Arts + Culture

From Springfield to the Screen:

Film & Culture  ·  Springfield, MissouriA Hollywood star, an award-winning indie film, and a city that showed up. How Springfield, Missouri quietly became the heart of one of independent film’s most emotionally honest stories.Springfield City Lifestyle  ·  May 2026There are films that get made in spite of their limitations, and then there are films that are made better because of them. Dust to Malibu is the independent drama that had its Springfield premiere at the...

Arts + Culture

At the Heart of the Mother Road:

Travel & Culture  ·  Springfield, MissouriSpringfield City Lifestyle  ·  May 2026On April 30, 2026, NBC's TODAY Show brought its Third Hour to Springfield's Birthplace Plaza for the Route 66 centennial. Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer, and Laura Jarrett found a city ready for its moment.One hundred years ago, on April 30, 1926, a telegram sent from downtown Springfield officially named a stretch of highway that would become the most iconic road in America. Route 66 was born right...

Fitness

Four Women, One Mission

Meet the women of Achieving Your Best: Four health professions with a passion for health Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Shannon Cay and Tiffany Enowski Achieving Your Best is all about helping individuals live their best life. The AYB team of professionals offers personal training, metabolic testing, and nutritional consultation. Among those team members are a group of highly qualified women who make AYB stand out in the community. Adrianne Hughes – Marketing Manager, Trainer ...

Health + Wellness

Redefining Breast Imaging

Amanda and Logan Lackey, owners of Breast Imaging of the Ozarks, offer women a gentle approach to breast health Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Shannon Cay For many women, the words mammogram, breast imaging, and breast health carry an undercurrent of anxiety. The sterile exam rooms, the long and uncomfortable wait time, and the delay in receiving test results can make a vulnerable experience even more intimidating. However, Amanda Lackey, MD, husband Logan Lackey, MD, MBA, and...

Local Services

Putting Down Roots

How Jasmine LeBlanc is rebuilding local food in southwest Missouri Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Ashley Grant Located less than 20 miles northwest of Springfield, the community of Ash Grove sits between farmland and subdivisions. Here, single mom and homesteader Jasmine LeBlanc is building relationships between farmers and rural counties, driven by her conviction that local food can strengthen bodies and communities. Jasmine’s story, deeply rooted in faith, didn’t start with a...

Shopping

Ladies' Shopping Guide

Curated finds and local charm in every corner of Springfield Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Provided Small, locally owned shops are the heartbeat of any city’s shopping scene. From thoughtfully constructed collections to warm, personal service, each shop has a story to tell—one that celebrates individuality, supports community, and invites shoppers to discover something as unique as they are. Springfield's Shopping Guide for Hand-Selected Goods and One-of-a-Kind Finds ...

Local Services

A Thoughtful Refresh

Howliday Pet Resort gets a fresh look while moving forward with purpose, staying rooted in community Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Tiffany Enowski After more than a decade of serving local pet owners, the team behind Howliday Pet Resort is stepping into an exciting new season, one of continued growth, a refreshed brand and the same trusted care that has defined the business since their beginning. Owner Summer Gerhardt shares about their journey, what clients can expect from the pet...

Style + Beauty

Skin in the Game

Why Skincare Is A Long Game Worth Playing Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Shannon Bowers Today’s world is built on the expectation of instant results. So when it comes to skincare, investing time and money into healthy, glowing skin can feel counterintuitive. There is no overnight transformation, no one-time fix for a big reveal – and yet, for April Wilkie, esthetician and owner of Healing Hands Skin Therapy in Springfield, Missouri, that is precisely the point. Like any meaningful...

Travel

Welcoming Spring in the Ozarks

As spring awakens across the Ozarks, consider these great ways to welcome its arrival Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Provided When spring arrives in the Ozarks, it arrives quietly. It delicately tiptoes in by way of warmer afternoons, budding flowers in the fields, and fresh breezes that smell of sunshine. Then, almost overnight, the Ozarks are bursting with new colors, signaling its arrival. In Springfield and beyond, there are many ways to welcome the season for those who wish to...

Finance + Legal Services

A Sound Investment

One Composer’s Commitment to Her Craft and Her Community Article by Ashley Grant | Photography by Ashley Grant While most might reduce the meaning of the word “investing” to numbers on a screen, Springfield pianist and composer Cindy Dittrich has built a life that proves some of the most rewarding returns are measured in confidence and creativity. Cindy’s passion for music began almost before she can remember. Growing up near Chicago, music was a soft yet steady anchor in her daily life...