The Hope for a Positive Spark from Will McDaniel

Will's Friends Honoring his life at Bob Anderson Stadium

Suicide is something our society speaks of softly.  We don’t reach out to help those who need us, when they need us most. 

I hope there is a spark being set tonight to change that unfortunate fact.  Will McDaniel will be sorely missed and many are left pondering the question with no answer……why?  I wish I had answers to help others prevent such action in the future, but maybe this can be the positive outcome of Will’s life.

I stood in amazement and wonder tonight as I watched hundreds of Neosho Youth stand on the gridiron – that was Will’s stage for so many years – in honor of him and his life.  These young people gathered in a classy show of respect and remembrance.  They all knelt in prayer and recited scripture, as they sought an inner peace so difficult for them to grab on this dark night.

The kids placed a respectful large “24”, in luminaries across the stands of Bob Anderson Stadium, in Will’s honor.  I wish Will could have seen the impact he had on so many.

I hope the sparks, used to light the luminaries, burn into a much larger fire and that is the fire of compassion, love, and friendship.  I have seen many tragedies, like this first hand, and they are never easy; each with their own circumstance and story.  But, this is a time of opportunity; a time to make Will’s Legacy be one of teaching and healing.

I hope everyone can take a moment and talk openly about what has transpired and educate themselves on “being there” for others.  So often we go about our lives in a hustle and bustle, with little regard for others and what troubles they may be facing.  People in our society, who seek help for such thoughts are often labeled and looked down upon.  This is wrong and must stop.

We have lost a treasured part of Neosho’s future today, but as I watched this huge throng of kids coming together as one – I realized we have a great chance to solve a long standing wrong in America.  That is the wrong of not caring more for our fellow man. 

I hope each of these kids thinks of Will and the greatness he brought to their lives and then they keep a piece of the extreme pain they feel today for his loss.  I hope that pain drives them to ensure no one, in their lives, will ever be in a position to feel they need to seek this form of escape.

It does not matter “why”, it matters we come together – as these great loving kids did – as one and tell all people we love them. 

"The Joplin Tornado" is really "THE Tornado", to our neighbors.

17th and Rangeline - I took this early on May 23rd

After Hurricane Katrina, in 2005, news reports spoke of people who had been forgotten by their Government and how they were isolated.  Later, we all learned these reports were exaggerated and generally misreported, but the memory etched into our minds illustrates the power of media.

I would like to tell a story about the absence of media and what it means to our neighbors.  This is going to seem strange, but this story is about the “Joplin Tornado of May 22, 2011”.  I know you are thinking to yourself….Steve is crazy, because there was no absence of media – everyone in the World knows about the “Joplin Tornado”.  Well, you are correct and you are also sadly mistaken.  What?

You see, the World does know about the “Joplin” Tornado, but what has been forgotten is OUR neighbors.  Nearly 200 Newton County residents have sought disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Two Hundred Families!  In a “normal” disaster that would be a significant number; however, this disaster was not in any way “normal”.

As I write this Editorial, it has been nearly 5 weeks since the most deadly American Tornado in 60 years and one of the most widely reported by our technologically overloaded society.  However, today I was speaking to a friend, Sherry Dodson.  Sherry used to be a police officer with me in Neosho and at one time she lived on Marten Road, in rural Diamond, Mo. Today, Sherry lives in Sedalia, Mo.  

For those of you familiar with the area, Sherry lived in the nice quaint house immediately north of the KAMO Power substation.  Sherry asked how things were in the area and how the recovery was going.  I told her how lucky the new occupants of her old home were and she was confused.  She asked what I meant.  I explained the tornado barely missed her old house.  She thought I was crazy and then I realized, she did not know how bad it really was.  No one knows.  This is the story of the people forgotten in all of the World wide media coverage.

In no way do I minimize the loss of life in Joplin, I lived it first hand.  I personally lost a friend and several acquaintances, shy of losing my home or my family – I know the real pain of the Tornado and what it did, better than most anyone. 

However, it is unfortunate it’s being called The “Joplin” Tornado.  Why?  Because, it went for miles across Newton County emotionally chewing up people’s life long possessions and their homes.   Places where Newton Countians had lived for generations were destroyed, as if the Big Bad Wolf had come calling and their homes were made from straw.

Take a drive from the area of Highway FF and Jaguar Road, across the lesser known meandering terrain conquered by this beast and you will discover addresses ranging along Jaguar, Aspen, Kodiak, Marten, Beech, and Lark Roads – then continuing across Missouri Highway 59 Just North of Diamond to Pelican, Cherry, Quail, and Raven Roads.  This was not the “Joplin” tornado to the people along these roads, this was “THE” tornado.  It affected our neighbors as horrifically as the better reported and much better known start of the storm. 

