Because at Caring Wounds Unlimited, your healing isn’t just our job — it’s our passion.
The right care makes all the difference. When wounds are cared for the right way, your body heals faster, stays protected from infection, and avoids long-term complications. Our team focuses on helping your skin heal beautifully while keeping you comfortable every step of the way.
At Caring Wounds Unlimited, we believe everyone deserves to heal well. Proper wound care isn’t just about treating the injury—it’s about restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life.
Explore
Summer in The Parkland has a way of encouraging us to slow down and appreciate the beauty around us. From winding country roads and scenic trails to our rivers, parks, and small-town treasures, this season reminds us that adventure is often closer than we think.
In a world where our schedules are filled with responsibilities and routines, it’s easy to become focused on checking off the next item on the list. I know I fall into that mindset sometimes. But some of life’s most meaningful moments happen when we step away from our plans, embrace the unexpected, and allow ourselves the freedom to explore.
We need room for discovery—for trying new things, visiting new places, and making memories with the people we love. Often, it’s in those unplanned moments that we find connection, joy, and a renewed appreciation for what matters most.
For my family, some of our favorite adventures happen right here along the beautiful Black River, where we like to camp. It has become one of our favorite places to spend time together. Whether we’re kayaking down the river, swimming, fishing, or simply relaxing by the water, those weekends give us an opportunity to unplug and enjoy life’s simpler pleasures. Some of our best memories have been made around a campfire after a day on the river, sharing stories and enjoying the beauty of the outdoors.
Those experiences have taught me that exploration isn’t always about traveling far from home. Sometimes it’s about seeing familiar places through fresh eyes and taking the time to enjoy the natural beauty and opportunities that surround us every day.
As you enjoy this month’s issue, I encourage you to seek out your own adventures, big or small. Explore a new trail, visit a local destination, or spend quality time with family and friends. You may discover that the best adventures are the ones waiting just outside your door.
Happy exploring!
LENA JOHNSON, PUBLISHER @PARKLANDCITYLIFESTYLE
July 2026
PUBLISHER
Lena Johnson | Lena.Johnson@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Kayle Nephew | kayle.nephew@citylifestyle.com
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Josh Govero
LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick
Proverbs 3:5-6
Doing what the other guys have forgotten,
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Locally Owned & Family Operated
Reliable & Dependable Service
Commercial and residential waste removal at affordable prices.
Follow the
to learn more of his
Jackson’s Journey Foundation started in 2022 when Daniel Wood learned of his son’s Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia diagnosis.
This 100% non-for-profit organization aims to support all children affected by cancer and also provide financial support to our local families fighting this battle. The Woods family donates thousands of toys to St. Louis Children’s hospital to help put a smile on these brave little faces. You can help too, by donating toys to this amazing cause.
“Jackson’s Journey” Facebook page
amazing story.
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Ashley Grindstaff Speaking at Living Well Project Fundraiser ‘An Evening In Africa’ 2: Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicles take center stage at the First Responders Appreciation Event hosted at Engler park 3: Jolean Boyer with SERVPRO of Farmington hosting a First Responders Appreciation Event 4: Javeon Russell awarded MAC Music Scholarship from Mineral Area College Music Department 5: Isabel Rodriguez with KBH Realty Group awarded Rookie of the Year by MABR 6: Candy Hente with Chick-fil-A crew at Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon 7: Annette Schnabel with Rotary Club Scholarship Award Winners Jack Morrison, Ella Scott, and Tatem Tinsley
Want to be seen in the magazine?
MINERAL AREA BOARD OF REALTORS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAYLE NEPHEW
business monthly
ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES
Save the Date: St. Francois County Fair Coming Soon!
Save the date! The 152nd St. Francois County Fair returns July 30th – August 1st, bringing three days of family fun, agricultural showcases, entertainment, food, carnival rides, and community tradition to the Fairgrounds. From 4-H and FFA exhibits to grandstand events and live entertainment, the fair remains one of the region’s most anticipated summer celebrations.
Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Lead Local Graduates
The Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the inaugural graduating class of its Lead Local Program. Over the past year, participants gained firsthand experience in leadership, government, education, public safety, and community engagement. Already, several graduates have stepped into leadership roles on local boards, councils, and committees. The Chamber is proud of this outstanding group and looks forward to seeing the impact they will continue to make throughout our community.
