Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Springfield shoppers are navigating this weekend’s post‑Christmas return rush

Spotted on the Springfield calendar: Time Travel Half-Marathon (and 5k/10k) - Springfield

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Sunday December 28th Patch AM
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Morning Springfield! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Springfield shoppers are navigating this weekend’s post‑Christmas return rush
  • How did deadly cobras end up slithering through 1950s Springfield?
  • How a former Springfield resident is now protecting Missouri’s wildlife

Also on today's calendar: Time Travel Half-Marathon (and 5k/10k) - Springfield and 7 more events.

Find out what's happening in Springfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I’m trying to think of a new cloud joke. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Springfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Sunday: Windy, warm, with a high of 71 and low of 18 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Monday: Sunny, breezy and much colder, temps: high: 30, low: 17.
  • Tuesday: Sunny and not as cold, with a high of 38 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Surge in post-Christmas returns as shoppers fix holiday errors (ozarksfirst.com) — Springfield shoppers are crowding local stores this weekend to return or exchange holiday gifts, with many running into mix-ups on electronics and other big-ticket items. Retailers here and nationwide are extending return windows into January, but some are also adding return-shipping fees, making in‑person returns an attractive option for residents trying to fix gift mistakes.
   

2. Indian Cobras Invaded A Springfield, Missouri In 1953 And Nobody Knew How They Got There For Decades (twistedsifter.com) — Springfield once faced a bizarre scare in 1953, when at least a dozen Indian cobras mysteriously appeared around town, terrifying families and keeping kids indoors. Decades later, a former local kid finally admitted he’d accidentally released imported snakes from a pet shop, and the city now remembers the incident as one of its strangest chapters.
   

3. New conservation agent joins Wayne County to protect wildlife and buil... (darnews.com) — A new Missouri conservation agent assigned to Wayne County previously lived and worked in Springfield after college, including a stint at Menard’s. His path from Magnolia, Texas, to Springfield and then the state’s Conservation Agent Training Academy highlights how Springfield continues to attract and shape young professionals in public service roles across Missouri.
   

4. Missouri Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for Dec. 26, 2025 (news-leader.com) — Missouri Lottery players can now check the Dec. 26 winning numbers and, if they scored a prize over $600, claim it at the Springfield regional office or by mail. The article walks you through exactly what forms, ID, and steps are required so Springfield winners can redeem their tickets smoothly and avoid delays.
   

📸 Around Springfield

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • We are still looking for my parents cat.
    He’s about a year old. My parents are afraid someone has him. Please message me on here if you have him. I realize he doesn’t have a collar but my… (Nextdoor Marlborough Manor)
  • Does anyone know who this cat belongs to?
    I have vern feeding it every night. He's been hanging around here some time. I don't want it to go hungry. It a very pretty cat but is afraid of me… (Nextdoor Hattiesburg Hills)
  • Lowe's posted a job opening for Full Time - Receiver/Stocker - Overnight in Springfield. Apply here.
  • Missouri State University posted a job opening for Adjunct Faculty, School of Teaching, Learning, and Developmental Science (Spring 2026) in Springfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Springfield here.

Ok Springfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I haven’t the foggiest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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