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JUNE 2022

Summer Fantastic

Plans for Smiles

Dreams to Reality

Harvick farm

Sewing Love

Mission reaps

The Highest Heights Ballooning with Bill Lynch

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2 | June 2022

EDITORIAL

Letter by Lisa Craft

Coming Full Circle

y the time that you read this column The Monett Times will be housed in a different location. The company that purchased us, CherryRoad Media, bought the business but not the building. This is a huge impact as we have been located on Broadway Street for more years than I can tell you. Broadway was always known as a central point but the wear and tear of the floods have taken a toll on this building and it is time to move on. Sadly, there was no other location on or near Broadway available. I looked and looked for a suitable location that provided what we needed for offices, storage and for the public to come to our facility to bring news, ads, purchase the newspaper and pick up the magazine. Moving from here is bittersweet. As many of you know, I began my career here under Dick Brady and Wilma Henbest. There are a lot of memories within these walls, good and bad. A small staff like we have eventually feels like family. The longer you work, the more attached you get. I have seen many come and seen many go and sadly have experienced loosing some by death. As we move forward a new chapter will begin in kind of an odd location. The new location will be at the old Cox Monett Hospital, which is now the Life360 building. If you are familiar with the building, we will be located on the first floor where the laboratory used to be. We have had to do some remodeling to make it feel like our place, but we are getting it ready for the new chapter, new generations, and numerous stories to tell to the young and the old.

We will have racks located outside of the building just like we do now, and our hours will stay the same. Our faces will stay the same, and our history is still there, but it has come time to move on. When I called this column, “Coming Full Circle” I was thinking of the fact that this particular building was also at one time St. Vincent’s Hospital. On May 19, 19__, I was born in that hospital. Eventually the building was Cox Monett Hospital and on March 30, 2005, one of my grandchildren was born there. I figure that eventually I will retire, which to me is kind of different as I was born there and will end my career there. That is a full circle to me. We have enjoyed serving the public from our location on Broadway and having access to events and the downtown businesses. The new building will be offering a lot of services as well, so please come check it out. Once we are settled, we will have an open house and are looking forward to having everyone come and check out the new location so you will know where we are when needed. The Monett community is our home place and we appreciate you and all that everyone has to offer. In this area, people love their homes and community and are proud to share and take part in local activities. There is just a lot to be said for the smaller town atmosphere and how everyone looks out for others. We thank everyone for their support and loyalty, and we’re looking forward to continuing to serve our community family.

Lisa Craft

Regional Advertising Director, Connection Magazine Lisa Craft is Regional Advertising Director of Connection Magazine, The Monett Times and Cassville Democrat. She can be reached at lcraft@cherryroad.com

4 | June 2022

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Cover photo courtesy of Bill Lynch FREE

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JUNE 2022

Summer Fantastic

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Dreams to Reality

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Sewing Love

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Ballooning with Bill Lynch

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CONTENTS 13 Cutest Kid

23 Guest Column: Hay Fever 29 Parenting Column:

A-Z Countdown

33 Healthy Connection

37 Mental Health Column

41 Rescued, My Favorite Breed 43 Cutest Pet

47 Familiar Faces 51 Parting Shot

Have an idea for a story you would like to see in Connection Magazine? Email it to lcraft@cherryroad.com Facebook.com/MyConnectionMo

6 | June 2022

F 8|

HARVICK FARMS

Eagle Rock nursery digs into community education and outreach

14 | UP, UP AND AWAY

Bill Lynch of Neosho shares his view from the top of the world

18 | MONETT YMCA

Wild summer awaits with a multitude of programs for children of all ages

26 | LAKE CAMP

Table Rock Lake Achievers plan for a momentous July with Outdoor Enrichment Camp

31 | BLESSINGS BOX

John Blackburn of Cox Monett pays it forward to provide a new box for community support

34 | HOMESCHOOL EDUCATION

Skill building, flash-card weilding parent teachers persue learning

38 | WOODWARD FAMILY LEARNING CENTER

Center fills the gaps in life skills for developmentally disabled

44 | SEWING AND REAPING

Monett’s Church of Christ members contribute efforts to aid La Palma mission in El Salvador

J U N E 2022 ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 7

8 | June 2022

Lainey Harvick admires blooms in a greenhouse containing annuals and perennial shrubs at Harvick Farms, near Cassville, Mo.

Gardening education blooms at

Harvick Farms J

oseph and Lainey Harvick, of Eagle Rock, acquired a garden center near Cassville through circumstances which surprised

them. “We needed another greenhouse for our garden at home, where we grow some lavender,” said Lainey Harvick. “We passed by the vacant greenhouses south of (the former home of ‘For the Birds’ Garden Center), and, on impulse, we stopped by and asked the owner if he’d be willing to sell us one of them. He told us no, but that he would sell us the entire garden center (which included six greenhouses). The Harvicks thought about it for a bit, but not for long. “We signed a contract in January and moved forward full steam ahead in order to get ready for our March 26 grand opening,” Lainey said. The Harvicks, who moved to the area with sons Samuel (now eight) and Alex (now four) from Fort Worth, Texas, four years ago, are passionate about community education.

Joseph and Lainey Harvick stand in front of Harvick Farms, the newly opened garden center they are expanding to include gardening education classes for the community.

To learn more about what Harvick Farms offers, stop by 16062 Mo. Highway 76, Cassville, Mo., Tuesday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. They may be reached by telephone at 417-279-5535. Visit their Facebook page at Harvick Farms, their website at harvickfarms.com or email info@harvickfarms.com.

Story and photos by Sheila Harris

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 9

Lincoln University extension agent, Angela Brattin (center), chats with Harvick Farms owner, Lainey Harvick (right), prior to a seed-starting class on April 30

Joseph Harvick checks on flowers received in a recent shipment.

“We envision Harvick Farms as a place where people can gather to learn about different aspects of gardening and related activities,” Lainey said. They are making that vision a reality. Classes taught by local gardeners, business owners and extension agents began in April with Landscaping 101. The community’s response has been overwhelming. “We only had four people show up for the first class,” Lainey said, “but two days later – on a Saturday - attendance jumped to 19.” Bee-keeping, seed-starting and vegetable gardening classes followed in April and May. A composting class will be offered June 23 and 25, followed by a “Tool Talk” class on July 21 and 23. The Harvicks are listening to feedback from the community. “We have people asking for classes on skills related to homesteading, so we’re going to plan a canning class and one about the disease process in crops,” Lainey said. “Later, we hope to offer classes in trellis-making and growing lavender.”

10 | June 2022

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Raised gardening beds contain one of each variety of vegetable plant sold at Harvick Farms, near Cassville, Missouri.

