilling. e King of the Coals. is is no occasion for something as plebeian as burgers or dogs, but it’s a cause for a feast, to celebrate the guy who helps with math, who xes all things mechanical and electronic, or whatever your particular dad does. Pull out all the stops and throw caution to the wind! Grill up a prime beef steak or smoke some ribs. Pop a cork on a good bottle of wine or get your favorite micro brew and relax while the repast is in progress. Enjoy your family, friends, and being Dad!

INGREDIENTS

• Corn on the cob

• New potatoes

• Yellow onions, quartered

• Mushrooms

• Asparagus

• Jumbo shrimp, peeled or unpeeled

• Jumbo dry-pack sea scallops

• Lobster, whole or tail, split

• Copper River Salmon (if we’re lucky)

MARINADE

• 1/4 c. lime juice

• 1/3 c. soy sauce

• ½ c. minced, seeded fresh jalapeno

• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard

• 1 c. olive oil

• 2 tbsp. brown sugar

• 3 tbsp. Hoss’s Southwest Seasoning

DIRECTIONS

1. Allow approximately 8-10 oz. seafood per person, any combination you’d like.

2. Marinate for 30-60 minutes.

3. Skewer the shrimp and/or scallops for ease of cooking.

4. Cook the potatoes until al dente, cool, and peel.

5. Skewer the potatoes, mushrooms, and onions. You can use any combination of vegetables.

6. Toss them with the marinade, then skewer.

Jim “Hoss” Koetting is a retired restaurateur/chef who enjoys gardening, good food, good bourbon, and good friends.

7. Grill until just done, basting with marinade while grilling.

8. Enjoy!

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Out(side) to Eat

Drink and dine alfresco at these unique Columbia venues.

BY M C KENNA STUMPH

Warmer weather brings booked social calendars. After brunch with friends, pool parties, or an afternoon of T-ball games, eating outside as the golden hour turns to sunset is an ideal way to end a long day in the sun — especially if you leave the cooking to the pros.

Columbia is home to many di erent restaurants, with options to speak to nearly everyone’s tastes. ose with pleasant outdoor spaces for patrons — and in some cases, their furry companions — only add to the delicious summer fun.

Here are some of the more distinctive restaurant patios in Columbia, with tips and recommendations for enjoying alfresco dining season this spring and summer:

Beer Garden

Günter Hans

Right in the hustle and bustle of downtown, a larger-thanexpected courtyard sits behind Günter Hans, complete with hanging lights, thriving greenery, and ample seating for large groups or intimate dining for two. e European pub and cafe o ers shareable charcuterie boards, calzones, and wa es that go down well with its array of imported beer or mixed drinks.

During Mom’s Weekend for the University of Missouri sororities, a group of students and their moms enjoyed the laid-back space with its picturesque outdoor seating. e character of the brick buildings surrounding the garden add an Old World feeling, transporting diners to a quaint, historic town in Germany.

WHAT TO KNOW

While the charming beer garden is overflowing with good vibes, it does not offer fans or heaters. Bring a jacket if the temperature drops on spring nights and wear breathable clothing on humid summer days.

WHAT TO TRY

German-style bretzel with Boursin cheese and a liter of Hofbräu, a wheat beer, to share.

Elevated

Urban Patio Kampai

Situated o the street within Alley A, Kampai sushi restaurant o ers two levels of outdoor dining, with the upper patio being open on Fridays and Saturdays. Nestled between the brick buildings, the restaurant sets the mood with glowing string lights that go well with its cold drinks and upscale food. In the evenings, most of the patio space is shaded, providing respite from a day spent in the sun, especially for furry friends.

In addition to fresh sh, stir-fried noodles, bento boxes, and tempura meals catch the eye of many guests. Customers enjoy people watching from the walkable alley, whether they’re savoring fresh sushi with friends or relaxing as a couple.

WHAT TO KNOW

Umbrellas are not available when dining outside. In the early evenings, a pair of sunglasses or a hat make the experience more pleasant when the sun is out.

WHAT TO TRY

For an appetizer, the Brussels sprouts are a fan favorite, paired with the Cucumber Breeze cocktail. The rainbow roll is suggested as a light and refreshing meal.

Communal Yard Logboat

e local brewing company is a fun place to bring the family on a Saturday afternoon. e fenced-in and manicured lawn is an excellent way of containing the kids (and dogs) while you enjoy a local brew and camaraderie. e massive two-story seating area is shaded and comes complete with heaters for cooler weather. Although Logboat does not serve food itself, it has a schedule of food trucks that o er an array of tasty fare during the busy hours.

Suzanne Rothwell, associate vice president for alumni relations, community relations, and development at Columbia College, said while hosting an event there, “Columbia College and Logboat have a great relationship together. It’s a great place to walk to after the work week is over.”

WHAT TO KNOW

Bring lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and cornhole to make full use of the spacious grassy area. Also, remember a plastic bag for picking up after your pets.

WHAT TO TRY

High Tide (5.5% American Wheat with Orange) is an easy-to-drink choice with Citra hops, while the seasonal Giraffe (3.8% Tropical Ale with Mango) brings the taste of spring with a light, fruity, and fresh finish.

