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EDITORIAL
Letter by Lisa Craft
More Growth! More Stories!
T
here has been so much going on with us in the world of local community media lately that it literally sometimes makes me dizzy. But like my dear stepmother always said, one thing you can always count on is change. In 2009, when Rust Publications began publishing a magazine with Lisa Schlichtman as publisher/editor, it was a major change for our small town community. We were used to newspapers. Publishing a magazine was exciting and was a very welcomed piece of new media hitting the streets on a monthly basis. The community enjoyed reading it and advertisers wanted to get their ads in it. They knew that this was the place to advertise because the public would see it. Connection Magazine is a local fit that features what a lot of people call “fluff” news. I am not sure that is always true. We do write a lot of fluff pieces but we also offer information, focus on new businesses and services, unusual hobbies, stories of interest either funny or sometimes
Teakwood furniture, Col. Saunders’ father’s desk, and other pieces of art gathered in Saunders’ collection, on display. See Saunders Museum profile on page 41.
sad, and even some history. It is a magazine that a person can read and realize that in some of the stories they might know the Lisa Craft is Regional Advertising Director of featured subject or person. People get very Connection Magazine, excited about that. The Monett Times and Some of the past changes includes Lisa Cassville Democrat. Schlichtman moving to Colorado; me tak- She can be reached at ing over the magazine completely in 2018; lcraft@cherryroad.com Rust Publications being sold to CherryRoad Media and now we are expanding our reach. We will be featuring stories and advertising from the Arkansas area. Two of CherryRoad’s acquisitions include the Carroll County News in Berryville, Ark., and the Lovely County Citizen in Eureka Springs, Ark. This takes in a very popular area that will add to our list of popular stories and advertising. There are a lot of events in Eureka Springs, Ark. and the surrounding area that I am sure that our locals in Missouri would be interested in. Also, it never fails that the more you read, see or hear, the more your interests will pique and you will probably want to visit the area that you read about. We are expanding and I hope everyone in Missouri and Arkansas, enjoy what they see and read. I also encourage anyone that has an idea for a story to email me and I will get in touch with you. Anyone that is wanting to advertise can also email me and I will direct your information to the correct person. One of the stories in the August edition features the Saunders Museum in Berryville, Ark. written by Murray Bishoff. This museum shares so many stories about the wild west and definitely entices me to go spend the time to explore and learn. I really think everyone that picks up a magazine will enjoy our expansion into Arkansas. Thank you for your readership and loyalty. The staff is looking forward to bringing you more and more great stories.
Lisa Craft
Regional Advertising Director, Connection Magazine 4 | August 2022
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CONTENTS 14 Cutest Kid 21 Parenting Column 29 Healthy Connection: Fats
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47 Familiar Faces 50 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 | August 2022
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10 | BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING Local selections will have you back to school in style
16 | 2022 SUMMER EVENTS
Here’s what’s happening in the Ozarks over the summer season
23 | TEACHING LEGACY
Eunice Thomas blazed the trail for educators in Cassville
25 | PASSING ON GREATNESS
An entire generation of teachers in the Cassville area owe their lineage to one family
33 | SERIAL STORY: KEEPING SECRETS
Part one by Annie Lisenby Smith
37 | CARROLL COUNTY FAIR 38 | SUNSET DRIVE IN
Local legend is up for sale and ready to entertain
Jill LeCompte is surrounded by the students of her daughter, Victoria Henbest, during the 2016-2017 school year.
41 | SAUNDERS MUSEUM
A jewel of American history found in Berryville, Ark. ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 9
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ConnectionMO.com/BacktoSchool2022 | Connection Magazine | 13
CUTEST KID
Cutest of August 2022
Maryana Watkins is the two-year-old daughter of Eddie and Daysha Watkins of Monett.
Congrats
Maryana 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.
14 | August 2022
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Summer Events
Summertime, when T the livin’ is easy
Howdy Neighbor Days kicks off the August entertainment season, beginning Wednesday, Aug. 10 and continuing through Saturday, Aug. 13. Each weekend in August is filled with a variety of events and activities for area residents to enjoy.
16 | August 2022
here’s nothing like a small town festival to celebrate summer in style, and the annual Howdy Neighbor Days celebration kicks off a series of August events sure to fill each weekend’s schedule. This year, the four-day event kicks off at 6 p.m. nightly between Wednesday, Aug. 10 and Friday, Aug. 12, with games of chance, live musical performances, food trucks and carnival rides from Fun Time Shows. Armbands will be $30 each at the ticket booth. Advance armbands will be $20 each, can be reserved by calling Ben Slagle at 417-489-1462. Thursday’s entertainment lineup includes Wilkie Jay Music from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; Dallas Stump Music from 7:30 to 9 p.m.; and Ashlynne Grey Music from 9 to 11 p.m. The Knights of Columbus Beer Garden will be open. Friday has been designated as “Bikers, CVMA and Veterans Night.”
The entertainment lineup is Second Generation Band from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and the Vic Vaughn Band from 8 p.m. to closing. Saturday, Aug. 13, starts early with Senior Citizens Center on Locust Street in Pierce City serving breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. The festival schedule picks back up at 2 p.m., with the Ag display, all booths and vendors opening, along with any special activities to be announced or posted during festival. Carnival and Knights of Columbus Beer Garden open at 4 p.m. The annual Duck Race will run in the creek at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, with the winner taking home a $500 prize. Pre-sale ducks will be two for $5 until Aug. 7. Ducks will be available at a cost of $3 each from Aug. 8 until race time. Entertainment includes the Flyin’ Buzzards Bluegrass Band from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the Eddie Valen Band from 9 until closing. Awards and announcements will be made at 8 p.m.
Story by Melonie Roberts
Ozark Mountain Revival performed gospel and country songs at the 2019 Kings Prairie concert. From left are, Rick Harris, Levi Roden, Shirley Fletcher and Andy Harris.
HogEye Holler consisting of Darrell Burns, Jon Bearden, Jeremy Krause, and Chris Hodge will be performing at the 64th annual Wheaton BBQ, Aug. 27 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
“We strive to provide the best festival possible through community support with donations, sponsorships and volunteer help,” said Slagle. “Small town festivals are dwindling each year, so for our festival to survive, it takes people who care. We are always looking for ideas and people who can help any way they can.” The music will start early on Saturday, Aug. 13 at the annual Kings Prairie Community Center Benefit Concert, located at the historic Kings Prairie school building southeast of Monett. The free concert, which raises funds to maintain the 1940s school building as an activities center for the rural community, will begin at 5 p.m. In addition, raffle prizes, games for kids and other family-friendly activities will be available. The schoolhouse is located west of Highway Z on Farm Road 2015. The event began as a salute to “oldtime” music and the performers who played live on local radio stations from the 1940s through the 1960s, the con-
cert now focuses on the staples of area acoustic music. Musicians dish up a hearty serving of bluegrass, gospel and “good times” songs from the 1950s and 1960s that speak to small town life and a simpler time. Concessions will be available. Donations are accepted to help the ongoing effort of developing and preserving the facility as a center for activities for the community. Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Handicapped parking will be available. For more information visit Kings Prairie Schoolhouse on Facebook, or email kpschoolhouse@gmail.com. The 48th annual Ernte Fest celebration gets underway at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20, on the Ernte-Fest grounds on the north edge of Freistatt on Highway H. Concessions, including traditional bratwurst, sauerkraut and German potato salad will be available from the Snack Shack.
