FreePress FEBRUARY 5 - 18, 2014 Community The 24th Annual Lawn and Garden Show attracts more than 10,000 people every year. Page 15 YOUR LOCALLY OWNED NEWSPAPER OF THE SPRINGFIELD AREA | www.cfpmidweek.com QUICK TAKES Upfront Cursive out of the Core but not out of SPS в– Partnership approved A partnership between the Springfield Police Department and the Missouri National Guard received criticism from some council members ............................................ p. 3 Business Community input unanimous on keeping cursive in the classroom By Dillan Conn The Common Core State Standards for education are making changes in the classroom, but many school districtsвЂ” including SpringfieldвЂ” are taking a stand to keep cursive handwriting on the curriculum. According to Gayna Scott, chairwoman of the Campaign for Cursive, since the implementation of No Child Left Behind, cursive handwriting has been falling by the wayside in schools nationwide. вЂњThe importance of test scores forced schools to look at what they could cut back on,вЂќ she said. вЂњAnd as technology became more involved they started trading off handwriting for keyboarding.вЂќ Scott said research shows how important it is that young children More downtown development learn cursive. Springfield Public SchoolвЂ™s Curriculum Development Council and associate superintendent of educational services, Marty Moore see CURSIVE, 7 Last yearвЂ™s income tax proposal is back The Vecino Group is currently renovating the McDaniel building to provide housing for a student-centered apartment complex p. 11 .......................................... Bill includes 50 percent business income deduction в– Health Men in nursing workforce Local chapter centered on men in nursing looks to gain new members By Dillan Conn p.18 ............................................ A&E Acting family Local acting couple involves the whole family p.19 ............................................ www.cfpmidweek.com INDEX A&E ............................19 Business ....................11 Events ....................20 Health ........................18 Home & Garden ....14 Outdoors..................16 Upfront ......................2 Viewpoints ..............10 Look for our next issue: Wed. Feb. 19 Grant will put local foods into schools Programs teach kids agricultural science and responsibility в– Photos courtesy of Stephanie Smith By Dillan Conn Springfield Public Schools recently received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture that will help the district put healthy locally grown foods into schools. SPS matched the $43,672 planning grant with $28,000 more to research local food suppliers and how those supply lines might be built to better serve the districtвЂ™s children. While the fruits of the recent grant may (Above left) Curtis Millsap of Millsap Farms shows a group of students his crop of lettuce. (Below right) A Local Sprouts volunteer washes MillsapвЂ™s lettuce at the Food Hub to be packaged and sent to local childcare programs. (Top) A child enjoys fresh, locally grown lettuce. be a couple years down the line, there are already programs in the schools teaching students the value of eating healthy foods see FOOD PROGRAM, 7 Last year, Missouri legislators passed a bill that would have cut state income taxes, but Gov. Jay Nixon gave it a veto, citing that it would result in education funding cuts. This legislative session, nearly identical legislationвЂ”Senate Bill 509вЂ”has already made it through committee and will soon be on its way to the House. Sen. Eric Schmitt of Kansas City, who prefiled a version of the bill, said the fact that it has already made it out of committee shows how much of a priority the tax cut is. вЂњPeople realize MissouriвЂ™s economy isnвЂ™t growing as quickly as other states are,вЂќ he said.вЂњThe idea that we can stand still and keep our eyes closed and think this will change over time, I donвЂ™t think is a good strategy.вЂќ SB 509 would phase in an income tax cut of 1 percent over a period of years, cutting the highest rate from 6 percent to 5 percent once fully phased in. Tax payers earning more than $9,000 annuallyвЂ”the vast majority of MissouriansвЂ”would see a reduction in rates. They currently pay $315 plus 6 percent of income over $9,000. Missouri income tax rates have remained the same since 1972. Last year, the state of Kansas completely eliminated their see INCOME TAX, 6 Stricter laws make their way downtown By Daniel Snyder During the Jan. 27 City Council Meeting, an unlikely alliance was formed between two council members who usually find themselves at odds. Council members Cindy Rushefsky and Doug Burlison questioned the Constitutionality of a proposed ordinance that would extend the current panhandling ban to 20 feet from any entrance, sidewalk cafГ© or ATM. The duo also crafted an amendment to remove a clause in the ordinance that would restrict вЂњpassive panhandlingвЂќвЂ”holding a sign that requests money or food. вЂњWhat exactly is the rationale for eliminating passive appeals on the shoulder of the road? Rushefsky said. вЂњWhy, specifically, are we targeting panhandlers?вЂќ City Manager Greg Burris said the clause lenged BurrisвЂ™ justificato restrict panhandling tion. within 5 feet of the вЂњIt seems to be a roadway was added lot more directed to with public safety in the discomfort factor mind because panhan- of people seeing dlers are often situated them than it is to the near high traffic areas. see see CITY COUNCIL, 8 Rushefsky chalSUR- 2 | February 5 - 18, 2014 www.cfpmidweek.com Upfront LOCAL NEWS City releases 2013 Uniform Crime Report According to the Springfield Police DepartmentвЂ™s Uniform Crime Report, 2013 saw a 3 percent overall increase in reported crime. In a city news release, Police Chief Paul Williams said, вЂњThis is slightly above the 2.2 percent increase per year average over the last decade.вЂќ While crimes against persons increased by more than 18 percent, the number of homicides decreased by 25 percentвЂ” from 16 to 12. According to the release, 10 of the homicide cases were solved. Robberies were up by 12 percent, with home invasion style robberies increasing by 66 percent. Of those cases, 45 percent were cleared compared to 34 percent in 2012. Incidents of aggravated assault were most frequently situations of domestic violence. A 99 percent increase in reported rapes can be explained by the Department of JusticeвЂ™s change in definition that went into effect Jan. 1, 2013. It expanded what sexual assault cases would be classified as rape and because of it SPD anticipated the increase could be as high as 100 percent. вЂњWhile the perception will be that rapes increased significantly in the last year, the reality is the new definition has given us a truer perspective on the number of sexual assaults that had actually been occurring in our community,вЂќ Williams said in the release. Property crimes increased just over 1 percent; burglary was up 4 percent and auto theft was up 9 percent. But, according to the release, clearance rates of those crimes has also increased by 4 percent, 12 percent and 20 percent respectively. вЂњDespite the increases shown in the report, Springfield remains a safe place to live, work, and play,вЂќ Williams said in the release. вЂњBy working together, our department and the community are reducing the fear of crime and the occurrence of crime and improving the quality of life in neighborhoods citywide.вЂќ Homeless camp eviction causes uproar Local advocates and one City Council member were up in arms over reports that on Jan. 28, several homeless people see LOCAL NEWS, 3 | Community Free Press Local guy, local voice Talk radio host wants you to think more. В» Page 4 e-mail [email protected] Challenges ahead for combating poverty Local collaborative aims to tackle tough problems in Greene County в– By Daniel Snyder According to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2008-2012, 17.9 percent of people in Greene County are living below the poverty levelвЂ”the state average is 15 percent. Combating poverty is a growing concern for many cities and even as unemployment rates drop, people often still find themselves working paycheck-to-paycheck. The Impacting Poverty Commission aims to better address the growing need in dire financial times. A partnership between the City of Springfield and the Community Partnership of the Ozarks, the commission consists of a multitude of community stakeholders interested in finding ways for local service organizations to better work together. вЂњ(The commission) stepped back and said: Well, what we would really like to have is some general direction from within the community for how we as a community should be addressing poverty,вЂќ said City Manager Greg Burris. вЂњPoverty is an issue that is very, very complex and the problems associated with poverty intersect with so many other issues in our community.вЂќ Homeless count в– The Every One Counts campaign held its biannual count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals in Greene, Christian and Webster counties. The count is required to meet the mandates of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides more than $1 million in funding to homeless services in the Ozarks. Information obtained during the campaign will assist the Missouri Interagency Council to End Homelessness. According to a news release, previous counts have shown that more than 750 people are homeless at any given time in Greene County. в– In conjunction with the homeless count, the Salvation Army hosted an event for unsheltered and sheltered homeless people, providing breakfast, lunch and survival items like hygiene products. Area homeless service providers were on hand to assist with housing, veteransвЂ™ services and other essential needs. The campaign is a collaborative effort with the Council of Churches, Community Partnership of the Ozarks, Salvation Army, the Housing Authority of Springfield, the Veterans Administration and other local agencies. Photo by Daniel Snyder The Salvation Army hosted an event for unsheltered and sheltered homeless people, providing breakfast, lunch and survival items like hygiene products. Area organizations were also on hand to provide information on various services throughout the area. Burris said that some of those issues are obvious, like homelessness, but others, like public health, might be overlooked. He said one of the ways to combat poverty is to address the biggest вЂњpressure pointsвЂќ first and figure out a solution as a community. вЂњPoverty is the hub of all these other social challenges that we have as a community,вЂќ Burris said. вЂњItвЂ™s real easy for a lot of us to live in a bubble and not really be aware of the level of poverty in our community and, to a large extent, not have to interact with the poor at all.вЂќ On Feb. 11, the Impacting Poverty CommissionвЂ™s kick-off event will feature Dr. Ruby Payne, an educator and author who has written specifically about poverty in the United States. Commission members, elected officials and Greene county staff will have an opportunity hear Payne speak about poverty and ask her questions. вЂњItвЂ™s an opportunity to help set the stage and put everything that weвЂ™re going to work on into context,вЂќ Burris said.вЂњThe needle is already moving on poverty; unfortunately it is moving in the wrong direction. What I would like this commission to do is not only stop the needle from moving in the wrong direction, but to begin to reverse the poverty trend in our community. The start of that is by commu- More Information в– Impacting Poverty CommissionвЂ™s first meeting with Dr. Ruby Payne When: 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 11 Where: Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway nity awareness.вЂќ Part of the awareness campaign will highlight how poverty affects everybody. вЂњOne of the things that I am most proud of is that weвЂ™re not shying away from the tough issues,вЂќ Burris said. вЂњI canвЂ™t think of one tougher to deal with than to minimize and reduce poverty.вЂќ Dental E.R. Urgent Care Walk-In Dental Clinic 222 E. Primrose St Springfield MO. 65807 (417) 851-8111 GOT PAIN? www.Dental-ER.info Community Free Press | www.cfpmidweek.com Upfront February 5 - 18, 2014 | 3 Council approves SPD partnership with National Guard By Daniel Snyder Despite public concerns, City Council has approved a partnership between the Springfield Police Department and the Missouri National Guard (MONG). At the Jan. 27 meeting, almost a dozen people spoke out against the agreement that would allow for a MONG support intelligence analyst to assist the SPD with narcotics investigations. Although Mayor Bob Stephens made an effort to appease some concerns that were voiced at the Jan. 13 meeting by introducing an amendment to remove all mentions of вЂњmarijuanaвЂќ and вЂњcannabisвЂќ from the bill, Councilman Doug Burlison remained true to his libertarian beliefs. вЂњI think history shows us that this is not a good idea for free people,вЂќ Burlison said.вЂњTo me, this proposal really pushed the bounds of what is Constitutional. I think the War on Drugs is effectively over we just havenвЂ™t realized it yet. Enabling this proposal in front of us will escalate the war on drugs in Springfield and our citizens вЂ¦ will pay the price.вЂќ Burlison urged his colleagues to vote down the agreement, saying, вЂњFolks have serious concerns when you mix law enforcement and military.вЂќ Police Chief Paul Williams said that MONGвЂ™s support would be limited to an analyst at a desk and that it would вЂњnot [be] deploying military personnelвЂ”boots on the ground in the field.вЂќ MONG would also cover the analystвЂ™s salary. Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky, who вЂњhesitantlyвЂќ supported the agreement, said she believes that Burlison has a вЂњlegitimate point.вЂќ Rushefsky said it is вЂњextremely dangerous to LOCAL NEWS, from 2 were forced out of their camps and those camps were demolished before their eyes. It was reported that the people residing in an illegal camp near College Street and Main Avenue were only given minutes to gather their belongings. Reports also suggested that several other camps were similarly shut down. When Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky caught wind of the story, she was outraged that the homeless residents were вЂњroustedвЂќ just around the time that council would be passing ordinances that would affect panhandlers in the city, while another pending ordinance proposes to restrict foods distributed by charitable organizations. In an email communication with other city officials, she asked for an explanation and said, вЂњI sincerely hope that this is not part of some implicit policy or plan to rid the city of its troublesome homeless population.вЂќ City Manager Greg Burris urged council to view a city video in which Springfield Police Major Kirk Manlove explained what actually happened. The people had been camping in the area known as West Meadows since September and the camp had been recently discovered; the area was riddled with trash and human waste. Public works went in to assess the situation and to clean up the littered area. The homeless men were issued citations for trespassing in the fenced off area that was clearly marked вЂњNo TrespassingвЂќ and вЂњNo Dumping.вЂќ They were given a few hours to collect their belongings. A Public Works team cleaned up the trash that was left behind. According to the email communication, Burris said, вЂњI can also state that there is mix military and civilian policeвЂќ and the only reason why she considered supporting the partnership was because of the 30-day opt-out clause for both sides. She urged her colleagues to watch the partnership вЂњextremely closely.вЂќ During public comment, Seth Entwisle argued that the mayorвЂ™s amendment does little to alleviate the publicвЂ™s fears. вЂњThis change in wording, in my eyes, seems to make it more publicly palatable,вЂќ he said. вЂњThey will still be able to do what they want to do.вЂќ Edward Mahoney said the military вЂњhas no place in law enforcement.вЂќ Councilman Jeff Seifried offered a staunchly different perspective. вЂњI think crime is out-ofcontrol in this city and any time we can get a leg up with other resources andвЂ”the military has no place in our cityвЂ”but as an analyst sitting at a computer to help us with crime trends вЂ¦ I think the more the merrier,вЂќ Seifried said. вЂњWe can get all the help we need at a time with limited resources in the city.вЂќ Council voted 7-2 in favor of the partnership, with councilmen Mike Carroll and Burlison opposed. Although Carroll did not comment during the meeting, he later said that he shared BurlisonвЂ™s concerns. вЂњI donвЂ™t think the military belongs in policing our citizens,вЂќ he said.вЂњThere are numerous instances where increased militarization of police departments has contributed to numerous violations of American civil liberties. I donвЂ™t think that will happen here; I know theyвЂ™re just talking about an analyst in an office, but erosion happens over a long period of time. While this may not directly erode those civil liberties, the next one becomes easier to no вЂ�implicit policy or plan to rid the city of its troublesome homeless populationвЂ™ вЂ¦ I would hope council would have more faith in me and (Police) Chief Paul Williams than to think we would be initiating this type of action.вЂќ After the public reaction to the situation, Burris announced a change in city protocol in a Feb. 3 statement. вЂњIt standardizes the amount of time trespassers will be given to vacate property to at least 24 hours and creates a new system for communicating the needed action to those interested in helping those who are displaced,вЂќ Burris said in the statement. County fielded 20,000 911 calls per month last year Last year, the Springfield-Greene County 911 Emergency Communications Department averaged 20,000 911 calls per month, according to a recent city news release. Operators received 474,962 total phone calls, 241,494 of which were emergency 911 calls. According to the release, the numbers are almost exactly the same as last year. The number of wireless calls was above the national average at 77 percent. Wireless calls are a challenge to telecommunicators because they must take more time to process them. They must also determine if multiple calls are being received about the same incident and be sure to dispatch the appropriate emergency personnel. According to the release, Missouri is one of only two states that do not collect money from wireless usage to help fund 911 dispatch centers. see NEWS, 5 pass. Well, itвЂ™s just another analyst or itвЂ™s someone out in the field this time.вЂќ Carroll said that while he was glad to see the mayorвЂ™s amendment, he agreed with Springfield resident Seth Entwisle that it was вЂњprobably to make [the partnership] more publicly palatable.