Connection August 2017

FREE

August 2017

Soaring to

New Heights Back-to-school

Get ready for transition

Locals talk about fight club

‘You have nothing to prove’

Love letter to Monett

Hometown memories A magazine dedicated to Southwest Missourians

810 13th street monett, mo 65708 pastor Ronnie Howerton 417-235-5351 Church • 417-235-3849 Home 417-669-1453 Cell

Camp meeting 2017 august 10-13 THE WORLD’S ONLY HOPE IS THE WORD, THE ATONING BLOOD OF THE CHRIST OF THE CROSS AND THE RETURN OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN GLORY. Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.

For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

Let thy mercy, 0 Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Psalm 33:20-22 **ALL TIMES ON SCHEDULE ARE APPROXIMATE**

Thursday, August 10th 6:30pm 7:15pm

Special Singing by Parsons Bro. Jeremy Howell pastor mcCurtain FWB McCurtain, Oklahoma

Friday, August 11th 8:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:45am 11:30am 1:00pm 1:30pm

2:30pm 3:30pm 5:00pm 6:30pm 7:15pm

Hot Breakfast Provided Special Singing by Parsons Bro. Randy Hicks Pastor Kings Way FWB Springfield, Missouri Bro. Clark Snow Pastor Calvary FWB Church Springdale, Arkansas Lunch provided Special Singing by Parsons Bro. Wyatt Howerton Pastor Easyville Fundamental Methodist Purdy, Missouri Bro. Lonnie Burks pastor Oak Lane FWB Harrison, arkansas Bro. Arnold Sheets Pastor of FWB Church Sulligent, Alabama Dinner provided Special Singing by Parsons Bro. Joe Arthur pastor Harvest Baptist Tabernacle Jonesboro, arkansas

**CD’s from last year and this year’s preaching will be available for a free will offering**

Accommodations Super 8 Monett 201 Hess Drive monett, mO 65708 417-236-9200 Facility within 5 miles of Church 2 Queen beds: $75.65+tax Call before July 10 for discount rate

Days Inn Monett 368 US-60 Hwy monett, mO 65708 417-235-8039 Facility within 5 miles of

Church Double Rate: $76.49+tax Call before July 10 for discount rate

America’s Best Value Inn 1125 E. Daniel Dr. mt. Vernon, mO 65712 417-466-4511 Facility within 18 miles of Church 2 Queen beds: $57 +tax

America’s Best Value Inn 101 S. Hwy 37 Cassville, MO 65625

Saturday, August 12th 8:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:45am 11:30am 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:30pm 3:30pm

5:00pm 6:30pm 7:15pm

Hot Breakfast Provided Special Singing by Parsons Bro. Stacy Villines pastor Faith FWB Springdale, Arkansas Bro. Doyle Williamson Full Time Evangelist Fredericktown, missouri Lunch provided Special Singing by Parsons Bro. Jason Hutsell pastor grace FWB Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Bro. Craig Villines pastor First FWB Church Beryville, Arkansas Bro. Mike Hutsell Full Time Evangelist Kenya Missions Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Dinner provided Special Singing by Parsons Bro. Grant Ledbetter associate pastor Westside FWB Wichita, Kansas

417-847-4888 Facility within 20 miles of Church Double Rate: $82.88+tax Call before July 10 for discount rate (Please tell the clerks you are with Grace Independent Methodist Camp Meeting)

Highway 60 RV Park LLC 29135 US-60 Stark City, MO 64866 918-633-2273 Facility 12 miles from Church

Sunday, August 13th 8:30am 10:30am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm

Hot Breakfast Provided Special Singing Bro. Doyle Williamson Full Time Evangelist Fredericktown, missouri Lunch provided Special Singing Mike Hutsell Full Time Evangelist Kenya Missions Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

www.edwardjones.com A magazine dedicated to Southwest Missourians

PUBLISHER Jacob Brower connection@monett-times.com EDITOR Kyle Troutman editor@cassville-democrat.com Marketing director Lisa Craft monettcommunity@gmail.com

* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 07/11/2017. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bankissued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category.

Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).

Jeramie Grosenbacher, CFP®

Shane A Boyd

Financial Advisor

Financial Advisor 103 East Olive, Aurora, MO 65605 417-678-0277 • 1-866-678-0277

802 West Street, Cassville, MO 65625 417-847-5238

Nathan Roetto AAMS®

Jim Haston

Financial Advisor

Financial Advisor

594 North Spring Park Blvd Mt. Vernon, MO 65712 417-466-4620

7 East Broadway, Monett, MO 65708 417-235-8216

Donald E Weber

Nicole Weber Financial Advisor

Financial Advisor

100 Chapel Drive, Suite B Monett, MO 65708 417-236-2819

603 Dairy St., Monett, MO 65708 417-235-7465

Scott Young Financial Advisor

1418 S. Elliott, Aurora, MO 65605 417-678-2102

MKT-1926A-A

4 | August 2017

Member SIPC

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Sheila Harris James Craig Marion Chrysler CONTRIBUTORS Murray Bishoff Meagan Ruffing Lisa Buck Darlene Wierman Melonie Roberts Sheila Harris Susan Funkhouser Pam Wormington Brad Stillwell Jared Lankford Julia Kilmer Anne Angle Dionne Zebert Jane Severson Verna Fry Angie Judd Cheryl Williams Sierra Gunter PHOTOGRAPHERS Chuck Nickle Brad Stillwell Jamie Brownlee Amy Sampson DISTRIBUTION Greg Gilliam Kevin Funcannon TO ADVERTISE 417-847-2610 - Cassville 417-235-3135 - Monett Send email inquiries to connection@monett-times.com Mailing address: P.O. Box 40, Monett, MO 65708 Connection is published monthly and distributed free in Cassville, Monett, Exeter, Washburn, Pierce City, Mt. Vernon, Aurora, Verona, Roaring River, Eagle Rock, Shell Knob, Purdy, Wheaton, Freistatt, Marionville, Seligman, Golden and other surrounding areas.

Connection is a publication of the Cassville Democrat, The Monett Times and Rust Communications.

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Connection Magazine | 5

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FEAT U RES

August 2017

17 | Getting ready

for school

Redirecting your children toward the fall schedule need not be difficult

20 | Get your grill on

Successful preparation for outdoor gatherings includes these helpful reminders

30 | Fight Club in

the Ozarks

Barry County Fight Club shapes men into MMA fighters

36 | Tell me a story

Monett native, Sue Stone, publishes memories of her

hometown happiness

39 | Rising to the challenge

Local disabled community seeks a helping hand

41 | Putting a

stop to it

Cassville’s Youth Advisory Board says ‘no’ to

community crime

Connection Magazine | 7

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

Email it to connection@monett-times.com

Co n ten ts 10 23 25 27 45 46 52 54 63 66

Proud Parent contest Healthy Connection Bottles & Brews Recipes: After school sensations Cutest Pet contest Photo submissions My Connection Familiar Faces Community Calendar Parting Shot

JOIN US ONLINE: 8 | August 2017

Facebook.com/MyConnectionMo Twitter.com/MyConnection_Mo

Photos by Christy O’Neal

s Collision Center ’ n e K

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The Area’s Finest Collision Repair Facility

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Nestleroad and Roberts, Optometrists is pleased to welcome

Michael J. Roberts, O.D. and Aubrey L. Roberts, O.D. Dr. Michael Roberts attended the university of Arkansas and graduated with honors from the university of Missouri St. Louis college of Optometry. he has special interests in primary care, ocular disease, and contact lenses.

Dr. Aubrey Roberts attended the university of Missouri - columbia and graduated with honors from the university of Missouri St. Louis - college of Optometry. She has special interests in primary care, specialty contact lenses, and pediatrics.

They are now accepting new patients in Monett and Mount Vernon.

Call to schedule your appointment today!

507 E. Cleveland Avenue 104 S. Hickory Street Monett, MO 65708 Mt. Vernon, MO 65712 NESTLEROAD AND ROBERTS, OPTOMETRISTS DANNY D. NESTLEROAD, O.D. • JERRY D. ROBERTS, O.D. MichAEL J. ROBERTS, O.D. • AuBREY L. ROBERTS, O.D.

