☕️ Wish you could tip the JPD anonymously?

Good Morning, Joplin. Did you know there is an entire Reddit community dedicated to mocking Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s romance that gets a million visitors every week — twice as many as her actual fan page. Finding fun facts for these intros takes us down some weird rabbit holes…

In today’s JOMO Jive:

• JPD’s New Anonymous Crime Tip App

• New Exhibits at Spiva

• Joplin State of the Community

Let’s get to it.

— Matt Thompson

P.S. If you find something useful in today’s Jive, please share it with someone who is an avid Taylor and Travis defender.

🍣 Let the Good Times Roll: Sushi-Making Date Night

Friday, January 10 | 6:00–9:00 PM | Twin Hills Golf & Country Club
2019 S. Country Club Dr, Joplin | 🎟️ Ticket includes 3 rolls, sake, and tea

Forget dinner and a movie—this hands-on sushi night is all about rolling, laughing, sipping, and savoring with your favorite plus-one. Learn the basics, create your own custom rolls (mess encouraged), and enjoy a relaxed night of sushi and sake in the cozy Twin Hills Dinner Club setting.

Chopstick skills optional. Good times guaranteed. Spots are limited—don’t wait to grab your tickets! Tickets are $120 per couple.

📱 Joplin Police Launch TIP411 App for Anonymous Crime Tips

The Joplin Police Department has launched a new, free and anonymous crime tip app called JoplinPD, powered by TIP411, giving residents a safer way to share information with law enforcement. The app can be downloaded by searching “Joplin PD” in your app store, or by scanning the QR code shared by the City.

Residents can also submit tips by text without downloading the app. Simply text 847411, type JOPLINPD, add a space, and then send your tip. Officers may respond with follow-up questions, but all communication remains completely anonymous. Police cannot see a tipster’s identity, location, or IP address.

Police Chief Richard Pearson says TIP411 helps remove barriers that prevent people from coming forward. More than 2,000 communities nationwide already use the platform, and Joplin Police believe it will strengthen communication while keeping citizens safe.

🎨 Three New Exhibits Open at Spiva This Winter

Spiva Center for the Arts is ushering in the new year with three distinct exhibitions, each offering a different way to experience creativity—from honoring educators, to reflecting on nature, to inviting hands-on play. Here’s a look at what’s now on view.

Jane Troup: Return to Innocence
January 10 – February 28, 2026 | Freeman Health System Main Gallery
Spanning more than 50 years of work, Jane Troup’s exhibition explores landscapes and natural rhythms as places of balance, wonder, and reflection. Her paintings invite viewers to slow down and reconnect with nature as a source of curiosity, trust, and renewal. An Artist Talk with Jane Troup is scheduled for Saturday, February 28 at 11:00 AM, with a reception on Friday, January 9.

Those Who Can…Teach: The Work of Art Educators
January 10 – February 27, 2026 | Sharon & Lance Beshore Gallery
This exhibition shines a spotlight on the professional artwork of college, university, and K–12 art educators who shape the next generation of artists. Featuring a wide range of media, the show celebrates both their creative practices and their lasting impact in the classroom. A public reception will be held January 9 from 5:30–7:30 PM.

Invitation to Play: An Interactive Exhibit
January 10 – February 28, 2026 | Harry M. Cornell Gallery
Designed for all ages—with special encouragement for teens and adults—this interactive exhibit transforms the gallery into a space for exploration, imagination, and play. Using light, shadow, color, and nostalgic materials, the exhibit reminds visitors that play remains essential at every stage of life, fostering creativity, adaptability, and fresh perspectives.

Together, these three exhibitions offer a rich and varied reason to spend time at Spiva this winter—whether you’re there to reflect, learn, or simply play.

🏛️ State of the Community Event Happens January 14

As a reminder, the City of Joplin will host its inaugural State of the Community event on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 8:00–10:30 AM at the Cornell Complex. Community leaders from local government, business, education, and nonprofit organizations will come together to reflect on 2025 and look ahead to what’s next for Joplin.

The program will feature updates from Mayor Keenan Cortez, City Manager Nick Edwards, and key partners including the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, Jasper and Newton County Commissioners, Joplin Public Schools, and the Downtown Joplin Alliance. A limited number of $25 tickets are still available online through Tuesday morning, January 13, and the event will be recorded and posted afterward for those who can’t attend.

🚧 15th Street Closure Scheduled for Stormwater Improvements

East 15th Street will be closed between Highview Avenue and Mississippi Avenue starting Monday, January 12, as crews begin stormwater improvement work in the Texas Avenue area. The closure is expected to remain in place through Wednesday, February 11. Drivers should plan to use alternate routes, with detour signs and message boards posted to help guide traffic.

Friday: 🌡️ 40 | 53 ☀️

Saturday: 🌡️ 33 | 47 ☀️

Sunday: 🌡️ 28 | 41 ☀️ 

Recap:

🏀 Men’s Basketball (7-7)
Tuesday 1/6 at HOME vs Pittsburg State University | L 82-71

🏀 Women’s Basketball (10-4)
Tuesday 1/6 at HOME vs Pittsburg State University | W 82-73

Upcoming:

🏀 Men’s Basketball (7-7)
Saturday 1/10 at HOME vs Newman University | 3:30 PM

🏀 Women’s Basketball (10-4)
Saturday 1/10 at HOME vs Newman University | 1:30 PM

Friday, Saturday & Sunday

🎭 Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A powerful stage drama presented by Joplin Little Theatre that explores friendship, memory, and hard truths when a James Dean fan club reunites decades later. This intimate, adult-oriented production runs multiple dates in January and delivers an emotionally charged night of live theatre.

Friday

🎬 Midnight Movies at Royale Cinema Lounge: A weekly Friday-night tradition where a mystery film screens at midnight, ranging from cult classics to forgotten gems. Even if you skip the movie, the VHS lounge stays open late for drinks, hangs, and a cozy after-hours community vibe.

Saturday

🎸 Spare the Dead, Adenoma, and If I Were King at Blackthorn Pizza & Pub: A late-night live music show featuring three hard-hitting bands bringing high-energy performances to downtown Joplin. The show starts at 9:00 PM with a $10 cover and is open to ages 21 and up.

🎶 Wyatt Stout live at Keltoi Winery: A laid-back evening of live music featuring local favorite Wyatt Stout performing classic rock, classic country, and modern sing-along hits. Enjoy the show with a glass of wine and a full menu from Two Brothers while soaking in the winery atmosphere.

📚 Book Swap: A casual, come-and-go event at Joplin Public Library where adults can trade books they no longer want for new reads. No library card, fee, or registration is required—just bring a book and browse.

Sunday

🎹 Dmitry Shishkin – Curtains Up Series: An acclaimed classical piano performance at the Cornell Complex featuring Silver Medalist Dmitry Shishkin, praised for his electrifying technique and musical imagination. This afternoon concert brings an internationally celebrated artist to Beshore Performance Hall for a powerful and refined recital experience.

🎬 2nd Sunday Cinema: A monthly film series celebrating regional filmmakers from the Four States, featuring jury-selected screenings and filmmaker Q&A whenever possible. This January edition showcases The Redemption of Mary Louisa McBroom, with write-your-own-price tickets supporting independent cinematic storytelling.

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