Connection August 2014

FREE

Smart snacking

Recipes to satisfy any after-school appetite

A creative approach to dealing with a picky eater

j Plus.c. .hool

s Back tom local tips fro hers teac ids ready our k H av e y e f i r s t d ay for th hool of sc

coolest lunches ever!

Also:

Life lessons from route 4 The secret life of chickens Rosanna Miller is pulling her own weight

A magazine dedicated to Southwest Missourians AUGUST 2014

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 1

The earth saves me money.

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AUGUST 2014

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CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 3

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Contents: 11

Pulling her own weight

16

Life lessons from route 4

24

The secret life of chickens

34

Be a trend setter Get the coolest gear for the new school year

36

A fun story from the archives

65

Back to school tips from local teachers

CONNECTION MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2014 34

11

CONNECTION LIVING 20

Going out!

5 great date nights

23

Strengthening families in the Ozarks The faithful steward

28

Spotlight on local authors Grandma’s garden

16

CONNECTION FOOD 38

The coolest lunches ever!

44

Restaurant review Fun food for the family

47

Healthy Connection Earn your body

48

Smart snacking Healthy after-school recipes

51

Bottles and Brews Belgian wit beers

COMMUNITY CONNECTION 52

My connection

54

On the spot with Autumn Palmer

56

Familiar faces

64

Stay connected

AUGUST 2014

38

56 SEE MORE BACK TO SCHOOL TIP S ON PAGE 65

24 On the cover:

If you have mov ed over the su mmer, make sure that the sc hool has your ne w address. And if you changed your phone nu m be r, please give them that new information as w el l.

Yo u never know when yo ur child might become sick or hurt, and the sc get hool will need to get in touch with someone .

Kelly Asbury High School Se cretary Exeter School

Are the kids tired of the same old PB&J for their school lunch? Local mom, Becca Bishop, has directed her creativity towards food art, and is taking her kids lunches up a notch. With a little inspiration gathered from traditional Japanese entree presentations, Becca has learned to turn her little ones favorite foods into edible masterpieces. PHOTO BY JERRY DEAN

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 5

Resource Bargains For Teachers

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Connection

A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO SOUTHWEST MISSOURIANS

www.edwardjones.com

EDITOR Sherry Tucker thorntonlives@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR Veronica Zucca connection@monett-times.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Lisa Craft community@monett-times.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Sheila Harris Marion Chrysler Caleb Chrysler CONTRIBUTORS Murray Bishoff Meagan Ruffing Nancy Ridgley Darlene Wierman Sheila Harris Susan Funkhouser Pam Wormington Amanda Reese Anne Angle Layne Sleeth Dori Thomas Kerry Hays Joseph Zucca

Add an Important Item to Your Back-to-school List.

For parents, back-to-school season means it’s time to stock up on school supplies. But it can also be a good time to think about how to save for your child’s future education.

Developing a strategy for achieving your education savings goal – or other savings goals – can help you stay on track.

Financial Advisor

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6 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

DISTRIBUTION Greg Gilliam Kevin Funcannon TO ADVERTISE 417-847-2610 - Cassville 417-235-3135 - Monett Send e-mail inquiries to thorntonlives@gmail.com Mailing address: P.O. Box 486, Cassville, MO 65625

To learn more about your education savings options, call or visit today.

Shane A Boyd

PHOTOGRAPHERS Chuck Nickle Jeff Terry Rob Lotufo

Connection is published monthly and distributed free in Cassville, Monett, Exeter, Washburn, Pierce City, Mt. Vernon, Aurora, Verona, Roaring River, Eagle Rock, Shell Knob, Purdy, Wheaton, Freistatt, Marionville, Seligman, Golden and other surrounding areas.

Connection is a publication of the Cassville Democrat, The Monett Times and Rust Communications.

AUGUST 2014

Do you have an interesting story you’d like to see featured in Connection? I’d love to hear your idea! Email thorntonlives@gmail.com and share it with me!

EDITOR’S NOTE My family enjoys f resh f ood.

My mom and I love growing a large garden and anticipate all the fresh veggies that come to maturity one at a time. First, there was fresh spinach and leaf lettuce in May. After our long cold winter, it was such a treat to finally have some fresh garden goodies. After that, it was really nice to get some green onions to add to the salad, and then some nice tender cucumbers. The first two messes of green beans really hit the spot. The pinnacle of summer goodies is sun ripened tomatoes that started coming out in the end of June. But, I’m still waiting for two more necessary fresh summer items; watermelon and okra.

Watermelon is a summer favorite that won’t be getting ripe till August this year (at least the local ones). When it’s blistering hot outside, there’s nothing tastier than a cold wedge of sweet watermelon.

In August we will finally be harvesting some okra. I’m not sure if it would feel like summer if I didn’t get to eat okra. I like it cut up, tossed with some cornmeal, salt and pepper, and fried in an iron skillet. I love okra, but it can be frustrating to deal with. First of all, if you pick it without wearing long sleeves, your hands and arms will itch for hours. Second thing is that if you want small, tender pods, it has to be picked daily – and sometimes even twice daily. Another tricky thing about working with Okra is that it can’t be overprocessed, or it will become a slimy mess (that no one wants to eat).

My Aunt Helen used to make pickled okra, and I loved it. She passed her recipe down to me before she died, and every year I think about making it. It’s a great pickle, and a great accompaniment to any meal.

I hope you all enjoy the last bit of summer. It may be hot and dry, but I’m going to try to soak up the last of the long summer nights. I’m going to listen to the repetitious rhythm of the cicadas, and try my best not to run into any of those summer spiderwebs.

Take care now,

Sherry Tucker

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 7

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CONNECTION LIVING l

connection’s cutest pet

If you think your furry or feathered friend is the cutest in the area, let us know!

We invite you to share a photo of your pet to be featured in Connection’s very own Connection’s Cutest Pet contest.

Email your pet’s photo to connection@monett-times.com. Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your pet’s name, city you reside in and your contact information.

DOG

August’s cutest pe ts AUGUST 2014

ER MM

O F S SU Y A D Rosie, the Bassett, and Mollie, the Heinz 57, are relaxing on a warm summer day. Pets of David and Elaine McElroy, of Miller.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 9

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10 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

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AUGUST 2014

IN A MALE DOMINATED SPORT, SHE'S...

PULLING HER OWN WEIGHT STORY BY SHERRY TUCKER PHOTOS BY ROB LOTUFO

IT’S A HOT SUMMER NIGHT. The sound of truck and tractor engines echo through the heavy night air. Rosanna Miller slowly pulls her Ford pickup onto the track and in front of the weighted sled for her pulling event.

When she gets the “OK” sign, she puts the pedal to the metal and gives it all she’s got. Keeping it in low and maxing out her truck’s pulling capacity is the name of the game. Dirt flies from behind her wheels as her tires reach forward and grab for traction. It only last a few moments to find out just how many feet she’s going to go this time – if she wins or loses – if she does better than before – or if she breaks down her pickup truck. No matter the outcome, the adrenaline rush and sport camaraderie makes it all worthwhile.

AUGUST 2014

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ONLY ABOUT 2 PERCENT OF DRIVERS IN THE TRUCK PULLING COMPETITIONS ARE WOMEN, BUT THAT DOESN’T INTIMIDATE ROSANNA.

During the pulling event, the pickup is chained to a weighted sled. The distance that the truck can pull the sled is what determines the winner of each division.

12 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Rosanna started pulling soon after marrying her husband, Ben, in 2004. “Well, I had never even driven a standard, so that was a new experience,” said Rosanna. Ben said, “We put her in my dad’s ‘83 Chevy.

That was his farm truck.” “Ben asked if I wanted to, and I said, ‘I think I can do that.’ I guess I probably went about 147 feet or so.

I loved it; I was hooked,” smiled Rosanna.

Ben, who along with Rosanna, owns and operates Benny’s Auto Repair in Washburn.

Ben trained in auto mechanics at UTI in Houston, and worked for J.B. Hunt and Paul Meuler before he and Rosanna took the opportunity to buy and open the garage in Washburn. Rosanna has worked alongside her husband in the garage after work and when she can, and recently accepted a job as the deputy clerk in the criminal division at the Barry County Judicial Center in Cassville.

Ben got wrangled into competing in the pulls when he was 17 years old, in 1994, “My brother, Tim, talked me into it.” I pulled in my 1972 red Ford pickup.” Rosanna added, “That ‘72 Ford was his daily drive when I met him. I used to drive a 1972 Ford, my dad and I built and painted it. But, I had gotten rid of it years ago.” When Rosanna started pulling regularly, Ben let her use his red Ford, and she took it over!

Ben and Rosanna belong to the Spring River Pulling Association. The Association has around 120 members and coordinates pulls throughout the area. It is a non-profit organization and would not exist if not for the time and effort of the members. Ben is a board member, and Rosanna is one of the few

AUGUST 2014

women who belong to the association.

The pulls are scheduled in communities primarily for a fundraiser for a specific group. “The Cassville pull at the reunion grounds is a fundraiser for the American Legion. Freistatt has a pull to benefit the fire department. A lot of the communities use it to support fire departments, and

for some groups, it is the only fundraiser they will have all year,” said Ben. Each pulling association has standards of events, and equipment to run. The Spring River Pulling Association is not an “Outlaw” association, and does not allow tractor trailers to compete. Only pickups and tractors can compete and they have

an extensive rule book that explains all requirements and eligibility. The classes are broken down into specific categories of trucks and tractors. To compete in a certain class, the only requirement is that the truck be a certain weight. Weights of any kind can be added to the truck, to meet the requirement of the class, and a trip to the

“I’M NEVER GOING TO MARRY A MECHANIC,” SAID LITTLE ROSANNA WHEN SHE USED TO HELP HER DAD IN THE GARAGE. AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 13

scale is required before each run. The track is usually 400 feet long. Sometimes a truck makes it to the end, but the weighted sled eventually stops every truck, “The weight on the sled moves forward as the truck moves forward, and puts more pressure on the pan,” explained Ben. Depending on how many trucks and tractors are competing, the pull can last into the night, “At the Cassville pull, me and the kids came home at 11, but it was 2 a.m. before Ben got home,” said Rosanna.

