Junction Bar and Grill Now Open!

Right on time, the Junction Bar and Grill located at the junction of Highway 160-76 is open for business. you can visit their web page here! As advertized there is a grill with a limited menu, pool tables, music and booths and tables. I met a friend there and order the Hamburger and fries along with a tall cold one. I will tell you right now that the food was excellent!

My server was a very nice lady name Tina who promptly took our orders with a smile. The food came equally fast and was done to perfection. I also had a chance to chat for a moment with another employee there by the name of Sonja. Mike Osterday, one of the owners (I think the other is Maggie Osterday), was also there and informed me that the Bar and Grill are very much still a work in progress. He indicated that there will be new changes and additions made every week for the forthcoming future, so expect some pleasant surprises.

Well, as far as I’m concerned they have the food right! Please stop in and give them a try! But, don't stop by there on Sunday or Monday as they are closed! Need more info? Call em at 417-546-2550! Tell’em DanO sent ya!

  Disclaimer: All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

Hills and Hollows Gardens: For some of the best area plants!

Located just across the parking lot from the Taney Center off Highway 76-160 near the junction is a greenhouse named Hills and Hollows Gardens. It’s owned by a very nice lady by the name of Rachael who has for sales just about everything under the sun in terms of annuals, perennials and vegetables. It’s hard not to walk into this business without walking out with one or two treasures to take to your home and plant.

Rachael, the owner, helps a customer with a selection.

I purchased a four pack of lettuce plants and a single very hot Habanero pepper plant while there. I was pleased with the affordable pricing also and plan to make numerous trips there for more as the season advances.

Hills and Hollows Gardens is currently open from 9AM to 6PM each day with limited hours on the weekends. They will be in the area until April 31^st when they will close for the season, so hurry over and check them out before then.

Disclaimer: Every effort was made to insure the information posted in this post was accurate. However, some information may change over time or be incorrect.

WindRider's: A different kind of store!

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Located at 16257 US Hwy 160 in the business district of Forsyth Missouri, WindRider’s is a unique kind of place that at first reminded me of the old time Hippie stores of the 1970’s era. It's a store that is ‘earth friendly and which is dedicated to renewable resources', this according to the owner Jan Chester.  It seems that some of the fabrics are made from bamboo, hemp and re-cycled silk. All were beautiful and I was amazed at how soft and luxurious the cloth made from bamboo felt to the touch!

In addition to clothing, WindRider’s also stocks an assortment of herbal salves, incense, baskets and charms some of which are handmade by Jan, her family members, are fair-traded or come from countries like Nepal. What really got my interest, however, was the wide assortment of organically grown heirloom seeds that are available. I like the idea of heirloom seeds mostly for the fact that if you allow them to go to seed, they will breed true the next season. In that way, you buy one packet of seeds and can then plant that same vegetable year after year from seeds you harvest. It’s like getting free food, in effect!

Please take a moment, next time you’re in the area to stop in and say hi! The store is located a short ways down from Forsyth Hardware or next door to the Forsyth Pharmacy. For more information you can reach them at 417-546-2070. The store hours are, currently, Monday thru Saturday 10AM to 5PM.

Disclaimer: All information posted in this blog is by the author and represents and honest effort at being accurate. As always, anything written here can change without notice.

New Book release - Basic Language Handbook for Excel!

A good friend of mine of some years has come out with a great book that really goes a long ways to help anyone who uses Microsoft's Excel to get more out of it. If you have a Kindle, you can download a free sample! Prime Members can read it for free!

 

The Wee Green BASIC Language Handbook for Excel

~A Non-Programmers Guide to Fully Automating Excel~

Forsyth, Missouri, April 16, 2012 -- Are you ready to take your Excel spreadsheet to the next step?  Can your macro find the next blank space in a column, update or add records to files used by other applications, or make alternative decisions when different conditions exist?  Of course not!

The Wee Green BASIC Language Handbook for Excel explains the easily learned BASIC language and how to use it to build applications that will ease your workload, astonish your supervisor and co-workers, and make you the expert of choice in everything Excel.

