Connection November 2023

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NOVEMBER 2023

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Always Buying Books of Joplin A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO THE OZARKS

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Early Childhood Mental Health Programs

As a part of its mission to reduce the impact of substance use and mental illness on our communities, SAMHSA funds programs that promote and support the health and wellness of young children and their families.

Through early childhood grant funding, SAMHSA strives towards a future where: • All young children have the opportunity to thrive in all domains of development-physical, cognitive, spiritual, emotional, and social • Caregivers have access to supports and services to meet the needs of young children in their care; this includes supports and services to help caregivers build their own resilience and capacity for nurturing caregiving • In the context of strong caregiver relationships and nurturing environments, young children can then thrive socially and emotionally, building their own resilience to support lifelong mental health • Healthy children and families build a healthier future for all of us and our communities In addition to services offered at the Clark Center for children as young as two years old, Clark wants you to be aware of other available services found elsewhere.

SAMHSA currently funds three early childhood mental health grant programs and a Center of Excellence:

Project LAUNCH

Show Me Hope @ The Clark Center This program promotes the wellness of young children, from birth to 8 years of age, by addressing the social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral aspects of their development, preparing young children to thrive in school and beyond.

Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Grant Program

This programat improves 21 was rough. Show Me Hope theoutcomes Clark Center is connected to for children, from birth up to of age, by developing, sources for financial help,12 years mental health help, and self-care. The maintaining, or enhancing infant and early childhood mental heath intervention, and treatment services. ogram is promotion, free and confidential. Programs are created to assist our Center of Excellence for munities with the ability Infant to rec over from the grief, uncertainty and and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation stration of recent times. We arecenter here to listen and help. Anyone in This national provides technical assistance and professional development community with concerns about theirto recovery, or that of another increase access to high quality mental health consultation throughout the country. individual or group is encouraged to call and seek assistance.

Points of focus for Show Me are resiliency, TheHope Clark Center self-care and experiencing417-235-6610 loss. Here 24/7...... you or someone you know needs crisis support now, Show Me Hope,If call or text:Call1-800-985-5990 or text 988 Resiliency Community Recovery Clark Center: 417-235-6610

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2 | November 2023

YOU’RE WELCOME AT THE BARRY-LAWRENCE REGIONAL LIBRARY!

ACROSS OUR 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.

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

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

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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

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 3

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

by Lisa Craft

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

She can be reached at monettcommunity@ gmail.com

The Necessities of Grief I realize that this is the time of the year that the majority of us begin preparing for the upcoming holidays, buying gifts, decorating, getting our menu ready. It is a joyous time for family gatherings and catching up with others.

This can also be an adjustment for many who have lost a loved one close to the holidays and are now beginning to experience all of the firsts without the presence of that special person. The first Thanksgiving, the first Christmas, the first New Years, etc. In 1986, my mother, Rayanne Atwell died in November. It was hard but at that time I was young enough to have distractions. Of course I was working and I had three young children. At that time I also still had the majority of my family living, my father, step-mother, sister and many more. My mother had been ill, and even though we expected her death, it was still sad but we knew it was coming soon.

I know that most of you know that my husband, Max, passed away on Sept. 16. As far as I knew he had not been sick, he was still working, strong, and everything seemed to be normal. Normal as it had been for 30 years. There was no imminent diagnosis (if anyone knew him, they knew he would not go to the doctor.) There were the normal aches and pains that we all complain about as we get older but nothing out of the ordinary. But all the same, on the morning of Sept. 16, 2023, he took his last breath.

Now this might be a bit of a depressing column for the holidays but I am writing it for a few reasons. Number

4 | November 2023

one is the fact that I cannot get it out of my mind and for another, I believe it is important to pay attention to those that are experiencing grief and their firsts.

I recently had a very dear friend give me a pamphlet on grief and with all of the deaths in my family, I don’t think that I realized until now how important grief is.

The pamphlet states that there are three Ns of grief:  Grief is normal because it is how people respond to a significant personal loss.  Grief is natural in that it’s a completely human thing to do.  Grief is necessary to provide a healthy way to cope with the loss and everything it means to us.

Grief will be unique and influenced by factors specific to you and the loss. I have found with loosing Max, that the relationship and the circumstances influences how I grieve. I always looked at myself as being a strong and independent woman and always told myself that if he would die first it would be hard but I could handle it. Oh

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OWNER/PUBLISHER Lisa Craft monettcommunity@gmail.com MULTI-MEDIA SALES EXECUTIVES Marion Chrysler

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 5

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my, I was wrong. I still look at myself as being strong and independent, and yes, I am handling it but it is harder than hard. There are so many things that I did not consider. He is not there to drink coffee with in the mornings, we would go out to eat every Saturday, we watched football together, he was always there when I needed him, only a phone call away, and also there are many silly times that I miss. And I will say that he was an awesome nurse when I needed one! My self-identity has been drastically changed and my world looks totally different now.

When the death is unexpected, the initial shock is sometimes greater and lasts longer. The loss can be overwhelming and it doesn’t make sense.

Sometimes we have no chance to say goodbye and there might be a lot of unresolved issues. The suddenness can leave us fearful, vulnerable and shaken.

The holiday season can be especially challenging if you’re dealing with the death of someone close to you.

Whether it was a recent loss or one that occurred some time ago, feelings of grief can be heightened and may seem overwhelming during the holiday season.

The important thing to remember is that you are a unique person. Honor your process, and acknowledge that this is how you respond and are attempting to cope. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Try to go at your own pace. I know I am trying, it’s not easy but I take it day to day.

Prayer and my relationship with God provides my path to continue.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and enjoy each moment.

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6 | November 2023

Owner & Publisher, Connection Magazine

F E AT U R E S 11 | THE PUMPKIN MAN Fall outdoor decor is all about the greatest gourd, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Callamura in Monett was built in 1916 and continues to fascinate and intrigue locals.

Read more on page 27.

