My husband and I were born five years and two days apart in March. Since it’s birthday season again, here are 52 things I’ve noticed about turning 52. more

On Friday, Feb. 28, Tropical Smoothie Cafe® kicked off the Sunshine for Teachers recognition program to reward and honor up to 20 inspiring educators who are spreading sunshine in their classrooms and communities. In May, one grand prize winner will receive a summer getaway worth up to $10,000 and free smoothies for a year. Parents, teachers, families, and the school community are encouraged to nominate their favorite teacher at www.sunshineforteachers.com. more

The Ozark Fire Protection District (OFPD) will hold its 2025 Citizens Fire Academy starting in April. The course will be 11 weeks long and is open to anyone living or working in Christian County. more

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) are trained to take care of themselves and then help others in their communities for the first three days following a disaster. This is when debris-clogged or damaged roads, disrupted communications, or a high volume of calls may prevent access by emergency response personnel. The purpose of CERT training is to provide citizens with the basic skills required to handle virtually all their own needs and then to be able to respond to their communities’ needs in the aftermath of a disaster. more

An Ozark couple were booked into the Greene County Jail on Monday, March 10, on behalf of the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office. Michael Todd Williams, 56, and his wife Cherita Dawn Williams, 53, are each charged with one count of felony stealing. more

There has been a super amount of excitement in and around our community for a few weeks. Our two basketball teams qualified to play in the State playoffs in Columbia over the weekend. The last game the girls played they beat by just one point (one couldn't get closer than that). The last game the boys played, they beat 52 to 73. The kids and their many fans are going to have great memories for many years. Congratulations to everyone. Now is the time to celebrate! Lots of parties in the near future. I was really glad that folks who were at games kept putting what was happening on Facebook. I, for one, enjoyed every game I went to. more

Johnnie Calvin Nichols, Jr., age 73, of Nixa, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. He was born on March 1, 1952, in Yuba City, Calif., to Johnnie Calvin Nichols, Sr. and Daisy Nichols. more

St. Louis, Mo. As the days get longer and homeowners start to plan their spring landscaping, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has tips for finding a trusted lawn care or landscaping service. more

Mercy proudly opened its second primary care clinic in Ozark (on Wednesday, March 5) with a ribbon cutting and blessing of the new facility (at 1758 South 20th Street). The new clinic furthers Mercy’s mission to bring accessible, high-quality health care to patients across the Ozarks. This new facility provides a full range of services including primary care and same-day appointments in a convenient location to ensure patients receive the care they need close to home. more

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Farmers Care, a coalition of Missouri’s agricultural organizations, commodity groups, and agribusinesses, is now accepting applications for the 2026 Missouri Agriculture Stewardship Award. more

Twila Fern (Reese) Delling more

I took advantage of the snow cover and light north wind recently to burn a brush pile. more