The Turner Report

Salvation Army: From Joplin to Moore with love

2013-06-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

(From the Salvation Army)

“When we heard about Moore, it was déjà vu,” says Lt. James Curry, corps officer for The Salvation Army in Joplin, Missouri.

It was May 22, 2011, when the community of Joplin, Missouri, was hit by an EF5 tornado. One hundred and sixty-one lives were lost; another 1,150 people were injured. The tornado was big, measuring a mile wide in its widest part.

The EF5 that touched down in Moore on May 20, 2013, was wider.

“We started praying immediately,” Curry says. “When I went to work we had a moment of silence.”

Soon after, the community stepped up in a big way.

“We had people dropping off baby diapers, wipes, shampoo and conditioner. People who couldn’t afford to buy hand sanitizer were buying hand sanitizer,” says Ali O’Dell, Volunteer Coordinator for The Salvation Army Joplin Corps.

Along with the diapers, wipes and toiletries came bottled water, and lots of it. Sam’s Club donated 2 pallets of water. Another four pallets came from Tri-State Motor Transit Co. and Downstream Casino Resort.

Beacon Roofing Supply donated a truck to drive the donated goods from Missouri. They also donated hygiene kits, cleaning supplies and other items that can be used for debris clean-up and removal.

Lt. Curry said the citizens of Joplin would continue to keep the Moore community in their prayers.

“This outpouring of love and support for the Moore community is something that the Joplin community wanted to do. We’re here to support the community of Moore until the needs are met.”

While Joplin continues to rebuild, Moore will now begin to heal. The gift of love from a different state will help both communities as they look forward, and remember the past.

The Salvation Army is no longer accepting in kind donations; monetary donations are the most critical need as supplies and personnel move into the areas of greatest need. Donors are encouraged to give online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).

No Child Left Alive coming in paperback

2013-06-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

The infamous book that provided the Joplin R-8 Administration with their avenue to cashier me out of the system, and perhaps out of teaching, will be available in paperback sometime within the next few days.

As I reported earlier, No Child Left Alive, a novel about one year in a dysfunctional public high school, was termed "obscene" by the Joplin R-8 Administration, which claimed I had assigned my students to download and discuss it (though as far as I can tell, they have yet to find one student who downloaded, discussed it, or even knew about it, until the charges were brought against me).

Some have speculated the Joplin administrators were more concerned about some of the things that were done by school administrators in the book. I will leave that for the readers to decide.

The book will be available online in a few days from Amazon.com and its own page on the CreateSpace website. It won't be long after that before it is available on other internet sites, including Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million.

It should be in Joplin by the end of the month or early July and a signing will be scheduled around the middle of July.

The description of the book, which will be featured on the Amazon and CreateSpace as is follows:

If the shooter doesn't get them, the system will. That proved to be the case for author Randy Turner, as the veteran teacher was fired from his teaching job in Joplin, Missouri, for writing this book. No Child Left Alive tells the story of one year at dysfunctional Franklin Heights High School, where the teachers battle administrators seeking to pad their resumes at the expense of the students' education and find themselves at the mercy of a criminal element that has been lured back into the school in a misguided effort to increase graduation rates.

At the center of the storm is Assistant Superintendent Abigail Saucier, who after being passed over for the top job after the death of the former superintendent (and Abigail's lover) is determined to make Franklin Heights a model of innovation through a series of new programs that confound and frustrate the faculty. Abigail also has to deal with a deadbeat husband, a promiscuous daughter, and a growing attraction to her daughter's boyfriend, drug-dealing gang leader Rico Salazar.

Opposing Abigail's plans to remake education at Franklin Heights is Teacher of the Year Walter Tollivar, who has his own problems- a crippling case of claustrophobia, and an attraction to a younger teacher, who five years earlier had been one of his students, and who is now so afraid of her own students that she has begun carrying a gun.

As the teachers battle to hold on to their sanity, a bullied student plans a revenge designed to make everyone forget Columbine.

