Text Message Threat Keeps Some Joplin Students Home

A text message was sent around Joplin over the weekend claiming that there would be a school shooting at Joplin High School on Monday. This message turned out to be a hoax but the ramifications of the message were quite extensive.

According to an article in The Joplin Globe, the police went to the homes of all students matching the first name that was being sent in the text messages. Nothing turned out to be valid.

This message likely sent shockwaves through several freshmen students who attended Memorial Middle School last year. You may recall the student who was involved in the shooting incident last year.

One commenter on the Joplin Globe website commented “There are over 200 children not at school today because of the threat.” There is no word this evening as to the origin of the message.

Daues Back To KSPR on Tuesday

KSPR co-anchor Christine Daues will return from maternity leave on Tuesday with a new schedule. Daues will join her husband as the co-anchor for the 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. news broadcasts. Michelle Sherwood will officially begin co-anchoring the 10 p.m. news at that time as well.

Sherwood had been filling in for Daues quite about during her maternity leave. No word on who will be taking over the weekend anchoring duties. When we do know, we will fill you in.

The Mystery Blogger Has Been Unmasked

For almost a year I blogged in relative anonymity. That is no longer the case. On Friday, as I was supervising a bunch of students in the commons area a fellow teacher came up to me and whispered, “I really like your blog.”

Oh boy.

When one of your colleagues realizes that you blog on a regular basis… that really ups the ante. It also really makes you think again when you are considering what to post. Now the pressure is on not just to think about how strangers in cyberspace will react to our thoughts and opinions, but also how the neighbor down the hall will feel, too.

No pressure.

Jack Goodman Comes To Town

Mr. Smith went to Washington and if Jack Goodman has his way, he will be going there in 2010 as well. Missouri Senator Goodman came to Monett High School on Friday for the school’s annual awareness day hosted by the Monett Kiwanis Club and MHS Key Club.

While speaking, Sen. Goodman discussed why he got into politics, the legislative process, and the importance of civic participation. I asked him about his aspirations for seeking a higher office. It was at that time when he told everyone that he was running for the 7th District U.S. Representative seat that Roy Blunt will be vacating but he didn't want to discuss specific issues. He said his job today was as a non-partisan government official.

My initial impression of Sen. Goodman is that he is very authentic speaker and was very good with the students. I hope to talk to him more soon so we discuss more partisan issues that were off limits during his school visit.

New Item on KFC's Menu: Potholes

No, this isn't little bite sized versions of chicken pot pie. KFC is offering to fill potholes in one Kentucky town in exchange for its logo to be placed on the asphalt filling the hole. This may be one of the craziest things I have ever seen from a fast food restaurant and that includes Hardee's attempt to use half nude models to sell their thickburgers. For the complete story, please click here.

If this takes off, I wonder what will be next? Using the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile to salt slick streets in winter weather?

History In The Making

Today will be the deciding factor for the Missouri Tigers as they take on UConn. If they can make it through,it will be the first time in school history they have ever played in the final 4. Missouri defeated Memphis Thursday night, 102- 91, in what I believe to be the best basketball game I have seen all year. (If you missed the action right before half-time, you truly missed a great moment in basketball).

While my Jayhawks are now at home, there are still two teams from the big twelve hanging tuff. With Missouri and Oklahoma still in the running there is still plenty to cheer about.

Missouri coach Mike Anderson has faced a great deal of opposition since becoming the coach at Mizzou.  In my opinion he has done a tremendous job and deserves a lot of credit.

It should be a great game and the one thing that is for certain, UConn better have their running shoes on!!

Good Luck Mizzou!!!

A Foot Of Snow??? Really???

Looks like parts of Missouri could be buried in snow on Saturday as a storm system moves out of the Rockies and into the Plains. While it is too early to tell how much will eventually fall, the fact that this is one of those really bizarre late season snowfalls will likely play havoc with the overall totals.

Some indications are that parts of Missouri might wind up with a foot of snow. Yikes! And stay tuned...

A Little Perspective

Today was a horrible day for me. Everything had been going wrong. I left my lunch at home, the kids were wound up, and I didn't feel the best in the world. Poor little old me, right? After I left the classroom I stopped by the Supercenter to pick up a couple of things I needed for the house, wallowing in my own self-pity.

As I was walking out the doors, a lady (probably about 50 or so) rushes by me in a hurry to get who knows where. As I walked out to my car I started to open the rear door of my Escape, but decided in a hasty decision that it would be easier to just grab my stuff from the back seat. It is a good thing I did.

