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OZARK'S GANNON MILLER applies a late tag of a Catholic baserunner at home plate.
Tigers can't continue run parade in 6-2 home setback at hands of Catholic
Outfielder Marcus Heavin could relate to the tough luck the great majority of his Ozark teammates endured Wednesday. The Tigers didn’t strike out once, but managed a modest five hits while …
OZARK'S AUDREY CARLTON makes a pass against Joplin on Tuesday.
Lady Tigers' shutout streak to five, while Kondracki nets third career hat trick
Chloe Kondracki and her Ozark teammates continued their bid Tuesday to make their mark in the Lady Tigers’ annuals. Kondracki recorded her second hat trick this season and the third of her …
NIXA'S KEIVON FLINT NAD TROY HUFF team up for a exchange in the 4 x 100 relay.
Eagles gain victory and redemption with improved hand-offs in 4 x 100 relay
SPRINGFIELD — Nixa’s Randy and Keivon Flint, along with Troy Huff, bounced back in a hurry to team with Jax Adams for a first-place finish in the 4 x 100 relay at the Jim Vaughan Invitational on Friday.
Local News
Medical, check and doctor with person and throat in hospital for cancer, sick and surgery. Medicine, healthcare and consulting with woman and patient in clinic for wellness, virus and oral exam

Delta Dental of Missouri spotlights preventive practices to reduce oral cancer risk

Nearly 50,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year, and approximately 25% have no known risk factors,1 which emphasizes the vital need to watch for warning signs and make healthy life choices. In recognition of April being Oral Cancer Awareness Month, Delta Dental of Missouri – a non-profit organization and the state’s leading dental benefits provider and oral health philanthropist – is reminding Missourians about preventive practices to help reduce the risk of oral cancer.

BBB Tips: Beware of texts impersonating toll agencies

If you’re hitting the road any time soon, make sure you keep track of your tolls. Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) has recently seen a wave of reports about phishing text messages that impersonate road toll collection services to trick people into paying for fake outstanding tolls.

Tips for hunting wild turkeys safely

This year, as is the case every year, safety is the most important component of Missouri’s spring turkey season.
Steven Browning, of Sparta, is booked into the Douglas County Jail after being taken into custody. Photos taken from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

Sparta’s Browning arrested after allegedly ramming police vehicles

A Sparta man is in custody in Douglas County after he allegedly rammed several police vehicles while being pursued by law enforcement. Steven Browning, 48, is charged with three counts of first-degree assault - serious physical injury or special victim, three counts of armed criminal action, one count of fleeing a stop or detention - causes physical injury, one count of possession of a controlled substance, one count of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and one count of driving while intoxicated.
Adeline Jennings, 9, and her little brother Finley, 4, children of Alicyn Jennings, play a specially designed video game at the Nixa D.A.R.E. vehicle while Nixa D.A.R.E. Officer Brent Forgey. The vehicle was specially designed and built by Forgey. All photos by Steve Chapman.

Service learning project gives Nixa residents a hands-on experience

Nixa residents had the opportunity to see several service vehicles up close at the first annual Hands On Nixa, a service-learning project organized by the Nixa High School JROTC, on Saturday, April 12. About 1,000 people attended the event.
News
OZARK'S KANNON WILLIAMS receives the baton in the 4 x 200 relay.

Eagles have three relays capture first-place finish

SPRINGFIELD — Nixa finished first in three relays at the Jim Vaughan Invitational on Friday.
Newly-retired Christian County Deputy Sheriff Bill Whitaker retired on Wednesday, April 2 after more than 40 years in law enforcement. Pictures courtesy of the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.

Whitaker retires after four decades of service

Christian County Deputy Sheriff and D.A.R.E. Officer Bill Whitaker officially retired on Wednesday, April 2, after a four-decade-long career in law enforcement. Whitaker got his start with the Springfield Police Department, and he transferred over to the Christian County Sheriff’s Office in 2009. In his retirement, Whitaker plans to spend more time with his grandchildren and catching up on projects around his house. He won’t completely disappear from law enforcement, however; he plans to remain with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office as a reserve officer.