Scan to read more
Hammack & Bales Financial Group Opens New Location in Fredericktown
Congratulations to Hammack & Bales Financial Group on the grand opening of their new Fredericktown office. Community members, clients, family, and local chamber representatives recently gathered to celebrate this exciting milestone with owner Ashley Bales. The beautiful new space reflects the dedication, vision, and hometown pride that have helped shape the firm’s success. We wish Ashley, Kenny, and the entire team continued growth and success in the years ahead.
Photography by Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce
Photography by Park Hills - Leadington Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Fitz and staff- Thank you for the great care and compassion you gave. Dr. Fitz and everyone made me feel comfortable, with the certain knowledge that I was in excellent hands.” - Medford
Dr. Logan England
Precision Eye Care has been serving the Parkland area with quality eye care and cataract surgery for over 30 years.
We also provide glaucoma treatment, diabetic eye exams, macular degeneration and dry eye treatment. Drs. Anton Beffa and John Fitz are certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and are fellows of The American College of Surgeons. Our physicians strive to listen to you, carefully.
We provide a thorough, personalized examination with kindness and respect. Doctors Beffa, Fitz, England and their staff are committed to this mission, and we continually strive to improve all facets of our patient’s experience. We hope to provide compassion with a small town feel, maintaining our patient’s dignity, during every visit. We can address all of your optic needs, right here in Farmington.
IF YOU ARE READING THIS... SO IS YOUR BEST CLIENT.
2 OUT OF 3 of our readers regularly purchase from our ads.
Dr. Anton Beffa
Dr. John Fitz
Horizons CHASING
The curiosity that shaped a remarkable life of exploration
ARTICLE BY KAYLE NEPHEW | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PARKLAND CITY LIFESTYLE
There are moments in history that seem almost impossible in hindsight.
Moments when ordinary people find themselves swept into something extraordinary, when a nation fixes its eyes on the horizon and decides to go farther than anyone ever has before.
The Apollo era was one of those moments.
For those who lived it, the moon wasn’t history yet. It was a goal.
A challenge.
A question no one knew how to answer.
Standing a few miles from a Saturn V first-stage test firing at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Mit Landrum could feel the answer taking shape.
“The noise was not so much loud as it was simply energetic,” he recalled. “You could feel the awesome power of the rocket running through you.”
His clothes shook and vibrated as the engines came to life.
At the time, thousands of engineers, scientists, technicians, and dreamers were working toward what many believed was impossible, and among them was a young man from Farmington.
Fresh out of Washington University with a degree in Physics, Landrum joined NASA’s Propulsion and Vehicle Engineering Laboratory, where engineers were tackling one of the many challenges standing between humanity and the moon: keeping the Saturn V rocket from shaking itself apart.
The Saturn V remains one of the most powerful machines ever built, and Mit’s job was to help ensure its structural integrity during launch phase.
Yet despite the scale of the mission, the technology of the day was surprisingly simple by modern standards.
“The engineering that got us to the moon wasn’t done on computers,” Mit said with a laugh. “It was done with slide rules.”
Engineers filled the halls in white dress shirts and skinny ties, slide rules tucked into their pockets, solving problems by hand that would ultimately help send astronauts to the moon.
Mit had recently learned computer programming and quickly became fascinated with one of the few computers available. In one memorable race against a senior engineer armed only with a slide rule, he spent days programming a solution to a complex vibration problem, only to discover the senior engineer had solved it by hand just minutes sooner.
It was a different era. An era built on ingenuity, determination, and the belief that impossible problems were simply waiting to be solved.
For most people, helping send a man to the moon would be enough adventure for one lifetime.
For Mit, it was only the beginning.
Long before NASA, before Huntsville, before slide rules and Saturn V rockets, there had been another fascination quietly waiting in the wings.
Flight.
Nearly sixty years later, he is still learning.
For Mit, aviation has always been driven by curiosity—a desire to keep learning and understanding the world from a different perspective.
One of his earliest lessons came during a cross-country flight to Texas.
Still a relatively new pilot, Mit found himself battling weather that more experienced aviators had chosen to avoid altogether. Heavy rain battered the aircraft. Winds pushed him off course. Turbulence rattled the airplane as he repeatedly altered his route in an effort to navigate around a storm system that seemed determined to block his path.
The farther he flew, the worse the conditions became.
Visibility dropped.