15 | ALWAYS BUYING BOOKS Bob Wolfe, a bookstore owner in Joplin, sets out to level the local debt of student meals one book sale at a time 24 | BUFFALO SOLDIERS LEGACY The Alexander Madison Chapter of Greater Kansas City Buffalo Soldiers will present Nov. 12 at the Monett Museum 27 | CALLAMURA Bulwark building in Monett unveils history and mystery of early town life 33 | YOUNGBERG CHAPEL Rest for the weary offered at the church near the headwaters of Spring River in Verona

This painting of Jesus Christ was comissioned by the Youngbergs of Youngberg Chapel.

Read more on page 33.

Their mission through the West was to establish forts and preserve the peace.

Read more on page 24.

NOVEMBER 2023

Read more on page 11.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 7

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Feed Minds, Hearts and Hunger

Always Buying Books of Joplin A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO THE OZARKS

ON THE COVER: Always Buying Books in Joplin offers a wide variety of new and used books, as well as a unique program that allows customers to make donations to various charities and nonprofits in the area.

Since the beginning of this school year, the store has cut checks almost weekly to support student meals.

Read more on page 14.

CONTENTS

Let us be your HOMEtown bank!

• Great Service • Committed To Barry County • Decisions Made Locally Wheaton

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302 Main Street Jct. 37, 76 & 86 417-652-3204 417-847-4794 Bill Pay & Internet Banking at

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Exeter

Front Street 417-835-8111

9 Cutest Kid 19 Healthy Connection: Stages of Diabetes 21 Guest Column: Kansas or Bust 31 Parenting Column 36 Cutest Pet 37 Rescued, My Favorite Breed 39 Familiar Faces 41 Connection on the Go 42 Parting Shot

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

Email it to monettcommunity@gmail.com Facebook.com/MyConnectionMo

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November 2023 contest winner

Louisa Jane Congratulations

CUTEST KID

Louisa Jane Atkinson, one-year-old granddaughter of Jeff and Julie Abramovitz of Monett

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.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 9

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Do You Know the Pumpkin Man?

A

utumn means crisp weather, pumpkin spice latte, and... pumpkins.

The perennial fall favorite, pumpkins are no longer just for Halloween. Pumpkins and gourds have become a much more common decorating item, and have spawned an industry to provide the autumnal image for porches and around the house.

In Monett, Jared Lankford has returned for a second year as a pumpkin, gourd and flower merchant, operating out of an outdoor tent on Highway 60 in Monett. He’s learned a lot about marketing this autumnal fruit. Yes, pumpkins are considered a fruit because they come from a flower.

“My wife and I joke, ‘Your clientele is in July [when Lankford markets fireworks], and mine is in the fall,” Lankford said.

There is, as it turns out, a real division in the sexes when it comes to autumn decorating and customers.

Story by Murray Bishoff

Autumn decorations encourage artistry, seasonal celebration “In fireworks, men become little boys when they see explosives,” Lankford said. “Women are not the spenders on fireworks. In pumpkins, women become little girls when they decorate.

Women are intense. They can spend 30 minutes picking out three gourds, while the men follow quietly behind them.”

Lankford makes his initial order of pumpkins and gourds from Texas. His second supply arrived in early October from Missouri, the source of all his straw and supplies of honey and apple butter.

“We try to stay local as much as possible,” he said. “We bill ourselves as a

fall harvest organization.”

He draws his honey and apple butter from the Honey House in Neosho, a family-run business for more than 40 years. He noted the family has distance rules on their suppliers so they can guarantee local sourcing. A family farm in Texas specializes in fall items.

“There are not a lot of pumpkin farms in Missouri,” Lankford said. “All of our carving pumpkins are Missouri pumpkins, really coming from the Mennonite community in the Nevada-El Dorado Springs area. There’s a produce auction near Urbana twice a week. That’s where everyone goes.”

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 11

Customers coming to Lankford are not amateurs.

“These are people who have been decorating their houses with pumpkins for years,” he said.

“Now, instead of going to Republic or a festival, we have made this local to Monett.”

Brandi Parris, one of Lankford’s colleagues in the business, said customers come prepared.

“They have pictures of what they want to recreate,” she said. “They know what they want to do. They will stack them, lay them on the ground, lay gourds around them, bring pumpkins up, trade them out. Certain gourds lay a certain way to match what they want.

Even mums have to match. We had a lady out the other day who put her baby in a cart, set pumpkins around the baby and took photos. You can shoot pictures here, and everything is for sale.”

Parris and her daughter Kim set up the stacking pumpkins, also known as Cinderella pumpkins. Brandi credited Katie Hohensee, who also helped setting up displays, with having a natural instinct for making arrangements, resulting in quick sales.

There are no bad pumpkins, Lankford observed. Flat ones, big ones, little ones for table tops, unique ones covered with bumps, all have their charm.

“Stems are extremely important in picking them out,” Parris added.

Home decorating is not the only arena for pumpkin use. Parris said they have provided decorations for four weddings and three baby showers. Some buy pumpkins to place outside their apartment doors. Lankford has offered a package to local school districts, providing a pumpkin for the class to decorate and little pumpkins for each student.

“It gives teachers a chance to talk about natural decorations and incorporate the fall harvest into their core curriculum,” Lankford added.

12 | November 2023

Not only that, Lacoba Homes in Monett bought decorations for the nursing home. That made Lankford smile, to think that residents can have a sense of seasons living in an otherwise unchanging indoor environment.

Pumpkin sales also have trends.

This year the stacking pumpkins have “flown off the shelf.” Last year cheddar and white pumpkins proved quite popular. Pie pumpkins also became demand items.

“You don’t know what the hot item will be till it takes off,” Lankford said.

“Last year there was a Tik Tok trend where people took a pumpkin, cut out the bottom and wore them covering their whole head, face and all. They’d come in and measure pumpkins so they could squeeze their head inside. To me, that’s the weirdest thing, a social media trend kids here tried to emulate.”

This year Lankford added more fall flowers, concentrated his mums for ease of watering, expanded his presentation area, always looking for ways to make shopping easier and more inviting for customers. He planned to keep innovating every year in search of the right design.

“We’re not too far removed from the time when fall was when neighbors got together, put up their winter stores, did their canning and held canning parties,” Lankford said.

“These would turn into a mini-swap meet, where people would trade green beans for corn, whatever you needed to see your family through the winter.

This is a celebration of people coming together. There’s still a generation of people out there who have that in the back of their mind. That’s what we’re all about.” n

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 13

The Book Buffet at Always Buying Books started as a way for the store to offload its huge selection of donated books, but has since become a means for the store to give back to its communities.