As I put the last sack into the car, it knocked a book into the floorboard. Moaning, I bent down to pick it up. That is precisely when I heard the loudest thud followed by my car being pushed violently forward. The impact was strong enough to knock me off of my feet and throw me into the back of the front seat. As soon as I realized what had happened, I jumped up to see a Bronco pulling in a couple of spots down. My car was now in the next parking spot over.

A lady, the same one who had rushed by me on the way out of Walmart, jumped out and immediately began apologizing asking me if I was all right. I muttered something about how I was, but that how my car probably wasn't. I headed around back, anticipating a crumpled rear end.

You can imagine my surprise when I searched and searched and didn't even find a scratch. Had it not been for the car being at an angle in the lot and a dent in her bumper, you couldn't have even noticed something had just happened.

So now as I sit here getting ready for bed, my head throbbing (likely as a result of being thrown into the back of the seat in front of me), I realize that my day hadn't been so bad after all. And I thank God for providing me with a little perspective in that parking lot this afternoon. I definitely needed it.

Remembering Jack Parker

The Turner Report first broke the news yesterday that Joplin's own Jack Parker had passed away. Now the Joplin Globe's Mike Pound has a great read on the man that we all came to love.

You may be wondering who Jack Parker is, but if you are from the Joplin area and I were to say Carol Parker's husband, the image of the Father's Day cooking shows would come rushing back to mind. I am sure it has been a sad few days at KSN. The Parker and KSN families have my sincerest condolences.

Obama Press Conference Live Coverage

6:56 p.m.: Am watching live coverage on cnn.com and will be updating you on his press conference over the course of the next hour.

7:02 p.m.: Obama is ready to speak.

7:03 p.m.: Obama, beginning his prepared remarks, says "we are beginning to see signs of progress" concerning economic recovery.

7:08 p.m.: And the prepared remarks are over. The Associated Press gets the first question and many Americans are probably wondering, as am I, exactly why we are having this press conference.

7:15 p.m.: Here we are, approximately 15 minutes into this press conference and all I have heard are platitudes. Where are the specifics?

7:18 p.m.: Jake Tapper of ABC News asks if President Obama will sign the budget if it doesn't include the tax cut he advocated for. Obama says he fully expects the tax cut to be included, but doesn't directly answer the question.

7:22 p.m.: Chip Reid of CBS asked a very tough question concerning passing on debt to our children. It is the first question of the evening that I feel Obama has adequately answered. He cited where we began on January 20 versus where we have to go so that future generations don't suffer.

7:30 p.m.: If you were expecting as in-depth coverage of this press conference that you have come to expect from Life of Jason and Springfield City Council you are probably sorely disappointed at this point. I feel that it is important to relay the highlights from this press conference. So far, there hasn't been much to acknowledge.

7:37 p.m.: First CNN's Ed Henry gets a question. Now, Fox News Channel's Major Garrett is asking the President about China's proposal to create worldwide currency. Obama says it isn't necessary.

7:42 p.m.: You know... we could be hearing some Motown numbers from the Top 10 on American Idol right about now...

7:48 p.m.: Anne Compton asks about what role race has played in policy decisions and perceptions of this administration.

7:50 p.m.: A reporter from The Washington Times asks Obama about his feelings on embryonic stem cell research and federal funding of it. I find this one of the most interesting and thought provoking questions of the entire press conference.

7:54 p.m.: The one thing I will give Obama credit for this evening is his ability to actually speak fluently without the use of the teleprompter. Other than uhhhhs at the beginning of some of his phrases, his delivery has been consistent tonight.

7:58 p.m.: And now the press conference is over. Nothing extremely notable coming from the questions tonight, but once again I think that President Obama did a good job reassuring the people. There were not a lot of specifics, however. With that... the live coverage is over.

What did you think?

HA!

I can hear it now. Another four years of that laugh that I love to imitate just to annoy my friends and family. MSNBC has renewed Chris Matthews' contract for another four years. There had been rumors swirling around that he was planning a run for the Senate, but apparently his plans have changed.

The New York Times reports that Chris Matthews' previous salary had been a mere $5 million a year. No word on how much the latest deal cost the cable news channel.

Matthews is the anchor of MSNBC's primetime political show Hardball. He has drawn sharp criticism by many, especially during the last election, for his apparent man love for Obama. It looks as if Mr. Matthews will get to anchor through Obama's reelection campaign if the details found in The Times article are correct.

Does Anything Bother You About This Image?