The Millers enjoy the events and the time spent together as a family. They also have friends who help with building and re-building trucks, “It’s a family thing, and a community event. We’ll just continue doing it as we can afford it,” Ben laughs. Friends Kenneth Eagan and Don Raucstadt are usually part of the action, and Todd Mitchell started helping out in a significant way more than eight years ago. “Todd hauls the trucks. We found a longer trailer, and then we could haul two trucks, and we have just kept adding since then,” said Ben. Their children, Saige and Otto, are still young, but have already staked claim to pickups they would like to use when they become old enough to compete. “You can compete at 14 with parental consent,”said Rosanna. She is now driving a blue 1972 Ford pickup that Ben continues to tweek for upcoming competitions. The tried and true orange ‘72, which Ben put Rosanne in for several years, is now training Lauren Mitchell, Todd’s daughter, who just started competing in pulling events this year.

The original red ‘72 Ford is on the sidelines for now. “I pulled with it for six years with an engine Ben bought at a garage sale for $150. He sold that engine, and I started pulling with other trucks – several seasons I had two trucks,” said Rosanna.

14 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Though the sport has many satisfying factors, it is a competition, which Rosanna has performed well. In 2012 and 2013 Rosanna won first place for the season in the 6000# Showroom Class.

Rosanna has had some fun experiences, and, on more than one occasion, has dealt with factors during her competition that was out of her control. “Every time I pull, Ben always ask me afterwards, ‘did it run ok?’ and then we go on to the next pull.”

Rosanna continued, “The class I was driving my pickup in had a speed limit of 15 mph. I knew that I could punch it to the floor and it wouldn’t go above 15.” In between the pulls on this particular occasion, Ben thought Rosanna’s pickup could use a tune-up. Little did he know that she really didn’t need, or expect that extra bit of help. “So, at the pull, I put the hammer down, like normal, and I got up to 15.3 mph. I knew when I was driving it that there was something different,” Rosanna shared. “I got out of the pickup and said to Ben, ‘What the heck just happened?’” Whoever thought that a tuneup could be a bad thing?

At another pull, Rosanna could tell really quick that her truck wasn’t driving well, “I told Ben, ‘something’s wrong, way wrong,’ So, Ben took it out in the field for a drive to figure out why it was driving so bad.” When he came back, Ben knew what was causing the sputtering, “I said, ‘your daughter tried to sabotage you’ – she had pulled out the choke...not too much, but just enough to keep the truck from running right,” said Ben. Saige (who was younger then) had been sitting in the front seat just a little earlier when they were putting weights in the truck for the competition. Needless to say, it’s all a learning experience, and each story is told with laughter of fond memories. n

Rosanna and Ben’s children, Saige and Otto, are always sitting in the sidelines rooting for mom and dad. Rosanna says they already have their pulling trucks picked out!

AUGUST 2014

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CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 15

LIFE LESSONS FROM ROUTE 4 “

BY SUSAN FUNKHOUSER

In life it’s not where you go – it’s who you travel with.

”

Charles M. Schultz attached this sentiment to a beloved Peanuts cartoon. Wheaton R-III students privileged to ride Bus 4 attach it to their beloved bus driver, a beautiful lady who graciously shared with me the journey she has taken behind the wheel of her bright yellow bus over the past 39 years. Hop on with me and take a ride as we experience life on Route 4.

Before you take your seat be sure to stop and give the driver a hug. She lives for them. Her bus kids call her Chris Ann . . . or Princess . . . but we’ll get to that in a minute . . .

Chris Ann Bailey received a phone call from the Wheaton School District in 1974, inviting her to drive their first daily route to and from the Vocational Technical center in Monett.

The new mother saw an opportunity in the offer, but she wasn’t sure she was bus driver material. She turned to her father for advice. “I told my dad I wasn’t sure if I could drive a bus. He told me, ‘You can do anything you want if you let the Lord lead you.’” With those timely words of wisdom and a nudge from her Heavenly Father, Chris Ann accepted the job.

Chris Ann began driving an afternoon route through the Pioneer community in January 1975. When school started in the fall of that year, she assumed the morning portion of the route as well. Chris Ann has been captaining Route 4 ever since. She reflects, “I think I have made some good relationships over the years.” Indeed, she has, and although she served behind the wheel and not in the classroom, Chris Ann taught her kids much. I invited Chris Ann’s former riders to reminisce about their time on her bus. In their responses and in her own reflections I discovered four life lessons learned on Route 4.

16 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

LESSON #1: Expect the best of others

Chris Ann was only 22 years old when she began driving 10 high school seniors, mostly boys, to and from Vo-Tech. “People asked me how I was going to manage those big ole boys.

I never did give them a choice.” Chris Ann recalls meeting a high school girl who informed her, “They tell me that you and I won’t get along on this bus.”

“I told her, ‘Let’s just prove them wrong.’ And we did. We never had any problems. She’s all grown up now, but she still gives me hugs when she sees me. Sometimes she reminds me of that first talk we had.”

Chris Ann credits her ability to maintain discipline on her bus to her booming voice and shrill whistle –“I guess I’ve always had a demanding voice!” – but the students who rode with her see it a bit differently. Casey Williams confides, “Chris Ann always had control on the bus. She called on people to change their behavior, and that is what they did. Her voice carried weight.” Williams speaks from experience. “One time I made a disparaging remark about a boy’s hat. Later, when I was about to get off the bus, Chris Ann told me I shouldn’t make people feel bad because the things they had weren’t as good as mine. Her words hurt, and they still hurt a little today. I had made someone who was poor feel small, and I didn’t like it. Chris Ann cared for her kids. She even cared about their feelings.”

Casey’s sister, Leslie (Williams) Mareth claims, “Chris Ann never got ‘riled.’ She was the same, sweet, soft-spoken lady day after day. I honestly feel everyone was so well-behaved because we all loved and respected Chris Ann so much!”

Kelly Rosewicz confesses, “My best friend, Joe Renkoski, and I were sometimes quite a handful for Chris Ann and would get in trouble for spitting paper wads. We had to sweep the bus for our punishment, but we had so much respect for her we would oftentimes just volunteer to sweep for her.”

On one occasion Chris Ann employed a unique disciplinary measure, rooted in fun. Jason Cassity recalls, “I’ll never forget the day that Kevin Schad got off and started throwing snow balls at the bus. Chris Ann got off the bus and threw snow balls at him!”

AUGUST 2014

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 17

Like all people who work with children, Chris Ann possesses a treasure trove of special memories involving her youngest riders. One, in particular, brings a warm smile. “This year I hauled a little girl who never smiled. She seemed so sad.

One morning when she got on the bus I said, ‘Good morning, Sunshine!’ She frowned and said, ‘Why did you call me that?’ I said, ‘Because I think I’m going to get to see you smile!’ She smiled really big at that and said, ‘I’m going to have to think up a name for you!’ Pretty soon she said, ‘I’ve got a name picked out for you,’ but she didn’t tell me what it was. When she got off the bus she called out, ‘Bye, Princess!’ She always gives me smiles and hugs now. One day she told me, ‘I’m going to be a bus driver, just like you!’”

Chris Ann shares her own special brand of sunshine with all of her passengers, and years later they remember the warmth of its glow. Jessica (Renkoski) Walker reflects, “Chris Ann was the best bus driver ever! She always had a smile on her face, telling us ‘Good

LESSON #2: Sunshine is contagious

18 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Morning!’ and ‘Have a good day at school!’ Chris Ann is an amazing person! I am very lucky to have had her as my bus driver!”

Lee Ann Rosewicz remembers, “Chris Ann was definitely my favorite bus driver! She was always so friendly! I make sure to say ‘Hi’ to her when I see her!”

Many of Chris Ann’s former passengers’ bus memories are set to music – classic country to be precise. Kelly Rosewicz shares, “I have lots of great memories of her playing her 8-track player she installed on her bus when I was in grade school and listening to the Kendalls singing, ‘Heaven’s just a sin away.’” Jessica (Renkoski) Walker remembers, “When we got a bus with a radio, she would let us pick the station to listen to!” Leslie (Williams) Mareth adds, “Every time I hear the song lyrics, ‘She played tambourine with a silver jingle, and she must have known the words to at least a million tunes . . .’ I smile and think of Chris Ann. I am taken back to riding the bus, sitting high on those orange seats, hair flying wildly in the wind, belting out this vintage tune. I credit Chris Ann for my early exposure to classics such as this, which led to my love for music.”

AUGUST 2014

Chris Ann started a tradition of celebrating her riders’ birthdays with doughnuts during that first year of service in 1974, and the parties continue to this day. She also brings special Halloween treats and Christmas candy to the passengers on her Pioneer route and celebrates the last day of school with soda for all. She also acknowledges good behavior with special tokens of appreciation. Leslie (Williams) Mareth recalls, “I remember one day Chris Ann called the names of about five girls and asked us to stay on the bus after everyone else got off. I was one of them. I was so nervous, wondering why in the world I was in trouble. Chris Ann told the small group of girls that she appreciated us for not giving her an ounce of trouble and that she wanted to thank us. She let us pick out two hand-made barrettes. I still vividly remember the pink and green ones I chose. I was always a quiet, shy child and never got in any trouble at school. It was such a shock to get rewarded for good behavior.”

Chris Ann’s generosity inspired her young riders to live likewise. Leslie remembers, “We used to secretly pass the word around a couple of weeks before Christmas for everyone to bring 50 cents so we could buy Chris Ann a Christmas present. I’m sure we got her some real treasures, but she made us feel like we gave her the one gift she had really been wanting!”

Chris Ann also gave to those who had nothing to give in return.

In addition to finding a donor to provide money for food for a high

LESSON #3: It is more blessed to give than to receive

school athlete, Chris Ann also literally gave one of her passengers the coat off her back. “One day a boy got on with no jacket. It was really cold outside. I said, ‘Here, wear mine. I’m driving the bus, and I’m hot.’ I was really freezing, but he needed it more.”

Joyce Williams, whose three children rode Chris Ann’s bus throughout their school years, notes, “Chris Ann truly cares for all the children on her route and often helps a child out in an unknown way when she sees a need.”

Chris Ann admits, “Being a bus driver is not a glamorous job.” Why does she continue to do it? Chris Ann credits a contented perspective regarding her career, as well as a sense of God’s calling on her life. “I can be satisfied with anything I do. I’ve enjoyed it. I love the kids. I’ve enjoyed watching them grow up. I’d do it all over again in a minute. I also really feel like God has put me on the bus. I’ve had kids, especially the older ones, ask about the Bible and say things like, ‘I know you go to church.’ It makes me feel good. I know they’re watching.”