No Child Left Alive is a satirical, yet frightening, view of education in Obama's America- a wasteland where test scores and statistics are everything, and teachers are cannon fodder for glory-hungry administrators and clueless politicians.

The book will have a new cover, designed by Cody Dyer. The rest of the book's design is being handled by David Hoover, who did Scars from the Tornado, Spirit of Hope, and the cover for 5:41: Stories from the Joplin Tornado.

Joplin Globe finally gets the story: Bruce Speck's out

2013-06-18T13:51:00.002-07:00

Today's lead story in the print edition of the Joplin Globe was the firing/resignation of Missouri Southern State University President Bruce Speck.

Of course, regular Turner Report readers learned that two weeks ago today, when I printed the information in a story backed by three sources.

The Globe has been circling around the story for the past couple of weeks, pouring on one layer after another and if anyone did not think Bruce Speck was on his way out, they were not reading between the lines in the Globe story.

When the Board of Governors doesn't come out and say, "Of course, he is our president. Why would you even ask such a thing?" it is not a good sign for the university president's job longevity.

Globe reporter Emily Younker covered most of the bases in her story in today's paper, even though for the life of me, I cannot understand why she wrote the final paragraph in the article the way she did. (Or perhaps, someone edited it that way.)

It reads, "The proposal (to eliminate the international program) was halted by a local legislator who said he wanted to give MSSU officials more time to research potential financial consequences of eliminating the mission from the statute."

Was there any logical reason why it was a "local legislator" instead of simply naming Sen. Ron Richard?

At least, the Globe has the story now and the two-week wait is over.

DESE standards will bring new teachers in line with Common Core, standardized testing frenzy

2013-06-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

You know that there are serious problems in the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education when it issues a news release that takes the National Council on Teacher Quality seriously. That organization has been bashing teachers at the behest of its billionaire backers for a long time and its just-issued report on teacher education grades down schools if they are not pushing for Common Core Standards and not stressing standardized tests. The DESE news release is printed below.

The State Board of Education reviewed Missouri's progress on implementing new assessments to help prepare future teachers for the classroom at its meeting Tuesday in Jefferson City.

The new assessments for the state's educator preparation programs are being phased in over the next two years for prospective teachers, as well as guidance counselors, librarians and school administrators.

"These assessments are designed to help new teachers and school leaders become effective educators," said Chris L. Nicastro, commissioner of education. "Quality educators are the most important factor in providing students with the knowledge and skills they need for college, other postsecondary training and a career."

Preparing, developing and supporting effective educators is a primary goal of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Top 10 by 20 initiative, which calls for education in Missouri to rank among the top 10 performing states in the nation by the year 2020.

The State Board is responsible for establishing standards for the education, assessment and certification of all public school teachers and administrators in Missouri. The board approved updated standards for the state's educator preparation programs in November 2012.

The new assessments are aligned to the new standards and are part of the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessment (MEGA) program and include:

Missouri General Education Assessment: This test for admission into undergraduate professional educator preparation programs includes sections on English language arts, writing, mathematics, science and social science. The assessment will begin in September 2013 and will replace the current College BASE (CBASE) test.
Missouri Educator Profile (MEP): This new assessment is designed to measure a person's work style as it relates to the field of education. The MEP is set to begin in September 2013 and will assess the characteristics of individuals pursuing certification as a teacher, counselor, librarian and school leaders, including principals and superintendents.
Content Specialty Assessments: These exit exams must be completed by prospective educators, including teachers, counselors, librarians, principals and superintendents, for all areas of certification they are seeking. The assessments are aligned with state and national standards and will begin in September 2014. They will replace the current Praxis test.
Missouri Standards-Based Performance Assessments: These new assessments for prospective teachers, counselors, librarians, principals and superintendents will measure their performance in content, coursework and clinical experiences, including student teaching and internships. The assessments are set to start in September 2014.

The work the Department is doing will help to address some of the concerns voiced in the NCTQ Teacher Prep Reviewreleased today by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) and U.S. News & World Report. The Review evaluates more than 1,100 educator preparation programs nationwide, providing prospective students, parents and school districts with information about the quality of available programs.

