Amerishop December 2012/January 2013

FREE - TAKE ONE

Unique and AntiqueWe Buy Gold and Silver

Next to Wal-Mart in EldonOpen Sunday 10-4 • Tuesday-Sat 10-6

Pickers Junction

One coupon per day. Not to be used with any other offers. Some restrictions and limits may apply not mentioned in this coupon. Contact merchant for complete details. Void where prohibited. Taxes are extra. Expires 1/1/13

4344 HWY 54Osage Beach573-302-8300

BUY ONE GET ONE FREEPIZZA

with purchase of a 14” or 16” pizza

573-415-6001

FREE COFFEE

When you purchase a meal at regular price

3499 Bagnell Dam Blvd • Lake Ozark #1 Camp Branch Road • Warrenton

3294 Gold Road • Kingdom CityOne coupon per day. Not to be used with any other offers. Some restrictions

and limits may apply not mentioned in this coupon. Contact merchant for complete details. Void where prohibited. Taxes are extra. Expires 1/1/13.

INSIDE:

It’s Either the Strangest or the Best Way to

WIN THE LOTTERY!

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FED EX • UPS • DHL • USPS

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Select Shipping

One coupon per day. Not to be used with any other offers. Some restrictions and limits may apply not mentioned in this coupon. Contact merchant for complete details. Void where prohibited. Taxes are extra. Expires 1/1/13.

Buy 2 Hunt Brothers Pizzasget a free 2 liter soda

must present coupon One coupon per day. Not to be used with any other offers. Some restrictions

and limits may apply not mentioned in this coupon. Contact merchant for complete details. Void where prohibited. Taxes are extra. Expires 1/1/13.

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Amerishop is published monthly by Jett Communications LLC. Its content is entirely owned by Jett Communications LLC. Any reproduction, copy, rebuilding or use of our content is strictly prohibited. Ads in this publication are not owned by the advertiser. They are the sole property of Jett Communications LLC and any reproduction in any way of our content is strictly prohibited. Tear sheets are available only when asked for up to 30 days past drop dates. Jett Communications LLC will not be responsible for tear sheets past 30 days of publication drop date. No exceptions. Jett Communications LLC and other advertisers do not endorse or recommend any certain agenda or statements, this publication is used as a tool to reach out and practice free speech. Jett Comm. LLC does not and will not guarantee drop dates for the publication. There are too many things that can happen to do this.

Jett Communications, LLC.Saint Louis, Missouri

(573)[email protected]

Publisher: Jett Communications, LLC

C O M M LLC

C O M M LLC

Ace Automotive955 Hwy 42

Osage Beach573-302-1441

15% OFF all brakeservices

BISHOP’SAuto Glass

15% off Window Replacement Labor

330 Short Street • Eldon(573) 392-7740

Over 20 Years Experience800 Highway 5 South | Tipton, MO | 660.433.5545

800.222.7383 | WWW.HAINENFORD.COM

BENNY HAINEN FORDNo Charge Loaner Car while we repair yours in our shop

RESTRICTIONS APPLY. SEE SHOP FOR DETAILS.

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In the old Camdenton Post Office Next to McDonalds

Russell Performance Shop

25% OFF

YOUR DUAL EXHAUST PURCHASE

102 West 16th - Eldon • 573-392-7700(Formerly Troys)

Home of the 72.95 Muffler

MAIL-IN SUBSCRIPTION FORMMail to: 169 Atchinson Road • Olean, MO 65064

Email to: [email protected] (paypal required)Call: 314-580-3466 (Mastercard and Visa Accepted)

Name: _____________________________ Phone: ________________________

Address: _______________________City: __________ State: _____ Zip: ______

3-Month Subscription $16.00

Who in tarnation would ever want to subscribe to a FREE news-paper that’s available pretty much everywhere you go? Well, there’s a lot of extra value if you subscribe to AmeriShop, and here are just some of the reasons you can look forward to en-joying when you become a subscriber. First, you’ll get the pa-per ahead of anyone else. That means you can respond to sales and limited coupon offers before anyone else does. Next, we’ll send you TWO copies of the paper. That’s twice the amount of coupons and savings. Also, by subscribing to AmeriShop you’ll receive two more bonuses: You’ll never miss out on an issue be-cause they’re all gone! AmeriShop is so popular we have many readers calling us for papers because they didn’t get theirs in time. Once they’re gone, they’re gone! And finally, you will be in on some great deals and coupons not available to other read-ers. Also, there are some great prize giveaways from Deal Maker Rent-to-Own that only subscribers can win. So subscribe today!

OKAY, FOLKS, IT’S TIME TO SUBSCRIBE!

www.amerishop.biz 3AUTO DEALS

4

800 Highway 5 South | Tipton, MO | 660.433.5545 800.222.7383 | WWW.HAINENFORD.COM

BENNY HAINEN FORD

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4.6L V8Automatic • 139K Milkes

2007 Ford F150 XL

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5.7L Automatic V8115K Miles

1995 Chevy C/K 2500

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179K Miles

2006 Ford F150XL

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3.6L Automatic • Flex Fuel34K Miles

2012 Dodge Grand Caravan

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2010 Ford Escape XLT

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4x2 v-6 5speed a/c 185K miles

1999 Ford F150 XL

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2005 Ford Super Duty F250

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2009 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT

$25,

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www.amerishop.biz4 FEATURE

14

Hello from your friends at Amer-iShop! We’ve got a fantastic issue lined up for you. In addition to over $2,900 in savings from all of the coupons and great deals only available here, we’ve got some great stories and articles that will inform and entertain you. The hol-idays are here, and winter is just a few days away, so we hope to warm your heart and home with another fun edition of AmeriShop!

FEATURES6 Winter’s Magical Greeting

8 All Things Music

11 Stuff to do in St. Louis

13 Oh No! Here Comes Old Blue

14 The Rock Island Line is a Mighty Line

16 A Weird Way to Win the Lottery

19 Everything AND the Kitchen Sink

20 A True Short Line

22 Making your Living by Writing

24 Getting Into a Car was Never Easier

25 Fastest Mouth in the West

26 Baby your car with the AAA Winter Checklist

27 Lessons from Great Grandma

28 Welcome to America’s Diner

31 Here Comes the Biebermobile!

In This Issue

18

24

www.amerishop.biz

One coupon per day. Not to be used with any other offers. Some restrictions and limits may apply not mentioned in this coupon. Contact merchant for complete details. Void where prohibited. Taxes are extra.

AMERISHOP COUPON EXPIRES 1/1/13













AMERISHOP COUPON EXPIRES 1/1/13AMERISHOP COUPON EXPIRES 1/1/13




5COUPONS

FREE FUDGE

BUY ONE POUND OF FUDGEAT REGULAR PRICE GET

A HALF POUND FREE

Grandma’s Candy Kitchen1470 Bagnell Dam Boulevard Lake Ozark • (573) 365-2624

The HairumKing’s Plaza, Osage Beach

573-348-2102

$12Men’s Haircut

With Coupon Only512 Ellis Blvd • Jefferson City

573-632-2877

FREE 6” Rolled SandwichWhen you purchase

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15% OFF YOUR 2 Dinner Entree Purchase

BreakfastBiscuits & Gravy

$1.19 401 South Aurora Street • Eldon1726 Bagnell Dam Blvd • Lake Ozark

4072 Highway 54 • Osage Beach

401 South Aurora Street • Eldon1726 Bagnell Dam Blvd • Lake Ozark


401 South Aurora Street • Eldon1726 Bagnell Dam Blvd • Lake Ozark


FREE COFFEE

When you purchase a meal at regular price#1 Camp Branch Rd | Warrenton MO636-456-3746

$.25 Color Copies!4320 C Osage Beach Parkway

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MakingMusic

3715 Osage Beach Pkwy Ste 3 • Osage Beach, MO 65065Open Mon-Sat 10-6

573-693-9120 • www.makingmusicstore.com

Instrument Sales & Repairs

Instrument Rentals

Lessons• Guitar • Bass

• Drums • Piano

• Ukulele • Voice

6 FEATURE

The morning began like every winter morning. A big storm had dumped mountains of snow and the men were out in their goofy looking winter hats shoveling and blowing snow. Women were pulling out the winter coats and mittens for the children heading off to school. They were so used to the mountains of snow that it would take the snow being up to the window tops for a snow day at school. Folks grumbled as they cleared off their car windows and used hair blow-ers to open their frozen car doors. But there was one man in town that looked at winter in a whole other way. His name was Norm Fields. Norm hadn't grown up here. He basi-cally raised himself and had a different way of looking at life that most would think was a bit odd. But not Norm. He seemed unusually connected to the mountains. He lived in an old house up on the hill, had his truck and his two best friends, Lily and Joe. They were his two dogs. He worked as the manager of a popular restaurant in town and never missed a day of work. He loved the winter; as much as the others didn't like it. On his days off he helped out his friend that owned the ski run. Norm was the go-to guy who was always there to help you move, to help you in a bind, and to listen. He greeted everyone he met while dog walking.

On the mornings when everyone was swearing at the snow, Norm had already been up for hours plowing the ski runs. Norm and his trusty truck crawled up the mountain in the dark as the early morning snow gently fell. When he finally reached the moun-taintop it was only him. No skiers; the lodge wasn't opened. He jumped down into the thick snow giving it a kick or two and then fired up the big plow. He flicked on the lights and started up the mountain waking up to the first quiet moments of a new day. Then he would just stop at the perfect spot every plow day morning, way up on the hill over-looking the little town below. There was a light here and there for the morning risers and then it would happen; the most magical part of the day. He shut off the plow for those few moments and watch as the sun would slowly rise up over the mountains. The sky turned magical shades of pink, purple, and blue. The clouds would part and the world would wake up right before his eyes. The sparkling snow would almost hurt his. And the silence... Then the moment would be gone as quickly as it came. He would crank the plow back up and move some snow around. Then as quickly as he came he'd be headed back home for his cof-fee, wake up the dogs, and start his real day saying 'hello' to everyone he met along the way. And as cold as winter could be, it held a warmth that Norm would feel all his days, and the days to come.

