Jamie Smith is still going to be handing out pencils, stickers and books this fall. The veteran teacher won't be in a classroom, but still will find herself surrounded by teachers and some students.

"I haven't decided how I feel just yet," Ms. Smith said about not returning to teaching.

Ms. Smith and her mother, Mindy Miller, are the new owners of Pigtails 'N Inkwells. The Wathena, Kan., women owned and operated I Teach 2, a school supply store in Elwood, Kan., for five years. They closed that store and moved the inventory into their new business, which they purchased from Mary Jane Fields. Ms. Fields ran the store located at 408 S. Belt Highway for 28 years.

"She had her heart set on this," Ms. Miller said of her daughter's persistence on owning the St. Joseph store. "She was a teacher. She has her master's. She's been there and she can help."

Pigtails 'N Inkwells is a teacher's dream. Whether at school, church or at home, instructors can find what they need to do their job at the supply store.

Although school won't be in session for another month, the store already is on its Back to School hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Right now, the store is busy and Ms. Smith said ordering for the school year began as early as March of this year. The first few weeks in business, the women and their family have been busy unpacking and reorganizing the business.

Pigtails 'N Inkwells will offer workshops led by Ms. Fields, lamination services and special orders. To contact the store, call 232-5607.

Dippin' Dots gone

Dippin' Dots is having a liquidation sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Saturday. The ice cream shop's business licenses are closed, according to the city of St. Joseph.

Loni and Bev Farrow opened Dippin' Dots in the Anderson Ford Plaza in 2001. It sold flash-frozen beaded ice cream.

Business reporter Jennifer Hall can be reached at jennhall@npgco.com.