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Schreiber FoodS 2020 ScholarShip recipientS This year we had several deserving students submit scholarship applications to the team. Each applicant has shown a high degree of success throughout their high school careers and they should all be commended for their dedication and hard work. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and everything the students have endured, we have decided to award all four students who applied with a scholarship this year.

The Monett Scholarship Team is proud to announce this year’s 2020 SFI – Monett Scholarship Recipients Matthew Hall • Jairit Randolph Daniel Lee Moennig • Abigail McCollough • Matthew Hall from Pierce City High School is the son of Tim & Lisa Hall • Jairit Randolph from Mt. Vernon High School is the son of Jason & Lorna Michelle Randolph • Daniel Lee Moennig from Pierce City High School is the son of Daniel & Jennifer Moennig • Abigail McCollough from Cassville High School is the daughter of Richard & Guila Nicole Norris All four students will receive a one-time scholarship of $500.00 to be used towards their college expenses.

Please help us congratulate these students and their parents on a job well done.

2 | July 2020

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Connection Magazine | 3

EDITORIAL

Back to my roots with strawberry shortcake

M

y grandmother, Ella Atwell was family-famous at get-togethers for her strawberry shortcake always served in a very large round, old-fashioned crock bowl. If you did not get a bowl of it before your meal, you did not get any. Since my grandmother passed away in 1997 at the age of 96, many have tried to replicate her strawberry shortcake and perhaps have come close but have not completed the mission successfully.

Recently, I attended an auction that had a crock bowl like my grandmother’s for sale. I purchased it (not cheap) along with some smaller ones. I was so excited because I had wanted one of these for so long! And so the quest began. The Saturday following I decided I could do this, I could replicate the famous strawberry shortcake. Crazy as it might seem, I thought what the heck, I Googled it. I found a recipe called GreatGreat-Grandma’s Strawberry Shortcake. It looked easy enough. But I was always told there was something secret that grandma did to it. But I went ahead and tried the recipe.

I started early on a Saturday morning, and of course I knew for a fact that grandma always used lard so I purchased the lard before hand, and I made my first batch.

Too thin. I tried again. Too thin again.

I was getting frustrated, I knew this could be done, after all I had the bowl now!

I called my cousin and made it very clear to her what I wanted and told her that neither one of us were getting any younger, and I needed to know what the secret was. Actually, I had the right recipe. She gave me some hints, told me it took practice and a lot of LOVE!!!! Of course, at that time I believe all I was giving it was FRUSTRATION!! One more try... and with that one more try, I was going to add ‘my’ secret ingredient. A person has to have one secret ingredient if they have a family-famous recipe. Four hours later, I can say, not bad. Close to the original, for the first try.

And there is the old saying “practice makes perfect.”

This was a learning experience for me and kind of an eye opener as I created this “so called” replica.

The reason I titled this article ‘Back to my roots with strawberry shortcake’ is because it helped me remember the fact that when it came to my grandmother there was no fast food, she made breakfast, lunch and dinner from scratch.

These are our roots. Family values and memories that need to be shared and experienced with others in our family so they are not forgotten. Some of the values and memories that still should be practiced, and I am not talking about just strawberry shortcake. So much has changed that perhaps just taking a look backward and reflecting on what was the glue that held families together would be worth the time and effort. Maybe just a recipe of a half of the past mixed with a half of the present would make the perfect famous-family recipe with a secret ingredient added!

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Lisa Craft

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

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

4 | July 2020

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J U LY 2020

10 | 4TH OF JULY EVENTS

Plan your festivities around local celebrations

15 | NOISE AVERSION

FOR FIDO

Learn more about what may be causing Ruffus’ riotus behavoir

21 | FINDING FIREWORKS

Featuring 17-year fireworks enthusiast, Jared Lankford

27 | DAYCATIONS

Make a day of it and enjoy the sites of southwest Missouri

36 | SUMMER LIBRARY PROGRAMS

Offered online and in-person Barry-Lawrence Regional Library has lots to offer

39 | REMEMBERING

THE GILLIOZ

A major benefactor and philanthropist is honored with the replication of a tribute theatre

45 | FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE

Members of the Ballay family continue military service

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Red, ripe strawberries from Crafty Farms are reminiscent of the strawberry industry that is part of Monett’s history. Visitors can learn about strawberries, trains and more at the Monett Historical Museum.

39 27

CONTENTS 18 Cutest Pet

19 Rescued, My Favorite Breed 22 Recipes

25 Healthy Connection 33 Parenting Column: When you’re bored 35 Cutest Kid

43 Guest Column: Deep Doo-Doo 49 Familiar Faces 50 Parting Shot

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Fireworks and where to find them Local Fourth of July celebrations The booming sparks flew in Purdy for the 2019 fireworks show.

10 | July 2020

A

traditional celebration hits the country on the Fourth of July, and most families and communities have a plan for their festivities.

July 4, 2020, falls on a Saturday, which ramped up the excitement for gatherings, but one unforeseen factor will remain a topic of consideration—COVID-19.

The country’s ability to adapt and adjust during the last few months has been inspiring, but most people are ready to get out and enjoy time with their communities in celebration.

Thankfully, a fireworks show is an event that can bring people together

Story by Jordan Privett

while continuing to keep their distance.

Sitting in a field on a picnic blanket or in the bed of a truck is how most people watch firework shows, so keeping your immediate family social distanced from the rest of the patriotic party goers should be easy enough.

Now, where will the community firework shows be, and where will your family be?

Purdy Julie Terry and her husband Ken have been in the firework tent business for 10 years, but for the last seven they have also put on a show.

The Smith family of Cassville, Jessica, Brian, Alec and Athena, make it an annual tradition to hunt for the sign that the Terry Family Fireworks hides each night for a chance to win some fireworks.

“We have three tents,” She said.

“One in Purdy at the Gathering Place, one in Cassville at the Baywash Car Wash and a third at the junction of highways 60 and 37.

“It was my husband’s idea to start the show; it started off small, but it has gradually gotten bigger.”

According to Julie, there was an estimated 1,000 people in town for the 2019 show.

“We get donations from the community and our family matches those donations to help make this possible,” Julie said. “We have a $5 meal picnic that includes a jumbo hotdog, chips, baked beans, cookies and a drink.”

The meal and the live music all begin at 6 p.m.

“We have Play Boyz to play music for us this year,” she said. “Everything starts at 6, so all you need is

your own lawn chair.”

With the COVID-19 restrictions, social distancing will be practiced.

“The Barry County Health Department said they support the fireworks event as long as families stay six feet away from other families,” she said. “The picnic is at the Gathering Place and the fireworks will be shot off from the Purdy school playground.”

Additionally, the festivities in Purdy are scheduled for July 3 rather than July 4.

“We do that so that we don’t compete with other communities,” Julie said. “We want everyone to be able to enjoy the Fourth of July.

“Purdy is a small town, but this is a great way to bring people together as one, especially now.”

The fireworks show will begin at dark and usually lasts 30 minutes.

“It can be fun for everyone,” Julie said. “We see babies to people in their 90s here every year.

“Right now we feel that people are ready to celebrate and we are looking forward to seeing that happen amid the unfortunate circumstances that our country has been experiencing the last several months.”

The event wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers in the community that help throughout the night.

“The support and the donations extend outside of the Purdy city limits,” Julie said.

Terry Family Fireworks is one of the only family owned firework tents around, and the entire Terry family is involved.

“We really enjoy doing it,” she said.

“Every season we have a sign that we hide in town and whoever finds it can come in and pick from a selection of fireworks. We hide that sign every night!”

Connection Magazine | 11

Seligman Plans for the city of Seligman’s annual firework show are set for the evening of July 4.