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The future class schedule is still evolving, and the Harvicks are open to suggestions for topics. A class recently added to the schedule for Thursday, June 16 at 5 p.m. will cover the fundamentals of preserving foods by fermenting them. “The nice thing about community education,” Lainey said, “is that when we have local business owners come in and teach a class, we can promote other local businesses along with our own.” That spirit of community is what the Harvicks have in mind for Harvick Farms. “We participated in the City of Exeter’s annual Arbor Day tree-planting event,” Lainey said, “and we plan to work with the Cassville FFA chapter for their annual fall mum sale.” In addition to classes, Harvick Farms offers trees, shrubs, veggie and flower plants, custom hanging baskets, decorative pots, potting soil and mulch. “For the 4th of July, we’ll have red, white and blue hanging baskets available,” Joseph Harvick said. The Harvicks are not only selling plants, they’re growing them. Raised garden beds have been constructed in one greenhouse where one of each variety of vegetable plant they sell will be planted in a type of test garden. “We’ll see what varieties we like best and decide what we want to offer next year,” Lainey said. They also hope to be able to offer fresh produce for sale throughout the growing season. n

CUTEST KID

Cole Smith, one-year-old son of Brandon and Rachel Smith of Aurora

Congrats

Cole

Email your child’s photo to:

lcraft@cherryroad.com Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your child’s name, parent’s name, age, city and your contact information. The contest is open to children ages 10 and younger. The photos submitted will be used for the sole purpose of this contest.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 13

From 1,000 feet in the air, Lynch said passengers can enjoy a mostly quiet, gentle flight over Neosho, driven by the winds and hot air in a giant balloon (Right) Lynch said he travels each year to Albuquerque, N.M., for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, where hundreds of balloons take flight, compete in contests and enjoy the company of fellow balloon pilots. 14 | June 2022

The view from above

n today’s modern world, many of us have boarded an airplane to go on vacation or visit friends or family at some distant destination. But in Neosho, one local pilot has been taking community members to the skies in a less conventional, and much older way – hot air balloons. Bill Lynch has been flying his hot air balloon for more than 30 years, and has taken hundreds of thrill-seekers and sight-seers into the sky for a serene tour of the region. Lynch got his start working as a crew member for another hot air balloon outfit in Neosho 35 years ago. After working as a crew member, he was able to purchase a balloon of his own and began Aircraft-Balloons, Inc., offering private tours to community members hoping to see a birds-eye-view of the surrounding area. “We do most of our flights out of Neosho, but every year I go to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (in Albuquerque, N.M.),” Lynch said. “I’ve been doing that for 28 years. There are hundreds of balloons. You have to see it.” At hot air balloon festivals, Lynch

Story by Mike Gervais

and his crew participate in a number of contests, including “races,” where balloon pilots launch about a mile from a target, fly to the target and attempt to drop a bag on a bullseye from the air. The pilot who gets closest to the bullseye wins the contest. He also said another game is to throw a hoop from a hovering hot air balloon onto a pole. Those who can get a ringer will split a cash prize. But those trips are for him, and an opportunity to enjoy time in his balloon. Day-to-day, his business is taking others up to experience the world from a hot air balloon. He charges $400 per flight, and can take two passengers up at a time. Lynch said there is a 350-pound weight limit for the two passengers to ensure he can gain altitude with the ballon equipment, himself and the visitors. “We have four 10-gallon propane tanks, me, and the two people, I don’t care how weight is distributed, but you have to be able to get enough lift. If you have too much weight in the basket, it distorts the balloon,” he said.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 15

Each flight lasts approximately an hour, and the distance the balloon travels depends entirely on the wind. “If the wind is blowing at four miles an hour, we’ll go about four miles,” Lynch said. “If it’s blowing at eight miles per hour, we’ll go about eight miles. But it can change. Sometimes the wind is a little stronger when you’re at 800 feet than it is on the ground.” Because a hot air balloon is wind propelled, he said weather is a huge factor in flights. He said he and his crew pay close attention to weather conditions, incoming storms and wind. “This spring has been unrelenting with the wind and the rain,” he said, explaining that it really dampens the flight opportunities. Lynch said he typically flies passengers at about 1,000 feet of elevation, which provides a beautiful view from a height that doesn’t startle wildlife or interfere with power lines. He also said he has flown as high as 12,000 feet in Lamar, when he had an opportunity to take some sky divers up for a jump. “You don’t get a constant engine sound, but it’s not totally quiet, you have to turn on the burner every 30 or 40 seconds to keep hot air in the balloon,” but other than the burner, the balloon sails almost silently through the sky. “It’s very gentle when you’re flying in a balloon.” Lynch purchased a new hot air balloon recently, but said there hasn’t been

16 | June 2022

much change in the hot air balloon technology. “Over time, they’ve improved the burners and the valves at the top of the balloon, but not much else has changed,” he said. Lynch is available for flights by appointment, and can be reached at 417437-2834, He said over his 30-year career

piloting balloons he has witnessed a number of marriage proposals, anniversaries and birthday celebrations. While summer heat can postpone balloon flights, because the air in the balloon must get hot enough to achieve lift, he said he recently took flight in the depths of winter so a customer could propose to his girlfriend over a snowy landscape. n

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 17

Field trips are a fun part of the YMCA Summer Day Camp program that offers children the opportunity to explore interesting places in our area.

Register now for summer programs. More information can be found by calling the YMCA at 417-235-8213 or going to their website: orymca.org/ monett-area-ymca.

18 | June 2022

YMCA

Summer Youth Activities

ummer is filled with sunshine, watermelon, and lounging by the pool. New York Times best-selling author Jenny Han said it well. “Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.” For kids in the area, the Monett YMCA is providing many opportunities for everything good, everything magical to happen with their summer programs. Again this year, the YMCA will offer the Summer Day Camp Program running from June 27 through August 19. Along with summer basket-

ball and aquatics, there will be a lot of options to keep kids busy this summer. Bob Crouthamel, Sports and Youth Director at the Monett YMCA, oversees all youth and adult sports, roller skating program, summer day camp, and school day-out program. Although he’s only been with the Monett YMCA for about a year, Crouthamel has worked for the YMCA for nearly seven years. He shared the YMCA mission: The YMCA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

Story by Annie Lisenby Smith

New this summer is the youth basketball camp. It begins this June at the Monett YMCA. There has been much study done on the benefits of youth sports and activities. The University of Missouri Health Care identified five benefits to youth sports. First, because of the need for athletes to focus on the games and learn rules and plays, participation in sports has been proven to improve academic achievement. Second, sports teach teamwork and problem-solving skills that can carry over to other social situations. Third, there are an abundance of health benefits to children who are running, jumping, swimming, and more on a regular basis. Fourth, by overcoming the goals children set for themselves in their sport they will grow in confidence and self-esteem. And fifth, sports can help children reduce stress and pressure by exercising and by making friends the child can speak with about his or her problems. Crouthamel adds that the benefits for the children are that they can come to the YMCA programs and simply be a kid. “When it comes to sports, we focus on the child and the fundamentals of the sport,” Crouthamel said. “The pressures that are put on kids in their performances should not be. We want the kids to strive for perfection not to be perfect. In our Summer Day Camp, campers get the opportunity to go on field trips that they normally would not be able to. We have several organized games and crafts throughout the sum-

Outside of athletic activities, children at the YMCA Summer Day Camp have opportunities to explore other fun activities and make new, unusual friends. mer for the campers to enjoy as well.” In his many years working for the YMCA Crouthamel has had the opportunity to see first hand how these programs benefit children. “I personally have seen either campers or players grow up and be a big part of their communities. Either they are now a counselor for camp or now a referee or co-coach during sport programming,” he said. “It’s a great joy watching this generation give back to what has been given to them.” The programs at the YMCA require help beyond what Crouthamel can provide alone. “As we try to grow in

our programming at the Monett Area YMCA, we are always in need of help. As a non-profit our volunteers are everything,” he said. “In sports, we are always needing good coaches. In camp, we are always looking for the best counselors. We want our staff to be the best that they can be for our children,” Crouthamel explained. For anyone interested in coaching or working as a camp counselor, it’s recommended that they contact Crouthamel at the Monett YMCA. Maybe folks aren’t in a place to help in these areas working directly with children. For them, Crouthamel said

