READY SET GROW [
BUDDING OPPORTUNITIES
Unexpected businesses in unexpected places
On the horizon
Could football be on its way in a few small county towns?
Growing: Mind and student body
A special section of the
HEADLINER NEWS Christian County
Š 2012 Neighbor News
]
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012 I Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress
ready, set, grow
Big screens, big ideas
Story and photos by Brady Brite • Headliner News •
Ozark/Nixa 12 expanding ‘alternative content.’ ames Warner is having a busy day. It’s Saturday afternoon in February, and the Ozark/Nixa 12 is already packed. The general manager says that’s not the case this time of year for other theaters, but at B&B’s latest, it’s become the norm. “Most theaters start dropping in January and February. February and September are usually the slowest months of the year,� Warner said in a quick break from help-
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ing concessions. “But we’re far busier than we’re typically projected to be.� Clerks in black dress shirts and ties are scurrying to keep the art-deco lobby pristine as brimful popcorn bags spill out on the way to the Grand Screen and nine other auditoriums. The steady stream of walk-ins pauses just long enough for double-checking showtimes on the scrolling LCD screen above the queue. Concession clerks are a veritable chorus of “I can help you over here.�
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It’s a new and exciting experience for Christian County to have its own theater, and B&B officials say they’re just getting started. “We’re always expanding special features at the theater,� said Bobbie Bagby, B&B director of marketing. “We just, in fact, showed a live opera from Germany at the theater. There’s lots of new content coming.� From two new screens to added children’s movies and the possibility of video game tournaments, the Ozark/Nixa 12 is going beyond the traditional movie-going experience to make the theater and adjacent retail strip a one-stop evening. Designed with that idea in mind, the theater, located on state Route 14 between Ozark and Nixa, is already neighbor to selfserve frozen yogurt shop Yogurtini and is expecting others to move in soon. Inside the theater, the final two auditoriums are getting the finishing touches for a late-spring opening, Research Analyst Brock Bagby said, and all 10 current screens could soon host the biggest split-screen gaming match in the Ozarks. “We did a video game tournament in Dodge City, Kan., and it was a big success. We’re looking into trying that here,� he said. It’s part of B&B’s “alternative content�— offering atypical crowd-pleasers that put theater screens to work for more than the latest blockbuster. Corporate meetings and private screenings are standard, but alternative content brings in groups like Xbox experts—and with consoles plugged into 10 screens, tournament options abound.
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“We could have four people playing at once on each screen. Ten screens, so that’s 40 people,� Brock Bagby said. “Depending on the game, there could be even more per screen.� Tournaments could work in a roundrobin style, with different screens hosting winners’ and losers’ brackets until the final match is played on the 53-foot Grand Screen. Alternative content has also focused on whole-family offerings already like “Kidtoons,� a Saturday morning showing of children’s movies. When the theater opened last November, Kidtoons were once a month. Its popularity made February’s pick, a Barbie movie, a two-Saturday event. “That program’s really dear to our heart,� Bobbie Bagby said. “We’re very pleased to say people are coming out and supporting that.� But B&B’s bread and butter is, of course, feature presentations—and that busy Saturday, patrons just can’t wait for sundown to get to showtime. Awaiting her turn for concessions, Nixa resident and Ozark East Elementary teacher D.J. Halley says she’s skipping the drive to Springfield now that there’s finally a local option. “It’s a lot easier to get in and out of than the Campbell (16), and it’s just such a nice theater,� Halley said. “I used to see maybe three movies a year. I’ve seen three or four already here, and I’ve got my Springfield girlfriends hooked on it, too. It’s just great to have this theater right here.� bradyb@ccheadliner.com
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On the cover
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Cover photo: Gracie Jemes, 4, Sparta, by Amelia Wigton, Headliner News
Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress I Wednesday, February 22, 2012
ready, set, grow
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Growing shopping options bring cure for city sales-tax slump.
Retail therapy Story and photos by Emily Letterman • emilyl@ccheadliner.com
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few years ago if Ozark residents wanted to buy a pair of designer jeans or a specialty baseball glove they had to travel to Springfield, but times have changed. With the expansion of the Ozark Centre, just east of the Walmart Supercenter, shopping options grew. “We have been here since August and business has steadily increased,” said Arielle Simpson, with maurices. “The customers seem happy and we like being here.” Previously an employee at the Springfield maurices location, Simpson said she sees a lot of her former customers. “I live in Ozark and I used to see a lot of people I knew coming into the Springfield store,” she said. “Now I see the same people here. In fact, my Springfield store friends joke we are stealing all their customers.” Other options in the new wing include Hibbet’s Sports, a Fantastic Sam’s, Verizon Wireless and Moody Blues and Hometown Sports. “There really is a lot of potential for growth here,” said Kristin Jackson, owner of Moody Blues and Hometown Sports. “Ozark is such a fast-paced and fastgrowing community. All these new businesses are giving the people what they need.”
Jackson moved the family business into the new shopping center in August and said business had been steady. With multiple vacant spots still available in the center, Jackson said she is about to get a new neighbor—Sally’s Beauty Supply. “Sally’s Beauty has already begun construction and I know a lot of women who are excited about it,” said Steve Childers, Ozark city administrator. “The developer is in talks right now to fill out the rest of that center. It’s going to be great for Ozark.” With the opening of businesses like maurices and Hibbet’s, Childers touted the center’s ability to bring a variety to Ozark, but added the growing town continues to increase its options everyday. “We have an Orange Leaf now, they are building a new Dollar General, the Marquis Suites will be the first of their kind in the area and who can forget our first pub, Wise Guys,” he said. “Ozark has a lot of opportunity and a lot of interest right now. Add that to the fact that people want to be a part of the community and we are on our way back up.” Childers said city sales tax revenue was up 11 percent in January, the fifth straight month the city has seen an increase. “We all saw the downfall during the recession and it was hard t i m e s ,” he said. “But during those times we changed our budgeting strategy and made some key changes to bring business to Ozark. We are now poised to be ready to grow and I think we are going to grow in a big way.”
