Impressions of Missouri (Columbia, West Plains, Willow Springs: travel, mobile home, college)

[ORexpat]

Originally Posted by Boof

OR and Caver,

Very interesting what you say about your experiences with Motel ownership/management being dominated by Eastern Indians.

When we lived in CA, I decided I would like to work in a Hotel. I researched the local Hotels in the area, looked for information regarding the owners & managers, and even found corporate information on them.

What I found was that of the 7 or 8 companies I researched, all but 1 were owned AND operated by East Indian compaines. And most of what I found is that there are big corporations that own several different 'brands' of hotels, and the majority of the staff were East Indian as well. Interesting it is.

OR, it's nice to hear you enjoyed your trip to MO. Sorry to hear you had a detour to the ER, but at least you're ok now. I don't know if that was your first trip or not, but hopefully you'll be able to come back and explore the southern part of MO, and see what she has to offer. From what I'm told, the Northern part is more flat, whereas the Southern part is more hilly.

I just hope you find exactly what you're looking for and are able to settle in soon! One word of advice though....in terms of renting for a year to look for a house; We thought we'd need a while to find our home too, so we got into an apartment with a 3 month lease. Ha Ha Ha.....we found our dream home on the 6th. day of looking. So, we arrived in MO on 6-8 and moved in to our new house on 7-13. We ended up paying the last months rent even though we didn't live there. So, if you rent a home, try to get short terms, just in case you find something sooner than you anticipate. That way you won't be 6 months into a 12 month lease and have to pay extra rent or penalties. Just a suggestion....

Wishing you all the best,
Boof

This is very interesting, and would explain the motel room problem in Missouri.
I did see quite a bit of the southern part, and I could appreciate how beautiful the Ozarks were but yet not feel they were for me. The NW part I was in is beautiful! Rolling hills, little copses of trees. I think buying as quickly as possible would be the solution, and it is not expensive.
There was one real benefit from my trip to the ER. They gave me a coupon good for a $54 a night rate at the Hyatt, across from the capitol. It was beautiful, with its 3 and a half story waterfall in the lobby, and they had excellent food. What a deal!

[ajf131]

In my view, I always have a changing impression of Missouri since I've lived here. Missouri I will say is a state with a lot of potential. Landscape-wise Missouri is probably the most diverse state in the country. The Northern half of Missouri is generally gentle rolling hills and looks like the Midwest...most of the Southern part to me looks like the Midwest blended in with larger, more rugged terrain and hills that are sometimes seem mountainous. Extreme Southeastern Missouri and the bootheel looks like Arkansas. It's completely flat and open terrain, and cotton and tobacco grow down there.

[MoNative34]

Originally Posted by ajf131

In my view, I always have a changing impression of Missouri since I've lived here. Missouri I will say is a state with a lot of potential. Landscape-wise Missouri is probably the most diverse state in the country. The Northern half of Missouri is generally gentle rolling hills and looks like the Midwest...most of the Southern part to me looks like the Midwest blended in with larger, more rugged terrain and hills that are sometimes seem mountainous. Extreme Southeastern Missouri and the bootheel looks like Arkansas. It's completely flat and open terrain, and cotton and tobacco grow down there.

Now were on the same page ajf!!

[Versatile]

I think it is just "hogwash". There is no population of size in small towns to support this theroy. I can guarantee you that strangers from anywhere in Mo's small towns are double scrutinized. This is supported by the well known idea that you are not really accpted in these rural areas for about 5 yrs or so. Anyone setting up a drug lab even if they are in cahoots with any local law enforcement will get caught in a very short time.
The Mo Highway Patrol is a very professional bunch and they are very present in rural counties. So even on the occasion that there might be a corrupt cop or two the HP sniffs them out very quick. There are ample ways for anyone to turn in corrupt officials without having any contact with the local officials.
Please note that the individual that gave the original poster this info was talking a drug conspiracy as well as a timber theft conspiracy. There might have been a shred of truth as to what the man was telling; but the facts were changed to make it more interesting.
The shooting in Skidmore was a vigilante justice shooting. That did not involve any law enforcement other than the investigation they did.
Look at this News-Leader.com | Local News

[ShadowCaver]

Do not disagree w/ your overall premise of the guy adding some fantasy to the truth, but,,, that NL article does say

Nationwide, small meth labs produced only 20 percent of the meth supply, even at their peak, the DEA says. The bulk is created in large, professional-style labs and smuggled into the country from Mexico and Canada. The DEA estimates that 80 percent to 90 percent of the meth in the United States is imported. "We know that meth is coming from Mexico in significant amounts," Payne says.

which confirms at least his point regarding the origin of the meth...

