JOPLIN, Mo. —
The Carthage Lincoln Ladies’ ice cream social is a pre-election tradition for Republican candidates and supporters from the Jasper County area.
The gathering set for tonight in Carthage has even more going for it during this scorcher of a summer, said Jenny Mansfield, a longtime member of the club.
“It’s inside, and you get to eat ice cream,” said Mansfield, who will serve as emcee for speeches by Republican candidates on the state and Jasper County ballots on Aug. 7. Contested races in the county are for Eastern District associate commissioner, sheriff, treasurer and coroner.
The social, which starts at 6 p.m. at Carthage Memorial Hall, always attracts a big crowd and a good turnout among candidates. Speeches will start at 7 p.m.
Mansfield said she has printed about 400 sample ballots. Those attending will be allowed to cast ballots in a straw poll or take them home for more study.
“A lot of people will take them so they know what’s on the ballot and can learn more about the candidates,” she said. “The poll is very unofficial because anyone who’s there and wants to vote is allowed to, including the kids. It’s something they need to learn.”
Newton County Republicans will have a similar event at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, at Big Spring Park in Neosho. David Cole, chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, will be a guest, and candidates on the state and local ballots will speak.
Organizers are touting free ice-cold watermelon and bottled water for the gathering. The event will be moved to the Lampo Building in case of rain. Here’s hoping.
Endorsement, support
State Sen. Ron Richard, of Joplin, has endorsed fellow state Sen. Brad Lager in what is becoming an increasingly vitriolic race for the Republican nomination for Missouri lieutenant governor.
“While serving with Sen. Lager in the Legislature, I have seen his integrity, and I’m proud to support his campaign for lieutenant governor,” Richard said in a news release from the campaign.
Lager has raised more than $2 million for the campaign, including just over $968,000 for the quarter that ended June 30. David Humphreys, president of Tamko Building Products, Joplin, has given Lager $500,000. He used to support Republican Peter Kinder, the incumbent. An additional $385,000 has come from Rex Sinquefield, who has been active in statewide campaigns in support of school vouchers and aimed at replacing the state income tax with a sales tax.
Kinder raised $246,000 for the quarter and has totaled just over $4 million for the campaign. That includes local support of $2,500 from Gene Schwartz, company president, and K&S Wire Products.
In an extremely crowded race for lieutenant on the Democratic side, Susan Montee, former state auditor, leads the fundraising field with $315,000.
Veto session
Richard and state representatives from the region met Tuesday in Joplin with Tim Jones, speaker-elect of the Missouri House of Representatives. Jones said he is traveling throughout the state to visit with legislators before the General Assembly’s veto session in September.
He said his goal is to override all of Gov. Jay Nixon’s vetoes of bills passed this year by the Legislature. At the top of the list, he said, are a measure that would reinstate the collection of local sales taxes on vehicles bought out of state and what he called the “conscience” bill. That measure would prohibit discrimination against medical professionals who refuse to provide contraceptive services or perform abortions if it conflicts with their personal views. It also would bar employers from being required to provide contraception as part of an employee’s health coverage.
“We had good majorities on everything, and my first inclination would be to go for overrides on all of them,” Jones said. “I’ll be checking with bill sponsors to see if they feel differently on any of them.”
Susan Redden is a staff writer for the Globe. She can be reached at sredden@joplinglobe.com or 417-623-3480, ext. 7258. Follow her on Twitter @Susan_Redden.
Local News
Susan Redden: Ice cream, watermelon on campaign menu for Carthage event
- Local News
-
-
Sheriff’s funds to pay for two building projects
Jasper County’s general fund budget may pay some initial costs for renovating and constructing two county buildings, but the final bill for the projects will come from law enforcement sales tax funds.
-
Pittsburg crews work to repair storm damaged Schlanger Park
City crews using heavy equipment spent Thursday cleaning up Schlanger Park after a storm tracked through Monday night.
-
No charges to be filed in Joplin shooting case
The nonfatal shooting of a 25-year-old man at a Joplin residence on May 13 has been deemed justified by authorities. Jacob B. Boykin, 21, of Joplin, shot Justin S. Johnson, 25, of Carterville, once in the chest with a small-caliber handgun at 5260 E. Sunny Acres Lane.
-
Mike Pound: DVD smells like pizza; how great is that?
Just when I think the rest of the world is passing us by, this great country does something that renews my faith in innovation. It does something that renews my faith in that can-do spirit that led Charles Lindbergh to fly nonstop across the Atlantic, thus leading to the invention of the airplane bathroom.
-
Joplin Board of Education to decide fate of East Middle School teacher
After hearing nearly 10 hours of testimony from more than a dozen witnesses and accepting more than 45 exhibits into evidence, members of the Joplin Board of Education voted to move behind closed doors Thursday night to decide whether Randy Turner, a communication arts teacher at East Middle School, will continue to teach.
-
Memorial Day travelers bemoan high gas prices
Norm Hayward and his wife, Claudia, have a couple of things going for them as they continue their increasingly expensive motor home trip around parts of the United States. For starters, the Phoenix, Ariz., couple are saving on hotel costs.
-
Cunningham Park vandalism estimated at $4,000
Vandals caused an estimated $4,000 worth of damage in Cunningham Park, draining the pool in the aquatic center of about 200,000 gallons of water and throwing some large landscaping rocks into the reflecting pond.
-
Joplin team drove through storm to get to Moore
It was a long drive in the middle of a severe thunderstorm that had earlier produced a massive tornado in Moore, Okla. With the two-year anniversary of Joplin’s deadly twister approaching on Wednesday, a team of 14 Joplin emergency workers was ready to risk the trip in order to get help to a hurting Moore.
-
Cunningham Park vandalism bill estimated at $4,000
The city estimates that vandals caused about $4,000 worth of property damage in Cunningham Park, draining the swimming pool of 200,000 gallons of water and moving some large landscaping rocks into the reflecting pond.
-
Content of book, students' access to it at issue in hearing for suspended teacher
A standing-room only crowd is present at the hearing this morning to decide the fate of suspended Joplin Middle School teacher Randy Turner, who has asked for the hearing before the board of education.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Sheriff’s funds to pay for two building projects
