Rainmakers Frontman at First-Ward, Rain or Shine.

 

by Jimmy “Hambone”

Hamilton

Six months ago, if you had told me Bob Walkenhorst, writer and lead singer of The Rainmakers would be calling me on my cell phone, I’d have accused you of being over-served. But danged if it didn’t happen just the other day.

I got an email telling me that Bob and his friend Jeff Porter will be playing an acoustic show at the First Ward Tavern, on Saturday March 29th, beginning at 9pm. They were nice enough to include Bob’s personal cell phone number, in case I wanted to interview him. Is my job cool or what?

So before I called, I thought it prudent to get a little online update. I always dug the band when they were getting radio play around here in the 80s. I even spent some hard earned dollars to buy a couple of their albums. (Ok, it was cassette tapes). But I lost touch with them in the 90s and was excited for the opportunity to catch up. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Friday, March 21st, 2008
Filed under: Sounds Like St. Joe, General | no comments

Belt Sports Complex Continues to Grow with St. Joe.

 

By Eavin Moore.

 

The Belt Bowl was just three years old when Norman and Helen Tucker bought the original 18 lane facility in 1960. Back then, what we now know as the Belt Highway was just a rutted old road, out on the edge of town. The miniature golf course was up the way, but that was it. They claim their business to be the second oldest on the Belt, after Cool Crest.

 

My own first visit to the old Belt Bowl was in the daycare center, back in the early 60s. My mom bowled one afternoon a week in a ladies league, and I spent the time in the nursery. You couldn’t see the bowling from in there, but I remember the sound of strikes and spares coming right through the walls.

 

A few years later it was my turn. Saturday morning league, matching t-shirt colors for each team. There were lessons from Mr. Tucker, with his flat top haircut, and Mrs. Tucker was behind the counter. (Full story)

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

Be Kind? Be Real!

Money tight?  Movie going on a budget? Well, don’t forget the value of “Budget Theatres” - The same movie for a third of the price. Film Reviewer Sam Hendrix gives us Regular Joes his perspective on the Jack Black comedy, “Be Kind Rewind.”

 

Be Kind? Be Real!By Sam Hendrix 

For many avid movie collectors, the switch from VHS to DVD was a very painful and agonizing process. Many even referred to this leap in technology as a “fad” that would soon parish much like Laserdisc. This was the case for a tiny video rental store in

Passaic, New Jersey, the official home of the blues and hometown of legendary bluesman, Fats Waller. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Friday, March 21st, 2008
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KCCC&StJ — The Electric Railroad that ‘Sparkled’

 

by Ed Gentry, Independent Writer

The February 18, 1913 edition of the St. Joseph News-Press proclaimed, “Officials of the new St. Joseph-Kansas City Interurban were delighted with their visit here.” PLEASED WITH ST. JOSEPH read the article describing the enthusiasm of the eastern financiers who arrived on one of the “handsome steel coaches” of the new railroad, and afterward “toured the city in motor cars following a luncheon at the Hotel Robidoux. The coach is much larger than the cars used on the St. Joseph-Savannah electric line and its motors are of much greater power. It is a marvel of comfort and convenience and the finishing throughout is beautiful.”

The plug on this electric railroad was pulled in 1933 as

America went deeper into the Depression, and I grew up knowing none of this. As a newcomer to

St. Joseph, I have only seen pictures of the Hotel Robidoux, and the shopping

Mecca, which was Downtown St. Joseph. But my hometown in southern

Illinois had its own vibrant Downtown in the 1950s, and I am old enough to remember “the way things were” before the Interstate Highways were built. I have boyhood memories of Illinois Central steam in

Carbondale, Illinois, and that’s it. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Friday, March 21st, 2008
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Its raining money

by Erin Eddins, Source Publications

Recently it seems all you hear when you turn on the news or stand next to the coffee machine at work is about the rising cost of, well, just about everything. Most agree it stems from the rising fuel prices and then trickles down to basically all other goods and services.

Now we add to that the fact that energy costs are expected to skyrocket. What does that actually mean? Well, I asked Dan Rather that very question. The trouble is he cannot hear me through my television set. So I am left in the same boat you are. I sit and wait. I appreciate when something isn’t rising in price and cringe when it does, yet I do little to either prevent it or to modify my behavior when it does.

To further complicate the increasing demands on my pocketbook, I am really trying to “be green.” And let me tell you, Kermit was right; it’s not easy being green. My poor daughter is forever standing with some small piece of trash in her hand, looking at the three trash bins in the pantry wondering which bin should receive her wrapper. It’s not a can, does it burn, could it be compost? (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Friday, March 21st, 2008
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Dear Joe

Dear Joe,

 

We feel fortunate that our girls are able to have a well-rounded schedule of music, sports, and other activities, that will enrich their lives as (we hope), someday wonderful stay at home moms. Who do you thinks will staff the crucial positions in the future, like Ladies Day Chairman at the Country Club or Junior League President and Room Mother for our children’s classes?

 

And this is not just one woman’s opinion. I was so mad I asked everyone I encountered all weekend, to make certain it applied across all sections of society. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Wednesday, March 19th, 2008
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Joe Gives A Buck Starts Now!

By Jay Kerner

 

The last few weeks were a combination of come on lets go, and slow down and be careful.  We were all excited to go but we also wanted to make sure everything was on the up and up.  The last thing any business needs, especially one struggling to get established, is any suggestion of impropriety.  We had to make sure our ducks were in a row. 

 

Our advertising partner Commerce Bank really stepped up to the plate for us, and once again demonstrated their commitment to the community.  They agreed to set up a deposit only account, so our readers can make donations inside or through the drive-up, in any of their locations, and where they will also receive their “This Joe Gave A Buck” sticker. Donations will be accepted now through April 30th.  That takes care of handling the cash, so let’s move on to who gets it. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Wednesday, March 19th, 2008
Filed under: This Joe Says, Jay Kerner, General | 13 comments

WHY DOWNTOWN?

by Oscar Hansen, Independent Writer  
 Let me start way back in 1973. Just graduating from 
Northwest Missouri
 State with a Degree in Industrial Health and Safety and Physical
 Education I started my working career with Big Smith, Inc., located at the
 corner of 4th and 

Francis Street


 as an Industrial Engineer.
 


I remember that Downtown was always on the go: lots of shopping,
 workplaces, nice restaurants, hotels, etc. The St. Joseph Jaycees were an
 integral part of keeping the action going Downtown. I served on the Board
 of Directors of the Jaycees the year that the Apple Blossom Parade was
 re-started, we also sponsored the Miss St. Joseph Pageant…wow what two
 great projects!!! (Full story)

	

													
	

        

                Posted by: admin on Saturday, March 8th, 2008

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So what if I’m a Homer?

by Jay Kerner

My buddy Deny Staggs is a Raiders fan. This in itself makes one
question his credibility, when he calls me a “homer.” The term as it is used
here doesn’t refer to the long ball, instead it’s a derogatory reference
to somebody who automatically roots for the local team no matter how
lame they may be.

The label doesn’t bother me. Number one, I am a homer. I’m a great big
homer. My teams are the Royals, the Chiefs, Missouri Western and the
Missouri Tigers, in that order, and if you don’t like it, tough patootie. (Full story)

Posted by: admin on Saturday, March 8th, 2008
Filed under: This Joe Says, Jay Kerner, General | 1 comment

Memories of Irish Past Still Under Your Hat

by Erin Eddins, Source Publications 



I have to confess that writing Old Joe has really been a labor of love.


 The interest that I have in history, specifically that of 
St. Joseph,


 has made writing this column very entertaining for me. But it has also


 proven to be fairly difficult at times. Our city is rich with history


 but not all of it is readily available information via the internet. So


 the nice folks at the St. Joseph Public Library have provided much


 assistance. But what to do when they have little material on a subject? The


 easy answer is just change the topic. Hey, I’m a college graduate; I


 used this philosophy to survive an awful lot of term papers. The thing


 is what if I like the topic I am trying to learn about? (Full story)

	

													
	

        

                Posted by: admin on Saturday, March 8th, 2008

		Filed under: Old Joe,  General | no comments

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