Joplin downtown parking lots closed for maintenance this weekend

(From the City of Joplin)

Visitors to Joplin’s downtown area should note that maintenance work will be done to the parking lots located on the 500 and 600 blocks of Joplin Avenue this weekend, October 4 and 5, 2025.

The 500 block parking lot will be closed on Saturday, and the 600 block lot will be closed on Sunday. These closures allow for maintenance work to seal and restripe these lots. Completing this work in two days ensures that parking remains available in the area during the weekend. 

If planning to come to downtown over the weekend, drivers should be aware of the work and park in the open lot or along the street. Nearby businesses will be notified and remain open according to their normal business hours.

The City apologizes for any inconvenience that may be caused by the closures; however, this work helps prolong the lifespan of the lots, providing a better experience when visiting our downtown area. We appreciate your understanding.

Joplin Health Department schedules parent-teen driving workshop

 (From the Joplin Health Department)

The Joplin Health Department invites parents and teens to attend a free Parent-Teen Missouri Graduated Driver License (GDL) Presentation from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 22, at the Joplin History & Mineral Museum, 504 S. Schifferdecker Ave.

This interactive program is designed for parents and teens ages 15–18 who are just starting the driving journey. The presentation will cover:

An overview of Missouri’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) program
Tips for navigating the learning-to-drive stage
Tools for building safe driving habits and confidence on the road

“Learning to drive is a major milestone for teens — and it can be a stressful one for parents,” said Suzan Morang, Joplin Health Department. “This session helps families understand the GDL process, set clear expectations, and keep everyone safe.”

The event is free and open to the public. Parents are encouraged to bring their teens along to participate.

Registration is strongly encouraged. Sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4EA5A92CA3FDC16-58064996-keeping#/

If you have any questions, contact Suzan Morang at the Joplin Health Department, 417-623-6122 ext 1286.

MSSU to hold Student Hackathon

(From Missouri Southern State University)

Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) will host LionHogTech, a 24-hour student hackathon with the University of Arkansas (U of A) beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17 and concluding on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 5:30 p.m.

LionHogTech is hosted by the Cognitive Robotics and IoT Consortium (CRIC) in the Computer Information Science (CIS) program at MSSU. The event is open to high school, undergraduates, and graduate students of all skill levels and disciplines. This year, the free hackathon will be co-hosted by the Smart Agricultural and Food Engineering (SAFE) Lab in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at U of A. 

LionHogTech challenges student teams to design and build a fully functional application or solution based on a unique theme revealed each year. Participants collaborate intensively over 24 hours, coding, designing and problem-solving before presenting their projects to a panel of judges.

“MSSU’s leadership ensures that LionHogTech provides a high-impact, interdisciplinary learning experience, empowering students to innovate, collaborate, and apply their skills in real-world challenges,” said Dr. Swarna Sethu, assistant professor of Computer Information Science at MSSU.

2025 marks the inaugural year of LionHogTech. Dr. Sethu completed her postdoctoral research under Dr. Dongyi Wang, director of U of A’s SAFE Lab, and their shared vision led to this event.

“Starting with this year’s hackathon, MSSU and U of A will alternate hosting the event annually, strengthening academic collaboration, expanding reach, and providing richer learning experiences for students at both institutions,” said Sethu.

In addition to the application of technical knowledge and the collaboration between teammates, prizes will be awarded to the winners of the hackathon.

“LionHogTech is a celebration of student potential,” Sethu said. “It’s a springboard for future careers in tech, research, and entrepreneurship.”

For more information and to register for LionHogTech, please visit the webpage: https://lionhogtech.com/

Intersection of 20th Street and Country Club Drive in Joplin will close for roundabout work

(From the City of Joplin)

Starting Monday, October 6, the intersection of 20th Street and Country Club Drive/Black Cat Road will close as work on the roundabout continues. This intersection will remain closed to through traffic for approximately two months. The closure will extend to the west on 20th Street, to the west side of and including the entrances on Twin Hills Drive. Access to the Twin Hills neighborhood will be available using Crest View Drive during this construction period.

Local access to homes will be maintained throughout this time. Soft closures will be placed at Central City to the west, 26thStreet to the south, Junge Boulevard to the north, and Iron Gates Road to the east. 

To avoid this closure, traffic will need to utilize 32nd Street, Central City Road, West Junge Boulevard, and Schifferdecker Avenue. Twin Hills Country Club will be accessible from the south via Country Club Drive.

This is the first of two roundabouts included in the West 20th Street widening project. A roundabout will also be constructed at the intersection of Central City Road and West 20th Street.

