Every child deserves a place to play, and now, thanks to a new accessible playground and an update to the existing playground at Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center, that vision is becoming a reality. Students have been playing on the new spaces for weeks, but the school officially celebrated this milestone in inclusion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 29. more

Hazel Marie McCafferty more

At this time of the year, the southern sky is devoid of bright stars. The constellations in this region are all faint and represent a period of possible disaster that happened long ago. It also may be home to exo-planets that contain water. more

The Christian County Extension Office is excited to host a Kids Sewing Class for children ages 10-16 on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own Christmas stockings, with all materials provided. Sewing machines will be available for use, making this a hands-on experience for young aspiring sewists. more

Nominations are being accepted for the 2026 election of the Christian County University of Missouri Extension Council members, which will take place Jan. 24-29. more

At the time this article was being written, the shutdown of the U.S. Government caused by Congress’s failure to pass a funding bill for the Fiscal Year 2026 remained in effect, and the Nov. 1 deadline for SNAP benefits to lapse due to a lack of funding had passed. While it was reported that two federal judges had ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to continue to fund SNAP, it was not immediately clear if and when that would happen. more

Halloween is a popular occasion in Christian County, and this year, there was a bounty of events centered around the spooky holiday, including trunk-or-treats, harvest parties, fall festivals, and more. In the week leading up to Halloween, the Nixa X-Center held its Halloween Spooktacular on Friday, Oct. 24, while the Ozark Community Center held its Frightfest the next evening. Both events, which included Halloween games, activities, and of course, lots of candy, easily saw attendances of over 2,000 people. more

There was a call from my sister, Hester, last week to invite me, along with other members of her family, to a gathering at the Springfield Airport to welcome home the Honor Flight from Washington, D.C. one night last week. Her husband, Mac, was to be one of the flight members (I was unable to go). Reports are that it was a great trip and a great evening. Mac's daughter, Cindy, had gone with him on the trip. It was a trip to be remembered by everyone who was involved. Mac had some medical issues not so very long ago and was pretty tired from such a big day. Hopefully, they got a recording of (the entire) event. Mac had served in the Vietnam War. Herter's twin granddaughters loved hearing his stories. They are at the right age to write some stories more

Jennifer Marie Schurke more

Christian County voters gave a solid “No” to Proposition A on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The ballot issue would have imposed a 1.75-percent use tax on items purchased online in Christian County from merchants outside of the area. more

Robert "Bob" H. Mulder more

There was no shortage of people in Christian County who attended the various Halloween and fall party celebrations in costume. Check this collection of photos to see if your picture appears. All pictures taken by Steve Chapman. more

Jett Easley can share empathy with place-kickers, umpires, the kid at the drive-thru window, and many others whose jobs are overlooked or taken for granted until a mishap occurs. more

Set in late 1941, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is the story of the faith of a family and a nation on the brink of World War II, preparing to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. The music highlights the sounds of the ‘40s, including swing, lush ballads, and big band songs, interspersed with reenactments of radio broadcasts during that time. Original music mixed with familiar Christmas favorites forms the backdrop for this memorable, dramatic musical. Written by Deborah Craig-Claar; music by Mark Hayes. more

If you get the chance, try to get (a copy) of Kaitlyn McConnell's new pie cookbook. It is great. more

Gary Arlee Brown, 77, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, after an extended illness. Born in rural Arkansas, he moved to Southwest Missouri at age three and became a life-long resident of Northern Stone and Christian Counties. Gary was a man of many talents, careers, and connections. If you needed something, he probably had it to sell to you; if you needed something done, he had a guy. If you lived in Christian, Stone, or Barry Counties, chances are you had met Gary at least once. He did everything from probate auctions to owning car washes and convenience stores to real estate. But his real passion was livestock markets. He was an avid coon hunter in his younger years and became a solid fisherman in retirement. more

Nixa knocked off Ozark and earned the No. 2 Seed in Class 4 District 5 without injured Spencer Rinne. It remains to be seen if the Eagles will get the chance to see what they could do in the postseason with their standout sophomore forward. more

It’s that time of year when young ghosts, vampires, clowns, and superheroes are out for their night of trick-or-treating. While some local events take place in large parking lots, many trick-or-treaters will be out on Halloween night. It’s imperative that drivers and pedestrians stay alert. more

As colder weather approaches, the James River Basin Partnership (JRBP) is encouraging homeowners to take advantage of its Septic Tank Pump out Rebate Program—a simple step that protects your home, your health, and our waterways. more

Oct. 20-24 is National School Bus Safety Week, so it only makes sense that Ozark School District and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office are partnering in an effort to bring more awareness of stop arms on school buses. more

Plans are underway for another national birthday — the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America. more

As someone who loves the great outdoors, this is my favorite time of the year. I am betting that for most of you reading this, it is your favorite time too. It is a special feeling that comes over us. more

Nixa Police Officer Brent Forgey was recently honored for his work with the community by the Springfield Summit Optimist Club. Members of the civic organization presented the 35-year law enforcement veteran with the 2025 Hero Award on Tuesday, Oct. 7. more

Dorothy Faye McConnell more

Tom Alexander, age 92, of Springfield, Mo., passed away peacefully on Oct. 14, 2025. He was born on June 5, 1933, in Tennessee, to Joe Carter and Beulah (Glozier) Alexander. more