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Good Morning, Joplin. Sometimes I wonder what it’d be like to live in a place where you wake up one day, it’s spring, and there’s no fear of going right back to winter the very next day. Welcome to Spring Break in the Midwest!

Today is St. Patrick’s Day! Want to know the real green today? The $7.7 billion Americans celebrating the holiday, mostly on food and drink (read: mostly drink).

In today’s JOMO Jive:

• Mutt Madness Sweet 16

• A Dog’s Dream fundraisers

• Willcoxon Health Sciences Summit

Let’s get to it.

— Matt Thompson

P.S. If you find something useful in today’s Jive, please share it with someone who refuses to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day.

💚 Third Thursday Returns: Go Green Downtown

Thursday, March 19 | 5:30–8:30 PM | Downtown Joplin

Downtown Joplin Alliance kicks off the 19th season of Third Thursday with a festive “Go Green Downtown” celebration. Expect 100+ vendors, 20+ food trucks, live music from Paul Blakely, Cai Gray, 7-Tang, Baylee’s Music Academy, and Andrew Pommert, plus a vintage car cruise and DJ on the 100 block.

🌿 Visit JoplinRecycles.com booths for giveaways and to learn about the city’s recycling program.
🌳 Allo Fiber will host specials, free succulents, and family fun at their storefront.

Also enjoy a wine garden, artisan market, bounce house, spring open house at Countryside Flowers, and more—so wear green and hit Main Street!

🐶 Mutt Madness Sweet 16!

Round One of Mutt Madness delivered some serious drama. A few pups cruised to easy victories, while one nail-biter was decided by just two votes. The race to crown the cutest dog in Joplin is officially heating up.

Click below to see if your dog made it to the Sweet 16, then cast your vote for the pup you think deserves to advance. The competition is getting tougher, the dogs are getting cuter, and only one can ultimately claim the title of Cutest Dog in Joplin. 🐾

🐕️ Support Local Pups with A Dog’s Dream Silent Auction & Raffle

If Mutt Madness has you feeling extra appreciative of the dogs in our community, here’s another way to show some love. A Dog’s Dream Rescue has launched a 10-day online silent auction and 50/50 raffle fundraiser, with all proceeds supporting their adoption program and the dogs waiting for their forever homes.

The silent auction fundraiser features a wide variety of items to bid on, including Half Face Blades gear, Grunt Style merchandise, date night packages, doggie daycare, local gift cards, and more. Participants can also enter the 50/50 raffle, where one lucky winner receives half of the total pot while the other half directly funds veterinary care, food, supplies, and adoption preparation for rescue dogs. It’s a fun way to support a great cause—and maybe even win something along the way.

🧬 Willcoxon Health Sciences Summit Explores Future of Healthcare

Friday, March 27 | Missouri Southern State University

Healthcare professionals, students, and community members are invited to explore the future of medicine at the Willcoxon Innovation in Health Sciences Summit on March 27 at Missouri Southern State University. The one-day summit will bring together nationally and regionally recognized experts to discuss emerging healthcare technologies, rural healthcare challenges, and innovations shaping the next generation of medical care. The event will feature keynote speaker Mary Joy Garcia-Dia, program director of Nursing Informatics at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, along with presentations from researchers and healthcare leaders across the region.

Attendees can expect a full day of programming including expert presentations, breakout sessions, and a panel discussion on rural healthcare solutions. The summit will also highlight Missouri Southern’s growing role in healthcare education, including the upcoming Blunt Health Science Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art training facility scheduled to open in 2026 that will feature a simulated hospital, cadaver lab, and advanced clinical training spaces for future healthcare professionals. Organizers say the event is designed to inspire collaboration and give attendees insight into the technologies and ideas shaping tomorrow’s healthcare system.

🐢 Hare & Tortoise Brings Aesop’s Classic to the Stage

Sunday, March 29 | 2:00 PM | Beshore Performance Hall

Families are invited to enjoy a playful live theatre experience as Hare & Tortoise, presented by Tutti Frutti Productions, comes to the Cornell Complex as part of the Ignite Series. This lively musical adaptation of Aesop’s famous fable follows the speedy Hare and the steady Tortoise as they race through the seasons, learning lessons about patience, friendship, and perseverance along the way.

Featuring three actor-musicians, original songs, and energetic physical storytelling, the show is designed especially for children ages three and up. Tickets are $5 for kids and $20 for adults, making it a fun and accessible introduction to live theatre for the whole family.

Click here for more information or to buy tickets.

💡 Pitch Palooza

April 16–17 | Cornell Auditorium | Missouri Southern

Entrepreneurs and innovators from across the region will take the stage this spring for Pitch Palooza 2026, a two-day business pitch competition hosted at Missouri Southern State University inside the Robert W. Plaster School of Business. The event features multiple tracks designed to spotlight emerging ideas and growing ventures, with high school and collegiate pitches scheduled for April 16, followed by start-up and scalability competitions on April 17.

Participants will pitch their business ideas live to a panel of judges for the chance to win cash prizes, awards, mentorship opportunities, and business resources. Applications are open now for student entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, and established businesses ready to scale, with the deadline to apply set for April 6. The competition aims to showcase innovation while connecting local entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, and the broader business community.

Tuesday: 🌡️ 20 | 51 ☁️ 

Wednesday: 🌡️ 44 | 70 ⛅️ 

Thursday: 🌡️ 52 | 77 ☀️ 

🦁 Missouri Southern Athletes Earn All-American Honors at NCAA Championships

Missouri Southern track and field athletes turned in a strong performance at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, highlighted by multiple All-American finishes. Dailynn VanDeren led the Lions with a third-place finish in the women’s weight throw with a personal-best mark of 20.63 meters. Teammates Briar Gillum and Kirsten Womack also earned All-American honors in the event.

Missouri Southern added more national recognition in the shot put, where Cedric Pearson finished second to earn First Team All-American honors. VanDeren also secured another First Team honor with a third-place finish in the women’s shot put, helping cap a strong championship showing for the Lions.

Recap:

⚾️ Baseball (12-10)
Friday 3/13 at HOME vs Washburn University | W 9-3
Saturday 3/14 at HOME vs Washburn University | W 17-15
Sunday 3/15 at HOME vs Washburn University | W 7-5

🥎 Softball (25-3) at Teri Mathis-Zenner MIAA/NSIC Crossover Tournament
Friday 3/13 vs St. Cloud State University | W 3-1
Friday 3/13 vs St. Cloud State University | W 4-1
Saturday 3/14 vs University of Sioux Falls (SD) | W 7-2
Saturday 3/14 vs University of Sioux Falls (SD) | W 1-0

👟 Men’s & Women’s Track & Field
Friday 3/13 and Saturday 3/14 at NCAA Indoor Championships
Friday Recap | Saturday Recap

Upcoming:

⚾️ Baseball (12-10)
Tuesday 3/17 at HOME vs Newman University | 3:00 PM
Friday 3/20 at HOME vs Fort Hays State University | 1:00 PM
Saturday 3/21 at HOME vs Fort Hays State University | 1:00 PM
Sunday 3/22 at HOME vs Fort Hays State University | 1:00 PM

 🥎 Softball (25-3)
Friday 3/20 at Fort Hays State University | 2:00 PM
Friday 3/20 at Fort Hays State University | 4:00 PM
Saturday 3/21 at University of Nebraska at Kearny | 1:00 PM
Saturday 3/21 at University of Nebraska at Kearny | 3:00 PM

Tuesday

🧠 Joplin Trivia Night at Tropicana Bar & Grill: Gather your team and test your knowledge at this weekly pub trivia night featuring a mix of categories from pop culture to history. It’s free to play, with gift card prizes for the top teams and plenty of friendly competition.

Wednesday

🎧 Music Bingo at B&B Theatres: Grab your friends and test your music knowledge in this fun, St. Patrick’s–themed bingo night with songs across genres and eras. It’s free to play, open to all ages, and features prizes for winners plus food and drinks available while you play.

Thursday

🎻 Dover Quartet – From Carnegie to Joplin: Pro Musica presents the internationally acclaimed Dover Quartet for a special free concert at First Presbyterian Church. Hailed as one of the great string quartets of the past century, the ensemble brings world-class classical music—from stages like Carnegie Hall—to an inspiring evening in the Four States community.

🛍 End of an Era: A Final Night Out at Revel: Revel Boutique in Carthage is hosting one last girls’ night out before the store closes, inviting the community to sip, shop, and celebrate together. Guests can enjoy 30% off storewide and browse fixtures and items for sale while saying goodbye to the beloved local shop.

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