According to the Review, only two teacher preparation programs in the state -- Missouri State University and Missouri University of Science and Technology -- earned at least three out of four possible stars to make the high-rated program list, while other institutions received lower marks or chose not to participate.

Missouri's new certification and testing requirements through the MEGA program will raise the bar in a number of areas, including increasing the admission and licensing standards, aligning teacher preparation with the Common Core State Standards, improving clinical preparation and holding preparation programs accountable for student success.

More information about educator preparation in Missouri can found at dese.mo.gov/eq/ep/.

DESE, Higher Education Board working on Common Core standards, assessments

2013-06-18T12:34:00.003-07:00

(From the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)

Members of the State Board of Education (SBE) and Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) attended a joint meeting Monday to discuss collaborative efforts and the future of Missouri education. The work study session included discussion around the Common Core State Standards and Smarter Balanced assessments.

"Although the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Higher Education are two separate entities, there are a number of areas where our work intersects," said Commissioner of Education Chris L. Nicastro. "It's imperative that we have ongoing conversations so we can maximize our efforts to better serve the students of Missouri. We look forward to our continued partnership with the Department of Higher Education."

Similar to the SBE's aim of Missouri becoming one of the top 10 performing states in education by the year 2020, the CBHE has endorsed the goal to increase the proportion of Missourians with high-quality postsecondary credentials to 60 percent by 2025.

The adoption of the Common Core State Standards has emerged as a primary strategy for bridging the gap between high school, college and beyond. A set of academic expectations for English language arts and mathematics, the Common Core Standards are part of the Missouri Learning Standards, which define the knowledge and skills students need to succeed in college, other postsecondary training and careers.

Many higher education institution presidents and chancellors have strongly supported the Common Core Standards, noting the necessity to better prepare students to be college- and career-ready when graduating from high school. The ability to compete in a global, knowledge-based economy is also a critical component of the standards.

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium is working to develop a comprehensive and innovative assessment system for grades 3-8 and high school, which align to the Common Core Standards and have the capability to measure the level of student proficiency in mastering the standards. The new assessments will roll-out during the 2014-2015 school year.

As part of the meeting discussion, it was also noted that the Common Core Standards have the potential to reduce the remediation rate, improve college degree completion and reduce the costs of obtaining a college degree.

Additionally, a joint Missouri Learning Standards website is being developed to provide information to students, parents and educators about all state standards. Until the new website is launched, current information can be found atmissourilearningstandards.com.

Nixon signs bills extending foster care

2013-06-18T07:15:00.002-07:00

Will author(s) of Southern Watch blog be revealed?

2013-06-17T18:28:00.002-07:00

One of the enduring mysteries since the arrival of now-departed Bruce Speck as president of Missouri Southern State University has been the identity of the author or authors of the anonymous Southern Watch website.

The site has been a thorn in Speck's side since he arrived and it appears that with its mission winding down, Southern Watch may be ready to go out with a bang, including information about the author. Today's post offers this preview:

We promise that when we wrap this up sometime soon, there will be an epic final post and a peek behind the curtain here at The Watch.

Bruce Speck officially singing the Pink Slip Blues

2013-06-17T17:09:00.002-07:00

They made it official Friday. The Turner Report had it 13 days ago.

(From Missouri Southern State University)

Dr. Sherry Buchanan, chair of the Board of Governors at Missouri Southern State University, announced today Dr. Bruce Speck is no longer President of the University.

A roll call vote during an executive session on June 14, 2013 was unanimous, with all members participating and in favor of the action.

The parties are ending their relationship by mutual agreement.

“We thank him for the positive initiatives he implemented during his tenure,” Buchanan said.

Since Dr. Speck took office at Missouri Southern in 2008, he led several initiatives including improving the University’s financial position, creating a strategic plan, developing a master facilities plan and implementing program prioritization.

An interim president will be named in the near future.

***

In 2009, Bruce Speck enraged the Missouri Southern State University campus when it was learned that he entertained the Rotary Club by singing "The Pink Slip Blues," at a time when he was cutting jobs right and left. It seems fitting to reprint the lyrics of that song:

Well,I never felt more like singing the blues
'specially when my name's in the news
the headlines, they got me singing the blues

Well, I never felt more like cryin' all night
'specially when the budget's tight
the payroll, it's got me singin' the blues.

The budget that I thought was mine
is disappearing line by line
There's nothin' left for me to do
but cut your budget, too.

Well, I never felt more like runnin' away
but where would I go to get better pay
upward mobility, it's got me singin' the blues

Well, I never felt more like singin' the blues
'cause I never thought that I'd ever lose
my assistant, it's got me singin' the blues.

Well, I never felt more like cryin' all night
'cause givin' a pink slip don't seem right
job security, it's got me singin' the blues.

The office space I thought was mine
is gone and I'm told not to whine
There's nothin' left for me to do
but move in the cubicle with you

Well, I never felt more like runnin' away,
can't do that until payday
relocation, it's got me singin' the blues.

Well, I never felt more like singin' the blues
;cause most of my colleagues got the bad news
unemployment, it's got me singin' the blues.

Well,, I never felt more like cryin' all night
the economy's bad and nothin' seems right
no more Starbucks, that's got me singin' the blues.

The raises that I thought were due
my boss tells me they won't come through
there's nothin' left for me to do,
but furlough all of you.

Well, I never felt more like runnin' away
but I need to update my resume
retirement, it's got me singin' the blues.

Missouri StudentsFirst director quitting

2013-06-17T08:30:00.002-07:00

MoScout reports that Lea Crusey, head of Michelle Rhee's Students First group in Missouri, is leaving to move to Washington, D. C.

The blog then inaccurately refers to StudentsFirst as a group advocating educational "reform." Actually, the purpose of that group is connected to reform only by its misuse of the word.

StudentsFirst is an anti-teacher group and when you are anti-teacher, you are definitely not putting students first.

Teacher: If C. J. Huff ran for president, he'd have my vote

2013-06-17T08:05:00.001-07:00

Missouri teacher Sheryl Lamme, in a post from her Burnt Toast blog, praises Joplin R-8 Superintendent C. J. Huff:

This past February I was privileged to hear Joplin school superintendent, Dr. CJ Huff tell his story of the by EF – 5 tornado that ripped through Joplin May 2011. Accompanied with images and video, Dr. Huff delivered a powerful message describing the way his staff pulled together, accessed the damage, the loss, and the way that they pulled together. Tears flowed down this mans face as he recalled the way his staff personally sought out and accounted for every single employee of the school district, as well as every single student. He described the rebuilding process, and the way that the community united in order for classes to begin as scheduled in the fall of 2012. I was touched to the core! I was ready to pack my bags and move to Joplin. I wanted to work for this man. His story demonstrated the mark of everything a leader should have. If he ran for President he’d have my vote regardless of his party affiliation!

Ron Richard on going to Paris with Gov. Nixon

2013-06-16T08:23:00.002-07:00

In his latest newsletter, Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, talks about his trip to Paris with Gov. Jay Nixon.

On Friday, I will join the governor and a number of other state officials on a trade trip to France. As one of only two state senators invited, I am honored to take part in this trip.

Missouri continues to grow a strong International trade relationship all across the world. An important part of Missouri’s economic development is foreign trade. Last year, Missouri exported more than $2.5 billion to Europe alone. Exports to France jumped up 21 percent between 2011 and 2012, making the country one of our fastest growing trade destinations. Growing our Missouri exports is critical in growing our economy.

The focus of this trip will be on aeronautics. A key stop in our schedule will be the 50th International Paris Air Show. Designing, building and supplying aviation components creates jobs in our area and throughout the state. Strengthening our role in the aerospace industry will bring a number of new jobs to Missouri.

While in France, we will also have the opportunity to visit the American Cemetery in Normandy, where thousands of World War II soldiers are buried, including more than 200 Missourians. Our trip will also include stops to Belgium and the United Kingdom, two other key European trading partners.