He had been fascinated by aviation since childhood. Growing up around veterans who shared stories of flight, he built model airplanes and dreamed of someday taking the controls himself. On January 2, 1967, he took his first flying lesson.
Fuel dwindled.
And the options grew fewer.
Running low on fuel and surrounded by uncertainty, he did the only thing he knew to do.
He prayed to God.
A few moments later, through the weather, he spotted a ridge ahead. As he crossed it, an abandoned airstrip appeared below where he was able to land safely.
He recalls that when he climbed from the aircraft and checked the fuel tanks, he discovered there was virtually nothing left. The only fuel remaining was what sat inside the fuel lines themselves.
A nearby crop duster pilot helped him obtain enough fuel to continue his journey, but the lesson stayed with him long after the weather had cleared.
“Flying teaches humility,” Landrum said.
No matter how many hours you log, aviation has a way of reminding you there is always more to learn.
That same steady mindset would later serve him in boardrooms, community organizations, and eventually the mayor’s office. Whether working on moon rockets, navigating storms, leading organizations, or helping guide his hometown, Mit approached each challenge with the same belief: stay curious, stay humble, and never stop learning.
Today, he and his wife, Chris, still use aviation to stay connected with family, often flying to visit their children in other states.
Mit believes aviation continues to play an important role in communities like Farmington. “The airport is the off-ramp and on-ramp to the sky for Farmington,” he said.
After thousands of flights, and hundreds of thousands of miles, the airplane remains what it has always been for him: a bridge between people, places, and generations. And nearly sixty years after his first flying lesson, Mit Landrum still approaches aviation with the mindset of a student.
“You have to be a student of aviation your entire life,” he said.
Perhaps that’s the consistent theme throughout every chapter of his life; from moon rockets and airplanes, to business, public service, and family.
Not the destinations.
The willingness to keep learning, and the humility to know there is always more to learn beyond the next horizon.
At Heartland Hearing Care, we believe life is richer when you can hear every moment.
Our owner, Kelli Kernan, has dedicated her career to helping people hear better, earning her Hearing Instrument Specialist license and National Board Certification.
With locations in St. Francois County, Jefferson County, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County, our clinics are committed to helping you hear your best at any stage of life— delivering personalized care with the latest, most advanced hearing solutions.
Introducing Starkey’s Omega AI – Designed to restore the normal sense of hearing closer than any technology of its kind!
• Waterproof,* sweatproof, and everyday-proof
• Up to 51 hours of battery life**
• Includes the world’s first Balance Builder and Respiratory Rate monitoring features - all in one device
THE ULTIMATE PARKLAND
Your checklist for a summer well spent in the Parkland
ARTICLE BY KAYLE NEPHEW
“WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING TO STAY CLOSE TO HOME OR TAKE A SHORT ROAD TRIP, HERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO MAKE
THE MOST OF SUMMER IN THE PARKLAND.”
Summer in the Parkland isn’t about checking destinations off a map—it’s about making memories. From afternoons on the river and ice cream runs to hidden hiking trails and hometown traditions, some of the best adventures are waiting right here in our own backyard. Whether you’re looking to stay close to home or take a short road trip, here are a few ways to make the most of summer in the Parkland.
STAY CLOSE TO HOME
• Spend a day trail riding, fishing, or exploring at St. Joe State Park.
• Cool off at the newly renovated Farmington Water Park.
• Make a splash at The REEF Water Park in Park Hills.
• Grab dinner—or just a cone—from Hunt’s Dairy Bar. Some summer traditions never get old.
• Spend an evening enjoying live music and great food at Food Truck Friday in Downtown Park Hills.
Photography By Food Truck Fridays
Farmington Water Park
Photography by: HelixMind Real Estate Media
St.Joe State Park
EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS
• Spend a hot afternoon at K Bridge along the Black River.
• Hike Missouri’s highest point at Taum Sauk Mountain.
• Explore the shaded trails and unique rock formations at Pickle Springs Natural Area.
• Watch the sunset from a gravel road somewhere in the Parkland.
• Spend at least one night camping under the stars.
WORTH THE DRIVE
• Browse the shops and enjoy homemade ice cream at The Mercantile in Caledonia.
• Spend a day exploring the historic streets, shops, and charm of Ste. Genevieve.
• Climb, explore, and take photos at Elephant Rocks State Park.
• Venture underground and discover the wonders of Meramec Caverns.
