The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Carthage, Jasper County

Discussion

September 7, 2008

Jo Ellis: 'Cowboys and Indians' en route

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Have you ever wondered how many millions of American Indians have walked these Ozark foothills where we now live?

Lyle Sparkman, president of the Missouri Archaeological Society, will give an inkling of what those far-distant figures were like in a presentation at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Carthage Public Library Community Room.

Sparkman, who is assistant superintendent of the East Newton School District, based in Granby, has been a member of the Missouri Archaeological Society since he was 12 years old. His interest in those who came before us was aroused as he followed his grandfather’s plow blade and picked up arrowheads left in its wake.

He was privileged to participate in an archaeological dig from 1997 to 2005 and again in 2007 at the Big Eddy site on the Sac River.

The site is intriguing, Sparkman says, because it “has preserved beautifully stratified layers so well you can easily date the various periods of cultures — all the way down through an unbroken chain of Ice Age cultures.”

There are even hints of habitation in the pre-Clovis era, but Sparkman says that hasn’t been proved as of now. “If you’re looking for a smoking gun, there is no gun there, but there is smoke,” he says. There are artifacts that date a human presence at the site for more than 10,000 years, he says. He will display some of those artifacts, and present oral traditions and historical records.

This event, “The Indians of Southwest Missouri: An Overview of Our Prehistory,” is free. People may provide any artifacts they might have to Sparkman for identification. While he will help identify an artifact, he cannot provide an economic value or written authentication.

The cowboys are going to show up at the Carthage Saddle Club’s first Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo, its largest event ever, at the Saddle Club Arena in Municipal Park. While the rodeo dates are Sept. 19 and 20, it’s time to get those advance tickets for less.

The Saddle Club has contracted with Wild Card Rodeo Roughstock to produce the rodeo. Tom Reeves, owner, is the 2001 world champion saddle bronc rider. After taking his Ranger (Texas) College team to the College National Finals Rodeo, he received the 2007 Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Mentoring Award. Six times, while competing in the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas (1985-2002), he finished among the top four cowboys in the world. He retired in 2005 with career earnings of $1.7 million.

Both nights will feature a calf scramble, with five winners sharing cash awards totaling $250. On Saturday night after the rodeo, “The Wild Ride” will have cowboys vying for a $500 prize. Entries for this event must register by Sept. 15 by contacting Reeves at (254) 595-0654.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the gate for adults; $8 in advance and $10 at the gate for those age 6-12; and free for children 5 and younger. Tickets are available at H&H; RV Service, JR’s Western Wear, and Race Bros. in Carthage and Monett. People also may phone Southwest Missouri Bank for its ticket-sales locations.

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Carthage, Jasper County
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