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editorial

School Shopping … the Christmas of Summer

I

do not know where time goes, but August has hit us square in the face and parents and children are beginning to search for school supply lists and going through their kids’ closet to see what they have outgrown and searching the dresser drawers to see how many holey socks there are in there and the lack of decent underwear.

It is now time to shop until you drop during the “dog days of summer” with the humidity so high that in between stores you quickly become drenched with perspiration, the children quickly become unbearably grumpy within the first hour, you never find all of the supplies that you need or that your child wants and the prices are totally outrageous. Other than that, it is a great day that you spend with your children, one on one. An annual day for either parent to spend only with their child/children and to get to know each other in a way that they thought they never would.

The school supply list is only an outline, a list that the school wants the student to have. What the student wants is another thing. The main reason I entitled this the Christmas of Summer, is that I remember feeling like it was Christmas with

4 | August 2021

all new supplies and clothes. That might sound silly to some, but I would have everything laid out on my bed individually before I had unwrapped it from the store plastic or taken any tags off. I would have it totally organized so I could look at it all to make sure that there has been nothing forgotten. So the feelings that I experienced were comparable to the exciting anticipation I would have on Christmas morning as a kid.

As far as the actual day of school shopping with my mother goes, I kind of got double whammed, as she was a teacher and they do have a different outlook as to what you need and how much.

Sometimes your wants were a lot different from your needs, but my mom usually would give in and let me choose the kind of book bag I wanted and the binder. She would let me get extra supplies because, well you know, I had to have them. When it came to clothes, we usually never saw eye-to-eye and that part of the trip would be pretty strenuous, but you could always be guaranteed that this was the time of the year that you would replenish your underwear and socks. The best thing was getting the new shoes. That was something I really looked forward to.

Then you have the outfits that you have chosen (or your mom has chosen) and you have to look them over once you get them home. You have

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to look at them very carefully and place the outfits together and also see how they look if you mix them up a bit. I would have to make sure that I had enough outfits so I did not wear the same thing twice through the week. And then I would carefully hang them up in the closet.

Sadly, this was probably the only time they were carefully hung up.

Until I wrote this I never knew the detailed extreme process that I went through just to get ready for that first week of school. I wonder if it is that way today? Or maybe others did not go through the steps I went through during my first week of school preparation. But I think they did, until high school and then maybe it wasn’t so special.

The students today have experienced different ways to attend school because of different circumstances. Last year, because of the pandemic, there were a lot of students that attended school virtually in their pajamas. The battle of the pandemic is not over, but we have made some positive headway with the vaccine that might make it safer to attend school in person this year.

I hope and pray that students this year do not experience the cancellations, lack of sports, prom, illness, and they can enjoy school as close to normal as possible, and of course, enjoy that summer Christmas. I hope all 2021-2022 area students have a great year, and make sure you enjoy the new underwear and socks!

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

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32 10 | BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING

Support local business by shopping the latest trends in our backyard

18 | HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Vickie Clancy of Cassville stitches together 200 years of Missouri record

22 | THE FARNUM FAMILY

Music is a generational family affair for the Farnums of Branson

26 | THE BOAT BUILDER

26

Jim McCarthy of Shell Knob is smooth sailing to achieve his dream

29 | GOD, SNOOPY AND A HICKORY TREE

What do they all have in common?

41 | SWEETHEART

A U G U S T 2021

Author Larry Arnold, raised in Exeter, finds inspiration for best-selling book in southwest Missouri ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 7

Cover photo provided courtesy of Blaine & Janae Photography FREE

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The Farnum Family Band includes, from left, Matthew, 15, Hannah, Trish, Norm, Benjamin and Maggie.

CONTENTS 7 Cutest Kid

15 Parenting Column: School Year Traditions

21 Mental Health Column

25 Pay It Forward: Emmy Clevenger 32 Travel Column: Cades Cove 37 Date Night

39 Healthy Connection: Body Positivity 44 Cutest Pet

45 Rescued, My Favorite Breed: Eden Animal Haven 47 Familiar Faces 49 Cutest Kid

50 Parting Shot Morgan Stanley recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. © 2021 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. FAS015 CRC 3396084 02/21 CS 9976336 02/21

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 11

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parenting column

By Meagan Ruffing

Parenting journalist Meagan Ruffing, lives in northwest Arkansas with her three children.

This school year, she looks forward to seeing her kids thrive in new activities, and continuing their tradition of all things back-to-school.

SCHOOL YEAR TRADITIONS

W

here did summer go? It seems like just yesterday when I was telling my kids they only had one week of school left.

Now it’s August, and school is just around the corner. While this can be an exciting time for kids, it can also be a little nerve-wracking for others.

My 7-year-old daughter Ellie still doesn’t understand why her firstgrade teacher can’t be her second-grade teacher. My 9-year-old daughter Hannah wants a specific teacher for her last year of elementary school and my 12-year-old son Dylan is entering junior high for the first time. Our family has a lot of firsts this year and I’m trying to take them as they come.

As my kids start a new school year

this month, I will be graduating from college. While they’re opening new books and learning new things, I will be closing my books and writing my last papers. We’re all getting ready to embark on a host of fresh things, and I’m excited to come alongside my kids as their new school year unfolds. As their mom, I want to make sure I don’t miss the moments in their life that may seem little to me but are actually, really big to them.

That’s why I try to do a school year tradition each year.

We do the typical back-to-school shopping that every kid looks forward to but sometimes I get sick of spending money. Can anyone relate? I know how to get them shiny new things and look for great deals but by the end of the summer…I’m

spent; literally. I just want to sit down, take a minute, and enjoy my children before our hectic schedules pick back up.

After 12 years of being a mom, I think I’ve finally found the perfect combination of enjoying my kids without spoiling them. Want to know my secret? We stay home the few days before school starts. This has become our back-to-school tradition.

I do the Walmart grocery pick-up.

I make sure the fridge is stocked. I find a good movie on Netflix, we get in our jammies, and we hang out. I limit electronics and occasionally, (when they’ll let me), we talk about first-day nerves, what-ifs, and sleep schedule 101. I have found that these few days of nothingness allow

ConnectionMO.com/ParentingColumn | Connection Magazine | 15

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them to rest before going back to school. The hype of summer lets down and the thrill of seeing familiar faces gets my kids feeling all sorts of happy.

We also get out our big family calendar and map out the entire month. I write it all down, talk to them about different appointments that may be coming up and anything exciting we have to look forward to. The calendar thing is something I’ve always done for myself but lately, Hannah has been following suit. I found a small desk calendar in her room over the summer and just smiled at the fact that one of my kids is picking up some of my helpful habits. It’s cute and just validates some of the helpful things I’ve been trying to teach them.

Usually, the first day back is accompanied by lots of exciting things from their school day but my kids are also really, really tired. They don’t know this of course…but I know this. I know this in the way they start to whine. I know this in the way they might talk back.

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I know this in the way they push back on certain things. Since I know this, I make sure that first day back is pretty low-key when they get home. I pick up three cake pops, get the kids, and we drive around town for an hour after school gets out. This way, I can ask them questions and they have nowhere to go. You’d be amazed what things you’ll find out from a few impromptu car rides.

