In this video from the Saturday, December 8, signing for our books Spirit of Hope and 5:41: Stories From the Joplin Tornado, co-author John Hacker, Joplin Tornado Information founder Rebecca Williams, and Michelle Short discuss the tornado.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Joplin's warehouse school teaches the meaning of Christmas
You couldn't mistake the anger in the eighth grader's voice as she watched one more video featuring near-tearful elementary school children talking about the May 22, 2011, Joplin Tornado.
"I don't want to hear about it any more," she said. "That's not who I am now."
I could understand her sentiments, even though I was also fully aware that the tornado had made this young woman exactly the person who stood before me.
She, like so many others at Joplin East Middle School, where I teach eighth grade English, have shed the title victim and instead opted to help others who, at this point, are in even worse shape. The evidence of that dedication was on display last Tuesday in the commons area of the warehouse that we have called a school since the tornado.
Members of our Student Council lined up behind tables filled with $1,400 worth of toys, all of which were given by the Joplin Fire Department to children who otherwise would not be receiving any this Christmas. East Middle School STUCO has always helped the fire department with its annual Joplin Christmas for Kids, even in December 2011, just seven months after the tornado. Normally, this display would have been held in our auditorium, but since the tornado, we have no auditorium.
This year, STUCO raised money for the toys through a Halloween dance and a benefit talent show. While the young student leaders ran a concession stand at that show, those who attended saw performances from the school's show choir, cheerleaders, current East students, high school and college students, and performances by faculty members (including my version of "Jailhouse Rock," desecrating the memory of Elvis Presley).
Those activities raised the money so others who are less fortunate could receive some Christmas cheer.
During the assembly at which this year's toys were unveiled and then accepted by the Joplin Fire Department, East Middle School's willingness to help others was extended to another community that has faced a tragedy- Newtown, Connecticut.
The students held a Hat Day Wednesday, the final day before our Christmas break, with any student who wanted to wear a hat contributing at least one dollar to the Sandy Hook Family Fund. Those who did not wear hats also contributed.
Our school days may be spent in a building that was once a warehouse, located directly across from an ever-aromatic dog food plant and these children were undeniably victims of the worst tornado to hit the United States in six decades, but that is not what defines them.
As I looked out across our student body, sitting on the floor of our commons area, all I could see was the spirit of Christmas.
"I don't want to hear about it any more," she said. "That's not who I am now."
I could understand her sentiments, even though I was also fully aware that the tornado had made this young woman exactly the person who stood before me.
She, like so many others at Joplin East Middle School, where I teach eighth grade English, have shed the title victim and instead opted to help others who, at this point, are in even worse shape. The evidence of that dedication was on display last Tuesday in the commons area of the warehouse that we have called a school since the tornado.
Members of our Student Council lined up behind tables filled with $1,400 worth of toys, all of which were given by the Joplin Fire Department to children who otherwise would not be receiving any this Christmas. East Middle School STUCO has always helped the fire department with its annual Joplin Christmas for Kids, even in December 2011, just seven months after the tornado. Normally, this display would have been held in our auditorium, but since the tornado, we have no auditorium.
This year, STUCO raised money for the toys through a Halloween dance and a benefit talent show. While the young student leaders ran a concession stand at that show, those who attended saw performances from the school's show choir, cheerleaders, current East students, high school and college students, and performances by faculty members (including my version of "Jailhouse Rock," desecrating the memory of Elvis Presley).
Those activities raised the money so others who are less fortunate could receive some Christmas cheer.
During the assembly at which this year's toys were unveiled and then accepted by the Joplin Fire Department, East Middle School's willingness to help others was extended to another community that has faced a tragedy- Newtown, Connecticut.
The students held a Hat Day Wednesday, the final day before our Christmas break, with any student who wanted to wear a hat contributing at least one dollar to the Sandy Hook Family Fund. Those who did not wear hats also contributed.