One such pair of watching eyes belongs to Chris Ann’s daughter, Bailey Spears. She says of her grandmother, “Even though Ma wasn’t my bus driver, that’s what I will always see her doing. She is doing something she loves and is a great role model for me. She is showing me to do what I love.”

LESSON #4: Do what you love, love what you do

A true purpose-driven life As she prepares to bid me farewell, the precious soul who transports and accompanies so many children on their educational journeys grows reflective. “You hope that you’ve made an impact, that you’ve meant something to somebody in this old world.” According to the passengers who learned so much on Route 4, she certainly has. n

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 19

LOCALISTA

Layne’s List I

BY LAYNE SLEETH

t’s almost back-to-school time and that means reveling in these last bits of golden sun, singing bugs, and lemonades of summer. You may look back on the events of the past few glorious months, yet still find them wanting of just a few more romantic memories. Dates can be a perfect way to separate yourself from the day-to-day, unwind, and focus on the one you love. Here are a few ideas to round out an impeccable summer:

1

Visit a museum and enjoy some fancy cuisine afterward

Normally, the entry fee for museums is close to free, which makes for an ideal outing. After walking around looking at the exhibits, you’ll be ready to enjoy some good dining. There are local museums in Cassville, Aurora, Granby, Pierce City, among others, as well as an exceptional selection in larger neighboring cities. Recently, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark., has received high praise for its art exhibits and architecture. Admission is free, and you’ll discover a variety of fine (or reasonably priced) dining options in close proximity to the museum. Take a tour of anything, and the two of you will come away with something to chat about.

Stainless steel tree sculpture outside of Crystal Bridges by artist Roxy Paine

2

Go on a hike and take a picnic with you In the Ozarks, we are lucky to have some really great backdrops to accompany a picnic. Our beloved Roaring River State Park offers beautiful hiking trails, as well as serene picnic areas. Pack some fresh fruit, cheese, and bread, or any variation of your favorite summertime foods for eating in the great outdoors.

Layne fancies herself a freelance environmental writer and just earned a degree in communication from University of Arkansas.

She has spent the last five years working in specialty coffee, and is a contributing writer for Connection and Ozarks Outdoors magazines. She enjoys a plethora of pastimes-- archery, reading, camping, and gardening, to name a few. Layne grew up among the red cedars and rolling hills of the Southwest Missouri, and currently dwells in Northwest Arkansas with her husband, Brian, Luna the Corgi-Labrador, and two pretentious felines, Meeko and Cora.

20 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION LIVING l

GOING OUT

3

5 great summertime date nights

Watch a meteor shower together All you need is a blanket and the one you love to go on a meteor shower date. The Perseid meteor showers occur every August and meteors are projected to be most visible August 11th through 13th.

The best time to see meteors is just before dawn, when the sky is at its darkest. Get up early and watch the sky canvas transform from black, briefly illuminated by streaks of white, to brilliant orange and pink hues. This particular shower is named after the Perseus constellation which lives in the northeastern part of the sky. Cozy down somewhere where lights won’t inhibit your view and go wish-crazy!

4

Get creative anf paint your own pottery If you want to do something creative with your hands, Glaze Craze is definitely worth a shot. Pick out your piece of pottery, paint it to your liking, and they glaze and fire it for you! You don’t even have to make an appointment-- just waltz right in and get in touch with your inner artists.

If you don’t want to do pottery, find your own version of a creative date such as a cooking class or painting canvases at home. The possibilities are endless.

5

Go geocaching together!

Geocaching is a sort of treasure hunt done with a handheld gps. People hide “caches”-- which can be any sort of container-- in all kinds of places in nature. You can find them by following gps coordinates as listed on the official geocaching website (search your specific zip code and a list of all the surrounding caches will come up). Once you make a find, trade a knick-knack out with something you brought along, and log your names in the cache log. It’s an extremely fun way to explore the nooks and crannies of your town. To get started visit www.geocaching. com. You and your treasure-hunting sweetie may end up in the city park or a state park. Who knows what adventure you’ll find together! n

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 21

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Hablamos Espanol 22 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2014

“

“

CONNECTION LIVING l

Everything faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you

by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service, you could not give him anything that was not in a sense His own already.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

D

”

URING EARLY ADULTHOOD, I put little thought into managing money wisely. I simply earned it and spent it. Then in my mid-twenties, a pastor shared the importance of godly stewardship in many areas of life, including financial stewardship. As a Christian, he challenged me with a new concept; money and other possessions essentially belong to God and are entrusted to people. After searching the Bible, I discovered the pastor was right.

Psalm 24:1 reads, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

God owns it all. We are here on planet earth, managing what He has given us. From the very beginning this was so. Genesis chapter one says God created the heavens and the earth. He also created man in His image and gave man dominion over the earth.

Stewardship can be defined as, “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care,” according to the Merriam-Webster Student Dictionary. Biblical Stewardship is defined similarly, embracing a steward as one who takes care of and manages something that belongs to another.

Once one comprehends everything they have and are is 100 percent because of God, it is much easier to loosen any sort of self-centered grip on worldly possessions.

AUGUST 2014

S T R E N G T H E N I N G FA M I L I E S I N T H E OZ A R K S

The faithful steward

BY AMANDA REESE

The things of this world will eventually fade away, but what people do with the blessings bestowed upon them carry an eternal reward.

The Bible says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of life that is truly life,” 1 Timothy 6:21.

It is vital for the Christian heart to believe and trust God fully. Our flesh tends to worry and look out for self. But a life lived in Christ leads to security knowing that God will take care of those who seek to do His will (see Matthew 6:19-21). If suddenly, the monetary system collapsed and people had to trust God for every provision, would they? Do the hearts of man truly understand that He is Jehovah-Jireh, “the Lord our provider”?

God wants to take care of people but also wants hearts willing to help others.

There are times to receive help and times to give it. If you are in a place where you need help, don’t refuse God’s love. It’s biblical for people to give to one another. Be open and sensitive to God’s Spirit and His leading as He reveals needs.

James 2:14-17 says, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Furthermore avoid laziness. God tell us to work and to work hard. God also says to work so we will have “something to share with others,” Ephesians 4:28b. The Bible even says, if a man won’t work then he won’t eat in 2 Thessalonians 3:10! We all should be doing our part as each season of life allows.

When first informed about the importance of godly stewardship, I thought it was an outward action of handling finances wisely. Now, I realize it’s more than merely money management. It’s about the condition of one’s heart. A heart that is surrendered to the sovereignty of God and willing to yield to the Master’s desires in everything.

Financial wisdom is, however, a part of godly stewardship. We need God’s Spirit helping to guide us as we seek to manage money well, upholding the biblical balance God intended.

The article, What is Biblical Stewardship at gotquestions.org portrays a well balanced summary of financial stewardship, “We are to save money but not hoard it, we are to spend money with discretion and control, we are to give back to the Lord, joyfully and sacrificially. We are to use our money to help others, but with discernment and guidance of the Spirit. It’s not wrong to be rich, but it’s wrong to love money. It’s not wrong to be poor, but it’s wrong to waste money on trivial things.”

Beyond finances, a faithful steward knows Jesus Christ is Lord of all. The faithful steward doesn’t pursue a selfcentered life, but a God-centered life. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” n

Amanda is a local wife, mother, author and motivational speaker. Throughout the course of Strengthening Families in the Ozarks,’ she hopes to share biblical insight, relational tips and information for personal growth to enrich and strengthen the bond of family in our communities.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 23

DIRT ROADS AND RAILROADS

The secret life of chickens STORY BY SHERRY TUCKER | PHOTOS BY ROB LOTUFO

Breeding and trading chickens in the Ozarks is nothing new.

But, according to Jay Bowsher, new breeding in the chicken trading community keeps the hobby fresh and current.

J

Jay’s heritage in the Ozarks Jay’s family has been in Barry County since the 1800s. Growing up rurally, Jay has seen a lot of changes through the years, “We had no electricity, and no well. We brought water up from the spring. My parents ran a tomato canning factory from that spring. We grew tomatoes, corn, strawberries and plowed the land with horses and mules.” Growing up in the hills and hollows, Jay’s family worked hard to be self-sufficient, like so many of our rural natives, “My mother canned everything, we butchered hogs every winter. To me, pork’s the best meat there is.”

Jay explained that Bowsher is a German name, but that his mother was a Wilson, and had Irish ancestry. There is Cherokee Indian heritage from his dad’s side, as well. “My grandparents were German people, and moved here from

Lima, Ohio, in 1885.” Jay also said, “My dad, Andrew James, was the only son – I had several aunts that lived around here. My mom was from Arkansas, and moved here when she was 15 years old.”

Jay enjoyed his childhood, “I was the

Jay admired his mother’s cooking, “My mother cooked three meals a day on a wood cookstove. She would dry peaches and apples and canned all summer long.

I remember that she used to make fried peach pies from dried peaches – that was the best!”

Utilizing the natural resources around them, Jay remembers, “We picked wild blackberries and huckleberries – and wild grapes in the fall.”

24 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2014

baby of 15, and we all went to a one room country school – Oak Grove. My older brothers and sisters went to an old school on Rock Creek before Oak Grove was built, and they had to walk three miles to get there.” Jay’s family donated the land where the Oak Grove schoolhouse was built.

Jay recalls spending summer days walking on old forgotten roads to Roaring River with friends. He also has fond memories of yard parties where folks from all around would come on summer evenings and the kids would play games, “People would walk here and visit. Everyone walked.”

THE CHICKENS Said the first little chicken, with a strange little squirm, “I wish I could find a fat little worm.”

Said the next little chicken, with an odd little shrug: “I wish I could find fat little bug.”

Said a third little chicken, with a small sigh of grief, “I wish I could find a green little leaf!”

Said the fourth little chicken, with a faint little moan, “I wish I could find a wee gravel stone.”

“See here!” said the mother, from the green garden patch, “If you want any breakfast, just come here and scratch!”

THE RAISING OF CHICKENS ON farms, small and large, has been commonplace for centuries. Needing little more than a safe place to roost and nest, chickens provide eggs and meat and offer more return than most larger livestock.

Here in the Ozarks, many people still have chickens in the barnyard. Some folks now even have chickens in the backyard, and chickens in portable chicken tractors, and, of course, many make a living with large house broilers and laying hens. Even beyond the typical Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons and Leghorns, there are

AUGUST 2014

chicken traders and breed developers that spend hours perfecting specific breeds and characteristics in chickens.

