Candlelight vigil in Mercy Park

JOPLIN, Mo. — The “JOMO Pride” group took time this evening to remember the victims of the tragic “Club Q” shooting in Colorado Springs.

A few dozen gathered under the pavilion at “Mercy Park” tonight for a candlelight vigil.

It’s a way to honor the five lives lost and the several injured after a gunman opened fire at the club last weekend.

The “JOMO Pride” group says it’s important that all voices are heard as the losses last weekend impacted many all over the country.

“I think, you know, us coming together as a community, you know, and showing strength, we feel what they feel. Just because we’re not in the same city doesn’t mean that we don’t have pain for what they’re going through,” said Stephanie Marsh, JOMO Pride Organizer.

The evening concluded as each victim’s name was read out loud before a “silent walk.”

Joplin woman has collected over 300 "Hallmark" ornaments

JOPLIN, Mo. — A local woman has likely set the Christmas tree decorating bar high for you.

Meet Marsha Lattimer and her Christmas tree covered in over 300 “Hallmark” ornaments.

She’s been collecting these dazzling and interactive ornaments since 1995.

Each one resembles a special memory for her, like her son’s favorite toys growing up.

They’re all intricately placed, leaving no room for bare spots.

This year, she put her tree up right after Halloween, but even after initially putting it up, she makes adjustments until it is absolutely perfect.

The entire tree brings a sense of nostalgia and Christmas magic.

“Sometimes I’ll just be sitting there drinking my coffee or just sitting, relaxing and just looking at the tree and it just brings back memories and just good times. Just seeing them and, it just takes me back. The good old days were the good old days, they were the best,” said Marsha Lattimer.

Every year, she gets more ornaments to add to her special tree of memories.

Science of cooking event held by "Creative Learning Alliance"

JOPLIN, Mo. — Some local kiddos used a bit of science knowledge, today, to create food items.

The “Creative Learning Alliance” in Joplin provided a hands-on “STEM” learning experience, using edible materials.

Kids made homemade butter by shaking cream and salt together in a jar.

Other activities included learning how taste buds work when tasting sour, salty and sweet foods like limes, chips, and candy.

They also learned some chemistry by making pink lemonade “spheres”.

These spheres were liquid, but a unique calcium bond with water gave them that jello-like texture.

“The concepts become real when you do, the learning is in the doing. And so, we want the kids to be hands-on and to take those experiences home with them so that they never leave their minds,” said Neely Myers, Project Coordinator, Creative Learning Alliance.

The next event for the “Creative Learning Alliance” will be a Breakfast with Santa event.

It will take place on December 3rd, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the morning, at the “Joplin Museum Complex”.

How "Black Saturday" is helping local businesses

JOPLIN, Mo. — You’ve definitely heard of “Black Friday”, but there’s also a “Black Saturday”.

It’s another way to encourage shopping at local small businesses.

Today, the “Front Page” store in Joplin held their own Black Saturday event.

On top of great bargains, the business also offered food trucks in their parking lot, like “Hubbs Bbq” and “Filipino Food.”

The store’s owner says it’s already been one of the best Christmas seasons they’ve had in their 38-year history.

And despite the rain, hundreds of shoppers made their way to the store to support their local economy.

“The money stays here, we’re able to, you know, give it back to our employees and the landlord and everything, you know, just able to keep more money in the community and all that, and able to support more local businesses,” said Jon Page, Owner, Front Page.

Their fun is not over with yet.

Even though the store is closed on Sundays, you can still “Shop the Comments” by visiting the store’s Facebook page to claim items to pick up on Monday.

The “Shop the Comments” items are all in the comment section of the pinned post.

We have a link to their Facebook page, which you can visit here.

"Tri-State Model Railroaders" holds biannual event

JOPLIN, Mo. — Local train enthusiasts were right on track with their hobby, today in Joplin.

The “Tri-State Model Railroaders” group held the second “Train Show and Swap Meet” of the year, at the “Joplin History and Mineral Museum”.

Two shows are held each year, with one in the spring and one in the fall.

The group was established in 2005, and has hosted shows since then.

Up to 700 hobbyists attend shows, looking to buy, sell or trade model trains and layouts.

It’s also a time to share passions with others.

Many group members have created intricate layouts of local towns, the way they remember them as a child.

“It’s a great way to re-live nostalgia with, you know, you don’t have it in front of you anymore, but you can kind of, it hearkens a lot of people’s memories and I like seeing people react to seeing a store, or something like that, ‘I remember that when I was a kid!’ I love that kind of stuff, that reaction,” said Jim Taylor, Member, Tri-State Model Railroaders Group.

Today’s show featured over 55 tables of layouts and items.

All proceeds raised from admission will benefit the “Joplin History and Mineral Museum”.

Stella, Lamar to receive over $2M to improve water systems

KSNF/KODE— More than $400,000,000 in state grants will help improve water systems throughout Missouri.

Here locally, the Village of Stella has been approved for almost $2.9 million to address issues with drinking water.

