Impressions of Missouri (Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield: how much, hotel, living)

[Inoxkeeper]

I hate billboards and think they should be outlawed. I travel 70 a lot and often fantasize about cutting them all down with a really big chainsaw.

[kealoha]

Re the billboards on I70, a few years ago there was a proposal to limit them, so the billboard companies rushed to build new ones so that if the bill passed, the existing ones would be "grandfathered". that is why there are so many now. the plan to try to decrease the number backfired, unfortunately.

The man who talked about single people being railroaded into care facilities sounds paranoid to me. It is true that if an individual is no longer able to make decisions and to care for themselves the court can appoint a guardian, but that does not result in "the authorities" confiscating the person's belongings. Belongings might be sold at some point to help pay for needed care. I believe most or all states have a similar system of guardianship.

[kfrazier]

Strafford? Maybe? Anyways, I live in West Plains and we are relatively well known as having a meth problem. However almost all meth production takes place in a small area known as Silom Springs in the region around West Plains. You basically have no knowledge of what they do out there as no one wants to venture into their private kingdom out in the woods. In town you would never know there was a problem. Also the area code for our area 417 is slang for meth in many parts of the world.

[ajf131]

I agree about billboards, they are a nuisance.

[ORexpat]

Originally Posted by kfrazier

Strafford? Maybe? Anyways, I live in West Plains and we are relatively well known as having a meth problem. However almost all meth production takes place in a small area known as Silom Springs in the region around West Plains. You basically have no knowledge of what they do out there as no one wants to venture into their private kingdom out in the woods. In town you would never know there was a problem. Also the area code for our area 417 is slang for meth in many parts of the world.

I'm kind of sorry that I didn't get to West Plains. I've heard some nice things about it. I read an article in the local newspaper which referred to "trailer trash hillbillies" dealing drugs around there, and it scared me off.

[ShadowCaver]

Originally Posted by ORexpat

I'm kind of sorry that I didn't get to West Plains. I've heard some nice things about it. I read an article in the local newspaper which referred to "trailer trash hillbillies" dealing drugs around there, and it scared me off.

Few points...
1, people that live in trailers and deal in drugs are trash, pure and simple trash.
2, those that deal in drugs should be hung by their privates, naked, covered in sugar water, over a pit of fire ants.
and most importantly,,,
3, Hillbillies do not live in trailers.

[Lake Junkie]

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

and most importantly,,,
3, Hillbillies do not live in trailers.

So true. The hillbillies I know live in houses & cabins & sometimes really cool houseboats.

[flinty]

What is life like in Columbia? I know it's a college town.

[ORexpat]

I simply read this referral to "trailer trash hillbillies" in the West Plains newspaper. I have only known one hillbilly in my life, and he was a native of Willow Springs, living in--you guessed it--a mobile home,-- in Oregon.
He is a very nice person, and says he doesn't often visit Willow Springs anymore because of "bad influences."

[ORexpat]

Originally Posted by flinty

What is life like in Columbia? I know it's a college town.

I didn't go to Columbia this trip, so can't comment. Someone may have posted comments on it under other threads.