Stories
2023 Riverton Automotive Showdown
The Riverton senior class of 2024 hosted a car show to raise money for activities. A great turnout with cool cars and fantastic people.
2023 Gearhead Curios Pinup Shoot
Cool cars and great people. Gearhead Curios hosts their annual Pinup Shoot, offering fun for all.
Drag the Gut 09/16/2023
Cruising main on a fine September evening! The community of Pittsburg came out for a great night of Drag the Gut!
Lifted Truck Nationals 2023
Lifted Truck Nationals is an electrifying celebration of off-road power. Lifted Truck Nationals isn't just an event, it's a way of life for a united community of truck enthusiasts. With one of the biggest truck shows in the country, Barbie Jeep downhill races, and a burnout competition, LTN is packed with fun!
Funny Car Chaos 2023 at MO-KAN
Funny Car Chaos comes to Asbury, bringing the ruckus to MO-KAN Dragway for the 2023 Labor Day Weekend Classic.
Commerce Cruise Night - 09/01/2023
Hosted on the first Friday of the month, Commerce Cruise Night offers great fun for the whole family. With a cash prize cornhole tournament and a car show, there was plenty to see at this month’s cruise night.
Paint the Town Red - Block Party and Pep Rally
In anticipation of the first football game of the season, Pittsburg blossoms with vibrant red and yellow. The Community Block Party and PSU Pep Rally were held downtown. The community came together to cheer on the Gorillas and have a fantastic time.
Pickle in Pitt - Johnson Family Pro Pickleball Day
Pickleball pros Julie, JW, Jorja, along with coach Jack Johnson returned to their hometown on August 28th for this event, recognizing their achievements in the Professional Pickleball Association. Joined by Gabriel Tardio and Dylan Frazier, the Johnsons held Play with the Pros Games and a pickleball clinic. Participants enjoyed a great time playing and chatting with the Johnson team.
Proceeds from this fundraising event will go to maintenance and enhancements to the Jack Johnson Courts and new pickleball programs at the Four Oaks Sports Complex in Lincoln Park.
Gallery: 2023 Jeep Invasion
Jeepers
Bringing together Jeep-minded people for a good time, friendship, and giving back to charity!
This year Baxter Springs Jeep Invasion is partnering with Project Tribute Foundation out of Bartlesville Oklahoma as the event charity. Proceeds from event registration and Jeep show entries will be donated to their cause.
Project Tribute Foundation- is a completely volunteer run non profit based out of Bartlesville Oklahoma. Their mission is to aid in the life saving capabilities of all first responders. Their focus is to provide desperately needed gear to smaller rural departments. 100% of donations go towards first responders. Over $200,000 in gear supplied and 11 lives saved.
They run a retail store online and in Bartlesville to cover any operation costs. You can find out more at www.ProjectTribute.com
Gallery: Arma Homecoming Pickleball Tournament 2023
Arma Homecoming Pickleball Tournament
Arma VJ Homecoming's inaugural Pickleball Tournament
Marian Days 2023
Vietnamese Culture
Every year in Carthage, Missouri, the vibrant and lively community comes together to celebrate Marian Days, an event deeply rooted in faith and cultural traditions. This colorful and joyous festival commemorates the Blessed Virgin Mary, drawing thousands of Catholic Vietnamese Americans from all over the United States.
Marian Days showcases a spectacular array of activities, including grand processions, enchanting performances of traditional music and dance, and an impressive display of Vietnamese cuisine. The event offers a unique opportunity to witness the blending of Vietnamese and American cultures, as participants share their strong devotion to the Virgin Mary while embracing the American way of life.
The captivating atmosphere of Marian Days undoubtedly fosters a sense of unity among the attendees, making it a truly remarkable and unforgettable experience.
Catholicism holds immense significance among the Vietnamese people and is deeply ingrained in their cultural fabric and history. Introduced by French missionaries over 400 years ago, Catholicism has become an integral part of Vietnam's religious landscape. For many Vietnamese, Catholicism goes beyond being a spiritual practice; it reflects their identity and provides comfort during difficult times. The Church has played a vital role in providing education, healthcare, and social services to the Vietnamese community.
Celebrations are held all week long around the main stage. Attendees bring their lawn chairs to watch the celebrations during Marian days.
Traditional Vietnamese food is a great reason for the local community of Carthage to visit. Food workers cook all day to provide food for the event and attendees. There are several buffets that offer a variety of dishes. My favorite is Pho, a Vietnamese classic.
Prepackaged food items are also sold. This includes various fruits, freeze dried seafood, pastries, and much more.
Boba and other teas are a favorite at Marian days. With several vendors, everyone can find something they love. My favorite this year was the pompom peach with lychee, boba, and chia seeds.
Make it stand out
There are also vendors selling physical goods. Many sell religious related items, fans, and toys.
2023 Crawford County Rodeo
Cowgirls and Cowboys
Before this event, I had never been to a rodeo. There are several concerns about animal rights and worker safety at rodeos, but they still hold as strong tradition. These events are fun for all while showcasing great skills, talent, and respect for the animals.
All kinds of people can be found at rodeos. The usual suspects are dressed in a button down shirt with blue jeans, of course topped with a classic cowboy hat.
Bronc riding is a classic rodeo event. Contestants are required to have their feet over the horses shoulders and hang on with one hand. Riders are released from the gate on their blazingly fast bronc and attempt to hang on for 8 seconds. Judges score a maximum of 50 points to the rider and horse for a total of 100 possible points.
Calf roping is another classic event. The contestants chase and rope a calf released from a chute. Scoring is based on time. If the rope doesn’t land, no score is awarded.
Calf ropers have to hone their skills. They only get one shot at landing the rope, otherwise they don’t score.
Bull riding is the main event. After mounting a bucking bull, riders are tasked with hanging on for 8 seconds. While dangerous, most riders dawn protective gear.
Bull riders are required to keep their free hand in the air. Touching anything will result in no score.
Bulls come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The animals are carefully selected based on the potential show they can perform. The more difficult the bull, the more points will be awarded.
The rodeo clowns are crucial to the safety of the riders. Dressed in bright colors and funny face paint, the rodeo clowns are considered to be the riders primary safety net. When a rider falls off, the safety team rushes in to distract the raging bull.
When the ride is over, the bulls are generally calm. These beautiful creatures command respect from everyone around.
2023 MO-KAN Truck & Diesel Drags
Redneck Racing
Growing up in the Midwest, it’s hard to avoid a drag race. Drivers flock from hundreds of miles to race their cars down this stretch of asphalt nestled in Southwest Missouri. MO-KAN has been offering good fun for over 60 years.
All trucks are welcome at the MO-KAN Truck and Diesel Drag. The racing categories are 2wd Diesel Quick 8, 4wd Diesel Quick 8, and Outlaw Quick 8. Fun drags are ran between rounds for anyone who doesn’t want to compete, but still wants to run their truck down the track.
Rolling coal is half the fun of diesel drags. With a gentle breeze, it’s common for the stands to be engulfed in thick smog.
Passengers are allowed on slower runs. Here you can see a guy and his buddy admiring the sweet, sweet diesel fumes.
Some racers are more serious and bring out their powerful machines. Scott Congrove, the winner of the Outlaw Quick 8, can be seen here lifting his front wheels.
Burnouts are a joy to watch at any drag race. At MO-KAN, you can stand right next to the burnout pit.
Racing extends well into the night. The entire track is well lit, so the crowd can enjoy watching the drivers give it their best.
MO-KAN also hosts a truck show at this event. Here you can see a tricked out truck chilling in the show.