Here’s to a new school year. I’m wishing you all the success for a happy and healthy August. n

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 17

From Hobby

Vickie Clancy shows off the patch she contributed to the Missouri Bicentennial Quilt, an art project aimed at representing each of Missouri’s 114 counties in celebration of the state’s 200th birthday.

to history F or one Cassville resident, a hobby has helped make history as her submission to a state-wide bicentennial contest has been selected and immortalized.

In celebration of Missouri’s bicentennial celebration on Aug. 10, 2021, the State Historical Society of Missouri sponsored a community-driven art project to recognize all 114 Missouri counties.

The Bicentennial Quilt project solicited entries from residents for quilt blocks that would represent a resident’s home county.

Vickie Clancy, president of the Ozark Country Quilters, answered the call and her block was selected and included in the Bicentennial Quilt.

Quilt block submissions were accepted from Oct. 8, 2018, through Sept. 2, 2019.

Multiple submissions for the same coun-

18 | August 2021

When Vickie Clancy thinks of Barry County, she thinks of Roaring River State Park, which inspired her to make this patch for the State Historical Society of Missouri’s bicentennial celebration.

Story by Mike Gervais

ty were judged according to whether they met criteria, level of creativity and craft, and description of significance.

The judging committee included representatives from Missouri Star Quilt Company, The State Historical Society of Missouri, and Missouri State Quilters Guild. All quilt block submissions will remain available for viewing at www.missouri2021.org through 2021.

Vickie first heard about the Bicentennial Quilt project through friends at the Barry County Museum who suggested members of the Ozark Country Quilters create some blocks to submit for Barry County.

Vickie was the only member of the club who created a submission, drawing on her experiences as a Barry County resident and coming up with an idea that she believes represents one of the most unique and beautiful parts of Barry County.

The Missouri Bicentennial Quilt features a block representing each of the state’s 114 counties, including one contributed by Cassville resident Vickie Clancy featuring a sign for Roaring River to spotlight Barry County.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 19

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“I started thinking about what really signified Barry County, and to me it’s Roaring River,” she said.

“I have family and friends who fish, but I mostly like to go and walk and check out the hatchery.

It’s just a place our family likes to go to.”

With an idea for her quilt block in mind, Vickie had to boil it down to a quilt block that can easily be recognized as representative of Roaring River in Barry County.

“After thinking about it, it just took me a couple of days to make it,” she said.

Vickie incorporated a few different techniques into her quilt block, embroidering a Roaring River sign onto the fabric for a crisp, easily readable image.

When the State Historical Society notified her that her entry was selected for the Bicentennial Quilt, Vickie said she was ‘over the moon.’

“It was exciting,” she said. “Just because it’s fun to be able to represent our county. I got invited to go to the governor’s mansion, where he used the different blocks as decorations for his Christmas tree.”

While she wasn’t able to accept the invitation, Vickie said it has been an honor to be part of the project and know that the Bicentennial Quilt will be on display at the State Historical Society and as part of a traveling exhibit.

In fact, last year, the quilt was displayed in Cassville.

Vickie has been a Barry County resident for the past seven years and said she enjoys her time working with the Ozark Country Quilters, making donation quilts and sharing tips, tricks and ideas. n

mental health column

By Brad Ridenour

CEO of Clark Community Mental Health Center and a Licensed Professional Counselor

MENTAL HEALTH ANYONE?

R

ecently I was asked, “How in the world did you get into psychology?” Translated, how is it an individual from conservative, rural Southwest Missouri becomes interested in and pursues a profession in the field of behavioral health?

pantries and clothes closets; some even have benevolence funds to help an individual fill-up gas tanks or pay utility bills. I cannot begin to count the times I’ve heard that somebody helped someone with transportation to a doctor’s appointment.

My answer was quick and probably seemed rehearsed as I have answered the same question many times in my career of over twenty years.

Growing up, and still today, I am surrounded by folks who would give the shirts off their backs to help even strangers in need.

And yet, in my latter years of high school, I began to recognize that citizens seemed uncomfortable around individuals who presented with mental health needs. I would hear stories about someone having “a nervous breakdown,” followed by a great deal of discussion about the person’s mysterious problems.

As a young child, I witnessed public outpouring of good will and financial support when a local family’s home was destroyed by fire. Crosslines always has clothing and food available to assist those in need. Churches have food

Likely out of fear of doing or saying the wrong thing, I saw otherwise kind, compassionate, Good Samaritans who often rushed to the aid of those with physical, financial, and spiritual needs

The mental health needs of our community are exponentially greater than they were when I was walking the halls of Monett High School. There are mental health workforce shortages that are especially magnified in rural parts of our State.

Students, I want to challenge you to consider the dynamic, growing field of mental health service; I am always open to having a discussion about what you can expect during and after college.

Others, if you want to know what to do/say when someone appears to have a mental health need, consider taking a Mental Health First Aid Course.

Nearly 1 IN 5 U.S. adults lives with a Mental Illness.

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essentially “pass by on the other side.”

I saw needs that weren’t being met. I was convicted and felt a “calling” if you will that I should try to be a small part of the solution.

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 21

The Farnum Family’s latest album, “Another Season’s Promise” is available now on the band’s website FarnumFamily.org

Toe-Tappin’ n Fiddlin’

W

THE FARNUM FAMILY BAND 22 | August 2021

hen you think of the sounds of the Ozarks, you might conjure the steady drone of cicadas on a summer afternoon or the calm rumble of a distant tractor toiling in a nearby field.

But for one family, the sound of the Ozarks is a combination of banjo, mandolin, piano, guitars and violin.

The Farnum Family Band of Galena includes Benjamin, 26, Hannah, 23, Maggie, 17, Matthew, 15, Father Norm and Mother Trish.

While the family band was created in the early 2000s with their first gig in 2004 during a church performance, the Farnum family’s musical roots go back even further, with Trish and Norm performing a duet together in Branson before passing their love, passion and talent for music on to their children.

Each member of the Farnum Family Band has their own way to contribute with an instrument, and each of the band members contributes with their own

Story by Mike Gervais

unique vocal stylings.

Tricia plays piano and the penny whistle and has been known to team up with the girls on trio numbers. As mother and musician, Tricia also coordinates wardrobe, plans set lists, helps Norm with itineraries, and emcees live performances opposite her husband and group comic relief, Norm.

She began playing piano at age 6, and in 1987, got her first music job as ragtime pianist in the Homestead Comedy Revue at Shepherd of the Hills in Branson. That same year she and Norm began performing on the Lake Queen, a paddle-wheel boat on Lake Taneycomo.

Originally from California, Norm, the father of the Farnum family started taking banjo lessons when he was 17 years old, and has been entertaining folks on the five-string for nearly 45 years. He started at Silver Dollar City in 1977 in both the Saloon Show and as part of the Marvel Cave Band. Later, he traveled with a rockabilly band (Stumpwater) and in 1983 began performing at the Roy Clark Theater

The Farnum Family Band, from left, Trish, Norm, Hannah, Matthew, Benjamin and Maggie, are hoping to add more live performances to their calendar in 2021 to promote their latest album.

