[onewhippedpuppy]

Next time find a real lumberyard. HD or Lowes are a joke for lumber, you're paying more for inferior quality, especially when it comes to hardwood. 15-20 miles is nothing compared to the hassle involved.

To the original question, I would also vote for the pocket hole (kreg). My father-in-law builds cabinets, he uses pocket holes for all of his face-frames and much of his other joining. But none of the listed methods will work well without uniform planed and edged boards. Assuming you don't have a planer and edger, just go buy a new board.