Hurla Gene “Dink” Thornburg, a cherished spirit of Nixa, departed from this world on Oct. 4, 2025, at the age of 89. Born on May 3, 1936, in the quaint town of Almartha, Mo., he was a beloved son of Hurla Ray and Bonnie Jean (Taylor) Thornburg. more

The Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) has tips to help you winterize your home and car this fall, so you’re prepared for anything the winter weather throws at you. more

Each year, thousands of American veterans, including those in Christian County, Missouri, confront a diagnosis they never anticipated: pleural mesothelioma, an unusual but hostile cancer almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure. In most cases, this issue stemmed from their decades of military service in environments where the use of harmful minerals was widespread and unavoidable. Yet despite growing public awareness, far too many veterans still endure inaccurate diagnoses, as such an illness is frequently mistaken for other common conditions. As a result, mesothelioma is often discovered only when it has progressed to a late stage, where life-saving treatment choices are fewer, and patients’ survival chances are critically low. more

Christian Henri Mast, 84, of Nixa, was born on May 26, 1941, and passed away on Sept. 22, 2025. more

Several times, a song I like becomes an inspiration for a story I write. Many songs, if you really listen to them, are songs about life. more

Doris Sue (Davis) Estes more

Sitting in my outdoor swing this warm Sunday afternoon, I am cautioned by thunder rumbling in the south. more

(OZARK, MO) – Least Of These, Inc. added Angela Hudson to lead its team of nonprofit professionals. She will serve in the role of executive director. more

Ozark, Mo. – John and Tonya Claybrook and family of Highlandville were among the Missouri families honored at the 68th annual Missouri Farm Family Day on Aug. 11 during the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. more

The Nixa Fire Protection District (NFPD) put out a structure fire on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 21, with the aid of neighboring fire protection districts and other first responders. more

A Sparta native who served his country as an aviation warrant officer in the United States Army was killed in an “aircraft mishap” on Wednesday, Sept. 17. U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew Cully, 35, was one of four men killed in the mishap. Also killed were: U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew Kraus, 39, of Sanibel, Fla.; U.S. Army Sgt. Donavon Scott, 24, of Tacoma, Wash., and U.S. Army Sgt. Jadalyn Good, 23, of Mount Vernon, Wash. The crash happened near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. more

Nixa narrowly defeated Ozark in the Community Challenge Blood Drive on Thursday, Sept. 25. more

Frances Marie Vanhorn more

One star in the night doesn’t shine like other stars. It stays the same brightness for about three days, dims for ten hours, then brightens up to its normal brightness again. It then repeats the same pattern. Because of this change in brightness, ancient stellar map makers named this star ‘Algol’, which means the ‘Demon Star,’ or the ‘Winking Star’. more

The FamilySearch Center has reopened after a remodel, offering the community free access to premium genealogy databases, research tools, and personalized assistance. Unlike many subscription-based services, these resources are available to the public at no cost while visiting the center. more

In 2024, there were 194 Missouri traffic crashes involving farm equipment/implements. In those crashes, two people were killed and 65 were injured. Missouri has entered the fall harvest season and it’s important that drivers and farmers pay attention and share the road. Farmers and motorists are likely to encounter each other on any roadway, at any time of the day or night. Whether you are driving a vehicle or operating farm machinery, these crashes can be prevented by paying attention to the full-time job of driving and obeying all traffic laws. more

We can say goodbye to another month. Most of us appreciate the rain we got; some got more than others. Things look green. The grass has grown just enough to make us think it is better. more

Christian County residents who wish to contribute to the Pooper Troopers’ Diaper Drive can do so at the Harter House located at 815 W. Kenneth Street in Nixa. The drive, which has a goal of collecting 25,000 diapers to support organizations that help families in need. Harter House in Nixa is one of nine locations across the Ozarks, and the only one in Christian County, where donations are being accepted. more

An Ozark man is in custody after he allegedly killed a woman by repeatedly striking her. Derrick Bryton Alling, about 37, faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action. more

Mary Lou Braswell (Barnum) more

Nixa Journalism students have earned the top George H. Gallup Award from the Quill & Scroll International Honor Society for High School Journalists. The multimedia evaluation offered a judge's critique on Nixa Journalism's multi-level approach to news coverage, led by the students of Wingspan magazine, along with NixaJournalism.net, EagleAir TV, the Eagle yearbook and students in the Introduction to Journalism classes. The prestigious Gallup Award is presented to high school journalism programs that earn the top ranking of "Superior" in all five judging categories: General Practices; Coverage; Writing and Editing; Visuals; and Digital. The award is based on work published during the 2024-25 school year. Among the judge's comments: more

Ozark’s sweep of Kickapoo last week serves as the top highlight thus how far Kezi Lopez has asserted herself as a first-year starter and opposite outside hitter to all-stater Tara Venable. more

Tara Venable wasted no time redeeming herself while helping Ozark to a 25-20, 25-20, 29-27 sweep against Kickapoo on Thursday. more

A Nixa man was recognized as one of the six people the Missouri Public Transit Association (MPTA) recognized with an award earlier this month. Jerry Browning was given the association’s Missouri Transit Operator Champion Award at the Missouri Transit Conference, held in Kansas City in early September, according to a press release from the MPTA. more

For the sixth consecutive year, the mayors of Nixa and Ozark are teaming up with Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) to host the Mayors Challenge Blood Drive on Thursday, September 25. This friendly competition between the two cities aims to see which community can rally the most blood donors, with a traveling trophy awarded to the city with the highest turnout. more