Connection December 2018

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December 2018

Grandma’s House Memories of Holidays past

Together Family

the Hickman sisters

Rewarding 2018

Cox Monett honors

Purdy Health Center Meeting the need

The Magic of

Christmas A Magazine Dedicated to Southwest Missourians

& Lots of

Holiday Recipes

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2 | December 2018

Serving The Area Since 1978

www.edwardjones.com A magazine dedicated to Southwest Missourians

general manager Lisa Craft monettcommunity@gmail.com EDITOR Kyle Troutman editor@cassville-democrat.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Sheila Harris James Craig Marion Chrysler CONTRIBUTORS Murray Bishoff Meagan Ruffing Lisa Ramirez Darlene Wierman Melonie Roberts Sheila Harris Susan Funkhouser Pam Wormington Jared Lankford Jordan Privett Dionne Zebert Jane Severson Verna Fry Christa Stout Cheryl Williams Sierra Gunter PHOTOGRAPHERS Chuck Nickle Brad Stillwell Jamie Brownlee Amy Sampson

Call or visit your local financial advisor today.

aurora____________________________ Jeramie Grosenbacher, CFP®

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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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

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Connection Magazine | 3

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Staff Editorial

Christmas Time vs. Time at Christmas

T

his is a beautiful time of the year, with all of the decorations, the colors and the lights that are placed everywhere. I personally love the lights at Christmas and could gaze at them for hours and just dream of past Christmases.

One of the phrases used this time of year is “hustle and bustle.” This usually portrays a large amount of activity and work, usually in a noisy surrounding. So one finds themselves running here and there to find that perfect gift. Hurrying to get all of your shopping done, get all of your decorating done, checking your list to see if all are bought for, wrapping those gifts, making Christmas candies and cookies, getting pictures made with Santa, cleaning before the family gets together, putting up the tree, trying to figure out what are good stocking stuffers, traveling from one family/friends house to another to wish good cheer and deliver gifts.

My goodness, I could continue with this list, but honestly, I am now tired just writing and thinking about it.

There are many who thrive on all of the holiday activity, and I will admit a lot of it is fun, especially seeing all the fun and my favorite watching all of the children open their gifts. But this year, maybe we should ask ourselves–is our Christmas time interfering with our time at Christmas?

We all age, and we outgrow waiting for Santa on Christmas morning. As time marches on, we find we cannot keep up with the “hustle and bustle” or those that thrived on preparing for the big family get-togethers–we just cannot do that anymore. So when the ones that could, can’t anymore, do the younger ones who can, realize how much was contributed for them in the past and spend time with those who did on past Christmases?

Are there those that time at Christmas would be the most precious gift that person could receive? I remember a

small lamp on a round end table at my Grandmother’s house that she would sit by to read her Bible. That memory warms my heart, and I would love to be able to sit at that table by that lamp and hold her hand and talk about Christmases in the past at her home. So many people would gather in her home, and there was always so much love to be shared. If she were here today, my gift to her would be my time.

Seniors are not the only ones forgotten. Children are often forgotten also.

Children whose families cannot afford to give them Christmas gifts, or a Christmas meal. I will always believe that children are a gift from God, but situations happen. Parents lose their jobs, accidents happen, a single parent is struggling, bills overcome the paycheck and the fantasy of Christmas for a child is overcome by a black cloud of reality. Take time for that child at Christmas–donate food, give a gift. Expose that beautiful child to the real beautiful Christmas story of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Some of the most wonderful memories I have as a child at Christmas are at church. During that time it just seems, warmer, more beautiful and loving.

I want to wish everyone a very wonderful, beautiful and blessed Christmas. I also hope and pray that everyone enjoys their Christmas time and hopefully will find someone to have time with at Christmas. Believe me when I say you will be blessed.

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

Connection Magazine | 5

FREE

December 2018

Grandma’s House MeMories of Holidays past

Together Family

tHe HickMan sisters

Rewarding 2018

cox Monett Honors

Purdy Health Center Meeting tHe need

The Magic of

Christmas & A MAgAzine DeDicAteD to SouthweSt MiSSouriAnS

Lots of Holiday Recipes

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

Email it to connection@monett-times.com

JOIN US ONLINE: Facebook.com/MyConnectionMo Twitter.com/MyConnection_Mo

36

HOLIDAY DESSERT RECIPE CONTEST First Place: Seven-layer Magic Bars

Contents 10 Special Shopping Section

27 Healthy Connection: Mindful eating, part 2

45

29 Recipes: Holiday highlights

31 Parenting column: Teach giving spirit 35 Cutest Kid(s)

36 Holiday Dessert Recipe Contest winners 41 Housing Around: Floors 52 Cutest Pet

53 Rescued, My Favorite Breed 57 Community Calendar

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59 Familiar Faces

64 Connection on the Go 66 Parting Shot

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Connection Magazine | 7

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Features 15 | Christmas memories

Lana Couch of Cassville holds dear Holiday decor laced with stories of love and family

20 | Cox Monett soars in 2018

Regional hospital received five notable awards for service and workplace excellence

37 | Sharing tradition

The Hickman sisters have gathered for weekly breakfast for over 60 years

45 | Purdy Health Clinic

Valerie Bennett, NP, establishes care for Purdy residents after years of emergency experience

37 50 | Expecting a bundle of joy?

TCPRC of Aurora is here to lend a helping hand with getting baby boots on the ground

Connection Magazine | 9

Shopping Cassville Sports World Cassville

Sports World in Cassville has school apparel, customizable for any district. They also offer a wide selection of T-shirts.

letterman jackets This would make a great Christmas present for that student to attach their school accomplishments on.

Tomblin’s Jewelry Cassville

Tomblin’s Jewelry and Gifts in Cassville offers Arthur Court accent serving pieces that will make your Christmas season glow.

fine silver 10 | December 2018

They offer Lollia soaps, hand creams, bubble bath, shower gels and perfumes.

thoughtful gifts

Whitley’s Pharmacy in Cassville offers this unique ‘Amazing Grace’ sign that would make a great gift for anyone on your list.

Whitley’s Pharmacy Cassville

They offer assorted nuts, flavored, chocolate covered and peanut brittle.

Whitley’s Pharmacy offers these beautiful candles from Bridgewater Candle Company. If you buy one candle you feed one child for one day. A great Christmas gift that keeps on giving.

Bullets ‘N Bows Cassville

They have a line of Thomas and Friends discontinued collectables and toys.

Bullets ’N Bows in Cassville can fulfill that little girl’s fantasy with a Greenleaf buildable wooden doll house or a Corona Concept cabin doll house. Great gifts to wake up to on Christmas morning.

This set of beautiful collectible mugs featuring the perfect pictures of deer in the wild is just right for that special someone.

collectible toys

Connection Magazine | 11

Shopping Monett Get relaxed with a hot cup of chamomile tea in a tea pot for one and browse through a book on natural remedies at Now & Zen, located at 845 Hwy. 60, Ste. D in Monett. This shop offers everything from crystals to natural teas, natural remedies, men and women’s tie dyed clothing, and other new age wonders.

Now & Zen 845 Hwy. 60, Ste. D - Monett

Shopping for something different? Try the hats, hoodies and backpacks at Now & Zen. The shop also carries incense, salt lamps, candles, sterling silver rings, tarot and oracle cards.

Strike the little ones off your Christmas shopping list by getting them adorable holiday-themed T-shirts or gifts at Emmett’s Emporium, located at 208 E. Washington St. in Pierce City.

Keep the chill away in one of these casual and comfy dusters, now available at The Rusty Rabbit and Emmett’s Emporium, 208 E. Washington St. in Pierce City. Customers may also customize a gift basket for the holidays with special coffee blends, dip mixes, bread mixes and more.

Wrap up in one of these cosy cable knit sweaters, which have arrived just in time for Christmas at the Rusty Rabbit and Emmett’s Emporium, located at 208 E. Washington St. in Pierce City. The shop offers select lines of women’s and children’s clothing, home decor, specialty coffee and blends, cards, bread mixes and other gourmet goodies.

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Emmett’s Emporium

12 | December 2018

Soft as velvet and warm as wool, these cozy sweaters, along with many others, can be found at Strut, located at Hwy. 60, Ste. E, in Monett.

Women can kick the winter blues with new shoes and ankle boots at Peppers and Co., located at 416 E Broadway St., in Monett. In addition, the boutique offers accessories such as purses, jewelry and watches.

Strut

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Connection Magazine | 13

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Lana Couch has multiple Christmas villages, This is her prized Thomas Kinkade Christmas village. It stands on a table, and when visitors come to her home it is the first thing they see.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

L Local woman decorates 19 Christmas trees with individual themes

ana Couch retired after 31 years of teaching home economics at Cassville school. In a home just east of Cassville, Couch begins the holiday season by elaborately decorating for Christmas.

“I decorate it for myself,” Couch said. “I’ve made Christmas a reflection of my life, and it is kind of emotional.”

Couch said she started about 47 years ago, and she just keeps adding to it.

“My friends and family know it’s what I do,” Couch said. “I just work on it all the time and I do enjoy it.

I like unwrapping all the trees and ornaments every season.”

According to Couch, when someone drives by her house, from

Story by Jordan Privett

the outside you don’t see anything.

“My grandchildren and children expect the decorations,” Couch said.

“There are things we put out every year that have become a tradition.”

Couch said she has one little village, and her children say, ‘It isn’t Christmas until the village is out.’

“I bought it from Johnston’s in 1969 for half price after Christmas,” Couch said. “It looks so pretty with the buildings, and it lights up.”

Couch said her first two children would play with it, and it has been riddled over the years.

“We were in a flea market once, and we saw the little houses for the village for $8-$12 a piece,” Couch said. “So I bought them, and now it has really become a Christmas estate instead of just a village.”

Connection Magazine | 15

Lana Couch decorates her home with 19 Christmas trees and other festive holiday pieces every year for Christmas. This is a wreath she made after her husband passed away ­­–it is made up of gift tags from gifts their children made for their father.

According to Couch, Christmas means family. Couch taught at Cassville school for 31 years, and during Christmastime she wasn’t at school, she was at home.

“My husband was in the excavation business, so that was always a slow time of the year for him as well,” Couch said. “So it just became family time to us.”

Couch said that no one believes in God more than her, but she doesn’t do the decorating for a religious reason.

“I think we need to celebrate Jesus every day of the year,” Couch said.

“Not only on Christmas and Easter.”

Couch will be 69 years old in March, and she fell quite sick a couple of years ago.

“The doctors didn’t think I was going to make it,” Couch said. “They were telling me in rehab, ‘You need to slow down.’

Lana Couch has a love for Santa Clause, and she adds to her collection every year.

