A Douglas County deputy’s attempt to pull over a suspected stolen vehicle on Wednesday, Jan. 8 turned into a car chase that spanned three counties and ended in Sparta with assistance from Christian County deputies. The driver of the suspect vehicle, Janissa Wilson, 29, of Half-Way, Mo., is charged with 18 felony counts related to the pursuit, including 15 counts of First Degree assault or attempt, aggravated fleeing a stop or detention, possession of a controlled substance and First Degree property damage. more

Age: 82 more

Daniel Ray Davis, age 74, of Mt. Vernon, Mo., went to his heavenly home on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Danny was born on July 25, 1950, in Springfield, Mo. to his parents, Dave and Esther Davis. more

John Lineberry passed away on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, at the age of 75. John went peacefully in his sleep. He was born in Chillicothe, Missouri on March 23, 1949, to John “Jack” and Lorraine Lineberry. He grew up on the family farm in Hale, Missouri. After graduating high school, John joined the United States Navy, where he proudly served for four years on the John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier. more

Teddy Keith White more

Tami Jo Smith more

Michael Kram of Ozark, Missouri, fondly known as "Mike" to his friends and family, and Pepaw to his grand and great-grandkids. Michael Kram was born to Paul and Joan Kram on May 19, 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri. Mike lived in several places throughout his life, but his heart always took him to the forests of Ozark, Mo., where he passed away on Dec. 28, 2024, at the age of 72. more

Repeating Events: more

Dec. 19 more

Saul was the self-professed Pharisee of all Pharisees. He was bloodthirsty and angry, determined to extinguish anything and anyone that proclaimed to be a Christian. more

The winter skies are dominated by bright, well-recognized constellations. Orion, Cassiopeia, and Canis Major dominate. Yet one dim constellation sets next to Orion, winds its way down to the southern hemisphere, and contains the ninth brightest star. It is also the sixth-largest constellation but is overlooked by most night observers. It also has an interesting history in astronomy. more

We are in the middle of the first bad storm of the year. I hope it doesn't last many days. Sunshine always makes me feel better than cloudy days. We got a few heavy rain showers on Sunday. Now, to remember to dump the rain gauge before it freezes. more

On a January day several years ago, my wife and I were at the weekend cabin we once owned in the wooded hills south of Ozark. It was our special place to escape to. Winter was our quiet time there. Not as many visitors came like other seasons. more

This morning, I stirred the white powder into a steaming mug of Earl Gray tea, watching it scatter and swirl like a freshly shaken snow globe until it melted from view. The powder is unflavored, but I added a generous dollop of honey so the tea would feel more like a treat and less like a treatment. more

I thought it peculiar when I first read a recent auto crash report in the local paper that the names of the people involved were omitted. more

A Nixa man who pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree statutory rape and one count of Fourth-Degree child molestation in 2021, was arrested and booked into the Greene County Jail after he allegedly violated the terms of his probation. Jared Michael Nave, 27, was jailed on Thursday, Dec. 26. more

The new year had just begun when Nova Finley was born at 12:18 a.m. Not only was Nova the first girl born at Mercy in 2025, she was the first baby born in Springfield. more

On the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 24, the Ozark Fire Protection District (OFPD) came to the rescue of a family whose house caught on fire. The OFPD put out the fire with mutual aid from the fire protection districts in Sparta and Nixa, while the Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District provided district coverage. Also responding to the scene were Christian County Emergency Services, Christian County Ambulance District, the Ozark Police Department, Christian County Emergency Management, and the American Red Cross of Missouri. more

On Tuesday, Dec. 31, the Christian County Treasurer’s Office saw a changing of the guard. Karen Matthews, the county treasurer for over two decades, officially retired. Succeeding her is Melissa Bilyeu, who was voted into office in the Nov. 5 election. more

Chadwick’s Prestin Kinyon can’t help but wonder if he’s even mentioned in opposing scouting reports on the Cardinals, given the acclaim of teammates Clayton Garrison and Tristan Smith. more

SPRINGFIELD — Nixa sophomore Reed Wilson handed Marshfield’s Tanner Davidson his first loss of the season while winning the Kinloch Classic 150-pound championship Saturday. more

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is seeking public comments through Jan. 31, 2025, on a proposed regulation change for walleye and sauger fishing. The change would allow anglers statewide to take and possess these species during spring spawning months before sunrise and after sundown. more

Nixa Chamber of Commerce will hold a Makeover Monday on Jan. 27 between 5 and 7 p.m. more

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – One of the many perks of owning horses is riding them on trails. University of Missouri Extension has updated its guide on Community Pleasure Trail Riding and published a new Trail Riding Checklist. MU Extension also has updated a publication on Haltering and Tying Horses. more

If you’re one of the many shoppers returning or exchanging a gift this year, make sure you check the return policy before you get started! more