State taxpayer funds will not be used for the trip. All costs are covered by the Hawthorne Foundation, a non-profit group whose mission is promoting economic development in Missouri.

In local news, I’m pleased to announce the Missouri Division of Tourism has awarded almost $5,000 to the Carthage Visitors Bureau to help fund the numerous local events held by the organization to promote tourism in Jasper County and Southwest Missouri. These funds will be matched by local dollars.

Tourism is a critical part of our state’s economy. More than 36 million people visit Missouri every year, with an $11 billion economic impact. These tourists also support local businesses, which promotes economic growth in our area.

I’d like to congratulate the Carthage Visitors Bureau, which organizes countless fun, community activities for Carthage and the surrounding areas.

Ed Emery: Agenda 21 is coming to get you

2013-06-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

In his latest report, Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, warns of the dangers of Agenda 21.

Throughout our nation’s history, American citizens have taken the most pride in their ability to have ownership of their own property. Many people put their sweat and tears into the land that has been owned by generations of their family. Farmers and ranchers work from sunrise to sunset to produce crops or raise livestock. Families buy homes to raise their children and dream about their grandchildren visiting them someday. Missourians are proud of their property, and we should do everything in our power to protect our property rights.

During the 2013 legislative session, which ended on May 17, the Missouri Legislature delivered to the governor a measure that protects such rights. Senate Bill 265 would prohibit the state and any political subdivision from implementing any policy recommendations that infringe on private property rights without due process and are traceable to the United Nation’s Agenda 21 — a plan relating to sustainable development and adopted in 1992 by the United Nations — or any other international law or ancillary plan of action that contravenes the federal or state constitutions.

Although Agenda 21 hasn’t been ratified by the U.S. Senate, the initiative’s influence is beginning to spread throughout the country. The United Nations highly touts the initiative on its website, “Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally, and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, governments, and major groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment.” Agenda 21 poses a serious threat to our property rights and agricultural industry, all in the name of sustainability for the environment. We need to act now to protect citizens’ property from unconstitutional intrusion by the government. When a warning comes up, we don’t wait for the danger to spread or for the problem to become worse — we are proactive and take action immediately to eliminate the threat, and SB 265 does just that.

We are already finding red flags in and near our state. You may have heard of the National Blueways System, which is part of the federal America’s Great Outdoors Initiative and aims to promote the protection of rivers and their watersheds. However, the initiative can be traced to the same goals as Agenda 21. Last January, officials in Arkansas announced that the White River and its watershed is designated the nation’s second National Blueway (the first was the Connecticut River). The White River Watershed National Blueway covers 17.8 million acres across 60 counties of Missouri and Arkansas. Any property in this vast area will be subject to countless regulations, and in some cases, property and livelihoods could be jeopardized if the federal government deems farmland “non-productive and/or frequently flooded,” or if the property does not meet new federal regulations regarding tilling of soil and water runoff from fields and pastures. The Memorandum of Understanding for the White River Watershed National Blueway specifically states that the Blueway System seeks to “protect” the habitat through “easements” and land “acquisitions.” Many people are angry about this interference by the federal government, the lack of notification given to citizens, and the fact that input was not sought from local county governments or the public; not to mention the many constitutional questions surrounding this program.

I encourage you to contact your county commissioners and ask if they know anything about the National Blueways System. Before contacting your commissioners, the Property Rights Coalition lists various resources on its website that you can use to educate yourself on the White River Watershed National Blueway. You can click here to read detailed talking points regarding this designation and why it’s a danger to citizens and communities. You can also look at information provided by Secure Arkansas, another group aimed at protecting property rights in the White River Watershed area (www.securearkansas.com).

As free people of this country, we should not stand by and let the federal government dictate how we can use our own property. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that citizens shall not “…be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” If you have any questions about protecting our property rights in Missouri, please don’t hesitate to contact my Capitol office. Thank you and God bless.

Full operation for traffic signal at 60 and Kodiak Road, Neosho, starts Monday

2013-06-14T15:52:00.002-07:00

(From MODOT)

The traffic signal at Route 60 and Kodiak Road in Neosho is set to begin full operation at 10 a.m. Monday, June 17, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

Drivers are urged to use caution as they approach the traffic signal, which will begin cycling red, yellow and green.