16 | December 2018

In Lana Couch’s winter wonderland, decorations fill every shelf, wall and room. In her dinning room she has Christmas cards that she made for her parents when she was a little girl.

I just told them that they didn’t understand, I needed to get well and put my Christmas trees up.”

Couch has put together a scrap book of different decorations and holiday tributes. The book includes photos of a wreath she made with all her children’s hand prints, cards that she made her parents when she was young, handmade Santa’s, photos of the first Santa she ever bought, collectibles from her childhood and from the first Christmas she and her husband were married.

“I really like Santas, and I have Santa figurines from almost every nationality,” Couch said. “I always do a Christmas letter for the family and send it out to everyone. I have a real love for the Christmas buildings, like my Norman Rockwell’s

Christmas village, and I buy so many of my ornaments from Bruner Pharmacy in Monett.”

Couch has about 19 trees that are decorated with a theme according to the room they go in.

“The Christmas tree that goes in the bathroom has almost 80 ornaments on it!” Couch said. “I have one with cars and trucks, and one that is decorated with white and red. There isn’t really a reason for that one other than a saw a photo in a magazine like it, and I really wanted it.”

Couch taught the Home Economics class, and she has a little sewing tree.

“I made thimbles into bells,” Couch said. “The Angel is made of a pin cushion with wings made from measuring tape.”

Couch said over the years she just

keep adding to the trees and arrangements.

“After my husband died, Santa became my main man,” Couch said.

“I can go through and tell you where and who all of my pieces came from. I just sit and reflect on them.”

Couch said her husband’s tree has machines and tractor ornaments on it with a John Deer Santa. Also, she has a wreath that has all the tags from gifts from her children to their father from over the years.

“The counter tops in my home, and the shelves on the walls are covered with so many decorations,” Couch said. “A Santa that was my aunt’s, Christmas cards, ornaments, Santa’s glasses and a map of the north pole.”

Connection Magazine | 17

According to Couch, she also has a Thomas Kinkade Christmas Village that lights up.

“I have stars and snowflakes that were made by Sunday school children and family members,” Couch said. “I have a baby tree, with a shoe from all the children and grandchildren with their names and birth year written on it. There is a pink and blue Santa next to it.”

Couch said she has some Santa figurines that her daughter painted for her when she lived in Cleveland. Couch has a tree with ornaments of what Christmas looks like in different places all over the world. A snow tree that has snowmen, snowflakes and mittens on it.

“My granddaughter was looking a tree once and said, ‘Grandma, I didn’t know you have been to Yellow Stone.’”

Couch said. “I told her, ‘I haven’t, but you have, and you brought that back for me.’”

When Couch retired her co-workers gave her a wooden board with a snowman painted on it, and every one had signed it.

“There are certain things that my children expect to see around Christmas,” Couch said. “There was one time I had to move the tree to another wall in the living room because it was so big, my son didn’t like that the tree was in a different spot.”

Couch said when she has had to get rid of trees, because they are too old or damaged, she will keep some of the branches to use in other arrangements.

“We always have Christmas dinner on Christmas eve,” Couch said. “It is the same traditional baked ham, cheesy potatoes, hot rolls and green bean casserole.”

Couch said on Christmas day they have cinnamon rolls and breakfast casserole, and for lunch they have chili and baked potato soup.

18 | December 2018

“One year I made biscuits and gravy for Christmas morning,” Couch said.

“And you know what, it was just like when I had moved that tree. It just wasn’t the tradition.”

According to Couch, her husband Phil passed away 17 years ago, but she just couldn’t stand to get rid of his clothes.

“A couple of years ago, I cut up his clothes and made quilts for my children,” Couch said. “I had all the kids stop, and open that present at the same time. They weren’t prepared for it, they were all shocked.”

Couch said she doesn’t think she is very hard to shop for. However, one year Phil couldn’t come up with something to buy her, so she bought herself a hot glue gun, wrapped it and put it under the tree.

Couch said sometimes her family tease her about all the trees, but if she didn’t do it they would be upset.

“Christmas was always a big deal in my house growing up,” Couch said. “My mother decorated the outside of our house. That is painful because it is cold, rainy, snowy and you have to go plug in the lights.

“I remember thinking, ‘I will never do this.’ I was wrong­­–it happened to me.

I just decorate the inside so I’m comfortable and can see them for myself.”

Couch said she had a really good family friend that lived to be 105, and Couch would have her over every year for Christmas.

“Her vision was bad, but she would sit in front of my Norman Rockwell

“Christmas means family.”

“After that, I just started buying my gifts and would make Phil buy them from me to give it to me,” Couch said. “He always said, ‘Well you are getting what you want.’”

Last year, Couch said she did something really neat for her daughter. She said it was a lot of work, but her daughter really appreciated it.

“I sent a letter and a recipe card to friends, family, high school friends, college friends and people she had met through any kind of organization,” Couch said. “They filled out the cards and sent them back to me. I got over 100 recipes back!

“I made them into a recipe book for her.”

Christmas village and just stare at it,” couch said. “She would say, ‘I can see the people walking.’”

Couch said she really made it her world, and it was just so neat to watch her enjoy the moment.

“I love Christmas, and I love decorating for Christmas,” Couch said. “There is nothing professional about my decorations but they feel homey.”

Richard Asbill Cassville school superintendent said Lana was always focused on the upcoming holiday, no matter what season that may be.

“She was always very mindful about her room decorations,” Asbill said. “She was always doing her best to help everybody enjoy the holidays.” n

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Connection Magazine | 19

Cox Monett celebrates 2018:

a year of achievement

Darren Bass, president of Cox Monett Hospital and system vice president of the Community Hospital Group for CoxHealth, was recognized with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Visionary Leadership Award for his commitment to quality improvement, and patient and workforce satisfaction.

The award was presented at the MHA’s 96th annual Convention and Trade Show. From left, are: Dr. Tom Trent, Darren Bass and William Mahoney.

On the mountaintop 20 | December 2018

Best Place to Work Community Celebration during the First on Front Street concert.

Cox Monett employees celebrated being named one of the top 150 places to work in healthcare by giving away CoxHealth T-shirts to the community.

From left: Samson Porter, Cheryl Webb, Zach Carnes, Susan White, Darren Bass, Deb Dodson and Lana Ray.

I

The hospital leadership began building steps to keep t’s been quite a year for Cox Monett Hospital.

Named the 39th best place in America in the hospital moving forward, validating a positive exhealthcare to work by Modern Healthcare mag- perience, doing research based intervention, creating azine, among other recognitions, Cox Monett a message that both veteran staff and new employees has received recognition that its leaders will say it took would hear. years of effort. Several top honors simply all came at once.

“About five and a half years ago, our The approach developed fit under senior leadership team, when Genny the acronym AIDET: Maroc was Cox Monett president, decided we were going to be different,” said  Acknowledge: Tell people they are welcome.

Cox Monett President Darren Bass. “We  Introduce: Tell people who is caring for them, were going to spend some dollars to unletting patients know they are in good hands, explainderstand what is best practice in regard ing staff training and why they are in good hands. to patient care. We contacted a company Darren Bass to measure a level of service that people President, Cox Monett  Duration: Telling patients how long the stay will don’t expect.” be, helping them to understand what to expect.

Bass observed that people coming to a hospital ex Explain: Letting patients know what is happenpect their physical condition to improve. He said they ing and why, acknowledging that a needle prick may may not anticipate how they are treated. hurt, and that all will be done to make what is neces“It could be a smile, or explaining things to reduce sary bearable. their anxiety, or making them a provider to their care,  Thank you: Telling people Cox Monett appreas opposed to us doing something to them,” Bass said. ciates people being chosen as the care provider, especially now that there are more options in the marketplace.

Story by Murray Bishoff

Connection Magazine | 21

The challenge, he noted, was to make this approach the standard from the first day of care. Staff had to learn tactics, making sure patients were validated, that these approaches were done consistently.

Janell Patton “We had to change our culture,” Director of Communications said Janell Patton, director of community relations for Cox Monett. “We had to set us apart from the competition through the culture within the walls of the hospital.”

“A big part of that is getting employee engagement,” said Beverly Eli, chief nursing officer. “We began doing rounds with employees each month, finding out what is important to them.”

Bev Eli Bass began leading quarterly forums Chief Nursing Officer with staff, disbursing important messages, providing the State of the Hospital on finances and service.

“There’s a lot of transparency, good and bad,” said Heidi Clark, nurse manager for the emergency department, cardiac rehab, urgent care and the medical/surgical department. “It’s an opportunity for improvement.”

“It’s a chance to highlight special Heidi Clark things happening in the hospital and Nurse Manager the clinics, to go above and beyond to make the patient experience better,” said Kevin Norris, rehabilitation manager.

“A big piece of the culture change was helping employees to focus on the positive more,” added Josh Powell, hospital comptroller. “Clinicians and nurses a lot of times focus on the negative.

Kevin Norris That’s what they’re paid to do. With our Rehabilitation Manager employees, there was a shift in mindset to focus on the positive more. In meetings we hold, whether it’s in the senior leaders group or all of the employees, we start with asking what’s working well? We spend five or 10 minutes on that, what people like about their jobs, trying to get positive things out there first.”

22 | December 2018

Joshua Powell Hospital Comptroller

“We had to help employees connect with what they do for the hospital,” Patton said.

“For environmental services, we had to help them understand they don’t just clean. Their work keeps patients free from infection. In nutrition, they feed people so they can get better and go home. It’s all based off the pillars: quality service, people, business and community.”

Powell observed that the view of the hospital within the community changed.

“Historically, we were not thought of as the first place people wanted to go for care,” Powell said. “That’s changed, I think because of the way we engaged people.”

Several steps identified how the hospital engaged the community. This included becoming the only hospital in Missouri to earn a Level 4 certification for stroke or heart attack (ST segment elevation myocardial infarction or STEMI) care facility for time critical diagnosis.

Bass pointed out that grew from investing in the ability to make a time critical diagnoses and meeting tough parameters for responding.

“It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t cheap,” Bass said.

“We had to have designated people to help us.

It was the right thing to do.”

Cox Monett Hospital achieved 5-Star rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, putting it in the top 7 percent of hospitals nationwide.

Pictured, from left, are William Mahoney, Fabby Ortiz Rodriguez and Darren Bass.

Cox Monett earned the No. 39 spot on Modern Healthcare’s 2018 list of Best Places to Work in Healthcare — the first time the hospital has earned this recognition from the national publication. Cox Monett was specifically mentioned for “changing the culture” of health care in Monett.

Eight employees and two leaders attended the prestigious event in Dallas, Texas.

Opening up an urgent care was another step.

