Connection October

FREE

PICKIN’ PUMPKINS

Monett native operates popular pumpkin patch

A-MAZE-ING FUN FOR THE FAMILY

Fall forward 33

Connection’s favorite fall fashion trends

Spooktacular attraction in Exeter expands

MAKING APPLE BUTTER

A tasty Mt. Vernon tradition

MAKING THE CUT

Homeland documentary explores Monett’s cultural diversity

Spicing It Up R E D M O N K E Y F O O D S I S A M O N G N AT I O N ’ S FA S T E S T G R O W I N G C O M PA N I E S

OCTOBER 2012

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CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 3

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4 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

417-235-9097 845 Hwy 60, Suite A, Monett, MO 65708 OCTOBER 2012

CONTENTS

On the cover: Photo by Amanda Solak

contents OCTOBER 2012 CONNECTION MAGAZINE

8

A-maze-ing fun for the family Spooktacular attraction in Exeter expands

18

Spicing it up

27

Pickin’ pumpkins

33

Fall forward

38

Making apple butter

43

Making the cut

Red Monkey Foods is among nation’s fastest growing companies

Monett native operates pumpkin patch in Marionville

27

Connection’s favorite fall fashion trends 33

A tasty Mt. Vernon tradition

Homeland documentary explores Monett’s cultural diversity Orange cable knit scarf and gray ear band with flower details by Mud Pie. Available at Whitley’s Pharmacy and Gifts in Cassville. See more on page 33.

OCTOBER 2012

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 5

Monett’s 9th Annual

THE MONETT CHAMBER OF COMMERC E PRESENTS

Flavors

F E S T I VA L of

S AVO R T H E F L AVO R S

Tuesday, Nov. 13 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

SAMPLE APPETIZERS, SALADS, F I R ST U N I T E D M E T H O D I ST C H U RC H SOUPS, BREADS, 1600 N. CENTRAL IN MONETT ENTREES, DESSERTS AND BEVERAGES FROM AREA TICKETS ARE $10 FOR ADULTS • $5 FOR CHILDREN 7-12 RESTAURANTS AND Tickets available at Monett Chamber office CATERERS.

200 East Broadway, Monett

For more information, contact the Monett Chamber of Commerce

417-235-7919 COM E S A M P L E W H AT O U R LOC A L B U S I N E SS E S H AV E TO O F F E R

Connection A magazine dedicated to Southwest Missourians PUBLISHERS Mike and Lisa Schlichtman EDITOR Lisa Schlichtman editor@monett-times.com ART DIRECTOR Veronica Zucca connection@monett-times.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Robyn Blankenship Greg Gilliam Sheila Harris Marion Chrysler Cassie Brewer GRAPHIC ARTISTS Melody Rust CONTRIBUTORS Lindsay Reed Murray Bishoff Meagan Ruffing Jo Anne Ellis Nancy Ridgley Lisa Craft Darlene Wierman Sally Reinhardt Melonie Roberts Sheila Harris Susan Funkhouser Anne Angle Heno Head, Jr. Katie Barton PHOTOGRAPHERS Sarah Lee Mike Scott Amanda Solak Chuck Nickle Kerry Hays Patti Richardson Jeff Terry

Gi s • An ques • Garden Art

• • • • •

Heirloom antiques, china, silver and linens Framed prints (signed and numbered) Unique gifts and greeting cards for all occasions Custom made gift baskets for any occasion Carruth sculptures + • Books /cook books/dishes & more ~ New merchandise arriving weekly ~ Conveniently located inside the Red Barn 25114 State Highway 39, Shell Knob, MO

DISTRIBUTION Jim Bower TO ADVERTISE 417-847-2610 - Cassville 417-235-3135 - Monett Send e-mail inquiries to editor@monett-times.com Mailing address: P.O. Box 40, Monett, MO 65708 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.

417.858.2602 or 913.948.1888 6 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2012

EDITOR’SNOTE

Send your Connection story ideas to me at editor@monett-times.com. Story ideas and photo submissions are always welcome.

am a magazine junkie and always have been. At the University of Missouri School of Journalism where I received my degree, magazine was my chosen sequence. So when we decided to launch Connection almost three years ago, I returned to my journalistic roots and rekindled my passion for magazines.

Just like a child can’t resist drooling over the candy display, I find myself eagerly flipping through the pages of the magazines that fill the racks on either side of the checkout aisle. I rarely come home from the grocery store without at least one new magazine in my sack. I love Living by Martha Stewart, More and Self, and I also subscribe to several regional magazines, such as Inside Columbia and 5280, Denver’s premiere lifestyles magazine.

And while the ability to access these magazines online is convenient, I’m old fashioned in my love for the actual physical publications that I can hold in my hands.

Nothing can replace the pure pleasure I get from flipping through the gorgeous glossy pages and earmarking my favorite articles and photos. I also love the option of tearing out the most inspirational pages and posting them on my refrigerator or mirror. Right now, I have an inspirational photo and quote about the benefits of running hanging on my refrigerator that I saved from last month’s Self magazine.

It is my hope that from time to time you have been inspired to clip out a recipe or a photo from an issue of Connection. I know some of you also collect past issues of Connection, and several of you have shared with me that you have complete sets of all the issues we’ve printed since our inaugural issue in December of 2009. That is a huge compliment to us, and we greatly appreciate the fact that you value Connection enough to save past copies of the magazine.

As I read other regional magazines, I am pleased to report that Connection’s design and content stack up quite nicely with magazines published in cities far larger than our’s.

I continue to be very proud of the talented group we’ve assembled who contribute to the success of Connection each month -- from the advertising sales representatives who work hard to make sure we generate the revenue we need to support a free magazine to my incredibly talented art director Veronica Zucca who makes the pages of Connection “pop” each month. You guys are the best and make my job easy, and oh so, enjoyable.

And while I am pleased with the positive reception Connection continues to receive, I never want to rest on our laurels. I hope you, our valued readers, will always feel free to dialogue with me about stories you’d like to see in upcoming issues of Connection and ways we can continue to grow and expand the magazine. Feedback is always welcome.

I

NEW YEAR,

new you Connection’s first-ever

MAKEOVER CONTEST Coming in J A N UA R Y 2 0 1 3

Do you know someone who deserves a makeover?

If so, email me at editor@monetttimes.com with the person’s name, photo and why you think they need a new look. Individuals are also invited to nominate themselves.

The winner will receive a complete makeover to be featured in the January 2013 issue of Connection.

Keep connecting,

Lisa Schlichtman editor@monett-times.com

OCTOBER 2012

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 7

M

Afun

S P O O K TA C U L A R AT T R

8 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2012

AZE

-ing n for the family

R AC T I O N I N E X E T E R E X PA N D S

Story by Lindsay Reed

Families looking for miles of winding paths cut through a field of corn or spooky, pitch black corridors with scares around each corner will enjoy a visit to the Exeter Corn Maze and Haunted Barn. The Halloween-themed venue is owned by Artie and Robyn Cole, of Exeter.

Robyn’s father, Charlie Lauderdale, operated a haunted barn in Purdy when she was younger. Later, after most of the local spook houses disappeared, the Coles decided to create their own haunted attraction.

OCTOBER 2012

“Each year, we add to the barn,” said Artie. “We try to improve it by making it bigger, longer and putting more in it for each Halloween season. We probably change around one-quarter of the barn each year.”

Although the Coles have added to their fall activities each year, 2012 is special.

Artie and Robyn have worked to expand their venture to new levels.

For instance, the new eight-acre corn maze will feature a distinct design that offers five unique mazes,

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 9

which have the potential to keep families busy for hours.

“This is the biggest our maze has been,” said Artie.

“In the past, we just cut paths out of the field ourselves.”

Artie planted the eightacre cornfield in June and then spent the summer irrigating the field. Even though this year’s drought conditions have made growing the corn challenging, he said he has been satisfied with the crop.

When the cornstalks were around knee-high a maze designer used a computer and GPS system to cut a design into the field.

The corn was allowed to continue to grow throughout the remainder of the summer and fall months.

The Coles’ corn maze is designed around images of KY3 meteorologists Ron Hearst and Brandon Beck and the slogan “100% chance of fun.”

“Weathermen are some of the biggest celebrities in this area,” said Artie.

“Especially in the agriculture community, they are people who everyone is familiar with.”

In addition to the spooky haunted barn and the tangled labyrinth, the Coles’ fall Halloween extravaganza will offer a five-acre pumpkin patch where families can spend time searching for the perfect carving gourd.

Other activities that will be offered at the Exeter Corn Maze and Haunted Barn include: a corn cannon; a real

PHOTO BY CHUCK NICKLE PHOTGRAPHY

pumpkin cannon; a cow train for youngsters; a zip line; a 2,000-square-foot bounce area; hayrides; playground activities; a hay mountain; and a crafts area.

There will also be photo opportunities for families who visit. The Coles have designed several comical cutouts for posed snapshots.

“Our goal is for a family of four to be able to come out and spend all day having fun,” said Cole.

10 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Concessions will even be available. The Coles plan to serve hamburgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, nachos, pretzels, funnel cakes and other tasty treats.

“We will have all three of the big fall activities in one spot,” said Robyn. “Plus, we will have a lot more.”

Fire pits will be available on site, but attendees are encouraged to dress for the weather and wear layers in the evenings. The Coles also

discourage youth from wearing flip flops or stainable shoes in the corn maze, which can become dusty.

The Exeter Corn Maze and Haunted Barn are now open Friday through Sunday.

The fall spooktacular will also be open on Halloween, which is Wednesday, October 31.

The maze and barnyard area, which includes games and children’s activities, are open from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. on Saturday

OCTOBER 2012

make this a safe place, even for teenagers to hang out.”