A German Polka band will perform from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. and country/rock band Travis Scott and the Play Boyz will take the stage from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Parking is offered on the grounds north of the festival. Proceeds help support a wide range of charities including Leader Dogs for the Blind and World Service for the Blind. The annual Wheaton BBQ, hosted by the Wheaton Volunteer Fire Department, is slated to take place on Saturday, Aug. 27, starting at 10 a.m. when the craft booths open for business. The event also features Wheaton Street Machines Show and Shine Car Event and the Spud McCracken Memorial Horseshoe Tournament. Food service begins at 11:30 a.m. with the fire department’s traditional barbecue chicken half, baked potato, baked beans, bread and a beverage. Free children’s carnival rides, made possible through various business sponsorships, begin at 1 p.m. and continue until 8 p.m.
ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 17
The “Chicken Dance” is one of the fan favorites at the annual Ernte Fest celebration in Freistatt.
Musical entertainment begins at noon with the Prairie Roads Band, followed by the Sugar Mountain Band at 2 p.m. Next up, the HogEye Holler Band will take the stage at 3:30 p.m. followed by the Marshall Miller Band at 4:45. The 211 Band takes the stage at 6:15 p.m. The duck race, which caps off the evening’s activities at 8 p.m., will offer a total of $1,000 in prizes this year. Two Dog Karaoke will finish out the evening’s musical venue, starting at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event will help offset upkeep and maintenance of equipment, firefighter gear and other incidentals. Also on tap for the weekend is the annual Repurposed Faire, a twoday event sponsored by Monett Main Street. Events get underway at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, with vendors offering a variety of repurposed, vintage, salvaged or antique finds, jewelry, clothing, home decor and more. Live music performances have been scheduled throughout the day, along with a special guest appearance by Jeremy Rabe. The first day closes out at 5 p.m. Sunday’s events, which include a pet parade, kick off at 11 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. Admission is free. Food concessions will be available both days. Vendors will set up under the Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavillion between
18 | August 2022
Special guest Jeremy Rabe will be at the annual Repurposed Faire, on Saturday, Aug. 27, on Front Street and Fifth in Monett.
Fourth and Fifth Streets on Front. Others will also set up on the lawn in the Glen and Sharon Garrett Park, and in the parking lot on the west side of Fourth Street. In Arkansas, guests are invited to a free night of music at Basin Spring Park in Eureka Springs. The Balm of Life series begins at 5 p.m. on Aug. 4 at the Copenhagen Angel at the park. It will be bubbles, bubbles and more bubbles from 12:30 to 3 p.m.on Saturday, Aug. 6, in Eureka Springs, when DJ Testtube, the “mad scientist of music,” fill Basin Park with thousands of
bubbles and classic diversity and disco cuts for guests to appreciate and enjoy. The free event is family-friendly. DJ Testtube makes a return to Basin Spring Park from noon to 2 p.m. on Aug. 13 with Dancing in the Park with Melonlight, another Balm of Life series event. Enjoy Cocktails for a Cause to benefit Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 18, at Missy’s White Rabbit, located at 19 1/2 Spring St. in Eureka Springs. There is a $10 donation at the door. Raffle tickets will be available. All funds raised are split evenly between the two 501c3 nonprofits: the Cause and Main Street Eureka Springs. The 30th annual Eureka Springs Ark. VW Festival, swap meet and parade will be held Aug. 26-28. The VW Show is to gather all VW lovers in one town, consisting of two great shows by two different clubs. All profits benefiting the Good Shepherd Animal Shelter in Eureka Springs. The event will be located at 207 W. Van Buren Ave. For more show information call 479-6855185. Best Western is already taking reservations. n
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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 19
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PARENTING COLUMN
Hot summer plans
Meagan Ruffing is a parenting journalist and clinical mental health counselor. She is excited about helping her kids get ready to go back to school this year but will miss the laid-back schedule that their summer provided.
by Meagan Ruffing
Back-to-School Basics for the First Day
I
t’s almost back-to-school time! Are you excited? I bet the kids are looking forward to seeing their friends again but also dreading the bedtime routines that are about to make their way back into their schedules. The last week leading up to the first day of school can be rough if you don’t prep your kids properly. Easing them into what you expect, is the best advice I can give you. I do this every year with my kids who are now 13, 10, and 8, and because I’ve done this their entire lives, there are no surprises. Here are a few of my back-to-school tips.
Bedtime: The week before school starts, push your kids’ bedtime up by 15 minutes. If you’ve been letting your son go to bed at 10 p.m. each night during the summer, move that to 9:45 p.m. the first night, 9:30 p.m. the second night, 9:15 p.m. the third night, and so on. Work your way backward to the actual time you want your kids to go to bed the night before school. You might have to adjust the intervals depending on how late their current bedtime
is. The gradual decrease in lateness and increase in amount of sleep, is easier on your kids (and you). To help with this transition, because let’s be real, sometimes kids don’t want to go to bed earlier than they’re used to, add a bit of fun into it. Read your kids a book that first night to help with the time or ask them their highs and lows for the day. Highs are the best things that happened that day and lows are the not-so-great things that happened. You can learn a lot from your kids with this simple question. You can also use tokens as an incentive for your kids to adhere to their earlier bedtime. Let them know they get to go out for ice cream after that first day of school if they can ‘help’ you help them get ready the week before their first day.
School Lunches: If you pack school lunches for your kiddos, make sure to do a grocery run the week before school starts. Make it as easy as possible for yourself that first day of school so that you can send the kids off on their new school year with a stress-free morning.
Backpacks: I bought a hall tree this summer to help keep each kid’s bag in one spot. I thought this might solve the never-ending fight of asking my kids to pick up their school stuff and save me headache of keeping after them. Since I make my kids reuse their school backpacks (I know… mean mom), I emptied and washed them to make room for their school supplies.
Find more articles with Meagan Ruffing on parenting victories and challenges!
Scan the QR code to view Connection online.
ConnectionMO.com/ParentingColumn | Connection Magazine | 21
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Now, they can just grab their backpack from their designated hook and they’re ready to go.
Mailboxes: I found the most adorable (and functional) wall hanging mail system for my family. It has been our go-to ‘dump-everything-here’ spot for a few years now. Each of us has our own ‘box’ that we put important papers in so we can sort through them at a later time. I’m thinking the week before school will be a great opportunity to clean these out and get them ready for all the papers that will most likely be shoved in their backpacks.
Pep-talk: I always give my kids some sort of pep-talk before they go back to school. I will remind my son that this is his last year in Junior High so to make the most of it before High School. I’ll tell my 10-year-old daughter who is going into Middle School for the first time, that there will be mean girls and nice girls but mainly, how to deal with the mean girls.
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I will try to prepare her for the inevitable changes that come with getting older and how to navigate them. As for my 8-year-old daughter who is going into third grade, well I will tell her that even though she is the youngest of my children, going into third grade is a big deal. I’ll watch her face light up and her smile get wide, and I’ll know, my kids are ready for their first day. Getting ready to go back to school can be a stressful time but these tips can help you keep things simple. Take a deep breath, get your to-do list in order, and get ready for that first day. They’ll be grown and out of the house before you know it.
Always an Educator
Eunice Thomas and her students at the Quaker Rural School during the 1939-1940 school year. ( below) Eunice Thomas teaching a classroom during her 40 years of service to students.
C
assville in 1929, 1932, 1940, 1954, 1983 and 2022 all have one unique thing in common — Eunice Thomas. Parents often take photos to commemorate the huge milestone of their children’s first day of school. For Cassville students, that photo is most likely taken in front of the primary building next to the sign that reads, “Eunice Thomas Elementary School.” This sign, erected in 1983, was placed to honor Eunice Holman Thomas, a pillar in the Cassville school district. Hundreds of photos will be taken before this monumental sign as the 20222023 school year begins this August. While the sign has a deep meaning that continues in 2022, the history of Eunice Thomas began more than 100 years ago, on January 12, 1913. The following information is based on the Memorial Tribute written for Eunice Holman Thomas by her children, Jo Ellen Henderson, Sara Nell Lampe and John Robert Thomas.
