The City of Sparta got a little taste of the Christmas Spirit on Saturday, Nov. 22 with the Sparta Christmas Market, held in the Sparta Middle School gym. Thirty craft vendors set up booths and displayed their wares to the estimated 200 people who came to shop at the market. There were also free Christmas crafts for children, free coffee and donuts, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, where children good get their pictures taken with the jolly holiday couple. more

The Stanley and Elane Ball Foundation, managed by the Central Trust Company, awarded 48 grants to area non-profits on Wednesday, Nov. 19 during a reception at the Twin Oaks Country Club in Springfield, Mo. A total of $297,700 in grant funding was awarded during the reception, and 14 of the grants went to organizations that are either based in Christian County or operate within the county. The grant selection committee included Jo Arcudia, Karen Hall, Diane Homan, Justin Setser, and Patty Johns. More information on the Ball Foundation Trust can be found at https://centraltrust.net/ballfoundation. more

We are really in the winter months in more ways than one. It was hard to get warm after being outside Sunday morning. But, our cold spells don't usually last too long. Just hoping! more

Beverly May Whobrey Keller Bonner, 87, a lifetime resident of Rogersville, passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. more

Beverly May Whobrey Keller Bonner, 87, a lifetime resident of Rogersville, passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. more

Harold Hamilton has been gone for 20 years. more

This is the time of year when we express to our friends and family what they mean to us and how thankful we are for them. We should also express to them that we are grateful for what they have meant to us in our lives. more

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway launched an investigation into the Missouri State High School Activities Association on Tuesday, Nov. 18, following a whistleblower’s claims of race and sex discrimination. more

On Friday, Nov. 21, the students of John Thomas School of Discovery in Nixa put on a Macy's-style parade with balloons to demonstrate their understanding of the States of Matter. Here are picture from that event. All pictures by Steve Chapman. more

On Saturday, Nov. 22, the Ozark Chamber of Commerce held the 60th Annual Ozark Christmas Parade, with over 150 entries. Here are pictures from the event. All pictures by Steve Chapman. more

On Saturday, Nov. 22, the Ozark Chamber of Commerce held the 60th Annual Ozark Christmas Parade. Before the parade began, people were able to enjoy Santa's Village, which had several family-friendly activities for children and adults. Here are pictures from Santa's Village and other pre-parade activities. All photos by Steve Chapman. more

On Friday, Nov. 21, Ozark Mayor Don Currence kicked off the city's holiday season with the annual tree lighting ceremony at the Ozark Community Center. Here is a collection of pictures from the event. Photos by Steve Chapman. more

Glenda "Sue" Moore more

Sherman Stultz more

Donald Lynn Bobbett, 83, formerly of Ozark, Mo., passed away on Nov. 15, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones at his home in House Springs, Mo. more

Norman "Bud" McCain of Hollister, Mo., passed away on Nov. 16, 2025. He was born July 5, 1930, in Pueblo, Colo. He moved to California at the age of 10. more

Imagine that you’ve gone out to lunch or dinner, and as you reach for your wallet to pay the check, you find that you forgot and left it at home. Or maybe you tried to pay with a credit card, only for the server to tell you it’s been declined. In most places, you’d be in a jam, but at Lolli’s, a restaurant located off the northwest corner of the Ozark square, you would be rescued by the generosity of others, thanks to the Giving Wall, a bulletin board in the restaurant where other customers have already provided the means to pay. more

Richard “Leo” Gardner was born March 18,1933 in Christian County to Ishmael “Jack” Gardner and Lucille Glidewell Gardner. more

The Nixa Fire Protection District (NFPD) provided mutual aid to the Highlandville Rural Fire Protection District during a brush fire on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 15. more

The Christian County Commissioners are proud to announce our unanimous vote to become a Missouri Farmers Care Agri-Ready County. Your organization’s partnerships with outstanding agricultural and farming groups—such as the Missouri Farm Bureau, MFA Incorporated, and many others—are vital to supporting Missouri agriculture. more

The students at the John Thomas School of Discovery (JTSD) in Nixa demonstrated their mastery of the States of matter with a Macy Thanksgiving Day-style parade on Friday, Nov. 21. About 150 students, educators, and community members took part in the activity. more

The Ozark Chamber of Commerce hosted the 60th Annual Ozark Christmas Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22. This year, the parade’s theme was “60 Years of Sparkle,” in recognition of the parade’s Diamond anniversary. more

My, how quickly this month has gone by. It was so good seeing my friends from the past meetings at the meeting with Kaitlyn McConall last weekend at the Chadwick Community Building in her study of Chadwick’s history. There is no end to the history of our town. I am so glad that our school has adopted the Chadwick Flyer for many of the activities. This means that our young folks are interested in history. more

Macanna Sue (McCroskey) Murray, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on Nov. 19, 2025, surrounded by family. more

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Multiple cases of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic form of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EVH-1), have been confirmed in Texas and Oklahoma following equine events in these states. Currently, there are no confirmed cases in Missouri. more