The Exeter Corn Maze and Haunted Barn is located off of Highway MM approximately three miles south of Exeter.

For more information on the Exeter Corn Maze and Haunted Barn, visit exetercornmaze.com, call 417-846-3960 or find Exeter Corn Maze Haunted Barn on Facebook.

and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Haunting hours are from 7 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. During that time, the haunted barn is open and the corn maze is spooked.

Haunting hours will also be offered from 7 to 11 p.m. on Halloween night.

Families can visit the maze throughout the day and take part in all of the fall activities by purchasing armbands, which are $20 each. Tickets can also be

OCTOBER 2012

purchased for individual activities.

The entry fee for the maze is $6 per person, and the cost to explore the haunted barn is $7 each.

Children who are 3 years of age or younger can take part in any of the activities at no cost, but the haunted barn is not recommended for small children.

Group discount rates are available, and the Exeter Corn Maze and Haunted Barn is available for private parties.

“It’s been pretty popular,” said Artie. “We really enjoy doing it, and every year more and more people come out.”

The Coles have expanded their parking area in anticipation of a larger crowd this year.

“We care about the people coming out, and we want to please our customers,” said Artie. “We won’t allow any alcohol, drugs or firearms.”

“The Exeter Corn Maze and Haunted Barn is well lit to offer a safe environment,” added Robyn. “We work to

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 11

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BY SALLY REINHARDT

sidecar-sally@juno.com

Sally Reinhardt is a transplant from the big city of St. Louis, who now lives in Monett with her husband. Sally said it was strictly by accident or fate that she ended up living in Monett. “I never imagined I would one day be living in the Ozarks, much less enjoy the opportunity to share my writings,” said Sally. “This, of course, just proves it is best to keep life’s options open. I have found here an entirely new outlook and a new set of sights, sounds and friendships.”

On our way to breakfast the other day, my husband and I made a stop at a neighbor’s house to let him know that two of his cattle were strolling down our farm road, exploring new freedoms and highlighting the unexpected in country landscapes. Returning home after completing a few errands, I noted the rotating seasonal colors on the tops of the trees and tips of our hearty ivy. It was a day designed for retired senior citizens, as well as others, to relax and observe.

Across the road from my vantage point, horses graze within my sight, strolling their well-trodden path as they do each morning. There they were -- mom, dad and the baby colt. While watching the colt over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed changes in his independence. He no longer sticks close to mom, but now wanders off by himself, prompting her to patiently wait for him.

This season of the year is one that I look forward to with anticipation. Thoughts of the cold winter might loom close at hand, but it does not diminish the homage due the glory of change.

Life’s crossroads can require much thought and contemplation. “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors, there is safety.”

(Proverbs 11:14) Talking with peers who want you to succeed is always a good idea OCTOBER 2012

before stepping onto the crossroads. When we come to the edge of the light, we know either God will provide something solid to stand on or we will be taught to fly.

People and events impact our lives on a daily basis, often without our awareness or consent. Learning to set aside personal perspective is always an important element in our choices. Being open to whomever the Lord has used to model His message challenges us to change, dispelling the tendency to settle for less than our full potential.

Following instructions, the disciples went forth as laborers to harvest the people in the cities as outlined in Luke 10:2. No doubt even the apostles experienced moments of uneasiness when given this assignment of duty. With the donkey as the mode of transportation at the time, I envision the disciples untying their donkeys as they commenced to make a change in their lives.

Be sure to mentally untie your donkey, sharing time and friendship with those you meet in passing with a word or a smile. Make a conscious effort to do this, and you will note a change take place in yourself as well as in others. Incidentally, my donkey’s name is Blessings, because he always brings them my way.

See ya down the road.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 13

LOVIN’LIFE

Lovin’ life after 55

www.cassville.com

Friday, Oct. 26 Show starts at 7:30 p.m. | Pre-show is at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 27 Show starts at 7:30 p.m. | Pre-show is at 7 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 28 Show starts at 2 p.m. | Pre-show is at 1:30 p.m.

Crowder College Cassville Campus COMMUNITY BUILDING For more information on the Chili & Salsa Cookoff or The Show, please call 417-847-2814

Purchase advance tickets and table seating at the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce.

General admission tickets at the door.

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proud parent

cutest kid contest

OCTOBER’S

CUTEST!

Kobhe Congratulations to Kobhe Easton Ware, the 11-month-old son of Curtis and Jill Ware. Kobhe’s proud grandparents are Jerry and Debbie Yarnall. His great-grandparents are Paul and Jane Yarnall.

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 editor@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 thesole purpose of this contest.

OCTOBER 2012

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 15

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16 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

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CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 17

Red Monkey Foods is among nation’s fastest growing companies Story by Meagan Ruffing Photos by Amanda Solak

Have you ever had a business idea and run with it?

Most of us do have those ideas but not many of us see them to fruition. Jeff Brinkhoff, 38, did what so few of us do; he took his idea to make cooking with spices fun and turned it in to a multi-million dollar enterprise.

In 2002, Red Monkey Foods rented warehouse space in Mt. Vernon. And in 2004, Jeff, who serves as company president, launched an unusual spice line with non-traditional flavor combinations and called it the Red Monkey brand. Flavors like Mango Habanero, Tres Chili Cilantro and their recent best

18 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

seller, Original Bloody Mary, have become favorites of the company’s growing legions of customers.

With only a dream and his father’s milk barn in Golden City, Missouri, Jeff set out to create a blend of organic, allnatural spices, rubs and seasonings to get others excited about cooking.

“There was a niche that wasn’t being serviced,” explained Jeff. “That niche was something that was in its infancy stage that has grown to be a big commodity.”

The timing of Red Monkey’s debut couldn’t have

been any better. During a time when the country faced its most recent recession, more and more families were eating at home to save money.

“The economy has played a big part in it,” says Jeff.

“Everybody’s staying home and making stuff. There has been an increased interest in cooking.

People still like creating meals.

They’re still interested in cooking quick and easy things. [I want to] give them a blend that’s unique to us and them.”

Jeff also made the name of his company something that wouldn’t be easily forgotten. He worked with a company that

OCTOBER 2012

provided him with a list of 12 potential names; Red Monkey being one of them. Out of all of those names, everyone remembered Red Monkey.

“We decided to go with that,” says Jeff. “We wanted every advantage.”

And advantage they got. In 2011, Red Monkey Foods made Inc. Magazine’s “500” list of the nation’s fastest growing companies at #465. And the local company made the list again this year, coming in at #1,386 out of Inc.’s list of top 5,000 companies on the rise.

Red Monkey Foods went from making $2.5 million in 2008 to

OCTOBER 2012

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 19

$7.8 million in 2011 -- an increase of 217 percent in just three years.

Today, Red Monkey Foods employs about 80 people and has just added 11,500 square feet to its warehouse, which now encompasses a total of 50,000 square feet. As the company continues to grow, so have its marketing efforts.

“We have revamped our website,” says Jeff. “We’ve got to catch up. When we do something, we’re not just going to play around with it. We are in the process of testing new concepts, and we are trying to get more of a social following.”

One of the many ways that Jeff and his team want to draw a larger audience is by educating people on their

{

seasonings. “Look at our spices on the web,” urges Jeff. “Watch our videos and read our tips and techniques.”

The cooking demos on Red Monkey’s Facebook page are hosted by Chef Nathan Lippy.

There was a niche that wasn’t being serviced,” explained Jeff.

“That niche was something that was in its infancy stage that has grown to be a big commodity.”

Jeff Brinkhoff - President

“I like creating fun recipes around [Red Monkey’s] seasonings,” explains Nathan. “I was never a fan of pre-blended seasonings, but these are phenomenal for two reasons. 1. they’re all organic, and 2., the salt content is very low -usually you can’t control that.”

One of the key statements behind the Red Monkey brand

is to help “consumers overcome flavor fatigue.” Jeff offers 16 flavors in seasonings with the top eight including Mango Habanero, Tres Chili Cilantro, Tarragon and Chive, Hickory Smoked Balsamic Vinaigrette, Stone Ground Spicy Mustard, Red Pepper Parmesan, Roasted Raspberry Chipotle and Smokey Jalapeño. The ingredients used to create the spices are brought in from various countries around the world.

Jeff says he’s always had an entrepreneurial spirit.

“I can’t sit still,” he says. “By nature I’m a busy body. I like to be doing stuff.” The process of starting his own company hasn’t necessarily changed Jeff as a person but he says, “It’s opened my eyes up to a lot of things in business.”

}

Several Red Monkey Foods staff members are pictured at right.

From left, are: Deserie Coose, Ken Edstrom, Lisa Lowe, Jeff Brinkhoff and Corinna Baban.

20 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2012

As a single father to 9year-old son, Kohl, and 6-year-old daughter, Malori, Jeff says he spends a lot of time with his kids when he’s not working. “Kohl likes to put a hair net on and run around ‘helping’ people,” laughs Jeff.

“They get excited to see it [product] on shelves.”

Mentors have been a huge factor in Jeff’s success. He has several people in his life that he credits as his support system. Jeff says the late Dr. Robert Monison whom he used to work for “was one big help.

I latched on to his coat tails.”

Dwight and Marcia Grenawalt -- he a food scientist and she a home cook seasoning developer -- have also been huge influences on Jeff.

“This has been a team effort,” explains Jeff. “The only

thing I am is determined and dedicated. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t accomplish it. There are too many good

people out there to latch on to that are good friends and mentors. I don’t believe in luck.

But I do believe in good timing.

