Greetings, friends...

We start this message as our Mom did in her first article for the Joplin Independent almost 15 years ago and we imagine she would have wanted nothing more than to still be healthy enough to help with its much needed editing. Unfortunately we're on our own, as Marilyn "Mariwinn" Taylor ended her hard battle with metastasized cancer this weekend, passing away peacefully in the room adjacent to her cherished backyard garden.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Marilyn attended Millburn High School and Rutgers Univeristy. She went on to become a photojournalist and a volunteer on the Millburn First Aid Squad. After moving to the ...more

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The Blessing of the Animals will be observed Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, by three Pittsburg, Kansas churches, as the birthday of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, approaches.

The ecumenical worship service is sponsored jointly by St John Lutheran, First United Methodist and St Peters Episcopal churches

Beginning at 2 p. m. on the front lawn at St Peters, 306 W, Euclid the blessing concludes in St Peters Memorial Garden, to the rear of the church..

All pets and others are welcome. This is an annual community wide event.

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MAPLE LEAF FOREVER FLAG

A design submitted by Tom Jones has been chosen for the Maple Leaf Forever Flag, according to an announcement by Neely Myers, membership director for the Carthage Chamber of Commerce. Pictured above, it features a swag of maple leaves and a clear blue sky framing the Jasper County Courthouse, the focal point of the downtown Carthage Square.

"The flag represents what Carthage is all about--fall, fun, tradition and the Maple Leaf Festival," Myers said. She called attention to the timelessness of the flag, meant to be used year-round.

Several sizes of flags, including a large 5X3 foot, a medium 3X2 foot, and a 12X18 ...more

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by Mari Winn Taylor

Democrats gather at a local labor union hall in Springfield for good bar-b-cue, comraderie and to become acquainted with Democratic candidates on the August 2, 2016 ballot.

Organized chaos is the way one might perceive events promoted by area Democrats. While the media receives notice of an event, we have no expectation of being greeted. Not alone this time we stood exchanging smiles with another local reporter who recognized the same aloofness.

Attorney General Chris Koster was the featured speaker at the Democratic fundraiser that took place at the I.B.E.W. Hall in Springfield on July 12, 2016. One of three ...more

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by Jack L. Kennedy Close your eyes. Fantasize. Try fantasy for fall. No one stretches and adorns that ...more

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A series of classes teaching the basics in tapestry techniques will take place in a studio at 1325 S. National at Green Street (just northeast of the Springfield Art Museum). A series of four classes ...more

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Pilots in Missouri may now access information on Missouri's 123 public-use airports on a new interactive map from the Missouri Department of Transportation. The interactive map displays the locations ...more

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by Jack L. Kennedy People, not preaching, promises or pessimism, form the rapidly beating, reassuring heart of Gospel Memories -- The Future Can Rewrite Our Past, a book deceptively larger than ...more

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The Area Agency on Aging is getting ready for their 4th annual Grapes & Grog fundraiser to benefit the Meals on Wheels program for seniors in Jasper, Newton, Barton and McDonald counties. The ...more

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The raffle of a unique quilt featuring patches from sheriffs' offices in Missouri's 114 counties is being sponsored by the MSA Wives' Auxiliary with assistance from Southern Uniform. The proceeds ...more

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Joplin taxpayers may be interested in attending one or several work sessions planned by the Joplin City Council as they begin their work on the 2016-17 budget. The first work session, scheduled ...more

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The Friends of the Garden and Springfield Sister Cities announce that their next fund-raising trip to Tlaquepaque, Mexico will take place from February 3-10, 2017. The trip includes a visit to ...more

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To the editor: Missouri National Organization for Women (NOW) has learned that the executive director of the Missouri Veterans Commission has just resumed his job after a court found that he had ...more

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by Jack L. Kennedy Mark Spivak, author of Friend of the Devil (Black Opal Books) instantly proves to hungry skeptics that it Is possible for a journalist to cook, eat, drink fine wine and write ...more

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Springfield Public Works is testing out the safety benefits of a new right-turn lane design with a pilot study at the intersection of Battlefield Road and Campbell Avenue. The design with a tighter ...more

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by Rivera Sun The forest sways in ripples of green. Wind sends the dappled sunlight sparkling through the branches. These are the things we forget in the heat of the political season. There are ...more

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LANDERS THEATRE The Springfield Little Theatre, the oldest civic theatre operation of its size in Missouri, and ...more

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This is a scene from the opening night hilarious performance of The Near-Sighted Knight and the Far-Sighted Dragon ...more

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by Jack L. Kennedy Pain, comfort, relief and recovery are terms which often vary in meaning, and may take years to adequately discern and define. But butterflies, even broken humans depending ...more