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 19

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that financial support is also vital. “We offer financial assistance for all our programs, the only way we can make that happen is when people can give so a child can go to camp, or a child can play soccer or flag football in the fall. Every little bit helps.” The encouraging element about YMCA programs to many families is the focus of the programs. “The most important thing people need to know about our programs is that we are about families,” Crouthamel said. “The YMCA youth programs are geared for families. We are not a competitive league. We are, again, a fundamental league. We are about the child first and sport second. If the child is not having fun in the sport that they are playing then we have failed. If a child is coming home from camp and isn’t telling their families how much fun they had today, then we need to fix that. Growing up is tough for children, and at the Y we want to make sure they are having fun and feeling safe.” This summer, outside of the Summer Day Camp, the YMCA will offer aquatics programs including swimming classes. Family Skate Nights will continue on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer. Children will have a new option this year — basketball camp. The camp will begin in June and run for six weeks. All participants will get a free camp shirt with registration. Crouthamel also added that the YMCA isn’t only for children. “Finally, the Monett Area YMCA is for our community,” he said. “Here at the Y, we are trying very hard to serve our community. We want to hear from you, the good and the bad. We want to be great for this community. The only way we can do that is through effective communication.” For community members curious about the Monett YMCA, the staff would be happy to share the many opportunities to get involved at the YMCA. n

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 21

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by Pam Wormington

Hay Fever

t’s that time of year, when I get Hay Fever. I see it as an undiagnosed anxiety about driving farm equipment that I am not qualified to operate combined with the rise in temperature outside and an itch that resembles barbed wire in your bra. The treatment plan is not working well but I continue to take it every year from my boss. It usually is interpreted something like this … every morning as soon as the dew dries, take this tractor and ted the hay in that field, then rake the hay in that field, and don’t get the equipment tangled up in the gate or electric fence. The side effects: extreme mood swings and an upset stomach. We weren’t married long before I understood the meaning to the saying “let’s make hay while the sun is shining.” Being eager to please my new husband, I agreed to drive the Farmall Super H that his grandfather once owned. Maybe I should mention that it had brakes when his grandfather owned it. I also should mention that our farm has ‘rolling’ hills. You don’t have to be a math genius to figure out this equation. I was on the tractor and it didn’t seem to matter that my feet didn’t reach the pedals because they didn’t work anyway. The boss was on the wagon behind the tractor with the hay loader attached. As I coasted downhill, I found it unmanageable to make

The retired Hay Monster

all pieces of equipment turn at the same time in the same direction. The tractor turned and the hay loader and wagon didn’t. It was kind of neat to watch them climb up on the rear tractor tire. It was amazing how fast my boss came off the wagon. Might I mention he was not impressed and the only raise I was getting was the one in his voice. I was starting to understand the claim “farming accident.” It didn’t

matter who or what was to blame. My boss (who asked to remain anonymous in these stories, probably as a means to witness protection) managed to untangle the mess and expected me to resume the task as before. I found it difficult to operate the clutch as my legs were shaking uncontrollably. I don’t know if I was more afraid of my boss or the tractor or the upcoming hill that could cause a reenactment.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 23

At times, I think he will just fire me and hire someone who is qualified for the job.

Then I remember the saying, you get what you pay for … that’s how you get me. It wasn’t long before my father-inlaw showed up to lend a hand. Thank goodness he lent his whole self and asked me to get off the tractor. I was more than glad to obey. My job was then to walk the field alongside the hay loader and to make sure the bales were in line for pick up. I gladly chalked that up to exercise and getting my steps in for the day. The heart rate continued as someone laughingly threw a little snake off the hay wagon in my direction just to see me jump and scream. Snakes are not a laughing matter in my book. The wagon and loader soon retired to a concoction called the hay monster. It is a little hard to describe but let me give it a whirl. Picture a long flatbed on top of a truck chassis. Down the middle of the bed is a conveyer chain and to one side in the front of the wagon 24 | June 2022

is a steering wheel and a seat and fire extinguisher. A long snoot attaches to the front of the wagon and the driver steers this contraption around the field lining up the bales that the monster eats and spits onto the wagon where a person with great balance and strength stacks the bales. The hay Monster retired, and this ole dog learned a new trick. Square baling! It’s kind of like driving a slow train. There is a tractor, square baler and a wagon and a conductor barking orders on the wagon just waiting for a bale to pop out and be stacked. I tried doing his job but bucking bales above my head, let’s just say, I ain’t doin’ it! Back to the task at hand, instructions go like this…put the tractor in gear, don’t drive too fast, don’t drive too slow, watch out for the corners, don’t let the PTO run too high, make sure the windrows are even or your bales will be lopsid-

ed, don’t jackknife the wagon and don’t make bales faster than I can stack them. On top of that, the wife in me is watching her middle-aged husband sweat profusely while doing labor that was intended for young boys. I don’t know what a shear pin is, but I know you always keep an extra one in the toolbox. I’m married to a very patient man, and I don’t know if that is a blessing or a curse. At times, I think he will just fire me and hire someone who is qualified for the job. Then I remember the saying, you get what you pay for … that’s how you get me. In the meantime, I’ll grab the sunscreen, Benadryl and hopefully a hot shower at the end of the day. And while our happy cows are eating the same grass in the winter that they enjoyed in the Spring, I will rejoice in the Lord Always.

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A mental and physical summer camp experience

T TABLE ROCK LAKE ACHIEVERS:

Outdoor Enrichment Camp

his summer, the summer of 2022, a new non-profit organization has budded at Table Rock Lake — the Table Rock Achievers. Sheila Wolf, owner of the Cassville’s Wolf Pediatric Therapy Services and Holiday Island’s Wolf Wellness Center & 24/7 Fitness, along with other local individuals and businesses, has developed Table Rock Lake Achievers with a passion for sharing the local as well as their professional resources. In the inaugural year of the Table Rock Lake Achievers, there are age-inclusive projects and range from a Parkinson’s Support Group to Volleyball Camp. “Table Rock Lake Achievers is a non-profit organization devoted to helping others live their best lives,” Wolf said. “Using our natural resources as a tool, we can achieve growth through community and activity.” Wolf, like many others involved, lives on Table Rock Lake. “So many people wanted to partner on this project,” she said. “We all wanted to work together and use our combined resources and the area’s natural resources.” One day camp that everyone is excited about is the Table Rock Lake Achievers Outdoor Enrichment Camp.

Children will experience the outdoors at the Table Rock Lake Achievers Outdoor Enrichment Camp this July. 26 | June 2022

Story by Jordan Troutman

Table Rock Lake Achievers Outdoor Enrichment Camp July 11- 15 • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Wolf Wellness Center in Holiday Island • $350 per individual • First through eighth grade • Registration up to July 1

Tentative schedule:

The Table Rock Lake Achievers hope to increase time outdoors, and decrease time on screens for children who attend the summer camp in July.

