Articles

The George A. Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin brought back in-person summer art camps in 2021 for the first time since March 2020, receiving full funding from two local charitable trusts (Jean H. Lemons Trust and W.R. Corley Memorial Trust) that reduced camp fees from $100 to just $5 per session. The six camps for ages 5-17 sold out within days of announcing the reduced fees, reenergizing both the staff and community while increasing overall traffic at the art center.

After deciding to pursue her "someday" goals, non-cyclist Shelly Dreyer completed the entire 240-mile Katy Trail solo from Clinton to St. Charles, Missouri, using basic equipment and learning bike repair from YouTube videos. Despite brutal 103-degree temperatures and having never ridden more than a few neighborhood miles before, she discovered that the journey itself—with days of solitude and self-reliance—was more rewarding than just the sense of accomplishment, gaining renewed confidence and love for biking.

The Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce organizes a two-day KCBS (Kansas City Barbecue Society) Master Series barbecue competition featuring 40 teams competing for $4,500 in prizes, with judging based on taste, appearance, and texture. The year-long planning effort involves numerous sponsors including Vernon County Commission, City of Nevada, and Smithfield Foods, creating a regional spotlight that brings the community together while featuring both competitive barbecue and a "People's Choice" public tasting event.

Fifth-grade teacher and mother of three Caroline Capehart runs at 4-5 AM to balance her busy schedule and has qualified for the Boston Marathon annually since 2016, despite initially promising her husband she'd stop after her first Boston run. She created a popular school running program at Frank Layden Elementary where students collectively complete a marathon distance throughout the year, and during COVID-19, she turned her virtual Boston Marathon into the community-celebrated "SEK Lemonade Marathon" by running past all her students' houses with police escorts and neighborhood support.

Whitely reminds readers that Independence Day should honor military service members rather than just focus on festivities, while reflecting on the historical injustices done to Native Americans who respected nature and fought to protect their homeland from those who sought to destroy it. The piece concludes with "The Last Cast," a poignant story about a dying fisherman's final peaceful day on the water, connecting with family and finding gratitude before heading home for the last time.

Former US Marine Laura Wright turned to writing and painting as therapy after being diagnosed with PTSD following two tours in Iraq, creating the Brave Mee children's book series that explores anxiety and stress through a gender-neutral character and animal guides. Wright both authors and illustrates the books to help children cope with negative feelings while empowering them to focus on positive aspects of life, with her artwork also displayed at Art Forms Gallery in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Shangri-La Resort on Grand Lake transformed from a golf-focused destination into a comprehensive entertainment complex with the addition of The Anchor, an 11,000-square-foot indoor facility featuring virtual reality games, golf simulators, escape rooms, and arcade games. The expansion includes outdoor amenities like tennis and pickleball courts, basketball, sand volleyball, and a kids' fishing pond, making it a year-round destination for families and corporate events while honoring military history with a USS Oklahoma anchor memorial.

Sixteen-year-old Dillon Leggett started playing guitar at age 12 and has become a well-known local musician performing across the Four States area, overcoming initial challenges of being underage in venues that serve alcohol. With strong support from his parents (who act as his crew and booking agents), mentorship from local musician Chris Bassett, and the broader music community, Dillon balances his musical career with being an honor student athlete who dreams of becoming a "singing orthodontist" while saving money from performances for college.

Starting June 1, 2021, Joplin Regional Airport launched new United Airlines daily service to three major hubs—Chicago, Denver, and Houston—through the Essential Air Service program with federal subsidies. The 50-seat regional jet flights offer competitive pricing and convenience compared to regional alternatives, providing critical connectivity for business travelers and economic development while making Joplin attractive to companies seeking accessible air service for parts, people, and business connections.