Available five days a week, the urgent care offers an option from driving to Springfield or Joplin. Adding a new level of staff engagement also proved critical. “Low employee engagements results in hospital acquired conditions and low outcomes,” Bass said. “If employees are engaged, the staff is always on.

“When I talk to my peers in rural healthcare, many are not seeing volume growth. Many are seeing volume decline. In 2018, we’re seeing growth in many areas.Inpatient growth is up over 2017 by more than 10 percent. Outpatient growth is up 10 percent.

Labor and delivery is up over 22 percent. If people are in crisis and coming in on an ambulance, they need to go to the closest appropriate hospital. What defines choice is the ancillaries, the outpatient services. We’re seeing single and double digit growth in our outpatient services. That’s our future. We’re the hospital people choose because they have a choice.”

Other signs reflect how patients feel. Patton pointed to thanks expressed by patients written on the

room white boards as they are discharged, to thank you notes mailed.

Clark noted the emergency department gives a patient experience card to its customers with the names of the people who cared for them. Patients are encouraged to fill out a survey to help hold staff accountable for the job they’ve done. Eli noted most departments have similar cards. The surgery department conducts follow-up calls, and the general surgeon will call patients to check on them. Staff in family practice and obstetrics make home visits.

On top of that, the hospital has worked to expand its resources. These have included tele-health, connecting staff with specialists via online links.

Bass said with high definition cameras, dermatologists have been able to see conditions missed by the naked eye. A psychiatric intervention team and a crisis aversion team are also available to Cox Monett patients, in part to help determine if a person can receive treatment on an outpatient basis or needs to be hospitalized.

Connection Magazine | 23

Clark noted Cox Monett works closely with the Clark Community Mental Health Center on behavior health issues.

For the past four years, Cox Monett has sought to improve by participating in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) grading of hospitals.

Creating a bell curve, CMS rates a few hospitals at the low end, with a 1 or 2 rating, and a few at the high end, a 4 or 5, giving most a middle ground rating of 3. Cox Monett entered the evaluation with a 4 rating, one of the top 20 percent in the nation, then held that rating.

“The staff has always asked, ‘What does it take to be a 5-star hospital,’” Bass said. “It comes down to consistency. This year we did it. We were considered one of the top 6 to 7 percent of hospitals across the country.”

With that milestone crossed, Patten said the hospital chose to pursue an evaluation by Modern Healthcare as one of the best places to work in healthcare.

This was an equally rigorous assessment but with a twist. As an employer, the hospital management filled out a 26-page survey. Then a 78-page employee survey followed, answered anonymously and would only be valid if at least 40 percent of staff chose to respond.

Response level topped 70 percent.

“That made us feel great,” Patton said. “It told us how engaged the employees really are.”

After a wait of several months, word came in July that Cox Monett was one of 150 picked for the Best Places to Work in Healthcare list. Where remained a mystery until the awards ceremony in September in Dallas, Texas. As part of the ongoing employee engagement effort, attending the awards ceremony was opened to eight staffers to accompany Bass and Patton to the event. Forty were interested. Eight and three alternates got the nod.

In Dallas they learned Modern Healthcare honored 75 suppliers and vendors, as well as 75 hospitals. Of that smaller list, Cox Monett took honors at no. 39.

“It was the first time we applied,” Patton said. “It’s rare to be selected on the first try. We were very blessed to come in so high.”

“When you look at there being 5,000 hospitals in the U.S., to be 39th is quite an achievement, and a testament to how our staff feels about working here,” Bass said.

If that wasn’t enough, the Hospital Auxiliary was named Auxiliary of the Year in the small hospital category by the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA). It’s

24 | December 2018

Cox Monett Auxiliary was honored by the Missouri Hospital Association for exceptional efforts as an auxiliary representing a hospital with between one and 30 licensed beds. Pictured with the award are volunteers Hiedi Carlin, left, and Beth Gann.

the third time Cox Monett has won that honor, the last time in 2009.

Between June 2017 and June 2018, 34 auxiliary members provided 4,507 hours of service to the hospital. Through fundraisers, the auxiliary donated $15,840 to support hospital initiatives, including scholarships. This year, the auxiliary started a new pet therapy program, with Golden Retrievers Trooper and Jo, to ease stress and provide comfort; they added a Lunch and Learn for local clergy to promote the pastoral services program; and they added “med bug” to the line of handmade items provided to children undergoing surgery.

Also at the MHA’s annual convention on Nov. 8, Bass was named to receive the Missouri Hospital Association’s Visionary Leadership Award.

This last honor brought spontaneous support expressed by the hospital’s leaders.

“I don’t think any of this would be possible without great leadership, and a great leader leading this organization,” Patton said. “We’ve got one in Darren Bass that challenges us to be the best for each other and for our patients.”

“Darren has a gift to exude positivity and still accountability,” Powell added. “It’s a rare combination.”

“This was a journey, a work in progress” Bass said.

“We’ve seen it improve yearly. We’ve seen in consistency — every patient, every encounter, every time.” n

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healthy Connection

Enjoying every bite Mindful and Grateful Eating During the Holiday Season: Part 2

L

ast month, we presented tips for mindful eating during the holidays.

Hopefully you put to practice some mindful eating skills during Thanksgiving celebrations.

As the holiday gatherings continue on, remember to continue practicing gratitude, reflection, and slowing down and savoring the meal time experience.

During the holidays it’s easy to get carried away with the hustle and bustle but remember that food is something to be enjoyed.

Enjoy the moments that come with eating like the people around you and the beauty in the time of year. Most of all, enjoy every bite so that you can make it last until next year to have grandma’s homemade stuffing and mom’s famous pies.

Try this delicious and nutritious recipe that is just too good to not eat mindfully:

Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash Recipe from: Heartbeet Kitchen Prep time: 10 minutes/Cook time: 25 minutes Ingredients: 1 lb brussels sprouts washed, trimmed and halved 1 1/2 lb butternut squash, peeled and diced into 1/2 in cubes (about 3 cups) 2 tbsp olive oil, divided Salt to taste 3/4 c toasted pecans 1/2 c dried cranberries

Glaze: 2 tbsp butter, melted 2 tsp honey 3 tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice 1 tbsp orange zest 1/2 tsp black pepper 2 tsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions: • In a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Swirl to coat pan, then add in squash. Stir the squash pieces so they are coated with oil and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt. Shake the pan so squash spreads out in an even layer and let cook, without stirring, so that they brown a bit on one side (several minutes). Stir and spread the pieces out again and let cook without stirring so more sides get browned. Let cook until the squash is soft, but holds it shape. (This will depend on the size you cut your squash so try one to test.) Once done, remove from heat and pour into a bowl.

• Heat the other tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat using the same pan. When it’s very hot, place the brussels sprouts cut side down in the oil, sprinkling with ½ teaspoon salt. Turn the heat to medium, and sear on one side until nicely browned, about three minutes.

• Turn the brussels sprouts over and cook on the other side until nicely browned and tender, three to five minutes. Some of the leaves can be charred dark brown or black.

• Turn heat down to low and add the squash back to the pan, along with the pecan mix. Stir in the glaze and cook for a few minutes, coating all ingredients and warming through.

Olivia Everitt, a dietetic intern from Cox College, is from a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania.

She grew up on a farm where her family raised beef cattle and grew a backyard garden. Her interests in the field of nutrition include sustainable food systems, preventive nutrition and nutrigenomics.

Connection Magazine | 27

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HOLIDAY Recipes

Christmas Brunch Casserole

Grandma Abbey’s Christmas Cookies

Ingredients 1 pound bacon 2 onions, chopped 2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms 1 tablespoon butter

Ingredients

4 cups frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed

1 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 egg

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cups milk

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 pinch dried parsley 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions • Place bacon in a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain and set aside. Add the mushrooms and onion to the skillet; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent and the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes.

• Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with the tablespoon of butter. Place potatoes in bottom of prepared dish. Sprinkle with salt, garlic salt, and pepper. Top with crumbled bacon, then add the onions and mushrooms.

• In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs with the milk and parsley. Pour the beaten eggs over the casserole and top with grated cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

• Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until set.

Cook’s Note If you’re baking this the same day you make it (so it’s not refrigerated) reduce the bake time to 45 minutes.

1 cup buttermilk

Christmas Poinsetta Punch Ingredients 3/4 (64 fluid ounce) bottle cranberry juice 1 liter club soda 1 (750 milliliter) bottle orange-flavored vodka 1 (750 milliliter) bottle champagne, or more to taste 1/2 cup fresh cranberries

Directions • Combine chilled cranberry juice, club soda, vodka, and Champagne (see Cook’s Note).

• Garnish with fresh cranberries.

Cook’s Note If making punch ahead of time, combine cranberry juice and vodka first and chill well. Add club soda, Champagne, and fresh cranberries just before serving.

3 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed Directions • Cream together butter and sugar in a large bowl.

Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Combine the nutmeg, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a small bowl. Stir in the buttermilk and add this mixture to the creamed ingredients. Gradually stir in the flour one cup at a time. If dough is still too sticky to roll, gradually add more flour until you can form the dough into a ball. Cover and chill dough for at least an hour.

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes and place on ungreased cookie sheet.

• Bake until no indentation remains when cookies are lightly touched, about 10 minutes. Cool cookies on rack.

Cook’s Note If you’re baking this the same day you make it (so it’s not refrigerated) reduce the bake time to 45 minutes.

Connection Magazine | 29

Cranberry Christmas Salad

honey-glazed ham

Ingredients

Ingredients

1 pound cranberries, finely ground

1 (5 pound) ready-to-eat ham

2 cups white sugar

1/4 cup whole cloves

1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple,

1/4 cup dark corn syrup

drained

2 cups honey

1 (16 ounce) package miniature marshmallows

2/3 cup butter

1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

• Score ham, and stud with the whole cloves. Place ham in foil lined pan.

• In the top half of a double boiler, heat the corn syrup, honey and butter. Keep glaze warm while baking ham.

• Brush glaze over ham, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Baste ham every 10 to 15 minutes with the honey glaze.

During the last 4 to 5 minutes of baking, turn on broiler to caramelize the glaze. Remove from oven, and let sit a few minutes before serving.

1 pint whipped cream, beaten stiff

Directions

Cranberry Sauce Ingredients 12 ounces cranberries 1 cup white sugar 1 cup orange juice

Directions • In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in the orange juice. Stir in the cranberries and cook until the cranberries start to pop (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and place sauce in a bowl. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

30 | December 2018

• Mix together the cranberries and sugar; cover and refrigerate overnight.

• The next day, combine the cranberry mixture with the pineapple, marshmallows, pecans and whipped cream. Mix well.

