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Van Rhodes didn’t grow up with black powder guns. “My family just had the typical kinds of guns and shotguns around the house,” he said. But the moment he fell in love with guns was the first time he saw one at an auction. He bought it. “After that first black powder pistol I bought, I found they were just fun to shoot,” Rhodes said. “I’m intrigued by their history and the fact that they are beautiful guns,” he continued. He said black powder firearms originated in the U.S. in the 1800’s. They were the weapon of the American Civil War. As with everything having to do with the Civil War, there were divisions. “The Union forces used guns with

There is nothing that fits the description of “Americana” more than an old fashioned “five and dime” store. There was a time when almost every small town had a “Ben Franklin” store, a five and dime named after the famous American forefather who declared “a penny saved is a penny earned.” Not many Ben Franklin stores have survived in our country, but one does in Dexter. “This store, originally Weber’s Variety Store, was founded in 1909,” explained Donna West, now the store’s manager. Then in the 1930’s, she said, it became “Weber’s Ben Franklin.” West said the stores are franchised, but now less than a hundred “Ben Franklins” still survive nationwide. The store is still a “five and dime,” but

Those familiar with Branson are familiar with “The Baldknobbers Jamboree,” a comedy show that has kept people laughing for 55 years. Since becoming a Branson mainstay, it has been rare for the comedy group to leave Branson for shows. But they are making an exception on Friday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. when they will perform at Poplar Bluff’s Historic Rodgers Theatre. The show is being performed as a fundraiser for Springhill’s School of Hope in Fairdealing. Sean Kallner, who founded the school, says his school has had a number of different fundraisers over the past three years. This year the decision was made to try to get the Baldknobbers to come to Poplar Bluff, with the belief that the

Erin Brown has a passion for art. That’s why she opened Metro Gallery at 1 East Stoddard in Dexter. “I come from a family that has always loved art,” she explained. She also loves Dexter. That’s why she opened Metro Gallery and Powder Room & Boutique in Dexter. And, she believes in bringing the world to Dexter through her goods. “We have jewelry and art here from all over the world,” said Brown. “Our jewelry artists come from Turkey, Africa, and from all over the U.S. It is all handcrafted.” The Metro also carries hand-crafted candles, pottery and, even, goat’s milk soap. “We go on road trips to find these treasures,” she said, in addition to their annual buyers’ markets

It used to be said that there are two topics that one should always avoid in conversation: religion and politics. Now a third can be added: Daylight Savings Time. People love it or hate it. The modern-day concept was conceived in the mind of Benjamin Franklin back in 1784 and was introduced in an essay he penned entitled “An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light” The idea behind it was to make better use of natural daylight and to conserve energy. As we all know, during Daylight Savings Time (DST) clocks are set ahead by one hour, giving us an added hour of daylight each evening and one hour less in the morning. Though Franklin came up with