• Cool off in the natural waters of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park.
Tag us in your summer adventures @parklandcitylifestyle
Photography by: Old Village Mercantile Caledonia
Ste. Genevieve, MO
Elephant Rocks State Park
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
The 10% Target Mindset
Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT
Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.
He calls days later.
That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.
The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.
The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.
“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”
FEATURING JEN COHEN
Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.
1 2
MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS
The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.
STACK THE DECK
Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.
3
DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE
No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.
4
SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP
Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.
5
NEVER MISS A MONDAY
The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.
RIVER ROAD Adventure
A
SCENIC ROAD TRIP FROM STE. GENEVIEVE TO GRAFTON, ILLINOIS
ARTICLE BY KAYLE NEPHEW
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PARKLAND CITY LIFESTYLE
The Loading Dock
Let’s take a drive.
Or better yet, a ride.
Starting in Ste. Genevieve and winding north through southern Illinois, this route rewards travelers who aren’t in a hurry. It’s about slowing down enough to enjoy the small towns, scenic overlooks, local restaurants, and river views that make a road trip memorable in the first place.
Crossing the Mississippi near Chester, Illinois the scenery begins to change. Open farmland stretches for miles. Weathered barns, grain bins, and church steeples rise above the horizon while small communities appear just often enough to break up the drive. Before long, it feels like you’ve left the noise of everyday life somewhere behind you.
The first stop comes in Red Bud.
It’s the kind of town that’s easy to drive through without a second thought, but that’s part of the beauty of a road trip, you discover places you weren’t necessarily looking for.
A lunch stop at 1860 Public House quickly proves worthwhile. The Germaninspired restaurant offers everything from giant pretzels and schnitzel to wraps, sandwiches, salads, and an impressive drink menu. More importantly, it feels local. The atmosphere is welcoming, the food is excellent, and it’s exactly the sort of place travelers hope to stumble upon when they decide to take this scenic route.
Back on the road, the journey continues north through Belleville before eventually reaching Alton, where the landscape begins to transform.
This is where the route changes character entirely.
The Loading Dock Mississippi River
The farmland gives way to towering limestone bluffs and sweeping river views as travelers pick up the Great River Road, one of the Midwest’s most scenic stretches of highway. The roadway winds between the Mississippi River and dramatic rock formations that rise high above the water, creating a landscape that feels surprisingly untouched.
Around every bend, the view seems to change. Barges move steadily through the river channel below while the bluffs cast long shadows across the roadway. It’s easy to see why this stretch has become a favorite amongst motorcyclists throughout the Midwest. The sweeping curves, river views, and dramatic scenery make every mile feel truly intentional.
For those traveling by car, the experience is no less impressive. It’s the kind of scenery that has passengers reaching for their cameras and drivers looking for the next safe place to pull over and take it all in.
Eventually, the road leads to Grafton.
and stay awhile. With live music, yard games, boats drifting by, and the bluffs rising in the distance, it’s easy to lose track of time here.
It’s the kind of place where an hour can quickly become an afternoon.
Nearby, visitors will find local shops, wineries, and a large indoor flea market that’s worth exploring for anyone who enjoys the thrill of finding something unexpected. Whether spending a few hours or an entire weekend, there’s no shortage of reasons to linger.
“Sometimes the trip is less about the destination, and more about the journey to get there.”
Nestled at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, Grafton feels a little like a river town, a lake destination, and a summer getaway all rolled into one. It’s the kind of place that invites visitors to park the bike (or the car) and spend a few hours wandering without much of a plan.
One stop in particular stands out.
The Loading Dock sits directly along the riverfront and offers one of the best views in town. Grab a drink, find a seat overlooking the water,
And no visit to the area would feel complete without dinner at Fast Eddie’s Bon Air. Equal parts restaurant, live music venue, and local institution, it’s one of those places that people talk about long after they’ve left, and one more reminder that some of the best stops are often the ones recommended by fellow travelers. You haven't tried Fast Eddie's until you've had a "Big Elwood" with a basket of peel and eat shrimp.
Road trips aren’t always about checking destinations off a list.
They’re about discovering a great new spot in a town you’ve never visited. They’re about finding a stretch of road so scenic you wish it would last just a little bit longer.
From the farmland of southern Illinois to the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi, this route is a reminder that some of the best adventures are still found the old-fashioned way — by taking the long way home.
Trendy
Wide
Build Wealth Through Real Estate
Real Estate remains one of the most powerful ways to build longterm wealth. Investing isn’t just for large corps or seasoned investors - it’s for anyone ready to build something bigger for their future. With the right strategy and local expertise, investment properties can generate income and long-term value. From analyzing potential returns to navigating the buying process, Freedom Realty MO is here to help you invest with confidence.
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
JULY 6TH
Black Knight Stables Horse Camp
Black Knight Stables | 8:00 AM
Saddle up for a week of fun at Black Knight Stables Horse Camp. This is a full day camp that runs July 6th – 9th from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM and is tailored for beginner to intermediate riders. Campers will enjoy horseback riding, hands-on learning, and a variety of equinethemed activities. Spaces limited, call (573) 701-5501 for more info.
JULY 8TH-18TH
Artisto’s
Summer Youth Art Camp
120 E Columbia St - Farmington | 1:00 PM
Let creativity shine at Artisto’s during Art Camp for ages 12–18! Young artists will explore painting, sculpting, tie dye, watercolor, mosaics, mixed media, and more while creating fun, hands-on projects in a creative, safe environment. Two sessions available in July 8th-11th, and the 15th-18th, from 1:00–3:30 PM. Cost is $70 - spaces limited. Register your child by calling 573-516-0892
JULY 11TH-12TH
Miner Tough 2026
St. Joe State Park
Join the excitement at the Miner Tough 2026 event July 11th and 12th at St. Joe State Park. This summer favorite delivers a full weekend of fun including marathons for runners and mountain bike racing for cyclists. Compete one day or both, then make a weekend of it with camping at the beautiful state park. Registration and more details here: https://share.google/kOefwJrFO0h6O8se8
JULY 18TH
Crest Creek Farm U-Pick Flower Field Opening Day
10933 Pond Creek Rd - Bonne Terre | 7:30 AM
Celebrate opening day at Crest Creek Farm’s U-Pick Flower Field from 7:30 AM–Noon. Stroll through rows of vibrant zinnias and cosmos, enjoy photo ops and seating areas, and build your own bouquet with scissors, vases, and holders provided. Admission $3 adults, $2 kids, with blooms priced at $0.75 per stem. Perfect for a summer outing with family and friends!
JULY 30TH
2nd Annual OCC Shoebox Scramble Golf Tournament
Bogey Creek Golf Club | 8:00 AM
Hit the links for a great cause on July 30th at Bogey Creek Golf Club. Registration and breakfast begin at 8:00 AM, followed by a shotgun start at 9:00 AM. Team entry is $400 and includes green fees, cart fees, breakfast, lunch, mulligans, a sleeve of golf balls, water, and soft drinks. Proceeds benefit Parkland Chapel’s Operation Christmas Child.
AUGUST 1ST
Rocky Creek Youth Ranch 3rd Annual Fundraiser Gala
Cardinal Center - Mineral Area College | 6:00 PM
Join Rocky Creek Youth Ranch and T-K Ranch Equine Assisted Coaching for an elegant evening supporting youth through residential care, therapy, and equine-assisted healing. Cocktail attire required. Enjoy dinner, drinks, a silent auction, guest speakers, and fellowship for an incredible cause. Tickets: $50 advance, $60 at the door. For Tickets or Sponsorship info contact Stacey Gillette at (573)747-9115
2 4 9 4 4 S
E x p e r i e n c e o n e o f S o u t h e a s t M i s s o u r i ’ s m o s t e x t r a o r d i n a r y r a n c h
e s t a t e s n e a r l y 8 0 0 c o n t i g u o u s a c r e s o f r o l l i n g p a s t u r e s , l a k e s ,
a n d y e a r - r o u n d s p r i n g - f e d s t r e a m s . A t i t s c e n t e r i s a s t u n n i n g
n e a r l y 6 , 0 0 0 s q f t . c u s t o m s t o n e a n d t i m b e r h o m e f e a t u r i n g
s o a r i n g c a t h e d r a l c e i l i n g s a n d e x c e p t i o n a l c r a f t s m a n s h i p
t h r o u g h o u t . C o m p l e m e n t i n g t h e e s t a t e i s a r e m a r k a b l e 2 6 , 0 0 0 s q
f t
5 B E D R O O M S 5 B A T H R O O M S N E A R L Y 8 0 0