It may be one of those situations where the longer you stare at it the weirder it looks but does anyone else think that KCTV 5 must have just pasted Chief Meteorologist Katie Horner's head on her body? Does it look weird to anyone else or is it just me?

Click here to see what I am talking about.

Car Dealership Owner Found Dead

Ozark Dodge and Heritage Chrysler-Jeep owner Rufus Church was found shot to death in the dealership earlier today, according to KSPR. He was apparently found by an employee coming in to work for the day.

The dealership has been closed and at this time it appears as if it may have been a homicide. There are really no more additional details at this time.

Police: Aurora Woman's Death Is Suspicious

The Monett Times is reporting this evening (and as far I could find, they are the only news outlet reporting it) that a 22 year-old Aurora woman died this morning and the police are calling the death suspicious.

While there are not a lot of additional details available, you can click here to read the complete story. Show-Me Opinions will be monitoring this story for more information as it becomes available.

Oh The Madness Of March

March Madness has officially begun. Unfortunately I didn't get my bracket in before the deadline, but, there is always people like Newsy around that makes filling out my bracket worthwhile. Today at 3:00 his team will play against Cornell.

Will they come ready to dance?

Or....

Dazed and confuzed?

Newsy, you really didn't think I was going to let the tire thing go did ya?

Rock Chalk!!!

Congrats Christopher Smith!

The Joplin Globe has announced the winner of this year's Spelling Bee. It is none other than Monett resident and Trinity Lutheran School fifth grader Christopher Smith. He correctly spelled the words litterateur and basilica to win the championship! (And yes, I did spell check for accuracy.)

Christopher is the son of a fellow colleague at the high school here in town which makes the win that much more personal. I even met the champion earlier this year when he sold me a tin of caramel corn. No word yet on what the Smith family plans to do next. I think Disneyland is a good idea, but I will keep that to myself.

Is Anyone Going To Fly Out of Branson?

Maybe I just don't get it, but I find it very hard to believe that Branson is going to rake in enough people to their airport to get it off the ground. News came today of another direct flight, this time to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW). This makes the fourth destination (Dallas, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Milwaukee) available via the new hub.

I guess I can see the draw for people who are planning to vacation in Branson to fly into that town, but are many people going to use Branson as their airport to fly out of? I guess people who need to travel from the Branson/Harrison area might, but that doesn't seem like a very big number.

With airports in Fayetteville, Joplin, Springfield, Tulsa, and Little Rock, I just don't see the need. Plus, who is going to fly into Branson during the winter? Can the airlines rake in enough dough during the summer months to make up for the cold weather and no tourism lull?

I really do hope that the airport suceeds. I don't want it to fail. I just hope someone knows something that I don't and makes sure it isn't just another ugly eyesore in the Branson area after the novelty wears off.

Show-Me Simple Thoughts From the Life Of Complex Ozark Sugar Britches, According To Chris Brewer

If you would have stopped in at Patton Alley Pub this evening around 7 p.m., you would have discovered an incredibly rowdy group of people laughing it up. A couple of tables over from them sat a group of mostly strangers. One thing brought them to the table (and for some of them, a small one at that): their blogs.

They were representatives of approximately a dozen blogs or so at tonight's Blogger Association Blogaroni Awards. This was the first chance that Donna and I had to meet the wizards behind many great local blogs. We came away happy with our decision to attend and hope to do it again next year.

You will notice some new blogs showing up on the Blog Roll over the course of the next few days. These are blogs that we discovered by attending the awards tonight. Please do check out Simple Thoughts of A Complex Mind for the results that will be posted soon and Ozark Photos for a glimpse at the crew that gathered together this evening.

Thanks to Larry Litle for organizing it all. And thanks to all of the bloggers who post when you get the chance. It is a pleasure reading each and every one of them.

Links Worth Reading (Explosions, Court Trials, and Testicles Edition)

Suspect in Newton County Church Shooting To Plead

Multiple Agencies Investigating Explosion in Columbia

A Testicle Festival (you have to read/watch to believe it)

Did Hospital Kill Teen For His Organs?

If All Goes As Planned...

we will see some of you at Patton Alley Pub tonight for the Blogaroni's. I hope we can find it. I don't venture to downtown Springfield often...

Get Your Brackets Filled Out

That's right... it's March Madness, baby!!! It is time for the big dance and we shall see who is left standing when all is said and done. More importantly on this blog, which of your blog authors' teams will do the best?

Will it be the Mizzou Tigers with their stifling defense and the "fastest 40 minutes in basketball" led by coach Mike Anderson?