Newton County residents lost their homes and all their belongings, just like so many unfortunate souls a few miles to the North, along an imaginary line making the difference between two counties. 

As your prepare to volunteer or send money for the worthy relief efforts, which will be ongoing for months and most likely years, please don’t forget the unknown victims of this tragedy.  If you are able, drive some of the roads, I have mentioned, and stop to ask if the farmers or homeowners need help cleaning up their lives – ask what we can do to make them whole again.  They need us, every bit as much as the others affected need us, so please join with me in lending a hand and showing the victims of “THE Tornado” our Love and Support.

***Columnist’s Note: a detailed map of the damage area in Newton County from this storm and a secondary storm affecting the Wentworth Area, maybe found by visiting the following web site sponsored by the National Weather Service:   http://www.crh.noaa.gov/sgf/?n=event_2011may22_summary

Hale McGinty was the Mayor of Piney Point

"Mayor" McGinty

United States Vice President Hubert Humphrey once said. “Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts.  It's what you do with what you have left.”  This type of positive attitude exemplified my friend, Hale McGinty.  Hale passed away Saturday, May 14, 2011.

As news spread of Hale’s passing, I have heard and seen many stories in the news about what a great person and businessman Hale was.  There have been many reports about the awesome things he did for the Neosho School District.  How he was Neosho’s “Greatest Cheerleader”.  How he was always pushing for economic development in Neosho and Newton County.  Also, much has been mentioned about his Family’s Department Store, “McGinty’s”, which operated on the Neosho Square for decades. 

All of the statements I just mentioned about Hale are important to his legacy and many would be wonderful accomplished all by themselves, but of course Hale did them all.  However, I want you to learn about a different Hale.  A Hale that had not as much to do with Neosho.  A Hale that was about being a great father, grandfather, friend, and mentor.

As far back as I can remember in my life, my Family had a Cabin at the confluence of Big and Little Sugar Creek – where Elk River is formed – in Pineville, Missouri.  The area where our Cabin was nestled was home to several other Cabin’s and was known as “Piney Point”.  Piney Point was a place of bustling activity in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s.  I have many wonderful memories there and most all of these great memories in some way or another involve Hale McGinty.

You see our Cabin was purchased in the 1950’s by my Grandfather, Herb Douglas.  My grandfather had few hobbies, but he loved Piney Point.  We went there all the time.  One of my first real memories of Piney Point was a fishing trip I went on with my Grandfather and Hale.  My Grandfather told me Hale was the “Mayor of Piney Point”.  I called him “The Mayor” from that point on. 

Hale loved Piney Point.  He loved watching the children run, swim, ride their bikes – anything kids could do – Hale would watch with joy.  He loved to Fish and walk along the creek looking for crawdads or unusual rocks.  Sometimes, I think he most enjoyed sitting in his chair on his deck and just watching time go by with no worries.

The first fish, I ever caught with my Grandfather, included Hale.  I caught a small fish and was so excited.  My Grandfather told me we could eat it.  So, Hale helped me clean the fish and prepare it for the grill.  Unfortunately, I hated the taste of fish!  But, the experience was good and we had a lot of fun!

I recall a canoe trip we took with many different families, from Piney Point to Low Water Bridge, which is South of Lanagan.  The weather was good as we started, but quickly turned cloudy and threatening.  As we approached the Riverside Campground Area, a massive storm hit – causing trees to be blown down and a significant amount of damage.  The damage was great enough; we were unable to continue our float trip safely.  Now, this was in the days before cell phones, so someone had to walk for help.  A short time later, we learned Hale would be coming to pick us up, along with some other people from Piney Point.  We were all glad to see him and our “Rescue Party”.

One of the last Piney Point memories I have of Hale, took place about seven or eight years ago.  On a sunny Fall Day, the “Creek Season” was well over and the leaves were turning brown, Hale and Betty (the love of his life) came strolling down the simple one lane gravel road, known as Piney Point Drive.  They stopped to visit and ask about our kids and my Parents.  Hale relayed how much he missed Herb, who had passed away several years earlier.  Then Hale looked intently at our Cabin and said, “The thing is kind of falling in.  You need to paint the side and fix it up some, don’t you think!”   

Now, this was not insulting, this was Hale’s way of looking to better Piney Point!  He was right – we did need to do some repairs and the following Spring – we did!  Once they were complete, Hale and Betty were the first people, outside the Family, we showed it to.

I am a little saddened by all the media reports about the great things Hale did, with no mention of Hale and his Piney Point “activities” – to me Hale was one of the best things about Piney Point. 

Hale was “The Mayor of Piney Point” and today a sadness looms over the area at the confluence of Big and Little Sugar Creeks.