October Connection 2020

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CONNECTIONMO.COM

OCTOBER 2020

DOG ADOPTION

find your forever friend

SPOOKY STORIES

paranormal science lab

OZARK MURDERS

chilling history

HONORED CLERGY

community service

HER STORY

Hope after cancer

Great Pumpkin Fall Harvest is here

A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO SOUTHWEST MISSOURIANS

SEPTEMBER 5 - NOVEMBER 1

WWW.EXETERCORNMAZE.COM

Big store with a lot of stuff!

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235-7739

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2 | October 2020

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 3

EDITORIAL

Celebrating the holidays in 2020

O

ctober is usually when leaves begin to change and the Ozark’s burst into color with fall foliage. We start thinking about pumpkins, Halloween, haunted houses, decorating our homes in fall colors, looking forward to the other upcoming holidays. We might eventually feel a change in the temperatures, which I personally enjoy.

This year — the year we will always remember — the upcoming holidays need to be discussed a little more in depth, or at least, my family will.

And so far there is one answer that I have been hearing when it comes to the questions: Are your kids going trick or treating? Are you getting together like usual for Thanksgiving? How are you going to handle Christmas? The one answer that I keep hearing so far is “I don’t know.”

Usually we do not give it a second thought other than what dish we will make, where we are going, what we are buying and for who, and enjoying the magical time of year.

Let’s face it, COVID-19 has changed our lives in 2020 in ways that we never expected it to. Who would have thought we would be hoarding toilet paper in this day and age!

Some take it very serious, and some look at it as just something that will eventually pass. But either way, it has made a huge impact on our lives, families, businesses, schools, outlooks on the future and even the way we attended church.

Giving someone a hug and/or a kiss has been replaced with an elbow touch, fist bump, thumbs up and then you make sure you are covered with hand sanitizer. You walk into a store or down the street with a mask on, and you don’t know if someone is smiling or sticking their tongue out at you.

Personally, I am one that will wear a mask. If I don’t have one, don’t expect me to get close to you.

But my point is, in my family we have opinions both ways, some that will not be around others and some that will. I will not judge either, to an extent, I will say, that if I know for a fact if someone has been exposed, etc., and they attend, you can believe they will hear my opinion. But if they do not want to attend because of COVID, then that is their right as well. This will be a different time of year, and we have to learn to handle it differently and try to find the magic of the seasons in a different way as well.

On a different note…

As we enter into the last quarter of a year that has given us more questions than answers, we also enter into a very important time that only happens once every four years. On Nov. 3, 2020, United States citizens will be given the opportunity to make the decision as to who will lead our country.

Not everyone is happy with their choices, but I believe as Americans it is our right, privilege and duty to make a decision, to study our facts and vote based on those facts. We live in a country that offers us so many freedoms and a country that allows us to have a voice. So take that voice and vote for your choice, no one else’s choice but yours.

Like I have always said, if you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.

Lisa Craft

General Manager, Connection Magazine Lisa Craft is General Manager of Connection Magazine, The Monett Times and Cassville Democrat.

She can be reached at monettcommunity@gmail.com or connection@monett-times.com

4 | October 2020

A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO SOUTHWEST MISSOURIANS

GENERAL MANAGER Lisa Craft monettcommunity@gmail.com EDITOR Kyle Troutman editor@cassville-democrat.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES James Craig Marion Chrysler CONTRIBUTORS Meagan Ruffing Lisa Ramirez Darlene Wierman Melonie Roberts Susan Funkhouser Pam Wormington Jared Lankford Jordan Privett Dionne Zebert Jane Severson Verna Fry Christa Stout Cheryl Williams Sierra Gunter Jennifer Conner Annie Lisenby Smith PHOTOGRAPHERS Chuck Nickle Jamie Brownlee Amy Sampson

When life changes, let’s review your goal.

aurora____________________________ Jeramie Grosenbacher, CFP®

DISTRIBUTION Greg Gilliam Kevin Funcannon TO ADVERTISE 417-847-2610 - Cassville 417-235-3135 - Monett Send email inquiries to connection@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.

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 5

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Kasasa and Kasasa Cash Back are trademarks of Kasasa, Ltd., registered in the U.S.A.

6 | October 2020

F

E

A

T

U

R

E

S

35 10 | COUNTRY ROADS

FAMILY FUN FARM

This family-friendly fall favorites is ready to help your family explore the high seas at “Pirate’s Cove”

23 | HER CANCER STORY:

DAWN COPE

A serious car accident aided doctors to cancer diagnosis

28 | ADOPT-A-DOG MONTH

Take your pick of pleasing pups ready for a forever, loving home

35 | FEARFULLY ENTERTAINING

10

Paranormal Science Lab delves into the unknown with supernatural-themed tours in southwest Missouri

41 | FOR ALL THEY DO

October is Clergy Appreciation Month, and despite the challenges the local clergy are going beyond for their communities

43 | LARRY WOOD O C T O B E R 2020

The historical author is fascinated by Ozark notoriety and aims to lift the veil on its past mysteries

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 7

FREE

Morgan Stanley CONNECTIONMO.COM

OCTOBER 2020

DOG ADOPTION

find your forever friend

SPOOKY STORIES

paranormal science lab

OZARK MURDERS

chilling history

HONORED CLERGY

community service

HER STORY

Hope after cancer

Great Pumpkin Fall Harvest is here

A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO SOUTHWEST MISSOURIANS

ON THE COVER:

Are you wondering what’s next?

Market volatility has become a fact of life. What does this mean for your investments? Are you prepared for the increase risk volatility may have on your portfolio? Should you make changes and adjust your plan?

Working with a Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor can help you navigate through these volatile times by helping you review your plan, making adjustments and keeping you informed along the way.

Fall is here in full form, and we are ready to dig into the season. Whether your delight is a romp around the pumpkin patch, a slice of orange squash pie or a goulish squeal of fright, October has you covered.

Tisha Trotter Financial Advisor 1535 East Primrose Springfield, MO 65804 417-885-1604 Tisha.Trotter@ morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/ tisha.trotter MO Insurance Lic. #18620914 NMLS# 1918463

Contact me to see how I can help you or provide a second opinion.

Morgan Stanley recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. © 2020 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

CONTENTS 13 Parenting Column: Halloween during COVID 16 Recipes: Goulishly Good 18 Cutest Kid

21 Healthy Connection: Inflammation and Nutrition 32 Cutest Pet

33 Rescued, My Favorite Breed 47 Familiar Faces

49 Connection on the Go 51 Parting Shot

Have an idea for a story you would like to see in Connection Magazine?

Email it to connection@monett-times.com Facebook.com/MyConnectionMo

FAS016 CRC3144831 07/20 CS 9870118 07/20

Twitter.com/MyConnection_Mo

8 | October 2020

F

ohn

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Funeral HoMe

You know Ken’s Collision as The Area’s Finest Collision Repair and Glass Facility, and now Ken’s is proud to offer Professional Auto and Truck Detailing. Our experts bring back that New Car Feeling inside and out, cleaning and polishing your vehicle with the same attention to detail that we give every car and truck we repair.

Just another way we work for you, the customer, to make sure your car is fixed right, to Factory Specifications with the right parts, by highly trained technicians.

At Ken’s, it’s all about the details

The area’s most often chosen funeral home.

Ken’s Collision Center – when it’s time to focus on the details!