“In fact, my Springfield store friends joke we are stealing all their customers.” Arielle Simpson Ozark maurices Above, Ozark maurices employee Arielle Simpson folds clothes during a busy afternoon at the store. Left, this wing of the Ozark Centre, just east of the Walmart Supercenter, is filling up quickly and bringing more retail options to Ozark.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012 I Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress
NEXPECTED businesses in
NEXPECTED places
Highlandville home to unique professions. STORY AND PHOTOS BY AMELIA WIGTON • AMELIAW@CCHEADLINER.COM
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oasting a population of 911, Highlandville doesn’t offer the same amenities as the big cities. But the small town in southern Christian County is home to some unique one-of-a-kind businesses that ship their products across the nation and beyond. “We have some of the same businesses you can find in any other town but we also have some unique businesses,” said Highlandville Mayor Clint Ellingsworth. “Businesses like Ozark Hydrographics, like Nartec. We have the sale barn, which has horse sales and exotic animal sales. Sale barns are not on every street corner anymore.” Ellingsworth said other unique businesses in the area include Highland Place—a banquet facility available for
weddings, reunions and even offers Murder Mystery Dinner Theater—Mountain Springs Trout Park and Woody’s Country Store & Fireworks, which carries Amish edible goods and offers a free petting zoo year round. Ellingsworth said Highlandville is now “on the map” nationally because of construction of Pensmore—a 72,000square-foot mansion that drew attention for its size and innovative concrete technology. However, these unique businesses also put Highlandville “on the map.” “Highlandville business atmosphere is very unique because it’s very casual. The traffic is non-hectic,” Ellingsworth said. “We generally have friendly people willing to serve the public.”
Nartec
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I have ampules located all over the United States— highway patrols, police departments, some DEA sections and ATF. AFTON WARE NARTEC
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hort for Narcotics Technology or Narcotics Detection—the owners have never clarified it themselves—Nartec is a small homebased business for longtime Highlandville residents Afton and Judy Ware. With less than 10 employees, it’s hard to believe that Nartec is the manufacturer of the world’s fastest and easiest field test for methamphetamine. It sends shipments of the test kits to law enforcement agencies all across the nation. Owner and developer Afton Ware first started his business in the 1970s. Working in the crime lab for the Missouri State Highway Patrol for 35 years, Ware knew how to identify drugs and wanted to help law enforcement officers do their jobs more efficiently. In 1990 Ware first designed the ampule test, which has since become a valuable additional to hundreds of police officer’s “arsenal of detective materials,” according to a pamphlet. The tests give a quick, on-the-spot detection of illegal stimulant drugs based on color reactions that occur when test reagents are added to chemical substances such as methamphetamine or cocaine. The field test helps identify drugs giving the officer a “probable cause” for further investigation. “Say you find a packet of powder. For my product, you would touch the powder with the fiber tip. If you thought it was meth, you start with the meth ampule. You would crush the glass and force the liquid into the fiber tip. If that didn’t give you a positive test (turn blue) you would do the test for cocaine. It would give you a turquoise color. Then (if it doesn’t test positive for cocaine) you would go to the heroine test, which gives a green color. It’s more or less a process of elimination,” he said. “I have (ampules) located all over the United States—highway patrols, police departments, some DEA sections and ATF. They are primarily a presumptive test. It gives the officer an idea of what they might have. They are not intended to give a conclusive identification, a crime lab still has to make the final determination of what (the drugs) are.” So why is this big business in small Highlandville? Because that’s where Ware’s roots are. “I grew up in Highlandville. I graduated here. I went to work for the Patrol for 35 years and then I came back home,” he said.
Highlandville resident Afton Ware, owner of Nartec, demonstrates how the drug field test work s. Top, clockwise from left, Woody’s Country Store carries Ami sh edible goods as well as a free petting zoo. Ozark’s Hydrogr aphics has grown leaps and bounds in the last year. Mountain Spri ngs Trout Park is located just outside of Highlandville.
Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress I Wednesday, February 22, 2012
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I never dreamed in my life we’d be making as much money as we are per month at this place. It’s just unbelievable. MATT MCQUISTEN OZARK’S HYDROGRAPHICS
ready, set, grow
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Ozark’s Hydrographics
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“We actually designed and developed some f someone would have asked Matt McQuisten how business was going a year ago, he would’ve of our own films and patterns,” McQuisten said. said, “business is good.” But when asked that “That’s partly why we get stuff shipped to us from all over the world now. today, he smiles and We kind of turned into says, “Oh my goodness, more of a distributor you have no idea.” and we are training “I never dreamed in about three or four my life we’d be making as new businesses a week much money as we are per here.” month at this place. It’s just Potential hydrounbelievable,” he said. “I graphics business owncan’t even imagine where ers even travel from we’ll be in five years.” across the country to Having opened just more learn how to properly than a year ago in Highperform the art. landville on 160 Highway, “There’s so few peoOzark’s Hydrographics ple in the world that do can transfer a pattern to this, I don’t see (comalmost any surface, except petition) being a probfabric, McQuisten said. lem at all,” McQuisten “Plastic, wood, metal— said. “The more people you name it, we can do it,” out there dipping stuff, he said. the more they are makThe process is simple, ing people aware of the McQuisten said, using watechnology.” ter to transfer paint to the McQuisten said the surface of the object. business will soon be “The paint is on the packing up and movfilm,” McQuisten said. ing down the road to “The water activates one Nixa into a building side, then we spray a twice its current size. chemical across the top to But only out of necesseal and activate the other sity. side. After, we simply dip “If it wouldn’t have the item through the pattern Ozark’s Hydrographic owner Matt McQuisten demonstrates how patterns are transferred on objects. started (in Highlandand into the water tank.” ville), we would have When Ozark’s Hydrographics opened in December 2010, the business primarily never gotten to where we are now. It’s a great locadipped products using its more than 2,000 patterns. tion,” he said. “We wouldn’t be moving out of here Today, however, the small business has turned out if it wasn’t a space issue. I never expected that kind of growth. Highlandville’s great. I love it here.” to be one of the main distributors for companies.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012 I Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress
ready, set, grow
MORE THAN A DRUG STORE Family Pharmacy delivers wide range of services. Story and photos by Donna Osborn • Headliner News
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It’s a dream come true. It’s what we knew we needed for about 10 years. We’re just excited. LYNN MORRIS FAMILY PHARMACY
Clockwise from top: Store Development Team from left Byron Roberts, B.J. Jones and Doug Nichols at the new consolidation location on Highway NN. Joseph Dias, IT support, manages the company’s multiple servers that track everything from retail sales to the company’s own broadcasting system. Vice-President Mandy Jones in one of the office suites waiting for finishing details. Jones stands outside Family Pharmacy’s new corporate offices on Highway NN in Ozark. The building in a French-country old world facade is being finished inside to accommodate the company’s expansion. Torgerson Design Partners designed the infill for the building to fill the needs of the firm’s workflow.