Each chapter guides the reader through a few simple commands and then provides a sample program demonstrating how each command is used in practice.  Sample programs include a point of sale program that saves data and updates inventory, a queuing program that tracks the order and progress of customer service, another for converting numbers to script for use in check writing, and building an appointment book where years of appointments can be stored and recalled using only the visible portion of a single spreadsheet. An Excel spreadsheet containing the sample programs are even provided for download from an accompanying website.

The Wee Green BASIC Language Handbook for Excel is written for the non-programmer.  This book provides all the tools needed to build almost any non-graphic application. What will you be able to do with Excel?  The only limitation is your imagination!    

Book Information:

Title:  The WeeGreen Basic Language Handbook for Excel

Format: Paperback and Kindle

Publication date:  January 27, 2012

Price: $9.95 & 6.99 respectively or Borrow for free with your Amazon Prime Membership

Available From:  Amazon.com

Author:  Dennis Conroy

ISBN-10: 1469931184

ISBN-13: 978-1469931180

Pages:  122

Size:  6” x 9”

A sign of the times? River Run Park in Missouri.

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Entering a park like River Run in Forsyth Missouri, it's nice to have informational signs that can be great aids in knowing what to expect. I'm not sure what this sign tells a visitor, especially anyone being asked to pay for camping. I think the bottom panel once read 'We take pride in our park system'.

July 2012 - The signs have been cleaned - Hurray! Not sure what happened to that bottom panel?

New Junction Bar & Grill near Forsyth to open soon!

Donnie Oakley working to insure a timely opening!

Just up the road a piece from downtown Forsyth Missouri is a location where Highway 160-76 splits off is a well know gas station known as Scooters. Now right across the street, final preparations are being made to get the Junction Bar and Grill open and ready for business.  According to Donnie Oakley, one of the carpenters working there, the opening will be on or about the 20^th of April! At that time they will serve beer with hard liquor available in about thirty days.

I understand that the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Mike and Maggie Osterday are very excited about the prospect of offering a Bar and Grill in such a great location. I understand that there will be pool tables, games, food, a jukebox and even live music offered once they are up and running.

I plan to do a follow up in-depth review with pictures soon after they are open. Update: you can visit their web page at www.junction-bar-and-grill.com!

Local Taco Bell/KFC offering senior discounts!

Are I say that on occasion, hard times can bring with them benefits! My visit to the local Taco Bell slash KFC was necessitated by my needed some automotive work at the local oil change emporium otherwise known as Mobile One Express. I had a little time to kill and I was hungry so a quick visit to satisfy my taco craving seemed appropriate.

Each time I have visited over the course of a month or so (two times?) I have noted changes that were made since my last visit. Perhaps it's the hard times we all find ourselves in that helps the management to stay motivated to try new stuff. One of the innovations is a 'senior discount' that entitles an individual to 10% off their entire order! That was certainly a pleasant surprise. I was also happy to get my order brought right to my table in just a few minutes. Cool beanies that!

As I sat eating, it had just turned twelve noon and what had been an empty seating area began to fill up. That was good to see. Small towns like Forsyth need every business to stay open. Nothing is more depressing than to see a place of business (especially an eatery) close their doors. The key is to offer bright intelligent employees who work hard to make the customers happy. That's the feeling I had on this last visit. (Now, if I can just get them to get my KFC order right I would have zero complaints)!

If you haven't visited this venue in some time, I'd encourage everyone to give it another try. Especially if you're a senior!

Update: July 2012 - According to inside sources, the Taco Bell portion of the Taco Bell/ KFC has been closed due to management's decision not to carry some of the new required items. This establishment will be only a KFC from now on!





Disclaimer: All information provided in this post was valid as of the date of posting and as such, it may or may not be valid on future dates.

River Run Park business is booming!

Starting around April 1, River Run Park opened for business and this Easter Sunday most of the available RV slots were filled! Space was a premium issue early on this season as some sites seem to be experiencing power problems and have remained closed.

