Patrica Ann Gentry more

The Christian County Sheriff's Office was actively involved in the capture of a man who allegedly murdered his pregnant wife and unborn son. According to a press release by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Sidney F. Wilson, V, of Stoutland, Mo., was captured at a Nixa address on Thursday, July 31, by the member of Operation Relentless Pursuit, with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control, the Christian County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. more

Bernard Arnold Norland more

Ozarks Technical Community College will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 1 p.m., to celebrate the opening of its new Technical Training Center at the Richwood Valley Campus. The event is free and open to the public. College leadership, local officials, and industry partners are expected to attend. more

Charles “Chuck” Dewey Waterworth, Jr. was born Dec. 24, 1926, in St. Louis, MO. He grew up in Competition, MO., where his parents owned a farm. He spent his youth working on the farm, trapping, fishing, hunting, and playing in the Gasconade River, local woods, and caves. more

A LIFE WELL-LIVED more

The Missouri Public Service Commission held a hearing in the Nixa City Council Chambers on Tuesday, July 22, over a proposed increase of nearly 34 percent in the rates that Liberty Utilities (LU) charges their customers. An estimated 120 people attended the hearing. more

Alice Helen Blankenship more

Judy Moore more

Mary Elizabeth Hean Cockell (Scott) passed away on July 15, 2025, not long after celebrating her 100th birthday, in Ozark. She was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on May 12, 1925, daughter of Susan (Stark) and Alexander Scott. more

NIXA, Mo. – The Nixa Fire Protection District Board of Directors has placed a question on the November 4, 2025, ballot, requesting the first operational tax increase in more than 20 years to address staffing shortages and aging equipment needs driven by explosive growth in emergency calls. more

C.J. "Joe" Barnhart, of Nixa, passed away on July 3, 2025, at the age of 92. He was born on April 24, 1933, to Elmer and Nanalee (Barnes) Barnhart. more

Roscoe "Cotton" Linebaugh of Nixa, Mo., passed away on July 7, 2025, at the age of 92. He was born on July 19, 1932, to Samuel and Ella (Mason) Linebaugh. more

On Tuesday, July 8, Imogene Pruitt marked a milestone that few people ever see. The Nixa woman celebrated her 100th birthday with friends and family at Castlewood Senior Living, where she makes her home. more

A Nixa man was recently arrested on charges that he allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 17. Nicholas Hill, 36, is charged with second-degree statutory rape, first-degree harassment, and violation of an order of protection. more

Jason Madura 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

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

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

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