Clever Mayor Eric Beaudoin and the members of the Clever City Board of Aldermen met with members of the community at the Clever City Hall on Tuesday, May 19, to discuss the proposed partnership between the city and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office, where the sheriff’s office would provide law enforcement for the city. more

The students of the Clever High School Class of 2026 took their first steps into adulthood with their graduation ceremony at Drury University on Monday, May 11. One-hundred and three students walked across the stage and received their diplomas in the ceremony, which included the remarks from speakers Makayla Holland and Madeline Swope. A video of the ceremony can be seen on YouTube; the video is titled “Clever Graduation 2026”. A link to a gallery of photos from the ceremony can be found on the Clever R-V Facebook page. more

Shirley Ann Maples more

Repeating events: more

(Editor’s note: This article first appeared on the Christian County Headliner News website on Wednesday, April 8. It has been updated to include quotes from Christian County Presiding Commissioner Lynn Morris and Ozark Mayor Don Currence.) more

County Senate Bill Three failed in the Christian County General Municipal Election, held on Tuesday, April 7. Out of the 10,152 votes cast over the measure, 5,286 votes, or 52.07 percent, were against Senate Bill Three, while 4,866 votes, or 47.93 percent, were in favor. Had Senate Bill Three passed, Christian County property taxes for all current Christian County residents would have been frozen at the 2024 rate, unless significant improvements were made to a property. In that case, the tax rate would have been recalculated at the then current level but would remain the same going forward. Future Christian County residents would also have had their property tax rates calculated at the rate they moved into the county, but their rates would also have been frozen at that level going forward. more

Ben Lile, a devoted husband, father, and larger-than-life figure who could command a thousand men one day and cradle a newborn with the gentlest touch the next, passed away unexpectedly on April 2, 2026, at the age of 48. more

Clever First Baptist Church held their annual Easter Egg hunt at Clever High School on Sunday, March 29. About 1,500 people attended the event, where kids vied for a share of 10,000 candy-filled eggs, some of which were dropped onto the field from a helicopter. Additionally, the event included inflatable buildings and free food. All photos by Steve Chapman. more

When someone says, “We’re here to lower your taxes,” hold onto your wallet and be careful what you wish for. more

On Tuesday, April 7, Christian County voters will go to the polls to make their voices heard. In addition to deciding whether to approve the Senate Bill Three measure, voters will also choose which candidates will hold positions on area school boards, city councils, and other offices. Here, several of the candidates make their arguments for why you should vote for them more

I want to clarify and correct my interview with Steve Chapman, the editor for the Headliner. more

If voters in the Clever R-V School District approve a $0.40 per $100 of assessed value increase in the district’s operating tax levy, and a corresponding decrease in its debt service levy, the district will purchase the First Baptist Church of Clever building, and the building will become the district’s new Early Childhood Center. The shift in the tax levies would also allow the district to maintain competitive salaries for faculty and staff. more

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Today, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is warning Missourians of a new phone scam targeting the family members of individuals incarcerated in the Christian County Jail. more

OATS Transit is currently offering regular transportation services to rural residents of any age. To schedule a ride or to inquire about services available in your area, please call the OATS Transit office at 417-887-9272 or 800-770-6287. You can also visit our website at www.oatstransit.org, where you can find your local schedule by clicking on your county under the “Bus Schedules” tab. OATS Transit is available to the rural general public of any age. Additionally, we contract with various agencies to serve their clients. more

Students from Clever High School took part in a speech and debate competition at Reeds Spring High School on Saturday, Feb. 7. Seven of the students placed within the top 12 of their categories. Junior Hadley Dillard won first place in the Radio Speaking competition. On Friday, March 6, the students will compete in the MSHAAA tournament, and on Friday, March 13 , and Saturday, March 14, the students will compete in the NSDA District Events, in a bid to move onto state-level competition. Congrats to the CHS Speech and Debate students. more

Have you ever wondered what your student will do when they finish high school? What job, what career, what are the employment options? Is college or technical school an option? Will they live with others? Will they need support or will they live independently? more

A Christian County deputy sheriff was fatally shot in Highlandville on Monday, Feb. 23, according to a Blue Alert posted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

February always takes me back to the farm, more specifically those cold, blistering mornings. more

On Dec. 29, 2025, Dr. Phillip Andrew Shufford, who served for 12 years as the director of missions for the Tri-County Baptist Association of Southern Missouri (TCBASM), died after a battle with cancer. He was 66. more

With senior class composites dating from to 1929 to 2024, Clever High School was running out of room to display the composites in their hallway. more

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – As our great nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, Missouri Lieutenant Governor David Wasinger today announced an exciting initiative to engage Missouri’s students in reflecting on what makes America exceptional. more

Students … across the region can apply for more than $1.7 million in scholarships administered by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. By starting at cfozarks.org/applyforscholarships, students can use the CFO’s universal application to efficiently apply for multiple scholarship opportunities. more

Christian County could again lay claim to being the center of high school sports throughout all of SWMO in 2025, what with our area schools and athletes producing compelling drama in wide-ranging venues. more

In 2000, what was then the last available burial plot at Wise Hill Cemetery in Clever was sold. Now, 25 years later, a one-acre addition to the cemetery has created space for 640 new burial plots; 600 of them full burial plots and 40 spaces for cremation only. more

The seven school districts in Christian County honored area veterans with special assemblies on Tuesday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day. The assemblies featured patriotic music, speeches from veterans who shared their experiences, as well as students who spoke about their memories of family members who served or the history behind Veterans Day. more