MoDOT will observe the signal's operation to determine whether timing changes are needed.

The traffic signal was installed as part of a widening project at Kodiak Road and Route 60 in Neosho.

Here's a look at the project:

* Widen Route 60 to add left-turn lanes in both directions to Kodiak Road

* Widen Kodiak Road to add left-turn lanes in both directions to Route 60

* Install new traffic signal at intersection

The project is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2013.

APAC-Missouri of Columbia is the contractor, doing the work for a low bid amount of $824,000.

The intersection improvements are being made possible in a cost-sharing project between MoDOT and the Neosho Transportation Development District.

Cuts in farm bill concern Cleaver

2013-06-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

In his latest EC from DC newsletter, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver explains why the farm bill is important to his district.

We all care about the Farm Bill – whether we realize it or not.

Why?

Because unless I am mistaken – we all like food.

And we certainly all need to eat.

We also NEED to pass a good, complete, and comprehensive five-year Farm Bill. I don’t need to tell you that this is long overdue. I don’t need to tell you this is the right thing to do. And I don’t need to tell you farmers and ranchers are the economic engines of the massive, job-creating, food-growing, nutrition-providing, agriculture industry in this country.

Not to mention, eating food grown by farmers and ranchers here at home means less dependence on other countries that may not have or enforce safety standards present in the United States.

But I would like to discuss some particulars of the Farm Bill the House of Representatives is getting ready to vote on. There are parts of it that I like very much. Thankfully the issue I fought for these last few months, retroactive livestock disaster assistance for farmers who were hit by the drought in 2012, has been included in the House bill. Many of those farmers in Missouri and the Fifth Congressional District were hit hard by the extended drought, and it is only right that assistance be provided to them, just as it is for crop producers. I applaud committee leaders for listening to my, and other Members’, pleas to include that language. I am also in favor of the expansion of the Farmers Market Promotion Program to fund regional food distribution centers to help farmers get their products to various local markets. I will work to see that those issues, and others, make it into the final law.

I am very concerned, however, about the proposed $20.5 billion in cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). What people throughout the Fifth District of Missouri understand quite clearly, but some in Washington can’t seem to get, is that SNAP helps farmers and ranchers with a market for their crops. While, at the same time, it provides nutritional food primarily to children, as well as the elderly and the disabled. Folks who, without SNAP assistance, may very likely go without. Shame on us.

22 million recipients of SNAP are children
9 million recipients of SNAP are elderly or disabled

This farm-food connection is a symbiotic relationship between rural, urban, and suburban communities that cannot, and should not, be demonized by political posturing, myth misers, or fact-free debate.

One of those myths is that recipients of SNAP only come from urban areas. For instance, Jackson County has almost 13% participation in SNAP. Saline County has almost 15% participation in SNAP. Poverty knows no boundaries.

Cuts proposed in the current House bill would mean children throughout the Fifth District would no longer be eligible for free school meals. For many kids, this is the only full meal they get each day. And we want to take that away? Shame on us.

Good government, in my opinion, is about compromise. I want to work through the regular order process so that the House bill, along with the one already passed by the Senate, can move forward, go to conference, and we can sit down, talk, and compromise.

I pledge to work my hardest in Washington to promote a depth of understanding that nutrition programs help ensure the economic success of farmers and ranchers, and promote the health of those using them.

In the end – if you like to eat – a good Farm Bill is something we all care about.

Ribbon cutting opens Joplin North Main/Zora interchange

2013-06-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

(From the City of Joplin)

Members of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors joined officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation, City of Joplin, Jasper City, and Joplin Special Road District, along with community leaders and the public in a ribbon cutting event today to commemorate the opening of the new interchange at North Main Street (Route 43) and Zora Street.

