Public meeting scheduled for last part of Joplin Main Street streetscaping

(From the City of Joplin)

The Main Street streetscaping project that will transform 8th through 15th Streets is set to begin soon, and a final public meeting to review the project is scheduled for next week.

The public meeting about the project will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The meeting will be held on the 5th floor Study Room of Joplin’s City Hall, 602 S. Main Street.

The meeting will include City engineering staff and consultants as well as representatives from Sprouls Construction, the construction contractor for the project.

The streetscaping plan – the third and final phase of improving Main Street all the way from 1st to 32nd Streets – includes elements like new street surfaces, sidewalks with decorative concrete, lighting improvements, benches and trees, and its own unique Midtown motif. The portion of the project north of the railroad tracks at 10th Street will match the current Downtown motif, and the motif south of the railroad tracks to 15th Street will have the Midtown style.

The $5 million project is set to begin this fall and will take approximately nine months to complete. The work is being funded through Community Project Funding (CPF) grant funds administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

For more information on the public meeting or the streetscaping project, contact Rob Beachner at 417-624-0820 ext. 1543.

Carthage R-9 Board hears report on Performing Arts Center progress, accepts three teacher retirements, one resignation

(From the Carthage R-9 School District)

The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, October 19, 2026, 6:00 pm, at the Carthage South Technical Center – Community Room. Present were Board members Ms. Niki Cloud, Mr. Ryan Collier, Mrs. Lora Phelps, Dr. Mark Westhoff, Mr. Jeff Jones, Ms. Maria Sanchez,
and Dr. Robin Blair. Ms. Niki Cloud led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Salvador Prado, Director Bands, and band students shared successes from their marching band
season and competitions.

The Board approved the Consent Agenda for the purpose of approving the meeting agenda, minutes of previous open session meeting and work session, payment of bills, district financial report, student
ridership count and bus routes for 2026-2027, and purchase of a 2027 CanAM Defender DPS CAB or
2027 Polaris Ranger XP1000 CAB.

Dr. Matt Huntley, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Mrs. Michelle Hensley, Fairview Elementary
Principal, Mrs. Lindsay Mikhail, Fairview Elementary Assistant Principal, Mr. Dustin Perkins, Carthage
High School Athletic and Activities Director, Mr. Zach Canfield, Carthage Junior High School Athletic
and Activities Director, provided the Board information regarding CSIP Priority 1: Developingm Successful Students report.

Dr. Huntley provided the Board an update on Carthage online learning.

Mrs. Crystal Brown provided a Carthage R-9 School Foundation update to the Board.

Dr. Holley Goodnight, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Mr. Joel Gundelfinger, Navitas LLC,
Business Development Market Manager, and Mr. Luke Lindesmith, Navitas LLC, Business
Development Manager, provided the Board information regarding the HVAC bid by Navitas LLC, and
the energy savings performance contract.

Dr. Goodnight and Crossland Construction Company Inc., provided the Board an update on them progress of the Carthage Performing Arts Center.

Dr. Boyer presented his report to the Board.

The Board met in closed session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss legal, personnel, and student matters in compliance with Section 610.021 (1), (3), and (6) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.

In closed session the Board approved the following personnel actions:

Approved the employment of support and substitute staff as presented contingent upon receiving a
clear criminal record check from the Missouri Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and
a clear check of the Adult Abuse/Neglect Registry maintained by the Missouri Department of Social
Services for all employees new to the district:

Support hire

Lilis Sandoval Loredo, evening custodian, Carthage High School

Katherine Starr, special education paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary

Joshua Lindsey, bus aide, Transportation

Michaela Freeman, cook, Steadley Elementary

Jaiden Ball, evening custodian, Carthage Intermediate Center

Gerardo Fuentes Elias, grounds/maintenance, Maintenance Department

Kevin Fields, bus driver, Transportation

Kelli Needham, Title I instructional assistant, Steadley Elementary

Substitute Hire

Katelyn Williamson, substitute cook

Kimberly Son

Abigail Jensen

Ethan Coble

Maria Aguilar

Christy Clark

Taylor Pritchard

Pamela Teed

Johnathan Ensor

Alaynna Berry

Support Transfer

Heather Cowin, deaf interpreter, Carthage Junior High School

Heather Hunt, administrative assistant, Carthage Technical Center-North

Substitute Modification

Kelli Tandy, substitute bus aide

Certified Retirement

Kenneth Brown, ISS, Carthage High School

Cara Goetzinger, ECSE teacher, Early Childhood Center

Brenda Brown, special education teacher, Steadley Elementary

Certified Resignation

Andrea Read, Title I teacher/instructional coach, Mark Twain Elementary

Support Resignation

James Bischoffer, bus driver

Substitute Resignation

Adelaide Goracke

Brooke Ehlers

New interim commissioner selected for DESE

By Rudi Keller

Missouri Independent

A day after the surprise resignation of Missouri’s interim commissioner of education, the State Board of Education announced a new interim leader for the state’s public school oversight agency.

Lisa Sireno, deputy commissioner of learning services, will lead the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, according to a news release from the board. Sireno has worked at the department since 2015 and assumed her current position in July.

Sireno will be the department’s third chief administrator this year. Karla Eslinger retired in May after only two years on the job. And on Tuesday, interim Commissioner Stacey Preis delivered her resignation to the board.

Choking back tears as she spoke to reporters, Preis said she resigned “after much consideration” because she thinks “the board’s agenda is better served by a different commissioner.” Asked whether her resignation was prompted by the possibility of being fired, Preis said no one on the board had suggested that she would be voted out of her position if she didn’t resign.

Asked if anyone else had suggested that to her, Preis responded, “No, not directly.”

The news release stated Preis “unexpectedly resigned” with the “resignation taking immediate effect.”

Board President Brooks Miller said after the meeting that he did “not know much” about Preis’ reason for resigning.

The search for a new permanent commissioner was formalized Tuesday with the selection of The K12 Search Group to screen candidates and announcement that the search would be funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Regional Business Council, The DeBruce Foundation and Town Branch Foundation.

According to its website, The K12 Search Group has “focused almost exclusively on CEO and senior leadership searches for charter schools and mission-driven K-12 education organizations.”

State Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin has been talked about frequently as a potential candidate for the commissioner’s job and told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last month that she was interested. 

State law requires the commissioner to “possess an educational attainment and breadth of experience in the administration of public education.”

O’Laughlin’s Senate biography says she has experience “as a school bus driver, an administrator at a local Christian school and as a member of her local school board.” She also chaired the Senate Education Committee.

Before becoming deputy commissioner, Sireno was assistant commissioner in the Office of Quality Schools. Prior to going to work for the department, Sireno was associate director of the University of Missouri’s Assessment Resource Center.

The Missouri National Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, called on Sireno to seek full funding for the school foundation formula and to halt the development of the “A” to “F” grading system for school districts being developed at the direction of Gov. Mike Kehoe.

The board on Tuesday approved adjustments to the grading system and will send out data to school districts for review before making the results public later this year.

“A-F grading is the same top-down, cookie-cutter approach that has failed our students for decades,” said Rebeka McIntosh, president of Missouri NEA. “It treats students as data rather than individuals. It can’t see the counselor who keeps a student coming to school or the teacher who stays late to help a child catch up.”

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com.

Lawsuit allegation: Mercy Joplin nurse used patient records in vendetta against boyfriend's former wife

A class action lawsuit filed against Mercy Health today in Jasper County Circuit Court claims a nursed used patient records to conduct a personal vendetta against her boyfriend's former wife.

The Jasper County woman who filed the lawsuit was married to a security guard at Mercy Joplin who had an affair with a nurse, according to the petition. When the woman found out about the affair, she divorced her husband. The nurse is also named as a defendant.