The Farnum Family has a long-standing relationship with Silver Dollar City, and can often be found entertaining live audiences in Branson during summer concert events. in Branson. While there, he fronted many Nashville artists, including Whispering Bill Anderson, Freddie Fender, Janie Fricke, Louise Mandrell, Ray Price, Patti Page, Ray Stevens, Tanya Tucker, and of course, Roy Clark.

Norm said it is a tradition in family bands for the father to serve as both comic relief for the band and make sure they do at least a little something to embarrass the kids during a performance.

The oldest of the Farnum children is

guitar and mandolin player Benjamin.

Benjamin started mandolin lessons when he was 8 years old and took up the guitar a few years later. His strong rhythm and skillful flat-picking are the bedrock of the band – add the charming smile and ready wit and you’ve got an audience favorite.

Though he was once a reluctant singer, Norm and Trish said he has blossomed in recent years and is now a featured lead vocalist.

Hannah began “fiddlin’ around” at the age of 6, studying for more than 10 years with world champion fiddle player, Ricky Boen. In addition to her position in the Farnum Family Band, she also occasionally competes in fiddling competitions and won the 2012 Walnut Valley Old-Time Fiddle Contest.

Hannah enjoys playing many musical styles including western swing, bluegrass, and traditional Irish.

Maggie followed big sister’s example and started learning fiddle just before her sixth birthday. After five years of lessons with Ricky Boen, she set her eyes

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 23

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on bigger things – namely, the bass fiddle. She is known as the “younger and prettier version” of the Farnum family bass player, filling the shoes of big brother, Daniel, who left the band in 2018.

The youngest Farnum, Matthew, joins the family for several feature songs, including “Battle of New Orleans,” “Wreck of the Old ’97,” and, on the family’s latest album, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” Matthew plays the mandolin, and Trish and Norm said they are hopeful that the coming year will find him on stage more frequently.

The Farnam Family Band released their latest album, “Another Season’s Promise,” in late June. They have released a total of six albums, plus one featuring just Norm and Trish.

Norm said the family is focusing on private concerts to promote their new album this summer, but is looking at several dates for theater performances this autumn.

Community members can keep tabs on what the band is up to via their website, www.farnumfamily.org. The website also features merchandise like T-shirts, hats and stickers.

Another way for community members to keep up with the Farnum family and enjoy their musical stylings through Hannah’s pet project Fiddlin’ Friday at 5 p.m. on Facebook Live. Fiddlin’ Friday is Hannah’s brain child, and has garnered international attention in this age of COVID-19, with viewers from across the globe. Trish said Hannah is often, but not always, joined by other family members during the weekly performances.

“People have said that this has brought them great joy at times when they couldn’t go out to see live music,” Trish said.

In addition to Fiddlin’ Friday, the Farnum Family Band also occasionally broadcasts “Toe Tappin’ Tuesdays” via Facebook. Both Fiddlin’ Friday and Toe Tappin’ Tuesday events are hosted free of charge. n

PAY IT FORWARD

Little Hands with a Big Heart

J

une 6, 2020, 4-year-old Emmy Clevenger, welcomed customers to the grand “stand” opening of Emmy’s Lemonade Stand.

Her hands are tiny, but her heart is large. Emmy has a dream of buying toys for children in hospitals.

It all started a year ago when little Emmy saw a commercial for St. Jude’s on her television. Emmy told her mother, “If I gave her a Barbie, she would feel better.”

After that, a then 4-year-old from Cassville set out on her mission to fill hospitals with toys, but her journey has impacted many on a local level throughout the year.

On a family trip to the toy store, Emmy picked out a lemonade stand playhouse and decided her earnings from that would go to others.

Mandy Clevenger, Emmy’s mother, has close ties to St. Jude hospital. Blazi Lowe, a local girl, and her family are close family friends to the Clevengers. Mandy has seen what kind of an impact St. Jude has had on Blazi’s treatment.

Over the past year, Emmy and her lemonade stand have been seen on the

Cassville square, as well as at many local events.

Emmy’s cause is her dream, and her motto started as ‘A Barbie fixes everything.’

In September 2020, Emmy, a Cassville preschooler, donated her earnings from August to local school districts, along with other various school supplies.

In Cassville, those funds went to the district’s Bright Futures program.

From the Cassville Chili Cook-off to an Easter basket give-a-way, Emmy’s smile and her lemonade have been a local favorite.

Emmy’s Lemonade Stand hosted several other types of fundraising throughout the year, including a 2020 Sponsor a Nurse and Sponsor a Teacher, to help bring happiness to others in a time where things were hard.

When the cold weather hit in 2020, Emmy’s Lemonade Stand adapted and began selling hot drinks too.

Emmy and her business supported many other local businesses over the year and brought a sense of community into the heart of the young girl.

When tragedy struck her community,

“Paying It Forward” is a new feature inspired by all of the wonderful people that have helped others this past year. If you know of someone that needs to be featured send your contact information to: monettcommunity@gmail.com.

For more information, people may follow the Facebook page at Facebook.com/EmmysDream2020 Story by Jordan Troutman

While Emmy’s hands may be small, they continue to grow alongside her heart, as she pays it forward little by lot.

Emmy stood up and used her lemonade stand to help bring peace to those affected.

Emmy’s Lemonade Stand helped support a fundraiser for the family of Rocky England after he passed away. That fundraiser raised $9,400. When a local woman, Ruth Primrose, was being honored for her breast cancer journey, Emmy’s Lemonade Stand attended the event.

Emmy’s Lemonade Stand was involved in a fundraiser for a local couple, Dennis and Missy Wolf, to help the family with medical expenses which arose from a near-fatal heart attack.

Most recently, Emmy’s Lemonade Stand has been working hard for the Reed family to help them cover medical expenses While Emmy’s hands may be small, they continue to grow alongside her heart. She will continue to work hard for her community and others as she pays it forward little by lot. n

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 25

Boat Building 101: A man, a plan, and a vision

LICENSE TO CHILL

J

immy Buffett may have said it best with his rendition of ‘Boats to Build,’ but Jim McCarthy, of Shell Knob, is taking the song to the next level, building a Classic 12 ultralight boat, styled after the New York Whitehalls.

“My mother was born in a lighthouse that was built in 1875,” he said. “Her father was a lighthouse keeper at Dunkirk, New York. She was born in 1916, and most of my relatives are Lake Erie-connected. So it’s in the blood.”

Jim began his quest to build a boat after it became too difficult to launch his bigger, commercial boat by himself.

“It took two of us to launch it,” he said. “We have had 18 boats. But when my wife, Pat, broke her ankle in three places, it became difficult for her to get in and out. I saw these plans and read about this small boat that weighed only 35 pounds. I started talking to this guy, Larry LaLonde, out of Elgin, South Carolina, and the plans are kind of genius.

He said he had developed these plans over years and it is a beautiful design.”

So Jim bought the plans and got to work.

“It was during COVID,” he said.

“What else did I have to do?

“The main thing for me is it’s a learning experience. I was hoping to have it in the water last fall, but the glue has to be applied when it is over 55 degrees in order for it to set properly.”

Never having been a woodworker, Jim found there was a bit of a learning curve and some necessary tools he needed in order to proceed with the plan.

26 | August 2021

Alone time on the lake is a perfect opportunity to reflect, rejuvenate and plan for the future.