Work on this interchange began in February 2012 to connect two sections of Zora Street by bridging over the railroad tracks just west of Main Street. Designed to improve east-west traffic flow on Zora Street, this interchange provides a bypass for travelers across Joplin's north side. The bypass provides travelers a connection from Missouri Highway 249 to the east, and to Route 66 on the west side. This serves as a first step in connecting to the West Bypass, proposed to follow portions of County Road 290.

Corridors to the west of this interchange are being developed by Joplin Special Road District and Jasper County to provide connection to North Schifferdecker. This work includes a three-lane road connecting Zora Street west of Main Street to Jasper County’s Peace Church Road. Traffic going south on Peace Church will then connect to the intersection of North Schifferdecker Road and Belle Center Road.

“This project demonstrates how agencies working together can make a difference to improve our community,” said Joplin Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean. “With this new interchange, we not only create more efficient traffic flow, but we now have a gateway to the west that will provide opportunities for continued growth in this area.”

With this new interchange, traffic flow moving north and south on Highway 43 will now access Zora Street via on and off exit ramps. This traffic design removes two traffic signals along Main Street, one at Zora Street and one at Veterans Way. In addition, Veterans Way will be closed permanently, eliminating traffic traveling through an on-street railroad crossing located near the intersection of Veteran’s Way and Main Street.

"Traffic will flow better and drivers will be safer because of the Zora and Main interchange," MoDOT/Southwest District Engineer Becky Baltz said. "We at MoDOT were glad to partner with the City of Joplin on the project. We have a long history of collaboration, and we are committed to continuing that relationship on future projects."

The project was initiated by the City of Joplin through the Capital Improvements Sales Tax that voters passed in 2004. Lehman Construction of California, Mo., was the prime contractor. Project cost was $10 million, with MoDOT paying $1 million, and the City paying $3.2 million of the project. Funding from the federal level includes $5.8 million, which was secured by former U.S. Senator Jim Talent.

“The City thanks everyone involved, including our citizens, to help make our roads safer” said Colbert-Kean. “With their support of the capital improvements sales tax, we have completed numerous projects to improve our roads to provide safe and efficient travel through Joplin.”

O'Brian, Amplify Gymnastics receive SBA awards during Joplin ceremony

2013-06-14T10:17:00.001-07:00

The accompanying video shows the local presentation of the national SBA awards to Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce President Rob O'Brian and Amplify Gymnastics. The awards will be officially presented next Friday, June 21, in Washington, D. C. during National Small Business Week.

NEA update on tap at Southwest Missouri Democrats breakfast Saturday

2013-06-14T10:04:00.001-07:00

Chris Guinther of Missouri NEA will be the speaker for the Southwest Missouri Democrats during the group's monthly breakfast, 9 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at the Joplin Community Center, 110 Main.

Guinther will provide an update on the status of legislation passed in Missouri this year pertaining to public schools.

McCaskill: It's time for the House to pass the farm bill

2013-06-14T10:00:00.001-07:00

In her latest newsletter, Sen. Claire McCaskill says it is time for the House to pass the Senate version of the farm bill.

It's that time of year again.

Last June, the United States Senate passed a Farm Bill that would save taxpayers $23 billion, eliminate wasteful and redundant programs while maintaining a safety net for Missouri farmers, and provide critical aid to Missouri ranchers who were devastated by drought. For the next six months, the U.S. House failed to even bring that bill to the floor for a vote.

But the U.S. House of Representatives made the bill disappear - threatening the security Missouri's farmers and ranchers need to continue making agriculture the cornerstone of our state's economy.

Despite this setback, I was committed to doing everything I could to pass a Farm Bill this year. This year's bill required some Missouri-style compromise and commonsense - and while nobody got everything they wanted, it's a bill that we can all be proud of, and that passed the Senate with a large bipartisan majority. And having spoken to Missouri's farmers and ranchers, I know this is a bill they want to see passed as quickly as possible.

