Let Freedom Ring

Emmanuel Baptist invites all to enjoy free food, games, patriotic program and fireworks

6 p.m. Saturday, July 2, at Memorial Park

Emmanuel Baptist Church will host its annual Let Freedom Ring event celebrating God and Country on Saturday, July 2, at Memorial Park in Webb City.

Beginning at 6 p.m., the church will be serving free hamburgers, hotdogs, popcorn, and snow cones. Families will enjoy inflatables and the Webb City Fire Department’s water spray. 

There will also be live music and family friendly fun contests throughout the evening.

A patriotic service, featuring the church choir and recognition of veterans will begin at 8 p.m.

Those staying to the end will also enjoy free ice cream and a fireworks show. 

Pastor Kyle Beverlin says, “This event is provided as a free gift to our community from Emmanuel Baptist Church. Come have fun at Memorial Park as we celebrate God and country.”

(PEXELS: SAWYER SUTTON)

JOPLIN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

5:30 p.m. Monday, July 4, at MSSU

Missouri Southern State University will again be the site of the Joplin Independence Day Celebration on the Fourth of July.

Food vendors will open at 5:30 p.m. in the Fred G. Hughes Stadium parking lot. The stadium gates will open at 7 p.m. “The Mixtapes” band will warm up the crowd in advance of the fireworks show at 9:45 p.m.

Guests are welcome to sit on the grandstand, or they may bring lawn chairs and/or blankets for lounging in the grassy area on the west side of the field. The north end zone and the east side of the stadium will be closed to the public for safety purposes.

It’s free for all ages.

Battle of Carthage book signing

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, June 25, Always Buying Books

John Hacker will be signing copies of his new book, “Remembering the Battle of Carthage,” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at Bob Wolfe’s Always Buying Books, 5357 N. Main St., Joplin.

Hacker, of Carl Junction, is the former editor of the Carthage Press and now reports for the Joplin Globe. He provides the following portion of an article about the July 5, 1961, battle in the New York Times:

“Thus the first serious conflict between the United States troops and the rebels has been fought in Missouri, by our brave German Missouri volunteers, resulted in a brilliant victory. Gen. LYON will perhaps now repent that he delayed so long at Booneville, and was thereby prevented from being present and sharing the honors of this glorious victory with Col. SIEGEL.”

“We commemorate that event on July 5, every year with a vespers service at the Battle of Carthage State Historic Site,” says Hacker. “You can read more from that New York Times article and about the [2011] reenactments we held to remember the 150th anniversary of the battle in my new book.”