Activities include hiking, science and nature exploration, hands-on arts and crafts, children’s yoga, self-defense, and music every day. The price for the five-day camp includes a commemorative water bottle, materials and supplies, a camp T-shirt, snacks and meals and graduation certificate. “This is an important part of our mission to reduce the amount of screen time for children,” Wolf said. “We want to spark an interest in these children for something other than electronics.” Wolf said the Table Rock Lake Achievers hope that this experience will extend after they leave camp. “The main goal is to get them handson with projects they haven’t tried before but will love,” she said. “The outdoors in this area is amazing, and we are so lucky. Maybe some of these kids live

far away in the city and don’t have access to a lake or things like this.” She said the statistics have proved that the volume of sensory input that children receive from video games makes it difficult for educators to connect with students. “The lights, sounds, and paid movement make it hard for educators to compete with media itself,” she said. “We hope to use every sense while they are at camp.” Every day will begin with movement-based fitness, like walking, hiking, and stretching. Then, they will come back for art projects,” she said. “We will have conservationists from Arkansas Game and Fish, an instructor for children’s yoga, and even an instructor to teach non-violent self-defense.” Table Rock Lake Achievers will

9 a.m. - Child drop off at Wolf Wellness Center in Holiday Island, Ark. 9:15-10 a.m. - Morning stretch and nature hike 10-10:15 a.m. - Morning snack 10:15-11 a.m. - Hands on art/Outdoor Creativity (area artist volunteers) 11 a.m. -12 p.m.- Music and Movement/ Drumming on the pavilion 12-12:30 p.m. - Lunch 12:30-1 p.m. - Playground/Camp Games 1-2 p.m. - Outdoor Science Classroom (Arkansas Game and Fish, Local Professional Anglers, area Naturalists and Conservationists) 2-2:15 p.m. - Afternoon snack 2:15-3 p.m. - Youth Yoga/Learning to Self Regulate, Youth Self Defense 3-4 p.m. - Sensory Play Outside 4 p.m. - Pickup at Wolf Wellness Center

be partnering with artists in Eureka Springs, Ark., to introduce different media. “They will have finger painting, watercolors, stained glass, and jewelry making,” She said. “The conservationists will talk about the different trees and plants and other indigenous things in our area. “We are trying to design it like we would for Occupational Therapy at school. Work-play-work-play.” The work will be things like learning about the outdoors and art. The play will be a movement activity. “We hope the kids also make longterm friendships here,” she said. “We would love to see pen-pal-type things happen after they leave here. “This is our first year, but we already have many children registering.” Wolf said the price is a bit high

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 27

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Activities like fishing will be a treat for children who attend the Table Rock Lake Achievers Outdoor Enrichment Camp in July. because they are bringing in the best materials for a memorable experience. “If a family can’t afford to send their child, they should still fill out the application and send in the $25 registration fee,” She said. “We will do whatever it takes to find a business to sponsor the cost. The sooner you register, the better.” Businesses that sponsor or donate will have their logo and company featured on the website. “We want our sponsors and donors to be involved continuously with the Table Rock Lake Achievers, not just a one-anddone donation,” she said. “The Table Rock Lake Achievers has projects all year long. I want people to join us and belong. We want people who want to share their passion for helping people.” Wolf said they are still looking for volunteers for the camp. “We will grow this and make it successful for the lives we impact. “We are thankful to everyone who is already helping.” People may call 479-363-6422 option 1 with any questions they have, or people may visit trlachievers.org to register or donate as well. n

PARENTING COLUMN

A to Z summer plans

Meagan Ruffing is a freelance journalist and mental health counselor. She’s counting down the days until summer when she can soak up the rays with her kids.

by Meagan Ruffing

Summer Countdown

f you’ve followed my writing over the past 13 years, you’re probably familiar with my A, B, C, countdowns for summer. It’s one of my favorite pieces to write every year because I’m always coming up with new (and old) ways, to have fun with my kids in the middle of a heatwave.

Let’s dive in! ART CAMP. Whether you sign your kids up for art camp somewhere in town, or you create your own art day at home, they’ll love the freedom they get from expressing themselves through paint, watercolors, and markers. BUBBLES. Even though my kids are older, I still like to make homemade bubbles with them. My friend Gloria taught me how to do this and I must say, they’re bigger and better! CAMP OUT on your trampoline under the stars one night or pop a tent in your backyard. Your kids will think you’re the best. DINNER OUT with friends is one of the best things you can do during the summer months. Meet up at a local favorite spot and share stories over chips and salsa. ENJOY your summer because it doesn’t last forever. Find fun ways to do something you enjoy at least once every day.

When you head to bed each night, ask yourself, “What was my high and low today?” This simple question helps keep yourself accountable for what you allow and don’t allow into your life.

going, only to find out you had to wait for over an hour? The summer is a great time to try out that new hairstyle your daughter or son has been wanting and heck, let them add a hint of color!

FOURTH OF JULY. I let my kids pick out $20 worth of fireworks each year at one of the tents that get put up around that time of year. They think it’s cool to pick out ‘their own’ and we all have a blast trying out new gadgets.

ICE CREAM truck coming through the neighborhood? Need I say more?

GIRLS’ NIGHT. I just did this the other weekend with my daughters and a bunch of their friends. We did face masks, lip masks, ordered pizza, and made a living room fort. It was a blast!

JUMP PARK. I like to take my kids to the trampoline park during the summer when it’s raining or when it’s too hot to go outside. It’s fun and there is usually a Groupon where I can snag it for a discounted price. Bonus tip: invite a few friends to help entertain your kids. It will also help the other parents get some down time for themselves.

HAIRCUTS. This might not sound like something fun to do during the summer, but hear me out. Think of how many times you tried to go to the hair salon with your kids during the school year when everyone else was

KITES. I see them all the time in Walmart and never buy them. This year, I’m going to buy a couple of kites and see if I can make an afternoon of it with my kids. If you have any tips for me or our readers, let me know!

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 29

LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE. Make some memories with your kids this summer and see how much laughter you can add to your life. Listening to those sweet little giggles is priceless. MAKE MONEY by letting your kids have a lemonade stand or better yet, have a garage sale where you all clean out items from your closets. Make it a family effort and divvy up the money when your sale is done. NETFLIX AND CHILL. There’s actually a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream out there right now with this name and it is my favorite. One night each week, make it a Netflix & Chill night with your kids. Let them take turns picking out a movie and grab a couple of pints of everyone’s favorite flavors. OUTSIDE. This one seems pretty self-explanatory but try to be outside as much as possible during the summer months; weather-permitting. If you have a nice day where the wind is blowing and take the edge off the heat, spend some time going for a walk with your kids. You’ll be glad you did when the next day is over 100 degrees and you’re stuck inside. PARK. I like to try and visit as many parks as I can over the summer. This is a fun way that my kids and I have gotten to know the area we live in. It’s also a fun way to meet new people. 30 | June 2022

QUESTIONS at dinner. This is something my kids and I do quite frequently. I find random questions on the internet, print them out, cut them into strips, and put them in a pile in the middle of the dinner table. We go around the table with each person getting to answer the same T until all of the questions are asked. With a teenage boy in my house, this has been a great way to keep the communication open. READ. We sign up for the library reading program every summer. It’s easy. It’s fun and you get cool prizes. SWIM. Yes! We swim as much as humanly possibly during the summer months. We usually go in the morning when it’s less crowded. I always splurge on a few new pool toys before summer begins so that my kids have something fun to play with. It’s worth the money to get good, durable pool times that will keep them occupied. TRY SOMETHING NEW with your kids. This could be anything…a new restaurant… a new board game…a new movie…skateboarding… cycling, etc. Ask it like this: “Is there anything you have been wanting to do that we haven’t done?” VISIT different places in your town or take a vacation. Summer is the ideal time to take that much needed break from every day life.