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zark-based Family Pharmacy is more than a drug store. The family-owned multi-faceted business with 270 employees has grown to 24 locations throughout southwest Missouri with a simple philosophy. “Our main goal is to go into rural communities where we see a need,” said Mandy Jones, vice president. And along with that goal, the pharmacy is seeking collaborations with other health professionals at some of its locations to offer expanded services for customers. “In Clever we are thinking about leasing space to a nurse practitioner or a doctor,” Jones said. “Fair Grove has no doctor or dentist there. That’s something we are looking at that store as well.” Jones said the company tends to respond to the opinions of its employees and current customers. “Many times the reasons we put a store in a new town are because either people who already work for us or other people in the town come to us and tell us that there is a need,” she said. “That was the case with Clever and Ava. We also like to form partnerships with others like Murfin’s in Clever and Summer Fresh in Marshfield and Carl Junction. We strive to be active in the communities we are in and want to build positive relationships with our patients and business partners. We don’t grow out of the want to be bigger but more of the need we see in a certain area.” And here in Ozark, the firm has begun consolidation of its corporate offices and warehouse facilities at a new suite of offices on NN Highway. “Everything will be in one place— 16,000 square feet,” Jones said. “We will be adding more people—mostly administrative.” The new corporate digs will fill a suite of offices inside a French Country old-
world style building that the business bought in a bankruptcy. The company has a store development team that is finishing the inside work. Some portions of the business are already on site. IT support is one of them. Joseph Dias is one of a number of employees who keeps track of the network of pharmacies. “This is one central hub for all of the stores,” he said. “It tracks total sales.” The equipment also includes surveillance systems. “We can view all of the different locations,” Dias said. Now there are 10 servers at the location with room for more. The system not only controls point of sale but office operations and music along with Family Pharmacy Radio that broadcasts throughout all the stores. CEO Lynn Morris has more surprises in store for the thriving operation—a home medical showroom where the equipment will be showcased. • Elevators • Bathrooms with rails • Wheelchair accessible kitchen • Sauna • Tracking system for paraplegics “All the things we install we be on display,” Morris said. Morris said the time is right for the significant expansion. “It’s a dream come true,” he said. “It’s what we knew we needed for about 10 years. We’re just excited.” Jones, who is Morris’ daughter, says her father is a visionary. And she’s charged with helping to carry out that vision and concurs that it was the right time and the right place to expand and consolidate. “My dad is a visionary...and always looking for the next avenue which is one reason we got started with the Home Medical Supplies and then started the Home Modification in 2011,” she said. “We all understand the need to adapt to the situation and branch out into new things to keep us on the cutting edge in our industry. “The new corporate office is such a blessing.” donnao@ccheadliner.com
Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress I Wednesday, February 22, 2012
ready, set, grow
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dig your
TEETH
into this
Dental practice expands, adds new technology, new dentist. Story and photos by Donna Osborn • Headliner News ot much more than a dozen years ago Dr. Bernie and Sharon Tellez opened a dental practice in Ozark on faith. “We found the land in this area,” Sharon Tellez said. “Thirteen years ago there weren’t very many dentists.” Using a combination of marketing techniques that included going door to door with advertisement hangers and newspaper ads, the couple booked a clientele. “The first day we had a full schedule,” she said. “And, we’ve never had anything but a full schedule.” With the help of Pam Faught who’s been in on the ground floor, Fremont Hills Dental built a thriving practice. And that practice recently realized a dream with a move just one block east into a 10,000-square-foot building styled in old-world architecture visible from the busy U.S. 65, just south of the Highway CC interchange. “Dr. Tellez had always had a vision of a bigger office,” Sharon Tellez said. “We did our own old-world look.” Walking into the spacious building feels more like a ski lodge than a dental office. Two large waiting rooms, a coffee bar and a large children’s area make the waiting experience as comfortable as possible. Fremont Hills Dental recently added a second full-time dentist, Dr. Grant Oslo, a graduate of UMKC. “We sure did Ozark a favor by getting him here,” Sharon Tellez said. The expanded practice also offers expanded services. New technology allows Fremont Hills Dental to create crowns—a commonly used technique to save broken and decayed teeth—on site, while the patients wait. “It is a great asset to the patients,” Sharon Tellez said. “Patients don’t have to experience multiple trips to the office.” Sharon Tellez says the practice is planning to add more staff members soon, along with more services. “We are interviewing for another practitioner,” she said. The Tellezes were able to grow their business in Ozark for one simple reason—the people. “It’s a growing community,” Sharon Tellez said. “The patients are just quality patients and our staff is so congenial. We live here in this community and so do Dr. Olson and his family.” donnao@ccheadliner.com
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Fremont Hills Dent al re Grant Olson, a rece cently added Dr. nt graduate from University of Miss ouri dental school. Olso at Kansas City technology that de n operates new signs crowns onsit e— while a patient wa its.
“The first day we had a full schedule. And, we’ve never had anything but a full schedule.” Sharon Tellez Fremont Hills Dental
Pictured at left from top: Sharon Tellez, office manager, often brings Mocha to work with her. Mocha snuggles in a bed under her desk. Pam Faught has been with the practice in Ozark from the first day. Dr. Bernie Tellez started the practice in Ozark with his wife Sharon about 12 years ago.
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Reaching for Story and photos by Brady Brite Headliner News
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 I Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress
GOLD
Ozarks program pooling civic leaders for economic collaboration.
