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OZARK'S COLIN COOK gets set to block a Glendale defender.
Ozark center Cook has made as much improvement as any Tigers player
Colin Cook’s center-snaps have progressed to the point Ozark quarterback Peyton Russell is assured he will receive the ball at his mid-section each and every play. But, Russell won't ever …
Vincent, Johnson and Cantwell haul in TD passes as Eagles blank Waynesville
WAYNESVILLE — Nixa wide receiver Wyatt Vincent drew within range of a couple school records in the Eagles’ 42-0 whipping of Waynesville on Friday. Vincent hauled in a pair of …
OZARK'S SAM SAVICH recovers a Glendale fumble.
Tigers fail to 'put game away multiple times' and fall victim to Glendale comeback
Even a quarterback the likes of Ozark’s Peyton Russell can fall into the trap of placing too much blame on the quarterback after a loss. Of course, the first part of that adage is the …
Local News
With a total of 42 blood donations for Ozark, Ozark Mayor Don Currence won this year’s 4th annual Ozark vs. Nixa Mayors Challenge Blood Drive.

Ozark mayor wins 5th annual Mayors Challenge Blood Drive

The Ozark vs. Nixa Mayors Challenge Blood Drive, held at the end of last month, saw Ozark Mayor Don Currence and Nixa Mayor Jarad Giddens rally the residents in their communities to donate blood.
New trees for Ozark parks and surrounding areas were paid for by Spire’s grant to Forest ReLeaf.

Ozark, surrounding towns receive new trees to plant

Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, a non-profit organization based out of St. Louis that plants and grows trees, delivered a truckload of trees on Thursday, Oct. 3 that will soon be planted in Ozark parks and other neighboring communities. Spire employees unloaded the new trees at the Ozark Community Center and various parks and recreation employees picked up the plants to bring them to their final destinations.
From left: Harry Treece, Max Thomas and Clint Ryan serve up the fish fry for the Christian County Employee Appreciation Lunch on Oct. 2, 2024.

County elected officials host appreciation lunch for Christian County employees

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, the county elected officials hosted an appreciation fish fry lunch for all Christian County Employees on the South Lawn of the Historic Courthouse on the Ozark Square.
The 50th annual Ozark Craft Fair was held Oct. 4-6 at the Finley River Park in Ozark.

Ozark Craft Fair celebrates 50 years

Thousands of people braved the heat this past weekend to attend the 50th annual Ozark Craft Fair at the Finley River Park. About 350 vendors were set up for the festival, providing an array of arts, crafts, food and more for people to enjoy.
Wheeler

Ozark senior named National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist

Ozark School District announced that Ozark High School (OHS) senior Gabriel Wheeler has been named a National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist. Gabriel was selected as a semi-finalist based on his performance on the PSAT last school year.
News

Ozark man sentenced to 25 years for meth conspiracy

An Ozark man and a Springfield man have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
From left: Rosalie Watts, Sherry Hull, (back) Wally Kowilt, (front) Bobbie Kowilt, Liz Josephson, Marcus Kret, Janice Lambert.

Christian County Lions Club installs new officers, names Lion of Year

Earlier this year, the Christian County Lions Club installed new officers for the 2024/2025 year.
Lewellen

Lucid TLC Arts hosts First Saturday Art Show Oct. 5

A First Saturday Art Show will be held at Lucid TLC Art Gallery/Studio located at 111 S. Main St. in Nixa this Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Roger Lewellen is the October featured artist and will have a series of raptor photos he has taken all over the U.S.
Ozark Fire Chief Jarett Metheny (left) and Ozark Police Chief Justin Arnold at last month’s Showcase Ozark Expo. The Ozark Fire Protection District and the Ozark Police Department will go head-to-head in the inaugural Ozark Guns and Hoses Charity Softball Game on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.

Inaugural Ozark Guns and Hoses Charity Softball Game set for Oct. 12

The inaugural Ozark Guns and Hoses Charity Softball Game is set to take place Oct. 12, 2024. This event will feature a thrilling matchup between the firefighters of the Ozark Fire Protection District and the officers of the Ozark Police Department. Held at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex (4400 N. 19th St., Ozark), this event promises to bring together friends and families from across the Ozarks community for a day of entertainment and supporting our local heroes.