Jim McCarthy, of Shell Knob, plans to have his Classic 12 in the water by summer.

“Most of the tools I got at yard sales or auctions for next to nothing,” he said. “I now have a collection of tools that may make me a woodworker after all.”

The plans call for a spruce frame with oak ribs.

“The transom and the daggerboard

Story by Melonie Roberts

Once finished, the boat Jim McCarthy, of Shell Knob, is building will look like this. The Classic 12 ultralight boat, styled after the New York Whitehalls, is perfect for a single person to sail on the lake on sunny afternoons.

“I’m gonna build me a boat With these two hands It’ll be a fair curve From a noble plan Let the chips fall where they will

Jim McCarthy, of Shell Knob, checks the detailed plans for constructing his Classic 12, which is just one of more than a dozen plans offered by Geodesic Airolite Boats of Newnan, Georgia. (above) Jim McCarthy, of Shell Knob, takes a look at the 14-foot mast for his Classic 12, envisioning the Tyvek sail attached.

‘Cause I’ve got boats to build…”

—Jimmy Buffett

are exterior plywood; ribs are oak; stringers, gunwales, floorboards, seat, tiller and all other parts are spruce, except the 14-foot mast and 10-foot boom, which may be pine,” he said. “I had to steam the oak to bend it to the ribs. When you do that, you have to work pretty quickly. Next, I have to add roving, which is criss-crossed five-strand Kevlar reinforcement cord, across the entire hull, which helps further brace it. Once the roving is varnished, it will be as strong as wire, so there is no give at all. The skin on the boat is a ninepound heat-shrunk Dacron.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 27

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With most of the construction on his Classic 12 completed, Jim McCarthy, of Shell Knob, is anxious to apply the roving and skin.

The whole thing will be unsinkable.

You can take on water to the gunwales, but it won’t sink any further than that.”

With the majority of construction completed, Jim is anxious to apply the roving and skin.

“My goal now is to have it on the lake this summer,” he said. “I want to just sail around the peninsula, which should be pretty good sailing when the wind is from the west or southwest. I don’t have to go for miles. I just want to tinker around in it.”

Following the death of his wife last fall, Jim had a startling revelation.

“For years, we lived for each other,” he said. “After Pat died, I knew I had to find something to live for quick.

“This is a wonderful pastime. “It’s proof that you can do something without knowing anything about it. This is ideal for me. I don’t have to entertain anyone on it. If the neighbor’s dogs want to come out with me, I have a doggy life vest.”

As for the future, Jim has a simple plan.

“I’ll figure out the next step on the lake.” n

Pastor Hilton is featured in the photo with the book that displays his autograph that he wrote in the book when he owned it at approximately 12-years-old.

What does God, Snoopy, a hickory tree and a local preacher have in common?

Pictured above is Kevin Hilton, age 12, probably about the time when he actually owned the book for the first time.

W

e have all heard the saying that “God works in mysterious ways.”

The following story is among many that prove that this is very true.

The story involves a longtime Verona resident, Kevin Hilton, who is pastor at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Cassville.

He also preaches sermons for a local radio station.

Pastor Hilton called me recently to share an unusual story that happened to him.

“If it had not happened to me, I would find it very unbelievable,” said Hilton.

A family began attending Mt. Olive Baptist Church in the early months of 2019. The family consisted of the parents, Norman and Stephanie Whetsten, and their two teenage daughters, Emilee

Story by Lisa Craft

and Karlee.

“Norman worked directly for the owner of the largest fishing and hunting outdoor facility in the world,” said Hilton. “He didn’t have a lot of money but he made a good salary. He checked on the property of the owner of this business and took care of any maintenance needs. He was well taken care of.”

The Whetson family attended services on Sunday mornings and nights and on Wednesday nights. In late Spring, 2019, the church held a work day and Norman brought some equipment that he had access to. Workers were able to be lifted high into the air to power wash the church and guttering.

On two separate incidences the church had missionary offerings and were just shy of their goal. The Whetson family made up the difference for the missionary program.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 29

“Now don’t misunderstand me, they were not rich, but if you looked at what they drove, how they dressed and where they lived, they lived very fine, no problem,” said Kevin.

According to Pastor Hilton, when the family began attending the church they felt like they had come home. It was where God wanted them to be.

In July, 2019 the church had a business meeting and discussed falling an old hickory tree that was just a few feet from the church. It had grown so big it was overhanging the church and was cluttering the gutter with leaves and dropping branches on the roof.

“My main concern was the hickory nuts that were falling on the asphalt parking lot,” said Hilton. “We were afraid that someone was going to trip and fall and we voted and decided that it was time to get rid of that old tree.”

Norman volunteered to drop the tree because he had access to the equipment.

All he wanted was the wood, which he said he would cut up.

“The question arose as to whether or not he was bonded, insured,” said Hilton. “He agreed that this was something that the church should check into because accidents happen. He could drop a limb on top of the church and damage the roof or he could fall out of the bucket.

“We checked with the insurance company, and they did want someone who was bonded, and he was fine with that. We hired someone to cut the tree down, and when we returned the following Sunday, the tree was gone and it was all cleaned up.”

The pastor made sure that he did not offend the generous church member, and he reassured Hilton that he was not offended at all.

“As the months went by,” said Hilton, “even though he assured me that he was not offended, the family began

30 | August 2021

Pastor Kevin Hilton is happy to display the book “Snoopy Come Home Movie Book,” with his wife, Beth. to miss a service here and there and eventually in the early months of 2020, totally quit coming to church.”

According to Hilton, when the Whetstens quit attending services, he felt like the church ran the family off over an old hickory tree.

This is what really happened.

The early months of 2020 is when the COVID-19 pandemic hit this area of the country. Pastor Hilton and the members of the church did not know that this gentleman had lost his job and also had an injury to his shoulder.

Those things were not keeping them out of church, but his wife has a condition that could have a very bad or fatal outcome if she were to catch COVID. A female member of the church made it her mission to track down the family and try to get them to return.

Pastor Hilton and the congregation still

thought they had run the family off because of this old hickory tree.

The church member that was searching for the family finally located the mother of the family. She was told what had been going on and how the church felt they were responsible for them leaving the church.

“You are kidding me,” said Stephanie Whetsten. “You actually think we would quit the church over a hickory tree? I have a bad heart condition and if I catch COVID, it could be fatal,” she continued. “We are so terrified of the pandemic we have pulled our kids out of public school, and we don’t go anywhere that we don’t have to. We are not coming back to church until it is safe.”

She continued to explain that they love the pastor and the congregation but would not be back until it was safe.

More details came to light that ex-

plained a lot of the situation. Pastor Hilton kept calling the husband of the family when they quit coming but he never answered and did not receive a return phone call. What Hilton did not know was that Norman had lost his job and he had to give the cell phone back to the company that he worked for.

Stephanie also had a cell phone. The number attached to the phone had belonged to someone else and she received a lot of calls for the former owner so she got a new phone with a new number.

This was all information that the pastor and congregation were unaware of.

pulled into the parking lot for the Sunday morning services and saw the family getting out of their car to attend services.

“Beth and I walked over to the family to greet them,” said Hilton. “We hugged their necks and shook their hands. We told each other how much we had missed them.”

