Vaccination help for St. Louis seniors

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Health officials and community groups are working together to help vaccinate seniors and other people who might have difficulty getting to a clinic for the coronavirus. As part of the vaccination campaign, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is holding one-day vaccination events at senior apartments with the state and the Missouri National Guard. Health departments and hospitals have set up telephone hotlines. Local health centers have sent staff to seniors’ homes to get residents signed up, and organized buses to bring them to vaccine clinics. Rhonda BeLue who leads St. Louis’ Joint Boards of Health and Hospitals said an “all-hands-on-deck” response to the virus is needed.

Weekend of homicides in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three separate homicides were reported in Kansas City Sunday morning. Kansas City Police Department spokesman Capt. Dave Jackson said the homicides don’t appear to be related. The third homicide was discovered around 10 a.m. when officers responded to a shooting at an apartment building near Gillham Road and Armour Boulevard. About five hours earlier, a cutting was reported at a different apartment complex near the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport. Jackson said that victim was taken to a hospital where that person died. Around 4 a.m., one person was shot and killed and another person was wounded in a shooting in downtown Kansas City.

Missouri must pay Planned Parenthood $140,000 in legal fees

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A failed bid to shut down Missouri’s lone abortion provider will cost the state $140,000.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Administration Hearing Commissioner Sreenivasa Rao Dandamudi granted on Friday the request by Planned Parenthood for legal fees as well as $6,600 spent on an expert witness. A four-day trial in October 2019 highlighted the state’s efforts to close the facility by denying it a license to operate based on allegations it had botched abortions. Planned Parenthood contended the state picked a handful of difficult cases out of thousands of otherwise successful abortions.

Joplin Memorial Run organizers hold course preview, highlight changes

JOPLIN, Mo. – As we approach the ten year mark since the deadly Joplin tornado, some are already planning ahead to commemorate the anniversary.

May 22nd 2021 will mark ten years since the violent EF-5 tornado tore a path through the heart of the city. Different events have marked the anniversary over the years, one of those, the Joplin Memorial Run.
This year, organizers wanted to offer a ‘course preview’ for the upcoming run.

While the run was postponed last year due to the Coronavirus, the course followed the same path it has for nine years. But this year, due to the construction of the new Harry M. Cornell Arts and Entertainment complex, organizers have had to change the starting point of the race to Cunningham Park. Organizer Jenna Henry says “I think a lot of people want to commemorate the anniversary of the tornado and the lives that were lost and the way the city came together afterwards so it’s something a lot of us do to remember the people that died in the tornado ”

There are several stages to the run, the first of which will start at 6:30am at Cunningham Park on Saturday, May 22nd.

Downtown Clean Team events begin Tuesday to beautify Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo. – The 2021 Downtown Clean Team, established by Downtown Joplin Alliance, will begin cleaning up the Downtown Joplin area through a series of events beginning Tuesday, March 2.

With the help of volunteers, the Clean Team events will focus on removing trash and improving the appearance of Downtown Joplin.

The events will take place one to three times per month from March through October of this year. They will last for one hour, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, the Clean Team volunteers will meet at Joplin Avenue Coffee Company, located at 506 S Joplin Ave. in Joplin, at 5:30 p.m.

Downtown Joplin Alliance will provide the materials, such as trash bags, brooms and gloves, but you are welcome to bring your own.

Lori Haun, Executive Director for Downtown Joplin Alliance, says the Clean Team events are a simple way to get involved in helping your community.

“People just come out for an hour and it gives them an easy way to contribute to making their city a better place,” said Haun.

Partnering with Joplin Parks and Recreation, Downtown Joplin Alliance began hosting the events about 5 years ago. It all started when DJA realized that Downtown Joplin’s flower beds were in bad shape. Haun reached out to Joplin Parks and Rec for help.

“‘If you guys can get us some mulch, I’ll get some volunteers together. We’ll weed the beds, we’ll mulch the beds – they need to look better,'” Haun recalls telling Joplin Parks and Rec.