вЂќ $ sAVE DOLLARs $ fat back jowl butt kidneys pork loin shoulder butt picnic shoulder long ham or pork spare ribs bacon liver hock feet (trotters) Buy fresh pork now only 269 $ per lb FOR THESE ITEMS в�… Ground Pork в�… Boneless Pork Chops в�… Boneless Butterfly Pork Chops в�… Boneless Pork Loin Ribs в�… Spare Ribs в�… Boneless Pork Loin Roast в�… Pork Cutlets, tenderized в�… Boneless 1/2 or whole Pork Loin WE CUT FRESH MEAT 7 DAYS WEEK We reserve the right to limit quantities. Date02-05-14 02-05-14thru to 02-05-14 Date 02-18-14 WOMMACKS MARKET 1130 N. GRANT 41 7-866-32 41 Upfront 4 | February 5 - 18, 2014 Nick Reed in brief: 15 MINUTES WITHвЂ¦ Focused on freedom and critical thinking By Dillan Conn When he was 15 years old, Nick Reed was walking the halls of Carthage Senior High School and as he passed the councilorвЂ™s office, someone called his name. Apparently, the local radio station needed someone to man a CD player for a few hours each Sunday for minimum wage. Reed had just landed his first radio gig. Reed loved radio and excelled, but a focus on schooling kept him from pursuing it as a career. After being вЂњacademically uninvitedвЂќ from Missouri State University, Reed joined up with a Joplin radio station full time. In 2003, he was canned with the rest of the staff, so he took his skills as a talk radio host across town, but the station didnвЂ™t have the money for another show. Undeterred, Reed offered his services for free and was born into the world of news and political talk radio. Now 36 years old, Reed hosts his own show, offering his own brand of libertarian and conservative ideals. It airs 6-9 a.m. Monday through Friday on 104.1 KSGF. What shaped your outlook on politics and current events? The fundamental belief that human beings have the exact same rights because they are human beings. I think a lot of people say that and donвЂ™t really practice it. IвЂ™m big into government leaving people alone, not because government is inherently good or bad but because itвЂ™s none of their business. My rights come from my being a human being that exists, not because government said I deserve those rights. This country was founded on your rights being inherent because the Creator gave them to you whether Photo by Dillan Conn Nick Reed has hosted his show on KSGF for nearly four years. you believe in Christianity or whatever religion. They donвЂ™t come from the government. The Constitution laid out some rights so inherent they arenвЂ™t allowed to touch them, like the right to assemble, the right to bear arms, the freedom of speech. ItвЂ™s a document warning the government. Many donвЂ™t like to admit it, but we donвЂ™t live in that country any more. But we still have lots of freedoms here in America that other countries donвЂ™t. I believe something as mundane as seatbelt laws are still encroaching on our right to make choices. I always wear my seatbelt because I think itвЂ™s smart. But that should be my decision to make.Stupid people should be able to make decisions as readily as smart people should be. Some people think government knows best. Screw that. That is the opposite of what we were founded upon. If someone wants to do something thatвЂ™s bad, it is their human right to do so, whether thatвЂ™s drink whiskey, smoke cigarettes or get tattoos;whatever it is. What about abortion? Abortion, I see as a violation of the human right. For me, scientifically, it is a human life. And because I believe it is a human life you cannot take another personвЂ™s life. For that reason IвЂ™m opposed to abortion. If I didnвЂ™t believe it was a human life, I would believe in the right to have an abortion. But from where I come from, that life is just as important as yours or mine. ItвЂ™s a choice to rob a liquor store, but that doesnвЂ™t mean itвЂ™s right. Where do you stand on gay marriage? IвЂ™m opposed to the gov- Hometown: Born in Cape Girardeau; has lived all around Missouri Education: Studied political science at MSU but didnвЂ™t graduate Family: Mom and stepdad living in Carthage, dad and stepmom living in Cape Girardeau, two brothers, three sisters and a girlfriend Show: 6-9 a.m. Monday-Friday on 104.1 and podcast is available at KSGF.com What makes him interesting: He likes to wear unique socks ernment sanctioning gay marriage. But IвЂ™m also opposed to the government sanctioning heterosexual marriage. I donвЂ™t think they should be involved in anybodyвЂ™s marriage. Why should I have to go down to the county, have some government officialвЂ”who I have to payвЂ”and sign some piece of paper to tell me I can get married? I do believe thatвЂ™s a liberty everyone has,the right to get married to anyone they want to and it doesnвЂ™t matter when or where. What about the smoking ban? People say,вЂњYouвЂ™re taking away my human right to breath.вЂќThatвЂ™s not a human right. You have a human right to live in conditions of your own to where I canвЂ™t come and force mine on you.Nobody forced anyone to go into a business where smoking is allowed. It is your choice to not go there. It would be a violation for me to force you inside. It is a violation for the business owner to say to them they no longer have the right to allow people to smoke. We donвЂ™t think about human rights anymore. So what has changed? The biggest problem we have in our country is we donвЂ™t critically think anymore. Back in the days of the founding fathers and way before that, people thought about stuff. They wrote down their ideas and critically thought. Nowadays people hear a 30-second campaign ad and whichever one sounds the best, we chose. We donвЂ™t look at what really helps people. We go with what feels good instead of stopping to think about what works. www.cfpmidweek.com | Community Free Press Controversy over signatures eliminates school board hopefuls By Dillan Conn A once-potential candidate for the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education alleges that the school administrators judging his eligibility for candidacy have treated him unfairly. Swayne Loftis, a local contractor hoping to run for one of two vacant school board seats, has been eliminated from the running for failing to meet the required 500 petition signatures. Tasked with reviewing all signature petitions to ensure they are registered voters living within the SPS district boundaries, board secretary Kathy Looten originally found Loftis only garnered 413 valid signatures. Most of the other signatures were discredited because addresses were incomplete or the residents lived outside of the district boundaries, according to SPS director of communications Teresa Bledsoe. Upon receiving the news he would be eliminated from the running, Loftis requested copies of the signatures submitted on behalf of all potential candidates. Loftis said he reviewed the petitions of current board vice president Denise Fredrick, local architect Tim Rosenbury and social worker Delilah Jackson, who was also eliminated from running. вЂњThey werenвЂ™t expecting someone to comb through all of those names,вЂќ Loftis said. вЂњAfter being brutal to my own signatures, I came out to 503.вЂќ The controversy is in the use of вЂњspecial rulesвЂќ Loftis said were not previously explained to all participants. Petitions are judged by rules created by the office of the Missouri Secretary of State, but school districts may also apply special rules to signatures if they are documented up front. Bledsoe said all petition rules are listed in a packet given to each person working to collect signatures. Loftis said the special rules requiring complete addresses, with a ZIP code and city, are not in writing and were first brought to his attention in the email notifying him of his disqualification. After applying the special rules to his signatures, he agreed the number dropped to 413 but, under the same rules, Frederick and Rosenbury also dropped below the 500 mark. вЂњIf they want to split hairs, the other candidates are out of the running too,вЂќ Loftis said. вЂњSince no one legally qualifies, I think a reasonable solution is Loftis we all start over or the board puts everyone who made a noble effort to collect signatures on the ballot and let the people decide.вЂќ On Jan. 28, Loftis met with Looten, Superintendent Norm Ridder and SPS attorney Ransom Ellis III. Afterward, LoftisвЂ™ signatures were boosted to 481, a fact he said highlights inconsistencies in the counting process. вЂњThe fact that they accepted 68 more of my signatures on second review illustrates that there were a lot of arbitrary decisions taking place to start with when deciding whatвЂ™s acceptable to them and what is not,вЂќ Loftis wrote in a news release on his website. Bledsoe said the boost in signatures is the result of a process used вЂњat least once in the pastвЂќ when a petitioner has almost made it to 500.The extra step requires a trip to the county clerkвЂ™s office to compare petition signatures to physical voter registration in order to validate the addresses. вЂњIt is important to note this is the same process that has been used in the past,вЂќ Bledsoe said. вЂњEveryone was treated the same under these rules.вЂќ In LoftisвЂ™ news release, he claims Looten said there were no written rules and she вЂњmade the rules up on the fly.вЂќ He also claims Ridder said, вЂњWe changed the rules to try to help you qualify,вЂќ before retracting the statement moments later. Fredrick and Rosenbury will be sworn into office April 15. 100% of Proceeds stay with Missouri Council of the Blind 2713 N Kansas Expressway Behind IHOP 831-7600 SENIORS & VETERANS Save 25% Off Everyday OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Hours: M-F 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donation Pick-Up Hotline: 831-3701 Donations Tax Deductible $3 Off purchase of $10 or more! Limit 1 Coupon Per Person Per Visit (Not Valid With Any Other Offer) Coupon Good at 2713 N Kansas Expressway Behind IHOP Personal Checks Accepted Expires 02-28-14 Community Free Press Upfront | www.cfpmidweek.com Local VFW Post receives national recognition By Daniel Snyder Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., the Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts are a congressionally chartered war service for veterans, consisting of 1.5 million members in 7,644 posts nationwide. In Springfield the VFW Post 3404 has recently received numerous national awardsвЂ”a first for the post. вЂњThis post has really turned around in the last two and a half years and it really has been working hard to attend to the needs of veterans as well as they can,вЂќ said post commander of almost two years, Bill St. Gemme. вЂњThe post has earned for its tremendous amount of work, state and national awards and it is a reflection on what theyвЂ™ve done.вЂќ VFW national commander in chief, Bill Thien appointed St. Gemme as a national deputy chief of staff for his outstanding service to post 3404. St. Gemme was also recognized as an All-American post commander, one of 204 post commanders to receive that recognition. Additionally the post has been recognized as an All-American post and awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars Outstanding Community Service Post AwardвЂ”one of 68 VFW Posts in the nation to be awarded the honor. вЂњI was awarded the national deputy chief of staff designation, but the bulk of the work has been done by members of this post and theyвЂ™ve really done a great effort,вЂќ St. Gemme said. вЂњItвЂ™s a good Photo by Daniel Snyder VFW Post 3404 Commander Bill St. Gemme stands in front of the numerous awards won by the post. way of thanking them for their outstanding work.вЂќ State Rep. Billy Long recognized St. Gemme during a speech on the House floor Sept. 17. It will be published in the Congressional Record. And with all that recognition, itвЂ™s hard for St. Gemme to pick just one award that he is most proud of. вЂњI canвЂ™t pick one; I guess itвЂ™s the ones that have never been received by the post before,вЂќ he said.вЂњWhen you get national awards for the first time ever,those are the ones that are outstanding.They all add together to make what we are.вЂќ VFW Posts provide veterans with programs to aid them when they hit a financial bump in the road or need help finding a job or filing disability with the VeteranвЂ™s Affairs office. вЂњThe primary program of any post is the veteranвЂ™s service program,вЂќ St. Gemme said. вЂњThatвЂ™s NEWS, from 3 Two suspects arrested for armed robbery of Mexican Villa The Springfield Police Department arrested Springfield residents, Donald B. Sethman, 26, and Jacob Aguilar, 19, Jan. 29 for their involvement in the Jan. 18 armed robbery of Mexican Villa, 1408 S. National Ave. According to a city news release, the suspects entered the restaurant with their faces covered and robbed the restaurant at gunpoint. Sethman and Aguilar were both charged with firstdegree robbery and both have a bond set at $100,000. The investigation continues and police are expected to present information on additional suspects. Police believe the Mexican Villa robbery may also be connected to another robbery in Springfield. where we send any veteran that has been honorably discharged or less than honorably discharged вЂ¦ TheyвЂ™re eligible to file a disability claim with the VA.вЂќ The post also gives back to the community through community involvement, welcome home parties for overseas troops or helping veterans connect with each other. This year, St. Gemme hopes the hard work of post members will be recognized again. вЂњWeвЂ™re working again just as hard this year to obtain all-state recognition and All-American recognition and whatever else they decided to award us here,вЂќ he said. вЂњThis post is really moving in the right direction and I hope it continues to move in that direction for the years after that.вЂќ For more information on VFW Post 3404, visit vfwpost3404.org. Ash Grove man convicted of sexually abusing granddaughters An Ash Grove man was convicted Jan. 9 for sexually abusing his granddaughters between 2008 and 2011. According to a news release from the office of Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson, the jury recommended Brett Sanders, 54, face a life sentence for each of three counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, a 4-year sentence for sexual misconduct involving a child and two 10-year sentences for two counts of first-degree child molestation. Both victims were under age 12 when they were victimized. They have since moved out of state and it was only then that they revealed that the abuse was going on, according to the news release. An adult niece of Sanders also testified that she was sexually abused by him as a teenager. Sanders is set to be sentenced March 14. He is held without bond at Greene County Jail. February 5 - 18, 2014 | 5 Upfront 6 | February 5 - 18, 2014 www.cfpmidweek.com | Community Free Press Tax credit designed to spur on educational giving By Dillan Conn A ballot initiative currently circulating in Missouri aims to create a tax credit for those who donate to educational foundations. If the petition garners enough signatures it will be sent to Missouri voters in the Nov. 4 general election. Approximately 220,000 signatures are needed, allowing for an average rate of error, according to Mike Hoey, executive director of the Missouri Catholic Conference and board member of Missourians for ChildrenвЂ™s Education, a secular organization. вЂњThis is a way for local communities to take more ownership of their schools both public and non-public educational entities,вЂќ Hoey said. вЂњIt is a way to stimulate charitable giving to schools and a way to marry public and private giving.вЂќ The tax credit would return 50 percent of a monetary gift back to businesses or individuals that donate to nonprofit educational foundations. The credit would count against any tax liability outstanding at the end of a fiscal year. If passed, the initiative would create a ConstituINCOME TAX, from 1 income tax and it has seen mixed results. Business license applications are up but budget issues have been lingering. вЂњThe distinction between Kansas and what weвЂ™re proposing is we arenвЂ™t doing it all in one year,вЂќ Schmitt said. вЂњWeвЂ™re being smart about it.вЂќ When Schmitt says the bill is вЂњsmart,вЂќ heвЂ™s referring to a safeguard that was also included in last yearвЂ™s version. If MissouriвЂ™s net general revenue does not increase by $100 million over any one of the last three years, no cut will go into effect. This safeguard also holds true for another tax cut included in SB 509. Businesses, including S corporations and partnerships, will gain a 50 percent tax deduction on business income to be phased in at 10 percent each year the $100 mil- tional Amendment to implement a $90 million fund cut, with the money distributed to three segments of Missouri education. According to the ballot language, half of the $90 million would be earmarked for public schools, while 40 percent would be designated for private schools. Private schools would be required to use the funds for scholarships. The remaining 10 percent would go to special education. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks and the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools declined to comment on the ballot initiative. Both foundations said they didnвЂ™t want to take a political stance on the issue. Each year 501(c)3 taxexempt organizations will apply for a portion of the $90 million in a first-come first-served basis. This process will have to be renewed every year, Hoey said. вЂњItвЂ™s probably not the parent that donates to the schools,вЂќ Hoey said. вЂњItвЂ™s going to be senior citizens and businesses in the community. TheyвЂ™re the ones who get the advantage of the tax credit.вЂќ вЂќ People realize MissouriвЂ™s economy isnвЂ™t growing as quickly as other states are. The idea that we can stand still and keep our eyes closed and think this will change over time, I donвЂ™t think is a good strategy. вЂ” Rep. Eric Schmitt lion reserve is met. вЂњLetting people keep more of their own money is the way to move forward,вЂќ Schmitt said. вЂњOur state has a $400 million surplus and I think we need to send some of that money back to the people instead of to Jeff City.вЂќ The bill also gives a break to low-earning tax payers. Currently there is a personal exemption of Source: Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau He said parents get the advantage of scholarships to private schools and money funneling back into their public school. вЂњWhat this credit is doing more than anything is stimulating giving to educational foundations,вЂќ Hoey said. вЂњWe see it as a very positive initiative.вЂќ $2,100 for persons making less than $20,000 annually. SB 509 would raise that exemption to $3,100 and would not be contingent on the revenue safeguard requirement. While the bill is solely designed to lower taxes and give more money back to those who earned it, last year Nixon called the measure a вЂњfiscally irresponsible experiment.вЂќ He held back millions of dollars to ensure school funding would not be affected, but nothing in last yearвЂ™s bill or this yearвЂ™s version suggested cutting educational funding. вЂњWe had a $400 million surplus and the governor was holding money back from education,вЂќ Schmitt said.вЂњHe doesnвЂ™t have the power to do that. If weвЂ™re not in a deficit situation itвЂ™s not his job to do that.вЂќ SCHOOL NOTES CFO awards early childhood and education grants The Community Foundation of the Ozarks awarded $50,000 to support early childhood services at seven area nonprofit agencies, along with $18,457 for school-based projects in Springfield and Greene County. CFOвЂ™s 2013-2014 grantmaking program is made possible by the generosity of donors. The criteria for the early childhood grant focuses on programs that address the вЂњred flagsвЂќ identified in the Community Focus Report for Springfield-Greene County, or innovative programming with a demonstrated potential to address those issues. Funds provide backpacks, computer equipment, resource books, learning technologies, staff training kits, vision screenings and other services and supplies. CFO also awarded $14,721 to eight Springfield Public Schools programs for technology and transportation costs. OTC receives Technology Innovation Award George Lamelza, college director of web services at Ozark Technical Community College, was recognized by the Missouri Community College Association for his innovative website design at a ceremony held in St. Louis. The Technology Innovation Award is presented annually to a Missouri community college in recognition of a project that makes exemplary use of technology. OTCвЂ™s newly redesigned website is a radical departure from the average college or university site. The design was based off five years of analytical studies, usability testing and a student-centered strategy of making information easy to find, use and disseminate. The new site has garnered national attention and has become a highly used tool by students, faculty and community members. A new survey shows students opting out of buying textbooks A survey released by MoPIRG Foundation and the Student PIRGs shows that 65 percent of student consumers have opted out of buying a college textbook, due to high prices, and nearly half say that textbook costs can dictate whether they take a course. Over the past decade, college textbook prices have increased by 82 percent, or at three times the rate of inflation, making them one of the biggest out of pocket expenses for students and families. In recent years, alternatives to new, print textbooks have become widely available through rental programs, used book markets and e-textbooks. Prices are still dictated by the price of a new print edition. Another option to ease the cost of textbooks is using open textbooks, which are faculty-written and peer-reviewed like traditional textbooks, but they are published under an open license, meaning they are free to download and affordable to print. Of the students polled, 82 percent said they would do significantly better in a course if the textbook was free online and a hardcopy was optional. Gov. Nixon outlines вЂњGood Schools, Good JobsвЂќ plan Good schools are vital to MissouriвЂ™s ability to compete and create jobs in the global economy, Gov. Jay Nixon said Jan. 30 during a visit to Cassville High School in Barry County. The вЂњGood Schools, Good JobsвЂќ plan was outlined in his State of the State speech and will provide resources to help schools reduce class sizes and protect access to early childhood education. NixonвЂ™s Fiscal Year 2015 budget proposal includes an increase of $278 million for K-12 classrooms, putting the state on a path to fully funding the education formula in two years. MissouriвЂ™s graduation rate is eighth highest in the nation and, over the last five years, Missouri has led the nation in reducing tuition increases at its public universities. Community Free Press Upfront | www.cfpmidweek.com CURSIVE, from 1 agree that handwriting is important to student development and education. вЂњIn the elementary grades, students need handwriting instruction to develop fine motor skills and make them better communicators,вЂќ Moore said. вЂњStudents need to be able to communicate through spoken language, reading and writing.