Tree Canopy Patio

Flat Branch

Flat Branch has a large patio that is great for warmer days. Mostly shaded underneath trees and umbrellas, the experience feels almost like you’re dining in the comfort of someone’s well-landscaped backyard. e pub’s menu dishes up a plethora of burgers, brats, chops, and brick oven pizzas — just what you might make on the grill at home, but without the cleanup. It also has a vegetarian menu for diners who wish to avoid meat or are looking to diversify their palate.

While Flat Branch does not take reservations, the restaurant can accommodate large groups and is within walking distance of campus. Many customers appreciate the casual atmosphere and wide-ranging menu for whatever American food they nd themselves in the mood for. In a large group, each person can nd something to satisfy their hunger.

WHAT TO KNOW

During Mizzou’s football season, the restaurant can experience a high volume of customers, making service slower than normal. Be sure to budget enough time to enjoy a meal on these busier days.

WHAT TO TRY

The house-brewed Green Chili Ale hits the taste buds with a slight kick and goes well with the Green Chili Chicken Tenders.

Hungry for more?

Check out even more restaurants with notable outdoor seating:

• Barred Owl Butcher & Table

• Cafe Berlin

• COMO Smoke and Fire

• Dive Bar

• Irene’s

• Nourish Cafe & Market

• Ozark Mountain Biscuit & Bar

• Shiloh Bar & Grill

• The Heidelberg

Lakeview Deck

Las Margaritas

e covered deck at Las Margaritas on Southampton Boulevard provides double the dining pleasure: a view of a beautiful lake with a fountain and delicious Mexican food. Given the restaurant’s large square footage, customers typically don’t have to wait long for a table, even on a busy day. A cool breeze drifting o the lake onto the deck makes a table outside delightful on warmer days. e menu o ers a range of authentic Mexican to Tex-Mex food that any customer can appreciate.

Diners enjoy the scenic views under the shade during the warmer months, even spotting some water birds and turtles as their dining entertainment. Many also compliment the hot food and the speed with which it is brought to the table, as well as the refreshing margaritas.

WHAT TO KNOW

No heaters or fans are provided on the deck. For cooler nights, bring a jacket, and for warmer days, light clothes are suggested.

WHAT TO TRY

Maya’s dip, a ground beef and cheese dip, paired with a skinny margarita to unwind from a long week.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A...

Wildlife Biologist

COMO Magazine’s “Day in the Life” series features Columbia pros (and amateurs) who do their part to keep the globe spinning and make life better for the rest of us — often in ways we don’t realize. We especially appreciate opportunities to tell our readers more about individuals and organizations that most of us aren’t familiar with.

Craig Williamson is a wildlife biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Please give us a description of your responsibilities. I serve as a wildlife biologist in MDC’s Central Region, overseeing public lands in Boone and Audrain counties — which includes Eagle Blu s Conservation Area south of Columbia, and Little Dixie Lake Conservation Area in Callaway County. My primary focus is managing and maintaining diverse natural plant communities and habitats at various stages of successional development. e goal is to create functioning ecosystems that support wildlife and provide enriching outdoor opportunities for the public.

For a wildlife biologist, overseeing the EBCA must be an incredibly cool gig. Tell us about that. Managing Eagle Blu s Conservation Area is truly a privilege. It’s one of the most visited conservation areas in Missouri, attracting a wide range of outdoor enthusiasts — bird watchers, hikers, hunters, anglers, trappers, cyclists, and photographers. e area is constantly evolving, shaped by seasonal shifts and occasional ooding, which presents both challenges and opportunities. Our top priority is providing ample habitat and food sources for migrating birds, ensuring they have the resources they need on their journeys.

Give us a quick overview of what Eagle Bluffs is. What will visitors find there? Eagle Blu s is one of Missouri’s fteen intensively managed

wetlands, covering 4,429 acres of breathtaking landscapes. Visitors will nd a rich variety of habitats, including emergent marshes, moist soil areas, agricultural elds, bottomland forests, upland forests, grasslands, and old eld environments. e area is teeming with wildlife, making it an exceptional destination for hiking, birdwatching, hunting, shing, and photography.

Give us a few tips for making the most out of visiting and experiencing Eagle Bluffs. e best experience depends on your interests, but for many visitors, the draw is the incredible diversity of migrating birds. To fully appreciate this spectacle, bring highquality binoculars or a camera with a good zoom lens. e largest bird migrations occur in the spring and fall, so timing your visit during these seasons will maximize your chances of seeing an impressive variety of species.

Eagle Bluffs is currently undergoing changes. What’s happening there?

Water is a critical resource at Eagle Blu s, and we draw it from four sources: natural precipitation and groundwater, water pumped from Perche Creek, treated wastewater from the city of Columbia’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, and pumped water from the Missouri River. Right now, we are in the process of replacing our two electric water pumps, which have been in service since the area was established. Along with installing new pumps, we’re upgrading the surrounding electrical infrastructure. Meanwhile, the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant is undergoing renovations, temporarily preventing it from sending treated water to Eagle Blu s. is means pools 1–15 remain dry for now. While this poses some short-term habitat challenges, it also o ers opportunities. We are taking advantage of the dry conditions to remove silt buildup in certain pools, improve water movement, and repair ood damage sustained in 2019. Once the pumps are operational and the city resumes sending water, Eagle Blu s will be in better shape than ever, ensuring reliable water sources for years to come.