Breakfast Casserole 3 large eggs 1/4 teaspoon Red Monkey crushed red pepper 12 ounces breakfast sausage 16 slices white bread 2 cups milk 1 cup finely shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese 2 cups egg substitute 1/4 teaspoon Red Monkey Organic Paprika 1 teaspoon Red Monkey Organic Ground Mustard Seed 3/4 teaspoon Red Monkey Sea Salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground Red Monkey Organic Black Pepper Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sausage to pan, cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring and breaking sausage to crumble. Remove from heat, and cool.

Combine milk and next 6 ingredients through eggs in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Trim crusts from bread. Cut bread into 1 inch cubes.

Add bread cubes, sausage and cheddar cheese to milk mixture, stirring to combine.

OCTOBER 2012

Pour bread mixture into a 13 x 9 inch baking or 3-quart casserole dish coated with cooking spray, spreading egg mixture evenly in baking dish.

Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove casserole from refrigerator, let stand 30 minutes. Sprinkle evenly with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until set and lightly browned. Let stand 10 minutes.

I have good time on my side. I only take credit where it’s deserving.”

Behind the success is a lot of planning, and planning is exactly what Jeff and his team do on a daily basis.

“My five-year goal,” explains Jeff, “is to increase at the same pace. [We] want to become a leader in private label in the spice category and establish a brand outside of the spices.”

If you would like to try Red Monkey Foods products, they can be purchased online, and at Mama Jeans, Price Cutters and Harter House in Springfield.

For more information on the Red Monkey Brand, visit www.redmonkeyfoods.com or call their office at 417-4669109. The company also maintains a dynamic Facebook page with over 47,000 followers.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 21

TOMBLINS J

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Where quality is the difference.

Exceptional people.

Exciting places.

Interesting things.

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Holiday OPEN HOUSE Saturday, Nov. 10

Email your story ideas to editor@monett-times.com

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22 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

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CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 23

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OCTOBER 2012

oh my!

BY NANCY RIDGLEY

Nancy Ridgley, RD, LD, CDE, is a registered and licensed dietitian, certified diabetes educator, a Mad Dogg-certified spinning instructor and director of community wellness at Cox Monett Hospital. She also holds certifications in adult weight management and childhood and adolescent weight management. The mother of three enjoys spinning, reading, Mizzou football, travel, spending time with children and extended family and having coffee with friends. For more information about wellness and living a healthy lifestyle, check out Cox Monett Hospital’s wellness blog at www.realwellnessforrealpeople.blogspot.com.

What is taking years from your life and life from your years?

The top leading causes of death in the United States are: 1. Heart Disease 2. Cancer 3. Stroke 4. Pulmonary Disease 5. Diabetes I attended a very informative Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) conference in Columbia this past month. Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale Prevention Research Center at Yale University, was the keynote speaker. Dr. Katz discussed, “The Rational UnFattening of America’s Families.”

We, as educators have spent the last 20 years teaching our students about the importance of disease prevention through proper eating and activity, but our rates of obesity keep increasing. Dr. Katz states that “knowledge is not sufficient for power.”

OCTOBER 2012

We live in a world where calories are in overabundance and physical activity is hard to get. This needs to be reversed. There is no one thing that can change a lifetime of doing things wrong, but what we can do is start making one change at a time that will stack up over time to make a difference. A couple of examples for our children are the ABCs (Activity Bursts in the Classroom) and three Rs (Recess over Ritalin for Rambunctiousness).

Dr. Katz states, “Feet, forks and fingers are the master levers of destiny.” This basically means that we need better use of our feet and forks.

How people use their feet and forks is a cultural issue. By changing our lifestyle, we could see an 80 percent reduction in heart disease, a 90 percent reduction in diabetes and a 60 percent reduction in cancer.

At the end of the day what you do with your feet and your fork is up to you. You have the knowledge, so what are you going to do with it?

“Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” -- Michael Pollan.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 25

HEALTHYCONNECTION

Feet, forks and fingers...

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pickin’ pumpkins Monett native operates pumpkin patch in Marionville

f

all brings to mind colorful leaves, crisp breezes and . . . pumpkins.

These colorful squash can be used as food or decoration when the temperatures start to drop and attention turns toward the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays.

S TO R Y B Y M E LO N I E RO B E RT S P H OTO S C O U RT E S Y O F K E N D R A W H I T E P H OTO G R A P H Y

OCTOBER 2012

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 27

The female leaves have a small ovary at the end of the flower, that once fertilized, develops into a pumpkin.

28 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2012

For Richard Witt, owner of the Pickin’ Patch in Marionville, pumpkins provide enough income to supplement his farm hobby and his children’s education.

“I grew up in Monett,” Witt said. “I tried growing about everything you could in a vegetable garden. It was more than I could keep up with. I decided to go with a fall crop, because I’m not dependant on picking or spoilage.”

The Pickin’ Patch offers over 30 varieties of pumpkins, ranging from the miniature varieties that fit in the palm of your hand and can be used for tabletop decorations to those “Great Pumpkins” of Charlie Brown fame that grow to enormous proportions and weigh around 75 pounds.

Pumpkins are a warmweather species native to North America.

“Bees are especially important to the pollination of pumpkins,” Witt said. “The plants have both male and female flowers on the same plant. The female leaves have a small ovary at the end of the flower, that once fertilized, develops into a pumpkin.”

Witt said a single vine will have several small pumpkins started on it, but the plant will “abort” all but one, sending all of its nutrition to the remaining fruit for its growth and survival.

“Pumpkins are fun,” Witt said. “Kids love to come out

OCTOBER 2012

here in the fall and pick their own pumpkins. We let them each take one home to decorate however they wish.

Each child chooses his or her own pumpkin, whether it’s very small or the biggest one in the patch.”

Witt plants about 15 acres of pumpkins on his farm in Marionville, along with other varieties of squash and Indian corn, which are all used for fall decorations.

“We even score the names of children into the immature pumpkin skins, and the squash continues to grow around it, resulting in a kind of bumpy, noticeable scar,” Witt said. “Parents will have us do that early in the season, so their children can come out and find their very own pumpkins with their names engraved on them.

“Part of the fun,” Witt added, “is seeing the happy faces of children as they visit the Pickin’ Patch and find the exact pumpkin they’re looking for.”

This year, Witt has a large selection of “gourdkins,” which are created by bees fertilizing gourds with pumpkin pollen.

“The bees get mixed up,” he grinned. “The fruit comes out part green and part orange, but they make interesting decorations. It’s like an Easter egg hunt -- no two are the same.”

Witt also plants white pumpkins to harvest in the fall.

“They’re great for carving and painting,” Witt said. “They

provide great contrast in fall gourd and pumpkin displays.

I’ve even seen them used as wedding decorations in the fall.”

The season gets underway on October 1 and

continues until the first week of November.

“I have several hired hands helping throughout the week, and I’m home on weekends to help when things get busy,” Witt said. “The

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 29

drought this summer has really hurt the crop. We lost an entire field and plowed it under. We went ahead and planted more pumpkins that should be ready for late fall.”

The extreme weather has also taken a toll on the Indian corn Witt planted to be used as decorative accents in and around the farm when the picking season

gets underway. The corn also serves as a windbreak to help protect the crops during summer storms.

In anticipation of potential drought, Witt has installed irrigation hoses through the fields to offset the dry summers the Pickin’ Patch has experienced over the past few years.

“This had become a

family activity until the kids went to college,” Witt said.

“Now my aunt manages the business while I am at work.”

Workers gear up for the opening of the season in October by decorating the barn and grounds for children and their parents.

“Linus will be hiding somewhere in the Great Pumpkin Patch as will some of

the other Peanuts characters,” Witt said. “We will also have hay rides, a small straw maze, a corn maze or a combination of the two, and an obstacle course,” Witt said. “There will be a picture day where families and groups can sit among the decorations and have portraits made. It’s a good time.”

Schools may schedule

The Pickin Patch is located at 22813 Highway ZZ in Marionville. The business can also be found on Facebook.

30 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2012

trips to the Pickin’ Patch by calling 417-258-7132. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Cost of admission is $5 per child and includes a pumpkin. Private vehicles are admitted at a cost of $4 per person with those under the age of 2 admitted free of charge.

OCTOBER 2012

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 31

ALL ROADS LEAD TO CRANE Neatest little town in Missouri On scenic Highways 413 & 265

CRANE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Home of the Broiler Festival

www.cranemo.com

VISIT OUR HISTORIC MAIN STREET SHOPS

Is your furry or feathered friend the cutest?

Submit your photo to find out!

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Shane A Boyd

To enter your pet in Connection’s Cutest Pet contest, email a photo to editor@monett-times.com for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate from Preffered Pet Supply in Monett.

32 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Financial Advisor

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Financial Advisor 100 Chapel Dr Suite B Monett, MO 65708 417-235-7465

OCTOBER 2012

fall forward

BY LISA SCHLICHTMAN

1

3

2

C Heads up

Classy classics

Hats are making another strong comeback. Fedoras remain popular this fall and can work to add a menswear touch -- another fashion trend -- to any outfit.

Styles this fall are more fitted with belted sweaters, pencil skirts and hems that hit mid-knee or below.

Collars and cuffs A new color palette Dark brown French roast, a warm honey gold and a royal Olympian blue are a just a few of the new colors making an entrance as the weather cools. Other top color choices for fall, according to Pantone’s 2012 fall fashion color report, include: pink flambe, tangerine tango, ultramarine green, bright chartreuse, titanium grey, rose smoke and a pale purple that goes by the name of rhapsody.

A chunky bracelet or choker-length necklace can update any outfit.

Jewelry-inspired collars and bold braceletes are an easy and less expensive way of making last year’s sweaters, shirts and dresses look runway fresh.

