Longtime Radio Personality Marv Luten interviews guests, shares community updates, National and Local sports and more.
The Marv in the Morning Podcast is a production of O’Quinn Media. For guest or sponsorship opportunities, email tracy@oquinnmarketing.com or marvinthemorning53@gmail.com
— Automated Transcript —
**Introduction**
Welcome to the Marv in the Morning Podcast. Now, here’s Marv.
Thank you, and welcome to another episode of the Marv in the Morning Podcast on the Fort Not Lost in the Woods Podcast Site. Brought to you by TK’s Pizza, Bales Construction, the Bank of Crocker, Paul’s Furniture, Shelter Insurance Agent Dave Halle, in Richland, Saint Robert Auto Supply, Seager Toyota, the Pulaski County Health Center, STR Glass of Saint Robert, VFW Post 3168 of Lakeway, and Three Brothers Meat Company at Lynn Creek.
**A Different Format**
Well, it’s going to be a little bit different format on this week’s edition. It won’t be quite as long as it usually is, and it’s only yours truly, and we have a little bit to chat about. And we’ll be back in a moment and get it started after these words from some of my great sponsors.
Pickup truck, sports car, motorcycle, minivan, townhouse, two-story, farmhouse, fixer-upper. What you drive and where you live is different for everyone. So, it’s important to have insurance that fits your needs and is just right for you. At Shelter Insurance, we understand that, which is why our agents help you design a comprehensive auto, home, and life insurance plan. Insurance that fits just right. For a free insurance review or auto, home, life, farm, or business insurance, see me, Dave Hall, your Shelter Insurance Agent in Richland.
**The Bank of Crocker**
Since 1911, the Bank of Crocker has served the greater Pulaski County area. This year marks their 115th year. How do you last that long? Well, by giving their customers cutting-edge banking services with a hometown flair. You can do your banking from anywhere in the world with their convenient online banking. At the big banks, you’re just another number. At the Bank of Crocker, they know your name, maybe some of your family, and might even know the name of the dog sitting next to you in the drive-in facility. It’s called the personal touch, which is why they’re celebrating their 115th year as your hometown bank. And there’s four locations for your convenience in Crocker, Richland, Waynesville, and Saint Robert. The Bank of Crocker. Remember, FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.
**TK’s Pizza**
Remember when pizza night meant piling into the car and heading to your favorite local spot, everyone enjoying great food and spending time together? Well, at TK’s Pizza, we’re happy to say that tradition is still alive and well. Family-owned and proudly serving the Pulaski County area for 47 years. TK’s still makes every pie the old-fashioned way. Fresh, hand-tossed dough, hearty toppings, and plenty of love. Call 573-336 FAST, order online at 336FAST.com, or just come on in to 743 Missouri Avenue in Saint Robert, the same little spot we’ve been throwing dough for decades. TK’s Pizza, where neighbors become regulars and every slice feels like home. Taste the TK’s tradition today.
**Crawfish Boil**
We begin this week’s episode with the crawfish boil held at the Pulaski County Shrine Club in Buckhorn last week, and it was well attended. As we gave this a plug in former episodes, and the word of mouth certainly paid off. I can’t tell you how many were there since they really didn’t take any attendance, and as we lay down this week’s podcast, the number of meal tickets sold had not all been tallied up yet, but the club was open to the public and many came in to enjoy the fellowship, get in on the many raffles, entertainment, and prizes, plus the kids had a huge bounce house to enjoy and many took advantage of it.
The weather was not as nice as it could have been, even though it was sunny, but temps in the upper 50s and some gusty northwest winds kept a lot of folks inside, but it was well attended outside where the entertainment was going on. Don’t know how many years they’ve been doing this, but it seems it gets bigger and bigger every year. Now I’m not a big fan of crawfish, even though I can put some away, but to be truthful, I want my shellfish a lot bigger and a lot fatter. In other words, lobster is my overall choice. But the last time I checked into the cost of lobster, I find out crawfish are more in my budget.
I do remember a trip to Alabama with my good friend Steve Cox many, many years ago, well before we were both married. Went down to see my relatives outside of Mobile, Alabama, played some golf, head to Louisiana to pick up some shrimp and crawfish and bring back to Pulaski County, and we made a few stops on the way back home. One was at Fort Polk in Leesburg to see one of Steve’s friends. Then it was on to Cameron, Oklahoma to visit one of our old buddies, Dave Camp, and we did catch up with Dave.
**A Freaking Mess**
On our way to Oklahoma, we got into the crawfish in the cooler, which, by the way, were already cooked when we picked them up and trying to drive down the road sucking down crawdads is not recommended. What a freaking mess it made in a short period of time. And while the smell of the Cajun seasoning was okay, it ended up lasting a long, long time in my grand am. And Febreze had not been invented yet, so I could not find an air freshener that really worked either. The smell finally went away, the Lysol finally worked, or I just got used to the Cajun cuisine. Thank God we waited until we got home to break out the shrimp.