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McQueen Funeral Home Wheaton, Missouri 417-652-7268

Licensed in Missouri and Arkansas ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 9

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

These giant pumpkins are just part of the backdrop and part of the fun discovered

by David San Paolo at Country Roads Family Fun Farm, located at 15144 Hwy. 97, rural Stotts City.

CONNECT ONLINE: People can visit Country Roads Family Fun Farm on Facebook

Find corn mazes, pumpkin patch, petting zoo and more

It’s a pirate’s life for me — and you — at Pirate’s Cove corn maze, the featured fall event at Country Roads Family Fun Farm, located in rural Stotts City. From hay rides, hay mountains, bounce pillows and more, there is plenty to keep youngsters busy during their fall adventures down on the farm.

10 | October 2020

Fall activities include a corn maze, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, barrel train rides and more.

“

A

s fall fills the air, families can enjoy some together time at Country Roads Family Fun Farm, located at 15144 Hwy. 97, rural Stotts City.

A host of activities abound for guests to enjoy, including two corn mazes, a pumpkin patch, hay rides, a petting zoo, hay mountain, swings, slides, barrel train rides and a giant jumping pillow.

“This year’s theme is Pirate’s Cove,” said Holly Wright, marketing and event coordinator at Country Roads Family Fun Farm. “We have a large maze in the shape of a pirate’s ship for those wanting to take part in a longer event. Then we have a smaller one, just two acres, for toddlers and, perhaps, pregnant women, who don’t want to navigate the full maze.”

Features of the six-acre corn maze include digging for treasure, walking the plank, shooting the pumpkin cannon and role-play immersion.

“We like to say it’s more of a 5D experience,” Wright said. “And, yes, we had to rescue several families last year.”

The event is family-friendly.

Story by Melonie Roberts

“We never, ever haunt,” Wright said. “That is not the demographic we are looking for. There are other venues for that, and we like to offer something the little ones will enjoy.”

Guests can relax before a bonfire or shop some of the several vendors that will be on site throughout the season, which runs through Nov. 15.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and by appointment only Monday through Friday. n

We like to offer something the little ones will enjoy.

”

Fall fun awaits at Country Roads Family Fun Farm

For more information, visit Country Roads Family Fun Farm on Facebook or call 417-768-9959.

Bounce pillows provide plenty of opportunity for youngsters to burn off extra energy at Country Roads Family Fun Farm.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 11

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Located right behind Taco Bell in Monett 12 | October 2020

PARENTING COLUMN

By Meagan Ruffing

Trick-or-Treating: COVID-Style Remember how there was always that one house that passed out the full-size candy bars at Halloween?

Yeah, I do too.

I used to try and figure out a way to be a ‘repeat’ trick-or-treater without being noticed. It never worked. I ended up to doing the candy walk of shame when the lady dressed up as a witch at the door said, “Didn’t I see you already tonight?” If you’re anything like me (or my kids), you’re a sucker for a good candy bar. Let me give you some helpful but easy tips to make this year’s Halloween the best yet… even if it is COVID-style.

1. Buy a cheap lanyard

to put around your child’s neck so they can hang their hand sanitizer from it. This is an easy way to remind them to clean their hands between houses. Attach a glow-stick to the lanyard for a cool Halloween effect. It will double as a night light when it gets dark outside!

2. Remind your child

4. Cough and sneeze

of the ‘take one or two’ rule.

I’m sure there will be quite a few houses who will be leaving their buckets of candy outside on their front porch.

This allows social distancing while still participating in the ghoulish festivities that October has to offer. If your child sees a bowl of candy, tell them to take one or two pieces so there is enough for the next person.

3. Mask or no mask?

My goal is to try and find my kids costumes that already have a mask as part of the attire. I think we can all agree we’re over having to wear masks all day long but for the safety of ourselves and others, it’s just necessary.

What better time to dress up a boring mask than during Halloween? Your kids will enjoy a break from their typical school mask to wear something funny like a Bubble Guppies face or a Star Wars character.

into your arm.

I can’t tell you how many kids I see who still cough and sneeze into the wide-open air without covering their noses or mouths. Eww. I work in a public elementary school and the number of times I have to remind kids to stop picking their noses and eating their boogers is ridiculous. Remind your trickor-treaters that no one else wants to pick up a piece of candy from a bowl after they just sneezed into it. Everyone will thank you for it.

5. Stay grouped up.

It’s fun to walk ahead or lag behind sometimes but this year, remind your crew to stay together. It’s important to keep your distance as much as possible during this pandemic. Maybe you all wear matching glow sticks on your lanyards to help identify each other!

Meagan Ruffing is a freelance parenting journalist who loves finding new ways to spend time with her kids.

She is excited to be the house that passes out full-sized candy bars this year.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 13

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Wrappers have a sneaky way of peeling off or even opening at times. Play it safe and tell your kids they have to wait until you’ve spread it all out. My brother, sister and I all used to dump our pillowcases full of candy out onto the living room floor.

We would match candy bars with candy bars and tootsie pops with tootsie pops. You can still make the ‘inspection’ process fun while ensuring that the candy is safe to eat.

7. Clean off when you

Lance Mettlach

your kids eat any of their candy until you have looked through it.

get home from trickor-treating.

It might be late but your kids will feel so much better after a nice warm shower with a good old bar of soap. Plus, there’s nothing like climbing into bed after a really fun night with friends and family. Wet hair that smells so good you could eat it and nestling down between your comfy sheets will be a sure way to get your kids to sleep before they can ask you for another piece of candy. n

This year’s Halloween can still be a fun one, despite what’s going on with COVID. Enjoy the night out with your kids and who knows, maybe this year’s trick-or-treating activities will be the best one yet!

14 | October 2020

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 15

RECIPES

Brain Dip INGREDIENTS

2 avocado ½ cup prepared salsa 1 head cauliflower 6 thin slices red and blue fruit leather

DIRECTIONS 1. Slice the avocados in half. Remove the seeds and set aside. Scoop the avocado out of the skin into a bowl. Mash with a fork or whisk and stir in the salsa. Set aside.

Slice off one side of each pit to make it flat and expose the cores of the pits. They will look like eyes.

2. Remove all of the leaves from the cauliflower and remove the stem, leaving a nice hollow area with the outer part of the head intact. Use toothpicks to hold it together if it starts to fall apart.

3. Place the cauliflower into a small bowl, so that the hollow is facing upwards and most of the cauliflower is up out of the bowl. The bowl is just for stability. Fill with the avocado dip and arrange the pits as eyes. Decorate the white ‘’brain’’ by weaving thin strands of red and blue fruit leather between the florets to make veins and arteries. Wrap the bowl with cheesecloth and decorate with red food coloring to make it even more horrific!

16 | October 2020

Bloody Baked Rats INGREDIENTS

2 pounds ground beef ½ onion, chopped 1 egg, beaten 1 cup dry bread crumbs 1 (1.25 ounce) packet meatloaf seasoning mix 1 cup cubed Cheddar cheese 3 (10 ounce) cans tomato sauce 1 cup white sugar 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 ounce uncooked spaghetti, broken into fourths ½ carrot, cut into 1/8-inch thick slices 1 tablespoon frozen green peas

Eyeball Sandwich INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons peanut butter 2 slices bread 8 eaches green olives, sliced

DIRECTIONS 1. Spread peanut butter on one slice of bread; top with green olives.