Brian Nichols, Seligman city clerk, said as it stands, everything is business as usual.

“The fireworks are scheduled to be set off at dusk and the Flyin Buzzards will be providing live music,” he said.

“The splash park opened on June 1, so that will be available as well as the restrooms, unless anything changes.”

The park equipment and restrooms are being sanitized multiple times a day, and there are signs up for social distancing.

“We have always celebrated Independence Day by shooting off fireworks,” he said. “We believe we should keep on track with that.”

People can still social distance their immediate families from other families while sitting in the field at city hall enjoying the show.

“Last year, we spent $1,600 on the fireworks, this year we bumped it up to $1,800,” Brian said. “The show will start at about 9 p.m. whenever it gets dark and last about 30 minutes.”

Leta Stanley, Seligman Chamber of Commerce president, said the chamber is still planning on offering food for free to the community.

“We are planning on doing everything as normal as possible with the governor’s and health department’s go ahead,” she said. “Hotdogs, chips and a drink for free from the chamber.

“This celebration is important because to come together once in a while, but this year we will take more precautions.”

Shell Knob In Shell Knob the Fourth of July festivities are unique and special to the area’s strengths.

12 | July 2020

At the Terry Family Firework Tents people can find something for every member of the family.

Twilia Harrison, Shell Knob Chamber director, said not only will the community come together for the traditional fireworks show, but this year will be the second annual Let Freedom Ring Boat Parade.

“We have $600 in prizes for the winners and almost all of the 16 boats from last year are coming back!”

The Fourth of July Fire and Thunder fireworks display is set for the evening of the fourth while the boat parade is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m.

“Our firework vendor is new to us this year, Riverside Fireworks,” Twilia said. “They promised us a minimum of 25 minutes of the show.”

Some of the fireworks will be going up to 600 feet in the air.

“We try to get them as high as possible for the view,” Twilia said. “The

Shell Knob Fire and Thunder show is best seen and experienced from the water.”

Water patrol will be out as well, they ask that people make sure they are moving nice and steady when they go to leave after the show to avoid any issues.

“Additionally, they ask that all parts on the boats are working—especially the lights,” Twilia said. “It can be dangerous for a boat with no lights to be on the water at night.”

There is no cost for people to come watch the fireworks show or the boat parade.

“But the chamber is selling Fire and Thunder Fourth of July T-shirts for $15 to help fund the fireworks.

“You can get a shirt at the chamber office or a number of area businesses,” Twilia said.

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The Monett Chamber of Commerce has announced a full line-up of activities and events for the July 4 celebration at Monett’s South Park.

Activities kick off at 1 p.m. with children’s games and vendors opening for business. Those include the mechanical spider, a rock climbing wall, the extreme trampoline, the gyroscope, Ferris Wheel, tubs o’ fun, spinning swings, car rides, laser tag and inflatables.

Ride bracelets are available at a cost of $10 before July 1, and $15 after. Employees of major sponsors will pay only $8 cash in advance. The ride bracelets are good for unlimited activities. Ride bracelets may be purchased at the Monett Chamber of Commerce.

At 3 p.m., Dylan Brock, of Crane, solo Christian guitarist, singer and comedian, will kick off the afternoon’s entertainment, followed by locally renowned Flyin Buzzards, a bluegrass band, at 4:30 p.m. Wilkie Jay and The Heat, from Joplin, will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. to perform some of the area’s rock favorites, with some country and Americana mixed in. The Mark Chapman Band will perform at 8 p.m., and all rides will close at 9 p.m.

The National Anthem will play at 9:30 p.m., with the fireworks show immediately following.

“We have hired Hale Fireworks this year, and the show won’t be as commercial as those in years past, but it won’t be a small show,” said Jeff Meredith, Monett Chamber executive director. “The park will offer the best viewing, and we plan to push the fire line closer this year.

“There will be lots of food vendors and plenty of things to do. We hope people buy their ride bracelets early and join us at the park for a great event.” n

Tail waggin’ celebration It is important to remember the needs of pets when planning a Fourth of July celebration as many have issues with noise aversion and fireworks can be frightening. KJ is a patriotic pup available for adoption at the Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary.

But, what about a pup’s noise aversion?

T

he Fourth of July is an incredible time for celebration—one the whole family can enjoy.

But, one member of the family may have a different point of view.

An Australian Shepard living on a small farm in rural Missouri gets used to her surroundings, her people and her routine, but what happens when something unfamiliar makes her uneasy.

According to Brent Herrin, owner and veterinarian at Herrin Animal Hospital in Cassville, stated that a pet suffering from noise aversion or noise phobia amid the time of booming cel-

Story and photos by Jordan Privett

ebrations on the Fourth of July is not uncommon, and Izzy, a friendly farm dog has the story.

“Today was a good day,” she thinks.

“I helped daddy get the cows in and momma gave me a good snack when we came in for lunch.

“Then, I got a second snack when baby girl dropped her lunch on the floor. I don’t know why we don’t all eat off the floor, maybe momma likes giving her hands a bath every night—I certainly wouldn’t like that!”

Izzy roamed around the property that evening enjoying the peaceful summer breeze until she notices a flash of light in the distance.

Connection Magazine | 15

“Momma!” she barks as she runs back to the house. “I’m scared, I don’t like those big booms that shake the whole house. But, I have to protect momma, daddy and baby girl!”

Izzy whines and paces the floor as the storm rolls in, her fur standing up on her back as she circles back to momma trying to get up on her lap.

“If she would just move that arm I could squuueeeezzzeeee right up there,” Izzy thinks as she digs her nose under momma’s arm.

“Izzy, sweet girl, has the thunder ever gotten you before?” momma asks.

“Hon, I think we should think about taking her to the vet about this. She is two years old, and she hasn’t gotten over this fear of storms yet, I will make an appointment in the morning. With the Fourth of July party coming up, I want to make sure we are doing everything she needs us to.”

The next morning momma gets on the phone and Izzy hears her say, ‘Be there in 30 minutes Doc., thanks.’

Then, she looks at me with that smile that means one of three things, treat, belly rub or ride!

“I don’t smell a treat,” Izzy thinks. “‘Want to go on a ride?’ Oh yes! Yes yes yes yes yes. How did she know? She deserves a lick!”

Momma grabs the keys and leash and leans down to give Izzy a nice big belly rub.

“Belly rub and a ride—this is the best day ever!” Izzy barks.

When the car stops, Izzy barks again as momma lets her out.

“I remember this place!” she said.

“The day before they brought home baby girl from the grocery store, I stayed the night. Momma and daddy have never gotten anything like her from the grocery store before, just some yummy meats, but baby girl is better, she always shares her food and smells funny. She is a lot of fun.”

16 | July 2020

Dawn is a pup at the Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary that can be a bit fearful of loud noises, but she is available for adoption and looking for the perfect family fit.

Momma and Izzy go inside and are greeted by the nice receptionist at Herrin Animal Hospital.

“Hi, Izzy! Oh you are just such a good girl, do you want a treat?” the receptionist says. “Doc will be with you in just a moment, you guys can have a seat if you’d like.”

I did want a treat! It smells like friends in here. Doc comes out and gets real low to the floor to give me a nice scratch behind the ear.

“Come on girl, this way,” he leads

momma and me to a room. “It is good to see you again, what seems to be the issue today?”

Momma tells Doc about that storm last night.

“She gets very clingy and paces around while whinning,” momma said.

“She has to be right up on my lap, and with the Fourth of July coming next weekend I wonder if that will affect her too.”

Doc tells momma that it is very common for dogs to be like me.

“Doc tells momma that the former treatment was a sedative, but with storms as frequent as they are this time of year, that didn’t sound like a good plan. ... Now a drug called ‘Sileo’ is used.”

