It's the key to worldwide exploration, and it fits in your pocket. Each September, the Christian County Library collaborates with preschools, daycares, elementary, middle and high schools across the county for National Library Card Sign-Up Month. The goal of this initiative is to increase library access for families. more

Robert Patrick “Pat” O’Neil, age 86, of Nixa, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Nov. 1, 2025. He was born on April 10, 1939, to Guy and Thelma (Wilcox) O’Neil. more

Ozarks Food Harvest is partnering with more than 60 local grocers for the 27th annual Check Out Hunger campaign to help families provide plentiful meals for their loved ones this holiday season. The campaign began on Nov. 1 and will continue through Dec. 31. more

Linda Kay Hercules more

Ozark High School is proud to announce that five students — Carson Sandgren, Caleb Lippert, Alexandra Fletcher, Evan Growcock, and Alan Shih — have been recognized by the College Board National Recognition Program for their academic excellence and outstanding performance on the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and AP Exams. more

The Cosmopolitan Club of Ozark will hold their 18th annual Ozark Community Crafts Festival at the Ozark Community Center on Friday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 15. Over 100 vendors are expected to set up booths to sell their wares. more

On Nov. 4, Ozark kindergarten teachers became the students as literacy consultant, author and curriculum designer Jennifer Burns led a live classroom lesson. Burns taught a group of kindergarten students while teachers observed, took notes and gathered ideas. more

On the heels of the recent Halloween Trunk or Treat, the Ozark downtown square is giving off a holiday vibe. City workers recently set up the square's traditional Christmas decorations, and 28 students from Ozark High School painted the windows of the buildings along the square with cheerful, holiday scenes. And for those who are in the mood to help the less fortunate enjoy the holidays, drop-off boxes for toys, coats, and canned food items can be found on the east side of the square. Also, be sure to be at the square to catch the 60th annual Ozark Chamber Christmas Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, and Friday Night Lights on Friday, Dec. 12. more

The American Legion Post 34 honored area veterans on Saturday, Nov. 8, with a ceremony outside the X Center in Nixa. The event included patriotic music, a demonstration of the folding of the American Flag, and comments by the keynote speaker, Lt. Col. Richard Floer, Jr. (ret.). During his speech, Floer spoke about the unique qualities veterans possess and how they can bring those into any endeavor. more

Among other things that made me happy this week were that Randy and Brandy got my garage door repaired, and Steven and Emmily Greene got my hay delivered that I bought back in August. That has lessened my stress level a lot. The hot dry spell made pastures go away, and made livestock very restless more

Clever wins District semifinal against St. James, page 9 more

Nixa, Clever football teams both will play for District championship, see Sports more

Robert “Bob” H. Mulder, age 80, of Ozark, Mo., passed away on Friday, October 31, 2025, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo.. Bob was born to Mildred Platt on May 12,1945, in St. Louis, Mo., and was raised in Chicago, Ill. by his loving adoptive parents, William and Harriet Mulder. He graduated from Morgan Park High School in 1963. Bob was united in marriage to Beth Van Lier on January 7, 1967, in Chicago, spending 58 years together. He proudly served as a medic in the United States Army for three years during the Vietnam War, before his medical, honorable discharge. The couple were blessed with two children, Lisa and Paul. more

The Nixa McDonald’s team proudly announces that General Manager Destiney Klinkhamer has been named a recipient of the Global Ray Kroc Award, an elite recognition reserved for the top one percent of McDonald’s restaurant leaders nationwide. more

Recently, my wife and I were having our blood work done before an upcoming six-month checkup with our doctor. As we sat there waiting to hear our names called, I looked around the big waiting room packed with people. more

Alice Jane Blanchard more

Deborah Lou Mills more

Every child deserves a place to play, and now, thanks to a new accessible playground and an update to the existing playground at Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center, that vision is becoming a reality. Students have been playing on the new spaces for weeks, but the school officially celebrated this milestone in inclusion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 29. more

Hazel Marie McCafferty more

The Christian County Extension Office is excited to host a Kids Sewing Class for children ages 10-16 on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own Christmas stockings, with all materials provided. Sewing machines will be available for use, making this a hands-on experience for young aspiring sewists. more

Nominations are being accepted for the 2026 election of the Christian County University of Missouri Extension Council members, which will take place Jan. 24-29. more

At the time this article was being written, the shutdown of the U.S. Government caused by Congress’s failure to pass a funding bill for the Fiscal Year 2026 remained in effect, and the Nov. 1 deadline for SNAP benefits to lapse due to a lack of funding had passed. While it was reported that two federal judges had ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to continue to fund SNAP, it was not immediately clear if and when that would happen. more

Halloween is a popular occasion in Christian County, and this year, there was a bounty of events centered around the spooky holiday, including trunk-or-treats, harvest parties, fall festivals, and more. In the week leading up to Halloween, the Nixa X-Center held its Halloween Spooktacular on Friday, Oct. 24, while the Ozark Community Center held its Frightfest the next evening. Both events, which included Halloween games, activities, and of course, lots of candy, easily saw attendances of over 2,000 people. more

There was a call from my sister, Hester, last week to invite me, along with other members of her family, to a gathering at the Springfield Airport to welcome home the Honor Flight from Washington, D.C. one night last week. Her husband, Mac, was to be one of the flight members (I was unable to go). Reports are that it was a great trip and a great evening. Mac's daughter, Cindy, had gone with him on the trip. It was a trip to be remembered by everyone who was involved. Mac had some medical issues not so very long ago and was pretty tired from such a big day. Hopefully, they got a recording of (the entire) event. Mac had served in the Vietnam War. Herter's twin granddaughters loved hearing his stories. They are at the right age to write some stories more

Jennifer Marie Schurke more