Dona Reynolds, Blog: June 2009

Last week I stopped by Eckard's Home Improvement and visited with Steve Eckard.

Eckard's  is a Realtor/Builder friendly store since opening in St Joseph in 1985, supplying not only home improvement products for the general public but also realtors and builders.

The warehouse store has hundreds and hundreds of rolls of carpet in stock with choices in price and styles.  Installation can be arranged to your individual needs.

Eckard's "Custom Order" department with thousands of carpet choices for the special buyer.  Not only can you special order your carpet, they offer services to installing a border or customizing an area rug for the perfect room in your home or office.

Eckard's kitchen department is one of the finest and largest in St Joseph with a wide variety of choices in kitchen and bath cabinetry, marble top, laminate and solid surface countertops, ceramic tile and so much more.

You will find the staff at Eckard's to be knowledge and very friendly.

Eckard's has stores also in Bethany, Stanberry and Carrollton, Mo.

2402 North Belt Highway  St. Joseph, MO 64506
Toll Free: (800) 264-2794  Phone: (816) 279-4522

With the heat wave rolling through St. Joseph you'd think it was mid-August, but just ending the month of June it looks like we need to be ready for a hot summer!  Even with the hot weather conditions the St. Joseph community is boomin', just a drive through town you can check out all the activity. 

Speaking of BOOMIN'....the 4^th of July is just days away and many celebrations are planned to light up the city skies!

The St. Joseph Mustangs will have a fireworks show following both Friday, July 3^rd and Saturday, July 4^th 7pm games. On Saturday, July 4^th family festivities will begin at 3pm with an old fashioned ballpark picnic, the picnic will include $1.00 hotdogs, corn on the cob, draft beer with the purchase of game tickets and children's activities including inflatable games. 

The city's fireworks display will be available for viewers to see along the riverfront. 

Terrible's St. Jo Frontier Casino will be hosting a Boomin' BBQ open to the public beginning at 6pm with hamburgers, hotdogs, nachos and refreshments for sale.  Music will be provided by the band "Page 2".  Outdoor seating will be provided to view the night fireworks. 

Heritage Park Softball Complex will also be open to the public for viewing purposes from 7-11pm.  St. Joseph Symphony will provide patriotic tunes, built-in seating will be available and the concessions will be open for food and refreshment sales. 

Wishing you all a safe holiday weekend... Let Freedom Ring!!!

Additional events in St Joseph

Construction of Chiefs Camp Facility to begin soon!!!

The original post can be found here

After many questions going back and forth between Missouri Western State University, the State of Missouri  and the Kansas City Chiefs...construction is set to begin as soon as July 1!  The facility design plans are down to the final drafts.

It is for sure that St. Joseph will be the new HOME to the KC Chiefs Training Camp starting in 2010!

For three weeks out of the year the KC Chiefs players and staff will reside in St. Joseph.  During this training process the players won't only practice and prepare for the upcoming season but will take time for their fans!  Practices will be open to the public, they will be able to participate in many activities, watch them scrimmage, receive autographs and meet the players, they will be able to participate in many activities.

During training season the team really takes the time to get their fans involved, show them appreciation and get them pumped for the upcoming year.  The marketing team for the Chiefs along with help from local partners will come up with ideas and plans to make it a great experience for everyone. 

Only 45 minutes away, our local community has supported the Chiefs for many years.  The community is very excited for this experience and looks forward to the opportunity to bring the training camp to town. 

It is a win, win for everyone involved and we can't wait to awe them with our community pride and local enthusiasm. 

Bring it home Chiefs!!!

Follow the construction

June 11-Women of Excellence Awards Luncheon--11am-Civic Arena-reservations required

June 11-Parties on the Parkway--5-8pm--SW Parkway & 28th Street

June 12-14-Midwest Art in the Park-5pm-Civic Center Park

June 12-Sounds of Summer Concert-6pm-Coleman Hawkins Park at Felix Street Square

June 12-Total Non-Stop Wrestling-7:30pm-Civic Arena

June 13-Dance Arts Center Recital-1pm & 6pm-Missouri Theater

June 19-20-Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival-5pm-Coleman Hawkins Park at Felix Street Square

July 9-Parties on the Parkway-5-8pm-SW Noyes & Messanie, Parkway A

July 17-18-RRT presents Fiddler on the Roof-7:30pm-Missouri Theater

July 19-RRT presents Fiddler on the Roof-2pm-Missouri Theater

July 25-1pm & 7pm-Darcee's Dance Recital-Civic Arena

for additional things to do in St. Joseph

 Home shopping in St Joseph and  community area

   St. Joseph's newest attraction booms with visitors, and I can see why!  WOW was I amazed when I drove up on the newly opened facility.  The building is so breathtaking even pulling into the parking lot.  The red, high standing structure has a modern, unique look.  Sitting along the Missouri River I assume the reason the building is built on what looks like stilts is to make it "flood proof".  Surrounding the building are beautiful trees, wildlife flowers, a butterfly garden, bridges, an outdoor classroom, a hike & bike trail, picnic tables and much more.  I couldn't wait to go inside!

