February 2016 Connection

CONNECTION MAGAZINE | 1

Unveiled a special supplement of Connection

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A m a g a z i n e d e d i c a t e d t o S o u t h w e s t M i s s o u r i a n s FEBRUARY 2016

Weddings: More than just the dressMake it the perfect day for couple, friends and family

A lifetime woven by loveMonett residents Floyd and Dee Stewart had nearly 51 years together

Tire man keeps rolling onJack McCaffrey celebrates life in tire industry

2 | FEBRUARY 2016


Special Section

Unveiled14 The perfect day Find the right wedding for you and yours

21 Giving and receiving TheStewartsofMonett lived a life of love together

49 Library Connection A love of reading

February 2016

Image courtesy of Alfred Angelo, Inc.

4 | FEBRUARY 2016

PUBLISHERJacob Brower

[email protected]

EDITORKyle Troutman

[email protected]

MaRkETIng DIREcTORLisa Craft

[email protected]

aDVERTISIng REPRESEnTaTIVESSheila HarrisJames Craig

Marion Chrysler

cOnTRIBUTORSMurray BishoffMeagan RuffingNancy RidgleyShawn Hayden

Darlene WiermanMelonie Roberts

Sheila HarrisSusan FunkhouserPam Wormington

Brad StillwellJared Lankford

Julia KilmerJennifer Conner

Anne AngleDionne ZebertJane Severson

Verna FryAngie Judd

Cheryl WilliamsSierra gunter

PHOTOgRaPHERSChuck NickleBrad Stillwell

Jamie BrownleeAmy Sampson

DISTRIBUTIOnGreg Gilliam

Kevin Funcannon

TO aDVERTISE417-847-2610 - Cassville417-235-3135 - MonettSend email inquiries to

[email protected] address: P.O. Box 40,

Monett, MO 65708

Connection is published monthly and distributed free in Cassville, Monett, Exeter, Washburn,

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Freistatt, Marionville, Seligman, Golden and other surrounding areas.

Connection is a publication of the Cassville Democrat, The Monett Times and

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Have an idea for a story you would like to see in Connection Magazine? Email it to [email protected]

JOIN US ONLINE: 29 Healthy Connection

30 Proud Parent contest

39 Recipes: Love of food

47 Cutest Pet contest

48 Community Calendar

57 Submitted photos from our readers

62 Familiar Faces

65 My Connection

65 Ad list

66 Parting Shot

ContentsOn the cover:Photo by Jamie Brownlee, JB Photography

8 Little House in Mansfield Laura Ingalls Wilder home explored

13 Column: Getting the job done right

33 Foster Creativity Making art expression accessible and easy

41 Taking the shot Chuck Nickle shares his passion for photography

52 Tire man rolls on Devotion to hometown success

8 | FEBRUARY 2016 Story by Melonie Roberts

This is the desk where Laura Ingalls Wilder penned the Little House book series. She wrote her memories out in longhand, with pencil. They were later typed and edited by her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, herself a renowned author. The desk, now located at the main homestead, Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield, is said to be preserved as it was at the time of her death.

Remembering LauraLaura Ingalls Wilder homestead, museum holds treasure trove of memorabilia


Gone are the days of travel by covered wagon, sod homes, breaking ground with a mule-

pulled plow and cooking three meals a day on a wood-fired stove.

But those memories, and more, and forever memorialized in the beloved young reader book series, the Little House books, by Missouri author Laura Ingalls Wilder, who made her home and lived her final years in Mansfield.

Ingalls Wilder richly details memories about her pioneer childhood, growing up in the Big Woods of Wisconsin and then moving to Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, the Dakota Territory before she married Al-manzo Wilder and they settled in Mans-field in the book series that has fired the imaginations of young readers for over eight decades.

“The Little House on the Prairie” was published in 1935, just 80 years ago, by HarperCollins, and served as the inspira-tion for the popular television series Lit-tle House on the Prairie. The show ran from 1974-83, and can still be seen on the Hallmark Channel. The show is also aired in 30 countries around the world.

The stories of her traveling family, their settlements in various parts of the American frontier, the trials they en-dured and their milestone moments have become touchstones in the lives of many readers throughout the subsequent years.

Starting with “Little House in the Big Woods,” published in 1932, Ingalls Wild-er, who was about 4 years old at the time, describes the daily details of pioneer life, from growing their vegetables in a gar-den and her father, Pa, hunting for food, bringing in the harvest and preparing for a cold winter. The family celebrates with homemade toys and treats, and Ingalls Wilder recalling the sound of Pa’s fiddle as she and her sisters drifted off to sleep each night.

Laura Ingalls Wilder, as an adult, grew to be only 4-feet, 11-inches tall, about average for the era. Pictured is one of her dresses and a parasol on the porch of Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield.

10 | FEBRUARY 2016

The next book, “Farmer Boy,” pub-lished in 1933, told of her husband’s childhood in New York. Almanzo’s story eventually intertwines with Laura’s in The Long Winter, spent in the Dakota Territory.

In the next book, “Little House on the Prairie,” published in 1935, Ingalls Wilder tells of the family packing up and traveling by covered wagon to Kansas, until they find a place to build their new home. There, the family encountered Indians and witnessed cattle drives, both new experiences to young Laura.

In “On the Banks of Plum Creek,” published in 1937, the adventure takes up where the Ingalls family moves to Minnesota. There, the family’s crops are beset by a plague of locusts and a ter-rible blizzard threatens the survival of the family.

They prevail, and relocate to the Da-kota Territories, as told in “By the Shores

of Silver Lake,” published in 1939. It is there that Pa puts up the first building in what will eventually become a new pio-neering town. He takes a job in a small store owned by the railroad and once again the family settles into work, school lessons and listening to Pa’s fiddle each night. It is in this story her sister, Mary, goes blind and Ingalls begins describing sights and events in vivid detail, acting as her sister’s “eyes.”

In “The Long Winter,” published in 1940, Ingalls Wilder tells of the harrow-ing winter that threatens the survival of the town until a young Almanzo Wilder and another young man, make a treach-erous journey across the prairie to find wheat.

“The Little Town on the Prairie,” published in 1941, continues with spring socials, parties and Almanzo Wilder ask-ing Pa’s permission to walk Laura home from church. In this book, Laura re-

ceives a certificate to teach school, even though she has not completed her own formal education.

“These Happy Golden Years” details Laura’s experience as a teacher living away from her close-knit family for the first time. She would return home on holidays, in a horse-drawn buggy driven by Almanzo. In this book, the relation-ship between Almanzo and Laura con-tinues to blossom.

The saga continues with “The First Four Years,” when she and Almanzo fi-nally make their home at Rocky Ridge, in Mansfield, where the young family farmed and sold firewood for 50 cents a wagon load. Eventually, they turned the Missouri homestead into a profitable poultry, dairy and fruit farm.

The Little House books are written in simple language, with vivid descrip-tions of the landscape, clothing, tools and utensils used in the pioneering era.

A tour guide at the Laura Ingalls Wilder home in Mansfield tells a group the history of the Rock House, a gift from Rose Wilder to her parents, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Almanzo Wilder. It was in this home that Laura Ingalls Wilder began writing the Little House series, the first four of nine books, “Little House in the Big Woods,” “Farmer Boy,” “Little House on the Prairie” and “On the Banks of Plum Creek.”

Photo by Melonie Roberts


Their daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, went on to become a renowned writer, authoring “Let the Hurricane Roar” and “Free Land,” both based on Ingalls-Wild-er family stories told to her as a child.

Wilder Lane was financially secure from the proceeds of her own book sales and she ordered plans from Sears Roe-buck for an English cottage-style mod-ern home and had it built for her aging parents. It was located about one-quar-ter mile from the original homestead at Rocky Ridge, and featured the modern amenities of electricity, running water and refrigeration.

It was in the Rock House that, at age 65, Ingalls-Wilder, at the urging of her daughter, started penning “The Little House” series in pencil on legal pads that cost 5 cents each. Lane helped edit most of the books in the Little House series.

Proceeds from the publication of the

books gave Laura and Almanzo a com-fortable income to live out the rest of their lives. Since first being published in 1932, the books have been translated into 40 languages and continue to inspire readers worldwide.