WASH YOUR CAR and have your kids help. Here’s your excuse to get out the bubbles and hose. X MARKS THE SPOT. I think I do the same activity every year for this letter in the countdown. One of my favorite things to do is take my kids on a scavenger hunt. Go on a hike and see how many items you can find on your list. It’s a great way to get outdoors and stay active. YARD GAMES. My son came up with this one and suggested a water balloon fight, tag, slip and slide, and football. ZIPLINING. Yes! Take your kids ziplining and show them how much fun trying new things can be.

Have fun this summer and let me know if you follow this list. I’d love to hear all about your wild adventures.

Physical Therapist John Blackburn, Engineer Mark Conn, Chaplin Brian Smith and Clinical Director Rebecca Webb with the new blessing box at Cox Rehab and Sport Medicine located at 700 Cleveland Ave.

COX MONETT:

Cox Engineer Mark Conn took it upon himself to construct a new, custom blessing box at Cox Rehab and Sports Medicine as the older donation box began to deteriorate due to weather and use.

Blessings in abundance

ox Monett is spreading blessings throughout the community through Cox Rehab and Sports Medicine located at 700 Cleveland Ave. in Monett. The rehab and sports medicine facility has hosted one of three local blessing boxes for the past several years and may be the first blessing box to appear in Monett thanks to the efforts of local physical therapist John Blackburn. Blessing boxes are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year for community members to donate food or other nonperishable items for residents in need. In return, those who may need something from the box are welcome to open it up and take the donation whenever they can. Recently, the original box placed at the rehab facility by Blackburn in 2016

Story by Melonie Roberts

was replaced with a brand new, custom built box made to last as it serves the community “It’s not my original idea,” Blackburn said. “I saw it on TV a long time ago, and I thought it would be a good idea here because it’s really in keeping with the values here at Cox.” When the first box went up all those years ago, it was a lower kitchen cabinet that Blackburn had found and refurbished. Once he had placed the first blessing box at the rehab center, then Monett High School student Abigail Patton took the blessing box on as a Go CAPS project, working with Blackburn and other community organizations to create a donation schedule that ensures there are always donations available for the box. Blackburn explained that the community partners who supply donations

for the blessing box bring the food and other donation items to the rehab facility, and staff at the facility check the blessing box daily and restock items as needed. “That ensures that there’s always something in the box and somebody can’t come by and clear out all the donations in a day,” he said. The program has worked almost flawlessly since it was conceived, but recently, the original blessing box placed by Blackburn had begun to show the wear and tear of its age. That’s when Cox Engineer Mark Conn stepped in. Over the years, Conn has been responsible for making repairs to the blessing box, and recently, he came to the realization that the box was too worn out to serve. He began scouring his shop at Cox and identified some

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 31

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scrap wood and went to work. “There were parts laying on the ground, the plywood was sheeting off and I couldn’t make it stand upright anymore,” Conn said. “I’m not a carpenter by any means, but I was able to make a 40-inch box. Then I got some pallet wood that I had at home that I use for making signs and used those for the siding, and we used a polyurethane finish that will help the wood hold up through the weather.” As a personal touch, Conn included a framed note inside the box to remind everyone who donates or accepts a donation about the trials and tribulations we all face. The note reads: “I asked for strength … God game me difficulties to make me strong I asked for wisdom … God game me problems to solve I asked for prosperity … God gave me brain and brawn to work I asked for courage … God gave me danger to overcome I asked for love … God gave me troubled people to help I asked for favors … God gave me opportunities I received nothing I wanted … I received everything I needed. Trust in God” “It’s a motto to live by, for the givers and takers,” Conn said, adding that he also included an addiction hotline number inside the box for anyone who may be struggling as they receive a donation. Rebecca Webb, the clinical director at Cox Rehab and Sports Medicine said the blessing box is a perfect fit for the facility. “This is the community I grew up in, and it’s important to help others, and that’s our motto at Cox Rehab,” she said. The new blessing box was placed in front of the rehab facility on Cleveland Friday, May 13, with a dedication ceremony that included a prayer from Cox Volunteer Chaplin Mark Smith, Blackburn, Conn and others. n

Think FAST to determine stroke symptoms

by Muneeba Hasan

HEALTHY CONNECTION

Muneeba Hasan is a first-generation Pakistani American who can fluently speak Hindi, Urdu, and English. Born and raised in Arizona, she graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. She is currently completing her Master’s in Clinical Nutrition Diagnostics at Cox College in Springfield, Missouri. She is passionate about nutrition and health and strives to foster a career in educating individuals about the benefits of eating a well-balanced diet and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms of An Iodine Deficiency?

odine deficiencies can cause major health concerns and can be extremely uncomfortable. Here are some symptoms that may help to identify whether an individual may be experiencing an iodine deficiency:

The most common symptom of having an iodine deficiency includes a swollen neck. Inflammation in the front of the neck is called a goiter and it occurs when the thyroid gland gets too big. This happens when the thyroid gland has to work overtime to make enough of the necessary hormones your body needs without the use of iodine. Fortunately, a goiter can be fixed with iodine supplements, however, if left untreated for too long it can cause permanent thyroid damage.

Unintentional weight gain is one of the more unfavorable side effects of an iodine deficiency. Iodine is an essential trace mineral that is needed to create thyroid hormones in your body. Thyroid hormones are what help regulate the rate of your metabolism (the process by which your body manipulates food into energy along with heat for you to use). If you are not consuming enough iodine in your diet

then your thyroid levels will be lower. The unlucky side effect of this means that any extra calories that you might consume through food can be saved as fat in your body and lead to weight gain.

Hair loss can also be a common reaction to decreased iodine intake. Thyroid hormones are responsible for maintaining the growth of your hair. Over time, if your thyroid levels remain low, your hair follicles won’t restore themselves which can lead to hair loss. Luckily, if you can restore your thyroid levels by replenishing iodine levels, you can potentially reverse the hair loss.

FOOD SOURCES OF IODINE There are limited food sources that contain adequate iodine making deficiency common, particularly in developing countries. The Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of iodine for adults is around 150 mcg/day. Foods such as shrimp, cod, canned tuna, and seaweed are all great dietary sources of iodine. If seafood doesn’t appeal to your taste palate, a great way of incorporating iodine into your foods is to use iodized salt. If you think you might be at risk for an iodine deficiency, contact your provider and they can diagnose and treat you if needed.

ConnectionMO.com/HealthyConnection | Connection Magazine | 33

Hillary Harvill led a group of students through seven core classes, utilizing the incremental learning style of education. These youngsters are already getting a grip on Latin vowel sounds through the Classical Conversations homeschool program.