Always Buying Books Always Helping Others

14 | November 2023

Connect with Always Buying Books Scan the QR code to learn more

N

ationwide, students owe approximately $262 million for school meals.

These debts are incurred by students who are unable to pay for their meals.

Missouri alone has more than 243,000 children listed as “food insecure” and more than $43,905,000 in school meal debt.

There has been much debate about schools refusing to serve students who have debts for their meals, or offering secondary, smaller meal portions to students who are unable to pay.

One Joplin business caught wind of

Story and photos by Mike Gervais

Bob Wolfe, owner, and Alyse Foley, manager, have set up a donation program at their book store to help support local students who have gotten behind on their school meal payments.

the staggering debt, and decided to help out in their own small way.

Always Buying Books, located at 5357 N. Main St. Rd. in Joplin is a book store that has been in operation for nearly 23 years and owner Bob Wolfe and manager Alyse Foley began a new program this year that aims to help local schools from Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri cover student meal debts.

“I had been dealing books for 10 to 15 years, and one day I told my wife I’d open a book store, or wish I did,” Bob said. “Alyse has been my manager for 15 years, and she came in with a background in books. I always tell people that

I run the store and she runs the floor.”

Always Buying Books’ philosophy is pretty simple, they’re always buying books.

“Most people are trying to sell books, but we’re the only ones who are always buying books,” Bob said.

But that business strategy leads to a pretty obvious complication. The store simply can’t afford to buy every book that comes through the door, and booksellers will often come in with a stack, sell some of them, then ask if they can donate the remainder.

Soon, Bob and Alyse were swimming in a sea of books.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 15

“I had the idea to sell those for fifty cents, then for a quarter,” Bob said. “It got to the point where it would cost us more to haul them off than we could make selling them.”

That’s when the idea for the Book Buffet was born. Outside its main entrance, Always Buying Books has a huge, diverse selection that is available for a donation. For Bob and Alyse, it was a decision of either paying to have the books thrown away, or see if people would be willing to take a few books off their hands and donate to a good cause.

That idea was a success. Today, anyone can head to Always Buying Books and pick a few titles from the Book Buffet, and decide how much they would like to donate.

But that doesn’t mean the Book Buffet is a collection of bad fiction. Bob said he starts his day each morning by cycling new books in and out of the Book Buffet, so there is always fresh stock and something new to “buy” for a donation.

“We have people who never even make it into the store,” Bob said.

“They’ll go to the book buffet, pick something out, drop some money in the jar and that’s it.”

That cause has evolved over the years. Bob and Alyse said Always Buying Books has donated to regional jails and prisons, helped the Joplin women’s shelter and now helps the schools.

“We were only donating to local charities and nonprofits, and no animal shelters, I figured if we were going to donate, we would help people. Then I got to talking to teachers and found out about the two-tier lunch system and it really pissed me off.”

So Bob and Alyse agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds from the Book Buffet to local schools to help pay off student lunch debt.

16 | November 2023

“We try to do a donation every week.

Sometimes it isn’t much, but we always go to different local schools, in three states. And we always call ahead to find out what the school enrollment is.”

Monett popped up on the Book Buffet radar last month when a local educator stopped by to donate a handful of children’s books she simply couldn’t throw away. When Bob and Alyse found out who she was and what she did, they added Monett to their list, and sure enough, a couple weeks later, a check arrived in the school mail.

Over the years, Bob said his book store has worked with a number of organizations in need and he’s maintained a cycle of donations to various causes, but the school lunch program he started this year is one that means a lot to him.

“I don’t ever see any reason to abandon the school lunch program,” he said.

“We’re hoping someone else might pick up the idea. I think if we could find someone who would be willing to match us, that would be really good for the kids and the schools.”

– Bob Wolfe, owner of Always Buying Books in Joplin

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Bob Wolfe and Alyse Foley run Always Buying Books with the help of a hand full of dedicated volunteer “bookies.”

In addition to its charitable efforts in the area, Always Buying Books offers a wide selection of reading material and, during COVID-19, even began selling puzzles with great success.

The store hosts a few major sales every year, and in its 22 years of operation, has hosted more than 600 local authors for book signings.

Bob and Alyse work with a handful of volunteer “bookies” who help man the store and stock the shelves, and are host to a community of bibliophiles who stop by weekly and sometimes daily.

“There’s something about being in a store, you’ll find books you’re not necessarily looking for. If you go online to buy a book, you usually just get what you’re looking for,” Alyse said.

She added that Always Buying Books makes a conscious effort to stay ahead of the curve, and most of its selection will be priced lower than major online retailers.

Those who are interested in selling books are also encouraged to check their website, alwaysbuyingbooks. com, to find out what titles and authors are currently in high demand at the store. n

HEALTHY CONNECTION

November is Diabetes Month

by Lisa Ramirez

Lisa Ramirez is a registered dietitian, certified in diabetes care and education specialist, and Lead of the Center for Health Improvement at Cox Monett Hospital. She enjoys camping, biking, hiking, and adventures with her family.

Addressing Diabetes at All Stages of Life November is National Diabetes Month and what better time to share about the ways our community is addressing this condition - from prevention to treatment.

About one in 10 Americans have diabetes. More than one in three have prediabetes. Shockingly, it is estimated over 80 percent of those with prediabetes do not know they have it, and about a fourth of those with diabetes are undiagnosed.

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that occurs when the levels of glucose, or sugar, are too high in your body. In type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90-95 percent of cases of diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin or does not use insulin properly.

Insulin is a hormone that helps to clear sugars from the blood.

When insulin is not working like it should, it causes sugars to build up in the blood. Over time, elevated blood sugars can damage the eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves. It also increases ones risk for infections, amputation, heart attack, and stroke.

Prediabetes means your blood sugar is higher than normal and can be a sign of insulin resistance, meaning your body does not respond to insulin normally.

As a result, the pancreas makes more insulin to compensate.

Eventually, the pancreas cannot keep up, which can result in the development of type 2 diabetes.

To find out your own risk, visit doihaveprediabetes.org and take the Risk Test.