–Izzy, a friendly farm dog

“About 25-30 percent of our clients that have some type of noise aversion, whether it be fireworks or thunder,” Doc said. “Some dogs can even learn to anticipate a storm coming in!

“One interesting thing is that just because Izzy is afraid of thunder, does’t mean she will be afraid of fireworks; has she been around them before?”

Momma said this is the first Fourth of July party they have thrown so she doesn’t know how I will react.

“Well, how you described her acting

last night is fairly common behavior,” Doc said. “But, noise aversion behaviors could include shaking, hiding, panting, attention seeking behavior, being whinny, hyper vigilant and pacing. Additionally, some behaviors are very subtle, like a yawn or licking her lips.”

Doc tells momma that the former treatment was a sedative, but with storms as frequent as they are this time of year, that didn’t sound like a good plan.

“You would be sleeping all the time,” Doc said as he scratched behind my ear again. “Now we use a drug called Sileo.

It is a gel that is put in the cheek and absorbed; it works almost every time.”

Doc is a good scratcher. He deserves a lick.

“It takes about 20 minutes to create the calming effect,” Doc said. “The drug is most affective when the pet has a safe, calm environment to rest in, like a walk-in closet, something that is interior without windows if possible.”

Doc says by having my space I can even learn to self calm without the medicine eventually.

“I won’t say no to a nice master suite,” Izzy agrees.

Doc says most behavioral issues have potential to be cured, as the pets learn to cope with the problem.

“Do you have another dog?” Doc asks momma. “Because it is common for a dog with noise aversion to teach another dog the same behavior.”

Momma says I am the only dog on the farm, so that isn’t a concern.

“Well, to treat is to stop the fearful response,” Doc said. “If you follow this routine regularly, it is possible she will learn to cope and no longer need the drugs, but she will still need her safe space. And remember, lavishing attention on her seems like the right response, but that can encourage her behavior. You have to teach her a different way to react.”

Momma thanked Doc who gave me one last ear scratch, which I repaid with another lick, then the nice receptionist gave me another treat.

“Good girl,” momma said as we got in the car. “We have a storm coming tonight, so we will get to test out this new treatment.”

When we got home momma put my bed in her walk-in closet with my favorite squeaky and gave me my medicine.

“The rain is coming,” I whined.

“But, I was ok, safe and warm in my space.”

Baby girl waddled in and gave me a hug goodnight, and I licked her cheek, it wasn’t as tasty as it usually is with spaghetti sauce on it, but it’s a good cheek.

“We must be having a party today,” Izzy thinks. “Momma is making lots of yummy smells in the kitchen and daddy is putting chairs and tables in the yard that over looks the field.”

Momma called daddy and baby girl in for lunch and told daddy that Doc’s suggestions are working.

“We have had two storms in the last week since Izzy’s appointment and she is much calmer than before,” momma said. “I am not worried about tonight and her reaction to the fireworks.”

After lunch lots of people showed up, all the kids were playing and yelling and that was fun.

Daddy was laughing and talking with lots of other guys around the big outside box that gives us yummy meat, and momma and baby girl were hanging out with other mommas and baby girls.

After dinner, momma gave me my medicine and tucked me into my bed and gave me the best belly rub, so I gave her the best licks and my best tail wag.

After some time I heard big booms and people cheering, but I was not scared, I had my squeaky and my space. n Connection Magazine | 17

CUTEST PET

Goldendoodle owned by Lucas, Ashley and Hayden Bremer 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.

Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your pet’s name, city of residence and your contact information.

Email your pet’s photo to:

connection@monett-times.com

Patrick 18 | July 2020

RESCUED, MY FAVORITE BREED

Here are two special pets at Faithful Friends:

By Christa Stout

Looking out for furry friends on the Fourth

I

f you are reading this column regularly, you will probably remember that in March I talked about a doggy transport I did to Denver, taking a dog named Sam to meet with his future family who was driving in from north of Salt Lake City, Utah.

One is always a little apprehensive making a long distance transport like that, because you haven’t met the adopters in person yet and you just hope that all will work out. Since our initial meeting in Denver, we have been keeping in touch with the family, and the reports and pictures we’ve received from them are nothing short of wonderful.

I’m Gabe!

I’m a big love bug who came to Faithful Friends as a stray. I promise I’m very smart. I’m not a fan of other dogs or cats but I love people and older kids. I’m the definition of a gentle giant.

I’m 70 pounds of pure love. I love a good bear hug and lots of pets. My favorite hobbies are playing/exploring outside and being with my people friends. I’d make a great outside dog during the day and a good couch potato when you get home from work. I require a fenced in yard because I like to roam though. I can’t wait to find my forever home.

Sam and his canine sibling have bonded, run around, play and have a high old time, and his human teenage brother is so happy he finally has a dog who will sleep with him on his bed.

Their other dog wasn’t much on sleeping with someone, but Sam took to sharing a bed immediately! Fate brought us all together, and it couldn’t have worked out any better. I am grateful I could be part of this wonderful rescue.

But here we are in July, hopefully, the pandemic has subsided somewhat, but as usual, July brings some other challenges; First of all, the heat.

By July, we in Missouri encounter some pretty high temperatures and as you all know, cars will quickly reach an inside temperature that can be deadly to pets, so please share the word and make everyone aware that leaving a pet in a car in the summer is just not good pet parenthood.

Even if the pet survives, he may be permanently debilitated with seizures and other issues.

I’m Rosie!

I am very new to shelter life and very shy, but I love to get attention and will purr very loud. I also love my hiding places so I can sleep where it’s quiet. Kids sometimes scare me, so I can’t wait to find someone who likes to live a calm peaceful life like me. I don’t have any claws on my front feet, so I would love to be able to stay inside forever. Please come see me soon!

Connection Magazine | 19

Continuing the Legacy We understand being in the same business for generations. We also understand you’ve worked hard to secure a future for your family.

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Also, remember that if a pavement feels hot to your hand, it will be too hot for the dog to walk on. Take him or her for walks on grass or do so early in the morning or in the evening when the temperatures are a little more moderate.

And maybe if you normally take him for a run, make it a walk instead, especially if he is close to senior age. Only you, the pet parent, knows what he or she is capable of, so please take care.

And then there is one of the favorite holidays of the year — 4th of July! Everyone loves cooking out, gathering with friends and family and putting on or watching a fireworks display. But please remember your pets who are not so enamored of all the noise. To some, this is a frightening time and they would love to have a safe place to be.

Remember also that more pets are lost during the time before and shortly after the 4th of July and some, unfortunately never come back home. If you haven’t already done so, a microchip implanted in your pet will most often assure that he is returned to you. Vet offices, shelters, city pounds and rescues usually have microchip readers and as long as the chip is registered to you as their pet parent, he will happily greet you when you are reunited.

Please don’t forget to apply flea and tick preventive on your cat or dog. I understand that this year, probably due to the rain we thought would never end, the ticks are especially vicious and plentiful.

Take care, stay safe and have a wonderful July!

Tents go up and fireworks come out

A

The spark of joy that a child gets from a firework is the main reason Jared Lankford, area manager for Hales Firework tents, is in the business.

The first step to a Fourth of July celebration

staple in every community in America in the heat of the summer are the massive tents stuffed with fireworks for everyone’s pleasure on the Fourth of July.

Every Fourth of July celebration is different and every party host has a specific plan for their event.

From the big final booms to the warm up sparklers that children play with, the firework tents as well as the people working them have all the answers.

Jared Lankford, area manager for Hales Fireworks, said he has been running a fireworks tent for 17 years.

“I have nine tents that I am responsible for,” he said. “In life, people try to bring joy and happiness to those around them. But, that takes on different forms for different people.”

