June 2026 Notebook

Neosho — Fifth grade students at Neosho Middle School have been reading The Neosho Daily News since the first week of March. Teachers said they use the newspaper during morning reading time, and while it’s mostly used for fun reading, it does expose students to current events and local news. The newspapers also provide students practice with nonfiction reading.

Publisher Jimmy Sexton tells Missouri Press News he provides 45 classrooms with copies of the Neosho Daily News once a week, along with two classes at nearby Granby Elementary. The newspapers are provided to classes thanks to area businesses who get to provide a “sponsored by” label on each copy.

Sexton’s Aurora Advertiser is in another four classes at Aurora Junior High and nine classes at Pierce City. Those copies are provided through the same kind of sponsorship agreement.

“The teachers are sending us photos of the students using the papers, which we will publish both in print and our [Facebook] page,” Sexton said. “All in all, I consider it a success since we started the program the first week of March. And we will resume it when school starts again in the fall, which I expect to have more classes at Aurora and Neosho.”

Students get the same news, features, obits, columns, sports and puzzles the newspapers’ other readers (including parents, which probably makes for good conversations at home). Sexton did say he is looking for a sponsor to add in Missouri Press’ ongoing Route 66 feature.

Lebanon — Gary Sosniecki, an MPA member since 1980 but retired for the past 10 years, still works pro bono on an annual newspaper project. As senior adviser of the Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society, Gary researches and writes the editorial content for the annual Laclede County Route 66 Guide and Map, a joint project of the Route 66 Society and the Laclede County Record, which Gary and wife Helen edited and published a quarter-century ago when it was a daily.

Gary and Helen then distribute copies of the tour guide to tourist attractions along Route 66 in Missouri. The newspaper sells the advertising and designs the magazine, which this year is 64 full-color pages.

In the photo above, Gary poses with Jennifer Early, publisher of the Laclede County Record, after he and Helen picked up the final load of the 10,000 copies printed this year.

Joplin — Josh Umholtz was named publisher of The Joplin Globe in April. A West Plains native, his media career began 20 years ago as advertising-marketing representative for three national golf and fishing magazines.

Since August 2023 Umholtz has been publisher of Farm Talk, a sister publication to the Globe in Parsons, Kan., that serves four states. He also had experience as a group advertising executive for community newspapers in Tulsa, Okla., before joining Montgomery County Media for eight years as a group publisher over newspapers in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

Umholtz characterized the Globe as a newspaper with a storied history that he aims to grow its audience by connecting with the community, seeking feedback on content it wants and values from the paper. “I’m excited to begin working with the team of talented and dedicated professionals at the Globe. Together, we will continue the important work of chronicling the history of Joplin and the region,” Umholtz said.

Branson — Misti Reed is the new general manager at the Branson Tri-Lakes News (BTN) and will oversee the daily operations of the newspaper. Reed was previously the production manager at the Tri-Lakes News where she has worked in various roles for 16 years.

“This is a great opportunity to help lead the team I have worked alongside for so long,” Reed said. “Our work environment is truly one-of-a-kind, and we all work hard to do our jobs to make sure the news reaches our readers and our print clients are happy.”

BTN Group Manager Mike Davis said Reed had been  dedicated in her role as production manager making sure each department worked seamlessly.

A Stone County local, Reed has raised her children in the Branson area and believes in the role of the newspaper to inform readers and help the community. “This is our home,” Reed said. “And I hope to help our newspaper continue to be the voice of our communities in the Tri-Lakes area.”