Citizens should be aware that other closures will be announced as this capital improvement project progresses to widen approximately two miles of West 20thStreet from two lanes to three lanes from Schifferdecker Avenue to Central City Road. The project includes intersection improvements at both Country Club Drive and Central City Road, adding curbs and gutters, as well as a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists along the entire route. 

Emery Sapp and Sons, Inc. is the contractor for this $9.8 million project. Funding is through the Capital Improvement Sales Tax initiative passed in 2014 and renewed by voters in 2024, and is partially funded through the City, Jasper County ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act), and Joplin Special Road District.

For questions, contact Rob Beachner, Capital Improvements Project Manager, at 417-624-0820, ext. 1543 or rbeachne@joplinmo.org.

Wyatt Earp Fall Fest set for Saturday in Lamar

 

Breast cancer awareness programs at MSSU topics of Newsmakers program

(From KGCS)

1 in 8 women will face a breast cancer diagnosis. But when detected early, patients have a 90 to 99 percent survival rate. Support for efforts to provide that early detection is the focus of the next Newsmakers program.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Missouri Southern State University student senate is raising funds for the charity Hope 4 You with the sale of luminaries, t-shirts, pins and pink bandanas. Dr. Lisa Toms, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs and Eisha Alam, Student Senate Vice President, discuss an awareness event featuring the luminaries and reading the names of survivors and those who have passed away due to breast cancer or other cancers. The group will also hold a Walk-a-Thon October 16. 

Gerardo Martinez, a member of the Campus Activity Board, shares how he is coordinating a powder-puff flag football game for November 12 also supporting Hope 4 You. Charity Board members Sharon Clark and Brenlee Buerge explain how the fundraisers make mammograms possible for many women who might not be able to afford them. Members of Zeta Tau Alpha talk about the fraternity’s breast cancer philanthropy.

Newsmakers is airing nightly at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. beginning October 5 on KGCS-TV and will air at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, October 11 on KOAM-TV. It is also posted on the station’s YouTube channel: KGCS – Missouri Southern State University.

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

Connect2Culture, Bright Futures Joplin partner to provide national children's play

(From Connect2Culture)

Connect2Culture (C2C) is thrilled to partner with Bright Futures Joplin for the upcoming nationally-touring production of Childsplay’s Maddi’s Fridge, a heartfelt children’s play that explores the issue of food insecurity in an accessible way for kids and their families.

“Collaborating with Bright Futures Joplin allows C2C to take this performance beyond the stage,” said Emily Frankoski, Connect2Culture’s Executive Director. “It becomes more than just a show, it becomes a call-to-action, a learning opportunity, and a way to make a direct impact in our community.”

In conjunction with the performance, C2C and Bright Futures Joplin are collecting snacks for Bright Futures Joplin’s Snack Pack program, which provides food for nearly 600 elementary, middle, and high school students. Community members are encouraged to bring non-perishable snack and granola bars to C2C’s Box Office inside the Cornell Complex during Box Office hours (Tue–Sat | 1–5 pm) beginning October 1st through 11th. Those who contribute will be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of the book Maddi’s Fridge by author Lois Brandt.

“Bright Futures Joplin is committed to supporting students who are facing food insecurity, and we can’t do it without the help of our incredible community,” Amanda Stone, Executive Director of Bright Futures Joplin, said. “Our Snack Pack program makes a real difference in the lives of local kids, and this is such a great way to get involved.”

Childsplay’s production of Maddi’s Fridge

Sat, Oct. 11, 2025 | 2pm (doors open at 1:30pm)

C2C Venue: Beshore Performance Hall, Cornell Complex (212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801)

Ticket Prices: Kids $5 | Adults $20

Genre: Children's Theater • Grades 1st–6th

Best friends Maddi and Sofia share everything—until Sofia discovers Maddi has no food in her fridge. Maddi makes Sofia promise not to tell anyone, but Sofia is determined to help. As she sneaks food into her backpack, Sofia learns that while fish and eggs are great for people, they aren’t so great for backpacks. Can Sofia keep her word and still find a way to help her friend? Based on Lois Brandt’s award-winning book, Maddi’s Fridge is a thoughtful and funny play that explores friendship, empathy, and doing the right thing.

Produced by Childsplay, an acclaimed professional theatre company dedicated to creating strikingly original productions for young audiences, Maddi’s Fridge engages children and families with heartfelt storytelling and imaginative staging. 

For nearly five decades, Childsplay has inspired generations through performances and educational programs that emphasize creativity, literacy, and a love for the arts.

To learn more about Bright Futures Joplin, visit brightfuturesjoplin.org.

To learn more about Childsplay, visit childsplayaz.org.