JOPLIN, Mo. — A volunteer organization aimed at mentoring kids, is gearing up for its biggest fundraiser of the year.
Joplin "Bowl for Kids' Sake" fundraiser for local children
Category: General
The "Joplin Public Library" is giving free lunches to kids under the age of 18 this summer
JOPLIN, MO – The “Joplin Public Library” is doing its part to make sure no kids go hungry this summer.
It’s teaming up with the “Joplin School District’s” “Nutritional Services Department” to distribute free sack lunches.
Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, the free meals will be available in the library’s lobby from 11:00a.m. to 11:30a.m. to anyone under the age of 18.
Meals are limited, and will be given out on a first-come first-serve basis, every weekday through August 13th.
The Goodman Police Department is getting new equipment
GOODMAN, MO – The Goodman Police Department is getting an equipment upgrade.
The police tasers purchased 12 years ago recently stopped working.
Now the P.D. has signed a contract for new tasers, which also comes with new batteries, cartridges, and a new charging dock to go with them.
Police Officer Carter Graue (Grauw) says the update is very important for the department.
“They’re extremely important. Not only for our safety, but if we come in contact with somebody else and we need to use a non lethal tool, it’s a huge tool to have that not just protects us, but others also.” Says Graue.
The police department went without tasers for a month, until they got the replacements last week.
The "Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce" is partnering up with "Liberty Utilities" for a river clean up
JOPLIN, MO – The “Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce” is giving you the opportunity to float the “Elk River” in Noel, and do some good.
On Sunday, from 10:30a.m. until 5:00p.m., the chamber is partnering with “Liberty Utilities” for a river clean up.
Volunteers will meet at the “River Ranch Resort” and spend the day one a 5 mile float trip picking up trash and other recyclables
There will also be a scavenger hunt to make things a little more fun and competitive.
Those interested can sign-up online in the link below.
Local former police chief is still using his law enforcement knowledge for "Building Safe"
JOPLIN, MO – An area former police chief isn’t staying retired for long.
Delmar Haase was a longtime officer with the “Joplin Police Department” and spent the last 16 years as chief in Carl Junction.
He announced his retirement a few weeks ago.
But now, he’s putting that law enforcement knowledge to use for a Joplin-based company called “Building Safe.”
It helps schools, churches, and organizations deal with crisis situations.
Haase will be the company’s “Vice President of Growth.”
The "George Washington Carver National Monument" has had a few additions
DIAMOND, MO – Thanks to a lot of hard work over the past 3 years, the “George Washington Carver National Monument” in Diamond, is now better suited for all visitors.
“The idea is it’s for everybody, it’s for everybody, and I think everybody is going to really love it.” Says Jim Heaney, C.N.M. Park Superintendent.
Work at the “George Washington Carver National Monument” in Diamond, began in 2018 on an area just northeast of the visitor’s center.
The project includes many additions.
Among them, handicapped parking and accessible panic tables.
“Someone who needs a wheelchair can better tour the trail, hookup with the trail, or there’s a path that leads up to the Visitor’s Center, so it’s definitely an accessibility upgrade.” Says Heaney.
But Heaney says visitors with accessibility needs aren’t the only ones who will benefit to the new space, which also contains regular parking spots as well as the addition.
“I would expect that the rangers will be giving a lot more programs down here in a very pleasant and comfortable environment, particularly in the summer, it’s very well shaded, so I really think it’s going to become one of the most popular features of the park.” Says Heaney.
The area was completed just a few days ago, and is now open to all park visitors.
“A great aesthetic improvement I think, and when you take a closer look, you’ll see it’s really beautiful back there, uh very peaceful, kind of gives a nice ambiance to someone who wants to picnic here and chill for a while.” Say Heaney.
And Heaney says the timing couldn’t be better, with one of the monument’s biggest yearly events taking place this weekend, the 78th Annual Carver Days.
The non-profit "Hearts and Hammers" has been building ramps for people who need them
JOPLIN, MO – In tonight’s dose of good news… A Joplin non-profit continues its mission of assisting disabled residents.
“I’ve been looking, asking, but most folks said no except them.” Says John Snell, Homeowner.
Hearts and Hammers is a non-profit organization that builds wheelchair ramps for those in need.
Snell’s wide is sick, and had issues finding someone to build a ramp at his home which is inside Country Acres Mobile Home Community.
“It’s actually pretty neat, because most folks won’t touch it. We tried they said the land’s not yours. But these folks said okay, we’ll do it.” Says Snell.
This new ramp will make it safer for his wife to get around.
“My wife has a disease where she’ll trip, she’ll fall, she’ll wobble and steps back there not good. She’s tripped off of them, tripped up them. This ramp will be a major help.” Says Snell.
Hearts and Hammers started as a one day a year work day and evolved into a non-profit.
The ramp they’re building for the Snell family is bigger than normal and will be 48 feet long once it’s completed.
“There’s just a big demand for that. There’s a lot of people coming out of rehab a lot of people had amputations. Mobility challenges of different kinds.” Says John Clayton, Hearts and Hammers Director.
He says he feels good knowing the Snell family will be safer.
“Somebody that really adheres to his wedding vows. He’s just a great guy. I have a deep admiration for caregivers. I admire what they do and I’m glad to be a part of what can support that.” Says Clayton.
Hearts and Hammers built 43 ramps last year and is nearing 30 ramps so far this year.
To donate to the organization, check out the link below.
A local non-profit has had 3 graduates stay as interns
NEOSHO, MO – One Southwest Missouri non-profit is growing, and it’s all from within.
“If any of the guys are needing anything, they’ll bend over backwards just to try to help if it’s a serious need.” Says Lee Hartsock, Future Intern.