Winter’s Magical Greetingby Beth McCain

On the mornings when everyone was swearing at the snow, Norm had already been up for hours plowing the ski runs. Norm and his trusty truck crawled up the mountain in the dark as the early morning snow gently fell.

www.amerishop.biz



















7COUPONS

Jill Peterie 2545 Monarch Plaza • Lake Ozark

573-302-4909

Hairspray Cafe$10 OFF

When you present this coupon for your new customer women’s haircut

Normally $30.00 • with Coupon $20.00

Buy One Entree at Regular PriceGet 2nd one of equal or lesser value

FREE 2 FREE COFFEES when you purchase

our giant cinnamon roll1151 Bagnell Dam Blvd. Lake Ozark

573-365-24001151 Bagnell Dam Blvd. Lake Ozark

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4036 Osage Beach ParkwayOsage Beach • 573-348-6633

BUY 1 PACKAGE get one for $1.00

Contact Sarah for the details

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AMAZING !!!!10 Northshore Drive • Lake Ozark573-365-1990

Rick’s C-Store & More

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Business Hwy 54 • Eldon 573-392-4816

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with any insurance quote 573-365-5181

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www.amerishop.biz

All Things Music8 MUSIC

by Eric Maher

It would mean that thousands of others would be reading it too. And with our large, four-

county distribution area, as well as our vast online presence, all of those eyeballs would be trained

on your business. Call us and find out just how easy and cost effective it is to advertise with AmeriShop!

Call (573)-415-6001 or email amerishop.biz@

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YOUR CUSTOMERS WANT YOU!

(BUT fiRST ThEY hAvE TO kNOW WhERE TO fiNd YOU!)

IMAGINE IF YOU WERE READING YOUR AD RIGHT HERE!

The music scene around Lake of the Ozarks is quite active during the peak tourist season. Other than the chain res-taurants, most places offering food and drink use musical entertainment to keep their guests eating and drinking. Those businesses that do hire live bands prefer to offer a musical experience that is in-stantly recognizable to the listener. So of course, all bands that want steady work do mostly cover tunes. During the off season, however, the en-tertainment slows down quite a bit. This creates what I think is a unique oppor-tunity for local musicians to get out and perform original compositions. Unfor-tunately, this has been hampered by the limited number of venues offering music in the fall and winter. Which leads to an even bigger problem: bands aren't being formed. A lot of musicians around the lake

don't do any performing simply because they don't know how or where to engage other serious players and writers. Well, fret no more. Bootleggers is hosting a competition titled Making The Band. There are three producers that are each putting together three bands in the style of The Voice. Auditions are from November 8th through December 20th. All types of instruments, skill levels, and styles are welcome. It is an open format competition to encourage as many musi-cians as possible to come and audition. The hope is that nine different and in-novative bands are formed. The finale is January 17th in which all nine bands will perform before a panel of judges. The winning producer's bands will re-ceive guaranteed paying gigs and enough studio time to record an EP. CHECK THIS OUT... If you want to check out some original

music now then look into Lake of the Ozarks native Shawn C. He is a regular act at Larry's on the Lake and Captain Ron's, and has been a featured enter-tainer many other venues around the lake. He has also been featured at the Miss Lake of the Ozarks Pageant, the Dogwood Festival, and on 101.9 The Wave. Shawn won 1st place in Lake's Got Talent 2010, and 3rd place in Lake Idol 2012. Shawn primarily plays guitar and piano and when he isn't performing his originals he mostly plays current pop songs. He recently released his de-but album titled Chasing Echos. It fea-tures eight original tracks which Shawn wrote, recorded, mixed and mastered all on his own. It is available for purchase at Making Music in Osage Beach and Sav-age Land Collectables in Camdenton. You can also check out his music and schedule at www.shawncmusic.band-camp.com

Shawn C’s debut album, Chasing Echos, is available at Making Music in Osage Beach and Savage Land Collectables in Camdenton.

www.amerishop.biz 9REAL ESTATE

2860 Bagnell Dam Blvd • Lake Ozark, MO 65049 • 573-365-2311Connie Wardenburg

573-280-6175

Kathy Halderman

573-216-3370

3 BR 2 BA, 6 acres, storage shed & small barn

$69,900 #3087648

Olean

3 BR 2 BA - garagebuilt in 1979 - great condition

$72,900 #3087649

Eldon

3 BR 3 BA - full finished basement stocked lake

$175,900 # 3087686

Eldon

4 BR 4 BA - 5 acres - 10x28 boat slip 48x42 workshop

$295,000 #3087032

Linn Creek

4BR 3 BA - 7 acres 10x28 boat slip - detached workshop

$325,000 #3087496

Linn Creek

Timberlake Village Condominium3 BR 3 1/2 BA - 12x36 slip

$247,000 #3081935

Rocky Mount

Waters Edge Condominium - 2 BR 2 BA - furnished - 10x24 Slip

$139,000 #3083912

Lake Ozark

4 BR 1/12 BA - full unfinished base-ment w/garage - 20x20 workshop

$82,000 #3087790

Tuscumbia

3 BR 2 BA - manufactured home on 5+ acres - detached garage - shed

$79,900 #3088432

Barnett

3 BR 3 BA - 7 acres - large covered porch - garage - remodeled 2010

$95,000 #3088810

Eldon

3 BR 2 BA - remodeled in 2012 - one car oversized garage with workshop

$105,900 #3088838

Eldon

4 BR 2 BA - updated in 2012 - almost 1 acre lot - walk out basement - large

garage - $119,900 #3088869

Eldon

2 BR 2 BA - 2 homes - 2 garages - 3+ acres - 80’ lakefront - 12x20 slip

$110,000 # 3075103

Climax Springs

2 BR 1 BA - 4 lots - partially finished basement - 32x40 garage/workshop

heated - $84,900 #3087643

Rocky Mount

Southwood Shores Condominiums - 6 from $47,500 to $106,900

indoor & outdoor pools

Lake Ozark

3 BR 2 BA - partially fenced back yard - large carport - updated

$79,900 #3087637

Eldon

www.amerishop.biz10 ENTERTAINMENT

ACROSS1. Cod or halibut5. Pains10. Defrost14. Savvy about15. Move furtively16. Double-reed woodwind17. Air force heroes18. Circumstances20. Underwater bloodsucker22. Hollywood hopeful23. Charged particle24. Tired25. Establishment32. Anagram of “Talon”33. Nursemaid34. Clothe37. Wicked38. Passageway39. Early 20th-century art movement40. A thick flat pad41. Got up42. Poison43. Permeating45. Not dull49. Historic period50. Fashionable53. Shreds57. Deductive59. False god60. Center61. Blatant62. Leer at63. Historical periods64. Showy flower65. Require

DOWN1. A young horse2. Ancient Peruvian3. Flower stalk4. A place for healing5. A movement upward6. Cause surfeit through excess7. Ancient unit of measure8. Terminates9. Playlet10. Wavelike design11. African virus12. Hermit13. Cantankerous 19. Yellowish brown21. Agitate25. Bit of gossip26. Exploded star27. Hissy fit28. Labor group29. Thigh armor

30. Arm of the sea31. Half of a pair34. Cab35. Norse god36. Mob38. Metric unit of area39. An endowment 41. Ask (for something)42. Sourish44. Property45. “The Final Frontier”46. Show respect towards47. 3-banded armadillo48. Governs51. At the peak of52. Rend53. Mountain pool54. Border55. Part in a play56. Sleigh58. Chief Executive Officer

CROSSWORDPUZZLE

Minestrone Mumbo

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Ingredients:1 lb. ground beef4 potatoes (diced)1 can of corn with liquid1 can of green beans drained½ to ¾ bag of shell noodles1 cup of fresh vegetables (zucchini is what I prefer)6 tsps, or cubes of beef bouillon1 jar of red spaghetti sauceSalt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Brown the ground beef in pan and drain out fat. Salt and pepper the meat. Boil the potatoes in water until soft. Once potatoes are soft, drain out enough water so that the potatoes are just covered. Adjust stove temperature to medium and add drained ground beef. Make sure the water is at a small boil and add your dry noodles. Cook until noodles are tender. Add can of corn with juice, can of green beans drained, any other vegetable you would like, and 6 tsps or cubes of beef bouillon, then simmer. Taste to make sure there is enough beef flavor from the bouillon. (Sometimes it can need more or less bouillon; it just depends on the day, so make sure to taste. At this point, pour in the jar of spaghetti and bring the pot back up to a simmer. (This soup can also be made with chicken and chicken broth instead of beef broth, and Alfredo sauce in place of red sauce. It’s great with a little bit of Parmesan cheese and cornbread, or French rolls. You’ll probably even have leftovers to pour into the school Thermos, as well.

By Beth McCain

Serves Six

2004 West Broadway BlvdSedalia, MO

Location Only(660) 829-1358

www.amerishop.biz 11ENTERTAINMENTSTUFF TO DO IN SAINT LOU!

WORD SEARCH • WORD SEARCH

L O N G S D S D Y M H H R A

E F I N K E E R L O P E M H

S N A I L M L I L V L E Y N

E E L N K A S F A I N T L Y

J O N I O N S T C E L A I D

S F C H O R U S I G N S A G

D I S S E C T K T A M E G U

E V I T A T N E S E R P E R

B N A C T D E S I L G A G H

U I D E E I A R L Z E R O S

N R M F R I M G A O E D O R

K S I F L V S E E T H E S F

S E T E C O N G R E S S E S

D E D U O R H S D I M A O E

AdageAdmitAmidsAssailedBunksChorusCongressesDefiedDialectDissectDrapesDrift

EaterEffectsEnemaFaintlyForgetsGailyGooseJeansKilosKnifeLongsMovie

NamedOnionRealisticallyRelicsRemitRepresentativeRetainRodeoSeethesShiningShroudedShrug

SignsSkunkSledsSnailStareTusslesUnisonZeros

Kemp Auto Museum www.kempautomuseum.org

16955 Chesterfield Airport Road Chesterfield , MO 63005-1405Hours: Wed.— Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Phone: (636) 537-1718Email: [email protected]

Rev up your engine at the Kemp Auto Muse-um marveling at the beauty and craftsmanship of the finest European automobiles, from the classic early models to contemporary designs. Tour a collection of rare and vintage motorcycles at the Moto Museum, or explore the history, mechanics and design of the cart and buggy, planes, trains or anything else with wheels at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation. And if you’re visiting in the late winter, be sure to stop by the St. Louis Auto Show and Boat Show at America’s Center.