Now there’s a lot more to this story that I’ll pick up in later episodes, like when we met up with the Ku Klux Klan coming into Texarkana, getting lost and stuck behind a 50-car funeral procession, and coming back home in an ice storm from Oklahoma because this trip was during the week between Christmas and New Year’s and getting threatened by my fiancée, if I didn’t make it back in time for New Year’s Eve, I was paying for her new outfit. Yes, that fiancée is still my wife, and we just celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary last Monday.
**Marv**
I’ll be back in a moment with a whole lot more.
**WIC**
WIC is here to help your growing family thrive. WIC is a supplemental nutrition program providing healthy foods, free nutrition education, and community referrals. If you are pregnant or have a child under the age of five, you or your child may be eligible for WIC. With a card to use at the store and more fruit and vegetable dollars, it’s a great time to be on WIC. Call the Pulaski County Health Center at 573-774-3115 to learn more. That’s 573-774-3115. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
**Bales Construction**
When you’ve been in business since 1939, and when you do the math, that’s 85 years, you’re doing something right. Bales Construction in Waynesville has been doing things right for a long time, and that continues today. Bales Construction has rapidly grown from being Pulaski and neighboring county’s top residential builder to one of Missouri’s largest commercial general contractors. Today, they specialize in construction of educational and healthcare facilities, but their excellence in building does not stop there, completing an extensive number of projects such as banking, retail, industrial, civil, multifamily, food service, hospitality, transportation, and municipal projects. Their offices in Waynesville and Springfield, Missouri allows Bales Construction to cover a large portion of Central and Southwest Missouri. Explore their website and see what Bales can build for you.
**St. Robert Auto Supply**
Winter weather driving can take a toll on your vehicle and your wallet. Take the necessary steps to make it as pain-free as possible with a trip to your Napa Auto Parts store, Saint Robert Auto Supply, just off Missouri Avenue. Your Napa Auto Parts Center has everything you’ll need from their line of Napa Legend Batteries to the best there is in windshield wipers from Bosch, Trico, and the Napa brand of quality wipers. You’ll find about every brand of antifreeze on the market, and of course, jumper cables, which should be in every vehicle in the winter months. But the best thing I’ve found at Saint Robert Auto Supply is the knowledge the staff at Saint Robert Auto Supply has to help their customers with any problem that comes your way. Need a part they don’t have? They’ll have it the next day, making downtime minimal. That’s why I recommend Saint Robert Auto Supply to anyone who asks. Besides the great Napa brand of auto parts is the customer service you get in a time when customer service is a thing of the past. Not at your Napa Auto Parts store, Saint Robert Auto Supply, just off Missouri Avenue, and you’ll get the good stuff seven days a week.
**Marv**
Well, my Ford Ranger finally bit the bullet as it’s nearing 300,000 miles. I was at this podcast studio about a week ago last Monday. No problem on the way here, but as I was leaving, the overdrive light on the dashboard came on, said my overdrive was off. The button on the turn signal puts it back in, but that was not happening. As I tried to pull out of the driveway, I was going maybe 3 to 5 miles an hour at best. So, I turned around, got back in the parking lot, called my mechanic at Tri County Tire in Richland and More, who tried to instruct me what to do. But nothing he said and I tried, worked. So the tow truck was called, so was my wife who was not a happy camper to come and get me.
She flat told me actually about a year or so ago to quit putting money into this thing and get something dependable. It took my hard head too long and way too much cash, even though my mechanic loved it, to finally realize I’m tired of getting stranded, and it was time to start looking. Well, that same afternoon, we were driving home through Saint Robert and she said, “You want to stop by Seager Toyota and see what they have on their pre-owned lot?” “Nah, why not? Can’t hurt to see what they had in my price range.” And taking out a loan was not really a plan. I enjoyed being debt-free and wanted to stay that way.
Seager apparently had a good month, which is not anything new to this dealership. And I was looking around the parking lot. I noticed a RAV4 within my price range. I didn’t need another pickup. I have a farm truck and a dually for hauling the cattle and horses at the farm. Plus with the SUV, I can get grain on days when rain threatens and not have to put it in the front seat or behind the seat of a truck because this has cargo room completely enclosed. And that is something I liked. It also had a sunroof, heated front seat, all-wheel drive, which is a must for where I live, and more gadgets I have no idea how to operate, at least not yet.