2. Place second piece of bread atop the filling to make a sandwich.

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, onion, egg, bread crumbs, and meatloaf seasoning. Use your hands to mix until well blended. Measure out 1/3 cupfuls of the meat mixture and mold around a cube of cheese like a meatball. Shape into a point at one end and lengthen the body a bit by rolling between your hands. Place your ‘’rat’’ into a shallow baking dish, and continue with the remaining meat. Insert pieces of uncooked spaghetti into the rounded end of the rats to make tails.

3. In a medium bowl, stir together the tomato sauce, sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the rats in the dish and cover the dish with a lid or aluminum foil.

4. Bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven. Uncover the dish and continue to bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, basting occasionally with the sauce to glaze the rats.

5. While the rats finish baking, heat the peas and carrots in a small bowl in the microwave for about 15 seconds.

6. Carefully transfer the rats to a serving platter so that their delicate tails don’t fall off. Press peas into the pointy end to make eyes, and insert carrot slices to make ears. Spoon some of the tomato sauce around them and serve.

Jack-o’-Lantern Beef Pies INGREDIENTS

1 ½ pounds ground beef 1 onion, chopped 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon garlic powder 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 cup shredded carrot 1 (6 ounce) can chopped black olives, drained 1 (12 ounce) can refrigerated biscuit dough 10 slices American cheese

Jack O’Lantern Onigiri INGREDIENTS

3 cups Japanese short-grain white rice ½ large cucumber with peel, cut into 1/2-inch rounds 1 sheet nori (dried seaweed), cut into strips 3 ½ cups water 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste) ½ teaspoon ground turmeric 1 cup warm water 2 teaspoons salt

DIRECTIONS 1. Pour rice into a large colander. Rinse under cold running water, stirring with your fingers, until water runs clear, about 5 minutes.

2. Set colander over a large bowl.

Leave rice to drain, about 20 minutes.

3. Cut sides away from each cucumber round; discard seeded center. Cut sides into thin strips for the pumpkin ‘stems’. Place cucumber strips in a bowl.

4. Cut 1/2 the nori strips into triangles to make the ‘eyes.’ Cut remaining nori strips into jagged ‘mouths.’ Place eyes and mouths in separate bowls.

5. Combine rice, 3 1/2 cups water, and 1 teaspoon salt in a large pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and cover; cook until water is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat but keep pot on the burner. Let rice stand, covered, until tender, about 10 minutes.

6. Remove rice from heat; stir in gochujang and turmeric until rice is uniformly orange. Cool rice until easily handled, about 10 minutes.

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease 10 muffin cups.

2. Place ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until the meat is browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes.

Drain excess grease. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, tomato sauce, carrot, and olives, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cover the skillet, and cook until thickened and the carrot is tender, about 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.

3. Working on a floured surface, separate each biscuit, and roll out into 4-inch circles. Press the circles of biscuit dough into prepared muffin cups; bake in the preheated oven until the cups are lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the biscuit cups from the pan, and place onto a baking sheet.

4. Cut the 10 slices of American cheese into 3-inch circles, and cut jack-o’lantern faces into the circles with a sharp paring knife. Chop remnants of cheese, and mix into the meat mixture. Fill the biscuit cups with meat mixture, and place a cheese face on top of each.

5. Return to the oven, and bake just until cheese begins to soften, 3 to 5 minutes.

7. Stir 1 cup warm water and salt together in a shallow bowl. Line a platter with plastic wrap.

8. Scoop warm rice with a 1 1/2-tablespoon cookie scoop and drop onto the plastic wrap. Dip your hands in the warm salted water and roll rice into balls. Stick on 2 eyes and 1 mouth. Press 1 cucumber strip into the top. Transfer finished onigiri to another serving platter.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 17

CUTEST KID SJ Clark, three-year-old son of Stephen and Shelby Clark of Purdy

Congrats

SJ

Email your child’s photo to:

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

18 | October 2020

Voted People’s Choice Best Daycare Facility In The Area!

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 19

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20 | October 2020

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Lake Calls add $40.

Discount on lake calls for multiple boats on same dock/same day.

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HEALTHY CONNECTION

By Aimee Kalczuk and Jessica McDonald

Food for Thought: Inflammation and Nutrition

I

nflammation is currently a buzz word in the health-care community, but do you fully understand what that means — and how it affects you? Oftentimes, inflammation is treated through medication, but there are other things you can do to help decrease inflammation.

What is inflammation and why is too much inflammation bad?

Inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to an injury or a foreign pathogen (such as bacteria).

Short-term inflammation, also called acute inflammation, is a helpful process that allows the body to heal, such as when fighting the common cold. However, when the inflammatory response doesn’t turn off for months or even years it can lead to trouble.

This kind of chronic, low-grade inflammation is thought to contribute to many diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, COPD, and even allergies.

Some risk factors for chronic disease cannot be changed, such as older age, low levels of sex

hormones, and having an autoimmune disorder. Others can be changed with some effort, such as smoking, lack of sleep, stress, obesity, and a poor diet.

Diet can affect inflammation in two ways: Either relieving or exacerbating it. Below are some dietary components talked about most often that are tied to inflammatory processes.

How food affects inflammation Antioxidants

Free radicals are unstable molecules in the body that can cause damage and inflammation. They can be formed naturally through exercise and metabolism, but can also be created from exposure to pollutants and chemicals. In contrast, antioxidants are molecules that can stop free radicals before they cause too much trouble.

Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants, which can counteract inflammation.

Takeaway: The more fruits and vegetables you eat, the more antioxidants available to keep free radicals at bay.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are both important in the body, acting as a source of energy and a building block for cell membranes. While we need both in our diet, our bodies function best at an Omega-6:Omega-3 ratio of about 1:1. However, the typical Western diet provides a ratio of about 15 or 16:1, which is too high. Omega-6 fatty acids (mainly found in refined vegetable oils such as corn, sunflower, and safflower) are pro-inflammatory, whereas Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish, fish oil, walnuts, coconut oil, canola oil, olive oil, and flax seed) are anti-inflammatory.

Takeaway: Choosing more

foods high in Omega-3s will balance out the ratio of fats in your diet and can help lower inflammation.

Fiber

The human digestive system is full of good bacteria that do a lot for our body, including creating substances that reduce inflammation. However, they need to be fed well to do their job, and one of their favorite foods is soluble

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 21

fiber. Soluble fiber is a type of fiber that breaks down in water, and gives oatmeal its distinctive texture. Soluble fiber is also found in fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and barley.

TreaTing your whole family

like family!

Takeaway: Eating foods high

in fiber gives your gut bacteria plenty of energy to make anti-inflammatory compounds.

Putting it all together

Chronic inflammation is thought to contribute to a variety of common diseases, and some of its causes are impossible to avoid. However, changing your diet to prevent inflammation can be beneficial. Many anti-inflammatory compounds like antioxidants, Omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber, are found in the same foods.

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Integrating more fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and fish into your diet not only provides your body with the nutrients it needs, it leaves less room in your diet for the foods that don’t nourish you. n

Here are some examples: Add some berries or bananas to your oatmeal or cereal in the morning; have a fish dish two or three times a week; eat some fruit for dessert; and swap your vegetable oil for olive or canola.