Mannheim Steamroller in ConcertSaturday, Dec 8 4:00p at The Fabulous Fox The-atre, St Louis, MOCall (314) 534-1678 for ticket info.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band Creole ChristmasSunday, Dec 9 7:30p at The Sheldon Concert Hall, St Louis, MOCall (314) 533-9900 for ticket info.

Celebrate the holidays New Orleans-Style with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band! Performing their infectious versions of favorites such as “Blue Christmas,” “Swinging In A Winter Wonderland,” “Bells Will Be Ringin” and “The Dreidel Song,” this event for the whole family is sure to be a seasonal celebration you’ll never forget.

Y98 Mistletoe Show with Train, Alanis Morissette, Tristan Prettyman and Grace PotterSaturday, Dec 15 7:30p at the Peabody Opera House, St Louis, MOCall (314) 499-7600 for ticket info. Will sell out fast!

Visit the St. Louis Zoo!Phone for opening times: (314) 781-0900

Driving directions to Forest Park: There are nine entrances to Forest Park, including Hamp-ton & Wells, Tamm Avenue bridge, Skinker & Wells, Skinker & Forsyth, Lindell at DeBaliviere, Lindell at Forest Park Parkway, Lindell at West Pine, Kingshighway at West Pine, Kingshighway at Oakland to Tamm. Admission to the Zoo is FREE, although there are fees for some attractions. Attractions are weather dependent and subject to change. Come see the elephants! There’s some cute young’uns, and Mom is always nearby. Located on 90 acres in beautiful Forest Park, the Zoo is home to 655 species of animals, many of them rare and endangered. It is one of the few free zoos in the na-tion. Since its inception in 1910, the Zoo has been renowned for its beautiful naturalistic exhibits and for its diverse collection of animals from the major continents and biomes of the world. It is widely recognized for its innovative approaches to animal management, wildlife conservation, research and education.

Bird Fair & SaleThe Machinists’ Hall12365 St. Charles Rock RoadBridgeton, MODec. 16 from 10am to 4 pmCall (937) 377-3607 for more info.

Come see all kinds of pet and breeder bird vendors, bird supply vendors, wild bird supplies, food and toy vendors, and so much more! We will have a huge variety of birds and supplies including: Caged Birds, African Grey Parrots, Quaker Parrots, Finches, Canaries, Bird Cages, Love Birds, Birdseed, Bird Toys, Parakeets, Cockatoos, Eclectus, Cockatiels, Conures, Par-rolets, Perches, Macaws, ZuPreem, Cage Covers, T-Shirts, and personalized or embroidered Items. Everything for your birds!

www.amerishop.biz12

“Genuine Ozark Goodness.” Artfully cured, smoked, and Full of �avor from the folks you trust, for the best in gift giving! Burgers’ Smokehouse products are available online or by catalog, or give us a call today!

© 2012 Burgers’ Smokehouse 32819 Hwy 87 California, Mo 65018

Quality Handcrafted Meats Perfect for Holiday Gift Giving

We invite you to visit our Factory Country Store in California, MO. Open weekdays 8 am-5 pm. Closed holidays.

Open Saturdays Sept. 15 - Dec. 22, and Christmas Eve until noon. Call to request a free catalog: 800-624-5426 for hours

or visit our website at www.smokehouse.com. http://qr2.it/Go/1424766The Best Gifts

SmokedNaturally

Located 1.5 mi. South on 87, California, Mo

Brent SimmonsSales and Leasing Representative • 573-645-6360

[email protected] • facebook.com/brent.simmons148 807 Southwest Boulevard • Jefferson City • MACHENS.COMVie

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www.amerishop.biz 13

Old Blue was Great Grandma's nephew. His true name was Bluford Howard. Re-ally... his name was Bluford. And every-body in the town knew him as Old Blue. Old Blue was 6'5" and was a big man; so big that his eight children could fit inside his denim blue overalls at the same time. He had a tiny little wisp of a wife named Willie who was as small as Blue was large. How Willie was able to have eight of his children I'll never know. Now Old Blue is what you would call a sponger. He and his family belonged to the Church of the First Born, but Blue didn't go to church for the reasons that most people do. Most in the town looked at the church like kind of an auto repair shop for the soul. The place for a spiritual oil change, or if the preceding Friday or Saturday night had gotten a little out of hand, the place to receive a major tune-up. Church was a place to right the wrongs and, well, to feel good about one's self again. Not so Old Blue. No, Old Blue went to church for the free food and clothes. While church for the rest of us was the repair shop for the soul and all things godly, for Blue it was his grocer and haberdashery. You see, Blue never worked a day in his life. Blue traveled from house to house of the people from the congregation and would just happen to show up at dinner-time with his wife, the eight children, and even his dog. Blue's offspring were each named for some kind of flower or plant. That was all Willie's doing. There were five girls: Daisy, Dahlia, Violet, Fern, and Magnolia. Daisy and Dahlia were the twins, always saying the same things at the same time, as twins tend to do, and always chasing the Gonzales boys. When Daisy and Dahlia would catch the boys, the girls would give each one Indian Burns and make them kiss them. Each Gonzales would somehow manage an escape, and the girls would holler after Blue, "Daddy! Can you catch them boys and keep'em still for us?" Blue would always holler back, "Catch your own damn men."Old Blue and Willie also had three boys and Blue was the one responsible for nam-ing them Colt, Moe, and Weed. Everyone and I do mean everyone stayed away from those rotten boys. They were responsible

HOME & FAMILY

for dipping little girls' pigtails in the inkwells (yes, mean kids actually did this at one time) at school, and for slipping the rotten cheese in the minister's desk. Ornery little cusses, they were. Colt was always the ringleader and made life miserable for anyone around. The only time Colt was half decent was in the presence of Daisy and Dahlia. They made sure Colt knew who was boss and it wasn't him. All three of those boys had runny noses that they only wiped with their sleeves, and each sported an untidy mop of dirty brown hair. All except Moe, who was the trio's brightest bulb. Moe had matted red hair that stuck straight up, never sure if it was hereditary, or just full of yesterday's milk. He had one lazy eye which made him look as though he was looking at you out of the side of his head. And he knew how to pick locks. One day the minister locked the keys inside his car and asked Moe if he could open it. Moe had the door open in three seconds flat, and he did it with a writing quill. Minister wasn't sure whether to be proud of Moe or prepare a prison minis-try for him someday because, after all, he did just pick a lock.Willie couldn't keep control of her boys. During one church service, Moe and Colt rushed in with a goat singing "Bringing in the Sheaves." Those rotten boys would also get into the baptismal tank and bathe, and at least once a week come run-ning down the aisles naked as jay birds. At first, the church folk thought helping out Blue, Willie and The Gang was the charitable thing to do, but there was a point that they just couldn't take the disruption of those boys any longer. In short, they were close to losing their religion. But it wasn't the minister who ended up running them out of town. It was Great Grandma. Great Grandma was embarrassed about her sister's boy and his family, so much so that she didn't mention that he was related. My Aunt Tylene and my mother had a system. If either of them knew Blue and his family was heading their way, they would pack up the kids and leave the house for the afternoon. They didn't hide out in the house because little Moe could always pick the front door lock. One time, Aunt Tylene tried hiding out. When Blue came to the door, she hid in her room trying fruitlessly to not make a noise. She heard a ruckus outside, and then in later learning that Bluford's

dog had gone straight to her kitchen and had gobbled the warm apple pie off the counter. All of Blue's kids sat on the couch waiting to be fed and Aunt Tylene hid in her room all afternoon until she couldn't stand it any longer. She emerged from her room to hear Daisy tauntingly say, "We was waitin' for you ta come outa there. Whatchoo got ta eat?"Great Grandma was a kind and tolerable woman. She would be the first to rise in the morning and make breakfast for our family and all the farmhands. She loved to cook. Great Grandma got along with ev-eryone; that is, to say, except Blue. She felt Blue was a pitifully lazy man who didn't take care of his family, but no one ever told him so. She knew that it would be her time very soon, and that they would come a callin'. Came the day: She was sitting on her porch, serenely rocking in her favor-ite chair, when she heard the familiar powder-rust blue, smoking, pick up truck coming up the dirt road. There were the eight children in the back of the truck, and she couldn't tell where each child started and each child ended. They were fighting and carrying on, and determined that the cloud of dirt that seemed to follow the bed of the pick up was in fact rising from the children. She immediately envisioned her clean, floral carpet that she had just cleaned under full-scale attack from six-teen dirty little feet. She asked for patience from above.As the pickup drew near, she noted Blue was driving hard over every bump, and it was a miracle that none of those kids fell out. Maybe that's what he intended, but she wasn't going to worry about that now. She couldn't even see Millie in the front seat, only a pair of bony little hands grab-bing onto what was left of the dashboard for dear life. They arrived at Great Grandma's. "Hey Aunt Et! We're here!" The kids tumbled from the truck bed and started marching up the walk toward Great Grandma's Bet-ter Homes and Garden-like sanctuary. "Stop right there!" she yelled. The kids paid no mind. Moe was hitting Weed up-side the head, while Weed passed it on by thumping little sister Magnolia. They were all arms and legs. “I said, stop right there!" And she grabbed Moe and Weed by the ears. "Ow-wwwwwwww!" they hollered. "Et, you let my precious boys go!" Blue bellowed.