Birth and childhood Eunice Thomas was born at Rock Creek on January 12, 1913. She was the fourth of eleven children, seven girls, and four boys, born to W.H. and Samantha Holman. Eunice Thomas attended a one-room schoolhouse in Mano, Missouri, until her family moved to Cassville in 1929. From that point, Eunice Thomas began a journey in the Cassville school district that would last for over a century. Eunice Thomas graduated from Cassville High School in 1932. After graduation, she attended Monett Junior College, earning her teaching certificate.
Story by Jordan Troutman
Becoming a teacher Eunice Thomas accepted a position to teach at the Quaker Rural School in 1934 and continued teaching grades one through eight until 1940. However, in 1940, eight years after graduating from Cassville, Eunice Thomas resigned from the Quaker Rural School. She took a position with the Cassville R-4 School District teaching sixth, seventh and eighth grade, as well as high school girls’ physical education. Eunice hit another milestone when she became Cassville’s principal for
grades one through eight in 1944. In 1949, after a five-year hiatus, she organized and taught the first kindergarten class at Cassville, which became an official program in 1966, allowing all children to attend without tuition. In 1954, Eunice Thomas was hired again by the Cassville School District as Principal for grades one through eight. All while teaching language arts and art classes. After her son was born in 1957, Eunice Thomas earned her Master’s Degree in Elementary and administration from
ConnectionMO.com/EuniceThomas | Connection Magazine | 23
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the University of Arkansas. Eunice earned 70 hours above her Master’s Degree. Eunice started parent-teacher conferences, Cassville kindergarten grade, and nurse access in Cassville school through the years. She wrote a grant to support individualized learning in Cassville schools and monies for other innovative programs and personnel.
Love and family Eunice Thomas married Aubrey Thomas on August 22, 1937. However, in 1945 she had her first child, Jo Ellen, and took some time to enjoy motherhood. After three years, her second daughter, Sara Nell, was born. And in August 1957, Eunice Thomas had a son, John Robert.
Community involvement While motherhood came first, and her passion for education was important to her, Eunice managed to carve a path of accomplishment through the City of Cassville and Barry County. Those accomplishments include: • Seven Valleys Extension Club • P.T.A. • Business and Professional Women’s Club later becoming Woman of the Year • Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, serving as Library Trustee for 51 years • Silver Leaf Benefit Club • Celestia Club No. 81 • W.M.U. president for the First Baptist Church
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Eunice Thomas believed that a student was the most important person in and out of the school system. She was also known to say, a happy child is a learning child. In 1983 her lifelong work in the Cassville school district and community was honored by renaming Cassville Elementary School to Eunice Thomas Elementary School. Eunice Holman Thomas touched many lives before her death on December 3, 2005. As a parent who walked her daughter into Eunice Thomas Elementary school for her very first day of school in August 2019, it is clear that the legacy of Eunice Thomas continues to sweep through the halls, into the classroom, and shape every student that walks past the sign that displays her name in front of the building. n
Family Creates a Generation of Teachers
C
hildren are shaped by their family, their teachers, and their peers. They learn by admiring and challenging those around them. From Holman to Thomas and LeCompte to Henbest, generations of women in the same family have shaped and taught the children in the Cassville school district. It all started with Eunice Holman Thomas in 1929 when her family first relocated to Cassville, and she began her education at the Cassville school district. Eunice Thomas would graduate from Cassville high school in 1932 and return to the district in 1940 to teach. Eunice Thomas would work her way through the ranks and become first through eighth-grade principal in 1944. She would also go on to develop the
Story by Jordan Troutman
first kindergarten class in the Cassville school district, which became official in 1966. In 1957 she earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary and Administration. In her 43 years at the Cassville school district, Eunice Thomas taught sixth, seventh and eighth-grade classes, high school girls’ physical education, kindergarten, and Cassville School District as Principal for grades one through eight. Eunice Thomas retired in 1983 and was honored when the district renamed the elementary school after her and erected a sign which read, “Eunice Thomas Elementary School” in front of the building. One year later, in 1984, Jill Holman LeCompte, the niece of Eunice Thomas, graduated from Cassville High School.
Charlie Priest, Faye Priest, Earl Sparkman, Iola Lordanich, Madge Sparkman, Ronnie Rose, Sammy Hudson, Lloyd Hudson, Monroe Williams, Billy Holman, AC Holman, Eunice Thomas, Aubrey Thomas, Russell Rose, Calvin Holman, Jackie Meador, Maxine Williams, Del Holman. A photo of the family that started multiple generations of teachers.
Victoria: ‘I wouldn’t change anything about growing up as a teacher’s kid.’
ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 25
Jill LeCompte grew up in the classroom. She spent 13 years in Cassville school classrooms; she was the senior class president and cheer captain. “I was blessed with phenomenal teachers that loved me,” she said. “And I loved them. “I remember the first time I thought I wanted to be a teacher. It was in first grade, and my aunt Faye, Eunice’s sister, was my first-grade teacher. I was playing on her chalkboard after school in her classroom while she was working.” Jill was pretending to be a teacher. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher,” she said. “Then aunt Eunice walked in, and I thought, ‘I want to be principal.’” Jill LeCompte said she was able to do more than she ever imagined working in the Cassville school district. “Cassville schools were so good to me,” she said. “It was humbling that they trusted me to teach and guide the children.” Jill and her late husband, Michael LeCompte, began to date during her junior year of high school. “He went to the University of Arkansas, so I went to the University of Arkansas and got my undergraduate degree,” she said. “In 1988, I was offered a job by Nola Nickols, and the Purdy school district hired me. I was there for four years, and it was terrific. “It was a great experience, and I made life-long friends.” Jill decided to go back to the University of Arkansas to earn her Master’s Degree in Administration. “I was pregnant with Victoria at the time,” she said. “I would drive down there two nights a week to take classes, and in 1992 I got my degree and had my first daughter.” Jill then took a job teaching fifth grade at Cassville. “I actually took over for Becky Preddy, my fifth-grade teacher,” she said. “I
26 | August 2022
Eunice Thomas directly left of the sign that was erected in 1983 to honor her service in the Cassville school district.
Victoria Henbest shows her 2019 kindergarten classroom to her grandparents, Calvin and Del Holman. taught fifth grade for three years, then I had an opportunity to teach third grade, so I did that for five years. “In 2000, I was offered a position as the middle school assistant principal, and I took it. I was also the junior high athletic, summer school, and safety director.” Jill then moved to middle school principal for four years, and in 2005, she had her second daughter Jillian. “I decided after having Jillian that I would take the intermediate principal position, so I wasn’t working so many
late nights,” she said. “I did that for five years, and in 2010 I was named the assistant superintendent, where I stayed until 2018.” Jill was raised around teachers; her family taught her, and she admired them. “The women in my life were so dynamic, loving, and wonderful, and I wanted to be just like them,” she said. “My aunts were the best, and they loved the kids. As a little girl, I knew I would be a teacher. I wanted to be the best — just like them.”