BTW, as to Indian ownership of hotels, that is not confined to just Missouri.

[Versatile]

We stopped at The Generals Inn in Tennessee one time and it was Indian owned and at 9:00am the hot water went away. We thought they turned it off.

[ORexpat]

Originally Posted by Versatile

I think it is just "hogwash". There is no population of size in small towns to support this theroy. I can guarantee you that strangers from anywhere in Mo's small towns are double scrutinized. This is supported by the well known idea that you are not really accpted in these rural areas for about 5 yrs or so. Anyone setting up a drug lab even if they are in cahoots with any local law enforcement will get caught in a very short time.
The Mo Highway Patrol is a very professional bunch and they are very present in rural counties. So even on the occasion that there might be a corrupt cop or two the HP sniffs them out very quick. There are ample ways for anyone to turn in corrupt officials without having any contact with the local officials.
Please note that the individual that gave the original poster this info was talking a drug conspiracy as well as a timber theft conspiracy. There might have been a shred of truth as to what the man was telling; but the facts were changed to make it more interesting.
The shooting in Skidmore was a vigilante justice shooting. That did not involve any law enforcement other than the investigation they did.
Look at this News-Leader.com | Local News

Thanks for the information, Versatile. It seems you are better informed than I. I read the article and it states what I've heard elsewhere about meth. I am glad to know the Missouri police are so vigilant. And, I apologize to the residents of the other town beginning with S (which had its innards bleeped), which I falsely identified as the site of the vigilante justice.

[mrsgenealogy]

Don't feel too bad, OR! We all make mistakes...one only has to go through our posts to see that! That means we've got grace for others who as that Get Smart guy used to say, "missed it by THAT MUCH!"

[northbayeric]

Originally Posted by ajf131

In my view, I always have a changing impression of Missouri since I've lived here. Missouri I will say is a state with a lot of potential. Landscape-wise Missouri is probably the most diverse state in the country. The Northern half of Missouri is generally gentle rolling hills and looks like the Midwest...most of the Southern part to me looks like the Midwest blended in with larger, more rugged terrain and hills that are sometimes seem mountainous. Extreme Southeastern Missouri and the bootheel looks like Arkansas. It's completely flat and open terrain, and cotton and tobacco grow down there.

I might just quibble a little with the argument that Missouri is the most diverse state in the country landscape-wise. I think that distinction would have to go to California. It's amazing that Badwater Basin, at 282 feet below sea level, is located less than 100 miles from Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states at 14,495 feet. Along U.S. Highway 99 in the Central Valley, it's as flat as Interstate 57 going up to Chicago. But on Interstate 5 going up the "Grapevine" toward Los Angeles, you ascend from about 750 feet to over 4,100 feet in less than 15 miles. There's bone-dry deserts and redwood rainforests that average over 100 inches of rain a year.

But......

I think Missouri is the most diverse state, landscape-wise, in the Midwest. When I grew up in the St. Louis area, I didn't get to travel much; so now that my wife and I have gotten to enjoy two wonderful vacations in Missouri together (plus two additional ones where I was there by myself), we can both say that anyone who thinks it is "flyover country" doesn't know what he or she is talking about! I don't like the endless parade of billboards along Interstate 70, especially those for Passions "Adult" Superstore. But get off the interstate and onto Highway 17 or 19 or 21 or 79, or Route K or Highway HH, etc., and you're in for a treat! Much of California is so dry that there aren't that many trees compared to most of Missouri--generally a loose scattering of oak trees amidst dry brown grass. Or you're in the desert. Unless you're in the high Sierras or up north along the coast past central Mendocino County, the summers are brown while Missouri is green and lush. Call me crazy , but I think the extra humidity is often worth it.

[ORexpat]

I understand humidity is very good for the skin.
I avoided highway 70. I had already been warned.