It has been a long, hot, humid, mostly dry summer. Most of you, like me, are ready for all that to go away. I am sorry to say that this year it looks like summer will stay with us for a while longer. For those of us who love the outdoors, and those of you who have to work outside, that is not good news, but we will deal with it. more

Recently, I ate a fried green tomato BLT from Ebbets Fields in Springfield, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. There's a certain group of foods that, when spotted on a menu, I can't help but order. Fried green tomatoes are in that group, along with fried okra and hushpuppies – and, well, maybe anything deep-fried, actually. Not so great for my waistline. more

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Members of the Nixa FFA Chapter joined more than 782 FFA members from 95 Missouri FFA Chapters and agricultural leaders to pack meals, a capstone celebration through service of the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation’s (MFCF) 2026 Drive to Feed Kids (Drive). The Missouri FFA Day of Service spanned Monday, Aug. 17 and Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the Missouri State Fair. Members packed 252,564 meals to feed food insecure Missouri families. more

Todd Gongwer, a nationally recognized motivational speaker and author of the book “LEAD … for God’s Sake!” will deliver his message, “Pursuing Your Best in Leadership” at the newly renovated Nixa Junior High School Illumination Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The event is free and open to the public. more

Patricia (Pat/Trish) Michel more

Community Calendar more

The John Thomas School of Discovery Parent Teacher Organization (JTSD PTO) held “Chalk the Walk”, an event during which students and their families decorated the sidewalk with pictures to create a welcoming environment for students on the first day of school. more

The other day, I was thinking about the bramble of blackberries we had down at the end of our street when I was growing up. At that time, there was my parents' house and maybe three other houses on the street. At the end of the street was open farmland full of wildflowers and wild blackberry thickets. The berries were so tiny that I don't think we did anything with them except pop them in our mouths for a sweet summertime treat. more

Caroline Helen Garner more

Karl Edward Langwell more

Agnes Merle Sullivan more

I watch the CBS Evening News almost every Friday. Not for the news. I watch it to see their short segment, On the Road with Steve Hartman, that ends the news on Fridays. They show good people and good things happening in our world. more

Reverend Huey Paul Long, age 88, of Nixa, passed away Aug. 29, 2026.He survived by the love of his life, his wife Sarah Long of Nixa, his son, Gregory Long (Tammy); his son, Marty Long (Michelle); four grandchildren, Mekaela Forgey (Shawn) Madison Long (Alyssa) Arayah Frierson (Caleb) and Chaelynn Long; and his six great-grandchildren, Gabe Forgey, Greyson Forgey, Raelynn Forgey, Selah Forgey, Maddox Long, and Kasey Frierson.He was preceded in death by his father, Rev. Roy Long; his mother, Josephine Long; two brothers, Sonny Long and John Long; and his three sisters, Linda Long, Bobbie Hasty, and Georgia Halley.Reverend Huey Long pastored and assisted in pastoring several churches. He pastored in Salem Mo., was an assistant pastor in Malden, Mo., pastored in Aurora and Pacific, Mo., and retired from pastoring in North Pekin Ill. Reverend Huey Long had a genuine love for singing. He recorded 13 albums. He had a singing group called the Huey Long Singers; his greatest joy was his love for the Lord and preaching.A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, at The Experience Church, Springfield, under the direction of Adams Funeral Home, Nixa, with Pastor Brian McCoy officiating.Visitation will be from 12-2 p.m. immediately before the funeral at the church.Burial with full military honors committal service will be held at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, under the direction of Adams Funeral Home, Nixa. more

With the rise of Google Pay, Apple Pay, and companies like CashApp, Venmo and Zelle, digital wallets are becoming ubiquitous. While paying for items with the tap of a smartphone or watch might once have felt like science fiction, it is now a very real and highly convenient payment solution for many people. more

For the sixth year in a row, Nixa High School was named the top high school in the Springfield metro area and the ninth best high school in Missouri (up from 20th in 2025) by US News in their annual rankings. more

Nixa and Christian County first responders mixed and mingled with members of the Nixa community at the Nixa Aquatics Center on Tuesday, Aug. 18, during National Night Out. The event included a free swim in the pool, free pizza from Papa John’s, give aways, and more. During the event, first responders spent time speaking with attendees. Tyler Duvall, an officer with the Nixa Police Department, demonstrated the use of a drone, while Nixa firefighters handed out plastic firefighter hats to children. Mayor Jarad Giddens also read proclamation declaring Aug. 18, 2026, as “National Night Out.” more

On Tuesday, Aug. 18, the Nixa Police Department, in cooperation with the Nixa Parks and Recreation Department and area first responders, held Nixa's 31st annual National Night Out at the Nixa Aquatic Center. Here are photos from the event. All pictures by Steve Chapman. more

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From my combination man cave/workshop behind our house, I can still look out and see the old tree in my mind’s eye. I had known it for a long time until one afternoon this past March when high winds brought it to the ground from which it came so many years ago. more

During their meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, the members of the Nixa City Council voted five-to-one to approve a resolution authorizing the Nixa Police Department (NPD) to enter a “Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to participate in the 287(g) Task Force Model Program.” more

Approximately 125 area school resources officers and school administrators were at the Ozark Innovation Center July 28-30 for a School Safety Specialist Academy. Presented by the Missouri School Boards’ Association’s Center for Education Safety, the Academy grants designated school safety coordinators required training outlined in Senate Bill 68 and the Missouri School Improvement Program. Ozark School District’s school resource officers are already compliant in this training. more

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Audrey Germaine Letts more

David Earl Bishop more