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hris Hopkins’ desk is a testament to ambition. Post-It notes line cabinets of the Billings’ city treasurer’s desk, covered in scrawls of “civic pride award� ideas and communitywide projects. Printouts of recent years’ business license tallies are lined up to spot trends and gaps. Feedback forms for the town’s Economic Development Fund are piling fast. A single word on an ever-close piece of paper ties it all together: GOLD. Greater Ozarks Leadership Development, or GOLD, is connecting Hopkins with business and municipal leaders from 24 counties in southwest Missouri, and its teachings are helping small towns brew big ideas. “You don’t have to recreate the wheel—the wheel’s already going,� Hopkins said. “In a bigger city, they have a city administrator who’s out there looking at possibilities. We don’t have that, but this gives us access to the same information.� The program, now in its sixth year, is hosted by Missouri State University and comprises about 30 participants in each class. The class gathers for nine monthly sessions throughout the year at participants’ communities and businesses to discuss what works and connect members with those who can make it happen. According to its website, the GOLD standard is to “develop a network of communication, cooperation and community building know-how across the private, public and nonprofit sectors to foster civic engagement, regional awareness, community development and economic growth in southwest Missouri.� In Billings, GOLD is the muse for Hopkins’ think-big
EXPERTS ASK THE
project, the Billings Economic Development Fund. Billings is idling on the shoulder as nearby communities are moving in the fast lane and growing. Worried about potential desolation, Hopkins took note of publicprivate partnerships discussed in GOLD and hatched a similar plan for Billings. Pairing city, business and individual finance, the Economic Development Fund will accrue a balance to be used on city projects that attract new businesses and improve quality of life. From neighborhood goals like new sidewalks to potentially game-changing plans of extending infrastructure to undeveloped properties, the fund’s possibilities are seemingly endless. But they start with residents’ feedback and a targeted plan. “People have said they want a grocery store. If you’re going to get a grocery store, what do you have to do first?� Hopkins said. “It’s just like when you have a baby—you plan a nursery, you buy the baby food and diapers. What is your first step to get to where you want to get?� GOLD is also stepping up entire counties’ plans for spurring growth. One recent meeting focused on Polk County’s success in making every inch of the county an Enhanced Enterprise Zone, which allows property tax abatement when local businesses expand and add quality jobs. Hopkins has been working with Ozark Chamber Director Dori Grinder, another GOLD participant, to see if Christian County could go EEZ as well. “I had heard about EEZ but didn’t know the ins and outs (before GOLD),� Grinder said. “That group in Polk County has been working on it for years, but they finally figured out the right pieces of the pie, and it was basically the citizens who did it. Maybe that’s a tool we could
use in Christian County.� That plan is still in “just the assessment phase,� Grinder said, but in the meantime nuggets of GOLD have included countless new professional contacts and a rare opportunity to study others’ success stories. “It’s a whole new level of networking,� Grinder said. “It opens the door to what all we can do and resources we can tap into. We might not need them today or tomorrow, but we might need them in a month, six months or a year, so I’m glad to know them.� Those connections for planning ahead are what Hopkins says could help a small town like Billings take its economic fund and snowball it bigger. Community projects will improve the short- and mid-term future, but because of GOLD, she knows how to make the longterm even more prosperous once the fund gets started. It might take years or even decades to get the biggest advantages, but Hopkins turns to some newly-acquired wisdom that’s kept her focused on not just today’s residents, but tomorrow’s. “A group from Marshfield put it best when talking about planning for future growth,� she said. “’When should you plant a tree—20 years ago or today?’ We can’t go back and plant that tree, but we can plant it now and watch it grow.� bradyb@ccheadliner.com
Billings City Treasurer Chris Hopkins sorts paperwork on GOLD, the Greater Ozarks Leadership Development program. GOLD gathers Ozarks leaders to discuss economic development, and has helped Hopkins create a public-private fund for Billings improvement projects.
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Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress I Wednesday, February 22, 2012
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ready, set, grow
Dollar General to bring more tax dollars to Highlandville.
Shop
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LOCAL Story and photo by Amelia Wigton Headliner News
hen Highlandville resident Joe Gault has a craving for fudge-covered peanut butter-filled cookies, he has to drive to Nixa or Ozark to squelch it. But not for long. Come spring, Gault will only have to drive to the Dollar General. “We’ve got to drive somewhere for most of our stuff,” the Highlandville alderman said while holding the package of cookies. “Dollar General will carry items that the convenience store won’t carry. We are excited for two reasons: One, it will be some revenue for the city and two, we can buy things local.” Currently under constructed on the crossroads of Kentling Avenue and 160 Highway, Highlandville Mayor Clint Ellingsworth is excited to see his nearly three years in City Hall pay off. “Dollar General has been wanting to come to Highlandville since 2007, but they never found the property. It’s been long awaited here,” he said. “They finally settled on this property.” Ellingsworth said the new business will not only provide cookies, but additional jobs and tax dollars. “In any situation where you’ve got new business coming to town, this will mean additional jobs and additional revenue coming in,” he said. “We expect them to hire at least five and possibly as many as 10 full- and part-time employees. And it will increase sales tax revenue. Our city is supported by sales taxes.” Currently, Highlandville receives about $30,000 in sales tax revenue each year. Ellingsworth thinks the new store will bring an additional $10,000 of revenue into City Hall, which in turns means additional services. “Everyday somebody says, including myself, ‘well, when we start getting sales tax revenue from Dollar General, maybe we can start doing this,’” Ellingsworth said. “We’ve been hit pretty hard by the downturn in the economy. There’s so many things that we need and so many places that (the additional tax revenue) could go.” With only one full-time police officer currently, Ellingsworth would like to see the hire of another full-time officer. He would also like to see painting and maintenance work at City Hall. “There’s always updates to vehicles and other buildings in the city,” he said. Ellingsworth said the 7,200-square-foot Dollar General is slated to be open by May. But he hopes when the construction ends on that business, more picks up nearby. “There are other business prospects. If they can land a tenant, they will provide infrastructure,” he said. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed.” ameliaw@ccheadliner.com
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We are excited for two reasons: One, it will be some revenue for the city and two, we can buy things local.