Other forms of diabetes include type 1 diabetes or gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the pancreas stops making insulin or makes little insulin. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy that can be due to hormonal changes that increase your body’s resistance to insulin.

The good news - many of the complications associated with diabetes can be prevented with lifestyle changes and blood sugar management. In southwest Missouri, we are blessed with a variety of resources to address diabetes.

Through a grant from the Missouri Department of Health and

Senior Services, and a partnership between Cox Monett and University of Missouri Extension, we offer two national programs - the Stanford Youth Diabetes Coaches Program (SYDCP) and the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). SYDCP educates and empowers high school students to play a role in making positive changes in their life and the lives of their community by becoming diabetes self-management coaches.

PreventT2 Monett is the first DPP in the region, offering patients a yearlong lifestyle change program that has been proven to decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by almost 60 percent.

For those diagnosed with diabetes, Cox Monett offers Diabetes Self-Management Education classes and consultations.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 19

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Through the annual Dining for Diabetes fundraiser, we can support those living in southwest Missouri with their diabetes-related needs, including education, medications, testing supplies, eye exams, and dental work.

We invite you to join us in supporting those in our community with diabetes at the 22nd Annual Dining for Diabetes Holiday Auction and Game Night, which will take place on Friday, November 17 from 6-9 pm at the Monett City Park Casino. Enjoy delicious appetizers, holiday games and raffles, cookie decorating, and pictures with Santa!

Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at https:// www.coxhealthfoundation.com/ event/dining-for-diabetes/. If you or someone you know has prediabetes or diabetes and you would like to get connected to education or support with diabetes-related services, please call the Cox Monett Center for Health Improvement at 417354-1280. n

GUEST COLUMN

by Pam Wormington

Kansas or Bust If you are a city girl and your husband informs you that he just bought a pot trailer, your first thoughts are not about hauling cattle.

They are about the police hauling you to jail for something illegal. At least that was the thought prior to the legalizing of marijuana. I eventually came around to the understanding that it had nothing to do with my first impressions.

However, let me tell you about my first impression of this cattle ‘pot’ trailer.

A little history first, my rancher likes to make things himself in an effort to save money. Not taking in to account, time, muscle aches, stress, problems or any other immeasurable things.

He was already in a tizzy about getting the soon-to-be-calving heifers’ home from the north ranch and he knew of a trailer for sale around Baxter Springs, Kansas. He thought he could be resourceful and make a livestock hauler using an old Brigadier truck he already had.

I just couldn’t see how he would come out ahead on this project so I encouraged him to consider the trailer for sale. His conservative mind and tired body continued to work on the truck until he finally gave in and made a phone call and we made a journey to somewhere in Kansas.

The trip was multipurpose of course, we were going to dinner in Joplin and surely this place wasn’t far so we’d just swing by and check it out. We drove and drove and drove until we saw a “local” and asked about a pot trailer for sale. Told him the address and he pointed us down the road, not the yellow brick road but rather a dirt road.

As we continued to drive, I informed my innocent rancher of a husband that not everybody knows what a pot trailer is and I wouldn’t be surprised if that direction giving man just led us on a wild goose chase while calling the authorities to inform them that we were looking for marijuana and driving a silver Nissan with license plates FRM WIF.

To prove my point, I called my mother who lives in Maryland and asked her what she would do should some stranger pull up in her driveway and ask for directions to a pot trailer for sale. It was the same scenario, get rid of them and run to the house, call the police and lock the door. Momma knows best!

We had crossed two state lines and I was beginning to think my birthday dinner was going to be at a diner in the middle of nowhere with Dorothy and Toto, but we weren’t in Kansas anymore.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 21

I was anything but excited. By the way, “pot” is short for potbelly as in potbelly stove. The front of the trailer is the fifth wheel and then it dips down so that the remainder allows for livestock to be hauled on two levels.

Several days past, several hours working on the truck and another phone call to the “pot” owners. Finally better directions, so my man makes another road trip.

That evening, I was informed that we are going to be the ‘proud’ owners of a big red cattle pot trailer.

Did I mention big? Knowing aesthetics are important to me, he informed me several times throughout the evening and next day that the trailer was big and red and not very pretty and it was my idea to buy it.

Well, yes, it was and I calmly agreed and suggested we park this purchase on the other side of the barn alongside all the other things that are not aesthetically pleasing to the eye. He apparently didn’t think I understood or heard him and reminded me once more that it was BIG and ugly.

The day comes when I get the proverbial, “can you help me?” question. If you are a rancher’s wife, you know that any job worth asking for help is not simple or quick.

Don’t think you are going to run out while cooking supper and help pull a calf or in a couple of minutes unload some hay and don’t think going to pick up a big red pot trailer is going to take just a couple of hours.

It is 14 degrees the morning we leave Monett in the blue Moo Juice Express milk truck, minus the milk tank and head to Kansas via Oklahoma.

22 | November 2023

Did I mention, my man hauled milk for a living? We pull on to the bumpiest of roads in the middle of Nowhere, Kansas and down a lane to what seemed would be where we would find the Wizard…but instead the big, red, cattle pot trailer. It was definitely BIG, so big we could haul the circus in it.

proceeds to back up to the milk truck and trailer. I’m thinking this is the makings for a Dodge Ram commercial.

I remained in the truck as a proper wife should do who has comments that should be held under her breath and a story to write. My Rancher man jumps out and gives IT the once over with a good tire kicking before the check writing, title exchanging deal. The owner pulls up in his Dodge Ram 2500 flatbed pickup and crawls out.

Back at the ranch we looked for a place to park this Big, Red Cattle Pot Trailer before weaning it from the milk truck. The deciding factor was which side of the barn sees the least traffic.

Surely, he is not going to try to pull this big truck and trailer. Of course not, he is going to push it! Yep, that is what he did and it worked! We were finally on our way.

It was then I thought I heard the wild west music playing in my ears as I notice Cowboy Garry wearing Wrangler jeans, boots, black cowboy hat, big mustache, Carhart coat, he had it all but the horse. This looked like a photo opportunity to me but I’ve learned that farmers/cowboys are biased about their equipment and don’t always see things the same way as city girls see them.

You know the saying, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.

So, I stayed, where I belonged.

