Roscoe "Cotton" Linebaugh of Nixa, Mo., passed away on July 7, 2025, at the age of 92. He was born on July 19, 1932, to Samuel and Ella (Mason) Linebaugh. more

Yesterday, I drove past a house a few doors down from ours and noticed that new neighbors had just moved in. For the past several months of renovation, that house has been a blur of contractors, carpenters, and tile deliveries. But yesterday, I spotted the king of the renovated castle — a small bulldog sitting a few feet outside the new front door, surveying his freshly mowed empire. more

What a fun and awesome day we had (Tuesday, July 1) celebrating and showing appreciation for the Ozark Chamber Ambassadors Team! more

The Sam Appleby Jr. Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7628 in Ozark will celebrate its 40th year in Ozark with a fish fry from 5-8 p.m. on August 15th at our VFW Hall, 104 S. 1st Street in downtown Ozark. The event is open to the public. We hope members of the community will join us for all-you-can-eat fish and sides, cake, and fellowship. more

On Tuesday, July 8, Imogene Pruitt marked a milestone that few people ever see. The Nixa woman celebrated her 100th birthday with friends and family at Castlewood Senior Living, where she makes her home. more

When they are 11 years old, most kids are involved in sports, learning to play a musical instrument, or are involved in a club of some sort. When he was 11, Austin Novik decided to start up his own business. more

The City of Billings celebrated Independence Day on Saturday, June 28 with their Annual Sparks in the Park festival. The event included a cake walk, food trucks, live music, a wading pool for kids to cool of in, and more.. The evening concluded with a fireworks display. more

Thousands of people descended onto the field outside of Clever High School for the city's Freedom Celebration on Saturday, June 28. Sound the Alarm, a 2000's rock-n-roll cover band from Springfield, provided live music during the evening, while attendees milled about to see what area vendors had for them or spend time in the Free Kids Zone. The evening concluded with a major fireworks display. more

Sparta celebrated the nation's freedom with their annual Independence Day Parade on Friday, July 4. The event included emergency vehicles, hot rods, motorcycles, appearances from local businesses, a special appearance by Mo.  Rep. Burt Whaley, horses from Reasons Rescue Ranch, and lots of candy thrown to young spectators. Afterwards, attendees were invited to go to Sparta Middle School for a pie and ice cream social. more

A Nixa man was recently arrested on charges that he allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 17. Nicholas Hill, 36, is charged with second-degree statutory rape, first-degree harassment, and violation of an order of protection. more

I got a new baby quilt finished for a friend of mine. Now, it put me in the mood for being creative, even though there are too many projects going on around me. more

Jason Madura more

Joseph Robert Gawel, age 89 of Ozark, passed away on July 11, 2025. He was born April 18, 1936, in Chicago, the son of Frank and Victoria (Pindora) Gawel. more

Ozark and Nixa combined have eight 2025 grads, four apiece, who are going to extend their athletic careers at the NCAA D-I level. more

There was no end to the fun during the Sertoma Duck Race Festival, held June 19-20 at Finley River Park. Thousands came to the event, which included the Duck Waddle 5K, a craft fair, live music and a cornhole tournament. Spectators gathered along the Finley to watch the festival’s signature event, the Duck Race, after which they returned to the center stage to watch a pie-eating contest. more

A Christian County deputy sheriff and his wife are dead following a vehicular collision where they were struck head-on by another driver. Deputy Mike Adams, 52, and his wife, Ashley Adams, 45, were killed on the evening of Monday, June 30, when they were struck in Highlandville by a vehicle allegedly driven by Garrett Grimm Cleaver, 40, of Webb City. Cleaver is alleged to have been fleeing a traffic stop by another Christian County deputy sheriff at the time of the crash. more

James Wesley Martin (Jim), aged 88, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on June 27, 2025. He left behind a legacy of kindness, warmth, and a life well lived. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend to all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Sylvia (Tibby), his children, Michael Martin (Karin), Shelly Montgomery (Rowdy), Barry Martin (Monique) and Melissa Long (Brian), and his grandchildren, Hope, Grant and Jake Martin, McKenna and Logan Montgomery and Carter Long. more

Nixa, MO., The McCauley Foundation, in partnership with Nixa Junior High's student-led horticulture program, delivered 400 heads of freshly harvested romaine lettuce to Least Of These, Inc., Christian County's only full-service food pantry. This generous donation from the collaborative Tower Farm effort represents more than just produce—it represents a sustainable future and hope for families facing food insecurity. more

Doris Jean Luehrs more

I’m not sure what to think about the Missouri Department of Transportation plan to put two roundabout intersections on US 65 in Buffalo — one at Truman Road and the other at Mo. 73. more

Sampson Alexander Gregg more

My name is Richard Rice. I live (on) ... E. Stoneridge Drive. I am a 72-year-old Vietnam Veteran with a service-connected disability that makes sleeping difficult. I walk our subdivision streets (Stoneridge), sometimes numerous times at night to relieve my pain. Over the past year, more and more of our streetlights have become defective to the point where more of them don’t work than do. I have visited with neighbors and our HOA about the issue. The HOA and several neighbors have called the City of Ozark, only to be told that Liberty Utilities is responsible for the lights, call them. Calls to them do not result in the lights being repaired, and we as residents have no leverage to change that. We don’t pay for streetlights with our monthly Liberty Utility bill, but the City of Ozark does. We do, however, pay our taxes which are designed to provide us with fundamental services such as streets, sidewalks, and STREETLIGHTS. more

Recently, I was thinking about the front porch at the old farmhouse where I grew up. One of the things I remembered was the big front porch. We spent lots of time there when I was a kid. There was no air conditioning back then. During the summer, we spent time out there at the end of the day after chores were done. more

Mark Wayne Frerking more

Sampson Alexander Gregg more