Voice of the Cardinals Coming to Poplar Bluff

Poplar Bluff, MO - Title sponsor Butler County EMS and the Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff are proud to announce the Fifth Annual Boys & Girls Club Steak & Burger event featuring Cardinals Hall of Fame and "Voice of the Cardinals," Mike Shannon.

Mr. Shannon will be speaking on November 10, 2016, at the Fifth Annual Boys & Girls Club Steak & Burger fundraising event to be held at the Black River Coliseum in downtown Poplar Bluff. All proceeds from the night will go to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff.

"The Boys & Girls Club is truly grateful that the Cardinals have helped our mission previously with such important members of their franchise, such as Michael Wacha, Mike Matheney, and Jim Edmonds," said Abbey Heuiser, BGC Director of Development. "This year, we feel like we hit a home run with bringing in a legend such as Mike Shannon."

Mr. Shanon, a two-time World Series champion, finished his 45th season with the Cardinals radio Network this year. He began his career with the Cardinals in 1962 as a right fielder and moved to third base in 1967. He entered the broadcast booth in 1972, where he remains the "Voice of the Cardinals," calling home games for the Cardinals to this day.

The St. Louis native is also well-known for his philanthropic activities, receiving the St. Louis Variety Club 1996 Champion for Kids award for going about and beyond for community children. Mr. Shannon will be sharing his experiences of being a Cardinal both on and off the field with guests who attend the Steak & Burger event.

During the event, children from the Boys & Girls Club will get the opportunity to meet community members and auction off a steak made-to-order to the highest bidder at each dinner table. Remaining guests will enjoy a hand-crafted burger prepared by Tasteful Creations.

The event will also feature a silent auction, where guests can place their bids throughout the evening on items donated by local businesses. Guests will also have to opportunity to participate in a live auction of several high-dollar items and packages.

General admission tickets to the event are $75 and include dinner and program. VIP Tickets are $150 and include admission to the Pre-Party sponsored by Southeast Health, dinner, and program. Doors open at the Black River Coliseum at 5:30 p.m., and dinner starts at 7 p.m. Sponsorships are also available. Contact Abbey Heuiser at (573) 776-1690 to make a reservation.

The Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff serves more than 600 children form the community each year. The annual Steak & Burger Event is the largest fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff.

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Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Hosts Pastor Appreciation Luncheon

As a sign of gratitude to the ministry in our local area, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center held their first Pastor Appreciation Luncheon. October is recognized as Pastor Appreciation Month around the world. 

 A meal was shared between local pastors, pastor's wives, youth pastors, chaplains, Chief Executive Officer Larry Rodgers, and other staff members of Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. 

The discussion around the room focused on positive effects of ministry within the hospital and the community. Those who are currently serving as chaplains expressed their impactful experiences serving patients and staff alike. 

If you are currently serving as in a pastoral role in our area, thank you so much for the work that you do; it does not go unnoticed. 

Win Tickets to See Martina McBride in Poplar Bluff

Martina McBride's Love Unleashed Tour is coming to The Black River Coliseum on October 14, and you and a loved-one can go see her for FREE! Fill out the form below and share this post on Facebook for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Martina McBride!

We've got more than one pair to giveaway, so you've got a great chance to win! All winners must pick up tickets from our Poplar Bluff office.

Click Here to Learn More about the concert!

Ultimate Deer Hunter's Giveaway 2016

UPDATE: (November 14, 2016) - Congratulations to this year's winner, Chris Jeffries of Neelyville, Missouri! Chris entered for his chance to win at Break Time Gas in Silva, Missouri!

Chris Jefferies (2nd from the Left) is your Ultimate Fall Hunter's Giveaway for 2016!

There's always a chance to WIN BIG with Fox Radio Network!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN WIN A $100 IN CASH FOR OUR CHRISTMAS CASH EXTRAVAGANZA!!!

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Looking to get some new hunting gear? Well, we have partnered with Busch Beer and Wal-Mart once again for another Ultimate Deer Hunters Giveaway!

Last year's winner, Rowland Thompson of Ellsinore, won a nice set of camo from Wal-Mart, a cooler, deer stand, and smoker from Luecke Distributing & Busch Beer, and a $350 gift card from Fox Radio to use at Trigger's Gun Shop.

Left to right: Justin Rines from Luecke Distributing, Rowland Thompson,
and Michael Richardson of Wal-Mart.

Simply visit Wal-Mart Super Center in Poplar Bluff, or one of the other participating locations listed below to sign up for your chance to win! Our winner will be announced on November 4, 2016, so act now!

Poplar Bluff
Wal-Mart Super Center
Taylor's Food Rite
Minit Food Mart
Kirk’s Quick Stop
303 Package Liquor
Harps Store #272
Rick’s 66
Kroger
The Villa
Munch-N-Pump
Walmart Neighborhood Market
Southside Sinclair
Money Mizer
Huck’s
JD’s Village Express
Village Stop

Doniphan
Handy Dandy
Doniphan Quick Connection
Current River Bait & Tackle
CJ's Package
Bart's Package
ShopKo
24/7 Mini Mart

Annapolis
The Liquor Locker
Kaemfe’s Place

Dudley
Lexxmart

Lesterville
Jack’s Convenience
Lenny’s

Ellington
Halls Package Liqour

Ellsinore
60 West Stop N Go
The Store
Simmons Grocery

Grandin
Steiger’s Grocery
Hilltop Package

Greenville
Greenville Gas Mart

Centerville
Peach Orchard

Wappapello
Rhodes 101
Millie’s

Centerville
Centerville Quick Stop

Piedmont
Break Time #3126
Berer's Piedmont Gas Mart
Casey's General Store
Dollar General #1237
Express Mart Pit Stop
Clearwater Liquor Store

Neelyville
Taylor's The Junction
Taylor's Stateline Package
StateLine Sprits & Beverage

Naylor
Naylor Quick Connection

Silva
Break Time #3127

Van Buren
Current River Express
Dasey, INC.
Smalley’s Convenience

Williamsville
Holmes Store
Corner Quick Stop
The Corner Store

Stream the Presidential Debate LIVE

Can't make it to a television? Did you cut your cable? No worries, you can stream tonight's big Presidential Debate right here! Click the video below to stream The Presidential Debate, powered Youtube!

Why VC is Ruining NBA 2K and How to Fix It

The newest iteration of the NBA 2K franchise is here, and while 2K continues to improve the game in many facets, there is one particular factor that continues to be further emphasized, and that continues to ruin the experience: Virtual Currency.

“VC” isn’t dissimilar from your traditional in-game currency, XP or experience points,  that is prominently featured in RPGs, and other sports franchises like FIFA and Madden. In theory, you spend time playing the game to earn XP or even in-game currency in RPGs, in order to purchase aesthetic or tactile upgrades. One of the biggest challenges in game design, is understanding how to best dole out XP, and reward players at a satisfying rate, while also providing enough of a challenge to keep players glued to their controllers.

It would appear to most people that NBA 2K is very much doing the same thing, and it wouldn’t be necessarily wrong for them to think so. You can ultimately play the game and grind out VC to take your MyCareer player from a vanilla 55 overall ranking to a perfect 99. Cool.

