Three “new” employees have joined The Joplin Globe’s newsroom, but only one of our hires is new to this newsroom.
Emily Younker, of Joplin, is now covering our suburban beat, filing stories from Webb City, Carl Junction, Airport Drive, Oronogo and some of our other surrounding communities.
She is a Joplin High grad, received her bachelor degree from Missouri State and has a masters degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. She also spent time in Beijing as a journalist covering the U.S. Olympics.
If you have a story idea, call her or e-mail her at eyounker@joplinglobe.com.
Rich Polen got his start in our newsroom in 1977 while he was still in high school. Later, he left the area and worked for the Kansas City Star as a sports reporter. He returned to work as our business editor. Now, after being gone for about 10 years, Rich has come full circle and is covering sports for us again. You can contact rich at rpolen@joplinglobe.com
Phil Ellenbecker returns to our newsroom as a page designer. Phil worked for us several years ago, but most recently he’s been at the Sedalia Democrat. Phil can be contacted a pellenbecker@joplinglobe.com.

Everyone has to start somewhere.
That’s why I was glad to see that Anika Jagow of Somers, N.Y., followed up on her first “assignment.”
Anika is only 10, but already knows she wants to be a writer someday.
She is the granddaughter of Geri and Wynne Krell of Carthage. She spent about 30 minutes in my office recently interviewing me about my job. I told her that her assignment would be to write a letter to the editor about her visit to Missouri. I expected a few paragraphs. Instead Anika wrote a 20-inch essay that we published on Monday.
Having her here in my office reminded me of a time when someone gave me my first shot at being published. Former Carthage Press Editor Marvin VanGilder published my written history of Forest Mill School when I was 12.
It was 1972, and I was one of four members of the final 8th grade graduating class of the country school. The Forest Mill School, located east of Carthage, was consolidated into the Carthage R-9 District. Marvin helped me and another classmate do research and opened up the Press files to us.
But, he did more than just help us with our research. He published the article and gave us bylines. I was hooked.
I doubt that Marvin realizes what that one little byline did, but I’ve never forgotten it. I wish Anika all the best in her future writing endeavors.

Those of you who read today’s story today detailing a Globe reporters attempts to obtain Missouri Southern State University’s top administrators e-mails already know the Board of Governor’s attorney interprets the open-records law differently than most.
We have, on two occasions, asked for the e-mails sent on MSSU accounts after May 1 for 13 top-ranking officials, including Bruce Speck, MSSU president.
Requests for the e-mail records were made by reporter Greg Grisolano as part of our coverage of events that have now led to the formation of a committee to determine the procedure needed to call for a no-confidence vote against Speck.
Jon Dermott, the attorney for MSSU interprets the law as excluding the e-mails ofthe staff of the university and the school’s president. He has asked that we “place him in touch with your attorney to discuss this issue.”
We do not believe that Joe Public should have to hire an attorney in order to make a simple open-records request. But, at this juncture, we will persist in obtaining the records.
Today we hired an attorney to contact Dermott, in hopes that we can get the information that belongs to the public.

Traveling down memory lane certainly has its bittersweet moments.
That was the case this week as we put together a tribute to the late Dallie Miessner Howerton.
I worked with Dallie for a few years at The Carthage Press, and tried to keep up with her years after both she and I left to do other things. Dallie died in early August at the age of 75. Her daughter, Pat Byerly, told me that her mother had so many more things to accomplish, and simply ran out of time.
Because Dallie’s signature was her cooking column, we thought a tribute to her definitely belonged on our food page.
“Remembering Dallie’s Dishes” appears on the cover of our Let’s Eat section on Wednesday. You’ll find some of her favorite recipes along with the story. Online, we’ve produced a slide show narrated by her daughter and included a few more recipes.
Dallie was funny, sometimes bigger than life, and definitely one of a kind. She was a mother, a wife, a friend and a mentor. Certainly she’ll be remembered for far more than her cooking. But, then again, she really did make a mean pecan pie.

Greg Grisolano has been assigned to cover education for the Globe, following the resignation of Melissa Dunson.
Dunson’s last day with us is today. She is leaving to take a position with TAMKO in their communication department.
Grisolano’s primary coverage beat will include the Joplin School District, Missouri Southern State University and Pittsburg (Kan.) State University. He also will be responsible for reporting on education issue stories.
He’s currently working on a Sunday story addressing residents questions about new schools and new start times for Joplin.
Grisolano has been with the Globe for two years working as a general assignment and police reporter. Grisolano broke the story about controversy concerning the Area Agency on Aging and money that a state audit said had been diverted. He continues to follow the saga of Derrick Gates, who still has yet to repay the vendors he owes from Godstock and the Ink Deep tattoo convention. And, he wrote one of our most-viewed stories on a Pittsburg, Kan. man who had been living in his car in his own back yard for seven years.
Grisolano is a Pitt State alumni and was the Collegio editor-in-chief during the 2006-07 school year.
We are currently seeking a full-time reporter and will be posting an ad on journalismjobs.com and in our own newspaper.
Grisolano can be contacted at 627-7253 or ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com