Jay Bowsher said, “They are coming out with new breeds every year.” Jay, who has been going to chicken trading sales for more than 30 years, has seen a lot of changes throughout the years he has been involved with chicken trading and breeding.

“I’ve done some crossing, and come up with different mixtures, but I don’t have the space to keep them,” said Jay. Jay, who has a long family heritage in Barry County, remembers growing up on a

self-sufficient farm where chickens played a key roll, “I had to help my mom feed the chickens when I was little. I remember she would take a bucket of cream and eggs to town and buy groceries to feed us.”

Predators come in many forms, and Jay explains that keeping chickens safe can be difficult. “I have trouble with foxes, and even hawks and owls getting my chickens.

The best thing you can do is keep them shut up at night and keep them fenced in.”

Jay also plants trees with heavy foliage that will offer shade, and safety for his chickens.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 25

Jay uses a large incubator to hatch out eggs of the various breeds that he has bought and raised. When hatching eggs of specific breeds, Jay will keep a rooster and a hen of a breed together in a pen until he has kept as many eggs as he wants to hatch. That way he gets chicks that are pure to that breed.

Currently, Jay is enjoying raising a variety called, Minorca. “They come from the Mediterranean. I didn’t even know they existed. I ordered chicks from the Sand Hill Preservation in Iowa,” said Jay. Jay explained that a lot of the rare chickens are hard to find, but there are a lot of good

hatcheries around the country. “I order chicks from all over. When I ordered the Minorcas, I got a straight run and they sent me all three colors of chicks. They come in black, white and buff, and whites are the rarest of the breed.” Jay said that Minorcas lay big white eggs and are good producers.

Another breed that Jay appreciates is the beautiful Speckled Sussex. “They came from England over 100 years ago. English breeds have white skin and white legs, where American chicken breeds usually have yellow skin and yellow legs. They are a beautiful chicken that lay big brown eggs,” shared Jay.

The most important, and most difficult part of keeping chickens is ensuring their safety against predators.

WHITE MINORCA ROOSTER

Though Jay has kept a large variety of chickens of different breeds, there are breeds that he would still like to acquire, “I would like to find some light Sussex. They are white with black legs and tails.”

BLACK MINORCA ROOSTER

Jay suggests ordering chicks from reputable suppliers around the country, “Cackle Hatchery in Lebanon is good – and I’ve ordered from Ideal Hatchery in Texas, and lots of others.” The chicks come through the mail, and Jay says that if there are problems in shipment, the companies are quick to rectify any situation. Finally, in reference to waterfowl, Jay suggests, “Holderreads in Oregon is the best waterfowl hatchery in the country.” n

JAY BOWSHER, NATIVE OF THE OZARKS, REMEMBERS WHEN HIS MOTHER TOOK CHICKEN EGGS TO MARKET WEEKLY TO TRADE FOR GROCERIES.

26 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

BUFF MINORCA ROOSTER

AUGUST 2014

Come Meet the Friendly Employees

We repair hail damage!

at 2014 Community Education Class Schedule Fall Semester

Check class for start and end date.

Deadline for enrollment: 1 week prior to start of class.

Course Title

Day

Class Time

# Weeks Fee

Computer Basic Computers I (Sept. 11th-Oct. 2nd)*

Th

5:30-8:30

4

$60

Basic Computers II (Oct. 9th-Oct. 30th)*

Th

5:30-8:30

4

$60

AS400 (Sept. 9-Dec. 9)**

T

6:00-10:00

5

$350

Introduction To QuickBooks (Sept. 9th-Oct. 7th)

T

6:00-8:00

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Introduction to Word (Sept. 11th-Oct. 9th)*

Th

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5

$60

Introduction to Excel (Oct. 16th-Nov. 13th)*

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T

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Trade & Tech Basic Welding - SMAW & OFC (Sept. 9th-Sept. 30th)* Basic Welding - MIG (Oct. 7th-Oct. 28th)*

T

6:00-9:00

4

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Basic Welding - TIG (Nov. 4th-Nov. 25th)*

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$150

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4

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901 E. Hwy. 60, Monett 417-235-BANK (2265)

Enrichment Classes Jelly Roll Race Quilting(Sept. 25th)* Jelly Roll Race Quilting(October 18th)*

Th

6:00-9:00

1

$25

Sat.

9:00-2:00

1

$35

Resume Writing/Re-entering job market* (Sept. 9th-Sept. 30th)

T

6:00-8:00

4

$50

Beading Made Fun (Sept. 9th-Oct. 7th)*

T

6:00-8:30

5

$60

Knitting (Oct. 14th-Oct. 28th)* Zumba (Sept. 9th-Dec. 18th)

T

6:00-8:00

3

$40

T and Th

6:00-7:00

Flex

$30 card

*Additional lab/textbook fees/supplies may be required. **Extra fees are included.

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00-4:00 Community Education phone # (417)235-8356 Pam Wormington, Coordinator pwormington@g-apps.monett.k12.mo.us AUGUST 2014

444 S. Rinker, Aurora 417-678-BANK (2265) www.cnbbanking.com

1-800-255-4194 CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 27

S P OT L I G H T O N LO C A L AU T H O R S

BY CAROLYN CRAIG, KATHY BROWN AND SCHYRLET CAMERON Home Grown Books

“SITTIN’ IS ABOUT ALL I DO ANYMORE,” Grandma chimes. Let me tell you, at age 95, Edith Craig can do more work sittin’ than most people standing. In two days last August, she helped me can 88 quarts of salsa. She sat at the table coring tomatoes and chopping peppers and onions while I took care of the kitchen.

Each summer I look forward to grandma spending some time at my house. It is quite a chore for me to keep her busy while she’s here. At 93, she hand-sewed a quilt top in three days! Just last week she planned on spending some time here, but when she found out that I didn’t have anything lined out for her to work on, she went back home!

She can be a little crazy like that. Guess she wanted to tend to her garden. Yes, she still has a garden even though she doesn’t live on the farm anymore.

Several of her neighbors have transformed their yards into a nature lover’s retreat with flower boxes bursting with colorful blooms and alluring foliage.

Grandma, on the other hand, is the only one on the block that uses her flower boxes for fruit and vegetables! She raises lettuce, onions, strawberries, tomatoes, and a stand of corn in the front and north side of her house. In the back, green vines with cantaloupe and watermelon can be found. Grandma’s an amazing woman and an inspiration to fellow urban gardeners everywhere.

ACRE THE LITTLE MOUSE AND THE SPECIAL GARDEN Story by Michelle Higgins Illustration by Daughter, Rebecca Mendenall Genre: Children’s Book Acre the Mouse is a “Heritage Story,” handed down from Grandma Mary Slade to her granddaughters, Kaylee Higgins and Rebecca Mendenall. Grandma Mary would tell each girl the story of Acre, the mouse before putting them to bed. This is a 20-year-old story, and carefully put together into a book for children.

28 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Grandma Mary Slade loved to plant beautiful flowers and gardens and used special soil. She taught her daughter and her grandchildren how to recycle at an early age. She was very conscious of the environment and how precious it was to her family. She grew gardens, recycled her food scraps, and was great at teaching others to care for the earth. Acre the Little Mouse and the Special Garden is available online at HYPERLINK “http://www. friendswithacre.org/”http://www.friendswithacre.org/ and at these local businesses: KeenBean Coffee Roasters in Mt. Vernon and Meme’s Antiques & Country Cafe in Reeds Spring.

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION LIVING l

HELPFUL HOUSEHOLD HINTS

By Kathy Brown and Schyrlet Cameron Genre: Self Help Helpful Household Hints is a treasure trove of practical advise. It contains page after page of useful tips providing busy mothers with quick fixes and shortcuts for cleaning, cooking, laundry and more! It is a time-saving and cost-saving guide; you’ll find yourself keeping it within easy reach. The book also makes a nice gift that is helpful all year long. A must have book for new brides or new mothers. Helpful Household Hints is available at these local businesses: Whitley Pharmacy in Cassville and Ila Bohm’s Home Decor & Gift Store in Aurora.

Helpful household gardening hints A potato buried beside the root of a newly set out plant provides moisture and nutrient to help the new plant get started.

Be sure to take the eyes out of the potato, or you’ll have a potato crop too.

(Potato peelings work too.)

Plant a few sprigs of dill near your tomato plants to prevent tomato worms on you plants.

Plant marigolds as a border to the garden to prevent rodents.

Plant onions next to carrots to prevent carrot worms.

When your hands are badly stained from gardening, lather your hands in soap suds; add a teaspoon of sugar to the soapy lather, and then scrub.

Sisters, Schyrlet Cameron (left) and Kathy Brown (right) along with friend, Carolyn Craig (center), are the creators of Home Grown Books. The organization is dedicated to promoting local authors of the Ozarks.

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 29

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CONNECTION LIVING l

CONNECTION’S CUTEST KID

proud parent

lucy

O Lucy Mae Lusk is the 1-year-old daughter of Josh and Betsy Lusk, of Mt. Vernon.

AUGUST’S CUTEST

Are you a proud parent?

If so, take this opportunity to show off that cute kid of yours.

We invite you to share a photo of your child to be featured in Connection’s very own proud parent cutest kid contest.

Email your child’s photo to connection@monett-times.com. Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your child’s name, parent’s name, age, city and your contact information. The contest is open to children ages 10 and under. The photos submitted will be used for the sole purpose of this contest.

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 31

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AUGUST 2014

TREND-SETTER Get the coolest gear for the new school year Give your school locker a make-over from basic to beautiful with Locker Lookz.

High-fashion locker decorations are designed to mix-and-match wallpapers, storage, bling, rugs, lighting and accessories. Express yourself with an amazing locker! www.lockerlookz.com Rock the chalk! Edgy colors on the ends of wind-blown hair is a look that is easily achieved with Tint Hair Chalk

by Fine Feather Heads. Hair chalk is totally temporary, so switching up your look is as easy as shampooing and reapplying. Check your school’s handbook for dresscode policies that may not allow brightly colored hair. If so, no worries! Just wear it on the weekend! www.ďŹ nefeatherheads.com

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Sperry Top Sider boat shoes are the footwear choice for students of all ages. Everyone needs at least one pair of these casual, versatile shoes.

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AUGUST 2014

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Treatment Spot Stick The handy ball roller applicator makes it easy to zap zits for a blemishfree first day. www.yestocarrots.com

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 35

What was that, and what is it now?