Stephanie looked at the pastor with a funny smile on her face and asked the pastor a funny question.

“Brother Hilton, I have a question for you,” she said. “When you were young, did you like Snoopy?”

Pastor Kevin Hilton, center, is proudly holding the book, “Snoopy Come Home Movie Book,” presented to him by one of the families of his church, the Whetstens. The family found the book on eBay and purchased it. Hilton had owned the same book when he was a child and placed his signature on the inside cover.

Pictured above, is Stephanie and Norman Whetsten, Pastor Kevin Hilton and Karlee and Emilee Whetston.

Months passed and the family did not return to the church.

“There comes a point that you just have to say, we have done all we can do,” said Hilton.

Here is where Snoopy enters the story.

The Sunday before Mother’s Day 2021 the pastor and his wife, Beth,

“You mean Charlie Brown’s dog?” said Hilton. He knew that he looked puzzled as he looked at his wife with scrunched eyebrows.

Stephanie stated that she did in fact mean Charlie Brown’s dog, Snoopy.

Hilton expressed that in fact he was a big fan of Snoopy when he was a child.

The lady was holding a children’s book

in her left hand entitled, “Snoopy Come Home Movie Book.”

“Brother Kevin, we ordered this book on ebay for our grandson from a man in Florida months ago,” she said.

“We tossed it to the side and recently our youngest daughter picked it up to look at it. She hollered at me and asked what our pastor’s name was.

“I told her that his name was Kevin,” she said. “She continued to ask what your last name was, and I told her Hilton. My daughter then told me that I needed to come look at something.”

At this point as the pastor and the family were talking, Stephanie opened up the book and inside the front cover was the signature, Kevin Hilton.

This book was signed by Kevin Hilton in 1972. That book was shy of 50 years old and ended up in the hands of a man in Florida that had never heard of Hilton or would have recognized him.

Stephanie continued to explain to Hilton and his wife that at that time, Norman looked at her and said that there is no reason in asking any longer if it is safe to go back to church.

“God just told us that it is time to go back,” he said.

Who would think that God would use Charlie Brown’s little dog, Snoopy and an old hickory tree to send a message to a family that it was time to return to church. That child’s book was in the hands of Kevin Hilton as a child and apparently he liked it so much that he did not want it lost, so he signed his name in it. That book eventually travelled mysteriously to the state of Florida into the hands of a man that was willing to sell it on ebay.

The book travelled back to Missouri and delivered a spiritual message to the Whetstens who owned the book and had now returned it to Kevin.

God surely does work in mysterious ways. n

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 31

Built in 1870, Cable Mill still stands in its original location next to Abrams Creek.

A Visit to Cades Cove in the Smokey Mountain National Park 32 | August 2021

TRAVEL COLUMN

By Annie Lisenby Smith

My family and I in Cades Cove. After a rainy morning, the Smokey Mountains were displaying why they were named “smokey.”

T

he United States of America is full of fascinating and wonderful places to explore.

Whether it’s the deep canyons out West or the Appalachian Trail that snakes more than two thousand miles from Maine to Georgia. Recently, my family had the pleasure of visiting the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. Spanning more than 520,000 acres across Tennessee and North Carolina, this park is the most visited of all national parks in the United States.

When my husband suggested a trip to Tennessee to visit the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, I got online to research and found that there was an abundance of exciting and interesting locations all throughout the park. Compared to more active adventurers, we were limited because our young children wouldn’t last long on lengthy hikes to spectacular waterfalls.

One of the many historic tombstones found at the Primitive Baptist Church in Cades Cove.

My research led me to one of the more popular areas of the park, Cades Cove. Located in Tennessee near the Townsend entrance to the park (south of Gatlinburg), this valley in the mountains is the former home to many families who farmed and hunted the area for more than a hundred years. This area is accessible by an 11-mile looped road. Along the route can be found various points of interest.

For anyone wanting to visit Cades Cove, I’d recommend purchasing the Tour booklet for $1. They can be found at the Townsend Visitor’s Center or at a kiosk as you enter the area. The booklet provides a map with clearly marked stops. Each stop has a description of the location, and at the back of the booklet can be found a history of the area and its peoples.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 33

Being that Cades Cove is one of the more popular destinations at the park, our family was fortunate that we visited in mid-June during the first week of the summer high tourism season. We were further blessed that a cold front had brought in rain and low temperatures the night before we’d planned to visit.

We woke that Tuesday morning, watching the rain fall over the mountains, and only left after it let up a bit. Employees at the Townsend Visitor Center had warned me that on busy days the road into Cades Cove could be backed up for miles and was made especially worse if visitors spotted a bear along the route. Visitors commonly stop and block the roadway getting out of their vehicles to snap a perfect picture of one of the many bears that call the park home.

(On a side note, we didn’t encounter any bears. I recommend bringing a rambunctious, talkative six-year-old.

His exuberance was loud enough to drive away any fierce creatures.)

The rainy Tuesday we visited Cades Cove there weren’t too many people. Upon entering the oneway loop, cars were pulled aside and packed on the road where the horses available for rent were pasturing. We laughed at these folks saying ‘they must be from the city’ because we weren’t as mesmerized by horses that we commonly see in southwest Missouri.

Our first two stops on the route were to the Primitive Baptist Church and the Methodist Church. Each had well maintained graveyards that my son enjoyed walking through and looking at dates on headstones for people born in the late-1700s and those who died during the Civil War. At the Methodist Church a touring college musical group had stopped to sing hymns in the historic church. The Spirit was really moving as their voices swelled and were accentuated by the acoustics of the building built in 1902. The church was formed in the 1820s in a log building that was used until the more formal building was built.

Off of the Cades Cove loop there is access to the Abrams Fall Trail, a five-mile out and back trail that follows Abrams Creek to Abrams Falls, one of the many waterfalls found in the park. Sadly, this trail was closed for maintenance during our visit. We

34 | August 2021

Found near the end of the Cades Cove loop is Carter Shields Cabin. Shields bought this property in Cades Cove in 1910 but only lived there for 11 years before moving on elsewhere. continued on and found our favorite place in Cades Cove, Cable Mill Historic Area. After parking, we enjoyed watching elk grazing in the field. They were too far away to get a good picture, but enjoyable to observe in a more primitive and protected setting.

Elk, deer, and turkey are commonly observed in this area.

There were many businesses in Cades Cove, which have been relocated to the Cable Mill area. These include a blacksmith shop, Cable Mill, a general store, a sorghum mill, and a smokehouse. This was a nice area to walk around and explore buildings from the 1800s.

Cable Mill is built next to Abrams Creek, where tall trees provide pleasant shade on sunny days. There is also a visitor’s center where visitors can get additional information and purchase souvenirs.

Leaving Cades Cove, we visited three historic farmhouses. They were nestled in places with the Smokey Mountains in their backyards and where streams flowed next to the homes as a water source for the families and their livestock. We were surprised at how accessible the houses were; even narrow staircases were open for us to explore lofts.

From the Cades Cove Tour brochure we learned that traditionally boys slept in the lofts while parents, girls, and the youngest children slept on the main

level of the homes. Because these were farming families, it wasn’t uncommon to find families living in Cades Cove who had 10-12 children.

