(OZARK, MO) – Least Of These, Inc. added Angela Hudson to lead its team of nonprofit professionals. She will serve in the role of executive director. more

Ozark, Mo. – John and Tonya Claybrook and family of Highlandville were among the Missouri families honored at the 68th annual Missouri Farm Family Day on Aug. 11 during the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. more

The Nixa Fire Protection District (NFPD) put out a structure fire on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 21, with the aid of neighboring fire protection districts and other first responders. more

A Sparta native who served his country as an aviation warrant officer in the United States Army was killed in an “aircraft mishap” on Wednesday, Sept. 17. U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew Cully, 35, was one of four men killed in the mishap. Also killed were: U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew Kraus, 39, of Sanibel, Fla.; U.S. Army Sgt. Donavon Scott, 24, of Tacoma, Wash., and U.S. Army Sgt. Jadalyn Good, 23, of Mount Vernon, Wash. The crash happened near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. more

Nixa narrowly defeated Ozark in the Community Challenge Blood Drive on Thursday, Sept. 25. more

Frances Marie Vanhorn more

In 2024, there were 194 Missouri traffic crashes involving farm equipment/implements. In those crashes, two people were killed and 65 were injured. Missouri has entered the fall harvest season and it’s important that drivers and farmers pay attention and share the road. Farmers and motorists are likely to encounter each other on any roadway, at any time of the day or night. Whether you are driving a vehicle or operating farm machinery, these crashes can be prevented by paying attention to the full-time job of driving and obeying all traffic laws. more

We can say goodbye to another month. Most of us appreciate the rain we got; some got more than others. Things look green. The grass has grown just enough to make us think it is better. more

Christian County residents who wish to contribute to the Pooper Troopers’ Diaper Drive can do so at the Harter House located at 815 W. Kenneth Street in Nixa. The drive, which has a goal of collecting 25,000 diapers to support organizations that help families in need. Harter House in Nixa is one of nine locations across the Ozarks, and the only one in Christian County, where donations are being accepted. more

An Ozark man is in custody after he allegedly killed a woman by repeatedly striking her. Derrick Bryton Alling, about 37, faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action. more

Nixa Journalism students have earned the top George H. Gallup Award from the Quill & Scroll International Honor Society for High School Journalists. The multimedia evaluation offered a judge's critique on Nixa Journalism's multi-level approach to news coverage, led by the students of Wingspan magazine, along with NixaJournalism.net, EagleAir TV, the Eagle yearbook and students in the Introduction to Journalism classes. The prestigious Gallup Award is presented to high school journalism programs that earn the top ranking of "Superior" in all five judging categories: General Practices; Coverage; Writing and Editing; Visuals; and Digital. The award is based on work published during the 2024-25 school year. Among the judge's comments: more

Ozark’s sweep of Kickapoo last week serves as the top highlight thus how far Kezi Lopez has asserted herself as a first-year starter and opposite outside hitter to all-stater Tara Venable. more

Tara Venable wasted no time redeeming herself while helping Ozark to a 25-20, 25-20, 29-27 sweep against Kickapoo on Thursday. more

A Nixa man was recognized as one of the six people the Missouri Public Transit Association (MPTA) recognized with an award earlier this month. Jerry Browning was given the association’s Missouri Transit Operator Champion Award at the Missouri Transit Conference, held in Kansas City in early September, according to a press release from the MPTA. more

For the sixth consecutive year, the mayors of Nixa and Ozark are teaming up with Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) to host the Mayors Challenge Blood Drive on Thursday, September 25. This friendly competition between the two cities aims to see which community can rally the most blood donors, with a traveling trophy awarded to the city with the highest turnout. more

Brenda Sue (Conn) Ward more

Carrie Lavon Cunningham McGinnis more

Nixa Public Schools celebrated the unveiling of the new Apex Activity Center with a ribbon-cutting hosted by the district and the Nixa Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Sept. 18. The ceremony gave the school district a chance to show off its newest facility. more

The Friendship Club is having their September meeting one week late this month because of scheduling. Quilting will be for the afternoon. A new quilt was put in the frames last week. This one is big, but very simple to quilt. more

The acapella group Filharmonic gave a performance at the Aetos Center at Nixa High School (NHS) on Friday, Sept. 12. The group performed a variety of music, including blues, hip-hop, pop, rock, and more. more

Finley River Community Foundation (FRCF), an affiliate of Community Foundation of the Ozarks, announces its 2025-2026 board and leadership. more

John Henry Edmiston, 79, of Ozark, Mo., passed away on Sept. 9, 2025. He was born on March 17, 1946, to Paul and Martha Edmiston. more

Michael Edward Pace passed away on September 11, 2025, from complications related to Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a disease he had bravely battled and had been in remission from. He was a fighter to the end. The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Ankur Varma, M.D., and Juan Carlos Rico Crescencio, M.D., as well as the entire UAMS team in Little Rock, Ark., for the exemplary care Mike received. more

This past August, I proudly cast my first ballot as a newly registered voter in Missouri. Barely a month later, I find myself watching state leaders dismantle the very representative democracy I believe in. more

I was walking along a gravel bar while fishing a creek when I saw it. The sun was shining on it like a beacon, guiding me to it. I knelt, picked it up, and held it gently in my hand. It was a Native American arrowhead. more