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www.visionsource-monett.com www.facebook.com/nesrob1/

417-847-2141 417-847-2157 417-858-3151 McQueen Funeral Home 417-652-7268

Connection Magazine | 9

Proud Parent

Harper Hayward, 4 at the time of this photo, is the daughter of Laith and Kasie Hayward of Cassville.

Harper is August’s cutest kid.

Congratulations,

Harper!

Are you a proud parent?

If so, take this opportunity to show off that cute kid of yours.

We invite you to share a photo of your child to be featured in Connection’s very own proud parent cutest kid contest.

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.

10 | August 2017

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(417) 847-FAST Connection Magazine | 11

From the publisher’s desk

‘The inches we need are everywhere around us’ Big opportunities often come disguised as small ones

I

t is amazing how seemingly mundane life events can turn out to be major turning points.

Seventeen years ago, I enjoyed college and made good grades, but I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do with my life.

I had to take an English composition class one semester as a core requirement. My professor was impressed with my writing, so he recommended me for a scholarship to the school newspaper.

Since I was working to put myself through college — and not being one to turn down tuition relief — I decided to give it a whirl.

Once I started writing for the paper, I quickly felt at home. I changed my major to journalism and ended up graduating with a degree in that field.

With a few years worth of newspaper clippings in hand, I later applied for an entry-level reporter position at The News-Record in Miami, Okla., and was granted an interview.

I got the job, but the interview turned out to only be the second most important thing I did that day. The most important was making a good impression on the cute

12 | August 2017

brunette who directed me to the publisher’s office when I arrived.

We soon started dating, and she is now my wonderful wife.

A few months before we got married, I became the editor of a daily newspaper in the Little Rock area. About five years ago, I represented my newspaper at the annual Arkansas Press Association convention. It was there that I met the man who would later hire me to be the publisher of this magazine and its sister newspapers, bringing me back home to my southwest Missouri roots.

So, basically, every single moment of my life today — both personally and professionally — can be traced back to the effort I put into essays about topics I no longer remember that I had to turn in for English 102.

This month marks the beginning of football season. Though it is no longer in my job description, I can’t let go of shooting local high school football on Friday nights. When taking photos, I always try to anticipate where a play is headed, and put myself in position to capture a shot at the critical moment.

Most plays aren’t photo-worthy.

Of the ones that are, I sometimes miss my chance by losing track of

Editor Kyle Troutman, left, and Publisher Jacob Brower visit during a break in the action at the state championship game between Monett and Maryville on Nov. 26, 2016.

“Every single moment of my life today — both personally and professionally — can be traced back to the effort I put into essays about topics I no longer remember that I had to turn in for English 102.”

the ball, being fooled by a well-executed misdirection, or because of circumstances outside of my control — such as a referee or another player getting in the way.

Those moments are frustrating, but never so frustrating that I feel the need to hang up my press pass. Of the hundreds of photos I capture on game night, I only need to get it right a few times to have enough good shots for publication. Of the thousands of photos I capture over the course of a season, it’s a good year when one of them earns an award. Even during my worst slumps, I know that a potential prize-winning shot could just be one shutter click away.

There are many parallels to be drawn between football, photography and life.

In the 1999 film “Any Given Sunday,” embattled Head Coach Tony D’Amato (played by Al Pacino), summed it up well during an impassioned speech to his struggling team before a big game:

“Life is this game of inches. So is football. Because in either game — life or football — the margin for error is so small. I mean, one half a step too late or too early, and you don’t quite make it. One half second too slow or too fast, you don’t quite catch it.

“The inches we need are everywhere around us.”

My inspiration for this column came from an unlikely source: A local 9-year-old.

When McKinley Runnels took a picture of her cousin, Sara Longley, 11, jumping off her grandparents’ house boat into Table Rock Lake, I’m sure becoming the youngest person to ever have a photo featured on the cover of Connection Magazine was not what she had in mind.

When Sara spread her arms as if she were flying off into the sun, the opportunity for McKinley to capture a great photo presented itself.

When that moment came, McKinley seized it. She was prepared and exhibited a keen eye and a steady hand.

This set off a chain of events.

McKinley’s aunt, Leslie Smith, posted the photo on Facebook. I saw it, and — without knowing any details — quickly decided that it needed to be this month’s cover photo. An article about this capture can be read on the next page.

FREE

August 2017

Soaring to

New Heights Back-to-school

Get ready for transition

Locals talk about fight club

‘You have nothing to prove’

Love letter to Monett

Hometown memories A magazine dedicated to Southwest Missourians

On the cover:

Photo by McKinley Runnels, age 9

Kudos to McKinley for taking advantage of the opportunity she was presented. This trait will serve her well going forward.

Never forget to recognize and appreciate the small opportunities that life presents. You never know when they might turn out to be big ones.

Jacob Brower Publisher, Connection Magazine

Jacob Brower serves as publisher of Connection Magazine, The Monett Times and the Cassville Democrat. He is president of the Missouri Associated Press Media Editors (APME) and serves on the Missouri Press Association’s board of directors. He can be reached at connection@monett-times.com. Follow him on Twitter @jwbrower, and on Instagram @jwbrower1

Connection Magazine | 13

McKinley Runnels, age 9

Sara Longley, age 11

Shooting for the sun 9-year-old is youngest ever Connection Magazine cover photographer

I

t was a simple photo idea.

Cousins McKinley Runnels, 9, and Sara Longley, 11, spend a lot of time on their grandparents’ house boat on Table Rock Lake in Shell Knob.

One day this summer, when their mothers weren’t around guarding the camera and only grandpa was watching, the two devised a photo opportunity that has found its way to the cover of this month’s Connection Magazine.

“They let us jump off the house boat one time each when we go out on the lake, and I had the idea to spread my arms out like I was flying to the sun, and McKinley took the picture,” Longley said. “It looks like I’m just a shadow because of where the sun was.”

14 | August 2017

Runnels is believed to be the youngest photographer to get a Connection Magazine cover.

Runnels said on the boat, owned by Landon and Brenda Fletcher, there is a swimming platform on the back. While their parents may have been wary of using a phone that close to the water, Longley gave Runnels her iPhone 7 Plus, and Runnels took the photo from the platform while Longley took the 20-foot leap into the 46-foot-deep Table Rock Lake waters.

“It was a good time for it because it was getting dark,” Runnels said.

“We always thought this would be a pretty cool picture,” Longley said.

Story by Kyle Troutman, editor

The cousins’ mothers said the pair would live on the lake in the summer if allowed, going to the house boat about 10 times during the break from school.

Longley said the two first started jumping from the boat after seeing their house boat neighbors do the same off their boat at Hobbs Hollow, around the corner from the Campbell Point Boat Dock.

“It was either last year or two years ago we saw them jump off their boat,” Longley said.

“They would dive off and do tricks, so we started doing it,” Runnels said.

Longley and Runnels said they were pleased with how their photo turned out.

“Ever since that one happened, we’ll probably start taking even more pictures,” Longley said.

“The girls were just messing around when they took it,” said Leslie Smith, Longley’s mother and Runnels’ aunt. “I am always impressed by the things the girls are coming up with!”

Runnels is the daughter of Stacy Runnels and Dr. Steve Runnels, and Longley is the daughter of Leslie Smith and Tyler Smith, and Kent Longley.

“We always thought this would be a pretty cool picture.”

– Sara Longley

Connection Magazine | 15

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16 | August 2017

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Jelena Ivanovic | fotolia.com

Goodbye summer, hello school Blink. Where did summer go?

Iced tea makers and poop emoji popsicle molds have been replaced with pens, pencils and reams of paper in what feels like a matter of weeks.

gustavofrazao | fotolia.com

Just when my kids figured out how to play upstairs by themselves for longer than 10 minutes, it is now time for them to get back on a schedule where play time has to be penciled in before and after homework hour. Changing routines is difficult for anyone. Add to that multiple children and multiple ages and you have yourself a recipe for stress.

There really is no right answer. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to transitioning your kids from summer to fall — you just kind of have to get through it. I have had enough summers under my belt to know what works and does not work. From one mother to another, let me share what I have gleaned from my experiences.

