Tickets for sale for Joplin State of the Community event

(From the City of Joplin)

The City of Joplin is pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for the second annual State of the Community event.

Scheduled for Wednesday, January 27, 2027, the breakfast presentation has been designed for anyone with an interest or investment in the City of Joplin. The informative event gives attendees an opportunity to connect and learn more about the City’s goals, projects, and initiatives for 2027. Attendees will also hear updates from local government partners, to better understand how they are serving the community and improving life in Joplin.

The State of the Community will be held at the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex, located at 212 West 7th Street in Joplin. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. A buffet breakfast will begin at 7:45, and formal remarks begin at 8:30. The program will conclude by 10:30 a.m.

In addition to looking ahead, the event also recaps community accomplishments from 2026. Speakers will include City Manager Nick Edwards and Joplin Mayor Rob O’Brian.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/joplin-state-of-the-community-2027-tickets-1997001530335?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. After January 13, ticket prices adjust to $30. The event is limited to 250 guests. 

For more information, contact City Hall at 417-624-0820.

Nightmare on 7th Street: MoDOT offers latest update

(From MoDOT)

Progress Update for Route 66 Improvement Project for Week of Sept. 21 

A project to make pavement, sidewalk, traffic and safety improvements along Missouri Route 66 (7th Street) in Joplin is underway. Here is an update of the work scheduled for the week of September 21.

Drivers are reminded that access to all businesses along Route 66 (7thStreet) will be maintained during hours of operation.

Work scheduled

Contractor installing new storm sewer on the north side of Route 66 (7th Street) between Florida Avenue and Ozark Avenue

Florida Avenue currently CLOSED on both sides of Route 66 (7thStreet) for pavement replacement, installation of new traffic signal infrastructure and to accommodate temporary traffic shift

Contractor is working on pavement replacement for north half of Route 66 (7th Street) between Florida Avenue and Ozark Avenue

Contractor is coordinating with utilities for work to complete traffic signal installation at Florida Avenue

City of Joplin working on sanitary sewer relocation on Kentucky Avenue north of Route 66 (7th Street)

City of Joplin planning night work for pipe crossing under Route 66 (7th Street at Kentucky Avenue

City of Joplin crews installing section of sidewalk on south side of Route 66 (7th Street) east of Ozark Avenue

Liberty Electric planning for upcoming utility relocation work on north side of Route 66 (7th Street) between St. Louis Avenue and Murphy Boulevard

Missouri American Water crews relocating water line and doing tie-in work on north side of Route 66 (7th Street) between Pennsylvania Avenue and Main Street

Missouri American Water crews doing additional water line relocation work on south side of Route 66 (7th Street) between Kentucky Avenue and Grand Avenue

Missouri American Water crews doing water line tie-in work on both sides of Route 66 (7th Street) at the intersections of Commercial Avenue, High Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue and Michigan Avenue
AT&T planning for excavation at alley between Pearl Avenue and Wall Avenue

Bluebird Fiber crews working on replacement of pull box at Highview Avenue

Lumen Fiber crews working on utility relocation at Florida Avenue north of Route 66 (7th Street

Sparklight crews planning for relocation of overhead lines at intersection of Route 66 (7th Street) and Florida Avenue

Traffic Impacts

At least one lane of Route 66 (7th Street) OPEN in both directions

Access to all business will be maintained during hours of operation

Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the work zone

No signed detours

Check MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map for road closings/traffic impacts

Weather and/or scheduling conflicts could alter the work schedule.

Project Details

The project will make improvements along the Route 66 (7th Street) corridor in Joplin between Jasper County Route P (Schifferdecker Avenue) and Loop 49 (Range Line Road).

As part of this project, the contractor will rebuild the pavement, bring sidewalks up to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and upgrade and replace several traffic signals along the corridor.

This contract also includes a project to rehabilitate the Oak Street bridge over I-49 in Carthage. That project is likely to start in 2027.

Project Information

Prime Contractor: D&E Plumbing & Heating LLC, Nixa
Construction Cost: $61.6 million
Contract Completion Date: December 1, 2028

 

Four businesses fail Joplin Health Department inspections

Four businesses failed Joplin Health Department inspections last week, according to information posted on the department website. 