вЂќ For cursive proponents, fine motor skill development is a paramount concern, but they say the benefits of cursive are much farther reaching. вЂњIt all has to do with how a child sees what is written on the paper coupled with using their fine motor skills,вЂќ Scott said. вЂњWhen a letter is put to another letter and linking the others, children see the word as a picture and remember it better.вЂќ Curriculum Development Council member, Jody Grable has taught elementary education in the district for 11 years and handwriting has always been part of the curriculum. вЂњOur decision to continue teaching cursive and handwriting is based on community support,вЂќ she said. вЂњOur community would not support eliminating cursive from the curriculum. From the community level, university level and parent level, it was a pretty unanimous decision that we should not be eliminating handwriting instruction from our schools.вЂќ According to Grable, the districtвЂ™s handwriting curriculum integrates English language arts skills like grammar, parts of speech and basic writing formats like letters, invitations and outlines. вЂњCursive definitely brings in multiple modalities [of learning],вЂќ she said. вЂњVisual learners can put that visual representation to their thought. More tactile learners benefit from the forming of letters and engraining that pack of movement as theyвЂ™re doing it.вЂќ In recent years, some вЂќ вЂ�At a minimum, students need to be able to write their name with pride. They need to be able to read ... grandmaвЂ™s letters.вЂ™ вЂ” Gayna Scott, Campaign for Cursive SPS classrooms have moved away from dryerase boards and back to traditional chalkboards. вЂњThe resistance helps them because they can feel how theyвЂ™re correctly making the marks on the board,вЂќ Grable said. вЂњFor students with challenges, it is something that can focus them better and link the tactile to what theyвЂ™ve learned in the auditory portion.вЂќ Scott said MRI research has shown that learning cursive simultaneously fires different parts of the brain, linking the left and right sides. Like learning languages at a younger age, she said this exercise improves memory and creating these connections helps learning in the future. вЂњItвЂ™s like riding a bike,вЂќ she said. вЂњOnce you have those pathways youвЂ™re already experiencing the benefits.вЂќ Cursive is a continuum of learning, Grable said. Motor skills start in kindergarten and are practiced in print handwriting through first grade and second grade. In second grade, cursive is introduced and it is practiced through third grade. By the fourth and fifth grades, students are given competency marks on their cursive performance. Scott, Grable and Moore agree that, after elementary school, students should be able to make their own decision whether to use cursive or print manuscript and most choose to print. The College Board surveyed 6,498 essays written for the SAT college entrance exam between March 2005 and January 2006. They found 15 percent of essays were written in cursive. Still, Really Good Stuff, a school supplies company, surveyed 612 teachers of kindergarten through fifth-grade and found nearly 70 percent said not teaching cursive would have long-term negative consequences. Private, charter and home schools are still teaching cursive at a high rate, Scott said. вЂњKids will be at a real disadvantage if kids around them can do it and they canвЂ™t,вЂќ she said. вЂњEspecially competing globally.вЂќ Scott said it is shortsighted to pull cursive out of the curriculum. вЂњAt a minimum, students need to be able to write their name with pride,вЂќ she said. вЂњThey need to be able to read source documents like the Declaration of Independence or just read grandmaвЂ™s letters.вЂќ FOOD PROGRAM, from 1 and where that food comes from. Curtis Millsap, owner of Millsap Farms, is one of the original visionaries involved in bringing healthy foods into Springfield schools. In 2011, a small team including Millsap, an SPS principle and the executive director of the Springfield Urban Agriculture Coalition, wrote a grant and began hands-on education with first and fifth-graders at Pleasant View Elementary. вЂњWhen we set out, we were pretty ambitious with the project,вЂќhe said. вЂњWe hope our gardens would produce enough food to get into the cafeteria. Since then weвЂ™ve dropped the emphasis on creating a certain amount of food.вЂќ Chelsey Simpson, communications associate for the National Farm to School Network, said many communities struggle with supplying enough food to satisfy an institutions need. Food delivery systems are so sophisticated, working local foods into the formula is far more complicated than it seems, she said. As coordinator of the Local Sprouts project, Stephanie Smith has spent the last two years on the simple yet challenging task of getting good food in front of SpringfieldвЂ™s children. Local Sprouts is a Farm to Childcare program supported by the Ozarks Regional YMCA and a three-year grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. By working with SPS, setting up вЂњgarden bars,вЂќ tastings and providing February 5 - 18, 2014 snacks, Local Sprouts feeds 34 after school programs and five summer day camps. вЂњThrough our grant dollars, weвЂ™ve been able to learn along the way what needs to be done and weвЂ™ve been able to share out experiences with SPS and others in the community wanting to know how to start a program like this,вЂќ Smith said. вЂњWeвЂ™re writing a tool kit so those who want to start a [farm to school] program can start a little further down the road than we did and help make their project more successful.вЂќ The USDA grant will pave the way for SPS to lay out local supply lines to fill students with fresh sustainable produce. In the meantime education is the forefront. Multiple atteempts were made to reach SPSвЂ™s вЂќ вЂ�Our research shows kids think milk comes from the grocery store and ketchup comes from a bottle. WeвЂ™re literally having to start from the ground up.вЂ™ вЂ” Lorin Fahrmeier director of nutrition to talk about the grant. Simpson said the planning grant would be used to learn how to make the program sustainable, outline goals and get the right stakeholders on board. вЂњWe ask them, why does this taste so good? Because it was in the | 7 ground five minutes ago. It hasnвЂ™t been removed from the plant five steps and peeled and chlorinated.вЂќ Educatoin and nutrition go hand in hand Simpson said. вЂњThatвЂ™s been proven time and again, the education is essential for the nutrition to be effective,вЂќ she said. A big chunk of the educationвЂ”outside of the science of gardening, lessons about the equinox and solstice, plant parts, functions and what their purposes areвЂ”is done in the kitchen. вЂњWe get a chance to teach them to take risks,вЂќ Millsap said.вЂњTry a leaf of spinach and talk about it, have them taste the nuttiness and the sweetness. They get so excited about eating things theyвЂ™ve grown and that will send them down the right path in the future.вЂќ Lorin Fahrmeier, Missouri Farm to Institution project coordinator for the last three years, said the mission isnвЂ™t just about getting kids nutritious foods but making sure they know where food comes from. вЂњOur research shows kids think milk comes from the grocery store and ketchup comes from a bottle,вЂќ she said. вЂњWeвЂ™re literally having to start from the ground up.вЂќ She said kids thinking that food simply comes from a box is a cycle that needs to be broken and thatвЂ™s why education is a big part of farm to school programs. вЂњItвЂ™s a great chance for producers to tell their story,вЂќ Fahrmeier said. вЂњAgricultural knowledge used to be so basic,and itвЂ™s vital to a thriving culture.вЂќ Upfront 8 | February 5 - 18, 2014 News Digest Governor sets date for special elections after delay, lawsuit After what some state lawmakers would consider an unjustifiably long delay, Gov. Jay Nixon has finally set Aug. 5 as the date for special elections to fill four vacant seats in the Missouri Legislature. One House seat has been vacant for more than six months after former Rep. Jason Smith won a special election to the U.S. Congress. Ten residents of the vacant districts filed a lawsuit Jan. 2 to force the governor to call an election. According to the Missouri Constitution, when there is a vacancy in the legislature, the governor вЂњshall, without delay, issue a writ of election.вЂќ Springfield Sen. Bob Dixon had also filed legislation to require the governor to set a date for a special election for legislative vacancies within 30 days. Attorney general investigates rising propane prices, governor announces measures Attorney General Chris Koster announced Jan. 27 that his office is conducting an investigation into the cause of the recent rise in propane gas prices. According to a news release from KosterвЂ™s office, a report will be issued when the inquiry is complete. The investigation is in response to a recent request from Sen. Mike Parson. Forty consumers have filed complaints with the Attorney GeneralвЂ™s Consumer Protection Division about the increased costs. According to the release, consumers say that the price has increased from approximately $1.94 in December to approximately $5. вЂњMissourians are justifiably concerned about the dramatic increase in propane prices вЂ¦ We are currently investigating all complaints, and working with businesses and agencies in nine other states across the Midwest to determine the cause of these price increases,вЂќ Koster said in the release. During a multi-state conference call with representatives of the propane gas industry, distributors and analysts cited a sharp increase in the export of propane and substantially higher consumption this winter, which may have caused a shortfall in the supply. During a Feb. 3 Springfield visit, Gov. Jay Nixon announced new measures to help Missourians affected by rising propane prices. He announced an additional $14.9 million in federal funds through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and a doubling of the amount CITY COUNCIL, from 1 safety factor of those standing there,вЂќ she said.вЂњItвЂ™s not a question of what we like or what we want or how comfortable we feel with it. I hope no one in this room is comfortable when they see somebody saying they donвЂ™t have food to eat.We should be uncomfortable seeing people beg for food, but thatвЂ™s no reason to prohibit people from trying to stay alive.вЂќ Although the amendment passed,so did the proposed ordinance. Rushefsky and Burlison gave the only opposing votes. The ordinance outlaws panhandling within 5 feet of a roadway, on medians, shoulders or other dangerous areas or within 20 feet of a doorway, sidewalk cafГ©s or ATMs. Non-aggressive panhandling would remain legal if those requirements are met. PARK CENTRAL SQUARE With the approval of a new smoking ordinance,all tobacco products will be prohibited on Park Central Square, including the sidewalks.A city permit would exempt sidewalk cafГ©s and restaurant patios. Councilman Craig Hosmer commented that the ban is long overdue. Citing a city ordinance that bans smoking in all parks, he said that although Park Central Square is not technically a city park, it is used in the same fashion. вЂњPark Central Square is used like a park,вЂќ Hosmer said.вЂњBut, itвЂ™s to the point where it is more like an ashtray than it is a park.вЂќ The ordinance passed 7-2, with councilmen Mike Carroll and Burlison as the households can receive for propane assistanceвЂ”from $264-450 to $528-900 per year. According to a news release from the governorвЂ™s office, approximately 10 percent of Missouri households rely on propane to heat their homes. DNR denies Gallatin horse slaughter permit The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has turned down the permit request of Rains Natural Meats in Gallatin, which was seeking to process horse meat for commercial sale. According to media reports, the agency cited federal budget restrictions that prevent the inspections of the slaughtering process. President Barack Obama recently signed a budget measure that stops the U.S. Department of Agriculture from spending money for the inspections necessary for slaughterhouses to ship horse meat interstate and export it. Three U.S. companies had prepared for horse slaughter operations twice before in less than six months and animal protection groups have kept operations in limbo until November, when U.S. District Judge Christine Armijo threw out the their lawsuit against the USDA. But it was followed by an appeal to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and an emergency motion again blocking the plants from opening. Congress banned horse slaughter in 2006. It lifted the ban in 2011 but no slaughterhouses were approved until the summer of 2013. Bolivar man accused of mass shooting plot found guilty The 21-year-old Bolivar man accused of a 2012 plan to shoot people at a Walmart and a theatre showing the movie, вЂњTwilightвЂќ has been found guilty of first degree assault and armed criminal action. Blaec Lammers originally faced an additional charge of making terroristic threats, but Polk County Circuit Judge William Roberts dropped the charge. Lammers is being held without bond in Polk County Jail. His sentencing is scheduled for March 20. Measure nullifying federal gun laws passes Senate committee The Senate General Laws Committee recently passed legislation that would nullify some federal gun control policies. A similar bill made it all the way to the governorвЂ™s desk last year, only to be vetoed. At the time, Nixon said that portions of the bill were unconstitutional. dissenting votes. Skateboarding will now also be prohibited in the Park Central Square area, including the arterial roads of the square. Burlison was the lone voice opposing that ordinance, saying that sometimes people use skateboards for exercise and transportation. Once the mayor signs the new ordinances, they will go into effect immediately.The city will issue warnings during the month of February and enforcement will begin March 1. FOOD DISTRIBUTION An ordinance requiring food distributors to obtain a free permit to hand out food to the needy was tabled at the request of Councilman Craig Fishel. The ordinance would require that area churches and organizations, which have previously set up tables to make sandwiches for the homeless, schedule a specific time and location to distribute only foods that have been pre-packaged. Fishel moved to table the bill, for up to a year to give the downtown task force and area food distributors time to work out a compromise. вЂњIt gives the task force the opportunity to reach out,вЂќ Fishel said. Councilman Jeff Seifried was initially opposed to tabling the ordinance, citing that many out-of-town charities are the ones causing problems. He ultimately agreed to the delay only if the measure would not be forgotten. Mayor Bob Stephens gave the only vote against the delay. www.cfpmidweek.com | Community Free Press According to media reports, bill sponsor Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington, said heвЂ™s addressed the major problems with the bill. The legislation wouldвЂ”among other thingsвЂ”allow certain school personnel to carry concealed weapons. It would also lower the legal minimum age to obtain a concealed carry permit to 19 from 21. Another Mo. inmate executed, more criticism and legal battles over compounding pharmacy On Jan. 28, Gov. Jay Nixon issued a statement denying clemency to death row prisoner Herbert Smulls. Smulls was convicted of shooting and killing Stephen Honickman and seriously wounding Florence Honickman during a robbery of their jewelry business in Chesterfield. The U.S. Supreme Court granted Smulls a temporary stay of execution, which his lawyer sought, citing MissouriвЂ™s refusal to disclose which compounding pharmacy was providing the lethal injection drug, pentobarbital. Despite several efforts at appeals and delays past his original execution time of 12:01 a.m. Jan. 29, Smulls was ultimately executed and pronounced dead at 10:20 p.m. According to media reports, Joseph Lubby, an attorney for Smulls, said he received an email for the Supreme Court at 10:30 p.m. denying the inmates stay application. Lawyers argue that Missouri has executed inmates too quickly, before all appeals have been exhausted. According to a report by The Associated Press, in an emailed statement Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said, вЂњThe United States Supreme Court has ruled that pending litigation is not sufficient to stop an execution. The legal mechanism for a federal court to stop an execution is a court-ordered stay.вЂќ Efforts to delay the death penalty for Missouri inmates have been hanging on MissouriвЂ™s refusal to reveal its source of pentobarbital. Lawyers also argued that there was no assurance that deaths were not cruel and unusual punishment since compounding pharmacies are not regulated the same as commercial pharmacies. According to a report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, after a bit of a legal tug-o-war, the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis ruled that if lawyers canвЂ™t come up with a more humane execution than lethal injection, they are not entitled to discover more about the stateвЂ™s drug source. Community Free Press Upfront | www.cfpmidweek.com February 5 - 18, 2014 | 9 Compromising photographs Local photographers and park board reach an agreement on a controversial city ordinance в– By Daniel Snyder Local photographers and the SpringfieldGreene County Park Board have reached an agreement over a city ordinance that requires professional photographers to pay $25 per hour to photograph in public parks. Back in June, some photographers had complained of being approached by park rangers and asked if they had paid the fee while they were taking photos in city parksвЂ”it was usually the first time they had ever heard about it and they felt they were being singled out. The Springfield-Greene County Park Board said the fees help cover costs for damages incurred during professional photo shoots. Park board members and local photographers have since reached an agreement to cap the fee at $150 annually or at $25 per day for all parks. The park board also agreed to do a better job of advertising, promoting and monitoring the permit process. вЂњCompromise is a good word,вЂќ said Michelle Cramer, owner of Eternal Image Photography. вЂњThere are some photographers that feel like there shouldnвЂ™t be a fee at all because, as a community, we already pay taxes on the parks. My business takes money Cramer by doing business in the parks, so it makes a little more sense for me. That being said, I think $150 a year is far more reasonable than $25 an hour.вЂќ Jenny Fillmer Edwards, Public Information Administrator for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, said that the discussion with the photographers about the fee wasnвЂ™t a вЂњcompromise,вЂќ but rather clarification to the policy. вЂњIt would be a written policy that not only staff would have copies of, but members of the photography community who came in to purchase a permit would be provided a copy of the policy,вЂќ Edwards said. вЂњWeвЂ™ve talked to several people and weвЂ™ve heard from several people, but the general consensus was that the previous policy was hard to understand and we took a look at it and agreed, we had some misunderstanding among our own staff, so weвЂ™ve endeavored to make it clear and I think that we have accomplished that.вЂќ According to Edwards the new fee would take effect in March. вЂњ[The park board] is going to make sure that everybody is aware of it because nobody was,вЂќ Cramer said, adding that a badge or other identifying indicator to show a photographer has paid is also being discussed. вЂњThe idea was to have something on our bags or on our person, that a park ranger can see, so that weвЂ™re not approached in the middle of a session because that from a business perspective it is a little embarrassing,вЂќ Cramer said.