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SPARTA COACH DERIC LINK has compiled a 70-41 W-L record the past four seasons.
Ozark's next boys basketball coach may already be a Christian County coach
Welcome again to the wide world of speculation from this corner concerning candidates for one of Christian County’s premier coaching jobs.
CHADWICK'S TRISTAN SMITH drives to the hoop for a layup at last weekend's Class 1 Final Four.
By any name, Smith an All-State selection; Garrison Class 1 Player Of the Year
Chadwick’s breakout star on the Cardinals’ road to their state championship could have easily remained anonymous simply because of the all-too common nature of his name.
CHADWICK COACH SHAWN GUERIN gives instructions to the Cardinals.
Guerin's double-duty days coaching boys and girls at Chadwick are done
Immediately after MSHSAA TV announcers awkwardly interviewed Tonya Rains as Chadwick’s head coach Saturday, Shawn Guerin spoke as the Cardinals’ head coach at a press conference under a MSHSAA banner.
Local News
Hedgecorth

Ozark School District names Executive Director of Finance & Business Operations

The Ozark Board of Education voted to hire Robert Hedgecorth as the Executive Director of Finance & Business Operations at a special meeting March 4. The finance position became available following the hiring of Dr. Lori Wilson as the District’s superintendent in December. Wilson had been serving in dual roles as interim superintendent and chief financial officer.
Hardman

KC Chiefs’ Mecole Hardman, Jr. comes to Aetos Center

Mecole Hardman, Jr., from the Kansas City Chiefs, is set to come to Nixa’s Aetos Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, April 21. In this special evening in the Meridian Title Performance Hall, starting at 7:00 p.m., Hardman will share about his life, challenges and how he found success as a way to inspire others to follow their dreams and the hard work it takes to achieve those.
A planning and designing charrette was held on March 5, 2024, where stakeholders and decision makers worked alongside experts to co-develop solutions to build environment problems using design.

Nixa seeks citizen input through virtual open house, pop-up event

The City of Nixa has launched Nixa 2045, a process for planning the city’s growth for the next 20 years and beyond. The city is gathering public input for this new comprehensive plan process to help develop a plan that guides the decision-making, development and infrastructure projects across the community and serves as a road map to visualize where the community wants to go as a city and the path to reach that destination. The focus of the plan emphasizes land use, transportation, education, parks and trails, development patterns, housing types, infrastructure and economic development. An initial public survey was launched in late 2023 for the community to share their priorities for Nixa’s future.
Johnson

Spokane Middle School announces new principal

Spokane R-VII announced Mr. Glen Johnson as the Spokane Middle School principal and Spokane R-VII Athletic Director for the 2024-2025 school year. Current principal, Dr. Joel Carey, is retiring at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
Ozark staff, students and community members cut the ribbon for Ozark Middle School's new storm shelter.

Ozark School District unveils new middle school storm shelter, classrooms, office

Ozark Middle School (OMS) was filled with laughter, joy and singing on March 8, 2024, as the Ozark community, state and local representatives, school and District staff and OMS choir students gathered to cut the official ribbon for the OMS storm shelter, classrooms, offices and new entrance.
News

Ozark teenager pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter after girl overdoses on fentanyl

Jacob Sayre, 18, pleaded guilty on March 6, 2024, to a charge of involuntary manslaughter - 1st degree and a charge of delivery of controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid, as listed on Casenet. Count 2 — endangering the welfare of a child - 1st degree - death of a child - no sexual conduct — was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. The first charge was also amended from 2nd degree murder to the involuntary manslaughter charge. Both charges are class C felonies.
Passionate candidates who qualify for paid academy training to new recruits are encouraged to join the Ozark Police Department and serve the community without worrying about the time and financial commitment of attending the police academy.

Ozark Police Department offering paid academy training to new recruits

The Ozark Police Department (OPD) has announced the launch of a new hiring campaign that offers paid academy training to new recruits. This program is designed to encourage passionate candidates to join the department and serve the community without worrying about the time and financial commitment of attending the police academy.
Gokey

Danny Gokey comes to Nixa’s Aetos Center

Singer Danny Gokey is scheduled to perform at Nixa’s Aetos Center for the Performing Arts on April 25 at 7:00 p.m.

Missouri Republican Party announces winner of the 2024 Missouri Republican Caucus

The Missouri Republican Party announced former President Donald J. Trump as the winner of the 2024 Republican Caucus on Mar. 2.

