The Nixa Fire Protection District (NFPD) held an open house at their Fire Training Center on Wednesday, April 16. The open house was a chance for members of the public to tour the training center, which was formerly the NFPD’s Fire Station One. Visitors were treated to breakfast and shown around the building. more

Thirty-four years have passed since I lost my eldest daughter in a car wreck. more

Nicole "Niki" Eunice Wessel more

Missouri’s seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities depend on Medicaid for the long-term care services they need and deserve. Yet this vital program has gone chronically underfunded for years, and potential federal reductions to the program threaten to exacerbate the situation. Currently, Medicaid covers the majority of the cost of nursing home care—federal cuts will impact access to the 24/7 care essential to our state’s most vulnerable citizens. more

Very early on that Sunday morning, Peter and John were given the news that Jesus’s body was missing. more

Wherever you find Johnson grass growing, you’re apt to find people trying to get rid of it. more

Army veteran Larry Ross, of Clever, poses for a picture with his patriotic quilt wrapped around him. Ross, who served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1970 and was in Vietnam, was presented with the quilt on Sunday, April 13, by Christy Kemp, leader of Quilts of Valor, at the Red Barn Cafe in Mt. Vernon, Mo. During his tour in Vietnam, Ross was in charge of keeping 12 printer machines running 24 hours a day, so propaganda could be printed. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant, E-5. Photo courtesy of Christy Kemp. more

Ozark School District is happy to welcome Rae-Ann Wade to the Board of Education following the April 8 election. Wade was sworn into office, along with incumbent Sarah Adams Orr, at the April 17 meeting. The board voted for Amber Bryant to serve as president and James Griffin as vice president. more

David Jerome, a respected and influential figure from Ozark, has been named a Missouri Cherry Blossom Colonel by the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Missouri. The prestigious designation recognizes his exceptional contributions to preserving history and honors his role as a legendary Missourian. more

At the April 17 Board of Education meeting, the board voted to hire Dr. Landon Gray as the Executive Director of Finance & Business Services for the 2025-26 school year. The finance position became available following the resignation of Dr. Robert Hedgecorth. more

Patty Quessenberry has come out of retirement to take on a new role with the Ozark Chamber of Commerce. Formerly a member of the chamber’s Board of Directors, she recently became the chamber’s operations assistant. more

Nixa Parks and Recreation held their annual Easter Egg Hunt at McCauley Park on Friday, April 18. An estimated 500 children attended the event to get a share of about 22,000 candy-filled eggs. Other attractions included face painting, inflatable buildings, food trucks and a visit from the Easter Bunny. more

Call him Mr. President. more

The Ozark Chamber of Commerce held their annual expo at the Ozark Innovation Center on Saturday, April 19. Over 70 vendors set up booths at the event and handed out prizes, information about their services and more. Attendees at the expo were able to take part in a punch card raffle, where they got punch cards filled out at various booths and turned them in for a prize drawing. Many of the vendors also had their own prize drawings. more

The Nixa Police Department and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) were both awarded the Missouri Blue Shield designation on Thursday, April 17. more

It has been another eventful week, with lots of school stuff and my normal running around to keep things going. more

Ellen Marie Weed more

Brock Kissee returned to his alma mater Thursday to attend a ceremony in which his Sparta uniform number 24 was retired by the Trojans. more

Jax Adams is a bit of a break from the norm as a wrestler and sprinter. more

Warmer weather means everyone is getting out more, including door-to-door salespeople. Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) advises consumers to make safe, smart decisions about door-to-door offers. more

Sherry Oberbeck more

Linda Kay Schnur more

Charles Eugene Gray, a beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2025, at the age of 90 in Mt. Vernon, Mo. Charles lived a full and generous life, devoted to his family, his work, and his community. more

A windsock shaped like a hot air balloon with a spiral tail is suspended above our backyard deck. When the wind blows, the balloon spins, and the spiral twirls below it, catching my eye when I walk past the window. more

I love springtime here in the Ozarks. To most people, the sound most associated with springtime is all the bird songs. But my world is also brightened by the love-inspired songs that male peeper frogs make during their breeding season to attract the females of the species. more