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Joe Gault Highlandville
Proud to be the first choice in Christian County since 1977. Thanks to all our customers and employees who allow us to grow and continue to serve the public. True Care Elite Savings: UÊ ÃÌ> ÌÊ->Û }à UÊ i iÀ VÊ*ÀiÃVÀ «Ì ÃÊ-Ì>ÀÌ }Ê>ÌÊ fΰ Êi>V UÊ ÀiiÊ`i ÛiÀÞÊ ÀÊ > ÊÃiÀÛ ViÊ vÊ «ÀiÃVÀ «Ì Ê i` V>Ì Ã UÊ ÃV Õ Ìi`ÊyÊÕÊà ÌÊ UÊ ÃV Õ ÌÊ ÊÌ iÊ«ÕÀV >ÃiÊ ÀÊ Ài Ì> Ê vÊiµÕ « i ÌÊvÀ Ê > ÞÊ * >À >VÞÊ iÊ i` V> Ê-Õ«« Þ Ozark Price Cutter Center 1114 W. Jackson 417-581-4335
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Nixa Crimson Plaza 105 Ridgecrest 417-724-2601
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012 I Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress
ready, set, grow
Good things come in
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My parents and my grandparents both graduated from Chadwick, that makes me third generation, not a lot of people can say that.
small packages Christian County’s smallest school district offers plethora of learning opportunities for students.
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We are proud to Expand our Building and Services in the Christian County area. We appreciate your Support and Continued Patronage!
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n less than three months Dakota Johnson will be a high school graduate. An accomplishment in itself, Johnson is even more proud of where he’s graduating from— Chadwick. “My parents and my grandparents both graduated from Chadwick,” he says with a smile, “that makes me third generation, not a lot of people can say that.” With less than 250 students district wide, the R-1 District is the epitome of rural life in Christian County. But Johnson said in many ways, his Chadwick education is superior to any you would find with a larger district. “Here there are just a few kids in each class, so there is a lot more individual attention for each student,” he said. “I have friends who say it’s harder at larger districts because there are too many kids for the teacher to notice everyone.” School guidance counselor Michelle May said the small grade levels—sometimes as few as 20 students—allow teachers to teach a more focused lesson. “Some of these teachers may have the same students in multiple courses like English I, II and III, so they get to know their styles and can target where they need help,” she said. “Also say a teacher knows a student likes one particular aspect of history, they can target that time period more. It’s just a more individualized learning style.” Comparing Chadwick’s classes to that of a personal tutor, rather than a college lecture hall, May said the learning experience is more personal for each student, benefiting the student’s overall education. While larger districts may offer more course options and more sports, Johnson said he would still rather attend Chadwick because he knows he has a guaranteed spot. “If I went to a larger school I would have to try out for the team and have to compete for
playing time,” he said. “Here I have played basketball since elementary school and we all get lots of playing time.” Take a walk down any hall in Chadwick and you’ll hear teachers greet each student by name, no matter the age, something fourth-grade teacher Vickie Goin says is a perk of a smaller district. “I have taught here for 24 years, my husband and I both graduated from here, my daughter goes to school here —I know just about everyone,” she said. “Getting to know the kids helps you develop relationships that will last forever.” Goin said when people think of small districts they think they are “not very advanced,” but that couldn’t be further from the truth at Chadwick. “Look in my classroom. Each one of my students has a computer—their own computer— and I teach my lessons on a SMARTboard,” she said, “not many larger districts can say that and we have had computers for at least seven years that I can recall.” And Goin is right, while larger districts like Ozark and Nixa work toward a goal of oneto-one technology, it’s simply harder to buy laptops for 5,000 students. “People think kids might not have as many opportunities living in Chadwick, but that’s not true,” May said. “We can do things others can’t just because we are smaller, like when we take the whole high school out for a community service day.” May said students like Johnson have the same opportunities for advancement as larger districts. “It’s been great growing up here in Chadwick. For the future I’m looking at Mizzou or Missouri S&T right now,” he said. “If not those, I can get a basketball scholarship to a smaller school. I really have the opportunity to do whatever I want right now.” emilyl@ccheadliner.com
Emily Letterman • Headliner NEws
Grant Olson, DDS
Chadwick senior Dakota Johnson can trace his family back at least three generations in the Chadwick School District. Here he points to a picture of his grandmother, Fern Bilyeu, who graduated in 1957.
Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress I Wednesday, February 22, 2012
ready, set, grow
Page 11
On the
H
Z I R O O N
Could football be on its way in a few small county towns? Dr. Jeff Hyatt can see it now. Plush, fresh cut grass with white paint inscribed in 10-yard increments. The sound of a cool fall breeze being drowned out by screaming fans as stadium lights flicker on at the hint of darkness.
Friday night lights. rolling. The feedback Hyatt said he has received from schools such as Cole Camp and Pleasant Hope, who recently started programs, has been informative and positive. However, a recent damper within the confines of the Sparta athletic arena has allowed HYATT doubt to creep back in. The boys middle school basketball team, which usually draws 20 to 25 kids, only had 10 tryout for this year’s team. “How in the world do you start a football program when you only had 10 kids go out for junior high basketball,” Hyatt said. “It makes you wonder if we’ll have the student body to support a football program.” Current high school enrollment at Sparta is approximately 215, but Hyatt said he and others feel the brand new high school, although a costly investment in the present, will pay dividends in the future in terms of student body enrollment. “We feel like with building that facility, and if there is continued growth within the city and on the outskirts of the city, that will be another determining factor for us to make a decision to go forward with football,” Hyatt said. Spokane’s efforts to start a football program have gone less under the radar. At the Spokane boys basketball tournament hosted in late January, there was a car out in front of the high school’s billboard with a sign on it that read, “Help bring football to Spokane.” Coinciding with funding projects for these schools has been the emergence of a football program called “Mighty Mites,” which allows youth to play in an organized and competitive environment. The goal is to not only allow youth in the area the opportunity to play football, but to generate the interest in the sport, as ages 8 through 10 could be the foundation of a future inaugural high school football season. For now, however, those visions are just that, and lend further credence to the notion that time will tell when it comes to small-school football in Christian County. “I’d love to see it,” Hyatt said, “but you’ve got to keep it in perspective.” sports@ccheadliner.com
Sparta started hosting a Mighty Mites program file photo in 2009. The small town Christian County would in eastern like to start a high school football program in the however, economic con future, ditions and low student enrollment are causing delays.