Since her death, the properties have been acquired by the Wilder Home As-sociation and has been converted into a museum, preserving the historic struc-tures for future generations. In the mu-seum is Pa’s fiddle, which is taken out of its display and played once a year at the Wilder Days celebration in Mansfield. Additional displays include period cloth-ing, a carriage, photos and other family memorabilia.

The museum and homestead are lo-cated at 3068 Highway A in Mansfield.

For more information and a calendar of events, visit LauraIngallsWilderHome.com.

Rocky Ridge Farm at Mansfield was the primary home for Missouri author Laura Ingalls Wilder and her husband, Almanzo. The couple lived for a few years at the Rock House, located about one-quarter mile from the main homestead. Rocky Ridge Farm features six rooms on the main level, and three on the upper level.

Sears and Roebuck sold everything from textiles to pre-fit houses in 1928, and that is where Rose Wilder ordered the plans for the English cottage-style modern home she had built for her parents, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Almanzo Wilder. The Rock Cottage is located on property that had been owned by the couple in 1928, but was later sold after they returned to the original farmstead at Rocky Ridge in Mansfield.

12 | FEBRUARY 2016

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With a job title of Farm Wife, I find most of my job discriminatory. And I base that on the premise of “look like a woman and think like a man.” In this story, I would like to cover a few of the items that are in my undocument-ed job description.

TracTors. I should not only be able to drive a trac-tor but know what kind it is, how to shift gears, oil types, motor sizes and various other parts, for those trips to the imple-ment dealer for repairs. For example, a trip to pick up gears for a mower conditioner. First of all, let me preface that when I hear the word “conditioner,” I am thinking of hair not hay. Sure enough, I came home with wrong gears and paid the wrong price. In my defense, my only instruction was to “pick them up.”

Planning and a PurPose. Working cattle with the boss is always an adventure. I might add, not as scenic or peaceful as the Colorado Mountains. I understand corralling cow/calve pairs and weaning them. I’ll just twitch my nose, cross my arms, nod my head and twirl around in a circle until my woman-hood makes it happen. Of course not, but the businesswoman in me thought this would be a good time for a plan. A, B or C, any would suit me as long as I knew which one we would be following. I was made aware of that there really never is a plan and if there is, it is subject to change during implementation. Usually, commu-nication of this so-called plan is in a most unappealing and loud tone. This was not something I learned while obtaining a degree in communications.

PamPering. I may be a city girl, and I understand that a cow is a female bovine, but why is she the recipient of such insensitive name calling? She is squeezed in between two panels, while a large calf is being pulled

from her insides against its and her natu-ral wills and she doesn’t want to stand still. What’s wrong with some soothing music, calming conversation and some aromatherapy? I know it is at times like this that I could use a little.Multi-tasking must be an expectation of a woman, regardless of her job. I can do laundry, make supper and hold a part of broken machinery while the boss — a.k.a. mechanic — attempts to repair it. He on the other hand, can eat supper, cre-ate laundry or tear up equipment all at one time. So, I guess it is all a matter of perspective.Time management is another story. “Can you come help me, it will only take five minutes.” Thirty minutes later, I hear, “While you are here, can you help me with this too?” This is where the term ‘blackened’ was invented when it comes to cooking. And “hey, while you are here, jump up on the tractor and lift me up in the bucket.” “But, I just got off work and am wearing a dress and high heels,” as if I thought he should notice. I might men-tion, it can be done, but one must watch those holes in the floor of the tractor. You’ve heard the saying, “Behind every successful farmer is a wife who works in town,” and you’ve also heard the saying, “A woman’s work is never done.”“We” is an overrated term on a ‘to-do’ list. I feel like, if I didn’t create the list, I shouldn’t be responsible for its comple-tion. Feelings will get a girl in trouble.

driving. It is permissible to swerve off the road if you are rubbernecking at a piece of farm equipment or a fresh harvested field, but considered a ‘crazy woman driver’ if you are multitasking — say adding an item to the grocery list, looking for his sunglasses or digging for a piece of gum in the bot-tom of your purse because no one carries gum in their pocket.

organizaTion. Let me just tell you that the boss decided he wanted to take over the paperwork for the annual beef sales to our cus-tomers. He fired himself. Not sure how that works, and wish I could do that on occasion. All other duties as assigned, there are no words for this section.

mind changing. Oh how that is associated with a woman, but let me tell you that a day can start out with “I need you to ted hay today,” and then turn into, “We need to wean calves,” and then “Wait, I might need you to rake hay.” So, here I am on standby, waiting to see what he wants me to cross off his ‘to-do’ list. As the old country song goes, “Stand by your man, show the world you love him” And I do.

Pam Wormington was born a city girl, proclaiming to never marry a farmer or live in a small town. “God had other plans, “ she giggles. “My husband, is a kind and patient man who works very hard, either teaching me or fixing what I didn’t learn.” Pam and her hus-band live in the country and raise grass-fed beef. They own Wormington Trucking, carrying on three generations of milk haulers. “I love my life and all the laughs that come with it, “ she said.

Job discrimination

Column Connection

14 | FEBRUARY 2016 Wedding dress images used courtesy of Alfred Angelo, Inc.AlfredAngeloweddingdressesareavailableatFashionCrossroadsinMonett.


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S he said yes. Now, it’s time to start planning the thousand details to make

the wedding a perfect day and one to remember for a lifetime.

The first question is when?All seasons in Missouri have their

highlights. From the first early spring blooms or vibrant fall foliage of an outdoor celebration, to the summer

stained-glass cathedrals of a century-old stone church or a luminary-lit pathway leading to a glass chapel on a silent winter’s evening, brides have an abundance of choices for their wedding venue.

Some brides may prefer to wed in a simple outdoor garden ceremony, while others might want the fairy-tale setting of arriving at a castle in a horse-drawn buggy.

Some popular wedding venues in

southwest Missouri include: Pythian Castle in Springfield, The Round Barn on Clear Creek at Walnut Grove, Bear Creek Lodge at Wal-nut Shade, Springhouse Gardens in Joplin, Log Chapel Of The Ozarks in Branson, Wilderness Chapel at Silver Dollar City, Hill Creek Lodge at Purdy, the Monett Park Casino, Historic Firehouse No. 2 in Spring-field and Stonegate Glass Chapel at Walnut Shade.

Weddings: Icing on the cakeMake it the perfect day for couple, friends and family

So many wayS to Say: “We love uS.”

• Engraved pocket watch• Custom beer coolers• Initialed cuff links• Engraved flasks• Personal grooming kits• Group trip

• Booze, the good stuff• Engraved pocket knife• Personalized beer or shot glasses• Steampunk gear watch

Wedding gifts for him:

Story by Kyle Troutman, editor, and Melonie Roberts

18 | FEBRUARY 2016

Each location boasts a unique setting or theme for a couple’s nuptials.

Once that is decided, the planning becomes somewhat easier. Seasonal flowers, gown colors and styles, cakes and invitations are chosen to reflect the couple’s taste.

Flowers“We can custom create floral pieces

to reflect the bride’s choice, whether it’s bling or burlap, from a barn to a church, or shabby chic style to vintage or tra-ditional,” said Bernie Craft, one of the floral designers at Wickman’s Garden Village in Monett. “We also have plant rentals, arbors, vases and urns, along with landscaping services and even an outdoor wedding venue, at Babbling Brooks in Crane, available to make the couple’s day special.”

This year’s fashion color palette, as released by Pantone, tends to run toward neutrals with pops of vivid color for ac-cents. Top 10 colors that will be used this year by designers include rose quartz, peach echo, serenity (blue), snorkel blue, buttercup, limpet shell (aqua), lilac gray, fiesta (red), iced coffee and green flash.

Salon services“A lot of brides are going with the

neutrals, mauves, pinks and purples this season,” said Bobbi Houston, owner of A’Static Salon and Spa in Monett. “We’re seeing a lot of tiaras, headbands and loose, gathered ‘messy look’ styles. braids are also big this year, with styles like Elsa, the waterfall and puffy Dutch braids.”

The salon also offers manicures, ped-icures, facials, sauna, tanning and spray tanning.