Victoria Henbest with her 2017 kindergarten class. Jill said she was surrounded by good educators, and her aunts were well respected and loved. “Their children followed in their footsteps,” she said. “A teacher’s job is hard. Barry County school educates thousands of children each year.” Jill said if she gave advice to others looking to join the education work field, she would say to not listen to the media that public education is bad. “It isn’t bad at all,” she said. “If you get in and it is bad, then you make it better. “I always tried to do what the job and my heart told me to do.” “I think becoming a parent made me a better teacher. I was more empathetic and more realistic even in the homework I gave.” It came as no surprise when Victoria decided to become a teacher. “I asked her, ‘are you sure?’” Jill said. “It is a huge commitment, and you are
in charge of little lives. She told me, ‘yes, I want to teach kindergarten.’ “She does it with grace, and she does it well. I am so proud of her.” Victoria Henbest graduated from Cassville High School in 2011. “Then, I went to Missouri State and got my bachelor’s Degree in 2015,” she said. “I was a substitute teacher while I was in school. I did my student teaching at Nixa and Greenwood.” Victoria got a long-term substitute position teaching first grade in 2016. “A second-grade position opened up, and when I applied, I mentioned that I would love to teach the younger grades,” Victoria said. “I was always interested in kindergarten. Eventually, a position opened up, and I took it.” Victoria had to get a new certification to teach kindergarten because her bachelor’s was for first through sixth grade. “I started teaching kindergarten in
August 2017,” she said. “I taught that for five years before I decided to get a special education certification and took a co-teaching position for third-grade special education. However, I’ve decided to go back to kindergarten for this next year.” Victoria was raised by an educator who helped shape her into today’s teacher. “When I was little, my mom worked a lot in the evenings and would bring my brother and me with her,” she said. “We would ride our bikes through the hallways. My mom was involved in everything, so I remember always being at school. Mom would call me her shadow. I remember that starting school wasn’t a big deal for me because I had been there my whole life.” Victoria said the one downfall was everyone knew her mom, so she couldn’t get away with anything.
ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 27
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“I wouldn’t change anything about growing up as a teacher’s kid,” she said. “I knew so much about the school and the teachers; school was always a comfortable place for me. When I decided what to do with my life, the school was what felt like home. Especially Cassville, it would take a whole life change to leave Cassville. I bleed black and gold — it’s where I grew up.” Victoria said her little sister is another reason she decided to teach. “I was teaching A+ when Jillian was in preschool,” she said. “That is when I knew that is what I was going to do. Watching her go to school and teaching A+ really drove me into it.” Some of her favorite times in teaching are at the beginning of the school year. “I love to get everything ready,” she said. “In kindergarten, the kids have a clean slate and are scared. I love being able to teach them there is nothing to be afraid of. We are your home away from home. I might only have them for one year, but they will grow with their classmates for the next 13 years.” One of her least favorite things is the end of the year. “I love to see how much they have grown,” she said. “But, I hate to see them go. Also, when students have needs at home that I can’t do anything about, that is always hard.” Victoria said although she was already empathetic, becoming a parent heightened that even more. “I think I now look at every student as my child,” she said. “If Bonnie grew up and said she wanted to be a teacher, I would probably react like my mom did when I said I wanted to become a teacher — I’d ask her if she was sure. “I would want to see how serious she was about it. I remember thinking teaching would be an easy, piece-of-cake job. Learning that it is so much more took some hard lessons.” Victoria said while teaching is a hard profession, it is very rewarding. “You go home worried about your students,” she said. “But, I love every minute of it. “I would recommend that anyone who thinks they want to be a teacher starts by substitute teaching. It was a real eye opener for me.” n
Sugar makes a poor substitute
HEALTHY CONNECTION
Hannah Ross loves food and science and is earning her Master’s degree to become a dietitian. When she is not studying you may find her in the gym with the weights, at the garden center looking for new plants to add to the collection, or walking her dog, Dash, a 2-year-old beagle.
by Hannah Ross
Fat Foods and Secret Sugars
A
round the 1980s, the low-fat craze took off, and food manufacturers began producing a wide variety of low-fat foods. Are low-fat foods better for our health? A 2016 study found that sugar content is higher in non-fat and low-fat food products than in the regular versions. Researchers compared the following categories: dairy, meats/ fish, baked goods, and fats/oils/ salad dressings and found in each category, the reduced-fat products had higher sugar content than the regular versions. For example, in cream cheese, the light-fat version contained 81 percent more sugar than the regular. In turkey deli meat, researchers found the non-fat version contained almost a 113 percent increase in sugar than the regular. A light-fat version of a Vienna finger-style, cream-filled cookie contained almost 11 percent more sugar than the regular cookies. Astonishingly, non-fat mayonnaise had over 3,000 percent more sugar
A 2016 study found that sugar content is higher in non-fat and low-fat food products than in the regular versions. when compared to regular fat. One may ask, “Why is consuming more sugar bad if I’m consuming fewer calories?” Excessive sugar intake may also lead to weight gain, even if you are consuming fewer calories per serving. When companies replace fat with fructose, and people consume high amounts of fructose, the body may fail to recognize signals from the hormone leptin, which tells your body when to stop eating. This can
cause a person to consume more calories long-term. Consuming a high-sugar diet is also associated with increased rates of obesity, high blood pressure, and inflammation, which can lead to heart disease. Fat in food has many benefits such as increasing the texture and taste of our foods. Fatty foods have a specific mouthfeel. Think of placing a piece of chocolate in your mouth. It melts on the tongue, giving your
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ConnectionMO.com/HealthyConnection | Connection Magazine | 29
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mouth a smooth, creamy sensation that many people enjoy. When fat coats the inside of your mouth the flavors will also linger longer on the tongue, providing a more satisfying experience with each bite. When flavor compounds are dissolved in a reduced-fat solution, the flavor is quickly detected by tastebuds, which cause the taste to disappear quickly. Fat can also absorb and protect flavors in food products, causing the vanilla in your ice cream to be more flavorful. While full-fat foods may have more calories than the lower-fat versions, full-fat products can satisfy your cravings more, potentially allowing you to eat less. One way to accomplish this is through mindful eating. For example, if you want to eat ice cream but you are watching your weight, first permit yourself - and be guilt-free in allowing yourself - to enjoy a treat. Then choose a full-fat version in your favorite flavor. Now start by being aware of the whole process of enjoying the ice cream. Notice the way the ice cream curls as it is being scooped; look at the swirls and smell the aroma. Place a sensible portion in a bowl, and put the ice cream back in the freezer. Now, sit down at a table, and don’t feel rushed.
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Thoroughly notice the smells and appearance, but now focus on the taste, flavor, and mouthfeel as it swirls in your mouth. Placing the spoon down between bites and letting it melt in your mouth or chewing multiple times before swallowing may help slow the process. Enjoy the moment, flavor, and how you feel between each bite. With mindful eating, you can better taste and enjoy your food, which may allow you to eat less while still having the pleasure of enjoying your treat.
MENTAL HEALTH COLUMN
Turn down the heat
If you don’t like the weather in Missouri, just…
W
ait! The weather in Missouri customarily rapidly shifts. Why has it been so insufferably hot for days and days? The meteorologists are telling us we are trapped under a giant heat-dome. Let me out! Other than my number three child, I know few who are enjoying this pervasive heat. After she exclaimed how great the weather is, I explained to child number three that most people are negatively impacted by high temperatures and prolonged heat. She says she feels “15 times happier” when it is this warm. Of course, she is the child that carries a blanket with her at all times to movie theatres and college lecture halls even on 80-degree days. She is not like Linus, the Peanuts comic strip character, who sucked his thumb and who needed the blanket for security. Instead, she anticipates
By Brad Ridenour
CEO of Clark Community Mental Health Center and a Licensed Professional Counselor
being cold everywhere she goes, and by carrying around her adult-sized blankie, she is always prepared to keep warm. My daughter is an anomaly. She blossoms in this intense heat, while most wilt. She is happy not to feel cold, while research shows that for many others prolonged heat waves actually increase feelings of frustration, stress, and even depression. A JAMA Psychiatry study collected data from two million visitors to ER departments over the course of 10 years, and the data showed that the number of ER visits for mental health concerns like schizophrenia, substance use, anxiety, and self-harm increased during periods of extreme heat. Those taking psychotropic medications need to be aware that
profuse sweating may affect how the medications are metabolized which may in turn impact effectiveness. Some medications may affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature putting these individuals at greater risk for heat related illnesses. In addition to increases in ER visits and psychiatric crises, we also know that the incidence of domestic violence and other crime increases during heat waves. If you are like my daughter enjoy soaking in this heat while you can, but if you’re like “normal” people do all you can to stay cool. I am just hoping for a 75-degree day with a slight breeze. Of course, that’s when kid number three will start wearing her parka.