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A garden party was hosted by Joplin Regional Artists Coalition (JRAC) board member April Davis-Brunner and her husband Larry at their property, Historical Cox Springs. They had purchased the 17-acre ...more

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A visitor to the centennial celebration of the United Hebrew Congregation in Joplin looks over plaques containing ...more

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The Joplin Trails Coalition has launched their 2016-17 membership drive. The dues are needed funds for maintaining and improving the Frisco Greenway and Ruby Jack trails. "We appreciate the ...more

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At right the directors of the Joplin Little Theatre 2015-16 shows gather during the 33rd Annual Encore Awards Night ...more

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"Now, I've had the time of my life" is what audiences will be saying about the Broadway shows coming to Springfield! The 2016-2017 Broadway Season at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts ...more

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To the editor: Thanks to some great research done by Kevin Martin, we now know a lot more about the history of the Low Water Bridge on Shoal Creek. According to a Joplin News Herald article ...more

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Joplin customers still may register for curbside recycling from Republic Services. The additional cost of $4.75 per month added to the monthly trash charge of $11.73 would bring the total cost to ...more

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State treasurer Clint Zweifel is encouraging residents in and around Joplin to check for unclaimed property, five years after the devastating tornado struck the community. Missouri laws require ...more

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To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the May 22, 2011, tornado, two butterfly sculptures were unveiled at Freeman Hospital West and Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism. More than 20 large ...more

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by Jack L. Kennedy-- Warfare uses many weapons, and internal battles are the most difficult. That is the major lesson perhaps in The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit are REAL by longtime ...more

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After living and working in five different states during a newspaper management career that spanned 20-plus years, Tim Holder decided it was finally time for his family to put down roots. We ...more

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All citizens---regardless of residency---have the option to dispose of unused, unwanted, surplus, orphaned and expired medicines by depositing them in the permanent drug drop-off boxes located at ...more

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WASHINGTON The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is cautioning homeowners, manufacturers of propane-based refrigerants, home improvement contractors and air conditioning technicians of the ...more

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Economic Security Corporation (ESC) is currently seeking applicants for their home rehabilitation programs in Barton, Jasper, Newton, and McDonald counties. A special priority has been established to ...more

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by Jack L. Kennedy Using the right ingredients is important when choosing or writing books. But when introducing the power of the printed page to a younger audience, three varied new volumes show ...more

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Calling attention to a section of the trunk of a downed tree, retired Ferrell- Duncan gastroenterologist and ...more

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The human spirit or heart can trump bad genes. That's one of the conclusions reached by Paul Durham, Ph.D, pictured, ...more

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The 69th Annual Original Ozark Folk Festival, that will take place from October 13 15, 2016, in the Basin Park Band Shell in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is accepting submissions for the ...more

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Fred Burton, a foremost auhority on security and terrorism, answers questions about the Benghazi attack that killed ...more

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The Ozark Center in Joplin launches Super Me!, an app for Apple devices. Super Me! helps children develop ...more

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The city of Joplin has started a volunteer program called Citizens in Action (CIA) to help connect and engage citizens with their community. Citizens will be able to volunteer as an individual or ...more

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The entrance to Smallin Cave in Christian County, Missouri is seen from several hundred yards within. by Mari ...more

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FACINATION WITH A RIVER Recommending a particular book specifically for holiday gift-giving could be a ...more

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by Jack L. Kennedy Benor Dorfinngil embraces the term virgin territory from both human and geographic perspectives. The lusty, life-loving lead character in British fantasy author ...more

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Analysis of blood samples from more than 5,000 people suggests that a more sensitive version of a blood test long used to verify heart muscle damage from heart attacks could also identify people on ...more

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Slow down, I cant understand you, the Prince of Darkness uttered, as his nefarious cohort babbled on. ...more

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While driving, 4 out of 10 smartphone users tap into social media, about 3-in-10 surf the net and 1-in-10 video chat, according to new research from major mobile service provider AT&T. This survey of ...more

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by Matthew R. Drayton During the past few months, there has been numerous incidents some tragicwhere police officers were accused of brutality and abuse of power against African Americans, ...more

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How what is #trending influences pop culture and creates something new by Carla J. Hanna The lap dance and striptease once lived in the windowless night club in the shady part of town. Today, ...more

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The Joplin Police Department has announced a new online crime reporting system for the citizens of Joplin, according to Lt. Carla Geller. They have partnered with COPLOGIC to develop a comprehensive, ...more

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JEFFERSON CITY Legislation was signed into law this week by Gov. Jay Nixon that will allow cell phone users to block unwanted telemarketing calls and text messages. Co-sponsored by 154 ...more

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