• Pour into a 3 quart dish, cover and refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve.

Parenting Column

7 Simple Ways to Get Your Kids Involved in Good Things

Winter Break Boredom Busters

I

think we can all agree that there are mixed feelings when winter break rolls around. We’re excited because we get to see our kids more but we’re stressed because we have to see our kids more.

Winter break is a time for kids to stay up late, sleep in late, and lounge around the house in their pajamas. We always have good intentions of doing fun things on school break and while we may do one or two things here and there, the notorious, “I’m bored!” is bound to creep up on even the most organized parents. Help prepare yourself and your sanity for this year’s upcoming winter break with these seven boredom busters.

Volunteer Volunteer at a food bank or soup kitchen. Most places have a website you can go to, to find basic information about who to call to inquire about helping out. Pick up the phone, make the call, and let the person on the other end of the line know that you and your kiddos would like to volunteer for a few hours. While you’re at it, ask if there’s anything they’re low on so you can bring a few donations with you. This is a great way to do something nice for your community and it doesn’t cost a thing.

Parenting journalist and author, Meagan Ruffing, loves a good challenge.

Her three children will be using this list during their winter break this year.

Connection Magazine | 31

Write letters Bake for good Make cookies or a meal for a sick friend or neighbor or for the new family who just moved in down the street from you. Break out a trusty family recipe or buy the “Break & Bake” cookies at the grocery store if you’re in a pinch for time. Let your kids take the lead on as much as they can. Little ones can break apart the dough and place the cookies on a sheet pan while you teach your tween how to start the oven. Get crafty and have your kids decorate a card while you’re waiting for the cookies to bake. Let the recipient know how much you’re thinking about them with a quick note and plate full of delicious cookies.

Organize Organize your kids’ rooms. I know I’m not the only parent who likes to do this. Right? This is the perfect time to do this project because you don’t have any time limits. You don’t have to stop what you’re doing to get up and drive to the school pick-up line or drive any of your kids across town to basketball practice. You can hunker down for the day (or two) and make four piles: Throw Away, Donate, Keep, Sell. These piles will serve you well and they will help minimize the clutter. Bonus Tip – turn your sell pile into cash and save your money for a rainy day, give each kid a few dollars for helping out, or take everyone out for a treat for their hard work (including you!) Not only will you have everything organized but you and your kids will be ready to return to school after winter break feeling refreshed and ready to go!

32 | December 2018

Writer letters to troops overseas. This is a great way to get your kids to work on their penmanship while doing something kind for someone else. If you have a family member or friend in the military, you can write specifically to that person. If not, consider visiting the Veteran’s Hospital website (www.va.gov) to find out who to drop your letters off to, to make sure they get to where they need to go.

It’s important for kids to know how to write a good old-fashioned letter as well as learning how to say thank you for something so important like someone protecting their freedom. Use this as an opportunity to teach your kids about the sacrifice our military makes each and every day by serving.

OCC Boxes Operation Christmas Child (OCC) boxes are a handson way to get your kids in on the spirit of giving. Grab a shoebox you have laying around the house or grab one from any OCC pickup location (visit www.samaritanspurse.org) and fill it up with items for another child in another country. In the past, we’ve packed things like stickers, jump ropes, stuffed animals, socks, bows, toys, and clothes inside the shoe boxes. For a detailed list, visit their website. Most churches will have boxes for free since they normally partner with OCC or you can do it entirely on your own. You can also track your shoebox all across the world to see where it ends up! This is a great way to teach your kids about geography and is a tangible way to spread kindness around the world.

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Connection Magazine | 33

Dylan’s Blessing Bags: Pudding, plastic spoon, water, tissues, mints, crackers, gum, handwritten note.

Blessings Bags Blessing Bags for the homeless is something my son asked me if he could start doing.

I let him take the lead and decide what things he wanted to include in the Ziplock baggies. I told him to pick out what he wanted and I would pay for it as long as he saw this project through to the end. (See a detailed list of what my son picked out at the end of this article). He had a blast putting all of the items together and he added a personal touch by making cards for each homeless person. Now, we have a plethora of Blessing Bags in our car for whenever we see someone in need. The first time my son was able to hand out a bag to someone in need, was a moment I’ll never forget. He genuinely lit up and said it was one of the best feelings he’s ever had.

34 | December 2018

These seven boredom busters are not only easy to do but they’re good human deeds and who doesn’t want to help shape their children into kind human beings? Remind your kids that the reason for the season is more than just getting presents and sleeping in but that there is always a way to do something nice especially during the “I’m bored” moments.

Invite Invite someone over for your holiday meal who might otherwise be alone. Think outside the box. Go outside your comfort zone and ask that person you know in your life who might be alone this holiday season. It’s important for kids to see their parents being good role models, making impactful decisions, and including everyone. When they see you do good – they want to do good things too. Maybe there’s a family in your neighborhood who has recently relocated from another state and they have no family nearby. Ask them. I had a friend who did this for me years ago and it was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. There’s nothing sincerer than sharing a homecooked meal in someone else’s home.

cutest kidS

The Copley Children

Trevin 2 years; Madalynn 10 years; Draydn 4 years; Brinley 6 years; Adrik 8 years. Parents Shane and Wendy Copley of Mt. Vernon 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.

Connection Magazine | 35

First Place

Seven Layer Magic Bars

by Ann Ringuette

Connection magazine winners of the

Family Favorite Holiday Dessert Recipe Contest

1 1/2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs 1/2 cup butter 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup butterscotch chips 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut 1/2 cup chopped nuts (I prefer 1/4 cup walnuts, 1/4 cup pecans) 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spay a 9x13 inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

Melt butter in a small sauce pan. Remove from heat and stir in graham cracker crumbs until throughly combined.

Press evenly into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan to form the crust.

Sprinkle remaining ingredients over the crust to form layers, beginning with the chocolate chips, followed by the butterscotch chips, coconut, and nuts. Pour the condensed milk over the top and spread evenly with a rubber spatula.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until edges are golden brown.

Cool completely before slicing.

Ann and her husband, James, are residents of Verona and just recently moved to the area in the summer.

She is a Value Stream Manager at Playpower in Monett. She was born and raised in Canada. At 25 she moved to Ohio then recently to Verona. “This recipe is my signature dessert recipe,” said Ann. “Everyone has to have one and this has been mine for approximately 10 years.”

She stated that it is a great dish

because you can add or remove ingredients and it is still delicious.

She fixes every Thanksgiving and Christmas and says it is great for pot luck dinners. Ann received a $50 gift certificate from Price Cutter and a $50 gift certificate from Save-ALot. She is pictured above with Lisa Craft, General Manager of Connection Magazine/The Monett Times/ Cassville Democrat.

Congratulations Ann!

Delorce and her husband, George, are residents of rural Monett and she has made this special dessert since 1955. “The white fruit cake recipe was given to me by my sister-inlaw right after I was married,” said Delorce. She stated that she has made some changes to the recipe over the years but makes the cakes every Christmas to give as gifts.

She presents the cakes to all of her Sunday School class members at the Christmas party every year at the First Baptist Church in Monett. Delo-

rce was born and raised in Oklahoma and came to Missouri in 1996.

She said that the favorite part of the Christmas season is to get together with family and seeing the joy that children have and praising the Lord during this time of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. One secret helpful hint to the recipe Delorce expressed was not to use mixed fruit.

“You have to use individual pineapple and cherries,” she said. “It’s just not the same if you used the mixed fruit.”

Second Place

White Fruit Cake

by DELORCE HOUSE

1 quart chopped pecans 1 lb. white raisins 1/2 lb. candied cherries 1/2 lb. candied pineapple 2 oz. lemon extract 6 eggs 5 cups flour 3 cups sugar 1 lb. oleo 2 tbsp water to stir in 1 tsp. soda.

Directions: Cream oleo, sugar and extract. Beat eggs and add mix of 2 cups of flour with fruit and nuts. Add remaining flour and soda mixture to creamed mixture. Add fruit and nuts. Spray pan with baking spray and bake at 250 degrees for 3 hours. If you use smaller pans, bake for an hour and 45 minutes.

36 | December 2018

63 years of talks, memories, love, support Every Friday morning the four remaining Hickman sisters meet for breakfast at the Cassville McDonald’s.

Pictured from left, are: Deanna Day, Faye Paul, Marilyn Selleck and Leta Burns. Each sister holds a photo from the past.

Worth every second

The Hickman family gathered for a family photo. Pictured in the back row, from left, are Edna, Leta, mom, Eva Rose and dad, Perry.

In the front row, from left, are Faye, Deanna and Marilyn.

Y

ears are made up of moments and memories that last for generations. One local family has been meeting once a week for Friday morning breakfast, for more than 60 years.

Deanna Day, youngest of the sisters who meets for their weekly breakfast together, said their mom started this about 63 years ago.

“Mom didn’t drive so when my sister Faye learned to drive, mom and Faye would go to Washburn to buy groceries on Friday,” Day said. “They would go to Haygood’s Restaurant and have a donut and a cup of milk­­–mom liked buttermilk.”

Day said this was before Faye had a driver’s license­­–she was only 15, but she was driving.

Story by Jordan Privett Connection Magazine | 37

“We have been having breakfast for 63 years now,” Day said. “It has just continued throughout the years.”

Day said over the years there have been times when one or more of the sisters couldn’t make it due to work, moving away or whatever.

“But not mom and Faye,” Day said.

“They always had breakfast once a week, until mom passed away in 1969.

Now there is always two or more of us sisters who meet once a week on Friday morning for breakfast.”

According to Day, they used to meet at the Spudnut shop in Cassville, when that closed, they went to Four-Way Mini Mart. After Four-Way closed, the sisters tried a lot of different places.

“Then we came to McDonald’s,” Day said. “It seems to be such a good general place to meet. Our children and grandchildren come through oc-

casionally, and you never know who is going to be there on Friday morning.”

Day said when McDonald’s burned down a few years ago, the sisters started meeting at the hospital cafeteria until McDonald’s was re-built.

“Four of us sisters still meet once a week for breakfast,” Day said. “There used to be a brother and six girls!

“The oldest of us is Leta who is 87.

I am 73, and I am the youngest one.”

Day said every one in the family knows the sisters are eating breakfast on Friday mornings, and some friends see them there as well.

“It is a good way to see us all together and catch up,” Day said.

“I always say, ‘As long as I have my Friday morning breakfast with my sisters, I don’t need a psychiatrist.’”

Day said the conversations consist of just about anything.

“We talk about church, family,

politics, health, money and really just normal sister talk,” Day said. “When we leave there, we all always feel so much better. You can talk to a sister like you can’t talk to anybody else.”

