Nancy Hughes: Longing for the Old Days

   
“Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.”

Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NIV)

I was not prepared for everything that came with being a mom. I remember one evening after a particularly stressful day. As my husband tucked our three little ones into bed, I found myself walking slowly around the neighborhood in a carrot-stained shirt with a rip on the shoulder, dirty jeans, and hair and teeth that had not been brushed for two days.

“Why didn’t somebody tell me how hard this would be and how much my life would change when we had children?” I thought. I loved them with all my heart, but at the same time, I found myself more than a little upset with God.

I remember praying, “Father, when LeRoy and I decided to have kids, you never told me about stretch marks and varicose veins. I didn’t see any Scripture about developing a muffin top that has now become an inner tube top, or about clothes that no longer fit, and if they do fit, they have permanent stains of poop, puke, or a combination thereof.

“You didn’t tell me that I would never ever get more than 2 or 3 continuous hours of sleep a night. And you definitely never told me that after feeding and burping my baby every two hours all night long, my husband would wake up the next morning and say, ‘Wow! He slept all night long. Isn’t that great?’ and I would have to fight the urge to kick him to the curb. You never told me, God.”

One evening, my Bible fell open to Ecclesiastes 7:10, and it pierced my heart immediately. It was a reminder to use caution when comparing my former life with what I have now. Yes, before children, I slept throughout the night, I was in better shape physically, and my clothes didn’t always look like I had slept in them.

But now I have three blessings in my home that were not there before. And, according to Psalm 139:13-14, they are “fearfully and wonderfully made” and entrusted to my husband and me by the Lord to raise each one to desire a personal relationship with Him.

Nothing is more important than sharing and living my faith with my children. There will be days in the future when my clothes are no longer covered with baby food. I will have plenty of opportunities to brush my hair and my teeth, and more nights than I can count when I can sleep without interruption. But as parents, we have been given the opportunity right now to influence our children in their faith and to help them grow to love the Lord. When you think about that honor, the old days no longer matter.

Father, thank you for my precious blessings. Please help me to appreciate what you have given me and to help them grow in their faith. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

Have you ever longed for your life before you had children?

Have you truly considered the influence that you have on your children to teach them about a relationship with the Lord?

Apply

Journal a page for each of your children with your hopes and dreams for them as a Christian; include Scripture to encourage them.

Share with each of your children what you have written.

Power

Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NIV) “Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.”

Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV) “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Psalm 127:3-4 (NIV) “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth.”

(For more of Nancy Hughes' writing, check out her blog, Encouragement from the War Room.)

Carthage R-9 raises starting teacher pay to $42,500, three teachers hired

(From the Carthage R-9 School District)

The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, June 16, 2025, 6:00 pm, at the Carthage South Technical Center – Community Room. Present were Board members Ms. Niki Cloud, Mr. Ryan Collier, Mrs. Lora Phelps, Dr. Mark Westhoff, and Mr. Jeff Jones. Ms. Maria Sanchez arrived after the meeting started and Mr. Patrick Scott was absent. Ms. Niki Cloud led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Board approved the Consent Agenda for the purpose of approving the meeting agenda, minutes of previous meeting, payment of bills, district financial report, re-adopt policy/regulation 0342 (nepotism, conflict of interest, and financial disclosure), and student transportation routes and average ridership counts for 2024-2025. 

Mr. Matt Arnold, Director of Human Resources presented a MSIP 6 Standard Report on Leadership. An overview of the recruitment and onboarding process was discussed along with the districts health insurance plan and improvement target areas. 

Mrs. Catherine Steverson, Director of Information Technology, provided an evaluative report on Technology, MSIP 6 TL9, CSIP Goal V (Objectives C,D, and E). Topics addressed included communication with students, parents, and staff through ParentSquare, storage area network upgrade and installation, implementation of phishing training with staff and grades 7-12, expansion of Chromebook to 3rd graders, teacher professional development programs, online enrollment and back to school registration, implementation of online pay through infinite campus, and firewall upgrades. 