Bedazzled Embellishment on handbags, dresses, shoes and sweaters is all the rage. The style is more barouque than Vegas showgirl -- less sequins and more subtle sparkle from embroidery and beadwork.

Pick a pattern Pants are going a step beyond the colored denim of summer and showing up on the runway in patterned fabric. For a more subtle look, try a pinstripe pant or a grey and black plaid. A tailored, crisp white button-down shirt is the perfect match for pants with pizazz.

OCTOBER 2012

1. Gray fedora with silver and black striped hat band. Available at Peppers & Co. in Monett. 2. Rich burgundy silk scarf with gold polka-dot design.

Available at Starla K Fashions in Monett. 3. Chunky pewter-colored cuff bracelet. Available at Starla K Fashions in Monett.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 33

3

2

CU T E and

1

waterproof

5

Perfect

F O R FA L L’ S

rainy days

6

9

4

7

8

1. Multi-colored plastic cowboy boots by Corky’s. Available at Starla K Fashions in Monett. 2. Silver and pearl wrap bracelet by J. Michelle. Available at Tomblin’s Jewelry and Gifts in Cassville. 3. Winter white crocheted sweater over gray tank. Available at Starla K Fashions in Monett. 4. Black and white graphic print jacket

by Erin London. Available at Peppers & Co. in Monett. 5. Saddle knot necklace with handmade coral-corraled beads made out of 100% recycled paper. Available at Gussied Up Boutique in Cassville. 6. Oversized animal print bag with gold and black tassle closure. Available at Whitley’s Pharmacy and Gifts. 7. Ladies brushed steel sports watch by Croton. Available at Tomblin’s Jewelry and Gifts in Cassville. 8. Ruby Road coral and grey top with feather details around the neckline. Available at Brownsberger’s in Monett. 9. Choker necklace with plastic beads in browns, golds and a subtle animal print design. Available at Gussied Up Boutique in Cassville.

34 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2012

11 10

12

14

STYLISHLY

warm

NEUTRALS ACCENT ANY OUTFIT

13

17

16

15

10. Travel by Tribal gray and black lace light-weight knit sweater. Available at Gussied Up Boutique in Cassville. 11. Smart screen gloves in moss green by Mud Pie. Available at Whitley’s Pharmacy and Gifts in Cassville. 12. Long gray ruffled scarf. Available at Whitley’s Pharmacy and Gifts in Cassville. 13. Ethyl Vintage denim jeans with embellished pockets. Available at Brownsberger’s in Monett. 14. Grey faux leather and tan elephant hide purse with tungston details. Available at Starla K Fashions in Monett. 15. Animal print top with ruching at the waist and gold accents. Available at Gussied Up Boutique in Cassville.

16. Long silver bead necklace. Available at Peppers & Co. in Monett. 17. Flattering Keren Hart black and white knit sweater with one-button closure over black tank. Available at Peppers & Co. in Monett.

OCTOBER 2012

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 35

BOOKREVIEW

Jo Anne Ellis lives in Cassville and is a member of the Crowe’s Cronies book club. She is a retired English teacher and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. In addition to being an avid reader, Jo Anne loves to travel and spend time with her grandchildren.

The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker REVIEWED BY JO ANNE ELLIS “The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance” is the debut memoir of Elna Baker, a writer, actress and stand-up comedian sometimes called the Mormon Tina Fey. Written when she was 27, Elna tells of her own “coming of age as a Mormon in New York” story, starting with her abrupt U-turn in choosing NYU (New York University) and an acting career over BYU (Brigham Young University). Vowing to stay true to her faith and remain a virgin until marriage, Elna sets out to find a Mormon husband. And what better place than at the Halloween party planned by the church to encourage Mormon singles to meet (and marry) each other.

Her Queen Bee costume, complete with a stinger, didn’t attract a man. So with a nonexistent dating life and needing a job, Elna uses her acting skills to encourage little girls to “adopt” creepy, expensive dolls at FAO Schwarz.

Later, she sees herself in a carnival “thin” mirror, has an “aha” moment and begins the determined quest to lose 80 pounds. A streamlined Elna gains much more attention at the next year’s annual Halloween Dance and elsewhere, and Elna cleverly documents her encounters with drawings and maps outlining where, when and who she meets, and kisses. Her helpful charts start with her first kiss at age 22, and continue as she remains unmarried and a virgin by choice.

A newly confident, svelte Elna sets her goal of winning the most eligible and desirable Mormon bachelor in New York.

Her primary competition is an Amber who 36 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

“is like a Heather only she’s attacking your spiritual worthiness and your dress size at the same time.” But Elna gets him -- the perfect Mormon guy -only to have New York friends, who should know, say, “But he’s gay, isn’t he?”

While working as a page for the David Letterman Show, Elna meets Matt, a smart, handsome, wonderful guy.

She falls hard, but he is not Mormon and never will be. The low blow is finding out Matt is an atheist. The reader feels her pain as Elna struggles between wanting Matt and her faith, even challenging him to search his soul and pray to God for an answer.

Her talents lead bold, educated, quirky Elna, the funny one, into stand-up comedy, where she is a tongue-in-cheek critic of her church, and also to Yaddo, an Artists Colony where she first begins writing her soul-searching memoir.

And how do Mormons react to this book? One Mormon reader recommended the memoir, stating, “If you are a Mormon, get it and read it. If you are a Mormon worried about the Satanic influences of the world corrupting our youth, get it, read it and have your eyes opened. If you are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints, just get it, read it and learn a vast amount of the real truth about what real Mormons are like, and how they think.”

I recommend this book because it is enchanting, entertaining, and, yes, even educational. It is a “frank and selfdeprecating memoir” about dating unlike any other -- a “tell all” by a witty 27-yearold Mormon who has never had sex.

Hopefully, the popularity of her book gets Elna on “The Bachelorette” with 24 Mormons to choose from for a marriage truly made in heaven.

OCTOBER 2012

A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE, WHEN QUALITY MATTERS MOST. Blevins Asphalt is one of the oldest Christian family-owned paving contractors in the four state area. Founded over half a century ago, we still believe in the commitment to excellence that transformed a small father-and-son enterprise into the industry leading corporation we are today.

At Blevins Asphalt, every day is an endeavor to provide our customers with quality, value and the satisfaction that comes from knowing you’ve hired the very best. Blevins Asphalt – A history of excellence, when quality matters most.

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Making apple butter: A Mt. Vernon tradition Story by Sheila Harris • Photos by Kerry Hays

Twenty-eight years ago, when Lawrence County Manor in Mt. Vernon was ready to hand over the responsibility of cooking apple butter for the town’s wildly popular Apple Butter Makin’ Days festival, Pastor Bob Holman and the congregation of Round Grove Baptist Church were ready to meet the challenge.

38 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Because cooking apple butter the old-fashioned way (over an open fire in 50-gallon copper kettles for six to 10 hours) required the assistance of a large number of people, it was not a project to be undertaken lightly.

According to Pastor Bob, even finding a large copper kettle to cook the apple butter in was a bit of a challenge that first year.

“We finally ended up borrowing a kettle from a German couple in Lockwood,” said Pastor Bob. Making apple butter, a sweetened, condensed condiment, has been the traditional method of preserving a large quantity of apples for multiple generations. However, because of the amount of time and labor required for cooking it the old-fashioned way, many

OCTOBER 2012

just not suitable for a paddle,” Pastor Bob said. “Oak and white pine are either not heat resistant or not sturdy enough.

I have a yellow pine handle with a redwood paddle, built with an angled brace where the handle and paddle join.”

Bob, who has been pastoring the congregation at Round Grove Baptist Church northwest of Mt. Vernon since 1971, exudes an abundance of energy as he speaks with animation about the upcoming apple butter project.

“I’ve got three pick-up loads of split wood ready for the apple butter fires,” Pastor Bob said. “But that’s just the beginning. Along with the apples on order, we have a ton of sugar, 85 bags of Splenda (for those who prefer it), 760 cases of pint jars, 55

PASTOR BOB HOLMAN

apple butter lovers now use labor-saving slow cookers and stainless steel pots with automatic stirrers to produce the delicious spread. But the spirit of community involved in cooking apple butter over an open fire in the brisk autumn air holds a strong appeal for many traditionalists, and the art has been making a comeback with those anxious to preserve their heritage.

According to most sources, copper is the metal of choice for kettles used to cook apple butter. When cooking for a long period of time over an open fire, copper distributes the heat more evenly and does not react adversely to the acid in the apples, so the flavor and color remain true.

“We cooked 30 gallons of

OCTOBER 2012

pounds of cinnamon and 28 cases of red hots.

“We also have to set up protective tents over the cooking areas,” he said. “The government requires it, because you never know when it might rain, or when a bird might fly over.”

It takes the efforts of about 90 people to cook a batch of apple butter, although the crew of volunteers is usually not there at the same time.

“People come and go and take turns stirring,” said Bob. “The apple butter must cook for a minimum of six hours under ideal conditions.

Sometimes, it takes up to 10 hours. During that time, it must be stirred constantly or it will stick and burn.”

apple butter in our borrowed pot that first year,” stated Pastor Bob. “The next year we bought two kettles of our own and upped the ante to 180 gallons.

“Things have changed a bit more since then, though,” he continued with a grin. “The church now owns four kettles, plus my personal one, and this year, just as we have in the past few years, we plan to cook 1,100 gallons of apple butter.”

In addition to the use of a copper kettle, a specially built wooden paddle must be used to stir the apple butter during the cooking process, one that can scrape the bottom and sides of the pot while withstanding the force of the chunky apples and the heat.