2022 Ozark Square shooting suspect granted bond

Judge Laura Johnson sustained a motion to set bond for defendant Matthew Dedmon on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Dedmon is the alleged suspect in the shooting on the Ozark Square on May 28, 2022.
NIXA'S KEIVON FLINT eludes a Kickapoo defender.
Undefeated Nixa pursues seventh win by traveling to winless Waynesville
With Nixa being 6-0 and Waynesville, 0-6, this is the only matchup in any class throughout SWMO involving an undefeated team against a winless team. Lucky us. … Going as far back as 2009, …
OZARK'S AUDREY CARLTON connects on a base hit.
Home runs are down, but Carlton still making her senior year 'a fun season'
By all accounts, Ozark all-state center fielder Audrey Carlton has been good about not putting undo pressure on herself. The only instance in which she felt anguished was at the beginning of …
CLEVER'S REX DETERS escapes pressure from Fair Grove defenders.
Jays in unfamiliar role as heavy favorites in home contest versus Hollister
Scouting Clever’s Week Seven home contest with Mid-Lakes Conference newcomer Hollister: Jays running back Quintin Lemmer rushed for a career-high 150 yards on 21 carries, or an average of …
OZARK'S MARCUS HEAVIN stops a Lebanon ball-carrier last week.
Tigers confident they can bounce back defensively for home finale with Glendale
Scouting Ozark’s COC East Division home contest with Glendale on Friday: Ozark's defense needs to rebound from an extremely subpar showing last week against Lebanon. It was surprising to …
NIXA'S DYLAN REBURA breaks through the Kickapoo defensive line.
Not resting on laurels, Eagles' prevailing sentiment is, 'We still have a lot to prove'
The COC schedule-maker gave Nixa his/her best shot, yet the Eagles breezed through their murderous six-week assignment with absolute ease. What was supposed to be a vicious stretch of games turned …
OZARK'S PARKER ELLIOTT hasn't missed a game since suffering a broken left thumb in Week One.
Tigers linebacker Elliott able to 'adapt and overcome' after suffering broken thumb
Parker Elliott is optimistic his left thumb will be at full strength in time for Ozark’s post-season run, if not as soon as the Tigers’ Backyard Brawl trip to Nixa. The senior middle …
Business
Firefighters from the Ozark Fire Protection District talk with Showcase Ozark attendees.

Showcase Ozark marks return of business expo to Ozark

The Showcase Ozark Business Expo was held last weekend on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. This year’s expo, held at the Ozark High School’s Ozark Innovation Center, marked the return of the business expo to Ozark after five years.

Help save a life at Showcase Ozark Community Expo Sept. 7

Dickerson Park Zoo and Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO), the sole supplier of blood, platelets and plasma to patients at 45 area healthcare facilities, are partnering together to help boost the region’s blood supply for local patients.

Carpenter Media Group acquires 16 titles and print facility from Phillips Media Group

Harrison, AR — Carpenter Media Group (CMG) and Phillips Media Group (PMG) announced on Aug. 30 they have reached an agreement for CMG to acquire PMG’s 16 community newspapers spread across Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois, as well as Nowata Printing Company in Springfield, Missouri.

Showcase Ozark Expo 2024 set to spotlight local businesses, community Sept. 7

The highly anticipated Showcase Ozark Expo is returning this year, bringing together local businesses, community leaders and residents for a day of celebration, networking and entertainment. Set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Ozark Schools Innovation Center at 1600 W. Jackson, Ozark, this year’s expo promises to be an incredible brand-new experience.

Ozark’s GW Coffee House receives grant

Main Street America, in a partnership with American Express’s Backing Small Businesses grant program supporting economically vulnerable and under-resourced small businesses with community reach, granted GW Coffee House in Ozark a $10,000 grant.
Education
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.
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 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.
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.
Opinion
Dear Friends and Neighbors of Nixa,
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