Boom Magazine

For most of us, our county fairs happen in the summer. But in our house, they’re year around affairs. You see, my husband, Bob, spends all winter and spring testing recipes for cookies, so that he can win baking competitions. So far, he’s…

Photos by L.G. Patterson After 86 years of experiencing life, most of those spent as a Ph.D. entomologist, Richard has developed an extensive understanding of monarch butterflies and a commitment to making a place for them in the world. At…

“I’m either really stupid or I’m really smart,” she says. Her name is Becky. She’s one of several retired women of a certain age at the table. “My life was planned. Now it just happens.” Women who decided, for reasons of their own, it…

A couple months ago, I started dating a man I met at a local coffee shop. The problem is my family and friends do not really like him, especially my daughters. Everyone thinks I am too accepting of his behavior because I haven’t dated much…

Estate planning is a task that many individuals approach with absolute dread – like going to the dentist. However, putting a comprehensive estate plan in place can be both a relieving and painless process. Estate planning is an invaluable…

Photos by L.G. Patterson On top of the papers stacked semi-neatly on MU Director Emeritus of Admissions and Registrar Gary Smith’s desk at his office in the General Services Building lies a columnar schedule sheet, filled out by hand.…

This is a photo taken of 7th Street between Walnut and Broadway, looking north toward Broadway. The photo was taken around 1960. The building in the background on the left is Boone Tavern & Hotel. The original Daniel Boone Tavern opened…

Not all Missouri roads lead to Columbia, and not all the streets of Columbia lead to the University of Missouri. Except in the world that Lynne and Lanny Geary have created together. Lanny is a retired physician; Lynne, a retired nurse. The…

When the scent of fresh blooms begins to fill the air, it’s a sure sign that spring has sprung. It’s the perfect time of year to gather loved ones for a leisurely meal, then linger over dessert as you enjoy this season of refreshment. No…

Norm and Connie Ruebling Date: June 10, 1989 Location: Union, Mo Interesting tidbit: Norm proposed to Connie at Boccardi’s Restaurant. The waitress brought out the ring on a silver platter as Connie’s dessert. While Norm is in a…

Photos by L.G. Patterson If Rocheport were a jigsaw puzzle, John Zondca and Diane Dunn would be a pair of pieces that fit exactly in its center. Having dropped out from the 21st Century's stressful pace of life, they've made a place for…

WITH ANGEL DONNETTE ROBERTSON My mother often makes jokes at my husband’s expense – about his job, his political views, his relationship with our children, his hobbies. She doesn’t really mean anything, it’s just her way. After our last…

Known for his trademark salutation, “Hello Dere,” his bug-eyed comic stare and wild Brillo-pad hair, veteran comedian Marty Allen is still making audiences laugh. “I get up in the morning and the only thing that doesn’t hurt is my…

Photos by L.G. Patterson Natalie “Nikki” and Aaron Krawitz’s Columbia home has the same feel as others in its neighborhood — manicured yard and a nice front porch on a quiet cul de sac. It’s what’s inside that changes the view when you…

The photo to the right is the Columbia Opera House, also later known as the Columbia Theatre. It was built by Josiah W. Stone. According to “The Writing of North Todd Gentry,” it featured 1,100 seats for "theatrical entertainments,…

Chuck and JoAnn Wilson are sitting together at 10:30 a.m. in the living room of their villa at Old Hawthorne. Their dogs, Dotty and Coali, are lying down nearby. Outside, a brisk winter wind is blowing across part of the golf course that is…

Charlie and Jean Gibbens Date: July 14, 1956 Location: The Methodist Church in Kiowa, Kansas Interesting tidbit: The groom, Charlie, missed the rehearsal dinner as his friends kidnapped him to Oklahoma (a half mile away). While it…

Sweaters and scarves aren’t the only ways to brace yourself against blustery weather. There’s no time like winter to putter in the kitchen, where the cozy heat from the stove and the aromas of mouthwatering dishes can warm you from the…

Can you guess the year this photo was taken in downtown Columbia? This photo depicts four stores on this street that were torn down and replaced in 1917 by a brand new hotel. Can you identify the name of the hotel, and what is in that…

This issue of Prime focuses on healthy living. Alberta Smith is closing in on 89 years old and exercises almost every day. When she was younger, her exercise was chasing her seven children. As the wife of former Columbia mayor and county…