Chadwick News

That old wind just keeps on blowing and moving things around. When I look out and things look strange, it is because that was either in the backyard or maybe out in the field the day before.
A young egg hunter poses for a picture with the Easter Bunny during the Sparta Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12. The Easter Bunny was a guest of honor at the event. (Photos by Steve Chapman)

Sparta Easter egg hunt features eggs, prizes, candy

The Sparta Park Board held their annual Easter Egg Hunt at Roller Park on Saturday, April 12. About 150 children vied for a share of 17,000 candy and prize-filled plastic eggs in the park. Participants took part in the egg hunt in one of five categories: Special needs, ages 0-1, ages 2-4, ages 5-7 and ages 8 and up. Those who found special tickets in their eggs were able to claim additional prizes. Children were also treated to a special visit from the Easter Bunny.
Photo courtesy of Nixa Public Schools.

Nixa Students Recognized by NBCU

Congratulations to the EagleAir staff for being recognized in NBCU Academy's nationwide student broadcast news contest. Freshmen Alexander Eggleston, Scarlett Mahy, and Dusty Stewart won a 6th Place Finalist award for Outstanding Video News Report from the NBCU Academy contest called The Edit. The contest required students to create a video news package centered around the subject of "wellness," using the Adobe Express video editing app. Their news package focused on how students can balance screen time with overall health. The Edit Spring 2025 contest received submissions from schools across the United States, with registrations from over 600 teachers representing more than 23,000 students.
Local Sports

As recruiting nears end, Cantwell looks to amp up training and enjoy 'breakthrough'

NIXA'S JACKSON CANTWELL heaves the shot put at the Jim Vaughan Invitational in Springfield.
Jackson Cantwell was proud of himself for emerging from perhaps the first slump of his Nixa career and taking first place in the shot put at Parkview’s Jim Vaughan Invitational on Friday.
NIXA'S HAYDEN MAYS watches the flight of his throw in the shot put.
Fresh from first-place effort, Mays happy to already have established new PR in discus
SPRINGFIELD — Hayden Mays is encouraged to throwing the discus in mid-April this season even better than he did in late May a year ago.
OZARK'S HUDSON ROBERTS and the Tigers are at Carl Junction on Monday and Joplin on Tuesday.
Return of Roberts, Sutton from injuries allows them to add to Tigers' winning ways
Ozark welcomed back shortstop Hudson Roberts and first baseman Rylan Sutton last week in time for them to contribute mightily as the Tigers won five of seven games to improve to 12-4. Roberts …
OZARK'S KANNON WILLIAMS races to a first in the 200 Friday.
Williams, Flint excited to see the results their friendly rivalry will produce
SPRINGFIELD — After training together in the off-season, Ozark’s Kannon Williams and Nixa’s Randy Flint are looking forward more than ever to what promises to be a classic long-term …
OZARK'S RYLAN SUTTON AND COOPER PUMPHREY celebrate a Sutton home run.
Heavin and Sutton trigger pair of rallies as Ozark extends its winning streak to 10
Rylan Sutton changed his day in a big way Thursday, thanks to Ozark coach Justin Sundlie changing his response to adversity. After striking out in his first at-bat, Sutton ripped his first …
OZARK'S EVAN GROWCOCK follows through on a tee shot.
Growcock enjoys exceptional day on tee box as Tigers take second at Rumble
With repeated 15 mph gusts of wind Thursday, it was just another day on the golf course for Evan Growcock. But off the tee box, it was a welcomed breakthrough for the Ozark junior. Growcock hit …
NIXA'S NOAH SCHIMAN watches the flight of his tee shot during the Rumble on the River at Rivercut Golf Course on Thursday
Schiman shows off improved ball-striking while helping Eagles win Rumble title
Noah Schiman and Aiden Clay combined for a pair of eagles as Nixa totaled a 16-under par 56 in a scramble format to win the Rivercut Rumble on Thursday. A highlight for the Eagles was Schiman …
Business

BBB identity theft investigation: Losses rise as AI tools and dark web sites change landscape

Since 2021, identity and information theft reports to BBB Scam Tracker SM have totaled more than 16,600 and monetary losses are rising, according to a new study by the Better Business Bureau’s® International Investigations Initiative.