Are you concerned that waterfowl and other wildlife might not return? Not at all. Missouri is fortunate to have extensive high-quality habitats across both public and private lands. If conditions at Eagle Blu s temporarily fall short of wildlife needs, migrating birds will simply adjust their routes — but they’ll return when habitat conditions improve. Some reptiles and mammals may experience temporary displacement, but wildlife is incredibly adaptable to change.

Describe a typical day in your role. ere’s no such thing as a truly “typical” day, but each season brings its own routines. My team and I are constantly working to enhance habitats and foster biodiversity. Daily tasks may include water level management, invasive species control, maintenance of the conservation area and equipment, administrative duties, and strategic planning.

Nature is unpredictable. What kinds of unexpected challenges do you deal with? Floods, droughts, and equipment failures are some of the most common unpredictable challenges we face. We have plans in place to address these events, but each situation presents unique obstacles that require careful problem-solving and adaptation.

What’s one task you absolutely won’t be distracted from? Water level management is paramount at Eagle Blu s. We begin slowly ooding the area in mid-August, continuing through early January, so migrating birds have steady access to food and habitats throughout the fall. e slow increase ensures optimal conditions for birds, as they rely on seeds and grain for carbohydrates during migration. In spring, we gradually lower water levels — no more than an inch every two days — allowing birds to access newly exposed shallow areas as insect populations emerge. Since water level timing in uences plant germination, we carefully regulate this process to encourage a diverse range of vegetation that supports wildlife food sources.

What drew you to working for the Missouri Department of Conservation and Eagle Bluffs? Like many MDC employees, I have a deep passion for the outdoors. Growing up hunting and shing, I developed a profound appreciation for Missouri’s natural resources. Working as a wildlife biologist allows me to collaborate with a talented team, actively shape habitats, and witness rsthand how wildlife bene ts from our e orts. It’s incredibly rewarding.

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be? I’ve been with MDC since 1999 — rst in a part-time role, then full-time since 2008. I’ve been fortunate to have a ful lling career across multiple MDC divisions, and honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing.

What’s lunch looking like today? I’m always snacking throughout the day, but if I’m grabbing a meal, Panchero’s is a solid choice.

What do people misunderstand about your job? Most don’t realize just how many roles we juggle! is job requires us to wear multiple hats, and the variety of responsibilities is remarkable.

What time does your workday end? ere’s no xed schedule — it depends on the season and current projects. In fall, I’m up at 4 a.m. for the morning duck draw, and winter CWD (chronic wasting disease) e orts can have me working until well past midnight. Wild re response has even required me to work over twenty-four hours straight. No two days are the same!

What’s for dinner tonight, and who’s joining you? At home, we eat plenty of wild game, and we also raise chickens. Dinner is shared with my wife and two kids.

How do you unwind in the evening? I take care of the chickens, shoot hoops with my kids, and make sure I get plenty of sleep — I usually turn in when the sun goes down.

(Re)Discover COMO

Columbia Farmers Market and Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture

e Columbia Farmers Market and Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) at 1769 W. Ash St. are separate entities though they share an address — and similar missions.

e Farmers Market is located in the MU Health Care Pavilion every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, with more than eighty vendors o ering a healthy, colorful, and diverse range of fruits, vegetables, and other goods. e Midweek Market returned on May 28. e hours are from 4 to 7 p.m. Visits to the Saturday and Wednesday markets are best described as “an experience.”

It’s not just food trucks, fresh produce, eggs, baked delights, an eclectic variety of owers, herbs, and fungi, and fresh, locally produced beef. It’s all of that and more, often featuring live music and an inviting, energetic vibe.

e vendor list includes Abbey Swahili Delights, Battle eld Lavender, Delysium Artisan Bakery, Happy Hollow Farm, Missouri Legacy Beef, and Raw Roots Turmeric.

CCUA includes Columbia’s Agriculture Park, a ten-acre space in the ClaryShy Community Park that is home to the local nonpro t’s main Planting for the Pantry production elds. CCUA is spearheading the development and construction of the Community Welcome Center, an

11,000-square-foot building that will house public event space, a commercial kitchen, a resource library, and free tool checkout.

Public Art and the Otocast Guide

Otocast is a free mobile app for iOs or Android that will guide you on a tour of more than thirty- ve pieces of public art around Columbia. Each work of art has its own connection to Columbia’s history and is part of the city’s cultural legacy.

e works were initiated by a wide range of businesses, individuals, and organizations, each with a di erent mission but all sharing the common view that art enriches the city.

Some public art locations were commissioned through the city’s Percent for Art program, and they include Columbia Regional Airport, Columbia City Hall (“Keys to the City”), Eighth and Cherry parking garage, and Columbia Public Library.

Outdoor Concerts

If there’s an outdoor event in Columbia, chances are there will be live music. ere’s also an established outdoor music scene that provides a variety of bands and tunes to satisfy the yearning for any musical genre.

Be sure to check venues' websites and Facebook pages for their weekly schedules. Here are just a few:

• Sentinel Park, 602 Fay Street, in the Arcade District. Recent concerts featured Simple Road and the Boone Howlers.

• Cooper’s Landing Riverside Resort & Marina. About ten miles south of Columbia at 11505 S. Smith Hatchery Rd., Cooper’s Landing is on the banks of the Missouri River, with a regular schedule of popular food trucks. Recent and upcoming performers include Meredith Shaw and the Borrowed Band, Open Road, Travis Feutz & the Stardust Cowboys, and e Fried Crawdaddies.