“We often schedule bridal parties, where the bride and her attendants come in for a mini-spa day, hair, nails, massage with aromatherapy and ionic detox,” she said. “If they schedule far enough in ad-vance, we shut down the shop for the af-ternoon, or they can opt to have an after-hours party, bring their own wine, relax and be pampered.”

Houston said she will also schedule on-site hair styling visits on the day of the wedding for the bride and her atten-dants.

• Engraved pocket watch• An e-reader like a Kindle Fire or iPad• A movie-themed gift basket• Silk pajamas• A gift certificate to a luxury spa• A hair and beauty makeover at a local salon• Personalized jewelry• A hand-bound photo album or scrapbook• A French press with a pound of gourmet coffee• A gift certificate to a favorite restaurant• A deluxe picnic basket

Wedding gifts for her:

The bride and groom will want to show their appreciation forthesupportoftheirattendants,and some of the most popular gifts this year are listed.

This year’s bridal bouquet trend incorporates a lot of bling among the blossoms.

According to Bernie Craft, one of the floral designers at Wick-man’s Garden Village in Monett, custom wedding orders can be made to fit the needs of any wedding theme, from bling to burlap, barns to shabby chic and traditional to vintage.


One of the tuxedos

available to rent is pictured.

Tuxedo rentals require $40 down

and full cost ranges from $119

to $187.

Gowns and tuxedos

Located at 413 E. Broadway in Monett, Fashion Crossroads offers a number of wedding gowns and tux-edos, many of which may be specially-ordered.

“We have a few here we show in the books, but most are special orders, where we take measurements to get the right size,” said Berniece Morris, owner. “Our tuxedos come from a warehouse, and we have books for those, too, so people can select whatever combination they want.”

Morris said styles always change for wedding gowns, and longer dresses are more popular right now.

“A lot of brides like the flowing dresses with fuller skirts, and sheer fab-rics,” she said.

Located at 313 E. Broadway in Monett, Brownsberger’s offers tux-edo and shoe rentals for weddings and proms.

“People can go through our book and we order everything from Jim’s Formal Wear,” said Amy Davis, with Brown-berger’s. “There’s not really any special style or anything right now, it just all depends on people’s tastes and budgets.”

Davis said April is typically the store’s most busy time, as many need rentals for prom season. Davis said for Saturday events, tuxes are usually returned the following Monday.

Jim’s Formal Wear also offers a phone app, which allows people to de-sign what they want from home, then some into the store and order it.

Wedding cakes and planning

Located at 9309 Highway 43, south of Joplin, Country Cakes and Bridal Shoppe is a go-to location in the region for all things weddings.

“We do wedding cakes and planning, and right now we’re planning some weddings in June, as some people just got engaged,” said Jackie Arwood, own-er. “We do tuxedo rentals, and we sell a lot of wedding dresses.”

Arwood said popular among brides this year are sleeved dresses and lace.

“People like sleeves, tank straps and ball gowns, and lace mermaids are popu-lar,” she said. “If you get a dress with all-over lace and it’s mermaid, you’ve got it made.”

Arwood said the Shoppe has been in business 24 years, and all the employees have tons of experience.

“We are a family-owned business, and we have extremely good prices,” she said. “We also go a ways out, to Nevada, Branson and Coffeyville, and down to Tulsa.”

20 | FEBRUARY 2016

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From theemployees


L ove, that irrepressible, un-reproducible, life-changing fire, may be the most elusive of bonds between two people.

But when it sticks, binds and weaves two people to-gether, there’s no mistaking its power and its effect.

Longtime Monett residents Floyd and Dee Stewart had nearly 51 years together. Those who knew them could not doubt their bond. Their life together was filled with those moments that come only from a combination forged and tempered by love’s touch.

Their daughter, Claudia Nolan, and son, Mark, remember its fingerprints and growing up in its warmth.

Their marriage started on what some might call trying circumstances. It was Dec. 29, 1937, and the snow had drifted over the roof of the buildings in Minot, N.D. They had to tunnel outside to reach the street, and walk to the church. For their first anniversary, Floyd painted a picture of their wed-ding, with Dee at the altar wearing galoshes.

The Stewarts were both teachers, a profession with notoriously low pay in those days. They met at the Minot State Teachers College.

For their first wedding anniversary, Floyd Stewart painted this depiction of his wedding with Dee, showing the rubber boots on her feet that she wore as they passed through a snow drift over the house roof to reach the church in Minot, N.D., on Dec. 29, 1937.

A lifetime woven by loveFloydandDeeStewartofMonett:

Story by Murray Bishoff

22 | FEBRUARY 2016

According to their son, Mark, it was Kis-met — pure fate — that they were meant to be together. Both the Gronvolds, Dee’s family, and the Sorensens, Floyd’s family, came from Norway. Unacquainted with each other, the families lived in villages 20 miles apart in Norway, and both im-migrated to Minnesota, to towns 20 miles apart. Floyd’s grandfather moved to North Dakota, as did Dee’s father, to towns that were 20 miles apart, unknown to each other, until paths crossed at col-lege.

“I always felt it was meant to be,” Mark said. Only three months older, Dee ended up in the

class a year ahead of Floyd. They kept their mar-riage a secret for a year. She was teaching in his hometown of Sherwood, N.D., at the time and act-ing as principal, at a time when teachers could not be married. He was the president of his fraternity, and presidents could not be married.

It took extra devotion and effort to sustain a marriage under such conditions. Dee received a little gold wedding band at the wedding. She would wait 25 years for the diamond, which even-tually came.

Times changed, too. As World War II cranked up, restrictions on marriage within the teaching profession faded away as the available pool of men disappeared. Floyd stayed behind, having a with-ered arm from Erb’s Palsy due to a pre-natal con-dition.

The couple came to Monett in 1942 from Wichita, Kan. Floyd came with an assignment as a Boy Scout executive. Dee was pregnant with Clau-dia when they arrived. He was not paid for the first six months. Used to big city living and lifestyles, the couple learned Monett generosity firsthand, surviving due to Davis Grocery allowing them to run a tab for their provisions.

Floyd picked up other jobs. He umpired at sporting events across southwest Missouri. Grow-ing up with an alcoholic father, Floyd managed by working as an usher at a local theater, and got the same position at the Gillioz Theater, stoking the furnace and making sure everything was in order. The perks of the job helped Dee, who received a free pass to shows and saw three movies a week until she returned to teaching in 1947 after her second daughter, Rochelle, was 2.

By then, there were patterns in the family evi-dent to the children. Claudia and Mark recall Dee kissed Floyd goodbye every day when he went out the door.

“I never heard them ever say an unkind word

to each other.”

Dee and Floyd Stewart struck a familiar dance pose, showing their playful nature, said daughter Claudia.


“I never heard them ever say an unkind word to each other,” Claudia said. “I remember one time there was a coldness there, but then it was over. She said, ‘We got all our fighting over and done with before we got married.’”

Their household had less pressure than many. Claudia recalled their home was always open to guests and college students who needed a place to go on a weekend. This spirit of generosity led to the couple opening their doors to Dee’s mother, who said she could not live alone once her husband died. Grandma Gronvold came with them as they came to Monett, and Floyd’s mother, Lilly Maud Stewart, joined them in the mid-1950s.

Having both grandmothers present gave the children companionship and support few have the privilege to experience. Claudia recalled the two grandmothers were so different. Grandma Rochelle Zingara Gronvold came from a promi-nent family that had given land for the building of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. She was well-educated, a music teacher, well-traveled and con-fident, who had converted from Lutheranism to Catholicism. Claudia described Grandma Stew-art as the opposite, a “stay-at-home, bake cookies life-long Methodist.”

(left) A 1940s portrait of Floyd Stewart, complete with his flashy signature. (right) A 1940s portrait of Dee Stewart, signed in her typical unassuming style, “Just Dee”.

“It was wonderful having both of them,” Claudia re-called. “They may have contributed to them having a hap-py marriage. It freed Mom up from housework. My sister was a delicate diabetic. It was a miracle she could live into her teens, with them there to help.

“Dad always said Mom was his best cheerleader and supporter. I think he was. And he always bragged about her. Family was just really important to them, and commu-nity. They tried to do everything they could to help. They loved to dance. They’d go to all the concerts.”

