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NIXA'S SAM MCCLAIN makes a pass.
Lady Eagles' defenders showcase skills at both ends of field against Ozark
Nixa’s 11 shutouts have put the spotlight on the Lady Eagles’ defenders, as has center-back Bailey Snyder’s success on set pieces.
NIXA'S NOAH NAUGLE is fresh from a COC Tournament championship last week.
Executing up-and-down around greens has triggered Naugle's rapid rise
Advancing to the final round of the Nixa golf team’s season-long Game of 21 Tournament, Noah Naugle gave a great example of why he’s elevated his game from good to great, if note elite. …
NIXA'S JACKSON CANTWELL poses with Georgia commit Jared Curtis, of Nashville Christian, in Athens, Georgia this past weekend.
Cantwell's Nixa classmates believe Georgia and Oregon are his top candidates
Nixa’s Wyatt Vincent agrees with the recruiting experts that the Eagles’ Jackson Cantwell will commit to Georgia, while two other heralded Nixa athletes believe he’ll commit to …
Local News

Corn grower groups urge Ford to stand with rural America

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.)--The Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA), alongside more than 20 other state corn organizations and the National Corn Growers Association, is formally calling on Ford Motor Company to reinstate its production of Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) and reengage in advancing renewable fuel technologies that support rural America.

'MATHES, CASSIE M.' via CCH news group Fri, May 2, 12:10 PM (3 days ago) to CASSIE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 2, 2025 Ozarks Tech Officially Launches New Airframe & Powerplant Program

Ozarks Technical Community College has officially launched its new Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) program, a state-of-the-art aviation mechanics training program designed to address the rapidly growing demand for skilled aircraft technicians.
Gamet

Mercy Announces New Chief Nursing Officer

SPRINGFIELD (April 30, 2025) – After months searching for the right person to step into the role of chief nursing officer (CNO), Mercy Springfield Communities has announced Nicki Gamet will be the new CNO starting May 1.
Anna Claire Ross of Glendale High School, the 2024 Student of Ethics Award winner. Photo courtesy of the BBB Springfield.

BBB invites SW MO high school juniors to apply for Student of Ethics Award by May 30

Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) Springfield is now accepting applicants for this year’s Student of Ethics Award with the opportunity to win a $2,500 scholarship.

THE ROCKWOOD FILES: Multitasking is a myth

Have you ever gotten good at the wrong thing? I think it might have happened to me.
News
Olivia Smith (right) sells her homemade baked goods on the square with a little help from her sister, Kennedy Hodgson, 11. All photos by Steve Chapman.

Downtown Ozark Market Days begins with almost 100 vendors

The Christian County Children’s Charities Sertoma Club kicked off Downtown Ozark Market Days at the Ozark Town Square on Saturday, May 3. About 98 vendors set up booths at the event, selling wares such as baked goods, clothing, handmade jewelry, bath and body items, home decor, wood carvings, and more. The event also featured live music, food trucks, and an opportunity to adopt a duck in the Sertoma Duck Race Festival, to be held on Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21.
Student volunteers and parents welcome those taking part in the Spring Fling.

Spring Fling gives students a night to remember

The Ozark High School Special Education Department held their Spring Fling, a dinner and dance organized by the department. About 40 special education students took part in the event, along with 50 parents and other student volunteers. The event was crafted to provide students with an opportunity to practice and enhance their social language and social communication skills in a fun and supportive environment, offering them a fun and safe setting where they could mingle, engage in conversations, and build confidence in their social interactions. Photos courtesy of Ozark Public Schools.
Ozark High School students who have committed to careers in education pose for a group photo after they were recognized at their college signing ceremony. Photo courtesy of Ozark Public Schools.

Teachers of Tomorrow: 11 Ozark High School Seniors Commit to Careers in Education

On Friday, April 25, Ozark High School proudly recognized 11 seniors from the Class of 2025 who have committed to pursuing careers in education after graduation.
Seth Hamilton, a city maintenance worker, works to remove a fallen tree at McCauley Park. All photos by Steve Chapman.

EF-0 tornado, 87 mph wind gusts, strike Nixa

An EF-0 tornado struck Nixa on Tuesday, April 29. According to information from the National Weather Service, the tornado was 25 yards wide and landed at 9:30 a.m. It traveled about 4.4 miles before lifting at 9:34 a.m. Additionally, wind gusts of 87 miles per hour swept through the city.
Carroll

Nixa Alum Carroll presents research project at Missouri State Capitol

A former Nixa High School student was one of 35 “high-achieving” MU students who presented research projects at the Missouri State Capitol on Undergraduate Research Day on Thursday, March 13. Preston Carroll, now a senior at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, presented his research of the 555 Timer at the event. He said his work was designed to help other students who use the device better understand what it does.
Local Sports

Eagles shortstop Cloud once again displays all-state form in field and batter's box

