The Ozark High School Alumni Association will be honoring the graduating classes of 1941 – 1978 at their annual reunion on Sept. 20. This year’s banquet will be held at the Ozark Innovation Center, 1600 W. Jackson St., Ozark. The doors will open at 3:30 p.m. for tours of the facility until 4:45 p.m. For those not wishing to take the tour, this will allow time for visiting with fellow classmates. Dinner seating will begin at 4:30 pm. Our meal, catered by Dining By Design, and our program will start at 5 p.m. Cost per person is $25, and reservations must be received by Sept. 6. more

OTC revealed its new Technical Training Center (TTC), a $5 million, 19,600 square-foot facility, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 13. The new building, located on OTC’s Richwood Valley Campus, located between Nixa and Ozark, will serve as the primary training center for the college’s agriculture and electrical distribution systems (EDS) programs. more

Most people know Susan Haralson as the Ozark Chamber of Commerce’s chairman of the board. However, Haralson is also a powerlifting champion; she won the silver medal in her age and weight class at the United States Powerlifting Association’s national competition in Las Vegas, held July 7 through July 11 (She won the gold last year). During the competition, she also set a powerlifting record for the State of Missouri in her age/weight class by squatting 82.5 kg (about 182 pounds). more

Roberto “Bob” Olivera, age 78, of Ozark, Mo., passed away on August 12, 2025. He was born October 25, 1946, in Manhattan, N.Y, to Angel and Ophelia Olivera. more

Gene Arlin Shanks more

James River Basin Partnership’s 9th annual Sunset Soiree is set for Friday, September 12, at Finley Farms in Ozark, Mo. This is James River Basin Partnership’s largest fundraising event, with all proceeds supporting their mission to improve and protect the James River watershed. These critical funds help support the Partnership’s education, community outreach, research, recreation, programming, and river cleanups. more

It’s my honor to join the Christian County Library. The first week has been a whirlwind of excitement and learning about the unique resources of our library district. It’s clear that library staff are dedicated to the community and have built a supportive atmosphere. As a result, it comes as no surprise that the people of Christian County truly love their libraries. more

The Ozark School District has earned national recognition as a winner of the Smart Energy Decisions’ 2025 Innovation Award in the category of Onsite Renewable Energy for the project “Ozark Schools Lead the Way in Sustainability Through Solar Innovation.” This prestigious award highlights the district’s leadership in sustainability and innovative energy practices that directly benefit students, staff, and the community. more

If you’re interested in bringing a four-legged friend into your home, you might want to check out the dogs available for adoption at the Ozark City Pound. Currently, three dogs are waiting to become the newest members of a family. more

Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Tuohy was reappointed in July by Gov. Mike Kehoe to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board (CANRB), Springfield Board F, where she has served since 2017. more

Ozark, Missouri — The Ozark Chamber of Commerce and the Ozark School District held their annual New Teacher Luncheon on Monday, August 4th, welcoming 66 incoming teachers and administrators for the 2025–2026 school year. Also, on hand to help welcome the new teachers as they entered the Ozark Schools Innovation Center were members of the Pride of Ozark Marching Band, Ozark Cheerleaders, High School JROTC Color Guard and members of the Ozark Football team. more

Donna Lee Bidgood more

Bodie Lyn Matthews more

Carol Jean Lewis more

Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole was recently presented with the Defender Award by the American Constitutional Rights Union (ACRU). According to a press release from the ARCU, the award is given to law enforcement officers who “honor their constitutional oath to protect and to serve by working cooperatively with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to protect legal, law-abiding citizens from criminal illegal aliens.” Cole is the first Missouri sheriff to receive the ARCU Defender Award. more

Darcy May DeWaard, age 7, of Ozark, Missouri, passed away on July 30, 2025, at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Darcy was born on Nov. 21, 2017, in Branson, Mo., to Joshua James DeWaard and Ashley May Reich-DeWaard. She was raised in Ozark and attended Tiger Paw Preschool and Ozark South Elementary, where she was a bright and loving student preparing to enter second grade. more

The recent Sisterhood in Success networking event proved to be a tremendous success, drawing more than 65 women from across the community for an afternoon focused on professional growth, relationship-building, and empowerment. more

Ozark, MO — The Ozark Fire Protection District Citizen’s Fire Academy celebrated the graduation of its ninth class on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. more

Ozark, MO - The Christian County Elks Lodge #2777 held its annual Flag Day ceremony on Saturday, June 14, at their lodge in Ozark, honoring the enduring symbol of American freedom and unity—the United States flag. 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

For the second consecutive year, Ozark’s Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center received a grant allowing families to save money. Valued up to $780,000, the grant will pay tuition for students who will enter kindergarten in the 2026-27 school year. 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

Carl Wayne Stewart, 70, of Springfield, Mo. passed away on July 12, 2025. He was born June 24, 1955, in Del Rio, TX, the son of Loyal Luther Stewart and Donna Jean (Melton) Stewart. more

In the summer of 1835, a showboat called THE GOSPEL QUEEN appeared in the little river town of Danner’s Cove, bringing a message of repentance and salvation. People waited expectantly for many years afterward, but the boat never returned. Now, seventy years later, Grandpa Holt sits on the wharf all day, every day, waiting to once again experience the power of the living God...the power of another RIVERBOAT REVIVAL! more

The City of Ozark broke ground on the new Chadwick Flyer Trail Pedestrian Bridge on Friday, July 18. Dozens of people, including local government and civic leaders, were on hand to witness the event, which marked the start of the construction of the overpass. The overpass will not only allow people to cross over US Highway 65 safely on foot but will also be part of a route that allows walkers, bikers, and runners to travel safely between Springfield and Ozark. more