So where’s the problem?

Over the past few iterations of NBA 2K we have seen VC become more prominent. You can download their app for a chance to win VC daily. You can answer a trivia question in the NBA 2K TV to win some VC. Everything you do in-game unlocks VC, or at lease it should. So while it seems that 2K is giving you every opportunity to earn VC, it plays off more like they’re giving you a constant reminder that you will never have enough VC. That is where the nasty phrase “micro-transactions” comes into play. 

We saw micro-transactions really start to become a thing in online multiplayer titles, and in mobile gaming, and has slowly moved its way into major console gaming. Remember Candy Crush? “Oh, you don't quite have what it takes to beat this level, give us $0.99 and we’ll give you an extra move.” These prompts are spread throughout every element of these games. Sound familiar?

In NBA 2K17, your MyCareer player starts out at a lowly 55 overall, even if you had downloaded and played through The Prelude and played significantly well. In The Prelude you go through your player’s time in college, and ultimately deciding your fate in the upcoming NBA draft. I wasn’t stellar by any means, but I succeeded enough to earn a spot in the lottery. Historically, players drafted in the lottery can range from mid 60s to low 70s in terms of their overall rating. It appears that regardless of where you are drafted, you start at the vanilla 55 overall. Which is a bit disappointing. The reward doesn’t match the work.

So, let’s move past that. Going through my rookie season, and my player is struggling to get minutes on the court, so I don’t have much time to earn a lot of VC during the game, regardless of how well I perform. I am getting more minutes, but at the rate that I’m going, my player who still hasn't broken the 60 overall mark, the grind ahead of me seems quite daunting. The reward doesn’t match the work.

Then I put in work, and hit every practice that I can, try to manage my endorsement deals to the best of my abilities. What do I get? A bonus 50 VC for an appearance, and an unspecified amount for certain accomplishments in practice. The practices do a good job of letting you know how much more work you need to put in in order to unlock more upgrades. I need to specify that though. Even if you have the VC, you still have to put in work to unlock the ability to purchase your upgrades. So you’re not even really doubling down, and working toward the same goal. the reward doesn’t match the work.

Honestly, your best bet to earn VC legitimately is from playing other modes. Luckily, these modes are pretty great. Then again, MyCareer is my mode of choice, and I’m at a disadvantage when I decide to play it. Why am I being penalized for playing the game mode that sold me on the game in the first place? The reward doesn’t match the work.

So, what does this leave us with? The dirty dirty micro-transaction. When it comes to preordering the game you had 3 options. The standard copy of the game, one with some items and VC, and another version with some more items and slightly more VC. These game bundles cost $59.99, $79.99, and $99.99 respectively. Up to this point we have seen many complaints on Twitter regarding the inability to redeem the codes to get the VC that they just payed for.

Via Gamestop

When you go to the upgrade store to purchase upgrades, clothing, or animations, when you checkout, it doesn’t just say “nope, you can’t afford this.” NBA 2K17 allows you to fill your cart to your wildest desires, and then gives you the option to purchase the VC that you would need to be able to afford the purchase.

“Well, at lease you can transfer the VC that you earned in the previous title to the newest iteration of the game!”

HA! Good one! This is easily the most mind-blowing problem that could be remedied fairly easily. I’ve been playing NBA 2K for years, and I buy it every single year (my fault, I know). Outside of games like Fallout 3, Persona 4, and other deep RPGs, there is no other series of games that I put anywhere near as much time in. That applies to each individual game as well. NBA 2K is such an amazing game to help relax at the end of a long work day, and sometimes I’ll find myself playing for hours on end when I get a day off. I play each game to the point where VC isn’t even a concern, I’m playing for the gameplay alone. Which is great, because I’m no longer focused on trying to earn VC to be good, I’m just focusing on my skills moment-to-moment in game. I’m spending time perfecting my post-up moves, learning my dribble moves, figuring out the jump shot and free throws of individual players. I’m earning VC this whole time, and I don’t care because the game itself is good enough. If a newcomer to the franchise picks Team USA, and I pick some random Euro League team, I can beat them, because I am dedicated to the nuances of the game.

Here’s the thing 2K; I love your games. They put most other sports games to shame. I buy your game every year. I put hours upon hours even after I get past the grind of earning VC. I’m afraid to say though, this grind is starting to become tedious to your most dedicated fans. I’m not saying you should get rid of VC, I like dropping 2.5k on a pair of shoes that I can only wear off court. My suggestion, and it’s an easy one: allow us to transfer our VC from previous titles. We have NBA 2K accounts that should be the basis of everything that surrounds our 2K experience, yet you expect me to believe that you can’t access the amount of VC I’ve earned in just the previous iteration of the game. Malarkey!

There are still people who will buy VC. Come out with a sweet shirt with a red panda on it, and I’ll spend $20 to buy it! But please, reward the people who have put in the hours, who have put in the work, and allow them to focus on the nuance of your great basketball simulation.

Who Should (Former) St. Louis Rams Fans Cheer for Now? An Argument for Every Team in the NFL

The NFL season is officially underway, but St. Louis football fans have been left without a team to call their own. Just because Stan Kroenke gave up on St. Louis, doesn’t mean former St. Louis Rams fans have to give up on the National Football League. 

Choosing a new team to follow can be difficult. That is why we have provided an argument for every team in the NFL vying for your loyalty in the 2016-2017 season and beyond.

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AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens went 5-11 in the 2015 campaign, but things are looking up for the team. The defense has improved, and seems to be working towards returning to the Baltimore way. There’s no doubt that NFL teams, or any professional sports team, often takes on the culture and identity of the city that they reside in. The St. Louis Rams, for example, have had an interesting mix of small-town vibes (Kurt Warner), and violent defense (Aaron Donald, Chris Long, Robert Quinn). Baltimore has been known for its strong and violent defense over the years, and has also been a city that has struggled with the amount of violent crimes it sees on a regular basis. St. Louis residents know that struggle all too well, so there’s a lot of room to relate and empathize with the home of the Ravens.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals were on a roll last year until Andy Dalton got hurt. Unfortunately, that seems to be Cincinnati’s biggest issue. Every year, for almost the past decade, the Bengals prove to be one of the more talented teams in the league, but at the same time, whenever it counts, they can’t seem to pull it together. They can blame it on injury last season, but for the most part, there just seems to be a hump that they haven’t been able to get over. Fans of the St. Louis Blues will actually get some strange deja vu following the Bengals. We don’t know what the future holds for the Blues and Bengals, but watching either team guarantees some quality entertainment, as well as a legitimate chance to win week-in and week-out.

