Soroptimist International of Joplin installs board, recognizes award awinners

(From Soroptimist International of Joplin)

On Thursday, June 18, Soroptimist International of Joplin held its annual awards and installation banquet at Club 1201.

The incoming Board of Directors was installed as follows:

Amanda Mitchell, President
Neely Myers, President-Elect
Jennafer Johnson, First Vice-President
Kristine Gustafson, Second Vice-President
Amanda Stone, Recording Secretary
Kerstin Landwer, Corresponding Secretary
Michelle Ferguson, Treasurer
Anne McLaughlin, One Year Director
Jayde Thomas, Two Year Director
Kelly Reddin, Associate Director 2
Liz Nicholson, Associate Director 1
Lisa Paugh, Past President
Cathy Brown, Parliamentarian

Susan Hickam, Executive Director of Lafayette House, was this year’s recipient of the Ruby Award.
Amy England, Taylor Doran, and Susan Duvall were recognized as 2026 recipients of the Live Your Dreams Awards©.

Also in attendance was Leslie Castilian, recipient of the Soroptimist International of Joplin scholarship at Missouri Southern State University.

Soroptimist International of Joplin is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. 

Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs, also powers LiveYourDream.org—an online community offering offline volunteer opportunities in support of women and girls.

For more information about how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, visit www.soroptimist.org, www.joplinsoroptimist.org, or www.facebook.com/SIJoplin.

Photo information

Standing: Liz Nicholson, Jennafer Johnson, Lisa Paugh, Anne McLaughlin, Cathy Brown, Michelle Ferguson, Neely Myers, Amanda Stone, Kerstin Landwer
Seated: Jayde Thomas, Kristine Gustafson, Kelly Reddin, Amanda Mitchell

Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

06/24/2026 1109 WILLIAM MICHAEL WAYNE

ARMSTRONG

29140 S 647 Pl

GROVE, OK 74344

WM 35

327 S5TH ST 1,500.00

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

2 UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

3 `OPERATE VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE - 1ST OF

06/24/2026 1040 LIVET NMN PALMA

21312122 Gateway Drive

GOODMAN, MO

WF 29

21322- 8 GATEWAY DR 0.00

1 FFJ OUT OF BENTON CO, ARK- REC STOLEN PROP

06/24/2026 1010 AUSTIN EUGENE DUNCAN

701 Sesley Ct

ANDERSON, MO 64831

WM 34

101 S WOOD ST 0.00

1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

06/24/2026 1330 MICHAEL PAUL D`ANGELO

518 Patterson

DUNEWEG, MO 64841

WM 37

405 5 250.00

1 `EXCEEDED POSTED SPEED LIMIT (26+ MPH)

2 `DRIVING WHILE REVOKED/SUSPENDED - 2ND OR 3RD OFFENSE

06/24/2026 26001192

1822 BRYLEE MAXINE

WF 24

399 N COLLEGE ST/W COLER ST 0.00

BOHANNAN

11831 Whispering Pines Rd

NEOSHO, MO 64850

1 TAMPERING WITH MOTOR VEHICLE 2ND DEGREE

06/24/2026 1229 GEORGE WESLEY FECKO

1700 W 30th Street

JOPLIN, MO 64804

WM 26

208 W COLER ST 82.00

1 NPD FAIL TO DISPLAY REGISTRATION PLATE 390.010

06/24/2026 1229 GEORGE WESLEY FECKO

1700 W 30th Street

JOPLIN, MO 64804

WM 26

208 W COLER ST 222.00

2 NPD FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 390.080

3 NPD NO VALID OPERATORS LICENSE 390.020

4 NPD FAIL TO DISPLAY REGISTRATION PLATE 390.010

5 NPD DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED / REVOKED 390.020

06/24/2026 2326 MICAH JOE MANWILLER

557 Olympia Rd Lot 33

GOODMAN, MO 64843

WM 48

21552 GATEWAY DR 250.00

4 GOODMAN PD: LARCENY

5 NPD LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT 310.120

1 NPD POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA 215.650

2 NPD POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 215.660

3 NPD FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 390.080 

Carl Junction man injured crashing into tree

A Carl Junction man was injured in a one-vehicle accident 4:52 p.m. today on MO 39 a half mile south of Arcola.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2022 Polaris Sportsman driven by a 25-year-old Carl Junction man struck water that was running over the roadway, causing it to travel off the roadway and hit a tree.

