Serving tray made from recycled skateboards

Q&A: Back Tail Customs

When Jesse Epple isn’t skateboarding, he’s creating something unique out of wood in his at-home workshop. Over the past few years, he’s learned how to combine both passions. He creates custom wood pieces in the heart of Columbia with scrap wood and recycled skateboards.When Jesse Epple isn’t skateboarding, he’s creating something unique out of wood in his at-home workshop. Over the past few years, he’s learned how to combine both passions. He creates custom wood pieces in the heart of Columbia with scrap wood and recycled skateboards.


The glasses of red wine with a colorful autumn surrounding.

WINE DOG: Take pride in Missouri’s wine

Regional pride is real; I share it. I take perverse pleasure in correcting people who assume that I live in some coastal wine mecca. I often mention my experiences when I give talks around the world about the wine market.


Cattle in pens at a stockyard.

October 17, 1917

October 17, 1917. This date in Missouri history. Search crews begin going through the rubble after the Kansas City Stockyards fire.


Missouri Capitol building at night with reflection off the Missouri River.

October 16, 2000

Today in Missouri history: Gov. Mel Carnahan dies in a plane crash near Hillsboro.


Peace symbol with No War in the backdrop.

October 15, 1969

Protests against the Vietnam War erupt at college campuses across the nation – including at the University of Missouri-Columbia – during Moratorium Day.