Explosive situation diffused at the Monett Jailhouse A fun story from the archives STORY AND PHOTOS BY MURRAY BISHOFF

H

ERE IN SOUTHWEST Missouri, we are surrounded by structures and buildings that have been here for ages.

Most of our cities and small towns have had centennial celebrations within the last 50 years, and have building that still stand from their early establishments. Do you ever see an old building and wonder what it was originally built for?

Sometimes the facade gets changed, as well as the purpose, but the original structure is still salvaged for use.

36 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Behind Monett City Hall, directly behind the fire department on the south end of the 1929 building erected by M.E. Gillioz, is an inconspicuous square concrete building. Its walls bear patches for several windows, now meticulously sealed.

AUGUST 2014

This building, found in Monett, is passed by many on a daily basis. Murray Bishoff, reporter for the

Monett Times, shares what the original purpose of this building was, and what it’s purpose is now. He also

resurrected a Monett Times archived news article of a story that happened in that very building, and give good

Monday, July 23, 1934

Monett Times

A Cure for Common Street Drunkenness In City Well Water A Gent Who Wandered About On Broadway With a Stick of Dynamite in His Hand Thanks Officers After a Good Wetting

a You know dynamite costs about 10 cents of bit a after left stick, and if you have one stick take it blasting, one that isn’t exploded, you can y. back to the store and get your mone Of course, it isn’t a good idea to stumble, on or start throwing the dynamite around when your way to the store.

It might go boom!

That was just the trouble on Broadway who Saturday night. A good hard-working man folks some had been doing a bit of blasting for cake had a stick of dynamite and one exploding

l Officers couldn’t quiet him by verba persuasion.

At last they hooked a line of hose to the into pump in back of the city hall, ran the hose cold the jailhouse and used a stream of that got well water on him. That calmed him and cers promises out of him. But as soon as the offi got away he started cavorting again.

So they went back and cooled him and wet him and doused him until he was sober.

Then they put him in another cell, got to dry, him something to eat, put his clothes e. He ciativ appre was he ing morn and Sunday g and stron a in r wate well cold advises that or on, comm the for m strea s fairly continuou ess. kenn street type of drun Today the sobered gent is working out fines and costs.

Officers say he’s a fine chap when sober and works hard.

He got his dynamite back, took it to the store and got his dime.

left over. , He started to take them back to the store but on the way he – Well, you know, he took a drink or two, just s he socially, of course. After taking those drink going began to get ideas in his head. Instead of about ering wand d starte he store the to directly t and on Broadway. He got out into the stree started dodging cars.

People who saw his condition, and who saw us. the explosive in his hand, got a little nervo and him, hit d woul car a d afrai They were her toget boom go t migh mite dyna he and the ered scatt the in ng joini nders with a few bysta fight heavenward.

It got to be sorta awful. But the officers the took him in charge, took the dynamite and jail. in him put and him from exploding cap away But that wasn’t the end of it.

He got to thinking he was dynamite and ess started trying to tear the jail up. He rent mattr and cots jail the on ing covers and started bang doing some Tennessee yelling.

AUGUST 2014

cause to declare that drinking and dynamite don’t mix.

Built originally as the city jail, this structure is now the city’s fiber optics hub, one of three nodes around town that serve as a connection point for fiber optic cable. The jail, built with concrete walls up to 12 inches thick, houses most of the fiber optics equipment that converts electronics to a light signal to pass photons over the fiber optics cable, including lasers, computers, servers and fiber optics switches. “Essentially the building is where the traffic and the circuits meet,” said Pete Rauch, retired utilities superintendent for the city who oversaw building the fiber optics system. The backup for all the computers in city hall are also housed in the old jail, along with a redundant air conditioning and climate control system, backed up both by battery and generator.

“It’s well located and as tornado-proof as anything the city has,” Rauch said. It’s certainly better than tearing the old building down and replacing it for $40,000.” n

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 37

READY F OR SCHOOL! The girl is a sandwich cut into a circle. She has carrot hair, nori and Swiss cheese eyes and a nori nose and mouth. Her dress is made of apple and she has a frozen corn necklace. The apple with the “A+� cutout, and blueberries, cherries, grapes and lettuce fill the remainder of the lunch container. Keep the apple fresh and from turning brown by dipping it in lemon juice, or lemon lime soda.

38 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2014

s e k a m m o “M the coolest s e h luncev er!”

Ho w I turned dealing with a picky eater into a chance to be creative STORY BY BECCA BISHOP | PHO TOS BY JERRY DEAN

I have always loved crafting and creating.

My mom can sew, knit, cross stitch, quilt and – you name it. My dad makes stained glass windows, writes, and is an amazing photographer, plus he is a great chef and baker.

I remember going to Silver Dollar City as a child and seeing all the crafts they made there. My parents would say, “We can do that!” We would go home and dip our own candles, make our own ornaments for the Christmas tree, and even made beautiful corn husk angels for teacher gifts one year for Christmas. I grew up in a crafting environment, with an, “I can try to make that myself” attitude.

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CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 39

nches How I got into school lu My two kids started school eating school lunches. I never had any concerns or problem with that. I grew up eating school lunch, and I loved pizza Thursdays.

But, my daughter hates chicken and noodles, and wouldn’t eat it at school. She always came home hungry and begged me to pack her lunch, like her friends moms did, on chicken and noodle days. My problem was that I could never remember when that meal was on the menu, so I started sending a lunch with her every day.

My younger son, Zac, was even pickier than Zoe, so I packed his lunch too.

One day, I was looking at Pinterest (an online craft idea website), and saw an adorable Phineas and Ferb (TV cartoon characters) lunch. I thought, “I can do that! It’s just a triangle...” So, I made Phineas, and I made Ferb – and then I threw in their sister, Candace, as well.

The kids loved their fancy cartoon lunches. I went back to Pinterest and discovered an amazing world of fancy lunches. There were skylines, cartoon characters, animals and people – all created with food and packed into 40 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

For shapes, I use cookie cutters, but I also freehand-cut shapes as well. I have an X-acto knife for cutting small designs out of nori. A toothpick is good for cutting cheese. I’ve used drinking glasses, straws and even bottle caps to cut just the right sized circles.

In common Bento style, I try to fill all the space in my lunch container. I use lettuce, fruit, vegetables and sometimes even cereals as edible packing materials. I want to maximize the space by filling every nook and cranny.

In the process of becoming skilled in this new craft, I have found a whole community of food-artist on Instagram (an Internet photo sharing network) that make Bento-style lunches. I follow people all over the world who create beautiful food art – from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Holland, Sweden and all over the U.S. as well. I draw inspiration from them, and from lunches I find on Pinterest.

lunch boxes. Some were simple and easy. Others were elaborate, intricate art made with rice and nori (sheets of dried seaweed). I discovered Bento, the Japanese style of packing lunches, and within Bento the categories of Kyraben or character Bento (typically of Japanese cartoons) and Oekakiben, or picture Bento (of people, places and animals).

I watched videos about how to make flowers using fish sausage, which is sort of like a Japanese fish hot dog, and how to make roses out of lunch meat. I learned as much as I could and experimented with foods my kids like.

Most Bento includes rice, but my daughter won’t eat rice. So, that was out as a lunch option. I developed my own style of using a sandwich as the base of my design. I use food color sprays found in the cake decorating aisle to get colors like blue, that aren’t available in many foods. I found food color pens, too, that I use to draw on delicate details. I use fruits, vegetables, cheeses, nuts, bread and just about anything my kids like to eat, to create my lunches.

AUGUST 2014

P IGGY IN MUD A pink strawberry marshmallow creates this little piggy, with the features drawn on with a toothpick dipped in melted chocolate. He is swimming in a peanut butter “mud puddle.”

Banana, celery, chocolate covered graham crackers and butter crackers were included for dipping in the peanut butter.

OCTOPUS The octopus is created upon a turkey sandwich that rests on a bed of mixed colored leaf lettuce. He has sugar snap pea tentacles with a green apple slice head and carrot slice eyes.

UNDER T HE SEA BACK2SCHOOL HUNGRY, HUNGRY HIPPO AUGUST 2014

The hippo is a turkey sandwich with string cheese teeth, turkey ears, mozzarella eyes and nori nostrils, pupils and eyelashes. I added a Kinder brand “Happy Hippo” cookie in vanilla pudding that I colored blue. The remainder of the lunch is filled with lettuce, clementine and black raspberries.

The schoolhouse is made of mozzarella that has been sprayed with red Wilton Colormist food color spray. The windows and trim are cheddar and the door handle is a candy sprinkle. The letters and numbers are candy decorations usually used for cake decorating.

Lunch also includes grapes, blueberries and lettuce.

The goldfish is made of sweet yellow tomatoes with candy sprinkle eyes. He is swimming among celery strings and rat-tail radishes. The gravel is chocolate candy rocks. The dolphin is a half-sliced banana with chocolate chip eyes. He is holding a grape in his mouth. Lunch is also embellished with sea-life crackers, lettuce and blueberries.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 41

HOO’S HUNGRY?

The owl is a peanut butter sandwich sitting on top of a bed of cookie cereal. Almond slices were layered on top of a thin coat of peanut butter. His eyes are bread circles with green M&Ms for irises and candy sprinkle pupils. His beak is a carrot.

The crane is made of a hard-boiled egg. He has a carrot beak and his eye is drawn with a food color pen. He is resting on a sandwich sprayed with blue Wilton Colormist food color spray. The moon is a sweet yellow tomato. He is standing in a marsh of sugar snap peas and bread-stick “cattails.” The container also includes; sweet yellow tomatoes, strawberries and lettuce.

CRANE

F OOT BALL!

The Rainbow trout is made from mozzarella cheese colored with food color pens. He is swimming on a sandwich colored with blue Wilton Colormist food color spray, laying on a bed of frilly leaf lettuce. The riverbed is chocolate candy rocks. The flower is a clementine with a black raspberry center and sugar snap pea slice n

42 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

A sandwich bun makes the football shape, and it sits on a bed of lettuce.

Mozzarella pieces are cut out for the straps and stripes on the football. The chocolate covered strawberries are decorated with melted white chocolate piped football design as well. The deviled eggs also mimic the image with green onion embellishment. The lunch also includes blueberries and other colored lettuce.

CAT CH OF T HE DAY AUGUST 2014

We’ll fill your backpack!