Businesses that flunked their inspections were Lotus Garden, 1818 W. 7th Street; Journey Through Slime Event Studio, 2310 S. Main Street; Bites N Pipes, 110 N. Range Line Road; and Longhorn Steakhouse, 1930 S. Range Line Road.

Seventeen businesses passed their inspections.

Lotus Garden

Lotus Garden received 16 core violations and an administrative violation for not having an up-to-date health permit posted. The core violations can be found at this link.

Journey Through Slime Event Studio

Journey Through Slime Event Studio received two priority violations and four core violations.

The priority violations were for having waffle mix being cold held above 41 degrees in a cooler and for having sugar ants on and in the back counter.

The core violations can be found at this link.

Bites N Pipes

Bites N Pipes received a priority violation for having food items in the prep table being cold held above 41 degrees and two core violations that can be found at this link.

Longhorn Steakhouse

Longhorn Steakhouse received three priority violations and five core violations.

The priority violations were for having chicken being cold held above 41 degrees in the breading cooler, Parmesan cheese, ranch mixture and shredded cheese being cold held above 41 degrees in the salad prep table cooler and for having steak being stored in an upright cooler at a temperature above 41 degrees.

The core violations can be found at this link.

***

Establishments that passed inspection were the following:

Stop N Shop, 2307 W. 7th Street

Quality Inn Breakfast, 3325 S. Arizona Avenue (re-inspection)

Whataburger, 2014 S. Range Line Road

Jefferson Elementary School, 130 S. McKinley Street

Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse, 511 N. Range Line Road

Wendy's, 701 S. Maiden Lane

Joplin Greenhouse & The Coffee Shop, 2820 E. 32nd Street

China Wok, 1130 E. 32nd Street

Lion Stop, 3525 Newman Road

KOI Restaurant, 2330 S. Range Line Road

Cash Saver- Dairy/Produce/Retail, 811 W. 7th Street

Crabby's Seafood Bar and Grill, 815 W. 7th Street

Taco Bell, 3210 E. 32nd Street

Mosa Hibachi & Sushi Joplin LLC; Commisary- 501 W. 7th Street

MOSA Commisary, 2008 E. 7th Street

Purdy man killed in crash south of Monett

A Purdy man was killed in a two-vehicle accident 12:35 p.m. today on Route BB three miles south of Monett.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 1995 Buick Skylark driven by a 62-year-old Purdy man failed to stop at a stop sign on County Road 1090 and was struck by a 2020 Toyota 4Runner driven by a 43-year-old Springfield man.

The Purdy man was pronounced dead at Cox Hospital in Monett at 1:21 p.m.

The fatality was the 93rd this year for Highway Patrol Troop D. 

Joplin Globe promises more local news, appears to have canceled AP

The Joplin Globe plans to increase the amount of local news in its pages (and online), according to Editor Andy Ostmeyer.

The change has already begun, Ostmeyer said in a column in today's edition.

It is our plan to continue to prioritize more local news — our franchise — while trusting readers to get their national and international news from the best sources they can find.

Ostmeyer noted that the Globe has been eliminating many of its syndicated features, undoubtedly as part of the parent company's ongoing project to cut costs.

One of the syndicated features that was eliminated, Ostmeyer said, was a medical advice column. That will be replaced by locally written medical columns.

Ostmeyer didn't come right out and say it, but it's apparent that the Globe is no longer using Associated Press articles, undoubtedly due to budget cuts.

The local emphasis appears to be on display in today's editione, but mainly in the form of columns. By my count, the edition includes nine locally produced columns and a local editorial demanding the resignation of Secretary of State Denny Hoskins.

The local columns are a mixed bag. The only columns that are news-oriented are Wally Kennedy's business column, always a highlight, and Ostmeyer's.

The opinion page includes a column by Globe Managing Editor Jerry Willis. I probably should know who that is, but I've never heard of him. (Actually, I believe he has been a designer for the paper, so this could be a promotion.)

What the Globe lacks is local news stories. The Saturday paper is supposed to be the Globe's showcase paper of the week, what used to be the now extinct Sunday edition.

Today's edition has three page one local stories, two by John Hacker and one by Debby Woodin. I didn't see any others, except for two sports stories.

I'll be interested in seeing what the weekday editions will look like.

Go Fund Me page created for Madison Macias family

A Go Fund Me page has been created for the family of Madison Macias, 21, Joplin, who was killed in a traffic accident September 4.