“Some types of wood are

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 39

LAWRENCE COUNTY RECORD PHOTO

The proper amounts of cinnamon, red hots and either sugar or Splenda are added to the apples about halfway through the cooking time, according to a special Round Grove recipe. After the apple butter has reached the desired consistency, it is removed from the fire and sealed in pint jars until the time of the festival.

“There is something we’re doing differently now than we did 28 years ago,” Pastor Bob added. “For the last six years, we’ve been buying our apples

frozen and pre-peeled from a company in Michigan. We have 11,880 pounds of apples ordered for this year’s apple butter. Buying them pre-peeled just makes good sense. We can put the labor that we save into cooking and canning more apple butter to sell.”

According to Pastor Bob, apple butter sales are one of the church’s biggest fundraisers. Round Grove Baptist Church will cook two batches of apple butter back-to-back on the three Saturdays prior to

40 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Apple Butter Makin’ Days, which will be held October 12, 13 and 14 this year. The group will also cook more apple butter on the southeast corner of the Mt. Vernon Courthouse lawn Friday and Saturday during the festival, beginning at 5 a.m.

well. The Monett Lions Club cooks and cans apple butter ahead of time to sell at the festival. And this year, for the first time, Mt. Vernon Christian Church will be cooking apple butter on the courthouse lawn on Sunday.

Hot apple butter will be available for purchase in the early afternoon of those days, and the pre-cooked and canned apple butter will be offered throughout the festival.

Pastor Bob said he is always amazed by the sales.

“We have people from 12 to 14 different states who call ahead to pre-order cases of apple butter,” he stated. “And on the days when we cook on the courthouse lawn, we have people standing in line for an hour to buy the hot apple butter, straight from the kettle.

There have only been two years we didn’t sell out, and both of those years we had bad weather, so crowds were slim.”

Other organizations are involved in apple butter sales as

“We’ve never had an organization cook apple butter on Sunday before,” said Doris McBride, Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce receptionist. “But we have had a lot of disappointed people show up for Apple Butter Makin’ Days on Sundays, only to discover there was no apple butter cooking. We are pleased to have an organization willing to cook on Sunday this year.”

According to Mark Engler, pastor of the Mt. Vernon Christian Church, the congregation is very excited about the opportunity to cook apple butter during the festival.

“We have a special recipe, too,” Pastor Mark said. “We’ll be using the original Bekemeier Family apple butter recipe, which dates back to the days

OCTOBER 2012

when the Stotts City Lutheran Church sold apple butter. It was one of the recipes used when Apple Butter Makin’ Days first began in October of 1967. Rick Bekemeier is a member of our congregation, and this is a project he is really looking forward to.

He’s an old-hand, you might say.”

The proceeds from the sale of apple butter will go to the Mt. Vernon Christian Church youth group. They will be cooking apple butter the three Saturdays prior to the festival as well, and canned apple butter will be available for purchase both before and after Apple Butter Makin’ Days, as well as hot apple butter on Sunday, October14.

Entertainment Schedule Activities take place around the Mt. Vernon Courthouse Square

Friday, October 12 9:00 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

9:45 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

12:45 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

1:45 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

2:40 p.m.

3:15 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:45 p.m.

OCTOBER 2012

“God Bless America” Kay Kahre Bubble Gum Blowing Contest Terrapin Race Pet Parade Apple Pie Eating Contest Apple Putting Contest MVHS Coquettes Kid’s Pedal Tractor Pull Lisa Parnell MVHS Drama Club Show Me Dance Apple Butter Queen Crowning Nail Driving Contest Kay Kahre Craft Booth Awards MVHS Cheerleaders Apple Pie Baking Contest Apple Throwing Contest Show Me Choir

It can safely be said that Apple Butter Makin’ Days is the most widely attended festival in Barry and Lawrence counties, drawing crowds of close to 50,000 people annually.

This year, the festival is scheduled for October 12, 13 and 14, and apple butter is not the only attraction. Spaces for 360 vendors, including juried artists and craftsmen, were nearly filled by August 7.

The schedule of events also includes a full line-up of popular entertainers, as well as fun, old-fashioned contests for kids of all ages.

For more information, visit http://www.mtvernonchamber.com/ applebutter_mountvernon_mo.php or see the occompanying events schedule.

2012ABMD

Saturday, October 13 8:45 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

2:15 p.m.

2:45 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

5:15 p.m.

“National Anthem” Melanie Hoxworth ABMD parade Leon Troyer Bright Water Junction Parade Trophy Awards Swinging Bebops Stix Flying Buzzards Rebel’s Bluff Troupe “MacBooth” The Believers Trio

Sunday, October 14 9:15 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:45 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

12:30 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

2:15 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

“God Bless America” First Methodist Church Worship Service First Methodist Church Booths Open St. Suzanne’s Church Matt Teel Life Bridge Assembly Church First Baptist Church Mt. Vernon Christian Church Covenant Baptist Church Kingsway Church

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 41

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42 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2012

Murray Bishoff and his wife, Julie, talk with Leo Eaton, executive producer of the documentary at the film’s premier.

Making the cut

Homeland documentary explores Monett’s cultural diversity Story by Murray Bishoff Photos courtesy of the Nine Network

Everybody should be in a documentary movie.

I have been in two. The latest was created by the Nine Network of Public Media, the St. Louis public TV station.

“Homeland: Immigration in America” was unveiled in July and aired nationally as a threepart series.

Public television is a little different than “The Real Housewives.” After all, everyone

OCTOBER 2012

has a bad day, and it’s easy to capture one for broadcast if you watch long enough. If you have to have your story told, public television is the place to do it.

Documentaries take a long time to complete. “Homeland” took two and a half years to finish. There were scenes in the final cut that I had forgotten by the time the film was finished.

The biggest factor about

any documentary is whose story are they telling: is it yours? Or do they have another story to tell and want to use you to tell it? You never really know.

My latest foray into documentary films began with my phone ringing at The Monett Times. It was then that I had my first conversation with Anne Copeland Davis, an associate producer on what

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 43

would become “Homeland.”

She asked about Monett’s experience with Hispanic immigrants. I had previous contact with the Nine Network in 2008 when the station hosted a public viewing of the other documentary film I was

in, “Banished.” I felt these were thoughtful, interested people.

Davis was particularly open as I began inundating her with information. After all, if they were coming to Monett, I wanted them to at least understand their subject. I sent

The Tivoli Theatre in St. Louis where “Homeland” premiered.

44 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

her stories by email that I had written for The Times that included descriptions of the Hispanic population from the 2000 census, the 2007 immigration raid at the George’s plant in Butterfield and an account of the 2004 Hispanic heritage festival. I also provided them with a lengthy list of people to interview, and several of those ended up in the film. As questions came up, I’d shoot back an email.

Beginning in March of 2010, Davis and her colleagues made three trips to Monett to do research. They also returned five additional times to tape interviews. To give a real feel for Monett, I took Davis, producer Anne-Marie Berger and project manager Dale Berenc to lunch at the Sunrise restaurant when it was packed with people.

I had two major filming sessions with the team. They hadn’t quite figured out how to tell the story, but they knew I could be a storytelling vehicle, providing an entrance into any place in Monett. All they had to do was follow me.

I couldn’t help being amused when the filmmakers asked to film me walking from my desk and out the front door of The Times office and driving out of the parking lot.

Each step required several takes, so they could cut the scene together from different angles. When I viewed the finished film, my mind dwelled on how long it took to capture the few seconds to get me from my desk to Broadway.

One of the funniest moments was filmed in my car as I drove around town, identifying places and commenting on vividly colored

restaurants. It looks so relaxed.

When we filmed it, Davis sat in the passenger seat, jammed against the door so she couldn’t be seen. Another colleague was tucked in the seat behind me, and in the rear passenger seat, was the cameraman, shooting over the top of the seat like a nonchalant fly, though he was hard at work.

One scene we filmed that didn’t make the cut was shot in the Tyson Foods parking lot, where I explained the major role Hispanics have played in filling jobs in the community. I was half in and half out of my car, trying to remember my spontaneous commentary for multiple takes. I stumbled over my lines so much I was glad to see the scene left out.

Another scene was needed where I provided context to the story. The filmmakers were looking for a reasonably classy, uncluttered setting that was quiet. My piled up desk at the always busy Times office may have been good enough for an introductory shot of me on the phone and typing “The Good Old Days,” but it wasn’t right for this.

We ended up seated in the auditorium at Monett City Hall. There, I was able to speak freely and gauge the sound of my voice to avoid the drawl that creeps in when I talk too slowly. We chatted for quite a while on camera about many subjects. Not much of it made the final cut, but thank God I sounded sensible in what did.

The most uncontrolled part of our filming came when the film crew followed me into the Monett High School gym to cover the coronation assembly for Mayra Almaras, Monett High

OCTOBER 2012

School’s first Hispanic homecoming queen in October 2010. I was in my element, in a place where I was known, taking pictures for The Times.

I deliberately left my hat on, my signature piece, so I was easy to track. The exhuberance of the rally comes across well in the film. Berger talks on the ExploreHomeland.com website about how excited she became attending her first-ever homecoming.

I didn’t get to sit in on other interviews, and I couldn’t “control” what the filmmakers recorded. It was interesting to see how the photographer, standing at Burl Fowler Stadium to film the homecoming coronation, captured a Tyson Foods truck driving by.

The “Homeland” episode on jobs that features Monett painted a positive picture of the community. I’ve heard approving comments from others, like Monett High School principal David Steward, in the film, and friends in other parts of the country who saw it on TV. The only point where I felt I may not have succeeded was adequately explaining what Monett was like before the

Hispanics arrived in the early 1990s. Narrator Ray Suarez says in part of the introduction, “Immigration is bringing Monett back to life.”

At the grand unveiling of the project at the Tivoli Theatre as part of the St. Louis Showcase in July, producer and writer Jim Kirchherr made a similar comment that I challenged in front of the audience and in subsequent conversations.

Monett, after all, had never “died” to need revival. It was a small point, and the filmmakers seemed to appreciate my commentary.

A documentary film is kind of like high school. You go in with more fears than expectations, and you’re happy to emerge unscathed, more or less, in the end. Given the right chance, Monett spoke for itself in “Homeland” and looked like the positive, welcoming place it is. For that, I was grateful. I made it through another film, and, thank goodness, I looked like I knew what I was doing.

That’s all I could ask for.

“Homeland: Immigration in America” can be viewed at www.ExploreHomeland.org.

Homeland: Immigration in America -the Documentary

Jobs episode: “Jobs” looks at the spectrum of immigrant jobs and the complex maze of rules, regulations, caps and quotas challenging the United States at many levels. Among the people included in this episode are a Taiwanese scientist educated in the U.S. searching for an employer to sponsor her visa, and immigrant workers in Monett who have brought a much-needed economic turnaround but also language barriers and cultural clashes.

Enforcement episode: “Enforcement” cuts through the heated rhetoric to explore how communities and the nation struggle to enforce inconsistent immigration policies. One story in this episode shows why two Kansas City beat cops have adopted a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward legal status, knowing that aggressive enforcement threatens to break community trust when illegal and legal immigrants live side by side, often in the same family.

PBS Plus: “Refugees” takes viewers to the heart of the United States’ humanitarian position as a refuge for those fleeing violence, disaster, war and persecution around the world. The stories in this hour illustrate the forces and factors that can lead refugees to a life of stability and success, or isolation, welfare and homelessness.

A daughter of immigrants becomes the first Hispanic homecoming queen in Monett.

OCTOBER 2012

More information can be found at explorehomeland.org.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 45

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46 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

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OCTOBER 2012

The winner of each month’s Connection’s Cutest Pet contest receives a $25 gift certificate from Preferred Pet Supply in Monett. Submit your entries for next month’s contest to editor@monett-times.com.

October s

Winner

Bring your dressed-up pet to our store OCTOBER 20th.

His picture will be taken and uploaded to Facebook for voting.

Visit the store for details.

Meet Max, an 8-month-old American bulldog/pit bull mix, who loves to play football with his owner, Ethan Couch, a former Cassville Wildcat.

The runner-up Kitty is October’s Cutest Pet runner-up.

He is owned by Mary Ann Tillman, of Exeter.

509 Dairy Street Monett, Mo. 417-235-DOGS (3647) www.preferredpetsupply.com OCTOBER 2012

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 47

CONNECTION’SCUTEST

Connec on’s pet contest Cutestwinner

The City Slic In the blockbuster 1991 comedy, City Slickers, pals Mitch, Ed and Phil found themselves in the middle of a mutual midlife crisis and decided to embark on a two-week adventure in the Wild West, driving cattle from New Mexico to Colorado under the supervision of a crusty cowboy named Curly. In a humorous bit of dialogue among the city-dwelling friends, Ed informed Mitch that, “This guy, Curly, is a true cowboy. One of the last real men. He's untamed, a mustang. It’ll do us good to be in his world for a while.”

Mitch quickly quipped, “Do us good? Didn't you guys see?

The man was hanging the hired help. And, did you notice his eyes? He has crazy eyes. He’s a lunatic. We are going into the wilderness being led by a lunatic.” (Columbia Pictures, 1991)

As new superintendent Dr. Steven Chancellor prepared to address the staff at Purdy R-2 Schools for the first time, many of his audience members, myself included, identified with Mitch’s wariness, but from an entirely different viewpoint.

In this instance the city slicker was the leader. Purdy’s new chief hailed from Kansas City. The roomful of farmers, small town natives and more than a few Purdy alumni hung on every word as Dr. Chancellor introduced himself and explained his vision for our school. He quickly allayed our fears of being led into the wilderness by a big city lunatic by detailing his small town roots.

“Like a lot of people in this room, I was raised on a farm in central Missouri. We dabbled with litters of various animals until we found one that wasn’t smarter than us . . . chickens.”

Not long after adjourning

his first staff meeting at Purdy, I began hounding Dr. Chancellor about letting me interview him for a Connection article. A quiet, unassuming man, he found the prospect of a getting-to-knowyou article a bit daunting, but he finally relented.

While waiting for Dr. Chancellor to finish posing for a photo with our AmeriCorps Reading Coaches, I gazed around his office. Several framed family photos beamed down from a shelf, one in which Dr. Chancellor and his crew sport matching Mizzou shirts. I noted several interesting book titles nestled between a pair of John Deere bookends, including “Servant Leadership,” “Creating Innovators,” “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” and “Failure Is Not an Option,” which gave me hints about the man I would become better acquainted with over the coming hour.

48 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

From chickens to chiefs As he told his staff at Purdy, Steven Chancellor grew up on a farm. He spent his childhood in Smithton, Missouri, a town about half the size of Purdy. His small town school days mirror those of most Purdy students, filled with learning, fun with friends, farm

work and school sports. Dr. Chancellor participated on his school’s soccer, baseball and basketball teams. “Our soccer team made it to the semi-finals during my junior year,” he recalled.

During his sophomore year,

OCTOBER 2012

cker Dr. Chancellor took Miss Hudson’s computer math class.

“She helped me discover my interest in computers and encouraged me to cultivate it. For my end-of-year project, I made a tractor move across the screen using basic programming and trigonometry.”

Dr. Chancellor graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a degree in education. He received his master’s degree from William Woods University and completed his doctorate at St. Louis

OCTOBER 2012

BY SUSAN FUNKHOUSER University in 2009. During his time at the University of Central Missouri, Dr. Chancellor worked as a residence hall director and fraternity/sorority house director.

He employed the services of Jillayne Bailey, a pretty blonde with a vivacious personality, to work the information desk.

Although not what he would describe as love at first sight, the two eventually fell head over heels.

“Opposites truly do attract,” Dr. Chancellor confessed. “While I am laid back and quiet, Jillayne

is very outgoing. She’s definitely a go-getter. We balance each other.” Steven and Jillayne Chancellor were married in Sedalia in July 2004.

The Chancellors eventually moved to Kansas City. Dr. Chancellor noted in his remarks to the staff, “I moved to Kansas City for the same reason all guys do what they do . . . my wife told me to.” Dr. Chancellor spent the next nine years of his life working for the Belton School District, where he served as a teacher, coach and instruction/curriculum coach.

He finished his tenure at Belton as the director of instruction and technology.

During their time in the Kansas City area, Dr. and Mrs. Chancellor welcomed three beautiful boys into the world: Lane, born in 2008; Chase, born in 2010; and Reed, born in 2011. Dr. Chancellor’s sons, whom he affectionately dubs “those knuckleheads,” did what children do so well; they changed every aspect of his life.

“They made me slow down a little bit. They also improved my decision making. They always pop in my head when I’m trying to choose the best course of action in a particular situation. I no longer simply decide what’s best; I decide what’s best for them.”

My heroes have always been cowboys . . . and psychologists When I asked Dr. Chancellor to identify and describe his hero, he grew quiet and thoughtful. He finally replied, “I can’t really point to a single individual. It’s the little things that people do that inspire me. I admire risk-takers, people who strive for self-improvement, who make tough decisions and stick to their guns no matter what. I respect people who work hard.”

Dr. Chancellor had no trouble pinpointing a specific person who molded his educational views. He reached for “Choice Theory” by William Glasser, M.D., one of the many books on his office shelves.

“Dr. Glasser is a psychologist. The book focuses on the ideas that people always have choices and that we choose the lives we live. I believe that.

I’m big on teaching kids that they always have a choice. It’s important to teach them to understand the consequences of the choices they face and to be reflective when making those choices.”

After pulling another work from the bookshelf, Dr. Chancellor introduced me to one more influencer of his educational viewpoint, Peter Senge, a senior lecturer at MIT. Senge’s purpose in writing Dr.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 49

Chancellor’s favorite book, “The Fifth Discipline,” was to convert companies into learning organizations, partly through a process called systems thinking, or viewing a situation as a whole rather than individual pieces. Dr. Chancellor, whose library sports two copies of “The Fifth Discipline,” found the book’s message self-descriptive.

“That’s how I think -- big picture. I see the grand vision, sometimes to a fault. It’s both my greatest strength and my strongest weakness. Sometimes I need to slow down and focus on the details within the big picture.

I’m thankful to work with an administrative team at Purdy that helps me do just that.”

Big dreams in a small town As Dr. Chancellor and I wrapped up our visit, I asked him to describe what he hoped to accomplish, both personally and professionally, at Purdy. On a personal level, he lamented, “I just want to be a kid again. I want to become a part of the community, to enjoy time with my family and newfound friends,

to take up a hobby or two.”

Hinting at any future farming endeavors I asked, “Are you going to have a cow?” He quickly retorted, “Literally or figuratively?”

Turning to his professional aspirations at Purdy, Dr. Chancellor explained, “My most treasured goal in life is to make a difference. I am going to do what is best for our students and for our district, even when it’s hard.

The toughest challenge we face in education today is being adaptable. We must choose to change the way we educate kids to adapt to their learning needs and styles. That’s a hard thing to do. We have to let go of the idea of education as we knew it when we were students and embrace the change necessary to give our kids what they need in today’s world. However, I don’t want simply to emulate other schools or programs. I want us to be the best Purdy we can be. We can refine what we do without changing who we are.

“I know my biggest challenge right now is to earn the trust of the staff, students and patrons of the district, and it won’t come easy. I am committed to being a part of this

community, to listening and seeking to understand what makes us tick. I want people to know I come from the same place they do. I share their values and commitment to family. I believe in hard work, doing the right thing and treating people the way I want to be treated. We already have a great deal of common ground.

“I also hope that the faith Jillayne and I are placing in the people of the Purdy R-2 School District to educate our children will encourage their confidence in me. Being offered the

superintendent’s job at Purdy was a great compliment. The biggest compliment I can give in return is entrusting my own children to them. I want my boys to benefit from the same opportunities I had. As I look back on my accomplishments thus far, I can trace them all back to growing up in a small town, where I developed a strong work ethic, a humble yet indomitable spirit and a strong sense of family and community. I want the same blessings for my kids, and I believe they will receive them in Purdy.”

CURLY WASHBURN, PLAYED BY JACK PALANCE IN THE 1991 BLOCKBUSTER, CITY SLICKERS.

A final cue from Curly Before the final credits rolled on City Slickers, Mitch discovered that Ed was correct. It did the friends a lot of good to be in Curly’s world for awhile. In the end, they all learned from one another. I’m convinced that Dr. Steven Chancellor will lead the people of Purdy in a similar direction. I believe both we and he will benefit from his presence in our little corner of the world.

50 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2012

RECIPES COLLECTED

FROM

RECIPES

from the FA M I LY A N D F R I E N D S

A piece ‘a cake!

Do you have a recipe you’d like to share?

Send it to Darlene Wierman at darlene@cassville-democrat.com

Hurry-up Cake 1 can cherry pie filling 1 cup chopped walnuts 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 cup coconut (optional) 3/4 cup butter, melted 1 large can crushed pineapple (undrained) 1 box yellow cake mix

Grease a 9 x 13 inch cake pan. Pour in the pie filling and spread. Then pour pineapple over the pie filling. Sprinkle dry cake mix over and press down slightly into the juice. Pour melted butter over and press lightly. Combine nuts, brown sugar and coconut and sprinkle evenly on the top of the cake. Bake at 350˚ for 30 to 40 minutes. May be served with Cool Whip.

Heath Bar Cake 1 German Chocolate cake mix 1 small can Eagle Brand milk 1 jar caramel sauce 1 Heath candy bar, crushed Cool Whip Bake a German Chocolate cake mix as directed on box. Let it cool completely. Poke pencil- sized holes in the cake -- the more holes, the better.

Pour mixture of Eagle Brand milk, caramel sauce and candy bar over cake. Top with Cool Whip and refrigerate.

Note: If you can’t find a Heath bar, use a Butterfinger bar. Keeps well in the refrigerator.

OCTOBER 2012

Hot Fudge Cake 1-1/4 cup sugar, divided 1 cup flour 7 tbsp. cocoa, divided 2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 cup milk 1/3 cup margarine, melted 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1-1/4 cup hot water In medium bowl, mix 3/4 cup sugar, flour, 3 tablespoons cocoa, baking powder and salt. Blend milk, melted margarine and vanilla and beat until smooth. Pour batter into a square 8x8x2-inch or 9x9x2-inch pan. In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar and 4 tablespoons cocoa and sprinkle over the batter. Pour hot water over top and DO NOT stir. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until center is almost set. Let stand 15 minutes; spoon into dessert dishes, spooning sauce from bottom of pan over top.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 51

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BLACK BIRD BAR & GRILL 1321 S. Elliott Ave. AURORA 417-678-2100

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52 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2012

connection My Connection” photos should be e-mailed to editor@monetttimes.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.

1 2 3

1 Richard Reed, of Pierce City, and Dondi Bass, of Monett, are photographed with Connection magazine at “Breakfast on the Bridge.” The photo was taken at sunrise in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on day six of their 509-mile bike ride.

The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) takes place every year during the last full week of July. It is a seven-day ride that changes routes each year.

Ann Boyd and Debbie Hall, of Cassville, visited Nettie Hall in Monterey, California, in August. They took along the August issue of Connection on their trip to the coast.

Bill and Linda VanEaton, of Monett, pose with the August issue of Connection at the Maroon Bells in Colorado. The VanEatons serve as volunteers with the White River National Forest Service during the summer. The photo was taken

by Phyllis and Mike Garrett, who were visiting the VanEatons.

2 OCTOBER 2012

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MYCONNECTION 3

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2 Jo Ellen Fielding, of Cassville, enjoyed lunch at the American Girl Restaurant in Chicago with her daughters, JoBeth Harrison and Katie Johnson, and granddaughters, Atayla and Morgan Johnson.

Keenan and Laney Roller were photographed on July 4th with an issue of Connection on the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, Texas. The photo was snapped by their mom, Christel Roller, of Cassville.

Chloe and Nancy Ridgley, of Monett, enjoyed a family vacation to Cure Beach, North Carolina, this summer.

Mother and daughter pose oceanside with the July issue of Connection. Not photographed but also along for the vacation were Matthew, Megan, Lucas and Devin Ridgley, Nancy’s sons, daughter-in-law and grandson.

Jim, Abby, Janell and Aaron Patton, of Monett, vacationed in St. Petersburg, Florida, in August and posed with the August issue of Connection against a backdrop of tropical palm trees.

7

Jacquie Lane, Felicia Tudor, Debbie (Wierman) Elwood and Karen Smith posed with Connection magazine during a trip to the Mayan Riviera in June.

Daryl, Carrie, Garret and Gunnar Bradley, of Monett, joined Colleen and Marty Long on a family vacation in Ouray, Colorado. This picture with the August edition of Connection was snapped on July 28 at Box Canyon Falls.

OCTOBER 2012

8

6 Connection magazine was spotted at Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where Bob and Marge Harris, of Monett, celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary with a family vacation to the Smokey Mountains with their children and grandchildren. Visiting the aquarium were Dotti and Nolan Kleiboeker, Katie Kleiboeker, Ryan and Abby Kleiboeker and children August and Anna, Scott Harris and sons Riley, Mitchell and Jack, Suzan and Dana Bender and Suzan’s granddaughters Lexi and Marleigh Grell.

Woody and Sharon Woodruff, of Monett, celebrated their 45th anniversary with a trip to Cozumel, Mexico, where they enjoyed beautiful beaches, reef snorkeling and downtown Cozumel shopping. The couple were photographed in front of a local Cozumel business with a familar name.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 55

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OCTOBER 2012

FAVEFIVE

Favefive:

BY KATIE BARTON

Local haunts

October is filled with tricks, treats, spooks and haunts. Regardless of your belief (or disbelief) in the paranormal, it can be fun to learn about local lore. I put together this list of my favorite local haunted spots.

Take some time this month to explore one or two of them, just be prepared to be a little spooked.

5

2

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield In the years since the Civil War, Wilson’s Creek has become one of the most famous battlefields in Missouri. And the site where 2,330 soldiers died has had some strange reports.

Visitors to the battlefield have claimed to have seen apparitions and heard cannons and gunshots.

Cosmic Cavern The cave was originally discovered in 1845, and a few creepy stories have popped up in the last 150 years.

Some people claim there’s a ghost of a young boy who fell and died in the cave. Other people say some fiddle players got lost while using the space’s acoustics, and their ghosts are still there.

4 Pythian Castle Throughout the years Springfield’s Pythian Castle has been an orphanage, a senior citizens’ home and a military occupied building. More recently, there have been a variety of reports of strange sounds, voices and objects moving around. If you’re feeling brave and want to investigate more, the castle hosts ghost tours and overnight ghost hunts.

3 The Joplin Spooklight The Spooklight is an unexplained bright light that can normally be seen along the Missouri-Oklahoma state line. I’ve heard it can often be seen from Oklahoma East 50 road. I’ve never gone to see it for myself, but I’ve heard about it from a lot of people. Maybe I’ll work up enough courage to go see it soon.

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1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa No list of local ghost stories would be complete without mentioning “America’s Most Haunted Hotel.” The building was a girls’ school and then a cancer hospital before it became a hotel, so its history is filled with material for creepy stories. If you want to learn more about their ghosts, there is a nightly ghost tour through the hotel.

OCTOBER 2012

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Fall Arts & Crafts week will be here in a few days so book your Holiday Island home with Vacation Rentals today!

+ROLGD\ ,VODQG (XUHND 6SULQJV

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The Wheaton volunteer firemen hosted the 54th annual Wheaton Barbecue in the Wheaton City Park on August 25.

1. Mandy Clevenger and Kelli Cartwright. 2. Ashley and Sidney Roe. 3. Harley Minnier. 4. Yesinea Castro, Brittany Harmon and Lorena Castro. 5. Jeff, Michelle, Kinsey and Tyler Pettingill. 6. Brad and Gwen Shockley. 7. Ian, Mitchell and Chris Shockley. 8. Clark Broyles, Kristyn Harris, Tammy Stewart and Shala Harris.

9. Joe, Bekka, Kaiya, Tempest Cooper and Alexis Huang. 10. Janine Nelson. 11. Monica Conquest and Mariah Kochell. 12. Greg and Tweety Longchurch.

The Freistatt Lions Club hosted its 39th annual Ernte Fest celebration in Freistatt on August 17 and 18.

13. Tom Younker, Matt Murphy and Connor Marshall. 14. Sydney Barta, Ginna Verhoff and Zeina Masri. 15. Amy and Jim Wells. 16. Sherri Cahalan, Mel Chapman and Jordan Cahalan. 17. Bob and Brenda Whitescarver. 18. Irmgard McGinnis and Reaate Guarino. 19. Alyssa, Drew and Teresa Sneed. 20. Karyn and Tommy Ward. 21. Megan Celano and Derek Smith.