“Adult and Teen Challenge of the Four States,” a non-profit that helps individuals fight drug and alcohol addiction, has seen their organization grow substantially over the last 3 months.
Out of their last 5 graduates, 3 of them have decided to stay on as interns.
But that’s not the only growth they’ve seen.
“Out of our last 10, six have stayed on as interns. Then we have two more that are about to graduate in August, and both of them are committing to staying on as well, so we’re very proud of the culture we’re building here.” Says Zach Norris, Adult and Teen Challenge of the Four States Center Director.
And one future intern, Lee Hartsock, is about to join that culture.
“A lots been done for me, so it’s my turn to pay it forward. And, you know, I feel like a lot of the things in my past that I went through are now things I can use to help other people.” Says Hartsock.
But it’s not just paying it forward, it’s helping out family.
“We’re all like brothers here, it’s like one big family, so being able to be apart of that and know that there is always hope being put into their lives is a very rewarding thing.” Says Jason Davis, Former Intern.
While Hartsock is soon to feel the satisfaction Davis has endured, he says it’s all part of a plan much bigger than him.
“As far as recently I feel like God’s been putting me through a lot of breakthroughs that I’ve been waiting for for awhile, and so I guess I’m just excited to see what he’s got next.” Says Hartsock.
Mental health and physical health can be related and can be treated together rather than one or the other
JOPLIN, MO – Treating mental health and physical health together is an approach to helping the body as a whole.
Many health professionals feel the two relate, and you can’t treat one without the other.
KSN’S JESSICA SCHAER, TONIGHT – WITH THE NEXT PART OF OUR SERIES “THE SUICIDE CRISIS: PREVENTION, INFORMATION, AND AWARENESS”
“I would say physical health and mental health equally impact each other.” Says Karen VanDiver, RN, Ozark Center Healthcare Home Director.
A simple trip to the gym could be helping even more than you think.
“We used to teach people, you’re sick, let me take care of you. Now we teach people, you’re sick, let me teach you how to take care of yourself.” Says VanDiver.
VanDiver with Freeman Health Ozark Center’s Healthcare home points out just how much a physical illness can affect a mental illness and vice versa.
“When one disease process is not in control and not managed, then all of the other systems in your body threaten to become ill as well.” Says VanDiver.
She says, for example, think about someone who might be having a hard time with depression getting diagnosed with another physical illness.
“Perhaps another disease process that you have, such as maybe diabetes, it is also potentially going to be affected, because you may not be paying attention to your nutrition.” Says VanDiver.
Healthcare Home is a support service that helps patients with chronic mental health conditions manage the link between mental and physical health.
“It’s super individualized. An individual may say, ‘Gosh I don’t breathe well. I’d like to move more.’ And so, we’ll work on what that might look like for that individual.” Says VanDiver.
Roughly 519 clients are in the program and it’s growing.
“We aren’t designed to do direct care. We are designed to be a coordinator of care for our providers that are already doing fine direct care for our clients.” Says VanDiver.
Thankfully, Healthcare Home nurses can help get patients on the right track to treat the body as a whole, not just training physical or mental health alone.
“An essential part of being well is not only having part of your psychiatric care identified with a provider that you trust, but also having a primary care physician that that provider can work with and that individual can depend on.” Says VanDiver.
If you know anyone struggling with their mental health and they need someone to talk to, we urge you to call the suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.
We also have more resources, including the Healthcare Home program linked below.
https://www.freemanhealth.com/ozarkcenter/service/community-services#964037043-3793942823
A 9 year-old girl delivers her mothers baby at home
BELTON, MO – In tonight’s dose of good news… A Belton, Missouri family welcomed their new baby girl into the world more than a week early, at home, with some surprising help.
When any baby is born it’s a miracle. Although, this birth may take the cake.
A 9 year-old helps deliver her baby sister at home. Her mom, a nurse here at St. Luke’s, coached her thru it.
“She is less than 24 hours old.” Says Angelica Gunn, Mother. No doctor or nurse delivered this bundle of joy.
“Then, a few seconds later her water broke.” Says Aakayla Gunn, 9 year-old.
But she may have a future in the medical field.
“We may have a doctor on our hands. Already delivering babies at 9!” Says Caleb Gunn, Father.
9 year-old Aakayla Gunn delivered her baby sister, 7lb, 9oz Aubree Rose.
“It was fun, she looked really pretty.” Says Aakayla Gunn, 9 year-old.
Mom, Angelica Gunn, started feeling contractions Tuesday. She called her husband to rush home, Caleb got stuck in traffic.
“I screamed for Aakayla to come in, and I was just like, you have to look, something’s happening, is her head coming out? And she’s like, I can’t look and I’m like you have to.” Says Angelica.
Within two pushes, Aubree was out. Aakayla caught her.
“She told me to go grab a towel and don’t hold Aubree so hard and um give her to mommy.” Says Aakayla.
Gunn’s sister on the phone, paramedics on the other.
Gunn herself is a nurse and certified Doula.
“I’m glad that we’re both okay and that my daughter’s okay and she’s not traumatized by the whole thing. She’s pretty excited about it.” Says Angelica.
Aakayla has a 4 year-old brother, but can’t wait to hit the mall with baby sis.
“Shopping!!” Says Aakayla.
Dad describes his daughter as a total girly, girl.
“I mean, she’s scared to touch worms, so just to look at some things that she looked at is just amazing.” Says Caleb.
The amount of bling on her shirt, matches her bravery.
“Big sister!!” Says Aakayla
“I think she’ll really cherish this for the rest of her life.” Says Angelica.
Even more special, the Gunns have battled fertility issues.
“We had our nurse on our side, my little angel Aakayla.” Says Caleb.
They have 3 babies in heaven, and now 3 here on Earth.
“It’s like heaven looking into her eyes. It’s amazing.” Says Caleb.