NIXA'S CAEDEN CLOUD follows through on a swing against Ozark on Thursday.
Nixa shortstop Caeden Cloud even amazed himself with a running catch he made during the Eagles’ 6-1 victory versus Ozark on Thursday. Cloud added to his long list of defensive highlights …
NIXA'S JACKSON GAMBLE eyes a delivery home.
Gamble against Tigers winning proposition for Eagles for fourth straight outing
Ozark’s nemeses while facing Nixa in recent seasons have included unheralded types who blossomed into stars against the Tigers the likes of Garrett Hines on the hardwood or Payton Covel on the …
NIXA'S KEIVON FLINT AND JAREN DAVIS get set to pass the baton.
Eagles separate themselves from COC East field by more than 100 points
SPRINGFIELD — Jaren Davis Nixa was part of three Nixa winning relays during the Eagles’ sweep of the relays and the COC East team championship Wednesday. Nixa opened the meet by …
OZARK'S OLIVIA CARPENTER AND BROOKE BOWMAN complete an exchange.
Comeback complete — Lady Tigers rally from 30-point deficit to claim COC East title
SPRINGFIELD — Brooke Bowman and her 4 x 400 relay teammates never doubted they could complete a 30-point Ozark comeback Wednesday and wrap up the COC East Division team championship for the …
NIXA'S HUNTER JENSEN competes at the Republic Relays last week.
Jensen resting injured elbow in effort to be healthy for football season
Nixa’s Hunter Jensen will be idle the rest of this spring, putting his shot put in storage, in anticipation of what figures to be a very busy fall. Jensen aggravated an elbow injury at the …
NIXA'S ROCCO NEAL clears a hurdle.
Christian County Track and Field Honor Roll — COC Meet on tap for JFK Wednesday
Christian County's Top Performers this spring: BOYS 100 Kannon Williams, Ozark 10.75 Randy Flint, Nixa 10.78; Sam Clark, Ozark 11.02; Jett Easley, Ozark 11.04; Jaren Davis, Nixa …
NIXA'S TAYLOR HOPPER eyes the finish line in the 200.
Lady Eagles sprinter Hopper hopes to make run at her records in coming weeks
Taylor Hopper hasn’t neared this spring the Nixa school record of 25.25 in the 200 she set a year ago, but is confident she will do so in the coming weeks. The Nixa senior ran a 25.51 …
Business

Beware of Scams

JEFFERSON CITY, MO — The Missouri Department of Revenue is warning Missourians of ongoing nationwide text scams. The department has received a large increase in calls reporting these phishing texts. These texts are often threatening, claiming to be from the Missouri Department of Revenue or Department of Motor Vehicles, and may include a warning regarding unpaid traffic violations, outstanding toll charges, or fines owed.

Safely searching for financial aid

For students struggling to pay for tuition, a sudden scholarship offer or a financial aid company that guarantees results can seem like a dream come true – but it could also be the setup for a scam.

Arvest to Offer First-time Homebuyer Assistance Program

Arvest Bank can help first-time homebuyers purchase a home with up to $20,000 in assistance for down payments and closing costs through the Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP) program.
The Christian County Commission recently sold two lots from the site of the future County Government Plaza near the intersection of Highway 14 and 25th Street in Ozark. Photo courtesy of Stevie Barfoot, SMCC.

Christian County Announces Sale of two lots in County Government Plaza

Ozark, MO – The Christian County Commission is pleased to announce the sale of two lots from the County Government Plaza development near Highway 14 and 25th Street in Ozark.

BBB Tips: How to handle door-to-door sales

Warmer weather means everyone is getting out more, including door-to-door salespeople. Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) advises consumers to make safe, smart decisions about door-to-door offers.
Education
Nixa Journalism students competed at the national level and learned about journalism from a variety of journalism experts during the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle last week. In addition to participating in specialized learning sessions, they earned several accolades during the event.
Nixa High School sophomore Jasmyn Piwko has won the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Her drawing "Vintage Visit" will hang in the Capitol in Washington, D.C. for the next year. She will receive flights from Southwest Airlines for her and a guest to attend the awards ceremony in D.C. June 11. Pictures courtesy of Nixa Public Schools
James J. Mikulin, 76, passed away peacefully. He is survived by his wife, Janet; daughters, Rebecca and Sandra; grandsons, Philip and Oliver; and sisters, Delores, Ginny, and Jean.
The Ozark Technical Community College (OTC) unveiled its Be Well Bell, a public art display intended to promote mental health care, on Thursday, April 24, at the Richwood Valley campus in Nixa.
Opinion
(Editor’s note: Given the tremendous efforts by many line workers and others to restore electricity to homes left powerless after the April 29 storm, it seemed only fitting to include this article in this week’s issue.)
Christian County has a new nonprofit, Christian County Cares. Our goal is to help our neighbors with currently unsupported emergency needs. We are also working with established nonprofits to help increase the impact, with the goal of maintaining shelters, utilities, and meeting basic needs.
Gardening season has awakened in me a troubling vice — impatience. I didn’t use to be this way, but digital cameras ruined me.
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