First, get a calendar. Actually, buy a couple. Buy one to put on the fridge for the whole family to see — one cute one just for you, one for each of your kids’ rooms. If that isn’t enough, buy one more just because. Start with the family calendar and map out the month of August or September (whichever month your kids go back to school) and be intentional about writing down every single event in that month. When your kids know the plan, everyone wins. Have fun with this and buy some cute stickers to stick on special days – this is a great way to include your kids and get them excited about going back to school. Let your kids decorate their own calendars by marking special days with crayons or markers.

Start talking about school coming up. Use dinner time to ask your kids if they have questions about what grade they are going into and what they are most excited or scared about. Talk to them about what it was like when you started a new grade. Kids feels so much better when they hear, “me too.” Help ease new school jitters and social anxiety by role playing. I do this with my son sometimes when I need him to work through a situation where he might get overwhelmed when someone either intentionally or unintentionally hurts his feelings. As his mom, I know that when his feelings are hurt, he lashes out verbally. To try and avoid

Simple tips to make the transition easier

Connection Magazine | 17

olly | fotolia.com

A busy schedule isn’t always better.

future situations like this, we often role play about what could happen or might happen and we walk through different scenarios. You can do this too with situations that are relative to your child.

Make a special day about your child’s upcoming first day of school.

If you have multiple children, take each one out individually and plan on getting at least one new outfit to get them excited about their first day. Be sure to add this shopping day to your calendar!

Now that you have the schedule, role playing and shopping day nailed down, the hard part is actually getting your children to understand that staying up late is a thing of the past and bedtimes are back in full swing. There a few simple things you can do to help with this transition.

For some people, simply putting their kids to bed 15 minutes earlier each night the week before school starts works for them. For others, their kids catch on to this and fight tooth and nail to stay up.

18 | August 2017

To avoid the fight, try this: Tell your child he can stay up until the time you have decided and tell him he can read in his bedroom up until that time. Set a timer, set his watch, give him that independence to have the feeling that he is the one who is in charge of when he closes his eyes when in reality, your child is upstairs, in his bed at the time you wanted him to be. He will eventually learn the new routine and setting the timer will be replaced with him falling asleep on his own.

Another tip for helping your children with the transition from summer to fall is by keeping things simple. This means not scheduling a million things all in one day for your child. Pick one extracurricular activity and let your child have lots of free time before bed time.

Maybe sign up for soccer and save dance for next season. It’s OK to have blank space on your calendar.

Trust me. This is called letting your children use their imaginations and allowing yourself time to fit in those unexpected things that come up in life.

A busy schedule isn’t always better.

Keeping things simple and low key for your kids can be exactly what they need to start the new school year off right.

Try these tips to help you and your family ease into a new schedule this fall, and you will be pleasantly surprised at how well your kids will adjust. Tweak these suggestions to fit your family’s needs and remember, keep it simple.

Meagan Ruffing has already started her kids’ back-to-school routine and is soaking up every memory before her daughter starts kindergarten this month. You can see more of Meagan’s work at MeaganRuffing.com or read about her story in her new book, “I See You”: Helping Moms Go from Overwhelmed to In Control, sold on Amazon.

Back to DIET CENTER! 1701 S. Elliott • Aurora, Mo.

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August 26 - 27, 2017

Sat. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. • Sun. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Vendor booths available!

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Featuring Original Art, Antiques, Clothing, Jewelry, Handmade Treasures, Furniture, Home Décor, & Outdoor Furnishings.

LIVE MUSIC

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Connection Magazine | 19

Healthy Connection

Column by LISA BUCK, R.D., LD

SAFE SUMMER Grilling

For more information, visit the FDA Food Safety Resources at FDA.gov/educationresourcelibrary.

20 | August 2017

Summer is in full swing and so are the backyard grills. Now is the time to take advantage of the warm weather and enjoy your favorite grilled meats and veggies. As temperatures heat up, though, it provides more opportunities for foodborne bacteria to rapidly multiply. To keep your family safe from foodborne illness during the warm summer months, keep these food safety tips in mind:

chika_milan | fotolia.com

Transport food safely 

Keep cold food cold.

Cold food needs to be kept below 41 degrees F to prevent bacterial growth. If food will be kept in a cooler for an extended period of time, consider freezing meat, poultry, or seafood to keep it cold longer. Putting beverages in a separate cooler will prevent perishable foods from going bad due to frequent opening and closing.

 Clean produce. Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running water before placing them in the cooler. Be sure to clean fruits and vegetables with skins and rinds that are not eaten, as bacteria can easily enter the produce when cut.

Safe grilling tips 

Marinate safely. Marinate

Safe serving 

foods in the refrigerator, instead of on the kitchen counter or outside.

If you plan to use some of the marinade on the cooked food, put some aside before adding to the raw meat. 



Keep hot food hot. Once your meat is cooked, you can keep it warm by moving it to the side of the grill rack until it is ready to be eaten.



Zone” is 41˚F to 135˚F. If food is kept in this temperature for more than two hours (or more than one hour if outdoor temps are above 90 degrees F), bacteria can multiply rapidly.

Cook food thoroughly.

Cook poultry to 165 degrees F, ground meats to 160 degrees F, and fresh beef, pork, or fish to 145 degrees F. Always use a food thermometer to check the center of the meat.

Don’t reuse. Be sure to wash plates or utensils that previously touched raw meat, poultry, or seafood. Have a clean plate and utensils ready at the grill to serve your food.

Stay out of the danger zone. The temperature “Danger



Keep flies away. Keep lids or covers on serving dishes that will be sitting out to prevent flies from transporting bacteria to food.



Chill foods. Put leftovers in the refrigerator or on ice within two hours of serving. Make sure that hot foods have cooled down by dividing it in shallow containers before putting a lid on and storing.

Connection Magazine | 21

The Crane Broiler Festival

• • • •

Barbecued chicken dinner Many vendors & craft booths Carnival Rides & Games Live dance bands Friday and Saturday nights • Gospel tent all day Saturday

Fun for ALL AGES!

Friday, August 25th and Saturday, August 26th, 2017 Crane City Park • Hwy. 413, Downtown Crane, Missouri

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22 | August 2017

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The food that becomes you

O

ne thing that all cultures and all humanity shares is a constant need for food. When I travel to different countries, one of the first things I love to explore is the local cuisine.

From paella in Spain to kabrit (goat) and fried plantains in Haiti, each country has its unique flavors and traditional dishes. Another observation I have made during my travels is the pride that people take in the food they prepare and its presentation.

Not only is mealtime a necessity, but also a form of art.

Mealtime is extremely important for cultures across the globe. It is a time to bond, relax, talk about the day, and share stories and laughter. I will always value the hour-long meals that I shared with my host family while studying in Costa Rica. Before we would begin each meal, my host mom would offer up a prayer and give thanks for all the hands that worked to bring the food to our table.

After completing my studies at a university in Costa Rica, I went to live and work on an organic farm for the summer. There, I saw firsthand the work that goes into growing a single tomato plant. From preparing the seedlings, to weeding in the hot tropical sun, to turning the compost, to carrying 50-pound bags of manure from a local cattle farmer, I gained a new respect for each tomato or vegetable that I would eat.

When I was thrown back in to the US culture, it took a while to adjust to the fact that I could order, pick up, and consume a meal in less than 10 minutes. I began to miss the long meal times and deep conversations shared. I missed knowing exactly where my food came from.

In reflecting on these experiences, I would like to share three pieces of advice: know, appreciate, and reflect on the food you eat.

Know your food.

For your next meal, try to find out where all of the ingredients came from. How are they grown or processed? How many resources does it take to bring that food to your plate?

Appreciate your food.

Just like my host mom would do, before you dive into a meal, take a minute to give thanks for all the hands that went into preparing the meal. Slow down the eating process.

Try to taste the individual flavors and ingredients in your meal.

Reflect on your food. Ask yourself, how will the food I consume nourish my body, help me to accomplish my goals, or support my family and community?

Instead of trying another diet, try to focus on these three things. You will not only enjoy your food more, but also good health.

LISA BUCK, R.D., LD is a registered dietitian at the Center for Health Improvement at Cox Monett Hospital. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in dietetics and Spanish from Missouri State University and is working on a master’s degree in public health. Lisa is passionate about international development work and has volunteered throughout Central America working in the area of health education and promotion.

In her free time, Lisa enjoys biking, running and all things outdoors.