• Pierpont General Store. e historical store at 7650 Highway 163 has been around since 1889 and added an outdoor music venue, bar, and cafe about ten years ago. Recent performers included Shiloh Country Band, Vertical Mattress, Stoplight Flyers, and e Rise & e Fall.

• Shiloh Bar & Grill. e Shiloh patio at 402 E. Broadway is smack-dab downtown and an ideal place to take in live music in a casual setting with friends and family. Recent performers were C Rock City, Norm Ruebling Band, and Faded Youth.

• Stephens Lake Ampitheater Concert Series, 100 Old Highway 63 (beach entrance to park).

• Rose Park at Rose Music Hall, 1013 Park Avenue. Rose Park just hosted Wiz Khalifa, with Chris Knight among the coming concerts. ere’s also a First Friday Happy Hour concert to coincide with the North Village Arts District’s First Fridays.

(Re)Discover COMO is a monthly feature sponsored by the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau highlighting places, events, and historical connections that new residents and visitors can discover, and not-so-newcomers and longtime residents can ... rediscover.

Photo by Chris Padgett

Ben Dierkes

Carroll Wilkerson

WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOW

MIKE MESSER SHELTER INSURANCE

NICK ALLEN MANOR ROOFING & RESTORATION

JACOB PORTER ROST LANDSCAPING

THE KEYS TO YOUR SUMMER FUN

By Mike Messer MMesser@ShelterInsurance.com

What's your idea of summer fun? For many people, it includes boating or a personal watercraft, road trips in cars, camping or road trips in an RV, or even riding motorcycles or ATVs. All these things can make summer more fun, but they all need keys to run—and one of those keys is insurance. It can help you keep liability claims or property damage from ruining your summer fun.

A Day on the Water

Even if you are the safest boater on the water, you should be aware of those who aren't. Alcohol, excessive speed or reckless driving can cause accidents. If you are involved in an aquatic accident with your boat or personal watercraft, boat insurance can put your mind at ease.

Camping Out in an RV

Whether you're seeing the country or just using it for camping on the weekends, traveling in an RV is cheaper than hotels and camping in one is more convenient and comfortable than camping in a tent. Before you head out, make sure you have the right coverage.

Road Trip!

Your road trip may not involve an RV. Maybe you want to feel the wind in your face instead. Whether that involves one headlight or two, you'll need insurance. The peace of mind having motorcycle insurance or auto insurance can help you relax and enjoy the ride.

Summer Fun that Doesn’t Require Keys

For some, relaxing in the pool is the best way to enjoy summer. If you have a pool in your back yard or you’re thinking about installing one, it’s a good idea to tell your insurance agent. You’ll need additional

liability coverage for it in case you have visitors who want to take a swim. Check out these eyeopening facts1:

• 80% of child drownings happen in a residential pool while an adult was present.

• 87% of drowning fatalities happen in home pools or hot tubs for children younger than 5. Most take place in pools owned by family or friends.

Similar situations can occur if your house is the envy of all the neighborhood kids because you have a trampoline, tree house, cool play set and/or a pool. If you have any of these things in your back yard and your kids invite friends over to play, you could possibly be found liable if anyone gets hurt. "If you have a lot of toys where people can get injured, get as much no-fault medical as you can, and you probably want

With over two decades in the insurance industry, Mike Messer has served as a claims adjuster, supervisor, and underwriter, giving him a well-rounded understanding of how policies work when it matters most — before and after a loss. He prioritizes building relationships based on trust and personalized service, recognizing that every client’s needs are unique. Through annual policy reviews, he helps ensure clients stay informed, confident, and properly covered, providing them with peace of mind and financial security.

MIKE MESSER AIC, LUTCFSHELTER INSURANCE ® ®

to get more liability coverage," cautioned Jeanne Salvatore, Senior Vice President of the Insurance Information Institute. "You need to have enough liability protection to protect your assets, and it's relatively inexpensive," Salvatore said.

Whether your idea of the perfect summer is hitting the waves, hitting the open road or relaxing poolside, Shelter Insurance® can help insure your summer fun to give you the peace of mind you need to keep your summer rolling – or floating along smoothly. Contact Shelter Insurance agent Mike Messer to get the coverage you need for summer fun.

1 - https://www.stopdrowningnow.org/drowningstatistics/- Accessed 3-31-2025. xxx

OUTDOOR STRUCTURES

By Jacob Porter

Find more at rostlandscaping.com

THE PROBLEM

No matter which direction your yard faces, the Missouri sun seems unavoidable sometimes and we all need some relief from the harsh rays. While planning ahead with tree plantings will eventually combat part of this problem, incorporating an outdoor structure can still play a significant role in adding shade to your outdoor space.

THE PURPOSE

Outdoor structures come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and forms including pergolas, pavilions, and arbors. These types of structures have a roof to provide shade and open sides to allow breezes to blow through and give you the opportunity to be outside with friends and family, even when the weather is warmer. Keep in mind, that this also protects furniture and appliances from constant sun and rain exposure too!

Beyond protection from the elements, the other reason to consider a pavilion or pergola is that it increases the square footage of your home. It’s like creating an entire room with endless possibilities such as a fireplace, couches, curtains, outdoor kitchens and grills, and even a television. These structures add dramatic visual appeal, but for a fraction of the price of an actual home addition, they add substantial value to your home. A pergola will result in you using your outdoor space more than you ever would.

