Published Articles

While in journalism school, I completed capstone courses in both magazine design and writing. I have published more than 20 articles in magazines such as Inside Columbia and Vox. Below is a sampling of my published articles.

Sound of Silence
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Intro: Stephanie Logan’s white minivan approaches her two-story brick home on Bright Star Drive. Two of her children and three neighborhood friends run from the home and jump in. Despite the car’s seven-minute-fast clock, the car pool is late to swim team practice. The car zooms, a momentum paralleled by Stephanie’s whipped-back ponytail and “mother on the go” T-shirt and tennis shoes. Stephanie approaches an intersection with a never-ending stream of cars in the opposing direction. She sighs while glancing in both directions, then looks at her rearview mirror.

The Light-hearted Art of Kelly Coalier
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Intro: A comic book cover with characters from the 1960s television series “Bewitched” hangs next to Kelly Coalier’s artworks in his Nifong Boulevard store, Orchids and Art. The book was given to him during his first job at The Bookhouse, a small shop in St. Louis County, where he lifted and organized boxes at age 14. The comics were the perfect payment for a kid who grew up with “Rocky & Bullwinkle” and “Looney Tunes.”

Steve Shelton: A Glimpse Into The Past
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Intro: The outside of Steve Shelton’s gray, one-story house is a clean-lined, 1960s design. The inside is an enchanting medley of 18th- and 19th-century treasures. With antique picture frames decorating the walls and sculptures on display throughout the living room, the atmosphere is richly sophisticated yet exudes a warm and inviting air.

Voices of Roscoe
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Description: Reporting and interviewing for Poweringanation.org. I interviewed six representatives of Roscoe, Texas, who explain how the town has benefited from allowing wind turbines to be installed on its land

Wanted: natural-born products
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Intro: Organic apples, kiwis and avocados have been lining grocery store aisles for years, but pesticide-free living isn’t just for food anymore. Naturally grown products for the home and body are joining the nationwide trend toward “going green” — even mainstream discount retailers such as Wal-Mart are in on the action. From organic candles and lotion to makeup, toothbrushes and even toilet paper, organics are all the rage, and they’re ready to take over every room in the house.Slow-to-change shoppers can still start in the kitchen. Prepare clean greens with organic spatulas, graters and spoons, all available locally at Clover’s Natural Market. And don’t stop at the cutting board; carry the natural theme to the table with an organic tablecloth, place mats, napkins and even corn holders available at nativeorganic.com.

Salad Days
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Intro: Viva la vegetables! Leaf it to Columbia’s local restaurants to come up with zestful salad creations. With cheese to please and sweet blessings from the dressings, these five salads are indulgences you won’t want to fork over to your dinner companion. Go on and get fresh with these glistening greens.

Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ
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Intro: Authentic blues beats and savory barbecue eats are on the agenda this month when Boone County National Bank hosts the Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ Festival, a two-day outdoor extravaganza in downtown Columbia. The bank is celebrating its past with a festive gift to Columbia for its 150th anniversary.

Digging History
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Intro: Cattails on Bill and Judy Heffernan’s farm sway freely, a movement paralleled by hundreds of shimmering plastic flags. The flags mark spots where shoveling has unearthed hundreds of rocks and an occasional squiggly, peach-colored worm. But no one can see or feel the biggest movement of this farm; it’s buried in the history of the land, where long lines of covered wagons traveled nearly 200 years ago.

Look at what the neighbors did
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Intro: Drivers beware: eye-catching houses ahead. Cottage quaintness or contemporary punch is all it takes to get a rubberneck reaction. Vox knocks on the doors of a few of Columbia’s most remarkable houses to unlock the stories behind the most talked-about homes on the block.

Lend a helping hand
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Intro: Disclaimer: This article is rated PG. The following story will contain no refernces to the Divinyls’ infamous song “I Touch Myself.” There will be no advice about which touch will lead your lover into ecstasy. In fact, this feel-good story is clean as a whistle.

A Watercolor World
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Intro: Rust-hued stones incline with the slope of the surrounding land. Throughout lush green patches, shimmers of tangerine mimic the trickle of streaming water. At first glance, the water looks like iced tea, but a closer look reveals the surrounding cerulean sky and feathery clouds, a reflection much like a Claude Monet masterpiece.

Behold the miracle of live
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Intro: It takes a live performance to get all of a musician’s flavor, and Columbia’s venues are cooking up hot music scenes. We surveyed experts from The Blue Note, Cherry Street Artisan, Eastside Tavern and The Martini Bar to compile the following list of masters of the stage.

The gift of taste
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Intro: On the first day of shopping, Vox gave to me an answer to all my fashion gift pleas. Have you been plotting to “take care” of Mom’s fanny pack before the next family vacation? Does your dad look like a future contestant on What Not to Wear? Would you rather eat a stale fruitcake than look at the atrocious outfit grandma is wearing? This Christmas, do everyone a favor, and give the gift of good fashion. With your subtle and tactful style suggestions, the whole family will be singing, “Here comes Santa Claus; there go fashion flaws.”