Wondering why I ‘belonged’ on this trip anyway.

The transaction was made and the transport was about to begin.

The red and blue umbilical cords were connected from the milk truck to the pot trailer, a few adjustments and we were not on our way. By the way those umbilical cords are brake lines, we certainly wouldn’t want to lose this baby on the interstate.

The tires were slipping on the ice and Cowboy Garry grabs a big chain from his pickup and

I’m not really sure what the moral of this story is or what the title of the Dodge Ram commercial would say. I imagine it would be ‘Got milk?’ or ‘Got pot?’.

Maybe I should ask the Wizard next time in Kansas.

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Always Buying Books

Buffalo Soldiers legacy coming to Monett

O

Presentation held at Monett Museum Event Center at 2 p.m., Nov. 12, presented by the Alexander Madison Chapter of Greater Kansas City, Missouri, Buffalo Soldiers.

24 | November 2023

n Sunday, November 12, Monettans will have an unusual opportunity to touch history and witness a presentation on the Buffalo Soldiers, in a program by representatives of the Buffalo Soldiers national organization at the Monett Museum’s Events Center, 418 E. Broadway.

The program will be at 2 p.m., presented by the Alexander Madison Chapter of Greater Kansas City, Missouri, Buffalo Soldiers. The event is offered by the Monett Historical Society, with sponsorship from Freedom Bank, First State Bank of Purdy, Huffmaster Insurance, Edward Jones Investments (Don and Nikki Weber), and V.B. Hall Antiques.

The Buffalo Soldiers are a storied group of African Americans whose service in the US Military helped settle the American frontier and whose successors fought valiantly in every subsequent American military action. The first all-Black American military regiments formed during the Civil War. In 1866, the US Congress reorganized the Army and authorized the formation of two regiments of Black cavalry.

Story by Murray Bishoff | Photos by John Bruce

Tales of soldiers who helped make the Old West at Monett Museum Their story has deep regional and Missouri roots. Congress designated the famed 10th US Cavalry, raised at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as well as the 9th Cavalry, both led by all-white officers, and four regiments of infantry, the first Black soldiers to serve during peacetime. The 38th Infantry was raised at Jefferson Barracks, outside of St. Louis. Private Isaac Johnson, who enlisted on May 6, 1867 at Jefferson Barracks, is considered to be the original Buffalo Soldier. His great-grandson, George Pettigrew, is active with the Alexander Madison Chapter.

“At that time Black men had fought in every war back to the Revolutionary War, but were never allowed to remain in the service of the United States Army, only to be called up again when the need arose,” said Pettigrew.

“The Army Reorganization Act of 1866 changed all of that for good. Six regiments were raised that contained African Americans as part of the Army Regulars during peacetime. For the first time these men served as professional soldiers in service of this nation.”

Black soldiers in the Civil War can be traced to this region, to the Battle

of Island Mound, just west of Butler, Missouri. In that battle, the Kansas 1st Colored Volunteer Infantry became the first Black troops to engage Confederate forces, and won. The Emancipation Proclamation came three months later, opening the door to more Black units on the Federal side.

The term “Buffalo Soldiers” was not ascribed by the Army, but given by Native Americans during the subsequent Indian Wars, first given to the 10th Cavalry.

“It was a name given out of pure respect for their fighting ability,” said John Bruce, president of the Alexander Madison Chapter, one of the presenters in a program given earlier this year at the Joplin Public Library.

Stories vary beyond that. Some say the curly hair of the Black men prompted the Indians to liken the soldiers to the hair of buffalos. Others say the name came from the buffalo robes worn during winter campaigns, or the fierceness a buffalo showed when cornered. Either way, the soldiers adopted the name with pride.

Their service is the stuff of legends.

In those Western movie accounts where

the cavalry comes to rescue settlers under attack, often the real cavalry riding in were the Buffalo Soldiers. Their mission through the West was to establish forts and preserve the peace. At one point, the 9th Cavalry rescued General George Custer’s 7th Cavalry. During the famous assault by Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders on San Juan Hill during the Spanish American War in Cuba, the 9th and 10th Cavalry endured the brunt of the assault in a 48-hour battle, and are believed to have saved Roosevelt’s troops from extermination. The Buffalo Soldiers had the lowest desertion rates and the highest re-enlistment rates prior to the World Wars.

Even the presenters have an interesting story. Bruce himself is a Vietnam War veteran, as are several others in the group. The Kansas City chapter, the first and oldest Buffalo Soldier chapter, is named for two World War II veterans, James Madison and James Alexander, co-founders of the group in 1966. Donna Madison, James Madison’s daughter, also participates in programs. She portrays Kathy Williams, who masqueraded as a man to fight in the 38th Infantry in the Civil War.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 25

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Today the National Buffalo Soldiers organization, chartered in 1992, has its headquarters in Houston, Texas, and has 41 chapters across the country.

“We’re just trying to live up to their legacy,” Bruce said. “In World War I, Black soldiers had a buffalo patch. Buffalo Soldiers was not an active military name then. In World War II, Black regiments went mechanized and the soldiers were disbursed to different units, some to a tank division. Some became the Tuskegee Airmen. We talk about them too. We tell our story from slave to soldier, through segregation and the executive order integrating the military [under President Harry Truman], and we go up to the Korean War. The Army still honors Native Americans. The Green Berets wear an arrow patch on their sleeve.”

Presenters in the program are certified oral storytellers. Three are presenting members of the Missouri Humanities Speakers’ Bureau. The Kansas City chapter has two presenting groups: one on horseback, showing cavalry maneuvers, which John Bruce did for a number of years, and others doing an indoor program for more typical theater audiences. Requests for programs come from as far away as Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois. They have performed for the National Park Service, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the US Army, George Washington Carver National Monument, PBS, and in several movies.

Bruce said, “I always tell our group if we get one child’s attention. We’ve done our job. A lot of people don’t know history. We try to present to everyone.”

Admission to the program is free.

Donations will be accepted. n

Callamura

Fielding P. Sizer’s home located on Central in Monett, named Callamura, was built in 1916 and dedicated Jan. 1, 1917.

Living Local History

A

Fielding P. Sizer, Sr., grandfather of Fielding P. Sizer Jr.

piece of living history stands on Central Avenue in the heart of Monett, showcasing the elegance of days gone by.

