Jason Madura more

Joseph Robert Gawel, age 89 of Ozark, passed away on July 11, 2025. He was born April 18, 1936, in Chicago, the son of Frank and Victoria (Pindora) Gawel. more

Ozark and Nixa combined have eight 2025 grads, four apiece, who are going to extend their athletic careers at the NCAA D-I level. more

There was no end to the fun during the Sertoma Duck Race Festival, held June 19-20 at Finley River Park. Thousands came to the event, which included the Duck Waddle 5K, a craft fair, live music and a cornhole tournament. Spectators gathered along the Finley to watch the festival’s signature event, the Duck Race, after which they returned to the center stage to watch a pie-eating contest. more

James Wesley Martin (Jim), aged 88, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on June 27, 2025. He left behind a legacy of kindness, warmth, and a life well lived. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend to all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Sylvia (Tibby), his children, Michael Martin (Karin), Shelly Montgomery (Rowdy), Barry Martin (Monique) and Melissa Long (Brian), and his grandchildren, Hope, Grant and Jake Martin, McKenna and Logan Montgomery and Carter Long. more

Nixa, MO., The McCauley Foundation, in partnership with Nixa Junior High's student-led horticulture program, delivered 400 heads of freshly harvested romaine lettuce to Least Of These, Inc., Christian County's only full-service food pantry. This generous donation from the collaborative Tower Farm effort represents more than just produce—it represents a sustainable future and hope for families facing food insecurity. more

My name is Richard Rice. I live (on) ... E. Stoneridge Drive. I am a 72-year-old Vietnam Veteran with a service-connected disability that makes sleeping difficult. I walk our subdivision streets (Stoneridge), sometimes numerous times at night to relieve my pain. Over the past year, more and more of our streetlights have become defective to the point where more of them don’t work than do. I have visited with neighbors and our HOA about the issue. The HOA and several neighbors have called the City of Ozark, only to be told that Liberty Utilities is responsible for the lights, call them. Calls to them do not result in the lights being repaired, and we as residents have no leverage to change that. We don’t pay for streetlights with our monthly Liberty Utility bill, but the City of Ozark does. We do, however, pay our taxes which are designed to provide us with fundamental services such as streets, sidewalks, and STREETLIGHTS. more

Recently, I was thinking about the front porch at the old farmhouse where I grew up. One of the things I remembered was the big front porch. We spent lots of time there when I was a kid. There was no air conditioning back then. During the summer, we spent time out there at the end of the day after chores were done. more

A Nixa man who was found guilty in May of murdering his wife has been sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years. Todd Blankenship, 52, received the sentence at a hearing in the Platte County Circuit Court on Wednesday, July 2. more

A Nixa woman died on Wednesday, July 2, when the motorcycle on which she was riding failed to negotiate a roundabout and crashed. more

Though it wasn’t as devastating as the thunderstorms that came through the area between May 23 and May 25, a cluster of thunderstorms that swept through Christian County on Sunday, June 29, caused considerable damage. According to the National Weather Service, the storms produced wind gusts of up to 65 miles per hour, which knocked over trees and downed power lines. more

The Nixa Public Schools Board of Education was among 23 Missouri school boards that earned the Missouri School Boards’ Association’s 2025 Governance Team Award. This prestigious award is based on the outstanding commitment of the school board and superintendent to ongoing professional development in effective governance practices. The award also recognizes their commitment to regional and statewide leadership and to active participation in legislative advocacy for public schools and the students they serve. more

Sara Lee Thornton more

I feel so sad for all the many folks who have been in the huge flood in Texas. Those can happen so quickly and without warning. Swan Creek can get dangerous sometimes, but nothing compared to the Texas Flood. more

Hazel Hursh, 93, of Chadwick, Missouri, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2025. Hazel was born on April 1, 1932, in Chadwick, Mo., to Raymond and Myrtle (Jones) Shipman. She met the love of her life, Joe Hursh, and they were married on June 3, 1950. They shared 37 years of marriage before Joe’s passing in 1987. Together, they had two daughters—Connie, who died in infancy, and Pat. more

One of the most popular pastimes during Independence Day is to shoot off fireworks. For those living inside the city limits of Ozark, Nixa, Sparta, and other Christian County municipalities, city ordinances regulate when fireworks can be used. more

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Houston, Texas man was sentenced in federal court on Tuesday, June 24 for his role in bank burglary and bank theft conspiracies involving the theft of United States currency from an automated teller machine (ATM) in Ozark, Mo. more

On June 21st, the Nixa High School Class of 1975 celebrated their 50-year reunion at the Fremont Hills Country Club. Thirty-three of the original ninety-one classmates attended with their guests. There were three of the class teachers present: Joe Melton, Muriel Wood, and Hosea Bilyeu. Time was spent honoring the 13 classmates who have passed and honoring the service of the 14 men and women who had served in all four branches of the US Armed Forces. All of the class officers were present: Joe Pruitt, Jane Alldredge Kreider, and Carol Plank Asberry. There were several games, lots of visiting and catching up, cash prizes, and fantastic food. more

Cindy Lou Coble more

In the article “Christian County gather for balloon glow,” which appeared in theJuly 25 edition the Headliner, it was stated that the Sertoma Duck Race Festival is a fundraiser for the Children’s Smile Center, and that the Hot Air Balloon Glow was part of the duck race festival. In fact, the festival is a community event that raises support for children's charities in Christian County. The Children’s Smile Center is one of the beneficiaries of this event. Other beneficiaries include: Care to Learn Ozark, Dogwood Ranch, Least of These, Ozark HS JROTC program, the Ozark Senior Center, and CCCC Sertoma. more

Elena Acker more

A vehicle crashed into Piccolo, an Italian restaurant in Nixa, on Sunday, June 29, at around 8:30 a.m. more

Another day, more money spent. I may need to spend more time off the road. Of course, I spend the most money on the farm ( a place I love). more

A young black bear was discovered in Nixa on Monday, June 16. more

When Mailyn Marsh was four, she entered her first beauty pageant. more