The New Christian County Assessor, Jeremy Burns is introducing a new, more efficient way for property owners to receive and file their annual Assessment Lists. more

Lisé Marie Schneider more

Harold Clay Schroeder, 66, of Ozark, passed away from this life to Heaven on Dec. 20, 2025. more

Today, Dec. 31, is the last day of 2025, a fitting time to remember loved ones we have lost. Likewise, tomorrow is a time for starting anew while honoring, rather than dismissing, the loves of our past. more

The wait is over. Two years after the Missouri Department of Transportation permanently closed the original Green Bridge, Christian County opened its concrete-and-steel replacement on Thursday, Dec. 18, and dedicated it with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted by the Ozark Chamber of Commerce and held at the bridge’s location on Monday, Dec. 22. more

Grant William Gerhauser more

We’re getting down to the wire on gift-giving. Better Business Bureau (BBB) has tips for buying gift cards safely if you need a last-minute option. more

Senior citizens are some of the most vulnerable members of society, and they can be at risk for various types of abuse, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, neglect, and abandonment. However, during the Nixa Chamber of Commerce luncheon, held on Tuesday, Dec. 9. at North Point Church in Nixa, Lori Rook, a managing partner at Ozarks Elder Law, spoke of another common form of abuse seniors face – financial abuse. more

Christmas is over. It is a lot quieter. There is probably leftover food still in the refrigerator. The cleanup has begun or is done. Christmas lights and ornaments are, or will be, coming down and put away until next year, along with the artificial Christmas tree. more

Six Christian County residents, five from Ozark and one from Spokane, were injured in a traffic collision involving four vehicles. According to a report filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 2017 Toyota Highlander and a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu were traveling southward on US 65 on Friday, Dec. 26, when they slowed down at Mile Marker 17.4. As they slowed down, a 2000 Kenworth T800 struck the Malibu from behind and pushed it into the path of a 2000 Freightliner, which struck the Highlander and pushed it into a barrier. The Kenworth continued forward and struck the Highlander, causing it to overturn. more

Some of us will be spending some time this week hunting for things we didn't find that were not tied down. And just think of all the trees that have blown down on fences. Hopefully, we find them before our traveling cattle. more

The Nixa Police Department reported that a woman with an intellectual disability has gone missing from the facility where she lives. Deonna Jeanne Stevens, is a white female, age 60, height 5’5”, 200 lbs, with black hair, and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing glasses, a white shirt, blue jeans, and a green coat. Ms. Stevens has an unknown tattoo on her right arm. more

Here is a gallery of photos from the Ozark State of the Community Dinner, held Tuesday, Dec. 9. All photos by Steve Chapman. more

The Nixa School District held a parade of school buses decorated for the holidays on Monday, Dec. 8. Here are some pictures of the parade. Photos courtesy of Nixa Public Schools. more

Ozark’s Partnership in Progress hosted its annual State of the Community Dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Ozark Innovation Center. more

In 1946, the world was beginning to recover from the aftermath of World War II. Christmas that year took on a new meaning for families in America. It marked a return to normalcy. more

OZARK, MO — The Ozark Police Department has named Detective Dillon Johnson as its 2025 Officer of the Year in recognition of his outstanding service, dedication, and commitment to the community. more

Patricia Rhodes more

Robert Kimball Hill more

ALDI opened its long-anticipated location in Ozark on Thursday, Dec. 11. The store celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting, after which customers who had lined up for the event were able to begin shopping. more

Les Peck more

Ernest Albert Bilyeu, 87, passed away on Thursday, Dec.18, 2025, after a short illness. Ernest was born on Sept.14, 1938, in the hills of the Ozark Mountains. He was the second in line of six children born to Elmer and Pearl (House) Bilyeu, near the end of “The Great Depression”. Thus, he was a child of humble beginnings. His younger years were spent living on Pine Ridge, a wooded area just south of Chadwick, Mo. He graduated from Chadwick High School in 1957, where he was a member of the basketball team. more

After months of dedication, practice, and performance, Ozark High School is proud to announce that seven of its talented band students have been selected for the 2025 Missouri All-State Band. more

What would happen if Santa Claus came to Nixa for a day? The students of Chandler Ray, who teaches fourth grade at Espy Elementary, wrote about what they thought would happen if Santa made an appearance in town. Their stories appear below (Note: Stories have been lightly edited for clarity; most headlines were added). more

Nixa High School 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. Nixa High School is one of about 600 schools and districts in the United States and Canada to receive this honor, and the sixth school in Nixa to earn this achievement. Out of the 54 schools in Missouri that have received PLC honors, only eight of them are high schools. And, eight of those 54 schools are from Nixa (including two Nixa promising practicing schools). more