For Jared, great childhood memories include the hours spent in fireworks tents.

“The first time a child throws a snapper and laughs and giggles at its pop gives me joy,” he said. “The firework industry has evolved over the years and now people use them to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and even gender reveals. Fireworks are always finding new ways to incorporate fun into the different aspects of life.”

Fireworks is the nice way that Jared uses to bring joy to people.

“You sell them what they want and need,” he said. “You can’t push what you like onto someone, part of the fun is learning what will bring them the most joy.”

But, Jared also stays completely transparent about the products he sells.

“If they are good I will promote them, but I also never lie about what a

Story by Jordan Privett

firework will do,” he said. “That is how you keep your customers happy and build what we have built over the years.”

In 17 years Jared has faced a number of changes in his industry, but one change was completely unpredictable— COVID-19.

“We will follow social distancing regulations and sanitize the baskets,” he said. “Thankfully in a firework tent we are in open air, so that will make it easier to follow social distancing rules.”

Between self quarantine and stay-athome orders, most people are ready to get out again and celebrate in some way.

“The Fourth of July will be one of the first chances for people to get out again,” he said. “I get to be on the scene of that!

“People are looking for a reason to celebrate, and Independence Day has always been about that kind of celebration.”

Jared is confident the season will be good.

“Fourth of July is on a Saturday this year, which is great,” he said. “And if you think about it fireworks are the ultimate social distancing celebration.

“People can stay within their family units and spread out from other people, people usually do that anyway when watching fireworks.”

Jared says he believes it will be a good way to move into phase two of COVID-19 recovery.

Fireworks tents in Missouri can open on June 20 to July 10. Hales firework tents are open seven days a week from 8 a.m.-midnight.

People can follow the Facebook page Lankford Fireworks proudly representing Hales Fireworks or call 417389-0152. n

Connection Magazine | 21

Surprise Inside Independence Cake INGREDIENTS

cooking spray 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix 1 (3.5 ounce) package instant French vanilla pudding mix ¾ cup water ¾ cup vegetable oil 4 eggs 1 drop red food coloring, or as needed 1 drop blue food coloring, or as needed 1 cup butter-flavored shortening 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon clear imitation vanilla extract 8 cups confectioners’ sugar 1 cup heavy cream

4th of July Fruit Kabobs INGREDIENTS

2 watermelons 1 (10.5 ounce) package fresh blueberries wooden skewers

DIRECTIONS Slice watermelon in thick slices. Cut out stars using a cookie cutter.

Skewer about 15 blueberries on a wooden skewer and 1 watermelon star on top. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray 3 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, instant pudding mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs together with an electric mixer to form a smooth batter. Divide the batter equally into 3 smaller bowls; tint one bowl to your desired shade of red, and one to your desired shade of blue. Pour each bowl into a prepared cake pan.

Bake in the preheated oven until the cakes are set and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 10 to 15 minutes. The cakes will start to pull away from the sides of the pans when done. Remove the cakes, allow to cool for about 10 minutes in the pans, and then turn out onto 3 separate pieces of plastic wrap set onto a work surface to finish cooling.

While the cakes are cooling, beat the butter-flavored shortening, butter, salt, and imitation vanilla extract in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Mix in 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar at a time, beating in each cup well before adding the next. Mix in the cream, 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time, until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.

To decorate, lift the red layer using the plastic wrap, and gently turn over and place onto a cake plate. Remove plastic wrap. Generously frost the top of the red cake, then place the blue cake on top. Frost the blue layer, then top with the white cake; use remaining frosting to frost the top and sides of the cake.

22 | July 2020

RECIPES

Fourth of July Layered Gelatin INGREDIENTS

Drunken Berries INGREDIENTS

1 ¼ cups white sugar ½ cup water ¼ cup pear liqueur 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled 1 pint blueberries 1 pint fresh blackberries

DIRECTIONS Combine sugar with water in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes; remove from heat and let stand 5 more minutes.

Stir pear liqueur into the syrup and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Gently combine strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries in a large bowl and pour syrup over the berries to coat. Allow berries to stand for about 3 hours to absorb flavors. Mixture can stand up to 3 days if desired.

1 (6 ounce) package cherry flavored Jell-O® mix 2 (.25 ounce) envelopes unflavored gelatin 2 cups boiling water 4 (.25 ounce) envelopes unflavored gelatin 1 cup boiling water 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1 (6 ounce) package blue raspberry flavored Jell-O® mix 2 (.25 ounce) envelopes unflavored gelatin 2 cups boiling water

DIRECTIONS Place cherry gelatin mix into a heatproof bowl, stir in 1 packet of unflavored gelatin, and mix with 2 cups of boiling water, stirring until the gelatin has dissolved and the mixture is clear, about 2 minutes. Pour into the bottom of a 9x13 rectangular glass baking dish. Place in refrigerator until completely cold and set, about 1 hour.

Sprinkle 4 packets of unflavored gelatin onto 1 cup of boiling water in a heatproof bowl, allow to stand for about 3 minutes, and stir until dissolved; mix in the sweetened condensed milk.

Allow to cool but not thicken, about 10 minutes; gently pour into a layer on top of the cherry layer. Return to refrigerator and allow to chill completely, about 1 more hour.

Place blue raspberry gelatin mix and 1 packet of unflavored gelatin into a heatproof bowl, and mix with 2 cups of boiling water, stirring until the blue gelatin is clear, about 2 minutes. Allow to stand and cool but not thicken, about 10 minutes; gently pour onto the white layer. Chill in refrigerator until the dessert is firm and cold, about 1 hour. To serve, cut into squares.

Connection Magazine | 23

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HEALTHY CONNECTION Try this recipe for a healthy citrus vinaigrette to add to a summer salad.

By Sam Yarrow

Fresh and Flavorful Summer Meals

F

or many in Missouri, July is a month where we fire up the grill and eat meals with our close friends, especially for Independence Day! It is also the perfect time to try new fresh and nutritious food options for us to celebrate this national holiday.

A goal to try is constructing a balanced meal with 25 percent protein, 25 percent starch, and 50 percent non-starchy vegetables. This is a good rule of thumb because it will help us get the vitamins and minerals our body needs to stay healthy. Not to mention the combination of protein and fiber will promote you feeling satisfied quickly meaning less calories in the long run.

Filling half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables may seem like a lot, but it can easily be done if you have plenty of non-starchy vegetable food options. Zucchini, bell peppers, poblano peppers, portobello mushrooms, eggplant, carrots, onions, and asparagus are all great options for grilling.

However, it is important to ensure vegetables are washed and have a thin coating of olive oil before setting them on the grill for the best tasting results.

Consider buying buns, rolls, and pasta that is whole grain. Having whole grain options along with non-starchy vegetables will help you add more fiber to your plate. According to the Mayo Clinic, a high fiber diet can help normalize bowel movements, lower cholesterol levels, and reduce risk of cardiovascular disease.

There are many ways to flavor your grilled meats without adding high amounts of salt to them.

If you are trying to watch your sodium intake, consider marinating shrimp or chicken for added flavor. You can also add fresh peppers, pepper spices, or dried herbs to beef before cooking for extra flavor too.

Healthy Citrus Vinaigrette INGREDIENTS

3 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 ½ teaspoon grated orange zest 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice 2 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard ¾ cup light olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS Place all ingredients in an airtight container and shake well, or whisk ingredients in a bowl with a wire whisk. You can also add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend well.

Try with a salad containing romaine lettuce leaves, fresh cilantro, red bell pepper, avocado, cucumber, and heirloom cherry tomatoes. The citrus and cilantro combo is the perfect combination!

