What
you need to know
about Carl Junction
by
Greg Hall
Landmark columnist
Sharon Koch is a lifelong resident of Carl Junction.
She has spent the past 24 years as Principal Pamela George’s
secretary at Carl Junction High School.
She was a font of information when asked to fill Platte
Countians in on the trip to the Southeastern Missouri
burg.
Here are some tips from Sharon for anyone heading south
this weekend.
Team colors & nickname: “We are the Carl
Junction Bulldogs. We wear red and white with some black
in there too.”
Drive time from CJ to KCI: “You can probably
make it in three hours but I’d give myself three
and a half. You’d hate to rush past all that pretty
scenery, especially the maples in Carthage. I’d take
71 Highway down because it’s four lane all the way.”
(Note: With apologies to Sharon, other sources
are saying a more accurate driving time from Platte City
to Carl Junction is four to four and a half hours. Guess
it all depends on how fast you drive. Be safe and allow
yourself plenty of time so you don't miss the kickoff.)
Good places to eat on the way: “Harrisonville
has the best restaurants but that’s not too far outside
Kansas City. Nevada (pronounced Ne-VAY-da) is about halfway
and they have your typical Country Kitchen and taco places,
nothing real exciting. Carl Junction has absolutely zero
places to eat. All the local yokels hang out at Randy’s
Drive Inn and eat cheeseburgers but other than that we
don’t have much.”
What is Carl Junction known for? “The Bulldogs!
Actually we are very proud of our academics and our school
system here in Carl Junction. This is my town and I am
biased but I’m proud to say we have excellent academics
and people send their children here because of our schools.
How big is Carl Junction? “The town’s
population is approximately 5,000 and maybe just a little
over that. But we’re growing.”
Who is Carl? “I’m not sure who Carl is
but the Junction part is a carryover from the 1800s when
we were a booming mining town digging for ore. There were
lots of streetcars in town and we were a junction for
a lot of commerce and travelers. We were as prosperous
as Joplin at one time but somewhere along the way they
got bigger and we didn’t. We are considered a bedroom
community of Joplin but most of our families are rural
and work on the farm.”
Sharon described herself as a little gray-haired old
lady who will be out at the stadium Saturday rooting on
her Bulldogs. If you happen to see her give her a hello
and buy her a burger at Randy’s.
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