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Tips to Beat the Heat Hydrate regularly. Proper hydration reduces fatigue
Make a cold compress. It will help you sleep better.
Eat lighter. Eating fruits and vegetables won’t overheat your digestive system.
Spice it up. Eating spicy foods can help you stay cooler on the outside.
Switch off the oven. Bake less and barbecue more. Change light bulbs. LED bulbs produce about 70% less heat than an incandescent bulb. Unplug your computer. Unplug your computer when not in use to prevent the device from generating heat.
Block the sun with curtains and shades. About 20% of summer heat enters your home through windows. Create a frozen fan. By aimming a house fan at a bowl of ice, the cool air will circulate & lower the room temperature. Get misty. Chill water in a spray bottle & give yourself a cool, refreshing spritz.
ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 31
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In the 19th century, a popular form of storytelling was serial stories printed in monthly magazines. This made full-length stories more accessible to the masses who, at that time, couldn’t afford to buy a novel, but they could afford to buy magazines with these short stories that were published over 12-20 months. In honor of that tradition, local author Annie Lisenby Smith is sharing a new, unpublished book in serial form. Enjoy “Keeping Secrets” one chapter per issue of Connection for the next 12 months.
Keeping Secrets part one
By Annie Lisenby-Smith Ninety-eight. Ninety-nine. One Hundred. The pebble sails across the sidewalk and lands uneventfully in the grass. Paige gazes down the dark, lonely high school driveway then at the blank screen on her dead cell phone. If only she were a year older and could finally drive. “If Dad’s not here by the time I kick this next rock a hundred times, I’ll go knock on Mr. Brown’s door,” Paige thinks dejectedly as she turns her gaze to the glow coming from the band director’s window. Dad’s never been this late before. Paige kicks a chunk of gravel, lamenting her predicament: abandoned in the high school parking lot, sweat from the summer heat dripping between her shoulder blades. At first, the idea of late-night marching band practice sounded fun. But as Paige counts 41, 42, nothing is fun anymore. A pair of headlights cut through the night, briefly drowning out the sporadic glow of lightning bugs. Relief washes over Paige. The car comes to a stop where she stands holding her heavy trombone case. So excited that her dad is finally here, she doesn’t notice the slight difference in the body of the black car in front of her. “It’s about time,” she says as she pulls open the back door and tosses in her trombone. “I’ve been waiting for like 40 minutes.” When she opens the front passenger door, Paige stops dead in her tracks. “Mom?” “Get in, Paige,” her mother orders urgently as she glances in the rearview mirror. Paige stands, frozen. She blinks and pushes her heavy glasses back up her nose. “You’re supposed to be in Europe,” she sputters through her shock. “I’m back. Now, get in, honey,”
her mom commands as her eyes dart to the rear view mirror. “But Dad?” “I’m going to take you to Dad. Please. I need you to get in the car.” Now leaning across the seat, her mom holds her hand out to Paige. She looks the same as she did the day she left for an overseas job when Paige was in eighth grade. Alice still has the same light blonde hair tied back into a pony tail, but tonight her mahogany brown eyes betray a panic oozing from within. “Mom, I haven’t seen you in two years. Don’t you get that? You left. You abandoned us!” Paige steps back and crosses her arms. “I’m waiting for Dad.” “Look, I’m sorry. I’ll explain everything. But I need you to come with me now!” “No! You can’t come back and start telling me what to do. I’m waiting for Dad!” Paige pouts her lips. Another pair of headlights cuts across the night. When Paige turns to look for her dad’s car, Alice grabs her arm and yanks her into the car. The door still hanging open and Paige’s feet flailing in the night air, her screams join the sound of the tires on the hot pavement as she and her mom speed away. “Mom! Stop!” Paige clings to her mom’s arm. “I’m not in the car!” Paige is quickly realizing that her mom isn’t the same person who disappeared. Two years ago, Alice had been the typical soccer mom and accountant, the kind that limited how much sugar Paige could eat and who insisted that she take music lessons, even when Paige complained about them endlessly. ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 33
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The Alice before her now is driving like a NASCAR expert as she weaves around a truck and turns abruptly down a side street. The force of the turn thrusts Paige toward her mom hard enough that she’s able to pull her feet into the car just as the door slams shut with a loud crash. “Put your seatbelt on,” Alice commands as she glances again in the rearview mirror. “Mom, you’re driving like a maniac,” Paige fights to click the seatbelt. “Where’s Dad?” “Your dad was kidnapped,” Alice replies tenderly. “What?” Paige braces herself as Alice screeches through another turn onto a dark street. “Who kidnapped him?” “I did.” “What? Why?” Paige screams, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Alice responds guiltily, “I had to. It was for his own safety. We’ll get him now. I just need your necklace, the Lego brick one I gave you for your birthday.” “That thing? I don’t know where it is.” “Your dad said that you wear it every day. We need that necklace!” Alice punctuates her insistence by turning the car sharply, slamming the breaks and bringing the car to an abrupt stop at the curb in front of a park that looks eerily dark. “I don’t have to do anything for you. I haven’t heard from you in two years, Mom! I don’t owe you anything,” Paige reaches to unclip her seatbelt. “I didn’t want to leave, Peanut. I had to. There are some things that I can’t fully explain now, but I need that necklace to save your dad, and then I’ll be gone again.” Alice deflates, her head dropping to rest on the steering wheel. “I made a mistake. I need to fix it, and I can’t unless I have that necklace.” “Mom, what’s going on?” Paige’s anger abates a notch seeing her mother’s desperation. Alice sits up again and straightens her shirt. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I’m not an accountant. Sweetheart, I’m a spy. I’ve been a spy since before you were born.” Paige sits in silence, letting Alice’s honesty settle around them. “Does Dad know?” “Yes, he knows. That’s why we left the necklace with you. It has a hidden flash drive, and some very bad people are looking for it. I kidnapped your dad to keep him safe until I could get the necklace. Paige, I need your help.” Suddenly, Alice looks older than Paige remembers. The creases around her eyes are deeper and her lips are pursed tightly. Alice is telling the truth; Paige knows this for sure. “It’s in my old playhouse with my Barbies.” Alice takes a deep breath and slips the car in gear. Silently,
Paige follows close behind, her pulse pounding in her ears. At the front door, Alice holsters her gun and uses her phone to unlock the realtor’s lockbox. they ride through the dark streets. Paige stares blankly out the window, and Alice only moves to regularly check the rearview mirror. Luckily, no one seems to be following them. Once they arrive at the green house with the blue front door, the door Alice painted because it was Paige’s favorite color, Alice looks once more in the rearview mirror. “Stay close to me, and if anything goes wrong, either take cover or run as fast as you can, okay?” Alice instructs Paige, who doesn’t look at her mom until Alice pulls a gun from an ankle strap under her pantleg. “Is that really necessary?” Paige asks aghast. “Bad people, Paige. Really bad people,” Alice replies as she slides out of the car. Paige reluctantly follows her, trying to cover her fear with teenage angst. In the backyard, Alice looks around rhythmically as they cross to the old playhouse that Paige’s dad built. Alice knows exactly where to look, the big pink plastic bin. She tears off the lid and begins digging. “Where is it?” Panic grows in her voice. Worry and dread overtake Paige. “Mom, how bad are these people?” “Remember that scary movie you watched at Amy’s sleepover in fourth grade?” “Yeah, I had nightmares for a week.” Alice stops and looks Paige directly in the eyes. “Multiply that by a hundred,” she says gravely. “Now, where’s the necklace?” The sound of a rustling in the bushes snaps Alice’s attention to one of the lace-fringed windows. She holds her gun ready to fire. Paige plunges her hand into the bin and pulls out the blue Lego block necklace and drops it around her neck. “Got it,” she says. “Let’s go,” Alice leads Paige back to the car. She walks with the gun poised, in a stance ready for action. They jump in the car and speed away. ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 35
