Natalie Wilks, a 2023 graduate of Sparta High School, and Kenna Humble, a 2023 graduate of Ozark High School, have joined the Ozarks Teacher Corps, a special scholarship program managed by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to recruit teachers for rural school districts. more

This fall, members of the Nixa and Chadwick FFA chapters are taking part in Agriculture Education on the Move (Ag Moves), a 10-week program in which they teach a variety of ag topics, such as beef, soybeans, Missouri crops, etc. Each lesson includes a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) lesson, such as making soybean lessons, Beef By-Product Bingo, or making homemade butter. more

Since it was founded in 2018, Volunteers in Medicine Christian County (VMCC) has been providing free medical services to residents of Christian County and surrounding counties in need through mobile clinics held twice a month in various locations. On Thursday, Nov. 6, they opened a new stationary clinic, located on the campus of Union Hill Church of Christ in Nixa. more

The Christian County 100 Club held their fourth annual gala at the White River Conference in Springfield on Thursday, Nov. 13. The event, a fundraiser to assist the families of first responders killed in the line of duty, was the largest the nonprofit has held so far, with 320 people attending. 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

On Tuesday Nov. 4th, Nixa Band Students auditioned for chairs in the SCMMEA (South Central Missouri Music Educators Association) District Honor, Concert, and Jazz Bands. They competed against over 700 students from 40 area schools for chair placements in the bands. more

Here is a collection of photos from some of the various Veterans Day celebrations held in schools across Christian County. more

It's the key to worldwide exploration, and it fits in your pocket. Each September, the Christian County Library collaborates with preschools, daycares, elementary, middle and high schools across the county for National Library Card Sign-Up Month. The goal of this initiative is to increase library access for families. more

Ozarks Food Harvest is partnering with more than 60 local grocers for the 27th annual Check Out Hunger campaign to help families provide plentiful meals for their loved ones this holiday season. The campaign began on Nov. 1 and will continue through Dec. 31. more

The American Legion Post 34 honored area veterans on Saturday, Nov. 8, with a ceremony outside the X Center in Nixa. The event included patriotic music, a demonstration of the folding of the American Flag, and comments by the keynote speaker, Lt. Col. Richard Floer, Jr. (ret.). During his speech, Floer spoke about the unique qualities veterans possess and how they can bring those into any endeavor. more

Nixa, Clever football teams both will play for District championship, see Sports more

The Nixa McDonald’s team proudly announces that General Manager Destiney Klinkhamer has been named a recipient of the Global Ray Kroc Award, an elite recognition reserved for the top one percent of McDonald’s restaurant leaders nationwide. more

Recently, my wife and I were having our blood work done before an upcoming six-month checkup with our doctor. As we sat there waiting to hear our names called, I looked around the big waiting room packed with people. more

Alice Jane Blanchard more

Deborah Lou Mills more

Every child deserves a place to play, and now, thanks to a new accessible playground and an update to the existing playground at Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center, that vision is becoming a reality. Students have been playing on the new spaces for weeks, but the school officially celebrated this milestone in inclusion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 29. more

Hazel Marie McCafferty more

At the time this article was being written, the shutdown of the U.S. Government caused by Congress’s failure to pass a funding bill for the Fiscal Year 2026 remained in effect, and the Nov. 1 deadline for SNAP benefits to lapse due to a lack of funding had passed. While it was reported that two federal judges had ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to continue to fund SNAP, it was not immediately clear if and when that would happen. more

Halloween is a popular occasion in Christian County, and this year, there was a bounty of events centered around the spooky holiday, including trunk-or-treats, harvest parties, fall festivals, and more. In the week leading up to Halloween, the Nixa X-Center held its Halloween Spooktacular on Friday, Oct. 24, while the Ozark Community Center held its Frightfest the next evening. Both events, which included Halloween games, activities, and of course, lots of candy, easily saw attendances of over 2,000 people. more

Christian County voters gave a solid “No” to Proposition A on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The ballot issue would have imposed a 1.75-percent use tax on items purchased online in Christian County from merchants outside of the area. more

There was no shortage of people in Christian County who attended the various Halloween and fall party celebrations in costume. Check this collection of photos to see if your picture appears. All pictures taken by Steve Chapman. more

Jett Easley can share empathy with place-kickers, umpires, the kid at the drive-thru window, and many others whose jobs are overlooked or taken for granted until a mishap occurs. more

Jamison Truitt reports he feels he’s been welcomed into the brotherhood along Nixa’s offensive line. more

Nixa knocked off Ozark and earned the No. 2 Seed in Class 4 District 5 without injured Spencer Rinne. It remains to be seen if the Eagles will get the chance to see what they could do in the postseason with their standout sophomore forward. more

Oct. 20-24 is National School Bus Safety Week, so it only makes sense that Ozark School District and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office are partnering in an effort to bring more awareness of stop arms on school buses. more