WGU Missouri announced earlier this month the return of its “Fund My Classroom” initiative, issuing a call for K-12 teachers across the state to nominate their proposed classroom projects for the opportunity to receive full or partial funding. The fully online, nonprofit university is pledging up to $100,000 in grant money across four states for K-12 teachers who have innovative ideas that will further engage their students but need funding to help bring these ideas to life. Teachers can submit their proposed projects online at wug.edu/fundmyclassroom through April 14. Selected classroom projects will be announced during Teacher Appreciation Week, which runs May 8-12. more

A former Missouri State representative was sentenced in federal court on Feb. 28 for a nearly $900,000 COVID-19 fraud scheme, as well as a separate $200,000 fraud scheme in which she made false claims about a fake stem cell treatment marketed through her clinics in southern Missouri, and for illegally providing prescription drugs to clients of those clinics. more

Xaniyah Williams, a 5th grader at Sparta Schools, received accolades from the Christian County Lions Club on Mar. 8, 2023, for the Lions Club International Peace Poster contest. more

Expect to see some green and flowers popping up soon in the custom moveable cedar planters recently installed on the Ozark Square. more

On Mar. 3, members of the Historic River District Design Committee and resident artist Larry Waggoner met with members of the Ozark Senior Center to discuss ideas for painting a mural on the long white wall at the Senior Center on the west side of NN across from Finley Farms. The group came up with an idea that will be presented at a follow-up meeting on Mar. 20 at the Senior Center. more

The Ozark Chamber of Commerce, with input and assistance from partnering Chambers of Commerce throughout the region, is spearheading a county-wide Under-40 program. more

Freedom’s Rest Family Violence Center has announced the upcoming move of its Neat Repeats Boutique Thrift Store location in Ozark. The organization operates a second location in Springfield, which opened in the fall of 2022. more

Christian County has been awarded federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. more

Students attending Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center may be small — age 5 and younger — but they are learning big things. In fact, Early Childhood Principal Elizabeth Dawson said preschoolers are in the midst of their biggest developmental growth. more

Children learn and develop — academically, socially and physically — at different paces. That’s why having your child participate in kindergarten screening is so important. Kindergarten screening is free to any child in Ozark School District who will be 5 years old on or before July 31, 2023. Register by calling the elementary school your child will attend. more

On Saturday, Mar. 4, Nixa students put their culinary skills to the test in the Culinary World Showcase competition. more

Impact 100 Ozark held a kickoff event for their Year 8 membership drive on Feb. 13 at the Ozark Innovation Center. more