People

Stephen Johnson has been playing Santa Claus during the holiday season for 25 years, but the 65-year-old says he has looked the part since he was 40. The only difference between then and now is the amount of theatrical dye necessary for him…

When doctors released Joshua Williams Sr. from the hospital in December 2017 — after an almost fatal gunshot wound — he immediately started cooking. Despite orders to rest, the 30-year-old chef-owner of Papadoo’s Soul Food & BBQ says…

In 2017, Jennifer Hecker began noticing fatigue and pain in her leg. With a little massage, it would go away, so she dismissed it as perhaps a developing cardiovascular issue or diabetes. The pain began to migrate to her arms — first…

Emmett Russell pulls on his worn gloves and slides clear plastic safety glasses over his eyes before picking out a sheet of metal and plugging in the welder. His gray “Russellbilt” sweatshirt keeps him warm as he works in the coolness of…

- PROMOTIONAL CONTENT - Brian Buchheit never intended to go into the family business. As a child, Buchheit’s father, All Star Automotive owner Bob Buchheit, would bring him to work on Saturdays as a way to spend time together. Those…

Springfield, Missouri-born Scott Buis served in the Army for four years and four months. During that time as a network switching systems operator and maintainer, Buis was stationed at Fort Huachuca in Arizona and Camp Red Cloud in South…

- PROMOTIONAL CONTENT - Veronica Herzing was discovered by her profession. Before she joined her husband at Fortified Roofing and Siding, Herzing worked for the state for 20 years. Herzing knew her experience and skills would be an asset…

- PROMOTIONAL CONTENT - Justin Riley is a legacy at Dryer’s Shoe Store. His grandfather and Dryer’s founder, Newton Riley, taught him from an early age how to be a sucessful businessman and treat customers with gratitude and respect.…

- PROMOTIONAL CONTENT - Lisa Byrd has worked as a nurse and a family nurse practitioner in cardiovascular surgery for Missouri Heart Center for the past 19 years. Throughout that time, she has assisted Dr. Richard Mellitt with cardiac and…

- PROMOTIONAL CONTENT - Kenda Bond never intended to have a career in the automotive industry. Twenty years ago, Bond met fate when she started with All Star Automotive, and instantly hit it off with the owner, Bob Buchheit, and her…

- PROMOTIONAL CONTENT - Veterans United Home Loans has a huge heart for veterans in our community. So much, in fact, that two employees, Joan Govero and James Chapman, have led the way in their commitment and passion for making a…

- PROMOTIONAL CONTENT - For Tim Rich, serving others is a way of life. Born into The Salvation Army as a home church, Rich was a third-generation member of the organization and spent many holiday seasons working the Red Kettles with his…

Anna Drake has lived in Columbia since the 1990s, long enough to consider herself an “honorary native.” She has always enjoyed creating art and took every class available to her throughout her school years. “Art has never not been a part…

- PROMOTIONAL CONTENT - Megan Teck’s determination lead her to her career at All Star Automotive. At a young age, Teck worked on cars with her father and enjoyed taking trips to the demolition derby and dirt tracks. Her interest in…

- PROMOTIONAL CONTENT - Megan Herzing’s desire to learn from her father brought her into the business of contractor services for roofing and siding installation. Watching her dad get to know his customers while he worked to restore their…

- PROMOTIONAL CONTENT - For the last five and a half years, Chris Routledge has found a professional home at Dryer’s Shoe Store where he’s proud to get to know his customers and their needs. Having previously worked in a larger corporate…

It was Nov. 1, 2013, and as the leaves were giving way to new shades of autumnal gold and crimson, Kelly Gilion was entering a new season in her life. On that day, her 40th birthday, she turned the key and opened the door to her new shop,…

Kirk Klingler has always been a fan of history. From the time he could read, Klingler said he naturally gravitated to the history section of the library, specifically military history and stories that reflected this country’s battles and…

One of the victims, who had to be extricated from the car, was taken to a hospital by a Staff for Life helicopter. He sustained serious injuries and was taken by Staff for Life helicopter for treatment. Traffic came to a standstill on…

One October morning a little after 6 a.m., a yellow Mercedes-Benz weighed down with thousands of pounds of explosives drove through the five foot-high barrier of concertina wire surrounding the Beirut International Airport. This rather…