SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Clever, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for one count each of conspiracy to traffic firearms, trafficking firearms, and unlawful possession of firearms. more

Sharon entered the loving embrace of Jesus on June 15, 2026. more

Tommy Joe Thompson, age 76, of Nixa, passed away on June 16, 2026. more

Katherine Sue Swearengin more

NIXA, Mo. (June 18, 2026) – The Arvest Foundation has donated $20,000 to Children’s Smile Center in Aurora and Nixa. more

OZARK, MO — Summer is here, and so is one of the community’s favorite programs designed to keep kids reading all season long! Participating McDonald’s restaurants across the region are excited to bring back the Happy McReaders Summer Program, once again partnering with local libraries to encourage literacy and reward young readers. more

NIXA, Mo. — The Nixa Fire Protection District Board of Directors has voted to place a one percent fire district sales tax question on the August 2026 ballot, responding directly to community feedback following the November 2025 property tax levy election. If approved, the measure would also require an annual rollback of the property tax levy — providing property tax relief mandated by state law. more

Marianne Bergeson more

So sorry the computer and phone were both a mess last Sunday evening while I was trying to get news sent in. Computers are great when all goes good. They can sure confuse us sometimes. more

An Ozark teen won two awards when she took part in the Missouri Cadet Patrol Academy, held by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Jefferson City. Phoebe Cates, 16, won first place in the Women’s Physical Fitness test, and she also won the Ben Goodin Award, which she was given for displaying “overall character, excellence, and ethics” while at the academy. more

Barbara J. Jones more

As the celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday gets underway, my mind goes back 50 years to the Bicentennial celebrations of 1976. more

Vaunda Noreene (Long) Gardner, 94, Springfield, Mo., passed away June 4, 2026, at Cox Hospital, surrounded by family. more

James “J.C.” Smith more

Patrick Davis more

Alvin H. Griffith more

Mike Duane Stephenson more

In February, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced that Dalton Jones was a finalist in the competition for the National Merit scholarships to be awarded in 2026. Earlier this month, the NMSC made a new announcement; the recent Nixa High School graduate was awarded a National Merit scholarship to the University of Missouri-Columbia. more

The fourth annual One Read, One Nixa (ONOR), a community initiative designed to encourage everybody in Nixa to read a single book together, was kickstarted on Wednesday, May 27, with a block party at the Nixa branch of the Christian County Library. While three weeks have passed since this year’s ONOR has started, it’s not too late to take part in the event. Free copies of this year’s book, “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown, are available at the Nixa Library and Nixa City Hall, while supplies last. Limit one copy per family. more

A Sparta man was convicted of multiple felony sex crimes by a jury on Wednesday, June 3, following his trial at the Christian County Justice Center in Ozark. Bothomas Michael VanKirk, 37, was convicted of one count of First Degree statutory sodomy, two counts of First Degree child molestation, and one count of Second Degree child molestation. more

The Christian County Historical Society held Night at the Museum, their annual fundraiser, at the Christian County Museum on Friday, June 12. The event included a scavenger hunt, refreshments, a silent auction, and a presentation by Wayne Glenn, also known as “The Old Record Collector,” on musicians from Christian County. Attendees also had the opportunity to view the museum’s exhibits. more

A Sparta woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday, June 9, to one count of animal abuse and on count of animal neglect. Heather L. Lynn, about 41, was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation. As part of a plea agreement, seven counts of animal abuse and seven counts of animal neglect were dismissed. more

Social media has become an addiction for many people. Too much time is spent every day scrolling through smartphones. It can affect your nervous system and sleep habits. Negative news on television can also be a problem. more

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Jerry Lynn Lipe Michael, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, who died on June 12, 2026 in Springfield, Mo.. more

He had no servants, yet they called Him Master. He had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives. The greatest man in history is Jesus. more