Magazine News
February Performances to Love at Connect2Culture
By Ann Leach An Evening With Steven Spooner Steven Spooner’s life as a pianist got off to a rocky start. “I dreaded my lessons as a child because my parents forced me to play simply because we owned a piano,” he said. “However, after my first difficult year, my...
Steve & Cindy Head Reflect on a Marriage Made in Heaven
By Don Lowe There’s no way not to be impressed with how Steve and Cindy Head have a love story that has forged a stronger bond with each passing year through more than three and a half decades, even though quite a few people didn’t figure it would be everlasting. ...
Singles in the City
By Allison Lee Riechman-Bennett We are delighted to introduce this year’s 10 single, independent and downright fun group of people. Haruki Murakami put it best when he wrote, “If you can love someone with your whole heart, even one person, then there’s salvation in...
For the Love of Joplin: CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF LOVE FROM RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE
By Don Lowe Since registering the first guest August 20, 1998, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States at 3402 South Jackson Street in Joplin has served over 3,330 families from 38 states and two foreign countries. In celebration of its 25th year, and...
Fire Chief Tyler Crow & Seneca Fire Department Remain Focused on Keeping City Safe
By Don Lowe During his first year in charge, Seneca (Missouri) Fire Department Fire Chief Tyler Crow has every reason to be thrilled with how many positive things have taken place over the past year or so to help further enhance the invaluable work he and his team...
Creative Edge “Waste Not, Want Not” Seneca artist Erin Poor sees beauty in things others throw away
By Savanah Bandy If it’s a little bit creepy, a little bit earthy and a little bit old, it’s right up Erin Poor’s alley. Erin is a Seneca-based mixed-media artist inspired by folklore, mythology, hauntology and the woods where she resides with her family. She...
Why I Run – Brandon Smith Runs in the Family: Ultra-marathon runner Brandon Smith instills love of running in the next generation
By Savanah Bandy Ultra-marathon runner Brandon Smith started running at a young age and today, he’s helping youngsters follow in his footsteps. “I began running in seventh grade after a friend talked me into going out for cross country to get in shape for...
Seneca Indians Collect Conference & District Championships
By Don Lowe Second-year Head Coach Cody Hilburn’s Seneca Indians high football team put together a memorable 2022 while claiming a coveted Big 8 West regular-season conference championship. They followed that up with a district title on their way to reaching the...
Community Blood Center of the Ozarks: Serving and Saving One Droplet at a Time
By Ann Leach It was an exciting time of life for then-26-year-old Chase Marcus. He was a 2017 college graduate and a newlywed to his 22-year-old bride, Alyssa. He served as a youth minister and was at church camp when he started feeling ill and noticed a bruise on his...
Chief Wallace and Tribe Give Back to Community
By Amy Howe The Eastern Shawnee Tribe is one of three federally recognized tribes, all located in Oklahoma. Leading the Eastern Shawnee Tribe is Glenna Wallace, the first elected female chief to ever serve. This is one of many firsts for Glenna. She was the first...
Most Influential People of 2022
By Amy Howe The leaders featured in the following pages are some of the most influential people in our communities. They have a passion for what they do and seek to serve others in their communities. These individuals are proven leaders across a variety of industries,...
Have a Very Merry Outdoor Christmas
By Larry Whiteley, Bass Pro Shops/Outdoor World Radio Before Halloween even started, the onslaught of Christmas sales had already begun. The real reason we celebrate Christmas gets lost in a bombardment of commercialism. Sell, sell, sell. Buy, buy, buy. It is supposed...
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...