Republican primary candidates to attend ice cream social Tuesday

The Republican Women of Jasper County will hold a free ice cream social, raffle and an opportunity to meet the primary election candidates Tuesday at Carthage Memorial Hall.

Doors will open at 5 p.m., with the event beginning at 6 p.m.

Candidates will be allowed to speak for three minutes.

• State Rep. Hannah Kelly, a Republican from Mountain Grove, will be the master of ceremonies.
• Wednesday is the final day to register to vote for the Aug. 6 primary.
• Candidates confirmed to attend are:
• GOVERNOR: Jay Ashcroft and Chris Wright.
• SECRETARY OF STATE: Shane Schoeller, Denny Hoskins, Mary Elizabeth Coleman and Adam Schwadron.
• STATE TREASURER: Cody Smith.
• STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 161: Lane Roberts and Thomas Ross.
• STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 163: Cathy Jo Loy.
• SHERIFF: Randee Kaiser and Ethan Snow.
• JASPER COUNTY TREASURER: Vanessa Bruton and Shannon Karraker.
• WESTERN DISTRICT COMMISSIONER: Jim Pierce, Mike Woolston and Mike Landis.
• EASTERN DISTRICT COMMISSIONER: Drew Evans, Tom Flanagan and Alan Snow.

MoDOT seeks public input about I-44 study

Joplin is one of five locations across the state where the Missouri Department of Transportation will hold public meetings about improving I-44.

The hearing will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 23 at the Joplin Public Library, 1901 E. 20th St.

The public will be able to provide comments in person or online from July 10 through Aug. 21

MoDOT is conducting an environmental study, called Forward 44, of more than 250 miles of Interstate 44 from the Oklahoma state line to the Route 100 east interchange near Gray Summit in Franklin County.

“I-44 continues to be one of Missouri’s most important corridors for passenger travel and commercial trucking. This study is the first step in preparing for future projects along this interstate,” said MoDOT Assistant Southwest District Engineer Greg Chapman and lead for the Forward 44 study. “Getting input from the public who travel the roadway daily will help identify areas of concern and can assist MoDOT with improving safety and mobility for generations to come.”