A Guatemalan woman seeking to overturn the adoption of her biological child by a Carthage couple has exhausted those efforts — unsuccessfully — in the state court system. The Missouri Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal filed on behalf of Encarnacion Romero that challenged a Missouri Court of Appeals decision terminating her parental rights.

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Becky Gray isn’t exactly sure where she’ll wind up on New Year’s Day, but one thing is certain: It will be outside. Gray, who lives in Girard, Kan., is one of thousands across the nation planning to bundle up and find a trail for a First Day Hike.

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Much of that holiday fa-la-la-la can be recycled instead of thrown in the trash. The Joplin Recycling Center can take discarded gift wrap without ribbons, along with boxes and greeting cards.

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Co-founder and executive director of Joplin’s Watered Gardens Rescue Mission, James Whitford, was recently elected a board member to the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM), a century old national network of more than 300 rescue missions that provides more than 50 million meals, 20 million nights of shelter and graduates more than 18,000 men and women from addiction recovery programs every year.

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One Powerball ticket sold in Missouri matched all six numbers drawn Christmas night to win the $71.5 million jackpot. The winning numbers were: 23, 28, 38, 39, 56, and the Powerball number was 32.

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Due to recent ice storms, Pittsburg Parks and Recreation will be opening the Burn site on Friday, December 27th from 8:30am – 3:00pm, weather permitting. The burn site will also be open the following week (except New Year’s Day) December 30th – January 3rd from 8:30-3:00pm.

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The City of Joplin will have several collection points for discarded, live Christmas trees running through January 31st…

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As filing continues for seats on the Carthage City Council and Carthage R-9 Board of education, city officials already know that one council member will not be filing to return to the city’s governing body.

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The city of Carthage Recycling Center will be accepting tree limbs brought down in the recent ice storm from Carthage residents through Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014 without charge.

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“I can’t believe you’re leaving!”

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