A room full of people were on hand Friday night at the Black River Gallery Ballroom to enjoy an evening of jazz, and to celebrate the birth of Poplar Bluff’s first public radio station. Jazz enthusiasts not only had the chance to hear a style of music they don’t frequently get to enjoy in Poplar Bluff, but more importantly, it gave them the opportunity to connect with one another, and plan for the growth of a new musical and arts and entertainment community in Poplar Bluff. Lead vocalist for the Black River Jazz Orchestra was Judi Richardson-Rockwell, who is not only a singer of jazz, but a lover of it. “It was just so nice to be able to come

One of my favorite hunting seasons is about to begin. When the squirrels begin to feed on hickory nuts and acorns, I love to go and bag a few for the frying pan. With my legs like they are from years of hunting, I do not walk too much as it is too easy for me to go down and a lot harder to get up. There have been a lot of stories that I have heard and participated in regarding squirrel hunting. Probably the best one was from Missouri Conservation Commission Agent Chet Barnes. He was one of the best and most fair game wardens (now they prefer to be known as Conservation Commission agents) that I have ever

Firework stands have been popping up like mushrooms after a summer rain.  My children eagerly await the firecrackers, bottle rockets, sparklers, and everything else explosive that is to be had this time of year.  The Fourth of July is a wonderful time of year, with many gardens just starting to issue forth their bounties.  What’s more American than corn on the cob and a cold watermelon at your picnics and barbeques? Watermelons are available, none from my garden as yet.  The spring weather played havoc with my plants and I don’t expect any before August.  My tomatoes are setting and I can’t wait for the first ones to ripen.  I am a self-confessed tomato snob, and I refuse to buy

"Wisdom From the Woods" this time I can only give warnings that it is time to be on the lookout for ticks and snakes. In our neck of the woods we have plenty of copperhead snakes. In our 35 year residence here we have confronted only one water moccasin and one cottonmouth that showed up in a real rainy summer. This summer there have already been copperheads run over by cars and trucks on the highway and a few confrontations by gardeners and squirrel hunters. It is vacation time and most people have their plans made for the summer. We would like to take a trip to Pennsylvania to visit some friends that we haven't seen in a long time.

It’s going to be a big weekend for Poplar Bluff, with all kinds of music-centered activities occurring as Music On Main takes center stage in downtown Poplar Bluff on Saturday. But even before Saturday, the weekend will get started with a Night of Jazz for Poplar Bluff’s new Black River Public Radio Station, beginning at 7 p.m. The event will be held at downtown’s Black River Gallery Ballroom. Tickets are just $25 and will feature food from local restauranteurs, beverages from Luecke Distributors, and most importantly, jazz from the Black River Jazz Orchestra, which will feature area musicians including Dan Jackson, Ryan Humphrey, Pete Parysek, and jazz vocalist Judy Richardson-Rockwell. The evening’s events will also include a silent auction with

Brian White is one of those guys who just likes creating things. He also really enjoys bringing people together. And he enjoys nice restaurants. So he decided to combine all those loves into one project: a new restaurant that would be different than anything Poplar Bluff has ever known. That is what Frontier is all about. It really is a new frontier for Poplar Bluff. The restaurant represents a new birth for downtown Poplar Bluff, and is located at 506 Vine Street, next to Black River Art Gallery. And as Brian White and his partner in this venture, Daniel Kingree, explain, this is a project that was meant to be. “It has just been amazing the way it has all