After twenty-eight days of warmer than normal temperatures, this weekend began with light showers following on the heels of a cool front that brought things back down to seasonal levels. By Sunday overnight temperatures had fallen into the fifties with daytime highs reaching a comfortable 70F.

I wasn't able to locate the park attendant on any of my stops at the park although there is a trailer parked next to the attendant office. I'm also guessing that the rates to camp in this park will be about the same as last season - $18 per night if I remember correctly. That prices afford electricity, water, trash and bathrooms that are complete with showers. Campsites are available on a first come first serve basis. Additionally, if this park happens to be filled up, there is another right across the river that sports similar amenities.

Within just a couple of miles of both parks is a convenience store by the name of Park Place that can supply all needed supplies including food and liquor. While I'm not sure of their hours, they can be reached at (417) 546-5845 to request information.

I was amazed at how good the park looks in spite of it being inundated with flood waters for most of last year. Some of the most notable damage that can still be seen are trees that have died and still litter the area with dead limbs. Yet, on the whole, workers have done a fantastic job in bringing the parks infrastructure back into pristine shape!

Where can I get a good order of fries in Forsyth Missouri?

In my small town of Forsyth Missouri, there are quite a few eateries that serve the ever popular French fry. Of these, McDonald’s, located next to the Country Mart, is pretty much king of the hill when it comes to serving what a good fry should be; salty, crisp, light and not greasy! Sadly, this is not the case at some of the other venues whose real names shall not be mentioned here. Instead, I’ll use fake names. Take a restaurant named Charliuky’s for instance. A this location, the fries are allowed to sit and soak up as much grease as possible prior to serving. The end result is a greasy limp mess that likes to stick to the plate and must be pried off. (This kind of fry abuse is also practiced by Ronics and to a lesser extent Fat Diddlies).

At the opposite end of the fry spectrum is a burger and beer joint on Highway 160 known as the Frosted Mug. Their fries are coated and come out of the hot oil even crispier than those offered by Macs. They are tasty and sell for about $2 if I remember correctly.

So, if you want some good fries and wouldn’t be caught dead at Macs, then give the Mug a shot!

Update: April 17 - Charlie's just down the road across from City Hall in Forsyth has also upgraded their fries.

God's gift to man...that we might soar!

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A hot air balloon launch from a nearby park prompted this bit of poor prose. Still, it's inspiring to watch us tiny creatures climb into the sky! I sure hope we are up to the task of caring and nurturing for all the life that depends on what we do. View the short video here!

Air Evac Lifeteam to the rescue!

Air Evac team lifting off

 Parks are useful in ways that I hadn't considered before. They can also be used as Landing Zones for the Air Evac Lifeteam of helicopters that can speed critically injured people quickly to distant Trauma Centers like Saint Johns in Springfield Missouri when time is of the essence! That was the case on an otherwise quiet evening at River Run. Apparently some unfortunate person wrecked their car out on O Highway and sustained life threatening injuries that required the services of Air Evac.  A fast response service of Men and women who can be dispatched on a moments notice.  These skilled pilots and Emt's are able to land their crafts in dark locations, thereby putting themselves at risk in doing so. My hat is off to these brave individuals who, along with the First Responders and emergency personnel, form the front line of help when tragedy strikes.

Lita Bita This N That has relocated!

Ginger Davidson (owner/operator) greets customers

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Forsyth Mo. - Located just across the street from the popular Save A Lot grocery store, in the business district of Forsyth Missouri, you will find a really neat shop that is just brimming with all sorts of interesting collectibles. Having recently opened under the able management and ownership of Ginger Davidson, ‘Lita Bita This N That’ located at 113 Main in the Business District, hosted a Grand Opening on Saturday, April the 28^th! I understand that it went very well and attracted many new customers.Regular store hours are from 9AM to 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday.

 If you have questions or inquiries, you can reach Ginger at 417-251-1931 during regular business hours.

Update: This flea market has relocated to what used to be the Bait shop across from the Prime Time service station. 

Pictures and more to come!

