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NIXA'S LANE MELTABARGER shoots over a Kickapoo defender Tuesday.
Meltabarger's timely scoring off of Nixa bench provides needed boost
Amidst all the skirmishes surrounding him, Nixa backup center Lane Meltabarger had no problem staying in his own lane Tuesday. Upon his entry in the Eagles’ victory versus Kickapoo, …
NIXA COACH BROCK BLANSIT huddles with his players following the Eagles' victory Tuesday.
Flint brothers at forefront of tight defense that leads to Eagles win over Kickapoo
It’s no coincidence Nixa’s Randy Flint has made a name for himself on the gridiron and the hardwood at the defensive end. His mother, Lisa, has taught him, ‘Defense …
OZARK'S CADEN HARRINGTON and the Tigers will host Class 4 District 3 Feb. 21-22.
Grapplers weigh pros and cons of being at home versus on the road when tipping scales
For Ozark seniors Caden Harrington, Keaton Hurst and Dayton Moison, they will be sleeping in their own beds during Districts for the third time in their careers.
Local News

Cynthia “Cindy” Elaine Gardner

Cynthia “Cindy” Elaine Gardner, age 51, of Billings, Mo., passed from this life on Feb. 1, 2025. She entered this life on Sept. 1, 1973, in Branson, Mo., the daughter of James Junior Lewallen, and Billie (Chase) Cody. Cindy was saved and baptized in the spring of 1996 at Verona Baptist church in Verona, Missouri.
Blake Deepe, 12, is currently fighting Leukemia at the Mercy Children's Hospital in Kansas City. Midwest Marruci Baseball has started a GoFundMe page to help his family while he fights cancer.

GoFundMe page raising funds for 12-year-old battling Leukemia

Midwest Marruci Baseball (MMB), a competitive baseball program in Ozark, is raising money to help the family of one of their youth ball players with a GoFundMe page.

LIBRARY EVENTS

The following events are happening at your local library in February. For more information or to register, please call 417-724-6100 or visit christiancountylibrary.org/newsletter

Community Calendar

Repeating Events:

Chadwick News

We are not looking forward to this week's weather forecast. There is a lot going on in the schedule, and bad roads are not good for that. But we are luckier than most places around the U.S.
News

February is Earthquake Awareness Month in Missouri with emphasis on preparedness

JEFFERSON CITY – It’s been an active year for earthquakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), with 293 minor quakes reported in the past 12 months. Though most were too small to be felt, they are an important reminder that southeast Missouri is located in the heart of the NMSZ, which generated some of the most powerful earthquakes ever to jolt the nation.
Besides being Christian County’s top cop, Sheriff Brad Cole is also an auctioneer. Here, he auctions off a gold necklace from Mitchum Jewelers to help raise funds for the Ozark Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Steve Chapman

Community members honored, memories shared at Ozark Community Awards Banquet

Attendees at the Ozark Community Awards Banquet, held at the Ozark Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 8, enjoyed an evening of fun and festivity as they gathered to honor teachers, first responders, and others who made outstanding contributions to the community in 2024. In addition to the awards, the highlights of the evening included a catered dinner, the traditional game of Heads & Tails, and a live auction.
Kingston Todd, 16 (left), and Bryce Rhodes, 18, along with an unnamed 15-year-old juvenile, face multiple charges stemming from the shooting that left a man dead in Dupo, Ill. on Monday, Feb. 3.

Nixa teen Todd accused in shooting of Illinois man

A Nixa teen is one of three people who have been arrested in the Feb. 3 shooting of a man in Dupo, Ill. Kingston Todd, 16, is charged as an adult with First Degree murder, possession of a firearm without a firearm owner’s identification (FOID), and forgery. Also arrested was Bryce Rhodes, 18, of Festus, Mo., who was charged with unlawful sale of a firearm, possession of a firearm without FOID, and obstructing justice. A 15-year-old juvenile, who was not identified, was charged with First Degre murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and possession of a firearm without FOID.

Flight Risk

I notice that I’ve given a “C” rating to every movie I’ve reviewed in 2025. That’s four straight times I’ve basically said that the movie, while not worth writing off entirely, isn’t worth recommending. I even split the review last weekend and gave out two “C” ratings. Director Mel Gibson’s “Flight Risk” ends the “C” streak. It doesn’t end the streak by earning my recommendation, but by being a movie that I feel is indeed worth writing off.
A mother opossum carries her brood on her back.

