Free Republic

After months of protesting Columbia’s smoking ordinance and spearheading a failed campaign to have it repealed, Joel Thiel, co-owner of Otto’s Corner Bar & Grill, said he decided this week to close doors for good. Julia Robinson photos Above, Brett Wisman, left, and Kristal Allen smoke cigarettes after dinner last night at Otto’s Corner Bar & Grill in downtown Columbia. Below, Otto’s co-owner Joel Thiel works yesterday in the restaurant. Otto’s will close next week, a move Thiel blamed on the city’s smoking ban. He said sales have been down 30 percent since the ban took effect in January. "Our...

Memorial Day weekend has throughout our history been a time of reflection, remembering our honored service people who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our freedom. In locales around the country, protesters and anti-military organizations that have 364 other days of the year, are not happy with that and also want to use Memorial Day and myriad celebrations across the country to push their "peace" at any price agenda. Instead of "honoring" our service members, active and veterans, by thanks and remembrance, they choose an "in your face" approach of political activism and leafleting. That, sadly was...

My AAR for Operation Simply Shred, Columbia, MO May 26, 2007I left my home at around 6:15 pm on Friday night to stay at the home of FReeper friends, Dogrobber and bluesagewoman in Columbia, MO.  After lots of stop and go rush hour type traffic of the folks headed to the Lake of the Ozarks for the Memorial Day weekend, I made it to their home at around 8:45 or so.  Rita showed me around their lovely home, and we sat up yapping until around 11, and then crashed.The next morning we got up and got ourselves ready to head...