Recipe from The Harvest Kitchen: theharvestkitchen.com/healthy-citrus-vinaigrette/

Sam Yarrow, a recent graduate from Cox College’s Dietetic Internship and Masters of Nutrition Diagnostics program, is a new addition to the Center for Health Improvement as a dietitian at Cox Monett Hospital. He is eager to continue adding on to his knowledge to follow his passion to best benefit the community with nutrition advice.

Connection Magazine | 25

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Daycations: Summer Vacations Close to Home

R

emember that trip you had planned to see family this summer? How about that cruise, or maybe camping and rafting out West?

Many of us in southwest Missouri have had to postpone vacations that we had planned during these warm summer months. While this is disappointing, there are some ways you can still have a getaway in our area. Taking a daycation, a trip away from home where you’re back before bedtime, is a great way to enjoy summer while still keeping safe and respecting the COVID19 (coronavirus) restrictions.

Adventure Anywhere A wonderful way to spend the day is by geocaching. Described on the website www.geocaching.com, “Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure-hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.” Signing up is free, but there are additional perks when you buy a membership.

Once you register through their website or free app, you can begin your hunt. Instructions in their introductory video said, “After finding the cache,

Story by Anne Lisenby Smith

sign the log book, trade knick knacks and track online.”

Lynnette Nelson of Springfield, Mo., described her experiences with geocaching. “Besides the fun of seeking something hidden, geocaching has exposed me to a great deal of history, and taken me to unique and beautiful places I never would have seen otherwise.”

With millions of geocaches hidden worldwide, this is truly an adventure that can be done anywhere.

A geocache found in Monett with signatures filling the small paper log. Containers hidden across the globe are found using the geocache app.

“We loved geocaching with our children when they were little,” said Sarah Lindsey of Monett. Geocaching is an activity for all ages and abilities. Descriptions of each hidden cache has identifiers describing the size of the cache (micro, small, medium, large), the levels of difficulty and terrain.

Connection Magazine | 27

Other geocachers will leave comments and photos describing their experience finding the cache and give hints.

Michael Bruns from Edmond, Okla., said, “The Bruns family geocaches a lot! I would say we enjoy getting outside, the challenge of searching, and seeing the new places it takes us.”

Many people take and leave items in the geocaching containers. Items suggested by Audrey Kettler on the Geocaching website include: keychains, small toys that are weatherproof (toy soldiers, small cars, etc.), and custom items where the sky is the limit. Some crafty geocachers create unique items such as wooden coins, small jewelry, or polished stones.

Newton County History With a few stops in Newton County, you can learn about our area’s role in history. Located near Diamond is the George Washington Carver National Monument. The 240-acre park is the location of Moses T. Carver’s farm.

This is where young George was born into slavery. The national monument was the first built to honor an African American.

The national monument has a onemile walking trail where you can find engraved stones with quotes from Carver sharing his thoughts on nature and the divine. The path takes visitors to the 1881 Moses Carver house.

Open to the public, there are small educational displays found inside. In the visitors’ center are additional displays about Carver and his work. Many are designed specifically for children.

An agricultural scientist and inventor, Carver broke boundaries as an African American seeking education at a time when many schools wouldn’t admit him because of his color. At the visitors’ center, people can learn about 28 | July 2020

At the George Washington Carver National Monument, visitors can enjoy the peaceful prairie and listen to a recording of Carver speaking at a commencement address.

Carver’s scientific achievements as well as the many ways he used his education to help African American farmers.

Information about the George Washington Carver National Monument, including hours and events, can be found on their Facebook page and at www.nps.gov/gwca/index.htm.

After leaving the Carver monument, another historical site can be found about 30 minutes south in Newtonia. There were two Civil War battles fought in Newtonia, the first in 1862 and the second in 1864. The 1862 battle was unique in that Native Americans fought on both sides of the skirmish.

The Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association maintains this 20-acre plot of land that includes the Ritchey Mansion.

“The association is non-government funded and run on volunteer work and donations,” said Don Jessen, a member of the association and tour coordinator. In the mansion visitors can explore displays about the Civil War era, the two battles, and information about the people involved.

Limited tours are available and

must be scheduled by calling Jessen at 417-389-2719. Currently, tours are limited to small groups and are available mostly in the evenings and on weekends. If you want to experience a snapshot of life during the Civil War era, Jessen invites the public to their annual Hammer In, a gathering of blacksmiths and artisans. Usually held in the spring, this event has been postponed to coincide with the Newtonia Fall Festival on September 26.

Outdoor Adventure Located south of Cassville is the Roaring River State Park, one of the oldest in Missouri. Established in 1928, the park covers 4,293 acres. For nature lovers, Roaring River is a wonderful place to spend the day.

The river, stocked with rainbow trout, draws all skill levels of fishermen and women. Permits are required. They can be purchased for daily use at the park store, which also sells souvenirs and fishing and camping supplies.

At the park store, you can also find a trail map detailing the seven hiking trails that total more than 10 miles.

Trails are described by length and

The River Trail leads adventurers on a 0.7-mile hike along the river at Roaring River State Park. difficulty. Only 0.4 miles in length, Springhouse Trail is the shortest and is described as moderate. The Fire Tower Trail at 3.75 miles is the longest and is described as rugged. A favorite amongst many locals is the Devil’s Kitchen Trail, a 1.5-mile rugged hike. Along the way, hikers can explore the rock outcropping that, according to local legends, was a hideout by Civil War guerrillas, a natural spring and caves.

Roaring River State Park also offers camping, dining at the Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center, a nature center, playgrounds and many picnic tables. It’s a great place to spend the day soaking up the beauty of the Ozarks.

Stone County Sunshine Stone County, our neighbor to the east, provides a great two-stop daycation. In July, the warm sun ripens the blueberries at Persimmon Hill Farm.

Blueberry lovers will be in heaven picking and filling their buckets from the fields of blueberry bushes. Farm owners, Earnie and Martha Bohner have intentionally planted a variety of blueberries so that pickers can find ripe ber-

Fresh from the oven blueberry cinnamon rolls are a favorite treat at Persimmon Hill Farm in Lampe, Missouri ries from mid-June through July.

Addressing concerns over sanitation and safety during the coronavirus pandemic, Martha said, “We have stations to sanitize before going into the fields and to sanitize the pickers’ buckets after each use.”

While at the farm, visitors can cool off and fuel up with the berry-themed treats made from scratch in their restaurant. Because of the pandemic, the restaurant is operating on a limited basis, but still offers favorites including: the famous blueberry thunder muffins, blueberry cinnamon rolls, blueberry cobbler, blueberry sleet (frozen blueberry lemonade) and blueberry milkshakes.

More information, including updates on blueberry picking, search for Persimmon Hill Farm on Facebook and Instagram. On their website, www. persimmonhill.com, fans can find more information about the farm and order cooking sauces made from the Persimmon Hill berries.

A perfect pairing to blueberry picking is a stroll through Dogwood Canyon, found a 30-minute drive from Persimmon Hill Farm. According to

their website, this 10,000-acre property has been preserved to “promote and protect the natural environment of the canyon’s wildlife and plant life.”

Tickets are required to visit the park which features 9 miles of hiking trails, 6.5 miles of paved paths, a nature and conservation center, Dogwood Mill and artifact display, a treehouse, and Canyon Grill and Restaurant. For an additional cost, single-day tickets can be upgraded to include fishing, biking, horseback riding, Segway tours, and wildlife tram tours.

For additional information, go to www.dogwoodcanyon.org or call 1-877-459-5687.

Keepin’ It Local A great way to support our community is to keep your daycation local. In Barry and Lawrence County, there are many businesses and organization to support. Highlighted here are just a few that are especially nice to visit during the warm summer months.

