Jasper County Marriage Licenses

Zane Allen Malone, 20, Grove, Oklahoma, and Kassidy Rose Perkins, 21, Carl Junction

Ernest Dow Whisman, 55, Carthage, and Christine Dayle Michael, 47, Carthage

Drew Hayden Casey, 42, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Jacqueline Darlene Craine, 53, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Timothy Adrian Thomas, 24, Carthage, and Ashton Condie Steele, 24, Carthage

Austin James Harrison, 35, Joplin, and Star Marie Morrison, 34, Joplin

Gavin Edward Foveaux, 20, Joplin, and Grace Elizabeth Lohman, 21, Enid, Oklahoma

Eric Juwan Martin, Sr., 40, Joplin, and Melissa Colleen McAfee, 48, Joplin

Darrell Gene King, 66, Carl Junction, and Doris Jean Fry, 64, Joplin

Ryan Michael Anderson, 30, Pittsburg, Kansas, and Jaclyn Faye Lee Jenkins, 30, Pittsburg, Kansas

Billy Duane Henson, Jr., 37, Oronogo, and Amanda Sue Henry, 35, Oronogo

Fernando Valdez Perez, 51, Carl Junction, and Raquel Morales Valles, 33, Carl Junction

Cole Alexander Mitchell, 25, Carterville, and Bethany Erin Rucker, 24, Carterville

Eligio Rosendo Mendez Morales, 39, Joplin, and Patricia Rose Ballard, 31, Joplin

Chance Lee Hamilton, 25, Joplin, and Kimberly Nichole Davis, 26, Joplin

Oscar Eduardo Lopez Escobar, 25, Joplin, and Lesli Mercedes Cortez Ramos, 20, Carthage

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Elias Aaron Bull, 19, Joplin, and Alliyz Eden Owings, 21, Neosho

Stetcyn Blaine Cornelius 24, Joplin, and Makayla Marie Wolford, 23, Joplin

Curtis Paul Humphreys, 20, Sarcoxie, and Bethany Sue Bloss, 26, Sarcoxie

Jason Tyler Bruey, 32, Joplin, and Mickey Brie Alice Mileo, 30, Oronogo

Dony Amisael Hernandez Flores, 28, Carthage, and Tiffany Claire Suseth Lopez Castanon, 26, Carthage

Jorge Luis Medina Zepeda, 28, Carthage, and Diona Jeanne Thomason, 24, Carthage

Jorge Antonio Hernandez Morales, 25, Carthage, and Valeska Yadira Carrillo Santos, 22, Carthage

Camden Allan Lazure, 22, Carl Junction, and Ashley Nicole Tyler, 31, Carl Junction

Brycen Ray Cartwright, 25, Joplin, and Eliza Jade Maxwell, 22, Joplin

Sheldon John Oliver, 68, Goodman, and Robin Ann Chambers Lester, 71, Roundhill, Kentucky

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Thomas James LeGrand, 44, Columbus, Kansas, and Diandra Shauntel Stanley, 30, Columbus, Kansas

Tyler Sutton Alarid, 24, Iola, Kansas, and Ally Claire Ellis, 21, Iola, Kansas

Garrett Michael Hill, 25, Rich Hill, and Sarah Elizabeth Williams, 22, Rich Hill

Wyatt Phillip Mitchell, 26, Conway, and Lindsey Shay Varner, 27, Joplin

Chad David Stennum, 28, Joplin, and Abbie Dawn Frossard, 21, Joplin

Brandon Loren Weaver, 49, Carthage, and Bethany Kate Jeffries, 36, Carthage

Christian Anthony Long, 25, Carthage, and D'Anna Jeanette Bunn, 24, Carthage

 

Newsmakers program focuses on history of television at MSSU

(From KGCS)

In 1984, a summer class of 8 students created the first ever programming for Missouri Southern State College’s new television station – MSTV. Now named KGCS-TV, the station celebrated its 40th anniversary honoring outstanding alumni who worked at the station that first year in tandem with the Regional Media Hall of Fame induction of former general manager Judy Stiles and former Chart adviser Chad Stebbins. This week’s Newsmakers features documentary tributes to the founders of the station.

Stiles looks back at a few of the hundreds of interviews she conducted for Newsmakers during her three decades working at MSSU. Members of the summer class of 1984 included Daphne Massa and MO State Rep. Dave Griffith. Joplin Public Information Officer Lynn Onstot and VYPE Magazine founder Mike Cooper were honored as Outstanding Alumni and contributed to the technical and content production during the station’s early days.

Newsmakers is airing nightly at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. the week of December 29 on KGCS-TV and will air at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, January 4 on KOAM-TV. It is also posted on the station’s YouTube channel: KGCS - Missouri Southern State University.

KGCS programming can be seen on channel 21 and is also available on regional cable television systems such as Sparklight, Mediacom and Optimum Internet in Carthage. The station operates as a service of the Department of Communication at Missouri Southern State University.

Joplin Recycling Center offers options for discarded Christmas trees

(From the City of Joplin)

The City of Joplin will have three collection points for discarded, natural (live) Christmas trees starting December 26 and continuing through January 31. Citizens should bring their tree, completely stripped of all decorations, and place it near the “Christmas Tree Drop-Off” sign posted at one of the following locations: 

-Humphrey Park on Utica Street in the Royal Heights area;

 
-McIndoe Park at Glendale Road and Jackson Avenue – place trees in the southwest corner of the parking lot; and

 
Public Works Center at 1301 West 2nd Street.

 

People are welcome to pick up the discarded trees at these locations for use in establishing fish habitats. City staff will take the remaining trees to the City’s processing site to be chipped.

