Archives of Community

meet the model: Kara Filbeck

Tell us about …   something you love to do: I love to dip dark chocolate Oreos into hot Vietnamese coffee. your favorite place in the world: My favorite place in the world is lying on the bed of a truck, driving through the mountains near Chiang Mai where I grew up. one of your […]
2 years ago

meet along the way: Marilyn Morgan

By Lauren Evans This story was first published in the January 2022 issue of “The Best Years (TBY)” as “Stepping Out in Faith: Local writing workshop series to help people tell their story.” When Marilyn Morgan saw the impact the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent isolation had on her community in 2020, she knew she […]
2 years ago

meet along the way: Bernice Wyatt, aka Mother Wyatt

This story is part of an ongoing series called “Chronicles from the Care Center,” in which people who live in care centers throughout Southeast Missouri tell the stories of their lives. It was first published in the February 2022 issue of “The Best Years” as the second installment in the series.  Talk with Bernice Wyatt […]
2 years ago

Meet Along the Way: Christine Dickman

By Nicolette Baker This story was first published in the May 2021 issue of “The Best Years (TBY).” As the cryptologic equipment screamed a warning tone and messages poured into the communication station, Christine Dickman says she didn’t have time to feel stressed. “It was overwhelming, but you couldn’t be overwhelmed,” she says. Cape Girardeau […]
2 years ago

Meet Along the Way: Jamie Mayfield

This story was first published in the January 2022 issue of “The Best Years (TBY).” California, Arizona, Georgia. Missouri, Minnesota, Connecticut. Canada, the U.K., Holland.  It’s 9 a.m. on a Friday morning, and Jamie Mayfield is connecting with people from across the country and world via Sock TV, her YouTube program through which she teaches […]
2 years ago

More Girls on Bikes: Making space for the women

“More girls on bikes.” That’s the motto and goal of Girls Riding Together (GRiT), a program created by the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) specifically for female mountain bike student-athletes. The national organization has chapters all across the U.S., teaching mountain biking skills and the joys of being part of a cycling community to young […]
2 years ago

Chics Dig Bikes: Get riding.

When Dawn LaRue started cycling five years ago, she couldn’t find a group of people to ride with on the road. Then, in May 2019, she decided to do something about that, and founded Chics Dig Bikes, a cycling group for women who want to ride bikes and learn how to ride on the road […]
2 years ago

Meet Ciara Potter

A sophomore at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design with hopes of becoming a creative director, our Winter 2021 model Ciara Potter competes in the long jump, triple jump and high jump events on the SEMO track and field team. Meet her here.  Tell us about […]
2 years ago

Daily: Callie + Austin Bollinger, 14 years

Some poets describe love as a garden, a relationship as something two people create, build and tend together. It’s an entity that requires work, attention, care; tender planting, pruning and weeding. Some days, it’s hot and dry and humid, and the work is arduous. Other days, the rain brings relief and growth. Still other days, […]
3 years ago

Daily: Tamara + Patrick Buck, 26 years

Some poets describe love as a garden, a relationship as something two people create, build and tend together. It’s an entity that requires work, attention, care; tender planting, pruning and weeding. Some days, it’s hot and dry and humid, and the work is arduous. Other days, the rain brings relief and growth. Still other days, […]
3 years ago