Connection Magazine | 23

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24 | August 2017

Bottles & Brews

Angry Orchard Summer Honey

Peroni Nastro Azzurro

A taste of Italy, Peroni Nastro Azzurro was re-launched internationally in 2005 and prides its collaborations with fashion, design and food. A European Pale Lager, it has a 5.10 percent ABV content and brings a taste of classic Italy wherever it goes. The beer was the 13th best-selling beer in the United Kingdom in 2010, and the brewing company dates back to 1846.

Made specially for the dog days of summer, Angry Orchard Summer Honey is a fruity, appleflavored cider made with a dash of wildflower honey.

It combined Fuji, granny Smith, gala and pink lady apples and is only available from May through August.

On RateBeer.com, it has scored a weighted average of 2.99 out of 5 from 53 reviewers.

eS h t t a Be

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Cinerator Hot Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey Sam Adams Porch Rocker

Labeled as tart and refreshing, Samuel Adams Porch Rocker is the famous brewery’s take on a Bavarian Radler, mixing a golden Helles with real lemons for a full summer flavor. The brew is only available from May to mid-August. On BeerAdvocate.com, it has an 80 out of 100 score from the site’s founders, and a 76 out of 100 score from 1,592 ratings.

A competitor to the traditional Fireball, Cinerator touts being 91.1 proof and is billed as “a smooth whiskey that brings the heat that will kick your glass.” The spirit’s website offers more than a handful of recipes, including mixes with sparkling cider ale, orange liqueur, rumchata, honey or Irish cream.

Connection Magazine | 25

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Healthful after-school snacks

Recipes

Healthy Peanut Butter Fruit Dip Ingredients 1 (5 ounce) container vanilla Greek-style yogurt 2 tablespoons peanut butter 2 tablespoons honey 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons chia seeds (optional)

Directions n Mix yogurt, peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon in a bowl until well blended; fold in chia seeds.

Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips Ingredients

Fruit Stacked English Muffins Ingredients 2 English muffins, split 1 (8 ounce) container pineapple yogurt 3/4 cup sliced fresh strawberries 3/4 cup drained crushed pineapple

Directions n Lightly toast the English muffin halves in a toaster. Spread each half with pineapple yogurt. Top each half with strawberries and pineapple. Serve while English muffins are still warm

2 kiwis, peeled and diced 2 Golden Delicious apples — peeled, cored and diced 8 ounces raspberries 1 pound strawberries 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 tablespoon brown sugar 3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor 10 (10 inch) flour tortillas butter flavored cooking spray 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar

Directions n In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes. n Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. n Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray. n Bake in the preheated oven 8-10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

Source: AllRecipes.com

Connection Magazine | 27

Ants on a Log Ingredients 5 stalks celery 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup raisins

Directions n Cut the celery stalks in half. Spread with peanut butter.

Sprinkle with raisins.

Cranberry Nut Granola Bars

Treat your kids to these after-school snacks that both taste good and are good for them

Ingredients

2 cups quick-cooking oats 1 cup old-fashioned oats 1/2 cup hulled pumpkin seeds 1/2 cup slivered almonds 1 cup mixed nuts 1 cup dried cranberries 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Directions n Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13x9inch pan with lightly-greased parchment paper; an inch or so of parchment paper should stick up on 2 sides to form lifting handles. n Mix the quick-cooking oats, old-fashioned oats, pumpkin seeds, almonds, mixed nuts, cranberries, and sweetened condensed milk together in a bowl; spread into the prepared pan, evenly pressing into the corners and out to the sides.

Applesauce Ingredients 3 pounds apples — peeled, cored and chopped 3 cups water 1 cup white sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice

n Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are golden brown, 20-25 minutes, using slightly less time for chewier bars and slightly more time for crunchier bars.

Directions

n Allow the bars cool for 5 minutes in the pan before using the parchment paper to lift them from the pan. Use a sharp knife to cut into bars. Let the bars cool completely and store in an airtight container.

n Run cooked apples through a food mill or blender. Stir in the sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat for about 3 to 5 minutes.

28 | August 2017

n Place apples in a large saucepan and just barely cover with water. Simmer over medium-low heat until apples are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

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MONETT SOUTH PARK Near the tennis courts Connection Magazine | 29

Locals talk about fight club ‘MMA teaches you have nothing to prove to people’

BCFC member Anthony Lupica celebrates a win as the 125-pound lightweight title during an Adrenaline Fight League cage fight competition in Cassville.

30 | August 2017

BCFC member and MMA fighter Cal Tolbert celebrates a victory after a cage fight in Cassville. Tolbert won the Knockout of the Night award with a standing head kick. Events are state-sanctioned and all fighters are given medical exams and blood tested for infectious disease before fights.

B

efore summer arrives, everyone wants to be in shape and swimsuit-ready.

“We train more people during the summer than winter,” said J.D. Hunter, founder of the Barry County Fight Club.

But all year long, Hunter, who holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, teaches Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting, a sport that combines several disciplines such as Jiu Jitsu, karate, kickboxing and wrestling.

“MMA makes well-rounded fight-

Story by Julia Kilmer

ers,” Hunter said. “We want them to be prepared for the evil in the world and absolutely every scenario. If you do just one sport, it becomes one-dimensional fighting.”

Along with shaping bodies, it can shape minds and lives, too — which Hunter can confirm, as he has seen the sport turn around attitudes and egos fast.

“The average fighter is only 10 percent as good as he thinks he is,” he said. “It’s hard for any male over 16 to check his ego at the door. Back in my younger days, I thought I was unbeat-

able. I was hitting a heavy bag when I started training, and a 13-year-old told me I was doing it wrong. Then a boxing coach had the boy punch the bag to show me. But that’s the example of the average guy who thinks he knows how to punch and he really doesn’t.”

Fifteen years ago, Hunter checked his own ego at the door, ditched his cigarettes, started training and later started the club to be his best and inspired others to do the same.

“J.D. would do anything for any of us,” said MMA fighter Anthony Lupica. “He has helped us all outside of

Connection Magazine | 31

Ricky Swearingen (top) and Anthony Lupica wrestle during a training session at the Barry County Fight Club, each trying to get a submission. MMA fighters are highly skilled fighters trained to end a fight as quickly as possible in order to gain control of a potentially dangerous situation.

the gym. MMA gives me more self-respect and discipline. I’ve made a lot of friends and it’s boosted my confidence, given me goals and something to work for. If people are headed down the wrong path, he gets them in here to do something positive. BCFC is known for helping people out and teaching self-discipline and self-respect.”

“Anything you had in your past, you leave at that door,” said Hunter.

“John Asbury and I helped dozens of guys stay clean and right. If I found out someone in our gym was starting trouble, they wouldn’t be back.”

Hunter says many misconceptions abound that MMA is a form of anything-goes street fighting, but that is not accurate, as the sport has many rules, and as far as he’s concerned, is used for good.

“When people hear fight club, they think the worst,” said Hunter. “You have to be taught. It’s a classroom is all — just a different kind of classroom.

We have technique here. We’ll wres-

32 | August 2017

Jiu Jitsu coach Aaron Kimble of Barry County Fight Club and TCB Fight Factory wraps Barry County Fight Club member Steven Hunter’s fists before going into the ring for his first cage fight. Hunter, 19, said he started training at age 3. (above) Hunter treats his opponent to a southpaw punch in an Adrenaline Fight League Cagefight in Cassville. Hunter, who just graduated from high school, won the fight with a 26-second technical knockout.

tle and spar lightly, and then we start teaching.”

In fact, MMA fighters are not ones to go looking for a fight, but are trained to use technique to end one, he said. But make no mistake — if meeting a BCFC-trained MMA fighter in a dark alley, you had better not be the bad guy.

“You’ve got to use [your skills and

training] for good,” Hunter said. “Joe Blow in a road rage incident doesn’t know what he’s walking into. No one in MMA fighting wants to hurt anybody. What we do is a sport. There are zero emotions involved. The end goal is to stop the threat, so we have control of the situation. Once the fight goes to the ground, a fighter’s trying to set up a submission.

Members of the Barry County Fight Club pose for a group photo to capture the moment after several victories were taken in a cage fight event in Cassville. Pictured, from left, are: Cal Tolbert, trainer Aaron Kimble, Steven Hunter, club owner and trainer J.D. Hunter, Ricky Swearingen, Anthony Lupica and Dave Mason.

