Despite last week’s rains, the drier-than-normal spring has proved to be a boon for construction of the new Joplin High School, according to Mike Johnson, the school district’s director of construction. Johnson said the overall lack of rainy days has allowed construction crews to catch up on work days that they lost during the snowy winter.

On a concrete floor, near where the main entrance will be at Joplin High School, graduating senior Brooklyn Sims wrote a message for future students. “I wished them the best of luck and don’t give up,” Sims said on Friday during a floor signing event. “We made it, and we’ve been through a lot. So they’ll make it, and it’s worth it in the end.”

Missouri lawmakers ended their legislative session Friday claiming big victories on education and taxes, turning attention now to Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon and the voters later this year. Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said the Legislature succeeded on the issues of taxes, education reform and renewing the state’s criminal code.

Carthage City Administrator Tom Short on Friday denied an accusation by the head of Carthage’s city-owned utility that he asked utility officials to ignore electrical code requirements to benefit a city department head’s housing project.

When Mari Mallory got to work at the Neosho Fire Department on Friday morning, she noticed something was missing. “I noticed (the chief) first, because he had a hat on,” she said. “And I said, ‘You did it.’” About 20 of the firefighters had shaved their heads to show support for Mallory, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February.

Thursday was Abby Porter Day at Riverton Elementary School. The honor was bestowed on the pupil primarily for two unusual reasons: her driving ability at only 8 years old, and her uncommon courage in the face of what was later described as an impossible situation, again at the tender age of 8.

Pittsburg State University is in high gear finishing preparations for the Baja SAE-Kansas competition, one of three regional U.S. events that is expected to draw more than 1,000 people from across the world to the campus next week.

A financial analyst told the city’s Tax Increment Finance Commission on Thursday that a proposed development at Silver Creek Galleria is not feasible without the tax assistance. After hearing testimony of representatives of the Hope Valley Development Co. along with a city financial adviser, the TIF Commission voted to recommend tax assistance be provided for the development.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is examining internal surveillance footage of the McDonald County Sheriff’s Department as it pertains to a possible missing file from a drunken-driving arrest.

Directors of the Carthage Water and Electric Plant will not go forward with a bond issue proposal or changes to the utility’s budget until after a meeting with city officials set for Wednesday.