Floyd and Dee Stewart went to all the school proms as chaperones. Here they were, possibly in the 1950s or 1960s, likely at one of those events.

24 | FEBRUARY 2016

Mark recalled some of their togetherness came from necessity. The family only had one car. Floyd took Dee to work and picked her up from teaching at the end of the day.

“When I was in college, Dad bought a car for Mom and me,” Mark said. “It was my car at col-lege. My mom always said that was OK. She liked that they only had one car.”

The couple became fixtures in the commu-nity over time. When kindergarten came into the school curriculum, Dee switched to this young-est grade and taught Monett’s most impression-able children for 33 years. She became a charter member of the St. Vincent’s Hospital Auxiliary and shared time in other organizations. Floyd took on a leadership role in the Jaycees, even on a national level, became an integral part of the Monett Lions, had a wildly popular request-oriented radio show, “Revolving Rhythm,” on KRMO-KKBL radio in Monett in the 1950s and 1960s, directed plays, taught school, served as master of ceremonies at the Ernte Fest in Freistatt in its early days and ultimately became Monett’s mayor in 1984, leading the communi-ty’s centennial celebration and editing the city’s most comprehensive book of history.

Through this busy routine, the Stewarts kept focused on each other. No big things came to mind, just little touches. Claudia recalled Valen-tine’s Day was important. Her father either bought a card or made her one. There were gifts, though perhaps not spectacular ones, shared on birthdays.

Mark recalled they watched TV shows togeth-er, especially “All in the Family.”

“Mom thought she was like Edith,” he said, “and Dad, like Archie, ruled the roost. I can see him watching TV while she was working in the kitchen. If he saw something special, he’d call out to her, ‘Dee, Dee, you have to come see this.’

“You just know they lived for each other.” “On their marriage day, their big wedding feast

was leftover fruitcake and blackberry wine from Christmas,” Claudia said. “That’s what we served at their 50th anniversary celebration at the City Park Casino. Some people thought that was ter-rible, but they didn’t.

Dee and Floyd Stewart as a young couple, circa 1940.

“You just know they lived for each other.”


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“My dad broke his leg in a fall at the post office in 1987. He had broken it the first time when he was taking refresher courses in Columbia and he was playing baseball. It was a terrible break and he had to have 18 screws put in. He re-broke it right above the screws. Mom got upset with me after that when I’d make him walk. It hurt. If it was up to Mom, he wouldn’t have walked on it. She always catered to him.

“Whatever he wanted, he got. He was a roast beef and ground chuck guy. When he was a kid, he had chicken all the time, so he didn’t want it as an adult.

“My dad loved to fish. For years, we would go to Roaring River State Park on Sunday afternoons and catch his limit. Or we went to Lake Leather-wood in Arkansas. I figured out later he took me along to row the boat, because he couldn’t, with his arm. Mom bought store-bought rolls to take along. We took six, buttered them and they’d be our supper on the way home. But Dad didn’t eat fish. Mom had to sell or give away the fish he caught.”

The family hit the road together every summer. After school let out for strawberry picking, before the city swimming pool opened — which Floyd ran several years for extra money — the family packed the car and drove back to North Dakota. Those trips left Claudia with many amusing memories, of photos at the annual ritual at the Canadian border with Canadian Mounted Police, or at the statue of Paul Bunyon and his blue ox in Pomije, Minn., or dumping perfume she and her sister bought at Main Variety in Monett down the double-seated outhouse at their grandparents’ old place, hoping

to somehow improve that odd place with no running water. It never seemed to help, but they never stopped hoping.

Togetherness. Looking out for each other. Sharing experi-ences. No angry words. These made for an enduring marriage.

“They just kept doing all the things they done up to the very end,” Claudia said. “They were very fortunate.”

After Floyd died on Dec. 15, 1988, Dee car-ried his memory until she passed away on Jan. 3, 2002. Claudia said Dee found it especially hard to eat alone. Missing him at night, she found the long Lederhosen stockings he wore with his traditional German outfit for Ernte Fest, and wore them to bed every night for the rest of her life.

Mark said his mother told him when she first met his father, she had no feelings for him. One day, everything changed. She encouraged her son, assuring him that friendship, once nurtured, some-times becomes so much more.

For the Stewarts, it was a little thing called love, and that made all the difference.

A cowboy statue, which Floyd Stewart gave to his wife as a first anniversary gift. The quirky piece of commercial art reflected their shared sense of humor that bolstered their nearly 51-year marriage.

One of the last family photos of Dee and Floyd Stewart with their children, at rear from left, Rochelle, Mark and Claudia, from Christmas 1987, as Floyd recovered from his broken leg.


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Roses are red, violets are blue. What little 10-ounce organ in the body does the most work for you?

Oh, wait, that’s not how it goes. OK, so cheesy poems aside.

To solve my riddle, place your hand on your chest. Feel that faint thumping? That is your heart. Your heart does some serious work, beating an average of 100,000 times each day to pump about five quarts of blood a minute — or 2,000 gallons of blood total — every single day. Without your heart, the cells in your body would cease to have the oxygen needed to function.

Most of us are well aware that our heart is of vital importance to our survival, but unfortunately, we often take this precious organ for granted. Stress, poor dietary habits, lack of exercise, smoking, exces-sive alcohol consumption, lack of sleep, genetics, aging — all of these put our heart to the test and sometimes, a combination of one or more of these causes irrevers-ible, life-threatening damage to our heart.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease accounts for 1 in 7 deaths in the U.S. and is the leading cause of death globally, accounting for 17.3 million deaths per year. Despite these grim statistics, there is good news: 80 percent of heart disease and stroke can be prevented. Show some love for your heart by follow-ing the AHA’s “Life’s Simple 7” to significantly lower your risk of heart disease.

Healthy Connection

lindsay sParks, rd, is a registered dietitian at the Center for Health Improve-ment at Cox Monett Hospital. She graduated from Missouri State University and resides in Springfield. When Lindsay is not busy being a nutrition nerd, she enjoys running, yoga, camping, floating and spending time with her husband in the beautiful Ozarks.

1. Get active. Start small (even if it’s only five minutes a day) and build up to 2-1/2 hours of moderate activity per week (which is about 20 minutes of walking, every day).

2. Control cholesterol. Increase your “HDL” or “happy and healthy” cholesterol by increasing activity and fiber in your diet. HDL works to scavenge and remove the “LDL” or “lethal and lousy” cholesterol in your blood stream.

3. Eat better. Consume nutrient rich vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean meats and lower-fat dairy. Try cooking at home more often and using a smaller plate to control portion sizes.

4. Manage blood pressure. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is known as the “silent killer” because 1 in 5 Americans are not aware they have it as it often has no symptoms. Keep your blood pressure in a healthy range by staying active, eating a heart-healthy diet and not smoking.

5. Lose weight. Excess weight, especially in the belly, puts excess strain on the heart. Losing as little as 3-5 percent of your body weight can greatly reduce your risk for heart disease.

6. Reduce blood sugar. Diabetes puts an individual at four times the risk of developing heart disease. Keeping blood sugars in a healthy range by staying active, eating healthy, and taking any medications as prescribed by your doctor.

7. Stop smoking. In many studies, quitting smoking reduces your risk by more than 50 percent.

Love, your heart

30 | FEBRUARY 2016

Proud Parent

Congratulations, Ellie!

If so, take this opportunity to show off that cute kid of yours.

We invite you to share a photo of your child to be featured in Connection’s very own proud parent cutest kid contest.

Email your child’s photo to [email protected].

Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your child’s name, parent’s name, age, city and your contact information. The contest is open to children ages 10 and younger. The photos submitted will be used for the sole purpose of this contest.

are you a proud parent?

Ellie Chapman is the 2-year-old daughter of Greg and Stephanie Chapman of Pierce City.

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What if there was a middle ground for both kinds of moms? There is.

Whether your child is 1 or 10, here are six fun and simple ways to foster creativity in your home.

1. Leave crayons and coloring books on the counter. You can still foster creativity even if you like to have a clean house. After tidying up the counter tops, grab a few coloring books and crayons or markers and leave them in an open area where your kids are apt to see them. You will be surprised at how many times your child sits down to color rather than grabbing for the TV remote.