вЂњI donвЂ™t know if there has been an actual decision on what that will look like, but thatвЂ™s something they are working on.вЂќ Edwards said that the daily pass would be a onetime use type of pass, while the annual pass would be more durable and possibly laminated. Tag holders will be asked to either wear or display the pass while working in the parks. Despite their disagreements on the matter, Cramer said that Belote was very diplomatic throughout the process. вЂњBob seemed to be our internal advocate for the change because he was really on our side and he was disappointed that it got to this point, but he understood that it was because no one knew what was going on,вЂќ Cramer said. вЂњHeвЂ™s always been very responsive and very helpful in the process ever since (CFP) ran the [original] story.вЂќ New LOYALTY PUNCH CARD *25% OFF Total Purchase *Quarterly GRAND PRIZES !!! *With Punch Card Completed *Limit 1 Card per Customer-Unlimited Punches All Proceeds Benefit Fair Haven ChildrenвЂ™s Home Most Clothing Open Mon Tue Thr Fri 10-6 Wed 10-5 00 1312 S Glenstone 882-3392 $1 Good News! A New Solution for Hearing Aid Users Advanced Sound Quality, Comfort & Design MID-WEST HEARING AID SERVICE, INC. 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Jan. 24вЂ”A local man faces two counts of felony resisting arrest, one count of felony escaping from custody, one count of felony first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and one count of felony second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer following an eventful police chase. Brandon Slavens, 30, is alleged to have refused to comply at a traffic stop before engaging police in a car chase and crashing into a tree. Slavens fled on foot, was apprehended and then kicked out the window of the patrol car and jumped out, only to be apprehended again. Slavens is being held at Greene County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Two years ago, Slavens was charged with breaking into the home of a Greene County couple, assaulting them and locking them up. Jan. 25вЂ”The Subway restaurant, 1120 S. Glenstone Ave., was robbed at gunpoint. The suspect got away with an undisclosed amount of money and a cellphone. Springfield police continue to investigate the incident. 417-725-GRIN (4746) NEW PATIENT SPECIAL Exam With X-Rays $69 00 Complete Reg. $180.00 CARE CREDIT Not To Be Used With Other Discounts Or Insurance Jan. 25вЂ”An elderly woman reported being robbed in her northwest Springfield home by two men armed with a hatchet. The suspects allegedly made off with items including a .22 caliber pistol and a cellphone. Jan. 26вЂ”Nine vehicles were vandalized on a Missouri State University parking lot located on Harrison Street. Jan. 28вЂ”Police arrested a man suspected of stealing a vehicle in the 1400 block of East Seminole. Police pursued the suspect, who later abandoned the vehicle and was found hiding under another nearby vehicle. A weapon was found in the stolen car after the suspect was apprehended. Feb. 1вЂ”A man was shot in the chest near the Flagship Motel, 2209 N. Glenstone Ave. and he was taken to hospital after he sought help at a nearby McDonaldвЂ™s restaurant. Police cordoned off the area of the motel and later apprehended a male and a female. Feb. 2вЂ”Police were led on a high-speed car chase by a woman they suspected of driving while intoxicated. The driver crashed into a gas main near High Street and Park Avenue before fleeing the scene. Officers found the woman hiding in a nearby van. She was hospitalized with injuries. Dr. Houston Ker, DDS Practicing since 1978 Dr. Todd Anderson DDS Practicing since 1998 100% DISCOUNTT FORR SENIORSS (60+) | 10% % DISCOUNTT FORR VETERANS SERVICES: вЂў Cleanings вЂў Teeth Whitening вЂў Fillings вЂў Root canals вЂў Crowns & Bridges вЂў Implants вЂў Dentures & Partials вЂў In-House Lab вЂў Invisalign вЂў Free Denture Adjustments (when purchased at New Life Dental Center) Call For An Appointment Today! 417-725-GRIN (4746) вЂњWe Cater to Cowards!вЂќ WWW.NEWLIFEDENTALCENTER.COM Upfront 10 | February 5 - 18, 2014 Viewpoints THINK About It! www.cfpmidweek.com вЂњIвЂ™m come from a country that raises corn and cotton, cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. IвЂ™m from Missouri, and you have got to show me.вЂќ Willard Duncan Vandiver, U.S. State Representative, 1899 FreePress Local Voice Community Breck Langsford, President/Publisher Amanda Langsford, Associate Publisher Photos and interviews by Dillan Conn What was one positive aspect and one negative aspect of Gov. Jay NixonвЂ™s State of the State speech that stuck with you? EDITORIAL April Labine-Katko Copy Editor, Reporter Daniel Snyder, Reporter, Photographer Dillan Conn, Reporter, Photographer I appreciated his recognition of the needs of our stateвЂ™s mentally ill citizens. The House was already in discussions in how we can address this and I am glad the governor is on board. Gov. Nixon flagrantly ignored not only his own economistsвЂ™, but also the University of MissouriвЂ™s economistsвЂ™ revenue estimates. He did this to make political promises that he knows the state and stateвЂ™s taxpayers canвЂ™t afford. -Rep. Kevin Austin CONTRIBUTORS Kelsey Garman Phil Morrissey Bob Mace James Hanson DESIGN Amanda Langsford ADVERTISING Amanda Langsford Greg Hansen Illustration by Phil Morrissey CIRCULATION / DISTRIBUTION Marylee York, Manager Tim Rose, Courier Alexander Ingram, Courier ADMINISTRATION Muriel Lincoln, Senior Accountant Dudley Brown, IT Systems & Web CONTACT [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] B Publishing Group 537 N. Broadway / Springfield, MO 65802 Mailing address: PO Box 2418 Springfield, MO 65801 Phone: (417) 447-2130 (417) 268-9177 866-577-3946 Fax: (417) 447-2140 www.cfpmidweek.com The Community Free Press is published by B Publishing Group, Inc. in Springfield, Mo. It is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader, from distributors in the Springfield-metro area. Additional copies may be obtained at the B Publishing Group offices. CFP may be distributed only by the publisherвЂ™s authorized agents. No one may, without permission from B Publishing Group, take more than one copy of each issue. Reproduction prohibited without publisherвЂ™s written permission. Unsolicited materials should be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. B Publishing Group reserves the right to publish unsolicited articles, and is under no obligation to return such materials. Vol. 12 Issue 3 The thoughts and opinions of columnists in the Viewpoints section do not reflect those of the Community Free Press. If you wish to respond to Viewpoints please e-mail CFP: [email protected] | Community Free Press Childish Things I E-mail Bob Mace: [email protected]. t could be that The Edge bends the With the notable exception of The fabric of the space-time continuEdglett and her teenage friends, um or it might just be random luck. most of the females known to The Whatever the causality, when someEdge are of similar advanced years. one inquires if any of the observaAnd, more often than not, their key tions documented in this column are chains contain some stuffed animal prevaricated, that is to say less than memento of times when their kids truthfully reported, the answer is no, were much younger and selected Springfield and the world provide their personal favorite parental volumes of events that span from birthday or Christmas gift. tender and touching to down right During the Musial era a few bucks Bob Mace weird. would put entire families in the field THE EDGE Notably near the midpoint on that seats at Sportsman Park. The Edge scale would be the fascination that mature never understands how the construction of adults seem to have with animated characters. luxury boxes to which admission for a single This epiphany dawns at the tee box as I game costs a few hundred bucks results in observe buddies, all over the age of 50, with doubling or tripling the price of the cheap their bags of golf weapons.Two who attended seats. At about the same time nobody but a Mizzou keep their drivers protected in stuffed one-percenter could afford to bring kids to a animal, Panthera tigris,Truman the Tiger head Cardinal game, in the tradition of San DiegoвЂ™s covers. According to Mizzou lore, there origi- Chicken, on to the field strutted Fredbird. nally were both male and female tiger masGrownups like to add their animae themes cots. In1984 the students voted to make to their vehicles. Truman tails hanging from Truman the official athletic department talis- antennae and sadistic-looking hogs heads are man. popular on autumn Saturdays around Another attended nearly every public and Springfield. private university in the Midwest, including The holiday season has become just cause Mizzou, before deciding what he wanted to be for adults to add a wreath to the grillwork of when he grew up. Kansas State must have the dented вЂ™92 Chevy or a red velvet nose and been the sentimental favorite as his driver a pair of reindeer antlers to the soccer mom plush is none other than Willie the Wildcat. van. And like that one house in every neighPaul the apostle wasnвЂ™t вЂњone of the boys,вЂќ borhood, there are some who leave the decowhen he penned to the church at Corinth: rations in place until Springtime. вЂњWhen I was a child, I spake as a child, I Such was the recent case observed by The understood as a child, I thought as a child: but Edge on a commercial parking lot just off of when I became a man, I put away childish Battlefield Road. The toll of time and recent things.вЂќThe Edge, long after becoming a man, windy weather had resulted in the red nose sported an uber-infantile stuffed Mickey thing remaining on the grill while but a single Mouse standing guard over the big stick until antler adorned the roof of that vehicle. One the purchase of a modern-era, bigger-than-a- must assume that the loss of the matching pasbread-box driver. Putting away that childish senger side antler was the justification used thing was a case of outgrowing its design for putting that vehicle, right in front of the capacity rather than a rite of passage to matu- store, in (you guessed it) the reserved for rity. handicapped parking spot. While listening to Gov. NixonвЂ™s State of the State Address, I tried to be optimistic in hopes that our governor would take a change of heart and start governing by the conservative principles he campaigned on during the last election cycle. It quickly became quite apparent that our governor will continue to expand government and spend money our state cannot afford. He denied Missourians a well-deserved tax cut during last session and now has proposed the largest budget in our stateвЂ™s history. Gov. Nixon also continued to press the issue of Medicaid expansion while promising hundreds of millions of additional taxpayer dollars to fund multiple state programs. I was very disappointed in Gov. NixonвЂ™s unrealistic budget proposal. I felt better after his State of the State address knowing that we have a Republican majority who will work together to ensure Missouri has a balanced and fiscally responsible budget. -Rep. Sonya Anderson I was pleased to see the governor advocate for increased funding in early childhood education; $1 million added to Parents as Teachers, $8.5 million added to the First Steps Program and an additional $20 million for Missouri Preschool Program will help get the children of Missouri on the right educational footing. However, I find the funding disparity between the four-year institutions and twoyear institutions concerning. The governor has proposed a 5 percent funding increase for four-year schools and only a 4 percent increase to two-year schools. Many students that decide to take additional coursework after high school choose two-year programs and I believe any additions to higher education funding should be equal to both fouryear schools as well as two-year schools. -Rep. Lincoln Hough In his State of the State address, the governor touched on a number of points with which I agree, including вЂњstrict fiscal discipline.вЂќ I support fiscal responsibility, which the General Assembly has demonstrated repeatedly. In contrast, the governor rejected earlier, reasonable revenue estimates developed by his administration, legislators and economic experts and presented a budget based on generous projections, creating unreasonable expectations. The governor also discussed investments in education, which I agree is a key component to economic prosperity. What was not discussed were other investmentsвЂ”in transportation, infrastructure, public safety and our justice systemвЂ”required to keep Missouri strong and competitive. -Sen. Bob Dixon Community Free Press | www.cfpmidweek.com February 5 - 18, 2014 Business | 11 Meeting the demand Local shop meeting SpringfieldвЂ™s printing needs since вЂ�88. В» Page 13 e-mail [email protected] FYI Foster family program merges with local nonprofit SammyвЂ™s WindowвЂ”a program designed to help foster kids receive clothingвЂ”has merged with Family Matters Resource, which provides support, advocacy, resource referrals and training to foster families. SammyвЂ™s Window was started in 2008 by Mark Hay as a tribute to his father, Sam. It aims to ease the financial burden associated with becoming a foster parent by providing clothing, food, hygiene items, school supplies and other needs for foster families. Hay has served 228 kids since the last quarter of 2013 and has provided food to over 250 individuals since then. Hay and Melinda Nicholson, director of Family Matters completed the merge to provide the best possible all-inclusive care for foster families. Family Matters Resource Center began in 2013. It is located at 1774 1/2 S. Grant Ave. SammyвЂ™s Window is located at 3757 N. Glenstone Ave. For more information, visit familymatterscares.org or call 866-3672. Former mayor named 2014 Springfieldian of the year At the annual meeting of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, SpringfieldвЂ™s longest-serving mayor, Tom Carlson, was named the 2014 Springfieldian of the year. A Springfield native, Carlson had a 25-year career in public service, including seven terms as mayor of Springfield. He was elected in 1987 and served until 1993 and then again from 2001-2007. Carlson was instrumental in the creation of SpringfieldвЂ™s Economic Development Partnership between the Chamber of Commerce, the Springfield Business Development Corporation, City Utilities, the City of Springfield and Greene County. The annual award recognizes an outstanding individual for leadership and commitment to the community. see FYI, 13 Big plans for the McDaniel Building By Daniel Snyder D owntown has seen more than its share of renovations, many of which are in process or soon to beginвЂ”and now among them is the 103-year-old McDaniel building. The Vecino Group recently announced plans to renovate the building on top of the companyвЂ™s projects at the Landmark and Woodruff buildings, to be named The Frisco and SKY eleven, respectively, both of which will include rental housing. The former office building will be renamed The U and renovations will include adding 39 student apartment suites, available in one, two, three or four bedroom units rented by the bedвЂ”dormitory style. Vecino Group president Rick Manzardo said that the price range for each tenant would range between $550750, including utilities, cable, Internet and washer/dryer units. Each bedroom will have its own locks and private bathroom. вЂњThe by-the-bed rentals for students is basically one check for parents and itвЂ™s all inclusive,вЂќ Manzardo said, adding that the build- ingвЂ™s new name would вЂњring true with students.вЂќ The idea to transform the building into student housing came from conversations with the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and observing market trends. вЂњWeвЂ™re taking an entrepreneurial angle with the Chamber of Commerce,вЂќ Manzardo Manzardo said. вЂњWe wanted to fight the вЂњbrain drainвЂќ of students that go to school here then leave, so weвЂ™re trying to give them reasons to stay here.вЂќ Plans are to organize internships with the chamber, bring in local business presenters and hold вЂњshark tankвЂќ competitions where the best business plan wins and receives a discount on rent for the month. With the by-the-bed rental format, each student signs an individual lease. So, even if a roommate moves out or fails to pay their rent, students are only responsible for their own share. An artist rendering of вЂ�The U.вЂ™ The Vecino Group is developing the McDaniel building into вЂ�The UвЂ™ a student-centered apartment complex that uses a pay by the bed leasing system. Rendering courtesy Vecino Group вЂњWe really looked at the market and the by-the-bed rentals around campus were all 100 percent leased and thereвЂ™s nothing around the downtown campus like this,вЂќ Manzardo said.вЂњWeвЂ™re a lot closer to OTC and Drury and the students really wanted something downtown.We combined the bythe-bed concept with the downtown concept. WeвЂ™ve had great feedback thus far and those will be open for the school year.вЂќ On the ground floor of the building, 4,000 square feet will be dedicated to retail space and 2,000 square feet will allow for a resident lounge. The U will also have indoor bike storage and an observation deck looking out onto downtown. вЂњI think that downtown needs it,вЂќ Manzardo said. вЂњWe have a 100 percent occupancy on everything downtown. I think as more people see whatвЂ™s going on downtown, itвЂ™s going to be a rising tide with full ships.вЂќ With the HeerвЂ™s set to be developed by the Kansas City-based Dalmark Group, Manzardo said that downtown really needs more affordable living. вЂњWeвЂ™re happy to have the HeerвЂ™s open, get rid of that eyesore downtown; itвЂ™s just going to help the area out and our apartments as well,вЂќ Manzardo said.вЂњWeвЂ™re excited about The U.вЂќ Manzardo said that preleasing on the units has already begun and the group plans to complete the project by Aug. 1. Added mortgage pros seek to surpass $100 million in 2014 volume Eight mortgage loan originators affiliated ute to our projected total.вЂќ ern Missouri. вЂњAs a competitor, with Heartland Bank have joined the Kitrel projects that the addiIвЂ™ve tracked the growth of USA Springfield office of USA Mortgage/DAS tion of the eight mortgage offiMortgage. It has been remarkAcquisition Co., LLC. bringing the total numcers will allow the branch to surable,вЂќ Kelso, a 23-year industry ber of employees at the Springfield office to pass $100 million in home loan veteran said in the news release. 26. In 2013, USA Mortgage-Springfield closed volume in 2014.вЂњJust in the loan вЂњThe opportunity to join forces 530 loans with a value of $66.3 million accord- Kitrel production that they bring, thatвЂ™s with Steve Kitrel to form an Kelso ing to a release from the company.Steve Kitrel, obviously going to help our numorganization that by the end of who opened the office in Fall 2011 will be bers, but this addition is going to help our 2014 could very well be among SpringfieldвЂ™s joined by Kent Kelso, the former head of entire office grow,вЂќ Kitrel said. вЂњEvery single top three home lenders was too attractive to HeartlandвЂ™s home loan operations in person thatвЂ™s come over is quality.The acqui- pass up.вЂќ Doug Schukar, company president Springfield, Joplin and Branson. Kelso will sition was certainly a win-win for everyone.вЂќ and CEO said that the company plans to become the branch manager of the Springfield According to a news release, the St. Louis- extend their market success into west and office along with Kitrel.вЂњHe (Kelso) certainly based company topped $1 billion in home southwestern Missouri. USA/DAS opened helps,вЂќKitrel said.вЂњHis experience, his loan vol- loan volume for five consecutive years and is branch offices in Kansas City and St. Joseph ume and his leadership ability certainly attrib- currently the largest mortgage lender in east- in Nov. 2013. Business 12 | February 5 - 18, 2014 IN BUSINESS www.cfpmidweek.com | Community Free Press By Daniel Snyder Pizza on demand 417 Vapor It takes an average passenger airliner 90 seconds to take off and at BYOPizza it takes 90 seconds to cook a hot and ready-to-eat pizza. Owning a pizza joint was on Michael FeltsвЂ™ list of goals ever since he graduated from Branson High School. вЂњIn 2006, no one was doing it and I was going to do it then but I was so busy with music and television,вЂќ Felts said. вЂњI put it on the back burner and in November 2012, I started telling people my idea and they told me, why donвЂ™t you do it?