Hearty sandwiches Old-fashioned candies • Homemade desserts

THE JANE STORE A unique Ozarks experience 2980 Rains Rd., Jane, Mo. 417-226-1234

• Hearty sandwiches • Specialty coffees • Bakery treats • Delicious homemade soups

Monday - Friday 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Breakfast and lunch served Monday through Saturday.

Did you know?

You can view Connection online.

cassville-democrat.com monett-times.com

Renew your faith!

1613 N. 17th Street Monett, Missouri 65708

Sunday Morning Bible Study - 9:30 a.m.

Worship - 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship - 6 p.m.

Wednesday Evening Bible Study - 7 p.m.

AUGUST 2014

After school...

we’ve got your treat!

200 Washington • Purdy, Mo.

417-442-3014

Tuesday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Have a Utopian day!

Let us clean your carpets the ROTOVAC WAY!

A+ Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Schedule your Carpet Cleaning Appointment Call Jerry or Chris Marbut 417-737-2044 CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 43

The variety that is offered with JJ’s large menu is necessary with a local community that frequently patronizes the restaurant. Chief of Police, Jacob Kelley, opted for a ½ pound foot-long chili cheese dog.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Fun food for the family FROM BURGERS TO DAILY DINER SPECIALS, JJ’S OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHERRY TUCKER

T Seasonal offerings include the Summer Special, which is a sandwich made with tasty bacon, lettuce and fried green tomatoes, topped with ranch dressing and layered between two slices of Texas toast.

44 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

HE LARGE DINER, WHICH offers hamburger and cheeseburger specials every Wednesday, a gameroom upstairs with room for small parties, and an handdipped ice cream bar that has become the common “after-school” stop, is bringing something to the local community that appeals to young and old.

JJ’s in Granby might appear to be a typical diner, but once you check out their menu offerings, it quickly becomes clear that they are unique. “We have a lot of specials, and we get a lot of people from AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION FOOD l One of JJ’s specialty items is their loaded fries, which they offer eight varieties. The brisket fries is a bed of french fries, topped with barbecue brisket, shredded cheddar cheese, pickles, onions, black olives and home-made barbecue sauce.

JJ’s Restaurant in Granby at 205 North Main Street

Owners, Doug and Patty Farmer, have owned and operated JJ’s going on 11 years.

JJ’s offers daily specials Monday through Saturday. A monthly calendar which list the special for each day of the month, is available at the restaurant.

Neosho and Diamond, too, and they want something different. We don’t want to be the same as all of the chain restaurants,” shared Doug Farmer, who along with wife Patti, have owned and operated JJ’s for 11 years. Patti managed the restaurant for the seven years previous to her and Doug buying it, through the original owners, Jim and Juanita Jump, and is where the JJ in the name comes from.

Patti explains, “Some restaurant people say that we have too much on our menu. But, we have some customers who eat here four or five times a week, so it is AUGUST 2014

important for us to provide the variety.”

Connection with the local community is something that JJ’s is committed to, “We have a burger special on Wednesdays, our hamburgers are $1.50 and cheeseburgers are $1.75. We get a lot of traffic from the church next door after their Wednesday night service,” said Patti. They also buy local whenever possible, “We get our hamburger fresh from Worden’s Meats in Webb City, and our foot-long hot dogs come from them, too.”

Doug and Patti have been part of the Granby community many years. “I grew up

here, and my family has been here since the 1850s. My dad and grandpa mined lead and zinc here,” said Doug. “Granby was one of the first places to mine them, and it was very important during the Civil War.” Patti, who was originally from New York, met Doug while her father was in the military, and Doug was stationed in Germany while he was in the Army. They married in Sweden, and when Doug got out of the Army, they moved to Granby and have been there ever since.

Visit with Doug and Patti, Monday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. n CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 45

rowdybeavercassville

BACK TO SCHOOL

IS HERE!

Breakfast Starts in March

• Jewelry & Purses

• Tops

• Swan Creek Soy Candles

• Shorts

and Drizzle melts

• LA Idol Jeans

(fall scents coming)

• Sundresses

• Recycled Handmade

• Sunglasses

T-shirt Scarves

• Flip Flops

(available in school colors)

• Capris

• Bermudas

• Short Shorts

Seafood Friday’s

* Steaks * Seafood * Chicken * Premium Cuts Of Steak * Slow Cooked Prime Rib Served Fri/Sat Only * Hand Padded Burgers * Hand Cut Fries served by * Outdoor deck The Rowdy Beaver Restaurant 464 Hwy 76, Cassville, MO 65625, Phone: 417-847-0489 www.rowdybeaver.com

Great Food

405 Plaza Drive • Monett | 417-678-3644 • 417-342-4839

New Fall Apparel & Shoes Arriving Daily!

Juniors, Misses, and Plus Sizes • Sizes 0-19 CALL TODAY FOR NEW 2014 CATALOG 1-888-845-9582

Making Memories Tours

www.makingmemoriestours.com

1000 N. Central • Monett

235-7188

46 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE

NEW ENGLAND CAPE COD

WASHINGTON D.C. PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK CITY

AN AFFAIR OF THE HEART

Sept 5 – Sept 12, 2014 Sept 29 – Oct 12, 2014 Oct 16 – Oct 27, 2014 Oct 24 – Oct 26, 2014 Check out the website for more details about our trips.

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION FOOD l

Earn your body

BY LEAH CLOUD Cox Monett Wellness Intern

I

AM A RECENT graduate of Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Mo., and I am very grateful to be working as an intern for Cox Monett Wellness and The CoxHealth Center for Health Improvement. As an intern, I have been introduced to many different programs this wellness team coordinates for the community. These dynamic programs educate our community members on adult weight management, childhood and adolescent nutrition and weight management and diabetes. In addition, there are a number of fitness classes offered, and recently I was introduced to one-on-one wellness coaching.

Motivation is the key to success, and part of the tasks a wellness coach will perform is sending motivational quotes and information to the clients.

I have been given the privilege to create some of these quotes and information that will be used for our coaching clients.

One of the sessions that I created was on spot reducing, or choosing the places where we want to lose our extra weight. Some do not understand that this is not a possible task. Just as you cannot decide where the calories land, you cannot determine where pounds are shed. Usually, a person will lose from the places it was last gained. People have an unrealistic expectation that diet and fitness routines will fix those stubborn spots. Where we generate fat may be genetic and we do not have the ability to choose where it goes just like we do not have the ability to choose where we lose it. You can, however, target those `problem areas’ with specific exercises that tone the area.

This can turn the fat into muscle. By doing this, you are creating a leaner look because you have toned what is there.

You only have one body, work hard and earn the body you want to have. n AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 47

smart snacking

HEALTHY WAYS TO SATISFY ANY AFTER-SCHOOL APPETITE

AVOCADO BACON TOAST

4 slices French baguette, sliced on the diagonal and lightly toasted 1 medium, ripe avocado 1 slice bacon, cooked and crumbled Honey Mash the avocado in a small bowl. Spread the mashed avocado on the toasts. Sprinkle with bacon and drizzle with honey. Eat and enjoy!

E TREAT AWESOM KFAST FOR BREA CHOOL! S OR AFTER

HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY FRUIT ROLLUPS 8 oz. strawberries, stems trimmed 1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice 3 tbsp. sugar Place the trimmed strawberries in a blender or food processor and puree them for a minute or so until smooth. Transfer the strawberry puree to a saucepan and add the lemon juice and sugar. Turn the heat to medium to medium high, and cook the mixture for about 10 minutes.Stir frequently, until the mixture is thick and jammy.

Preheat the oven to 170 degrees, or as low as your oven will go, making sure it’s less than 200 degrees at the highest.

Spread the strawberry jam into a rectangle shape onto a baking pan lined with a silpat or parchment paper, until the rectangle is about 1/8 inch thick.

Keep in mind the fruit leather will lose some of its thickness in the oven as it dehydrates, so make sure that none of the jam is so thin that you can see through it as you spread.

Cook in the oven for 3-4 hours, until the fruit mixture no longer feels sticky, just a bit tacky.

Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.

Transfer to a cutting board lined with wax paper, and use a pizza cutter to cut long strips. Roll them up into the fruit rollups, and enjoy!

48 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION FOOD l

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY POPCORN 12 cups popped popcorn (approx 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels) 2/3 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky) 2/3 cup jelly (grape, strawberry, etc) 1/8 teaspoon salt Heat oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray parchment paper with cooking spray. Spread out popcorn on baking sheet.

In a small saucepan, combine peanut butter, jelly and salt over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat.

Drizzle some of mixture over popcorn and with a spoon or spatula, gently combine popcorn with mixture. Continue to drizzle mixture over popcorn and combine them until all of the mixture has been used and most of the popcorn has coating. Spread mixture out again so it’s in one layer as much as possible.

Bake for 30 minutes in the oven, stirring popcorn every 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.

PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA DIP 1 large banana, mashed 1/2 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter 1/3 cup sour cream 1/3 cup powdered sugar 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract Food for dipping: fruit, cookies, chips, pretzels, etc.

Combine all ingredients, excluding dipping food, into a blender and pulse a few times until thoroughly combined. Stir before serving. Serve with fruit, cookies, chips, pretzels, etc.

AUGUST 2014

TRY ADDI N VEGGIES G 8 egg roll wrappers LI 8 tsp. store-bought pizza sauce BELL PEPP KE ER 1 tsp. Italian seasoning AND ONIO S 24 pepperoni slices NS 4 Mozzarella string cheese sticks, each cut in

PIZZA LOGS

half horizontally to make two shorter sticks Preheat the oven to 425. Lightly mist a large baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.

On a flat surface, place an egg roll wrapper, corner facing toward you (like a diamond) and spread a teaspoon of pizza sauce horizontally across the center of the wrapper, leaving 1/2 inch or so of space on each side.

Sprinkle a pinch of Italian seasoning across the sauce and add a row of 3 pepperoni slices over the sauce. Place half a cheese stick on top of the pepperoni. Fold the bottom corner closest to you up over the ingredients and give it a 90 degree roll. Fold the side corners in and tuck them as you give the filled section another 90 degree roll. Dip your finger in water and lightly wet the edges of the remaining top corner of the wrapper.

Finish rolling the filled pizza log over the wet corner so that it adheres.

Place wrapped pizza log onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

When all of the pizza logs are wrapped and on the baking sheets, mist the tops with cooking spray. Bake for 10-14 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until the wrappers are golden brown.