Brittany Bailey displayed a stack of flash cards available through the Classical Conversations homeschooling program to assist early learners with core learning concepts. (Right) Students are required to make a presentation to their class, in order to become acclimated to public speaking at an early age. Adalyn Harvill presented one of her favorite books, ‘Duck Duck Dinosaur’ to students at a weekly gathering. 34 | June 2022

Classical Conversation Communities can be found in:

Classical Conversations

Argentina Australia Bahamas Belgium Bolivia Brazil

Christian-based community learning

rittany Bailey has a goal. “I want to organize a licensed foundations and essentials class for the Monett area,” she said. “We use the Christian-based Classical Conversations homeschool program, which supports homeschooling students from kindergarten through college. This is a national program with world-wide distribution.” The program includes weekly training for parent/teachers in the following week’s curriculum, following the same 24-week curriculum that public schools utilize. Core subjects include math, Latin, science, English, history, geography, timeline, which is a review of material already covered, and hands-on learning. “There are 186 concepts presented in chronological order that incorporates both Biblical and world history,” Bailey said. Parent/teachers are required to maintain a record of how many hours in both core and non-core subjects taught in their student’s portfolio. A total of 1,000 hours are required each term, with 600 involving core subjects and 400 in non-core areas. “We present the day’s work, and re-

Story by Melonie Roberts

Bulgaria Canada Chile Colombia

view it the following day,” Bailey said. “We work independently. Each 30-minute increment during the review touches on all nine weeks of material.” For those familiar with “Schoolhouse Rock,” some of the learning concepts will be familiar. “We use songs and games to help ingrain the subject matter,” she said. “For example, a 4 to 6-year-old would start their day with new grammar and memory work, then hands on science, fine art, which is basic music theory, drawing or learning about the great artists, presentation work, more memory work reviewing the timeline, followed by lunch or recess. That’s it. That’s their day. For older students, there is an additional three hours of classwork, and it is all laid out in the parent guide. The program also provides accountability. Everyone is on the same page, so families moving across the country or military families can transition to a new post without interruption to their child’s educational process.” The overreaching goal of the Classical Conversations organization is to have CC groups established no more than 30 minutes away from any geographical area.

Ecuador Guam Guatemala Honduras Hong Kong india Italy Japan Kenya Malaysia Mexico Nepal New Zealand Peru Philippines Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Russia Singapore South Africa South Korea Spain Taiwan Thailand Uganda United Kingdom Venezuela

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“This is also one of the best programs for children with educational challenges,” Bailey said. “Through song and movement, it breaks down those barriers. It meets students where they are.” The program can also be tailored to a student’s interests, whether it’s photography, crime scene investigation or fine arts. “We focus on learning skills, not learning subjects,” Bailey said. “The program also presents challenges for students, such as cartography, drawing a world map that includes all the countries and capitols. They host a mock trial using a fictional case, but overseen by a real judge or a real jury, to adjudicate the trial. This helps them understand real-world events.” Students also learn protocol and etiquette. “Whether they are being hosted in a hut in Africa, or dining with Kings, we want our students to be comfortable wherever they are,” said Julie Miller, area representative for the organization. “We also focus on equipping our parents through summer practicums to become lead learners.” Harvill said while teaching her daughter, she felt as if she were learning all over again, and was excited to be on the homeschool journey with her child. “I feel like I am learning things now that I never did in public school,” she said. “We believe that parents know best how to meet the educational needs of their student,” Bailey said. “This is a great program, and we get to do it with so many people,” said Kara Guffey, support representative for the area. Those interested in learning more about Classical Conversations are invited to attend an Experience CC event from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., June 13, at Waymark Church in Monett. n

MENTAL HEALTH COLUMN

Spread positivity to make a difference

By Brad Ridenour

CEO of Clark Community Mental Health Center and a Licensed Professional Counselor

Be a ‘Super’ Spreader

uring this era of Covid-19 our vocabulary has changed. Terms like “masking” and “social-distancing” became common. We discussed concern about “super spreader events.” In efforts to mitigate the risks of the virus, we learned about “Stop the Spread” or “Slow the Spread” campaigns.

lead to death. What is this nastiness we have been so freely spreading you ask? Our negative attitudes.

So is love.

And strive to be a reflection of what you want to receive.”

Truth is we need to slow the spread of something that was being circulated in the population long before the Covid-19 virus came into existence. Like Covid-19, that which we have already been spreading is invisible and has been known to even

You have probably heard a phrase similar to “attitudes are contagious” followed by a question like, “Is your’s worth catching?” Michell C. Clark, a social media influencer, seemed to build on this thought when he wrote: “Negativity is contagious.

We all are spreading something. Are you spreading sunshine or fertilizer? Is your attitude breathing life into others, or is it sucking the life out of them? The good news is we are in control of our attitudes that have such a profound impact on others. There is enough negativity going around, so today, elect to be different, choose to be “super,” and spread positivity.

Unhappiness is contagious. Fear is contagious. But so is happiness. So is optimism.

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 37

Alan kept the basketballs rolling down the chute and available for Carinnia, who was shooting to earn as many points in one minute as possible. The game was part of several Sports Day activities, an event for clients with developmental disabilities that was hosted by SWI Barry-Lawrence and the Woodward Family Learning Center in Aurora.

Woodward Family Learning Center focus on teaching life skills

L Rob Walker, plant manager at SWI Barry-Lawrence, teaches a group of clients how to play spoons, an elimination card game that incorporates spoons as part of the challenge. The event was part of Sports Day activities, hosted by SWI Barry-Lawrence and the Woodward Family Learning Center in Aurora. 38 | June 2022

aundry, cooking, housekeeping and bill pay. All of these routine chores are simply tasks that are time-consuming, frustrating, boring or exasperating, depending on what the individual would rather be doing. Geneva Blue has had a 20-year dream to help individuals with developmental disabilities continue learning, with a focus on these life skills and more. “Our goal is to increase skills so that individuals can maintain and gain independence in whatever environment best meets their individual needs,” Blue said.

Story and photos by Melonie Roberts

Clients from SWI Barry-Lawrence, Scott Regional Technology Center’s Work Experience program and residents that frequent the Lawrence County Board for the Developmentally Disabled’s Community Center in Aurora recently gathered in Monett to participate in Sports Day, hosted by SWI Barry-Lawrence and the Woodward Family Learning Center in Aurora. The event provided players the opportunity to play cornhole, spoons and basketball challenges to win prizes.

Connect with LCBDD Serving individuals who reside in Lawrence County who have developmental disabilities. Consumers are referred through the Joplin Regional Office, Department of Mental Health. They must have case management with Lawrence County Case Management. For more information, contact Blue at 417-678-6079 or by email at: gblue@lcbdd.com.

While individuals with developmental disabilities may be able to attend school and work through special programs, very little is offered to help them transition from school or work settings into an adult “life setting.” “They don’t have the skills needed for success as adults,” Blue said. “The Woodward Family Learning Center will help fill that very specific gap.” The recently established center has been named for George Woodward, who has spent more than four decades advocating on behalf of those with developmental disabilities. In addition to all the other services offered to DD clients through the Lawrence County

Tax Board for the Developmentally Disabled, of which he is director, Woodward and Blue have dreamed for more than 20 years of bringing these types of life skills classes to clients in Lawrence County. “George Woodward and I met in 2005 at Scott Regional Technology Center,” Blue said. “I was the brand new Work Experience Coordinator. He was a member of the advisory committee. I was privileged to gain from his vast experience. Coincidentally, we both attended different national conferences showcasing the same model program in Pennsylvania. It was a high school program that fo-

cused on transition planning. We were both very impressed and shared the info at Scott Tech. Through the years, we have dreamed about that program. Too many students graduate from high school and leave without a transition plan. Although this is a post-high school program, we hope to collaborate with high school classes.” This often puts them at home, with a caregiver, watching television or playing video games, with little socialization and few activities to take part in. The Woodward Family Learning Center will offer a host of hands-on learning.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 39