вЂќ Felts and his partners opened the first location in Seminole, Texas, followed by one in Photo by Daniel Snyder Redondo Beach, Calif. Owner Michael Felts stands in front of the state-of-the-art oven that cooks pizzas in 90 and the most recent in seconds or less. Springfield on Dec. 31. BYOPizza utilizes a state-of-the-art custom oven that uses infrared to cook pizzas at 1,600 degrees in 90 seconds or less. Customers can choose from a variety of topBYOPizza pings like crab, hot dogs, meats and veggies, fruits and a ton of different types of sauce. Owners: Michael Felts, Daniel Felts also partnered with locally owned Benissimo Gelato and all new Loper and Jesse Middleton BYOPizza locations across the country will feature the Italian dessert. Opened: Dec. 31 вЂњSo far itвЂ™s done really, really well,вЂќ Felts said. вЂњFrom 5:30-7:30 p.m. there Grand Opening: Feb. 11 will be a line out the door. We wanted to do the Subway model for pizza.вЂќ Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Felts said he offers a 10 percent discount for public employees, police Sunday-Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 2 officers, firefighters and teachers. He added that the first location in a.m. Thursday-Saturday Springfield wonвЂ™t be the last. Address: 431 S. Jefferson Ave. He has plans for locations on Republic and Battlefield roads, as well as Phone: 862-BYOP (2967) one in Ozark and Hollister, two in Branson and a few in Joplin. Online: byopizza.com The grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Springfield location is Feb. 11 and all proceeds that day will go to the Care To Learn foundation. Technology changes everything, even the tradiLOCALLY tional cigarette. Lately, eOWNED cigarettes have been dominating the market and more smokers have been ditching в– As a locally owned the Marlboros for what docand operated busitors are calling a safer alterness, we enjoy highnative. In November, Doug lighting other compaCox opened 417 Vapor, 3213 nies who call the S. Campbell Ave. because Ozarks their home. ever since he switched to Help us with suggesthe e-cigarette, he has wanted to ensure that he was tions of your favorite getting the best product. вЂњI locally owned estabjust didnвЂ™t like what was lishments by e-mailing: available online, not knowing for sure what you were geteditor@ ting as far as juice goes,вЂќ cfpmidweek.com. Cox said, adding that he has been vaping (using an e-cigarette) for 10 months and he doesnвЂ™t smoke anymore. вЂњBusiness is good, really good,вЂќ he said. вЂњEvery day we have people coming in commenting that they havenвЂ™t had a cigarette in three days or five days or a month.вЂќ Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday; Phone: 890-2425; Online: 417vapor.com or find 417 Vapor on Facebook. An eclectic look Grayson Home DГ©cor, 404 W. Walnut St., offers customers a unique take on furniture. The store, opened Aug. 2, carries a mix of old, new, rustic and modern furniture and one of a kind gifts and home dГ©cor for what they call a вЂњclassic and eclectic look.вЂќ вЂњWeвЂ™re really like no other store in town and we carry some antiques and it is just a mix,вЂќ said co-owner Clive Gray. Gray owns the store along with Ryan Rosenquist. Gray said that so far business has been steady. вЂњItвЂ™s been good; we would love to get more people in the door,вЂќ Gray said. вЂњThe downtown people are all great and they work well together.вЂќ Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Phone: 299-0227. Financial freedom begins with spending less than you earn вЂњT he wise man saves for the future but the foolish man spends whatever he getsвЂќ (Prov.20:21 TLB). Financial freedom! It has a happy sound doesnвЂ™t it? Of course, financial freedom means different things to different people. But the basic meaning is to be able to live the lifestyle you want without depending on anyone else or being under any financial pressure or stress. ItвЂ™s something almost anyone can achieve with some planning and the discipline to carry out the plan over a number of years. The hard part is disciplining yourself to spend less than you earn. ItвЂ™s hard because our whole economy is built on spending rather than saving. Americans are even urged to borrow money to spend to help the economy. For example, when the economy started to slow a few years ago, President Bush urged Americans to вЂњgo shopping first full-time more,вЂќ and a job. You need Newsweek headall of it just to line said, вЂњStop pay your living Saving Now.вЂќ expenses. You Savers are say youвЂ™ll start penalized and saving when spenders rewardyou get a job ed. Government earning policy is to keep $35,000 a year. interest rates on Kelsey Garman Did you? savings at near No, you FINANCIAL INSIGHTS zero to encourbought a new age people to borrow and car and ate out more and spend. Yet savers are went on expensive vacataxed on what little inter- tions. It was OK because est they do earn. As a you were promised a proresult, Americans now motion and a raise soon save only 2.5 percent of and you would start savtheir incomesвЂ”down ing then. from 8.7 percent in the You got the promotion early 1970s. and the raise so you were Most Americans want earning $45,000. You also immediate gratification. got married and had a baby, This вЂњI want it nowвЂќgener- then two. That means you ation has created explo- needed a house and the sive growth in the credit house needed furniture. ItвЂ™s card industry over the last the story of most of us.We 40 years. always believe we could As a financial counselor save if we earned just a little for more than 20 years, I more no matter how much heard hundreds of people we are earning now. say,вЂњIвЂ™ll start saving when I King Solomon was right earn more.вЂќThat sounds rea- when he said, вЂњThe more sonable but it doesnвЂ™t work. you have, the more you LetвЂ™s say you earn spend, right up to the lim$25,000 a year on your its of your incomeвЂ¦(Eccl. 5:11 TLB). Another hindrance to saving is that we are too often unable to distinguish between our wants and our needs.A powerful advertising industry fills our living rooms with hundreds of TV commercials every day for things we donвЂ™t need and canвЂ™t afford.They are masters at convincing us how much happier we would be, how much more people would like us and how much better life would be if we would only buyвЂ¦ I have helped many people analyze their spending habits. Most of them were spending 20 percent of their incomes for things they didnвЂ™t need, and perhaps didnвЂ™t even want. Before beginning to counsel others, my wife and I analyzed our own spending.We were no different from anybody else. We were wasting 20 percent of our income. IвЂ™m not saying you shouldnвЂ™t enjoy life, or deprive yourself of good things in life. IвЂ™m just saying that you can probably reduce your spending by 20 percent without changing your lifestyle. It is certain that unless you can start spending less than you earn youвЂ™ll never have financial freedom. Kelsey Garman is a former financial consultant. E-mail him at [email protected]. MISSOURI GOLD SILVER DIAMONDS BUYING, SELLING & E-BAYING Vintage Jewelry, Antiques and Collectables, Watches, Coins, Pocket Watches, Vintage Costume Jewelry Bring in Treasure We Photo & Create Listing Take Your Treasure Home Cash Paid in 10-14 Days вЂў Bring in & We Ship 851 S. GLENSTONE 417-877-GOLD Mon. - Fri 10 am-6 pm вЂў missourigoldsilverdiamonds.com Community Free Press | www.cfpmidweek.com Business February 5 - 18, 2014 | 13 DADвЂ™S HOME REPAIR вЂњHoney DoвЂќ List Specialist LOCALLY OWNED (417) 425-9161 Printing company expands services Rick Linville-Owner Ofc (417) 877-0289 Exterior-Interior Remodels вЂў Bath-Kitchens вЂњNo Job Too SmallвЂќ Licensed вЂ“ Insured вЂ“ 30yrs Experience SPIC & SPAN CLEANING SERVICES Commercial вЂў Residential Christian Owned & Operated Estimates call By James Hanson Nestled just east of Mercy Hospital on Sunshine Street is a familyowned and operated business that has been ready to meet SpringfieldвЂ™s printing and graphics needs since 1988. Beverly Harmon purchased The Copy Shoppe from Earl Bowlin in 1988, when it was simply a copy shop. But in time, she and her children,Bryan and Michelle Baltz,now co-owners,added more services to the business, which has led to its recent re-branding as The Copy Shoppe Printing and Graphics. Beverly said they added things like presswork, finishing and binding capabilities, posters, banners, trade show materials and a graphic design services department. The Copy Shoppe Printing and Graphics also offers services like direct mail, shipping and delivery, business cards, brochures, posters, flyers, multi-color or black and white printing, personalized stationery and more. Michelle said most of their clients are businesses but individuals often utilize many of their services. messages answered promptly (417) 300-5821 Photo by James Hanson Get all of your printing and graphics needs met at The Copy Shoppe, which has been a family affair since 1988. From L-R: Beverly Harmon, (Belle), Michelle Baltz and Bryan Baltz. Bryan said technology has been the most significant change in the 26 years theyвЂ™ve been doing business. вЂњAnd the biggest part of that change I would say is the Internet,вЂќ he said. вЂњIt has made work a lot easier but also has made it harder in the sense of competing with several online companies in the marketplace. But the things we are able to do today because of technology means more we can provide our customers and has made it easier overall.вЂќ Bryan and Michelle agree that meeting deadlines is always the greatest challenge, but they promise вЂњa reliable product with a quick turn-around time.вЂќ вЂњDeadlines are something we deal with every day,вЂќ Bryan said. вЂњEvery job we do is unique,вЂќ Michelle added. вЂњBut it is all time driven and that is just the nature of the world anymore.вЂќ The Copy Shoppe Printing and Graphics also has three full-time employees and the owners still have their favorite aspects of the business. For Beverly, it is the graphics. вЂњThat is something that always interested me and still does today,вЂќ she said. Bryan and Michelle said they enjoy visiting with the customers and hearing about their concepts and needs. вЂњI love being able to take that information they provide and help import that into their business,вЂќMichelle said.вЂњI think I enjoy the finishing process because that is when the process is complete and becomes a part of that business.вЂќ And they continue to learn something new each day. вЂњAnd we are always here and ready to work every day,вЂќ Bryan said. вЂњIt isnвЂ™t just about customer service. It is about responding quickly and doing the best to make things happen, especially when so many variables are involved for each job.вЂќ Michelle said they have FYI, from 11 Drury University to host womenвЂ™s symposium Mo. awards tax credits to Boys Ranch Drury University will host the sixth annual WomenвЂ™s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES) Feb. 8 at the OвЂ™Reilly Family Event Center, 935 N. Summit Ave. The symposium is designed to provide women the opportunity to learn about the various aspects of owning a business. The event will feature a wide range of exhibitors including keynote speakers Emily Church, founder and owner of Everything Kitchens and Sandy Edwards, deputy director of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The cost of the event is $25, which includes breakfast and lunch and registration will be open until the day of the event. WES will award honors to the areaвЂ™s top female entrepreneurs in two categories: Women Entrepreneur of the Year and Woman-Owned Start-Up of the Year. Online registration is available at drury.edu/ejc/wes. For more information, call 873-7458. The Missouri Department of Economic Development awarded the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch $341,320 in Missouri tax credits for the assistance and treatment of high-risk youth. The Neighborhood Assistance Program Tax Credits provide taxpayers an alternative to paying taxes, offering the chance to volunteer for nonprofit organizations. The credits would allow the ranch to construct new facilities, including a new dormitory, an aquatics center, indoor and outdoor riding arenas and a school. For more information on the ranch, visit ranchlife.org. CARPENTRY вЂў PLUMBING ODD JOBS Nonprofit names newest member of regional chapter Springfield SCORE, a nonprofit organization that provides council to small business owners and potential owners, has announced media and telecommunications expert Sean Clarke as the chapterвЂ™s newest member. SCORE is a nationwide organization supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration and dedicated to supporting successful small businesses during the The Copy Shoppe Printing and Graphics Owners: Beverly Harmon, Michelle Baltz and Bryan Baltz Purchased: 1988 Services: Printing, book binding, collating, cutting, die cutting, digital output of files, foil stamping, folding, laminating, litigation support services, numbering, online printing, online proofing, raised proofing, perforation, scanning, scoring and slitting, shrink wrapping, stapling, design and document creation, logo creation, shipping and delivery. Address: 1446 E. Sunshine St. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday Phone: 887-5999 Online: thecopyshoppe.com been fortunate to have repeat customers and many people are familiar with their brand, products and services. вЂњWe produce a really good product and they keep coming back,вЂќ Beverly said. start-up phase. For more information on SCORE, visit springfieldscore.org. BBB warns of phone scams The Better Business Bureau is warning cell phone owners to be wary of the вЂњ473 ScamвЂќ or the вЂњOne Ring Scam.вЂќ According to a news release, a large number of people in the United States have been receiving phone calls from a 473 area codeвЂ”located out of Grenada in the Caribbean. People are warned not to call the number back because it could cost $20 or more. The BBB reminds individuals never to return a call to a number they do not know. All reports should be made to the Missouri Attorney General at 800392-8222. BOBвЂ™S GARAGE 417-866-5855 2600 W. DIVISION ST вЂў Spfd. SAME LOCATION FOR OVER 40 YEARS SPECIALIZING IN N MOTOR OVERHAULS INSTALLED FOREIGN & DOMESTIC HEAD GASKETS вЂў TIMING вЂў ETC MON-FRI 8AM-5PM Community Free Press is seeking a qualified graphic artist/production specialist. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite software; Quark required. Experience in news design a plus. Part-time to Full-time available. Send resume and history/qualifications to: [email protected] 14 | February 5 - 18, 2014 www.cfpmidweek.com Home & Garden e-mail [email protected] Fast Fact: | Community Free Press There are approximately 50 million acres of grass in the United States. Approximately 21 million of those acres are in our front and back yards. Source: tractorsupply.com Made in the shade Local society maintains gardens and educates the public about hostas в– By Daniel Snyder The word вЂњhostaвЂќ may not mean much to those outside of gardening communities, but it is the worldвЂ™s number one selling perennial plant. The Greater Ozarks Hosta Society has around 160 members who help educate the public on incorporating the plant into their home gardens. вЂњItвЂ™s probably the biggest gardening society in the Greene County/Christian County area and itвЂ™s geared to people who enjoy Lakowske either hostas or being out in the garden, so we have a lot of events throughout the year,вЂќ said society president Tom Lakowske. вЂњWe also give presentations to the public to increase their knowledge of using hostas in their home gardens or new landscaping.вЂќ Hostas are a shade tolerant leafy plant that are usually very easy to care for. вЂњIf you have a spot thatвЂ™s shady, the best plant to put there is a hosta,вЂќ Lakowske said. вЂњIn the spring around late March-April, theyвЂ™ll pop out of the ground and look gorgeous all the way through the end of summer and towards fall theyвЂ™ll grow dormant again. TheyвЂ™ll return year after year and theyвЂ™re real easy to care for and they donвЂ™t have many problems and people love them.вЂќ In April, the society hosts a Hosta Dividing seminar, when members dig hostas out of the garden that the society maintains at the Springfield Botanical Gardens and teach participants how to situate the plants in their own gardens. вЂњThe most important thing, in my opinion, is the Greater Ozarks Hosta Society maintains the hosta garden at the Springfield Botanical Gardens,вЂќ Lakowske said.вЂњIn 2011, we renovated the gardens extensively Mon-Sat 10-6 WE BUY ELECTRONIC SCRAP and in 2013 we became an American Hosta Society national display garden and there are only 18 of those in the whole country. ItвЂ™s quite an honor actually.вЂќ A dedication ceremony will be held in May and the society also holds many plant sales throughout the year. Many members of the society are also members of other local gardening groups. вЂњA lot of the members of the hosta society are master gardeners and/or members of Friends of the Garden,вЂќ Lakowske said. вЂњWeвЂ™re all one big family. ThatвЂ™s why at the Lawn and Garden show, the hosta society, the Friends of the Gardens and the master gardeners are all in that one little corner because we all know each other and we all do work at the Springfield Botanical Gardens.вЂќ For more information on the Greater Ozarks Hosta Society, visit gohs.org. eaning Serv Cl i HOME & GARDEN NOTES NAHB releases positive numbers for 2013 The National Association of Home Builders Remodeling Market Index (RMI) held firm at 57 for the fourth quarter of 2013вЂ”the highest reading since the first quarter of 2004. According to a news release, an RMI above 50 indicates that more remodelers are reporting higher market activity. The RMI averages ratings of current activity with indicators of future activity. Additionally, calls for bids increased from 56 to 59, committed work for the next three months rose from 52 to 54 and proposal appointments rose from 55 to 59. The RMI reading shows slow but steady improvement in the remodeling market for 2014. Residential home sales up in December compared to last year According to a joint report released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, sales of new single-family houses in December Affordable Quality HOME CLEANING ces ELECTRONICS RECYCLING Eli te COMPLETE Photo by Sandra Letson The Hosta Garden at the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Gardens is maintained by the Greater Ozarks Hosta Society. LOCALLY OWNED вЂњServing Springfield FREE ESTIMATES Since 1996вЂќ Licensed вЂў Insured вЂў Bonded $20 Off HOUSE CLEANING SERVICES www.CompleteElectronicsRecycling.org *Just mention this ad or Free Press (one coupon per home-void with other offers) 417-864-4415 2935 W. Chestnut Springfield, MO вЂњWeвЂ™ll give you back your weekends.вЂќ 417-823-9112 2013 were 7 percent below the November rate, but 4.5 percent above the December 2012 estimate. The median sales price of new houses sold in December 2013 was $270,200 and the average price was $311,400. Greene County Extension releases results of election Residents have elected eight new members to the University of Missouri Extension Council for Greene County. Each new member will serve a two year term. The new members are: Springfield residents Harold Bender, Albert Niewald, Katie Steinhoff, Kip Thompson and Nancy Williams, Parrish Witt of Bois DвЂ™Arc and Rogersville residents Jan Wooten and Tamara von Foerster. Greene County residents can participate in extension programs and specialists with the MU Extension offer educational programs available to the public. More information is available at extension.missouri.edu/greene or by calling the extension office in Greene County at 881-8909. Community Free Press Home & Garden | www.cfpmidweek.com CFP file photo More than 100 vendors will showcase their wares at the 24th Annual Lawn and Garden Show. Garden variety shopping The 24th Annual Lawn and Garden Show highlights everything homeowners need to get the yard ready for spring в– By Daniel Snyder More than 100 exhibitors will be showing off all the things homeowners need to get the most out of their yard at the upcoming 24th Annual Lawn and Garden show. The Lawn and Garden show is the premier onestop shop for all varieties of products as well as services like landscape design and installations, tree and lawn care and a whole lot more. Fairgrounds agriculture director, Brittany Gillig, said that approximately 10,000 people attend the show every year. During the show, the Master Gardeners of Greene County will present classes on a variety of topics, including composting, various styles of gardens and growing your own vegetables and fruits. вЂњEach presentation will have anywhere from 10 to 60 people and itвЂ™s a good way to educate the public on gardening and landscaping topics,вЂќ said master gardener volunteer coordinator Tom Lakowske.