In Our Town with Tom Carlson Springfield Daily Citizen

For Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield CEO Brandy Harris, leading efforts to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in the Springfield metro is a full circle moment. Having lived through a difficult childhood facing poverty and abuse, Harris believes her current position is a testament to the transformational impact caring adults can have on a child’s life.
In this episode, host Tom Carlson speaks with Harris about her formative experiences growing up in the Queen City, what she has learned as she spearheads the development of services and resources for youth and the key insights she has gained by listening to and advocating for children in the community.

Get ready, football fans, Southwest Missouri will welcome its new professional arena football team, the Ozarks Lunkers, on June 1, 2024. For the first time, Springfieldians will get the exhilarating opportunity to watch this fast-paced, indoor version of American football live.
As a kickoff to this noteworthy season, host Tom Carlson sat down with the Lunkers’ general manager Caleb Scott to discuss the upcoming season and the incredible backstory of how the team came together.

While becoming the superintendent of Missouri’s largest school system in 2021 may have been a daunting task, Dr. Grenita Lathan’s extensive experience in education has uniquely equipped her for this leadership role for Springfield Public Schools. Having served as the superintendent of Houston, Texas schools and held a variety of positions in public schools across the country, she brings a wealth of knowledge to spearhead our school board. 
Dr. Lathan joins host Tom Carlson to discuss the protocols and role of the board of education, insights into key issues facing Springfield Public Schools and how she hopes to support the district in its future growth.
 

As a third-generation policeman, Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams has devoted his life to law enforcement. He joins In Our Town host Tom Carlson to discuss policing from the perspective of 43 years of expertise in the field.
 
Touching on topics such as the impacts of public perception of officers and the COVID-19 pandemic on the police force, diversity initiatives within the Springfield Police Department and the use of surveillance technology, Williams shines a light on the current developments within law enforcement and where the establishment is headed.

The weather is finally warming up and we can already taste the popcorn and Cracker Jacks. It’s time to celebrate the beginning of baseball season as the Springfield Cardinals have gotten off to a red-hot, record-breaking start.
Join host Tom Carlson and Dan Reiter, vice president and general manager for the Springfield Cardinals, for this home run of an interview highlighting Reiter's remarkable career trajectory, the recent trials that the Cardinals have faced as well as new events and improvements coming to Hammons Field.

Dr. Hal Higdon, the Chancellor of the Ozark Technical Community College System and President of OTC's Springfield Campus, joins host Tom Carlson for an in-depth conversation.
 
As the longest serving public college president in Missouri, Dr. Higdon has been a catalyst of growth for OTC and has fostered a wide range of training programs to meet the needs of the ever-changing Ozarks workforce. He has also remained actively involved with a variety of organizations including Burrell Mental Health, CoxHealth, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and has chaired the Association of Missouri Community Colleges.
 
Tune in for enlightening insights on the current state of higher education in Missouri, the difficulties and opportunities students face within the local job market and recent advancements at OTC.