Ernest Albert Bilyeu, 87, passed away on Thursday, Dec.18, 2025, after a short illness. Ernest was born on Sept.14, 1938, in the hills of the Ozark Mountains. He was the second in line of six children born to Elmer and Pearl (House) Bilyeu, near the end of “The Great Depression”. Thus, he was a child of humble beginnings. His younger years were spent living on Pine Ridge, a wooded area just south of Chadwick, Mo. He graduated from Chadwick High School in 1957, where he was a member of the basketball team. more

After months of dedication, practice, and performance, Ozark High School is proud to announce that seven of its talented band students have been selected for the 2025 Missouri All-State Band. more

What would happen if Santa Claus came to Nixa for a day? The students of Chandler Ray, who teaches fourth grade at Espy Elementary, wrote about what they thought would happen if Santa made an appearance in town. Their stories appear below (Note: Stories have been lightly edited for clarity; most headlines were added). more

Nixa High School has been recognized as a Model Professional Learning Community (PLC) at Work School. The school received this honor from Solution Tree for its sustained success in raising student achievement. Nixa High School is one of about 600 schools and districts in the United States and Canada to receive this honor, and the sixth school in Nixa to earn this achievement. Out of the 54 schools in Missouri that have received PLC honors, only eight of them are high schools. And, eight of those 54 schools are from Nixa (including two Nixa promising practicing schools). more

Nixa Mayor Jared Giddens and Ozark Mayor Don Currence took part in the Salvation Army's Mayoral Bellringing Challenge on Thursday, Dec. 18, during which they each took a turn ringing a bell in front of Bass Pro Shops to collect donations for the Salvation Army. Besides Giddens and Currence, other mayors who took part in the challege were Caleb Smith, of Ash Grove; Eric Franklin, of Republic; and Ken McClure, former mayor of Springfield. All donations will go to benefit families in Greene and Christian County. more

We won't need to write or type 2025 many more times. Has anyone noticed how quickly 2025 has gone? And, where did last week go? All my plans didn't get finished. more

A Nixa man was booked into the Christian County Jail on Tuesday, Dec. 2, after it was alleged he attempted to entice an underage girl into sexual conduct. Travis John Griffin, 44, faces two counts of enticement or attempted enticement of a child. more

Applications are now open for the vacant position on the Christian County Library Board of Trustees representing the Ozark Area. more

Kris, a friend of mine who is also a fishing guide on local lakes, called me the other day and invited me to go crappie fishing with him. That was not unusual. We usually go together a couple of times every winter when his guiding business is slow. more

Diane Jean Rublee more

Heather Lucianna Coffman more

Barbara "Sue" Arnold more

Craig Lee Tanner more

Iola "Marzelle" Perkins more

Clark "Steve" Clark more

An Ozark man was sentenced to 40 years in prison four months after he was found guilty of first-degree statutory sodomy. Brian Russell Biggers, 49, received the sentence on Wednesday, Dec. 10. more

Charisa and Daniel Lynch announce the birth of their son, Jack Woodrow Lynch. Jack was born at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo., on Nov. 16 and weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Daniel, Charisa, and Jack reside in Ozark, Mo. more

The Ozark Square was aglow with Christmas lights and decorations during Friday Night Lights, the annual Christmas celebration hosted by the Historic River District and Christian County. The event included free train rides for children 12 and under, live music sung by students from the Nixa, Ozark, Spokane, and Sparta District, as well as students from HEYDAY, horse-drawn carriage rides, and the Holiday Cheer Challenge, where area first responders decorated their vehicles and attendees at the event voted on their favorite. more

Nixa High School students Hudson Angell, Jasmine Eisterhold, Declan O'Bryant, and Jackson Zahner-Esquivel for earned State Honors at Missouri All State Band Auditions more

WARRENSBURG, Mo. — When Musical Theatre major Rosalyn Schuster steps onto the stage at the University of Central Missouri’s (UCM) Fall 2025 Commencement, she won’t just be receiving her degree. She served as the undergraduate commencement speaker for the ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13, addressing graduates from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) and the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies (HCBPS). more

It’s going to seem strange to go to the Oldfield Opry and not see Mona Decor sitting in her special seat in the back. I knew she was getting kind of frail, but it was a shock to hear she had passed away. more

Here are pictures from Friday Night Lights, held on the Ozark Square on Friday, Dec. 12. All pictures by Steve Chapman. more

Michael Ray “Mike” Baxter, 72, of Nixa, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at his home. more

St. George’s Donuts, the cherished family-owned and operated business nearing its 55th anniversary, proudly announces the opening of a new location in Nixa. St. George’s Donuts proudly stands apart as a truly local, family-owned business—not a franchise. The ability to expand into Nixa is a direct result of the support from the community. more

Here is a collection of pictures from the 71st annual Nixa Christmas Parade. more