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Paige knows these streets well, ones she’s explored on her bike every day after school. She watches the houses of friends and neighbors passing by her window, mentally saying their names. It’s a soothing exercise after the chaos of the last 15 minutes. Alice whips the car into Mrs. Berger’s driveway. The “for sale” sign in the front yard reminds the neighborhood that she moved into a nursing home last month. “Come on,” Alice says as she slips from the car, her gun locked in her hands again. Paige follows close behind, her pulse pounding in her ears. At the front door, Alice holsters her gun and uses her phone to unlock the realtor’s lockbox. She, swiftly takes the house key out of the little metal box, opens the front door, and pulls Paige in with her. “He’s in here,” she says into the dark living room. Paige follows Alice closely, trying to match her stealth. In the back of the house, Alice pushes open a door to a bathroom and stops short. She doesn’t move, not even to breathe. Dread and panic fill the empty spaces in the room. “Oh, no,” she whispers. “We have to go, now!” She grabs Paige’s arm again and drags her back through the empty house. They rush to the car, and as Paige is opening the door, she hears a ping from her mom’s phone. Alice looks at the screen. From across the hood of the car, Paige can’t read the message, but she can read the emotions that run across Alice’s face. Confusion. Realization. Terror. “Get in and buckle up. It’s going to be a long night, kiddo.” n
Animal showings, carnival, rodeos to highlight annual gathering
Berryville to host Carroll County Fair Aug. 19-27
P
reparations are underway in Berryville, Ark., for the annual weeklong Carroll County Fair, one of the area’s signature events and summer highlights, Aug. 19-27. This is one of the major opportunities of the year for young people to exhibit farm livestock and sharpen their skills before judges. This year’s event will include rodeos, exhibits, a carnival with fair rides and live music.
All the events will be held at the county fairgrounds, north of Berryville. Pride Amusement will again bring the rides and midway attractions for the carnival, making the Berryville event one of the biggest in northwest Arkansas. The fair begins on Friday, Aug. 19, with the 20th annual fair parade at 10 a.m. The Miss Carroll County Pageant starts at 2 p.m. According to Roscoe Butler with the Fair Board, livestock showing contests are open to young people age 19 and younger. Judging for chickens and rabbits will again enhance the fair offerings. The fair will again offer a showcase for the county’s 4-H clubs to show their creations and have them judged. FFA chapters will also demonstrate their skills and creations.
Here is a breakdown of the fair activities: • Saturday, Aug. 20: Rodeo night. • Sunday, Aug. 21: The horse show. • Monday, Aug. 22: Family Fun Night. • Tuesday, Aug. 23: Goat show, no scheduled evening event. • Wednesday, Aug. 24: Sheep show, evening car show. • Thursday, Aug. 25: Hog show and the dairy show, evening will feature the Battle of the Bands with competing groups from county high schools. • Friday, Aug 26: Cattle show, Ranch Rodeo in the evening with team competition. • Saturday, Aug. 27: Premium sale 10 a.m., truck and tractor pull in the evening.
A website for the Carroll County Fair will provide updated information. Fair announcements can be found o the Facebook page for the Carroll County Fairgrounds and Indoor Arena.
Story by Murray Bishoff
ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 37
Sunset Drive In A piece of local history for sale Aurora’s Sunset Drive-In is a summer staple for many community members. As one of the few remaining drive-ins in the country, it has been hosting summer showings since the 1950s. In addition to first-run movies, traditional theater concessions and a general movie-going experience, the Sunset boasts a playground for youngsters to enjoy before the feature presentation.
38 | August 2022
David Marks, longtime owner of the Sunset Drive-In, said the theater’s screen was replaced with a high-quality aluminum screen salvaged from from demolished drive-ins. He said he has to repaint the screen approximately every five years.
A
unique piece of living local history has gone on the market and the owner is hoping someone will pick up where he leaves off and keep the local tradition alive. Owner David Marks is selling the Sunset Drive-in Theater in Aurora for a price and a promise that the theater will continue to operate and offer community members a chance to see movies the way residents have since the 1950s: under the stars and in their cars. The Sunset Drive-in first opened in April 1951 by Ralph Hough, Sr. and was sold in 1966 to Jesse, Cecil and Clyde Ruble. In 1965 Marks, then a high school senior, began working at the Sunset and purchased the theatre in 1977 from the Rubles. Over the years, David said he’s seen a lot of changes, and has worked to
Story by Mike Gervais
In 1977, Marks purchased Sunset Drive In. Three years later, he constructed the seamless, four-tower, 16-beam mega screen. keep much the same at the drive-in. “Once you start changing things, then it’s not what people remember,” Marks said. While he has worked to maintain a classic, nostalgic atmosphere at the drive-in, he also made several improvements to the facility over the years, including an expansion from 200 to nearly 300-vehicle capacity, a new screen and audio capacity. The new screen came just prior to the summer of 1980. David said he was watching as drive-ins across the nation were being demolished and he worked to obtain any bits and pieces he could to improve the local theater.
“The average drive-in screen has two towers and six I beams,” he said. “This one is four towers and 16 beams. And I got the parts from all over as they were tearing down the drive-ins. I got parts from Colorado, and I think Iowa.” Marks also said that as he made his improvements, he wanted to make sure he was offering a quality experience for movie-goers. “The old screen was wood. In 1980 I changed the screen and I’ll put this screen up against any drive-in screen in the country. Usually they are corrugated metal. On this one, the picture is so good, there’s no corrugation.
ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 39
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With a capacity of nearly 300 vehicles, plus lawn chair seating, many residents in southwest Missouri have memories of movies under the stars. Owner David Marks said he is hoping a buyer will come along to take over the theater and keep it operating. “You don’t have to wait for your eyes to adjust to it like at other drive-ins. There are no seams or anything.” He also said he expanded the capacity because the previous owners had maintained a garden at the back of the property. “I didn’t want the garden, so I made it bigger,” he said. The 2001 sound upgrades, on the other hand, were out of his control. Marks said the theater was struck by lightning, prompting the installation of a digital stereo FM sound system with the use of Decade transmitters. But despite the upgrades and improvements over the years, he also strove to keep prices low and accommodating for the community. Marks said that most of the money theaters take from ticket sales goes directly to the movie studios producing the films, and like most theaters across the country, money is made by selling concessions. He added that people watching movies at the drive-in are saving considerably, both at the gate and at the concession stand, and, unlike at most theaters, guests are welcome to bring their own food and snacks if they wish. n
Through an adventurer’s eyes
T
he American Experience can be captured in many forms. One man’s journey can mirror a nation’s com-
ing of age. That’s what S. Burton Saunders did through his collections. Visitors to the museum housing his collections in Berryville, Arkansas, many think they are going to view an assemblage of firearms, reported as the largest personally owned collection in the world for its period. The viewing covers so much more. Asked by an aspiring collector what to gather, Saunders discouraged random gathering. “Every piece tells a story,” he said. The key to visiting the Saunders Memorial Museum lies in discovering the stories. Saunders was eccentric, generous, a genius marksman — one of the three best in the world in his day. He left his collection to the city of Berryville and enough money to build a museum to house it, with specific instructions that nothing could be added to the collection and nothing subtracted from it. His holdings were so vast that after the museum quality pieces were selected, the rest was sold over a four-day auction, divesting some items regretted today. What remains offers many unique insights, experienced by this adventurer.