Missouri Democratic Party announces mail-ballot request period

Late last month, the Missouri Democratic Party announced the opening of the mail-ballot request period to vote in the Presidential Primary election scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2024. Registered Missouri voters can request a ballot online at https://request.mrgvote.com/Missouri or call 855-433-8683 to request their mail ballot.
CHADWICK'S CREEK GUERIN grabs a rebound against Green City on Friday.
Freshman Guerin's 5-of-6 free-throw shooting part of Cards' fourth quarter rally
COLUMBIA — Creek Guerin’s pep talk to himself paid winning dividends for Chadwick in its 52-49 Class 1 semifinal win Friday.
CHADWICK'S TRISTAN SMITH is mobbed by teammates Clayton Garrison and Creek Guerin during the Cardinals' celebration Friday.
Smith shoots Chadwick to semifinal win and into Class 1 state championship game
COLUMBIA — Tristan Smith and his teammates gave coach Shawn Guerin a brief celebratory silent treatment Friday moments after Smith quieted Mizzou Arena for a split-second he’ll savor forever.
MARK SCHWEITZER was Ozark's head coach the past 11 seasons.
Schweitzer submits resignation after 11 seasons as Ozark head basketball coach
Ozark basketball coach Mark Schweitzer has submitted his resignation, Ozark AD Yancey Little announced to the Headliner News Friday morning.
CHADWICK'S GRADY PRESTON and the Cardinals will be at State beginning Friday.
Cardinals like the site of State being back in Columbia at Mizzou Arena
With the State Basketball Championships moving this season from Springfield to Columbia for the next two weeks, Chadwick’s boys were glad to make hotel reservations.
CHADWICK'S CLAYTON GARRISON watches the flight of the ball after he threw it in celebration of the Cardinals' win Saturday.
Foul trouble doesn't keep Garrison from leading Cards to Class 1 Final Four berth
As natural a physical talent as Clayton Garrison is, his most important attributes Saturday were his judgment and willpower in Chadwick’s 57-46 victory versus Richland 57-46 in a Class 1 Quarterfinal.
Business
Clear Creek Golf Car and Utility Vehicles is located at 5801 N. 21st St. in Ozark.

Clear Creek Golf Car acquires Ozark Golf Cars

In January, Clear Creek Golf Car and Utility Vehicles, a 45-year distributor for Club Car based out of Ozark, acquired Ozark Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles, marking its fourth acquisition in three years. With the addition of Ozark Golf Car’s Ozark and Clinton locations, Clear Creek Golf Car has expanded from two stores to 11 within the last five years, acquiring the Club Car distributor in Little Rock in early 2021, then the Club Car distributor of Oklahoma and an E-Z-GO dealer in Russellville, Arkansas, in 2023.

Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes new officers and board members

The Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Chamber President/CEO Whitney Guison, are pleased to welcome new officers and board members to the board of directors, effective January 2024.
Nixa Hardware & Seed Company, located at 510 W. Mt. Vernon St., is celebrating 125 years of business in 2024.

Nixa Hardware & Seed Company celebrates 125 years

In 2024, Nixa Hardware & Seed Company (NH&SC) will be celebrating the remarkable milestone of 125 years in business. The store is currently located at 510 W. Mt. Vernon St. in Nixa.

County Collector’s office closed for holidays

The Christian County Collector’s office will be closed on the following dates:
Albers

Lucid TLC to feature the art of Dee Albers

Lucid TLC Studio & Art Gallery will host the art of area photographer Dee Albers as its featured artist for December. The exhibit will showcase many of Albers’ landscapes in prints and on canvas. The studio/gallery is located at 214 North Massey Boulevard. An opening night reception was held on Saturday, Dec. 2 for Albers’ exhibit.
Education
The Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) Board of Trustees approved an additional $312,948 to expand the planned Agriculture and Electrical Distribution Systems Building at the Richwood Valley campus in Nixa. The building project will grow by nearly 3,000 square feet, bringing the facility’s total footprint to 19,600 square feet.
The State Board of Education (State Board) announced last week that Senator Karla Eslinger will assume the role as the state’s next commissioner for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) effective June 1, 2024, after concluding her work in the Missouri Senate during the 2024 legislative session.
It’s no secret that the Ozark School District continues to grow. The Board of Education learned about the impact of that growth at the Oct. 19 meeting when Bob Templeton, vice president of the school district segment for Zonda Education, reviewed the most recent Demographic Report, calling Ozark a “destination district for younger families.”
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has awarded the first-ever state-funded “Grow Your Own” grants to 125 local education agencies (LEAs). DESE’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget includes $2.5 million to support one-time grants of $10,000 to LEAs to create or strengthen their local “Grow Your Own” program, designed to increase recruitment of quality teachers in LEAs across the state.
Pumpkin decorating, hayrides, s’mores — what better way to celebrate autumn than a fall fest?
Opinion
Dear Friends and Neighbors of Nixa,
It has been just over a month since I became the editor for Christian County Headliner. My …
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