“Martial arts teaches honor, so regardless of your perception, standing up for the underdog is everyone’s thought. If any of [my fighters] ran into a potentially dangerous situation, there’s no doubt in my mind they wouldn’t step in.”

Hunter says MMA fighting is not about trying to cripple one’s opponent.

“There are hundreds of cases of brain damage in boxing, but there hasn’t been one in MMA since it started in 1993,” he said. “It’s no different than a Friday night football game.”

“Some look at MMA like it’s a blood sport,” said Hunter’s son and fighter Stephen Hunter. “They see fight club and can’t see past that.”

BCFC member Dave Mason described MMA as a safe adrenaline rush.

“It’s not like a street fight,” he said.

“It’s padded and there are rules. I think it’s therapeutic. It helps with things like getting mad at work and parenting stress, and teaches you patience. It helped me stay sober. These guys are

Members of the Barry County Fight Club pray before a training session. The club’s T-shirts bear the Bible verse: John 3:16, and owner J.D. Hunter, who has used Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) training to help many young men stay on the straight and narrow, says he wants to represent God in his gym.

like my family.”

Hunter credits MMA fighting for changing him from the inside out.

“It’s changed me a lot,” he said. “It has taught me discipline, how to eat, get in shape and control emotions,” he said. “It has helped me realize that los-

ing your temper isn’t worth it, and it teaches you that you have nothing to prove to people.”

At competitions, the Christianbased club’s fighters bear the Bible verse John 3:16 on their T-shirts.

“Before every fight, there is a prayer,

Connection Magazine | 33

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34 | August 2017

Geniuses have clear vision.

Remember your back-to-school eye exams!

BCFC member Anthony Lupica, takes a break from training near a wall displaying some of the belts club members have won at competitions locally and as far away as Iowa.

and before each training, that nobody has injuries and egos and tempers are checked at the door. We want to represent God; we give glory to God in everything.”

BCFC member Chad Ganoung, a former Marine, got motivated to train after seeing friend Ricky Swearingen win a cage fight.

“I hadn’t done anything physical in 15 years,” he said. I was smoking, and hated that I could not stop. But I quit smoking after two weeks.”

It’s the natural high he gets that motivates him to train after a 10-hour work day.

“I’m living proof that if you set your mind to something, you can do it,” he said. “I want to give cage fights one more try before I get too old.”

Hunter’s fighters have won 73 titles in different weight classes in competitions as far away as Iowa.

“It’s called BCFC for one reason,” he said. “I have state officials who, when we go to fight, get excited because they love to watch our guys’ technique.”

For more information about the BCFC, contact Hunter at 417-342-3286, or visit them at Facebook.com/BarryCountyFightClub. 

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Connection Magazine | 35

A love letter

The Stone home as it is seen today, on the southeast corner of Fifth and Cale streets in Monett.

to Monett:

Sue Stone, at left, with her sister, Betty, in front of their family home.

Sue Stone’s mother, Lela, her Aunt Rena and grandmother walking in front of Heim’s Hatchery on the way to her father’s watch repair store.

Sue Stone and her father, Glenn “Stonie” Stone

36 | August 2017

Storyteller recounts growing up and characters in her hometown

S

ue Stone grew up to be a storyteller.

The daughter of Glenn “Stonie” Stone, a watch repairman and clock shop operator in Monett, and Lela Stone, grew up in Monett in the 1950s and 1960s. Her new book, “Home Again.

Home Again. Jiggity, Jig,” describes the Monett she knew, the characters who inhabited it and experiences that helped shape her life.

“I grew up just a block from the old Monett Times [at 212 Fifth St., west of City Hall], on Bond Street, across from the old library, where my father had a clock shop,” Sue recalled. “I grew up working nights in the concession stand at the Monett Gillioz Theatre. Also my older sister, Betty, worked there, as did my cousins, Betty Kelley and Janice Essary Bowen. Momma later worked there.

“We all worked at the summer drive-in when it was opened. In fact, Momma was town famous for her hamburgers. Everyone knew Momma.”

Now married to Arthur Chidlovski, the noted Russian hockey historian, Sue is eager to continue her journey of memories, picking up her tale in St. Louis as a teacher. After heading off to college at School of the Ozarks in 1960 and later to Drury College, she taught school for about 18 years, edited two newspapers in South Carolina and later wrote for the Chelsea Record in Massachusetts and the Winthrop Transcript in Boston. She earned a master’s degree in theater at Emerson College in Bos-

Story by Murray Bishoff

ton, and subsequently worked as a director and producer.

It was in Monett that life took shape. It is back to Monett where Sue’s memories return.

“I knew almost everyone in Monett in those days,” Sue recalled. “There was a quality to the town, a small town touch. Everybody knew everybody.

You’d walk into a store and they knew you. If I was coming home from college, my mom would stop in the Penney’s store and say, ‘I need a couple outfits for my daughter. What can I take home for her to try on?’ And she’d bring several home.”

Helping people, particularly extending a helping hand to a young woman such as herself, seemed to be what Monett people naturally did.

Sue recalled that her family was active at the Presbyterian Church. When the minister was on vacation, church leaders would ask her to fill in. L.G. Jones, mayor in the early 1950s who ran a Texaco station, also rented typewriters. He told Sue, “Whenever you come home from college, there will be a typewriter at your home any time you need it.”

While Sue was studying at Drury, she would come home on weekends and work as a waitress at the Lakeland Restaurant, facing Highway 60, west of Kyler Street, run by Floyd and Eleanor VanDerhoef. In addition to providing Sue with lunch and dinner, Eleanor would slip her a $20 bill on Sunday nights as Sue left to head back.

“Eleanor would tell customers,

‘She’s working her way through college, so you tip her good.’ The little ladies from the church would come to my table when I worked there. They would each leave me a dime. I worked there all through college,” Sue said.

Monett was also full of characters in those days. Sue’s family fit right in.

“Every election year, Dad would always hang banners around the shop and get out his Victrola and play Sousa marches,” Sue recalled. “He ran against V.B. Hall [in the 1940s] for mayor as a write-in. V.B. would always come by to see how he was doing.”

Her father was active in the Masons in Monett. In her senior year in college, Sue lost the scholarship that helped her. As a Rainbow Girl, the Masons loaned her the funds to make up the lost scholarship funds to complete her degree.

She remembered Dr. Frank Kerr, a big man with a booming voice whom her family went for care.

Connection Magazine | 37

Sue Stone was part of Mrs. Vogt’s sixth grade class about 1953 in Monett.

“My dad loved medicine,” Sue said.

“He would read a medical encyclopedia and call Dr. Kerr to consult him on what was wrong. Dr. Kerr would say, ‘Stonie, you know what’s wrong.

Why are you calling me?’ My dad would answer, ‘Because I can’t write a prescription.’

“Dr. Kerr had a lounge area in his office. I could come in and read their magazines. When I’d go to him, he’d walk into the room and he’d ask how I was doing. I’d say, ‘Just fine.’ He’d say, ‘Then what the hell are you doing here?’”

It helped to have friends in hard times. For Sue, that came one night in 1959, her senior year in high school, at the drive-in, facing an armed robber. She was running the ticket office.

It was an unusually busy night. “The Nun’s Story” starring Audrey Hepburn was playing. Cars were parked out into the field and customers complained they couldn’t hear the film 38 | August 2017

over the mooing of the cows.

“I gave him all the cash he needed,” Sue recalled. But she was shaken by the experience. Dr. Kerr came over to her house that night and gave her a sedative injection. Her father put two six-guns on his hips and went out to help in the search until the Highway Patrol troopers sent him home.

She didn’t think the robber was ever caught.

“There’s something about being born in Monett that makes you a storyteller,” Sue said. “I don’t know what it is, but there’s something special that lives in that town. Thank you to Monett, for the love and people being there for me.”

Sue’s book has been published by Ex Libris, a division of Penguin. She plans to have copies available at the Monett Museum. A copy is in the collection at the Monett Branch Library.

Copies can also be purchased at Amazon.com. 

Sue Stone in one of her professional positions.

Disabled community faces multitude of challenges

I

ndividuals born with developmental challenges face a myriad of challenges throughout their lifetimes, including school, socialization and employment.

