Connection April/May 2024

Stress is a natural part of life and can be good for your health in reasonable doses, but too much stress can have negative effects on your physical and mental health. That is why April is designated as National Stress Awareness Month, to highlight the importance of proper stress management.

The first step in stress management is understanding what stress looks like in your life and learning how to be resilience against it. Leah Squires, PhD, is the Chief of Psychology Service at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. She, along with a team of more than 50 VA Psychologists, help Veterans develop coping mechanisms to deal with stress in a healthy way. Some of those coping mechanisms may include:

Being active

Physical activity can pump up your feel-good endorphins and other natural neural chemicals that enhance your sense of well-being. Exercise can also refocus your mind on your body’s movements, which can improve your mood and help the day’s irritations fade away.

Eating a healthy diet

Eating a healthy diet is an important part of taking care of yourself. Aim to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.

Avoiding unhealthy habits

Some people may deal with stress by drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, smoking, eating too much, or using illegal substances. These habits can harm your health.

Asserting yourself

You might want to do it all, but you can’t, at least not without paying a price. Learning to say no or being willing to delegate can help you manage your to-do list and your stress.

Getting enough sleep

Sleep is the time when your brain and body recharge, and the quality and amount of sleep you get can affect your mood, energy level, concentration and overall functioning. If you have sleep troubles, make sure that you have a quiet, relaxing bedtime routine, listen to soothing music, put clocks away, and stick to a consistent schedule.

Keeping a journal

Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a good release for otherwise pent-up emotions. Don’t think about what to write, just let your thoughts flow on paper or computer screen.

Counseling

For many, counseling is an important part of the stress management process. That’s why in addition to Stress Awareness Month, April is also designated Counseling Awareness Month, to promote mental health care and break the stigma around seeking help.

Me Hope @ The

When your stressors become too much to manage alone, Squires encourages you to speak to your

Meditating

Meditation can instill a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.

Laughing more

Laughter lightens the mental load and causes positive physical changes in the body. Laughter also fires up and then cools down your stress response.

Connecting with others

Social contact is a good stress reliever because it can offer distraction, provide support and help you tolerate life’s up and downs. When you’re stressed and irritable, your instinct may be to isolate yourself. Instead, reach out to family and friends and make social connections.

Clark Center ov 2021 was rough. Show Me Hope at the Clark Center is connected to resources for nancial help, mental health help, and self-care. program is free and con dential. Programs are created to assist our communities with the ability to rec er from the grief, uncertainty and frustration of recent times. We are here to listen and help. community with concerns about their rec individual or group is encouraged to call and seek assistance. Points of focus for Show Me Hope are resiliency, self-care and experiencing loss. Here 24/7...... w Me Hope, call or text: 1-800-985-5990 Clark Center: 417-235-6610

YOU’RE WELCOME

AT THE BARRY-LAWRENCE REGIONAL LIBRARY!

ACROSS TWO COUNTIES, NINE BLRL BRANCH LOCATIONS

serve thousands of your friends and neighbors each month. If you live in Barry or Lawrence County you are welcome to get your FREE library card and start accessing the vast array of services the BLRL offers.

• Our friendly librarians provide one of the largest collections of books and other materials in Missouri.

• The BLRL provides multiple online resources including media streaming, audio books and e-books.

• Each year, over 60 thousand participants enrich their lives in our amazing Library programs.

• Every Branch of the BLRL offers enriching programs for all ages and areas of interests.

GIVE THE GIFT OF READING!

KIDS 6+ CAN GET THEIR OWN LIBRARY CARDS It’s FREE and makes children feel very special while teaching them responsibility. Library cards are totally free for all Barry & Lawrence residents. The BLRL doesn’t charge late fees and provides tons of materials to check out and programs for all ages. LIBRARY E-CARDS: You can get quick access to library services online at blrlibrary.org

THE AURORA LIBRARY

Phone: 417-678-2036 / Fax: 417-678-2041

E-Mail: aurora@blrlibrary.org

THE CASSVILLE LIBRARY

Phone: 417-847-2121 / Fax: 417-847-4679

E-Mail: cassville@blrlibrary.org

THE EAGLE ROCK LIBRARY

Phone: 417-271-3186 / Fax: 417-444-5109

E-Mail: eaglerocklibrary@blrlibrary.org

THE MARIONVILLE LIBRARY

Phone: 417-463-2675 / Fax: 417-463-2116

E-Mail: marionville@blrlibrary.org

THE MILLER LIBRARY

Phone: 417-423-8528 / Fax: 417-423-8582

E-Mail: miller@blrlibrary.org

THE MONETT LIBRARY

Phone: 417-235-7350 / Fax: 417-319-2391

E-Mail: monett@blrlibrary.org

THE MT. VERNON LIBRARY

Phone: 417-466-2921 / Fax: 417-466-2936

E-Mail: mtvernon@blrlibrary.org

THE PIERCE CITY LIBRARY

Phone: 417-476-5110 / Fax: 417-408-8810

E-Mail: piercecity@blrlibrary.org

THE SHELL KNOB LIBRARY

Phone: 417-858-3618 / Fax: 417-720-2099

E-Mail: shellknob@blrlibrary.org

Change=Insanity

I am sure the majority of everyone reading this has heard the phrase, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Well, the older, oops excuse me, the more mature that I become, the more certain I am that this particular phrase is very, very true!

There will be a lot of changes in the near future with the magazine and the newspaper so I am doing my best to prepare you so you will not be overwhelmingly surprised. Information will be provided in the publications and online, so keep your eyes open and look for any information upcoming.

First of all, I want to say that I appreciate all the compliments that readers have given me on the magazine and the stories that we provide. The readers have remained loyal and still make sure they get that first magazine before they disappear.

In saying that, compliments and editorial do not pay the bills and the large cost of writing, printing, designing, selling and distributing this beautiful product cannot exist on stories alone. There is no corporation to back us. I know that the majority of you do not know what it takes to produce a product like Connection Magazine, and I will not name a number, but I will say it is very expensive.

I have practiced the definition of insanity for over a year now and it is time to change it up and try to not repeat the same thing, over and over again.

At this point, there is one of two ways the magazine will go. We will either do a publication every other month or produce one quarterly. I will make a decision soon.

To be honest when I purchased this, I had so much verbal enthusiasm and compliments that, in my mind, I just knew that both of the publications, including digital, would be well supported by our community and that revenue would increase. Wow was I ever wrong and disappointed.

So, I’m afraid it is time to pull up my bootstraps and realize that what I set out to do cannot happen unless it has the support it truly deserves and without that support, drastic changes need to happen.

Now, don’t misunderstand me, I appreciate the businesses who have remained in the magazine since I have owned it and some that have been in there since the beginning of its’ existence. But with the rising costs of paper, ink, employees, etc. we cannot continue on the path we are on unless others see the value of the product and want to support it and keep it going as well.

I will not apologize for what I have to do, as I really feel that I have put my heart, sweat and blood into trying to keep all of the products in your hands so our devoted readers will have something that they enjoy reading that focuses on local events, people, hobbies and much more.

I will keep you informed as soon as the decision is definite, but either way, there will not be a May magazine.

Now changing the subject. I really hope that everyone enjoys the April/May magazine that features a hometown girl that I graduated with. In fact, I graduated with her and her husband, Randy and Jami (Crist) Masters. This story is beautifully written by Murray Bishoff about a small-town girl who completely follows and is able to live her dream career! Enjoy the story and the pictures of what Jami has achieved.

Again, I thank those that have supported this publication on a monthly basis and maybe going one of the two routes, it will will flourish to the point that we will have to go back to the original schedule.

Lisa Craft is owner and publisher of Connection Magazine and The Monett Times.