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40 | June 2022

“We will work on social and communication skills through cards, board games and other daily interactions,” Blue said. “We work on literacy and math skills through cooking classes. As the program develops, we hope to do budgeting and money skills, wellness and fitness, container gardening, service learning, preparation for the written driver’s test, work preparation and volunteer work. We are also working on getting guest speakers and planning day trips. Individual activities will involve laundry or futures planning, for specific consumers who have individualized goals. There really isn’t any sort of functioning criteria, except that the individual has a developmental disability.” Blue also hopes to teach her clients how to plan and schedule OATS bus transportation, as well as expand services in the northern part of the county where they are less available. “We rotate activities through all of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library branches,” Blue said. “We start book and card clubs based on client preferences. On Wednesdays, the group meets for cooking at the Lawrence County Board for Developmental Disabilities office in Aurora. Clients also meet on Tuesdays at the Aurora United Methodist Church.” Blue, a career-long educator, has found a deep sense of commitment with this newest project. “During the first cooking class, our group was making grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup,” she said. “Everyone was busy and talking. It was the kind of ordered chaos that encourages learning. I looked around and suddenly had a ‘coming home’ moment. I have been out of the classroom for two years. I didn’t realize until that moment just how badly I missed teaching. We feel like we are fulfilling a dream.” n

Rudy’s story

RESCUED, MY FAVORITE BREED

by Christa Stout

It Takes a Village or More

ou might remember that Millie Grace, who graced the last 3 columns, at one point needed a wheelchair. Karen, our local Animal Control Officer sent inquiries to rescues to see if anyone had one available and it was SAM (Stray Animals Matter) that came through with a new wheelchair, which was promptly mailed to Millie Grace’s foster home. As it turned out, the wheelchair was for the hind legs and Millie needed help for her amputated front leg – unfortunately, there was not a way to exchange one for another. No problem, Jamie’s husband built one with material bought at one of the Building Centers, but Millie Grace adapted to her three-legged status and didn’t need it very long. So, a couple of weeks ago, Michelle from SOAR said that since they did not need the chair, it was given to an amazing rescue, Yuppy Puppies Forever Rescue, who recently accepted a mostly paralyzed young French Bulldog named Rudy, whose owners couldn’t afford to get medical treatment so he could walk again.

He was sitting most of the day until someone would walk him with a harness. He was a sad pup, being limited to sitting in one place most of the day. However, the minute they put him in the wheelchair, he took off like a bullet with a huge smile on his face. He was finally able to play ball. Jessica Cooke, who runs the Yuppy Puppy doggie spa/boarding facilities/dog rescue, wanted everyone to know how much the wheelchair changed this dog’s life. Hopefully he will be able to have treatment that allows him to walk again and the chair can assist with that also. Jessica also attached videos of the pup running and playing and having a wonderful time. I am attaching some pictures of a happy go lucky Rudy. Saving Jamie also saved sweet Rudy and made his life so much better. It is wonderful to be able to see the cooperation among the rescues, transporters and everyone involved in saving pets’ lives. Rudy says Thank You! Mike, one of the transporters, said this: “This is great! From one pup, who now has a great life to another that has its mobility.”

If anyone is able to donate to Rudy’s medical bills, check out the Facebook page for Yuppy Puppies Forever Rescue

PayPal is

Yp4ever

Thank You All!

ConnectionMO.com/RescuesMyFavoriteBreed | Connection Magazine | 41

On a different subject, this year seems to be especially vicious when it comes to fleas and ticks. Please make sure your dogs and cats receive flea and tick preventive regularly. There are many places that periodically have low-cost flea and tick events, many of them are listed on Facebook.

We Are Dedicated To Providing Excellent Care! Animal Clinic of Monett For the Health Of Your Farm & Domestic Animals... Ted E. Dahlstrom, D.V.M. Carol K. Dahlstrom, D.V.M. John D. Harper, D.V.M. John D. Tyra, D.V.M.

687 N. Highway 37, Monett, MO 65708-8302

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42 | June 2022

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My first experience with a bad tick infestation came about 15 years ago, one of my neighbors had a cute and very friendly dog named Jack. Jack was an only dog and therefor came to my house frequently to play with my two dogs. He would stay a day or so and then go home for a while until he got bored and needed company again. I hadn’t seen him for a while when he showed up one day extremely skinny with bones showing, fleas and ticks all over his body, and no energy. His owner was not around at that time, so I took him to the vet. Unfortunately, it was too late, the fleas and ticks had caused so much damage, he had seizures, vomited constantly and I couldn’t stand to watch him in pain and misery, so I made the sad decision to have him euthanized. Even though this was not my dog, I cried over the loss of a lovely and friendly dog. The same is true of cats – please use flea and tick preventive. Also, dog preventive may be fatal when used on cats and cats’ preventive should never be used on dogs. And in addition, I heard of my first case of bobcat fever, which is about 97 percent fatal in cats, so protect your pets! n

CUTEST PET

Chester is the 6-month-old fur baby of Carolyn Wertz

Chester

Email your pet’s photo to:

lcraft@cherryroad.com

If you think your furry or feathered friend is the cutest in the area, let us know! We invite you to share a photo of your pet to be featured in Connection’s Cutest Pet contest. Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your pet’s name, city of residence and your contact information.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 43

Little stone, big ripples Local church mission has far-reaching impact

local church has been quietly working to help support a mission project in a third-world country by sending clothing, medical equipment, toys, school supplies, household items and other goods, in addition to growing and supporting a school it has established there. Their efforts, like a stone dropped into still pond, has resulted in a rippling effect that has slowly grown to touch other communities and states. For nearly two decades, members of the Church of Christ in Monett have gone about gathering items that have been removed from homes or businesses through refurbishment or donated to their mission outreach program in La Palma, El Salvador. “We established a private, Christian school for children in pre-k through third grade,” said Donnie Ellis, one of the coordinators for collecting, packing and shipping the equivalent of a semi-truckload of goods from Monett to the rural mountainside community of La Palma. “Life is quite different from what we know here.” The group started with students from pre-k through third grade, and have added to the school each year until ninth grade. “We now have about 230 students in school,” Ellis said. “They have to go somewhere else to attend high school, because we don’t have a way of provid-

44 | June 2022

Children and youth in La Palma, El Salvador, display some of the items from a shipment of household items, school supplies, clothing, toys and medical equipment they had received through the Church of Christ in Monett as part of an outreach mission. ing the science labs and equipment they need. We also provide college scholarships to students who want to further their education. It’s mostly the girls that attend college, because the boys are expected to drop out of school at around 16 years of age and go to work.” And students need clothes, which started a second phase of the outreach. Myra McGee, a congregation member, had heard about taking a men’s shirt and turning it into a girls dress, and asked her daughter to help find a pattern.

“We made 130 dresses the first year, and 170 last year,” McGee said. “We finished 296 this year. We formed our own little ‘sweatshop assembly line’ and cranked them out.” Candace Davis buttoned the shirts up and passed them to McGee, who serged the necks, sleeves and hems. The dresses were then ironed and passed back to the sewing machine for added elastic casings and being finished off. Sharon Burke was in charge of embellishing the frocks, a task she finds enjoyable.

