When Bella Hill was six, she knew that she wanted to go to college, even though she wasn’t sure what that meant at the time. more

As student loan payments and debt collection return, Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) warns borrowers to be on the lookout for loan forgiveness and debt collection scams. more

The Christian County Elks Lodge #2777 in Ozark hosted a warm and touching celebration in honor of Mother's Day, paying tribute to the love, strength, and devotion of mothers throughout the community. The special event brought together families and members for an evening filled with appreciation, fellowship, and heartfelt moments. more

Christian County Library Events more

Sixty-eight years ago, Nixa mayor and local barber Finis Gold came up with an idea. When spring arrived, most of the men from Nixa took off work, and teenagers skipped school to go sucker grabbing in local rivers and streams. Locals always called it sucker grabbin’. I was 10 years old back then. A few years later, I became a sucker grabber. more

Ozark, MO – The Christian County Commission is pleased to announce the sale of two lots from the County Government Plaza development near Highway 14 and 25th Street in Ozark. more

Robert Shank more

The Christian County Senior Citizens Service Fund is providing emergency disaster assistance for seniors of Christian County of age 60 and above who were impacted by the April 29 storms. Funds of up to $600 per household are available; up to $200 for food spoilage, and up to $400 for debris cleanup. more

We all go through our busy lives each day, never really thinking about how there will be a time when tomorrow never comes. We postpone things we want to do or should do until a future day, but in most cases, we never do them. more

Gardening season has awakened in me a troubling vice — impatience. I didn’t use to be this way, but digital cameras ruined me. more

James J. Mikulin, 76, passed away peacefully. He is survived by his wife, Janet; daughters, Rebecca and Sandra; grandsons, Philip and Oliver; and sisters, Delores, Ginny, and Jean. more

Christian County has a new nonprofit, Christian County Cares. Our goal is to help our neighbors with currently unsupported emergency needs. We are also working with established nonprofits to help increase the impact, with the goal of maintaining shelters, utilities, and meeting basic needs. more

Two Ozark Police Department officers, Marco Cabrales and Dakota Inlow were both promoted to the rank of corporal recently. more

(Editor’s note: Given the tremendous efforts by many line workers and others to restore electricity to homes left powerless after the April 29 storm, it seemed only fitting to include this article in this week’s issue.) more

Nixa High School sophomore Jasmyn Piwko has won the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Her drawing "Vintage Visit" will hang in the Capitol in Washington, D.C. for the next year. She will receive flights from Southwest Airlines for her and a guest to attend the awards ceremony in D.C. June 11. Pictures courtesy of Nixa Public Schools more

Nixa Journalism students competed at the national level and learned about journalism from a variety of journalism experts during the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle last week. In addition to participating in specialized learning sessions, they earned several accolades during the event. more

Arvest Bank can help first-time homebuyers purchase a home with up to $20,000 in assistance for down payments and closing costs through the Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP) program. more

For students struggling to pay for tuition, a sudden scholarship offer or a financial aid company that guarantees results can seem like a dream come true – but it could also be the setup for a scam. more

JEFFERSON CITY, MO — The Missouri Department of Revenue is warning Missourians of ongoing nationwide text scams. The department has received a large increase in calls reporting these phishing texts. These texts are often threatening, claiming to be from the Missouri Department of Revenue or Department of Motor Vehicles, and may include a warning regarding unpaid traffic violations, outstanding toll charges, or fines owed. more

Rita Janet Helton more

A former Nixa High School student was one of 35 “high-achieving” MU students who presented research projects at the Missouri State Capitol on Undergraduate Research Day on Thursday, March 13. Preston Carroll, now a senior at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, presented his research of the 555 Timer at the event. He said his work was designed to help other students who use the device better understand what it does. more

An EF-0 tornado struck Nixa on Tuesday, April 29. According to information from the National Weather Service, the tornado was 25 yards wide and landed at 9:30 a.m. It traveled about 4.4 miles before lifting at 9:34 a.m. Additionally, wind gusts of 87 miles per hour swept through the city. more

On Friday, April 25, Ozark High School proudly recognized 11 seniors from the Class of 2025 who have committed to pursuing careers in education after graduation. more

The Ozark High School Special Education Department held their Spring Fling, a dinner and dance organized by the department. About 40 special education students took part in the event, along with 50 parents and other student volunteers. The event was crafted to provide students with an opportunity to practice and enhance their social language and social communication skills in a fun and supportive environment, offering them a fun and safe setting where they could mingle, engage in conversations, and build confidence in their social interactions. Photos courtesy of Ozark Public Schools. more

The Christian County Children’s Charities Sertoma Club kicked off Downtown Ozark Market Days at the Ozark Town Square on Saturday, May 3. About 98 vendors set up booths at the event, selling wares such as baked goods, clothing, handmade jewelry, bath and body items, home decor, wood carvings, and more. The event also featured live music, food trucks, and an opportunity to adopt a duck in the Sertoma Duck Race Festival, to be held on Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21. more