Callamura, is one of a pair of nearly identical stately homes built in the early 20th century, and remains a treasure trove of artifacts thanks to the care of owner Rod Anderson, who purchased the home in 1996.

The home, named Callamura, was built by Monett attorney Fielding Parker Sizer, Sr. Born in Allegheny County, Virginia in 1872 Sizer was the son of James and Mary Sizer. His father, James M. Sizer, had seen his family estate decimated by the Civil War and received little education.

Story by Mike Gervais

Sizer himself was provided a common school education in Virginia, but at the age of 12, following an injury his father suffered in a farming accident, he and his older brother began working on the farm and caring for their family.

By the age of 17, Sizer went into a cross-roads store at Paint Bank, Virginia, and acted as a clerk for two years while studying bookkeeping.

His meticulous attention to detail that led to success in the bookkeeping field can still be seen today, thanks to Anderson’s efforts to maintain some of the Sizer family records, including a journal that outlined the cost for various aspects of the construction of Callamura in 1916, and a guest book the family maintained for several years chronicling the visitors to the home.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 27

The Sizer House under construction in 1916.

The Sizer family maintained a guest book for those who visited Callamura from its dedication in 1917 through the 1930s.

The most enduring mystery about the home is its name. Anderson has not even been able to identify what language the word originates from. What he has learned is that a book entitled Callamura was published by Julia Peasants Chriswell in 1868, but the book was not found in the home’s library.

28 | November 2023

From there, Sizer went to Chalybeate Springs, Virginia, a popular summer resort, to work as a bookkeeper and cashier in one of the local hotels, meeting many national celebrities and prominent people.

According to History of the Ozark Region and its people, Sizer had become imbued with an ambition to have a good education and accomplish something with his life, and subsequently traveled to Athens, Ten. where he entered Grant University for five years, serving part of that time as a teacher.

From Grant, he graduated with a degree of A.B. in 1898, and headed west in the falloff that year and entered the Law Offices of Colonel Washington Cloud in Pierce City.

While there, Sizer studied law and took a special course of lectures, and in 1899, he took the examination and was admitted to the bar at Mt. Vernon. He practiced his profession there for three years as the partner of Senator R.H. Land run for two of those years.

In 1902 he relocated to Monett in the practice being associated with attorney A.M. Peel under the firm name

Peel and Sizer, which lasted two and a half years, when Sizer became the attorney for the Frisco Railway Company, where he worked until 1908.

According to Anderson, Sizer was a temperance advocate who campaigned against the sale and consumption of alcohol for a number of years.

According to History of Ozark Region and its People, “This greatly aroused the ire of the saloon element and they complained to the Frisco company to have him stopped.

Anderson said the rail line did good business shipping alcohol throughout the country, and attempted to silence Sizer’s efforts. Ultimately, Sizer resigned from his position with the railroad, and began a specialized practice in personal damage suits, gaining a wide reputation as a successful attorney. Sizer was a member of the Monett Masonic Lodge, served as Harmony Commander of Knights Templar and Consistory at Joplin and the Abou Ben Adhem Temple at Springfield. He was also a consistent Methodist, serving as a church trustee.

In 1915, Sizer began construction on his home, Callamura, and the home was dedicated on Jan. 1, 1916.

Fielding P. Sizer, Jr.

Anderson said Sizer was meticulous in his record keeping. When he purchased the home, complete with all its furnishings, he discovered a journal chronicling each purchase for the home’s construction in the Sizer family’s extensive library.

“Everything he bought building this thing was recorded, and most of this stuff was bought locally,” Anderson said. “He bought material from Forth Hardware, M.E. Gillioz did the base-

ment, L.E. Mason was a local general contractor.”

Anderson said the total cost for the home was $17,567.46.

The journal also recorded a total of $5,372 in furnishings, including $1,000 for a Steinway Grand Piano.

Anderson also said a major remodeling project was started in 1927, adding an apartment to the home’s detached garage.

When he purchased the home in

1996, Anderson said it came with many original ornaments, including a library of 36 stacked lawyer book cases, original terra-cotta ornaments purchased from Philadelphia, Penn., Oriental rugs purchased in the 1920s, family photos and much more.

He also said rumors that a tunnel connects the Sizer home to its nearly identical neighbor across the street have proven false.

The story of the two homes is interesting in its own right. Anderson said when Sizer completed construction of Callamura, he had made comments that he didn’t want another home like it to be built in Monett. A short time later, a local business owner began construction on a similar home across the street. A railroad strike that year put an end to those efforts, and the incomplete home was eventually sold to Sizer’s business partner Horace Garner.

Another interesting side note is that, while building Callamura, Sizer served as a trustee for First United Methodist Church, and donated some of the building material he used on his home to the church for a new location in Monett.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 29

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And to add to the interest, Anderson said he was living in the home on Central and serving as a trustee for the same church when it relocated to its current location on Highway 37.

But the most enduring mystery about the home is its name. Anderson said he does not know what Callamura means, and has not even been able to identify what language the word originates from. What he has learned is that a book entitled Callamura was published

by Julia Peasants Chriswell in 1868.

“It reads like Gone with the Wind,” Anderson said, adding that there were no further clues to the name of the home.

He also said the Sizers were avid readers, as can be attested by their library, but a copy of the book was not included in the Callamura library.

But the Sizers took the name seriously, having a bronze plaque affixed above the doorway, and the name spelled out in tile in the home’s entryway.

Many in Monett are familiar with some of the history of the stately home, but Anderson said there are nearly as many false rumors.

When he moved in, he found that the third story of the home, which had been rumored to host elegant dances, was a gym that hadn’t been finished.

And, of course, the rumored tunnel was just a story.

Today, the home stands as a reminder of a prominent Monett citizen and a time long past. n

Thankful grief

PARENTING COLUMN

by Meagan Ruffing

Having Gratitude Can Help You Heal I’m 4 years post-divorce and I still have moments when I get triggered by something that reminds me of my marriage.

Just the other day, I was driving with my tween in the car when I heard a song from the past that made me think of her dad. I turned up the volume and sang every word. I could feel my daughter staring me down as I tried to hit a high note. “Your dad used to play this song all the time,” I said.

