Good morning, Springfield.

Springfield will host the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival at noon on Friday, Aug.

8; the free event features food, music, and classic cars (it began as a small neighborhood celebration and now is set to attract over 65,000 guests).

The Boys and Girls Club of Springfield held the grand opening of the Risdal Family Teen Center for Great Futures Friday, where teens received free access to mental and physical health care services including counseling, medical visits, food, and haircuts.

The center—built with ARPA funds, private donations, and fundraising—also offers a gym, library, art studio, and e-sports lounge, with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Aug. 18.

The annual Park Day reunion at Silver Springs Park began Friday with food trucks and a DJ and will run today into Sunday with a golf tournament, parade and community picnic that honor the park's historic role as a neighborhood hub.

President Leslie Hardin said the event uses the newly renovated pavilion and long-standing traditions to bring families together.

Sidney Fredrick Wilson V was arrested in Nixa on July 31 and charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing his 21-year-old wife Reagan Wilson and her unborn child Silas in a June shooting in Lebanon—he is held without bond.

A former Greene County deputy, Joseph Edward Schilling II, was fired after allegedly stalking a woman with a protection order and is now held in jail without bond on charges of first-degree stalking and unlawful use of a weapon—officers later found him with loaded firearms, binoculars and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle.

Lilburn Motley, 70, was sentenced to life in prison on July 31 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder for shooting his 37-year partner, Lavonna Haddock, in 2021 after admitting he shot her to shut her up.

Nichols Street between Scott and Hutchinson avenues will be closed in Springfield from Aug.

11 to Aug. 18, and on Aug. 19 only a single westbound lane will be open while eastbound drivers must use alternate routes. The project will install sidewalk and driveway replacements + update stormwater drainage along the south side at a cost of about $230,000+ funded by ARPA and local sales taxes, and it is set to finish on Sept. 5.

Today, the Jordan Valley Community Health Center at 1720 W.

Grand St. in Springfield hosts its Back to School Block Party from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering health services like dental screenings, immunizations, well child checks, sports physicals, and vision screenings. Over the next two weeks, the center will hold five more events across the Ozarks—each with its own schedule and service details.

Wilco Live Concert

3:00-9:30 p.m. — Gillioz Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience an evening with Wilco, the venerated pioneers of independent music.

Pet Therapy of the Ozarks

11 AM – 4 PM — Springfield Missouri Dog Training Club — Cost not specified — Explore the joys of canine companionship and training for happy, well-behaved dogs.

Movie Matinee: Red River Screening

2 PM — Gillioz Theatre — Ticket & Concession Voucher combo — Enjoy a classic 1948 film starring John Wayne and Montgomery Clift on the big screen.

Postmodern Jukebox Concert

7-9:30 p.m. — Gillioz Theatre — $49 to $217.06 — Experience a nostalgic blend of modern hits reimagined in classic styles by the talented Postmodern Jukebox collective.

Taste of the Ozarks 2025

6-9 p.m. — Oasis Hotel & Conv. Center — Ticket info available online — Enjoy a Luau-themed culinary experience with local eats and exciting auctions.

Pokey LaFarge Live Performance

8-10:30 p.m. — The Regency Live — All ages welcome — Experience Pokey LaFarge's unique blend of folk, country, and swing in an unforgettable evening.

Air Power History Tour in Springfield

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Premier Flight Center — $20 Adults, $10 Children (11-17), Free Under 10 — Experience the power of historic aircraft with the entire family on display and in flight.

Air Power History Tour - Springfield MO

9 AM - 5 PM — Premier Flight Center — $20 Adults, $10 Children (11-17), Free for Under 10 — Experience the B-29 Superfortress and other historic aircraft with educational opportunities and flights.