вЂњEverybody has their own little niche on what they know, what theyвЂ™ve studied and their experience and we build PowerPoint presentations and present them to Lawn and Garden show attendees.вЂќ Owner of Race Brothers Farm Supply, Roger DeForest said that his business has had a booth there since the very beginning. вЂњItвЂ™s extremely important to our business,вЂќ DeForest said.вЂњWe always show our line of Cub Cadet lawn power equipment, Stihl power equipment, Husqvarna power equipment and if there are any new models, we will feature them.вЂќ DeForest said the show has changed over the years, often according to the state of the economy. вЂњItвЂ™s evolved in different ways as the marketplace changes and just as far as how it was approached,вЂќ he said. вЂњThe economic times have made people curb back from going over the top and there has just been a transition of the types of equipment sold.вЂќ DeForest said that peo- The 24th Annual Lawn and Garden Show Address: Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 3001 N. Grant Ave. When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 14-15, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 16 Admission: Advance tickets can be purchased Feb. 1-13 at Price Cutter locations for $3; $5 at the door; kids 12 and under get in for free. Information: ozarkempirefair.com; 833-2660 ple often attend the show with specific purchases in mind. вЂњThe days of the bare bones riding mower are kind of disappearing and people are getting upscale mowers and going to those zero-turn mowers and of course there is a lot of landscapers there and people with hot tubs and the backyard stuff,вЂќ he said. вЂњYou get to capture people, thatвЂ™s what theyвЂ™re out for. You get a captive audiences because theyвЂ™re specifically there for that and you can kind of compare yourself to the competition.вЂќ Mercy doctors warn of potential Carbon Monoxide exposure During colder weather, homeowners often turn to alternate sources of heat and Mercy doctors are warning of potential carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be created from the use of space heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces without proper ventilation. According to a news release from Mercy, they have already had nine emergency room visits because of accidental carbon monoxide exposure. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 170 people in the U.S. die each year from exposure to the gas. Mercy recommends that families inspect all equipment each year before using it in a home, ensure that carbon monoxide producing equipment is in a well-ventilated area and install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location within the home and test the device monthly. February 5 - 18, 2014 | 15 16 | February 5 - 18, 2014 www.cfpmidweek.com | Community Free Press Outdoors & Recreation Zoo program teaches kids the importance of wildlife By Daniel Snyder A s if going to the zoo wasnвЂ™t fun enough, Dickerson Park ZooвЂ™s Z.E.B.R.A program, which stands for Zoo Education Broadens the Realization of Animals, also teaches children about the importance of the wildlife they love to visit. The year-round program has been educating children from age 2 up to seventh grade for more than 20 years. Every month, activities are centered on a theme and FebruaryвЂ™s theme is вЂ�Our Feathered Friends.вЂ™ вЂњ[The topics] focus on helping kids understandвЂ”at an age appropriate levelвЂ”endangered species, conservation, why we should recycle, and different topics like that,вЂќ said Melinda Arnold, the public relations director for the Friends of the Zoo. вЂњAs the weather allows, there is a little walk in the zoo to see some of the animals as well as having time in the classroom with our program animals from the education department.вЂќ Arnold said FebruaryвЂ™s focus is birds and how they are different from mammals and reptiles. Birds from the zooвЂ™s education department will visit the classroom. According to Arnold, the sessions fill up quickly, especially when school is in. Parents can sign their children up for a one-day or three-day session. вЂњIn the summertime, because kids are out of school, we have a much larger class offering to Eyes on the prize Second largest bowling tournament in the nation brings positive economic impact to Springfield в– By Daniel Snyder The second largest bowling tournament in the country is coming to Springfield and thousands of bowlers will compete for the prize during the 56th Annual Greater Ozarks Open. Bowlers will have a chance to compete in singles, doubles and team brackets to win their share of the prize money. вЂњWe bring anywhere between 8,000 and 10,000 bowlers into the Springfield community and most of them bring their family members with them,вЂќ said Chaz Brewer, tournament director. вЂњFrom a cityвЂ™s standpoint we are bringing upwards of 20,000-30,000 people into Springfield throughout the months of February to June.вЂќ The tournament starts Feb. 8-9 and runs every weekend until June 7-8 at Enterprise Park Lanes for singles and doubles and at Sunshine Lanes for team bowling. Brewer said that many competitors come from Missouri and the surrounding states, but the best thing about the tournament is that it gives bowlers a chance to reconnect with old teammates. вЂњMissouri State University has a bowling team and a lot of the people use this tournament as a reunion for their old college teams,вЂќ Brewer said, adding that an Oregon resident comes to Springfield to bowl with his old college team. вЂњHis whole team will come back to Springfield and bowl in our tournament. ItвЂ™s a guaranteed time that theyвЂ™ll get to see each other and compete together.вЂќ Brewer expects this year to be on pace with last year with 1,550 fiveman teams and he anticipates the economic impact on the city to stay strong. вЂњWe work with a bunch allow for weekday classes for school-aged children,вЂќ Arnold said. вЂњThese are programs that we have a lot of kids that essentially grow up through the program when they start out as 2 and 3-year-old Zoo Tots and they may go all the way through our upper elementary and middle school programs.вЂќ Other upcoming themes include вЂ�Ready, Set, Spring!вЂ™ in March, when kids learn about animals that begin to wake up from hibernation and вЂ�Wildlife WondersвЂ™ in April, when they get to interact with animals that live at the zoo. вЂњThe programs are very, very popular,вЂќArnold said. вЂњMany of the classes fill very quickly and all the information about the classes is available on our Z.E.B.R.A. Address: 3043 N. Fort St. Cost for one-day session: $10 for Friends of the Zoo members, $15 for non-members Cost for three-day session: $30 for Friends of the Zoo members, $45 for non-members Phone: 833-1570 Online: dickersonparkzoo.org website including the classes that are opened, closed or may have limited seating.вЂќ Although kids will most likely look forward to visiting the animals, the main goal of the program is to educate children about the importance of wildlife and the environment. вЂњEducation about wildlife and conservation is at the heart of the mission of the zoo and educating the next generation of adults is very important so that we protect the environment for future generations,вЂќ Arnold said. The 56th Annual Greater Ozarks Open Where: Enterprise Park Lanes, 1625 S. Enterprise Ave. and Sunshine Lanes, 1500 W. Sunshine St. When: Various times, every weekend from Feb. 8-9 to June 7-8 Phone: Chaz Brewer, 833-2054 Registration forms available at greaterozarksbowling.com of places around town,вЂќ he said. вЂњFor example, we have hotels that we work with and they offer competitors a better rate. Not only are we bringing people into Springfield, we are also helping out some of the local businesses.вЂќ Steve Wiemer, owner of Enterprise LanesвЂ”where the singles and doubles portion of the open have been played for 23 yearsвЂ”said the tournament offers different levels of competition for all bowlers. вЂњItвЂ™s the biggest handicap competitive event, where a lower average bowler can compete with a higher average bowler,вЂќ Wiemer said. вЂњSome people come for a weekend away; some people come because they just like to get out and bowl; some people come to see how much money they can win. We have to cater to everybody.вЂќ Last year, the event paid out over $297,000 in prize money for the various brackets and all of the money is raised through registration fees, but Brewer said that there are more opportunities for bowlers to make their money back. In order for a tournament to run for 56 years, something must be going right and Brewer believes that much of the success comes from the personal Courtesy of Friends of the Zoo Children participating in Z.E.B.R.A classes pet a chinchilla. The Z.E.B.R.A classes allow children to learn about animals at the Dickerson Park Zoo. вЂњWe get a lot of positive feedback from the families that are involved in the Z.E.B.R.A. classes and we try to make the classes very fun and of course age-appropriate for the children.вЂќ Parents are asked to only sign up for one session per month because each session teaches the same program. attention that each bowler gets. вЂњI think the reason that the success of the tournament has done so well for so long is how personable the tournament is,вЂќ Brewer said. вЂњThereвЂ™s no automation between anything. All the communication is between the bowlers and myself. We listen and value what the bowlers have to say about how the competition went year in and year out. A lot of people appreciate that because not everyone has a normal, regular schedule.вЂќ FUEL SYSTEM SERVICE $89 Recommended every 15,000 miles Service Throttle Body In-Tank Fuel Injector Cleaner Induction System Service Restore power and performance. Eliminate rough idle. Reduce emissions caused by deposits. Restore efficiency and fuel economy. Helps prevent fuel system repairs. Not redeemable for cash or any other service. Customer is responsible for all applicable sales tax. 1462 S Enterprise (417) 881-2240 BOHANNONAUTOSERVICES.COM Community Free Press | www.cfpmidweek.com Outdoors & Recreation Committed to character [of the sport].вЂќ More than 1,500 gymnasts will compete in premier events, the WomenвЂ™s Invitational and the 33rd Annual Springfield Gymnastic and Aquatic Center MenвЂ™s Invitational, Feb. 28-March 2. Even past Olympians have been known to pay a visit to the Missouri Winter Games. Some familiar names include gymnasts Nastia Liukin, Jonathan Horton, Shawn Johnson, Alicia Sacramore and Jordyn Wieber; wrestler Rulon Gardner; U.S. soccer player Mia Hamm and racquetball players Cliff Swain, who has the second most tournament wins in racquetball history and Sudsy Monchik, considered to be the greatest racquetball player. вЂњItвЂ™s a pretty impressive list,вЂќ Collins said. вЂњWeвЂ™ve had all of these people here at the Missouri Winter Games, which is a Courtesy of the Missouri Winter Games Olympic Gold Medalist Jordyn Wieber performs at the 2013 Missouri Winter Games. The gymnastics portion is the premier event of the games. pretty big deal. These are some of the best athletes in the world coming to our event.вЂќ In addition to the games, Collins also started Champions Committed to Character. вЂњ[Young athletes] learn what it means to have honor and integrity,вЂќ Collins said. вЂњAnd out of that started Champions Committed to Kids.вЂќ Champions Committed to Kids is a charity for youths fighting chronic illnesses and disabilities; it places them with local sports teams. вЂњThey get adopted by the team and they become an official teammate for two years,вЂќ Collins said.вЂњWe had a young 14-year-old boy from Marshfield with Down syndrome; he joined the Drury University Swim Team, so he became an official member of the team and the athletes spend time with them throughout the week.вЂќ A portion of the registration dues for the games will be donated to Champions Committed to Kids. And though athletes at the games will play their best in hopes of winning gold, the main focus of the games is to develop good sportsmanship between athletes and instill values that carry over to the game of life. вЂњOur main slogan is that the Missouri Winter Games is all about producing champions and champions that are committed to character,вЂќ Collins said. вЂњThatвЂ™s what weвЂ™re about.вЂќ OUTDOORS NOTES More teams can compete at the 2014 Rock вЂ™n Ribs BBQ Festival The Rotary Clubs of Springfield announced that the 15th Annual Rock вЂ™n Ribs BBQ Festival will be held May 9 and 10 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 3001 N. Grant Ave. The new venue allows for more teams to compete in the event. All event proceeds benefit ChildrenвЂ™s Charities in the Ozarks. Rock вЂ™n Ribs has distributed $1.3 million to childrenвЂ™s charities in the last 14 years. To register, email [email protected] or to view a complete event schedule, visit rocknribs.com Turkey hunters can now apply for managed hunts Turkey hunters have until Feb. 28 to apply for managed hunts for the 2014 spring turkey season. Managed turkey hunts and application guidelines are available at mdc.mo.gov/7498. Managed hunts include hunting for archers, youths and people with disabilities. Extreme cold temperatures have little impact on insect pests Rob Lawrence, a Missouri Department of Conservation forest entomologist, said that the extreme subzero temperatures have had little impact on killing the emerald ash borer (EAB) larvae in Missouri. The EAB threatens MissouriвЂ™s ash trees and, according to Lawrence, when temperatures fall below minus 10 degrees, some EAB larvae can be killed, but most will likely survive. The EAB was first detected in Missouri in 2008 in Wayne County and has been found in eight other counties throughout the state. Lawrence said that it is too early to determine if the cold has affected other pest populations. Springfield to host second annual obstacle race The Springfield Urban-Warrior Challenge is back for a second time. The S.U.C. will take runners through a 12.4K timed obstacle race in the heart of the city around iconic landmarks. The race is designed to test endurance, speed and agility. The Missouri State University ROTC designs the course and this year will boast a new challenging course that will be kept top-secret until race day. A portion of the eventвЂ™s proceeds will benefit the MSU Army ROTC Bear Battalion and the National Military Family Association. Cost of the race ranges from $75-105 for individuals and $275-350 for teams. April 4 is the last day to register online. A course map and other information can be found at embracethesuc.com 17 Feb. 22, volleyball; Feb. 28 to March 2, basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and winter run; March 1, table tennis; March 7-9 swimming, racquetball and trapshooting. Location: Various venues including the Springfield Expo Center, Hillcrest High School, Lake Country Soccer, Baptist Bible College, Missouri State University, Central Bible College, Battlefield Lanes, Foster Natatorium, Ozark Shooters/Branson, Bass Pro Shops and the Pat Jones Family YMCA. Phone: 241-6753 Registration: Send form to Missouri Winter Games, P.O. Box 4934 Springfield, MO, 65808. All athletes must sign a waiver form. Registration forms are available at mowintergames.org The ninth Missouri Winter Games instills positive attributes through sport With football season over and a month left before March Madness begins, the bitter cold can keep even the most active folks cooped up indoors. But, at the ninth Missouri Winter Games, Feb. 22 to March 9, over 2,700 athletes will forgo the fireplace and compete in 10 different sporting events over three weekends. Athletes can compete in gymnastics, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, swimming, a winter run, table tennis, racquetball, bowling and trapshooting. вЂњAnybody can compete; itвЂ™s basically a small, national sports festival,вЂќ said Jeff Collins, founder and president of the Missouri Winter Games. вЂњWe have athletes that come from all over the Midwest. Every event is sanctioned through the national governing body | Schedule of events: в– By Daniel Snyder February 5 - 18, 2014 Andy Dalton SHOOTING RANGE & 4897 N. Farm Road 61 Ash Grove, MO 65604 417вЂ“742вЂ“4361 mdc.mo.gov/node/288 Outdoor Education Center Let our staп¬Ђ of specialists and trained volunteers help you become a sharper, safer hunter and teach you a variety of outdoor skills. Scan the QR Code in this ad with your smartphone to learn more about our facility and programs. MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION 18 | February 5 - 18, 2014 www.cfpmidweek.com | Community Free Press Health & Wellness Group offers support for male nurses By Daniel Snyder A lmost anyone who has stayed in a hospital for an extended period of time would say that their nurses were there for the good and the bad and they always cared. Many people still think of nursing as a female profession, but according to the U.S. Census Bureau, since 1970 the number of male registered nurses (RNs) has more than tripled from 2.7 percent to 9.6 percent. At Mercy Hospital in Springfield, male nurses make up 12.8 percent of the nursing workforce as a whole and 7.9 percent of RNs at CoxHealth are male. Since there are so few male nurses in the field, they often have a hard time connecting with each other outside of work, but a newly formed local chapter of the American Association of Men in Nursing (AAMN) aims to help men experience that camaraderie. The AAMN was founded in 1974 and is the primary association for male nurses in the United States. Paul Pope is president of the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the AAMN and an instructor at Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences. He said that during his time in nursing school, the women would always invite the men to a spa day, but it wasnвЂ™t an atmosphere most guys wanted to participate in. вЂњAAMN has a desire to be the ultimate menвЂ™s political influencing group,вЂќPope said. вЂњMy [chapter] tends to be a little bit more socially structured.I want us to have a goto group of friends where we can casually learn from each other while we are participating in more social events like going to a ballgame or shooting some Pope pool.I want us to have an outlet away from the hospital and still be men and converse as nurses while we do it.вЂќ Pope, an RN for the past 30 years, saw the AAMN as the perfect opportunity to join an existing support structure with political influence.The local chapter had its first meeting Jan. 31 and Pope said he hopes to gain at least 50 members within the first year. Pope said that the AAMN is important for men because sometimes a male can feel isolated in a female-driven field. вЂњWell, nurses are social creatures anyway, we crave that human contact and we thrive whenever we have that,вЂќ Pope said. вЂњWe are compelled to care for other people, but outside of the nursepatient relationship there may not be that support.вЂќ Ted Pellham, a clinical supervisor at Mercy, has been in nursing for 20 years, getting his start in a nursing home. вЂњI believe that more males can get involved,вЂќ he said.вЂњI think there is a stigma out there that males are not needed in nursing and I would like to say that they are needed. We serve a purpose in the community at large every day and itвЂ™s a very fulfilling job and it can be a good job Pellham for anyone.вЂќ Pellham said that when he was in nursing school, out of 51 students there 11 were men.When Pope attended school, there were only two. According to Pellham, male nurses can perform certain tasks that their female counterparts may have difficulty with. вЂњOne of the biggest things is the upper body strength; weвЂ™re able to do a lot of lifting a little easier and more often than our female counterparts,вЂќ Pellham said. вЂњOn the other hand, unfortunately some find it easier to talk to a male and we can use that to our advantage to get the person to work with us better than a female can.