"You take your dirty little kids, and your dirty little self, and go find yourself some manners. I am not feeding and cleaning up after you. Now go!" She pointed at the truck. "And take that with you!" "Aw, c'mon Et. I'm family." "I didn't pick you!" Great Grandma shouted. By now neighbors were gathering. "And if I did, I would have put you back, you rotten tomato!" Blue was wounded. Or perhaps is was a combination of looking indignant or else being caught. "Come, Willie," he said, with as much pride as he could muster, "we don't have to put up with this. My Aunt is a hoidy toidy!" The kids were grinning from ear to ear. They loved hearing any kind of fightin'. "You know what, Aunt Et? I'm going to the church and tellin' them all about you." Blue herded the kids toward the truck. Great Grandma bounced back like one of Blue's checks: "You're a no good, do nothin', layabout, lazy pants, barnacle, you know that, Bluford Howard?! And you're a Democrat, to boot! You don't belong in church. You belong in purgatory. Puuurrrgggaaatttooorrryyy!," she hissed. "No one wants you or your little rats at church!" By this time, Great Grandpa was behind her. He had never heard anything like that come out of Et's mouth, yet he was smiling. He knew she had reached her limit. He'd only seen it once before; the time Roosevelt got elected to a fourth term. By now Blu-ford's bunch had all climbed in the pickup. Well, almost all. He pulled away before Weed got in. The last thing Great Grandma saw was Daisy pulling little Weed into the back of the trunk by his feet. Bluford, Willie, and the Offspring left town shortly after that incident. The last anyone heard was when Stubby Parker who owned the Sinclair filling station on the outskirts of town said Blue and the Gang had stopped in to use the restroom before hitting the Territorial Highway. "Old Blue told me he was a thinkin' 'bout lookin' up them Latter Day Saints because they have the better food lockers. Said he was thinkin' of joinin' up and bein' a Mormon cuz the Baptists expect you to bring the food to the potluck."And with that last known reported sight-ing, the powder blue '38 Chevy pickup sputtered onto the main road and dipped below the horizon, towing all their worldly possessions in a trailer made from an old, upturned icebox refrigerator.

Oh, No! Here Comes Old Blue!by Beth McCain

www.amerishop.biz14 HISTORY

The Rock Island Lines was a first class rail-road in all manner of ways. It was also a railroad of many 'firsts'. The Rock Island had the first all stainless steel streamlined passenger train in service. The first rail-road to convert completely to all diesel was the Rock Island Line. But perhaps the most inglorious first this famed railroad experienced in its over 100 years of ser-vice was the fact that the very first train robbery took place on the Rock Island. On July 21, 1873 the Rock Island Rocket, train number 2, was enroute to St. Louis, Missouri from Omaha, Nebraska. At around 8:30 in the evening near Adair, Iowa, the train was pulling a grade and approaching a sharp curve. As it slowly rounded the curve about four miles west of Adair the engineer and fireman caught a glimpse of something odd up ahead. There were horses, and standing next to them were men wearing full Klu Klux Klan regalia. It was a frightening sight to see as the summer twilight also revealed something even scarier. One of the men

was holding a rope tied to a rail that had been pried loose. Engineer John Lafferty saw the break in the track and did all he could to stop the train. He threw the mighty steam en-gine into reverse but the locomotive hit the break in the track and promptly rolled onto its side. Then the eight cars and the coal tender behind the engine followed suit. Some of the cars managed to stay upright, and the most important car to the robbers—the express car—was one of those that remained on the track. It was this car that carried upwards of $100,000 in gold bars, and it was this car that was targeted by the gang of robbers. The outlaws brandished their guns and scared passengers and crew alike. No one had ever experienced this kind of robbery before, and security precautions in the express car were under considered, to say the least. The terrified passengers tried to hide their cash and jewelry, but to no avail. The robbers expected this and were quite bru-tal to those who attempted to retain their valuables. While this part of the gang harassed

the passen-gers, the pri-mary gang m e m b e r s ransacked the express car and took all of the gold, but not before knocking out the Express Manager. The gang didn't know until they read the papers the next day that Engineer Lafferty had been killed when the engine rolled over. Not only were the gang train robbers, they were now officially murderers too. A reward of $12,000 was offered for the arrest and conviction of the gang, and $500 for each robber brought to justice, should the gang have broken up. It turns out that the gang was very much together. In fact, they were re-lated. It was the Jesse James Gang that had robbed the Rock Island Rocket, and eventually they would pay for their

crimes. But not before robbing at least five more Rock Island Lines trains, including the Rock Island Little Rock Express which netted the boys another $50,000 in ill-gotten loot.

THE ROCK ISLAND PROGRESSES

With the Wild West days behind them, the Rock Island continued to prosper. The railroad traversed central Missouri and the seminal train that passed through daily, the Choctaw Rocket, was as part of the Missouri landscape as the trees and

by Lee McCain

The Corn Belt Rocket crosses the state line and makes her way to St. Louis. In just three

hours she’ll be pull-ing into the station.

The Rock Island Line is a Mighty Good LineWell, it used to be, anyway!

This sign marks the location of the American first train robbery. It happened to be a Rock Island

train that was robbed by the Jesse James Gang.

www.amerishop.biz 15HISTORYthe hawthorn blossom. The Rock Island provided employment to thousands of people across the Midwest, and it also became the portal to the big world outside of where the people lived. Regardless of where you wanted to go: Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Hous-ton, all trips began on the Rock Island. Once aboard, the passenger was treated to comfortable seating, a soft bed in the Pullman sleeping cars, conversation and a friendly game in the lounge, and of course the famously good food served up in the dining car. Another Rock Island first: they were the first railroad to offer the famous "Railroad French Toast" in their diners, and the cookbook filled with dining car recipes that was sold in the lounge car was purchased by many of the travelers so they could cook the famed recipe at home. Many Missourians alive today can still recall their days travelling on the Rock Is-land. The sounds and sights of the Choc-taw Rocket coming to a stop at a rural depot and whisking them in comfort and luxury to places far away remain in their mind's eye. They didn't

know it at the time, but the Rock Island's dominance as a major railroad was draw-ing to a close.

THE END OF THE ROCK ISLAND LINE

In the 1970's and '80's merger fever spread within the railroad industry. Larger roads like Union Pacific and the Santa Fe had their eyes on smaller lines and made a serious effort to grab their land, rolling stock, and customers for themselves. Sometimes it worked; the Missouri Pacific was extinguished and became part of the Union Pacific. Santa Fe and Southern Pacific courted a ma-jor merger, but that was stopped. But just a few years later the great Santa Fe was enveloped by the Burling-ton Northern—itself a product of a merger of three railroads—to be-come the BNSF (now the largest rail-road in America). The Rock Island held out as long as it

could, but it final-ly succumbed to its debt and was then swallowed up by the Union Pacific. Other railroads ex-perienced the same fate: The MKT (Katy), the Kansas

City S out he r n , and the Texas and Pa-cific. The passenger trains had stopped long before, with the exception of two intercity trains, the Quad Cities Rocket and the Peoria Rocket, as well as a slew of commuter trains in Chicago. But those remaining routes were eventually assumed by Amtrak and were condensed, and The Rock, as the railroad was known at this time, soon lowered its flag and be-came another part of transportation his-

to-ry. But it will always live on in memory if only because of songs like Johnny Cash's 'Rock Island Line' and a host of other popular culture icons that will assure us that the Rock Island will never be forgotten.

The famous Choctaw Rocket in the early 1920’s blasts through central

Missouri. By tomorrow she’ll be in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

The Jesse James Gang about a year before they were put out

of business!

A Rock Island Lines stock certificate was once a pivotal part of someone’s financial portfolio. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. The Rock Island Lines ceased operations and its trackage became a part of the Union Pacific Railroad.

www.amerishop.biz1616 FUN & GAMESYou buy your lottery ticket week after week, and week after week you don't win. You practice the Law of Attrac-tion and are sure this is the way you are going to make all that money that you have been visualizing and focus-ing on. Maybe next week it will hap-pen but the thoughts and feelings you have attached to the method of how your money is coming (that being the lottery) seem to be disappointment instead of create joy each time you don't win. Do you see what is wrong with this picture? Let's deconstruct the whole pro-cess.If your desire is to have more than enough money to live life the way you want, you begin by visualiz-ing on the life that you want to lead with the money just being a part of it. You visualize what you do with the money; maybe you help out your parents and you see the joy of how

happy they are to be relieved of their own debt. Maybe you see yourself traveling in first class and going all over the world spending like there is no tomorrow, knowing that you will always have all the money you need and want. By visualizing in the now, on what exactly the money can do, you will begin encouraging the Universe to start aligning your focus and the feelings of your desires, and bring you like situations or better. Here's the tricky part. Once you have seen your desire and lived it in the now you must let go control of the how so the Universe can take over. Your only job is to see, feel, and know what you want and believe it is here and the Universe will take care of the rest. You must let go of all at-tachments and negative, repetitive mental thoughts you may have about money and the new life you desire. Letting go of attachments means to let go of everything that you try to