To get outside for some recreation, both Monett and Cassville offer greenway trails and high-quality frisbee Connection Magazine | 29

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golf courses at their South Parks. If you are looking for a place out of the sunshine, there are multiple historical museums available. It’s recommended to call ahead or check online for updates on current hours for museums that include: Monett Historical Museum, Harold Bell Wright/Pierce City Historical Museum, and Barry County Museum.

If you’re looking for some fun in the sun, check out a local farm.

Crafty Farms can be found on Highway 60 in Newton County. This farm is run by the Coble Family and seasonally offers you-pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and flowers. They also offer garden-variety produce such as tomatoes and peppers. Tiffany Coble said that in July, there would be farm fresh strawberries available for purchase or as you-pick. For information on Crafty Farms follow them on Facebook or call 417-669-7792.

On a nice summer evening, locals frequent Hungry Hollow. This brewery is found outside Cassville.

They are open on Tuesdays and Fridays at 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. Owner, Joe Zucca, said that they regularly offer live music nights starting around 7:00 p.m.

On these music nights, a food truck will also be available. Regularly, only drinks are served at Hungry Hollow, but Zucca said that guests are welcome to bring their own food to enjoy alongside their mug of local brew. Additional information can be found on the Hungry Hollow Facebook page including dates for special events.

Southwest Missouri is full of education, fun and adventure for all.

Maybe your road trip to far away destinations had to be cancelled. If so, there are still many great places to explore in our own backyard. n

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PARENTING COLUMN

By Meagan Ruffing

Things to do this Summer

When You Don’t Know What to Do:

S

ummer is a great time to relax and unwind, but sometimes the freedom we feel from not having a routine can send our organized selves into a tailspin. A dear friend texted me the other day and said, “Meg, what are you doing with your kids this summer?”

Her question got me thinking…how many other parents are caught in the limbo of wanting to do all the things with their kids but on the other hand, not knowing where to begin or where to start looking for fun things to do? To help with the uncertainty of not knowing what to do with your kids this summer, I have come up with a list of fun things that are suitable for everyone.

Go to the pool Cookouts Lake trips Slip & Slide Picnics Jump on the trampoline Children’s museums Sprinkler Road trips Reading clubs through the library Fruit picking (blackberry, blueberry, peach, strawberry)

Tubing/canoeing/kayaking Kid camps Water gun fights Movie day Go for walk Bake at home Play in the creek Bike riding Sleep in Fishing

Pop a tent in the backyard Firepit/s’mores Go for ice cream Make ice cream Boating/tubing/jet-skiing Beach Board games Relax Play with neighbors Acts of kindness (drop fun things off at unsuspecting friends’ houses)

Sidewalk chalk Teach your kids how to mow the lawn Plant a garden Plant flowers Start a pen pal chain with a longdistance friend or family member

Splash pad Hiking Drive-thru zoo Visit friends Call a family member you haven’t talked to in a while Connection Magazine | 33

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Go through old toys and donate the ones you no longer play with Go for donuts one morning Drive-in Go for a drive Taco night Make pizza at home Coloring contest Playdough Make slime Lemonade stand Neighborhood ice cream truck Have a sleep over Go horseback riding Throw a random party at your house… just because! Include a fun cake!

Play with your pets and teach them new tricks Have fun this summer, and see how many things you can check off this list. Make a game of it, and come up with a fun reward for the family if you’re able to check off every single item. Make this summer the best one yet, and don’t stress about keeping up with what your friends are doing. Do what works for you and your family, and have fun! n

CUTEST KID 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.

Congrats

Julianna Julianna Grace Martinez, 5-months-old daughter of Cesar and Abigail Martinez of Pierce City

Connection Magazine | 35

Photo courtesy of Julie Curry

Storyteller Beth Horner is scheduled to share for the 2020 Summer Reading Club. Schedules of events and presenters can be found at blrlibrary.com.

Summer fun with the Library

Rusty Pliers, “America’s favorite Hillbilly ventriloquist,” has performed comedy and magic for children in past years for the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library Summer Reading Club.

Roberta Sanford visits the Marionville library branch. Masks are not required, but are recommended and available to patrons. All library branches continue to take steps to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 36 | July 2020

Programs offered with virtual elements

Sign-ups are available for the Summer Reading Program online through the library website at blrlibrary.com/src or by paper application at each library branch.

The summer reading club will run through August 1 with the grand prize drawings on August 3. Information about each of the presenters and schedules of events is also available on the library website or by calling your local library.

“The only thing that has really changed is limited in-person activities.

There will be interactions but not always in real time.”

–Janea Coker, BLRL Youth Services Director

F

or the 2020 summer, the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library (BLRL) will offer its Summer Reading Club (SRC) with a new twist. Due to the restrictions suggested by the local health departments, the nine branches of the library system will continue to make strides to keep patrons safe. But these limitations won’t stop the library from providing programming for all ages in Barry and Lawrence counties.

Story by Anne Lisenby Smith

After reopening their doors to the public on June 1, the library system announced new procedures including limiting time patrons are in the library, designating the first hour of each day to senior citizens, and providing masks and hand sanitizer. During the shutdown hundreds of programs had to be cancelled. Leaders turned to technology and online resources to continue providing access to materials for all patrons.

With the SRC, leaders such as BLRL

Youth Services Director, Janea Coker, was given the challenge of providing quality programming using safety measures.

“The only thing that has really changed is limited in-person activities,” said Coker. “There will be interactions but not always in real time.” Like past summers, programming is offered across three age categories: child, teen and adult.

Most of the programs will be offered only online. The benefit is that patrons who might miss the live event can access the videos and still participate. Coker hopes to have in-person programming available at the end of the summer, dependent on safety recommendations at the time.

“Normally we have 160 presenters across the nine branches for the summer program,” said Coker. The same amount of programming is being offered but on different virtual platforms. An unexpected benefit to online outreach was discovered during the statewide stay-at-home order. “It’s opened our doors to allow us to find new patrons,” Coker said. “Teens in New Jersey and Arizona who had moved from Missouri are participating in virtual programs.”

As in the past, there are prizes available for participants in the SRC. With the summer 2020 theme of “Imagine Your Story,” themed badges can be earned.

For example, participants can earn the Genie-ous badge by asking a librarian for a book recommendation or the Creative Cat badge for completing a grab and go craft.

Once five badges are earned, the participant wins an age appropriate prize and can enter the grand prize drawing.

Local “LEGO Lady,” Kara Fletcher, gained fame as a contestant on Fox Television’s LEGO Masters. She has previously shared her love of LEGOS with children at the Barry-Lawrence Library branches.

Library staff hopes to share local LEGO lovers’ joy of brick building with Fletcher during upcoming programs.

Connection Magazine | 37

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“Let’s do something different,” said Gina Milburn, BLRL director, about the grand prize choice. This year’s grand prize will be a $25 Walmart gift card and will be awarded to one person from each age category at all nine library branches. That equals 27 grand prizes this year, more than in the past. Library cardholders in good standing are eligible for the grand prize. All other participation is open to the public.

The library encourages locals to sign up for a library card that provides access to books, DVDs, audio books and multiple online resources for e-books and more.

SRC materials are also available for local school classrooms, preschools and day cares. Participating groups or classes aren’t eligible for prizes but will be given bookmarks and activity sheets. After completion of the program, the teacher will earn a collection of books for his or her classroom.

“It’s about community and togetherness.” Coker said about the overall goal of the library.

After the June 2 election, Coker and Milburn are excited that the community voted to support the library system. This allows the library to continue providing programs like the SRC as well as to expand the library collection and technology resources. Funds from the levy will also cover costs of maintenance to library buildings.

“We’ve also submitted an application for the CARES (CoronaVirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act grant,” Milburn said. “We’re waiting for a response.”