Cleveland Browns

Marshall Faulk, Stephen Jackson, Todd Gurley. St. Louis Rams fans have had some great running backs over the years, so maybe you want your new team to focus on the run as well. The Browns are built to run the ball. Duke Johnson Jr. and Isaiah Crowell could really become a surprisingly dangerous running back duo. St. Louis Rams fans have learned to not “expect” wins in recent years, so you should feel right at home cheering for the Browns.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Six: that’s the number of Super Bowl win’s that the Steelers have won, and they could be extremely close to legitimately competing for another one. The Rooney family has run the franchise so well, and there are very little question marks surrounding the front office. St. Louis Rams fans are in a desperate need for stability, and there aren’t many more teams more stable than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

We often think stability equates to boring, but that isn’t always true. Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown are two of the most exciting players in the league today. If Bell can stay out of trouble andBrown continues his dominance, don’t be surprised if we see them both enshrined at the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

NFC North

Chicago Bears

The Bears were pretty impressive in the 2016-2017 opener against the Houston Texans. They ended up losing, unable to score in the second half, but the game could have easily been a blow out. Expectations are very low for the Bears this season, and there are going to be more heartbreakers to come this year, but becoming a Bears fan now is an investment, not a midlife crisis purchase.

Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford had an excellent game against the Indianapolis Colts in their season opener. He spread the ball efficiently, threw for three touchdowns, and had no interceptions. Mixing that with what could be the best pass rush in the division, the Lions could definitely compete against the Bridgewater-less Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. The way that they have handled the departure of Calvin Johnson proves that this franchise is heading in the right direction.

Green Bay Packers

The quintessential small-town team, the Green Bay Packers, could very much be the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL. The same argument could be made about the Steelers, but Green Bay fits the midwest mindset a bit better than the Steelers. Regardless of who you are making the argument for, these three teams are consistently relevant and are some of the best draft and develop professional sports teams.

There is a lot of history in Green Bay, and even if you don’t decide to become a cheesehead in 2016, be sure to place seeing a game at Lambeau Field on your bucket list. It’s a really special experience that is hard to replicate anywhere else.

Minnesota Vikings

The Rams are moving on, and so should you. It’s a new era for your relationship with the NFL, maybe it’s time to join a team that appears to be progressing and changing quite nicely. The Vikings are in their new stadium this year, and coming off of a division title in 2015, Minnesota will be in the playoff discussion for quite some time. Unfortunately, their assumed franchise quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, suffered a nasty injury, and who knows how well he can recover. If Bridgewater is back at full strength in 2017, there could easily be a time where the Vikings are the team to beat in the NFC North, and not the Green Bay Packers.

AFC South

 

Houston Texans

Brock Osweiler looks like he might be worth the money that Houston paid to sign him. Lamar Miller seems to finally have found a team that will run him effectively and often. DeAndre Hopkins is one of the best wide receivers in the league, and he will be even better with Will Fuller becoming a legitimate threat. This is the best this offense has looked since Andre Johnson was at his prime, and Arian Foster had a healthy season. If you’re still unsure about hopping on the Texans’ bandwagon, just realize that we haven’t mentioned J.J. Watt until now. This team is going to be good, and are a few pieces and some experience away from being favorites to win the AFC.

Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck. Also, the Lucas Oil Stadium is only around 3 hours away from St. Louis. Next!

Jacksonville Jaguars

For a while, the Jaguars were the rumored team to be taking an interest in moving to St. Louis. It’s not going to happen. At least, not for the foreseeable future. Which is a bummer, because this is another one of those teams that people are having to take notice of. This passing game is the real deal. They seem to be making a larger effort to make Julius Thomas a relevant tight end again, and Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns are freaks at the wide receiver position. The Jags have their franchise quarterback in Blake Bortles, and it looks like he will be as good as Andy Dalton, at the least, but who knows how far his potential actually goes. The defense is really good, on paper. If they can reach their full potential like Blake Bortles, they’ll give anyone in this division a run for their money.

Tennessee Titans

St. Louis Rams fans are quite familiar with the Tennessee Titans franchise. While they might not be the biggest fans of them from the past, it could be quite the easy transition for NFL fans looking for a new team. What we saw from DeMarco Murray in the season opener against the Vikings has us really excited. Yes, we have seen him eat up the yards when he was in Dallas, but he appears to be an even more explosive threat this year. Murray and Derrick Henry were monsters receiving out of the backfield, against a really solid run defense in the Vikings. We can’t wait to see what they do against teams that aren’t as good at defending the run.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons signing Mohammed Sanu makes Julio Jones an even greater threat. It’s not like he needed the help, but the Falcons have the ability to spread the field with these two wide receivers, and Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman receiving out of the backfield. Unfortunately, their defense is going to have a hard time in this devision full of other devastating offenses.

Carolina Panthers

This probably won’t be the most popular pick amongst your friends or other NFL fans. The Panthers have lost two straight games against the Broncos’ defense: the Super Bowl and their season opener. That’s okay though, they’ll probably be the favorite to win every other game they play this year. That’s why hopping onto the Panthers’ bandwagon will bring you some heat. You know what, though? St. Louis football fans don’t NEED popularity; they need wins, and the Panthers will deliver. Go ahead, we won’t judge. Enjoy cheering for the winning team for the first time in a long time!

New Orleans Saints

It really doesn’t matter who the wide receivers are; Drew Brees can turn anyone into a star, and he proved that in the season opener against the Raiders. Not only is he still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, he is also one of the easiest guys to cheer for. Brees is in a special tier of good character and likable personalities. With Peyton Manning gone, Brees might be the most likable person in the NFL, and a great role model for future generations of St. Louis football fans.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A lot of people thought/hoped Jameis Winston was going to be a bust, and some still think that it’s going to happen. He had a solid rookie season, and will be even better this season. Become a Buccaneers fan now, and get to say, “I told you so!” The fact that Jameis Winston and Mike Evans have the opportunity to play their whole careers together has to be a terrifying thought for any opposing defense.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills

If you are going to become a Bills fan in 2016, it probably has very little to do with football. It probably has everything to do with watching the dumpster fire that is Rex Ryan. There’s a chance that he might not be a head coach in the NFL for much longer, so get your fix of Rex Ryan now before he is forced to take a defensive coordinator job elsewhere. 

Miami Dolphins

The Seahawks are a difficult team for anyone to play for the season opener. So even though Tannehill didn’t have a great game, there is still reason to hope. Why? It seems that this might be Tannehill’s last real shot with the Dolphins. We have reached the precipice with Tannehill, and it’s time for him to prove he can do it, or it’s time that the Dolphins start considering moving in another direction. Running back Doug Martin of the Buccaneers faced the same issue during his contract season in 2015. While Tannehill has a contract that lasts until the 2020 season, that doesn’t mean that the Dolphins would find a way to move him if he can’t deliver. Then again, if he can’t deliver, it might be hard to sell anyone else in the league with his massive contract. The Dolphins are in a pressure cooker situation, and that will be entertaining to watch this season.

New England Patriots

Tom Brady has been suspended, but Jimmy Garappolo has already proven to be a nice replacement during the season opener against a tough Arizona Cardinals defense. That’s just as much evidence of great management as it is Jimmy G’s talent. As long as Bill Belichick is the head coach and/or Kraft continues to run the team as well as he has, the Patriots will continue to be the favorite to win the AFC East. If you’re considering becoming a Patriots fan, you better hope that Brady’s plans for retirement can align with Jimmy G’s contract, which ends in 2018.