One thing that did get me pissed off is the day before the Ranger sh*t wraps. I filled up the tank. I put 45 bucks in the tank for gas with the price of fuel and that hurt, which probably leads me into my next short story. I wanted to talk just a little bit about world happenings and by that I mean the raising gas, grocery and cost of delivery prices thanks to what’s going on in Iran, but as soon as I mention something on Monday or Tuesday, by Wednesday or Thursday, it’s changed. And by Friday or Saturday, it’s changed again. So, I think this week I’ll just shut my mouth and we’ll just see what happens. Let’s face it. Nothing I say or read, nothing you read or hear is going to change anything at this point in time. Just dig into your wallet a little deeper and start saving those bucks. We all may need them because I don’t think this thing is coming to an end anytime soon. I don’t care what we hear out of Washington.
**Spring Turkey Season**
Spring turkey season is upon us. You may have seen the trucks and other vehicles parked along the roads or even in entry ways to the Mark Twain National Forest. At least that’s what I’m seeing in my neck of the woods. As we heard in previous episodes, the spring turkey season looks good, and this week started off with good weather. With a few days of some predicted rainfall this past week, the foliage is hearty, making it easier for hunters to hide in the woods while calling the birds trying to get their shots. Hope all hunters headed for the woods applied the deed and other anti-insect repellents because again this year, the ticks are thick.
There’s a few pieces of the wild turkey that are very good to consume, especially the turkey breast. Most hunters I know pretty much chuck the rest, the legs, the wings. On domestic turkeys, it’s a good table fare, but on the wild birds, it takes some good preparation to make them worthy to eat, at least as far as I’m concerned. My favorite way to cook a turkey breast is to chunk it up in bite-able sizes, then bread them with some flour, fry them in some oil just like you would a chicken. And they come out tender, tasty, and then you’re going back for more.
We now have an air fryer at the house and I’ve not tested the machine on the wild turkey, but I’m sure it would work, it would probably just take a little longer. Let’s face it, you’re not getting wild turkey very often, so I’m sure a little bit of meat in some low cholesterol oil won’t clog up the arteries too bad. So, if you get the chance, take advantage of the offer. You won’t be disappointed.
**Sports**
Have some sports, both local and national around the corner. Back in a moment.
**Paul’s Furniture**
Richard at Paul’s Furniture, and if you’re waking up hurting in the morning, it’s time for a new mattress set. Come look at our huge selection at our mattress gallery. Names like Spring Air, Sutherland, Brooklyn, Forever Bed. We’ve got them in stock and ready to go. Brand new mattresses, every size, every color, everything you could possibly need. We’ve got adjustable bases, we’ve got beds, and all that qualifies for free delivery right to your door. We’ll set it up and haul your old stuff off only at Paul’s Furniture, www.wewontbeundersold.com. The name says it all. We’re open six days a week and we make deliveries all day long.
**STR Glass**
In these days of texting and emails, words, phrases, and names are shortened to letters. It doesn’t change anything, it just makes things easier. That’s the case of STR Glass, a Saint Robert establishment since the ’60s. Still the same great service when it comes to auto glass, windows, shower doors, and anything to do with glass. And when it comes to fixing chips in your windshield to prevent cracking, there’s none better. They’re still in the same location on VFW Memorial Drive and still have the same phone number, 336-4122. They’ve just shortened their name from Saint Robert Glass to STR Glass, but we’ll never shorten their services to you, the customer.
**Seager Toyota**
Hold up, this is good. If you haven’t been to Seager Toyota of Saint Robert, you’re missing out. This is the place where buying a Toyota actually feels good. Great selection, friendly faces, and zero, I said zero, awkward pressure. It’s why drivers keep voting us Pulaski County’s number one dealership four years in a row. So, whether you’re ready to buy today or just ready to smile, come by Seager Toyota, Saint Robert, doing it the right way, the Seager way for over 56 years. Come see what all the talks about. Seager Toyota, Saint Robert, the fun starts here, next to Walmart and at SeagerToyota.net.
**Sports**
Sports, as we look at it, is brought to you by Three Brothers Meat Company at Lynn Creek where their outstanding brats are waiting for your grill, located on Highway A, a little ways from Richland, but well worth the trip if you want quality meats and many flavors of brats. This week we continue with a look at the Spring Sports districts at the high school level. We started with baseball and softball districts last week because there are some Frisco League teams that are hosting district tournaments. Spring sports consists of Boys Golf, Track and Field, Girls Soccer, Boys Tennis, and Boys Volleyball. And yes, there are about 48 schools in the state playing Boys Volleyball this year, mostly in the larger school districts in St. Louis and Kansas City where the numbers of students at each school are much, much larger.