However, one of the most necessary elements of daily life, that of adequate shelter, still remains a challenge to many people coping with disabilities.

Sarah Meredith, director of the Monett division of The Arc of the Ozarks, has been working for the past two years in seeking help for more than 80 individuals with developmental disabilities across Barry and Lawrence counties.

“Our division provides residential, community integration, personal care, day programming, supported employment and autism respite services,” she said. “Our mission is to support individuals with disabilities in directing their own lives as valued members of the community.”

The term “disabilities” includes a wide-ranging definition of conditions. Developmental disabilities are comprised of a group of widely varied conditions that cause an impairment in physical, learning, language or behavior areas that occurs before the age of 22, Meredith said. It can include a condition with which an individual is born, such as Down syndrome, or a condition that occurs later in life, such as a head injury or childhood cancer.

One of the biggest struggles individuals have in the Monett area is finding accessible housing.

Story by Melonie Roberts

“It has been very difficult to find apartments, duplexes or homes that have doorways wide enough for walkers and wheelchairs to easily maneuver inside and out, to have grab bars in the bathrooms and walk-in showers,” Meredith said. “These are basic necessities for individuals to be safe in their home.”

Another challenge is general acceptance in the community in which they live.

“It can be an issue,” Meredith said.

“For example, when I go to the grocery store, people will say hi to me, wave or smile as I walk by. The same [shopping] experience for an individual with a disability is much different. Most of the time, those trips to the store are silent. No one says hi or

Organization seeks assistance providing services, opportunities

F o r m o r e i n f o r m at i o n LawrenceDD.org in Lawrence County or call 417-847-2832 in Barry County

smiles and waves. Many times, there are averted glances or curious looks.”

Transportation to local shopping destinations can also prove problematic.

“In the [Monett] community, it is difficult to get from place to place, as Connection Magazine | 39

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40 | August 2017

the city does not have a sidewalk system or those that are in place are in disrepair,” she said. “The OATS bus provides some transportation, but it is very limited. Not all businesses downtown have automatic doors, which makes it difficult for those with disabilities to shop there.”

Even recreational opportunities are limited.

“The park does not have an accessible swing for a child who cannot sit upright on its own,” Meredith said.

Resources for those with disabilities are limited, and often time consuming to access.

The Clark Center provides case management services, Meredith said, and Preferred Family HealthCare also provides services to individuals with disabilities. Integrity and other home health agencies can assist with personal care needs, and Easter Seals can provide training and some hands-on assistance for those with autism.

Families that need access to resources can contact The Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH)/Developmental Disabilities Division at 417-629-3020 to receive additional information.

Those who are approved for DMH services are assigned a case manager in their area who is familiar with the local resources and can match them with the family’s needs, Meredith said.

Funding for services can come from a variety of sources. Payment can be made from the family’s own resources, Medicaid, Barry County Senate Bill 40 Tax Board and the Lawrence County Senate Bill 40 Tax Board. 

Police line

do not cross

Police line

do not cross

Total

Take Back

Teens partner with law enforcement

B

efore the first day of school arrives, a group of proactive students is already making plans to reach out to their peers and clean up their community.

That group is the Youth Advisory Board, consisting of more than 25 Cassville High School students from a variety of backgrounds, but with one common goal – they all care about their community and their peers.

The recently reorganized group is made up of students, but is not affiliated with the school.

“We’re more in the community,” said Dalia Phelps, Cassville junior and board president.

The group is already planning a back-to-school-bash.

Story by Julia Kilmer

“They are going to try to reach the new freshmen coming and make them feel comfortable coming to high school, and help them with good decision making, as well as try to take back the park and make it a positive place,” said Elaine Boles, co-vice chairwoman of the board, founder of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and CHS nurse for 17 years.

“I’ve been involved with youth about 15 years,” she said. “I cannot imagine not working with the kids.”

The city park has been targeted by local law enforcement as a problem area, and Police Chief and co-vice chairwoman of the board Dana Kammerlohr would like to partner with the teens to help reduce crime through the concept of community policing,

Members of the Youth Advisory Board of Cassville plan to clean up problem areas of their community and make it a better place to live by hosting functions in the city park, a back-toschool bash to reach teens, and working with law enforcement to help reduce crime. Pictured in photo, from left, are members: Rebecca Blackburn, Board President Dalia Phelps (in tree), Torance Davis (kneeling), Grace Schell and Yesenia Aguinaga.

‘No community has a future unless you help the kids’ Connection Magazine | 41

Members of the Youth Advisory Board try to help their community wherever they can. Here, a member helps the Habitat for Humanity ReStore move items to a new location.

Cassville Police Chief Dana Kammerlohr gives a presentation to local children about safety at the Cassville Branch Library this summer. Kammerlohr plans to partner with the Youth Advisory Board to target problem areas like the city park, and work with local schools for the common goal of helping to reduce crime and improve the community, an emerging new style of law enforcement known as community policing.

which utilizes partnerships to target problem areas to reduce crime and improve the community.

Problems include loitering, littering, vandalism, suspected drug use and other destructive behaviors.

“I think the local youth are involved, but we also have a lot of youth from surrounding communities who come in,” Boles said. “And it’s not just the youth, but people in their 20s and 30s.

The board is going to be picking hot spots like the park, holding different functions and working with local police to discourage the destructive decisions going on there. It’s just not really a safe place for adults to bring their families at night, and it needs to be cleaned up.”

But they’re not going to stop at the parks.

“We’re just really wanting to make Cassville a safe place for families to live and raise their children, and you’ve got to start with a small spark, build a fire and go from there,” Boles said. “The

42 | August 2017

board will also try to help community members. We’re like the bridge between the community and youth.”

Boles credits the late Cassville Police Chief and DARE officer Lonnie McCullough with helping establish the board.

“He would tell you that no community has a future unless you help the kids,” she said.

After McCullough’s passing, the board disbanded for a few years.

“Our students are our teachers, so you get them involved and in time, they are going to be picking up the slack. That’s one of the main reasons they wanted to get involved — they want to make a difference in their communities.”

Partnering with others, like Kammerlohr, is one way they can.

“They have great ideas,” she said.

“These kids are interested in everything. I’m very excited. The group was part of our communities years ago.

Community policing is about law enforcement working with different areas of the community to reduce crime, improve the image of law enforcement and assist the public in maintaining a safe and orderly environment.”

“Chief Kammerlohr and I have been talking about reactivating the board, so it was the perfect time to reestablish it,” said Boles. “We will be meeting when school starts back up. We have wonderful kids involved, and members from about every one of the clubs, whether you’re artistic, a football player or a book worm, the whole school is represented.”

“There are 12 high school clubs, and we have members from almost all of the clubs,” said Phelps, who believes members can be an asset to law enforcement through their ideas and their insider insight.

“We see and hear [at school] a lot more than some adults do, and sometimes the cops don’t find out because

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Connection Magazine | 43

kids are good about hiding things these days. But we see the problem(s) firsthand so we often know how to fix it.”

Phelps says she is a forward-thinker and doesn’t want to see teens ruin their lives.

“I’ve seen adults having hard times now because when they were in high school, they just didn’t care, and I don’t want to be like that,” she said. “When I’m an adult, I want to be able to do what I want and have fun. I firmly believe teenagers don’t need to throw their lives away out partying all the time. I’m hoping that by being on the board, I can help reach friends and put my input in.”

When she has driven by the park after dark, Phelps said she has seen suspicious activity, and said some teens boast about using drugs on online platforms.

44 | August 2017

“There are all these drug issues around, so we want to get it out of Cassville,” she said. “The park is there for families to use, not for them to worry if someone’s going to mess with their car or their kids. If I were a parent, I would not want to take my kids there.”

Some board members feel a lack of connection is an issue.

“I think teens are suffering from a lack of involvement, and hope we can do more with the park, create some unity and be a voice for every corner of our school,” said board member Grace Schell.

“Everyone comes together for football games,” said board member Yesenia Aguinaga. “But we’d like to get everyone involved with more than just football.”

Members of the Cassville Youth Advisory Board, which recently reorganized, take a group photo shortly before the end of the school year. This fall, they plan to make plans to reach their peers and impact their community by partnering with local law enforcement to helping reduce crime, help teens make good choices and make public areas like parks a safe and clean place for families and children to continue going.