He was treated for moderate injuries a Freeman West Hospital, Joplin.

 

Highway Patrol Arrests June 24-25

Colton J. Eccher, 28, Lockwood, driving while intoxicated, failed to drive on right half of roadway

Dennis M. Schmidt, 55, Verona, driving while intoxicated

Kevin O. Sanchez, 29, Monett, driving while intoxicated

Rachel K. Copeland, 42, Marshfield, driving while intoxicated, no valid license, careless and imprudent driving involving a crash

 

Joplin City Hall to close July 3 for holiday

(From the City of Joplin)

In observance of the Independence Day holiday, City Hall and all City of Joplin offices will be closed on Friday, July 3. This closing includes the Joplin Recycling Center, Public Transit services, and the Joplin History and Mineral Museum. All City services will resume their regularly scheduled hours on Monday, July 6. 

The Joplin Aquatic Centers will be open Friday, July 3, from 1-8 p.m. as well as Saturday, July 4, from noon to 5 p.m. 

Public Safety, Airport Operations, and Wastewater Services will also continue to operate throughout the Independence Day holiday weekend, as these departments run 24/7 throughout the year. 

Republic Services will not pick up trash or recycling on Saturday, July 4. Instead, all Saturday pickups will take place on Monday, July 6.

 

Joplin fire officials remind community of fireworks guidelines

(From the Joplin Fire Department)

With Independence Day nearing and fireworks vendors setting up around the City, Joplin fire officials are reminding the public to use caution when handling explosives this 4th of July.

Fireworks sales are permitted within Joplin city limits from Wednesday, July 1, through Saturday, July 4. Fireworks can be deployed on those days from noon to 11 p.m.

Most fireworks are permitted within Joplin city limits except for pop bottle rockets and Chinese lanterns. 

Fire department officials recommend that children have adult supervision when deploying fireworks. Do not dispose of used fireworks in your trash receptacle, and do not store used fireworks in your garage, as this has been known to lead to garage fires. Officials also recommend that residents have a water source near their fireworks discharge site to quickly put out small fires and to saturate used fireworks containers before discarding them.

A good way to enjoy a free fireworks show this July 4th is to attend the City of Joplin’s Independence Day celebration at Missouri Southern State University’s Fred Hughes Stadium. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at approximately 9:45 p.m.

For more information, contact the Joplin Fire Department at 417-624-0820 ext. 1307.

Newton County Sheriff's Office Arrests

06/23/2026 26001178

0001 DENNIS ALLEN REYNOLDS

WM 56

5936 ELDER RD 0.00

5936 Walleye Rd

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64873

1 VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION ADULT-1ST OFFENSE

2 VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION ADULT-1ST OFFENSE

06/23/2026 0919 DAKOTA JAMES COCHRAN

8934 Raccoon Rd

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64844

WM 38

405 E. 5TH ST 250.00

2 OPERATE VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE - 1ST OF

3 OPERATE MTR VEH W/O MAINTAINING FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

1 NPD STEALING/ LARCENY/ THEFT 215.320--570.0-031Y202123

06/23/2026 1047 DANE ALLEN WILSON

958 Blankenship

NOEL, MO 65854

WM 56

300 E. 7TH ST 1,500.00

1 `OPERATED VEHICLE ON HWY WITHOUT VALID LICENSE - 3RD AND SUB

2 SPD NO INSURANCE/ FINANCIAL RESP. 390.140

3 SPD OPEN CONTAINER OF ALCOHOL 342.050

4 SPD POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 215.1830

5 SPD POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 215.1830

6 SPD NO INSURANCE/ FINANCIAL RESP. 390.140

06/23/2026 1530 JAMES EDWARD SAMMONS

18216 Greenbrier Dr

NEWTON COUNTY, MO 64850

WM 35

18216 GREENBRIER DR 1,500.00

1 ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF A CHILD UNDER SECTION 568.060.5(1)