Story by Murray Bishoff
Saunders Museum curator Joanne Lassiter points out the photo of Col. S. Burton Saunders that greets visitors to the museum in Berryville.
The hall at the center of the Saunders Museum, showing trophies from the elk, moose and other wildlife taken by Saunders while hunting. At center is a collection on loan of locally uncovered Native American arrowheads and other artifacts.
ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 41
of course Saunders won the blunJoanne Lassiter, curator of the derbuss. Ultimately he struck a deal Saunders Museum, pointed out whereby he left his new gun with that when Saunders died at age 89 the sheik, but also came away with in 1952, every item in his collection a large red and white fabric tent, bore a numbered tag, referencing a quilted by the sheik’s 200+ wives. paper record with the story. The stoBoth the blunderbuss and the tent ries reveal America and even obscure are displayed prominently in the corners of the world where Saunders museum. traveled. An intrepid collector with Beyond firearms, the collection millions at his disposal, Saunders veers into Native American artiusually secured anything that struck facts. Saunders secured a headdress his fancy. and vest used by the great Lakota A visit does not offer a record- The curious blunderbuss gun, the length of a chief, Sitting Bull, presently on loan ed audio description of each item. forearm, won by Col. Saunders in a contest The visitor has to read, and ask, and with an Arab sheik, in front of the quilted tent to Johnny Morris’ Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, north gradually the depth of this archive made by the sheik’s many wives. In Arabic in of Top of the Rock near Branson. reveals its secrets. fabric, the tent has the words: “Look again, From Sitting Bull’s daughter, SaunLassiter can point you to touch- for you will see a beautiful work/ Behold, I stones of Americana: a bear trap have given you the proof/ In Egypt is the most ders acquired the decorative moccasins she made for her wedding. and hunting knife used by Daniel beautiful of all art/ I see for its proof a long There is a scalp that Sitting Bull disBoone, an original Jim Bowie knife, explanation.” played outside his dwelling for good a gun owned by Sam Houston, the luck. There is a scalp belt, with what gun fired by Pawnee Bill to start the intrigued Saunders enough to acquire is believed to be the scalps of nine land rush into Oklahoma. Saunders, it. One of the oddest tales focused on Native American warriors, collected by as a crack marksman, often performed at Buffalo Bill Cody’s traveling Wild West three convicted murderers in the state Apache leader Geronimo. Other pieces Show. He shot with Annie Oakley, and prison in Little Rock, who carved a gun of Native American art and blankets are collected one of her guns, two owned by facsimile out of a wood toilet seat and displayed. Presently the museum has a collection Cody himself, three that had been used used it to stage a jailbreak. Two of the by Jesse James, two owned by Billy the three men died in the subsequent chase. on display of arrowheads found not far Kid, two owned by “Wild Bill” Hickok, The third revealed the secret. That was away in the Kings River and Osage Rivothers owned by Frank James and “Pret- enough for Saunders, who bought the er valley. This display is on loan, the one ty Boy” Floyd, a gun and spurs owned by wood handgun for $50, and now it’s way the museum can show other pieces. A central hall in the museum displays Pancho Villa, a hat and gun clip used by displayed prominently in the collection. Saunders secured a set of long baron its top plate the stuffed heads and horns iconic gangster Clyde Barrow. To stand in front of a glass case, inch- reled dueling pistols used in New Orle- of many great wildlife samples hunted by es away from these artifacts, can conjure ans, used so effectively that both parties Saunders. Several longhorn steer horns, all the images of the American West, died. He acquired a set of dueling pis- acquired by Saunders, enhance the samand the feel of the metal, the touch of tols owned by the king of France, and pling of what other creatures one could another owned by the king of Spain. All encounter traveling across America in the these historic figures. Saunders was such a renowned three sets are displayed in their original days of the Wild West. Saunders and his beloved wife Germarksman that the Colt Company sent carrying cases, artistic objects in their own right. trude traveled the world for two years him their new guns for testing, guns One of Lassiter’s favorite stories cen- before her untimely death in 1911, and he kept. Lassiter reported that in the 1980s, the Colt firm tried to buy back ters on Saunders’ world travels, when during these ventures the collection the firearms, noting Saunders’ collec- he met an Arab sheik, who had a cu- expanded in other directions. In one tion was more complete than its own. rious hand-held blunderbuss. The sheik display case sits a set of dishes plated took a fancy to a new gun that Saunders in 22-carat gold. Other commercial art The will prevented such a sale. Sometimes the story of a gun alone had. They held a shooting contest, and includes bolts of cloth from numerous 42 | August 2022
Saunders Memorial Museum in Berryville shares Wild West treasures, stories for all Some of the most unique firearms in the Saunders Museum collection are displayed above, including two single-shot pistols around a couple inches in length at bottom, firing 2 mm shells, contrasted with a Lindsay Young America 40-caliber percussion two-shot pistol at upper left. European countries. There’s folk art: a necklace made from the backbone of a squirrel, a piece of textile art with woven in butterfly wings, and a chair made from a buffalo hide. One display case shows Saunders’ formal suit and top hat, and Gertrude’s gown for formal occasions. Nearby is a pen, presented to Gertrude’s brother, by President James Garfield. The same room holds a display of furniture, acquired from one of Saunders’ friends. This collection includes several pieces of teakwood dating back at least 400 years from China or Japan, bearing carved dragons. The wife of the friend found the furniture terrifying, bearing bad luck, and she would never put it on display. “This is not just a gun museum,” Lassiter said. “Visitors find it overwhelming. They want to bring their wives in from their cars, who let them come in for a little while to look at the guns, or bring the family. We’re in our 66th year. We haven’t had trouble getting people to make a return visit. There’s something for everybody.” The museum opens on April 15 and closes the first Saturday in November. It’s open from 10:30 a.m. and admits no new guests after 4 p.m. to ensure
closing by 5 p.m., as the museum takes at least an hour to tour. The Saunders Museum opened in 1957. Saunders left his house to the city, which converted it to the present city hall, down the street from the museum. Saunders also left the land for the city park and swimming pool, the gun range, and the Saunders Heights mountaintop used for the annual Fire on the Mountain July 4 celebration. While his money for running the museum ran out years ago, the facility continues as a city operation. Lassiter has studied Saunders’ story for years, finding accounts of the artifacts and his personal adventures in correspondence and assorted magazine and newspaper articles. Saunders started a memoir and exchanged pieces of it with an editor before he died. Much of it remains unpublished. Someone willing to spend time can learn more about the various pieces. Guided tours are available. There are many curiosities, like the doorjamb pistols that could fire a shot when a door opened, or pistols only two inches in length with the power to penetrate a soda can. Saunders’ return to Berryville after his wife’s death, his feats of marksmanship shooting tossed pennies
at the feed mill for the local children, his training after an eye injury to sight equally well with either eye, the artifacts of a dollar-sized shooting target that he hit on the edge then in the center with a second shot, all these make great tales of a larger-than-life local man. A pamphlet is for sale at the museum has some of the stories. The real treat, as Lassiter will tell you, is seeing it for yourself. n
A knife used by “Buffalo Bill” Cody in his handto-hand fight with Chief Yellow Hand of the Cheyenne, at top, and a genuine Jim Bowie knife at bottom.
ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 43
CUTEST PET
Cutest of August 2022
Ace and Trigger
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.