Cades Cove was a peaceful escape to the past. To enjoy it in a more unique and adventurous manner, the park staff closed the loop road to motor traffic every Wednesday. It’s open for walking and biking, and bikes can be rented in Cades Cove.

Located near the main entrance, there is a campground and a picnic area. We had packed lunches and found a table in the picnic area next to a beautiful stream. After eating, the kids played and splashed in the water.

We were limited on time and didn’t get a chance to explore as much of the Smokey Mountain National Park as I’d have liked. But because the trail to Abrams Falls was closed, I insisted that we see at least one waterfall in the park. In that section of the park is The Sinks, a waterfall that didn’t require a hike to visit. The main road we travelled had been the railroad line used by loggers before the park was established. It snaked alongside the Little River providing us with beautiful views of the river tumbling over rocks.

Because it’s now a national park, no humans reside in Cades Cove. But an abundance of wildlife can be found including turkey, elk, bears, and deer.

The Sinks isn’t a natural waterfall. When logging had been active, there had been a log jam on the Little River. Tasked with clearing the jam, some of the workers decided that dynamite would solve the problem. They mistakenly used a tad too much TNT because they blew a hole so big it rerouted that section of the river and created The Sinks Waterfall.

Their mistake has created a beautiful waterfall that is easily accessible with a parking area next to the falls.

This area also is a trailhead for one of the more than 800 miles of trails that cover the park. We explored it for a short distance and enjoyed the few low-water crossings where we hopped across stones to keep from drenching our shoes. Well, my husband and I did that. Our kids splashed through joyfully and came away smiling with squishy sneakers.

The small corner of Smokey Mountain National Park that we visited left us wanting to return to find more history, more waterfalls, and more natural adventures in America’s most-visited national park. n

One of the most easily accessible waterfalls in the Tennessee section of the park is The Sinks. With recent rain, the water was pouring with vigor over the falls on the day we visited.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 35

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DATE NIGHT

By Mike Gervais

LANGUAGE LESSONS

T

his month, Kat and I embarked on a date that had us plan and prepare for a… different date.

Let’s back up.

Our Date Nights come from a book that gives us a vague idea what we’ll be getting into. This month, I narrowed it down to two options, and we flipped a coin to decide what we’d be doing.

Tails meant that we would each go online to take a quiz that would tell

us our “love language,” a breakdown of how we prefer to express and experience our love for one another.

The five love languages are quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, physical touch and receiving gifts.

Once we completed the quiz, Kat and I were tasked with sharing examples of how the other can speak to us in our preferred love language to better express our feelings for each other.

When it comes to expressing our affection in our partner’s preferred love language, we both felt like we do a decent job of communicating.

Kat said simple things like holding hands, or putting my arm around her, makes her happy.

For me, I am not sure Kat and I could spend any more quality time together. We do virtually everything, from shopping to relaxing together, and I love it.

The next step in our love language date was to plan a date that would focus on our preferred love languages.

For a couple that has been enjoying monthly date nights via a subscription box, creating our own evening from scratch was a challenge.

Our mission, a date with a focus on spending quality time together (easy) and incorporate physical tough (hmmm?).

We can cuddle and watch a movie.

But we do that at least once a week anyway. (See, we’re good at this relationship stuff).

Learning our love language from an online quiz was a new experience for both of us. While I rely on spending quality time with Kat to express my love and feel love, Kat depends more on physical touch, such as holding hands, or a kiss goodnight, to feel and express love.

Our love language test revealed that my preferred method of receiving affection is spending quality time together. Kat’s preferred love language – physical touch – was not a surprise.

We were so stumped on ideas for our big date night that Kat retrieved the calendar we created during our February date night that had us create a schedule for romantic activities.

It was gratifying to see that we’ve already done about half the dates that we scheduled, but a little frustrating to find that there weren’t

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 37

many options that would incorporate physical touch.

The quality time aspect of our date (my preferred love language) is easy.

It’s a date. We’re spending quality time together. C’mon Kat, why do you have to make dating so difficult?

Our solution, I think, was elegant.

We used our calendar from February, tossed in a little dating tradition and put our own, unique spin on it.

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My thought is that there isn’t anything more traditional than a night of dancing. Our dilemma is that I’m not much of a dancer, and we aren’t aware of any local discos. So our plan is a simple one. We created a massive playlist as the soundtrack for a cooking contest.

We’ll work together to make a main dish, but we’ll each be tasked with cooking our own side, a dessert and a cocktail to go with it. Our date will be dancing the day away as we spend quality time together in the kitchen.

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Kat is planning cheesy scalloped potatoes, buttermilk brownies and a Tom Collins cocktail.

The past month has been a busy one, with Kat’s parents visiting, so as I am writing this, we haven’t executed our love language date night. It’s one we’re looking forward to, and I like the idea of testing our chops at our own date night activity rather than relying on creative subscription guides – even if we did land on a pretty traditional date idea. n

Healthy COnnection

By Laine Ebbert

Laine Ebbert is a dietetic intern at Cox College. She is originally from Illinois where she completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nutrition and Nutrition Education. Her goal is to become a registered dietitian and help people improve their relationship with food.

BODY POSITIVITY IN THE IG AGE

E

very time we turn around there seems to be a new weight loss product hitting the market, a new fitness influencer popping up on Instagram, or a new diet trend in the media. Constant exposure to such things can be confusing and make it difficult to feel comfortable in the skin we’re in.

Let’s dig into some ways to improve body image and ensure we are all doing everything we can to love our bodies and appreciate all they do for us.

Balance looks different for everyone First and foremost, it is important to remember that no two people are built the same and health looks different for all of us. A number of factors play a role in our energy levels and how our metabolism functions. Some of these factors include our genetics, stress levels, quality and quantity of our sleep, and any existing health conditions.

Manage your media Have you heard the saying “comparison is the thief of joy”? It is an ageold quote that feels more applicable than ever before when we look at the health and diet industry and its prevalence in the media. Not to mention, our access to the internet

Some of my favorite body-positive accounts on Instagram are: Colleen Christensen (no.food.rules) Dietitian Deanna (dietitiandeanna) Lauren Cadillac (feelgooddietitian) has increased by nearly 50 percent over the last 20 years, exposing us to more health, fitness, and diet-related media than ever before.

Having these exposures can make it difficult to refrain from comparing ourselves to strangers on the internet and can quickly lead to feelings of inferiority and poor emotional health. Below are some tips for reducing the exposure to content that can harm body image: • Be critical of who you allow on your feed. If you tend to feel worse about yourself after scrolling through social media, it might be time to re-evaluate who you follow. Some content can be helpful for one person, and harmful for another. It all comes down to finding what works for you and what helps you feel good about yourself.

• Set screen time limits. While unfollowing accounts that are harmful to our self-image, it is also important to remember that social media is not real life, and

we could all benefit from limiting our screen time. Most smart phones have a setting that allows you to be notified after you’ve spent a set amount of time on certain apps each day.

• Find a community of people who can help: While the internet and social media can be a notso-great place, it can also be a positive environment if we let it. Finding the right people who share your interests and can help fulfill your needs is key.