March 2012 River Run Update

Forsyth, Mo. - God willing and the creek don’t rise, River Run looks to be in good shape for the spring and summer season of 2012. After heavy rains occurred over a four day period that dumped anywhere from four to five and more inches, the river system looks good to go. As you can see, there are quite a few fishermen out on the water when I took these pictures on Sunday, March 25, 2012. I haven’t heard how the fishing has been, but I am guessing it’s pretty decent since this part of the river was flooded out most of last year.

The Park Attendant station has been setup, but I haven’t seen anyone manning it yet. Likewise the electricity and water are still shut off until the season opens in April. However, as you can see the RV sites look to be in good shape and ready for some folks to come down and use them! I’ll try and do a post at this blog when I see that things are running.

Branson Missouri sustains damage from storm! Injuries reported!

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Prelim – Branson Missouri - An early morning storm that brought high winds and a possible tornado raced down the 'Strip' on Highway 76 in Branson Wednesday early morning when most people were asleep in their beds.

Early reports of damage included the Legends Theater and an unnamed hotel located on Gretna Road that preliminary reports indicate may have partially collapsed. There were also sketchy reports that the iconic Candlestick Restaurant may have suffered some damage from the storm while another popular restaurant on the strip named Charlie's Steak and Ale incurred a broken water main. Emergency crews also reported many trees and power-lines were down across area roads which may complicate the morning commute.

One later report indicated some damage to homes in the Powersite area, while Forsyth and Rockaway Beach seem to have weathered the storm rather well with only minor damage reported.

As the sun came up on Wednesday morning, police had closed of Highway 76 also known as the 'Strip' along its entire length.One police report indicated that barricades have been ordered. If true, then early reports of extensive damage may prove true. Here s some early footage of the damage via OzarksFirst! I also submitted a short You Tube Video on this event!

Ozarks Family Vision – I can see clearly now!

One of the best respected vision centers in southwest Missouri is located right here in Forsyth! At least one branch of it is. The Ozarks Family Vision center also has offices in Branson and Ava serving tens of thousands of customers!

Dr. Stacey Bowling

I happened on this business after having destroyed my eyeglasses inadvertently one afternoon. I was a walk-in, yet was handled as though I'd been a long term customer. The folks at OFV are located at 14974 US Hey 160 which is just a few miles north of the Forsyth business district on 160, so they're easy to get to. The staff there was professional and courteous and I was able to see a doctor (Dr. Bowling) after just a short wait. The entire process took only about an hour and I was impressed with how technologically up to date their test equipment was.

Stop in and give these folks a try! You'll be glad you did.

River Run Update for Feb 6, 2012

For a day in early February, seeing a temperature of 52F is pretty nice. I got out and walked a bit in River Run Park to see what I could see.  For starters, the sky was a brilliant blue and the sun felt warm even in spite of the cool breeze that came out of the west.

As I walked, I noticed there were a few others engaged in various activities including one couple that was busy cutting up a tree that had fallen due to the previous years flooding. Two more were out, as I was, walking around enjoying a chance to get some exercise on a nice day. Even a few fishermen were trying their luck, I think, as I spied some trucks over by the boat launch.

One piece of good news concerns the many camping spots. I think now all these have been steam cleaned and look in very good shape. The bathrooms have been cleaned and there was even a hint of grass growing here and there in some spots. All good indicators that spring might not be far off.

At right, you might be able to see the large tree log that got wedged in a tree when the flood waters receded last fall!

Pizza at the Frosted Mug in Forsyth Missouri!

Recently, I brought my stomach and ravenous appetite to the Frosted Mug located at 15861 US Hwy 160 in Forsyth, Missouri! After going through a change in management, I was curious to see if their signature offering of pizza had gotten better or worst or just stayed about the same.

I arrived in the late afternoon on a Saturday in early February when the weather outside was serving up cool temperatures under cloudy skies. The perfect kind of weather in which to enjoy a hot, cheesy pizza! (Actually, any old day is a good day for pizza – a fact my expanding waistline will readily attest to).

