Kathleen Swift

Jordan and Lucy Douglas married May 29, 2021, at Venue 105 in a rustic-chic outdoor ceremony featuring unique flower men in gray suits and sunglasses instead of traditional flower girls.

Chief Glenna Wallace and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe continue building their partnership with Seneca through major donations to public safety, expanding from 400 to 2,500 acres with casinos and businesses, and planning a new cultural center showcasing Ottawa County's nine federally recognized tribes.

Gwen Erisman, co-owner of Belle Maison home-staging business, maintains extensive family Christmas traditions with husband Chris and children Sam, Annabelle, and Lucy, emphasizing togetherness through tree cutting, movie nights, travel ornaments, and community service.

McDonald County High School senior Levi Neale's October 2020 deer collision led to an undiagnosed head injury that eventually caused epilepsy, ending his football career but not his determination to graduate and pursue trade school.

Karla Boatright and Katlynn Bishop founded One24 Boutique in 2016 after Karla's bladder cancer recovery, growing from online cancer apparel to major retailer donating to cancer research.

artCentral in Carthage presents "p-i-e-c-e-d TOGETHER," a mixed-media collaboration between friends Lori Marble and the late Jo Mueller running October-December 2021.

Big Dog Boutique in Carthage, Missouri, evolved from an e-commerce store to a premier pet specialty shop offering the largest selection of collars and leashes in the Four-State Area, with owner Jeanette Cartright focusing on American-sourced, holistic products that she personally tests with her own dogs. The store recently added a unique self-serve dog wash station and maintains strong customer relationships while continuing to ship worldwide through their website.

Lifelong Carthage residents Gary Haggard ("Tree") and Terry Prine ("Stump") were honored as grand marshals of the 2021 Maple Leaf Festival parade after 50 years of unwavering support for Carthage athletics, evolving from high school spectators in the 1970s to essential team helpers who ride bikes to games and assist with water, equipment, and scoreboard duties. Their legendary dedication includes stories like Tree biking to away games, earning them community-wide love and recognition as the perfect representatives of Carthage spirit.

The Four States' annual pet contest raised funds for Joplin Humane Society and Faithful Friends in Neosho, with winners including DOG Blue (a mini-Australian shepherd whose puppies will become veteran service animals), Ruger Dale Battlecat (a 20-pound Maine Coon), Creed (a calm silver Weimaraner), and Facebook favorite Lucy (an energetic jogging Dalmatian). The contest celebrated beloved family pets while supporting local animal welfare organizations that help cats and dogs find forever homes.