THE PLANTS

As landscapers, we always are thinking about plants. Because of the different growth habits and purposes of plants, we have to have certain plants in mind for particular areas. A structure such as a pergola allows us to use climbing plants that we can’t use just anywhere. Growing plants on a pergola not only provide support for the plant, but soften the look of the pergola, add beautiful color and can

JACOB PORTER ROST LANDSCAPING

WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOW

Jacob comes from the small town of California, Missouri. With his plant science degree from MU and six years with Rost, he enjoys creating exciting outdoor spaces for his clients. Watching these creations come to life is only one highlight of being a designer for Rost. When he is not designing, he loves spending time with his wife and kids, tournament bass fishing, and doing a little bit of woodworking.

provide even more shade. Consider plants such as clematis, wisteria, trumpet vine, climbing roses and climbing hydrangea. Plants used as “accessories” are visually appealing as well. Place vibrant colored pots around the interior or on the corners and change out annuals, seasonally, and utilize hanging baskets for even more interest.

THE POINT

The possibilities of design for incorporating a pergola or pavilion

into your new or existing landscape are nearly endless. Whether a little cabana by the pool, a pergola over your outdoor kitchen/dining area, or a spot built for relaxation, there are many places and spaces in your backyard that you could choose to put a shade structure. Outdoor structures can blend seamlessly into your home and its surroundings or be built as a focal point. Either way, the benefits of installing an outdoor structure will speak for themselves.

Racing Against Themselves

Epic

MR340 endurance test prepares for its 20th race.

BY JODIE JACKSON JR

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MISSOURI RIVER RELIEF

Considering his almost intimate connection to the Missouri River, it’s di cult to imagine a time when Steve Schnarr was not a “river person.”

Growing up in Chester eld, a St. Louis County suburb barely two miles from the banks of the Big Muddy, Schnarr knew about the river — but he didn’t know the river, at least not until participating in a Missouri River Relief (MRR) cleanup event in October 2001. at volunteer activity led to Schnarr now being on sta at MRR for twenty years and advocating as ercely as anyone for North America’s longest river, which bisects the state from Kansas City to St. Louis.

He’s also now the race director for the Missouri American Water MR340, a grueling, ultra-adventure trek across the state on the Missouri River. e next MR340 is set for July 8-11, with a secondary date of August 5-8. Both timeframes are “full moon weeks” to o er racers the most light possible, because the race goes through multiple nights. MRR is the race host; Missouri American Water is the race’s title sponsor.

Last year, just over 400 canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and other swift moving boats started the race. Roughly a third of them did not nish. e reasons for coming short range from poor or malfunctioning equipment and health issues to one of the more common realities: “ ey didn’t know what they were getting themselves into,” Schnarr said. “ is race takes a lot of energy and physical stamina, and tenacity and spirit that isn’t common.”

Several Columbia and mid-Missouri residents are registered for the 2025 race. ere are ve checkpoints along the way, from Kaw Point in Kansas City to St. Charles, with boats also passing Boone County at Huntsdale, Cooper’s Landing, and Hartsburg.

ere are the ultra-adventurers, checking in for only a few seconds and hitting the water again, relentlessly battling unfathomable fatigue and mental mind tricks. Racers have said it’s not uncommon to hallucinate, especially in the pitch-blackness of night when paddling and avoiding navigation buoys.

en there are another two groups of racers, Schnarr said. ose who just want to be able to say, “I did it,” and those who set goals for personal bests. “If you say, ‘I could probably nish this in sixty hours,’ and you accomplish that, there’s just as much pride” as for those who nished the race twenty hours faster, he explained.

“ ey’re essentially racing against themselves,” Schnarr said. “It’s a strong example of the power of our mind and our spirit — overcoming themselves, overcoming the river.” He said there are a lot of tears shed at the nish point. Even volunteers get misty-eyed.

“It gets to you,” Schnarr said. “It’s such an unfathomable journey in just a few days ... It is 340 actual miles, and they have to paddle every stroke of it.” Most who drop out of the race are out before the halfway point, he said.

e MR340 has established sixty-hour, fty-hour, and forty-hour “clubs” to signify racers who have met those thresholds.

Schnarr got involved with the MR340 in 2008 when race founder Scott Mansker asked if MRR would provide safety boats and crews for the race. e rst race in 2006 had sixteen boats; the next year the race eld was limited to seventy- ve. Despite the event’s incalculable toll on body and mind, the race now has an international following and continues to get bigger. at seems as much a mystery as the life-giving yet unforgiving river.

“ ere’s a certain mental state that you have to get into that will not let you not get to that nish line.”

Racers compete in several divisions, from solo to tandem and paddleboarding to ve-person crews. e men’s and women’s solo paddle division records were both set in 2018. e women’s recordholder is international adventure and

endurance racer Robyn Benincasa, with a time of 38 hours and 41 minutes. e men’s record was set by Joe Mann at 36:39.