According to the menu, I noticed they offer a pretty wide variety of types and sizes, designed to fit needs ranging from single diners to large gatherings. On this visit, my eyes were quickly attracted to both the vegetable and meat versions. I inquired if I could have a little of both and was told it would not be a problem.

While I was waiting for my pizza to be prepared from scratch, I contented myself to ordering a cold frosted mug for which this establishment is named. Hmm. Let me see now, cold beer and pizza! Can it get much better that? While sipping my beer, I had a chance to look around to see what was what. I’ve been coming to the Mug for many years now and have always been impressed with the warm homey feeling that the place exudes.

On this day, that same feeling was still there and maybe this sounds silly, but the staff seemed very friendly and upbeat! Some of them were new, like Karen, who graciously served me during my visit. In the picture below, Heather is showing off the pizza I ordered which I understand is a new creation to be found only at the Mug!

OK, now down to the nitty-gritty. The pizza – was it great, so-so or terrible?? I’ll tell you this about that. It was so good, that half of it was gone before I even realized it. This pizza was absolutely addictive. It reminded me of years back when I used to go to the world famous pizza emporium in Chicago known as Lou Malnati's Pizzeria! They served a deep dish pizza that had customers lined up on the street, just to get in. This pizza was all that and more!

If you get a chance, please stop in and check out this wonderful and friendly icon. The Frosted Mug can be reached at 417) 546-4149 during regular business hours.

Disclaimer: All views expressed here are the sole opinion of the author and were provided as a public service. Forsythbiz.com 2012.

February 1, 2012 Shadow Rock Park Update!

You know, for all the flooding we had in 2011, I have to admit the Shadow Rock and River Run parks both look to be in pretty good shape. I feel this was due, in no little part, to efforts by the volunteers and city workers who spent time earlier this fall to help clean things up.

Today, the first of February it’s 64F outside as I stroll around, camera in hand. For whatever reason, the really cold air has been bottled up way to the north and so we have had a mild winter. I heard on the TV that Chicago has had the mildest winter in over 80 years! (Well, if that city is warm, then you know it’s got to be even warmer this far south)!

Today, there were quite a few people out and about in the area; either driving around in their cars our out in a boat. I was too far from the fishermen to ask how their luck was, but I’m hoping it was fair to middling.

Over on the River Run side, someone has been working on cleaning up the public showers and bathrooms. In addition, most of the driftwood has also been removed, so it looks like it’s getting close to being good to go also.

I know what’s on a lot of people minds as we edge towards spring. That is, will the rains be as heavy as they were last April and May? I can’t tell you what Mother Nature is planning on, but I sure hope not. It’s just that over the last five years, it seems the park has been flooded more often than not.

I’ll try and get another report out later this month. Hope everyone stays warm and dry!

The Forsyth Missouri Taco Bell

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t visit this emporium of fast food often enough. I mean who doesn’t like a good taco or a bucket of crispy chicken from time to time? So, I made it a point one day in January to stop by and grab a couple of tacos along with a with a medium sized Pepsi.

A previous review by someone else on the SuperPages.com website was less than encouraging. However, one person’s opinion does not a world make. So, what’s the deal? Is the food good, bad or somewhere in between? I was going to try and find that out on my visit to the Taco Bell side of the operation and I was going to try and be as objective as possible!

For this review, I decided to rank the establishment on the following: Ambiance, Quality of product, Hygiene and Service. Each received a score of 1 = get me to a hospital fast to 10 = I’ve died and gone to heaven. (A score of 5 is a take it or leave it place to eat). I also added a few comments to support the score. OK. That’s the ground rules – now it’s time to eat!

When I pulled into the parking area on a Monday at xx pm, I found that there were a few cars parked in the lot. When I walked up to the order counter, my order was taken immediately by a server and then within a few minutes it was ready to go. I was asked if I wanted one of two hot sauces and I said yes. The lady, whose name I recall was Glenis, was very nice and engaging. Now onto the scoring…

Ambiance – 5

Well, the place is colorful and bright! I’ll give them that much. It’s also laid out nicely meaning I could find everything I needed. The lack of bathrooms hurt the score a bit. (I think all restaurants should have bathrooms as part of the warm and homey feeling that every business strives for). Other than that, I felt quite comfortable eating there.