According to Day, they were raised around Washburn, and lived in Star Hollow until 1946.

“Then, we finished growing up down by the OK schoolhouse in Washburn, on Highway 90,” Day said.

“Daddy was a preacher­­ –he pastored that OK Assembly of God church. So we were definitely raised with church being the main focus of our lives.”

Day said the sisters were taught to love each other.

“I don’t know about my brother because he was the oldest of us, but us girls were not allowed to pinch or pull hair,” Day said. “It just was not allowed­­–we treated each other pretty good.”

Christmas 1958 at the Hickman house all six sisters and big brother gathered on the couch in their Christmas best. Pictured from left, are: Leta, Norma, Edna, Orlando (Ned), Marilyn, Faye and Deanna.

38 | December 2018

According to Day, the sisters all have great-grandchildren now.

“We have a big get-together every year for Thanksgiving,” Day said. “We go to Marilyn’s house, and pretty much everybody goes. Then, the first Saturday in June we have a family reunion at my house, so we really do get all the family together twice a year.”

Day said after God, family is the next most important thing.

“Our dad was worried when he was dying that we wouldn’t stay close, but that is not something he needed to worry about,” Day said. “We even talk on the phone. I live in Purdy, and the three others live in Washburn. I talk to two out of three at least once a day.”

Day said she and her sisters know that family is important.

“You hear about siblings who say, ‘I haven’t spoken with my sister since mom’s funeral,’” Day said. “That doesn’t impress me at all, I just think that it is a waste to not enjoy your family.”

Day said on October 19 when her granddaughter had her first great-granddaughter, it seemed like they had waited forever.

“When we finally got into the room to see that baby,” Day said. “My granddaughter handed the baby straight to her sister. Oh, that meant the world to me. I want all the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to be just as close as I am to my sisters.”

Day said the sisters show up for breakfast about 8 a.m. and usually stay until about 9:30.

“For Christmas we spend time with our own families, but we always do Thanksgiving together,” Day said. “We do a potluck, and when you come, there is always plenty of food; We are big eaters.”

Day said as a child, she remembers the cedar Christmas tree that they would decorate with tinsel, which they called icicles.

This is a picture of Perry and Eva Rose Hickman in the mid 1950s.

The couple had six daughters and one son.

Eva started the breakfast tradition 63 years ago, and today the four still-living sisters continue to meet together once a week for breakfast.

“I remember when we first got the electric lights to put on the tree,” Day said. “I don’t really remember what we did before the electric lights, except for we made this stuff that looked like snow out of flour.”

Day said their mother really loved Christmas. She had this old sow, and each fall she took the money from her litter of piglets and bought Christmas presents.

“Sometimes she would buy flan-

nel and make pajamas,” Day said. “It wasn’t like a big Christmas, but everybody got a present. We had Christmas on Christmas eve, that was kind of our tradition.”

Day said people still refer to her and her sisters as the Hickman girls.

“We have been through so much over the years,” Day said. “Some good, some bad, but we never would have made it through any of it without each other.” n Connection Magazine | 39

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everal decades ago, live Christmas trees were the norm. Although more needy for attention, a live tree is hard to beat for satisfying a sense of nostalgia. It’s an evocative reminder of bygone days for some of us, and simply a reminder of scenes from “A Christmas Story” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” for others.

Either way, a live tree is uniquely beautiful, and the excursion to procure one is a large part of the fun.

In our area, a Google search reveals several Christmas tree farms within easy driving distance.

Bridgestone Christmas Tree Farm near Webb City, Missouri, offers both cut-your-own and pre-cut tree options.

They may be contacted at (417) 5298508.

Pinewood Nursery near La Russell, Missouri, does not have trees available for cutting, but they do sell “balled & burlaped” living Christmas trees, which can be planted after being used for Christmas. They also offer pre-cut trees. They may be reached at (417) 246-5256.

Wonderland Tree Farm is located near Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and has several acres of Christmas trees available for cutting.

They may be reached at (479) 212-2964.

According to National Forest Public Affairs Supervisor, Cody Norris, the forestry service does not issue permits for the cutting of Christmas trees in Mark Twain National Forest. Primarily, because there are just not many pine trees available in Mark Twain.

“If you’re into the look of an alternative Christmas tree – a spindly Red Cedar sapling, for instance – we might issue a special permit,” Norris joked. “But

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this area just doesn’t support masses of the popular Christmas pines, like Blue Spruce and others. In the national forests up north, where those varieties are prevalent, yes, permits for cutting Christmas trees are granted.”

In addition to creating a memorable family outing, cutting your own Christmas tree also provides an opportunity to show off your prowess with a chain saw.

However, as anyone who burns wood for heat can attest, there’s more than one purpose for a chainsaw. For them, a good saw is a necessary tool.

For personal wood-burning use, the forestry service does issue permits for homeowners to cut dead and downed trees in Mark Twain National Forest.

“It’s an inexpensive way for a person to heat their home for a winter,” Cody Norris stated. “For the price of a $20.00 permit, a person can cut approximately four cords of wood for their own use.

In fact, for the money a person saves on wood, he might be able to afford a new Stihl.”

Stihl just happens to be one of the brands carried by Coast to Coast Home & Auto in Monett, which also sells Echo brand chainsaws. Owner Leonard Witt offers the following advice for those who are considering the purchase of a new saw.

“It should go without saying, but a person needs to use a saw that’s large enough for the job,” he stated. “Unfortunately, I do hear of people trying to cut huge trees with a trim saw. It’s never a good idea... for a variety of reasons.”

“Chainsaws basically come in three sizes,” he added. “The smallest, a trim saw, works well for yard cleanup. A medium size with a 16 to 20” blade is more all around. If you’re going to be making big cuts, you’ll want the largest size, with an 18 – 36” blade.”

“More important than the size, though, is the quality and length of life,” Witt continued. “Chainsaws are rated as Commercial, Farm and Homeowner’s Grades, with a homeowner’s saw at the lower end of the spectrum, rated for 30 – 50 hours of life. A farm grade saw is rated for 100 – 150 hours of use, while a commercial grade saw must offer a minimum of 300 hours of use.”

Connection Magazine | 41

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When asked for an anecdote about a personal childhood Christmas tree-cutting experience, Witt was not quite as forthcoming.

“I can’t think of any stories... not any that I’d admit to, anyway,” he laughed.

From a durability perspective, outside of concrete, tile offers the most mileage, with hardwood a close second.

Carpet is susceptible to showing wear in high traffic areas, so is sometimes best reserved for bedrooms and family rooms, where it also offers a cozier ambience.

There’s something to be said for getting out of bed in the morning and sinking your toes into luxurious carpeting.

According to Terry, carpet durability has vastly improved in the last few years as nano-technology has entered the picture.

“Mohawk makes a line called ‘Smart Strand’ that’s both pet-proof and stainproof,” she stated. “It’s one of our best sellers.”

According to Terry, in the medium price range for floor covering, another relatively new product is proving to be extremely popular. Called LVP, short for Luxury Vinyl Plank; it is sold in planks of layered PVC vinyl of varying thicknesses–the thicker the plank, the more cushion underfoot.

LVP’s advantages are many.

“Its most attractive feature is that it’s virtually water-proof,” Terry explained.

“Unlike wood, or wood laminates, leaks

The thicker the plank, the more cushion underfoot or spills won’t affect LVP, so it’s ideal for use in bathrooms, kitchens and even basements. It’s also great for high-traffic areas.”

LVP comes in a wide array of patterns, textures and colors, many of them similar in appearance to wood grain.

They can be laid without a sub-layer or adhesive, an attractive feature for do-ityourselfers.

Tile, with its huge variety of stunning patterns and sizes, gets top marks for beauty, style and durability. However, its installation is labor-intensive, and thus commands a much higher fee.

In this writer’s opinion, for sheer aesthetic appeal, solid wood flooring is difficult to surpass. Rich oak, rustic pine, sultry walnut and the variegated shades of hickory call to mind the historic homes of our forefathers, where wood was used almost exclusively as a floor covering, due, in part, to a lack of other options.

Durability-wise, pine is at the soft end of the spectrum, easily scratched and subject to the indentions of tricycle tires, so may not be the best choice for homes with small children.

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Housing Around is brought to you by these local advertisers Hickory is reputedly the hardest of the woods mentioned above. The contrasting shades of its natural grain create a visually stunning effect when used as flooring. For making a statement, there’s nothing better.

For more subtle elegance, it’s hard to go wrong with the classic beauty of red or white oak. Both offer superior durability, with differences in color and the manner in which they pick up stains. Red oaks have a pinkish tone, while white oak leans to a browner, or even yellowish hue.

“White oak is our best seller right now,” stated Doug Ross of Heritage Oak in Sarcoxie. “It accepts a variety of stains – even designer colors– without the reddish tinges present in red oak. Red oak adds a much warmer feel to a room, though, so it basically just boils down to personal preference.”

Ross does caution that when lacing in new oak flooring with older (as in a remodel or room addition), to make sure that the new wood purchased was grown in the same region of the United States as the old. It seems trees, too, have unique proclivities based on their upbringing.

“Southwest Missouri oak usually has a redder tint,” Ross explained. “Oak grown in the southern states typically has more knot holes and worm holes, a characteristic that many people like.”

To achieve a wood look on a limited budget, some people opt for wood laminates or engineered wood flooring.

Both are made with a veneer of wood or a wood product, placed over plywood or other composite materials. However, neither product can be refinished as solid wood flooring can be.

Solid wood flooring can now be purchased in pre-finished planks, a step and labor-saving option. Pre-finished wood will initially cost more, but when calculating the installation and finishing charges for unfinished wood, a person will generally come out ahead using a pre-finished product. If a special stain or finish is desired, pre-finished wood may not be an option, though.

Another interesting and potentially dramatic alternative for floors is stained and stamped concrete. Once used predominantly for patios, sidewalks and garage floors, designer concrete has made its way inside, where its waterproof durability cannot be questioned. Patterns and colors are limited only by the scope of the homeowner’s imagination, although installation prices will vary almost as widely.

If you’re planning to sell your home, it’s wise to err on the side of caution, and view your choice of floor covering through the eyes of a prospective buyer.

However, if you’re planning to live in your house indefinitely, and are having trouble settling on just one or two floor covering options, then don’t settle. Unleash your inner designer. Mix it up, and have fun with it!

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Healthcare at Home D Experienced nurse practitioner runs clinic to care for Purdy residents

uring the mid-1900s, Harris & Howell Clinic provided a valuable service to residents of the small Barry County town of Purdy and the surrounding area. Dr. Noel Harris established the clinic in the 1940s, and was later joined in the clinic by Dr. Kermit Howell. Area residents appreciated having doctors practically on their back doorstep to diagnose illnesses, fill prescriptions and deliver their babies. After Doctor Harris’ death in 1974 and Doctor Howell’s retirement in the 1980s, the clinic closed.