This year's Senate Farm Bill will save U.S. taxpayers over $24 billion - over a billion dollars more than last year's legislation. It also ends the wasteful Direct Payments program, which provides farmers with government handouts even when prices are high, often for crops they aren't even growing. I've worked with my Democratic and Republican colleagues for over a year to end Direct Payments, and I'm thrilled we've finally done just that. Our legislation also reauthorizes livestock disaster assistance programs - which will provide critical support to ranchers impacted by last summer's disastrous drought - through 2018. In addition, the bipartisan bill includes new dairy programs to help Missouri dairy farmers maintain reasonable margins in the face of rising input costs.

So, as the calendar brings another June and the Senate passes another Farm Bill, the question becomes: where do we go from here? Will the U.S. House finally stop sitting on its hands and pass this critical legislation, or will our farmers and ranchers continue waiting around for resources and security that never come?

I'm urging my colleagues in the House to take up legislation and participate in the debate.

As a daughter of rural Missouri, I've always known that farming was important to our values as well as our economy. When Missouri farmers and ranchers are prospering, our whole state benefits.

McCaskill on changes to prosecution of sex crimes in the military

2013-06-13T17:51:00.002-07:00

Custody hearing continues for Jovan Belcher's daughter

2013-06-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

The custody battle over Zoey Belcher, who became an orphan when her father, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher murdered her mother and then killed himself, went into its third day today. The judge is expected to make his decision tomorrow (Friday).

Hartzler: It's time for Eric Holder to resign

2013-06-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) is calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to resign from office.

“The U.S. Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of this country and is responsible for ensuring federal laws are enforced,” said Hartzler. “But Attorney General Eric Holder has let the American people down by failing to perform the duties of his office. It is time for him to resign.”

“There are numerous occasions in which Attorney General Holder has not upheld his duties to the American people,” continued Hartzler. “They include his overseeing of the Fast and Furious gun-running scandal in which a U.S. Border Patrol agent was killed. Additionally, the seizure of Associated Press reporters’ phone records and the abusive search of Fox News correspondent James Rosen’s personal email and phone records happened on the Attorney General’s watch. In fact, reports indicate that it was the Attorney General who personally approved the decision to falsely name Mr. Rosen ‘an aider and abettor and/or co-conspirator’ in a case of leaked classified materials."

Plans announced for Joplin Fourth of July celebration

2013-06-13T09:16:00.003-07:00

(From the City of Joplin)

Plans for the City of Joplin’s Independence Day Celebration have been confirmed by Joplin Parks and Recreation officials. The event will be held on Thursday, July 4th at Landreth Park.

The Celebration will begin at 3 p.m. with the opening of the food court. Various vendors will be selling funnel cakes, ice cream, hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, shaved ice, and many more carnival-fare food items to those attending. In addition, a vendor selling “glow sticks” and other “glow toys” will be at the event this year.

Kicking off the event will be Duke Mason performing the national anthem at the start of his concert. Several local artists will the follow this performance, including The Jake Clark Band, and Big Smitty. The performance schedule will be as follows:

5:15 p.m. The Duke Mason Band

6:30 p.m. The Jake Clark Band

8 p.m. Big Smitty

9:45 p.m. Fireworks

Musical performances will lead up to the biggest fireworks show in the area, put on by Liberty Pyrotechnics. The main event of the evening, the fireworks show, begins at 9:45 p.m.
The City will offer free trolley service from Joplin Memorial Hall (7th & Joplin Streets) to Landreth Park. Persons may park at the Hall parking lot and ride the trolley to the Park to enjoy the festivities without worrying about traffic and parking at the event. This service is being offered from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

For those driving to the event, parking is available to the east of the park off of North Landreth Avenue. Murphy Boulevard from Pool Street to North Main Street will be closed at 2 p.m. Other roads in the area will remain open.

Please do not bring personal fireworks, grills or create any fires. We want to keep the park as safe as possible for everyone to enjoy.

For more information about this year’s celebration, contact Paul Bloomberg, recreation and events manager, at (417) 625-4750.

Custody hearing continues for Jovan Belcher's child

2013-06-12T18:58:00.002-07:00

Video- complete Joplin High School awards ceremony

2013-06-12T18:41:00.002-07:00

From Jet 14

Nixon: Tax cut bill threatens higher education funding

2013-06-12T17:50:00.002-07:00