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COMMUNITYCONNECTION

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WINNING FALL COMBINATIONS 5

ARE HERE NOW AT Downtown Monett

235-7227 CALL TODAY FOR NEW 2012 CATALOG 1-888-845-9582

www.makingmemoriestours.com

Making Memories Tours

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LONE STAR CHRISTMAS November 26 December 1, 2012

CRUISIN’ AND CROONIN’ January 19 January 28, 2013

MILES OF SMILES AND SUNSHINE February 21 March 3, 2013

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE March 11 – March 22, 2013

Check out the website for upcoming and new trips each month.

OCTOBER 2012

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The community of Crane hosted its annual Broiler Fest in Crane City Park on August 24 and 25.

1. Sarah Vaughn and Destiny Fisher. 2. Leah, Addison and Tyler Blaine. 3. Kenny, Kamille, Katie and Amanda Tucker. 4. Mendee Lawson, Chase Gardner and Taylor Coleman. 5. Jeanie and Donald Bork. 6. Dylan, Adelaide and Kelsey Cox. 7. Jessica Whitney and Liz Fletcher. 8. Reagan, Paul and Kaitlyn Branstetter.

9. Jennifer Wallace, Tiffany Rice, Mike Snider and Jason Jenkins. 10. Connie and Mark McMillin.

The annual Kings Prairie Benefit Concert was held on August 11 in the Kings Prairie community east of Monett.

11. Jeanne Bennett and Aubree Bennett. 12. Don and Joan Bailey. 13. Judy Ireland and Willis Finn. 14. Wilma and Glen Seufert. 15. Bill and Sandy Powers.

16. Collin and Tim Schnakenberg. 17. Joanne and Burl Thomas and dog Becky. 18. Albert and Helen Cox. 19. Victor and Betty Arnaud. 20. Christine Schmelzer and Megan Allen. 21. Nick and Debbie Shelton.

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Local banking expertise backed with national strength • Mortgage Loans

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417-847-9355 • 18947 State Hwy 37 • Cassville 62 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2012

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FUNERAL HOME

The area’s most often chosen funeral home.

Connection

correction: The beautiful young woman pictured below is 14-year-old Magen Hensley, the daughter of Jack and Daphne Hensley, of Monett. Magen modeled for last month’s “Heading Back to School in Style” feature, and we incorrectly misspelled Magen’s first name.

EXPERIENCE MAKES THE

DIFFERENCE. Cassville, Missouri 417-847-2141 or 417-847-2157 Shell Knob, Missouri 417-858-3151 McQueen Funeral Home Wheaton, Missouri 417-652-7268 OCTOBER 2012

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 63

5 Year Warranty!

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12483 Hwy. 59 • Neosho, MO • (5 1/2 Miles East of Wal-Mart) 417-451-2224 • 417-850-7572

PEOPLE WHO KNOW NUTRITION TRUST DIET CENTER Sue Childress Owner Mendy Hubbard Manager

Dana Salsman Office Manager

309 Kyler • Monett, MO 65708 • 417-235-7175 • schild@sofnet.com Hours: Mon. and Thurs. 6 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Tues. Wed. and Fri. 6 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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New, State-Of-The-Art Dental Office

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Children’s & Family Dentistry We offer digital X-rays, ortho, crowns, bridges and root canals.

We accept most dental plans Missouri Medicaid providers up to age 21.

Connection magazine will continue to be offered free to anyone in our distribution area.

64 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Thomas ALMS Jr., D.D.S. 155 W. Patterson • Mt. Vernon, Mo. • 466-3443 HOURS: Mon. - Thur: 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 - 5 p.m.

OCTOBER 2012

S TAY C O N N E C T E D NOVEMBER EVENTS

The Stella Senior Citizens Center and the Aurora Senior Citizens Center hold weekly dances. The Stella dance is held every Friday night from 7 to 10 p.m. with music by the McDonald County Playboys and Frosty Garland and the Road Hogs on alternate Fridays. The Aurora dance is held the second, third and fourth Saturdays of the month from 7 to 10 p.m. featuring the Funtimers band.

1 The Seligman Lions Club is hosting a community dance at the Seligman Community Center from 7 to 10 p.m. Frosty Garland and the Road Hogs is the featured band. There is a $4 cover charge with all proceeds benefitting the Seligman Lions Club.

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce will host the Holiday Radio Auction on KSWM AM 940. For more information, call the chamber at 417-678-4150.

9 and 10 The Monett High School will hold its school play. For more information, call 417-235-5445.

10 Shell Knob Central Crossing Senior Center will host its annual silent auction. Doors open at noon. For more information, call 417-858-6592.

The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce and participating merchants will host a Christmas Open House throughout the day.

For more information, call the chamber office at 417-847-2814.

21 The Monett Festival of Lights at Monett’s South Park begins on Nov. 21 and will continue through Dec. 30 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. every night. For more information, call the Monett Chamber of Commerce at 417235-7919.

26 The Pierce City Senior Citizens will host a dance from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Pierce City Senior Center.

29 and 30 The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Christmas Show featuring Hometown Sound and the Red Hots at the Cassville Crowder College Campus beginning at 7:30 p.m. both nights. The show will feature traditional and contemporary holiday tunes.

For more information, call 417847-2814.

11 Shell Knob VFW Post #2203 will hold a Memorial Service for Veterans Day at 11 a.m. at the Memorial Cemetery located adjacent to Fohn Funeral Home.

For more information, call Dave Atkinson at 417-858-0171.

2 First Friday Coffee will be held at Security Insurance in Cassville.

The event will be sponsored by Security Insurance and the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call 417-847-2814.

13 The Monett Chamber of Commerce and participating restaurants and organizations will host Festival of Flavors from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church’s Family Life Center. Tickets are $10. For more information, call the chamber office at 417-235-7919.

5 The monthly dance at the Monett Senior Citizens Center will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. at the senior center on Dairy Street.

Admission is $3, and snack foods are welcome.

17 The Aurora Chamber of Commerce will host a Miss Holly Pageant, which is open to high schools girls in Barry, Lawrence and Stone counties. For more information, call 417-678-4150.

OCTOBER 2012

20 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 417-235-5053 or Kevin Young at 417-847-5464.

24 The Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce will host the Village of Lights Homes Tour from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 the day of the tour. For more information, call 417-466-7654.

The Mt. Vernon Christmas Parade will be held at 4:45 p.m. on the square. The lighting of the courthouse will follow the parade.

If you have an event you would like featured in our monthly events listing, please email the event information to Lisa Craft at community@monetttimes.com.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 65

STAYCONNECTED

November VENTS

ADVERTISINGINDEX

Aaron’s F-5 Storm Shelters

3

Fohn Funeral Home

Acambaro Mexican Restaurant

16

Barry Electric Cooperative

23

Baywash Car Wash

60

Hospice Compassus

Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home

42

Ila Bohm’s Home Décor

Blevins Asphalt

36

Ken’s Collision

24

Spiritual Streams Fellowship

46

Bookmarks

12

Lackey Body Works

58

Starla K Fashion Jewelry

26

Brownsberger’s

60

Les Jacobs Ford

58

Swartz Tractor

64

T.J.’s BBQ

43

The Hornet’s Nest

23

The Trunk

24

Carolyn Hunter, DMD, PC Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce Community National Bank

3 14 4

63

Scott Regional Technology Center

17

Four Seasons Realty

12

Security Bank

12

Freedom Bank

23

Short Stop

43

4

Smile Designers Dentistry

64

3

Snootie Flea

Lowe’s Auto Glass

4

Making Memories Tours Mercy

60 2

6

Country Dodge

52

Missouri Loan Center

56

Tomblin’s Jewelry & Gifts

22

CoxHealth

68

Mocha Jo’s Coffee Café

17

Trogdon Agency, Inc.

17

Crane Area Chamber of Commerce

32

Monett Chamber of Commerce

UMB

16

Crane Family Dentistry

24

Monett Rental and Sales

17

Uncle Doc’s Flea Market

16

Denali Dreams

56

Mt. Vernon Christian Church

42

US Bank

62

Diet Center

64

Neill’s Home Store

46

Vacation Rentals

58

Doug’s Pro Lube

16

Ozark Healthy Herb Shop

62

Walmart Pharmacy

62

Eastside Church of Christ

66

Peppers and Company

32

Whitley Pharmacy

4

Ed’s Flea Market

16

Preferred Pet Supply

47

Willis Insurance, Inc.

Edward Jones

32

Race Brothers

22

First State Bank of Purdy

46

Sater/Old Town Pharmacy

17

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26

Robyn Blankenship ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

417.342.3168 sales@cassville-democrat.com Sheila Harris

2012 Lectureship

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Monett, Missouri 65708

417.669.3667 mocassadv@gmail.com Marion Chrysler ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

479.244.7082 mchrysler@cassville-democrat.com Cassie Brewer ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

October 7-10 Speakers: Sunday morning - Don Deffenbaugh Sunday evening - Nathan Honeycutt Monday evening - Tommy Burr Tuesday evening - Wayne Deffenbaugh Wednesday evening - Josh King

Sunday Bible Class 9:30 am.

Worship Service 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service 6 p.m.

Monday - Wednesday Evening Service 7 p.m.

417.847.2610 cassvilleads@gmail.com Greg Gilliam ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

417.489.1718 777caregiver@sbcglobal.net

66 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2012

PARTINGSHOT

“My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky.”

William Wordsworth PHOTO BY JEFF TERRY

OCTOBER 2012

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