“I just like finding coordinating trims and ribbons for each dress,” she said. Jamie Rosebrough then added hair matching ornaments made from scraps of trim or with a fabric flowers and embellishments. “We are going to start working on boys clothing for students,” McGee said. “But we will need fabric for that. Anything sports-related, especially soccer.” Leftover fabrics will then be used for quilts for children to use during the rainy season. Nothing goes to waste.” The temperatures there range between 85 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit yearround, so while the community doesn’t suffer sub-zero climates, a 50-degree day is uncomfortable for citizens of La Palma. “We have also had the chance to host 10 medical missions over the past 18 years,” Ellis said. “We get a team of volunteers together, and all of the money collected for that mission is spent on medicines, parasite treatments and vitamins. Once those kids start getting healthy, they start to grow. Many of the ones who have sponsors that provide $25 a month for vitamins, glasses and other wellness products or supplements, have outgrown their parents. The medical team is in charge of obtaining and distributing the narcotics and antibiotics that they need for treatment.” Now shipments include everything from diapers to Depends, propane operated stoves to school supplies, used medical equipment, disposable pillows for the clinic, and household appliances. “Homes in the mountains don’t have electricity,” Ellis said. “So we remove the motors on many of the appliances and install crank handles. Their homes can range from having tiled floors to bare earth. They have open air housing, with many houses not having doors or windows.” Ellis said when the shipping con-

Members of the Church of Christ in Monett have been supporting the community of La Palma, El Salvador, for nearly two decades, establishing a school, shipping household items, school supplies, toys and medical equipment at least once a year. Some of the ladies of the church are pictured with little girls dresses they repurposed from men’s shirts and coordinating hair accessories. They include: Myra McGee, Sharon Burke, Candace Davis, Jodi Otto, Lou Ellen Honeycutt and Debbie Ellis. tainers arrive in the community, everything is repurposed, including wooden and plastic containers that goods are shipped in and the pallets on which they were stacked. “They use everything,” Ellis said. “The big plastic containers we ship items in have the tops cut off and are used to collect rainwater. Pallets are broken down and reused, many times as building materials for some of the poorest shack housing.” The community seems a paradox of hard-scrabble living interspersed with technological advances, such as handcranked wringer washing machines operated by a woman using a cell phone. “There is a tremendous amount of technology that has been blended into the community,” Ellis said. “Most businesses are now utilizing computers. There has been an increase in performance between both the people and the economy.” In La Palma, the economy is primar-

ily reliant on tourism dollars. “They have a lot of artisans there, that use a distinct style of painting with bold, bright primary colors.” Ellis said. “They provide the products that sustain the economy. The biggest problems the people of La Palma have are poverty and illiteracy. A lot of those people grew up during the Civil War and they were too busy trying to stay alive to go to school.” When shipments are ready to be made, Ellis contacts officials with Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster or Little Rock Air Force Base, who are able to accept the 36’ x 8’ by 8’ container labeled as Third World Aid, and plan a training mission to San Salvador. From there, representatives of four churches in the La Palma community who collect, divide and distribute the goods among those in need. “There are a lot of logistics involved,” Ellis said. “The United States and El Salvador have developed good relations since we’ve been going down there.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 45

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46 | June 2022

Without the U.S. Government program, we would be unable to ship it. The costs would be outrageous.” The success of the various outreach programs is based upon a network of churches, individuals, businesses and those who have heard about the outreach by word of mouth. “We have mission team members from Cassville, Aurora, Mt. Vernon, Indiana, South Carolina, Mississippi and Kansas City, from all over the country, bring stuff to us,” Ellis said. “Cox in Branson donated overstock of disposable emergency room pillows, cot sheets for exam tables, isolation gowns, medical gloves, all of that went to the clinic in La Palma. Their medical facilities are years behind ours. We’ve been able to get some kitchen equipment and other items from both Monett and Mt. Vernon school surplus. We were able to get two six-burner ranges that run on gas, and they were tickled to get them.” But the success of the various mission projects in La Palma is also due to a bit of Divine Providence. “We are blessed to be able to keep collecting,” Ellis said. “I was down there when a shipment arrived, and we had a clothing give-away for the community. We had received several boxes of used shoes, and we paired them up and gave them away. At the end of the day there was one men’s dress shoe that did not have a mate. We looked for it all day. When we were about finished up with everything, a one-legged man on crutches came down the mountain. It happened to be the correct shoe and it fit him. That was God’s hand.” In the event a donation comes into the church that can’t be utilized for the La Palma missions, those items are, in turn, donated to the Thrift Haven, a shop in Springfield, and the proceeds used to support Fair Haven Children’s Home, a residential, family-oriented care facility for foster children, located in Strafford. “Nothing goes to waste,” McGee reiterated. n

Pierce City Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by M&K Enterprises

FAMILIAR FACES

6 7

The inaugural Pierce City annual Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by Mickee Hagebusch and Kenny Carver of M&K Enterprises in Pierce City, took place April 16.

1. Special Guest, the Easter Bunny 2. Kylee Fernandez, Willow Cerone, Brandi Cerone, Evalyn Fernandez and Aidden Cerone 3. Teri England and Mallory Mettlach 4. Austin Fletcher, Everleigh Fletcher and Kyla Fletcher 5. Aubrey Donaldson, Delilah Jones and Leon Jones 6. Erin Carnes with Easton Washam, right, and Gavin Carnes 7. Carrie Sanders and Chico

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 47

FAMILIAR FACES Famous Familiar Faces were presented by Southwest Missouri elementary students

Famous Familiar Faces

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Roman Earnhart as Walter Cronkite Grant Lairus as Curtis Marbut Kayden Halloway as Payne Stewart Audi Arickson as Charles Lindbergh Emma Becker as Dr. Mary Newman Colton Breazzeal as Edwin Hubble

5 48 | June 2022

Advertiser Index Aire Serv.........................................51 Animal Clinic of Monett..............42 Aurora Motor and Machine.......46 Barry County Farm Bureau........46 Barry Lawrence Regional Library ..................................................... 3 Bruner Pharmacy ........................22 Cappy Harris Realtors.................28 Clark Community Health............37 Coldwell Banker...........................51 Cox Health.....................................52 Doug’s Pro Lube...........................36 Dr. Jared Spears, DDS PC..........21 Edward Jones.................................. 5 Factory Direct Mattress................ 2 First State Bank of Purdy...........25 Fohn Funeral Home.....................40 Four Seasons Real Estate...........17 Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri..........................................21 Ken’s Collision Center.................25 Lackey Body Works.....................42 Les Jacobs......................................12 Lil Boom Town Event Center.....32 Monett Chamber of Commerce ...................................................28 My Best Friends Closet...............20 Ordinary 2 Oddities.....................17 Ozark Methodist Manor.............32 Peppers and Co............................25 QC Supply, LLC.............................22 Roaring River Health & Rehab........ ...................................................49 Rusty Gate Flea Market..............20 Security Bank of Southwest Missouri..........................................12 Shelter Insurance.........................11 Table Rock Tavern........................22 The Cabins at Cedar Ridge.........17 Tomblin’s Jewelry.........................36 Trogdon Marshall.........................42 VisionHealth Eye Center............32 Whitley Pharmacy........................11

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Marketing, Advertising & Online Media Specialist ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 49

PARTING SHOT

Photo by Pete Rauch

“Many critics are like woodpeckers, who, instead of enjoying the fruit and shadow of a tree, hop incessantly around the trunk, pecking holes in the bark to discover some little worm or other.” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Red-Bellied Woodpecker

50 | June 2022

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 51

WE KNOW HEALTHY FOOD IS HEALING. BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO IT. AMANDA BELLE’S FARM IS CHANGING THAT. In partnership with Springfield Community Gardens, we’re growing healthy food year-round, which will eventually be used in our cafeterias, prescribed to patients and available through a community program. And that’s just the beginning.

It’s the right thing.

coxhealth.com

52 | June 2022

Connection June 2022

Articles inside

BLESSINGS BOX

UP, UP AND AWAY

MONETT YMCA