ORANGE JULIUS COPYCAT 6 ounces (3/4 cup) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed 1 cup milk 1 cup water 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp. granulated white sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 9 ice cubes Place all of the ingredients in a blender.

Blend until creamy. Divide the mixture between 4 glasses. Enjoy!

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 49

Mocha Jo’s

Tues. - Thurs.

11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Good for breakfast, lunch and supper... or just come in for coffee and dessert

Fri. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sat. 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

CLOSED Sunday and Mondays

600 Dairy Street Suite H Monett

404 EAST BROADWAY • MONETT

635-1107

417-635-1112 180 W. Third Street • Verona 417-498-6487

Monday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Thursday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Tuesday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Wednesday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Sunday - Closed Gift Cards, Mugs, Sweatshirts, and Consignment Items.

Mon. - Thurs. 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Fri. 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sun. 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Old Fashioned foods like grandma used to make! $5.49 Daily Lunch Special!

Call on us for birthdays, weddings or ANY occasion!

Full line of baked goods:

• Pies • Cakes • Breads • Cookies • Cupcakes • Brownies.

ALSO Shakes • Sundaes • Root beer Floats & Smoothies Chicken • Tenderloin • Hamburgers Full Breakfast menu available!

NEW We cater!

505 Plaza Drive, Monett 417-354-8408

acambarorestaurant.com 50 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

107 3rd Street, Monett • OPEN 6 am Everyday!

417.635.2050

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION FOOD l

& BREWS

BOTTLES

BEER, WINE

Belgian Wit B•E•E•R•S

BY JOSEPH ZUCCA

The dog days of summer are here. What better way to quench your thirst than with a light, refreshing Belgian style wit beer – perfect for this time of year.

& SPIRITS

What is a wit beer, you ask?

It is a Belgian style wheat ale crafted with orange peel, coriander seed and other spices that make it particularly refreshing and easy to drink.

Here are a f ew of my summertime favorites:

Visit our locations in

MONETT PURDY AND CASSVILLE

1

2

3

4

1. HOEGAARDEN by Hoegaarden Brewing The original wit beer. Pierre Celis revived this centuries-old recipe before creating Celis White, another top choice for a summer beer.

2. CELIS WHITE by Celis Brewery The best representation of a wit beer. It has a light, zesty flavor any beer connoisseur would enjoy.

3. ZÔN by Boulevard Brewing Company A great rendition of the wit style, this seasonal brew is available in the summer months only.

4. BLUE MOON BELGIAN WHITE by Blue Moon Brewing Co. Although classified as a wit beer, this is a variation not true to the wit style due to the addition of oats to the wheat used for brewing. It still has the same charictoristics of orange zest and coriander.

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 51

My connection

“My Connection” photos should be e-mailed to connection@monett-times.com. Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. A short explanation of who is in the photo and where the photo was taken should also be included.

At left, The Senters family brought their Connection magazine when they traveled to Naples Florida, for the wedding of Juli Yarnall and Dale Senters.

During their visit, they took an Everglades airboat tour in Everglades City, Florida. In the back row is Jim Senters, his mother, Alice, and Derek Couch.

In front is Vickie Senters with daughter-in-law, Juli, and son, Dale Senters.

Below, Frankie and Judy Wormington, of Verona, took their Connection magazine with them to Newport Beach, California. Pictured from left, are Bob and Mary Ann Ford, and Judy and Frankie as they prepared to board a yacht in Newport Harbor. The Wormington’s spent their vacation in the home of the Ford’s in Villa Park, California, and went sight seeing in Orange County.

During the airboat Everglades tour, Dale Senters got to “hug an alligator.”

Grandmother, Alice, stands next to Dale with her copy of Connection.

52 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2014

COMMUNITY CONNECTION l Mark and Lisa Jasumback, of Salt Lake City, and Jerri and Dale Jasumback, of Wentworth, standing near the boarder of Austria and Germany in the Alps.

Connection went sailing on Loch Ness, Scotland, as Jean McCaffrey Heinly and husband, Ken, try to spot “Nessie” the Loch Ness Monster.

At left, Steve and Tami Reid were recently invited to attend the SAPA Aluminum President’s council.

The council was held in Palm Beach, Aruba, this year.

Mark and Peggy Gentry, and Marney and Bessie Nowland spent a week in the Canadian Rockies with Making Memories Tours. They went to Glacier National Park, Banff and Jasper ,Canada, and Colombia Icefields. They also went to the Calgary Stampede.

AUGUST 2014

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 53

On the spot with T Autumn Palmer

HIS MONTH, AUTUMN PALMER will be returning to Exeter School for her fourth year of teaching in that district’s elementary school. Her and her husband, John Palmer, who is also employed as an elementary teacher at Exeter, have been endeared by the children they teach and love. Autumn shared, “Mr. Palmer and I love the kids here and we really like the school and the atmosphere.”

Mrs. Palmer (as her students address her) will be teaching first grade when she comes back to school this fall. Last year she taught fifth- and sixth-grade communication arts (English), alongside her husband who teaches fifth- and sixth-grade math.

Last spring, Mrs. Palmer had the students participate in a letter writing

Above, Mrs. Palmer has enjoyed teaching since playing teacher with her little cousins when she was a kid.

54 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

activity that also doubled as a career day inquiry. Students were asked to write letters to different businesses and professionals to ask them questions about what they do, and to ask if they would be interested in speaking to the class about their career. After I received a letter from sixth-grade student, Izzy Lee, sent to me, I spoke to the classes about writing and editing for Connection Magazine.

During my visit with the classes, I asked the students to pretend they were interviewing Mrs. Palmer for an article, and to ask her questions. It became quickly obvious how her students adore her when several girls asked, “Why are you so pretty?” and “How come you’re so sweet.” The kids thought hard and came up with some pretty good questions:

Student: What is your favorite thing about teaching?

Mrs. Palmer: I love the students’ personalities. Sometimes they say the funniest things.

I love to see the way their minds think. I also love all the creativeness of being a teacher.

Student improvement is great to witness, Miss Riley (Rowden) told me, “I feel so much smarter after this year.” I love to hear that from students.

AUGUST 2014

COMMUNITY CONNECTION l

Student: Is there anything you don’t like about teaching?

Mrs. Palmer: Honestly, it’s hard when you see students who are below grade level due to past events and you try everything you can to raise them up. Sometimes you come across a child whose home life can also make you sad, and grading essays isn’t my favorite either!

Student: Where do you come up with ideas for assignments: Mrs. Palmer: I think about what my students need to improve on and I talk to other teachers for ideas. I look on websites for ideas, and ask Mr. Palmer, too. I try to look at it from a different perspective and come up with different ways of teaching the same thing.

Student: Where did you go to college to become a teacher?

Mrs. Palmer: I went to Kent State in Ohio, PSU in Pittsburg, Kan., and Missouri Southern.

I also have a masters in elementary administration from Lindenwood.

Student: Why did you want to become a teacher?

Mrs. Palmer: When I was young, I would play teacher to my little cousins. I would assign work to them. I have always liked teaching.

Student: What do you do during your free time?

Mrs. Palmer: I play with my kids, Jaycie, who just turned 2, and Jarret, who is 8. We like to walk, ride bikes, read books and study the Bible. Sometimes, Mr. Palmer and I get to watch a movie.

Student: Who is your favorite Comic Book Character? (Mr. Palmer is a comic book collector, and always decorates his room with super heroes).

Mrs. Palmer: Wonder Woman n

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5 favorite children’s books: 1. The BFG by Roald Dahl 2. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt 3. Junie B. Jones Series by Barbara Park 4. The Foot Book - Dr. Seuss 5. Little Critter books by Mercer Mayer TOO hard because there are so many great books in a series, and there are fun upper elementary and lower elementary books.

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4 favorite places: 1. The Grand Cayman Islands or any beach will do.

2. My dad’s pool swimming with my kids.

3. Being at a Bible study, I love discussing scripture!

4. My classroom right before school starts with new supplies, bright borders, new crayons, and that new book smell!

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3 electronic gadgets you use: 1. My cell phone 2. Kindle Fire HD Tablet 3. a Laptop 2 favorite snacks: 1. My healthy choice is watermelon, 2. ...but my vice is anything chocolate! My students learn that quick!

1 favorite quote: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Other favorites: Turquoise blue Baseball Chinese food Christian music

Autumn with husband John Palmer, and son Jarrett and daughter Jaycie.

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Cassville celebrated the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Friday Squared event, along with the annual Sno-Glo 5K run. The events were held on July 11.

1. Mike Bailey and Michael LeCompte. 2. Callie Beagle and Courtney Beagle. 3. Skyler Beebe. 4. Mary Carlton, Lana Couch and Vera Ray. 5. Cheney Cox and Lindy Gibson. 6. Mike Martinson, Jay Cupps, Tisha Martinson, Ashley Cupps, Lydia and Jonah Cupps. 7. Kelsey Fields and Kayla and Harper Ragsdale. 8. Cassville High School Cheerleaders and friend: Devin Lunsford, Grace Schell, Kassie Graves, Kourtney Greek, Korissa Latta, Abby Rose, Brett Cochran, and Briley Artherton. 9. Gary and Wanda Whyte. 10. Justin Gates, Bill Gripka, Simon Gates, Hazel Gripka and Jim Gates. 11. Phil Alvarado and Jill LeCompte. 12. Janette Stansbury and Janice Martin. 13. Stacy, Steve, McKinley, Camden, and Teghan Runnels.

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Monett’s Independence Day celebration was held on July 4 at Monett’s South Park.

1. Sallie and Norman Fleener. 2. Brittany, Destiny and Jasmine Graessle, Shaun and Devlin Kennedy, Stephen Graessle Jr. and Annette Graessle. 3. David Hunt and Vickie Sweet. 4. Rick Sarrgent, Bailey Sarrgent and Melissa Boyer. 5. Juan and Lizbeth Fernandez. 6. Hailey Pederson, McKenzie Holland, Mistic Davis and Moira Mitchell. 7. Eli Cargile, Brandy Baxter and Jake Baxter. 8. Amy Mattlage, Shayla Doss and John Peterson. 9. Alexis Gutierrez, Brianna unzner and Jessy Painter. 10. Zach, Jaxon and Kelsey Wilcox. 11. Jared, Isabel and Cassandra Hill. 12. Kyleigh, Allison, Olivia, Brooklyn and Mackenzie Davis.

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The Purdy community enjoyed its third annual Independence Day party and fireworks show, courtesy of Ken Terry, on July 3.