Crafty moms and not-so-crafty moms seem to be the labels heard most often when it comes to crafts and kids. So many parents are hesitant to get the con-struction paper out, while others are happily decorat-ing with glitter and glue.

how To fosTer creativity in your kids aT any age6 easy tips to get you started

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2. Buy craft items when they go on sale. Browse through the clearance aisles the next time you are shop-ping and pick up any craft items you see on sale. This could be anything from a bag of beads to stickers. Sometimes, the most random craft items are the best creativity-inducing things for your children.

3. Store crayons, markers and glitter pens in fun storage boxes. Pick up a few see-through bins to collect items in to make it easier for children to see what they are reaching for. This is also a great way to incorporate fine-motor skills in your younger ones by ask-ing them to separate crayons and markers into separate bins.

4. Designate a craft closet or corner. This could be a small area in your pantry or a cupboard in your laundry room. This is one of the easiest ways to foster creativity in your kids. Having a place just for crafts sends the message that this is something important enough to have its own spot in their home. Go one step further and ask your child to help you pick a spot and organize it together. That way, your kids will know exactly where to go when they get bit by the crafty bug.

5. Put easier, toddler-friendly crafts in lower areas where your younger kids can reach them.Think clothespins in an empty cof-fee tin on a low shelf. Your 2-year-old can easily grab this and plunk right down on the floor while you are nearby. This is a great craft for those of you who get anxious about your little ones having crayons. Let the child take the clothespins and build something by clipping them on the coffee tin or the cabinets. Give children a sheet of stickers and let them decorate the clothespins. You will be amazed at what children can do with just a little bit of freedom to foster their creativity.

6. Pick up a few packs of blank note cards and let your older children make their own thank you cards and letters. This is an easy and creative way to teach your child the importance of communicating with others while expressing themselves through art. This is a perfect craft to teach kids manners (saying thank you for a gift) and teaching them how to mail a letter. Just imagine the smile the recipient will get when receiving a handmade note card in the mail from one of your kids.

meagan ruffing is a parenting journalist who loves watching her kids create just about anything. She fosters creativity in many ways but her most favorite way is hanging her children’s artwork up so they know that way they do matters to mom. Follow her at MeaganRuffing.com and social media for more crafty ideas.

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Heart cookiesIngredIents1-1/2 cups butter, softened2 cups white sugar4 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 cups all-purpose flour2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon salt

dIrectIonsIn a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover and chill dough for at least one hour, or overnight.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into heart shapes with a cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Valentine’s Day recipes

Shrimp ScampiIngredIents8 ounces angel hair pasta1-3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth2 garlic cloves, minced1/4 teaspoon salt-free lemon-pepper seasoning 1/4 cup chopped green onions, divided1/4 cup minced fresh parsley, divided1 pound uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

dIrectIons

Cook pasta according to pack-age directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the broth, garlic, lemon-pepper and 3 tablespoons each green onions and parsley. Bring to a boil.

Add shrimp; cook for 3-5 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Drain pasta and place in a serving bowl. Top with shrimp mixture and remaining onions

and parsley.

Red Velvet CupcakesIngredIents1/2 cup butter1-1/2 cups white sugar2 eggs1 cup buttermilk1 fluid ounce red food coloring1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar2 cups all-purpose flour1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder1 teaspoon salt

dIrectIonsPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 12 cup muffin pans or line with 20 paper baking cups.In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, buttermilk, red food coloring and vanilla. Stir in the baking soda and vinegar. Combine the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Stir into the batter just until blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, dividing evenly.Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan set over a wire rack. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter and frost with desired frosting.

Breakfast, dinner or dessert, we have you covered when it comes to bringing a smile to the face of that

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Bottles & Brews

Martini & Rossi Asti champagneA sweeter champagne than most, Martini & Rossi Asti includes delicate flavors of melon, peach, apple and grapefruit. An alternative to chardonnay, the Asti complements spicy food, as well as chicken, fish or pork dishes. It has re-ceived multiple 5-star reviews on multiple websites dedicated to wines.

Yellow Tail ShirazMade in Australia, Yellow Tail Shiraz is a red wine with flavors of cherries, spice and vanilla. Shiraz is gluten-free and vegan-friendly, falling in an area between dry and sweet wines. It pairs well with cheese, steak and sausage. It’s a well-balanced wine with earthy tones and a lingering fruit taste.

Cupcake ReislingFrom the famed Palatinate wine-making region of German, Cupcake Riesling is a white wine featuring notes of honeydew and lemon before the sweet taste picks up and the drink ends with a zing. The wine is aged sur lie and stirred regularly for up to two months, allowing it to bring out the best in flavor.

Apothic RedInspired by the what the company calls “Apotheca, a mysterious place where wine was blended and stored in 13th century Europe, Apothic red is a blend of zinfandel and merlot, with added Syrah and caber-net sauvignon. The flavor contains hints of cherry, vanilla and mocha, and the wine has a rating of 3.5 out of 5 on Wine.com.


Lobster Scrambled EggsIngredIents4 eggs1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon4 ounces cooked lobster meat, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 pinch cayenne pepper2 tablespoons butter1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste

dIrectIons• Beat eggs and tarragon in a small bowl. Set aside.• Sprinkle lobster pieces with cayenne pepper.• Melt butter in nonstick pan over medium-low heat. Add lobster; cook, stirring, until warmed through, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in egg mixture; increase heat to medium and scramble eggs, stirring constantly, until nearly set, 3 to 4 minutes.

Blue Cheese Crusted Filet Mignon with Port Wine Sauce

IngredIents1 tablespoon butter1/2 cup minced white onion3 cloves garlic, minced1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme3/4 cup low-sodium beef broth1/2 cup port wine1 tablespoon vegetable oil4 filet mignon steaks (1 1/2 inch thick)3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

dIrectIonsMelt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and thyme. Cook, stirring constantly, until onion is tender. Stir in the beef broth, scraping any onion bits from the bottom of the pan, then stir in the port wine. Bring to a boil, and cook until the mixture has reduced to about 1/2 cup. Set aside. This may also be made ahead of time, and reheated.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat oil in a cast-iron or other oven-safe skillet over high heat. Sear steaks quickly on both sides until brown, then place the whole pan into the oven.Roast steaks in the oven for about 15 minutes for medium rare, with an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. You may adjust this time to allow the steaks to cook to just under your desired degree of doneness if medium rare is not what you prefer. Remove from the oven, and place on a baking sheet. Stir together the panko crumbs and blue cheese. Top each steak with a layer of this mixture.Preheat the oven’s broiler. Place steaks under the preheated broiler un-til the cheese topping is browned and bubbly. 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let stand for at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve with warm port wine sauce.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

IngredIents16 ounces milk chocolate chips2 tablespoons shortening 1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves

dIrectIonsIn a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into Styro-foam for the chocolate to cool.

Source: AllRecipes.com

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Butterfield Photogra-pher Chuck Nickle is no stranger to being

behind the lens for senior photos, family portraits, weddings and sporting events, but one thing he loves to do in his spare time is shoot scenic photos wherever he goes.

“This is kind of sideline to what I normally do and is not my main business, but I mostly do it for me and mostly in the winter, because there is neat scenery in the winter with things like snow and ice,” he said. “The picture of the trees in fog was taken in the winter last year. I drove by the fog, and there was such a stark contrast because it was that duskish time of day, which created the eerie sort of

silhouette.”Some pictures, Nickle said, are taken by chance

and luck instead of preparation or coming across still subjects.

“That eagle picture was a fun one, and it was pure coincidence,” he said. “There were two or three fly-ing around here, and we were chasing them when that one flew out into a field. I got the picture and didn’t even realize until later that it was carrying a squirrel in its talons.

“The way his head was turned and him carrying the squirrel was all just good luck. Most pictures like that are luck anyway.”

Nickle had another encounter with a squirrel, one fortunate enough to still be on the ground.

Making a sceneLocal photographer gives advice on shooting scenery

Story by Kyle Troutman, editor | Photos by Chuck Nickle

42 | FEBRUARY 2016

“That other squirrel was just in my yard, and I had a new camera lens and wanted to test it,” he said. “I shot through the door, and the squirrel pretty much posed for me.”

Outside of shooting photos of animals, Nickle said there are some scenes that beckon to be captured.

