Ozark School District held its Fifth Annual OZcar Awards ceremony Aug. 12, kicking off the 2025-26 school year with a districtwide meeting. Five district winners received awards. They are: more

The Ozark Community Center gave Ozark kids a chance to wind down summer with a Taylor Swift-themed pool party at the Neal Grubaugh Municipal Pool on Friday, Aug. 15. About 60 people attended the party. more

Governor Mike Kehoe’s office announced on Tuesday, Aug. 19, that Catherine L. Hanaway will be the next attorney general for the State of Missouri. She will succeed current Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who has been appointed co-deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Hanaway will assume the attorney general’s office on Monday, Sept. 8. more

Yancy Marie Snider more

Nicholas James Miller, age 84, of Nixa, Missouri, entered into eternal rest on July 2, 2025. He was born on June 23, 1941, and lived a life rooted in faith, family, and devotion to those he loved. more

Carol Jean Lewis more

Shannon Stephens, a victim advocate in the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s office, was recently appointed to a Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board (CANRB) by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe. Her appointment was announced on Friday, Aug. 1. more

The Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce proudly welcomed the 19 newest educators joining the Sparta R-3 School District during its inaugural New Teacher Luncheon, held August 5 in Sparta. more

A Nixa resident who is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for child endangerment has been indicted on 18 sexual offenses he allegedly committed against two underage female relatives in Douglas County. Ellis Rayls, 40, is charged with two counts of first-degree child molestation, four counts of statutory sodomy/attempted deviate intercourse with person less than 14 years old, five counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, first-degree statutory rape/attempted statutory rape, first-degree rape/attempted rape, two counts of child endangerment, and two counts of sexual misconduct involving a child under the age of 15. more

Barbara Faye Castleberry more

Carl Jean Jones, of Nixa, Missouri, passed away leaving behind a legacy of faith, devotion, and strength on Aug. 23, 2025, at the age of 79. He was born on Dec. 29, 1945, to Jesse and Susie (Rutledge) Jones. more

The kids have one week of school behind them, and I am hearing happy kids and a few not there yet. It will get better! I haven't heard any reports of problems with "The no phone in classrooms". No one can say they use their phones in other schools. more

Jerry Lee Wilson more

Kenneth Loren Fitzpatrick, age 84, of Nixa, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. Born on Oct. 14, 1940, in Springfield, he was the son of Loren Kenneth Fitzpatrick and Leola Kathleen (Campbell) Fitzpatrick.

Kenneth dedicated over 40 years to a successful career in banking. He was a founder and president of Battlefield National Bank and later Landmark Bank. He also worked at Commerce Bank, Metropolitan Bank, and Countryside Bank, where many of his customers became lifelong friends. Kenneth enjoyed playing golf at Twin Oaks Country Club and later at Fremont Hills Country Club, where he made many cherished friendships. Kenneth was a member of First Baptist Church of Nixa and proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Kenneth is survived by his son, Tim Fitzpatrick, and his wife, Kim, of Nixa, and grandchildren, Kyle Fitzpatrick and Jenna Fitzpatrick; and his son, Mike Fitzpatrick, and wife Lisa of Joplin and grandchildren, Carlie Fitzpatrick and Maddie Fitzpatrick.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years on April 6, 2026, Billie "Joyce" Fitzpatrick, and his parents.

A funeral service in remembrance of Kenneth will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 29, at Adams Funeral Home in Nixa, officiated by Pastor Gordon Dawley, followed by burial at Payne Cemetery, located north of Nixa. Family and friends are invited to visit from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the same day, immediately before the service.

To honor Kenneth, please wear your favorite golf shirt and dress casually for the funeral service.

Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Nixa or The American Cancer Society.

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In a weekend that I could have sworn would be dominated by family-friendly franchise fare, “Freakier Friday,” it was the R-rated horror movie “Weapons” pulling off the upset. What happened here? I know stars Julia Garner and Josh Brolin have important roles in the MCU, but were they such draws without Garner in silver polymer, or Brolin with an oversized chin? Did horror fans flock to the film because of writer/director Zach Cregger? His last film, 2022’s “Barbarian,” has already had its entire domestic box office run eclipsed by “Weapons” in its first weekend alone. An inundation of advertising? I knew the film was coming, but I’d had “Freakier Friday” shoved down my throat for months thanks to the Disney promotional machine. more

As the new school year gets underway and your child begins using the internet for schoolwork or to play games with friends, Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) has online safety tips for families. more

The Ozark R-IV School District held a Back-to-School bash at the Ozark Innovation Center on Saturday, Aug. 9. During the event, about 379 students from 164 families were given backpacks, school supplies, groceries, and more. The event also included a free lunch, face painting, games, and a petting zoo. Seventy-three volunteers helped out at the various stations during the Back-to-School Bash. more

Patty Kay King, age 61, of Boaz, Mo., passed away peacefully on August 10, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family. She was born April 15, 1964, in Springfield, Mo., to Denny and Shelby Hicks. more

Wilma Dean Drewer more

The Ozark High School Alumni Association will be honoring the graduating classes of 1941 – 1978 at their annual reunion on Sept. 20. This year’s banquet will be held at the Ozark Innovation Center, 1600 W. Jackson St., Ozark. The doors will open at 3:30 p.m. for tours of the facility until 4:45 p.m. For those not wishing to take the tour, this will allow time for visiting with fellow classmates. Dinner seating will begin at 4:30 pm. Our meal, catered by Dining By Design, and our program will start at 5 p.m. Cost per person is $25, and reservations must be received by Sept. 6. more

Pete was a good friend of mine. He cooked for himself, did all his household chores, and drove his car. No nursing home for Pete. He still went dancing withthe ladies. He had more energy than men half his age. more

OTC revealed its new Technical Training Center (TTC), a $5 million, 19,600 square-foot facility, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 13. The new building, located on OTC’s Richwood Valley Campus, located between Nixa and Ozark, will serve as the primary training center for the college’s agriculture and electrical distribution systems (EDS) programs. more

Thomas Eugene Smith, 79, of Parsons, Kans., lived a life that could never be summed up in just one chapter. Born to David and Phyllis Smith, Tom was a Parsons High School graduate, where he played tennis before earning his Associate of Arts degree from Parsons Junior College. He later pursued performance and management training at Pirelli Tire Company, but his life was always more melody than monotony. more

Most people know Susan Haralson as the Ozark Chamber of Commerce’s chairman of the board. However, Haralson is also a powerlifting champion; she won the silver medal in her age and weight class at the United States Powerlifting Association’s national competition in Las Vegas, held July 7 through July 11 (She won the gold last year). During the competition, she also set a powerlifting record for the State of Missouri in her age/weight class by squatting 82.5 kg (about 182 pounds). more

PRESS RELEASE: The latest call for entry from The Art Center Highland Park marks a striking departure from tradition. Opening in early October, the exhibition titled SHELTER will be staged entirely outdoors, transforming the exterior grounds of The Art Center into a canvas for artistic exploration. more