If funds are given to the BLRL system, Milburn plans to allocate it for Wi-Fi hotspots and improved technological equipment that includes a computer, webcam and green screen to be used for virtual programming.

Milburn, Coker and all the library staff thank the community for their ongoing support. They look forward to seeing familiar faces in the libraries this summer and sharing new resources with the community. n

Remembering the

Gillioz Theatre “M. E. Gillioz, the first citizen of Monett, is far more than a contractor. He is an automobile dealer, banker, clothing merchant, druggist, accordion player, picture theatre owner and a judge of many good things.”

T

his tribute to M.E. Gillioz,

by Albert R. Waters, indicated Gillioz was larger than life and determined to accomplish many great things throughout his life.

Locally, many area residents fondly recall the Gillioz Theatre, located in the 600 block of Broadway, having spent many hours there watching the latest movies until it closed in the late 1970s and was finally torn down in 1987.

However, all is not lost.

Above the Monett Historical Museum, located at 422 E. Broadway, a small theatre is being built that will reflect the essence of the former elegant structure, even incorporating some original materials into the construction.

“This is really an homage to Gillioz, and his contributions to the community,” said Mark Henderson, one of those responsible for spearheading the project and a Gillioz Theatre employee while in high school. “We want to adapt the

Story by Melonie Roberts

available space to reflect with historic sympathy the theatre had that everyone remembers. That was the social gathering place in Monett for many years.”

The miniature venue will hold approximately 26 seats, and include the decorative capstone from the original

M.E. Gillioz

The Gillioz Theatre opened in 1931 and was the social gathering place for area residents.

Connection Magazine | 39

theatre, a replica of the compass floor medallion in the lobby, and the cherub from the door header in the original auditorium.

The floor medallion will feature a nine-inch centerpiece made from original marble that surrounded the theatre’s façade.

The one-ton capstone from the former theatre will now be featured in the concession area of the replica, since it is too heavy and too large to be displayed as it was in the original structure. The concession area will also boast a display of Gillioz memorabilia, including some movie posters recovered from the basement of the original theatre before it underwent demolition.

“I have the John Wayne poster for The Shootist, which is rare,” Henderson said.

Even the seats are going to be from the same era as the original theatre in Monett.

“We found seats on Craigslist that matched the originals,” Henderson said. “We will strip the wood and refinish them, and recover the upholstery to complement the interior decor,” Henderson said. “These were recovered from the Gillioz Theatre in Springfield. They even have the ‘G’ stamped in the sides.”

“We are kind of doing this as we go along,” said Thad Hood, of HHR Construction in Monett, whose crew is doing the construction. “We had an architect for code enforcement only. The rest, we have designed and built ourselves.”

The auditorium will feature a 120inch screen, nearly filling the entire stage backdrop.

“There will even be a marquee above the entrance and, in the concession area, a vintage popcorn machine that works,” Henderson said.

Additional display items from Gillioz exhibits downstairs will also be relocated to the concession stand area upon completion of the project.

40 | July 2020

“This is truly a tribute to Mr. Gillioz.”

Memorabilia from the Gillioz Theatre and other business ventures of local entrepreneur M.E. Gillioz will be on display in the small replica theatre currently under construction on the top floor of the Monett Historical Museum in Monett.

While a majority of the construction is nearing completion, funds are still needed to acquire some additional elements, such as tracer lights for the marquee, the audio/visual equipment and other general construction costs.

“Our funding is at the mercy of donations and pledges,” Hood said.

“We uncovered about 140 movie posters from the basement, some of which will be on display in the replica theatre. Others, we may auction at a fundraiser or something.”

Hood said people may also purchase Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) credits to help fund the project through Dec. 31.

“We are also looking for vintage business signs to hang in the upstairs hallway,” Henderson said. “We have some, from the Black Kettle, Judge Pinnell’s lawyer sign, Brownsberger’s and a vintage Sherwin-Williams. We’d like to have as many as possible for display. We’d also love to have more artifacts and memorabilia from the original theatre.

“We’d really love to be able to recover the urns that sat on top of the original theatre. There were two of them, and they were still there about two months before the demolition.

We think they were removed and survived. They’d be about two feet tall and made of Carthage limestone.”

Henderson and Hood are also saving a few other elements that will be a surprise to museum visitors seeing the replica upon its completion.

“I think people will be pleased,” Henderson said. “This is truly a tribute to Mr. Gillioz. He was the largest employer in the area. He had his construction business where he built highways, bridges, schools and theaters, as well as a car dealership, bank, auto repair and a clothing company.” n

Major Renovation of Replica Theatre

The area where the replica theatre, in homage to M.E. Gillioz, will be situated started out as anything but a blank slate. Thad Hood, owner of HHR Construction in Monett, and his crew are busy revamping the small area above the Monett Historical Museum to create a miniature theatre reminiscent of the original Gillioz Theatre in Monett

Connection Magazine | 41

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GUEST COLUMN

By Pam Wormington

Deep Doo-Doo

When you’re in over your head

A

s you know we haven’t had a shortage of rain this spring in the Ozarks.

On a cattle farm, mix that with the remnants of a herd of cows and you get an abundance of muck. I have probably mentioned that we intensive graze our cattle. What that means is we have small areas of our farm fenced off and we allow cows to graze on a paddock of fresh greens daily, sometimes twice daily. Joel Salatin refers to it as Salad Bar beef. It also allows our cows to maintain a girlish figure. They are just like humans, they like routine and when they hear us in the field, they expect us to open a gate and allow them to start grazing on fresh green pasture.

The rancher asked me to move cows a couple of days ago while he was gone hauling milk.

Thinking about the environment, I chose to take the mini truck to do the job. My logical thinking was that it has four-wheel drive, and I would be enclosed should the muck start flying and whatever supplies I would need would be in the bed of the little pickup. I also remem-

ber him saying while giving the instructions, that I would need to tie the gate to the fence as the cows would probably not be eager to move to my chosen paddock. So, this girl and her dog get in the truck and head out to the field. Arriving at the destination to hear the loud greetings of a herd of hungry cows. I got out of the truck, waded through the muck with my ratchet straps and opened the gate. It was a stampede!!! I flung the straps around the gate,

pulled tight and stood in the gap so that the cows would head on in to the appropriate paddock. I was feeling quite confident that I managed to move the cows just like I was asked. Well, with the exception of the baby calves that run and play hide n seek with the mommas and catch me if you can under the electric fence.

I get in the truck to head back to the house only to discover that I’m stuck in the muck.

Connection Magazine | 43

No problem, I’ll just put it in four-wheel drive. That’s when I discovered the lever didn’t work. So I start searching for something to put in front of the tires to make traction. After that didn’t work, I thought to myself, it is a mini truck, I’ll get out and push and that didn’t work either.

When all else fails, call the boss.

I believe his loud response was “Of all the choices, why did you pick that vehicle?” I could tell, he really didn’t want to know my response, so I just hung up the phone. It was at that point that I abandoned ship, and my dog and I walked back to the house, with little curious calves following us.

This is when I realized I was in deep doo-doo, literally!

Just like a kid that waits for the other parent to get home to dish out their punishment, I waited for the Rancher to get home so WE could get the truck unstuck.

Just as time or luck would have it, we ate supper and then I had to run to Bible study. Thank the Lord! The boss walked to the truck in the field while I was gone thinking he would rescue it, but unfortunately had to walk back to the house empty handed.

The next morning rolls around, and we head out to the field with the ‘Old faithful Jeep’ and a chain. Oh wait, did I mention that when I left the truck, I also left the switch key turned on?

Yep, now we have a dead battery too.