With the opening of Purdy Health Clinic a couple of months ago, Valerie Wormington Bennett, a native daughter of Purdy –now a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner –has plans to fill that void, a role that she could never have imagined 40 years ago.

Story by Sheila Harris

Valerie and Mike Bennett standing outside the new Purdy Health Clinic Connection Magazine | 45

Although she was the valedictorian of the 1979 graduating class at Purdy High School, Valerie was unsure of what she wanted to do afterward. A career in nursing was not her first thought.

“In our senior class prophecy, it was foretold that I would be half of a husband-wife truck-driving team,” she laughingly recalled.

Mike Bennett, Valerie’s classmate and high school sweetheart, became her husband not long after graduation. He faced no indecision about his own career path.

“I’ve known since my sophomore year that I wanted to own my own business,” Mike disclosed. “I couldn’t wait to get out of high school and get started.”

Valerie at first thought she might want to be a travel agent. She took some business classes in college, considered the idea of becoming a CPA, and took a turn in that direction. However, she quickly decided she wasn’t cut out for accounting.

“During my indecision,” Val explained, “Mike had obtained a degree in Diesel Technology and had established Republic Muffler & Tire Shop in Republic, where we lived for several years.

When Mike wasn’t working, he was involved in dangerous hobbies like motorcycle and stock car racing. That’s when it occurred to me that maybe I should choose a career that I could support myself and our children with, if Mike managed to kill himself. I’d been kicking around the idea of nursing. By then, I’d already taken several hours of pre-req classes at (then) SMSU in Springfield, so I decided to enroll in nursing school.”

Valerie received her RN license after graduating from St. John’s School of Nursing in 1983, and accepted a position as an ICU nurse on the respiratory/ MICU floor at Mercy Hospital. There, she worked with critically ill patients on ventilators, most of them suffering from complications of diabetes, cardiac arrests

46 | December 2018

Purdy Health Clinic RMA, Trish McCracken, left, with Valerie Bennett, FNP-C

and pneumonia. Death stalked the unit relentlessly, and a sense of hopelessness was pervasive.

“Five years in the ICU was enough,” Valerie confessed. “From there, I went to the Emergency/Trauma Department at Cox South.”

While some people –nurses included –don’t care for the idea of dealing with daily trauma, Valerie thrived.

“I discovered that working in the ER is all about life,” Valerie explained. “Yes, people do die, but they want to live, and we are fighting to help them. In the ER, there’s hope. Sometimes in an intensive care unit, there’s not. Knowing there’s hope, makes the struggle feel more

worthwhile.”

Studies have cited that, due to the constant exposure to trauma, one in ten nurses who work in emergency units, suffer from symptoms of PTSD at some point their lives. Valerie doesn’t seem to have been affected. Not yet, she’s quick to add.

“In nursing, you have to hold in your emotions in order to stay strong for patients and their families,” Valerie explained. “I typically tell young nurses who are just starting their careers that, unfortunately, the repressed stress of being around constant death can catch up with them at unexpected times, sometimes even months after the loss of a per-

sonal family member. Then it might feel like you just can’t get past the grieving, I warn them. Their pent-up emotions may come out with these family losses.”

“People who work in the emergency department also have a different perspective on life,” Valerie continued.

“We’ve seen lives snuffed out quickly –often by drug abuse and other poor choices –and have learned that death is just a part of life. When you accept death as a fact, and know where you’re going should death ensue, it frees you up to focus on the present.”

A few years after the birth of Mike and Val’s second son Chris in 1990, the family came to a juncture in their road.

“When our oldest son Ryan (born in 1984) was entering the eighth grade, we were told that, for security reasons, the kids could no longer carry a backpack

into the classroom,” Mike explained. “It was kind of a wake-up call for us. That’s when Val and I decided we wanted to get back to Purdy and raise our boys in an environment where we believed they’d be safer. We also wanted them to be exposed to the same small town values and work ethics we grew up with.”

Mike and Val, who can both trace their Purdy roots back for six generations, felt good about the decision.

Mike, who had long ago sold Republic Muffler & Tire and was the owner of a mobile diesel repair business, was free to relocate. Valerie had traded her position with Cox South in Springfield for that of ER Manager at Cox Monett Hospital, and by 1998, the couple had moved back to the town of their origins.

“It felt good coming home,” Mike stated. “Both sets of our parents are

Patient room at the Purdy Health Clinic

here, so our boys could spend more time with their grandparents, like Val and I did when we were kids.”

Being part of a community has always been important to the Bennetts.

Mike immediately involved himself serving on “every board known to mankind,” as Val put it, including the Barry/Lawrence Ambulance Board, the Barry County 911 Board, the Purdy School Board and in various capacities for the Purdy Fire Department. When not doing volunteer work, he’s busy managing his trucking firm, Eagle Logistics.

Valerie’s move to Cox Monett Hospital, came with opportunities for both personal and career growth. After spending some time as the ER Manager, she moved to the position of House Supervisor, where she oversaw the hospital’s entire night shift nursing staff.

“I learned to become assertive,” Val stated. “I had to. When life and death were in the balance, I had to prioritize patient, nursing and hospital needs, based on which were the most critical at the time.”

As an RN in one of her last positions at Cox Monett, Valerie was responsible for implementing the Time Critical Diagnosis (TCD) Program, which brought the hospital up to a Level 4 Stroke Center, the first small hospital in the state to achieve that status. Based on criteria set forth by the state of Missouri, the system presents a coordinated approach to emergencies by personnel of 911 call centers, ambulance teams and hospital staff. The program’s primary goal is to help more people survive emergencies with less residual effects.

Since becoming a Level 4 Stroke Center, Cox Monett has also achieved Level 4 STEMI (Cardiac) status, and is working toward becoming a Level 4 Trauma Center.

Connection Magazine | 47

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“It’s no small thing to achieve a Level 4 status,” Valerie explained. “It means highly trained individuals are in place to treat the most severe illnesses and injuries, in order to provide the best service to the community. It’s a true blessing for our local counties to have Cox Monett make the necessary monetary commitment and education of staff in order to reach the Level 4 statuses in Stroke and STEMI.” With the new program in place, Valerie’s thoughts once again moved forward. Because she and Mike had always been community-oriented, the thought of taking her training up a notch, to that of a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner held strong appeal. Although it would mean more years of schooling, it would give her the freedom to work independently, under the auspices of an off-site physician, if she so chose.

“Mike and I talked to several area residents and business owners about the idea of opening an independent health clinic in Purdy, and the response was very positive,” Val related.

After much thought and prayer, Val forged ahead with her education, and graduated from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri, with a Masters in Nursing and a degree as a Rural Family Nurse Practitioner–no small accomplishment for a 53-year-old grandmother.

The Purdy Health Clinic is now open and serving area residents, reminiscent of the days when Harris & Howell Clinic did the same. Valerie practices medicine under the auspices of Dr. Ben Leavitt, a contracted hospitalist with the Mercy Health System, who also sees patients at the clinic on a monthly basis. Trish McCracken, formerly with Heritage Clinic in Cassville, completes the clinic crew, serving as Registered Medical Assistant.

“Mike warned me that private family practice might seem tame after spending so many years working in virtual chaos,” Val stated. “He’s right in one way: the pace is slower, but I feel good about using my training right here in the town where I grew up. There really is no place like home.” n

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Connection Magazine | 49

TCPRC provides aid & answers 50 | December 2018

Alternative gift fair

Are you pregnant?

F

or most young women, getting pregnant is easy.

The difficulty comes afterward. Sometimes it’s hard to sort out emotions long enough to figure out what the next step should be, especially if it’s a first pregnancy.

Thankfully, there’s a place to turn for assistance.

The Tri-County Pregnancy Resource Center in Aurora offers confidential services at no charge.

After paperwork is filled out, a free pregnancy test is given. If it’s positive, counseling about a young lady’s options will be offered. If the path of parenting is decided upon, many educational tools are available. Referral services to area physicians are offered, as well as information about how to apply for WIC and Medicaid if nutritional and financial support is needed.

“We see a lot of young ladies – often first-time mothers – who opt to parent their babies under some very challenging circumstances,” Rebecca Haine, TCPRC Director, stated. “They’re determined to be successful for the sake of their child, and we respect that desire. To make it easier, we offer educational curriculums, which continue throughout pregnancy and beyond, for whatever length of time the woman chooses to participate. There’s no obligation; it’s just a good opportunity to learn what to expect as the pregnancy progresses.”

Story by Sheila Harris

“Our curriculums are tailored to the individual, depending on which trimester of her pregnancy a woman is in,” Haine continued. “Courses cover everything from A to Z, including nutrition for the mother and her unborn baby, to post-partum care of a newborn.”

Haine, who is parent to foster children, has herself taken advantage of the course on caring for premature infants, as well as one which teaches how to differentiate between a baby’s cries and what each cry means.

“We also offer one-on-one mentoring with one of our five volunteers, who can answer any questions a woman might have from week to week,” Haine explained. “A mentor is not only a valuable resource, but also a shoulder to lean on. Carrying a child, especially for the first time, can be a frightening experience if a person doesn’t know what to expect.”

Pregnancy concerns are not exclusive to young women. Young men, too, often have questions and need advice about what to do next if their girlfriend is pregnant.

Nor is the Pregnancy Resource Center just for first-time parents.

“We see women ranging in ages from 13 to 45,” Haine stated.

“Sometimes, women who become pregnant later in life, even after previous births, have the same concerns as do young mothers. We’re here to support anyone in need of it.”

Representatives from the Tri-County Pregnancy Resource Center will be present at the Monett Alternative Gift Fair at the Monett Historical Society Event Center on Broadway, Saturday, December 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The following area non-profit organizations will also be represented: Barry County Youth Camp, Barry Lawrence Development Center, Clark Center, Crosslines, Hospice Compassus, Imagen, Just Mercy, Lafayette House, Monett Historical Society, Monett/Purdy Habitat for Humanity, MO SWITCH, and Ozarks Festival Orchestra.

The Monett Alternative Gift Fair offers a great opportunity to learn more about these non-profit organizations. And, for the person who has everything, consider giving the gift that gives twice. Donate to an organization in the name of a friend or family member, then gift that person with a card or ornament that shows a donation was made in their name.

The Tri-County Pregnancy Resource Center is totally non-profit and has a six-member board. It operates with a paid director and a paid office administrator (Donna Lewis).

Five mentors work on a volunteer basis. The center provides free pregnancy tests, one ultrasound up to 14 weeks gestation, and counseling to anyone who would like it.