Or will it be the traitors, also known as the Kansas Jayhawks?

I think you know who I am rooting for in this tournament. Consequently, I think you guess which one of us has the poorest judgment *cough* DONNA *cough*!

The big dance begins Thursday. For the full details, you can check out CBS's coverage by clicking here.

They Didn't Even Say Sorry

I should preface this post by saying that I am a very patient person. I think that my actions this evening will bear record of that fact. I just got home from Mazzio's here in town where I waited 55 minutes for my food. Yes, you read that correctly. I waited 55 minutes for a mini meatball bake that I normally get within about 20 minutes of ordering.

After waiting at my table for approximately 35 minutes while conversing with a friend, I decided (at the urging of the people at the table next to us) that I go ask about my food. When I did, the cashier went to the back and came back to say "Ooops. The cook forgot to make your order. It will be out in 5 minutes." 20 minutes later, an employee brings me my food and says, "Oh, here you go." and promptly walks off before I can even say thank you.

My problem wasn't that they forgot about me because sometimes it happens. I wasn't even upset that they didn't offer to comp me for the meal. I am disappointed that at no point during the entire ordeal did someone even attempt to apologize. They acted as if my concern was routine (and well maybe, I guess, it is).

Has our society forgotten the simple words "I'm sorry?" Even if they hadn't even meant it, I feel I was owed at least that. Am I blowing this out of proportion? Apparently, common courtesy is a thing of the past.

Severe Weather Looks Likely Tonight

Stay abreast of the latest weather information from your favorite local source. There are several options for you to choose from. Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes all appear possible. I will post updates if warranted. I will have one eye on the skies and another eye on a major project I am working on.

The Monett Times Announces New Owners

The Monett Times announced today that the newspaper has been purchased by Rust Communications based out of Cape Girardeau. The family operated business owns the Cassville Democrat and 49 other newspapers, including the Carroll County (Ark.) News, the Lovely County (Ark.) Citizen and the Holiday Island (Ark.) News as well as its flagship newspaper, the Southeast Missourian.

Lisa Schlichtman currently editor of the Cassville Democrat has been named the new editor for the Times. Murray Bishoff will continue his role as the managing editor.

One Of The Four Missing Boaters Rescued

One of the four missing boaters has been rescued after being discovered clinging to an overturned boat approximately 40 miles off of the Pinellas coast. Former University of South Florida player Nick Schuyler was rescued just after noon today. Schuyler's father told reporters that his son last saw the three men around 2 a.m. Monday morning. The Coast Guard has narrowed the search to the area surrounding where the boat was discovered. Schuyler remains in critical condition at the Tampa General hospital.

Coast Guard Continues Search

The search continues this morning for Corey Smith, a Detroit Lions free-agent defensive end, and Marquis Cooper, an Oakland Raiders linebacker who were reported missing on Sunday. Will Bleakley and Nick Schuyler, both former University of South Florida players, were also aboard.

The four boaters left Clearwater Pass on Saturday to go fishing. As the day progressed the weather began to deteriorate . The four boaters were reported missing when they did not return as scheduled. The Coast Guard stepped up the search over night, but the weather has made it difficult as seas have been reaching 14-feet and winds have been estimated at 30 miles per hour.

The Coast Guard will give an update at 11am this morning.

Missing

A search is underway this hour for Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith and Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper . The two men left Saturday morning from Clearwater pass on a fishing trip and did not return as scheduled. The Coast Guard searched a 750 square mile area west of the pass using a helicopter and a 47-foot motor-life boat. All available resources are being utilized to find them. More...

Edit: This post was actually created by Donna, but I had logged into her computer to check on something and forgot to log out. Please credit Donna for this interesting blog post! :-)

Links Worth Reading

POLITICAL EDITION

Goodman Running for 7th District

Sara Lampe Gets Hearing on Autism Bills

Romney Picked as 2012 GOP Frontrunner

Challenges Await New Health Chief

Spring Break Students Should Stay Out of Mexico

That is the warning that colleges across the country are sending out to spring break students. The U.S. State department has also sent out warnings that many popular places for spring breakers such as Cancun and Acapulco are not safe due to a surge in violence. Drug-related murders and kidnappings of Americans along with recent arrests made by the U.S. has prompted the warnings. It is estimated that more than 100,000 high school and college students travel to Mexico each year for spring break.

The State Department advises those students who will travel to Mexico despite the warning to use common-sense and stay out of areas of prostitution and drug dealing.

Read: Know Before You Go