Remember, you do not have to completely readjust your lifestyle to see the benefits of an antiinflammatory diet. Every small change is a step toward a healthier lifestyle!

Endured with love

One woman’s fight through a year of obstacles “I remember looking up at him — I was crying, and I said, ‘For better or worse?’” Dawn said.

“He replied, ‘In sickness and in health.’”

Dawn Cope and her husband, Ray, celebrated her 53rd birthday on Sept. 11, 2020. Dawn said she did not think she would see this day; she is beating cancer.

Story by Jordan Privett

Dawn Cope, a Billings resident, and current breast cancer fighter, said this year had handed her more than she expected.

In an unusual twist, Dawn’s breast cancer story starts in October 2019, a couple of months before her diagnosis.

“Life was just going on as normal,” she said. “I had a wonderful life, an amazing family and a wonderful husband of eight years.”

On October 10, 2019, the company she worked for had changed buildings, and she was asked to go do some training at another location.

“I was in a head-on collision,” she said. “I suffered a traumatic brain injury. I had a stutter for a month and I couldn’t do basic puzzles — I was scared.”

That wreck was the moment in Dawn’s life that began the next year’s worth of struggles she would face.

“I was healing from the wreck when I noticed I had a knot on the right side of my breast,” Dawn said. “It’s funny, at the time I thought all of the breast cancer awareness stuff was kind of a scam. I mean, I felt like it was all just to scare you.”

Two years prior Dawn had a mammogram and the doctors found something.

“They brought me in for a second mammogram and a biopsy,” she said.

“After the second mammogram, the doctors said they wouldn’t do a biopsy because the locations of whatever they found had changed. So, they said they would keep an eye on it.”

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 23

On October 12, 2019, just days before Dawn Cope got her breast cancer diagnosis, she took a family photo with her siblings, Karen, Tony, Tara and Dawn, smiling lovingly at the camera. (right) Dawn Cope receiving her last dose of radiation in July 2020.

That was in 2017, but on December 17, 2019, she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

“They described it as differential metastatic of the lymph nodes,” Dawn said.

“They called it Ductal In Situ Carcinoma (DISC) where cancer remains in the primary location and does not spread.”

The lymph nodes on her right upper quadrant were filled with cancer.

“They never found the primary location of the cancer,” she said. “So, we opted to go ahead and treat me and just assumed it was somewhere in the breast.”

On January 17, 2020, after only a month since the diagnosis, Dawn had a bilateral mastectomy, which removed 24 nodes from her upper right quadrant — 22 of them were cancerous.

“It didn’t hit me at first, you know, that I had cancer,” she said. “We were dealing with so many other things at the time.”

Dawn had never stayed in a hospital before.

“I looked at it as a sort of task I had to complete,” she said. “I checked things off the list and did everything they told me to do.

“It didn’t hit me that I had cancer until I had the thought, ‘How did this happen?’”

Dawn had no family history of can24 | October 2020

cer, but her sister-in-law was a breast cancer survivor of more than 10 years.

“I had comfort in knowing that Diana was a role model for me,” Dawn said. “But, as it turned out, every cancer and experience is different.”

Dawn went on to have a complete removal of both breasts and a partial reconstruction with expanders.

“After that, they did a clinical biopsy to learn how far the cancer had gone,” she said. “I was going to be doing a lot of bone scans and PET scans, one of them revealed that I had cracked ribs from the accident. I was in pain, but I had assumed it was from the cancer.”

Unfortunately, Dawn’s struggles were about to get even worse.

“At the end of 2019, my company had changed their insurance,” she said.

“It was so frustrating.”

Dawn’s chemo treatment was the infamous “Red Devil,” which is so toxic it can cause serious burns to the skin.

“I did that for 16 weeks,” she said.

“Then I had radiation every day for 25 days.

“Chemo was horrible.”

The treatment center had told Dawn that she could bring a friend in for company and that she would have a private area.

“So, I brought my husband Ray and my friend Cindy,” Dawn said. “I was

Dawn Cope’s last day of chemo was June 5, 2020. That day was also her best friend’s birthday, and she said it was the best gift she could have received.

Dawn Cope and her sisters, Tara and Karen, at the Power of Pink benefit. The sisters wore their mother’s party dresses to the event.

overwhelmed by how many people were there, and I had no privacy because they said they needed to keep an eye on me in case of a reaction. Also, Cindy had to sit on the other side of the room.

“As soon as we walked in Ray had to leave, you might think, “Why would her husband leave her there, but we will get to that.”

Dawn said there were a few things that got her through the chemo, a wonderful nurse named Wendy, and the love from her husband.

“There were times I would find myself on the bathroom floor hollering for my husband to help me, he would come and help me through it.

“I remember looking up at him once — I was crying and I said, ‘For better or worse?’” Dawn said. “He replied, ‘In sickness and in health.’”

Dawn said the one thing that was probably more traumatic than losing her breasts, was losing her hair.

“My sisters and I have always been known for our long hair,” she said. “My sisters said they would cut their hair as well, but I said no, I would get my hair back eventually.”

Dealing with cancer on its own is hard enough, but in 2020 a new monster showed its face and put Dawn at an even higher risk —COVID-19.

“We officially closed our business

and my husband returned to law enforcement in February,” Dawn said. “He worked evenings and I would hear him pull up when he got home. He would undress in the garage, put his clothes in the washer immediately, then he would shower. He would have to do all of that before he could even come to check on me.

“COVID-19 added another fear to this already trying situation.”

Between October 2019 and April 2020, Dawn was obviously out of work, between the wreck and the cancer.

“In April, my company, Netsmart Technologies, terminated me,” she said.

“Right in the middle of my chemo.

“On top of that my insurance had already been messed up.”

Dawn said this resulted in a number

of her co-workers taking up a private collection for her.

“Then, a friend called in and nominated me as a Power of Pink beneficiary,” she said. “I didn’t even know what that was at first.

“But, I found myself having to humble myself and accept help. When Janice McCracken called me to tell me, I asked her to let me think about it.”

Dawn said she didn’t want to be paraded around or to be a poster child for breast cancer.

“After about a week, my husband told me, ‘Don’t take the blessing away from the people who want to help you,’” Dawn said. “I realized this isn’t a journey about me, but rather a journey that God has put me on and has tasked me with fulfilling.”

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 25

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Dawn had no insurance, but she did have a wonderful care team of doctors and nurses.

“I had to make a choice,” she said.

“Do I go to the marketplace and try to get insurance which could take me away from my care team, or do I go on COBRA health plans so I could keep my team.

“After talking with Ray, we decided to drop him off and drop everything to the bare minimum — no dental or vision.”

With all of these cuts, Dawn was able to get covered for $700 per month.

“Through the Power of Pink, I received enough money to cover COBRA for a year,” she said. “But, we still had to put our dream home up for sale, and in June the air conditioner went out.”

Dawn had to be especially careful about who came to her home due to the risk of COVID-19.

“I was just trying to get through radiation,” Dawn said. “And finally on July 27, 2020, I got to ring the bell.”

Now, just over a month ago one evening Dawn walked outside to watch a storm roll in.

“When I turned around, my toe caught the step and the next thing I remember is looking up at the sky,” she said. “That was another seven-day hospital stay because I had contracted an infection.”

Today, Dawn is finally on the mend.

“I am focusing on building up my strength,” she said. “I have one more surgery left, which the infection I had set me back for a couple of months.