As I walked in the front door I was taken away by the life-sized Mammoth!  I can imagine how the kids have fun with that!  Next on to the 7,000 gallon aquarium, the fish inside are natives of the Missouri River.  Through out the entire building I viewed taxidermy of animals that would have originated in the area.  The building is full wall to wall with amazing interactive exhibits, including the newly added full functioning beehive.  I camped in a fur trader tent and shopped for goods in the trader cabin, there was enough to keep me busy for hours.

 After walking the center before heading back outdoors to enjoy the scenery I just sat and watched, watched the many other visitors that were there.  It was fun to watch mom and dad take their toddler boy through to teach him about our history.   And fun to watch the faces of the 35+ children as they ran off the school bus, they were so excited to be there.  It was definitely a fun place to be!

 This facility competes with the biggest and the best.  And even better, I couldn't believe the price...an afternoon of fun for $3 or less!  I give props to those that spent years brainstorming and pulling this together, it is a great addition to the many wonderful things we have to offer in good ole St. Joe!

                                                         Remington Nature Center info

Shopping for a home in St Joseph and surrounding area, start here

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Traveling 1,966 miles is quite a journey traveling by plane or car; can you imagine traveling that on horse back?  Well, between the years1860-1861 this route between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California was traveled daily.  Although it was broken down into relay rides of 80-100 miles this is a journey people are still interested in today.  And the history of the Pony Express still remains alive.

Almost 150 years ago the Pony Express legend began.  This was the first type of mail service.  The destinations were located in St. Joseph and Sacramento with stopping points along the way.  A rider would take off and ride the trail taking mail for almost 100 miles, when meeting up with the next rider they would hand off the Mochila full of mail and off the next rider would go.  The other rider would return back to his original starting point.  The complete ride on average would take 10 days before the mail would reach its destination.  Then still having to sort and deliver to its addressee.  The Pony Express mail service ended after a year because it was too expensive to keep going.  But the memories still interest travelers from all over as they visit the Pony Express Museum (12^th & Penn Streets), which is located in the original building along with many original artifacts and wonderful stories.

In honor of the Pony Express each year the Pony Express Association does a re-ride, the starting point is rotated between St. Joseph and California.  This year the ride will begin in St. Joseph on June 9 at the Patee House Museum (13^th & Penn Streets) at 10:00am.  The ride will end in Sacramento 10 days later, riders will ride 24 hours a day. Nearly 500 horses and riders expected to participate.

I can't imagine with today's technology having to wait weeks for a simple hello.  Today we receive messages almost instantly with access to email, cell phones, etc...  I try to imagine where we will be in the technological world 5 years from now, but can't begin to fathom what it will be like in 150 years.  I find it amazing!

Additional info on the Annual Re-Ride

Start here to shop St Joseph and surrounding area homes

St Joseph home buyers here is the proof the $8000.00 tax credit is working!

Begin your home search for St Joseph and surrounding communities

Thanks to Shelton a realtor in NJ for allowing this reblog

                                         How about those Mustangs!!! 

One week and going strong the Mustangs are keeping the crowds impressed.                             

People love the newly renovated stadium and the nightly promotions keep the crowd entertained.                                          

It is exactly what St. Joseph has needed when it comes to baseball, and the                      Mustangs are doing everything they can to be our "hometownstars"!                                                      

With a lot of hesitation in the beginning, the Mustangs have proven a point.

They want to be here and they will do what it takes to stay!

                                           It is a great asset to St. Joseph! 

It gives us all something fun and different to do.  Entertainment for people of all ages,            inexpensive, fun entertainment!  Somewhere you can go for a package deal-                              activity, food and lots of fun!  And a great way to network!

    Bring your family out to check out the new stadium and embrace

                          YOUR hometown stars, the St. Joe Mustangs!

                                   More on the stjoemustangs

This is a great article explaining the $8,000 Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers and wanted to share.