Schnarr said the ultra-competitive racers often outpace the eld by wide margins. e rst to arrive at the nish line in St. Charles will be 200 miles ahead of the boat furthest from the nish.

e boats are also aptly named to re ect the competitive spirit or, more likely, the camaraderie of the race. Boats already registered for next month’s race include Soggy Bottom Bois, My Pace or Yours, Take Me Home Country Rows, Water We Doing, Forced Family Fun, Filthy Oars, Sloth Sisters (which are two women traveling from Florida), and La Vida Loca!. e latter is the boat that Bryan and Alma Hopkins will be rowing in the mixed tandem division.

e Columbia couple will be on the

river in tandem. Alma is 61, Bryan is 60. Alma is a retired registered dietician. Bryan is the Nature Conservancy’s director of freshwater conservation for Illinois and the upper Mississippi River. When their children were younger, Alma and the kids were the ground crew providing water, food, and other support for Bryan.

“ ey grew up seeing their dad race for many years,” Alma said. “He did well. So it became a family a air.”

When the kids became adults, the roles switched. Bryan decided to stop putting himself through the MR340, but Alma “started getting the bug,” she said.

“So I pulled him out of ‘retirement,’ and we did it together three years in a row.”

e last two years, with Bryan providing ground support, Alma raced with women rowing partners.

Photo by Melanie Cheney

Photo by Barry Underwood

Photo by Laura Stephens

Photo by Steve Schnarr

Photo by Vicki Richmond

Now it’s back to Alma and Bryan being in sync and trying to break their personal best of forty-three hours. (For comparison, eighty- ve hours is the limit for nishing the race. Boats still in the water at hour eighty- ve are disquali ed.) Anything under forty-three hours will require even more e ort than they’ve put forth in the past.

“To beat that, it’s going to take everything — nutrition, hydration, a great boat, paying attention to each other,” she said, adding, “My husband is my best partner, hands-down.”

e couple will not sleep and will only stop at check-in points long enough to stretch their legs.

“Time is of the essence,” Alma said, then added almost whispering, “We do just about everything in the boat, and that includes

some things you don’t really talk about in public. You do it while you’re paddling.” e sense of community on the river is sometimes as powerful as the restless river that never stops churning. Both Schnarr and Mansker mention, with a reverential air, that sense of community and connecting with the river. Mansker said he was 20 before getting on the river, similar to Schnarr’s recollection.

“Everybody has their origin story,” Mansker said, noting that he and Schnarr rst met at Cooper’s Landing, the iconic Boone County riverside marina and campground just south of Columbia. “Sometimes it’s just random events that get you [connected to the river]. Now with MRR and the 340, there’s a great pipeline for that.”

at is the most gratifying aspect of the MR340, the educational work done by

MRR, and the common bonds of community on the river, Mansker said.

“ e river has never had more fans than it does now,” he added.

And that is music — river music? — to Schnarr’s ears.

“Clean, fresh water is the most important thing for life, for any of us. We all need water,” he said, adding that several Missouri communities get their drinking water from the river. “ e Missouri River has a lot of straws in it. We have got to protect these freshwater resources.”

While the MR340 and MRR educational events and presentations bring greater awareness to the Big Muddy and its history, the river itself tells a never-ending story.

“ e river does this every single day,” Schnarr said. “You’re just borrowing its current.”

Photo by Steve Schnarr

Photo by Carrie Elliott

Photo by Alex Prentice

Connected By

Design

Columbia’s ever-growing trail system is more than just a scenic stroll — it’s a rolling, walking, wheeling web that shapes how the city moves, grooves, and grows.

BY MARCUS WILKINS | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY COLUMBIA PARKS AND REC

Columbia has long existed as a connecting point. An oasis of culture and community equidistant from St. Louis and Kansas City’s metropolitan bookends, the city enthusiastically greets I-70 travelers from either direction with a beverage and a bite to eat.

Its geographic centrality made it a compelling choice for state leaders when they established Missouri’s rst public land-grant institution of higher education in 1839, which in time turned the town into a hub for education, innovation, and research. Centrality notwithstanding, though, Columbia wasn’t initially an easy place for students to get to. ose outside of horse-and-buggy range might take a steamboat to somewhere like Nashville (now Cooper’s Landing) and bump along a plank road into town. It wasn’t until after the Civil War that Columbia achieved direct rail service, and even then, it was via a spur line. While laying track amid the hills and creek beds of southern Boone County can’t have been easy, there’s no denying it yielded scenic views. e late Darwin Hindman, former mayor of Columbia, must have thought as much in the 1980s when he persuaded then-Governor John Ashcroft to convert an unused section of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT)

rail line into what is now the 238.7-mile Katy Trail State Park. e son of a Mizzou physical education professor, Hindman is credited with the construction of nearly 100 miles of side trails, walking paths, and bike paths. He also obtained a $22 million federal grant under the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program to help Columbia develop a multimodal transportation system.

To further this mission, in 2013 the Columbia Parks & Recreation Department put forth an aspirational plan to complete a thirty-mile trail loop around the city, consisting of the MKT Trail, Hinkson Creek Trail, Bear Creek Trail, and Perche Creek Trail — of which Phase I, connecting the MKT Trail to Gillespie Bridge Road, was recently dedicated. O cials say the full city loop is about 85 percent complete.

“People are seeing the bene ts of increased connectivity,” said Mike Burden, chief executive o cer of Local Motion, a Columbia nonpro t dedicated to improving walking, biking, and transit solutions. “A lot of thought has gone into creating linkages to neighborhoods so that folks can walk, bike, or wheel from home to the trail and then use it to get groceries or go to work. We see the trail system as a part of daily commuting as much as for tness and recreation.”

Burden and his colleagues at Local Motion conduct regular neighborhood audits to assess how safe it feels to bike or walk in a given area.

