Tag Archives: joplin

Joplin Mosque Destroyed – UPDATE

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For the second time in a little over a month, The Islamic Society of Joplin’s Mosque and Community Center was a victim of fire. The first fire, on July 4, damaged only the roof of  the structure and was determined to be arson. The FBI released security camera footage and offered a reward for information leading to the capture of those responsible, but no arrests have been made. Yesterday’s fire burned the building to the ground and is still under investigation. Luckily, there were no injuries. This event occurred a day after a shooting at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin killed 8.

The response to this fire by Joplin area Churches has been encouraging, and it seems that Imam Lahmuddin and The Islamic Society of Joplin will be well taken care of. But the perpetrators of this, and the July 4, crimes should be brought to justice. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction. The FBI is offering a similar reward. If you have any information please contact the FBI or the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.

These examples of hate crimes in the US seem to be becoming more frequent. I believe that we need to step back and look at the history of this country before passing judgement on any person living the United States. The fact is, anyone who is not 100% Native American is an immigrant to this country. The United States was founded as a nation of immigrants. More importantly, it was founded as a country of religious freedom. The country was first settled by a number of religious groups that were shunned in Great Britain. These groups established settlements and colonies along the Eastern Seaboard. These colonies united during the American Revolution and become the United States.

When the Constitution was adopted, the Bill of Rights was added to guarantee a number of individual freedoms, among them the freedom of religion. The full text of the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The key phrase in the First Amendment is that each American is guaranteed the right to freely practice the religion of their choosing. America has always been a melting pot of people and ideas and countless religions are represented including: Protestants, Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, Jew, Hindus, Shinto, Taoists, and the list goes on. Many of these groups are represented in Joplin, and a number individuals choose to immigrate to America because of the freedoms guaranteed to its citizens. No one should fear retaliation for their choices. The freedom of religion was specifically listed because a number of countries in Europe were governed by Monarchs who acted as head of state and head of the state religion. The founders wanted American Citizens to practice as they choose and for a separation between religion and the State.

These hate crimes should remind us that we are all guaranteed these freedoms, but there are people who forget these freedoms are not solely for them. But with the assumption that the United States is at war with Islam, there are many Islamic groups asking for protection, especially after the recent attacks. The fact remains that the United States is battling groups of terrorists who happen to be Muslim, but we are not at war with the Muslim world. Muslims constitute 29% of world’s population, and the United States enjoys a good relationship with many Islamic nations.

I applaud the Joplin community for offering to assist the Islamic Society of Joplin, and I hope that those responsible are brought to justice and are punished for their crime. The violence must stop. It is a disgrace to our country and our constitution. America has always been about freedom and we must work together to ensure those freedoms are guaranteed to everyone.

UPDATE: The Joplin community has rallied to support The Islamic Society of Joplin. You can get involved as well. They are planning to rebuild and you can donate online or by sending a check made payable to “The Islamic Society of Joplin” and mailing it to: 

The Islamic Society of Joplin
PO Box 3164
Joplin, MO 64803

or

Commerce Bank
211 Main Street
Joplin, MO 64801

As of this posting, they have already raised over $82,000 of their $250,000 goal! The group will also hold a fundraiser August 25 at Landreth Park in Joplin. The event, entitled Neighbors, will feature food and live music and is intended to promote community togetherness. You can keep up with The Islamic Society of Joplin and the fundraisers by following them on Facebook.

Upcoming Joplin Tornado Anniversary Events

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On May 22, it will have been one year since the EF-5 tornado that killed 160 people struck Joplin, Missouri. The city is well on its way to recovery as businesses and homes continue to be rebuilt. Over the next several day, Joplin will honor those who died as a result of the storm and look forward to a bright future. The events are too numerous to list here, including a speech from the President at Joplin High School’s 2012 commencement ceremony on Monday. However, there is a website with all the relevant events and fundraisers running from today through the end of next week.

Over the past year, Joplin has been the recipient of the kindness of thousands of volunteers. Many of the events of the next week are to thank them as well. I went home to Joplin in December and was struck by the destruction, but what struck me most was the determination of the citizens of Joplin to rebuild and the outpouring of support the city has received. I wish I could be there for these upcoming events. May 22 will truly be “1 Day of Unity” in Joplin.

Visit Joplin Tornado Anniversary for a complete list of all upcoming events.

My Return to Joplin, Missouri

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From Google Maps - Clearly Show the Path of the Tornado

Over my Christmas break, I was able to go home to Missiouri for three weeks. This was my first time back in Missouri since Christmas 2010, and my first time to see Joplin since the May 22, 2011 tornado. The first thing I did when I arrived was drive through Joplin. I did not even go home first! I had to see what had happened to the city I knew so well. I was very surprised by what I saw. The debris had been removed and the rebuilding process was well on its way. Down every street there were new houses, reopened businesses and busy construction workers. It was a far cry from the images and live video I watched last May. It was great to see how the community had come together to clean-up and rebuild.

What is most shocking when visiting Joplin is the clear path of the tornado through town. Despite the rebuilding, the absence of trees and houses down most streets between 26th and 14th Streets is eerie. While in Joplin, I visited a number of the familiar sites: Joplin High School, which is currently being torn down, St. John’s Hospital, which is now being torn down, and the homes built by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (you can watch the Joplin episode here). I visited Cunningham Park and the memorials that have built within the park remember those who died and those who volunteered to clean-up the city.

I took a number of pictures and some of them are in the slide show at the bottom of this post. However, the two images below, I think, are the most important because they best illustrate the devastation. The fist image is from Google Street view showing 20th Street before the tornado. The second image I took looking down 20th Street on January 2, 2012. The difference is astounding.

20th Street from Google Street View

20th Street Today

What was most rewarding about visting Joplin was to see first hand that Joplin is recovering. Everyday there is news of businesses reopening and families returning to new homes. Joplin is not done rebuilding, but after visiting Joplin myself, I am happy to report that the city is well on its way to recovery.

UPDATE: Be sure to read the comment below from one of the volunteers who helped construct the playground equipment pictured in Cunningham Park. He also included a link to a behind-the-scenes video of the construction of this equipment. It is volunteers like him who have helped ensure Joplin’s recovery.

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The Whole Earth Blog in 2011

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2011 was a busy year for me and for this blog. The Whole Earth Blog began 2011 with a different name and changed names twice before finding one that fit. This year was better than I could have ever imagined for this blog. I started the year with barely 200 visitors a month and ended the year with well over 2,000 per month! I credit this to the expansion of the topics discussed within the blog.

The stats for the year (Views per Month)

I posted on a wide variety of topics from my continuing education, auto news, tech reviews, the retirement of the Space Shuttle program, the Joplin tornado, the SS United States, and tributes to Steve Jobs and Harry Morgan. The popularity of the blog has been on the rise and I am very proud of the variety of posts that I am able to come up with. I thought, to celebrate the end of 2011, I would share the top ten posts of the year. And they are:

10. SS United States: A Ship in Distress

9. The Apple iPad 2 Review

8. Joplin, Missouri Tornado News and Updates

7. Welcome Pottermore

6. Pottermore (Beta): A Full Review

5. Own a Pair of Marty McFly’s Shoes

4. Is the First Generation iPad a Classic?

3. The Legacy of Steve Jobs

2. Who is Laurene Powell Jobs?

1. Graduate School and the iPad

I want to thank everyone for reading in 2011 and am looking forward to 2012 as I complete my college career and enter the “real world.”

Joplin Tornado: 6 Months Later

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Joplin held a memorial service this past Tuesday, the six month anniversary of the May 22 deadly tornado, to honor those who died. The tornado destroyed one third of the city and killed 161 people. The memorial service dedicated a plaque, listing all those killed, and a memorial fountain in Cunningham Park. Speakers for the event included Joplin Mayer Mike Woolston and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. Both speakers praised Joplin’s ability to overcome the tragedy and move forward with the rebuilding process.

The city is well on its way to recovery. Many of the business effected by the storm have either relocated, rebuilt, or are in the process of rebuilding. Families effected have also began the rebuilding process. Homes have been rebuilt, including ten homes by Habitat for Humanity and seven homes by ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Joplin has benefited from the services of many volunteers who have cleanup the city and helped in the construction of these seventeen homes. The city is a shining of example of what a community can accomplish when it works together. I will be going home to Missouri over Christmas break and plan to spend a day in Joplin and visit the memorials erected in Cunningham Park. I spent many years in Joplin at Missouri Southern State University and have family there. My ties to Joplin are strong and I am looking forward to returning, if only for a brief visit.

Source: Springfield News Leader

Jamie Farr in Joplin – 2008

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In 2008, Jamie Farr (Klinger from M*A*S*H) visited Joplin, Missouri for the annual St. John’s Reginal Heath Fair, held on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.  He spoke of his life and career and was very entertaining.  I attende the event and recoreded the event on my cell phone.  I have edited the audio and it is the best I can get it.  I apoligize for the low quality, but it is worth th listen.  It is about 90 minutes long.  Click the link to be directed to the file:

Jamie Farr

Joplin Rebuilding

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Three months after being hit by an EF-5 tornado, the city of Joplin continues to rebuild.  Businesses and homeowners alike are working to put their livelihood back together.  Some businesses have even completely rebuilt.  Yesterday, Walgreens on the corner of Rangeline and 20th Street reopened after being completely destroyed by the tornado.  The store had to be rebuilt completely from the foundation up, and after only 90 days, the store has reopened.

Meanwhile, Joplin’s kids have returned to normal when they went back to school last Wednesday.  Several of Joplin’s schools had to be repaired, students reshuffled between various buildings, and the Juniors and Seniors are attending class at a temporary location inside North Park Mall.  Joplin’s superintendant of schools C.J. Huff is being hailed as a hero for his quick thinking and ability to keep the school year on schedule.

The city of Joplin has come together to rebuild to move forward following the devastation.  The citizens continue to work together after three months of recovery, and there is still work to be done.

Joplin Debris Removal to be Completed Tomorrow

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Volunteers work to cleanup a Joplin neighborhood

When the Corps of Engineers arrived in Joplin to lead the clean-up effort following the May 22 tornado, they knew that had a limited amount of time to accomplish the task.  With over 30% of the city destroyed, the task of cleaning up seemed daunting, but the volunteers came out in droves.  In May, August 7 was set as the deadline to have the 1.5 million cubic yards of debris cleared.  Yesterday, local TV stations KSN and KODE toured Joplin from the air and shot some amazing footage (click the source below to watch the video).  When yesterday’s video is compared to that of May 22, the difference is staggering.  Colonel Daniel Patton is in charge of the Army Corps of Engineer office in Joplin, and he reports that the debris will be completely removed by tomorrow’s deadline.  He gives all the credit to his crew, local contractors, and the thousands of volunteers who have flocked to Joplin to lend a hand.  These crews have worked 12 hours per day, seven days per week since May 22.  Now, 79 days later, the end is only 24 hours away.

Although debris removal will be completed sometime tomorrow, the Army Corps of Engineers will not leave Joplin.  Their next task is to assist the rebuilding of local schools and the construction of temporary housing for those who lost their homes.

Now that the task of debris removal is complete, the rebuilding can become the focus of the city.  Several of the local business, including Walmart, Walgreens, and Home Depot, have already began their rebuilding process and hope to reopen by the end of this year.

It amazes me how residents, local businesses, and volunteers from around the country have come together to rebuild the city of Joplin.

Source: KSN/KODE

Vote for Cunningham Park in Joplin!

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Coca-Cola’s Live Positively program is currently giving away grants to parks around the country.  There are many parks in the running, but only the top three get grants.  First place gets $100,000, second place gets $50,000 and third places receives $25,000.  One of the parks destroyed by the Joplin tornado, Cunningham Park, is in the running.  As of July 29, the park sits third in votes!  While $25,000 would go a long way, this would be a big boost to the people of Joplin.  Please click the link below and vote for Cunningham Park in Joplin, MO.

VOTE

Cunningham Park following the May 22 tornado

Joplin Update

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It has been two months since an E-F5 tornado destroyed approximately 30% of the city of Joplin, Missouri.  In the last month, the death toll has, sadly, risen to 160 as one more victim died in an area hospital.  The city of Joplin took a major step forward in the rebuilding process this week, however, when the city announced it was going to begin issuing building permits.  After the tornado, the issuance of building permits was put on hold for private property in many residential areas until the cleanup efforts reached a substantial phase.  The Joplin Globe reported this week that 80% of the debris has now been removed.  This is due to the extraordinary efforts of the Corps of Engineers and thousands of volunteers who have put in countless hours over the past two months.  There are still a few issues to be worked out, the most pressing at the moment being how to handle the upcoming school year since several of the elementary schools and high school were destroyed.

Friends and family have told me that the transformation in Joplin over the past two months has been unbelievable.  As the rebuilding process moves forward, the citizens continue to work together.  Joplin is well on its way to recovery.