From the page:

There are some losses that words simply cannot make sense of, and the loss of Madison Macias is one of them.

At only 21 years old, Madison’s life was tragically cut short in a car accident, leaving behind a family that loved her beyond measure and a community that is struggling to understand how someone so young could be gone so suddenly.

Madison was more than a daughter, a family member, a friend, or a coworker. She was a young woman with a life ahead of her, plans still to make, memories still to create, and so much love left to give.

She had a special love for animals and worked as a pet groomer, spending her days caring for the pets that meant so much to other families. That kindness and compassion were part of who Madison was, and her absence will be deeply felt by everyone whose life she touched.

Her father, Abel Macias, and the rest of Madison’s family are now facing something no parent or family should ever have to endure: saying goodbye to their 21-year-old little girl.

There is no way to take away the pain Abel and his family are experiencing right now. We cannot give them Madison back, and we cannot make this tragedy hurt any less. But we can come together and make sure they do not have to carry every burden alone.

This GoFundMe has been created to help Abel and his family with funeral and memorial expenses and the unexpected financial hardships that come with losing someone so suddenly. Our hope is that by helping with these expenses, we can give the family a little more room to focus on what matters most right now: grieving, being together, and honoring Madison’s life.

If you are able to donate, any amount will mean more than you know. If you are unable to give financially, please share Madison’s story and keep Abel, his family, and everyone who loved Madison in your prayers.

Twenty-One years was nowhere near enough.

Madison should have had so many more birthdays, so many more laughs, so many more ordinary days with the people who loved her. Although her time here was far too short, the love she gave and the memories she leaves behind will remain with her family and friends forever.

Please help us surround Abel and the Macias family with love and support as they face the unimaginable task of saying goodbye to Madison.

Rest peacefully, Madison. You were loved, you mattered, and you will never be forgotten.

As of this writing, the Go Fund Me page has received 238 donations totaling $20,634,

Go Fund Me Page

Probable cause: Joplin man embezzled half a million dollars from Neosho business

A Joplin man embezzled $500,000 from Re-bath in Neosho, according to a probable cause statement filed September 11 in Newton County Circuit Court.

The Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office charged Austin Tyler Wren (DOB 1998) with stealing.

Wren's bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety.

From the probable cause statement:

I made contact with Victim One, owner of Rebath. Victim One stated Austin Wren was responsible for managing company finances and had authorized access to company bank accounts, financial records, book keeping records, and other accounting documents for the business.

Victim One stated that on September 8, 2026, Austin Wren contacted him by telephone and admitted he had been stealing money from company accounts. Victim One stated Wren admitted to taking approximately $500, 000 from the company.

Victim One further stated Wren advised he had been searching for ways to avoid going to jail and researching ways to repay the money.

Victim One stated he immediately contacted Witness One and requested she conduct a review of the company's financial records and bank accounts due to Wren's admission.

Witness One stated that while reviewing available financial records she observed numerous expenditures and transactions that appeared unrelated to legitimate business purposes. 

Witness One stated these transactions included expenditures to Whatnot, casino-related transactions, and other personal expenditures. Witness One advised the suspicious transactions she identified exceeded approximately $250, 000.

Victim One stated that when he reviewed company account balances in January of 2026, the company maintained between approximately $750,000 and $800,000 in available funds. Victim One stated that after Wren's admission and review of the accounts, the account balance was found to be less than $200, 000.

Victim One stated the company had also received approximately $250,000 from FEMA assistance, insurance proceeds, and COVID-19 related relief funds. Victim One stated those funds were subsequently utilized to cover shortages and missing funds within company accounts.

Victim One stated that during the week prior to Wren's confession, he directed Witness One to assist Wren with the company's bookkeeping and accounting records because required business documents were not being completed. 

Victim One stated Wren appeared stressed, anxious, and reluctant to provide requested financial records. Witness One stated that while attempting to gain access to company financial records, Wren refused to provide full access and concealed bookkeeping records.

Witness One stated she repeatedly requested access to the records and advised Wren she needed the documents no later than September 7, 2026.

Witness One stated that on September 7, 2026, Wren was largely unavailable and continued refusing to provide complete access to the requested records. The following day, September 8, 2026, Wren contacted Victim One and confessed to stealing money from company accounts.

Victim One advised that the expenditures identified by Witness One were not authorized by him and were not legitimate business expenses, Victim One stated Wren was entrusted with managing the company finances and had access necessary to conduct the transactions.

Law enforcement conducted a preliminary review of available bank statements and financial records provided by Victim One. During that review, numerous transactions were observed occurring over an extended period of time. The transactions included expenditures consistent with those identified by Witness One, including casino-related transactions, Whatnot purchases, and other expenditures that appeared unrelated to company business operations.

I made contact with Austin Wren regarding the allegations. Wren was advised of his Miranda rights and invoked his right to remain silent, Wren did not provide a statement to law enforcement.

Victim One stated that upon looking through bank statements he discovered Mr. Wren had created a business using the money from the company. Mr. Wren also invested in crypto currency.

The case was investigated by the Neosho Police Department.

Webb City man sues Joplin R-8 School District, bus driver for 2022 collision

A Webb City man filed a lawsuit against the Joplin R-8 School District and bus driver Henry Pullum Thursday, claiming a 2022 collision at 32nd and Main left him with severe injuries to his "neck and body as a whole."

In his lawsuit, Ryan Moss claims he was stopped at a red light when Pullum, driving an R-8 bus, rear-ended his vehicle.

From the petition:

On or about August 22, 2022, at approximately 6:25 a.m., Plaintiff was stopped at a red light in the southbound lane of South Main Street at its intersection with West 32nd Street in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. At all times Plaintiff was stopped in the designated lane for southbound traffic.

At said time and place, Defendant Pullum was also traveling southbound on South Main Street when he rear-ended Plaintiff’s vehicle causing Plaintiff to sustain serious personal injuries.

Defendant Pullum had a duty to the public and to Plaintiff to operate his vehicle in accordance with all traffic laws and in a careful and non-negligent manner.

Defendant Pullum was careless and negligent in the operation of his vehicle in the following respects:

a. In operating his vehicle while distracted and inattentive;

b. In failing to keep a careful lookout for vehicles nearby, particularly Plaintiff’s vehicle;

c. In failing to operate his vehicle in a careful and prudent manner;

d. In accelerating from a stopped position before confirming that the roadway ahead was clear;

e. In failing to timely stop, slow, swerve, or otherwise take evasive action to avoid striking Plaintiff’s vehicle;

f. In failing to maintain proper control of his vehicle;

g. In failing to operate his vehicle in a careful and prudent manner.

10. At all relevant times, Defendant Pullum was employed by Defendant Joplin Schools and was at the time of the crash operating the vehicle within the scope and course of said employment, and, therefore, Defendant Joplin Schools is legally liable for the negligence of Defendant Pullum by reason of respondent superior and/or similar legal theories.

As a direct result of the aforesaid negligence, Plaintiff was severely injured including his neck and body as a whole and incurred substantial expenses for medical care and will incur substantial expense in the future; he has lost wages and will continue to lose wages in the future and his earning capacity has been diminished; he has endured pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life and Plaintiff’s injuries are permanent.

Moss is represented by Andrew S. Buchanan of the Joplin firm of Buchanan, Williams & O'Brien, PC.

Carl Junction man charged with domestic assault, endangering the welfare of 2 children

The arraignment for a Carl Junction man charged with second-degree domestic assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child is scheduled for 9 a.m. September 20 in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Kyle Flinn (DOB 1989) is free after posting a $75,000 bond.

From the probable cause statement:

On 7/26/2026, Kyle Flinn committed the offense of Domestic Assault 2nd Degree by dragging his girlfriend, Victim 1, with a motor vehicle for several feet. 

Their children in common, Victim 2,Victim 3, and Victim 4, were present in the vehicle at the time of the assault.

Victim 1 stated she was attempting to remove one of the children from the back seat to prevent Flinn from fleeing the area with them when Flinn accelerated at a high rate of speed, dragging her several feet. 

Victim 1 fell to the ground after letting go of the vehicle and sustained road rash to her left arm and the left side of her face, as well as swelling around her left zygomatic arch. Once Flinn reached the end of the block, he turned the vehicle around to check on her. 

Victim 1 again attempted to remove one of the children from the back seat. Flinn then accelerated at a high rate of speed, dragging Victim 1 several feet a second time. 

While her injuries were being assessed by first responders at the scene, Victim 1 advised that she had sustained a neck injury as a result of the incident. Victim 1 was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Agenda posted for Carthage R-9 Board of Education meeting