вЂќ Stephen Graff, an oncology nurse at CoxHealth, started out as an accountant but after five years he HEALTH NOTES Dark chocolate is healthier this ValentineвЂ™s Day According to Dr. Pam Duitsman, a nutrition and health education specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, giving dark chocolate this ValentineвЂ™s Day is a healthier alternative to milk chocolate. Studies have shown that dark chocolate improves blood flow and insulin resistance, lowers blood pressure and raises good HDL cholesterol. Additionally, studies have also shown that dark chocolate benefits human skin, allowing for better hydration. For more information, visit extension.missouri.edu. February is American Heart Month Photos By Daniel Snyder Dustin Brown, 28, an RN at Mercy for four years, checks the breathing of one of his patients. At Mercy, males make up 12.8 percent of the nursing workforce. decided he wanted to do something a little more people orientated. He has been a nurse for 24 years. вЂњIвЂ™ve always enjoyed the hands-on aspect of nursing; weвЂ™re the ones who are really there and spending the most time at the bedside with the patients,вЂќ Graff said. вЂњWeвЂ™re responsible for whatвЂ™s going on with those patients moment-by-moment, especially when theyвЂ™re hospitalized. I think thatвЂ™s a very crucial and rewarding role to be in.вЂќ For most of GraffвЂ™s career he has been the sole male nurse in his department. He said that the gender divide isnвЂ™t as clear as some might think. вЂњMost of my career, IвЂ™ve worked with mostly female nurses,вЂќGraff said.вЂњIвЂ™ve always been one of the lone male nurses that work in the oncology area.IвЂ™ve not been in environments where IвЂ™ve worked around a lot of male nurses, but IвЂ™ve always had a good relationship with my coworkers. The male/female divide in nursing is not real perceptible. I think nursing just draws people who really have a desire and compassion to care for other people and thatвЂ™s kind of gender-neutral.вЂќ Even though the number of males in nursing is on the rise,they are still a minority. But, Pellham said that for those men interested in nursing,the rewards far outweigh the perception associated with a male nurse. вЂњI would strongly encourage them to get out and talk to youth groups, high schools, academic counselors and tell them there is a need for male nurses and donвЂ™t let the stigma that comes from it keep you out of it,вЂќ Pellham said.вЂњItвЂ™s not easy but it is definitely worth the work.вЂќ For more information, find the Greater Ozarks Chapter of AAMN on Facebook or visit aamn.org. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and the American Heart Association is encouraging the public to use American Heart Month to build healthier lives and make heart-healthy choices. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease affects one in three adults and kills 2,400 people every day. The AMA has introduced an online resource, heart.org/mylifecheck, to help individuals identify seven steps to achieving ideal health. The seven steps are: get active, eat better, manage blood pressure, control cholesterol, reduce blood sugar, lose weight and stop smoking. For more information on American Heart Month, visit heart.org. Mercy Hospital named 22nd healthiest workplace in U.S. Healthiest Employers, a leader in employee health analytics has named Mercy to the list of 2014 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America. Baylor Health Care System, Vanderbilt University and Verizon Wireless are among some of the other companies that made the list. The list was generated by reviewing companies that have implemented practical and effective wellness strategies. According to a news release, Mercy was named to the list because of the Walk to Dublin program, which challenged co-workers to walk 6,183 milesвЂ”the distance to Dublin, IrelandвЂ”in one month. Collectively, Mercy employees walked 123,000 miles. For the complete list of the 100 healthiest workplaces visit healthiest100.com/h100-full-list Community Free Press | www.cfpmidweek.com February 5 - 18, 2014 A&E PHS Theatre takes on Arthur Miller ValentineвЂ™s 1920вЂ™s style at Pythian Head to Pythian Castle, 1451 E. Pythian St., 7 p.m. Feb. 8 to time travel back to the 1920s nightclub life. Attendees will be treated to a vintage dinner show, featuring torch singer and fan dancer Annie Cherry and her partner Artemus Vulgaris as well as aerial performances by Kansas CityвЂ™s Voler Aerial Academy and Performance Collective. Tickets are $40. For reservations, call 8651464. For more information, visit pythiancastle.com Math and madness at MSU The Missouri State University Theatre DepartmentвЂ™s production of вЂњProofвЂќ hits the stage 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1314, 24-26 and 2:30 Feb. 16 in the Craig Hall Balcony Theatre, 1147 E. Grand St. David AuburnвЂ™s drama was written in 2000, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for best play the following year. The play tells the story of see IN BRIEF, 22 19 Good mood, good food Keep it cute, light-hearted this ValentineвЂ™s Day. В» Page 22 e-mail [email protected] NOT YOUR USUAL FAMILY DRAMA IN BRIEF Parkview High School Theatre takes on a dramatic classic with its production of Arthur MillerвЂ™s вЂњAll My Sons,вЂќ 7 p.m. Feb. 6-8. Written in 1947 as a final shot at commercial success, вЂњAll My SonsвЂќ is said to be based on a true story and its critique of the American Dream helped lead to Miller being summoned before the House Un-American Activities Committee during the Red Scare. вЂњAll My SonsвЂќ tells the story of the Keller family after the father is exonerated from charges of shipping faulty aircraft engine parts from his company during World War II, leading to 21 fatal crashes and the imprisonment of his partner and neighbor. With one son back from war, another missing in action, a fiancГ© and a family in the grip of denial, the truth must rise to the surface before all is right in the Keller family. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors/students and $5 for PHS students. To purchase tickets, call 523-9300 or visit phstheatre.org. PHS is located at 516 W. Meadowmere St. | Courtesy of the Springfield Little Theatre Courtesy of the Springfield Little Theatre Meg Rice (middle) performs with Sam Long and Aaron Hooten. David Rice and Susan Oakley in вЂњCat on a Hot Tin Roof.вЂќ в– A Springfield theatre family in the middle of a Springfield theatre clan By April Labine-Katko I f youвЂ™ve ever held a local theatre playbill in your hand, odds are the name Rice was in there somewhere. On the off chance that it wasnвЂ™t, the name was probably on another playbill right down the road. From the very beginning, the Rices shared the theatre. Meg, a high school senior and David, a college freshman, were both cast in what they call, вЂњthe worldвЂ™s most depressing play.вЂќ Lanford WilsonвЂ™s вЂњThe Rimers of EldritchвЂќ was decidedly melancholy, but for the Rices it was a bonding experience nonetheless. вЂњWhen youвЂ™re in a show, you get to know your cast mates really fast,вЂќ Meg said.вЂњYouвЂ™re seeing each other every night for 6 to 8 weeks and youвЂ™re sharing an experience and typically when youвЂ™re in that community you keep running into each other and develop a relationship and start seeing each other outside of the theatre.вЂќ So, when the Rices moved to Springfield in 1990, they naturally fell in with the local theatre crowdвЂ”an extended family for a couple whose own families were all back home in Indiana. And like any interesting family, the theatre brood has its quirks. вЂњI think that we are a very high functioning dysfunctional group,вЂќ David said. вЂњI put that down to the fact that by its nature the theatre community is one that is kind of on the outside of the society anyway, so it almost pulls in like-minded individuals.вЂќ вЂќ I think that we are a very high functioning dysfunctional group ... it almost pulls in like-minded individuals. вЂ” David Rice And when the Rices started adding branches to their family tree, they would take turns indulging in their theatrical urges so that someone was always home with the kids, Rebecca and Elizabeth. But in 2001, when Meg and David both won roles in Springfield Little TheatreвЂ™s production of вЂњFiddler on the Roof,вЂќ the director suggested that the girls be put to work. вЂњI played Yente the matchmaker; David played Lazar the butcher and we laughingly called the girls, Jewish urchins number seven and nine,вЂќ Meg said, adding that it was actually the last time that she and David shared the stage. After that, the girls caught the bug and with it came a first-rate education from mom and dad on every aspect of the theatre onstage, backstage and in front of house. Now the girls have continued on their own theatrical paths; Rebecca, primarily in sound and lighting and Elizabeth, like her mother, took up the sewing needle and embarked upon costume design. Still, thereвЂ™s no playing favorites. If one Rice is producing or directing something that another Rice wants in on, there are no free family passes. вЂњWhen I have to audition for (David), I know that I have just as much a chance of getting the part as anyone else,вЂќ Meg said. вЂњI also have just as much a chance of getting cut as anyone else and he has cut me once or twice in favor of my best friend. But, in the end I knew that was the better choice.вЂќ And if Meg gets the part, it isnвЂ™t all opening night flowers and standing ovations. Plus, if somebody in the production is driving the director nuts and the director is your husbandвЂ”well, somethingвЂ™s got to give. вЂњDirectors should be nurturing, trying to pull a performance out of somebody to help guide them and I canвЂ™t stand a director that yells and screams and throws histrionic fits,вЂќ David said. вЂњBut it doesnвЂ™t mean that I canвЂ™t get pissed off at somebody when weвЂ™re in rehearsal. ItвЂ™s just that I donвЂ™t like to let it show when weвЂ™re in rehearsal.вЂќ And when itвЂ™s time to go home, that carefully controlled temper might finally pop its cork, with Meg in the role of captive audienceвЂ”and if sheвЂ™s involved in the production, thereвЂ™s a chance she might take it personally. вЂњIt helps to take separate cars to and from rehearsal,вЂќ Meg said. вЂњBecause frankly there are some nights where we just donвЂ™t want to talk to each other on the way home. YouвЂ™ve got that space where you need to be by yourself and we can both respect the fact that itвЂ™s been a rough night.вЂќ Whatever theyвЂ™re doing, it must be working. Meg and David will celebrate 26 years of marriage this year. They said it helps not to take your spouse too seriously and itвЂ™s always easier if you actually like each other. The trick is to remember that during those occasional moments of temporary amnesia. вЂњBecause, while weвЂ™ve see RICES, 21 GREY GABLES By Available for : Private Parties, Weddings & Family Events вЂњSpringfieldвЂ™s Uniquely Historic & Most Intimate Event CenterвЂќ вЂњWeвЂ™ll Accommodate Your Every NeedвЂќ Email: [email protected] | 417.862.6400 820 E.Walnut St. | Springfield, MO. | gilardisonwalnut.com A&E 20 | February 5 - 18, 2014 www.cfpmidweek.com | Community Free Press COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR Feb. 6-9: вЂњAll My SonsвЂќ at Parkview High School, 516 W. Meadowmere, 7 p.m. Feb. 6-8 and 2 p.m. Feb. 9. Tickets: $10 for adults and $8 for students/seniors. Info: 523-9300 or phstheatre.org Feb. 7: First Friday Art Walk, a self-guided art gallery tour of downtown Springfield, 6-10 p.m. Free. Info: 862-2787, ext. 25; ffaw.org Feb. 7: вЂњThe Mystery Hour,вЂќ a live taping with host Jeff Houghton and special guests at the Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East, 7 p.m. Tickets: $5. Reservations: themysteryhour.com/see-the-show-live Courtesy of Commerce Bank The Commerce Bank group poses with Sen. Roy Blunt during the 2010 Sertoma Chili Cook-off. The spice of life By Daniel Snyder ItвЂ™s time to spice it up at the 33rd Annual Sertoma Chili Cook-off. The event is one of SertomaвЂ™s biggest fundraisers for the Boys and Girls Club, with all proceeds benefiting the club. More than 10 bands will be performing, including Lilly Bee and the Pollinators, Papa Green Shoes and Flywheel and participants can vote on their favorite chili. This year, CFP caught up with a few longtime chili cook-off contestants. Larry Burns has participated for 11 years with his Business to Business group. вЂњItвЂ™s great fun; we have a good time doing it,вЂќ he said. вЂњWe draw a lot of people in and we raise a lot of money for the Boys and Girls Club. WeвЂ™ve gotten trophies for chili in our category and it should Burns be another wonderful turnout.вЂќ Gerry Koeneman has been a participant for 15 years with the Local 152 Firefighters Union. вЂњThe firefighters in this area have always been really generous and we like to support the community,вЂќ he said.вЂњThe Sertoma club does an excellent job of supporting the Boys and Koeneman Girls club. ItвЂ™s fun to get together and cook some food.We raise a lot of money that day; itвЂ™s probably one of the best fundraisers.We always try to improve our booth and offer a lot of vari- 25Вў CLOTHES EVERYDAY ety.The thing about firefighters is weвЂ™re very competitive; in our division we have always raised the most money and we try to improve on that each year.вЂќ Mark Gambon and members of his team have participated since the beginning with Nixon and Linstrom Insurance. вЂњI believe we have some members on our team from the very first year,вЂќ he said. вЂњWeвЂ™ve always sup- Gambon ported Sertoma and this is a great community event. Like always, we always look forward to it.вЂќ April Lindley has participated for seven years with Commerce Bank. вЂњWeвЂ™re passionate about the cause,вЂќ she said.вЂњWeвЂ™re a pretty competitive team and we try to beat last yearвЂ™s team in money raised and since we started in 2007, we raised over $20,000.You really see the Lindley impact that it makes every year. I think itвЂ™s exciting; we like to try and change our booths and our costumes every year. We like to give them something a little different. ThereвЂ™s a lot of energy that goes into the Chili Cook-off.вЂќ The 33rd Annual Sertoma Chili Cookoff is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Springfield Expo Center, 635 E. St. Louis St.Tickets are available at Blue Bull, HyVee and CaseyвЂ™s General Stores for $12 in advance $15 at the door. Feb. 7: Nikki Hill presented by Blues Down Under Concert Series at Cartoons Bar & Grill, 1614 S. Glenstone Ave. 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $10; $13 door. Purchase advance tickets at Cartoons or Kaleidoscope. Info: bluesdownunderconcertseries.com, 849-1009 Feb. 7: Sweets for the Sweet! at Brentwood Branch Library, 2214 Brentwood Blvd., 3-4 p.m. Make ValentineвЂ™s Day crafts and treats. Grades 6-12. Free; registration required. Info: 883-1974; thelibrary.org Feb. 7: Junior Engineers at the Brentwood Branch Library, 2214 Brentwood Blvd. 11 a.m. Materials provided. Grades 3-6. Free; registration required. Info: 883-1974; thelibrary.org Feb. 7: First Friday African American History Trivia at QвЂ™Enoteca, 308 W. Commercial St. 7 p.m. Featuring music, dancing and raffles. Tickets: $5; proceeds benefit NAACP youth scholarships. Info: Stephanie Goss, graduate assistant, 836-5652 Feb. 7-9: Lake Life Expo at the Springfield Exposition Center, 635 St Louis St. Noon to 9 p.m. Feb. 7; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 8; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 9 Admission: $5; free for ages 12 and younger. Info: 3382828; lakelifeexpo.com Feb. 8: International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella Quarterfinal hosted by Varsity Vocals and MSUвЂ™s A Cub Bella at Plaster Student Union theater, 1110 E. Madison St. 7 p.m. Tickets: $10; $15 for MSU students; $18 for other students. Info: 816-878-5155; ticketalternative.com/Events/26127.aspx Feb. 8: Conservation TEEN Club: Map And Compass at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ages 12-17. Free; registration required. Info: 888-4237 Feb. 8: вЂњThe Three Little Pigs,вЂќ presented by Springfield Regional Opera, Park Central Branch Library, 128 Park Central Square, 1:30 p.m. Grades K-6. Free. Info: 882-0714; thelibrary.org Feb. 8: ValentineвЂ™s Cabaret at the Pythian Castle, 1451 E. Pythian St. 7 p.m. Tickets: $40. Info: 865-1464; pythiancastle.com Feb. 8: MoChip Child ID program presented by Masonic United Lodge No. 5, Pathways United Methodist Church, 1232 E. Dale St. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Consists of digital photographs, digital fingerprints, vital child information and emergency contacts, a dental bite impression and two laminated ID cards. The photographs, fingerprints and child data are burned onto a mini-CD that is compatible with the Amber Alert system. Free. Info: 268-7839; mochip.org Feb. 8: вЂњLow And ClearвЂќ fly-fishing film at the Moxie Cinema, 305 S. Campbell Ave. 2-3:15 p.m. Ages 18 and older. Free. Info: 888-4237 Feb. 8: Midwest Regional Beer, Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Festival at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 3001 N. Grant Ave. Noon to 4 p.m. More than 100 vendors. Tickets: $25 through Feb. 7 at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, Price Cutter stores and PFI Western Store. Admission at the door is $30; free parking. For ages 21 and older. Info: 833-2660; ozarkempirefair.com Feb. 8: Kids in the Kitchen at HyVee, 1720 W. Battlefield Road, 11 a.m. to noon, Ages 5 and older. Cost: $5. Registration and info: 881-1950 Feb. 8: Moxie Mornings at Moxie Cinema, 305 S. Campbell Ave. 10 a.m. Ages 2-6. Free. Info: 429-0800; moxiecinema.com Feb. 8: Nook Talk at Barnes & Noble, 3055 S. Glenstone Ave. 10 a.m. Free. Info: 885-0026 Feb. 8: The Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers meeting at University Heights Baptist Church, 1010 S. National Ave. 10 a.m. to noon. Registration and coffee open by 9:45 a.m. Info: OzarksACW.org, [email protected] Feb. 8: Starlight Debonaires Couples Dance at the Elks Club, 2223 E. Bennett St. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Cost: $20. Info: 861-7051 Feb. 8: Sushi Saturday at the Taste Culinary Classroom, Price Cutter, 2021 W. Republic Road, 3-5 p.m. Cost $10. Register: pricecutteronline.com; [email protected] Info: 829-9260 Outdoor World, 1935 S. Campbell Ave. 9-11 a.m. Free; pre-registration is required. Info: 887-7334, ext. 4043 Feb. 8-9: Antique Festival of the Ozarks at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 3001 N. Grant Ave. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 8; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 9 Admission: $5; free for ages 11 and younger; free parking. Info: 833-2660; ozarkempirefair.com; heritageeventcompany.com Feb. 9: MSU Concert Chorale at St. Agnes Cathedral, 533 S. Jefferson Ave. 7 p.m. Free. Info: 836-5182 Feb. 9: Sunday Concert Series: Sac River Bluegrass at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave. 2 p.m. All ages. Free. Info: 8820714; thelibrary.org Feb. 10: Racing to Read Tiny Tots Storytime at the Brentwood Branch Library, 2214 Brentwood Blvd. 9:30 a.m. Info: 883-1974; at the Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, 10 a.m. Info: 865-1340. Newborn to age 3. Free. Info: thelibrary.org Feb. 10: Taco Talk: Mexican and Native American Tacos at the Taste Culinary Classroom, Price Cutter, 2021 W. Republic Road, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $10. Register: pricecutteronline.com. Info: [email protected]; 829-9260 Feb. 10: Loveable Creations: part two at the Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, 6 p.m. Adults. Free; registration required. Info: 865-1340; thelibrary.org Feb. 10: Monday Madness at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library, 397 E. Central St. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Grades 25. Free. Info: 862-0135; thelibrary.org Feb. 11: Bluebird Basics at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Learn about the state bird and assemble a bluebird house to take home. Free. Ages 5 and older with adult mentor. Free; registration begins Feb. 1. Info: 888-4237 Feb. 11: For the Love of Fiction at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave. 6 p.m. Grades 6-12. Free. Info: 882-0714; thelibrary.org Feb. 11: Foreign Film Festival: вЂњWestern,вЂќ not rated; French with English subtitles at the Brentwood Branch Library, 2214 Brentwood Blvd. 6:30 p.m. Adults. Free. Info: 883-1974; thelibrary.org Feb. 11: Step Afrika at the Plaster Student Union Theater, 1110 E. Madison St. 7 p.m. Free. Info: 836-4626 Feb. 8, 22: Fly Casting Workshops at Bass Pro Shops WE HAVE EXPANDED COME SEE OUR FURNITURE SELECTION Best Restaurant Best Italian Food Best Place For A Date Night Dinner FURNITURE, NICK NACKS, COLLECTIBLES, Our Prices AND MANY HARD TO FIND ITEMS Check Make People & Cash M-S 10-5 864-7283 Smile 3868 W CHESTNUT EXPWY (Orchard Plaza) ValentineвЂ™s Day Specials 1141 E. Delmar Springfield, MO 417.862.9999 BambinosCafe.com see EVENTS, 23 Community Free Press A&E | www.cfpmidweek.com February 5 - 18, 2014 | 21 RICES, from 19 CHECK IT OUT The Sixth Annual ARC of the Ozarks Hunt & Fish Outdoor Show The Sixth Annual ARC of the Ozarks Hunt & Fish Outdoor Show is the premier outdoors equipment show in Springfield. The show has attracted over 15,000 shoppers and vendors with more than 140 booths for its second year at the Springfield Exposition Center, 635 St. Louis St. The event takes place 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 15 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 16. During the first five years, the show has raised over $75,000 to benefit the Arc of the Ozarks. The show features vendors with the newest hunting, fishing and other outdoors equipment from throughout the Midwest. Activities include an airgun Courtesy of ARC of the Ozarks range, a live trout pond from Mountain Springs Trout Park, a The 6th Annual Hunt and Fish Outdoor Show will be at the Springfield Expo Center for the second year. miniature horse, DickeyвЂ™s BBQ and 50 more vendors than previous years. Seminars will also be presented about specific hunting and fishing topics. Tickets are $3 in advance or $5 at the door. It is free for ages 12 and under. For more information, contact Danielle McCallum at 864-7887 or visit thearcoftheozarks.org Midwest Regional Beer, Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Festival Wine and cheese go together like peas and carrots, but what about beer and chocolate? Well now is your chance to taste some wine, cheese, beer and chocolate from 100 different vendors at the Second Annual Midwest Regional Beer, Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Festival at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 3001 N. Grant Ave. A VIP pairings dinner will be held 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7. It will feature a four-course meal from Dining by Design and GigiвЂ™s Cupcakes. During the dinner, craft beer and wine will be paired with each course. Tickets for the dinner are $60 and include a ticket to the festival noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 8. Tickets for the festival are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. The event is sponsored by the Missouri Wine and Grape Board. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. Seating is limited for the dinner and tickets can be ordered by calling 833-2660 or by visiting ozarkempirefair.com. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older. K-5 students and parents get to learn about engineering The Missouri Society of Professional Engineers Ozarks Chapter is bringing the Discover Engineering Day to Springfield Feb. 22. The day will be full of activities to teach K-5 students and their parents about the nuts and bolts of engineering. The activity-based event will introduce students to science process skills and may peak their interest in an excellent career path. A recent study in the Journal of Engineering Education found that only 6 percent of first through fifth-graders understood engineers to be the people who design things. Most students thought they drove trains. The event aims to dispel this myth with interactive and informative learning tools. The new venue is at The Plaster Center, 405 N. Jefferson Ave. To help out or for more information, contact Matthew Pierson at 837-2320 or [email protected]. been married, IвЂ™ve always loved my wife,вЂќ David said.вЂњBut there are times that I havenвЂ™t really liked her.вЂќ Meg followed with a swiftly uttered,вЂњDitto.вЂќ And though the Rices donвЂ™t have big plans for ValentineвЂ™s Day, they have recently started a new project that pays homage to the more romantic era of the radio drama. Meg got the idea for Radio Heyday when she was talking to an actor friend who could no longer commit the time required for live theatre productions. вЂњI got to thinking that it was such a shame,вЂќ Meg said.вЂњI know a lot of actors who are like that, who canвЂ™t necessarily commit the time or maybe arenвЂ™t physically up to the role but are still really talented and I thought maybe I could find something for them to do.вЂќ Now, there are 11 shows on the Radio Heyday site, several in the wings and 18 more waiting backstage. The plan is to produce three a month and the scripts are coming in from all over the country. The project uses the talents of around 150 people overall. Meg is thrilled that the show is being very well-received. вЂњIвЂ™m the first one to tell everybody that when I came up with this idea, I didnвЂ™t know what I was doing,вЂќ Meg said.вЂњMy strengths are: I may not know what IвЂ™m doing but I know someone who does. Check out Radio Heyday at radioheyday.com. Spyglass Seasoned Treasures Unusual Frippery and Finery Gifts вќ‹ FloralsвЂ™ Antiques вќ‹ Vintage вќ‹ Furniture Handcrafted Jewelry вќ‹ Local Artists SILVER CENTER 2014 S. Stewart Ave (behind the Plaza Shopping Center) Mon-Sat 10-5 Stuffcoop.com (Mention FREE PRESS for 10% OFF non-sale items) Antique вЂњAlways On the Look-Out!вЂќ EMPORIUM Antiques & Uniques We Buy Antiques вЂў Unique & Unusual Treasures 417-315-8572 Tuesday thru Saturday 10 - 6 1950 S. Glenstone, Ste T. East of Half Priced Books (Between Glenstone and Stewart) Valentines Day Shrimp Dinner $11.99 A&E 22 | February 5 - 18, 2014 IN BRIEF, from 19 в– To submit ideas for a local Delightful Dish, email [email protected] Catherine, who in the wake of her fatherвЂ™s death must struggle with the idea that she may have not only inherited his mathematical genius, but his mental illness too. She finds that she must also struggle to prove the authenticity and authorship of a paradigmshifting proof about prime numbers that is found on her fatherвЂ™s desk after his death. вЂњProofвЂќ is directed by Dr. Carol J. Maples. Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for students/seniors and $8 in advance with an MSU ID. To purchase tickets, call 836-7678, visit missouristatetix.com or drop by the box office 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. An unforgettable Valentine PappoвЂ™s Pizzeria Dish: Margherita Pizza Cost: Small $8, Medium $15, Large $18 Address: 221 E. Walnut Ave. Hours: 11 a.m. вЂ“ 11 p.m. Monday вЂ“ Wednesday; 11 a.m. вЂ“ 2 a.m. Thursday вЂ“ Saturday; 11 a.m. вЂ“ 9 p.m. Sunday Phone: 866-1111 Online: PapposPizzeria.com By Dillan Conn ValentineвЂ™s Day is coming up and not everyone is looking for the fanciest of dining choices on this often romantic evening. Romance, after all is a subjective term. Some might enjoy a quiet night at home with some Chinese take-out, others may make a fine meal for that special person, but if your guy or gal is a red-blooded American with a penchant for cheese and beer, PappoвЂ™s Pizzeria might just be a cute date night. CFP tried one of PappoвЂ™s sexiest pies, the Margherita pizza. Settled on homemade, hand stretched dough, the Margherita pizza starts like all of PappoвЂ™s food, with the freshest ingredients. A thin layer of red sauce is spread before plump, juicy tomatoes are sliced and spaced across the top. A soft mozzarella and swiss blend is then laid on and around the pie surface before fresh chopped basil and another cheeseвЂ”fetaвЂ”is added. The pizza is now place into a classic stone oven, allowing the pizza to edge closer to a crispy crust while the toppings and cheeses melt together in luxurious harmony. The finishing move to this impressive pizza is a swirl of homemade gourmet balsamic vinegar reduction sauce, bringing a sweet and salty finish everyone can get behind. PappoвЂ™s is one of SpringfieldвЂ™s newest pizza joints and it has quickly become a local favorite for artisan pizza lovers. This youthful venture was started by a couple of 20-somethings and their passion for good food is coupled with a passion for good wine and fine craft beers. Make your sweetie feel extra special with a Singing Valentine by Ozark Showcase, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International. One of their quartets will deliver two songs in four-part harmony. The $35 price includes a card, a rose and two boxed cupcakes from Star CakesвЂ”so all of your bases will be covered. To schedule a Valentine delivery, call 890-6212. For more information about Ozark Showcase, visit ozarkshowcase.org. Radiate Quartet will also be offering singing Valentines Feb. 14. For onsite delivery of two songs and two cupcakes within a four-hour window, the cost is $35. For delivery within a specific 15minute window, the cost is $40. To order in advance, call 754-8305. To order on ValentineвЂ™s Day, call 4593995. For more information, email [email protected] or visit radiatequartet.com. www.cfpmidweek.com | Community Free Press Always a bridesmaid; never a bride Being a bridesmaid is hard enough and wearing the dress is only half of the trouble. Audiences are invited to Craig Hall Balcony Theatre, 1147 E. Grand St. for the Missouri State University Theatre DepartmentвЂ™s production of вЂњFive Women Wearing the Same Dress,вЂќ 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20-21 and 2728. At an over-the-top Southern wedding reception, five bridesmaids have no desire to participate in the party. Hiding out together, the five very different women share their perspectives on love, sex and relationships, only to discover that they have more in common than the dresses theyвЂ™ve been forced to wear. Dr. Telory Davies directs the witty Alan Ball play. Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for students/seniors and $8 in advance with an MSU ID. To purchase tickets, call 836-7678, visit missouristatetix.com or drop by the box office 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. TAYLORвЂ™S Fresh Ground Daily Since 1947 Cash Only! A Symphony Valentine Lovers young and old alike will enjoy Springfield Symphony OrchestraвЂ™s romantic ValentineвЂ™s concert inspired by the art and beauty of Italy 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, 525 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway. The evening will begin with the suite from StravinskyвЂ™s Pulcinella, followed by ScarlattiвЂ™s first Concerto Grosso and concluding with MendelssohnвЂ™s Italian Symphony. Admission is $17-33. Tickets can be purchased by calling 836-7678, visiting hammonshall.com or dropping by the box office 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Drivers Company Drivers & Owner Operators ********************************** вЂў Home 3 of 4 weekends a month вЂў Drivers start up to $.42cpm вЂў O/O start up to $1.00 a mile вЂў 401k вЂў Major Medical & Dental CLASS A CDL & 12 months of recent OTR experience required ********************************** Apply By Phone Mon-Fri 8am-5pm 877-826-4605 or online www.drivefortango.com Open 11 AM вЂ“ 2PM MON-FRI Trafficway at Kimbrough 862-3278 The Food You Grew Up With OPEN: 11am-10pm 7 Days a Week Mexican Villa El Taco 1595 W. Jackson Ozark | 582-0600 Mexican Villa El Taco 316 W. Kearney | 869-4340 Mexican Villa West 1110 W. Sunshine | 886-7292 Mexican Villa 1408 S. National 869-4459 Mexican Villa Comida 434 S. Glenstone | 831-6196 Mexican Villa South 2755 S. Campbell | 883-1040 www.mexicanvilla.net Mexican Villa East 1337 E Sunshine | 887-1010 Community Free Press | www.cfpmidweek.com EVENTS, from 20 Feb. 11: Sid the Science KidLive! presented by David B. McQueary Family Theatre Series at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, 525 John Q. Hammons Parkway, 7 p.m. Tickets: $17. Info: hammonshall.com; 8367678; 888-476-7849 2-6; no organized groups. Free; no registration required. Info: 888-4237 Feb. 12-13: Tunnel of Oppression at Wells House Grand Lounge, 901 S. National Ave. 6 p.m. An interactive campus-wide diversity program in which actors put on scenarios for participants to experience. Free. Info: 836-4390 Feb. 12: Heart-Healthy Store Tour at Hy-Vee, 1720 W. Battlefield Road, 10-11 a.m. Free. Registration and info: 881-1950 Feb. 13: Behind the Baton at NewkвЂ™s, 2639 S. Glenstone Ave. 5:30 p.m. Free. Info: 864-6683; springfieldmosymphony.org Feb. 12: Racing to Read Tiny Tots Storytime at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave. 10 a.m. Newborn to age 3. Free. Info: 882-0714; thelibrary.org Feb. 13: Community Arts in Action at the Park Central Branch Library, 128 Park Central Square, 79 p.m. Learn about creative events happening on Boonville Avenue. Adults; free; registration required. Info: 831-1342 Feb. 12: Tablescapes: ValentineвЂ™s Day Dinner at the Springfield Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave. 6 p.m. Receive ideas for table settings, floral arrangements and menu selection for a special dinner. Ages 15 and older. Fee: $10. Registration and info: 891-1515 Feb. 12: Curious about Curries? cooking class at the Taste Culinary Classroom, Price Cutter, 2021 W. Republic Road, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $10. Registration: pricecutteronline.com; Info: 829-9260, [email protected] Feb. 12: Genealogy Workshop at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave. 9:30 a.m. Adults. Free. Info: 882-0714; thelibrary.org Feb. 12: Craft Day at the Library at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library, 397 E. Central St. 3-4 p.m. Grades 612. Free. Info: 862-0135; thelibrary.org Feb. 12: Story Time with Ms. Ladybug at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way, 11-11:30 a.m. Ages Feb. 13: Scotty McCreery at the Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East, 8 p.m. Tickets: $35-$75 Info: 863-9491; gillioztheatre.com Feb. 13: Cooking for the New You: Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at Hy-Vee, 1720 W. Battlefield Road, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $10. Register: Info: 881-1950 Feb. 13: Game It! at Midtown Carnegie Branch Library, 397 E. Central St. 3 p.m. Grades 6-12. Free. Info: 862-0135; thelibrary.org Feb. 13: Learn How to Check Out Library E-books: App Class at the Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway. 2 p.m. Adults. Free; registration required. Info: 8651340; thelibrary.org Feb. 13-14, 16, 24-26: вЂњProof,вЂќ presented by MSU department of theater and dance at the Craig Hall Balcony Theatre, 1147 E. Grand St. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13-14, 2426 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 16. Tickets: $14; $12 for students and seniors or A&E $8 in advance with a MSU Bear Pass Card. Info: 836-4644. Tickets: missouristatetix.com Feb. 14: The Avett Brothers at the JQH Arena, 685 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $35-$38.75. Info: 836-7678; 888-476-7849; missouristatetix.com Feb. 14: вЂњThe 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared,вЂќ Northview Book Club, Northview Center, 301 E. Talmage St. 10:30 a.m. Senior adults. Free. No registration is necessary. Info: 837-5808; thelibrary.org Feb. 14: Culture Night at the Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, 6-8 p.m. Grades 6-12. Free. Info: 865-1340; thelibrary.org Feb. 14: ValentineвЂ™s Day Table for Two at the Taste Culinary Classroom, Price Cutter, 2021 W. Republic Road, 68 p.m. Prepare an elegant meal. Cost: $10. Registration and info: pricecutteronline.com; [email protected]; 829-9260 Feb. 14: ValentineвЂ™s Dinner and Dance at the Pythian Castle, 1451 E. Pythian St. 7 p.m. Tickets: $40. Info: 865-1464; pythiancastle.com Feb. 14: Love is in the Air at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library, 397 E. Central St. 10-11 a.m. Craft materials provided. All ages. Free. Info: 862-0135; thelibrary.org Feb. 14: вЂњUn-ValentineвЂ™s DayвЂќ Party at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library, 397 E. Central St. 34 p.m. Grades 6-12. Free. Info: 8620135; thelibrary.org Feb. 14: вЂ�Tween Town: String Art at the Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, 4-6 p.m. Grades 4-8. Free; material provided. Info: 865-1340; thelibrary.org February 5 - 18, 2014 | 23 862-8681; springfieldcontra.org Feb. 14-17: 17th Annual National Great Backyard Bird Count! with the Greater Ozarks Audubon Society at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way, 9-11 a.m. Info: birdsource.org/gbbc Feb. 14-15, 16, 23 20-21, 28, March 1-2: AinвЂ™t Misbehavin,вЂ™ presented by Springfield Contemporary Theatre, at the theaterвЂ™s new location, Center Stage, Wilhoit Plaza Building, 431 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 136, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14-15, 20-21, 28-March 1; 2 p.m. Feb. 16, 23 and March 2. Tickets: $22 ($20 for opening weekend); $10 student rush, cash only or $12 charge. Info: 831-8001; springfieldcontemporarytheatre.org Feb. 14-16: Lawn and Garden Show at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 3001 N. Grant Ave. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 14-15; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 16. Admission: $4; free for ages 12 and younger. Info: 8332660; ozarkempirefair.com Feb. 14-15: Ultimate Indoor Enduro at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 3001 N. Grant Ave. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Tickets: $15; $8 child; $44 family pass. Info: 8636353; motorheadevents.com Feb. 15: Discovery Table: Backyard Birds And You at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All ages. Free; no registration required. Info: 888-4237 Feb. 15: Contra Dance presented by Traditional Dance & Music Society at the Northview Center, 301 E. Talmage St. 7 p.m. lessons, dancing 7:30-10:30 p.m. Admission: $6; $4 for students and members. Info: Feb. 15: Maker Workshop вЂ” Stop Action Animation at the Discovery Center, 438 St. Louis St. 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m. Ages 7 and older. Cost for members: $35 for parent/child duo; $40 for non-members. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. Info: 862-9910; discoverycenter.org Feb. 15: вЂњBatman: Live On Stage,вЂќ 8 p.m. and вЂњBuffy the Vampire Slayer: Staged Parodies,вЂќ 10 p.m. presented by A Class Act Productions, Skinny Improv, 308 South Ave. Info: 766-3139; [email protected] Feb. 15: Springfield Symphony: An Evening in Italy at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, 525 John Q. Hammons Parkway, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $17-$33. Info: 836-7678; 888-476-7849; missouristatetix.com. 864-6683; springfieldmosymphony.org Feb. 15: SingleMomzRock ValentineвЂ™s Banquet at the Messiah Lutheran Church, 925 E. Seminole St. 6-8 p.m. Free. Registration: singlemomzrock.com Feb. 15-16: The ARC of the Ozarks Hunt & Fish Outdoor Show at the Springfield Exposition Center, 635 St. Louis St. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 15; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 16. Admission: $3 advance; $5 door; free for ages 12 and younger. Info: 864-7887 Feb. 16: Pins and Grins Bowlathon for Greyhound Pets of America at Enterprise Lanes, 1625 S. Enterprise Ave. 2-4 p.m. Cost: $15. Info: 840-7820; [email protected] Feb. 16: SRO Lyric TheatreвЂ™s Operazzi at the Creamery Arts Center, 411 N. Sherman Ave. 5-7 p.m. Free opera, jazz and musical theater open mic night. Info: 8631960; srolyrictheatre.org Feb. 17: Film and Discussion: вЂњEyes on the Prize, Episode 4, No Easy Walk, 1962-1966,вЂќ at the BartleyDecatur Center, 918 W. Calhoun St. 35 p.m. Free. Info: Christy Hyman, MSU History Instructor. Info: 836-4547 Feb. 17: Living with Diabetes at Hy-Vee, 1720 W. Battlefield Road, 67 p.m. Free. Info: 881-1950 Feb. 15: PresidentвЂ™s Day Bonanza at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave. 11:30 a.m. K-6. Free. Info: 882-0714; thelibrary.org Feb. 18: вЂњDoctor WhoвЂќ Crew at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave. 6 p.m. Grades 6-12. Free. Info: 882-0714; thelibrary.org Feb. 15-16: Open call auditions for MSUвЂ™s 2014 summer productions for Tent Theatre, Craig Hall, 1147 E. Grand St. Productions include: вЂњForever Plaid,вЂќ вЂњYou CanвЂ™t Take It With YouвЂќ and вЂњFiddler on the Roof.вЂќ Audition times can be reserved online at tenttheatre.com. Those applying for a technical position should download the online application and submit it by Feb. 14. Contact: Mark Templeton, Info: 836-4644 Feb. 18: Badge Bonanza at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way, 6:30-8 p.m. Ages 6 and older. Free; registration required. Info: 888-4237 Feb. 18: Science Sprouts Storytime with the Discovery Center at the Park Central Branch Library, 397 E. Central St. 10 a.m. Newborn to age 6. Free. Info: 8311342; thelibrary.org 24 | February 5 - 18, 2014 www.cfpmidweek.com | Community Free Press