One of the earlier districts is Boys Golf. In the Frisco League, Crocker, Newburg, and Stoutland are all Class 1. Crocker and Newburg will play at Bogey Creek Golf Course in Farmington, hosted by Valley Catholic. Stoutland gets a little closer to home, they go to the Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course in Springfield, hosted by Greenwood. Dixon, Iberia, and Licking will be at the Bit Creek Golf Course in Jackson, hosted by Saxony Lutheran in Class 2 Golf. The Waynesville Tigers also play at the Bill and Payne Stewart Course in Springfield in Class 5 Golf, that is hosted by Glendale.
Licking is the only Frisco League with tennis, and they will play their districts at Logan Rogersville. The Waynesville Boys Tennis team will be at Sedalia for districts. Some news did pop up last week regarding the reorganized Ozark Conference for the 27-28 school year. Right now, it looks like it will feature Camdenton, Lebanon, Rolla, and Waynesville. That came out mid-part of last week. All four schools made the announcement via releases on their Facebook pages. No other details were available.
**St. Louis Cardinals**
Saint Louis Cardinals had a pretty good week last week. They moved from fifth to second, a half game out of first place as we drop this podcast earlier this week. And as we said, they stay close in the division, and a short winning streak can get you great rewards as far as the division standings. And we all know, momentum is huge in sports. Coming into Monday, the 20th, the Cardinals had won five straight, headed for Miami with three with the Marlins before coming home to St. Louis this weekend for a series with Seattle.
The Royals were not as good as the Red Birds last week. They fell to last place in the AL Central, five and a half games out of first. And coming into this week, they were 2 and 8 in their last 10 games with Baltimore and the Angels coming into Kansas City this week.
**NBA and NHL**
NBA and NHL are both underway in their playoffs, and each series in each of the sports is the best of seven. So, it takes time to get 16 teams down to the finals in the playoffs.
**NFL Draft**
And last, but not least, the NFL draft is this week. Many can watch it on ABC, ESPN, probably the NFL Network to get all the picks and the details. Kansas City has two picks in the first round. They have the ninth overall pick and the 29th in the first round. And that 29th pick came from the LA Rams. That’s Sports right now, brought to you by Three Brothers Meat Company, your brat grilling center at Lynn Creek, a scenic drive over A Road out of Richland. Back with the rap after this.
**Three Brothers Meat Company**
You have a lot of options when shopping for your family’s food. When you choose Three Brothers Meat Company, you aren’t just choosing amazing products at excellent prices, you’re also choosing local products with no hormones and no antibiotics. You’re choosing to support a family-owned business that gives back to the community by donating to area charities, benefit auctions, sports teams, and more. Now, when you choose Three Brothers Meat Company, you are choosing a way of life. All of us at Three Brothers Meat Company promise to always do our best to be your number one choice. Three Brothers Meat Company, 2179 State Highway A in Montreal.
**VFW Post 3168**
Meet you at the V is a popular saying in our neck of the woods, and for a good reason. VFW Post 3168, at Exit 150 on I-44, is a popular place especially on Friday and Saturday night because it’s steak night from 4:00 to 9:00, where folks come from miles around to get some of the best steaks at a price that makes even the most thrifty smile, with several cuts of juicy steaks cooked the way you like, complimented by salad, baked potato, and a veggie. Their canteen is open Monday through Thursday from 3:00 to midnight, and Friday from 3:00 to 1:00, and they open at noon on Saturday and Sundays. Their kitchen is open from 5:00 to 9:00, Mondays through Thursdays with daily specials, and did I mention steak nights Fridays and Saturdays? And there’s karaoke Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:00 to close. Plenty of TVs to catch up on all the big games and a huge meeting room for rent for your special occasions. Queen of Hearts runs every Tuesday and check out their website for Bingo Nights, and every second Saturday of the month from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m., they host a Veteran Service Officer event. Lakeway VFW Post 3168, Exit 150 off I-44. See why more people are heading to the V every day.
**Conclusion**
Well, that’s our episode this week. Hope you enjoyed it. It’s been brought to you by TK’s Pizza, Bales Construction, the Bank of Crocker, Paul’s Furniture, Shelter Insurance Agent Dave Hall, Saint Robert Auto Supply, Seager Toyota, the Pulaski County Health Center, STR Glass of Saint Robert, VFW Post 3168 of Lakeway, and Three Brothers Meat Company at Lynn Creek.
We thank those sponsors, my producer Tracy for putting the episode together, and thank you the podcast faithful for bringing it up and letting me be a part of your world for just a little while. If you’re enjoying the Marv in the Morning Podcast, we invite you to leave a review on whatever app you’re listening on. We would also love for you to share the episode with family and friends on your social media accounts. Be sure to follow our podcast on Facebook on the Marv in the Morning Podcast page. And you’re also invited to join us on Facebook on the Fort Not Lost in the Woods Podcast Group. This podcast is a production of All Quinn Marketing.
Join me next time when I try to catch up with a longtime friend and there might be a little trash talking involved because that’s what friends can do and remain friends. Until then, later.