Beginning in August 2025, the woman, who was being treated for mental health issues, according to the petition, "received an Instagram message from an account she had never seen before telling her that she was “legitimately crazy”, that “grown men don’t want a drunk bitch who is always high on her ‘anxiety pills’ ”, and that her kids would “learn the truth one day.”

"The same account messaged her on August 24, 2025, telling her that “there is something seriously wrong with [her].”

The woman received another message in October 2025 referring to her as a "psycho:" with no friends. She didn't recognize the Instagram account that was messaging her, but she attempted to sign into Instagram with the user name and hit the "forgot password" button.

The e-mail that came up belonged to the Mercy nurse, according to the petition.

Since the woman's doctor worked at Mercy and the nurse would have access to records, the woman contacted Mercy to see whether her records had been improperly accessed.

Mercy responded on April 24, months after being contacted and said the woman's records had been improperly accessed "by one of their employees without a legitimate need."

The lawsuit claims the nurse was never "disciplined, suspended or subjected to remedial training for her actions."

Because Defendant  faced no discipline for her actions she continued accessing other people’s confidential medical records.

Defendant began routinely accessing {the woman's} daughter's medical records.

The daughter was pregnant with her first child and being treated by a doctor at Mercy, the petition said. The daughter wanted to keep the child's gender a secret and hadn't even told her mother, when she began receiving messages from friends and relatives congratulating her on having a girl.

When the daughter examined her records, she discovered the emergency contact information in her records had been changed to her father. She had not changed the contact information, nor had her immediate family or care team, according to the petition.

The daughter who is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit, changed the contact records, then discovered they had been changed back to list her father. The nurse was still in a relationship with the father, the petition said.

The lawsuit claims Mercy failed to exercise control over confidential patient record, has allowed other employees access to records and "failed to send patients adequate notice of these repeated breaches."

The action, which was filed today by St. Louis attorney Benjamin S. McIntosh, alleges eight counts:

Count 1 (against the nurse)- Public disclosure of private facts

Count 2 (against the nurse) Tortious imtrusion on seclusion

Count 3 (against Mercy) Negligence- Class action claim

Count 4 (against Mercy) Negligent supervision- Class action claim

Count 5 (against Mercy) Breach of fiduciary duty of confidentiality- Class action claim

Count 6 (against Mercy) Unfair business practices- Class action claim

Count 7- (against Mercy) Breach of implied contract- Class action claim

Count 8- (against Mercy) Negligence- Class action claim

The plaintiffs are asking for actual damages, compensatory damages, attorney fees and expenses and demanding a jury trial on all counts.

Second man charged in Joplin City Jail drug distribution

A second man was charged today in connection with the drug distribution in the Joplin City Jail October 12 that led to seven inmates being taken to local hospitals for overdoses.

Edward Ian Turner (DOB 1983), Duenweg, was charged with three counts of delivering a controlled substance. His bond was set at $50,000, cash or surety.

From the probable cause statement:

On 10/12/2026 and 10/13/2026, Edward Turner committed the offense of delivery of a controlled
substance at 303 E 3rd St in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. Under Miranda, Edward Turner admitted
to receiving methamphetamine from Kenneth Carter. 

Turner then distributed the methamphetamine to fellow inmates Kore Thomason, Daniel Rendon, James Johnny, and a fourth as-yet unidentified inmate.

On 10/13/2026, Edward Turner received more items in baggies which he believed to be cocaine.
Turner stated he gave these to James Johnny.

Johnny then distributed the substances to inmates Daniel Rendon, Derick Cartwright, Richard Cannon,
Loren Checkley, Kore Thomason, and Samuel Lane, who shortly thereafter were transported to
hospitals with symptoms of fentanyl overdose.

James Johnny, 49, Neosho, was charged with six counts of delivering a controlled substance.

Neosho woman charged with stealing checks intended for Frank Fletcher Superstore customers

 The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's Office filed a felony stealing charge today against an employee of Frank Fletcher Superstore, Joplin, who allegedly stole $8,754.36 in checks that were intended for customers.