“After all of that, I can get prepared to get back to work.”

Dawn said one thing she has learned from this journey is that cancer affects the whole family.

“Remember when Ray had to leave 26 | October 2020

People can visit powerofpinkmo.com/ meet-the-walk-recipients to read Dawn’s bio for Power of Pink.

my cancer treatments,” she said. “Well, for him it was incredibly painful to see.

“Ray lost his firstborn to brain cancer when he was three years old.”

Dawn said although that was 25 years ago, for him and his family it was just five minutes ago.

“For him to pick me up and care for me, it put him right back in the middle of that pain again,” she said. “One night he grabbed my hand and said, ‘Maybe that was God preparing me to help you through this.’”

Dawn said he was her rock.

“I don’t know where he got that strength,” she said. “Ray and my 11-year-old stepson Jake were my warriors.”

Jake helped Dawn in more ways than she could have imagined.

“He is a trooper,” she said. “No child should have to watch a parent go through something like this, but he did.

“We played cards on the couch a lot together.”

Little did Dawn know that she had warriors and a care team in some unlikely places.

“One night when the grocery stores were all bare due to COVID-19, a friend asked me what we needed,” she said. “In the middle of the night, they got all of

our groceries, drove across town, disinfected everything and left them on our porch in the middle of the night.”

Dawn said she couldn’t have done this without all of those people around her who shared prayers and tears with her.

“Now, my hair is coming back,” Dawn said. “God has placed us through so much, but he won’t take us to anything that he can’t get us through. He is just setting you up for something better.”

Dawn is forever grateful to Power of Pink and specifically a jeweler out of Utah who donates to the organization.

“So, I have had time to sit and think about what I will do now,” Dawn said.

“I will be a representative of Power of Pink, and I will follow the lead of my brother and all of those who helped me, and I will give back.”

Dawn said the wreck was a blessing in disguise.

“The cancer could have gone a lot longer without a diagnosis,” she said.

“See how God works. Whatever the plan, he must think we are tough.

“I will fight through these events with the grace and tenacity in which I approach all aspects of my life.” n

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Wanted: forever, loving home O

Story by Jordan Privett

ctober brings sweater weather, sweet treats and an opportunity to open your heart and home to a shelter dog looking for its forever family.

According to the American Humane Society, every October since 1981 they have celebrated Adopt-a-Dog month to help the millions of animals across the nation who are living in a shelter.

Sherah Farris, director of operations at Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary, said it is a growing movement to adopt a dog from a local shelter instead of heading over to a pet store to get your next family member.

We’ve all heard the phrase, ‘Adopt Don’t Shop,’” she said. “There are so many benefits to adopting from a shelter.

“First, it is giving an animal a second chance, rooting for the underdog and also saving you a lot of money.”

While you may spend hundreds or thousands of dollars buying from pet stores and breeders, the Haven of the Ozarks’ highest adoption fee is $125.

“With that adoption fee, your pet will be spayed or neutered, microchipped, de-wormed, on a weekly flea, tick and heart-worm prevention, as well as being up to date on all vaccinations,” Sherah said. “Also, when you adopt from a shelter, you are saving two lives.

“You’re saving the dog that you’re adopting, as well as the life of the dog who will now take your dog’s space in the shelter.”

According to Sherah, in 2019 the Haven of The Ozarks Animal Sanctuary was able to do about 300 dog adoptions.

“We are projected to do even more this year,” she said. “Sure, most shelter dogs are not designer breeds, but like people, the unique ones are the better ones.

“Next time you’re looking for your next best friend, head over to your local shelter first!”

28 | October 2020

Celebrate Adopt-a-Dog month with Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary

Bella Mia, our 7-year-old hound, loves to howl. She came to the Haven after only knowing the life of being a pet — she is still adjusting. She loves affection from the staff and is looking forward to finding her next slow-paced home.

Some of the tail-wagging, fun and loving dogs currently awaiting adoption at the Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary include:

Breeze is a 7-year-old beagle who was adopted from the Haven, but she wound up back there after she was presumed to have been abandoned. She is not bitter about this experience and is a loving girl.

Currently she is undergoing heart worm treatment and needs extra tender loving care.

Bullet is a 7-year-old boy with a sad beginning. He was chained to a tree in the woods, totally secluded from any interaction for two years. He gnawed on his chain until his teeth had become nubs.

He is so happy to be here at the Haven. He is excited, playful and silly every time we greet him.

Carousel is five years old and an adorable mastiff mix. She looks like a jersey cow, and actually prefers the name Jersey. She absolutely loves our staff member Kayla, as well as any other person who will come take her for a walk down the Haven road.

Connan is one of the largest dogs we have. He came in very underweight, but still weighing 75 pounds. We believe he was used as a fighting dog, but he is nothing but a loving pup now. We’ve guessed him to be about five-anda-half years old.

Freddie had a strong bond with a young man who ended up going into foster care, so we could not handle him for quite some time.

Now, Freddie loves to go for walks and to get treats. He is almost four years old.

Rupert is 10 and a half years old, but really acts more like a young dog. He is great with children even though he’s a big boy. He loves coming into the office, but hates having to go back to his pen.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 29

Pistol has spent eight years at the Haven. This sets us apart from other shelters because we will never euthanize for space. In his younger years, he was one ornery dog, but now in his golden years all he wants is for us to come pet him and play with his toys.

Dawn is 9 and a half years old, and would put Hudini to shame with her escaping abilities. Where does she go when she escapes her pen?

To the nearest person for cuddles.

Colorado is 3 years old and is currently nursing a litter of six adorable puppies. Sadly, she will have an extra long stay at the Haven taking care of her puppies and resting before she will be well enough to be spayed. Seeing a sweet girl like this stay months in the shelter makes us big advocates for spaying and neutering.

Packy is about 13 years old, and he is Poppy’s best friend. He has been here for about 12 years and is still a spunky dog. He looks forward to his daily walks with Cheryall, and is even more excited about his daily treats.

Jerry is a 9-year-old shepherd/ chow mix. He has made all of the staff earn his love. But, once you earn his love you fall back in love with him. He would be the perfect guardian dog lying on a front porch.

Squattles is almost 11 years old, and lost her long-term pen-mate about a year ago. It has been difficult to find another friend who will be nice to her, but she has finally settled in with Jerry. Like so many of our dogs, she loves to be in the office napping and eating treats.

30 | October 2020

Pac-man will steal your heart with his adorable face. Many people drive slowly past the Haven just to see him because he will run to the fence with a ball, ready to play. Although many people have stopped, this almost six-year-old boy is still waiting for the perfect home.

Pablo Picasso is known for hating the government. He was returned to the Haven after biting the mailman and another government official who trespassed in his yard.

In that home, he would spend every night snuggling and protecting the teenager who lived there.

Pablo is just over 6 years old, and is one of the most loyal dogs one could ever encounter.

Poppy is the Haven’s longest staying resident. She has been here about 13 years, and still only lets a few people pet her. She refuses to walk on a leash, which is quite alright with Cheryall, a volunteer, who takes Poppy for off-leash walks every day. Poppy is almost 13 and a half years old.

Jake Long is 7 years old and is definitely a lone wolf. For fun he loves to chase squirrels and small animals. Jake really enjoys his walks and time with the staff.

Slugger is about 8 years old and loves to have his belly rubbed.

