Good morning, Springfield.

On Friday, Oct. 16, the Community Partnership of the Ozarks provided an update on child welfare in southwest Missouri, detailing data-driven strategies to address child abuse & neglect and urging locals to use the free hotline for tips.

Families practiced earthquake safety during the Great ShakeOut on Thursday, Oct.

15 in Springfield as they learned to drop, cover, and hold on amid local seismic risks. Local officials remind everyone to update emergency kits to be ready if a quake occurs.

History Museum on the Square is hosting Haunted History Tours in downtown Springfield this October.

The walking tours run Oct. 23-24 and Oct. 30-31 with admission at $20 (for members) or $25 and the bus tour runs on Oct. 30 at $35 (for members) or $40.

Fans can soon buy tickets via presale for Big Smith and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils’ reunion concert at the historic Gillioz Theatre — the event celebrating the theatre’s anniversary is set for Oct.

8. The presale marks the band’s return ahead of their 101st-anniversary performance.

Springfield Public Schools is asking residents for input on its facilities master plan (covering renovations and school numbers) to guide future changes.

After 90-degree heat in October, gardeners brace for near-freezing temperatures this weekend; Carson’s Nursery supervisor Henry McCormick advises watering and mulching to insulate roots, while home gardeners worry that a lack of covering may harm their plants — experts say the cooler weather will help plants adjust before super-cold nights.

Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period starts Oct.

15 and lasts until Dec. 7 as seniors review coverage and plan changes. Local agents and free services at Mercy Hospital and CoxHealth help residents double-check options and avoid scams + carriers are not changing plans.

This fall, chef Dyllan Dale from Wild Foods by Dyllan shared a recipe for Cinnamon Cranberry Walnut Bread in Springfield.

The recipe provides instructions for a small 4-inch round and a standard 9 x 5-inch loaf — clear steps guide you through mixing, baking, and glazing to add fall flavor.

Banana Ball is set for Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24 next year at Route 66 Stadium, where the Firefighters will face the Clowns in a fast-paced game (modeled after the Savannah Bananas).

Tickets are available through a lottery on the website, which closes Oct. 31 at 10:59 p.m.

Missouri State football beat Kennesaw State 24-21 on Oct.

14 at Plaster Stadium with a game-winning 22-yard field goal by kicker Yousef Obeid. Henry Belin threw two touchdowns to help snap a 32-day winless streak for the Bears, their first FBS win under head coach Casey Woods.

Ash Grove High School (5-2) is Missouri's only finalist in T-Mobile’s Friday Night Lights 5G contest, having earned $30,000 so far and relying on daily fan voting through Oct.

25 to win a $1M field upgrade; T-Mobile will host a 5:30 p.m. tailgate before its game against Marionville today.

Senior Alexa Garbee set new single-game, single-season, and career kills records for Billings volleyball and became the first in school history to record 1,000 kills, digs, and assists — a milestone that lifts the Wildcats’ hopes for a state playoff run.