Why Go to Kansas to Visit Some Furniture Mart? Sav-on is Right Here!

by Eavin Moore

 

As our little column goes on from issue to issue, it is developing momentum. The last several establishments we have featured have all reported a major uptick in new visitors quick to mention this publication as the impetus to their journey. We are pleased to be able to shed some light on area craftspeople and unique retailers who might otherwise escape your notice.

 

For this issue we are making a bit of a departure and featuring a larger local retailer. The inspiration came, as it so often does, through the foibles of my beautiful yet somewhat daffy bride. You see, when we relocated from the huge house to the much smaller house a couple of years ago, we made great strides in eliminating much of the worthless clutter she had accumulated over the years. There was still to my dismay a good bit of unnecessary stuff (I say), that she wouldn’t part with yet. She rented a storage unit, and filled it to the brim with broken Christmas ornaments and other worthless treasures. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, February 21st, 2008
Filed under: Come look at my stuff!, General | no comments

Dear Joe

 

 

Dear Joe,

I respect your right to run your paper the way you feel is appropriate. However, I think that your one-size-fits-all advertising policy is limiting your potential income, and limits your readers’ choices.

 

The reader can only find out what the specials are at one restaurant in town. Pretty soon they’re going to get hungry for something else. The reader must like one salon, get their medications at only one pharmacy (hopefully their insurance recognizes that one), rent office space in only one building, use only one bank. Likely your reader will go to another source to locate what they need or want.

 

America’s economy is based on competition. Competition is what makes businesses try harder, do better, and actually, it helps them grow. Competition helps the consumer because more and better choices are available.

 

I enjoy your newspaper, but I am glad it is not the only one out there.

 

Sincerely,

Looking for Choices (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, February 21st, 2008
Filed under: Graffiti, General | no comments

Bottle Bill Makes Sense for St. Joe

by Cassie Kerner, Independent Writer

 

I suppose I look at St. Joe from a somewhat unique perspective. Like many of my childhood friends, I was born and raised in the city, but eagerly left to explore greener pastures after high school. I spent four years attending college in Des Moines, IA and then moved to Washington, DC, where I’ve lived for the past five years. I embraced the opportunity to experience life in other parts of the country, but unlike a lot of my peers who moved away, I plan to return to St. Joe.

My reasons for wanting to return are many and varied. I want to live closer to my family, the cost of living is exponentially more affordable, traffic isn’t a problem, people are friendlier…I could go on and on, but for now it will suffice to say that, for me, St. Joe will ultimately win out over life in the “big city.” (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, February 21st, 2008
Filed under: Joe Green, General | no comments

St. Joseph’s Golden Age of Movie Houses

by Jay Kerner

 

Ok, it’s 4:20pm on Monday February 18th.

At 1pm I got the call that the talented writer who usually provides our “Old Joe” pieces is under the weather. Could I please work up something last minute on old St. Joe theaters? No problem, I pick up the phone to call the lifesavers in the Reference Dept. at the downtown library. Closed for Presidents day.

 

No problem. I log onto the internet and spend an hour or so, researching everything I can find, from a hundred different sources. I open a Word document and copy/paste tons of facts and figures as notes for the story. About 2:30 pm I opened a new document and started typing, toggling back and forth from my notes to check dates etc. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, February 21st, 2008
Filed under: Jay Kerner, Old Joe, General | 2 comments

Party, Oscar style, for a good cause.

by Bob Shultz, Independent Writer 

The Academy Awards, the way it should be…the Second Annual “Oscar Night Party” to benefit Second Harvest comes to the East Hills Library Theatre on Sunday, February 24th. Doors open at 6pm. Watch the golden night festivities, play Oscar trivia, bid on celebrity memorabilia and do it all for a good cause.

 

Admission is 2 cans of food or a free will donation (at the door) to the Second Harvest Food Drive. 100% of all proceeds benefit the Second Harvest’s campaign against hunger in our community. This event is brought to you by FAME (The Film Alliance of the Midland Empire) and the St. Joseph Public Library. If you or your company would like to contribute additional prizes, or are looking for additional information, drop a line at secondharvestoscar@live.com. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, February 21st, 2008
Filed under: General | no comments

Assorted Bologna

By Jay Kerner

 

Lots to tell you this issue:  First, thank you for the responses to our “Joe Gives a Buck” promotion. We received nominations for five different charities since the announcement in the last Joe. As we work out the details, we have decided to extend accepting nominations for now, until we’re all nailed down. We want our proverbial ducks in a row, before actually accepting donations. The last thing we need is anybody questioning “Where did the money go?”. Our plan is to have our bank take care of that end. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, February 21st, 2008
Filed under: This Joe Says, Jay Kerner, General | no comments

Olive Garden? I say “Fooey!”

by Vennis A. Vennable, Independent Writer 

Hallelujah the great day is finally here. After years of yearning, the faithful have been rewarded. The gilded doors have opened at last and while the fishes may be in short supply, the breadstick loaves are never ending. Surely the heavens have smiled upon us, Olive Garden is here!

 

Can you believe it? How could we be deserving of such bounty? Just imagine actual noodles! And if that’s not enough, tomato sauce! How sublime. It’s almost too fabulous to comprehend. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, February 21st, 2008
Filed under: General | no comments

Don’t Be An Artful Dodger, Visit An Artful Life

by Eavin Moore

This story starts as so many do, with instructions from my beautiful bride.

“You have to find a flask for the daughter’s boyfriend,” she tells me.

Apparently he has been hanging around a sufficient amount of time to merit a Christmas gift. I’m not sure what to make of the fact that a flask is on his list for Santa, but he’s over 21, so who am I to judge? As I recall, I occasionally used to smuggle a wine skin into Missouri Western games back in the day. (For medicinal purposes of course). (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, February 7th, 2008
Filed under: Come look at my stuff!, General | no comments

Dear Joe

Dear Joe,

I’ve been reading your paper from the beginning, and singing your praises to all my friends.  At first nobody seemed to know what I was talking about, but with each passing issue, I can tell your readership is growing rapidly.  After your Joe of the Year promotion, surely there can’t be many in town that aren’t aware of you.  I can tell by the fact that I had to go to three locations to find the last issue.  The first two had run out already.

Regular Reader (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, February 7th, 2008
Filed under: Graffiti | no comments

Joe Gives A Buck…Do You?

by Jay Kerner, Source Publications

 

I wish I could take credit for the success of our “Joe of the Year” contest. Ideas are my thing after all, unfortunately while I have certainly been blessed with quantity out the proverbial wazoo, the ability to discern quality has always been more of a challenge. It was truly a joint effort that pulled off our best promotion to date. Thanks again for all of your letters, emails and calls. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Thursday, February 7th, 2008
Filed under: Jay Kerner, General | 1 comment

Next Page »