“I recently rode on Paris Road while it was busy, and I wouldn’t be comfortable having my kids with me in that situation,” Burden said. “I kept thinking how much better it will be riding on a developed trail.”

How COMO's Trails Come to Be e majority of trail development is paid for by the Columbia Parks Sales Tax, revenue used “solely for local parks for the city in order to purchase, improve and manage parks, trails and natural lands for water quality, wildlife, tree preservation, and recreation purposes,” according to the city’s website.

e city also leverages federal grants (such as the $250,000 allotment toward the Perche Creek Trailhead), private donations, and Missouri Department of Natural Resources funds. Projects currently underway include the replacement of bridges nine and 10 on the MKT Trail near the University of Missouri (to accommodate emergency vehicles), as well as the Cosmo Bike Park. e latter project will connect to the Rhett Walters Memorial Mountain Bike Trail, aka Rhett’s Run, and include an asphalt pump track, mountain bike skills course, and cyclocross event space, among other features.

Additional projects still in the conceptual phase include the Hinkson Creek Trail, connecting Clark Lane to Vandiver Drive, and the Colt Railroad

Trail, connecting College Avenue to Brown Station Road. ese are among the last remaining segments needed to complete the 30-mile loop.

e COMO Trails Association (COMOTA), a nonpro t group founded in 2018, partners with every surface-trail owner in Boone County, working year-round to help with trail design and maintenance. Its most recent project, the Gans Creek Recreation Area trail near the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Central O ce, showcases 10.5 miles of trail consisting of three loops and is set to open in fall 2025.

“We’re made up of hikers, bikers, trail runners, and people who just love the trails, volunteering to keep them safe and beautiful,” said Nate Smith, COMOTA president. “We even have a backcountry horse member now, and she rides horseback. For being such a young organization, we’ve done a lot for the trails.”

“I’ve found the Columbia trail system is a more natural trail than other city systems,” said William Green, a trail volunteer who has ridden in Memphis and Indianapolis, among other locations. “I enjoy keeping [the trails] clean, picking up litter. And I always carry my clippers with me in case I need to cut back any limbs.”

Where Trails Meet

It’s clear the volunteers’ e orts are paying o . Columbians love their trails, as evidenced by the parade of outdoor enthusiasts crunching crushed limestone under their sneakers and tires for annual events such as Bike, Walk & Wheel Week and Pedaler’s Jamboree, the bicycle and music festival.

e trail system is a boon for tourism, a selling point for corporate relocation, a hook for college recruitment, and the main reason why COMO regularly makes national lists of the most walkable and bikeable communities.

“Over the years, we get a lot of calls from apartment complexes, HOA groups, and residents who want to connect to the trail system,” said Janet Godon, a Columbia Parks & Recreation Department planner. “We have an additional goal of getting every resident in the city connected to a park and trail within a half mile of where they live.” at approach clearly works for Dot and Brad Johnson, parents of 6-year-old James and 5-yearold Cameron, who maximize their family trail time thanks in part to Dot’s mother’s property that abuts the MKT Trail on Lathrop Road.

“We love to watch the seasons change on the trail — mayapples and trillium in the spring, a shaded walk in the summer, buckeyes and pawpaws in the fall,” Dot said. “With so many access points and trail types, it’s a pick-yourown adventure.”

Looping the Legacy

On May 1, representatives from trail advocacy groups including Local Motion, COMOTA, and Missourians for Responsible Transportation joined volunteers, civic leaders, and citizens for a ribbon cutting that o cially opened the trail system’s latest spur at the handsome new bridge over Perche Creek.

Recumbent riders, hand cyclists, traditional cyclists, and hikers alike enjoyed refreshments and revelry about 1.25 miles west of Jay Dix Station. As the MKT Trail celebrates its 35th birthday in 2025, the ceremony commemorating Phase I of the Perche Creek Trail seemed to serve double duty.

e undeniable metaphor of the trail’s newest tributary connecting Columbia’s past to its present was made even more tangible by attendees Mayor Barb Bu aloe — who handled ribbon-cutting honors — and former Columbia First Lady Axie Hindman. As Darwin’s widow smiled from the sun-dappled seating area, her late husband’s legacy echoed in the current mayor’s words.

“Columbia’s trails connect people — neighborhoods to places of enjoyment, entertainment, jobs,” Bu aloe said. “ is is another step toward that connection so that [Columbians] have more options for getting around town and being engrossed in nature.”

Now 41, the Show-Me State Games Keeps on Playing

BY CASEY BARWICK

Imagine middle school track and eld day. e hot spring breeze, plastic Wi e ball bats, and orange cones to separate the di erent sports in the parking lot. Jen and Johnny are hopping around in sweaty potato sacks like their life depends on it, just to earn the same participation trophy and an ice cream sundae at the end of the day — with a maraschino cherry on top, of course.

Now imagine this day, with a dozen local sponsors, more than thirty sports in forty di erent locations, 20,000 participants, and an Olympic Games-style lighting of the torch ceremony to kick it all o . is event is the annual Missouri Show-Me State Games, held on July 18-20 and 25-27.

