Magazine News
True North: Developing Leaders
By Kathleen Swift Jimmy Burgess envisioned a new style of team building and leadership training that would operate in a military style. It would be a place where veterans and others could discover strengths in themselves and do things they didn’t know were possible....
Honoring Our Military – Featuring local veterans
Articles and photos by Amy Howe Fredric R. Wheeler II Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa Current Town: Joplin, Missouri Branch: Navy | Rank: LCDR (04) MOS: 8402 Independent Duty Submarine Corpsman as enlisted Physician’s assistant as a warrant officer and pediatrician as a...
Casting a Line in the SEK: An Anglers’ Paradise
By Connor J. Ossowski, District Fisheries Biologist Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism It was the first day of what felt like summer without the consistency of the forecast showing a chance of rain. It was 5:30 in the morning, and I was heading out to...
I’m Not Finished Yet
By Kathleen Swift • Photo by Artistic Expressions Photography “I’d wanted to be a fire fighter since I was a kid,” said Jimmy Burgess, “but my friends were joining the military, and up to that point, I had no plans. I joined the Air Force reserves and eventually ended...
Why I Run – Triathlon Transformation Races, community help Rion Huffman and his family achieve goals and dreams
By Sarah Gooding • Photos by Mandy Edmonson Rion Huffman’s journey into triathlons began with a dream, but he wasn’t sure it was a dream he could realize until a few years ago. “It’s something I had always wanted to do for some reason, but for some reason, I thought...
The Vogue Boutique Fashion for Your Lifestyle
By Kathleen Swift • Photos by Mandy Edmonson The passion Danette Conley has for her business is obvious not only in her enthusiasm for fashion and people, but in the care she takes to make The Vogue Boutique the best customer experience for purchasing fashion and...
Mine Forever
By Kathleen Swift • Photos by Hannah Sanderson Photography The wedding day is one of the most momentous moments in a couple’s life together. It’s a time to celebrate the love they have and hope they bring to the future. Makayla and Micky Wittenmyer tied the knot...
Helping Hands of a Hometown Hero
By Kathleen Swift Photos by Artistic Expressions Photography Not all heroes wear capes; although, now days most of them do wear masks, and you can find a hero working in a hospital or in a grocery store or driving a truck. A hero might be a retired special education...
A Little Help from My Friends Jim Wysocki’s incredible support system includes Grand Prosthetics & Orthotics LightWeight Artificial Limbs & Braces.
By Savanah Mandeville • Photos by Tristan Robinett Nothing makes Jim Wysocki come alive more than sunshine and fresh air at MidAmerica Outdoors, an off-road park in Jay, Oklahoma. “MidAmerica is where all the people who own UTVs and ATVs go to ride around. It’s...
Q & A with Nick Edwards, Joplin City Manager
By Kathleen Swift • Photo by Mandy Edmonson Nick Edwards recently returned to Joplin, his hometown, to take the position of Joplin city manager. An alum of both Missouri Southern State University and Missouri State University, Edwards has deep roots in...
Why I Run The Reward of Retraining Pregnancy changed Jodi Garner’s approach to running. Now she’s pursuing personal bests.
By Sarah Gooding • Photos by Mandy Edmonson Once Jodi Garner discovered a passion for running, she never looked back. “Running is true therapy for me,” she said. “The smell, the sounds, the sights and the places running can take you bring me joy. Running...
Be The Change – Grove Lends Helping Hand by Serving the Community with ‘Soup of the Week’
By Don Lowe Like so many other organizations all across our country, Be The Change – Grove, OK is striving to help change things for the better as this coronavirus crisis keeps its grip on us all. In particular, Be The Change recently started a ‘Soup of the Week’...
Faces & Places
Connect2Culture’s Meet, Greet and Thank You Cocktail Reception
Connect2Culture’s Meet, Greet and Thank You Cocktail Reception Happy hour, hors d’oeuvres and honoring the local arts community…Sharon and Lance Beshore partnered with Connect2Culture (C2C) to host a gathering of creative individuals, organizations and businesses at...
Comedy for Camp
Comedy for Camp Guests at the Fourth Annual Comedy for Camp laughed for a good cause Saturday, March 30. The event, hosted by Soroptimist International of Joplin, was held at 6 pm at Wilder’s Event Center, 1208 S. Main in Joplin, to benefit Jasper County Foster...
Jasper County Collector Steve Holt Retirement Party
Jasper County Collector Steve Holt Retirement Party Thank you for 30 years of service, Steve Holt! The Jasper County collector celebrated three decades of public service with a retirement party at the Carthage Courthouse Friday, February 22, from 1-3 pm. Public...
Fifth Annual March O’ the Kidney
Fifth Annual March O’ the Kidney The Fifth Annual March O’ the Kidney walk was held at 8 am March 9 at Northpark Mall. This one-mile walk is held to raise awareness and funds for those suffering from kidney disease, a life-threatening condition that affects millions...
Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business Expo
Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business Expo, presented by Omega Mod Group, was a HUGE success. “We had an amazing turnout from the community, with over 2,300 people attending and almost 100 vendors. These two things combined with a high energy made the...
Carthage Business Expo and Home Show
Carthage Business Expo and Home Show The annual Carthage Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and Home Show was held from 10 am to 3 pm Saturday, March 9, at the CRM Auditorium, 1900 S. Grand. The expo serves as an opportunity for businesses and members of the public to...
Grand Lake Boat and Sport Show
Grand Lake Boat and Sport Show The 22nd Annual Grand Lake Boat and Sport Show was held at the Grove Civic Center March 7-10. This yearly tradition ushers in spring and is a chance for families to plan for their summer on the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. Visitors got...
Carl Junction Business Expo
Carl Junction Business Expo Follow the call of the disco ball! The Carl Junction Area Chamber of Commerce partnered with Aire Internet to present this year’s Business Expo from 9 am to 2 pm Saturday, March 2, at the Carl Junction Community Center, 303 N. Main....
Kayla Weston’s Birthday Party at Spencer’s Sweet Call
Kayla Weston’s Birthday Party Happy 13th Birthday, Kayla Weston! If you ask Kayla or any of her friends what it’s like to grow up in Webb City, they’d tell you they love going to Cardinals ball games, catching a movie downtown and shopping at the local...
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce 2019 Business EXPO: A Portrait of Success
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce 2019 Business EXPO: A Portrait of Success Love a good success story? The Joplin Business EXPO was picture perfect! The 27th annual event, hosted by the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, showcased area businesses to the community....
Go Red for Women®
Go Red for Women® Freeman Health System employees painted the health system red Friday, February 1. Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute physicians, staff and Paula Baker, Freeman president and chief executive officer, wore red for the American Heart Association’s...
Chamber Celebrates Carthage at Banquet
Chamber Celebrates Carthage at Banquet The Carthage Chamber of Commerce celebrated the past year with a Casino Royale theme at their 2019 Annual Banquet Friday, Jan. 18, at the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer reception hall. Over 400 Chamber...