Joplin Chamber President Toby Teeter steps down

Posted on June 30, 2021 by KOAM TV 7

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce (JACC) announced Wednesday morning Toby Teeter is stepping down as president and CEO effective Friday, July 30.Teeter will continue to support and advise the JACC staff through a brief transition period.

Teeter was hired in December of 2018. Upon joining the JACC team, he focused on furthering economic development, attracting and retaining talent for Joplin, building a strong regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, and expanding benefits for Chamber members.

“Serving as the Joplin Chamber’s President has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Now it’s time for me to step down and allow a new Chamber leader to emerge with the skills required to navigate Joplin’s next chapter,” says Teeter.

“Toby has done a tremendous job of leading the Chamber through a time of unprecedented uncertainty and change in addition to his focus on economic development, talent attraction, EDI, and regional branding,” says Jeremy Drinkwitz, Board Chair of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. “We thank him for his leadership and wish him the best of luck in his next chapter.”

Over the course of his tenure, Teeter has spearheaded many projects for the benefit of the Joplin business community and the overall area. These include instituting several talent and business attraction projects, developing new resources for startups and entrepreneurs, strengthening the Joplin brand through ChooseJoplin.com, creating a new online business journal with JoplinBusinessOutlook.com, establishing Ideas on Tap networking events and e-Commerce Meetups, and helping start the Joplin chapter of 1 Million Cups. Under his leadership, the business incubators in the Advanced Training & Technology Center and the Joseph Newman Innovation Center have been brought to full capacity.

“I am grateful for the various positions I have served in, and for the opportunity to make a positive impact in my hometown,” concludes Teeter. “I truly love Joplin.”

Under the leadership of the Board of Directors, the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce will continue to move forward with those initiatives as the search begins for a new Chamber President.

Soutwest Missouri Bank announces Corley Grant recipients

Posted on June 29, 2021 by KOAM TV 7

JOPLIN, Mo. – Southwest Missouri Bank, trustee of the W.R. Corley Memorial Trust, has announced the second year of grants from the generous Trust set up by the late Bob Corley. Corley, who passed away in 2019, was a lifelong area resident and entrepreneur who supported many area charities and institutions, such as MSSU, Freeman Health System, Mercy Hospital, Salvation Army, and Spiva Center for the Arts.

“This year we received applications from almost 50 organizations, and were able to assist 36 area non-profits through the distribution of $236,500,” said Chuck Brown, Senior Vice President and Trust Officer at Southwest Missouri Bank. “Mr. Corley’s legacy will continue to enhance our local communities for many years to come, and will help these organizations provide much-needed services to our residents.”

Organizations receiving funds this year are:

Joplin Dental School
Joplin Kiwanis
Joplin Rotary
The Alliance of Southwest Missouri
Area Agency on Aging, Region X
Aspire Scholarship Program
Boys and Girls Club
Bright Futures Joplin
Bright Futures Neosho
Children’s Haven of Southwest Missouri, Inc.
Community Clinic of Southwest Missouri
Connect2Culture
First Christian Church Joplin
Foundation of Home Builders Association of Southwest Missouri
Freeman Health System
God’s Resort
Hearts and Hammers
Higher Power Garage
Jasper County CASA
Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity
Joplin Historical and Mineral Museum
Joplin NALA Read
Lafayette House
Lion Co-op at MSSU
Mercy Health Foundation Joplin
Missouri Southern Foundation
Neighborhood Life House, Inc.
Neosho Area Habitat for Humanity
Regional Health and Welfare Association
Salvation Army Jasper and Newton Counties
Solace House of the Ozarks
Spiva Center for the Arts
St. Ann’s Catholic School
Watered Gardens Ministries
Webb City Farmers Market
Wildcat Glades

JPD announces 54th Citizens Police Academy class for Fall

Posted on June 29, 2021 by KOAM TV 7

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Joplin Police Department announces the upcoming Fall session of the Citizens Police Academy.

The academy is a 14 week program geared toward people who want to learn more about the JPD. It will be free of charge and will provide a behind-the-scenes program taught by experienced police officers, who share their unique perspective on law enforcement.

The classes will be held every Thursday evening starting August 5th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The CPA will conclude on November 4th with a closing ceremony and dinner. The classes will be held at various locations throughout the City. The class size will be limited to approximately 25 participants.

Topics covered will include: crime scene investigations, narcotics investigations, child abuse investigations, vehicle stops, SWAT operations and equipment, use of force tactics, building clearing, DWI enforcement, an introduction to the K9 unit and much more.