The cause has gradually grown and evolved. Starting last year, clean-up events have been taking place at least 16 times per year. The events will incorporate tending to flower beds again in the near future.

If you are interested in attending a Clean Team event, sign up to become a volunteer on the Clean Team’s sign-up page.

If you are unable to attend a Clean Team event but still want to help, Haun says you can focus on cleaning up your own neighborhood.

“Spend 30 minutes and pick up around your neighborhood, pick up along the streets… If everybody just picked up a few pieces of trash every time they went out, our city would be beautiful and clean,” said Haun. “Wouldn’t it be great if it was a whole city-wide thing?”

Contact Downtown Joplin Alliance with any questions at info@downtownjoplin.com or 417-501-9649.

George Washington Carver National Park will be having an "interracial understanding" hearing that is part of their weekends program

DIAMOND, Mo. — George Washington Carver National Park will be having an “interracial understanding” hearing that is part of their weekends program.

It will teach people about how George Washington Carver worked with different organizations that included YMCA’s and interracial corporation groups in efforts for interracial understanding and cooperation.

The hearing will also cover the time frame he spent as a slave, when slavery was abolished, and how he became the man we know him to be today.

Sarah Martin Park Ranger, says, “It’s amazing to just be able to work for this park and to understand George’s story and his humble beginnings. And to be able to bring that to life. Uh years later. To young children who are starting to learn about the idea of diversity in the classroom.”

If you weren’t able to attend the program, there will be another chance Sunday at 1 P.M.

Starting on February 27 daily tours are now being offered at 10 A.M. and 2 P.M.

Easter egg hunt to be held in Goodman

GOODMAN, Mo. — Goodman’s Betterment Club is having an Easter egg hunt fundraiser for the kids in the community.

With the pandemic last year, many people weren’t able to celebrate, so they were wanting to give something to the kids to enjoy and do with their families.

The club is asking for donations of unopened bags of candy. The Easter egg hunt will be held on Saturday, April 3 at 10 A.M. at the Goodman Ballpark.
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Tiffany Jordan Vice President of The Betterment Club, says, “We really just feel like the time is good we’re gonna get them outside get some fresh air you know they don’t have to get too close to each other but we can still have a good time. And a lot of families are struggling and we wanted to offer it so it’s a free cheap and easy way for our kids to enjoy the community.”

Donations dropped off at Goodman Tire & Auto or at the betterment club building that is next to the ball park.

Opportunity for Goodman kids who are wanting to play sports

GOODMAN, Mo. — There’s an opportunity for Goodman kids who are wanting to get into sports.

In the past, the ball parks recreation department had to cancel games due to covid-19 and the harsh winter weather, but they are in ‘full swing’ to get kids playing ball again.

Sign ups will begin February 27 from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. and March 9 from 6 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

The price to sign up is $25 per child and a birth certificate is required at registration.

Heith Lewis Recreation Director, says, “This is about the only thing we got to offer is you know the ball program for the kids to come out and play.”

Sign ups will be at the Goodman Community Center building and if you have any questions you can their office number at 417-434-7733.

Spire reconnecting lines for homes and businesses on Saturday

CARL JUNCTION Mo. — Spire Gas and Energy is working to restore natural gas to customers in the Carl Junction area.

Friday morning Spire’s supplier “Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline”, had a line break which injured one of their employees.

Up to 1,200 homes in the area near Fir Road and Lone Elm were without gas.

Spire says field teams from across Western Missouri were in the area Saturday reconnecting lines for homes and businesses that were impacted.

As of 1:30 P.M, they were restoring service to customers gradually.

The roadway at North Lone Elm will remain closed until Sunday to complete asphalt work.

On Saturday night Spire says their service technicians from across Western Missouri have largely completed the work to restore natural gas service to Carl Junction.

Spire says they were unable to reconnect a vast majority of customers they could not reach.

They are asking customers to call 800-582-1234 and hit one to schedule a reconnection.