Mr. Mark Holderbaum, Director of Athletics and Activities, and Dr. Angela Holman, High School Principal, appeared before the Board to review the 2024-2025 Carthage High School spring sports. Mr. Holderbaum highlighted performance awards, overall and COC records, team GPA’s, and future outlook. 

Ms. Maria Sanchez provided a Carthage R-9 School Foundation update stating an overall total of $100,000 in scholarships were awarded for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

Dr. Luke Boyer, Superintendent, provided to the Board information regarding revised Regulations 4319, 4320, and 2610. 

Dr. Matt Huntley, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, presented the MSIP 6: Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (Fall 2025 – Spring 2030) to the Board. Mr. Bryan Shallenburger, Director of Special Services, provided the Board information regarding the Southwest Missouri Special Services Cooperative (Beacon) Agreement. 

Dr. Holley Goodnight, Assistant Superintendent for Business, provided the Board information regarding meal prices for the 2025-2026 school year. Dr. Goodnight provided the Board information regarding the MOPERM insurance policy for the school district. Dr. Goodnight provided the Board information regarding the Occupational Health Services Agreement for 2025-2026. 

Dr. Huntley provided the Board information regarding the Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) Plan for the 2025-2026 school year. Dr. Huntley provided the Board information regarding the 2025-2026 student handbooks. 

Dr. Huntley and Ms. Beth Hunt, Curriculum Director, provided the Board information regarding the request for curriculum and resources for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Dr. Boyer discussed the amended 2025-2026 board of education meeting schedule with updating the meeting location to the Carthage South Technical Center – Community Room. 

Dr. Boyer provided the Board information regarding the salary schedules for the 2025-2026 school year for all classifications and extra duties. Notable changes include a 3.66% increase to the base teacher salary, increasing it to $42,500, and all teachers will advance one step on the salary schedule. 

The support staff salary schedules will also see a 3.66% increase to the base and advance one step. All support positions with a wage below $15.00 per hour will be raised to a minimum of $15.00 per hour. Dr. Boyer provided the Board information regarding the preliminary budget for the fiscal year 2026. Dr. Boyer presented his report to the Board. 

The Board met in closed session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss legal, personnel, and student matters in compliance with Section 610.021 (1), (3), and (6) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. 

In closed session the Board approved the following personnel actions: Approved the employment of certified, support, and substitute staff as presented contingent upon receiving a clear criminal record check from the Missouri Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and a clear check of the Adult Abuse/Neglect Registry maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services for all employees new to the district:

Certified Hire

Roxanne Shrewsberry, special education teacher, Sixth Grade Center- Ms. Shrewsberry is a special education teacher with many years of experience working with students of all ages, including those with disabilities. She has served as a job coach, teacher, paraprofessional, and direct support professional, demonstrating strong classroom management, individualized instruction, and a passion for student success. She earned a Bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 2004 and a Master's degree from Walden University in 2014 in Adolescent Literacy and Technology.

Brener Ocana, Spanish teacher, second semester, Carthage High School- Mr. Ocana is a bilingual educator currently completing his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (Physical Education) at Missouri Southern State University. He will be completing his student teaching at Carthage High School with graduation expected in December 2025. In addition, Mr. Ocana served as a Paraprofessional at Carthage Junior High and has experience coaching at the Junior High and High School levels.

Pamela York, first grade dual language (Spanish) teacher, Fairview Elementary- Ms. York is a bilingual professional with a B.A. in Modern and Classical Languages (Spanish Translation emphasis) and a minor in Biology from Missouri State University. She is pursuing her Masters of Arts in Teaching from MSSU as well.