Interested persons are encouraged to contact Officer Lacey Baxter at lbaxter@joplinmo.org or at (417) 623-3131, ext 1632. An application can be submitted or printed from JPD’s website, www.joplinpolice.org, under the Events tab. An application can also be obtained at the front desk of the Joplin Police Department at 303 E. 3rd Street, in Joplin

Joplin Collectors’ Expo returns in miniature form

Posted on June 28, 2021 by KOAM TV 7

JOPLIN, Mo. – Saturday was the third Joplin Collectors’ Expo, the first since the pandemic and the first ‘Mini’ Expo they’ve tried.

The Mini Expo was held at Cecil Floyd Elementary School in Joplin. More than 20 vendors were on hand showcasing a variety of collectible items. A few people even dressed up for the event. Organizers say they wanted to start small after last year’s pause.

“Since we hadn’t had one I just kinda wanted to have a smaller one and see how it went,” said organizer Josh Miller. “This is strictly vendors, so the bigger show will have a cosplay contest, battle bots, and stuff like that.”

Miller says they’re hoping to have that bigger show this October.

Heavy rain and flooding caused issues for Joplin drivers

Posted on June 27, 2021 by aroundcarthage

JOPLIN Mo. — Saturday morning’s heavy rain and flooding caused issues for drivers in Joplin.

A witness says a vehicle hydroplaned off east 32nd street and State Highway FF just after 7:30a.m. Saturday morning.

The driver climbed through the sunroof and a passerby used a ladder that was inside their car to reach the driver inside the submerged vehicle.

Meanwhile a Joplin road was closed after it was covered in water.

This morning Murphy Blvd. between 4th and main was closed to traffic.

With more rain expected the Joplin Police Department is warning drivers to be safe on the roadways.

They are asking drivers to avoid traveling on water covered roads and to turn around don’t drown.

Four-State Staycation: Robertson Family Farm

Posted on June 25, 2021 by KOAM TV 7

JOPLIN, Mo. – There’s nothing quite like getting fresh blueberries from the source. The Robertson Family Farm south of Joplin gives people the opportunity to do just that. While in season, folks can hand-pick a bag full of blueberries themselves. They also allow call-in orders for those who don’t feeling like doing the picking themselves.

The farm can be found at 707 Saginaw Road, Joplin, Missouri. It’s open from 8:00 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Sunday. The season is usually open for a about a month. You can follow the Robertson Family Farm facebook page for more information.

Wildcat Glades gives lessons on handling wild baby animals

Posted on June 24, 2021 by KOAM TV 7

JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin’s Wildcat Glades gave area kids a lesson in dealing with wild baby animals.

The kids learned lessons in things like dealing with baby birds found on the ground. They can be put back in their nest. The kids also took part in some arts and crafts.

“(The event is) just to give kids a running start at learning about the out of doors and not spending so much time inside,” said Wildcat Volunteer Vickie Cassidy. “Just seeing what is out in there back yard or front yard and to appreciate what they have.”

The program took place at the Wildcat Village on Riviera Drive in Joplin.

MDNR grants to benefit local recycling projects

Posted on June 24, 2021 by KOAM TV 7

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is funding 17 recycling projects in Southwest Missouri.

The projects will split a little more than $559,000 and all focus on waste reduction, material recovery and recycling. New grant recipients this year are Ritter Industries in Carthage and Noble Earth Recovery in Joplin.

Ritter Industries will fabricate a glass pulverizer that will turn bottles and other glass into a fine dust to be used for sandblasting. Noble Earth Recovery is an electronics recycler and will buy a shaker table and hammermill for the recovery of precious metals.

All of the grant recipients are privately owned.

Joplin School Board approves $121 million budget

Posted on June 23, 2021 by KOAM TV 7

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Joplin School Board Tuesday night approved the budget for the next fiscal year.

That budget includes about $121 million in expenses and $91.9 million dollars in revenue. The biggest increase in expenditures are the bonds for the new Dover Hill Elementary School and the additions at Kelsey Norman.

$26.4 million was approved by voters for the school projects, but only about two million of that was spent in the last fiscal year.

Joplin moves forward with scooter rental program

Posted on June 22, 2021 by KOAM TV 7

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Joplin City Council decides to move forward on negotiations with Bird Scooters.

The company held a presentation before council Monday evening as they seek to come to Joplin. The scooters utilize an app that lets resident rent the scooters for a short period of time. When the person who is traveling by scooter is done, they leave it for the next rider or to be picked up by a Bird contractor for repair or charging.

“Those scooters are popular in some other metro cities,” said Joplin City Manager Nick Edwards. “So I think there’s an interest to bring those scooters here. Certainly we want to makes sure if we do so, we’re doing so in a way that’s responsible and we’re also being as safe as we can. But It does provide another means of transportation which could ultimately benefit the residents of Joplin.”

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