1. Zach Baxter, McKenzie Langley and Samantha Watson. 2. Avery, Jeff, Jessica and Hayden Scott. 3. Fyona Boulch, Alana Williams, Mel Asbrock and Staci Asbrook. 4. Ronald Strother, Anthony Currens, Mark Rohlman and Eudell Brott. 5. Danielle Waterson and Kat Hughes.

6. Kailya, Kinsey, Mary Ann and Rick Stewart. 7. Russ and Renae Neill. 8. Tammi Beltran, Norma Ortega, Vanessa Rosas, Robbie Ortega and Christian Rosas. 9. Kori Morgan, Austin Poyner, Quenten Wilkinson, Haiden Payner, Chrissy Hancock, Avery Hancock, Jim Walker and Aliyah Poyner. 10. Sherry Borich, Theresa Kaler and Jamie Cleveland. 11. Trisha Jones, Natalee Moreno, Chantel Huse, Alicia Huse and Kalee Wright. 2. Shelly DeFoore (holding Kyser), Mike DeFoore, Torrie Graessle, Myca DeFoore and Karmen Morgan.

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Sixth annual Celebration Day Independence Day festivities held on June 29 at New Site Baptist Church, southwest of Monett.

1. Sharon Knapp, Karon Hawkins and Bill Knapp. 2. Neoma Ballard and Moira Mitchell. 3. Kristy Ray and Brandon Ford.

4. Kelly Graves and Jennifer Hawkins. 5. Bobby Gemmecke and Adriana Jacobson. 6. Tammy Gemmecke and Mackenzie Gemmecke.

7. Scott Aldridge, Heidi Springston, Jett Tennyson and Krista Skinkis. 8. Mikala and Arin Jones. 9. Georgetta Newby, Roy Coley, Gary Newby and Rene Coley. 10. Lance, Dominek and Nikki Lawyer. 11. Amelie and Katy Velasquez. 12. Albert and Shellbie Robertson.

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Mt. Vernon held its annual Red, White and Boom Independence Day celebration on June 27 at Spirit of 76 Park.

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1. Kortnee, Tyler and Tiffiny Danley. 2. Amanda, Scott, Sarah, Josh and Dena Cornell.

3. Ellie and Kay Peck. 4. Bethanie, Dylan, Stephanie, Will, Taylor, baby Ethan and Amanda Jobes. 5. Nicole Coffey and Camille Jones. 6. Kynzlee and Kaiden Jackson.

7. Josh McHaffie, Caleb McHaffie and Erika Fahlen. 8. Katy Moore, Johanna Moore and Haley Ebisch. 9. Ed, Haven and Tammy Bobski. 10. Cathy Brown, Cliff Brown and Jennifer Spencer. 11. Dakota, Jane and Ryan Phillips. 12. Joel Barber and Jordan Washam.

13. Darrel and Carol Roll.

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The Stella Senior Citizens Center and the Aurora Senior Citizens Center hold weekly dances. The Stella dance is held every Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. with music by the McDonald Playboys and Frosty Garland and the RoadHogs on alternate Fridays.

The Aurora dance is held every Saturday of the month from 7 to 10 p.m. featuring the Funtimers Band.

Pierce City Senior Center offers free bridge classes at 2 p.m. each Monday and quilting at 1 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

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Sons of the American Revolution meeting every fourth Tuesday at Granny Schaffer’s Restaurant on North Rangeline, Joplin, at 6 p.m. Members and anyone interested in joining are welcome to attend, as well as spouses.

Dinner followed by short meeting.

Please call president, Frank Shouse at 417-385-3150 for more information.

Central Crossing Senior Center offers line dancing classes from 9 to 10:30 a.m on Tuesdays and Thursdays; Zumba from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; Mahjong from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays; bridge from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursdays; quilting for charity from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m on Wednesdays and Thursdays; dominoes from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Mondays and bingo from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month.

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COMMUNITY CONNECTION l

Stay connected

SEPT EMB ER EVENTS September 5

September 12

September 20

The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its First Friday Coffee from 8 to 8:45 a.m. at Freedom Bank in Cassville. For more information, call the Chamber at 417-847-2814.

The Cassville Fall Sidewalk Sale will be held both days with local merchants offering special promotions and discounts. For more information, call the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce office at 417-847-2814.

The Missouri University Extension Southwest Research Center located near Mt. Vernon will host its annual field day from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Each year, the Southwest Research Center hosts a free Field Day to share research covering a gamut of agricultural topics.

They conduct tours that cover dairy, beef, forages, horticulture, vineyards, entomology, agroforestry, vegetable and fruit production and nut trees. Call Carla Rathmann at 417-466-2618 for more information.

The 9th Annual Shakin’ in the Shell Fest at the Shell Knob Chamber Park from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Events include a sports show, 25th Annual Classic Car show, food fair, beer garden, kids area, Bingo, Ugly Dog Contest, and a day full of entertainment topped off with a special headline concert by J Rock and the Third Street Band with leader singer Josh Davison. Contact the Shell Knob Chamber of Commerce at 417858-3300.

September 6

September 13

The Garden Sass Farmers Market, held at the Cassville Square, will hold a horticultural and old fashioned fair from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Local produce and canned goods exhibitors are welcome, and will be judged and displayed at the courthouse.

Old fashioned carnival games, live music starting at 9:30 a.m. and booths ran by local fundraisers will also be at the event.

Kornerstone Inc. will be hosting a 5K run/walk that will start and finish at the Aquatic Center in Cassville.

Race starts at 9 a.m. Registration and cost: Registration before August 25th is $25.00 and includes a T-shirt.

Registration after August 25 is $25.00 no shirt. Registration form available online at www.kornerstoneinc.org. For more information call 417-858-2887.

September 5-6

“Jammin at Jolly Mill Park” from 5 p.m. 9 p.m. Featuring well known local bands such as Boot Kickers, Neva Welters on Dulcimer, Timberline Bluegrass Band and Mark Chapman Band.

Consessions will be available during the event, and there will be a fireworks display at dark. $10 per vehicle, no entrance fee. HYPERLINK “http:// Www.markchapmanband.com/”Www. markchapmanband.com for more details.

The Cassville Rotary Club will hold its annual Demolition Derby at the Bill Hailey Arena (rodeo grounds) at 7 p.m.

AUGUST 2014

September 16 The Southern Beekeepers of Missouri will meet at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Monett. Anyone interested in bees is welcome to attend. For more information, call Leon Riggs at 417-2355053 or Kevin Young at 417-847-5464.

Opening Day at the Exeter Corn Maze located on Hwy MM, south of Exeter. Includes a 5k Pumpkin Run starting at 5 p.m. with proceeds to benefit area schools backpack program. T-shirt and Maze ticket included with your $20 registration fee. To register call Kerry Mattingly at 417-342-4251, or email her at kerrymattingly95@gmail.com

September 27 Craft fair at the Exeter Corn Maze located on Hwy MM south of Exeter.

Event starts at 1 p.m. with craft booths, food and fun activities. Please call Kerry Mattingly at 417-342-4251, or email kerrymattingly95@gmail.com for more information or vendor fees and guidelines.

If you have an event you would like featured in our monthly events listing, please email the event information to connection@monett-times.com.

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TIPS FROM LOCAL TEACHERS We asked our area’s educators to share some words of wisdom to get your kids ready for the upcoming school year. Here’s what they told us: The biggest “tip” for Back School is to get back into the school regimen. Bedtimes need to be re-established at least two weeks before going back to school. Another good idea that I always tried at the end if summer is to start getting up and ready just like a typical school day, so that one doesn’t feel rushed the first week back.

Hope everyone has a great Back to School experience!

Darla Kaye Horner Pre-K Exeter R-VI Elementary If your school is having an Open House or Meet the Teacher Day, make sure to try and attend. If you can bring your supplies, please do so, it takes a great burden off your child that first day.

Plus, teachers love to meet the families and it makes your child/children less stressed for that first day of school.

Also, if you can’t find your child’s supply list at Walmart or because you are out and about, then make sure to check the school’s website, lots of schools are posting them online now.

Brenna Zucca Fourth Grade Southwest R-V School District

Reading is an area that the students can fall back on, especially the younger ones, through the summer. It is beneficial for the students to spend some time reading books with Mom and Dad that are at their reading level. It will boost their self-esteem when they go back to school and it will get them back into the habit of reading.

Jamie Haase Computer Lab Paraprofessional, Rocky Comfort Grade School In high school, maintaining those routines continues to be just as important as elementary and middle school. Furthermore, if your student will be a freshman this school year, be sure to attend freshmen orientation and open house at your district to help reduce anxiety and nerves. Both events will provide the opportunity to talk to teachers about expectations, and allow your student to see their classrooms. If your student will be a senior, be sure to remain in communication with your student and with the counselor, or district website about scholarships and major deadlines such as FAFSA. Overall, to all students, good luck this school year, and do not be afraid to ask for help from your teachers.

Kayla Branstetter English Teacher Purdy High School

The start of a new school is special. Start a tradition with your student that you can do every year with them.

Have breakfast together.

Take a picture. Show them how important a new school year is by showing you care. It can make a huge difference in how they approach a new year and new changes in their life.

Michelle Hilburn High School English Purdy High School

Students can prepare for school in several different ways. First, begin going to bed a little earlier and waking up a little earlier, say 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Second, if you haven’t read all summer, get back into the habit of reading by picking up a magazine, a book, or your eReader. Third, write.

Reflect on your summer. Make a list of things you want to do next summer. Write a letter to your grandparents. Write something longer than a text message. Remember, writing doesn’t necessarily mean pen and paper; it can be at a keyboard. Finally, think about how excited your teachers are to see you!

Lucretia Brattin School Librarian Exeter

Nervousness and a little anxiety is normal with life changing events and going to school for the first time is definitely life changing. If your child is nervous, then keep the first day drop off short. Let your child know you can’t wait to hear all about their day when you see them later then give them a hug and a kiss, and then leave. The truth is the tears usually only last a few minutes. But if your child really struggles, stop by the office and give them your name and cell number and the school counselor will be more than happy to call you to give you an update on your child a little bit later in the day.

Kristie Preddy Professional School Counsele–r Eunice Thomas Elementary, Cassville

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PARTING SHOT BY JEFF TERRY “The roses under my window make no reference to former roses or better ones; they are what they are; they exist with God today. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every

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moment of its existence.”

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Ralph Waldo Emerson

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