Slugger is one of the best dogs to take on a walk and has excellent leash manners.

Schneider has a very unique look.

We actually had his DNA tested to figure out his combination and it is American staffordshire terrier, German shepherd, Belgian malinois and the other 12.5 percent is herding, hound, sporting and companion according to the results. He is a patient boy, and we tend to pair him with bossy female dogs.

For more information or to adopt from the Haven of the Ozarks call 417-835-3647 or visit the website at havenoftheozarks.org

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 31

CUTEST PET

Georgia

One-year-old rescue kitty.

Fur baby of Ruthie Townsend of Seligman

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.

Email your pet’s photo to:

connection@monett-times.com 32 | October 2020

RESCUED, MY FAVORITE BREED

By Christa Stout

Dog Days at the Monett Pound I am going to change tracks a little today. I will be writing about one of Monett’s great additions from a few years ago – the Monett Pound.

Some awesome people with a lot of foresight got together and raised sufficient money to build the pound. The Police Department has an Animal Control Officer, Karen Griggs, who is a very special person. I happen to know her very well, after all, she is my daughter, and I am not at all prejudiced, but I think she is doing a terrific job.

She loves animals so much that she has 6 of her own, all of them rescues, one of them went blind from a fungus that is in the Southwest Missouri area and with her training, is doing great.

Believe me, she has her hands full with her dogs, but that wasn’t enough of a challenge, she applied for and got the job as ACO. And if you think that’s an easy job, let me just tell you what it involves: Cleaning the kennels and feeding the resident dogs seven days a week, catching stray dogs, sometimes breaking up dog fights, caring for the

dogs and working with them to socialize them, teach them some basic commands, etc. etc.

But that’s not all; she is called on to trap and release animals like skunks, raccoons, foxes and snakes; and in some instances when an animal has been killed, to dispose of the poor thing.

Karen even takes weekend times to take dogs to fairs, markets and other open-air events to give the dogs the best chance at getting adopted.

Her favorite job is to adopt out some of the dogs that are in the pound. She tries very hard to match people and families to the temperament of the dogs and the environment the dogs would be going to, and she has been very successful at it.

The pound dogs simply love her. I remember a few months ago she had a husky mix in the pound for a few days until the owner could be located. This husky girl loved having her company so much that when she got back home, she made every effort to get out, and each morning, walked most of the way across town to the pound and was waiting at the front

door of the pound for Karen to greet her, pet her and then take her back home. This happened for almost a week until the owner and the husky moved back to Illinois.

Whenever the owner of an animal can’t be found and there is no one in the area to adopt the poor dog, Karen will find a suitable Rescue to give the dogs a chance to get adopted in a great environment. She only selects no kill shelters, so she is assured that the animal is taken care of.

Although I have added some pictures of animals in the pound, they usually get adopted pretty fast so they may no longer be available by the time the Connection Magazine is published.

But check out the Facebook page: Monett Mo Dog Pound.

She publishes all dogs that were found or surrendered by owners.

The pound also subsidizes spaying and neutering for the dogs that are adopted, some of which are aided by donations from citizens all over. These donations may be made through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, selecting The Monett Pound as the recipient.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 33

She also helps with reuniting lost dogs with their owners by publishing courtesy posts on her Facebook page, taking advantage of her large following.

Here are two of the Monett Pound dogs:

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very shy and got her name from hanging around the hospital for several weeks and despite the efforts of several people, couldn’t be caught. Finally, persistence paid off and she is now at the pound. Since she became a resident, she has learned to be much less fearful of people and is becoming a sweet girl, ready for adoption. Her new owner will have to have some patience and good treats though. She loves to play with the other pups in the pound.

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For more information, visit Paranormal Science Lab on Facebook and click under the events section.

Get Spooked

A

chill creeps up the spine.

A heaviness weighs on the chest. Tingling in the extremities, followed by the sense one is not alone. Is this a figment of the imagination? Or something unexplainable?

Perhaps Shakespeare said it best with Hamlet’s few words to Horatio: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

“I grew up on a farm near Joplin where several Civil War skirmishes took place,” said Lisa Martin, an attorney with longstanding interests in history and the paranormal. “Things happened that my mother always tried to explain away, so I kind of grew up understanding some things could not be explained.”

But it really did not make much of an impression on her until she had finished law school, married and started a

Story by Melonie Roberts

family of her own.

“My husband and I were looking to buy a turn-of-the-century arts and crafts home in Webb City,” she said. “We walked through, and I returned to the living room with the realtor. My husband was coming down the stairs and stopped and looked behind him. “Did you hear that?” he asked. We hadn’t heard anything.”

Then, while walking through the basement, she stopped to look at the old boiler when something very strange happened.

“I felt a thumb on one side of my throat, and then, one, two, three, four fingers on the other side of my neck,” she said. “In the basement were seven large metal sinks along one wall and a large drain in the floor. The real estate agent said she had no idea why they were there. I told her it was an enabling room. She got really quiet and then said

Ye Olde English Inn in Hollister. Activity includes full-bodied apparition of the original owner William Johnson, and a young girl.

Delve into the deep with the Paranormal Science Lab

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 35

Old Joplin Flashlight Walking Tour on Second and Main Streets. (below) Kendrick House is the Pre-Civil War home and oldest standing home in Jasper County. Shadow men, apparitions and disembodied voices are among the activities that have been experienced.

36 | October 2020

the home had served as a mortuary in the 1920s. My husband and I ended up buying a house a half a block away, but I’ve always watched that house. No one stays there very long. No more than two or three years. Ten years later, I still find myself unconsciously crossing the street to avoid it.”

In one respect, Lisa believes some of the activities, such as she and others have experienced, is more of a “time-touching-time” event than actual hauntings.

An easy explanation of parallel universes could be envisioned by a person coming to a critical crossroads in life where one decision, “yes,” leads to the right, and a “no” decision leads left.

Both decisions exist at the same point in time in this universe. A right turn would have the individual in this consciousness following that path to future decisions.

A left turn would find a parallel “you”

Carthage Square Walking Ghost Tour in front of the Snyder Building, which contains a saloon from 1870s and a Prohibition era Speak easy.

heading off another direction and toward the multitude of different decisions along that life path.

While we entertain life in what we believe is a linear fashion, like a movie playing out frame by frame, all of time exists all the time, much like that same filmstrip rolled onto a reel in its entirety.

So when “unusual things” occur, for which no one can seem to find an explanation, it could be imagined that two “filmstrips” co-merged for an instant, allowing players in both movies a brief glimpse of the other.

“There are theories of parallel dimensions or parallel universes that replicate our own, that point to different points of time interacting,” she said. “You get a glimpse of them, and they get a glimpse of you, as well.”

But there are different types of paranormal activity.

“People report apparitions, disembodied voices and things of that nature,” she said. “On certain frequencies, you can almost hear complete conversations, like a magnetic tape playing over and over. In some instances, these audio energies may be transferred into matter and imprinted on an environment.”

She follows that up with an example of the Carthage Opera House.

“There is the sound of someone falling down the back stairwell,” she said.

“Always at 3 p.m. standard time. You can hear it through the wall. It seems tied to the environment enough that when the time changes, it shifts by an hour.”

As for ghostly beings, Lisa said it is merely energy.

“You and I are energy wrapped up in matter,” she said. “Ghosts are energy.