The state is using federal ARPA funds for the projects. There are a total of 41 approved for drinking water infrastructure grants.

The City of Lamar was also approved for funding. They’ll receive $2.3 million to replace aging water lines and help fund a new well.

How to keep your heater maintained during the winter

JOPLIN, Mo. — As temperatures drop and residents turn on their heaters.

Now is the time to make sure everything is in working order before winter actually arrives in just about a month.

Professionals say preventative maintenance and performing small tasks on your own, can prevent major issues and breakdowns.

Bobby Bush with Paschal Air Plumbing and electric there are some things you can do on your own now that could keep you from having to call a professional later.

“Well if you’re willing and able to clean your coil, your outdoor coil. Pull a hose over there, and rinse it off with a light flow of water. You know, we don’t want to damage the coils with too heavy of water. Make sure you’re adequately changing your air filter. If you hear any weird noises, that’s one of the telltale signs of your machines having a problem,” said Bobby Bush, Paschal, Service Tech.

Maintenance on your air unit can be expensive.

That’s why Bush suggests staying on top of maintenance year-round.

"Higher Power Garage" gifts cars to three local women

JOPLIN, Mo. — Some people think celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving is a big no-no.

But this is the kind of early celebration you might get behind, three local women in need, all getting an early holiday gift.

“We fix cars here, that’s what we do. But, really what we’re here for is to help people improve their lives,” said Mike Gideon, Higher Power Garage President.

It’s a motto that’s continued to come to fruition since “Higher Power Garage’s” inception, time and time again.

“It’s pretty exciting for us. I mean, it’s a big day. We’ve been able to put cars out in the past and we’ve done multiple cars before, but this one just feels special,” said Gideon,

Special, because the garage is gifting three low-cost vehicles to three local women in need.

“Go to work, take my kids to the park, take them to school. It’s going to be really good,” said Jillian Radcliff, Recipient.

Jillian Radcliff has been staying at god’s resort, learning to be on her own, including the car care program, to learn about what it means to own a vehicle and how to properly care for it.

“I learned a lot. Now I know that every dollar matters and I’m not going in blind with having a vehicle,” said Jillian Radcliff, Recipient.

Amanda Guyette is also getting a vehicle.

“I’ll be able to go to the grocery store, go to work, go see my kids, take them to do things,” said Amanda Guyette, Recipient.

Higher Power has now given away 33 cars in the last two years, thanks to the support of the community.

“The involvement that we’re seeing from the community in this program, both in cars that are starting to be donated and quality of the cars being donated, as well as other organizations investing in us, like the Arvest Foundation,” said Gideon.

“I feel very blessed to see how caring people actually are because I come from the other side of the tracks where nobody cared about anybody but themselves,” said Guyette.

Getting the keys on this day-before Thanksgiving is nothing short of life-changing.

The women are thankful, and so is Radcliff’s son.

“He’s super excited because he knows we get to go to the skate park now, and we get to see my sister for the holidays so we’re really excited,” said Radcliff.

“Very, very grateful and thankful,” said Guyette.

"Mercy Health Foundation" receives funding from "Arvest Foundation"

JOPLIN, Mo. — This Tuesday before Thanksgiving has local foundations feeling plenty thankful.

$5,000 from the “Arvest Foundation” to the “Mercy Health Foundation.”

The money will help fund an infant warmer. The machines typically cost about $15,000.

Mercy already has a number of them, eight of which are in the “NICU.”

City Council meeting focuses on pedestrian safety

JOPLIN, Mo. — Joplin City Council is now pursuing a plan to add a crosswalk near “Joplin High School”.

The move comes after a high school student approached council members about safety concerns for students crossing 20th Street.

The decision was made to start accepting bids from contractors.

The hope is to have it in place this summer.

It will cross 20th Street, between the high school and an alley near “Sunny Jim Park.”

The recommended plan also includes a pedestrian refuge island and added signage and signals for drivers.

“I think that this will get a lot of usage, and that’s important to us. Motorists will get used to it, I think it will really improve safety,” said Dan Johnson, Director Of Public Works, City Of Joplin.

City officials observed students crossing 20th Street, and noted there’s quite a bit of foot traffic, in fact, an average of 50 students cross the street on Friday afternoons.

Another topic discussed at tonight’s meeting involved the re-authorization of a yearly grant agreement between the city and the “Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.”

It’s done every year to continue operating the “MAPS” curb-to-curb public transit.

Due to a shortage of drivers, the “Sunshine Lamp Trolley” will soon be suspended until further notice.

Riders will now be referred to “MAPS” for public transportation services.

“But, what we’re doing is we’re moving some amount of that funding and services over to the MAPS system. As we sort out the Trolley program, we will still utilize those resources over the next fiscal year for the MAPS bussing,” said Tony Robyn, Assistant City Manager.

The trolley service will start reducing operations on November 28th, that’s next Monday.

“MAPS” will offer an added route and also add another bus.