Support Hire

Luke Jones, seasonal IT tech, IT Department

Corbyn Woodall, summer maintenance

Kailyn Schultz, early childhood paraprofessional, Pleasant Valley Elementary

Kendra Sexton, cook, Carthage Junior High School

Jakob McPheeters, summer maintenance

Patricia Caulk, special education paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary

Jaymee Hernandez, summer cook, Fairview Elementary

Jenna Calhoon, summer maintenance, Carthage High School

Michael Gilreath, bus driver, transportation

Jaycob Titius, summer maintenance, sixth grade center

Matthew Willkes, practical nursing clinical instructor, Tech Center-South

Dawna Middleton, Tiger Prep paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary

Substitute Hire

Mark Sponaugle

MeLi Sanborn

Certified Transfer

Kaylin Portillo, kindergarten dual language (English) teacher, Fairview Elementary

Support Transfer

Hayden Sanders, cook, district

Karina Paul, cook, Sixth Grade Center

Certified Resignation

Olivia Moser, second grade teacher, Steadley Elementary

Certified Retirement

Charles Loveall, PE teacher, Carthage Intermediate Center

Support Resignation

Zachary Stand, special education paraprofesional, Carthage Intermediate Center

Heimy Rodas, ELL paraprofessional, Carthage High School

Elizabeth Waite, Parents as Teachers, Early Childhood Center

Allison Hill, special education paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary

James Williamson, head custodian, Fairview Elementary

Roxana Horn, district registrar, Welcome Center

Substitute Resignation

Kevin Provins

Remembering Stan Johnson

Summer's only one day away, but summers have a way of slipping past us and leaving memories in their wake.

To some, summer is trips to the lake- boating, swimming, water skiing and not even minding that first sunburn of the season.

As sacrilegious as it may seem, I've never cared much for the lake- to me, summer is baseball. During my teen years I played baseball, began coaching Little League when I was only one year out of Little League and made money umpiring.

It broke my heart when East Newton High School dropped its baseball program when I was in eighth grade. I remember walking to the Midway ballpark and watching the Patriots play and I wanted nothing more than to play for the high school team.

In my wild imagination, I thought about getting a baseball scholarship and playing at some small college. I was never realistic about the limitations of my ability.

When I was 15, I saw a notice in the Joplin Globe sports section saying the Carthage Braves, a men's team, was needing teams to play. We put together a team of East Newton High School students and a couple of graduates, went to Carthage and were thoroughly embarrassed.

After two innings, the Braves manager told me we were done. His team would get more out of having a practice than playing us.

Still, our team, which played in Granby (and later some at Stella) persisted and one of those who helped bring some respectability to the team in its early years was Stan Johnson.

I was excited when Stan agreed to join the team, which by then was known as the Aroma Express. He was a pitcher, had a wicked curve ball and also could hit for power and he was one of those East Newton Patriots baseball players though the team was eliminated right before his senior year.

He also was one of the best teammates any of us ever had.

He hit more than a few home runs in those early years, but the hit I most remember was one that didn't quite make it out of the ballpark. We were playing at the Mickey Owen Baseball School near Miller when Stan crushed a fastball that crossed the heart of the plate and hit a towering drive to center field.

It was a thing of beauty to watch and Stan watched it from the batter's box. We had seen Stan hit the ball hard many times, but that may have been his crowning achievement. Unfortunately, it hit off the top of the center field wall, bounced back toward the center fielder and Stan ended up with a long single.

As much as I enjoy telling that story, Stan told it even better. He never minded having fun at his own expense.

Even though most us were only two or three years younger than Stan (and a couple were his age or a year or two older, he was the big brother to everyone on the team. He was the first one to congratulate someone on a good play and the first one to give someone a pat on the back when baseball's frequent frustrations hit home.

It was no surprise that he later found success coaching youth sports.

I saw Stan a couple of years ago at the Newtonia Fall Festival and, of course, we talked about baseball- the St. Louis Cardinals and our old Aroma Express team.

I hadn't seen him for a few years and it was great to talk baseball with him once again.