Quality – 6

This category is a big deal to me. (Frankly, if the product sucks, who cares about any of the rest)? I had ordered the two hard shell tacos and I felt the toppings were more than adequate once you’ve factored in the overall cost. (I mean at a buck a throw, what do you want)? I also edged the score up a bit because the overall taste was acceptable! The only thing missing, I felt, was the lack a selection of regular french fries on the menu board. They offer something called 'cinnamon twists' instead. I'm not sure what those are exactly.

Hygiene – 8

Whenever I enter an eatery, especially one that is setup for heavy traffic, I pay close attention to the condiments section and other surfaces like counter and tabletops. If neither of these look to be well maintained, then that’s my last visit. So, it was with some relief when I saw that everything was pretty much spotless. Good job!

Service – 8

In this category, I’m looking at a couple of things. First off, I check out the overall appearance of the counter staff. Do they look clean and professional? In this case yes, my server looked very neat and clean. I also tried to catch a glimpse of the people who were preparing my food and I noticed they all had uniforms and looked like they knew what they were doing. Overall, everything was shipshape here too.

 Ok! Let’s see now…the over all average came out to 6.75. Not really all that bad, though there is always some room for improvement, in my opinion. I think the addition of bathrooms would be really nice. Also, some improvements in the contents of the taco would help. Maybe if they expanded the condiment selection with choices like shredded cheese, chopped tomatoes and lettuce then that would help. (I think I would even be willing to pay a little extra if that was offered). Even so, the bottom line is that I will plan on eating there occasionally.

My next review will be center on the other half of this business – the KFC side! I can hardly wait! Please visit TaneyServices.com for other reviews.

Update: July 2012 - According to inside sources, the Taco Bell portion of the Taco Bell/ KFC has been closed due to management's decision not to carry some of the new required items. This establishment will be only a KFC from now on!

Disclaimer: This review is the sole opinion of the author of this post and may not reflect the views of the community at large. While the author tries to be as objective as possible, he understands that one visit top an eatery does not fairly portray the establishment’s quality over a period of time. He is also a lay person with no credentials covering the food or restaurant industry whatsoever. In point of fact, every business in the Forsyth area deserves your patronage in these troubled times.

Slowing down the river of trash!

After making my first tentative efforts at recycling earlier in January 2012 (a work in progress), I continued to investigate the topic on the internet. What really blew me away was the sheer enormity of the problem we face in the form of a literal river of trash that is produced every year, most of which continues to go into landfills. Consider these facts:

Municipal Solid Waste produced each year   ~ a quarter of a billion tons!

MSW that end up in landfills – ~165 million tons!

The average amount of trash produced by the average person per day - 4.43 pounds

So, with only 34% of the potential recyclable material actually recovered (2010 EPA figures), we have quite a way to go if the country is going to get a handle on this growing problem. It’s a problem, you ask? Yes, it is! Let’s take one form of plastic (PET) as an example.

'Each year, 29 billion plastic water bottles are produced for use in the United States, according to the Earth Policy Institute, an environmental organization in Washington, D.C. Manufacturing them requires the equivalent of 17 million barrels of crude oil, so rising oil and natural gas prices have only exacerbated the high price of virgin plastic.’(At right is a graphic of some of the waste that was produced in 2010 - Source EPA)

I gleaned the following quote from a site called 'Life's Little Mysteries' where this problem was discussed more in detail. In the above paragraph they are referring to PET plastic (also known as #1) that is used in the manufacture of bottles that hold water and beverages. Currently there are eleven kinds of plastics that are routinely used in consumer goods with typically numbers 1 through 7 finding frequent use in kitchens across the land. And, unlike glass and metal containers (aluminum and tin coated steel) which are actually sought after, the cost of re-manufacturing plastic is high. For that reason, much of what we discard into landfills (other than paper and kitchen scraps) are in reality some form of used plastic container. Think about 29 billion used bottles getting discarded each year! Adding insult to injury, many of these plastics will take as long as 500 years before they break down! So, it’s plain to see that any form of recycling of plastic is better than no recycling at all.