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Lisa Craft monettcommunity@gmail.com

MULTI-MEDIA SALES EXECUTIVES

Marion Chrysler CONTRIBUTORS

Meagan Ruffing

Susan Funkhouser

Pam Wormington

Christa Stout

Murray Bishoff

Steve Chapman PHOTOGRAPHERS

Chuck Nickle DISTRIBUTION

FEATURES

8 | STRAWBERRY HIGH TEA & FASHION SHOW

A successful second annual high tea held in downtown Monett in March opens the way for brainstorming and inspiration for next year’s plan

14 | SKITS BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE

Community theatre holds worlds of meaning and purpose for the community. SKITS’ popularity is creating quite a following

19 | THE FISHERMAN OF TABLE ROCK LAKE

Captain Sean Nicodemus wages the waves of Table Rock to the joy and satisfaction of his crew and customers

22 | DANCING, HER HEART OUT

Jami Masters has always had a passion for dance performance art. As she shares her passion the art continues to expand

29 | PICKLEBALL WAREHOUSE

Fun is heating up at the Warehouse with the thrill of the sport sweeping the country

31 | MAKING MONETT

The Davis Family contributed to the founding of the town to the benefit of the community

35 | MONETT MUSEUM PROJECT

As a hub of railroad history, the museum continues to uncover the meaning and develop the narrative of local history to connect the past to the present

42 | CAVE SPRING SCHOOL HOUSE

This time capsule school house in Sarcoxie, Mo., serves as a monument to Civil War history and to an educator that left life-long impressions on learning

The thrill of this catch was only eclipsed by the beauty of the lake.

Pickleball Warehouse is heating up in Marionville

An afternoon of

high society, fashion

and fun in the heart of downtown Monett Strawberry High Tea & Fashion Show

The ten businesses that participated in showcasing their retail treasures included:

Bruner Pharmacy

Cox Health Gift Store

Flying V Mercantile

Justin Factory Outlet

My Best Friends Closet

Consignment & Boutique

Peppers & Company

Plymouth Junction

Race Brothers Farm Supply

Walmart

Whitley Pharmacy

Several local Monett (and surrounding area) ladies gathered for the second annual Strawberry High Tea and Fashion Show on Saturday, March 9, 2024. This event, hosted by and fundraised for, the Monett Historical Society and Museum, pays homage to the days when the emerging community of Monett, Missouri was officially known as the “Strawberry Capital of the Midwest”.

Each beautifully decorated table hosted at least two beautifully fragile teapots, several of which belong to

the Monett Historical Museum, with some belonging to the volunteers that organized the much-anticipated annual springtime event. The water was hot enough to steep the perfect cup of tea, the food was divinely delectable. Each of the edible selections contained strawberries, to stay in theme with the still celebrated and fondly recalled hometown named, “Strawberry Capitol of the Midwest”. The fashions were appealing, and the models were elegant and entertaining. It was truly a day of fellowship, laughter, excitement,

and community togetherness akin to the fancy tea parties often hosted in historical decades of high fashion and higher societal standards.

With each savory bite, I thought my tastebuds could not be more fulfilled, until I sampled the next delicious treat. While the chef prefers to remain anonymous, the delicious care sprinkled into each notable delicacy was truly worthy of this grand event. The empty plates and scarcely notable crumbs were a testament to how enjoyable these strawberry-infused edible works of art truly tickled the tastebuds!

The fashion show portion of the afternoon was both entertaining and exciting. Several local businesses, with retail clothing available, selected one to two models to showcase the latest spring and summer inspired fashions. There was a taste for nearly every fashion type and event possible, from dresses to wear to an outdoor wedding,

to a flattering swimsuit and sixties/seventies inspired coverup, to more conventional casual outfits, perfect for a summer picnic, spring garden party, or just a lazy day spent lounging around home.

Linda Sitton, owner of Peppers and Co., downtown Monett, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the fashion show. She introduced each model, the business retail business they represented, and provided a brief description of the carefully chosen outfit, shoes and accessories worn, as the model paraded from one end of the museum lobby to the other, often stopping at tables for audience members to ask questions, feel the fabric or inspect the quality of garment or accessory each model proudly displayed.

The menu, a homemade selection of delectable sandwiches and desserts, consisted of:

Strawberry Chocolates

Strawberry Mini Muffins

Strawberry Oat Bars

Strawberry Mini Scones

Strawberry Jalapeno

Cheesy Thumbprints

Strawberry Chicken Salad

Sea Sandwiches

Strawberry Egg Salad

Tea Sandwiches

Strawberry Bruschetta

Cream Cheese Basket

Each business that participated donated a gift basket and/or gift card to the raffle, which took place toward the end of the event. There were several winners from each table, with a few ladies’ raffle tickets drawn more than once. Of course, they graciously allowed the second winnings to be placed back in the raffle, kindly providing an opportunity for another tea party guest to take home a special gift.

As the tea became cold and the desserts slowly disappeared from the center of each table, the second annual Strawberry High Tea and Fashion Show drew to an end. Several ladies, and the gentlemen who donated their time and waiting services, assisted with the tidying up of the museum. It was a day of fancy and frivolous fun, all for a good cause, as the ticket and raffle proceeds will go straight to the Monett Historical Museum.

The event was: “vastly successful, as all materials, including food, were donated. Since this Strawberry High Tea is a fundraiser for the museum, we are deeply grateful to our chairpersons, Pam Mayo and Linda Meyer, the fundraising committee as a whole, with overall committee chairperson Beth Gann, for making this an event to remember,” said Jeanne Ann Camp, Monett Historical Society President.

The Monett Historical Society would like to personally thank the entertaining emcees, the willing models, the volunteer waiters, and the chef of the fabulous strawberry-infused goodies. Without each volunteer, this event would not have come off as perfectly poised and enjoyable as the numerous guests would undoubtedly attest.

If you would like to showcase a local retail business or volunteer to model for next year’s Strawberry High Tea and Fashion Show, you are encouraged to contact the Monett Museum via email at: monetthistory@gmail. com, with ‘high tea’ as the subject line. Planning for next year’s festivities will begin toward the end of 2024/beginning of 2025. n

Oaklynn Congrats

Email your child’s photo to: monettcommunity@ gmail.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 younger.

The photos submitted will be used for the sole purpose of this contest.

Oaklynn Johnson, 7-month-old daughter of Cory and Daryl Johnson, of Cassville

A parade, an event, a festival, a fair – when we gather together, Shelter is proud to be there.

Grant Baker

Grant Baker

101 E. Olive Aurora, MO 417-678-5404

101 E. Olive Aurora, MO 417-678-5404

GBaker@ShelterInsurance.com

GBaker@ShelterInsurance.com

Chris Hammen 106a Cortney Ln Crane, MO 417-723-5394

Chris Hammen 106a Cortney Ln Crane, MO 417-723-5394

Chammen@ShelterInsurance.com

Andy Brandt 855 E US Hwy 60 Monett, MO 417-235-5603

Chammen@ShelterInsurance.com Andy

ABrandt@ShelterInsurance.com

We’re your Shield. We’re your Shelter. ShelterInsurance.com

• Hallmark cards and gifts for children and adults

• New spring women’s clothing, jewelr y and handbags

Shelby Rohlman 522 E. Broadway Street Monett, MO 65708 417-235-6239

SRohlman@ShelterInsurance.com

A parade, an event, a festival, a fair – when we gather together, Shelter is proud to be there. We’re your Shield. We’re your Shelter. ShelterInsurance.com

BRUNER PHARMACY

321 Broadway, Monett, MO 417-235-3139

Monday-Friday - 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Saturday - 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

by Susan Cook

Susan Cook, a Tucson, Arizona native and dietetic intern at Cox College, came with a focus on pediatrics. She enjoys sharing information about a healthy pregnancy since she knows from experience how vital nutrition is.