Our school days may be spent in a building that was once a warehouse, located directly across from an ever-aromatic dog food plant and these children were undeniably victims of the worst tornado to hit the United States in six decades, but that is not what defines them.
As I looked out across our student body, sitting on the floor of our commons area, all I could see was the spirit of Christmas.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Four Turner books available in e-book format
Devil's Messenger, The Turner Report, and Newspaper Days are also available as Nook books, with Devil's Messenger and The Turner Report selling for $3.43 and Newspaper Days going for $3.51.
Spirit of Hope tops Amazon list of Joplin Tornado books
1. Spirit of Hope: The Year After the Joplin Tornado, Randy Turner, John Hacker, 98,112
2. Joplin 5:41, Kansas City Star, 168,326
3. When the Sirens Were Silent, Mike Smith, 215,246
4. 5:41: Stories from the Joplin Tornado, Randy Turner, John Hacker 241,868
5. 32 Minutes in May- Joplin Globe, 455,796
6. Joplin Tornado House of Hope, 512,177
7. When the Storm Passes, Julie Jett, 538,849
8. Miracle of the Human Spirit, Mark Rohr, 668,248
9 5:22: Stories of Survival, Stories of Faith, Scott Hettinger, 1,003,729
10. Singing Over Me, Danielle Stammer, 1,741,774
11. EF5 at 5:35, Kathryn Sandlin, 3,461,716
12. Mayday in Joplin, Donald Clugston, 3,574,109.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Wrongful death Joplin tornado lawsuit against Wal-Mart set for trial in October 2014
A Joplin family's wrongful death lawsuit against Wal-Mart has been scheduled for an October 6, 2014, trial date.
According to a document filed today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, both sides will have until March 31, 2014, for discovery and pretrial motions will be heard September 16, 2014.
As far away as the trial date is, it is still earlier than 2015, which was the target date of the first schedule issued by the court.
According to a document filed today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, both sides will have until March 31, 2014, for discovery and pretrial motions will be heard September 16, 2014.
As far away as the trial date is, it is still earlier than 2015, which was the target date of the first schedule issued by the court.
The wife and daughter of Joplin Tornado victim Stan Kirk, 62, an aircraft technician, filed the lawsuit.
The suit charges the company for not being prepared for the EF-5 tornado that destroyed the 15th Street Wal-Mart and for not having an adequate emergency plan.
According to the petition, Mr. Kirk went to Wal-Mart that day for a "golf-related item." The tornado siren sounded at 5:17 p.m. At some point between then and 5:24 p.m., Kirk "attempted to leave the store to return (to his) home" which was three miles away, "or a seven minute drive from the store and located in an area outside the path of the storm and untouched by the tornado."
The suit alleges "(Kirk) was forced to stay in the store and directed to an unsafe/improper location. Defendants had the responsibility to adequately design and construct the store, keep patrons safe during emergency, and design and implement a proper emergency plan."
The lawsuit accuses Wal-Mart of negligence. "Defendant Wal-Mart knew or should have known that Joplin Store No. 59 was located in an area that was at a high risk of tornadoes and violent wind."
It also says store officials knew or should have known that the building was "not constructed properly considering this increased risk of violent storms and tornadoes," and "knew or should have known there was not a proper emergency plan in place at the store, including a lack of signage and identified safe areas/tornado refuge areas.'
Wal-Mart should have known that customers forced to stay in the store "would be exposed to an increased risk of serious injury or death during violent storms."
The store was negligent in the following ways, according to the lawsuit:
a. Failing to allow Kirk to leave the store to seek shelter elsewhere
b. Failing to leave the doors unlocked to ensure access for emergency personnel
c. Failing to leave doors unlocked to ensure access for emergency personnel
d. Failing to address the increased potential for tornado hazard in construction of the store
e. Failing to have proper tornado refuge areas identified
f. Failing to have a proper safe room or tornado shelter
g. Failing to have proper signage regarding building design or other indicators for employees and patrons during emergencies
h. Failing to properly label safe areas
i. Failing to have emergency plans conspicuously displayed
j. Failing to direct all patrons to, and ensure all patrons were in safe areas
k. Failing to perform vulnerability assessments prior to storm
Store Manager Andy Martin is also charged with negligence for his actions during the storm, but an affidavit filed in Jasper County Circuit Court indicates Martin was on vacation when the tornado occurred.