44 | August 2022
Ace and Tigger 10-week-old fur babies of Jackie Velten
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RESCUED, MY FAVORITE BREED
by Christa Stout
Ongoing Tales I spent a little time this month at Haven of the Ozarks, an animal sanctuary outside of Cassville. The address is 9617 Farm Road 2190 in Washburn. I had heard, and this was confirmed by Wes, the director, that at one point a couple of weeks ago they ran dangerously short on food for the dogs and cats in their care. Wes decided to send out a call for help to all of the people who follow them on Facebook or are on their mailing list. Thank goodness, the people came through. Attached is a picture of the packages Wes had to pick up at the post office. He was so very grateful for all the people who sent items from their Amazon wish list, or donated by sending in funds. There were a couple of donors who contributed substantially and everyone’s support was mightily appreciated. The Haven is a sanctuary, which means that any animal they take in will be there for their lifetime, unless adopted. As with all shelters, only sick animals or pets who are
a danger to the staff may need to be euthanized. However, in the 5 years that Wes has been part of the Haven, this has only happened once because the dog was truly a danger to himself and to the staff. This also means that once the kennels are full, they can no longer take in any other pets, unless one is adopted. This is also true of other shelters, so if you would like to adopt an animal, keep that in mind, when one is adopted, there will be room for another. Haven’s waiting list for intake currently is unfortunately long at this time and contains more than 60 people waiting for a spot for their pet. Of course, this could mean that these are pets that the owner can no longer care for, or the owner has passed away and someone has kindly taken care of them temporarily, or they are strays that showed up or were dumped at someone’s home or were captured by animal control or police departments. Unfortunately, since the pandemic has subsided, returns of adopted pets have also increased to a great degree. This may be due to people no longer working from home or
they feel like they no longer have the time for their pets. It is so sad when an animal is returned to a shelter, even though the caretakers are wonderful and try to make this transition as seamless as possible, the animal does not understand why he is suddenly back where he came from.
I asked Wes what his greatest needs were currently and he said Good adopters Volunteers Food for the pets Won’t you consider helping in one of these areas? Because the Haven is a Sanctuary, they do not do many transports. Most of their dogs come from the greater Barry County area, and from some of the surrounding towns like Cassville and Exeter, and remain at the sanctuary. I asked Wes what they considered a long-time resident of the Haven
Find more articles on animal rescue operations in the region!
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ConnectionMO.com/RescuedMyFavoriteBreed | Connection Magazine | 45
and he said this was usually when a pet has been at the sanctuary for a period of over 6 months. When that occurs, they do some additional Facebook posts and bring these animals to everyone’s attention, hoping that their adopter is out there and can be found.
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He told me of a couple of dogs, Amber and Curley Bill, who had been longtime residents; they hated other dogs, but loved each other. They had been adopted and returned several times, but each time, they immediately loved each other again. Amber had been there for 6 years and Curley Bill for 5 when an adopter came in to adopt Curley Bill.
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Well, Curley Bill was lying in the waiting area when they brought in Amber. The two promptly started growling at each other, then suddenly stopped, realizing they were old friends. The tails started wagging and they greeted each other with joy. The adopter recently sent a picture of his two friends (attached), they are still as happy as can be.
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Everyone was so happy that he found a home, but only a few weeks later the adopter came back and told them he thought Curley Bill was sad and depressed. The staff was so disappointed, thinking he wanted to bring him back. But instead he said he wanted to adopt Amber also and shouts of joy went up.
Then there is the story of the kitten. A couple was boating on the lake and came by a bluff, with a tiny kitten close to a cave. There was no house around and the poor kitten was crying for attention and food. The couple was able to capture the kitten, who was terribly skinny, and brought it to the Haven. They name it Bluffy (yes, from bluff and fluff) and it is the cutest little thing. I was able to get my kitty fix, it has a purr that literally shakes its entire body and is so loud, you can hear it across the room even over and above dogs barking. The kitty is not quite ready for adoption, but will be soon. The picture on page 45 is of Bluffy on the cliff at the lake, the little white and black spot on the right side of the cave.
Waldensian Ice Cream Social and Trinity Lutheran Picnic
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A crowd attended the annual ice cream social at the Waldensian Presbyterian Church.
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FAMILIAR FACES
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Connection Faces Waldensians Dr. Ralph Scott Shayla Doss, dog Zippy and Amy Mattlage Jim Carrier, Will Garner, Mariann Carrier and Blythe Garner
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The annual Trinity Lutheran Picnic took place July 8 in Freistatt.
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Ernie and Connie Jarvis and Betty Brandt Shayla Doss, Amy Mattlage and Mr. Zippy Madeline Kennell, 4, and Elaina Kennell, 6 Lawrence County candidates Denise Massie, for Recorder of Deeds, and Mitch Boggs, for State Representative 5. Katherine Marler and Marissa Geyer
ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 47
FAMILIAR FACES
Fireworks and Freedom 2022
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The Monett Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Fireworks and Freedom celebration on Monday, July 4, at South Park in Monett. The daylong event featured seven hours of music, more than 30 vendors offering food, beverages, clothing, rides, and carnival games.
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1. Kilee Wilson, Kylee Holloway and Jenna Herald 2. Evica Estrada and Maria Rubi 3. Brad Herald and Morgan Wright 4. Luna Monjaras, Erin Newton and Donna Rosenstengel 5. Collin Chipman and Kylie Courtney 6. Alexis Couch and Chance Brownfield 7. Collin Hutcheson and Quentin Hymas
Advertiser Index A Mother’s Journey......................20 Aire Serv........................................... 8 Animal Clinic of Monett..............46 Aurora Motor and Machine.......30 Barry County Farm Bureau........40 Barry Lawrence Regional Library ..................................................... 3 Bruner Pharmacy..........................19 Cappy Harris Realtors.................49 Cassville Dispensary....................34 Clark Community Mental Health... ...................................................31 Coldwell Banker...........................19 CoxHealth......................................52 CS Bank..........................................51 Doug’s Pro Lube...........................36 Edward Jones.................................. 5 Factory Direct Mattress................ 2 First State Bank of Purdy...........20 Fohn Funeral.................................36 Four Seasons Real Estate...........32 Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri..........................................24 Friendly Tire...................................32 Jared Spears, DDS PC................... 8 Ken’s Collision Center.................19 Lackey Body Works.....................48 Lil Boom Town..............................24 My Best Friends Closet...............28 Ordinary 2 Oddities.....................51 Ozark Methodist Manor.............22 Peoples Community Bank..........34 Peppers and Co............................15 QC Supply, LLC............................... 7 Roaring River Health & Rehab...30 Root Cellar.....................................28 Rusty Gate Flea Market..............46 Security Bank of Southwest Missouri..........................................22 Shadow Bluffs Retreat................32 Shelter Insurance.........................15 Tomblin’s Jewelry.........................15 Trogdon Marshall.........................46 VisionHealth Eye Center............40 Whitley Pharmacy ........................ 7
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PARTING SHOT
Photo by Pete Rauch
Comet view from Snake River, Idaho
“The astronomer will believe that the most erratic comet will yet accomplish its journey and revisit our sphere; but we give up those for lost who have not wandered one-half the distance from the centre of light and life.” -Charles Spurgeon 50 | August 2022
NOW OPEN!
417-669-4536
405-C West Hwy C, Purdy, MO. 65734
2 Buildings down from the gas station off Hwy 37 ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 51
LATELY, SMALL-TOWN HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN CLOSING THEIR DOORS. OURS ARE OPEN AT THE NEW COX MONETT HOSPITAL. We know how important it is to have great health care close to home. So, our plan invests in the health of everyone in our community. By not only keeping great care close, but by making it even better.
It’s the right thing.
coxhealth.com