“The sunset photo was taken in the summertime while we were waiting to shoot an eclipse,” he said. “The sun was just setting over George’s, and it made for a good shot.”

Nickle said for amateur photographers, finding something unique is always a plus.

“I always look for something unique, or neat na-ture stuff,” he said. “Look for what might be pleasing to someone’s eyes. I always think, ‘If I like this, some-one else might like it, too.’”

Nickle said another key is not going out with any preconceived plans of what to shoot.

“Sometimes, it’s best to go out empty,” he said. “What I mean by that is, don’t expect or look for any-thing. Just let stuff happen around you, slow down and see what you can find.”

“I always look for something unique, or neat nature stuff. Look for what might be pleasing to someone’s eyes.”


44 | FEBRUARY 2016

To see more of Nickle’s photos, people may visit ChuckNicklePhoto.com

Once a person does find a subject, Nickle said composi-tion and angles can make all the difference between a good photo and a not so good one.

“I think shadows are really important in winter shots, especially in the snow” he said. “I think that’s what makes snow photos, like the fence one, work for me, because there’s so much contrast in shadows.”

Nickle said those looking to take such pictures do not necessarily need fancy equipment or time set aside only for taking pictures.

“A couple of the pictures, like the fence one, I took with my little Fuji camera,” he said. “It has high megapixels, but it’s definitely not the one I use for work.

“I honestly don’t carry my camera enough. There’s been a few times when I wish I did have it, like when we were coming back from Nevada and there was a tree totally cov-ered in webworms, and the sun was setting right behind it and made a really neat effect.”

Nickle said because of that experience, keeping a cam-era handy at all times could mean all the difference in get-ting a perfect shot or not.


“I think shadows are really important in winter shots, especially in the snow. I think that’s what makes snow photos, like the fence one, work for me, because there’s so much contrast in shadows.”

46 | FEBRUARY 2016

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Cutest Pet

Meet Scout. Scout belongs to Kelli McCallister of Monett.

If you think your furry or feathered friend is the cutest in the area, let us know!

We invite you to share a photo of your pet to be featured in Connection’s Cutest Pet

contest.Email your pet’s photo to

[email protected]. Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible.

Remember to include your pet’s name, city

of residence and your contact information. FebRuARY’S winneR!

48 | FEBRUARY 2016

CalendarCentral Crossing Senior Center in Shell KnobRegular events: Domino Poker, every day from 12:30-3

p.m.

Mah Jongg, every Monday and Wednes-day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Paint classes, every second and fourth Monday of each month.

Line dancing every Tuesday and Thurs-day from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Quilting for Charity, every Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Knitting and crocheting classes, every Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m.

Pinochle, every Thursday from 12:30-3 p.m.

Cards Galore, every Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wood Carvers, every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Febr

uary

2016

Community Support Groups:

The Parkinson’s Support Group meets at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1600 N. Central in Monett on the second Thursday of every month. No charge to attend. Call 417-269-3610 to register.

Celebrate Recovery meets at 7 p.m. at the Golden Baptist Church on Hwy. J, in Golden, on Mondays every month. Dinner is served at 6:15 p.m. This is for anyone with hurts, habit or hangups.

The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group of Cassville meets at 8 p.m. at 1308 Harold Street in Cassville on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays every month.

The Turning Point AA Group meets at 7 p.m. at the west corner of Mitchell Plaza on Hwy. 86, in Eagle Rock, on Mondays and Tuesdays every month.

DivorceCare divorce recovery seminar and support group meets at the First Baptist Church, 602 West Street in Cass-ville at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. Call for more information, 417-847-2965.

Cassville Al-Anon Family Group meets at 8 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Cassville every Thursday of each month.

Narcotics Anonymous meets at 8 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month in the basement of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, located at the corner of Seven and Cale streets in Monett, 417-442-3706.

Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous group meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month at the First Baptist Church Activity Center, 618 Sec-ond Street in Washburn. 417-489-7662.

Feb. 1nThe Monett Senior Center Val-

entines Dance will be held at the Monett Park Casino Building at 7 p.m.

Feb. 2nThe Cassville Senior Center hosts

Springfield Hearing Center at 10 a.m.

Feb. 4nCassville Senior Center Paint

Classes at 9 a.m.

nFred Williams Hearing Aids, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central Crossing Senior Center, Shell Knob.

Feb. 5nCassville Chamber of Commerce

First Friday Coffee will be held at Bear Crossing Cabins, 21718 Coy-ote Ridge, near Roaring River State Park.

Feb. 8nThe Monett Senior Center’s board

meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the center.

Feb. 9nThe Monett Chamber of Commerce

will be holding an Ag Conference at the National Guard Armory, 300 Chapell Dr., Monett, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Feb. 10nGrace Foot Care at the Cassville

Senior Center, 9 a.m.

Feb. 12nFree Lunch at the Monett Senior

Center, courtesy of the Olde Town Pharmacy.

nValentine’s Lunch at the Cassville Senior Center will be at 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 13nThe Wheaton Historical Society will

have a Valentine Party at the Com-munity Center. For more informa-tion, call 417-652-7488.

Feb. 16nGrace Health Services at Central

Crossing Senior Center, Shell Knob.

Feb. 17nFred’s Hearing Aid service will be

held at the Monett Senior Center.

Feb. 18nA Regional Career Fair will be held

at the Monett City Park Casino, sponsored by the Monett Chamber of Commerce, 1-5 p.m.

nPaint Classes at the Cassville Senior Center, 9 a.m.

nAlzheimer’s Support Group will meet at 2 p.m. at the Central Cross-ing Senior Center, Shell Knob.

Feb. 20nThe annual Chamber of Commerce

Dinner and Show will be held at 5 p.m. at the Central Community United Methodist Church, Shell Knob.

nRegular monthly dance at the Cass-ville Senior Center will be held from 7 to 10 p.m.

Feb. 21nThe Ozark Festival Orchestra pops

concert will be 3 p.m. at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center, east end of Monett, north of Cleve-land Ave.

n“Broadway hit parade: music from Wicked, Les Miserables, West Side Story, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady and Phantom of the Opera”

nA silent auction with items for arts lovers will start at 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 22nNell’s Nails for toes and fingers from

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Central Crossing Senior Center.

Feb. 25nGrace Foot Care at the Cassville

Senior Center, 9 a.m.

Feb. 26nNell’s Nails is scheduled to begin at

9 a.m. at the Monett Senior Center.

“The Baseball Show”Monett Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a play “The Baseball Show” on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 5-6 begin-ning at 7 p.m. and on Sunday after-noon, Feb. 7 beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $5 each.

Cassville Senior CenterCassville, Mo.: 417-847-4510

Tax Counseling for the elderly is avail-able every Wednesday. Call for appoint-ments


Of course, there are some of us who think every month is Library Lovers’ Month. But for those not so inclined, February is the month where it is brought to the attention of the commu-nity all the resources their local library has to offer. It is also time to remind people of the opportunities they have to support their local library. Visit your local library and take advantage of the books, magazines, DVDs, audio books, e-books, programs, computers, classes and other services. If your local library has a Friends’ organization, consider joining. After your visit, you may dis-cover you are a library lover too.

The following titles may be found on the shelves of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library system or as e-books at Missouri Libraries 2 go.

The Princess Bride by Williams Goldman (adult fiction)The Princess Bride, as abridged by William Goldman, is about a beautiful woman named Buttercup who falls in love with a farm boy named Westley. Westley sets off to seek his fortune in America so they can marry, but is murdered at sea by the Dread Pirate Roberts. When word reaches Butter-cup, she vows to live a loveless life. Fast forward a few years and she is set to marry Prince Humperdinck, an avid

hunter and truly dreadful man. She is kidnapped by three bandits who plan to murder her in order to start a war with a nearby country. Their plans are thwarted by a mysterious man in black, who defeats the three and saves But-tercup before revealing that is Westley. Humperdinck eventually catches West-ley and, without Buttercup’s knowledge, tortures and kills him. With the help of two of the previous bandits, Westley is brought back to life and they storm the castle and save Buttercup. “Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies…” This book is one that has something for every type of reader.

