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OZARK'S AIDAN DAVIS and the Tigers celebrate their seven-run fourth inning Friday.
Tigers don't underestimate energy provided by backups in team's spirited dugout
Aidan Davis lived up to his first name, doing his part to aid in Ozark’s 11-6 home-opening victory versus Jefferson City Helias on Friday.
OZARK'S CADEN MCGEHEE keeps a hand on the bag as he steals second base against Jefferson City Helias on Friday.
Keep an eye on Bullinger, as Ozark center fielder adds to Tigers' fireworks in 11-6 win
Peyton Bullinger packed a wallop Friday, after taking a wallop a week earlier.
NIXA'S CAEDEN CLOUD gives chase to a Springfield Catholic runner between second base and third base Thursday.
Kelley complete game gem and HRs by Vincent and Michel make for a winning combo
Colin Kelley is obviously far too young to have been a fan during MLB Hall of Famer Tom Seaver's glory days in the 1970s and 80s with the Mets, Reds, White Sox and Red Sox.
Local News

Informed voter coalition expands focus to include Christian County School Board candidates

If “all politics is local,” then April 2 is a big day for voters in Southwest Missouri. The Informed Voter Coalition, a nonpartisan group dedicated to empowering voters and fostering engagement between candidates and citizens, is extending its reach to include Christian County candidates alongside those in the Springfield area for the upcoming elections.
Missouri Thunder Coach Luke Snyder and team members cheer on their teammate at the first Thunder Days in Sept. 2022.

PBR returns to Springfield for Thunder Days Team League competition Aug. 30-Sept. 1

The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) announced the original extreme sport will be returning to Springfield at Great Southern Bank (GSB) Arena during the 2024 Labor Day weekend for PBR Thunder Days, the home-stand of the Bass Pro Shops-owned Missouri Thunder in the PBR Camping World Team Series.
Thompson

Children’s Smile Center hires community relations director

Children’s Smile Center has hired Sandy Thompson to be Community Relations Director for its nonprofit dental clinics.

Apply for MU Extension Century Farm program by May 1

If your farm has been in your family since Dec. 31, 1924, you can apply to have it recognized as a Missouri Century Farm.
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.
News
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.

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.
OZARKS SAM CLARK gains yards after a catch at Webb City last fall.
Cordell pleased with growth he's seeing in his first off-season with Tigers
With Ozark’s strength and conditioning program kicking things up a notch over the winter months, the Tigers have 57 athletes timed at 20 mph or faster, 40 who have posted a vertical jump of 30 inches or greater and 15 who have recorded a broad jump of at least nine feet.
OZARK'S CHLOE KONDRACKI boots the ball out of the reach of the Columbia Hickman goalie during the teams' match Saturday.
Defending conference champ Lady Tigers transitioning well to Owens being their coach
In regard to first impressions, Ozark coach Zack Owens has been happy with how the Lady Tigers have responded to him in his first go-around with them.
OZARK'S COOPER PUMPHREY has committed to Mizzou.
Pumphrey feels reps he gained in hockey as a goalie serve him well on the mound
Cooper Pumphrey points to a correlation between hockey and baseball while discussing his background on the ice.
OZARK'S COOPER PUMPHREY AND HUDSON ROBERTS will be counted on this spring to lead the Tigers' pitching staff.
Ozark 'definitely got better,' with the return of Pumphrey giving Tigers two D-I commits
As hard as it was for Hudson Roberts and his Ozark teammates to bid adieu to Cooper Pumphrey two years ago, it made his return to the Tigers as a junior this year that much sweeter.
CHADWICK'S PRESTIN KINYON passes to teammate Grady Preston.
Kinyon headlines talented Chadwick boys and girls freshman class
Chadwick’s Prestin Kinyon is counting down the days until he can dunk and working to make that greatly awaited day happen sooner than later.
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.
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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