by Beth & Lee McCain

www.amerishop.biz 17FUN & GAMESpush into existence, let go of neg-ative thought perceptions, and let go of trying to control how the Universe brings it to you. When you start trying to figure out how the Universe brings it to you and you focus on that, then you are limiting the Universe by focusing on one or two particular ways. This takes more time for the Uni-verse to fit into your limited box that you have provided. Be aware of opportunities of how things are coming and seize the opportunity, but micro managing the Universe will only give you more to micro manage while not necessarily de-livering the result you really want. So what does this have to do with winning the lottery? When you visualize and fo-cus on the life that you desire and know it is taken care of you want to be aware of the actions to take. Is the lottery one of the ways the Universe could bring you the life you deserve? Of course, but when you make it one of the spe-cific focuses as to how the money is coming, you are in fact micro managing. Here is a way to understand what happens when someone buys a lottery ticket. The anticipa-tion and thought of winning the lottery can be exciting. You are definitely building great positive thoughts UNLESS you buy that ticket thinking that maybe you might win this week and you feel like you are throwing your dol-lar away...maybe. Do you buy the ticket with the thoughts and feel-ings of maybe, excitement, doubt, joy; that this could happen? You are mixing quite an array of feel-ings that are chaotic and that is what will come back to you. First focus on what you want in life, in this case money, and buy your ticket with joy and expecta-tion and excitement. If anything, the ticket just gave you some wonderful feelings of expectation for your money focus. Cast doubt aside, just for the moment, to build the possibility that it could happen. The lottery could be the way the Universe brings you cash but don't think it is your end all be all of obtaining money because

then you are limiting. Here comes the part where you don't become attached to the winning of the lottery. Leave it at the wonderful expectations of money and then let it go to the Universe. Okay...so you see the numbers and your ticket isn't the winner.Disappointment and the feeling that the Universe let you down are going to bring you more of the same. Disappointment and the other lack feelings become strong and intense vibrations that are sent out and every time you don't win, if you are sending those thoughts and feelings out, you will attract the same situation

over and over again. So here's what you do. Visualize on obtaining the cash and life you want. Let go and know that you will be getting what you asked for and focused on and let the Universe take care of the how. Next, buy your ticket with the anticipation and joy that this could be an avenue to cash, but then don't put any more thoughts toward it at all. No mixed feelings of fear, doubt, joy, expectation...just expectation and the focus of the life you want. Hand it to the Universe. If you win...WOO HOO! If you don't win...WOO HOO! There is always next week,

but stay away from the disappoint-ment of the moment because that moment is imperative to how you feel and think with the lottery. You will begin to find that you will win when the attachment to the feel-ings and thoughts are gone. The Universe really does have your back. Trust it and let it bring you what you want, the way it knows best, because the Universe knows exactly how to bring to you what you focus on. You will find you will have the life you want and deserve by thinking unlimited mi-nus micro management. You can have it all.

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www.amerishop.biz 19BUSINESSEverything AND the Kitchen Sink:New Store Offers Great Deals in a Unique Way

“We never judge anyone who walks in our doors. We know that people want a good deal, and at the same time they might believe that their credit is in a place that a typical retailer would never consider them for a payment program,” says Deal Maker Sales and Rent-to-Own’s Randy Dinwiddie. “We take care of our customers, and as long as they’re square with us and make their payments on time, we’ll always do what we say we will do.” What exactly does Dinwiddie do? On December 1, the doors to this newly unique retail establishment will open and at that moment folks of all economic status will have a store that will supply them their household needs while they re-estab-lish their personal credit worthiness. “Anything a person could ever want for their home, we carry,” Dinwiddie says. “Anything from mi-crowaves, TV’s, freezers, refrigera-tors, games, living room sets, beds, dishwashers, you name it.” In addition to the wonderful items available for rental, the Deal Maker store also offers items for sale at deeply discounted prices. “We have shoes and clothes and smaller items for the home,” Din-widdie states. “And we also provide cellular phones with no contracts required, and we offer the kind of service anyone would expect, but without the typical cell phone com-pany hassles.”

VALUE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

When a customer enters the store

and shops for what he or she needs, the next step is a very simple appli-cation that asks for very rudimentary information. Once the agreement is signed, and the sale is rung up, free home delivery happens within 48 to 72 hours. Dinwiddie says that they will deliver up to 25 miles from Camdenton. From this point, “as long as the rental is paid monthly on time, the customer begins building a solid reputation with us and that just makes it easier and easier for them to get the things they need but maybe couldn’t otherwise afford to buy.” In many cases, the items are paid off and become the property of the customer within 6 to 24 months. “It’s a great way to start a first apartment or home for someone with no credit, or a place to rebuild credit if life has gotten in the way somewhere along the way,” Dinwid-die says. “When times are tough it’s nice to know there’s a store that welcomes you that can actually do something to help you out.” Besides the great rental values found at Deal Maker, the store offers specialty meats and foods for sale. “We also carry Carhartt cloth-ing, which is a big thing around here. You won’t find a better price, or a place that provides the kinds

of deals people are used to seeing in my Deal Maker and AmeriShop newspapers,” Dinwiddie says. Randy Dinwiddie is known throughout the Central Missouri and Lake of the Ozarks areas for his free Deal Maker and AmeriShop news-papers. The papers feature interest-

ing articles with a local focus and flair, and hundreds of dollars worth of discount coupons and offers “that you won’t find anywhere else. We’ve brought value to our distribution areas for years, and now that same kind of value is right here at our store,” Dinwiddie declares. The store is located at 326 Busi-ness Highway 54, (in the old post office next to McDonald’s) in Cam-denton. For more information please call (573) 415-6001.

by Lee McCain

www.amerishop.biz20 HOBBY

Ask anyone who has been bitten by the train bug and they will readily admit that it is an in-operable, lifetime affliction. Once bitten, it’s all over. One may as well admit that they are for-ever hypnotized by the sound of a diesel horn, and the rush of seeing a multi-engined beauty highballing down the main line. For some of us the problem is so acute that we must take our trains home with us. And the only way to do that is to create a model world where our freight trains and named passenger liners can charge down the line any time we wish. In case you haven’t gathered, I have been bitten. I grew up in Southern California and have a soft spot for the trains I used to see every day. For me it was the Santa Fe, the Southern Pacific, and if I could get myself to Los Angeles I could watch the lovely yellow Union Pacific streamliners as they made their way to all points east. So it was a given that I would build a world that could host these bygone trains right in my own home. The photo that you see

accompanying this article is of my favorite, the Coast Daylight. Every morning at 8 a.m. two trains would simultaneously leave their stations: one in Los Angeles, and one in San Francisco. One heading north, and one heading south. They would meet near a costal valley town called San Luis Obispo and children on bicycles up and down the line would wait for what was called “The most beautiful train in the world” come screaming down the line. The on-time records for the Daylight were near perfect, and other traffic on the line would pull onto sidings to let Southern Pacific’s crack express blast by. By six o’clock the Daylights would be pulling into their respective destination stations and in the morning it would start all over again. Those days are long gone, but in model railroading anything is possible. One has the power to create an alternate universe where time stands still and the good old days—whatever they were—live on and on. Of course, like in the good old days, everything in town revolves around the train depot. On a model railroad everything is secondary to the trains and the tracks that carry them. We

modelers like to include towns, factories, and of course a good old fashioned diner on our sets, but the train is the thing!

A HISTORY OF MODEL RAILROADING

The first model railroads were of the wooden or tin variety and relied on its users to push the small trains along the rudimentary tracks. The Slotzie Toy Company in Hereford, Eng-land came out with the first electric powered sets in Christmas of 1910. Other companies followed their lead as the number one occu-pation young boys said they wished to follow was as an engine driver. Train spotting be-came a major pastime for young lads dream-ing of the places where the fast expresses were bound. Being a train driver was tantamount to being an astronaut, and the engineers were thrust into unlikely positions of hero worship as the bright young faces waved at them as their trains sped by. As model trains progressed in scope and scale, by the 1930’s and through the war years, a Lionel model train was at the top of

every boy’s Christmas list. The Marx toy company, and an upstart called American Flyer also competed with Lionel but the big, sturdy American-made Lionel trains ruled the marketplace well into the 1960’s. Lionel not only offered the best trains, they also cornered the market on ac-cessories. Factories, crossing gates, additional track with switch tracks, passenger depots, and log loaders represent just a fraction of the fun and workable accessories offered by the Lionel family. Soon basements and attics all across America were festooned with running layouts that seemed never ending and never done. There was always another train car, locomo-tive, or operating water tower to buy. Ask anyone who was a youngster back when model railroading was at its peak and they will be quick to tell you that model trains really were the video game of the day. They oper-ated in scenarios that were only limited by a child’s imagination. Little engineers would spot their passenger train doors where the pretend people stood waiting at the depot. They would blow the whistle and real smoke would rise from the stack.

A True Short LineModel Railroads

are the Original Video Games

by Lee McCain

www.amerishop.biz 21HOBBY

Crossing arms would lower and bells would ring as they throttled up their en-gines bound for anywhere they wished to go. A town could represent Kansas City one minute, and St. Louis the next. The boy or girl operating the train imagined them-selves to be Engineer, fireman, conductor, and brakeman all rolled into one. And they could and would play for hours. Model railroading was also a family af-fair. When Dad came home he would help with the electrical issues, or help lay more track. Mom would sew nice table covers, and the kids experimented with plaster of Paris mountains and paper Mache deserts. Then, while Mom heated up the Swanson Tee Vee Dinners, Dad would enjoy a session

with the kids, each taking a turn running the train. Today that scenario would be decried as sexist, but it is nevertheless how it was. These days the idea of a kid playing with toy trains is about as outdated as a Sony Betamax VCR. But if a kid of today gave model railroading a try, chances are he or she would be sorely bitten by the bug. For me, I’m just thankful I was bitten at an early age because I have enjoyed a wonder-ful life filled with the sounds of a far-off freight train blowing its horn on a snowy day. And any time I wish to revisit those times, I just head for my man cave and fire up the throttles. And once again, the Coast Daylight leaves Union Station bound for all points north.