— Angie Judd

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters at the End by Atul Gawande (adult nonfiction)Like it or not, we are all mortal. It is not something most of us think about very often. Doctors are trained to find cures but sometimes there isn’t a cure. Sometimes the “cure” is worse than the condition. Dr. Gawande talks about the quality of life versus the treatment of illness. He writes that whenever a seri-ous sickness or injury strikes and your body or mind breaks down, there are four vital questions to ask of yourself or your loved ones. The questions are always the same, regardless of the situ-ation. This book caused me to do some hard thinking, and I highly recommend that it be read by everyone. After all, we are all mortal.

— Cheryl Williams

Library Connection

This column is written by workers at the Cassville Branch Library. Seated: Verna Fry, Cheryl Williams and Angie Judd. Standing: Sierra Gunter and Jane Severson.

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Molina: The Story of the Father Who Raised an Unlikely Baseball Dynastyby Bengie Molina with Joan Ryan (biography)Even if you’re not into baseball, this memoir is still a wonderful read. Told through the words of Bengie Molina, this heart-warming story is as much about a life well-lived as it is about Puerto Rico’s favorite pastime. Benjamin Molina, father of famous Major League catchers Bengie, Jose’, and Yadier, was an accomplished player in his own right. A factory worker for more than 30 years, Benjamin spent most all his free hours teaching scores of neighborhood boys to play baseball and imparting life lessons. Through that, writes Bengie, “he gave us the rules and codes to live by: Integrity and humility; Respect; Play hard and unselfishly; and accept failure as a normal part of life and move on.” In the book’s conclusion, we learn the poignant reason Benjamin Molina, baseball player extraordinaire and remarkable father, sacrificed his own chance at baseball glory.

— Verna Fry

The Sancti Trilogy (Sanctus, The Key, and The Tower)by Simon Toyne (adult fiction)Two tribes pre-dating the beginnings of Christianity and even the cultures of Egypt and Mesopotamia have been locked in a war spanning millennia. The rest of the world is unaware of this clandestine and frequently vicious battle, until weird things start happening the world over. The ancient knowledge amassed by these two groups is locked away in a vast library, imprisoned in a stronghold of one of these tribes. Prophecies regarding the end of days need to be found and unlocked to


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avert disaster. People from all walks of life all over the world are drawn into a race to find the keys to the puzzle. Intrigued? I was. I could hardly put the books down. —

Jane Severson

Winter (book four of the Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer (young adult/teen fiction)In this final installment of the Lunar Chronicles, Princess Winter joins Cinder and her friends as they initiate their final plans to overthrow tyrannical Queen Levana. In so doing, they hope to restore peace to both Luna and Earth. I’ve been a fan of this series from the first book, and “Winter” does not disappoint. It’s perfect for fairy-tale lovers, with a futuristic twist and space mixed in. I cannot recommend this series enough.

— Sierra Gunter

52 | FEBRUARY 2016

Few areas in the nation have so many people with a history in the tire industry. Beginning in 1945, when Harold Friend introduced retreading tires to Monett, the sale of tires developed into a thriving industry.

People who worked with Friend, and businesses that spun off from his tute-lage, sent salesmen out across the four-state area in search of customers.

One of those men was Jack Mc-Caffrey of Monett. In April, Jack, who founded Grande Tire with colleagues Leo Costley and Junior Avondet, was named to the Missouri Tire Industry Association’s Hall of Fame during an in-duction ceremony in Branson.

Jack’s road into the tire business, like many rural Missouri roads, wound in many directions, eventually leading to a new and more interesting place. Jack served 12 months in the military on the demilitarized zone in Korea at the end of that war. After his service, Jack re-turned to Monett.

The early 1950s offered many job opportunities, but Jack took a route followed by many pre-World War II laborers. He went to work for contractor M.E. Gillioz, who had his most successful period building roads, bridges, dams and other big projects. There was steady but hard work.

“I was a ditch digger,” Jack recalled. “Later on, I worked under Emmett Creymeyer and O.S. Parscale. Gillioz was a gripey old fart, but if you did your job, he was satisfied. I didn’t like being inside. Construction work was rough in the winter time, but it was all right if you dressed right.”

Jack McCaffrey of Monett was inducted on Aug. 22, 2015, into the Missouri Tire Industry Association’s Tire Hall of Fame in a ceremony held at the Stone Castle in Branson. Matt Jost, president of the MTIA, at left, made the presentation.

Tire man keeps rolling onJack McCaffrey celebrates life in tire industry

Story by Murray Bishoff


Jack McCaffrey in the summer of 1982 at work in the garage at Grande Tire.

On the job at Grande Tire in 1982, Mike Patton, one of the route men, prepares to hit the road with instructions from Jim “Booner” McCaf-frey, Jack’s son.

“The secret is knowing what to tell them, how to do it.

“My advice was get out there and make it happen . Don’t sit back and expect them to give it to you.”

54 | FEBRUARY 2016

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After three years, Jack tried a different line of work. Friend Tire wanted route salesmen for their products. He was ac-cepted without hesitation.

“I didn’t really have a special ap-proach,” Jack said. “A lot of it was bull. You had to sell yourself first. Once you got in with them, you had it made.”

Jack hit the road with a truck and a trailer, hauling his inventory with him. His route took him into Oklahoma, one of about 12 routes the com-pany had. He was on the road Monday, heading south past Muskogee to Wewoka, to Atoka on Tuesday, heading to Hugo near Texas on Wednes-day and home on Thursdays.

Burggraf Tire out of Qua-paw, Okla., was the only oth-er tire company working the road. Mohawk made the main tire that Friend Tire sold, lat-er adding Seiberling products to their line.

“I was the top salesman for 13 out of 15 years,” Jack said. “Usually, Monday was the best day. I’d go to W&W Trailers in Madill, Okla. He started in a little old garage. Now he has two mon-strous buildings. I never got tired of the road. I enjoyed it.”

But after 15 years, McCaffrey tired of his employer. The job was so indepen-dent, it seemed like he was mostly on his own anyway. He visited Harold Friend, Hubert Friend’s son who by then ran Friend Tire, and found support for the idea. Friend could keep supplying the tires. An independent operation could explore other territory and expand the business.

Friend suggested calling the new business Grande Tire. Jack and his part-ners set up shop in Pierce City in 1972 and never looked back.

“The risk never even bothered me,” Jack said. “I would have gone back on the

road, but I didn’t have to. I hired guys to do what I was doing. We started with three. Now we have four stores and more than 40 employees.

“The secret is knowing what to tell them, how to do it. My advice was get out there and make it happen. Don’t sit back and expect them to give it to you.”

Just like Jack, Grande Tire route men worked on commission. Jack said he looked at the appearance of his people,

and how they handled themselves. “You could tell pretty quick if a guy’s

going to be a salesman or not,” he said. “I don’t think I ever had to fire anyone. You give a guy a truck, a trailer and tires, if he can’t find business, it’s his fault.”

Not only did success rely on the prod-uct. Price and service made a difference to customers.

“They could set their watch by me, unless I broke down or something,” Jack said. “We could do better than bigger company. We met with customers every week. Bigger companies’ salesmen might come around once a month.”

Times changed, products changed and the business evolved. Jack recalled that during his heyday on the road, tires lasted only 10,000-15,000 miles. With the advent of radial tires, tires today last


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50,000-60,000 miles. Customers also had expanded choices and a bigger price range.

“When they came out with radials, we had a lot of trouble at first, then we got it smoothed out,” Jack said. “If people could afford a better tire, they could try the radial. When we went with Seiber-ling,” the tire company that had been the backbone of Friend Tire’s business for decades, “we went to Akron to meet with them. They let us name our own brand, which was Holiday Tires. They’re still in existence. Customers liked having a unique product. They were a good tire.”

The corner gas station and garage gradually disappeared. Jack said his peo-ple had to find the handful of shops that remained. They knew their markets and stayed in contention for business.

In 1992, Jack and Leo Costley decided to retire. They sold the business to Jack’s three brothers: Jerry, Jeffrey and Joel.

“All my brothers worked for me,” Jack said. “I was selling to the employees.

They knew the tire business. I’m pleased with how they continued the tradition.”

Jack’s life was different by then, hav-ing lost his first wife, Carol Jeanne, to a fatal vehicle accident in 1977. He even-tually remarried to second wife, Pat.