Some are merely looking for acknowledgement that they are there. Sometimes, moved items can be an acknowledgement of the living.”

She went on to explain the phenomena of a store owner finding unusual items placed on the floor in front of the door to his shop.

“He found a little carved decoy duck once,” she said. “Now, he had reported seeing the apparition of a little girl, who appeared to be soaking wet. Now his store is in a building that was the first to be rebuilt following the Civil War. There is a story that there was a carriage accident in which a little girl and her mother were thrown into a pit of

water and washed away. Other people have reported having interactions with a spirit of a girl on the square, which included her asking ‘Where’s mama?’ and ‘Is Keith alright?’ Keith is the owner of that store.

“Often places where apparitions have been for so long, where they have become so comfortable, for whatever reason, they become aware of the living people now in that space and will place a token, acknowledging their presence.

It seems like what is being said is an awareness that the living person is there or a reaction to what is going on. So, if we see and hear things like that, perhaps people from another time can as well.”

For those that find themselves “spooked” by the possibility of being visited by ghosts from the past, Lisa has some sage advice.

“I often tell people that spirits are where they decide to be,” she said.

“When people realize they have activity, it is sometimes a matter of compromise, or setting boundaries. When those compromises are reached, things tend to go very smoothly. It’s unethical, on both sides, to be confrontational. It doesn’t make sense.”

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 37

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Lisa said energy takes many forms, and just like humans, spirits have varying levels of abilities.

“Personalities tend to carry over, as well,” she said. “So if someone is…unpleasant…in life, they are usually the same as a spirit. And if a spirit is trying to make itself aware, it’s not going to go “poof,” like Casper. That is a pop culture conception. I know of only two hauntings certified as demons by the Catholic Church. They are very rare.”

Some of the most popular tour sites for hauntings are Pythian Castle in Springfield; Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Ark.; the Carthage Opera House; an old bordello in Galena, Kan.; the Coleman Theatre in Miami, Okla.; the Webb City Library; and the Olde English Inn in Hollister.

Lisa is part of a paranormal investigation team based out of Joplin, and hosts Paranormal Science Lab on Facebook.

The team is currently pitching a series, Dark Ozarks, for television production.

Lisa and the team will be hosting some upcoming events starting Oct. 16, just in time for Halloween chills and thrills. n

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This year has brought many new challenges to ministry leaders. Like others in the community, Countryside Christian Church’s pastor Whitney Branch has used technology to broadcast sermons via Facebook.

Clergy Appreciation Month

H Father Paul Lourd Raj Pudhota of Holy Trinity Parish holds mass outdoors to accommodate necessary safety measures during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

40 | October 2020

ouses of worship are spread across Barry and Lawrence counties, around the country and spanning the globe. They vary from the large buildings buzzing with activity every day of the week to the traditional country churches that have met faithfully for over a hundred years. The halls are filled with all walks of life seeking guidance and the Word of God. Within each of these churches are diligent servants working behind the scenes and teaching from the pulpit.

Since 1994, October has been recognized as Clergy Appreciation Month.

Encouraging parishioners to share their appreciation for their leaders began as a national movement by Focus on the

Story by Annie Lisenby Smith

Family. Working in a clergy position comes with great highs and great lows.

Not only are clergy present for births and weddings, they are also there sitting by bedsides as people pass from this world. There are sermons to write, budgets to balance and countless daily choices to be made to keep the church working at its best.

Many clergy also work or volunteer outside of the church as hospital chaplains, counselors to first responders, community outreach leaders, and as representatives of the church in the community. Inside the church pastors wear many hats. Some pastors are designated to minister to particular groups or members of the congregations.

For instance, children and youth

Mother Paula Lively performing a blessing of the animals at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. (left) Church leaders do more than just preach on Sundays. Pastor Juan Velasquez (middle) with Victor and Angelina Montelongo cook for El Mesias Methodist Church’s all-church picnic. (right) At St. John’s Lutheran Church, church members celebrated with Pastor Andrew Kennell for the 15th anniversary of his ordination. pastors are tasked with sharing the Gospel with the young people in a church. Anyone who’s ever volunteered to help at a vacation Bible school or as a chaperone for a high school trip knows that these pastors put in a lot of work and share a lot of care and compassion. There are clergy that specialize in working with hospice patients, those who are preparing to leave this world behind. It takes a special sort of person to speak truth and comfort to these patients.

It is reported that in the U.S. in 2018 there were 51,000 people employed as clergy, a number that has declined steadily over recent decades.

Pastors, priests and other clergy have challenging jobs. Pastoral Care Inc, a

Grateful for All They Do

ministry designed to support ministers from every Christian denomination surveyed clergy and found that 72 percent of pastors reported working between 55 and 75 hours per week. Many pastors said that they felt on call 24/7, not something they begrudge, but something they recognize as it affects their families. Pastors said that it was an honor to walk alongside their church family at their most dire moments. But over half of pastors surveyed said that they felt discouraged.

Generally, men and women don’t join the ministry to gain riches or glory. That is why some struggle with the recognition of Clergy Appreciation Month. But it’s those displays of gratitude that can encourage a pastor or

priest on his or her most difficult days.

There are many ways to share your gratitude with clergy. Lifeway, the wellknown supplier of Christian resources, suggest six ways to share your gratitude with the pastor or clergy members in your church, parish, and community.

First, pray for them. It’s a simple thing that can be done at any time, anywhere.

Second, write them encouraging letters. These can be letters of gratitude or encouragement. Sharing how a particular sermon or lesson helped you can encourage a pastor as he or she prepares for future messages.

Third, volunteer in the church.

Churches can’t function without the members sharing the load of work. Ask

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 41

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your pastor where help is needed. Maybe make a commitment to help in an area for a set amount of time like a month or two.

Fourth, give generously. Talking about giving money to the church can be a sticky subject. In these times, money is tight. Churches see that. They also use their funds to help in the community. If you have any extra to share, supporting the ministries of the church is a great way to show your appreciation.

Fifth, encourage the pastor’s family. Raising a family as a pastor can be challenging because the family is often involved in many of the ministries too.

A thoughtful idea one church had is to have volunteers sign up to babysit once per month for a year. This pastor and his wife didn’t have family nearby and rarely had the chance to get away without their young children. The pastor said that when the gift was given, his wife cried because she was so humbled. Ask your pastor or priest what encouragement they could use for their family.

Sixth, speak well of the church. Most people would agree that no church is perfect. But many churches have struggled when gossip and grumbling got out of control. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t talk to your church leaders if you have a problem. It means that you shouldn’t complain to your friends on the golf course if you haven’t first addressed the issue with the church itself. On the flip side, you can also speak well of your church by inviting friends to worship services and church events. Share what you love about your church with others.

From this list, someone might choose one of these ideas or they might want to do them all. As each member of the church is unique and important (Paul said so in 1 Corinthians 12), so is each pastor. Get to know your pastor and their family. When you befriend them, you’ll see additional ways in which you can share your appreciation for the work they do. n

Larry Wood, Writing About the Notorious Ozarks Found west of Mt. Vernon is Rebel’s Bluff, the location of the alleged death of a number of Confederate bushwackers during the Civil War.

CONNECT ONLINE:

Additional information, such as events and book signings, about Larry Wood and the Joplin Writers’ Guild can be found on each of their Facebook pages.

A

nyone who’s lived in the Ozarks for even a small amount of time knows that these hills and farms are full of colorful characters and a lively history. No one knows that more than author Larry Wood.