This HO gauge model railroad is owned by the writer, Lee McCain. It follows the Southern Pacific Lines in the mid- 1950’s. The train depicted is an exact scale model of the famous Coast Daylight which ran daily service from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Amtrak now runs the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle, and it uses the same tracks that the world famous Daylight used all those years.

www.amerishop.biz22 CAREER

If you are a writer, there is only one thing that drives you: writing. If you were unable to ever see your work in print, a true writer would write none-theless, even if the work was seen by an audience of one. This article will show you how it is completely unnecessary to invest your heart and soul in a work that never sees the light of day. This article will show you the step by step processes to not only get your work into print, but to make a hearty living at it as well. I know. My husband and I have numerous books in print, and we are more than pleased with our sales of our books. By following the steps in this article, you will soon see your work available world-wide and will enjoy the financial impact of publishing on your terms. One of the greatest balances one must strike when one seeks a career in any artistic endeavor - and writing is an art - is art versus commerce. You can be the best in your artistic field, but if you don't embrace the commercial aspect of your art at least as well as the art itself, you may find yourself living life as the quint-essential starving artist. And who wants to starve? So the first step in the process is to understand that it doesn't end with the writing. In fact, when you've written the final page of your final draft, that be-comes the starting gate. When you finish the book, you arrive at square one.

What New Writ-ers may Believe

Many new writers who are embark-ing on getting their first book published have a fantasy that goes something like this: They believe that all they have to do is send query letters and copies of their manuscripts to literary agents and pub-lishers, and that within a matter of weeks an editor will discover their work and within months they'll see their book on the shelves of Barnes & Noble. While this can happen, it is so rare that the odds

of winning a state lottery are greater. The publishing industry has changed so much in the past ten years that it doesn't remotely represent the common percep-tion most people and writers have. And believe it or not, this is a good thing, which you'll soon see in this article. In the old days, writers submitted to agents, who took the manuscript to a series of editors at the various publish-ing houses in a bid to get the work into print. A year (most likely two or three years) later, the book would arrive in the bookstores as the typical promotional ef-forts took place simultaneously with the book's release. This doesn't happen like this anymore, and as far as promotional efforts are concerned, there are about a dozen writers that rate appearances on the morning TV shows, and about a hundred at any given time who are booked onto talk radio. So where does that leave the estimat-ed five- to six-thousand other writers who actually see their books published

each year? As you can see, right off the bat the publishing industry is a niche industry. In fact, books are about the last medium that allows, much less encour-ages niche production. There are no lon-ger niche projects in the Hollywood film industry to speak of, and most formerly niche cable television broadcasters now seek mass market audiences. But there will always be a need for niche-specific books and periodicals. This is your entry key into the field. If you can write for your audience, if you can fill their spe-cific niche, you will succeed. And more to the point, your book will succeed. So let's begin the steps to your success in the publishing world.

Content In the publishing world, "Content is King". What is the content in your book that will make it stand out from other books in the same field? This is the single

most important question that you must ask yourself as an author. (And remem-ber, the word 'author' is a derivative of the word 'authority'.) You must be the authority in your field, whether you are a writer of fiction, or non-fiction. Take an unbiased look at the work you propose and look forward, as in: What will people want to read a year or more from now. Don't base your thinking on what's hap-pening now in the book world, because what's current was put into motion three years ago.

Decide Upon your Publishing

Route This is as important as the quality of your book. So right now we'll assume your book has bestseller written all over it (and inside, too!). The book is good,

Making Your Living by WritingIt’s so Much Easier Than you Imagine

by Beth McCain

www.amerishop.biz 23CAREERit's tightly edited, and now it needs a home. Earlier I described the differences in the publishing world today and how it receives new writers and authors. The realistic statement would be that it is so much harder to get published in the corporate world of bookselling, and be-cause of the many nuisance lawsuits filed against publishers and authors by writers accusing them of plagiarism, publishers simply will not even consider unsolicited material from new writers for fear of the next lawsuit. In fact, as I am writing this the most successful author of all time, JK Rowling of Harry Potter fame, is embroiled in these kinds of accusations levied at her and her publisher. So to say that breaking through the standard publishing barriers these days is difficult at best would be an understatement. So how do these publishers keep new material funneling through their houses in a timely and relevant way? They work with agents who have an established relationship with them, and they make deals with small press publishers once sales track records have been established for a particular title. And nowadays many projects are devised in house and assigned to writers and editors that they trust. So where does this leave you? After all, you just want to get your work out there and maybe make a few bucks while you're at it. So what's next? Well, there are choices. You can take the typical route and approach agents and publish-ers. Be prepared to spend an amazing amount on postage and materials, and while miracles do happen occasionally, just realize going in that you are play-ing lottery odds. Also, assuming you do make it through (and there's nothing saying that you can't) you'll be consid-ered extremely fortunate if your advance exceeds $25,000. In most cases a new author can figure an advance of between $10,000 -$15,000. So what's the alternative? Here it is: Publish it yourself. "Eek!" you scream. "I don't want to be involved with all that! I'm a WRITER! And besides, isn't that just what they call vanity publish-ing?" The answer to your last cry is NO. Self publishing is not vanity publishing. In fact, what is self publishing, any-way? Publishing in any form is nothing more than taking a particular work and reproducing it so more than one can read it. In fact, if you decide on the self publishing route, in my estimation you're not "self publishing" at all. In fact, you are establishing yourself as a small press publisher. There are literally thousands of small press publishers worldwide. Why shouldn't you be a small press publisher

and as your first title decide to publish your book? Makes sense! In fact, my husband Lee and I have co-written many books in our particular field and we sell thousands of books each year. Our small press publishing house is called GLC Press. It is our company, and we decide what we publish, when we publish, and how we publish. We do not go hat in hand to anyone; our publishing schedule is based on the needs and desires of our reader-ship. We write what we want and we can have a book in print and in our distribu-tion channel ready for our readers within weeks if we so desire. You can too! And here's how...

Small Pressing Publishing

First we thought of the name of our small press company. Once we did that we took care of the small but necessary business matters. They're easy enough to do, and someone at your local county or city business license office can help you with that. The next thing you'll want to decide on is your distribution method. We'll assume that you want your title listed on Amazon.com (the world's largest seller of books. If you're not on

Amazon, you don't exist). You'll also want to be carried in the brick and mortar stores, too. Your basic Barnes & Noble, Borders, WHSmith, and independent booksellers all have production standards that you must adhere to or your book will not be sold there, no matter how good it is. Stan-dards include cover size and thickness, cover and book design, bar code, ISBN- and EAN13-numbers, warehousing, etc., must be taken into consideration is you want to run with the big dogs. And you can run with them, but you have to play by their rules. So what do you do to comply with all of this? This sounds like a full-time job, and all you want to do is write for a living.

Our Success You must hire a competent and talented book design and production firm to create your book. They are the talented artisans who take your Micro-soft Word manuscript and turn it into a book that you (and more importantly, your readers) can hold in your hand. But there's more: Whatever company you use must be schooled in the fine art of distribution. They must be able to get your title online immediately at all - and I do mean ALL - of the major online

distributors. You must be on Amazon, etc., and they must be able to produce on demand rather than forcing you to purchase boxes upon boxes of product that may go unsold. We use House of Penguin. Their service is impeccable, they know what they are doing, and they even collect and distribute book royalties to us. They produce books for hundreds of publishers around the world, including the major houses. So if you are serious about starting a successful small press to release your work into the world, and want to enjoy the financial rewards of your work, I suggest you take the route that has worked so well for us. For more information about HOP, go to www.houseofpenguin.com. And if we can help you further, you are always welcome to e-mail as well. [email protected] Now let's see your book out there!

www.amerishop.biz24 AUTOMOTIVE

So how about this economy? It’s the one that keeps the repo business very em-ployed while the rest of us struggle to keep the basics of our lives intact. Sometimes during such a downturn the first thing that gets sacrificed is our credit rating, and when that happens it can bring a lot of grief. Especially if you happen to be in the market for a high-ticket item like a car or truck. In such financial times, everyone is looking for a break. There’s a place right here that fits the bill. And if you have some very basic and verifiable info that you can provide, by tonight you could be driv-ing away in the car or truck you’ve been envisioning. With two locations—1106 I-70 Drive SW in Columbia, and 808 Stadium Boulevard in Jefferson City—Rent-N-Go

Autos offers rent-to-own automobiles for customers who don’t want or might not qualify for a traditional auto loan. All ve-hicles are pre-licensed, and property, sales and license tax fees are spread out over their 24- to 48-month payment programs. Rent-N-Go holds the titles to the vehicles until the customer makes his or her final payment, and it offers scheduled mainte-

nance. That includes 23-point inspections, oil and filter changes, tire rotations and fluid top-offs. Rental fees can vary, but a check at the Rent-N-Go Web site reveals that the aver-age costs run from $319 per month up to $ 499 per month, depending on the class of the vehicle. Cars and trucks are catego-rized to determine which vehicle fits their budget. Customers can also purchase vehicles at any time. At Rent-N-Go there are no credit checks; to drive a car off the lot customers need to provide proof of employment and residence, five references, a valid driver’s license, full insurance coverage, an origi-

nation and the first rental payment. Rent-N-Go’s John Drane has more than eight years of experience at car dealerships in Mid-Missouri. He got his start doing auto detailing and body work at Joe Machens Toyota and later moved into sales at Capitol City Chrysler in Jefferson City and University Chrysler in Columbia. The Rent’N’Go program provides a very doable alternative for people who otherwise would not qualify for a standard car loan. The dealership’s mission statement is to put good people in good cars, and the Rent-N-Go folks offer a rental program for vehicles with no obligations to buy and with the option to upgrade to a new car every six months over the course of a three- to four-year payment program. “We offer more choices and benefits than any other dealership in town,” Drane said. “And since it’s our car until you actually buy it, we have to maintain it.” Drane has a passion for helping people, and giving support to those struggling financially. “The car business right now is in horrible shape, and we are the shining light in the darkness for a lot of people; no credit, no problem.” Drane said. Visit www.rentngoautos.com

by Lee McCain

Getting Into a Car Was Never EasierRent-N-Go Autos Gives Everyone a New Option

John Drane of Rent-N-Go Autos offers a non-traditional way to qualify for a vehicle. It’s different than a traditional auto loan, and opens up the car market to everyone. Visit the Web site at www.rentngoautos.com and see how easy it is to drive away in the car of your choice.