Consider breaking up with the food tracking app There are a number of apps out there that can be used to count calories and nutrients. While this tool can be useful for some, it can be harmful to others.

When we view food as numbers, it can lead to restriction and take away from the enjoyment that comes with eating our favorite foods.

Rather than tracking your food in an app, I encourage you to focus on consuming nutritious foods that you enjoy and documenting how you feel after each meal, concentrating on energy levels, satiety, and overall satisfaction.

ConnectionMO.com/HealthyConnection | Connection Magazine | 39

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Set younger generations up for success If you have children in your life, it is important to set an example of positive body image. Nix any negative talk surrounding food and body.

Even when not directed at them, children pick up on everything we say and do, so it is crucial to exemplify a healthy lifestyle revolving around eating fruits and vegetables and participating in physical activity because it is fun and good for us, not as punishment for what we eat or what we look like.

Finally, know the signs of disordered eating.

If your child exhibits the following signs, I encourage you to reach out to your healthcare provider: • Food rituals • Preoccupation with food, weight, calories, carbohydrates, fat, or dieting • Extreme concern with body size and shape • Withdrawal from friends and usual activities • Appear to be uncomfortable eating around others • Noticeable weight fluctuations • Menstrual irregularities in females • Dizziness/fainting • Dry skin/hair and brittle nails • Feeling cold all the time

40 | August 2021

Sweetheart

“This is a story of real people finding redemption and love.” (five stars) Paul A.

A historical novel with a romantic twist

B

arry County has seen families raise generations of children on its land, generations that enjoy the small-town feel, Roaring River State Park and other amenities, and the quiet that comes with country living in small midwest communities.

Larry Arnold belongs to one of those families. He was born in Exeter in 1945 and listened to all the tales told about the generations that came before him.

Recently, Larry decided to put some of those tales down on paper and his book, “Sweetheart,” was published on April 18, 2021.

While Larry was born here, at the age of eight, his parents decided to move away. Larry said this set his life on a much different path than he ever thought he would have.

According to Larry, the Arnold family is a long-standing family in the area, as residents for more than 200 years.

Some of his family still lives in the area, although Larry himself now lives in Texas.

His uncle, Doc Edens, was once the Cassville Police Chief.

“Sweetheart” is based on the customs of Larry’s youth, and the stories passed down to him.

With two storylines to follow, readers get a modern-day love story, alongside a step into the past.

“Sweetheart” is 296 pages of fiction storytelling with historically accurate references and ideals.

Story by Jordan Troutman

Larry Arnold, a man born in Exeter in 1945, who now lives in Texas, wrote a novel, which was recently published.

“Sweetheart,” is a novel based on the times, customs, people and places of Cassville and Barry County.

The main character, Rose Chaney, or “Sweetheart,” is a 31-year-old woman coming back home after her mother’s death. Raised in Bannon’s Holler, she has to uncover the truth of her past and upbringing, which she has been avoiding in her adult life.

Throughout the process, Sweetheart and the attorney dealing with her mother’s estate, live out a romantic whirlwind.

“Sweetheart” has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon since it has become available.

Reviews from readers mention the well-told story and historical references to the Cassville and Barry County areas, as well as, the people who have lived here.

“It’s a real page-turner,” one reader said, “Every chapter is full of detail and humor.”

Larry Arnold said he wanted to tell people about the character singer, who is based on a real-life man named Kiplinger.

“He came to Greasy Creek and was a fiddle player,” Larry said. “This book highlights his interesting and mysterious character in real life.

“My mom and aunt used to talk about going to Rock Springs School up to the fifth or sixth grade.”

Part of the book mentions the tradition and customs of the area in those times, and part of that is the lack of education available, especially to women.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 41

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“These are wonderful, hardworking people,” Larry said. “One thing they talked about was a young married person with no children. It was always, ‘What’s wrong with her?’ but never ‘What’s wrong with him?’”

The gender discrimination of the times is something even current generations can attest to.

“It just goes to the customs, morals, and styles of life,” Larry said. “So I decided to start putting things to paper.”

Larry said as a high school student he was an average student, even when he attended the University of Tulsa, he was fairly average.

“I remember my high school English teacher during my senior year in Handsprings, Okla., Lawana Trout,” Larry said. “She ended up being the Teacher of the Year, in the whole U.S. at one point.

“High school teachers, especially women, were not to be fooled with.

They were strict and didn’t care to be your friend, but they have a specific way of finding something in you.”

Trout got Larry to where he could write a cogent paragraph.

“I went to visit her years ago,” he said. “She didn’t remember me because I was so average. But, eventually friends and family would ask me to write up little things for them.”

Writing had become a skill gained from Lawana Trout.

Eventually, Larry grew from small writing tasks to novel writing.

“I wrote, ‘A Little Pissant Town,’” he said. “I gave it to my editor in New York, Paul Witcover, who turned around and said, ‘You don’t know what you are doing.’ He told me to rewrite it.”

Larry eventually wrote “Sweetheart” and sent that to Witcover.

“He approved and accepted it,” Larry said. “I knew that I was over the

first hump, but it took two years of rewrites to get to publishing it.” Witcover told Larry his book has a narrator, which Larry realized was himself.

“Some of the best advice he gave me was that characters needed to get better or worse rather than stay the same throughout the book,” Larry said. “There are many characters in the book that have tremendous changes throughout the book. I wouldn’t be able to accomplish any of this without Paul.”

While some of the characters in “Sweetheart” are fabricated, most characters and places are based on real things.

“Bannon’s Holler is based on Butler Hollow in Barry County,” he said.

“The people who lived in these areas were smart, sympathetic, and humble.

They were not stupid or slow, they lived in the way that was customary in the area at the time.”

Larry said if his family had not moved away when he was 8 years old, he would still be living in the area.

“Mom and dad used to go to the Cassville public square when the businesses would have drawings for prizes or percentages off in their stores,” Larry said. “The old county courthouse had the names on the wall of people who served in World War I and World War II; there were also the Hall Theater and Wooten’s Drug Store.

“The main scenes in the book take place in the places on the Cassville square and in Roaring River State Park.”

Larry said this is truly a highly unusual area, and in a good way, it is truly God’s Country.

“The book is meant to be an uplifting and respectful discussion on how things were there for my ancestors,” Larry said. “The discussions about lower education are not meant to be derogatory.” n

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 43

CUTEST PET Bowie is a 13-week-old mini Australian shepherd fur baby of Lana and Luke Casady of Fairview

Bowie Email your pet’s photo to connection@monett-times.com

If you think your furry or feathered friend is the cutest in the area, let us know! We invite you to share a photo of your pet to be featured in Connection’s Cutest Pet contest. Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your pet’s name, city of residence and your contact information.

44 | August 2021

RESCUED, MY FAVORITE BREED

By Christa Stout

LOST CAT

Paradise Found!

M

y shelter visit took me to Eden Animal Haven (EAH) in Brighton, Mo., just a few miles North of Springfield. The first thing I noticed when I drove up to the shelter was a car with a personalized tag on it: “Be Kind” and I thought WOW I am in the right place. The shelter is surrounded by wonderful trees and is a very calming environment.

It certainly shows the best of the Ozarks.

