Friday, April 25, 2025

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Want to sponsor your business in JOMO Jive? Send your inquiry to [email protected]

Good Morning, Joplin. If pollen had a personality, it would be way too confident right now. At least they’re calling for rain 7 of the next 8 days…

In today’s JOMO Jive:

• Freeman 5K & 1 Mile Walk for Autism Awareness

• Joplin Empire Market’s 7th Birthday Bash! + Goats in the Garden

• Community Blood Center of the Ozarks Opens New Location

• The Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience

Also, we’re moving forward with the JOMO Jive Restaurant Discount Card! We want it to include all your favorite local spots. Please take this short, 5 question survey to help make this the best restaurant discount card in Joplin!

Let’s get to it.

— Matt Thompson

P.S. If you find something useful in today’s Jive, please share it with someone who thinks “light yard work” involves renting a Bobcat.

SPONSORED BY GAMBINO’S PIZZA

☔ Rainy weekend ahead? Sounds like the perfect excuse to stay in and let Gambino’s Pizza handle dinner. Whether you’re curled up on the couch or hosting a cozy night in, nothing beats hot, cheesy pizza delivered straight to your door.

✨ Come see why Gambino’s is a Joplin legend:

🍕 Oven-baked pizzas piled high with flavor
🧄 Garlic cheese bread that melts in your mouth
🥗 Crisp salads & hearty pastas
🍗 Wings with bold, crave-worthy sauces
🍪 Dessert pizzas that sweeten the deal

📍 Find them at: 101 Village Landing, Joplin, MO 64801
📞 Call ahead or order online at gambinospizza.com — your taste buds will thank you.

THE DIGEST

Freeman 5K & 1 Mile Walk for Autism Awareness 🥇 

Get ready to run, walk, and make waves at the annual Freeman 5K and Walk for Autism Awareness on Saturday, April 26, from 8:00 to 11:00 AM at the Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism in Joplin.

This year’s theme is “Under the Sea”, so bring your best ocean-inspired costumes! Whether you're clocking 5K miles or strolling the one-mile route, all proceeds support program development and scholarships for families served by the Leffen Center.

📝 Registration:

• 🏃‍♂️ 5K (includes t-shirt): $40

• 🚶 One-Mile Walk: $20 (Kids 3–12: $15 | Under 2: Free)

📦 Packet Pickup:
April 25: 3:30 - 5:30 PM
April 26: 6:45 - 7:45 AM

More info and registration at freemanhealth.com

Joplin Empire Market’s 7th Birthday Bash! + Goats in the Garden 🐐 

Joplin Empire Market is turning seven, and they’re throwing a birthday party unlike any other—goats. In the garden. With party hats. On Saturday, May 11, the Market is combining its annual birthday bash with the beloved Goats in the Garden event for a one-of-a-kind celebration full of fun, food, and farmyard charm, complete with live music and new merch.

Visitors can sign the Market’s giant birthday card, grab a slice of cake, and check out the newly unveiled Market poster designed by Joplin High School students. As you browse the usual lineup of top-tier local vendors, you’ll also get the chance to meet friendly goats in the Community Garden, explore available garden beds, and even participate in some hands-on crafts. Whether you’re there for the cake or the goats—or both—this is the kind of quirky community celebration Joplin does best.

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks has New Location 🩸 

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks has officially moved! Their brand-new, larger donor center at 2318 E. 32nd Street, Suite D opens its doors on April 28, offering a more comfortable and accessible space for local blood donors.

To celebrate the move—and 30 years of service—CBCO will host a ribbon cutting on Monday, May 12 at 2:00 PM, in partnership with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

🕐 New Hours:
Monday–Thursday: 11 AM–6 PM
Friday: 8 AM–2 PM

🎁 Bonus: Donors during grand opening week can score daily prizes like tickets, gift cards, and local vouchers.

Appointments are encouraged: cbco.org/donate-blood

The Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience 🎤 

Looking for a night of smooth vocals, bold brass, and timeless style? Don’t miss the Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience on Saturday, April 26 at 7:00 PM at the Cornell Complex’s Beshore Performance Hall. Expect the style of Sinatra with the soul of something new.

Known for blending classic big band energy with a fresh, inventive twist, Shaun Johnson—an Emmy-winning vocalist and lead singer of Tonic Sol-fa—has earned a spot on the Billboard Top 5 and rave reviews from jazz lovers and swing newcomers alike.

🎟️ Tickets: Purchase here
📍 212 W 7th St, Joplin, MO

This special performance is dedicated to the late Senator Ron Richard and funded by memorial gifts given in his honor.

WEATHER

Friday: 🌡️ 60 | 76 ⛈️ 45%

Saturday: 🌡️ 59 | 70 🌧️ 60%

Sunday: 🌡️ 62 | 77 ⛈️ 75%

Recap:

🏌️‍♂️ Men’s Golf
MIAA Men’s Conference Championship | T5th

Upcoming:

🥎 Softball (34-16)
4/26 at HOME vs Pittsburg State University | 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM (DH)

⚾️ Baseball (23-21)
4/25 at HOME vs Rogers State University | 6:00 PM
4/26 at HOME vs Rogers State University | 1:00 PM
4/27 at HOME vs Rogers State University | 1:00 PM

🏃 Men’s and Women’s Track & Field
4/25 at John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, AR

What’s Happening

Friday:

Fostering Hope’s Quarter Sale | 9:00 AM
Location: Connect Christian Church

WayPoint UAV Drone Services Ribbon Cutting | 9:00 AM
Location: Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce

Carl Junction Cultivators Annual Spring Plant Sale | 10:00 AM
Location: Memorial Park

Studio 55: Open Studio | 2:00 PM
Location: Spiva Center for the Arts

Small Works 2025 Closing Bidding Party | 5:30 PM
Location: Cornell Complex

Joplin Critical Mass Group Ride | 6:00 PM
Location: 4th and Joplin Ave

Friday Fun Drags | 7:00 PM
Location: MO-KAN Dragway

Too Broke for BBR Barrel Racing | 6:00 PM
Location: Civil War Arena

Couples Pain - Sunset Palms | 7:00 PM
Location: Create N Sip Studios

Spring Conference - Ozarks Writers League | 7:00 PM
Location: Candlewood Suites

Music Bingo | 8:30 PM
Location: Briarbrook Golf Course and Joe’s 19th Hole

Saturday:

Route 66 Spring Drive to Baxter Springs, KS | 8:00 AM
Location: Baxter Springs, KS

The Color Classic | 8:00 AM
Location: Lucky J Steakhouse & Arena

CJ Athletic Booster Club Golf Tournament | 9:00 AM
Location: Briarbrook Golf Course

Four States Reptile Expo | 9:00 AM
Location: Newton County Fairgrounds

Healthy Kids Day | 9:00 AM
Location: Joplin Family Y

Yin Yoga | 10:00 AM
Location: McNab Wellness

Camp Childress Car Show | 10:00 AM
Location: Camp Childress

Walking for Cardinals Fun Walk | 10:00 AM
Location: Webb City High School

Joplin Collectors Expo 2025 | 10:00 AM
Location: Irving Elementary

Bloom Bar | 10:00 AM
Location: Paint Chips & Glitter Boutique

Community Earth Day Celebration | 10:00 AM
Location: Carthage Central Park

Mopars Invade Drag Races | 11:00 PM
Location: MO-KAN Dragway

Page-A-Palooza Spring Market | 12:00 PM
Location: Front Page

April Corn Hole Tournament | 1:00 PM
Location: Kicks Bar and Grill

Healing Hands Workshop | 1:00 PM
Location: McNab Wellness

Family Instructed Paint “Summer Gnome” | 1:00 PM
Location: Create N Sip Studios

Fiber Mushrooms with Brenda Hayes | 1:00 PM
Location: Spiva Center for the Arts

Sip and Stroll | 2:00 PM
Location: Joplin Rotary Sculpture Garden

Blooming With Jesus Annual Women’s Conference | 6:00 PM
Location: Carterville First Baptist Church

Instructed Canvas - Cup O Sunshine | 7:00 PM
Location: Create N Sip Studios

Sunday:

Paint & Sip - Zen Reflections | 3:00 PM
Location: Christine’s Vineyard

Easter Egg Hunt on Shoal Creek | 4:00 PM
Location: Rivers Bend Family Resort

Joplin Improv Open Improv Play | 5:30 PM
Location: Joplin Avenue Coffee Company

Live Music Lowdown

Friday:

Dillon Leggett at Christine’s Vineyard | 6:00 PM

The Rebecca Hawkins Project at Mi Torito (Galena, KS) | 6:00 PM

Trevor C Smith at Beard Engine Brewing | 6:30 PM

Zac Burleson at Gusano’s | 7:00 PM

Marcus King Band at Downstream Casino’s The Pavilion | 8:00 PM

Framing The Red at 66 Sports Bar & Restaurant | 8:00 PM

Mister Critter, HOLDING at Crawlspace | 8:00 PM

Shana Stone & Dan Duling at Kansas Crossing Casino | 8:00 PM

Jadewick, 5 Body Blade, The EMF’s at Blackthorn Pub | 9:00 PM

Saturday:

Project Six at Joplin Empire Market | 10:00 AM

Lacking Principles at Keltoi Winery | 5:00 PM

Connie 6Jobs at JB’s | 5:00 PM

Dr G and The Tall Man at Christine’s Vineyard | 6:00 PM

Zane Grimes Music at Mi Torito (Galena, KS) 6:00 PM

Keyven Dunn at Chaos Brewing Company | 7:00 PM

Low Co at Turtleheads | 7:00 PM

The Blue Underground at Redings Mill | 7:00 PM

Shades of Blue at HoneyPop’s | 8:00 PM

Sound the Alarm at Downstream Casino | 8:30 PM

Sunset Circle, Nuance at Blackthorn Pub | 10:00 PM

Sunday:

Choices at Rivers Bend Family Resort | 4:00 PM