Emergency road conditions lifted in Joplin

(From the Joplin Police Department)

The Joplin Police Department has lifted the emergency road conditions status. We will begin responding to all reports of crashes. If you were involved with a crash while we were under emergency road conditions, and you would like to fill out a State Accident Form, you can stop by the Police Department and pick up a form to send in to the state.

The forms are available at the Joplin Police Department Headquarters located at 303 E. 3rd Joplin, MO 64801 or at the Joplin Police Department South Station located at 115 E. 34th Joplin, MO 64804.

Diamond man charged with DWI, vehicular assault after two passengers injured in accident

The Missouri Highway Patrol arrested David Gilbert, 23, Diamond, for driving while intoxicated and two counts of vehicular assault following an accident 12:05 a.m. Wednesday two miles south of Carthage on Garrison.

According to the Patrol report, Gilbert lost control of a 2003 Hyundai Accord on the icy road, ran off the roadway, and struck a ditch, causing the car to overturn.

Two passengers in the Gilbert car, Joshua D. Caylor, 19, Webb City, and Rebecca Colibert, 20, Carthage, were taken to Freeman West with moderate injuries.

Some MSSU students will have to take finals after graduation

A report from KOAM/Fox 14's Jordan Aubey KOAM TV 7

TIffany Alaniz leaving KODE, returning to hometown Tulsa

Tiffany Alaniz finished her second stint as an Joplin anchor today, signing off at KODE, three years after becoming the sole anchor of the station's 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.

Ms. Alaniz is headed for Fox 23 in her home town of Tulsa, Okla.

The following description is taken from the Four States Home Page website:

Tiffany Alaniz has always called the Midwest home. She grew up in Tulsa, where her parents still reside, and graduated from Jenks High School. She earned a degree in Broadcast News Journalism from the University of Kansas. Tiffany began her broadcasting career in 1995 in Topeka, KS as a part-time reporter at KTKA. In 1997, she moved to Joplin to launch a 10 year career at KSNF. During that period, she worked as a reporter, weekend anchor, morning show and noon news anchor. She spent the majority of her time as the 5, 6, and 10 o'clock evening news co-anchor. Co-hosting Hometown Today alongside Gary Bandy and the evening news with Jim Jackson were some of the highlights of her time at KSNF. She was excited to return to the newsroom to join the Action 12 News Team in January of 2011. Over the course of her career, Tiffany has been proud to earn recognition such as the Missouri Broadcasters Association Award.

Tiffany has always had a passion for news and feels honored to tell the stories of the four state community. She finds inspiration in the resilience of people, as they share their trials and triumphs with all of us.

What's right with Joplin? What's wrong with Joplin? It's your turn

It's time for Inside Joplin's version of open mike night.

Do you have something you want to say about the city of Joplin, Jasper County, Joplin schools or the private schools in the area, Missouri Southern, Christmas- your choice.

Just leave your comments and let's get this started.

Online database recognizes MSSU teacher education efforts

(From Southern News Service)

Missouri Southern State University has been recognized as a top college for teacher education.

The Online College Database's new ranking, "Top Colleges in Missouri: Shaping the Next Generation," honors the post-secondary institutions in the state that graduated the most education and teaching professionals in 2012.

Missouri Southern ranked in the top third in the “Shaping the Next Generation” list, and in the top 12 in “Student-Teacher Ratio.” The university also was ranked among the top 10 in the “Missouri 20-30” club, which is comprised of colleges and universities that have an annual tuition under $20,000 and an average starting salary over $30,000.

Based in San Francisco, Calif., the Online College Database was formed with the vision of providing “the most accurate information to ease the decision-making process for students of all ages who are considering the education field,” said Doug Jones, founder of the organization.

The website, said Jones, gives visitors to the website “an idea of the rankings for schools that do a great job of fueling the educational ecosystems.”

“It’s good to be recognized for a job well done,” said Dr. Al Cade, interim dean of the School of Education at Missouri Southern, noting that the rankings are “just a piece of the puzzle.”

“We continue both as a school and as a department to work to produce the very best teachers for our area schools.”

For more information about the rankings, visit www.onlinecollegedatabase.com.

MSSU commencement ceremonies set for Saturday

(From Southern News Service)

The 61^st graduating class at Missouri Southern State University includes 52 students who will graduate with honors during commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Thirteen students will graduate summa cum laude, with a grade point average of 3.90 or above. Six of those students earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average: Miranda Blanchard, Tiffany Henning, Tanya Kimbrough, Ivy Littles, Katie McKibben and Christina Wilson.

Twenty-four students will graduate magna cum laude, with a grade point average of 3.80 to 3.89, and 13 students will graduate cum laude, with a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.79.

Four students receiving an associate degree will graduate with first honors, with a grade point average of 3.90 or above. Seven students will receive second honors, with a grade point average of 3.80 to 3.89.

Ceremonies will be aired live on KGCS-TV, which can be found over the air on channel 22. The station is also available on local cable systems, including Cable One, Mediacom and Suddenlink. The event will be rebroadcast on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Graduates will be able to purchase DVD copies of the ceremony. For information on how to order DVDs, contact Judy Stiles at 417-625-9777 or e-mail stiles-j@mssu.edu.

The ceremony will also be streamed live at www.mssu.edu.

BACCALAUREATE DEGREES

 Summa cum laude (grade point average of 3.90 or above)

Julie Anderson, Columbia
Miranda Blanchard, Lamar
Holly Boles, Joplin
Heather Caldwell, Baxter Springs, Kan.
Debra Gaskill, Joplin
Edward Hembree, Diamond
Tiffany Henning, Carl Junction
Tanya Kimbrough, Stella
Ivy Littles, Carthage
Katie McKibben, Neosho
Rebecca Moore, Joplin
Lindsey Sjorlund, Webb City
Christina Wilson, Webb City

Magna cum laude (grade point average of 3.80 to 3.89)

Justin Barker, Stella
Valerie Black, Duenweg
Amanda Cupp, Joplin
Josiah Edings, Parsons, Kan.
William Ehrheart, Pittsburg, Kan.
Elizabeth Emmerich, California
Jared Frey, Pierce City
Chiew Gan, Carl Junction
Christanne Gayman, Schell City
Jarrett Gilliam, Pineville
Sarah Hall, El Dorado
Brian Harlow, Parsons, Kan.
Amber Korn, Carthage
Matthew Middleton, Joplin
Sunny Musgrave, Seneca
Joanna Persons, Neosho
Bethany Peters, Miami, Okla.
Jesse Poynter, Monett
Beth Purcell, Coppell, S.C.
Jennifer Roberts, Joplin
Christopher Smith, Joplin
Peter Thompson, Joplin
Logan Walker, Webb City
Natalie Ward, Shell Knob

Cum laude (grade point average of 3.70 to 3.79)

Zelina Ambrosius, Carthage
Ava Baggetta, Mesa, Ariz.
Christina Brady, Joplin
Colby Bridges, Carthage
Joseph Cumming, Neosho
Hailey DeGraw, Carl Junction
Michaela Doerr, Webb City
Jennifer Hosp, Carl Junction
Holly Kingore, Joplin
Misti Lopez, Neosho
Ashley Robbins, Joplin
Megan Ross, Joplin
Steven Tuggle, Webb City

ASSOCIATE DEGREES

First honors (grade point average of 3.9 or above)

Julie Anderson, Columbia
Casey Crain, Nevada
Tanya Kimbrough, Stella
Christina Wilson, Webb City

Second honors (grade point average of 3.80 to 3.89)

Justin Barker, Stella
Valerie Black, Duenweg
Elizabeth Emmerich, California
Jarrett Gilliam, Pineville
Brian Harlow, Parsons, Kan.
Jennifer Roberts, Joplin
Jonna Welch, Bolivar