She just smiled and tried to learn the words so she could sit in a moment that felt more sweet than bitter. Moments like this catch me by surprise sometimes and I don’t always know how to respond.

Sometimes I cry and want to hide from the world, but sometimes I purposely shift my attitude to one of gratitude.

When I do the latter, I feel myself healing.

7 Tips to Help You

Heal from a Divorce  Write a list of all the things you’re thankful for. This can be anything from the people in your life to material things that make you happy.

Keep this list handy so you can pull it out and look at it whenever you need a boost.  Write a letter to someone you’ve been thinking about. When we do something nice for others, it makes us feel good which in turn, makes us feel better. I always have a stash of random cards on hand so I can send one out in a moment’s notice. It’s fun to do and it makes the other person receiving the letter feel important. It’s a winwin.  There will come a day (if it hasn’t already) when your ex will start dating again. Depending on why you divorced, this could be hard for you; especially if he’s moving on and you haven’t met anyone yet.

Hold your head up high and be thankful for the positive things you have going on in your life. This could be a roof over your head, food in the fridge, money in the bank, and healthy kids asleep in their beds. I know it doesn’t take away the pain of seeing someone you once loved with someone else, but it keeps things in perspective.  Take naps when you can. Just like when you had a baby and you would sneak in little catnaps here and there. Your body and mind are going to be in emotional overdrive and possibly even survival mode.

Divorce is traumatic and your body will hold onto that. You can lessen the impact it has on you by remembering to take good care of yourself. Be thankful that your body has gotten you through so much already.  I like to do a Crystal Ball activity with my clients in sessions when they’re feeling a little discouraged. I find that it helps them think about the future and instills hope when they need it most. Grab a piece of paper, draw a crystal ball, and write down or draw pictures depicting where you want to be in five years or what you want your life to be like in 5 years. Hang it somewhere you pass by often so you can use it as a visual reminder that things will be different a few years from now. When we’re in the middle of a mess, it can feel like ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 31

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we’re never going to get out of it. This form of art therapy helps get your brain unstuck.  Host a friend appreciation night. Sometimes when I’m feeling a little lonely and need a good boost, I’ll host a dinner or game night at my house and invite a bunch of my girlfriends. Doing these sorts of things helps remind me that I have so many people who love me and are encouraging me post-divorce. Doing things like this is such a huge part of my healing. Surrounding yourself with people who genuinely love you will fill your heart beyond anything you could ever imagine.  Call your mom and dad. If you have a relationship with them and they bring you some comfort, call them. I talk to my parents several times a week and expressing my gratitude for how much they have helped me since my divorce makes me feel appreciative and healthy.

Divorce affects so many people, including parents. I know all they want for me is to be happy and so if I can share my days with them, I know it helps all of us.

If you too are going through a divorce or are a few years post-divorce like me, try to include more gratitude in your life. It will change your perspective and encourage you to move forward rather than getting stuck in the past. I am constantly looking for ways to grow into this new version of myself while recognizing the bittersweet moments that catch me by surprise. I want my daughters to grow up knowing that while yes, their mom had hard moments, she was always thankful for the life she made. n

32 | November 2023

Youngberg Chapel sits in a valley near the headwaters of Spring River, near Verona.

The Chapel in the Vale Created as a retreat from the pressure of daily life

Story and photos by Steve Chapman

I

n a valley surrounded by the rolling hills in Verona, Missouri, Youngberg Chapel, a small country church, stands near the headwaters of Spring River.

Youngberg Chapel was built by the late Lyle Youngberg and his wife Charlotte in 2013; the church was completed and opened for its first service on September 7, 2014.

Charlotte said that she and Lyle built the church to give people in the area a place where they could find shelter from the pressures of everyday life.

“We wanted a place where people could come,” she said, “and just be given hope and to feel their faith and have really good music and a good minister, and be able to get through another week, another month, another year.”

Charlotte said that Lyle had a strong interest in architecture and practiced it as a hobby. He designed Youngberg Chapel. Charlotte recalled a time when a builder suggested that the chapel be built with a lower roof instead of a peaked one in order to save on certain expenses, such as the cost of heating the building. However, she said, Lyle wouldn’t budge.

“He wanted the peak roof,” she said.

“You know, there was a lot of discussion … between (him and the builder) about the roof … because the builder said, ‘Well, if you … would put it across, you wouldn’t have (as high of a) heating bill.’ I mean, he was being economical and trying to make him think, you know what it’s going to take for heat if you have it (as it is) now.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 33

Learn more about Youngberg Chapel

CONNECT FOR

WEDDINGS, EVENTS & SERVICES Charlotte Youngberg sits in front of the antique pump organ she acquired for the chapel. The organ dates back to 1880.

This olive wood carving of Jesus was a souvenir that Lyle and Charlotte purchased while on a trip in Israel.

34 | November 2023

“(But Lyle said) it had to have the high ceiling. You know, he wanted that. And I think he was right, because it really made it seem more a sacred place.”

The church is furnished with a number of unique items, including a painting of Jesus Christ that typically catches the eyes of people as they first enter. The painting, created by the late Barbara Ann Heath, depicts Jesus reaching upwards toward Heaven. Charlotte said she asked Barbara to paint the portrait based on another picture of Jesus that she and Lyle had found.

“This was the (picture) that we kind of liked,” Charlotte said, “but we wanted it so that Jesus was looking at kind of reaching out.

“So, all she had was just kind of like a little snap shot. We told her how

we wanted it changed, and so on, and that’s how it came out.”

Other furnishings include a carving of Jesus on the cross made from olive wood that Lyle and Charlotte purchased while on a trip to Israel, a pump organ that dates back to 1880, a chainsaw carved bear, a carved wooden eagle, a bell from 1800 that is housed in the steeple, stained glass windows and more.

The church has non-denominational services every Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m., led by Rev. Charles Bahn, who also leads services at First Christian Church in Mt. Vernon. However, the church doesn’t have a formal congregation.

“People are not required on Sunday to come and go up front and join the church or anything,” said Charlotte.

“Our philosophy was, if you come to

The interior of the Youngberg Chapel is decorated with several hand-picked items.

church on that Sunday… then you’re a part of the church that day.”