New York Jets

J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS?!? So you’re thinking about becoming a Jets fan, huh? Cool. While the New York Giants really seem to capture the postcard culture of the Big Apple, the Jets seem to capture the pizza rat culture of “New Yawk.” The Jets fandom is quite interesting. Loud, outspoken, and undeniably passionate. If they start to win more, which they might because of their improved coaching, Jets fans could become the most insufferable fanbase in the NFL, and it’d be so much fun to be part of that!

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

The first thing that Cowboys fans will try to sell you on as someone looking for a new team to cheer for,  is the notion that Dallas is “America’s Team.” This is true; but only in the same sense that “America’s Got Talent” accurately captures the talent of citizens of the United States. Sure, there are some good things to like. Dak Prescott doesn’t look awful. Ezekiel Elliott appears to be the future of the franchise and he has a solid line to run behind. Then you have all of the reality TV nonsense. Which is fine, if you like that sort of thing. Let’s just hope, for your sake, as a new Cowboys fan, that the Cowboys can get their act together and start to resemble The Voice instead of a group of Chads from the last season of The Bachelorette. 

New York Giants

Odell Beckham and Eli Manning had a great year together in 2015. The Giants also added the rookie Sterling Shepard, and Victor Cruz is healthy for the first time since 2014. There is also a new commitment to the run, and Rashad Jennings looks ready alongside pass catching running back Shane Vereen. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Eli and his Giants, is that you can never count them out. This could be a tight race for the division title and it doesn’t hurt to place your bets on the Giants.

Philadelphia Eagles

With Sam Bradford gone to the Vikings, Carson Wentz is officially the starting quarterback for the Eagles. He was pretty impressive in his NFL debut, but we might take that with a grain of salt (it was against the Browns). With that being said, he looked really good, and he might prove to be a promising player for the City of Brotherly Love.

Speaking of “love.” Philadelphia fans have been known to be pretty unforgiving when it comes to the Eagles. They’ve never hesitated to boo their own players, and maybe as a former Rams fan, you need to let loose some of that tension and hate. Look at the 2016-2017 season as an Eagles fan as an extended anger management session. No-one will think twice about you screaming at your own team.

Washington Redskins

You like that? We like that! Now that the Redskins seem to fully be behind Kirk Cousins, they can finally build a team around him. They’ve added Josh Norman to the secondary. There’s buzz sounding Matt Jones having a breakout year. Jordan Reed could compete to be the best tight end this season. DeSean Jackson is always a home-run deep threat as a wide receiver. If you were to ever become a Washington fan, now is the time. They’re still flying under the radar, but could easily be a playoff team this year.

AFC West

 

Denver Broncos

You might find it hard to hop on the previous Super Bowl winner’s bandwagon. You can catch a lot of flack for it. It also doesn’t help that the Broncos have the best defense in the NFL, but nothing is guaranteed in this league. Peyton Manning is gone, but in terms of pure offense, you won’t be missing out on much. Manning had an awful season in 2015, and Trevor Siemian appears to be a more than comparable quarterback in terms of game management. Will Siemian be as good as Peyton Manning some day? Probably not. He doesn’t have to be though. To bring the Broncos to the Super Bowl, he just needs to take care of the ball, and C.J. Anderson seems poised for a bounce back year, after a slightly disappointing 2015 campaign.

Kansas City Chiefs

Why not keep your fandom in Missouri? The Chiefs have one of the best home-field advantages in the country. Arrowhead Stadium and the culture surrounding it is the most collegiate atmosphere in the NFL. They’re also a playoff team without their starting running back. Honestly, the Chiefs are everything that the Rams have been trying to be in the past 5 years. They rely on their defense. Their quarterback is makes few mistakes. They run the ball efficiently. They get the most out of their wide receiver corps, which features Mizzou alum Jeremy Maclin. It’s not easy for St. Louis sports fans to cheer on Kansas City teams, but it might be worth it to make this the exception to the rule.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are more than likely on the move to Las Vegas. Which means, it will be pretty affordable to catch a Raiders game, as well as watch some other great shows in the desert. This is all just a bonus for you as a new Raiders fan. The Raiders are one of the most exciting young teams in the NFL. Derek Carr is their franchise quarterback. Khalil Mack is one of the best pass rushers in the league. Amari Cooper is proving to be an elite wide receiver. The supporting cast is also rock solid. The offensive line is a hidden gem, and the young running back corps is stacked.  The Raiders will be making a deep run in the playoffs before too long. Hop on the hype train now and get a good seat before everyone else does.

San Diego Chargers

If the Chargers move into the new stadium in Los Angeles with the Rams, the irony of claiming the “other” LA team has us rolling with laughter already. There’s no shame in becoming a fan of a team out of spite. Also, Philip Rivers is one of the most under-appreciated players in the NFL who makes wearing a bolo tie cool!

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

If you’re going to cheer for a former St. Louis NFL team, why does it have to be the Rams? It doesn’t. The Arizona Cardinals have been a division rival, so it might be a tad bittersweet to become a Cardinal fan, but chances are, you are already a St. Louis Cardinal fan. The Arizona Cardinals were once a St. Louis team as well. Put all of that red and white you have to good use, and start pulling for the team in Phoenix. If Carson Palmer can stay healthy, they might have a real shot at the Super Bowl for the next 2 or 3 years.

San Francisco 49ers

The starting quarterback in SF is Mizzou alum, Blaine Gabbert. So there is already some familiarity for Missouri football fans. The 49ers have also hit rock bottom, and are working to become a relevant team in the west again. It will be hard, especially in this division, but if you can tough out these rough times, that is something to be proud of as a fan, and you can prove that you're much more dedicated to your team than Kroenke was to St. Louis.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have very sneakily become a team that is seen not heard. You used to not be able to escape the Seahawk hype, but now it seems that they may have become the NFLs forgotten team. Which it shouldn't, because they’re still pretty good. They’ve lost some defensive pieces, their offensive line isn't what it used to be, and Beast Mode is off in retirement land. That being said, Dough Baldwin has made serious improvement, and there is still a possibility of this being a championship team. You would have just been a fair-weather fan had you joined the bandwagon over the past 3 years, but now that the initial hype has died down, there is a perfect spot waiting for you.

Los Angeles Rams

Ouch. It hurts to even type that. How could we even suggest such a thing? The Rams have two very special players in Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley. St. Louis football fans were lucky enough to see them play in Missouri. If you really like that franchise, and what it is building, forget anyone who says you’re in the wrong for sticking with them. There’s a bit of a double standard of hating the franchise for bailing on St. Louis, and then saying you have to bail on the team that you have been following for the past 20 plus years. Who knows if Jared Goff will ever prove to be worth the number one overall pick, but Aaron Donald makes up for a world of mistakes for this franchise. Don't be mad at us for this, it’s just a suggestion.

So there you have it, a (hopefully) compelling argument for each team for the 2016 NFL season and the foreseeable future. Let us know who you will be cheering for in 2016 in the comments below! 

Watch: Will Ferrell Gives Best Man Toasts for Three Couples He Has Never Met Before

You might remember us stating that The Chris Gethard Show is the Greatest Show that You have Never Seen a while ago. This episode really drives home what makes the show and community surrounding it so special. In this episode, three different couples get married on The Chris Gethard Show. One couple actually met via the show's online community. Not only do these couples get married, they all get a very special "Best Man" speech from Will Ferrell. 