Contact Sergeant Smithin regards to this position

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They called him 'Pistol'. Not because of his shooting skills but because of his quick wit with the customers. Pete was his true name. He had come to the small western town to start a new life for himself, one that didn't include his past. So he got himself some work at the Madera House Hotel, cooking, clean-ing, and doing whatever else they needed. He seemed to be the 'go to' guy. If you needed something fixed Pistol always found a way, or at least knew of someone who might know how. He was every man's friend and every woman's helper except, that is, for Mrs. Jonas Smith. Mrs. Smith—better known as 'The Widow'—was tough as nails. In those days it was a man's world except when it came to The Widow. Children were afraid to look her in the eyes for fear they would be turned to stone. And let's just say that everyone bowed down to the ol' widow queen everywhere she went. Except for Pistol. Pistol had known women like her in his past. They could chew up nails and spit them out, but under that bluster was a soft woman just wanting to be held. He was sure of it. Pistol had always stood up to a challenge and felt The Widow was a contest to be won. She owned half the town and another half of the next one, but lived in a large ram-bling house full of cats and ivy. It was the only house in the old beat up town that had been there since the beginning. It began as a town full of promise; prospectors coming in hopes of finding some gold in the nearby streams and striking it rich. It began to grow as families started to move there. A mercan-tile, hotel, and restaurant—along with a few saloons—were hastily built. One building was donated for a schoolhouse and that was how Minville was built. No one knew how Mr. Jonas Smith had gained his fortune but some said he robbed a train and had hidden the cash out in the forest. He just showed up one day with a wife and a baby and built the house The Widow still lived in. Speculation had it that maybe The Widow had something to do with his death, but that was just hearsay. He was up walking around feeling great and going to the bank to check on all his holdings, and the next day he was deader than a doornail. The sheriff said it was “Probably something he ate” and left it at that. The Widow hadn't been very friendly before her husband's death and when her son came

of age he'd left the small town to find a better life. The Widow had been left alone and the more alone she was, the meaner she got. Pistol heard the chatter of the local women at the hotel talking all about The Widow. “Well, when I went over to clean her house there were actual bones that I found in a box.” Another told the story of going over to 'be nice' to The Widow, bringing her some home-made mincemeat cookies. And she'd yelled at her for coming up her walk unannounced. “I'll never go there again. She's an old biddy, that's what she is.” Pistol heard the stories and it made him want to get to know the old woman all the more. He made sure to say hello every time he passed her on her way to the bank but she never uttered a word. She pursed her lips and one time had actu-ally growled. Pete began to wonder if she was an animal. Maybe she was hanging around too many cats. He began to stake out her place. What else did he have to do in the deadbeat town? He would make a point to walk by her place every morning. He could see the curtains moving and the cats sitting in the window sills. He thought he even heard some faint humming but he couldn't be sure. The yard was meticulously groomed yet he never saw her in it, and she even had a guard rooster that would come flying at you with his pointy talons to warn you 'not too close.' There must be a way, he thought. How long could someone stay mean? Then he found a window of opportunity one day. He was walking to work and a cou-ple of cowboys rode up on their horses. They

came barreling into town stirring up the dust and causing all kinds of ruckus. There was The Widow walking in her dark brown high necked dress toward the bank. The horses were heading straight for her. Pete knew it was his chance to have her 'owe him one.' He ran up to shelter her from the dust. She stepped in front of him and socked the horse

right in the nose. It reared up knocking the driver off and spooked the other horse with his rider on his back.

She brushed off her dress and just kept walking like nothing ever hap-

pened. “Tough as nails,” Pete said under his breath. “Mrs. Smith! Could I talk to you

for a moment?” Pete trotted up to her side. “No, you

may not,” she kept walking. “I just wanted to introduce my-

self.” He wiped off his hand and put it out. “I'm Pete.”

She brushed his hand aside.

“I know who you are. Loved by all,” she said

with disgust. He de-cided to play her

game. “I know who you are. Hated by more,”

Pete said amused. The Widow bent her eye-

brows. “What did you say?”

“You heard me” Pete said strongly.

“That's what I thought you said.” She kept walking then she flipped

around. “What do you want from me? You must want something because everybody else does.” “Nah…just thought you could use a friend but...” “I got friends.” “Yeah, I know...cats.”

“Hmmprh! Leave me be. You don't know me.” “I do... I used to be you.” She looked him up and down and he continued. “I had a wife and a child and lost them both. I was like you... Madder than hell and didn't want anyone around until I felt so alone I thought I would die so... I moved and changed my way. You're lookin' at a happy cowboy now. You need people. You could do so much for this town yet you sit in your unhappy little house and grieve. And it goes on day after day. I know how you feel. I've done it," Pete declared. "Thing is, if you get out there and help and get beyond where you are at this very mo-ment, it gets better and easier. When you start taking interest in your town and all the people in it, it gets better and easier. When you start to get a little down you just talk to people and it gets better and easier. Trust me... I know. Now how about coming to the town hall meeting this week?” “Do you really think your little speech is going to change everything?” “Nope. I just know that taking one small step forward will start to help.” He picked up her elbow. “Just one little step.” “Don't touch me, you… you… Masher!” she said with as much acid as she could mus-ter. He held on tight. “I think this is exactly what you need.” She pulled her elbow away and straightened her white hair. “If I'm going to the town meetin' I need to change.”Pete smiled. “You got that right!” “I mean my clothes.” “What? Are you going to change into yet another one of them dark brown dresses, cuz' I'm telling you, they ain't so flattering.” “Who do you think you are? Telling me how to dress,” The Widow lowered her eye-brows and whispered out of the corner of her mouth, “If you're so darned smart, what color do you think would look flattering on me?” “Any color but brown.” He thought he saw her crack a smile. “Like cats?” “Can't stand 'em.” “Good, come with me to my house. I won't go unless I go with Pistol Pete, the fastest mouth in the west.” Pete took her elbow and walked her home. She kicked aside Fluffy the rooster. “I can't stand roosters,” she said. “Them I like,” Pete chuckled. They squabbled all the way to the town meeting but no matter. Pistol Pete had won her over and he would never tell her that he really did like cats.

The Fastest Mouth in the Westby Beth McCain

www.amerishop.biz26 AUTO CARE In recognition of AAA Car Care Month, the nation's largest motor club reminds drivers seasonal checkups are essential for worry-free driving as weather changes With the change of seasons most people examine their wardrobes. Last season's coat is inspected for wear, and boots, sweaters and wool slacks come out of the closet for scrutiny. AAA reminds motorists that cars also need seasonal checkups. AAA recommends that motorists use a simple checklist to determine their car's fall and winter maintenance needs. Most of the items on the checklist can be inspected by car owners in less than an hour, but several others should be performed by a certified technician. One way to identify a reliable, high-quality repair facility with certified technicians is to look for one that is AAA Approved. AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities must meet and maintain high professional standards for customer service, technician training, service equipment, warranties and cleanliness. There are nearly 8000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities in the U.S., and nearby shops can be quickly located at AAA.com/repair.

Winter Car Care Checklist

Battery and Charging System – Have the battery and charging system tested by a trained technician. A fully charged battery in good condition is re-quired to start an engine in cold weather. AAA members can request a visit from an AAA Mobile Battery Service tech-nician who will test their battery and replace it on-site, if necessary. AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities can also test and replace weak batteries. Battery Cables and Terminals – Check the condition of the battery cables and terminals. Make sure all connections are secure and remove any corrosion from the terminals and posts. Drive Belts – Inspect belts for cracks or fraying. Don't just look at the smooth top surface of the belt, but turn it over and check the grooved underside where most belt wear occurs. Engine Hoses –Visually inspect the cooling system hoses for leaks, cracks or loose clamps. Also, squeeze the hoses to check for any that may be brittle or excessively spongy feeling and in need of replacement.

Baby Your Car with the AAA Winter ChecklistTire Type and Tread – In areas with heavy winter weather, changing to snow tires on all four wheels will pro-vide the best winter traction. All-season tires will work well in light to moderate snow conditions, providing they have adequate tread depth. If any tire has less than 3/32-inches of tread, it should be replaced. Uneven wear on the tires can indicate alignment, suspension or wheel balance problems that should be addressed to prevent further damage to the tires. Tire Pressure – Check tire pressure more frequently during winter months. As the temperature drops, so will the pressures in the tires — typically 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The proper tire pressure levels can be found on a sticker located on the driver's side door jamb. And, don't forget to check the spare. Air Filter – Check the engine's air filter by holding it up to a 60-watt light bulb. If light can be seen through much of the filter, it is still clean enough to work effectively. However, if the light is blocked by most of the filter, replace it.Coolant Levels – Check the cool-ant level when the engine is cold. If the coolant level is low, add a 50/50 solution of coolant and water to maintain the necessary antifreeze capability. The level of antifreeze protection can be checked with an inexpensive tester available at any auto parts store.