When I received an obituary notice for Stan Johnson Monday, at first I thought it might be someone else. The e-mail had the notice, but not the complete obituary. The background, however, featuring the St. Louis Cardinals, was confirmation that my old teammate had joined another league.

June 20 and the change of the season is right around the corner, but summer seems so far away.

Probable cause: Webb City beat, choked, kicked three children

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office charged a Webb City man with three counts of child abuse today.

An arrest warrant was issued for James Uel Choate III, 35, with bond set at $100,000, with a condition that Choate is not to have contact with anyone under age 18.

From the probable cause statement:

On 03/05/2025, I was notified of a potential child abuse case involving a four-year-old male child. 

On that same date Victim 1, a four-year-old child, and his six-year-old brother were taken by James Choate to the home of a babysitter. 

When she saw the bruises all over the body of Victim 1, she called the police. According to the babysitter, these bruises were not present when she last saw the children on February 20, 2025. 

The children were taken to the Children’s Center where it was disclosed that James Choate had beaten, choked and kicked Victim 1 causing physical injuries.

The case was investigated by the Webb City Police Department.

Joplin dentist bound over for trial on drug trafficking, weapons charges

Dr. John Joseph, 54, Joplin, waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday in Newton County Circuit Court and was bound over for trial on drug trafficking and unlawful use of a weapon charges.

Joseph will be arraigned before Judge Charles Genisio 9 a.m. June 30.

The Joplin Police Department arrested Joseph March 5 after detectives saw him make what is described in the probable cause statement as "a hand-to-hand narcotic transaction after getting out of a pickup truck."

From the probable cause statement:

Joseph was detained after getting back into his truck and searched. During the search, a large package of a substance, believed to be fentanyl, was located in his pocket. This package was later found to weigh 11 grams.

A search was then conducted of Joseph's 2022 Ram pickup truck where I located approximately one gram of fentanyl, multiple items of drug paraphernalia consistent with the ingestion of fentanyl and an H&K 9mm pistol.

Joseph stated under Miranda that he provided $600 for {the} package located in his pocket.

The H&K pistol was later found to have been reported as stolen from a residence in Joplin in 2016.

Joseph also faces felony charges in Cherokee County for leaving the scene of the August 19, 2023 crash that killed Gary LaTurner, 60, Galena, and for contributing to a child's misconduct for allegedly helping his son, Rocco Joseph, after the younger Joseph's vehicle hit LaTurner leading to his death.

The Turner Report: Court document: Details offered on how John Joseph's alleged fentanyl deal went down

McDonald County Sheriff's Office to appear on On Patrol: Live

(From Half Moon Pictures)

(Pineville, MO.) – Tuesday, June 17, 2025 – McDonald County Sheriff’s Office will be appearing in the television documentary series On Patrol: Live, starting Friday, June 20, 2025. On Patrol: Live airs Friday and Saturday Nights from 9pm to 12am ET on REELZ.

The series is hosted and executive produced by Dan Abrams who, alongside a panel of experts, provides minute-by-minute live analysis as the show documents for viewers in real time the everyday work of police officers on patrol from diverse departments across America.

Said Sheriff Robert Evenson, “The McDonald County Sheriff’s Office looks forward to offering our community, and viewers across America, a closer look at the work of our law enforcement officers on their daily calls. McDonald County is a great community that backs their law enforcement; showing what our officers go through will also illustrate to the public how much officers truly care about them and the county, including visitors who know they can come here and have a safe and fun time.”

On Patrol: Live is produced by Half Moon Pictures for REELZ. Executive Producers are Dan Cesareo, John Zito, Lucilla D’Agostino, Paul Gordon, Joe Venafro and Dan Abrams.

Federal grand jury indicts Joplin man for sexually exploiting live-in teen babysitter

 The grand jury indictment of a Joplin man for sexual exploitation of a minor and receiving and distributing child pornography was unsealed today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

The indictment replaces the original complaint against Joshua Stanley Miloszewski, which was filed in May.

The federal charge was filed against Miloszewski after a search warrant revealed videos of him having sex with his 16-year-old live-in babysitter, according to the probable cause affidavit.

According to the indictment, Miloszewski's alleged crimes occurred between March 18, 2024 and February 5, 2025.

The Turner Report: Federal charge filed against Joplin man one day after search warrant turns up sex video with 16-year-old girl

Joplin man sentenced to seven years on federal weapons charge

A federal judge today sentenced Tanner Enochs, 31, Joplin, to seven years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

After he has served his sentence, Enochs will be on supervised release for three years.

Enochs was initially arrested May 17, 2023 by the Joplin Police Department following a pursuit that began with Enochs on a motorcycle and later continued on foot until he was captured with a stolen gun in a holster.

The Turner Report: Government asks for 9-year sentence for Joplin man on weapons charge

Pineville man sentenced to 6 years, 3 months, for role in kidnapping, murder

A federal judge sentenced Jamie Waterman, 45, Pineville, to six years and three months in prison for being an accessory after the fact to the kidnapping and murder of Ashley Bush.

After Waterman completes his sentence, he will be supervised release for three years.

The kidnapping and murder were committed by Waterman's wife, Amber, 45, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced in October to two life sentences.

The crime was detailed in the news release issued by the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri in September following Jamie Waterman's guilty plea:

On July 30, 2024, Amber Waterman pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping resulting in death and one count of thereby causing the death of a child in utero. Waterman admitted that she kidnapped Ashley Bush in order to claim her unborn child, Valkyrie Willis, as her own. Waterman transported Ashley Bush from Maysville, Ark., to Pineville. The kidnapping resulted in the deaths of both Ashley Bush and Valkyrie Willis.

Her husband, Jamie Waterman, 44, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of being an accessory after the fact to the kidnapping resulting in death. Jamie Waterman admitted that he knew Amber Waterman had kidnapped Bush, causing the death of her unborn child, and provided assistance in order to hinder or prevent the apprehension, trial, and punishment of Amber Waterman.

Amber Waterman, using a false name, contacted Bush, who was approximately 31 weeks pregnant, via Facebook. Amber Waterman pretended to help Bush obtain employment, suggesting she had a job opportunity for her. That prompted an in-person meeting between the two women on Oct. 28, 2022, at the Gravette, Ark., public library. They agreed to meet again on Oct. 31, 2022.

On Oct. 31, 2022, at roughly 11:45 a.m., Bush met Amber Waterman at the Handi-Stop convenience store in Maysville, Ark. Under the pretext that Amber Waterman was taking her to meet a supervisor to further discuss employment, Bush got into a truck driven by Amber Waterman. Amber Waterman then kidnapped and abducted Bush, driving her from Maysville to the Waterman residence in Pineville.

According to court documents, Amber Waterman led Jamie Waterman to Bush’s body. Jamie Waterman assisted in hiding and disposing of the body.

At about 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2022, first responders reported to the Longview store in Pineville for an emergency call of a baby who was not breathing. Amber Waterman admitted that she claimed to first responders that she had given birth to the child in the truck while on the way to the hospital. But in reality, she admitted, the child was Bush’s child, who died in utero, as a result of Amber Waterman’s kidnapping that resulted in the death of Bush.

An autopsy indicated that Bush died as a result of penetrating trauma of the torso and her death was classified as a homicide.

Mexican national charged with illegal reentry

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mexican man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally re-entering the United States after he was previously deported.

Gilberto Silvan-Perez, 38, was charged in a one-count indictment with illegal reentry by a previously removed alien. The indictment, which replaces a criminal complaint filed on May 29, 2025, charges that Silvan-Perez had previously been removed from the United States at least once, on Aug. 14, 2014.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney and was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations.