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🌱 Patch AM: How Springfield kids can play doctor at the new teddy bear hospital

You won't want to miss Golden Harvest Half Marathon & 5k/10k - Springfield on the Springfield Patch calendar

Wednesday September 2nd Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Greetings Springfield! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Springfield kids can play doctor at the new teddy bear hospital
  • Springfield man charged after armed threats at East Sunshine business
  • How the I-44 and Route 13 overhaul will change your commute

Also on today's calendar: Golden Harvest Half Marathon & 5k/10k - Springfield and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the bartender say to the jumper cables when they walked in? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high of 98 and low of 75 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Thursday: Near-record heat, temps: high: 100, low: 75.
  • Friday: Hot with blazing sunshine, with a high of 99 and low of 74 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Teddy bears are the patients in a new medical exhibit at the Discovery Center of Springfield (ksmu.org) — Families in Springfield can now explore a hands-on Teddy Bear Pediatric Hospital at the Discovery Center, where kids use real-looking medical equipment on chip-enabled stuffed animals. The exhibit aims to ease children's anxiety about medical visits while sparking interest in healthcare and STEM careers, and was designed and built in-house by the Discovery Center team.
   

2. Springfield man charged after allegedly threatening customers and staff with firearm (ozarksfirst.com) — Springfield police arrested a local man after he allegedly displayed a pistol and threatened customers, staff, and potential responding officers at a business on East Sunshine Street. Witnesses say employees locked him out and sheltered people inside until officers arrived, recovered the gun, and took him into custody; he now faces a second-degree terrorist threat charge and a $20,000 bond.
   

3. Big changes, additions to I-44/Route 13 rebuild announced (ozarksfirst.com) — Drivers in Springfield face years of construction as MoDOT dramatically expands its I-44 and Route 13 rebuild, adding new ramps, roundabouts, bridges, and a collector road to separate local and interstate traffic. The project widens I-44 through Springfield toward Strafford and Marshfield, reshapes access near Norton Road and Kansas Expressway, and is expected to improve safety and traffic flow when finished in 2031.
   

4. Evelyn Sue Engsberg (laclederecord.com) — Springfield friends and family are invited to honor Evelyn Sue Engsberg, who passed away August 6 at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. A graveside service is set for September 5 in Lebanon, followed by a Celebration of Life at the White River Conference Center at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, with arrangements by Greenlawn Funeral Home South.
   

5. As SNAP eligibility requirements change, southwest Missouri organizations prepare for the impact (ozarksfirst.com) — New SNAP verification rules taking effect October 1 could make it harder for Springfield families to qualify for food assistance, prompting local nonprofits like Crosslines and Ozarks Food Harvest to brace for increased demand. Springfield residents and advocates worry that added paperwork and documentation requirements, on top of earlier federal benefit cuts, will create new barriers for already food-insecure households across southwest Missouri.
   

📸 Around Springfield

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Springfield

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📣 Springfield Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Wednesday September 2
  • V, JV Tennis: Girls at Parkview
    Willard High School Away
    4:30 pm
  • Thursday September 3
  • Fall Picture Day
    Sweeny Elementary Republic, MO 65738
    8:00 am
  • V Golf: Girls MSU Relays
    Willard High School Away
    8:30 am
  • Ribbon Cutting: Bedpost Books
    Republic Area Chamber of Commerce Community Events 738 E Hines Street Republic, MO 65738
    11:30 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Springfield PatchAM possible:

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🪧 Patch Classifieds

  • New Red Iron Metal
    108 - 22' sticks of 8" 12-gauge Z channel and 26 - 20' sticks of 8" 12-gauge C channel. $1.75 per foot. You haul from Henderson AR. 903-624-1892. (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • A Healthy Routine Starts With Preventive Care —Hauser Group Read on Patch
  • Take a moment to stop and look at this big fork.
    It was a little hard to find using our GPS. It's really neat; look how tall it is. The reason is very clean. 215 W Chesterfield St, Springfield, MO (Nextdoor Portland Heights)
  • Update
    We finally got into place I told everyone I keep you updated not going to be on the streets thank you for all your prayers and checking in on my… (Nextdoor Tom Watkins)
  • Schwan's Company posted a job opening for Part-Time Merchandiser in Springfield. Apply here.
  • Pilot Travel Centers, LLC posted a job opening for Janitorial Maintenance in Springfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Springfield here.

Ok Springfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Don't you 2 start anything (Thank you Mary L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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