“They are a great group of kids and we all have the same goals. We’re hoping that by being a good influence [on teens], it will be like the concept ‘Monkey See, Monkey Do.’ The group will soon have their own T-shirts and logo.

“When people see us, we want everyone to think, ‘This is a person I can talk to. This is a person who can help me,’” said Schell. 

Cutest Pet

Meet Hank.

Hank belongs to Kiera Groves of Billings.

August’s winner!

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.

Connection Magazine | 45

Community captures Submit photos to connection@monett-times.com

Photos by Sheila Harris of Purdy

46 | August 2017

Photos captured by Esther Hightower during a recent trip to Branson.

Connection Magazine | 47

These photos were submitted by David Williams of Monett from a recent trip to North Carolina.

Mica Plummer captured this photo of a bee on Rose of Sharon blossoms in Wentworth.

48 | August 2017

This photo was captured by Lonna Norman at Top of the Rock.

Photos by Charlotte Schoen of Monett

Connection Magazine | 49

Photos captured by Valerie Miller on a recent trip to Maryland.

50 | August 2017

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Noralee Faulkner of Shell Knob took Connection to Florence, Italy, to celebrate with granddaughters Anna and Victoria Faulkner, and Laura Faulkner Moore.

Ralph Scott, Steve Wise, J.L. Phillips, Robb Davis, John Bruner and Ed Norman went fishing on Rainy Lake in Canada in June with Connection Magazine.

Mike and Phyllis Garrett enjoyed a reunion with former Monett AFS students in Bonnieux, France. On left is Frederique Laouenan, class of 1983, and on the right is Anna (Carlberg) Belfrage, class of 1971.

The reunion took place at the Belfrage home.

52 | August 2017

My Connection

Charley Melton-Hovland and Jillian LeCompte travelled to Washington, D.C., the week of July 9 to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference. Jillian is holding the 10 Influential Women edition of Connection Magazine, featuring her mother, Jill LeCompte. The girls are standing on the steps of the United States Capitol.

PO Box 37 • 816 Broadway Monett, MO 65708 jjfloor@suddenlinkmail.com

Arnhart Baptist Church took Connection Magazine with them on a mission trip in Chiangmai, Thailand. From left, Kerry Keeling, Kim Roller, Michelle Cullers, Jason Mackey, Noah Cullers, Lexi Keeling and Naaman Cullers.

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More than 100 people turned out for the annual Waldensian Ice Cream Social, held Thursday, June 29, on the church grounds.

Familiar faces

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Denise Ridenour and Anita Latshaw Margaret Ash and Linda Kelso Two-year-old twins Claire and Kate Marion Esther Neher and Mary Weiser Janet Henderson and Nadine Merritt Vince Martinez and Jane Sligar

7. Betty Rojas, Sandee Rogers and Adrianna Rogers 8. Mary Kay Scott and Phyllis Garrett 9. Gary and Carla Mulvaney 10. Glen Aldridge and 6-week-old Peter Howe 11. Adline Bartkoski, K.C. Caldwell,

Mary Ann Buchannan and Pat Kaiser

Connection Magazine | 55

2

1 The nation’s birthday was celebrated in an annual party in Purdy hosted by fireworks vendors Ken and Julie Terry at Highway C and Business 37 in Purdy.

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Front: Kinley and Carson Schlessman. Back: Audrey and Jordan Schlessman Front: Miranda and Ezabella Hull. Back: John and Mirika Hull Rhonda and Megan Schilly Nicole Gilmore and Kristen Daughrity Joan, Justin and Jerry Schoelzel Bradley Biloki, Grace Gardner, Areli Garcia, Payton Crumpler and Jerek Tettenhorst

56 | August 2017

7 7. Valerie Yates, Caleb Byron, Ashton Young and

Bethany Hutchings 8. Russ and Deb Nichols 9. Preleen Lopez holding Arabella Lopez, and Matias Lopez holding Nyleen Lopez

10. Roger Ozbun and Kim Wilkes

Community National Bank hosted the Monett Chamber of Commerce’s Fifth Friday Coffee on June 30 at the bank.

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Jay Jastal and Jennifer Prine Jonathan and Michael Blewett Carl Norton and Lowell Lane Jane Rogers and Brenda McCracken Carrie Szydloski and Jeff Meredith Kaelie Smith and Jessica Kutz Sam Green and Andy Goodson Brad Hanson and Greg Brandsma

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Monett’s annual Freedom and Fireworks celebration was held on the afternoon and evening on July 4 at Monett’s South Park.

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Juleah, Meleah and Javier Quiquivix Micah, Michael, Shayleigh, Sheleenna and Shaylyn Barnett Luis Gomez and Sasha Taylor Alyssa Frasher and Robyn Cole Mollea and Laella McDonald Leah, Presley and Buzz Treadwell

7. Rosendo and Ursula Perez, and Juana Hernandez 8. Jimi and Gracie Gray, and Kodi and Michaela Dotson 9. Brenda Catterfeld, Michelle Wiles, and Kenan and Tkeyah 10. Chloe, Clayton and Brylinn Cutler 11. Veronica and Joey Gemmecke 12. Kayla, Elliot and Ashlin Shaw

The Monett Young Professionals Network met June 20 at The Monett Times office to learn a brief history of the newspaper that has served the community since 1899.

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Erin Carnes and Brittany Washam Yesy Perez and Trenton Patton LeaAnn Peterson and Murray Bishoff Hayley Grace and Amanda Lee Jeff Meredith and James Pettit Michelle Eck and Chelsey Grimm

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6 Connection Magazine | 59

The sixth annual Purdy Festival was held on July 15 at the Purdy City Park and the grounds of the Purdy School.

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10 1. Jonathan and Jaylee Hoffman 2. Payton, Jodi and Brooklyn Crumpler

60 | August 2017

11 3. Front: Kyera, Keyara and Kevaeh Vasey. Rear: Dakota Vasey 4. Jessica James, Chyna Key, Alyssa Bolin, Sara Peterson

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Shianne and Barrett Carter Ezekiel, Kevin and Tonya Bayly Diane and Teresa Bayly, and Norma Terry Mirna, Gilberto and Daniel Rivera Shayla and Jenessa Atkinson, and Madison and McKenzie Renkoski (two sets of twins)

13 10. Kelly Rosewicz, Robyn Rosewicz holding Cecily Taylor, and

Chelsea Taylor holding Avery Taylor 11. Kelsey Criqui and Enzo Ivey 12. Front: Emma Mitchell with Bella. Back: Heather and Kelsey Burnett

with Roscoe 13. Elizabeth Hoffman, Macenzie Crumpler and Emily Webb

Connection Magazine | 61

The Monett Lions Club held its annual July 4 chicken barbecue at midday on July 4 at Monett’s South Park.

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Kobey Baidon, Trey Sagehorn holding Liam Hayes and Camerann Sagehorn Front: Paul, Laira and Cheryl Prifti.

Back: Renee Kennedy Eric, Wesley and Harrison Merriman Bonnie Cannon and Robin Eaton Diana, Adan, Aldo and Leo Valdez Brian Smith, Jessica and Damien Taylor, Raven Thornton and Veronica Ray Front: Addison, Aaden, Abbygail and Annsley Botzow.

Rear: Samantha Botzow Celia and Penny Ingle Jason and Emily Ernest

Calendar

August 2017

Photo by Christy O’Neal

August 1

 Hearing Test by Kelly Hearing Wellness

Solutions, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob.

August 2

 The Cassville School Readiness Fair will

be held at the Family Life Center. Preregistration is required. Call 471-8472140.

 Blood pressure checks at the Cassville

Senior Center begins at 10:30 a.m.

 Grace’s Foot Care will begin at 9 a.m.

at the Cassville Senior Center, 1111 Fair Street. Call 417-847-4510 for an appointment.

August 3

 Benefit Enrollment Counseling for

seniors will be held at the Cassville Senior Center, 1111 Fair Street, call 417-847-4510 for an appointment.

 Paint Class begins at 9 a.m. at the Cass-

ville Senior Center, 1111 Fair Street, in Cassville.

August 5

 Monthly Dance hosted by the Cassville

Senior Center will be held from 7-10 p.m. Finger foods are welcome. Admission is $4. For more information, call 417-846-3024.