Jack continues to watch the business with great pride. To this day, he regularly wears his blue work shirts with his name embroidered on the pocket.

Grande Tire today has outlets in Pierce City, Aurora, Cassville and Joplin.

The Missouri Tire Hall of Fame des-ignation caught him completely by sur-prise. The honor had previously gone to Don Isbell, president of Friend Tire in Monett, and Keith Shumaker, of Golden, founder of Shumaker Tire. Not only did Jack’s whole family go to the induction ceremony, but even one of the first cus-tomers from McAlester, Okla., attended.

“I’m not surprised the tire business thrived in this part of the country,” Jack said. “I imagine they’re still using my for-mula.”

Jack McCaffrey, at center, with the Missouri Tire Association Hall of Fame award. At rear are his brothers, Joel, Jay and Jeff. “We had 10 J’s in our family,” Jack said, “Jerry [who has passed away], Jeffrey, Joel, Joan, Joe, Joyce, Jim, Jay and Jeff and me. Dad always said if we had another boy, we’d have to name him Jacob or Jesus.” At left is sister-in-law Meg McCaffrey, and sister Joyce Tinklepaugh, at right.

56 | FEBRUARY 2016

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These photos were recently captured by Scott Carney.

Do you have a photo you would like to see published in Connection Magazine? Email it to [email protected] for consideration.

These photos were captured by Della Mae Stouder on Jan. 4 near Holiday Island, Ark. The bridge that is washed out is called the Little Golden Gate Bridge. The little cabin is just before it.

P H OTO S U B M I S S I O N S

58 | FEBRUARY 2016

These photos were recently captured by Valerie Miller of Monett.

This was captured by CJ Tabor in the Jenkins/Cato area during the first week of January.


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These photos were recently captured by Linda Sue Sparkman.

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Familiar Faces

31 2

6

4 5

7

8 9

10 11

12

1. Ronald Van Amber, Ellen Brown

2. Cindy Vadnais, Dan Dodson3. Scott and Kim Rannebarger,

Kim Thornton4. Pat Swank, Willis Finn5. Ashlie Gaches, Breanna

Gaches6. Rodger Harris, Joanna Koenig,

Emily Koenig, Wendy Koenig, Rickey Koenig

7. Front row: Sandra Cargile, Amy Cargile. Back row: Jeronimo Cruz, Johnathan Bolanos, Eli Cargile

8. Ken Gauthier, Margaret Kerr9. Stephen May, Shirley Stumpff10. Laura and Gary Churchill11. Lori Jarvis, Henry Waltrip,

Linda Barber12. Jim and Brenda Popplewell

The 31st annual community Christmas dinner in Monett, founded by and continued in memory of Linn Thornton, was

held on Dec. 25 at the First United Methodist Church in Monett.


TiTle loansPay Day loans

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1 2

3 4

5 6

First Friday Coffee, a monthly networking event hosted by the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce,

was held at city hall on Jan. 8

1. Jon Horner, Dr. Douglas Chad Johnson, Dusty Reid2. Mindi Artherton, Michele Bredeson3. Shawna Oltjenbruns, Dana Kammerlohr, Brittany Farris4. Maria West, Dr. Lisa Roark5. Tammy Littleton, Sonya Swope6. Missie Miller, J.R. Smith

64 | FEBRUARY 2016

10 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE MAY 201536 | ConneCtion Magazine February 2014auguSt 2013 ConneCtion Magazine | 53

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We appreciate your support of Connection, and we hopeyou look forward to receiving and reading the magazineeach month. If you have any suggestions or feedback youwould like to share, please don’t hesitate to contact me [email protected].

Sincerely,

Lisa SchlichtmanConnection editor

Renew your subscription to Connection, southwest Missouri’s most popular magazine

Please fill out the attached subscriptionform. Send the form along with a checkpayable to Monett Times, money orderfor $40 or your credit card information toP.O. Box 40, Monett, MO 65708.

Please fill out the attached

subscription form. Send the form

along with a check payable to

The Monett Times, a money order for

$40 or your credit card information to

P.O. Box 40, Monett, MO 65708.

or P.O. Box 486, Cassville, MO 65625

Connection magazine will continue to be offered free to anyone in our distribution area.


10 | CONNECTION MAGAZINE MAY 201536 | ConneCtion Magazine February 2014auguSt 2013 ConneCtion Magazine | 53

It’s your world. Read all about it your way... from the comfort of your home.Have Connection delivered right to your doorstep for $40 a year.

Name __________________________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________________

City_____________________________________ State ________ Zip ______________

Phone __________________________________________________________________

I have enclosed $40 by check (check number _____ ) for a one-year subscription to Connection magazine.

I have enclosed $40 by money order for a one-year subscription to Connection magazine.

I have enclosed credit card information to be billed $40 for a one-year subscription to Connection magazine.

Card # _____________________________________ Exp. Date _____________Connection

P.O. Box 40 • Monett, MO 65708Toll Free: 877.403.6397 • 877.752.9275

Connection magazine will continue to be offeredfree to anyone in our distribution area.

Thank you for subscribing to Connection. Your subscriptionwill expire next month. If you wish to continue receiving Connection by mail, please send in your check with the accompanying subscription request.

We appreciate your support of Connection, and we hopeyou look forward to receiving and reading the magazineeach month. If you have any suggestions or feedback youwould like to share, please don’t hesitate to contact me [email protected].

Sincerely,

Lisa SchlichtmanConnection editor

Renew your subscription to Connection, southwest Missouri’s most popular magazine

Please fill out the attached subscriptionform. Send the form along with a checkpayable to Monett Times, money orderfor $40 or your credit card information toP.O. Box 40, Monett, MO 65708.

Please fill out the attached

subscription form. Send the form

along with a check payable to

The Monett Times, a money order for

$40 or your credit card information to

P.O. Box 40, Monett, MO 65708.

or P.O. Box 486, Cassville, MO 65625

Connection magazine will continue to be offered free to anyone in our distribution area.

A Beautiful Image . . . . . . . . . . . 50Acambaro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Ava Belle’s Flea Market . . . . . . . 54Barry Electric Coop . . . . . . . . . . 25Bennett Wormington . . . . . . . . 25Brownsberger’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Burrus Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Carolyn Hunter DMD . . . . . . . . 46Cassville Health and Rehab . . . 36Chapman Medical Clinic . . . . . . . 6Community National Bank . . . . 20Cornerstone Bank . . . . . . . . . . . 61Country Dodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61Cox Medical Centers . . . . . . . . . 68Crane Family Dentistry . . . . . . . 59Dairy Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Diet Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Doug’s Pro Lube . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Eastside Church of Christ . . . . . 27Edward Jones Weber . . . . . . . . . 4Empire Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Farm Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27First State Bank of Purdy . . . . . 59Fohn Funeral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Four Seasons Real Estate . . . . . 31Four States Dental Care . . . . . . 40Freedom Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Grande Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Guanajuato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Hill Creek Lodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Houlihans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Ila Bohm’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51J. Michael Riehn, Attorney . . . . 56Ken’s Collision Center . . . . . . . . 46Lackey Body Works . . . . . . . . . . 40Les Jacobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Macadoodles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Missouri Loan Center . . . . . . . . 63Mocha Jo’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Monett Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Oak Pointe Assisted Living. . . . 12Old Town Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . 55Ozark Methodist Manor . . . . . . 50Peppers and Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61Plymouth Junction . . . . . . . . . . 12

Race Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Ramey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Scott Regional Technology Center . . . . . . . . . . . 28Second Chances . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Security Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Shelter Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Smile Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20State Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Superior Spray Foam . . . . . . . . . 51The Jane Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Tomblin’s Jewelry . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Tried & True Candles & Tans . . 51Trogdon Marshall . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Visionhealth Eye Center . . . . . . 56Whitley Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . 16Wickman Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . 27Willis Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Youngberg Chapel . . . . . . . . . . . 34Ziggies Café . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Ryan and Chris Nestleroad took Connection Magazine with them while va-cationing with their families at Disney’s Epcot Center theme park in Florida.

MyAd List

66 | FEBRUARY 2016

“Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.” — Loretta Young

Parting Shot Photo by Chuck Nickle


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68 | FEBRUARY 2016

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February 2016 Connection