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“I think it would be cool,” said Hyatt, Sparta school district Superintendent, “Friday night lights, Sparta, Mo., and that big Trojan head on the side of a black helmet.” Football in Christian County has been relegated to Nixa and Ozark. And excitement for both those programs continues to grow with recent upgrades to the Ozark football stadium and the impending upgrades that will occur at Nixa thanks to the Feb. 7 bond issue passing. The attraction those schools’ success brings, along with the allure of the nation’s most popular sport, has created an interest in some of the county’s smaller schools who want to join the party. Unfortunately for Sparta, along with Clever and Spokane, the financial aspect coupled with uncertainty in school enrollment, has made this vision a long-term goal rather than a short-term reality. Hyatt noted that starting a program, especially one that requires the financial commitment of football, would be difficult in the current economic climate. “The financial side of it, everyone has to take a good long, strong look at it,” he said. “Starting any program at this time, especially football, is difficult. I think the timing is just unfortunate based on how the economy is.” Clever has taken the measures of starting a group, which superintendent Dr. Richard Henson refers to as his “long range planning committee,” to figure out the plausibility of starting a football program in the future. The committee comprises 20 students, parents and community members and is designed to help stew over a laundry list of items that begins with a softball field at the high school as well as new tennis courts, and ends with the addition of a football field that will house a high school team. The time table on the latter development, however, is uncertain. “I would hate to predict that,” Henson said. “It all depends on our growth. With the recession downturn our growth has slowed down to 3 to 4 percent when it used to be 5 to 8 percent.” Sparta has gone as far as to research other high schools nearby that have recently started programs and asked them about what steps they took to get the ball
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012 I Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress
ready, set, grow
IB DIPLOMA IB diplomas and certificates are widely respected by colleges and universities as a quality education and often enable students to receive credit for their freshman year and enter college as sophomores.
GLOBAL EDUCATION IB ensures a world-class education through a standardized curriculum and a balanced array of assessment methods allowing graduates to better compete in today’s global marketplace.
COMMUNITY SERVICE The community service component of both the IB and magnet schools curriculum fosters a sense of responsibility and involvement in the students’ communities.
STEM LEARNING Nixa’s magnet school will have a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics giving students a leg up in a quickly-advancing world.
THE ARTS In addition to STEM learning, Nixa’s magnet school will have a minor focus on the arts, to make students more well rounded and understanding individuals.
GROWING: G
Mind and (student) body
Nixa magnet school, Ozark IB program poised to bring new families to county.
With the focus on a more global education, the IB program has already been a population boon to the neighboring Springfield R-12 School District.
rowth has never been a problem for Christian County’s two largest school districts, but beginning this fall the pair are poised to see their student numbers climb even higher with the implementation of the International Baccalaureate program in Ozark and the creation of a magnet school in Nixa. “We held the John Thomas School of Discovery Fair and attendance far exceeded any expectations we had,� said Dr. Stephen Kleinsmith, superintendent of schools for the Nixa R-2 district. “We had 2,000-plus people show up and it was wonderful. It was a real testimony to the interest out there for this project.� The district approved, Dec. 8, 2011, the new magnet school to be housed in the current John Thomas Elementary building, and Kleinsmith said parents from across the area are excited about the prospect. “We have 420 seats available and I believe all of them will be filled with Nixa students this year,� he said. “Nixa has a legacy of learning in place and we know people move to this community for the schools, so I have no doubt in the future we will see an increase of families who want to attend the magnet school.� With a focus on STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics—components, Kleinsmith said he believes the curriculum will be “progressive and innovative.� “These ideas came straight from the community during the CSIP (Comprehensive School Improvement Plan) and it was our job to follow through and get the job done,� he said. With a district enrollment projected of more than 6,000 next year, Kleinsmith said the enrollment request process began Feb. 10 and parents should know the outcome by mid-March. Across state Route 14, the Ozark R-6 district is still in the
middle of the IB application process, which should carry through the fall. However, Superintendent Dr. Gordon Pace said he has already begun to field calls from parents across the region looking to attend the district. With the focus on a more global education, the IB program has already been a population boon to the neighboring Springfield R-12 School District. “Having the choice of an IB education certainly attracts people to a district,� said Justin Herrell, associate superintendent of secondary education for the Springfield district. “The program is absolutely one of the shining stars of our district.� Herrell said Springfield has seen an enrollment increase recently to about 25,000 students, but it might not be directly related to the IB program. “I can’t say it’s directly related to our IB program, but I can say Springfield is the only district in the state to offer the full IB continuum—elementary, middle and high school,� he said. “I can’t say it’s all IB, but I do know that people like choices. There are a lot of different opportunities for a student at an IB district and that is going to attract families.� Herrell said whether the Ozark district sees growth or not, implementation of the program is still a “good thing.� “Having an IB approach in a school benefits all the students regardless of if they are in the program or not,� he said. “In the end it’s not about the enrollment numbers, but the good of the students.� A sentiment Nixa’s Kleinsmith agrees with. “This is the first, but I don’t think the last magnet school for Nixa,� Kleinsmith said. “The community has really embraced the STEM learning approach. We are growing them bigger and brighter in Nixa.� Ozark school officials declined to comment for this story. emilyl@ccheadliner.com
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Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress I Wednesday, February 22, 2012
ready, set, grow
Page 13
Attracting the
Best
John Thomas School of Discovery not just a magnet for students, but for educators as well. Ryan Bowling • Nixa Xpress
T
he list of reasons why students should be excited to attend Nixa’s John Thomas School of Discovery is extensive: The technology-based approach to learning, the STEAM focus, the community feel of the school. But it’s not just the students who find this list appealing. Yes, the benefits of attending JTSD are well documented, but ask the educators planning to implement the magnet school’s tech-heavy curriculum, and they’ll tell you they’re just as excited. “The boiled-down truth is this: JTSD sounds fun,” said Chris Wilson, who’ll be teaching computer classes at Thomas come fall. “Sure, it will be a lot of work for everyone. The truth is the commitment, intense training, extended school year, new lesson plans, more grade levels, up-front set-up, and the expectations that a new school of this magnitude requires is only a small part of the big picture. It’s scary and sometimes overwhelming, to be sure.” While the benefits of the magnet school for students has been well-documented and showcased by Nixa School District officials, the faculty and staff of JTSD find themselves in a unique situation, as well, to perhaps grow professionally in such a unique situation. “I believe that being a part of a new adventure that can be another puzzle piece in the professional growth success of our district is truly an honor,” said Principal Dr. Josh Chastain. “We want to grow in our understanding of best practices and share with all schools.” In a lot of ways, JTSD is one large experiment for the school district, not just in educating students, but in educating staff. How does technology help a student learn? Can an iPad help science test scores? There are endless questions that JTSD may help answer. “STEAM education is a serious endeavor. It requires commitment on the part of the educators to explore and present
Ryan Bowling/Nixa XPress Principal Dr. Josh Chastain talks with potential students in the hallway during the John Thomas School of Discovery Fair Jan. 31. Below, Chris Wilson, Dr. Josh Chastain, Carrie Boone and the rest of the staff at the John Thomas School of Discovery are excited about the opportunity to grow professionally while working at Nixa’s magnet school.
complex scientific knowledge that pushes us as educators in terms of our own content knowledge and ability to pass this knowledge on to others in authentic and powerful ways,” Wilson said. “The professional development—the training we will receive—is intense. That’s a good thing. I want the district to push me as an educator.” For Nixa native Carrie Boone, counselor at Thomas Elementary School and next year at JTSD, the school’s new approach is an opportunity to expand her own goals for helping students achieve success. “I hope to grow by incorporating more science, technology, engineering, math and the arts into my counselor curriculum,” she said. “A large percentage of my position is teaching the guidance curriculum which encompasses three areas: Personal/social development, academic development and career development. I look forward to challenging myself to incorporate the vision and goals of JTSD.” Chastain, charged with leading a visionary group of educators, said his own passion for technology drove him to apply for its top leadership position, and that same passion will filter throughout the building as students and staff both integrate technology into daily education. “I have always been a techy at heart,” he said. “I feel that technology is an integral tool of the present and the future. I hope that my support for technology will offer support for teachers working with students with technology.” Wilson said the JTSD approach is no different from his own professional training and teaching style. “The opportunity to implement this idea on a school-wide basis, as opposed to a single classroom, is rare and beautiful,” he said. “I was just as excited for the opportunity to apply as the community is to attend. Let’s be honest. This is a bold, progressive move by the district. I had to apply. It just made sense.” editor@nixaxpress.com
JTSD What’s special about the opportunity to teach at JTSD? Inquiry-based learning, science, technology—these things are not new to education and certainly are not new to Nixa. Walk into any school in this district and you can see inquiry-based lessons going on and technology being used. What’s special at JTSD is the integration of these things on a school-wide basis. One-to-one or two-to-one technology is not just relegated to the technology lab or eMINTS room at JTSD. At JTSD, the integration of technology, science and inquiry-based learning will be on-going throughout the building as part of typical teaching. It’s the next step in educational evolution, where the district takes what we know works the best, based on scientific research, and immersing those techniques and approaches into everyday life. As with anything, once we demonstrate success, then the JTSD opportunity becomes a baseline for possible integration and immersion for other schools in this district and in others. To be part of something this big and exciting is an educator’s dream. — Chris Wilson, JTSD computer teacher
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012 I Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress
ready, set, grow
Walls of
inspiration Students say new Sparta High School is catalyst for creativity.
s
Amelia Wigton/Headliner News Sparta High School students Meranda Workman and Garrett Case sit on the stage at the new school. They are excited about the spring play—slated April 27 and 28—that will include sound and lights. Top, freshman Kelsey Holt, left, and junior Sarah Young said the state-of-the-art FACS kitchen is an inspiration.
“
Inspiration is a personal thing and each person is inspired in their own way. You know it when you see it and I can see it. CHRISTIAN MEIER SPARTA HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
”
Amelia Wigton • Headliner News
parta High School students Meranda Workman and Garrett Case can’t wait for April. Sitting on the floor behind the long, black curtain, the students look up at the labyrinth of lights and daydream of the school’s first play performance on the big stage. “We’ll actually have lighting and sound. Last time we had to yell. My parents were in the back and couldn’t hear me,” Workman said. “This inspires me to try harder. For this play we actually have to make a set. A lot of people are excited about it.” Sparta High School officially opened in early January. Approximately 200 students walk through the doors of the 59,000-square-foot building five days a week for reading, writing and arithmetic. But students like Workman and Case will tell you that the $7.9-million facility is more than a new school—it’s inspiration. Case, a junior, has been involved in drama since middle school, making his debut on the high school stage in the eighth grade. But that debut will not compare to this year’s spring production, “A Family Reunion to Die For,” slated for April 27 and 28. “I took drama because it’s a class not just for a select group of kids—we’re all coming together. Plus, I like the plays,” Case said. Case said having new technology such as lighting, sound and a stage for props will make the annual performances come to life for not only the audience, but the actors. “It’s hard to put emotion in your voice when you’re yelling,” said Case, who hopes to continue his drama career throughout college. “It will be so much easier.” Workman said she thinks the allure of the new equipment will attract more students to the Sparta drama department as well. Stage left and down the hallway is another area of inspiration: The stateof-the art FACS—family and consumer science—kitchen. “It’s amazing,” freshman Kelsey Holt said. “It’s way different than the other school. Everything’s high-tech and stainless steel. It’s just amazing.” With four kitchen settings complete with touch-screen appliances and all-new cookware, the classroom is sure to inspire students to create mouth-watering meals. “It’s a lot more advanced than we thought it would be,” junior Sarah Young said. “I think it helps show us how things are supposed to look. And I think it helps other people want to get into (cooking) because it’s new. Everyone likes something new.” Holt hopes to use the skills she learns through FACS classes as a springboard into a career. “I’m looking to go to culinary arts and business,” she said. “I want to work up to executive chef then open my own restaurant.” Young doesn’t plan to turn her cooking into a career, but she knows she is gaining a lifelong skill. “Some people just think of it as a kitchen but it’s really important to us because it’s a privilege to have something like this. I feel privileged to have it,” she said. The new stage and kitchen are just two of many features inspiring teenagers within the walls of Sparta High School. The facility also boasts stateof-the-art technology, a 1,400-seat gymnasium and an additional 4,000square-foot vo-ag building. “How could you not be inspired by (the building),” Principal Christian Meier said. “There’s a palpable difference (from the old school). Inspiration is a personal thing and each person is inspired in their own way. You know it when you see it and I can see it.” ameliaw@ccheadliner.com
