By Debbie Robinson

news@joplinglobe.com

With the memories of May’s deadly and destructive tornado still all too fresh, people gathered Saturday morning to celebrate the opening of the new Lant’s Feed Store in Newton County, a symbol of community and fellowship.

“The tornado that we all feared actually happened,” said state Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin. “It was Mother’s Day week, and neighbors, family and friends canceled their Mother’s Day plans to pick up debris and neighbors’ debris.”

“Now that is community,” Ruestman said.

About 60 people gathered at the feed store near Highway 43 and Iris Road to celebrate the reopening, mingle with neighbors and friends, and eat barbecue amid the stacks of feed and animal supplements and other animal-care products.

Ruestman presented Bill and Jane Lant a Missouri flag, but noted that another one will be presented to them in about a week.

That flag, she said, is flying over the Missouri Capitol in memory of the people who were killed by the tornado and those whose lives were devastated with property damage.

“That flag represents the human spirit,” Ruestman said.

Ruestman called for a moment of silence in honor of those who died in the tornado.

Bill Lant and his wife, Jane, opened the feed store 10 years ago. She also operated an adjacent bridal shop, which won’t reopen, she said.

“I’m just ready to move on to something else,” Jane Lant said.

She said Saturday’s turnout was astonishing.

“It’s wonderful, because the people in our community are so close and so caring for each other,” Jane Lant said. “It’s just very humbling to have those friends.”

When construction began on the new building, she said, people would stop by to help.