Nutrition During Pregancy

Congrats! You are pregnant! With a million things on your mind, your diet is important. That said, when prioritizing what is most important, the mother’s health comes first; a healthy baby needs a healthy mother. Dietitian Lily Nichols’ book, Real Food for Pregnancy, highlights maternal nutritional needs and suggests higher recommendations than current guidelines based on modern research. Here are three ways to improve prenatal nutrition without the stress of numbers.

Variety is Key

Research shows that nutrients the mother eats directly affects the growth and development of the baby. A quality diet provides the mother’s body with what is necessary to utilize nutrients required for growth and development. For optimal nutrition, we recommend a balanced diet with a variety of colors. MyPlate is a guide to help you achieve this. Half the plate should consist of non-starchy vegetables and fruits, a quarter of the plate should include starch, and the remaining quarter should have protein. Healthy fats can also encourage a feeling of fullness or satiety and assist with cravings.

Although variety is encouraged, pregnancy does come with dietary restrictions. Pregnancy makes mothers immunocompromised due to multiple physiological and immunological changes causing them to become more susceptible to illness. Some foods to avoid are any raw or unpasteurized animal products and

high mercury fish (i.e. swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, or predatory fish).

Eating for Two Debunked

The old saying, “eat for two,” is a myth. During the second and third trimester, it is important to add more calories, but not enough to feed a second adult person. Recommendations for daily caloric needs are an additional 340 calories and 450 calories during the second and third trimester. The first trimester does not require additional calories. However, practice mindful eating and avoid dieting and restricting calories unless advised otherwise.

Key Vitamins and Minerals

Recommendations for micronutrients increase to compensate for fetal development. Minerals to increase include folate, calcium, iron, and choline.

 Folate helps build genetic material and red blood cells. Adequate amounts prevent neural tube defects. When looking for a prenatal, look for the activated form of folate, L-methylfolate or 5-methytetrahydrofolate. Folate can be found in legumes, dark green veggies, and oranges.

 Calcium helps develop the baby’s bones. If mom does not get enough, calcium will pull from the mother’s bones. Foods rich in calcium include tofu, dairy products, and collard greens.

 Iron makes blood cells to help

supply oxygen to the baby. Iron sources include red meats, eggs, spinach, beans, and fortified grains. To increase iron absorption, pair vitamin C food sources with iron.

 Lastly, choline is important for fetal brain development and the placenta. Choline can be found in foods such as egg yolks and organ meats. Choline is not usually found in prenatal vitamins, so it is important to increase it in your diet or talk to a dietitian.

Additionally, magnesium can be a helpful mineral to assist with constipation, leg cramps and chocolate cravings. Food sources include green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains.

A balanced plate is key to prenatal nutrition. Getting a variety of foods in your diet helps to ensure a variety of nutrients are being consumed. As individual needs vary based on body, lifestyle, and situation, consulting a dietitian can provide valuable assistance and information. n

Born of humble beginnings

SKITS Packs the House

When presented their first performance, “Hillbilly Christmas,” a little over 10 years ago, the Shell Knob in the Spotlight (SKITS) Community Theater, not even 40 people showed up. Today, when SKITS performs a play, they have to bring in extra seating.

Anne Gables, secretary on the SKITS Board of Trustees, said the theater got its start in 2013, thanks to the vision of a veteran thespian.

“A man named Jim Robinson had moved here to Shell Knob, and he had been very active in theater for years and years and had lots of experience in much bigger theaters than (ours). He got together with Patty Ellison and Sue Ramonette and a few others, and they decided they wanted to try to do some community theater here, and they just made it happen.”

Today, SKITS presents two plays

a year, usually comedies. Anne said not only do audiences love to attend the shows, but they constantly are approached by people who want to appear in them.

“We fill up the auditorium where we have it, and we often have to bring in extra chairs, so the audience has grown exponentially,” she said. “The number of actors and actresses that have been involved has grown tremendously.”

SKITS has gotten so popular, Anne said, not only do the audience members come from out of town, but so do a lot of the cast members.

“We have them from Purdy and Cassville and Berryville and all over now,” she said. “It used to be just Shell Knob. But now, we have people coming from all over the place.

The secret of SKITS popularity, Anne said, lies in the quality of their performances. Not only do the actors

Go to www.skitsmo.com to order tickets for the next SKITS performance, "Chickenheart," April 19-21.

do a good job, but so does the crew.

“I think it's because our plays are so well done,” she said. “We have a beautiful stage, (and) we have professional lighting (and) professional mikes, so it's aesthetically pleasing.

“People are finding out that it's just really good fun, family entertainment. It doesn't cost a fortune. And … you're guaranteed to go home with a smile on your face.”

Being that SKITS is located in a small town, Anne said, the quality of the performances takes many first-time attendees by surprise. She recalled the first time she attended a play there with her daughter.

“My daughter at the time wanted to be in (a play), and I said to her, (since) she was just a young girl, ‘Yeah, let's

just go (and) watch one first, and we'll see.’ Because I was (asking myself), ’Is it just going to be some people walking around on the floor doing a really pathetic job?’

“Now I just didn't know what to expect in a little teeny tiny town like Shell Knob. I just had no idea, and when I walked in and saw they had a whole stage and lights and sound effects and

the whole bit, (my reaction was), “Oh wow, they 'kind of take this seriously.’”

Currently, SKITS performs their plays at Shell Knob’s United Methodist Church, and as such, Anne said, some people are under the impression that the theatre presents religious plays. However, she said, that isn’t the case.

“We have no affiliation with the church,” she said, “other than they are so gracious to allow us to rent that space from them. I don't know what we would do without them.”

Looking to the future, Anne said, SKITS hopes to someday have summer camps for children interested in theatre, and maybe have their own theater building. Until then, she said, they plan to continue as they always have.

“We'll just keep growing and keep serving the community and keep giving people an opportunity to stretch their little theatrical wings, so to speak,” she said.

In the meantime, she said, SKITS takes great pride in what they do.

We're really proud of the fact that it's called community theater,” Anne said, “and we are so proud of the fact that at every audition we have, new people come that have never been in any of our plays. Sometimes they've never been in a play, ever in their life, but they've always wanted to try it. And we love the fact that every production we do, we're giving people a chance to get up on stage and show the world what they can do and have some fun and make people laugh.”

SKITS is located at 25682 State Highway YY2 in Shell Knob. They are currently preparing to show their latest production, “Chickenheart,” which will run from Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call (414)379-0445, go online to www.skitsmo.com, send and email to info@skitsmo.com or visit their Facebook page. n

by Meagan Ruffing

Meagan Ruffing is a parenting journalist and marriage and family therapist. She is looking forward to many more fresh starts this spring.

A Fresh Start

I was helping my 10-year-old daughter get ready for bed the other night when she said something that stopped me in my tracks.

She said, “Mom, it’s like a new start.” She was referring to the recent news of her dad getting remarried and their upcoming move to a new town. I was struck by the sound of hope in her sweet little voice but also, struggling inside to be as positive as her. I was both happy for her and sad for me.

The idea of my children not being in the same home as me all the time was something I had grieved five years ago when I got divorced. This felt like I was grieving all over again with the news of them moving farther away. It didn’t feel like a fresh start to me. It felt unfair.

I found myself holding on to her positive outlook on things and decided to get curious about why I was feeling that way, rather than sitting in the unfairness of it all. I knew I needed to embrace what was coming while feeling what I needed to feel.

Simply put, I had to give myself a fresh start in the way that I was approaching things as a single mom. I had to really grieve the old and celebrate the new so that I could show up for my daughter as a supportive person. Being genuine and authentic while you’re hurting is a hard thing to do.

However, I kept replaying my daughter’s voice in my head and decided on what my fresh start would look like.

If you’re newly divorced, in the middle of a divorce, or farther along in your years as a single mom or dad, I encourage you to define what your fresh start will be. It may look different from mine and that’s okay. The important thing is to shift your attitude and perspective towards the future rather than staying in the past. Focusing on what you want your life to look like, the type of people you want around you, and the goals you have for yourself, will help you keep going in the right direction. These are things I did when I found myself ruminating on past hurts and feeling stuck.