When discarding other holiday items, please remember Joplin Recycling Center accepts many of these items, including gift wrapping (no metallic paper), paper boxes, bottles, cans, greeting cards, and cooking oil. The Center also accepts discarded Christmas lights.

The Center is located at 1310 West A Street. Hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Recycling Center will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The Center is always closed on Sundays and Mondays. For more information, call 417-624-0820, ext. 1501.

Highway Patrol Arrests December 21-22

Bobby W. Butler, 27, Springfield, driving while intoxicated, failed to stop at stop line

Candy M. Huynh, 37, Monett, driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving involving a crash

Halim Abdulai, 39, Springfield, driving while intoxicated, speeding, failed to register motor vehicle

Tammy S. Jones, 65, Pittsburg, driving while intoxicated 

Highway Patrol Arrests December 20-21

Mason L. Elder, 21, Crane, driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving involving a crash

Samuel J. Gordon, 32, Seymour, driving while intoxicated, failed to drive on right half of roadway

Corie R. Holloway, 35, Cassville, driving while intoxicated, driving while suspended, failed to place vehicle not in motion as far to the right as practicable, no valid plates, no insurance

 

Newton County Commission approves first stage of broadband plan

(From the Newton County Commission)

The Newton County Commissioners are pleased to announce that they have voted to approve an agreement with ALLO Communications to partner with the County to implement the first stage of a broadband deployment plan to provide important and needed Internet connectivity to the unserved and under-served areas of rural Newton County.

This agreement, leveraging the remaining federal ARPA grant funds that the County previously received, will finance the construction of a 'middle-mile' backbone fiber line across the County that will be completed over the next two years.

This fiber will then provide the infrastructure for ALLO and potentially other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to connect to and build-from it to provide 'fiber to home' service for Newton County residents. The agreement with ALLO, providing $6.9 million in ARPA grant funding, will also support the development of up to nine (9) flash-flood sensor alert locations across the County that will be connected to the backbone fiber line, providing significant public safety enhancement for County residents. 

The County Commissioners also approved a second ARPA-funded agreement with the Area Agency on Aging, totaling $25,000 in APRA funding, to provide digital skills training for County residents, offering it first to the County's senior population.

"During this broadband development planning process, following significant stakeholder outreach, we heard from County residents loud-and-clear that they needed better Internet connectivity, as soon as practically possible, with the opportunity to allow competition in providing service. We also heard from the surveys and one-on-one meetings that enhancing public safety and providing assistance to support greater adoption of connectivity was important. This agreement between the County and ALLO addresses all those requests, within the ARPA funding limitations of the County", remarked Alan Cook, retiring County Commissioner.

"The Commission looks forward to working with ALLO in the construction of this middle-mile, backbone fiber infrastructure in Newton County, to be completed by the end of 2026. By taking this broadband planning approach with ALLO, the County has guaranteed that our ARPA funds will be used to lay the foundation for improved internet connectivity for the County. ALLO, and potentially other interested ISPs, can then make application for federal BEAD grant funding to provide fiber to home service for our county residents. We are especially pleased that this fiber infrastructure touches all the unserved rural areas of the County, which were identified during the planning process", commented Presiding Commissioner Daniel Swem.

Details regarding the County's connectivity deployment plan, as well as the Area Agency on Aging training program, will be posted on the County website soon. In the meantime, County residents can view the County's broadband study that provided the foundation for the planning for the Commissioners' decisions to support improved connectivity infrastructure for the County at the following website:

https://www.newtoncountymo.com/uploads/1/1/0/3/11036008/newton_county_mo_broadband_feasibility_study_summary_document_03-14-2024.pdf

Newton County Remains committed to developing a more connected, sustainable, and equitable community. The County Commissioners look forward to working with ALLO and other interested partners to achieve the important goal of a more connected Newton County.

Badge pinning ceremony held for new Joplin police officers

 

(From the Joplin Police Department)

On Wednesday, December 18th, 2024, the Joplin Police Department held a badge pinning ceremony to recognize the completion of training for new officers as well as recently promoted officers to supervisory roles within the department. 

Those recognized during the event included Officer Ethan Adel, Officer Zackery Burns, Officer Jacob Hibbard, Officer Alex Hopper, Officer Preston Larkin, Officer Taylor Peterson, Corporal Levi Winstead, Corporal Hayden Hinkle, and Sergeant Mackenzie Roach.

The culmination of training and advancement by officers at the Joplin Police Department is something that is earned and not given. For a new officer, this includes over 600 hours of training at a state certified law enforcement academy, followed by an additional 9 weeks of advanced instruction at the Joplin P.D. In-House training academy, which is then followed by a 16-week hands on field training program. 

For those who are being promoted, they have successfully navigated a promotional process that includes an thorough candidate qualification review, extensive written examination, a rigorous assessment center consisting of multiple scenario-based evaluations, a peer review process, and a command staff oral board interview. 

So, as you can see, the honor of wearing a Joplin badge is something that is earned and is not given. As an agency, we recognize this accomplishment through a badge pinning ceremony where officers are given specific and individual recognition, presented their newly earned badge, and afforded the opportunity to have it pinned on their uniform by a spouse, friend, family member, or other loved one.

Additionally, our department chaplains also provide a great service to our officers as they pray over them and bestow each with a custom gift to help guide them through their careers. The ceremony culminates as each officer takes their official oath of office as they raise their right hand and swear to fulfill the duties of the position they’ve worked so hard to earn.

Please join us in congratulating these officers and supervisors on their achievements. We know they will be great representatives of the Joplin Police Department as they go out and serve our community.