Prepare yourself for one of the strangest, silliest, and sweetest episodes of television of all time.

Every Booth Registered for 2016 Job Fair at the Bess Activity Center

If you happen to be in the Poplar Bluff area, and happen to be looking for a job, there are many places that are actively looking to hire you!

Here is a list of every booth scheduled to be at the Job Fair at the Bess Activity Center on Friday, August 26, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

• American Railcar Industries
• Army Corps of Engineers, Wappapello Lake
• Briggs and Stratton
• Cedargate Healthcare
• Children's Division
• Express Employment Professionals
• FCC Behavioral
• First Choice Insurance
• Genesis Home Care
• JC Penney
• Kmart
• Lake View Home Care
• MERS Goodwill Career Center
• Mid Continent Steel & Wire, Inc.
• MO Dept. of Natural Resources
• MO Job Center
• MO State Highway Patrol
• Modern Woodman
• ParentLink-University of MO
• Penmac Staffing
• Pepsi MidAmerica
• Poplar Bluff Police Department
• Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center
• Preferred Employment Services
• Product Staffing
• River Radio
• Sears Youth Center
• SEMO Behavioral Health
• SMTS
• Southeast Correctional Center
• Specialized Driver Training 
• The Bank of Missouri
• The Home Depot
• Three Rivers College
• United States Postal Service
• US Army
• Voc. Rehabilitation
• Walmart #19
• Westwood Hills

Martina McBride Brings Her Soaring Voice to Fans in Poplar Bluff on the Love Unleashed Tour

Poplar Bluff, MO (August 15, 2016) – Hot on the heels of her latest studio album, RECKLESS, award-winning country superstar Martina McBride is bringing her all new Love Unleashed Tour to Black River Coliseum on Friday, October 14. Martina will be joined by special guests, High Valley (Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville) and prolific singer-songwriter Hailey Whitters. Tickets will be on sale beginning Friday, August 19 at 10AM. 

“With so much tragedy and uncertainty in the world, our family is watching less news and spending more time listening to music, sharing stories over dinner, and loving each other,” says McBride. “I want this concert to be a place where people can share the common experience of music and how it can work its magic, as only music can. A place where we can come together and show our love for each other and head back out into the world a little stronger for having been there."

Martina will offer VIP Experiences for the first time which will include a meet & greet and Q&A session, exclusive autographed gift, premium tickets and more. VIP packages go on sale to the public Friday, August 19 in select markets.  More details available here: www.MartinaMcBride.com  

RECKLESS (Nash Icon Records) marks Martina’s 13th studio album featuring songs that are both a mix of classic country and a contemporary edge. Martina’s current single, “Just Around the Corner,” premiered on the CMT Awards this summer. Martina’s unparalleled vocals and depth are what keep fans ready for more.

For additional tour dates and information, please visit www.MartinaMcBride.com and keep up with Martina McBride on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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About Martina McBride: 

Multiple Grammy® nominee Martina McBride has sold over 18 million albums to date, which includes 20 Top 10 singles and six #1 hits. On February 26th she released her first single, “Reckless,” the title track from her new album which is now available. McBride has earned more than 15 major music awards, including four wins for Female Vocalist of the Year from the Country Music Association and won three Academy of Country Music for Top Female Vocalist. Martina has been awarded 14 Gold Records. Nine Platinum honors, three Double Platinum Records, and two Triple Platinum Awards. Martina was awarded the Covenant House Beacon of Hope Award and Music Business Association’s prestigious 2015 Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic efforts on behalf of domestic violence. Martina will bring her passion for family and music to help Sarah Cannon launch their national Band Against Cancer campaign this year with special concerts in selected markets. Recently, Martina released her first book, Around the Table, a full-color illustrated collection of her favorite recipes, hosting tips, practical menu planning advice, and themed décor inspiration.  Martina is signed to the innovative Nash Icon Records, an imprint under the Big Machine Label Group umbrella.

GET YOUR TICKETS AT TICKETMASTER TODAY!

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0600510CF33E8829

Top 5 Tips for New Poplar Bluff High School Drivers

Another school year is here, but this one is unlike any other that you have experienced before. This will be the first year that you will be driving yourself to Poplar Bluff High School. It's an exciting time for you, but it could also be a scary time.

Here are some of the best tips that we can provide for all you new drivers here in Poplar Bluff:

5.  Know Your Driving Restrictions

It's hard not to go for a cruise as soon as you get your vehicle, but you must be aware of the driving restrictions that you fall under. Legal mumbo-jumbo is no fun, but being aware of avoidable mistakes as a young driver will help you in the long run.

Here are the driving restrictions for those with an intermediate license, via the Missouri Department of Revenue:

• During the first 6 months, you may not operate a motor vehicle with more than one passenger who is under 19 years old and who is not a member of your immediate family.
• After the first 6 months, you may not operate a motor vehicle with more than three passengers who are under 19 years old and who are not members of your immediate family.
• You may not drive alone between 1:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. except to and from a school activity, job, or for an emergency, unless accompanied by a licensed driver 21 years old or older.

4. New School: New Rules

You may have been used to riding with your friends or parents to school back on Victory Lane, but you are at a new high school, in a new location, on new roads. You're not the only one, who doesn't know exactly what to do, or where to go. So be observant, and watch the other drivers around you. See how the traffic flows, and fall in line. You may see an open street to drive down, but just be sure that you are allowed to so, and that it doesn't interrupt the traffic flow.

3. Be Early

Waking up for school and arriving on time is hard, but do you know what's harder? Being late and having to rush for school. When you're late for school, or even cutting it close, you begin to focus on getting somewhere in time so that you don't get in trouble, instead of focusing on getting somewhere safely. We suggest getting up slightly earlier, maybe grab a quick breakfast with some friends, and give yourself the time to start out your day relaxed, instead of in a hurry.

2. Be Patient

You've had a long day of school, and you can't wait to get home to kick your feet up and watch some Netflix. So what do you do? You rush to your car, and stomp on the gas to try to be the first one out of the parking lot. You're not the only one doing that, and that is where a high school parking lot gets really scary. Not only do you have other drivers trying to race home, but you have other students walking around campus. Don't make the mistake of being too hasty. Hangout with some friends in the parking lot, and wait for the traffic to calm down. Sit in your car and listen to some music. Join a club or sport, and get connected with other students. The 5 - 10 minutes that you wait to get out of the parking lot is much cheaper than car repairs, and a lot nicer than your parent's wrath.

1. Put Your Phone Away

You've spent all day looking sneakily looking at your phone under your desk or behind your books. We're not ratting you out, trust us, your teachers already know. The final bell rings, and you can look at your phone without worrying that someone is going to take it away. You text that cutie from 2nd Hour. You snap the newest snapchat filters to your besties. You see what Pokémon are around. This is all well and good, until you put your into drive. Maybe you can abide by Tip #2, and catch up with all of your social media on your phone while waiting for the traffic to clear up. The snap streak will hold until you get home, so please, do not be on your phone while you are at the wheel. 