“We do not provide referral services for abortions,” Haine explained. “However, an informed decision is important, whatever path a woman chooses. Pregnancy can force women to make difficult decisions. Sometimes there’s just no easy answer, but we always hope for the best possible outcome in any situation.”

For more information about the Tri-County Pregnancy Resource Center’s services, or to donate to their organization, please visit their website at www.tcprc.com.

Connection Magazine | 51

cutest pet

Lancelot owned by Angie Hunter of Monett

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.

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

52 | December 2018

recued, my favorite breed

A giving spirit in our communities feeds and heals

W

ell, it is already December, and of course everyone is looking for Christmas gifts. And many parents, remembering how much fun they had growing up with their best friends, whether dog or cat, want to allow their children the same experience.

I applaud these parents for doing so, especially when they take the time to teach the children how to approach a new pet, what to do to make them feel comfortable in their new home and how to become part of the family.

Because I am involved with Faithful Friends Animal Advocates, I am all for adopting rather than buying a pet. We have so many beautiful and loving animals looking for homes, it is hard for me to imagine doing anything else. All of my own dogs were strays and chose me, but I love them and am grateful to have them in my life.

When adopting a pet, it is wise to look at all animals, young, old, or anything in between. There are definite advantages to all ages and sometimes it’s a hard decision.

Puppies/kittens are so cute, but don’t overlook older pets in favor of puppies. More mature cats and dogs make wonderful companions and generally don’t need to be house broken. They are

very grateful to have humans who feed them and play with them, and unless you are training for a marathon, most older dogs and cats can certainly keep up with their humans.

Christmas time is a wonderful time and if that is the time to add a pet to the family, that makes it even more wonderful and special. Love your animals and they will return the favor a hundred times over.

A recent visit to the Senior Center in Monett made me realize that we have a large population of seniors in the area with pets they love dearly. Many of them live on very limited income and sometimes they will forego their own meal in favor of feeding their pets. I thought at the time that I had to do something and was ready to buy some dog and cat food, but I happened to be at Faithful Friends the next day and mentioned my plan to them, when they told me that the center and probably some of the other shelters, receive broken or torn bags of dog or cat food from companies like Sam’s Club, Walmart, etc. The shelters share these when possible with others and it occurred to me that we could facilitate getting some of these to our senior citizens. So, every Thursday after Connie Meeks and I get back from volunteering at Faithful Friends, we repackage

I want to thank all the companies for taking the time and effort to share the pet food, the shelters for making sure they get to people that need them and to the Monett Senior Center for allowing us to put the containers of dog and cat food into their facility.

these bags of dog and cat food into gallon or quart baggies to make it easier for our seniors to take some home and assure their pets get the food they need. I want to thank all the companies for taking the time and effort to share the pet food, the shelters for making sure they get to people that need them and to the Monett Senior Center for allowing us to put the containers of dog and cat food into their facility. I believe this has been a successful venture and we intend to continue for as long as the food is available. If you are a Senior, please check it out, the center is a friendly place to be and to get a good meal for yourself while there. And at least this Christmas, hopefully, we won’t have any hungry pets or pet parents.

Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy 2019 to all the humans and their dogs and cats!

Christa stout

Connection Magazine | 53

As always, here are some more adoptable animals at Faithful Friends*

CORA the cat came from a neighborhood where everyone

fed her and took care of her for two years. Here is her story: One gentleman loved her the most and couldn’t stand the thought of seeing her spend another winter outside so they brought her to Faithful Friends. The lady who dropped her off did not know what the gentleman had been calling her and the name Cora popped into the volunteer’s head, so Cora it was. They did not realize that the gentleman who had made the arrangements had also been calling her Cora – the two got together a week later when he came to visit and discussed the coincidence. Both agreed that Cora had to have been Cora in a different life also!

LILLITH

is a beautiful dog who was devastated when her mom suddenly passed away in her early 40’s and there was no one who could take her into their home. When she arrived at Faithful Friends, she was a little overweight and very much afraid.

She is now a sleek pup who loves children and follows their lead, sometimes they run and sometimes they just hang out and watch cars go by. Since she was an only pet, she might do best being in a single pet home.

*Top left photo of puppies in a sheet: Faithful Friends was

recently blessed with a momma and her 11 puppies. I had to share this picture with you because these bundles of fur truly warm your heart.

For more information on any of the Faithful Friends animals or to volunteer, go to www.FFAANeosho.org, contact us on Facebook, or by calling the adoption center at 417.592.2512.

We always need volunteers and we always have adoptable dogs and cats!

54 | December 2018

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Connection Magazine | 55

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56 | December 2018

December 2018 Dec. 1 Cassville Christmas Parade along Main Street beginning at 6 p.m.

Dec. 8 Monett Christmas Parade will be held beginning at 11 a.m.

The Exeter Christmas Parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. along the Main Street in Exeter.

Wheaton Christmas Parade begins at 6 p.m. along the Main Street in Wheaton.

The Seligman Chamber of Commerce will host a dance at the Seligman Chamber Event Center at 7 p.m. Admission is $4 each, and attendees are asked to bring a snack to share. No alcohol or smoking is allowed. For more information, call 417-662-3612.

The Seligman Chamber of Commerce will host a dance at the Seligman Chamber Event Center at 7 p.m. Admission is $4 each, and attendees are asked to bring a snack to share. No alcohol or smoking is allowed. For more information, call 417-662-3612.

Dec. 3 Notary Services available at the Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 Purdy Christmas Parade will be held beginning at 11 a.m.

Grace Foot Care by appointment at Cassville Senior Center. Call 8474510.

Cassville Senior Center will be serving Breakfast beginning at 8 a.m.

Dec. 4 The monthly dance at the Monett Casino will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Evelyn Lock and The Outriders will be playing. People are asked to bring a snack to share. There is a $5 admission fee.

Basic Computer class will be held at the Central Crossing Senior Center beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Dec. 5 Blood pressure check at Central Crossing Senior Center at 10:30 a.m.

The Seligman Chamber of Commerce will host a dance at the Seligman Chamber Event Center at 7 p.m. Admission is $4 each, and attendees are asked to bring a snack to share. No alcohol or smoking is allowed. For more information, call 417-662-3612.

Dec. 17 Cassville Chamber of Commerce will have tickets available for the annual Chamber banquet.

Cassville Senior Center will be serving Breakfast beginning at 8 a.m.

Nell’s Nails begins at 9 a.m. Call 417-858-6952 for an appointment.

Walk-ins are welcome at the Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob.

Blood pressure check at Cassville Senior Center at 10:30 a.m.

Notary services available at the Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Dec. 6 Jackie Howell with the Missouri Extension office will be speaking on nutrition at the Central Crossing Senior Center at 11 a.m.

Dec. 18 Grace Health Services (feet) at the Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob. Call for an appointment 417-858-6952.

Benefit Counseling by appointment at the Cassville Senior Center. Call 847-4510.

Basic Computer class will be held at the Central Crossing Senior Center beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Paint Class at the Cassville Senior Center at 9:00 a.m.

community calendar

Dec. 19 Blood pressure check at Central Crossing Senior Center at 10:30 a.m.

Nell’s Nails begins at 9 a.m. Call 847-4510 for an appointment.

Walk-ins are welcome at the Cassville Senior Center.

Christmas Lunch at the Cassville Senior Center. The gift drawing will be at 12:30 p.m. Live music by the Shell Knob Strings, 11-12 p.m.

Dec. 20 Lunch entertainment by the Shell Knob Strings at the Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob.

Paint Class at the Cassville Senior Center at 9:00 a.m.

Dec. 21 Christmas Dinner will be served at the Central Crossing Senior Center.

Dec. 22 The Seligman Chamber of Commerce will host a dance at the Seligman Chamber Event Center at 7 p.m. Admission is $4 each, and attendees are asked to bring a snack to share. No alcohol or smoking is allowed. For more information, call 417-662-3612.

Dec. 26 WIC services available by appointment at the Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob. Call 417-847-2114.

Dec. 27 The Pierce City Senior Center Dance will hold its regular monthly dance.

Dec. 28 Monthly Birthday Lunch at the Cassville Senior Center begins at 11 a.m.

Dec. 29 The Seligman Chamber of Commerce will host a dance at the Seligman Chamber Event Center at 7 p.m. Admission is $4 each, and attendees are asked to bring a snack to share. No alcohol or smoking is allowed. For more information, call 417-662-3612.

Connection Magazine | 57

Support groups

Activities

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Celebrate Recovery

Aurora: Alcoholics Anonymous of Aurora

Cassville: Celebrate Recovery meets at the

meets at 8 p.m. at Aurora Community of Christ Church at 120 E. Elm every Tuesday and Thursday. Call 417-229-1237

Cassville: Alcoholics Anonymous of Cassville meets at 8 p.m. at 1308 Harold Street in Cassville every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Call 417-847-3685.

Eagle Rock: Alcoholics Anonymous of Eagle Rock meets at 7 p.m. at 86 & P (Mitchel Plaza) every Monday and Wednesday.

Call 417-271-0434.

Marionville: Alcoholics Anonymous of

Marionville meets at 8 p.m. on Highway 60 next to Dairy Queen every Sunday.

Call 417-463-7640.

Monett: Alcoholics Anonymous of Monett

meets at 7 p.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 405 Seventh Street, every Sunday and Wednesday. Call 417-489-5058.

Mt. Vernon: Alcoholics Anonymous of Mt. Vernon meets at 8 p.m. at the Christian Church on 703 Hickory every Monday.

Call 417-489-2413 or 417-440-1567.

Washburn: Narcotics Anonymous and

Alcoholics Anonymous group meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month at the First Baptist Church Activity Center, 618 Second Street in Washburn.

417-489-7662.

Al-Anon Cassville: Al-Anon Family Group meets at

8 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Cassville every Thursday of each month.

This is for family or friends of alcoholics.

Caregiver Support Group Monett: Caregiver Support Group meets

at Oak Pointe of Monett from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at 1011 Old Airport Road in Monett. For more information, call Kathy 417-235-3500.

Shell Knob: The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care-

givers Support Group meets at the Central Crossing Senior Center, 20801 YY-15, the third Thursday of every month at 2 p.m.

The Caring People (Single Mothers)

Cassville: The Caring People, a Single

Mom’s Support Group, meets the second Monday of each month from 5:30-7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Cassville. This is jointly sponsored by The Caring People organization and First Baptist Church, Cassville. A meal and children’s activities are provided. The meeting is open to anyone. For more information, call 417-847-2965.

58 | December 2018

Family Life Center in Cassville every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Meeting at the same time is Celebration Station for children. This is for anyone with hurts, habit or hang-ups.

