Remembering Ken Godfrey

It was a Monday in May 1978 when I started a new job as sports editor of the Lamar Democrat. My only previous newspaper experience was nine months as the editor of the Newton County News, perhaps the worst editor southwest Missouri had ever seen.

For some reason, the Democrat's editor, Lou Nell Clark, saw something in me that I didn't even know was there.

When I arrived just after the building was opened that morning, the composing room foreman Russell Pierson showed me how to take national and state sports copy off the Associated Press ticker, which was a great help, but I didn't want to have my first day as sports editor pass without having any Lamar sports on my page.

I asked Russell who I would need to get in touch with to check on what was going on in Lamar sports.

That's how inexperienced I was.

"Don't worry about it," he said. He glanced at his watch and said, "Ken Godfrey will be here in about a half hour."

I had no idea who Ken Godfrey was, but a half hour later I knew exactly what he was- a lifesaver.

That was the first of many mornings that Ken, who was summer recreation director for the city of Lamar, walked into the Democrat office with the scorebooks for every game that was played at the city's parks the previous evening.

My first sports page was filled with local sports news, thanks to Ken Godfrey.

While he made his daily pilgrimage to the Democrat office to help the newspaper, which was a daily at the time, it wasn't the main reason.

Ken Godfrey brought those scorebooks so the kids would receive recognition.

It was my first introduction to a truth that many community newspapers have forgotten- names are news.

My job at the Democrat fell victim to budget cuts after eight months and by the time I returned to the newspaper as managing editor in November 1982, Ken Godfrey had moved on. The next time I ran into him, he was working as an aide and coach for the Jasper R-5 School District, an association that continued in one form or another until his death Sunday at age 78.

While covering Jasper sports, first for the Democrat and later for the Carthage Press, I had many opportunities to see Godfrey in action.

He not only showed infinite patience while working with the students who were fortunate enough to be on his teams, but he also served as a goodwill ambassador for the Jasper R-5 School District.

What Ken Godfrey meant to the district was detailed nicely in a post today on the Jasper High School/Junior High Booster Club Facebook page:

Jasper School District lost a truly remarkable man yesterday. 

Coach Godfrey dedicated so much of his time, heart, and life to our schools, touching countless lives along the way. As an aide, he worked closely with numerous students, offering patience, encouragement, and steady support each day.

He coached multiple sports over the years, mentoring and inspiring so many young athletes. You could always find him at any sporting event Jasper was participating in, faithfully cheering on the kids and the teams. He even spent countless hours each summer watering the football field, quietly working behind the scenes to make sure everything was ready for Friday nights.

For years, he greeted students and families as our crossing guard, always with a warm smile and a kind word. He was a true blessing to our community, and he will be deeply missed.

Victim identified in shooting on Joplin avenue, investigation continues

(From the Joplin Police Department)

Joplin Police are asking for tips as the investigation into a fatal shooting continues, the shooting occurred on 2/28/2026 in the 500 block of Joplin Avenue. Anyone with any  information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Joplin Police  Department. Any information is extremely valuable, no matter how insignificant it is  believed to be.

Tips and information can be directed to Sergeant Jason Stump at 417-623-3131 ext. 1620 or TIP411.com, or by using the “Joplin PD” app from your app store.

As the investigation has continued, investigators with the Joplin Police Department have relentlessly followed up on numerous leads regarding the homicide investigation.

Joplin Police Investigators have identified the victim as Anthony Campbell, 27, of Joplin.

An autopsy has been scheduled for today, 3/2/2026 in Springfield, Missouri.

The Joplin Police Department believes that this incident was isolated and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

This investigation is active and ongoing. As additional information becomes available, it will be released.

Previous news release

On 02/28/26 at 01:48 am, Joplin Emergency Communications Center received a call of gun shots in the 500 block of Joplin Avenue. Officers arrived on scene and located an adult male subject with apparent fatal gunshot wounds. The suspect fled the scene before officers' arrival.

Detectives with the Joplin Police Department have initiated a homicide investigation.

The victim's name is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Updated information will be released as the investigation continues.

If anyone has information related to this incident, please contact Sergeant Jason Stump at 417-623-3131 ext. 1620

Jason Smith: America is safer, more secure and more prosperous under Trump's leadership

(From Eighth District Congressman Jason Smith)

One year ago, President Trump returned to office with a clear promise: make life more affordable for hardworking Americans and restore strength to our economy. During his State of the Union address, President Trump shared how those promises have turned into results, and families across southeast Missouri are feeling the difference. 

During his speech, we saw Washington Democrats routinely refuse to stand for some of the most commonsense proposals he could offer, like requiring an ID to vote. Despite this disappointing display of partisanship, President Trump outlined a bold agenda to help working families and reaffirmed his commitment building on the success of this past year.

After four years of rising prices and shrinking paychecks under Joe Biden, wages have now increased more in one year under President Trump than they did during the entire Biden presidency. Inflation and gas prices have both fallen to their lowest levels in five years. This is real relief Americans are seeing at the grocery store, the gas pump, and in monthly household budgets, and the President rightly took credit for these results in his speech. Families in rural Missouri who were stretched thin by an economy working against them can finally have some breathing room once again.

A major reason for this turnaround is the Working Families Tax Cuts, which I authored. We enhanced the standard deduction, expanded the Child Tax Credit, and created Trump Accounts to help families build security for the future. Policies like no tax on tips and no tax on Social Security ensure workers and seniors keep more of what they earned, and no tax on overtime will surely be felt by the 24% of Missouri employees who regularly work more than 40 hours a week. We backed growth and investment led by small businesses and the private sector — not more spending by Washington bureaucrats.

As the President mentioned, we are also confronting one of the biggest affordability challenges facing families: health care costs. Already, we have helped deliver more access and lower costs. As part of the Working Families Tax Cuts, the Rural Health Transformation Program granted $216 million to Missouri to protect and strengthen access in rural and underserved communities. We also expanded access to Health Savings Accounts, allowing countless Missourians to use tax-free dollars for medical care. On top of that, we increased transparency in how pharmacy benefit middlemen operate and closed loopholes that allowed illegal immigrants to access taxpayer-funded benefits, protecting both patients and taxpayers. And the President talked about a key priority that we will be working on this year: holding health insurers accountable with transparent metrics for patients.

Beyond affordability at home, I was glad to see the President take credit for his America First trade policy, which has restored fairness for American farmers, workers, and small businesses. For years, other nations were allowed to exploit our producers through unfair and predatory trade practices. That era is over. Our trade deficit has plummeted, trading partners are eliminating barriers to American goods, and they are committing to trillions of dollars in new investment here at home. For Missouri farmers and manufacturers, that means new export opportunities and a more level playing field. It means our producers can compete — and win — without being undercut by foreign governments.

The American people demanded change, and in just one year, President Trump has delivered real results. Wages are rising, inflation is falling, families are keeping more of what they earn, and our farmers and businesses are competing on fair terms. I was excited to hear the President talk not only about the accomplishments we’ve delivered for working families, farmers, and small businesses, but also about the work ahead. The direction is clear, and I will continue working alongside President Trump to strengthen our economy, protect working families, and ensure our best days are still ahead.