 The Seligman Chamber of Commerce

will sponsor a dance at the Seligman Chamber Event Center on Highway 37 beginning at 7 p.m. No alcohol or smoking. Under age 18 admitted free.

For more information, call 417-6623612.

August 7

 Monthly dance at the Monett Senior

Center.

August 9

 Mercy Life Solutions Stress and

Depression by Susan Poehling begins at 11:45 a.m. at the Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob.

August 12

 The 18th annual Kings Prairie Din-

ner and Benefit Concert will be held.

The event features well-known area groups performing country, bluegrass and gospel music beginning at 6 p.m.

Concessions open at 5 p.m. No alcohol.

Bring lawn chairs. Located east of Monett off Route Z one mile, turn right on Farm Road 2015. For more info, call 417-442-7910.

 The Seligman Chamber of Commerce

will sponsor a dance at the Seligman Chamber Event Center on Highway 37 beginning at 7 p.m. No alcohol or smoking. Under age 18 admitted free. For more information, call 417-662-3612.

August 14

 The American Red Cross Bloodmobile

will be at the New Site Baptist Church, Monett.

 Free Biscuit and Gravy Breakfast at the

Cassville Senior Center, 8-9 a.m. Donations welcomed.

August 15

 Grace Health Services at the Central

Crossing Senior Center. Call 417-8586952 for an appointment.

August 16

 Blood pressure check at Central Cross-

ing Senior Center, Shell Knob, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

August 17

 Paint class begins at 9 a.m. at the Cass-

ville Senior Center, 1111 Fair Street, in Cassville.

August 19

 The Seligman Chamber of Commerce

will sponsor a dance at the Seligman Chamber Event Center on Highway 37 beginning at 7 p.m. No alcohol or smoking. Under age 18 admitted free.

For more information, call 417-6623612.

Connection Magazine | 63

Photo by Christy O’Neal

GROUPS

Do you have an event you would like to have featured in our calendar?

 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.

Email it to darlene@cassville-democrat.com

 The Aurora Diabetes Support Group

meets the third Wednesday of each month at Mercy Hospital in Aurora in the Private Dining Room from 4-5 p.m. It is free and open to the public. There is no meeting in December.  The Parkinson’s Support Group meets at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1600 N. Central in Monett on the second Thursday of every month. No charge to attend. Call 417-2693616 or 888-354-3618 to register.

August 23

 WIC will be taking appointments for the

Central Crossing Senior Center. Call 417847-2114.

 Nell’s Nails will begin at 9 a.m. at the

Cassville Senior Center, 1111 Fair Street, Cassville. Call 417-847-4510 for an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcomed.

August 24

Cassville Senior Center Dominos every Tuesday and Thursday at Noon. Call 417-847-4510 for more information.

Monett Senior Center Regular events: Pinochle every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12:30 p.m.

 The Pierce City Senior Center monthly

Pitch every Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30 p.m.

August 25

Bingo Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m.

Dance will be held at the center.

 Nell’s Nails will be at the Monett Senior

Center. For an appointment, call 417-2353285.

 OJ’s Cookout will be held at the Central

Crossing Senior Center.

August 26

 The 59th annual Wheaton Chicken Bar-

becue sponsored by the Wheaton Fire Protection District, features craft booths, musical entertainment and plenty of food.

For more information call, 1-417-6527359.

 The Seligman Chamber of Commerce will

sponsor a dance at the Seligman Chamber Event Center on Highway 37 beginning at 7 p.m. No alcohol or smoking. Under age 18 admitted free. For more information, call 417-662-3612.

August 28

 Nell’s Nails will be at the Central Crossing

Senior Center. Call 417-858-6952 for an appointment.

64 | August 2017

Central Cross Senior Center 20801 YY 15 Road, Shell Knob Regular events: Alzheimer Support Group meets at 2 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.

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.

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

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

 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.  Celebrate Recovery meets at 7 p.m. at the

Golden Baptist Church on Route J every Monday of each month. Dinner is served at 6:15 p.m. This is for anyone with hurts, habit or hang-ups.  The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Group

of Cassville meets at 8 p.m. at 1308 Harold Street in Cassville on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays every month.

 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.  The Turning Point AA Group meets at 7

p.m. at the west corner of Mitchell Plaza on Highway 86 in Eagle Rock on Mondays and Tuesday every month.  DivorceCare divorce recovery seminar and

support group meets at the First Baptist Church, 602 West Street in Cassville at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. Call for more information, 417-847-2965.  Cassville Al-Anon Family Group meets at 8 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Cassville every Thursday of each month.  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 Seven and Cale streets in Monett, 417-4423706.  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.

A d l i st Acamabaro Mexian Restaurant . . . . . 26 Aire Serve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Barry Electric Coop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Cassville Health Center for Rehab and Healthcare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Community National Bank. . . . . . . . . 24 Cornerstone Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Cox Medical Centers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Crane Broiler Festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Crane Family Dentistry. . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Crowder College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Diet Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Doug’s Pro Lube. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Edward Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Family Room Steak House . . . . . . . . . 16 First State Bank of Purdy . . . . . . . . . . 26 Fohn Funeral Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Four States Dental Care . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Friendly Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Grace Independent Medthodist Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Guanajuato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Hangar Kafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 J&J Floor Covering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 J. Micheal Riehn, Attorney . . . . . . . . . 34 Ken’s Collision Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Lackey Body Works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Les Jacobs Ford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 McKay Quality Roofing. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Michael Carman Furniture . . . . . . . . . 43 Monett Main Street. . . . . . . . . . 19 & 29 Oak Pointe Assisted Living. . . . . . . . . . 2 Ozark Methodist Manor. . . . . . . . . . . 65 Peppers and Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Race Brothers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Second Chances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Security Bank Southwest Missouri. . 51 Shelter Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Smile Designers Dentistry. . . . . . . . . .51 Superior Spray Foam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 TH Rogers Lumber Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The Coffee Cafe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 The Jane Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Trogdon Marshall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Vision Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 VisionHealth Eye Center, LLC . . . . . . 35 White’s Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Whitley Pharmacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Willis Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . 40

In conjunction with the Route 66 Festival...

Hangar Kafe presents

Drive in, Fly in, Walk in!

An ANTIQUE AIRPLANE SHOW & FLY-IN SATURDAY, AUGUST 12 • 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Airplane Rides

Kids 5.00 (must be accompanied by adult) • Adults 10.00 (12 and up)

Great Food

Restaraunt open with outdoor special grill available

Live Music

Fun for the kids

417-452-2277

Bounce House Ball Drop 2 pm Easter Egg 4 pm Candy Drop T-Shirts available for purchase

From Junction of Hwys. 96 & 97 in Lawrence county, go north 2 miles.

Watch for signs.

Our grass air strip features runway lights & rotating beacon.

180 W. third Street • Verona 417-498-6487

Mon. - thurs. 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Fri. 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sun. 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

OUR COMMUNITY

with in The Heart f The Ozarks with continuing care

32 Residential Care Apartments 78 Bed Skilled Nursing Facility

58 Independent Living Homes Fitness Center & RehabCare Group

A Tradition Of Caring Since 1925 Continuing Care Retirement Community

205 S. College  P.O. Box 403  Marionville, MO 65705  (417) 258-2573

®

Tires for all vehicles • Full service auto maintenance

Jason Farris Danny Dill

Friendly Tire 417-235-6777 703 US Hwy. 60 Monett, MO 65708

Connection Magazine | 65

PARTING SHOT

Photo by Linda Sparkman

“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”

-Aristotle

66 | August 2017

Authorized dealer

Family owned and operated since 1971 Race Brothers carries a complete line of farm and home supplies including clothing, lawn and garden, outdoor power equipment, pet supplies, tack and livestock supplies and much more! You will find our service outstanding whether your needs are for home or acreage in the country.

Big store with a lot of stuff!

235-7739

210 Hwy 37, Monett

862-4378

2310 W Kearney, Springfield

358-3592

2309 Fairlawn Dr., Carthage

HELLO CUTENESS INTRODUCING MOMMY aND ME aPPaREL

Whitley Pharmacy 101 West 8th, Cassville, “on the Square�

417-847-2722 or 417-847-2717

Where every customer is special

Connection Magazine | 67

68 | August 2017