In 1984, Dr. William C. Allen, chief of arthroscopic surgery at the University of Missouri Medical Center, devised a plan to promote statewide health and tness. is plan was made at the request of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health, created by former and late Gov. Kit Bond. Dr. Allen’s idea has evolved into the MO Show-Me State Games, the largest state games in the U.S., which encourages Missourians of all ages and all counties, to participate in sporting events.

e games are grouped into events and each sport takes place in a di erent facility throughout Columbia. Volunteers come from around the state to help put on the games, from entry to exit, concessions to opening ceremonies. Jessie Sida, the Show-Me State Games special events and volunteer coordinator, describes volunteers as the rst people athletes see as they come in and stresses the perspective and experience volunteering can give.

“[Volunteering] provides an opportunity to see rsthand the impact that the Show-Me State Games have,” Sida said. “It gives them an opportunity to see a di erent perspective.”

e games are funded mainly through sponsorship, registration, fundraising, and merchandise. is year’s primary sponsors are the University of Missouri, KOMU8, the city of Columbia, MU Health Care, Walsworth, KPOW FM Power 97, and Shelter Insurance, which has a team that will light the torch to start the games at this year’s opening ceremony. However, Columbia opens its doors to the games. Several schools, such as Hickman and Battle High Schools, have prepared their elds for participation, as well as recreational centers, and even businesses like Park Restaurant.

Boone County Nature School Celebrates its First Year

BY ROGER M C KINNEY

With the Boone County Nature School concluding its rst year, student reactions are positive.

“I think it’s unique,” said Eleanor Stensby, an 11-year-old fth-grader at Beulah Ralph Elementary School said during her class’s St Patrick’s Day visit to the nature school.

“It’s a great opportunity to get involved in nature,” Eleanor said. “ e teachers are really nice here.”

During a fall visit, the students went shing and looked for frogs, which was great fun, she explained. is time, she was looking forward to a treasure hike.

“It’s really fun,” Eleanor added. “I like it here.” Another fan was Avery Ratli , 11.

“ e teachers are phenomenal,” Avery said. “Love ‘em.” He wasn’t nished with the e usive praise. “I love this place,” he continued. “It teaches you to care for nature and endangered species so we can be aware of what’s happening.”

Students learned about the monarch butter ies, their migration patterns, and the environmental and other threats they face, he said. ey also tasted maple syrup, harvested from the sugar maple trees on site.

“It was so good,” Avery said. “It’s better than anything.”

e grand opening of the Boone County Nature School occurred on August 23, 2024, after years of planning and some false starts. It’s a partnership between Columbia Public Schools, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and other Boone County school districts. e 111 acres on which the nature school sits were donated by Vicki Russell and the late Hank Waters, former publisher of the Columbia Daily Tribune e school is inside an 8,230 square-foot building. ere’s also a council house, weather station, and astronomical observatory. e construction cost was $7 million. e observatory dome was donated by a donor on behalf of the Central Missouri Astronomical Association. e nature school consortium provided the concrete foundation and the electricity for the dome, said Val Germann, with the association.

Win or lose, it’s all about community — scan to read how the Show-Me State Games brings Missouri together.

Classrooms without walls are making a big impact — scan to explore the success of Columbia’s nature-based learning.

Where is your quiet, get-away-from-it-all place in or around COMO?

Davisdale Conservation Area, DC

Rogers Lake, Finger Lakes

– BRANDON BUTLER

e Hart Creek Trail just outside Hartsburg

– JENNIFER DOLAN GRABNER

Rocheport on the river. We were just there last week.

– GARY RHOADES

Capen Park

– COURTNEY JAMISON

e Big Tree, Eagle Blu s, MKT Trail, and anywhere near the MO River!

– BOB CROW

Eagle Blu s for sure ...

– DENNIS SMARR

MO River, Katy Trail

– BRETT DUFUR

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

– BETH PIKE

I love that Grindstone has o -leash dog hiking areas!

– ASHLEY BURK SWITZER

ree Creeks

– SARAH HILL

Les Bourgeois A-Frame, Cooper’s Landing, Murry’s, Herman Hill Inn and Vineyard, Capen Park, MKT trail

– SUZANNE ROTHWELL

e Pinnacles or ree Creeks

– ASHLEY LASITER

e future at pedestrianized 9th street (no more cruising loud trucks/ motorcycles)

– JACKSON HOTALING

e Grind South — in the room o to the side, where I can study

– SARAH RAMSEY

Rocheport

– LOGAN WARREN

Grindstone Trail

– SYDNEY MEYER

Toasty Goat Co ee Co. or Acola Co ee Company!

– SAM FLEURY

e sunroom at the library

– STEPHANIE MAYSE

I love Shelter Gardens. It’s so peaceful.

– KELSEY WINKELJOHN

e Grind on Rangeline

– ASHLEY CRAFT

Just twelve miles south of Columbia

o Route K. Eagle Blu s Conservation Area for pure serenity, even when there are no waterfowl, eagles, kooky little coots, or beavers to watch. en just a quarter mile further to e Big Tree – Missouri’s champion Bur Oak.

– JODIE JACKSON JR

MU Campus, Peace Park and the Quad in particular

– MICHAEL POEHLMAN

Finger Lakes State Park

– BRANDON KNIGHT

Cooper’s Landing Riverside Resort & Marine, and Pierpont General Store

– CASEY TWIDWELL

My backyard

– ANGELA HUNTINGTON

My family love Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, especially down near the cave entrance.

– KATHRYN DETERS

I like to go to the Quad and meander to Peace Park.

– ED ELSEA