Lights – Check the operation of all headlights, taillights, emergency flash-ers, turn signals, brake lights and back-up lights. Replace any burnt out bulbs. Wiper Blades – Blades should com-pletely clear the glass with each swipe. Replace blades that leave streaks or miss spots. In areas with snowy conditions, consider installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade in a rubber boot to prevent ice and snow buildup that can prevent good contact between the rub-ber blade and the glass. Washer Fluid – Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a cleaning solution that has antifreeze components for cold weather use. Brakes – Have brakes inspected by a certified technician to ensure all compo-nents are in good working order. Transmission, Brake and Power Steering Fluids – Check all fluids to ensure they are at or above the minimum safe levels. Emergency Road Kit – Update the car's emergency kit for winter weather. The kit should include:

• Bagofabrasivematerial(sand,salt, cat litter) or traction mats• Snowshovel• Snowbrush• Flashlightwithextrabatteries• Windowwashersolvent• Icescraper• Clothorrollofpapertowels

• Jumpercables• Gloves,hatsandblankets• Warningdevices(flaresortri-angles)• Drinkingwater• Non-perishablesnacks(energyor granola bars) • Extraclothes• First-aidkit• Basictoolkit(screwdrivers,pli-ers, adjustable wrench)• Mobilephoneandcarchargerwith important numbers pro-grammed in it, including a road-side assistance provider

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 52 million mem-bers with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com.

www.amerishop.biz 27 Family stories are amazing to me. You hear of family members long ago and through the retelling of their lives you can get an idea of who they were. And by hearing about who they were, you can find timeless wisdom that can apply to your own life now. My great grandma was one of those people. She never said much but through what you heard and what you felt you knew she had lived life and learned from her experiences. I’ll never forget the story my mom told me about Great Grandma. Great Grandma cooked for a crew of 24 farmhands so most of her days were taken up cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a bunch of loud, rowdy, complaining men coming in from hunting or farm-ing, depending on the day. She took care of five children as well so her house was a busy little place, but where you would find Grandma Etta the most would be in front of her stove, likely stirring a pot of something. The kids would run in and she’d give them a hug and some kind of chore to take care of and then she’d go back to stirring. The men would come in and clean up all the biscuits and bacon and then she’d start on the next meal, once again standing and stirring at the stove. They’d tell her how wonderful her food was and then lay all their troubles at her feet as she listened and stirred. One time, one of the farmhands broke his hand while mending a fence. He finished the fence and then came in to get fixed up. She stepped away from her stirring and cleaned up his hand while Grandpa got the doctor on the phone. Once all was taken care of she went back to stirring. The funny thing was, with as much stirring as Grandma did life seemed to just come to her. She’d make a remark about how wonderful the fabric was in town and how she’d like to make Ruth a dress out of it. That was all she would say and then she’d go back to stirring and somehow, some way, that fabric would appear from a neighbor or maybe the

money would just happen to come along right at the right time. It got to where if you wanted something and you convinced Grandma it was worth having then it would somehow magically appear, even through all the hardships they endured. One time Ruth watched as the farm-hands ate quickly and went back out to work, hearing all of them complaining about their lives. Then one by one each one of her children came in to tell Grandma their own woes. She would smile, give them some kind of advice, and keep stirring. Ruth watched sitting at the table and when everyone left she said, “Mother. How can you just sit there and stir? Everyone tells you how bad their life is and you just smile and stir? Why don’t you just tell them that you’ve had enough and you can’t take

anymore? Do something... Stop stirring!” Grandma looked up at Ruth and smiled... and kept stirring. “Ruthie don’t you know that the stir-ring is very important? You see, when I’m stirring I’m putting all my thoughts and dreams into that pot. I think on what I want life to be. When Cleo came in with his broken hand I wished for him to be well and put my thought in my pot and stirred. As everyone comes in and tells me about their life I put the love and positive thoughts into my pot and stir. Then when they eat it they have been given a pot full of hope. How do you think everything that comes to us, comes to us? I put all my gratitude for my life into this pot and I stir. If we have any kind of problems and I envi-sion a solution and put it in my pot and

stir. My stirring is what keeps me focused on what is good in the world. As long as I stir I know it will all be taken care of. So instead of worrying about all that is around me I keep stirring knowing that all is well.” Ruth didn’t say a word. She just watched Grandma keep stirring with a focused stare and a slight hint of a smile. Grandma was working her magic into her life through stirring. So next time your outer world seems to be too much to bear, or you have a problem that you want solved, do what Grandma said. “Keep stirring. Just keep stirring and envisioning what you want. You’ll make a pot of hope and dreams that will come true for you as long as you just keep stirring while you wait for it to be done. No worries. It’s all taken care of. Just keep stirring.”

Lessons from Great Grandma

By Beth McCain

www.amerishop.biz28

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It was 1954. I Love Lucy was the number one television show on the air, Ike and Mamie occupied the White House, and a couple of guys in Southern California opened a coffee and donut shop in a Los Angeles suburb called Lakewood. On a bright, sunshiny California summer day friends Dick Jezak and Harold Butler opened the doors to Danny’s Donuts never thinking for a minute that their cozy coffee house would someday span the globe as the always open Denny’s restaurant chain. Today there are over 1700 locations covering all fifty United States, over 60 locations in Canada, and nearly 600 restaurants in of all places, Japan. Other international locations include Costa Rica, Mexico, New Zealand, and the Caribbean. No matter what one’s opinion may be con-cerning global chain-style restaurants in general, Denny’s has carved out a very loyal customer base for one simple reason: they serve good food, attractively priced, with kind service and high restaurant cleanli-ness standards. It doesn’t hurt that they are always open, too. Of course, as with any restaurant, it’s all about the food. Denny’s has always stayed a step ahead of its competition by rolling out new menu items while still keeping the old favorites available. The American Classics menu provides tasty fare that your mom and dad would have never thought possible of a Denny’s, and their desserts compare to anything found at a bakery or pie shop. Don’t forget, they got their start by selling the best donuts in town.

In Lake of the Ozarks the Denny’s restau-rant provides much more to their guests than even a typical Denny’s does. This is because the management, cooks, and servers are your friends and neighbors, too. Ask manager Chris Reed and he’ll be the first to say that his staff holds themselves to a higher standard because they are part of the community his location proudly serves. In addition to the loyal regular customers that Chris’s restaurant serves daily, he knows his restaurant also provides a home away from home for the many travelers who visit the Lake of the Ozark area, and who stay at the adjoining Quality Inn. The Osage Beach location is a franchise store which is another reason the management and staff go the extra mile to provide the best food and service that they can. They know that they cannot rely on corporate backing or become complacent because the success of their restaurant is tied directly to their livelihoods. They understand that diners have a number of choices and so they have to go above and beyond the public’s expectations. A quick look at their YELP.com reviews show that they are meeting and exceeding these expectations and plan to do so for a very long time to come. Like all Denny’s worldwide, the Osage Beach Lake of the Ozarks location is always open. They provide counter service, as well as booth and table service, and there is even a separate section for guests who prefer to smoke. They accept call-in orders, and serve as the breakfast option for the Quality Inn guests as well. They are located at 3499 Bagnell Dam Boulevard at the corner of Highway 54 and Bagnell Dam Boulevard. For more informa-tion, or to call in a take out order, call (573) 365-4980.

Welcome to America’s DinerIt’s Not Your Mom and Dad’s Denny’s Anymore

by Lee McCain

Happy Denny’s diners get ready to chow down on the world famous Grand Slam breakfast. The Grand Slam made its first appearance on the Denny’s menu the day Jimmy Carter became president: January 20, 1977. No word if it came with a side of peanuts.


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4320 Osage Beach ParkwayOsage Beach Mo 65065

573-434-2178

Joe HerxSales and Leasing Representative • 573-680-7881

807 Southwest Boulevard • Jefferson City • MACHENS.COM

47 Years of Service


2008 Chevrolet HHR LS

$10, 4954-Door SUV • 2.2L • 59K Miles

2008 Chrysler Town & Country

$11, 9953.3L V6 • 95K Miles

2005 Chevy Equinox LS AWD

$8,9953.4L V6 • 113K Miles


$16, 4955.3L V8 • SFI Flex • 124K Miles

2006 Buick Rendezvous CX

$9,995AWD • 3.5L V6 • 95K Miles

2007 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

$8, 9953.3L V6 • 101K Miles

2006 Ford Escape Ltd 4WD

$9, 9953.0L V6 • 101K Miles

GET YOUR FIRST OIL CHANGE

FREEwith purchase of a vehicle

Expires 12/31/12. One coupon per day. Not to be used with any other offers. Some restrictions and limits may

apply not mentioned in this coupon. Contact merchant for complete details. Void where prohibited. Taxes are extra.

Justin Bieber was just a Canadian pre-teen post-ing videos of his songs to the internet a few years ago. Then Scooter Braun, a former mar-keting executive, and later Beiber’s manager, stumbled across his vid-eos. The rest is history. “Bieber Fever” swept the world, and the singer-songwriter from Canada has gone on to sell 15 million albums since his first studio track was released in 2009. He is literally a world-wide phenomenon. He is also ridiculously, ridiculously wealthy, and is currently worth $100 million. He celebrated his eighteenth birthday earlier this year. What do you give to a young superstar who could literally buy a small nation? Apparently, you give him a black Fisker Karma… which he then chromes… and gets pulled over for speeding in.

The Fisker Karma, produced by Fisker Automotive, was sup-posed to launch in 2009, but did not actually leave the assembly line until July of 2011, making Justin Bieber’s one of the first available. A plug-in hybrid, the super luxury subcompact sports sedan, features a 2.0 liter Turbo-charged Ecotec VVT DI LNF I4 engine, and two 120 kW electric motors,

and 479 N-m torque. The electric motors run off of a 20.1 kWh lithium-ion battery. It comes with a solar-power roof, which provides back-up power to the ion battery, as well as interior climate control. The interior of the car is also constructed par-tially of reclaimed or salvaged wood, and uses cow hide that may have been rejected for imperfections by other manufactur-ers in its leather interior. It can go from

Here Comes the Biebermobile!

0-60 in 6.3 seconds, drive 52 miles on one electrical charge, and gets 26 miles per gallon. It currently costs approximately $110,000. The car has had some troubles since it went to market, and everything from motors, to coolant systems, to fan

units have been replaced in the limited number of vehicles that have been sold. There is no word yet on whether Young Mister Bieber has experienced any issues, but if he does, it will most certainly be worldwide, front page, news.

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808 stadium blvd - jefferson city - 573-761-7334www.rentngoautos.com

These Services Included With Your Rental

• Oil Changes, Tire Rotation, and Fluid Refills • 3 Year Limited Warranty

• We Pay Your Sales Tax While You Are Making Payments to Us• License Plates are on the Car When You Rent It

• Qualify for the Tax Deal with your Pay Stubs• Don’t Worry About Down Payments, Call Us for the Details

Affordable • Safe • Reliable

NO PROBLEM!

NOCREDIT?

Amerishop December 2012/January 2013

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