Then I met Leslie, who is such a compassionate and caring person, I can understand why she left a well-paying job in Chicago and moved with her husband to this area and with the help of a local partner who also loved animals, started Eden Animal Haven.

Eden Animal Haven opens its heart wide for stray cats

Leslie recounted some of the early years, including the times they had to lug water to the first shelter, a barn without electricity, where the cats lived. However, since then, thanks to the hard work of the founders and volunteers, some name recognition and Facebook postings, they were able to build a sanctuary with rooms for specific

reasons, i.e. FEVL cats, kittens, injured cats, etc. Leslie still works and between that and the shelter, has a very busy schedule.

EAH is a shelter for cats only because Leslie realized early on the need for a cat sanctuary in southwest Missouri. She told me that cats are euthanized at the rate of 4 to 1 compared to dogs, which is a sad statistic.

Of course this is due to the overpopulation of cats in our area.

Eden’s goal is to create a safe haven for cats in need, to promote feline health and provide spay/neuter clinics.

EDEN ANIMAL HAVEN Here is how you can contact and/or donate: Facebook.com/EdenAnimalHaven | EdenAnimalHaven.org

ConnectionMO.com/RescuedMyFavoriteBreed | Connection Magazine | 45

REMINDER: Many of us animal lovers post opportunities to attend spay/neuter clinics as well as shot clinics on Facebook. Please avail yourself of these low cost opportunities to have a healthy pet. Also, don’t forget to apply flea and tick medicine if your pet spends time outside.

Two of the adoptable cats at Eden Animal Haven are:

NOTE: cat flea and tick medicine is dangerous to dogs and dog medicine is dangerous to cats, so please get the correct type.

Eden currently houses 80 cats and has another 60 cats in foster homes.

The staff, consisting of two full-time employees, and all of the volunteers make a point to know the personalities of each of the cats in order to be able to match an adopting family with the right cat. The sanctuary takes in about 350 cats a year and has a 99 percent adoption rate. All adoptable cats are fully vetted and are spayed/neutered.

The sanctuary has six small rooms, one for adults that may not get along with other cats, one room for kittens, one for special-diet cats and also a senior room. All cats are categorized by age and temperament.

There is also a room for FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) cats. Leslie pointed out that FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) cats do not need to be separated because it is very hard for other cats to catch the virus. Almost 100 percent of the cases are passed through deep wound bites. FeLV cats are kept separately because the virus, although not long lived outside the body, can be transmitted easier and is one of the major causes of death in cats.

There are also a number of larger rooms with access to the outside, so-called catios, where the outside enclosure consists of two different sets of screens, to make sure the cats cannot get out but have the outdoors to enjoy and the indoors to sleep. Most of the resident adult cats live in these rooms with catios.

46 | August 2021

(See floor plan for more detail) Eden is also involved in TNR (trap/ neuter and release) and was recently contacted about a hoarding situation. They were told there would be 20 to 30 cats, but it ended up there were 55 cats and 19 of these were FeLV cats. However, they found homes for all but two and those remained for the rest of their lives.

Most of the feral cats when they first arrive cannot easily be approached. However, a week in the shelter makes all the difference, and thanks to all the attention they are getting, they are willing to be played with. All volunteers are encouraged to touch and pet all of the cats when they go by their kennel or room to get them socialized.

One of their hopes for the future is to build a feral cat shelter and to start a barn program. Not all cats are meant for indoor life and are very happy living in the country in a barn, where they have access to food and shelter, but have the outdoors to roam and play. Of course, these cats would also be spayed or neutered.

Like all shelters, Eden depends on donations and volunteers to operate. Their current wish list contains Purina One Dry Adult and Kitten Foode, Canned Kitten Food Okocat Original Cat Litter, and of course monetary donations. Fosters and Volunteers are very much appreciated. n

COWBOY

came to Eden very skinny, but the sweetest boy ever. He normally sits on the highest place he can find, and when you walk up to him, he leans over and hugs you. He loves attention, loves to be petted but isn’t pushy at all. He is such a laid back and calm cat, he would fit into any home. He is also very kind to other cats and kittens he meets and seems to be ok with dogs. He would be a fantastic buddy for a disabled cat or dog! He is definitely a favorite at Eden and quickly became my favorite also.

Of course, the hugs helped!

CHURCH

is a 3- to 4-year-old orange tabby that was found as a stray living in a storm drain. He had a huge mass hanging from him.

EAH immediately got him to the vet where they removed a large tumor attached to his abdominal skin. Poor guy must have been so uncomfortable since that must have been growing on him for quite some time. He was very malnourished and dehydrated, but is making a good recovery and will be available for adoption soon!

First on Front

familiar faces

1

2

3

4

5 4. Dillon Welch, Leah Miller, Eric Welch and Ryan Welch 5. Sarah, Eli, 8, and Ellie, 5, Swope

1. Steve Wise and Kris Johnson 2. Erika and Hector Rueda 3. Ashton Linch and Ella Dutton, 6

Waldensian Ice Cream Social 2

1

3

4 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

5

Ron and Denise Ridenour Glen and Leah Aldridge Charles and Karen Brady Colleen and Arnold Evans and Brenda Burgher Ralph and Mary Scott

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 47

Freedom and Fireworks

Advertiser Index A Beautiful Image.........................38 Aire Serv.........................................36 Barry Lawrence Regional Library...

..................................................... 3

Bill Vance Marine.........................28 Bruner Pharmacy..........................36 Cappy Harris Realtors.................43

1

2 Monett Chamber of Commerce hosted Freedom and Fireworks on July 4 at Monett’s South Park.

3

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Valerie Cummings and Robert Balek Colton and Kember Carlton Steve and Cindy Hutham Sue and Gary Updike Ruth Stoddard and Ed Graham Murray and Julie Bishoff

Clark Community Mental Health.21 Coldwell Banker...........................14 Cox Health.....................................52 Diet Center....................................42 Doug’s Pro Lube...........................43 Edward Jones.................................. 5 Factory Direct Mattress................ 2 First State Bank of Purdy............. 9 Fohn Funeral Home.....................43 Four Seasons Real Estate............. 9 Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri

...................................................40

Ken’s Collision Center.................20 Kiddie City.....................................17 Lackey Body Works.....................16 Lil Boom Town Event Center.....24

4

Missouri Farm Bureau.................20 My Best Friend’s Closet................ 6 Oak Hill Court...............................40 Ozark Methodist Manor.............24 Peppers and Co............................42 QC Supply, LLC.............................17 Race Brothers...............................51 Roaring River Health & Rehab........

5

...................................................24

Rusty Gate Flea Market..............28 Security Bank of Southwest Missouri...................................16 Shelter Insurance.........................51 The Farmer’s Daughter...............28 Tisha Trotter.................................... 8 Tomblin’s Jewelry........................... 9 Trogdon Marshall........................... 6 VisionHealth Eye Center............36

6 48 | August 2021

White’s Insurance........................38 Whitley Pharmacy........................14

Cutest kid

Congrats

Adison

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.

Adison Grace Barnes, 5-month-old daughter of Blake and Sydney Barnes of Exeter.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 49

Parting Shot

Photo by Arminda Townsend of Seligman

“The nation behaves well if it treats its natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.”

—Theodore Roosevelt

50 | August 2021

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 51