I would ask that everyone who reads this post give some thought to recycling. I would encourage families, church members and community leadership to all make this a topic of discussion. Maybe, with a little effort, we can make a start in cleaning up this country we all call home.

Changing my attitude about trash and what I can do about it!

I’ve always been pretty comfortable with the idea of recycling, at least intellectually. I’m just not so sure about the reality of actually doing so yet. The thought of doing my part to help the environment encouraged me, however, to give it a try. My major objection in the past had been that you have to work at it most every day! And, I am by nature; a rather lazy individual (read as typical male). That doesn’t mean that I can’t try! So, as the year 2012 swings on in, I’ve decided to attack my waste from two distinct angles; stuff I will need to segregate for recycling and also curtailing any non-recyclable junk I may not need anyway.

The segregation part of my plan seems pretty straightforward. I broke my recyclables into four distinct categories; steel cans, paper, aluminum cans and plastic (coded 1 & 2). These will go into plastic bags that will be hauled on a periodic basis to the receptacles located behind the Municpal Building of Forsyth, Mo. (A recent communiqué from one of the city officials I asked indicated that they accept paper, cardboard, plastic and maybe aluminum cans). When I made an exploratory trip to the site, I found a sign on one of the dumpsters that reads as follows:

 [There were three dumpsters that looked as though they were meant for recyclables although I'm not sure. This will be addressed in a future blog.]

Well, that simplifies things somewhat, and that will take a huge bite out of the amount of waste I throw away. (I’ve been composting my leftover vegetable scraps for years already, so that’s not a problem)! That leaves me with some ‘miscellaneous waste’ such as Styrofoam and the like. This is where I plan to implement the other half of my recycling effort to help reduce these items as much as possible. From now on, when I go to the store, I plan to look closely at each item I purchase with an eye to what it will take to get rid of once the contents are consumed. Chief among the so-called problem items would be; glass containers, anything that contains non-recyclable plastic and items like chicken bones that cannot be composted. (I’m hoping to locate ‘public dumpsters’ somewhere in the area that these can be placed in). Also, burning is an option, but it’s an option I would not be happy exercising.

While I'm at it, here’s a few things I’d like to see happen in Missouri in regards to recycling;

1)      Create a state-funded initiative oversight panel with the goal of creating a uniform policy for the collection and management of all items the state regards as recyclable.

2)      Have counties work closely with existing waste collection services to include separate residential collection bins for those who want to participate.

3)      Offer courses at the schools to help teach kids the value of recycling and what their role will be in the future when we all have to recycle.

4)      Explore ways in which recycling can be conducted state wide and in such a way that it is sustainable for the state to do so.

Remember, there will come a time (soon I think), whereby communities like Forsyth will have to address the issue of what they are going to do about waste. We can all sit around with our heads in the sand until that time or we can proactively begin the process of making our world a better, cleaner and more efficient one to be passed onto the next generation.

Shadow Rock Lodge to see new life!

Last September, representatives of Pensco Trust and Lincoln Trust stopped by to take a look at Shadow Rock Lodge located at the junction of Hwy 160 and 76 just outside of Forsyth, Mo. and apparently liked what they saw. They acquired the building and have already put a new roof on the building that they plan to completely refurbish in 2012. Included in the sale was the motel/motor lodge that has been deemed structurally unsound and which in all likelihood will be razed to the ground.

According a Taney Times article published on December 28, 2011; Forsyth Mayor, Ron Potter stated that the two trust firms envision an open air restaurant on top of the lodge that would attract motorcycle and eco-travelers throughout the region. If true, this development could breath new life into the area it is expected that much of the work will be awarded to local companies and contractors.

Personally, I’m looking forward to watching and recording the refurbishment progress here on this blog. It will be exciting to see the Lodge restored to its former glory and once again attain the status of an attraction as opposed to a vacant building.