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Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress I Wednesday, February 22, 2012
ready, set, grow
Curtain call
» Story and photos by Brady Brite • Headliner News
«
“We plan to use that quite a bit,” Superintendent Dr. Richard Henson said. “We’ve already had several calls about renting it.” The 14,000-square-foot center, funded by a $2-million bond passed in April 2010, houses the instrumental and vocal departments, speech and theater department and is the district’s new destination for major performances of all grade levels. Beyond the district, the center is also the expectant new home of an annual Clever tradition: The University of Missouri Extension’s annual livestock and forage conference. The middle school auditorium has hosted the conference for decades, said Dr. Gordon Carriker, Extension agriculture specialist. But after hearing about the center, Carriker was eager for the middle school to play second fiddle. “This will be a first,” Carriker said. “My predecessors have always held the conference in Clever—it’s just tradition. So, this year, I asked Dr. Henson about the new facility and he had no problem letting us use it. I’m hoping it will be a very good experience.” The stage is set for crowds to experience gatherings and shows of all kinds. The center seats more than 500, with room for more. Light racks above the stage meet a multi-channel sound system, and multiple exits at stage-left lead directly to a school
hallway and theater director Norman Carr’s new dual-purpose classroom and green room. All those amenities—many of which, like the theater itself, are rare for a school Clever’s size—are welcome to community use, Henson said, and between current requests and future possibilities, its use is gaining speed. “There’s a little dance studio in Republic that called early on to rent it for shows,” Henson said, “and if the community ever developed a little theater program, this would be the place to do it.” Its opening coincides with a time of dramatic growth for Clever, but a greater coincidence was the center’s funding. Passed by a no-taxincrease bond, the center was originally scheduled to be built later Henson said, but sound budgeting on the new high school netted a cost savings that pushed up other projects. Combined with a FEMA grant for an adjacent storm shelter, money for the center came sooner than expected, and today, concerts, plays, meetings and more are all taking the stage. It’s surpassed Henson’s already high expectations, and he’s eager to see what comes next. “The stars were all aligned for it,” Henson said. “Now, we hope to have some stars come out of it.” bradyb@ccheadliner.com
Top, the newly-opened Clever Performing Arts Center has more than 500 seats, making it already a popular choice for area performers and organizations. Above, Clever senior Tori Hyde, standing on chair, and junior Elise Partee perform varied interpretations of “Hansel and Gretel” during the center’s grand opening ceremony late fall.
Page 15
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 I Christian County Headliner News I Nixa Xpress
ready, set, grow
To thousands of Christian County residents, Least Of These is much more than a handout.
i
HOPE dispenser Ryan Bowling • Nixa Xpress
think the tag line says it all, ‘Feeding people and changing lives.’� That’s how Jeff Daugherty, president of the Least Of These board of directors, feels about Christian County’s food pantry and clothing shelter. “When you meet the needs of the community then it feeds creativity,� he said “It gives people hope to go out and look for a job. When their stomachs are full and their kids are fed, that can have a major impact on them. I think it’s not always a hand out, but a hand up.� Least Of These has been offering a hand up for 14 years, distributing a bit of hope along with household necessities like food, hygiene products and clothing. If you give people hope, they can often help themselves, Daugherty said. “We all need help in one way or another at different times in our life,� he said. “It’s like paying it forward. Maybe not with food, maybe it was emotional help. It’s important for people to care about other people.� Least Of These is one of several Nixa organizations aimed at assisting those who just need a little boost: Nixa Care to Learn helps meet the health, hunger and hygiene needs of Nixa students; the Eagles Nest from the Nixa PTA Council offers free clothing; the Christian County Optimist Club holds its annual kids coat drive, while the Lions Club helps distribute reading glasses and dictionaries; and then there’s the Nixa Community Foundation, which provides grants to help these organizations go above and beyond their missions. Susan Kendrick, Least Of These director, said so much of what they do is about more than supplying food to make dinner that night, but treating the whole person. “We give them hope by offering resources—couponing classes, resume help, budgeting for their finances. We try to help them find the resources they need to move forward and make connections with
them,� Kendrick said. Many people who seek help at Least Of These are new to being down on their luck, Kendrick said. They’ve gone through a divorce or an illness, fallen onto hard times and don’t know what to do. “A lot of them, by the time they get here, they’re not real sure where KENDRICK they can go and what to do next,� she said. “There is a trick to being poor. They need to know where there are resources.� But sometimes all they need is a shoulder, or an ear, and Least Of These can do that, too. “Sometimes we’re here to listen, and that’s all they need,� Kendrick said. “We’ll listen to them, show them that they’re important people. Just because you’re down on your luck doesn’t mean you don’t have good qualities. We look at the person here, to say you are a vital human being in this world, and what can we do to help guide them out of this situation.� Daugherty said Least Of These is always there to help the community, but never is it more important than near the holidays, when so many people fall into depression. “There was a lady that went through a hard divorce, where my family was specifically the helper for the adopt-a-family,� he said. “She was a single mother. That was really rewarding, to be able to go to the store and buy Christmas gifts for her kids and know that they were going to have big smiles on their faces.� Last year Least Of These provided food and clothing to more than 1,600 Christian County families. And the numbers keep rising. “We’re always in need,� Kendrick said. “Every month our numbers go up. I had one guy tell me goodbye yesterday, I’m never coming back to see you again, but I had three more say hello, we’re here.� editor@nixaxpress.com
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