Another regular service is the Gospel Sing, held on the evening of the second Friday of each month. Charlotte said those who gather bring food for a potluck dinner, sing Gospel music and come and go as they please.

We’ve had some really wonderful talent,” said Charlotte, “and it’s a great way for people to just sit and enjoy and meet new people from other towns. And really, it’s turned out to be a really great thing for the Chapel.”

Besides being a place for worship, Youngberg Chapel can also be rented as an event venue for weddings, reunions and more. The building can comfortably seat 65 to 70 people indoors, though more can be seated in the balcony.

“I am always very honest with peopl … when they come and want to talk about weddings,” Charlotte said. “(I tell them) ‘You know that you’ll be most comfortable if your wedding is about this size.’”

Sometimes, people say they want to rent the church, even if they’re expecting a larger number of people, to which Charlotte tells them she will rent the church to them, but also advises them to think carefully before making a final decision.

Youngberg Chapel is located on Lawrence 1150, just about a half-mile south of where 1150 intersects with Business 60 in Verona. For more information, or to book the chapel for an event, call (417) 498-6511, e-mail Charlotte Youngberg at cayoungberg@ suddenlink.net or visit the Youngberg Chapel Facebook page. n

Lyle Youngberg added this covered bridge to the chapel in 2016. He added the bridge so that guest who needed to park on the church property across a creek that runs next to the chapel could do so without going onto the roadway.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 35

CUTEST PET

November 2023 contest winner

10-week old Pyrenees and Anatolian cross Maggie, fur baby of Aubrey Kelley, of Aurora

Maggie 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.

36 | November 2023

Senior owner plan for pet’s future

RESCUED, MY FAVORITE BREED Here are pictures of three of their successful rescues:

by Christa Stout

Making All the Arrangements This one is pretty personal, if you looked at the pictures first, you would see a new face in my family, her name is Muffin.

much less their longtime pet. This could happen to you or me just like this couple who had to give up their dog.

Muffin’s senior owners recently encountered some health problems that forced one of them into a hospital and the other into senior living, which did not allow them to keep their dog with them. Desperate, their granddaughter, whose own dogs did not get along with Muffin, contacted shelters and ACO’s for help.

So, please try to make arrangements for your pet, just in case, and euthanization is not an answer, if the dog is perfectly health.

My daughter saw her and brought the little girl to my attention and of course, I couldn’t say no. This poor dog who had spent all of her 9 years with her owners, was suddenly homeless and missing her owners. She was overweight but otherwise healthy, so we made an appointment for a meet and greet between Muffin and big ole Rudi, the German Shepherd.

The granddaughter was kind enough to bring Muffin to my house and with a lot of trepidation, we turned them loose. Wow, they did the usual sniff contest, but otherwise pretty well ignored each other – great, that’s a good start.

And suddenly, I was a two-dog house again.

I am bringing this to everyone’s attention again, because of the difficulty in placing senior dogs if their owners encounter difficulties, whether these are monetary, health wise or an enforced move because they no longer have the ability to take care of themselves,

But back to Muffin – yes that was her name for nine years and I wasn’t about to change that, she has had enough of an upset, without calling her a different name.

Muffin may have been a beagle mix, but to me she looks more like a corgi mix. She is a sweet dog, who is slowly finding her way in her new world.

At first she refused to eat anything and everything I offered her. I had never known a dog to refuse doggy ice cream or browned hamburger.

Muffin did and still does sometimes. She is slowly adjusting to her new schedule which usually starts at 6 a.m., and she is just not ready for the day yet, slowly but surely she will eat a little more kibbles but never the full portion, which isn’t all that bad, since she still needs to lose some weight, but as a dog mom, it really bothers me.

I know, dogs will not starve themselves, but it is just hard to see a dog refuse food.

The first week or so, I took her with me wherever I went, whether the museum (and yes, she loved everyone and she is housebroken), the park to have lunch with my daughter, or to pickup a few things at the grocery store, she had to ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 37

stay in the car (it was during one of the chilly days), but she didn’t seem to mind that.

Since she is a senior dog, I am trying to give her some hip and joint medicine, but so far I haven’t found anything that makes her eat it. Tonight’s try is going to be peanut butter, wish me luck!

After a week, I was sort of ready to try leaving the two dogs at home together – by themselves! Thanks to my daughter’s encouragement, with a lot of trepidation, I left the house, but not before I set security camera so I could watch and make sure nothing was going wrong. As it always happens, dogs will do so much better than I expect, and they made a fool of me for worrying. These days, if I have to leave, they will sleep most of the time, after all they are seniors and are entitled to their naps, right?

The next experiment was taking them both for a ride in the car at the same time. Again on a cool day, I loaded them up, Rudi in his usual place in the back (he takes up most of the back seat), and Muffin in the passenger seat in front. They have seatbelts, so no worries. By now I am feeling a little more secure, and they didn’t let me down. They did get a nice treat when I got back to the car.

I know we will have a few bumps down the road, but so far so good.

Muffin is showing a little more confidence, but I am hoping this will not be an issue and as of right now I have no reason to think otherwise. Progress is happening everywhere, Muffin is losing a little weight, Rudi is a little more active because he has competition and we are all getting use to new routines.

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38 | November 2023

Adding a dog to your household has its ups and downs, but they rely on you to be the leader, that you make the rules, but also that you make sure they both feel that this is now their forever home. So wish Rudi, Muffin and me luck and a long life for all! n

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Advertiser Index

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Mike and Phyllis Garrett, of Monett, recently returned from a vacation in France where they enjoyed visiting with two former Monett AFS students and had an opportunity to share Connection Magazine with each of them. In the first picture, the Garretts are pictured with Frédérique Laouenan who stayed with the K.C. Caldwell family in 1981-82. Frédérique now teaches English in Blois, France. In the second picture, Mike and Phyllis met with Anna Carlberg Belfrage who lived with H.C. and Marty Beckwith in 1970-71. Anna lives in Stockholm, Sweden but they all met in Bonnieux, France.

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 41

PARTING SHOT

Monett sky. Photo by Murray Bishoff

“Do you give as much energy to your dreams as you do to your fears?”

– Unknown

42 | November 2023

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44 | November 2023