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We hope that these tips can help put you and your parents at ease. Driving is a lot of fun, but also a major and dangerous responsibility. Help keep our roads safe and have a great year at school!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Suicide Squad

With the latest addition to the DC cinematic universe now unleashed amongst the general public, there will surely be a lot of talk surrounding the film. The biggest debate surrounding it, of course, will be whether or not the movie is as bad as many critics say it is. We ultimately believe that it is up to each individual audience member to decide if a film is enjoyable or not. So, instead of a straight forward review, we have decided to provide a pros and cons (no pun intended) list of Suicide Squad.

The Good

The Beginning

Suicide Squad starts off incredibly strong. The introductions for our "heroes" are possibly the best part of the whole film. We quickly get to understand and connect with these super villains. There are some really quick, but excellent Easter eggs that will warm the heart of any DC comic fan.

Joker

There was a lot of doubt when the first image of Jared Leto's Joker was revealed, but understandably so. For many audience members, Jack Nicholson or Heath Ledger are their quintessential Joker, so Leto had some massive shoes to fill. Leto's Mr. J is definitely different from previous feature film renditions of the character, but still manages to keep the spirit of the character intact. It's a new Joker for a new generation and we can't wait to see more of him.

Harley Quinn

Following The Wolf of Wall Street, it was a no-brainer to cast Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. She embodies the craziness, sexuality, and lovability of the character so well. While she aesthetically looks different from the character introduced in Batman: The Animated Series, Suicide Squad's Harley Quinn is everything we could have hoped that character to be on film.

Will Smith

If you noticed, we didn't say Deadshot. "What's the difference," you ask. Deadshot may be Will Smith, but Will Smith is Will Smith. His performance as Deadshot isn't transformative, but it still works pretty well. Will Smith has been a leading man for years, and he carries Suicide Squad with his charm. 

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The Bad

Act 2 and Act 3

What's the problem with Suicide Squad starting out so strong? It rises fast, but takes a slight dip, and levels off completely. Imagine getting on a rollercoaster. Let's say this rollercoaster starts off with a massive climb. "Oh man, we're going so high. This is going to be great," you think to yourself. Then where the big drop is supposed to come, it slowly lets you down at the same rate at which you were climbing, and then stays completely flat until the end of the ride. Sure it may turn left or right here and there, but you're simply coasting to the finish. You realize that this isn't a roller coaster, but a train. I have nothing against trains. Trains are actually pretty cool in their own right, but don't sell me a ticket to a rollercoaster then give me a seat on the subway.

Not Enough Joker and Harley

Let's be honest, Suicide Squad is Will Smith's film. The marketing may have you thinking this is a film focused on an ensemble cast, but Deadshot and Rick Flag are our protagonist, who just happen to be joined by these other characters. Which is fine. Just not great. Warner Bros. did very little to cool down the hype surrounding Joker and Harley Quinn. That's not an easy task, but the trailers and ads may have you fooled into thinking Joker has a substantial part to play. Unfortunately, he doesn't. Hate or love Leto's Joker, we need to see more. Subsequently, we also need more Harley Quinn, even though she is much more of a tertiary character.

This becomes even more upsetting when we take into consideration how many scenes Jared Leto says were cut from the film.

Enchantress 

This is not an attack on Cara Delevigne. I actually thought she was very likeable as June Moon in the film. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about her alter-ego, Enchantress. That character has potential to be the most interesting piece to Suicide Squad, but seems severely misused. She plays a major part in the film, but at the same time lacks anything that really makes her interesting. When you start to ask "why" in regards to anything surrounding Enchantress, the film really starts to fall apart. Even if there are answers to your questions, they might not be all that interesting or satisfying.

Cara Delevigne did a solid job with what she had to work with. Too bad there wasn't more there for her to do so.

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The Ugly

The Tone

via Collider.com

I like David Ayer. Sometimes I love David Ayer. He wrote Training Day, End of Watch, and Fury, and he directed the latter two of those films. If there's one thing you're probably not saying about any of those movies, it's probably "that was really funny!" That's not to say there aren't some fun or light moments in those films, but they are used as valves to release tension from pretty grim or serious scenarios. David Ayer can get some really great dramatic performances out of people, and that can be seen in Suicide Squad at times. With that being said, the film's tone seems completely unbalanced. There just doesn't seem to be a commitment of whether or not this film is supposed to be fun or not. Not saying you can't have both, but if you're going to, you better succeed.

The Villain(s)

Yikes. The film is completely based on collecting the most dangerous people in the world, in order to fight something worse than them: cool. What Suicide Squad provides in terms of antagonist(s) is/are supremely underwhelming. There are some twists that could have been interesting, but at the end of the day I found myself saying "Really? That looks dumb. Who cares?"

The Pacing

What makes Suicide Squad so underwhelming isn't any of the individual pieces. There weren't actually that many "bad" things on film. The problem is that not many of the pieces fit together to make a cohesive movie. Parts start and then they stop, then something else starts and then stops. It's like a driver's ed student learning how to break effectively and accelerate efficiently. It's not that this film, and what was captured couldn't work, it just doesn't. Another set of eyes in the editing room could have made this film work really well. It's a shame that it didn't come together on the cutting room floor, because if it had, this could have easily been a much better movie.

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So there you have it. Some of the best and worst things about Suicide Squad. It's not the dumpster-fire that some claim it to be, but it does fail to live up to the recent hype surrounding the film. 

Did you see Suicide Squad? Let us know what we missed and tell us know what you think below! 

Rock & Roll Inductees HEART Coming to The Convo in October

Jonesboro, AR – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Ann and Nancy Wilson first showed the world that women can rock when their band, HEART, stormed the charts in the ‘70’s with this like “Crazy on You,” “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” “Straight On,” and so many more.  Not only did the Wilson sisters lead the band, they wrote the songs and played the instruments too, making them the first women in rock to do so.  Heart continued topping the charts through the ‘80’s and ‘90’s with huge hits like “These Dreams,” “Alone,” “What About Love,” “If Looks Could Kill,” “Never,” and a string of other hits that showcased the sisters’ enormous talents as musicians and singers.

The famed duo have done it again by releasing a new album, Beautiful Broken, in January 2016 and are touring in support of that album.  They are coming to Jonesboro to perform at the Convocation Center on October 18 at 7:30.  An “Evening with HEART” tickets will go on sale Friday, August 5 at 10:00 a.m.  

As individuals, the sisters have also achieved significant success.  Ann sang on songs that were both chart successes and motion picture themes, like “Almost Paradise” from Footloose, “Best Man in the World” from Goldenchild, and “Surrender to Me” from Tequila Sunrise, while Nancy composed and performed the scores to a half dozen motion pictures including the award winning Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous.

Along the way, music by Ann and Nancy Wilson and their band Heart sold more than 35 million albums, sold out arenas worldwide, and found their way into the soundtrack of American life through radio, motion pictures, television, and associations with branded sponsors.  Today, songs made famous by Heart are heard in every aspect of contemporary culture.