Chain to the front, pull pull pull, and no success. Chain to the back, pull pull pull, and no success. You drive the Jeep, and I will drive the truck; you drive the truck and I’ll drive the Jeep. After several attempts at what appeared to be a Chinese 44 | July 2020

Let’s just say, I didn’t need a workout this morning because my adrenal glands were working overtime.

Fire Drill, the Jeep pulls the mini truck out of the muck into a field with a little less muck. Remember the battery is dead, so now we have to get the tractor to pull the truck up hill and back to the barn.

Let’s just say, I didn’t need a workout this morning because my adrenal glands were working overtime. As I steered the truck, I looked directly at the spears on the back of the tractor, thinking if something goes less than ideal, I could be another farm casualty, and we know I already asked to be the fired hired hand and that didn’t work. The tractor driver kept glancing back at me with a slight grin. I wasn’t sure whether to smile or cry.

Thinking back on my choice, to prevent making the same mistake twice, I asked, “So how can you tell if the truck is in fourwheel drive, if the lever doesn’t work?” His response was, “The nail is on the dash.” Needless

to say, that would have never crossed my mind. Ranchers are resourceful and apparently you can engage and disengage your four-wheel drive with a simple nail.

Back at the barn, the little truck safely tucked away, we considered the task finished. I apologize again and my Rancher husband gives me a kiss and a laugh. He had better laugh because anything he says can and will be held against him in a story.

As I walk to the house, I notice the beautiful peonies and irises along the fence that were planted years ago by his great aunts and how they bloom and offer a sweet fragrance each year. Springtime on the farm is busy with calves being born, milk being hauled and making hay while the sun shines, which gives us a lot of time together to work alongside each other or in spite of each other. What a blessing! n

Fifty years the same name, the same mission Sgt. James Ballay, Sr.

James Ballay, Jr.

Members of the Ballay family continue military service

H

istory has odd ways of resonating.

Fifty years ago, America was at war in South Vietnam. Like all wars, there were local casualties. Monett veterans have not tallied the count of soldiers lost in that war. Many from the bi-county area served, as The Monett Times reported in the day. Ten Barry County names have been included in a list of Missouri Vietnam veterans in a memorial at College of the Ozarks, and another in Jefferson City.

The loss is still felt keenly among some of the families. To this day, the family of Thomas Wolfe is still trying to retrieve his remains from where his plane was shot down in Laos in 1966.

In the family of one of Monett’s Vietnam casualties, a young man bearing the name of a lost soldier, has embraced the legacy of his family member by completing his training to become a U.S. Marine.

James Ballay, a 1967 Monett High School graduate, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer V. Ballay of Monett, was killed in action in Cambodia on May 12, 1970. Ballay had recently been promoted to the rank of sergeant while serving with A Company, Third Battalion, 506th Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division in South Vietnam.

Story by Murray Bishoff

He had been decorated numerous times, receiving the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, The Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Sharpshooter Badge with Automatic Rifle Bar and the Marksman Badge with Machine Gun and Rifle Bars. He had served in Vietnam nearly one year.

“He was literally killed while walking to the helicopter that would have started his journey home,” said his cousin, Gene Ballay, who lives in Aurora. “He had four sisters, two of which still live in Monett — including Betty Ballay Ruscha and her husband, Randy.”

Jimmy Ballay was not the only Monett soldier killed under such non-combat conditions. Max Biggerstaff, another Monett High School graduate, was killed by a sniper in 1945 in Germany while on guard duty just days after combat in World War II ended.

Biggerstaff was an accomplished writer who penned many colorful accounts of MHS sports events in the late 1930s while still in high school.

Unlike Biggerstaff and his contemporaries, many of whose families had to wait years for their remains to be Connection Magazine | 45

Jimmy Ballay, right, and his brother, Joey, at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

returned for burial in their home soil, Jimmy Ballay was laid to rest in a couple weeks at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, north of Monett. It was not the hero’s welcome that Christopher Stark received after he was killed serving in Afghanistan in 2011. There was a minimum presence of veterans there. It was a different time and a different war, something the nation has wrestled with ever since. His grave does not have a military marker.

Gene named his son, Jimmy, in honor of his cousin. Jimmy has taken to heart the service of his namesake, and sought to emulate him by just recently completing his training in the Marine Corps.

But Jimmy’s own course to being one of the nation’s defenders had its own circuitous route.

His mother, Rosa Mae Pepito Ballay, was a citizen of the Philippines and not a U.S. citizen when he was born in 2001. She also gave birth while George was serving in Saudi Arabia. That made her son, in essence, a boy without a country.

46 | July 2020

Young Jimmy helping to decorate the grave of his namesake.

Jimmy and mom, Rosa, still in Saudi Arabia “The different rules and regulations leave Americans living/working abroad, in a — almost unknown — gray zone as far as citizenship is concerned,“ Gene said. “Had my wife been in the U.S. illegally, there would have been an automatic grant of citizenship to my son, but when we are living outside U.S., and even when she had a valid U.S. Permanent Resident card, my son was not granted similar status.”

Saudi Arabia required a visa to exit the country, and no visa could be se-

cured with a passport. Numerous applications were rejected before finally getting approved.

Nor is this an unheard of problem.

Several of Gene’s friends have had similar experiences.

“Had I been in the military at that time, with the birth on an American military facility, things may very well have been different,” Gene said. “But nevertheless, there are tens of thousands of Americans living and working abroad, and it is very common for them

Jimmy Ballay at left takes his oath to join in U.S. Marines in a ceremony in April in Kansas City. (top left) Jimmy decorating graves on Memorial Day (left) Jimmy’s mom placing the “My son is a Marine” bumper sticker on the family vehicle.

to marry non-American women, and this is an example of what can happen.”

Making things even more odd, Saudi law required, in the birth paperwork, that a newborn son to have his father’s name first and child’s first name as a middle name. Gene said, “A few months later we discovered by accident that we had been crated, by our employer, with two sons, both born on the same day.” It took months to have the records of two children merged.

Rosa became a U.S. citizen in 2002

after Gene had retired from the military.

Former slaves were guaranteed citizenship with the end of the Civil War. A constitutional amendment granted former slaves birthright citizenship.

Native Americans, however, had to wait until 1924 for a similar right. The ironies remain.

The family has long kept the late Jimmy Ballay’s memory fresh, as they have continued to honor generations of Ballay soldiers. They have visited veterans’ memorials, including the

Vietnam War. Namesake Jimmy has actively participated in putting flags on veterans’ graves on Memorial Day. So in April 2020, at age 18, Jimmy Ballay proudly took his place among those who stand for his country, taking his oath in Kansas City, though he had to take extra steps to secure his own citizenship.

His mother has proudly placed a bumper sticker on the family vehicle declaring her son is a Marine. His dad, recalling his cousin, thinks he’s not the only one sharing the family’s pride. n Connection Magazine | 47

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Pierce City High School held graduation ceremonies on Sunday, May 17, at Don Keebaugh Stadium.

4

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Holly Adams and Ronnie Adams Sue Cochran and Ivy Wright Fred Smith and Dominick Smith Trenton Kluck and Mel Anderson Hailey Mazur with her niece, Laney Mazur 6. Ethan Umfleet, Winnie Sagehorn (on shoulders), and Cameron Sagehorn 7. Julie and Isabelle Farnsworth 8. Julie and Bryce Garner, Ava Elbert, Sara Elbert and Ramona George

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8 Connection Magazine | 49

PARTING SHOT

Photo by Amber Pugh

TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME

By Robert Herrick

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying.

That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times still succeed the former.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The higher he’s a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he’s to setting.

Then be not coy, but use your time, And while ye may, go marry; For having lost but once your prime, You may forever tarry.

50 | July 2020

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