Debate team brings home trophies from two tourneys

Among those competing at the Monett novice tournament were: (FRONT) Bria Brattin. (STANDING) Ren Osburn, Nina Nguyen, Alex Tyndall, Devin Tusinger, Joyce Stapleton and Jordyn Dickey.

Debate team brings home trophies from two tourneys

The Webb City speech and debate team brought home 14 trophies – including six championship trophies – from two tournaments last weekend.

Winners of four championship trophies at the Cassville varsity tournament were: McKenzie Jones in POI; Lilly Shea in dramatic interp, and McKenzie Jones and Lilly Shea in duo.

The whole team took fifth in sweepstakes.

At the Monett novice tournament, there were three individual champions: Devin Tusinger, informative speaking; Alex Tyndall, Pro/Poe, and Nina Ngyuen, storytelling.

There were also six finalists in nine categories:

Alex Tyndall, fifth in storytelling; Nina Ngyuen, second in Pro/Poe; Ren Osburn, second in radio and fifth in Pro/Poe; Jordyn Dickey, third in oratory; and Joyce Stapleton, fifth in radio.

The whole team took third in sweepstakes.

Also, debate coach Tiffany Bolin reports four students earned NSDA degrees: McKenzie Jones, Superior Distinction for 750+ points; Devin Tusinger, Degree of Honor 75+ points; Zander Perriman, Degree of Honor 75+ points; and Yaisa Walker, Degree of Merit 25+ points.

Next on the schedule is the Bolivar tournament, which will be the last before Christmas break.

Lilly Shea and McKenzie Jones with their Cassville championship trophies.

FIVE GENERATIONS ranging in age from 3 months to 93 were thankfully together in Webb City for Thanksgiving. It was the first time little Brooks Neece-Harvey met his great-great-grandmother, Anne Foos, of Joplin. Other generations in the picture are Brooks’ mother, Ally Neece, Bixby, Okla.; grandmother, Sonya Neece, Broken Arrow, Okla.; and great-grandfather, Bob Foos, Webb City.

MoDOT to hold two-week informational virtual meeting about Range Line bridge replacement

The public is invited to a virtual (online) two-week public meeting starting Monday to learn more about a project to replace the railroad bridge on Range Line Road.

The project is included in the state’s $351 million Focus on Bridges program, which will repair or replace 250 bridges across the state.

The meeting will be available for two weeks from Monday, Dec. 13 until Monday, Dec. 27, and can be accessed at www.modot.org/range-line-roadkansas-city-southern-railroad-bridge-replacement.

The public is invited to make comments and/or ask questions about the plan to replace the bridge. The new bridge will be 2 feet higher, 15 feet wider and 27 feet shorter than the existing bridge and include sidewalks on either side of the new structure.

The current bridge was rebuilt in 1976 and carries approximately 24,580 vehicles per day. It will be replaced beginning in Spring 2022 and reopen to traffic by early November 2022.

The estimated cost of the project is $6.8 million.

Those unable to access the online meeting are encouraged to contact MoDOT’s Southwest District Office at (417) 895-7600 and accommodations will be made to share the information and gather feedback.

Airport redication ceremony Thursday to mark runway reconstruction

he Joplin Regional Airport will be rededicated during a ceremony at 1 p.m. Thursday in the main terminal building.

During this past summer, Runway 18/36 was rebuilt and adjacent runway lights were replaced. The multi-phased runway project was funded through the Airport Improvement Program of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Following a brief program, guests will have the opportunity to taxi out to the newly reconstructed runway.

“This is a significant infrastructure project for southwest Missouri,” said Airport Manager Steve Stockam. “With much planning and coordinated implementation, crews rebuilt this runway in a short amount of time. The project provides a critical component for the air travel within our region. It also provided an economic stimulus for our area as federal dollars were utilized for its completion.”