 I went on a walk every day for 60 days. I have no idea why I picked the number 60, other than it just felt right. I bought

a new pair of ear buds, downloaded some new audiobooks, and started trekking through the trails around my house. Not only did I feel a sense of accomplishment, but I also lost a few pounds.

 I did nice things for other people so I could focus on something other than myself. I surprised my neighbors with flowers and sent funny cards in the mail to long distance friends.

 I started putting more effort into making my daughter’s lunch for school. I recognized that it made me happy to write her notes every day, so I found some artsy things to spruce up her lunchbox. Packing her lunch used to feel like one more thing on my to do list but I have started to look forward to it since establishing my fresh start.

 My self-care became non-negotiable. Instead of looking at naps, brunch with friends, or coffee dates as things that needed to be scheduled all the time, I approached my kid-less weekends with a more laissez-faire attitude and allowed myself to go with the flow. This approach has given me more balance between how structured I am during the work week and how much more relaxed I can be on the weekends.

 I ramped up my personal therapy appointments. I am used to seeing my therapist on a needs’ basis but decided to start scheduling more regularly to help with accountability. I don’t always feel like I have a lot to talk about, but I’ve noticed it helps me stay focused on my healing and moving forward.

 I bought more plants to put inside my house. I had a plethora of fake ones here and there but when a friend gifted me a live plant for my birthday, I felt awakened. I looked over at that plant on my kitchen table every morning while I made my coffee and smiled. I decided I would buy another, bigger plant to put near my front door. These plants have become a visual reminder for me that I can have a fresh start each day.

 I make to-do lists when I’m feeling overwhelmed and sad. If I have down days, and yes, I still do, I make a to-do list to help organize my thoughts. It feels less stressful and more helpful than letting all the things ruminate in my head.

Your fresh start might be making it through the day and heading into the next. Divorce and single parenting can show up differently for everyone. Remember to notice what is coming up for you, be curious about it, and decide how you will approach your fresh start. n

The Fisherman

For many in the Ozarks, being able to make a living by bass fishing would be a dream come true. It’s a dream that Captain Sean Nicodemus, owner of NICO Fishing, lives practically every day.

A former consultant and continuous improvement leader for a number of businesses, Sean began NICO Fishing in 2020, after he earned his US Coast Guard Captain certification. He credits the leadership experience he gained from his previous livelihood in helping making the business a success.

“I’d always had a desire be a guide but my business career took priority during my younger years,” he said. “My career

Learn more about fishing guide packages at the NICO Fishing website

Story by Steve Chapman

Captain Sean Nicodemus makes his living as a fishing guide on Table

Rock Lake

developed my skills of teaching and mentoring, which helped me make the transition to being a fishing guide.”

Based in Shell Knob, NICO Fishing offers customers four, six and eight hourlong fishing trips on Table Rock on Sean’s boat, which launches from the King River. While he doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you will catch a fish, he does promise every customer “a safe, enjoyable time on Table Rock Lake, (fishing) techniques and locations of the fish.” He also promises the trip will be “an experience of a lifetime with lots of photos.”

The best part of what he does, Sean said, is that he gets to help others learn the joys of fishing.

Another satisfied customer holds up her catch.

“(I enjoy) coaching people on how to catch a fish and then watching them make the catch,” he said. “Plus showing them the beautiful Table Rock Lake.”

The customers themselves, he said, just enjoy being on Table Rock.

“Typically, it's the experience of the outing and the anticipation of catching a fish (that they enjoy most),” he said. “Most customers are overwhelmed by the beauty of the lake.”

The skills Sean teaches his customers, he said, can last them long after the trip is over.

“My most memorable time was with a couple who were beginners to fishing,” he said. “We went out on a fall morning, and the bite was slow, but they were trying hard and didn't give up. We went to multiple spots, and they finally were able to make some nice catches. The trip was scheduled for four hours, but they insisted going six hours due to their desire of catching another one. They caught more and now are anglers.”

During a fishing trip, Sean will provide customers with the fishing equipment, lures, snack and water. He recommends that customers dress for the weather, which includes a hat and sunglasses. He also said that customers should be up front on what they expect during the trip. Usually, he said, customers release the fish they catch, but they can keep their catch if they wish, after which, Sean said, he will clean them.

While most people may prefer to fish on warm, sunny days, Sean said that he can provide his customers with an enjoyable fishing trip practically at any time of year.

“Weather permitting, any day is a great day for fishing,” he said.

For more information, or to book a fishing trip, contact Sean Nicodemus at (417)291-1792, send an email at snicodemus@yahoo.com, or visit the NICO Fishing Facebook page. You can also visit the NICO Fishing website at www. nicofishing.com. n

Sean Nicodemus and his daughter, Sam Gomez, show off their catch during a father-daughter fishing trip.

The Beauty of the Dance

A little girl and a teacher transform the lives of generations

In many lives, a pivotal experience comes along that changes everything that follows. For some, it's an encounter with a musical instrument, a movie, comic books or a teacher.

For Jami Masters, it was dance, an experience that envelopes her and became her career as an adult.

This is her story.

“My family [Jim and Mary Crist and kids] moved to Monett in 1965 when I was in the third grade,” she recalled. “I walked to Plymouth school every day with the neighborhood friends. Lisa Da-

vis was definitely one of them, not sure who all else was in our walking group. They were all taking ballet at Mary Beck School of Dance, so I wanted to go there, too.  My mom enrolled me in dance class and I loved it! I was a very shy child and dance seemed to resonate with me because it was a way to express myself without talking. I remember the 'big girls' assisting in the class and I was impressed with them, Andra Douthitt and Janene George. They seemed to pay a lot of attention to me so it gave me confidence.”

Story by Murray Bishoff

“I kept dancing by taking classes in ballet, tap, and jazz. There was no such thing as Hip Hop back then. My best friends were Kay Kaiser, Leasa Cook and Jean Ray (from Cassville). Kay, Leasa, and I eventually became Mary's 'big girl' assistants and went to the studio after school many days each week to help with the younger dancers' classes. That is where I learned to teach and decided that I one day wanted to be 'Mary Beck' and have my own dance studio.”

Jami ran the gamut of experiences as a dancer with Mary Beck. She prepared

solo and ensemble dances. She traveled to compete in the Dance Masters conventions in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

“As soon as I opened my own dance studio I became a member of Dance Masters' of America and so did my daughter, Sterling,” Jami continued. “Dance Masters of America, Inc. is an International organization of dance teachers who are certified by test; college degreed and/or professional status to teach dance.”

Once she reached college at SMSU, now Missouri State University, Jami

majored in dance education. She joined the Sugar Bears dance troupe and the Repertory Dance Company and gave many performances throughout college.

“The college experience was very different than my early dance education,” she observed. “I was introduced to Modern Dance, which is the most prominent form of dance in college curriculums, though I still continued with ballet, tap and jazz training. Hip hop was still not a thing, to my knowledge. The dance major back then was part of the Science department, not Arts, for

Jami Masters' School of Dance dancers taking a bow after a dance recital. Hundreds of dancers appeared on stage together prior to COVID. Now the school offers 20 smaller shows presented over two Saturdays.

some reason, so I had to take a lot of classes like biomechanics, kinesiology, etc. But as part of the Repertory Dance Company, I was able to experience performing with the Music Department in the Johann Strauss operetta 'Die Fledermaus' [The Bat] and had the opportunity to take theater and acting classes.”

After graduating from college, Jami came back to Monett. She got a job at United Missouri Bank, but her instincts literally kept her on her toes.

“I went back to Mary Beck to help with dance classes,” she said. “That's when Mary mentored me and I really started paying attention to everything

she did and said to her students. I kept a notebook and I still use those notes today. Mary encouraged me to go out to the surrounding communities to teach so I started dance classes in Aurora, Sarcoxie and places where there were not dance opportunities for children and it was too far for them to come to Monett for classes. That taught me to promote myself and to instill the love of dance in others.”

After she married fellow Monettan Randy Masters, the couple moved when he took a job in Atlanta, Georgia. By then, dance was such a part of her that she sent her resumé to all the Atlan-

Here is Jami Crist's first costume as a performing dancer for the Mary Beck School of Dance. The costume today is framed and hangs in the Jami Masters School of Dance with the photo.

(below) Jami Masters with her daughter, Sterling, in the early 1990s when Jami opened her dance studio in North Carolina.

ta-area dance studios and began substitute teaching at various places. After the Masters bought their first house, Randy built a dance studio in the basement for Jami. There she taught neighboring children and thus produced her first dance recital on her own. During that time she kept studying with the Atlanta Ballet and took adult classes with local jazz studios.

“In 1984 we moved to Charlotte, NC,” Jami recalled. “Our daughter, Sterling, was born in 1985 and our son, Randall in 1988. In 1989 I opened the first official Jami Masters' School of Dance. I had no real business plan, though I knew

I wanted to share my love of dance to the Charlotte community. I opened the studio to my church friends' children 'just for fun' while I was raising my two small children. 'Word of mouth' was my true business plan. During this time, I joined the Junior League of Charlotte and volunteered in the community's underserved population teaching dance

classes to those who would never have the opportunity to dance. As a member of the Junior League, I performed as Madonna in the annual fundraiser event for the entire city of Charlotte. I also got involved in the theater community in Charlotte performing in 'The Wiz' and 'Pippin' at Theater Charlotte, a community theater.”

Jami Masters and husband Randy with daughter Sterling backstage at the Broadway show “A Chorus Line” where Sterling performed.

“At this time, my daughter, Sterling, started performing in theater productions and at the age of 6 declared that she was going to Broadway. Well, that got me encouraged to start hiring the best dance teachers I could find to help train her for a professional career. She has a very multi-faceted story of her own and did have a very successful Broadway career which ended in 2019 after a multi-year with 'Wicked' at Broadway’s Gershwin Theater. Sterling decided to move back to Charlotte with her husband and son to begin teaching at Jami Masters School of Dance. But along the way Sterling was

•

the first dancer in the Carolina chapter of Dance Masters of America to win all titles: Petite, Junior, Teen and Miss Dance.”

In 2024 Jami Masters marks the 35th anniversary of her dance school. She has approximately 1,500 students, eight dance rooms, 12 teachers and an office staff of six.

“We are in the process of building a second location within the same shopping center with more dance rooms, so we will open Fall 2024 with about 17,000 square feet of dance studio and retail space. We now offer classes for 2 year olds through adults. We offer classes in Preschool dance, ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, contemporary/modern, jazz funk, hip hop, Pilates and Acrobatics.

“But, ultimately, my reason for opening a dance studio and love for dancing was instilled from my experiences with Mary Beck School of Dance in Monett. As I've learned and grown as an educator, I realize what a genius Mary Beck is. Wherever I've taken dance classes – New York, Atlanta, and Charlotte – I was always recognized for my good technique... that came from Mary. And she knew all about every style of dance and was very good at it herself! She continues to be a true inspiration to me and how I run my dance studio. I keep in touch with Mary and I thank her for instilling the love of dance in me all those years ago. 'Instilling the Love of Dance is my studio's mission statement.”

One experience, growing out of a walk to school, wanting to participate like her friends were, and a special teacher became a transformative experience for Jami Masters. She lives that to this day.

“Mary signed her notes 'Dancingly Yours, and so do I,” Jami added. n

“Where

Pickleball Warehouse

Popular sport, party venue

When RaNay Riffe and her father built a pickleball court, they weren’t planning on it leading to a thriving business. But less than four years after they opened it, their latest venture, the Pickleball Warehouse, has become a popular attraction in Marionville.

Riffe and her father built their first pickleball court in Marionville in 2020, after a business deal fell through and left them with an empty warehouse.

a lack of available facilities there, she chose to teach only in Marionville. As a result, her Greene County students came to her.

“We decided to turn it into pickleball courts,” she said. “So we had four indoor pickleball courts. We were not really thinking about it being a business, more for just personal private family use. It opened right before COVID, and we were using it all the time.”

Prior to the pandemic, RaNay professionally taught pickleball classes in Greene County, but afterwards, due to

“As the COVID scare started to slow down, all my people from Republic and Springfield area were contacting me asking about pickleball, but everything was closed down in those areas, so I just said, ‘If you want to come to Marionville, I can teach, I can get things going for you.’ So I just got everybody used to driving to Marionville to that gym.”

However, a local church approached RaNay’s father and her father in 2023 with an offer to buy the building. So, she said, they sold the building, purchased some nearby land, where they built the new facility that would become the Pickleball Warehouse.

About 18,000 square-feet in size, the Pickleball Warehouse contains seven pickleball courts, two of which have

outdoor surfaces, which, RaNay said, are especially popular with those who come to play.

Moreover, she said, since Pickleball Warehouse had its grand opening in October, the number of people coming to play pickleball has skyrocketed.

“Probably the biggest part of my clientele is coming from the Springfield area,” she said, “but there’s big group in here from Aurora now, (as well as) several people from Monett. (There are also) a lot of Republic people, and since this has opened … several Marionville people are going too.”

The location, RaNay said, tends to be very busy, as people come for pickleball lessons, to play in leagues, tournaments, or even open play. Also, she said, Pickleball Warehouse is a popular event venue.

“I coach a club volleyball team, so all of our volleyball practices are here,” she said. “We also have a really good kids’ area back here, with a trampoline bounce house. We (also) have different carousel things and whatnot. So, I've had multiple people rent out a couple of courts and the kids area. I've had multiple people rent it out for church events or birthday parties because … we also have a full kitchen downstairs.”

As to why pickleball itself is so popular, RaNay said it’s because anybody can play it.

“It's incredibly easy to learn,” she said, “and it knows no age, body type or gender. “My youngest (pupil) that plays is 8, (and) my oldest that plays is in his 80s, and they can be mixed within each other, which is unlike most sports.”

Pickleball Warehouse is located at 515 W Jonathan Drive in Marionville. For more information, call (417)818-7046 or visit their Facebook page. n

Merchants Who Made Monett

Davis Family forged success from the town's earliest days

Towns grow out of the legacy of individuals and families, the labor exerted in building businesses, sometimes rebuilding, and those who are fortunate enough to continue those efforts into another generation. One businessman opened a grocery store a few years after Monett started in 1887, passing it onto his son, a legacy picked up and diversified by the next generation. That family's fingerprints still show on Monett today.

Jack Davis, now 95, the fifth generation, recounts how they did it.

E.N. Davis came to Monett and opened his grocery store about 1890 on the southeast corner of Second Street and Broadway, where the Jerome Creamery would later operate. He ran that store until his son, William Rufus Davis, took it over in 1918, according to The Monett Times. William Rufus Davis and his wife, Minnie Hagler Davis, had their home on the northwest corner of Second and Broadway, a short walk from the store. That proved both a blessing and a liability.

“One snowy night, there was a

knock on the door at the Davis

ly,” Jack said, recounting the family story. “A Monett police officer wanted Granddad to go to the store and take a load of feed (grain and hay) down to the tracks. There were two or three railroad carloads of Army mules going through Monett that had stopped. They needed feed. In those days, a grocery store had farm supplies as well as regular food. It was a cold and snowy night.

fami-

Inside the Davis Market, with Lester “Hoppy” Davis showing off new refrigeration equipment.

“Grandad hitched up the wagon, hauled the hay and grain he had at the store down to the railroad tracks, saw to it the government mules were fed, and went back to the house. Minnie asked him, 'What did you charge them for that?' Rufus told her, and she said, 'That not enough money.' He said, 'Now Minnie, that's the US Government. We can't overcharge them.' It's such a different world now.”

William Rufus Davis died leaving a family of four boys and five girls. Jack's dad, Raymond Ernest “Doc” Davis, the youngest of the boys, was in eighth grade at the time. The oldest son, Lester E. “Hoppy” Davis, had his own grocery store by then at Broadway and Central, where Wellbaum's is today, the original Davis Brothers Market. Minnie and the girls ran a store for dad. The other brothers were Oltie “Gus” Davis and “Si” John Francis Davis. Oltie was the father of Peggy Pinnell.

“With nine kids, the older ones had to leave the nest while the younger ones were still coming on,” Jack said. “Dad left school and took a job with the rail-

road. Eventually he went to work for Lester.”

These were the days of neighborhood markets run by families. There were around 10 different markets in Monett in the 1920s into the 1940s. Some stores had reputations for bargains and products. Those working in them had specialized duties.

“Lester ran the grocery store,” Jack said. “Oltie ran the produce department. Dad ran the meat department. He would buy local cattle, have them processed and hauled fresh meat to the store.”

The Davis's stores consolidated and were always on Broadway, moving to several different locations over the years. One account had the brothers moving from Central back to Second and Broadway in 1925, and later bought out Huffman's Market between Fourth and Fifth streets. A fire in the Wilson Building prompted them to move in July 1939 to 318 E. Broadway, two doors down from the National Bank at Fourth and Broadway, in 1939. That kind of movement, the ability to pick

up and restart somewhere else, typified the early Monett merchants.

“Back in those days, we had two delivery trucks,” Jack said. “We took phone orders. We'd put the groceries in a box and a delivery guy would take the box to customers. I ran one of the trucks, along with several other young guys. We'd deliver to the house. In a little town like we had, you could go in the back door, put groceries on the table, you'd put the ice cream in the refrigerator. That was part of the business.”

After World War 2, the landscape of marketing groceries in Monett changed. Larger operations began to dominate the market around 1950, such as Harold Schuchman with Harold's Consumers Market in the old opera house at Third and Broadway, the Piggly Wiggly opening at Ninth and Broadway in what is now the Dollar General Store, and Oren Moss expanding Moss Market on West Broadway. Finding everything in one place began to squeeze the small family stores. The bigger stores didn't deliver, offering small operators

Inside the Davis Market, with Raymond “Doc” Davis at left and Lester “Hoppy” Davis at right. (left) This 1956 clipping shows Jack Davis when he was the first vice president in the Monett Jaycees.

like the Davis Brothers an edge.

“Life wasn't easy for them,” Jack observed. “They came up the hard way. Monett during the 1930s and early 1940s was very small-town politically active. Politics was alive and well then, and the hubbub of it was the Commercial Club. Dad was president of that at one time.

“He was also president of the school board. Somewhere in the late 1930s, the Monett school district was broke. Teachers were carrying payroll vouchers around. They couldn't cash them. It was that bad. Dad went on the school board with R. Lee Cline, L.G. Jones, Logan McKee, L.E. “Kirk” Lines and Les Mason. They hired Howard McEachen as superintendent. He came from Kansas. He moved here and straightened out the school system, and hired Earl Camp as principal. McEachen went from here to Pittsburg, then to Shawnee Mission in the Kansas City area. He was that good.”

BEFORE FIRE, 1939

Camp succeeded McEachen as superintendent in 1941 and stayed until 1964 when he was succeeded by Ralph Scott, who held the post for another 20 years.

When Jack was 4, the family moved to “the edge of town” on what is now Eisenhower, but at that time the street had no name and no house numbers. The address was West County, though County Street was a block away. The family had a barn and “all kinds of animals,” horses his dad loved, and cows that Jack would milk.

Jack graduated from Monett High School in 1946 and went to the Monett Junior College for two years. “I was completely in the dark about what I was going to do,” he said. “I was not interested in a railroad job. I went to the University of Arkansas for a year and a half. I was an arts major, and decided I didn't have much future in arts so I went to business school. Then I came home and worked for Dad.”

In August of 1947, the four Davis brothers liquidated their stock at 318 E. Broadway, closed the grocery store and

AFTER FIRE, 1939

started Davis Brothers Wholesale Company, selling tobacco, candy, fountain supplies, spices and sundries, continuing deliveries. That proved not as successful as Jack's dad had hoped, so at the end of 1949, “Doc” Davis and Jack purchased Ooley Hardware from Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Ooley. They opened Davis Hardware in January 1950.

“We were grocery people,” Jack said. “Dad and I had to learn the whole thing from scratch. He couldn't drive a nail and neither could I. We didn't know one screw from another. Ooley went off and left us, and ran a variety store. We had all kinds of nails, screws, washers, pipe fittings, all kinds of plumbing stuff. We didn't know beans about it.

“The hardware business has definitely changed. Nails used to come in a wooden keg, then they came in a box. We took what Ooley had and stayed with it. We carried wood stoves, gas stoves, Frigidaire appliances, horseshoes, light fixtures, some sporting goods. My aunt Ella Campbell worked for us. She ran a gift department that had glassware –that sort of stuff. There were two other

Wilma and Jack Davis

hardware stores in Monett. There was W.H. Floreth's store, a really old-fashioned, genuine hardware store, and the one run by Fred Cossey. We carried carried glassware dishes and sold what he didn't sell. We were pretty good competitors. We had a good business.”

In 1960, Oren Moss wanted to build up the business offerings around his supermarket on West Broadway. He offered to erect a building for Davis Hardware across the street from his store. The Davises accepted his offer and moved. At the same time, O.A. Williams sold the building they had leased to the First National Bank, and it was absorbed in a bank expansion.

The new location for Davis Hardware offered more room. Jack did not recall expanding the inventory until after his father retired and died in 1977. Several years later Jack bought the building from Oren Moss, acquired the filling station that took up what became the store's parking lot at Euclid and West Broadway, then put on an addition to the west side of the store. He joined True Value Hardware group in 1981, then ran the store until his son, Chris, could take over. After the store closed in 2006, Chris's wife Kathy opened Pitiful to Posh antiques in the building, keeping it all in the family.

“I retired in 1995,” Jack said. “I had a heart attack in 2004 and triple bypass surgery. I never wanted to do anything different. I guess I wasn't that ambitious. I ended up with a wonderful family,” having married Wilma Everett in 1954 and having four children: Chris, Lisa, Kim and Sarah. The family lived near the store in a large house on Frisco Street, acquired from Vaisey-Bristol/ Jumping-Jacks Shoes executive George Meierhoffer, for 53 years.

As for how to succeed in Monett over all those years and generations, Jack had a time-tested formula: “You had to give people what they wanted.” n

Monett High School students toured the railroad room at the Monett Museum, studying present exhibits and exploring how detailed explanations that they write, part of a grant-funded project developed by teacher Amy Sampson, will improve the museum experience.

Growing from the Inside

Grant-funded project expanding understanding of Monett history

When you walk into a museum, you are surrounded by a bygone world, artifacts, faces of perhaps long gone figures, artful creations and maybe a few mysteries. What's it all mean? Sometimes that's a challenge that even the best museums can have difficulty explaining.

Donate to the development of the Monett Museum by scanning the QR Code

The Monett Museum in the past 20 years has assembled a remarkable vision of this railroad hub and its people through artifacts from its factories, industries and people. The more one knows about the town and its history, the more meaningful the glimpses into the past become. However, a lot of the museum's contents may go unrevealed due to a lack of context and additional information beyond the objects themselves to unlock the mystery of their significance.