He’s written 21 books that primarily focus on historical events in southwest Missouri, especially the more notorious crimes.

A native Missourian, Wood spent his childhood years in Fair Grove followed by studying in Springfield at Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University).

“I’ve lived in southwest Missouri my whole life except one year in Kansas and one year in Vietnam,” Wood said.

After university, Wood taught school briefly in Clever and Houston before settling down in Joplin where he taught for many years until his retirement. Still a Joplin resident, he is the current president of the Joplin Writers’ Guild, a group of both professional and amateur authors who meet to share experiences in writing, critique each other’s work and learn

Story by Annie Lisenby Smith

more from guest speakers about the profession of writing.

While Wood wasn’t seeking out a writing career from a young age, his father wrote poetry in his spare time and “planted the idea pretty early.”

Wood said, “I more or less drifted into writing because, during my first couple of semesters in college, I made better grades in English than I did in most of my other classes. So, I just kept taking English classes until I ended up majoring in it. I’ve been interested in writing ever since.”

The projects Wood has worked on have primarily been nonfiction, although he has also written quite a bit of fiction over the years. In September, Wood took home eight awards from the Ozarks Writers’ League annual writing contest.

They included first place in Western romance, second place in Western short story, and second place in paranormal short story. He has also won awards from the Ozarks Creative Writers and in 2011, his book The Two Civil War Battles of Newtonia won the Missouri Writers’ Guild’s Walter Williams Award.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 43

“

I found the Clum case particularly fascinating because of the element of romantic intrigue.

”

44 | October 2020

“I often write about historical topics, especially local and regional history, and even more especially, if it has something to do with the Civil War or anything notorious, such as gunfights, murders, and bank robberies. My fiction tends to be historically based as well.”

Wood’s books can be found at online stores such as Amazon. Local bookstores in Joplin (Always Buying Books) and Springfield (ABC Bookstore) also carry a selection of his books. Wood enjoys attending events where he can meet his readers and regularly schedules book signings.

As he has researched and Wood’s books that cover events in Southwest written stories for his books or his online blog, Wood has come Missouri. With an interest in history, his books across many interesting stories cover Civil War history and true crime. from Barry and Lawrence counties. One of those stories was about both with shotgun blasts and buried Ed Clum’s murder of J.J. White and their bodies with dirt and straw.”

Other notorious stories from this Ella Bowe in 1886 in Barry County south of Pierce City that ended with area include Rebel’s Bluff where the hanging of Clum in Cassville. a “number of Confederate bush“I found the Clum case particularly wackers allegedly plunged to their fascinating because of the element death during the Civil War west of of romantic intrigue,” Wood said. Mount Vernon,” six different bank “Clum’s wife, Lottie, started cheating robberies in Barry County over a on him with White while all three of two-year period, and the murder them still lived in New York. Clum of Jackson Carney and his wife in tolerated his wife’s indiscretions and 1869. Wood covers less notorious even remained friends with White, events such as the famous white squirrels of Marionville and Harold at least outwardly.”

The story brought Clum, Lottie, Bell Wright’s connections to Lawand White to a farm south of Pierce rence County.

Wood’s writings of notorious City where all three lived together until Lottie, died. “Afterward, White crimes extend across the Ozarks. took up with 17-year-old Ella Bowe, His favorite recent work was his whom Clum also fancied. It was more book Bigamy and Bloodshed: The than Clum could take. He killed them Scandal of Emma Malloy and the

The Ritchey House in Newtonia was used as a hospital during the Civil War is featured in The Two Civil War Battles of Newtonia.

Murder of Sarah Graham published in 2019. The event took place in the Springfield area and is best described in Wood’s own words: “In early 1886, the body of Sarah Graham was found at the bottom of an abandoned well on the Emma Molloy farm near Brookline. Sarah’s husband, George Graham, who had bigamously married Molloy’s foster daughter, was accused of killing her.

Both Molloy and her foster daughter, Cora Lee, were implicated in the crime. Because Molloy was a famous evangelist and temperance revivalist, the case created a sensation that made headlines all across the country. George Graham, angry at Molloy for supposedly turning against him, inflamed the scandal when he accused her of illicit sexual behavior,

and the story took another startling turn when Graham was dragged from his jail cell and lynched near present-day Grant Beach Park in Springfield. Both Molloy and Cora Lee were eventually exonerated in the courts, but the damage to Emma Molloy’s reputation lasted and she never again enjoyed the widespread renown she previously had.”

Over the years, Woods has amassed a large collection of stories about events in southwest Missouri.

Other than writing books and winning contests, Wood has also been published regularly in Harris’ Farmers Almanac and Wild West Magazine. He also contributes to ShowMe the Ozarks Magazine, Missouri Life, Journal of the Ozarks, and the Missouri Historical Review.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 45

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He writes shorter articles on regional history for his blog: www.ozarks-history.blogspot.com An early writing success was the publication of a Drama in Real Life story for Reader’s Digest. “The story involved a man who survived being trapped for three and a half days beneath the rubble of the old Connor Hotel in Joplin when it collapsed prematurely while being readied for implosion. I not only interviewed the survivor and his family several times but also interviewed countless other people who either witnessed the collapse or were involved in the rescue on some level.”

With so many years of experiences in writing, Wood offers encouragement to amateur writers. “Write every day, and don’t give up. Writing takes a little talent, but it also takes a lot of persistence.

A willingness to keep learning and keep trying.” n

FAMILIAR FACES

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9 The seventh annual Repurposed Faire took place in Monett on Aug. 22 and 23.

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Cindel and Josh Whittington Emilt Arnett and Jamie Lomax Chelsey Vermont and her canine companion Cole Presley Crystal Baker and Judy Morris Martha Guerra and her grandson, Emmanuel Guerra Clell Maples and his furry pal, Travis Breanna Dittmer and Patrick Perry Randy Ayers and Melissa Chappell Corey Carsteen and Clancie Carsteen

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 47

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TroutFest 2020 — 1. Jeff and Tiffany Munday, Cassville Arya Munday, 8, and

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Hailey Munday, 2.

Tonya Bryant, Blake McDaniel and Shai Bryant.

Emali and Nathan Fortner, Ryanne Fortner, six weeks old and Brenton Fortner, 2.

Dakota and Haley Russell, Les and Susan Fields, Liane Russell, 4, and Mackenna Russell, 6.

Tyler Turner, 10 and Eli Turner, 6.

1 48 | October 2020

CONNECTION ON THE GO

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Kid’s Free Fishing Day — Roaring River

1. Jacob Davis, Mattie Davis, 14 and Page Davis, 16.

2. Steve and Diane Waistner.

3. Mallory and Kainen Topham.

Sarah Staples, of Exeter, and Matthew Schiffner, of Monett recently enjoyed a weekend trip to Las Vegas, Nevada.

2 2020 Auto Depot — Exeter

3

1. Kayla Walker, Jackn Davis and Inman Walker, 6.

2. Tol and Marcy Thompson.

3. Gladys and James Hargis

Mary Stluka, of Monett, and her granddaughter, Kate Canady, picked the perfect way to end their vacation by watching the sunset on Melbourne Beach Pier.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 49

PARTING SHOT

Photo by Mica Plummer

The Road Not Taken

By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

50 | October 2020

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52 | October 2020