An arrest warrant was issued for Brittany Michell Williams (DOB 1990) with bond set at $8,700 cash only.

The allegations against Williams were detailed in the probable cause statement.

On 10/20/2026 I, Officer Rauch, was dispatched to a past tense larceny that occurred at the Frank
Fletcher Superstore, 3111 E 32nd St, Joplin, Jasper County, MO.

I contacted a supervisor of the business, Rebecca Danner. Danner reported an employee, Brittany
Williams, had been stealing money from the business for approximately the past three years. During
that time, Williams had intercepted approximately 30 checks intended for customers of the business.

Williams voided the checks, and reissued them in her relatives' names. The 30 checks were totaled at
$8,754.36. I verified on the 30 copies of the checks I was provided that all said they were issued by
Brittany Williams. 

The checks were issued between November of 2022 and September of 2026. The cost of the loss from the appropriated checks was over $750 in 2026 alone.

Williams was taken into custody. Under Miranda Warning, Williams admitted she was the only person
involved and her relatives did not have any knowledge of the checks. Williams issued the checks to
them, and then direct deposited the money into her bank account.

Missouri commissioner of education search moves forward

 

(From Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)

The Missouri State Board of Education (State Board) voted Tuesday, October 20, to hire The K12 Search Group (K12) to assist in the search for Missouri's next Commissioner of Education.

Selecting the next commissioner is one of the State Board’s most important duties. The Commissioner leads the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and guides policies and programs that affect students, educators, schools and communities statewide. The State Board is committed to a deliberate, transparent search to identify a leader with strong educational experience, proven leadership skills and a deep understanding of Missouri’s diverse educational landscape.

K12 was selected by the State Board on the recommendation of its search committee after reviewing proposals and interviewing finalist firms. The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) provided administrative and logistical support but did not participate in the decision making.

The firm will work with the search committee and State Board to develop a position profile and recruitment strategy, identify, and engage qualified candidates, review applicants, and support the State Board throughout the process. The State Board will retain sole responsibility for evaluating candidates and selecting the next Commissioner of Education.

NASBE’s national perspective and experience working with state boards of education make it a valuable partner in this effort. Its role is to support the search committee and the State Board in ensuring Missouri’s search reflects the state’s unique needs and effective practices from across the nation.

NASBE’s role is limited to process support and administrative coordination, guided by its experience in fostering strong collaboration and alignment among state education policymakers and leaders.

“NASBE supports state boards of education nationwide by helping create the conditions they need to lead effectively,” said Paolo DeMaria, NASBE President and CEO. “While we do not make decisions, we guide boards through their decision‑making processes based on each state’s unique context and needs. Selecting a state education leader is a significant responsibility, and a thoughtful search ensures Missouri considers a strong, diverse pool of qualified leaders. We are pleased to support the Missouri State Board of Education in this important work.”

Engaging K12 adds an important dimension to the process. A specialized firm can broaden the candidate pool beyond traditional applicants, conduct targeted outreach to experienced education leaders, and provide a structured review of qualifications to identify candidates whose leadership aligns with Missouri’s priorities. This expertise helps the State Board conduct a thorough, competitive search while allowing members to focus on selecting the state’s next education leader.

Philanthropic organizations have partnered to provide the funding needed to engage the professional search firm, with NASBE serving as the funding intermediary. This support allows the State Board to benefit from specialized recruitment expertise without using state funds, preserving those resources for other education priorities.

Supporting organizations represent a range of backgrounds and share a commitment to public education, student success, and workforce development. Their contributions reflect a shared interest in helping Missouri’s students succeed and ensuring the state has the leadership needed to strengthen educational opportunities and outcomes.

The funders will provide financial support only and will not participate in recruiting, evaluating, or selecting candidates, nor will NASBE. The State Board retains full responsibility for the selection process and final appointment decision. The search will be conducted in accordance with applicable law and the State Board’s transparency and accountability obligations.