“In 2015, I took an idea to the Monett Historical Society to update its ex-

Story by Murray Bishoff

hibits,” said Amy Sampson, English teacher at Monett High School with two master's degrees who has since become a Teachers for Global Classrooms Fulbright Fellow and a National Geographic certified educator. “I proposed expanding exhibits with a narrative, a story with each of them. The museum liked the idea and took it to three museum fabrication companies. We got quotes and a solid idea of what the project would take.

“Unfortunately, there was no money. No one stepped up and said, 'Let's do this.' I was disappointed. I told [now museum board president] Jeanne Ann Camp we will eventually figure this out.”

A few years passed. Sampson explored grant options. Two years ago she won a grant from the Rural Schools Collaborative to have students in her writing class that focused on local history develop signs about local history that were com-

pleted and posted around the city. This gave Sampson a glimpse into funding opportunities for other projects, leading her back to the museum proposal.

“As a Fulbright winner, I get access to a Fulbright Alumni Grant through the Internal Revenue Service,” she continued. “I applied and received a $3,000 grant in January. Next I sought a Belonging and Inclusion Grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. This proposal sought to create a narrative to tell the story on Monett with a focus on diversity and immigration. They awarded another $3,000 grant.”

Just short of enough funds to move forward, Sampson and Camp went to the 100+ Women Who Care organization in Monett. By one vote, they secured a third $3,000 grant. The Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation also awarded a $500 grant. Sampson is presently seeking a $1,500 grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, but now has enough funding to create 19 exhibits that will be finished by the end of the current school year in May.

The undertaking will be a collaboration between four different classes in Monett. Sampson's Missouri literature and composition classes have done research and drafted narratives for the project, which are presently going through the editing phase. Three students in the Greater Ozarks Center for Advanced Professional Studies (GoCAPS), a program through Monett High School for advanced students offering concentrated work in specific professions, have taken up one exhibit as their capstone project for the year. Each exhibit runs three to five paragraphs, plus pictures.

Sampson is writing one of the projects on the Waldensian community's history in Monett herself, having traveled to Europe to study historic Waldensian enclaves to wrap around the extensive and largely unexplained history of these founding families who played a

Monett Museum collections coordinator Jan Rowell, center left, spoke to students of Amy Sampson as they toured the facility and did research in preparation to writing what will be permanent explanatory exhibits detailing the meaning of items on display. This scene is in the museum's education room focusing on Monett's schools.

fundamental role in Monett's founding and development.

Other subjects in the first round of exhibits include The Trail of Tears, founding Monett, important town figures like Dr. William West and M.E. Gillioz, the development of Monett's schools, the first Monett High School graduating class, Monett sports and the people who made it possible.

Because the Monett Museum does not have an administrator in charge of exhibits, the project goes through many hands. Several key people associated with the Monett Historical Society have been enlisted to help shape the final product.

When a final draft of narratives have been completed and edited, they will go to the graphics design class at Scott Tech. There students will combine type with visuals and graphics to create the exhibits themselves. Their product will be sent to a firm in New Hampshire to finalize the creation. What that company sends back to Monett will go to the Scott Tech construction class, which will mount the exhibits on Gator boards for permanent display.

“This is a two-year endeavor,” Sampson said. “This year is estimated to cost around $8,000. The second phase will focus on another 18 to 20 exhibits and

will cost from $10,000 to $12,000, depending on supply costs, which seem to vary every month.

“We have multi-faceted goals: to create a lasting narrative of Monett history that will be displayed in both English and Spanish. It's truly a collaborative community project.”

Sampson stressed that this year's first phase has been possible because of the grants and the local buy-in supporting the undertaking. Next year's second phase still needs support.

“I've applied for two more grants for $12,000,” Sampson said. “We'll know [if the applications are successful] by mid-March. Several other grants open the fall. I hope to raise local financial support. Donors to the Monett Historical Society will need to earmark their funds for the project. There's no guarantee we'll get funding. We have to keep seeking support.”

Donations can be made online at http://spot.fund/65k7csc.

Work on the first round of exhibits has already moved into high gear. Sampson hopes to cap the effort with a ribbon cutting in late April or May.

Speaking for the museum, Camp said, “This is a very good project and we're excited about it. It's going to be amazing.” n

by Schyrlet Cameron

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT Local Danny Watson

ICheck out SteamPunkInnProjects.com to learn more about projects of author Danny Watson.

f you've ever experienced something you just can't explain, something that can only be described as paranormal, you aren't alone. Over 50 percent of Americans say they've experienced an unexplainable encounter of the paranormal kind.

Are ghosts real? is a question people of almost every culture have been pondering since the very beginning of time. Author Danny Watson explores the age-old question in “Ghost, Gadgets, and Haunted Places.” The book delves into the paranormal culture, history, and theories of the paranormal, ghost hunting devices, and the investigations of several famous haunted places.

Danny is an Arkansas native who currently resides in the small tourist town of Eureka Springs, a famous paranormal destination for ghost hunters. A lifelong enthusiast of the horror movie genre catapulted his interest into the unknown and unexplained and led to his founding of Arkansas Paranormal, a research and investigation group. These adventures would take him to some of the spookiest places in the surrounding areas and a two-week investigation through the castles of Ireland back in the summer of 2017. These experiences led him to

pen his first book, “Ghosts, Gadgets, and Haunted Places, in 2018.”

Danny is a 1995 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 2023, he began writing, directing, and filming a series of black and white short horror films titled “Something in the Water,” based on a 250-year-old shaman who lurks around his beloved town of Eureka Springs and influences the citizens’ behavior. Danny is currently in the final stages of writing a book of short stories based on cold case files and urban legends. Its expected release is the fall of 2024.

Historical fiction is a driving force in several other projects that Danny is simultaneously working on including Go Staching, a scavenger hunt for all ages with clues, riddles, and prizes. The game takes players on a fun-filled escapade that weaves through the picturesque streets of historic downtown Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

For more information, please visit www.steampunkinnprojects.com.

by Christa Stout

Faithful Friends Animal Advocates in Neosho offers new options for connecting pups with new pet owners

Date with a Puppy

It’s springtime and that means puppies, puppies, puppies, and pretty soon many kittens also. That’s how my conversation started with Cynthia at Faithful Friends Animal Advocates in Neosho.

You may remember, this is also where it all started for me at least ten years ago. Although I had always loved animals and our family had its share of dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, and anything else you can think of, the rescue and care for animals who were abandoned or surrendered, was introduced to me at Faithful Friends.

I also ran into Jesse, one of the volunteers, who just loves animals and can’t stay away from the pups. He has tried several times to volunteer a little less, but it never lasted. It was good to see him again.

I had to ask about Quira, a dog I had transported to Kansas City for evaluation, brought back and walked her many times. Quira is now losing some of her sight in one eye, but she is still the sweet lady who has a few little quirks, possibly due to her diminished sight. She is still looking for her perfect home, someone who will work with her and love her to no end.

But back to the puppies and kittens, unfortunately not too much has changed in the years since I first volunteered, the

shelter is still being overrun by the babies. Cynthia simply hates having to say no to someone who needs to surrender some puppies or kittens, and she says she still wants to cry when that happens. The puppies are the highest priority right now, they currently have 14 puppies with only 2 mamas. Cynthia says it is so hard to have to watch some puppies grow up in the shelter because they cannot always get them all adopted as soon as they are ready for adoption.

We also talked about some of the goals Cynthia and her Adoption Manager, Hayden, have set for themselves. Both are very much in favor of “Enrichments” and I will let Hayden explain it in his own words: “The word enrichment gets thrown around a lot nowadays, but for the dog owner at home, its meaning and why it matters can be more elusive. Conceptually, however, it is simple!”

A walk a day is not enough to fulfill most dogs, or even an hour-long-game of fetch. Enrichment serves to make your life as an owner easier and enhances your animal’s quality of life by fulfilling their innate biological needs—which can vary breed-to-breed—by stimulating their minds and bodies via an engaging activity. Quick and easy examples of this are kibble scatters on grass, long line sniff

So whether you are interested in adopting or possible dating for a day or weekend, here are some of Faithful Friends’ adoptable pets:

LEGEND

Legend is one of those that suffers periodically from kennel stress. He is a four year old Border Collie mix weighing in at only about 45 lbs. He was brought in as a stray and has been at FFAA for over 200 days now. He is a cutie who looks so sweet because most of the time he keeps one ear up and one ear down.

ROMIE

Romie is an adorable 3-year old pittie mix. He was found as a stray, but despite his rough start, he hasn’t lost his affectionate and trusting nature. He is a big sweetheart and is eager to form a strong bond with humans. Romie has been at the shelter for over 333 days!

AURELIA

Aurelia, is a wonderful cat whose favorite hobbies are laying on her bed, cat-watching from her bed, making biscuits in her bed, sleeping in her bed and otherwise utter devotion to her bed. She is very comfortable receiving gentle pets or adoration from afar, but is not fond of being picked up. Her ideal home would be one where she is allowed to add prestige to the atmosphere via her stately presence. She has been at the shelter for almost 388 days.

walks, offering different scents to investigate, or playdates with a trusted dog. An enrichment activity can target one or more aspect of need: social (dog-todog, dog-to-human, dog-to other), nutritional (support natural/foraging behavior), occupational (dogs that need a “job”), sensory (sight, scent, taste, touch, hearing), and physical (outlet and expression of natural behaviors)!

It is important to remember that not every activity is going to appeal to every dog. An activity that a hound finds fulfilling will be entirely different to that of a companion breed or a livestock guardian dog, or even that of your family Heinz-57 with 8 generations of mystery mixed breeds behind them. If you have tried enrichment activities before but found that they did not help affect behavior or that your pet was uninterested, it may just be that it was a mismatch with your dogs’ drive.” I love that concept.

Cynthia added that they are working on a program they call “Date with a Dog,” that expands on this concept. Although not all the details have been worked out, the idea is to get the community involved and allow them to foster a dog for a day or a weekend, when together, they can go for walks, hikes or even runs, or maybe it just consists of snuggling on the couch, depending on both the foster’s abilities or those of the dog. The dogs love getting out of the kennels and the fosters can love on dogs when circumstances prevent them from adopting.

Of course the whole idea behind the enrichment concept is to prevent kennel stress, something that happens frequently when the pet is in a Shelter or kennel environment for any length of time. n

Nala & Tucker

Email your pet’s photo to: monettcommunity@gmail.com

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 Cutest Pet contest. Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible.

Remember to include your pet’s name, city of residence and your contact information.

Nala, a Golden Retriever and Tucker, a chocolate lab, fur babies of Chloe and Colt Phillips of Monett

Keeping the Past Alive

Cave Spring School House, reminder of a bygone era

Ms. Selma Fieker, the last educator to teach at Cave Spring School. Many of her former students decided to save the building in part as a tribute to her.

The Cave Spring School House stands atop a wooded hill near Sarcoxie, a lone sentinel guarding a trove of historical treasures within its walls, and a reminder of a once-thriving community.

Helen Hunter, one of the school’s caretakers who herself attended the school at one time, said that when the school building was constructed, Cave Spring, named for a spring that flowed from the bottom of the hill the school was built on, was once a bustling hub of activity.

“This used to be a very industrious community,” she said. “It was a trading post and wagon trades would come through here and so he was quite busy.”

The first school house (the one that currently stands is actually the second

one) was built in 1840 by William Duncan, a Methodist circuit rider and was used to teach area children until the Civil War broke out. During the war, the Missouri Enrolled Militia, loyal to the Union, used the building as their headquarters. After the war ended, the building then served as the Jasper County Courthouse until 1866, when a new courthouse building was constructed in Carthage.

Helen said that while the building survived the war, it was so badly damaged that it had to be rebuilt.

“(The soldiers) cut holes in the walls for protection, to put their guns through,” she said. “They so damaged the walls that … it had to come down to the foundation and be built back up.”

Story by Steve Chapman

The current building, built on the foundation of the first school, opened in 1875 and continued to operate as a first through eighth grade school until the consolidation of the Missouri’s rural schools in 1966. Following its closing, the school sat neglected until 2005, when efforts began to preserve it.

Helen said a group of people formed an association to save the building. They approached the Jasper County Commissioners, who, she said told them to begin by making it known that the building was in danger of being lost.

“One of the first things we did as a group was we talked to the commissioners,” she said. “They told us to get this school on the Missouri's 10 most endangered sites list. We did that, and Pat and Carolyn Phelps saw it, and we were able to get a sizable grant from them. We had to raise the (rest of the) money ourselves, but that went a long way to help.”

Hunter said that the grant money from the Phelps went to put a new roof on the building. Next, she said, was repairing the walls. About 800 bricks

had been taken from the exterior walls by people who wanted them as souvenirs. Replacing the bricks was an additional challenge, she said, because they couldn’t use modern bricks. Instead, they had to get bricks from another building built in the same time period as the school. Towards that end, Richard Barnes, another former student of the school, stepped in. He and his wife, Jan, gathered up bricks left from a house built in the same era as the school but had later burnt down.

“Jan and I went and picked up (about) 500, and thought that'd be (enough),” he said.

When it turned out more bricks were needed, Richard and his brother, Jim, went back for more.

“The second time, we probably got another 400,” he said, “and they got it finished.”

Restoration of the school house was completed in 2007, after which it was opened to the public. The building was later put on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

Helen said she and others wanted to preserve the school, not just because of its historic value, but also due to their fond memories of their teacher, Selma Fieker.

Ms. Fieker, Helen and Richard said, fought to keep the school from closing down during the consolidation, but wasn’t able to. However, she did manage to delay it.

“She taught here for 24 years,” Helen said, “and she was very well respected. Matter of fact, when they were doing the consolidation, they kept this school open one more year, so she could retire out of it. That's how respected she was. So, we were (saving the school) for her, too.”

Today, the school gets occasional visits from Sarcoxie Elementary students, as well as home-schooled students.

This piano is one of the school’s original furnishings.

The Cave Spring School House was restored to its former condition thanks to the efforts of some dedicated volunteers. (right) This memorial pays tribute to the Union soldiers and civilians of Cave Spring and Bower Mill who were killed in the fighting during the Civil War. The soldiers are buried in the Cave Spring Cemetery, which adjoins the school house.

FOHN FUNERAL HOME

Richard and Helen said they get some unusual, if not humorous, questions from the kids when they visit.

“We were talking about the Civil War,” he said, “(because) this building was here during the Civil War. (And) this one little kid, said, ‘Did you fight in the Civil War?’”

“One asked me where our computers were,” Helen added.

The Cave Spring School House is located at 4323 County Road 4 in Sarcoxie. To get their, take Sarcoxie Exit 29 off I-44, go north on the outer north road (Cimarron Road), and then head east until the road curves, turning into Highway U. Go north, and then turn east onto Dogwood. Dogwood will curve into County Road 4; continue from there until you reach the school house.

To arrange a visit to see inside the school house, call Richard Barnes at (417)793-4505, Jan Barnes at (417)540-1435, or Racine Palmer at (417)437-5290 n

Ms. Fieker’s final resting place. She is buried near the southern entrance of the Cave Spring Cemetery.

“They said that, of course, Budapest is beautiful. But it is in fact almost ludicrously beautiful.”

- Anthony Bourdain

33.5% OF OUR EMPLOYEES

DON’T PROVIDE PATIENT CARE.

It’s time you think outside the box. Positions are open now, and we’re looking for all kinds of skills and talents to bring the best care to the Ozarks. So even if you’ve never imagined yourself in health care, we’ve got a job for you.

coxhealth.com/careers