Kirk's widow, Janice Kirk, and their daughter Jodelle are seeking "fair and reasonable" damages, interest and costs.
The Kirks are being represented by the Hersehewe Law Firm of Joplin.
The suit charges the company for not being prepared for the EF-5 tornado that destroyed the 15th Street Wal-Mart and for not having an adequate emergency plan.
According to the petition, Mr. Kirk went to Wal-Mart that day for a "golf-related item." The tornado siren sounded at 5:17 p.m. At some point between then and 5:24 p.m., Kirk "attempted to leave the store to return (to his) home" which was three miles away, "or a seven minute drive from the store and located in an area outside the path of the storm and untouched by the tornado."
The suit alleges "(Kirk) was forced to stay in the store and directed to an unsafe/improper location. Defendants had the responsibility to adequately design and construct the store, keep patrons safe during emergency, and design and implement a proper emergency plan."
The lawsuit accuses Wal-Mart of negligence. "Defendant Wal-Mart knew or should have known that Joplin Store No. 59 was located in an area that was at a high risk of tornadoes and violent wind."
It also says store officials knew or should have known that the building was "not constructed properly considering this increased risk of violent storms and tornadoes," and "knew or should have known there was not a proper emergency plan in place at the store, including a lack of signage and identified safe areas/tornado refuge areas.'
Wal-Mart should have known that customers forced to stay in the store "would be exposed to an increased risk of serious injury or death during violent storms."
The store was negligent in the following ways, according to the lawsuit:
a. Failing to allow Kirk to leave the store to seek shelter elsewhere
b. Failing to leave the doors unlocked to ensure access for emergency personnel
c. Failing to leave doors unlocked to ensure access for emergency personnel
d. Failing to address the increased potential for tornado hazard in construction of the store
e. Failing to have proper tornado refuge areas identified
f. Failing to have a proper safe room or tornado shelter
g. Failing to have proper signage regarding building design or other indicators for employees and patrons during emergencies
h. Failing to properly label safe areas
i. Failing to have emergency plans conspicuously displayed
j. Failing to direct all patrons to, and ensure all patrons were in safe areas
k. Failing to perform vulnerability assessments prior to storm
Store Manager Andy Martin is also charged with negligence for his actions during the storm, but an affidavit filed in Jasper County Circuit Court indicates Martin was on vacation when the tornado occurred.
Kirk's widow, Janice Kirk, and their daughter Jodelle are seeking "fair and reasonable" damages, interest and costs.
The Kirks are being represented by the Hersehewe Law Firm of Joplin.
Joplin woman receives probation for tornado assistance fraud
Karen Marie Parks, 37, Joplin, was placed on supervised probation for three years today after pleading guilty in U. S. District Court in Springfield to a charge of disaster assistance fraud.
Ms. Parks will have to pay restitution in the amount of $1,368.65 within 30 months.
She told FEMA she lived at 1502 S. Michigan Avenue when that was not the case.
Ms. Parks will have to pay restitution in the amount of $1,368.65 within 30 months.
She told FEMA she lived at 1502 S. Michigan Avenue when that was not the case.
Bill would lower conceal-carry age in Missouri from 21 to 19
If Rep. Chuck Gatschenberger, R-Lake St. Louis, has his way, that age will drop two more years next August 28. HB 92, prefiled today, would lower the conceal/carry age from 21 to 19.
We might as well just drop the nonsense and lower the age to six and save future legislators debate time. On the other hand, would the people who favor this be satisfied with six?
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