Tickets will go on sale on Friday, August 5th at 10:00 a.m. and can be purchased in person at the Convocation Center Central Box Office.   You can also order by calling 870-972-2781 or 800-745-3000 or on-line at Ticketmaster.com.  For more information about this show go to AStateConvo.com

Cards Purchase Veteran Pitcher Jerome Williams; Mike Mayers Optioned to Memphis (AAA)

ST. LOUIS, Mo., July 25, 2016 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to tonight’s series opener in New York that they have purchased veteran right-handed pitcher Jerome Williams from Memphis (AAA). 

In order to make room for Williams on its 40-man Major League roster, the Cardinals have transferred right-handed pitcher Jordan Walden (right shoulder) to the 60-day disabled list.   The team optioned rookie pitcher Mike Mayers to Memphis following last night’s game.

Williams, 34, was signed by the Cardinals to a minor league contract in June.  He was 5-3 with a 4.89 ERA in nine starts (57.0 IP) for the Triple-A Redbirds, allowing just 15 walks while fanning 34.

The 6-3, 260-pound Williams is a veteran of 10 seasons in the majors with a career mark of 52-66, 4.57 ERA in 225 games (149 games started).   He was 4-12 in 33 games (21 starts) for Philadelphia last season.

Williams, a native of Hawaii, was the San Francisco Giants 1st round draft pick in 1999.  He debuted with San Francisco in 2003 and has had career stints with the Giants (2003-05), Chicago Cubs (2005-06), Washington (2007), Los Angeles Angels (2011-13), Houston (2014), Texas (2014) and Philadelphia (2014-15).  Williams pitched in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in 2010.

Williams has been assigned uniform no. 38.

Dierks Bentley: Somewhere On A Beach Tour is Coming to Jonesboro

Jonesboro, AR-  Dierks Bentley: Somewhere On A Beach Tour is coming to the Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas on October 20th with special guests Randy Houser and Drake White and the Big Fire!

Bentley, released his eighth studio album Black earlier this year and the album’s lead single, “Somewhere on a Beach.”

“This album is about all phases of a relationship, including the breakups,” Bentley says in a press release. ”’Beach’ is a pretty blunt take on that wild rebound we’ve all had or maybe imagined having. The carefree attitude is exactly the spirit we wanted to bring out on the road this year.”

“I’ve toured with Randy before, and he’s just a great dude — on stage and backstage,” he adds.

Tickets for this show will go on-sale Friday July 29 at 10:00 a.m.  To purchase tickets in person go to the Convocation Center Central Box Office, order by phone at 870-972-2781 or 800-745-3000, or online at Ticketmaster.com. For more information regarding this show go to AStateConvo.com 

First Footage of the New "Justice League" Film

San Diego Comic Con is in full swing. That means exclusive and not-so-exclusive looks at some of the most anticipated films for the next year or two. One of the films that we were really excited to see more from was the new "Justice League" film. After a less-than-stellar, but more than decent "Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice," fans have been wondering if we would be seeing the DC cinematic universe take a different direction tonally. Luckily, Warner Bros. have released the Comic-Con footage for the world to see, and it can be found below.

Share Your Fan Videos for a Chance to Meet Yadier Molina!!!

CARDINALS ANNOUNCE MOLINA #MADE4THEBEST FAN VIDEO CONTEST
Fans Encouraged to Share Videos for Chance to Meet Yadi on Field or Win One of a Dozen Molina Autographed Baseballs

ST. LOUIS, Mo., July 19, 2016 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced that they have launched the Yadier Molina #Made4TheBest Fan Video promotion to encourage fans to submit videos celebrating Molina or creatively communicating one or more of the values or themes underling Molina’s M4 apparel brand, which is available exclusively at the Official Cardinals Team Store at Busch Stadium.

“The Molina #Made4TheBest Fan Video Contest is one of the most exciting and rewarding #CardsFanFlix fan-engagement promotions we have launched,” said Ron Watermon, Vice-President of Communications for the St. Louis Cardinals. “In addition to providing a dozen valuable prizes that any fan who participates can win, this contest is a wonderful opportunity for all of our loyal fans to engage with and celebrate one of our most beloved and admired players, Yadier Molina.”

The fan that creates the best video will win the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Molina on the field at Busch Stadium on Saturday, October 1st, as well as enjoy the game as a VIP with three friends in the President’s Box. What is more, a dozen fans who participate in the video contest will receive a Yadier Molina #Made4TheBest autographed baseball as part of Molina’s #Made4TheBest Mondays, a random drawing from the pool of video contest participants which will take place each Monday from July 25 – October 3.

To participate in the contest, fans are asked to post a video, in English or Spanish, that is two minutes in length or less that creatively celebrates Yadier Molina, demonstrates that they are the ultimate Yadi fan, or conveys one or more of the values and themes behind M4 - #Made4TheBest (being legendary in your own way, giving back, having fun, making a difference, being bold, being unique, living your passion, embracing life, being strong, showing courage and having discipline). Each Monday, one lucky fan who submitted a video, will win a baseball autographed by Yadi, with “#Made4TheBest” also inscribed on the ball by Molina. The contest runs through Monday, September 26. Fans can find out more about the contest, the M4 apparel line, view videos submitted by other fans and submit their entry at www.cardinals.com/yadi. Fans can also pick up a number of exclusive M4 apparel items at the Official Cardinals Team Store at Busch Stadium. 

The Molina #Made4TheBest Video Contest is one of several #CardsFanFlix fan engagement initiatives the St. Louis Cardinals have undertaken to encourage fans to create videos that celebrate the team. Over the last two seasons, hundreds of fans have collectively participated in the various #CardsFanFlix video engagement promotions which included two Ultimate Fan Video Contests, the High School Video Challenge, Take Me Out to the Ballgame Music Video contest, the 2015 All-Star Video the Vote promotion, the Ultimate Fan Broadcaster Contest, Greatest Postseason Moments Contest, #12inStL Fan Video Rally, and the team's 2015 season-long celebration of Red Schoendienst's incredible 70+ years in major league baseball, #LoveRed2.

The Cardinals are also currently sponsoring #STLisLou, a season-long celebration of Lou Brock and the St. Louis community that is also raising money to help children with diabetes, as well as the ongoing promotion #PlayBallLikeACardinal, a youth-focused video engagement initiative that is inspired by Commissioner Rob Manfred’s directive to encourage MLB teams to work to get more kids to play baseball.

Through the #CardsFanFlix fan engagement initiative, the St. Louis Cardinals hope to tap into the increasing trend of user-generated video content made possible by advances with mobile technology and social media. In light of the growing importance that digital content, online video, social media and mobile based entertainment play in growing the St. Louis Cardinals’ digital community, the team routinely recognizes fans for their extraordinary achievement in digitally promoting the team by awarding the Cardinals’ For Really Entertaining Digital Award (#CardsFREDaward). Fans can check out FRED award winners and nominate themselves or others at www.cardinals.com/FREDawards, and they can learn more about #CardsFanFlix and view fan created videos at www.cardinals.com/fanflix. Fans can join the conversation with #CardsFanFlix and #Made4TheBest. For more information about the Molina #Made4TheBest Video Contest, visit cardinals.com/yadi.

–STL– 

10 Reasons You Should Watch Netflix's Stranger Things

The new Netflix original series Stranger Things has probably come up on your queue once or twice, but if you're like me, you always skip past it to get to your go-to Netflix shows or movies. Even when I considered watching it, the description was so vague, that it didn't really spark my interest. Over the past few days though, it seems that I have been getting my social media feed bombarded with praises for this show. So, I took the plunge yesterday, and didn't return to the surface until I had binged watched the entire season within the same day.

Stranger Things  could be Netflix's best bit of original programming ever, and here are 10 reasons why you should dive in, and join the rest of us who have already taken the plunge.

10: The 80's

A lot of times films or shows set in the 80's only tread into the shallow end of references to the era. It's typically used to strike the nostalgia bone of audience members, but that's as far as it typically goes. While Stranger Things points to and references pop culture from the era, the fashion, music, film, and technology play a huge part in setting the tone, and also become major plot devices.

9: The References

I know. I just used shallow references to films from the era as a knock against other era films or shows, so how does Stranger Things use them differently. Often times the references to a particular film, book, or song reveal a lot of the underlying story or overarching theme of that particular episode or scene. The cheesy pop hits become quite funny and oddly appropriate when used in the context of being hunted by a monster.

8: The Music

Speaking of cheesy pop hits, all of the music is actually quite brilliant. The synth-heavy score helps add tension and dread, but at the same time feels really cool. If you're a fan of the soundtracks for Drive and The Guest, you will be in for a treat.

7: The Tropes

There's always a bad-boy looking to steal the innocence of the smart girl. There's always well intentioned, but completely oblivious parents. There's always a bully. There's always someone for the bully to bully. There's always the "fat" kid.

Yeah, Stranger Things has all of these classic 80's movie tropes, and doesn't shy away from them. At the same time, it does manage to dig a little deeper to prevent these characters from being one dimensional. Well, at least for your primary characters. The show really succeeds at making you unsure of how you are supposed to feel about certain characters. The particular standouts are the bad-boy boyfriend, and the loose cannon policeman. 

6: It feels like a modern E.T. / The Goonies

The coolest thing about Stranger Things and movies like Super 8 and The Guest, is that these were all created by people who grew up loving Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter. The inspirations are clear, and while some would call these stolen elements derivative, I'm sort of happy that they exist. In a world that is constantly trying to follow the current Marvel model and establishing franchises, it's nice to see some artists creating pieces that honor what got them interested in film and television in the first place. What does that mean for us, the audience? With Stranger Things, we are getting genre bending entertainment that could really be a genre of its own. The Goonies and E.T. did an excellent job of blending horror, drama, comedy, and coming of age tales together. In Stranger Things, we get all of that, but the horror and drama can go even darker. I really enjoyed Super 8 back in 2011, but Stranger Things might be an even more successful love letter to a particular era of film.

5: The Science Fiction

It's a great time to be a nerd. You have your high fantasy fix in Game of Thrones. You can get your zombie fix with The Walking Dead. Star Wars and Star Trek are back in a big way, and superheroes rule the box office and television ratings. With all of these science-fiction elements infused with all of our favorite films and television shows, you think that we would be all sci-fi'd out by now. While Stranger Things might not do anything completely original, it does those things extremely well. It doesn't share a lot in common with Doctor Who in terms of content, but Stranger Things does share a tone of playfulness in the face of dire circumstances. It should also appeal to you conspiracy theorists and fans of Lost.

4: The Mystery

I started watching Stranger Things yesterday at 12:00 p.m. and had finished the entire season before 10 p.m. the same day. I needed to know what was going to happen next. The show rolls out information at a very satisfying pace. While some of the twists and turns can be a bit predictable or unoriginal, the way in which the shows achieve those reveals kept me hooked. The season doesn't quite have cliffhangers at the end, but it leaves a lot open for the future. With that being said, the season's mysteries all payoff pretty well, and have some sort of way to close this chapter of the story effectively. I desperately want season 2, but would also be satisfied if this was a standalone story.

3: The Feels

I cried a lot during my watching of Stranger Things. Though, pretty much everything makes me cry. There are some incredibly moving moments in the show. While I didn't have a crying fit at any point in the season, there were multiple moments where the show unloads tear jerking line or event, and then builds off of that for an extended teary-eyed experience. Some of the conflict feels out of place or forced, but for the most part the cast does an excellent job of forcing you to empathize for the characters. There are even a few times that you will be crying from a sad moment, but before you even get to dry your tears, a moment so uplifting will happen that may cause tears of joy. 

2: Winona Ryder's Tears

Speaking of feels, we have to give a lot of credit to Winona Ryder. Her charters "descent into madness" is portrayed wonderfully. As an audience, we probably know that she isn't completely crazy, but we understand why other characters might think so. I doubt that there is an episode in this first season where Winona Ryder isn't crying through the majority of it. Her stellar performance will surely surprise everyone; from the generation that knows her as the sweetheart from the 80's, to those who know her from Mr. Deeds, to those who know her from her shoplifting incident, and those who have never heard of her or seen her before. I'm not sure if the performance is Emmy worthy, but she should at least be part of the conversation.

1: The Kids

I don't take this lightly, and for those who know me, this is a big deal: Stranger Things has the best ensemble of kids on a television show since the kids from season 4 of The Wire. While their stories may not be as dark or as deep, we find ourselves falling in love with these kids and just hope for the best for them. They're an excellent reminder that there isn't an age minimum for being courageous and loyal. It's not hard to see yourself as one of these kids, and the ultimate sense of nostalgia isn't remembering pop culture from the 80's, but remembering that innocence and sense of wonder. Each kid plays their roll incredibly, but Millie Bobby Brown, who plays a character named Eleven, has the potential to be a huge star.

Well, there you have it. My 10 reasons for why you should check out Stranger Things. After you check it out, let me know what you think. Comment or tweet me @NicoSaysThings!

2016 Optimist Soccer League Registration Opens

The Poplar Bluff Optimist Soccer League is accepting registrations for youth who will be 4 years old by July 31, 2016 through age 14 as of July 31, 2016. Forms are available at the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Office located at 430 North Second Street. Forms are also available online at pbosl.com or at www.poplarbluff-mo.gov/242/announcements-and-new-information. An open registration will be held on Saturday, August 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Whiteley Park. Early registration fee is $20 if received on or before August 20, 2016. Late registration fee is $25 if received after August 20, 2016. Registrations will not be accepted after August 29, 2016. Completed forms and payment may be mailed to Optimist Soccer League, P.O. Box 1364, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902 or dropped off at the Poplar Bluff Park Department. There are opportunities for coaching and sponsorship. Sponsor fee is $225. The coach's forms are available online also.

for more information, contact Soccer Commissioner Stacy Barker at 718-5289

Looming Threat of Rain Forces Briggs & Stratton to Reschedule Poplar Bluff Independence Day Festivities

With a high percentage chance of rain over the Fourth of July Weekend, Briggs & Stratton has decided to reschedule the Independence Day fireworks display to July 8, at dusk, and the Fourth of July Parade until July 9, with the line-up at 8 a.m. and parade beginning at 9 p.m.

The parade line-up will take place at Hydro Adventures in Poplar Bluff.

We will continue to update this post as news comes in.

[Per Penny McGath]