Every summer, while most students are still lounging by the pool or sleeping in late, Ozark High School's (OHS) marching band, the Pride of the Ozarks, takes over the high school and spends hours upon hours learning their marching show for the upcoming season. more

The City of Nixa is saddened by the passing of Sharon Whitehill on the night of Oct. 4, 2023. The city wishes “to honor her legacy,” according to a recent release. more

After 27 years of unwavering commitment to supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence from southwest Missouri, Freedom’s Rest Family Violence Center, formerly known as the Christian County Family Crisis Center, has announced its closure effective Oct. 1, 2023. more

Paschal Air, Plumbing & Electric, a leading provider of HVAC, plumbing and electrical home services with a strong presence in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas, announced late last month the acquisition of Larson Heating & Air. This strategic move will further solidify Paschal’s position as a dominant force in the home services industry. more

After months of hard work and dedication, the highly anticipated McCracken Road Project has reached its completion, marking a significant milestone in the community’s commitment to infrastructure improvements. The City of Ozark extends its “heartfelt appreciation to the community for their patience during this transformative process.” more

Students at Nixa High School earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These programs celebrate students’ hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance. The academic honors for rural area, Black, Indigenous and/or Latino students are an opportunity for students to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent. more

Ozark School District announced last week that five Ozark High School (OHS) seniors are being honored by the College Board for their academic achievements and outstanding performances on the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and AP Exams. more

Mercy Hospital Springfield broke ground on a new emergency department (ED) at its south campus in Ozark on Oct. 6, 2023. more

The City of Ozark has launched the first phase of Onward Ozark: Planning Our Corridors, an innovative project aimed at shaping the future growth, development, transportation and aesthetics of three pivotal corridors within the city: North State Highway NN, South 3rd Street/Highway 14 and South Street. more

Lucid TLC Studio & Art Gallery is currently hosting the art of area artist Greg Chappell as its featured artist for October. more

Ozark School District will soon have added safety measures in the hallways and on buses to keep students and staff safe after receiving $300,000 through the state’s School Safety Grant Program. more

The Christian County University of Missouri Extension recognized the 2023 Missouri Century Farms program inductees from Christian County, the Clayman and Wiggins families, on Sept. 21 at the MU Extension Annual Farm Celebration. The event was hosted by the Christian County MU Extension Council and was held at the First Baptist Church of Ozark. The evening included a meal provided by Lambert’s Cafe and special recognitions for the Century Farm families. more

Stephen and Lauren Short and family of Highlandville were among the families honored during the 66th annual Missouri Farm Family Day, Aug. 14 at the Missouri State Fair. more

Drivers can expect lane closures and occasional traffic delays on Greene/Christian County Route P between Republic and Clever, and on Business Route 60 in Lawrence County between U.S. Route 60 south of Verona and Cowan Drive in Aurora when a resurfacing project begins the week of Oct. 9, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) announced. more

Missouri fire departments are teaming up with State Farm and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Cooking Safety Starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.” This year’s campaign, which runs Oct 8-14, works to educate families about simple but important steps they can take to keep themselves and others safe. more

On Monday, Oct. 2, Governor Mike Parson announced a total of 566 school districts, charter schools and nonpublic schools have received grant funds from the second round of funding for the School Safety Grant Program. more

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) is grateful to the Nixa and Ozark mayors for using their rivalry in a positive way to benefit the community. more

The Missouri Department of Revenue announced the new management contract for the Rogersville License Office has been awarded to Rogersville Area Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director, Stephanie White, expressed her enthusiasm for this milestone. more

The American Red Cross of Southern Missouri, along with the Sparta Fire Protection District and Christian County CERT, are offering free smoke alarm installations for Sparta residents in need during a Sound the Alarm home fire safety event on Oct. 14. more

Earlier in September, women of the Impact 100 Ozark organization met at Fremont Hills Country Club for their annual meeting to give away $50,000 in community grants. more

Work trucks from City of Nixa Utilities, Nixa Police, Nixa Fire Department, Christian County Ambulance District and more converged on the Early Childhood Center parking lot for an evening of discovery, experience and community for children through age five and their families last Tuesday, Sept. 19. more

The heat of summer has broken, making way for cooler temperatures and more outdoor exploration for many areas of Mark Twain National Forest, including the Chadwick Off-Highway-Vehicle (OHV) Riding Area. The Chadwick OHV Riding Area has more than 70 miles of trails to explore. Motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs less than 50 inches in width can ride the trails with Forest Service OHV permits and as long as the vehicles are safe to operate and the drivers understand the rules of trail riding. more

You already know a library card gets you books, but this fall, it’s also a front-row ticket to the Outdoor Concert Series. Grab lawn chairs and blankets and book it to the Christian County Library, where there is plenty of parking, for an evening of toe-tapping music and fun for the entire family. more

Last week, on Sept. 19, the U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, recognized Mathews Elementary as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School based on its overall academic excellence. more

On Wednesday, Sept. 20, approximately 45 arborists and tree care industry professionals from across Southwest Missouri donated a full day’s work to honor America’s military service men and women by providing tree care at Springfield National Cemetery located at the corner of Seminole and Glenstone in Springfield. more