Golden: Celebrate Recovery meets at 7 p.m. at the Golden Baptist Church on Route J in Golden every Monday of each month.

Dinner is served at 6:15 p.m. This is for anyone with hurts, habit or hang-ups.

Monett: Celebrate Recovery meets at New Site Baptist Church, 1925 Farm Rd 1060 in Monett, on Thursdays. Doors open at 6 p.m. Childcare provided. The Landing, a Celebrate Recovery group for teens, meets at the same time and site.

Purdy: Celebrate Recovery meets at First Baptist Church, 301 Washington St. in Purdy at 10 a.m. on Mondays.

BINGO Held every Tuesday night beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Unit 137 in Mt. Vernon. A smoke-free room is available.

Oak Pointe Bridge Club Oak Pointe Bridge Club meets every Monday and Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Lunch can be purchased for $3.

Call 417-235-3500.

MONETT SENIOR CENTER Bingo every day at noon; Exercise every Monday at 9:45 a.m. Pitch every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30; and Pinochle every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12:30 p.m.

Seligman: Celebrate Recovery meets at

MOZark Fellowship, 28277 Frisco Street, every Wednesday. Food is served at 6 p.m., and the meeting begins at 7 p.m.

Diabetes Support Group Aurora: The Aurora Diabetes Support Group meets the third Wednesday of each month at Mercy Hospital in Aurora in the private dining room at 4-5 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Note: There is no meeting in December.

Grief Care Support Marionville: Grief Care Support, sponsored community support by Integrity Hospice, is held the last Thursday of every month at 10 a.m. in Marionville at Methodist Manor, 205 South College Ave. in the Alice Lounge. Care group is for anyone experiencing grief through loss.

Monett: The Grief Support Group meets the

first and third Tuesday of each month at Oak Pointe of Monett, 1011 Old Airport Road from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, call Kathy at 417-235-3500.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Monett: Vision of Hope Narcotics Anony-

mous group meets at 8 p.m. every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday in the upstairs of Monett Community Church, 2101 E. Cleveland.

Monett: Narcotics Anonymous meets at 8

p.m. the first Tuesday of every month in the basement of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, located at the corner of Seventh and Cale streets in Monett, 417-442-3706.

Washburn: Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous group meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month at the First Baptist Church Activity Center, 618 Second Street in Washburn.

417-489-7662.

CASSVILLE SENIOR CENTER Dominoes every Tuesday and Friday at noon.

Exercise class every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10-11 a.m. Call 417-847-4510 for more information.

CENTRAL CROSSING SENIOR CENTER, SHELL KNOB, MO. Regular events: Wii Bowling every Wednesday, 12:45 to 3 p.m. New bowlers welcome.

Friends’ Bridge every Friday. Call Quita at 417-271-9803 for details.

Cards Galore every Friday with Pitch beginning at 9 a.m.

Domino Poker, every day from 12:45.

Qigong Exercise every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m.

Arthritis Exercise class is held every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

Mah Jongg every Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Line Dancing every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Quilting for Charity every Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Balance and Flexibility class is held every Monday from 9:30 to 10 a.m.

Familiar faces

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The third annual Angels for Children Fright Night, hosted by the Angels for Children of the 39th Judicial Circuit, was held on Oct. 20 at the Monett City Park Casino.

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Ashley and Parker Stumpff Ashley and Jenna English B.J. and Kathy Stegman Kailey Pettit, Gerri and Jeff Bell Myra Goodson, Aaron Soper

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Walda and Doug Thompson front: Jay and Laura Triplett; back: James and Sharon Riedel front: Liz Marshall, Evelyn Stewart; back: Michelle Bohanan, Jeff Campbell

9. Michael Saunders, Shea Brown 10. Debbi Netzer, Susan Tennison,

Brenda Henry

Connection Magazine | 59

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The Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce hosted the 52nd annual Apple Butter Makin’ Days on Oct. 12-14 in the Mt. Vernon square.

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Rose Shepley, Roland Gonzalez, Mia and Megan Gonzalez front: Logan Sharp, Mitchell and Molly Booth; back: Marty Andrews, Tish Booth

60 | December 2018

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Larry and Gretchen Bussman Cheyenne Salazar, Melissa Kleiboeker Amanda and Dan Harbaugh Connie Schadwick, Marilyn Carey

7. Joel Belanger, Travis Smith,

Marion Belanger 8. Beverly Brown, Miandra Schoen 9. Shanna Jelinek, Jeremy Schmidt 10. Madison and Lori Mart

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The 32nd annual Aurora Car Show was held Oct. 6 at Oak Park in Aurora.

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Will Neff, Ken Zielinski, Shannon Walker Teena Fare, Kim McCully Mobley Cathy, Liam and Kala Forhand A.C. Lebow, Darrell Siesser, Larry Garner, Gene Swadley Ruth Pendergraff, Jane Baker,

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Judy Kitchen Chrissy and Mitch Forrester Shaye Mills, Silas Burcham, Gentry Burcham, Caden Mills Shayne and Jacqueline Henbest Derek Williams, Jennifer Coker

Connection Magazine | 61

The 30th annual Marionville AppleFest was held Sept. 21 and 22 in downtown Marionville.

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Matt and Steve Maynard, Kimberly and Darcie Hill, Moniqua and Summer Upton Elena Rodgers, Erika Lindblom, Zac Cavener Mac and Greg Hopkins Melissa Ignacio, Gabriela Mayorga, and Sarah Ignacio Kennadi, Kaye and Maci Russell Lee Porter, Kim Breedlove Ruby, Summer, Sophia and Chris Holmes Donna Davis, Karen Morland

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Several familiar faces were in attendance at the 15th annual Festival of Flavors was held Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Monett Intermediate School cafeteria.

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Lesly Almaraz Lesly Pachecko and Lily Ruiz Betty Brandt and Sonie Probstfield Connie and Ernie Jarvis Amy Mattlage and Shayla Doss Daniel and Brandi Shores Joyce Reed and Pat McCaffrey Darin Indovina and Lisa “The Boss� Randall

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The Cassville Alumni Association held a dinner recently at the JC Duncan Gymnasium where alumni could see the items going into the district’s 150th anniversary, 50-year time capsule.

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Netta and Jerry Ellis Doris and Bill Easley Jennifer Hanson and Adam Hanson Dusty Reid and Johnnie Cox Nola Nickols, Adela Horner and Patty Duncan Kay Baker, Carolyn Bowen, Lindy Gibson and Becky Henningson

6 Connection Magazine | 63

Monett High School Class of 1968

A hot air balloon ride with Rainbow Ryders, Albuquerque, NM with Jackie and Pam Modlin and pilot, Alfred Salazar 64 | December 2018

After 40 years, Mike and Phyllis Garrett returned to the Scottish Island of Iona, where the Celtic cross originated

Cathy Lewis, of Pierce City, enjoyed the Making Memories Tour to LaCrosse and then to Dubuque learning new facts about the Mississippi

connection on the go

Marti Ross, Karen Smith, Debbie Wierman Elwood, Jeannie Young, Jacquie Lane and Felicia Tudor spent a week at St. Pete’s Beach, Fla and took the Connection Magazine with them for their sunset dinner in Pass-a-Grille

Visiting The Ark in Covington, Kentucky were Carolyn Haynes, Wheaton; Edna Haynes, Monett; Wylene Clouse, Springfield; Joyce Cook, Fairview; Joan Haynes and Betty Haynes, Wheaton; Maryal Hunt and Terry Hunt, Pierce City. Not pictured were KC Caldwell, Monett and MaryAnn Buchanan, Wentworth.

On the Durango Silverton Train ride with Making Memories Tours everyone enjoyed seeing the aspens in Colorado.

Pictured are Jack Ebert, Aurora; Diane Leonard, Pierce City; Joanne Lane, Aurora; Carolette Cole, Mt. Vernon; Cecil Cunningham and Myonza Kennedy, Shell Knob; Fred and Beth Gann, Monett; and Marcy and Jim Stephenson, Cassville.

Connection Magazine | 65

parting shot

ADVERTISER INDEX Acambaro Mexican Restaurant............... 28 Advanced Plumbing & Septic Systems.. 43 Aire Serv..........................................................2 Allstate Insurance...................................... 43 Barry Electric Coop.................................... 44 Bernie’s Floral & Vintage Garden..............4 BJ McAuley.................................................. 25 Bruner Pharmacy........................................ 55 Bull’s Eye Power Washing........................ 43 Carey’s Cassville Florist............................ 19 Carson Construction................................. 42 Coast to Coast Home & Auto.................. 42 Coldwell Banker/Show-Me Properties. 42 Community National Bank....................... 14

66 | December 2018

Photo by Ruthie Townsend

Cox Medical Centers................................. 68 Crane Family Dentistry............................. 26 Creative Custom Homes.......................... 43 Davis & Son................................................. 42 Diet Center.................................................. 19 Doug’s Pro Lube......................................... 33 Edward Jones.................................................3 First State Bank of Purdy......................... 25 First United Methodist Church............... 28 Fohn Funeral Home................................... 33 Four Seasons Real Estate............................8 Four States Dental Care........................... 67 Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri..... 49 Friendly Tire................................................. 48 Guanajuato Mexican Store & Restaurant.7

Hills Feed & More...................................... 14 Honey Bluff Shenanigans............................4 Jim Nesbitt Motors.................................... 28 K&K Insurance............................................ 42 Ken’s Collision Center............................... 49 Kiddie City......................................................2 Lackey Body Works................................... 48 Les Jacobs.......................................................8 Monett Chamber of Commerce.............. 40 Monett Rental & Sales.............................. 43 Monett Veterinary Hospital..................... 55 Ozark Methodist Manor........................... 44 Peppers and Co.......................................... 49 Precision Land Services............................ 43 Purdy Health Clinic.......................................4

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Quick Draw Gun......................................... 55 Race Brothers................................................8 Remax Properties....................................... 42 Riehn, J. Michael; attorney..........................7 S. Perez Roofing & Remodel.................... 40 Second Chances............................................7 Shelter Insurance................................ 25, 44 TH Rogers Lumber Co............................... 40 The Coffee Café......................................... 26 The Jane Store...............................................8 The Rusty Rabbit & Emmett’s Emporium.19 Tomblin’s Jewelry....................................... 33 Trogdon Marshall Agency, Inc................. 48 White’s Insurance...................................... 14 Whitley Pharmacy...................................... 26

825 Hwy 60, Ste. H Monett, MO P. 417-635-1173 2040 LaQuesta Dr Neosho, MO P. 417-451-1566 501 S Madison, Suite P Webb City, MO P. 417-392-6090

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Hablamos Español Connection Magazine | 67