Missouri’s Tax Holiday Creates Savings and Generates Business Growth

JEFFERSON CITY, MO — The Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday returns this spring, giving Missourian’s the opportunity to save money on select purchases while stimulating economic activity in the state.

BBB Tips: Digital spring cleaning helps protect your personal information

You may be making plans to clean up the physical clutter in your house this spring, but what about the digital clutter on your devices? Better Business Bureau® (BBB®)’s tips for digital spring cleaning can help protect your important files and personal information.

BBB Tips: Research storm repair contractors carefully

St. Louis, Mo., - Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) warns consumers to be on the lookout for unscrupulous storm-chasing contractors.
Chris Barr, owner of Smoke N Sizzle, holds up the scissors after cutting the ribbon at the ceremony marking his business’s membership with the Nixa Chamber of Commerce. Smoke N Sizzle is located at 210 N. Massey Blvd., call (417)370-8996, or visit their Facebook page for more information. Photo courtesy of the Nixa Chamber of Commerce.

Nixa Chamber of Commerce welcomes two businesses

The Nixa Chamber of Commerce welcomed two businesses as new members of the Chamber with ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Wednesday, March 19. The first ribbon cutting was held at Smoke-N-Sizzle, a barbecue wholesale and supply store. Owner Chris Barr said that they sell smokers, wood pellets, rubs and sauces, and “everything you need to be a backyard champion.”
Education
The Ozark Chamber of Commerce will hold the 2025 Showcase Ozark Community Expo at the Ozark Innovation Center on Saturday, April 19. The event is free and open to the public
Christian County voters approved Ambulance District Property Tax Relief, a ballot measure that the Christian County Ambulance District put forth on the ballot for the election held on Tuesday, April 8. During the election, 2,770 people, or 52.29 percent of the voters, cast “Yes” votes for the proposition, while 2,527 people, or 47.71 percent of those who voted, cast “No” votes.
Congratulations to our Ozark Tigers who are retiring! They were recognized during an all-staff meeting April 7. We are so thankful for their many years of service! Combined, they have more than 500 years of service in education. We will miss them and wish them the best of luck in the future.
Abigail Conrad of Nixa was among 225 University of Nebraska-Lincoln undergraduate students officially admitted to teacher education programs during the 2024-25 academic year who were recognized at the second annual Teacher Education Convocation on April 4 at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall. Conrad is a sophomore in the elementary education program.
Opinion
In 1995, I got my first job after college from a "help wanted" ad posted in a newspaper's classified ads. (Remember those?) The headline on the ad said they were looking for an "aspiring journalist" to serve as assistant to the newspaper's executive editor. At the time, I didn't know if I was aspiring to be a journalist, but I was aspiring to pay rent and buy food. I was aspiring to put my newly earned English degree to good use.
It was dusk on an evening in mid-April several years ago. My wife and I were at our cabin near Mark Twain National Forest. I was on a hilltop where I could see something I had heard about from our neighbors. A rarely seen bird called the woodcock.
For over 43 years, I was in the pharmacy industry owning a 26-store pharmacy chain. I saw local families come in every day, getting medications to help with their health needs. Increasingly, I and many others in this industry were seeing patients – people we have grown to care for deeply – struggling with a new challenge: opioid addiction. It is a constant struggle to look out for fake prescriptions, watch for signs of abuse, and defend our stores from theft.
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