The Missouri State Highway Patrol is now conducting written and driver examinations at the Christian County Library Nixa Community Branch every Monday and Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. People needing to take their examinations should go to the back door of the southeast corner (on the annex side) of the library. more

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.” more

Increases in maintenance costs over the past 15 years have led to the need for the USDA Forest Service to adjust fees at Mark Twain National Forest’s developed recreation sites. New and increased fees will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. Over time, this will also help in making improvements at multiple recreation sites in line with the Forest’s recreation strategic plan. A vast majority of the Forest is free for visitors to access and enjoy, but fees are needed to maintain the sites that offer amenities — things like fire rings, trash service, potable water, electricity, paved parking and more. more

Heidi Moore, daughter of Dewey (Margaret) Moore and Patricia Carroll Arthur (Mike), a resident of St. Louis (Nixa) has received a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis from Saint Louis University (SLU). more

Pumpkin decorating, hayrides, s’mores — what better way to celebrate autumn than a fall fest? more

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. more

The Can the Tigers/Can the Eagles event was created more than 15 years ago to serve as a community service project benefiting Least Of These, Inc. through the long-standing friendly and competitive rivalry between Nixa and Ozark in Christian County. It has grown into a large community event in conjunction with one of the most anticipated football games every year, the Backyard Brawl, between Nixa and Ozark. more

On Oct. 10, Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland announced the launch of three new mental wellness patches within the Movement’s Mental Health Initiative, which was launched in 2021 in response to the mental health crises today’s young women face. more

If you’ve walked or driven down North Public Avenue in Clever any time within the past 19 or 20 years, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve been waved to by Herschel Walles. more

On Saturday, Oct. 14, Christian County Elks #2777 of Ozark hosted their biggest veterans fundraiser of the year, noted Mike Klinger, Past Exalted Ruler (PER), Trustee, Christian County Elks Public Relations Chairman and Golf Tournament Chairman. During the 6th Annual Veterans Charity Benefit Golf Tournament at Island Green Golf Club, 58 players tackled the challenging course, and when the wind had settled down, the Health Markets-sponsored foursome of David Frana, Kory Klinger, Theo Atchison and Jesse Kirkpatrick topped Flight A with a score of 57. Christian County Elks and Veterans Chairman Denny Peterson’s team of Roger Tipling, Darin Tipling and Jeromy Dawron won the Flight B division with a 67. more

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced earlier this month that his office awarded a Community Partner Award to eight law enforcement agencies in Christian County for their help with the Attorney General’s SAFE (sexual assault forensic evidence) Kits Initiative. more

Every summer, while most students are still lounging by the pool or sleeping in late, Ozark High School's (OHS) marching band, the Pride of the Ozarks, takes over the high school and spends hours upon hours learning their marching show for the upcoming season. more

The City of Nixa is saddened by the passing of Sharon Whitehill on the night of Oct. 4, 2023. The city wishes “to honor her legacy,” according to a recent release. more

After 27 years of unwavering commitment to supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence from southwest Missouri, Freedom’s Rest Family Violence Center, formerly known as the Christian County Family Crisis Center, has announced its closure effective Oct. 1, 2023. more

Paschal Air, Plumbing & Electric, a leading provider of HVAC, plumbing and electrical home services with a strong presence in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas, announced late last month the acquisition of Larson Heating & Air. This strategic move will further solidify Paschal’s position as a dominant force in the home services industry. more

After months of hard work and dedication, the highly anticipated McCracken Road Project has reached its completion, marking a significant milestone in the community’s commitment to infrastructure improvements. The City of Ozark extends its “heartfelt appreciation to the community for their patience during this transformative process.” more

Students at Nixa High School earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These programs celebrate students’ hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance. The academic honors for rural area, Black, Indigenous and/or Latino students are an opportunity for students to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent. more

Ozark School District announced last week that five Ozark High School (OHS) seniors are being honored by the College Board for their academic achievements and outstanding performances on the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and AP Exams. more

Mercy Hospital Springfield broke ground on a new emergency department (ED) at its south campus in Ozark on Oct. 6, 2023. more

The City of Ozark has launched the first phase of Onward Ozark: Planning Our Corridors, an innovative project aimed at shaping the future growth, development, transportation and aesthetics of three pivotal corridors within the city: North State Highway NN, South 3rd Street/Highway 14 and South Street. more

Lucid TLC Studio & Art Gallery is currently hosting the art of area artist Greg Chappell as its featured artist for October. more

Ozark School District will soon have added safety measures in the hallways and on buses to keep students and staff safe after receiving $300,000 through the state’s School Safety Grant Program. more

The Christian County University of Missouri Extension recognized the 2023 Missouri Century Farms program inductees from Christian County, the Clayman and Wiggins families, on Sept. 21 at the MU Extension Annual Farm Celebration. The event was hosted by the Christian County MU Extension Council and was held at the First Baptist Church of Ozark. The evening included a meal provided by Lambert’s Cafe and special recognitions for the Century Farm families. more

Stephen and Lauren Short and family of Highlandville were among the families honored during the 66th annual Missouri Farm Family Day, Aug. 14 at the Missouri State Fair. more

Drivers can expect lane closures and occasional traffic delays on Greene/Christian County Route P between Republic and Clever, and on Business Route 60 in Lawrence County between U.S. Route 60 south of Verona and Cowan Drive in Aurora when a resurfacing project begins the week of Oct. 9, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) announced. more