Opossums

Springtime in nature has fostered creativity in songwriters for generations. As a result, people have long been able to mark the end of winter by listening to lyrics about April showers, May flowers, and robins that are bobbin.’ However, you won’t find any songs about ’possums having young in the spring. That’s probably due to the fact that, of the several emotions opossums evoke from humans, musical admiration isn’t one of them. Quite the contrary – most people find their sneering facial expressions disgusting, their lumbering gait clumsy, and their overall appearance repulsive.
Guyer
Guyer two-time SWMO individual winner and anchor on winning 400 free relay
Ozark’s Brooke Guyer was a three-time winner at the SWMO Swimming Championships over the weekend. Guyer swam away from the field while winning the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle. …
SPOKANE'S KASEN BLAUE fends off a Marionville defender while receiving a pass.
Owls make 11 3-pointers, but squander 11-point, third-quarter lead in 49-47 loss
As badly as the final sequence in Spokane’s 51-49 loss to Marionville on Saturday played out, the Owls feel they’ll be better off for it. Ditto for Spokane’s 61-58 victory …
OZARK'S DAYTON MOISON gains the upper hand on his opponent en route to a 12-0 victory Thursday.
Moison committed to competing in pain, as he has most of his Tigers career
Dayton Moison is determined to try to make a return to State, despite his doctor’s orders. Ozark’s 175-pounder has been competing the last several weeks with an injured left hip, …
OZARK'S KEATON HURST works on top in his 126-pound match Thursday.
Hurst gains redemption as all six Ozark seniors collect 'Senior Night' victory
Ozark’s Keaton Hurst didn’t necessarily want to call his rematch with Carthage’s Caden Groom on Thursday a must-win. But his ‘Senior Night’ victory provided him …
NIXA'S JAISE COMBS finds a path to the basket in between two Joplin defenders during Throwback Tuesday at Faught Gym.
Nixa players, coaches and fans treasure chance to connect to school's past
Nixa’s Faught Gym hosted high school hoops Tuesday for the first time in more than 50 years, giving today’s Eagles a glimpse of the past from their grandparents’ generation. …
NIXA'S ADAM MCKNIGHT gets ready to go one-on-one with a Joplin defender Tuesday.
McKnight free-throw shooting helps Nixa put away Joplin in second half
Nixa coach Brock Blansit sounds like a baseball coach referring to a pitcher throwing in the early innings, while talking about opponents sending Adam McKnight to the free-throw line.   …
Business

Developing Christian County Professionals

The Nixa Chamber of Commerce is holding a Resumé workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 3:30 p.m. at the Nixa Community Branch Library, 208 N McCroskey St.

Community Calendar

Repeating Events:

MU Extension Christian County Office Elections

The Christian County sector of the University of Missouri Extension is holding elections for council members. Voting begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, and ends at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Makeover Monday

Nixa Chamber of Commerce will hold a Makeover Monday on Jan. 27 between 5 and 7 p.m.

MDC seeks public input on regulation changes for walleye and sauger

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is seeking public comments through Jan. 31, 2025, on a proposed regulation change for walleye and sauger fishing. The change would allow anglers statewide to take and possess these species during spring spawning months before sunrise and after sundown.
Education
Have you ever wondered what your student will do when they finish high school? What job, what career, what are the employment options? Is college or technical school an option? Will they live with others? Will they need support or will they live independently?
One of Missouri’s larger birds of prey is a common, yet interesting, winter wildlife sighting for people who drive along the area’s gravel roads and highways.
Freshmen students at Nixa High School got to hear about one of the worst chapters in World history from a person who lived through part of it. Erika Schwartz, who survived the Holocaust, spoke to the students at the Aetos Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Lena Irene Stewart, a former Nixa High School teacher, managed to avoid prison time with a plea bargain that saw her plead guilty on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, to a single amended charge of Second Degree sexual abuse, a Class A misdemeanor, for which she was given a suspended imposition of sentence and two years of supervised probation. In return for her guilty plea, six other counts against Stewart, including three counts of sexual contact with a student, two counts of Second Degree statutory sodomy, and one count of First Degree sexual misconduct, were dismissed.
The Ozark School District is excited to announce the promotion of Dr. Anna Thurman from Director of Interventions to Executive Director of Student Services for the 2025-26 school year. This promotion not only recognizes Thurman’s leadership and dedication but also reflects a strategic realignment of responsibilities that will result in cost savings for the district.
Opinion
My husband Tom once accused me of being unromantic. As much as I hate to admit it, I think he might be right.
Charlie and Pete, the sequel
Remember when a nickel would buy a bottle of Coca-Cola?
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