Monday, May 12, 2025

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Good Morning, Joplin. Go outside this week. Please. It’s going to be awesome.

In today’s JOMO Jive:

• Joplin Little Theatre’s Absurd Person Singular

• CBCO Hosts Grand Opening Week

• Free Tire Drop-Off Event

Let’s get to it.

— Matt Thompson

P.S. If you find something useful in today’s Jive, please share it with someone who ordered sushi for Mothers Day.

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THE DIGEST

🎭 JLT’s Absurd Person Singular Directed by Chelsie Bennett

What do you get when you mix three Christmas parties, rising social tension, and a whole lot of awkward silences? One of the funniest dark comedies of the '70s, coming to Joplin Little Theatre.

JLT presents Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn, a razor-sharp British comedy that follows three very different couples over three hilariously uncomfortable holiday gatherings. As one couple climbs the social ladder, the others unravel—with results that are equally cringe-worthy and comedic.

📆 Showtimes:

• May 14–17 at 7:30 PM

• May 18 matinee at 2:30 PM

🎟 Tickets: click the link below or call (417) 623-3638

Directed by Chelsie Bennett in her JLT debut, the cast features both fresh faces and seasoned favorites. Expect dry wit, physical comedy, and a dose of painfully relatable holiday drama—all wrapped in a delightfully 1970s package.

More at joplinlittletheatre.org.

CBCO Hosts Grand Opening Week

Celebrate the grand opening of Community Blood Center of the Ozarks’ new Joplin Donor Center with a week full of freebies, fun, and life-saving donations! From May 12-16, donors at the new location (2318 E. 32nd St., Suite D) will receive exclusive daily giveaways, plus a Springfield Cardinals T-shirt and 2 free game tickets all week long!

🎁 Daily Donor Giveaways (while supplies last):

• Mon, May 12 – 🎟️ 2 tickets to Joplin Outlaws Opening Night (May 22)

• Tues, May 13 – 🥤 Free 24 oz smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Café

• Wed, May 14 – 🍺 $10 Bricktown Brewery gift card

• Thurs, May 15 – 🍳 $5 Big Biscuit gift card

• Fri, May 16 – ☕ $5 gift card to Joplin Greenhouse & The Coffee Shop

🗓️ Appointments are encouraged! Visit cbco.org/donate-blood to book your time, score some swag, and make a big impact in your community.

🎀 Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting
📅 Monday, May 12 at 2:00 PM

Civic Updates

♻️ Free Tire Drop-Off Event Rolls Into Joplin June 7

Got old tires taking up space? The City of Joplin’s got your back. They will host a Free Tire Drop-Off event on Saturday, June 7, from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Old Lone Elm Plant (2214 N. Lone Elm Rd)—just south of Zora Street.

🔧 What’s accepted:

• Passenger vehicle tires, with or without rims

• Tires must be 20 inches or smaller

• Limit: 10 tires per vehicle (no repeat trips!)

• No semi, tractor, ATV, or racing tires

• No commercial vehicles or scrap tire haulers

✅ Who’s eligible:
Residents of Joplin, Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Barton, and Vernon Counties

🚫 Why it matters:
Landfills don’t take tires—and when left outside, they collect rainwater and become mosquito breeding grounds. This free event keeps tires out of ditches, yards, and woods, and sends them to be recycled into useful products like playground surfaces, pavement, and rubber mats.

📍 Enter from the south on Lone Elm Road
🛞 All collected tires and rims will be recycled

This event is brought to you by the City of Joplin, Region M Waste Management District, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Questions? Call Scott Patterson at 417-624-0820 ext. 1501 or visit joplinmo.org/recycling.

WEATHER

Monday: 🌡️ 55 | 78 ⛅️ 

Tuesday: 🌡️ 58 | 83 ☀️

Wednesday: 🌡️ 66 | 88 ☀️ 

Recap:

⚾️ Baseball (28-24)
5/9 vs Central Oklahoma University (MIAA Tournament Semifinals) | L 4-6

🏃 Men’s Track & Field
5/9 at Concordia Twilight Meet in Seward, NE
5/10 at Loper Twilight in Kearney, NE

MSSU lit up Nebraska last weekend, racking up 13 first-place finishes, 5 personal bests, and a whopping 25 NCAA qualifying marks across the Concordia Twilight (May 9) and Loper Twilight (May 10) meets.

Next stop? The NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in Pueblo, Colorado. Qualifiers will be announced Tuesday, May 13—so keep an eye on mssulions.com for updates, event schedules, and athlete info. 🦁

What’s Happening

5/12 🦸 Draw, laugh, and create a comic: Comic Book Workshop at Webb City Library invites ages 8–18 to explore cartooning, body language, and creative storytelling — with plenty of fun twists like juggling axolotls and dabbing pandas. It’s interactive, imaginative, and totally kid-approved.

5/13 ✈️ Art, snacks, and a trip to Panama: Creation Station at Spiva continues its Passport series Tuesday afternoon with a hands-on mola craft inspired by Panamanian textiles. Kids ages 6–11 will also enjoy snacks, scavenger hunts, and creative freedom.

5/13 🌎 Books, big ideas, and bold conversations: The Gathering at Joplin Public Library returns Tuesday, May 13 at 6 PM with a discussion on climate change, featuring No Planet B by Lucy Diavolo. Bring your own resources, insights, or just your curiosity — and help choose next month’s topic, too!

5/8-18 🎡 Rides, snacks, and pure nostalgia: Evans United Carnival rolls into Northpark Mall with games, food, and thrills for all ages. Free parking and admission — just bring cash for rides and snacks (or hit the ATMs on site). Open evenings and weekends, weather permitting.