The State Board gratefully acknowledges the educational leaders and organizations that have agreed to support this important effort including Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Regional Business Council, The DeBruce Foundation, and Town Branch Foundation.

“As we move through this important moment for Missouri education, the State Board remains committed to a transparent and thoughtful search,” said State Board President Brooks Miller. “Our goal is to identify the individual best suited to lead Missouri’s education system — someone with proven leadership, a clear vision for the future, and a deep commitment to educational opportunity and success for every student in Missouri. The expertise and broader reach that a professional search firm brings will help us thoroughly explore the candidate pool and make an informed decision in the best interests of Missouri’s students, educators, and communities.”

As the search progresses, the State Board will share updates and opportunities for public engagement, consistent with applicable law and the integrity of the candidate review process. The State Board remains focused on identifying a commissioner who can build on Missouri’s strengths, address its challenges, and advance excellence and opportunity for students statewide.

Jill Carter: I appreciate Gov. Kehoe's willingness to act quickly for Missouri agriculture

(From Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby)

Harvest season has always been one of the busiest and most expensive times of year for the farmers and ranchers who keep southwest Missouri moving. This year the fuel bills made it even harder. 

Diesel prices climbed so high that many producers were looking at thinner margins just to get crops out of the field and livestock to market. Governor Kehoe responded with two executive orders that give our agricultural community some practical, temporary relief.

The first order, signed at the end of September, allowed farmers and farm-licensed trucks to use red-dyed diesel on Missouri state highways for agricultural work and raised the weight limit for certain loads of livestock, grain, timber, and other harvest products. The second order, signed October 9, expanded that relief so any vehicle can use dyed diesel on state roads through the end of the year. It also kept the higher weight allowance in place. Both orders suspend the usual penalties that normally apply when dyed fuel is used on public roads, and they line up with the federal action taken earlier this month.

For producers in Jasper and Newton counties, the difference is straightforward. Many of our poultry, cattle, and hay operations already keep dyed diesel on the farm for tractors and equipment. 

Being able to put that same fuel in the trucks that haul birds, cattle, or grain to market, and to carry a bit more weight per trip, means fewer miles driven and less money spent at the pump during the weeks when every dollar counts. The orders are temporary and expire December 31, but they give families who grow and raise the food we all depend on a little more room to operate while fuel costs remain high.

I appreciate the governor’s willingness to act quickly for Missouri agriculture. In District 32 we know what it takes to get a crop or a load of livestock from the farm to the buyer. These steps help keep that process moving without adding more cost. As always, if you have questions about how the orders apply to your operation or if there’s something else the state can do to support our farmers and ranchers, contact my office. We’re here to help.

Guatemalan national arrested in Carthage pleads guilty to illegal reentry

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Guatemalan national who was previously indicted by a grand jury pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after being previously deported.

Jorge Mendez-Romero, 47, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool. Under federal statute, illegally reentering into the United States after being previously deported is in direct violation of existing federal immigration law and is subject to a sentence of up to two years imprisonment. 

 The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Carthage, Missouri Police Department.

South African charged with illegally voting in McDonald County

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A lawful permanent resident from South Africa was charged today with unlawful voting by an alien.

Hanlie Venter, 67, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of illegally voting in the November 2024 federal election. Venter was born in South Africa and moved to the United States in 2020. In 2021, she applied for and was granted lawful permanent residency. 

Venter registered to vote in September 2024 and subsequently voted in the November 2024 federal election at a polling place in McDonald County, Missouri. Lawful permanent residents are not allowed to vote in federal elections and are not allowed to vote in state or local elections in Missouri.

The charge contained in the criminal complaint is simply an accusation and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury who will be responsible for determining whether the defendant is guilty or not. 

Under federal statutes, Venter is subject to a sentence of up to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wyatt A. Cross and Assistant United States Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations.