Repeating events: more

In Missouri, any snake found near or swimming in the water is presumed to be a venomous cottonmouth. more

Ted Nichols, Christian County Collector, would like to remind all residential real estate owners who were at least age 62 by December 31, 2024, and living in Christian County to apply for the 2025 Senior Citizen Tax Credit. The last day to apply in the Collector's office is Friday, June 13, 2025, for the tax year 2025. Also, the 2025 Renewal Application deadline is Friday, June 13, 2025, in the office. All applications must be postmarked by June 15, 2025. The Collector's office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with notaries available. more

It is early on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. The sun is rising over the forested hills surrounding the lake. Birds are singing. Deer are at the edge of the water for a drink. On a distant hill, a turkey gobbles. more

Michael Keith McGowan, age 72, of Springfield, Mo., passed away on May 10, 2025. He was born on Sept. 17, 1952, in Frankfurt, Germany, to Kenneth and Beatrice (Ashton) McGowan. more

Clay Dane Branum, age 63, of Bruner, passed away on May 10, 2025. He was born on January 10, 1962, in Ontario, Calif., to Robert Lewis and Grace Hazel (Corbett) Branum. more

“Thunderbolts*” certainly scared off the competition in its second weekend at the domestic box office. This sometimes happens the weekend after the opening of a huge blockbuster. Other studios will know that they can’t compete against the powerhouse, so they hold off on releasing anything that they think has the potential to be a big or even midsize hit. When that happens, I have to review either a holdover or a newcomer that can only hope to become, at most, a tiny hit. “Clown in a Cornfield” definitely falls into the latter category. This thing is cheap even by horror movie standards, yet in a minor victory, it managed to open in fifth place for the weekend. I’d admire its pluck, but there’s no sleeper hit here, just a movie that didn’t fail too badly when it was sent out to die. more

A year ago, a tornado hop-scotched through our town. It was past midnight, and I was watching a movie at home with our teenagers. When our phones screamed a long, loud beep, we switched to local news to see a meteorologist — sleeves rolled up to the elbows — urging viewers to get into a safe place. A tornado had been spotted in the heart of town. more

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Jamie Ray Gragg (HD-140) is issuing the following statement to express concerns with the City of Springfield regarding the upcoming 2025 Ozarks Pridefest. This event is taking place in downtown Springfield on June 14th featuring drag performances that will have detrimental effects it will have on children and families in the Ozarks community. more

Jeffrey P. Ray, acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced on Wednesday, May 14, that a Nixa woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to making false and fictitious claims against the United States and wire fraud. more

Two Nixa High School alumni were recently inducted into the Nixa Academic Hall of Fame. more

East Elementary was full of hoots and hollers on Wednesday, May 14, when Principal Karen Capen announced to staff and students that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) named Ozark East Elementary School one of eight Missouri Gold Star Schools for 2025. more

Christopher “Kit” Bond, who served Missouri as a state auditor, governor, and United States Senator, died in St. Louis on Tuesday, May 13. He was 86. more

Springtime, when I was a boy on the farm, would find me at the river at least one day or evening a week.

Evenings came earlier in those days before daylight saving time, getting us done with milking and on the river shortly after nightfall — just about the time catfish came out of hiding and began feeding.

Ours were not long, drawn-out excursions, usually just quick trips down to the Pomme de Terre at Potter’s Ford or The Lost Bridge. Two or three hours were plenty to either catch a small string of bullheads or maybe a few big, black perch right before dark.

Most often, Dad and I and my brothers staked out our spots on a gravel bar on our favorite hole just up from the Potters Ford slab. The gravel road there was well-traveled, and the place where we pulled in well-used, but only by local folk.

With our lines baited and cast near the far bank, we propped our rods in forked sticks and watched by lantern or carbide lights for the lines to tighten or go slack, or the rod tips to bounce.

Seldom did we head back home without at least one meal on the stringer. The best part of each trip, though, was not the fish, but just being there with Dad — usually in the middle between me and a younger brother. Sitting on upturned buckets, chunks of wood, or our tackle boxes, we listened for muskrats splashing in a slough and watched for eyes of raccoon reflected in the lantern light.

Sometimes Dad would share stories of earlier trips which produced cats bigger than any we ever hoped to see; of course, those tales were of bigger, more distant waters than these, and some of them may have been true. With any luck, he never got to the end of a tale before a rod. The tip bounced, and one of us was too busy to talk or listen. “Got one,” Russell would exclaim excitedly as he frantically reeled it in.

Must be a big one, I thought, from the way his rod was bowed. But in the lantern light, the truth was told — a big snapping turtle, mean-tempered, dirty green, and quick to snip the line before we could drag him in.

Just as well. Tie on another hook, Russell, grab some bait, and give it another try.

Another splash with that cast, and again it was quiet. Dad’s cigarette glowed red in the dark, wisps of smoke evident in the growing light.

“Moon will soon be over the ridge,” Dad said as he flicked his smoke into the water. “Better start packing up.”

And so it was, on that spring night and many others like it, when I was a boy on the farm.

Copyright 2025, James E. Hamilton, P.O. Box 801, Buffalo, MO 65622

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Raymond Donald Kissee more

Don’t give up! In 1952, Florence Chadwick attempted to swim the ocean waters between Catalina Island and the California shore, through foggy weather and choppy seas. more

Century Elementary has been recognized as a Model Professional Learning Community (PLC) at Work School. The school received this honor from Solution Tree for its sustained success in raising student achievement. Century is one of about 600 schools and districts in the United States and Canada to receive this honor, and the fourth school in Nixa to earn this achievement. more

Sixty years ago, I was a 17-year-old high school senior in what now seems another time and country. more

I used to be a fidgeter. I'd tap on things and bounce my leg so fast that Tom would sometimes reach over and put his hand on my knee as if to say, "Enough. That's driving me nuts." Fidgeters don't often realize that our small yet frenetic movements can make the table shake just enough to be annoying. more

My name is Kelsey Brabo, and I am writing to express my gratitude for the invaluable support that Care to Learn provides to our community and to share our need for increased funding. more

Since launching the Academy Model in 2021, Ozark High School has been working to provide students meaningful career exploration and real-world experiences through Client Connected Projects (CCPs). And now, thanks to a $5,000 Coover/Rural Schools Partnership Career Exploration Grant, the high school can bring real-world learning to more students through teacher training. more

OZARK, MO – The City of Ozark is proud to announce that Garrison Springs Community Forest has been awarded the 2025 Innovation Award in the Large City category by the Missouri Municipal League (MML). This prestigious award honors outstanding municipal projects in cities with populations between 15,000 and 30,000 that showcase forward-thinking solutions and deliver lasting community impact. more

Dear Editor, more

Cosmopolitan Club of Ozark, a Christian County service organization, held their final meeting of the year on May 6 at Estes Farms, Cassidy Station. Cat Edie, event coordinator, gave club members a tour and a history lesson of this amazing property. more

Cindy Robbins, assistant city administrator for the city of Nixa, has been selected as the 2025 Richard R. Noll Outstanding Assistant Award recipient by the Missouri City/County Management Association (MCMA). The award is given to individuals who hold an administrative position responsible for assisting the chief administrative officer with various administrative duties and responsibilities. more