Ronald E. Gafford, at 89 years of age went to meet the Lord on Feb. 8, 2025. He was born on Jan. 18, 1936, in Corning, Kans., and was a loving husband, father, and faithful steward of his faith. Ronald E. Gafford and Melva A. Carmichael were married on Sept. 26, 1955. more

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – (On Tuesday, Feb. 18), Governor Mike Kehoe signed Executive Order 25-18, directing all Missouri state agencies to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and ensure compliance with the constitutional principle of equal protection under the law. The order bars the use of state funds for DEI and prevents agencies from considering DEI in their hiring decisions. more

Lois Marie Arbour, 92, passed away on Feb. 12, 2025, in Wichita, Kans. She was born on Feb. 19th, 1932, in Rock Island County Ill., the daughter of Joseph and Ida (Ziegler) Knapp. more

Dwight (Ike) Eugene Glossip more

On April 5, 2022, Ozark voters approved a $19 million no-tax-increase bond issue to construct three storm shelters and an indoor activities building at the high school. In the Fall of 2024, those projects were completed as promised, making our schools safer with a storm shelter at every building. The district not only was able to accommodate growth but also remained under budget. more

Howard Dale LaFevers more

Fifth graders at Ozark Middle School sat attentively as Craig Kondracki, OMS counselor, stood before them. more

Ozark High School FFA advisor and teacher Heath Wright has recently been named a 2025 Golden Owl Semi-Finalist. more

ServMO is seeking nominations for the 23rd Annual Show Me Service Awards. The Show Me Service Awards highlight the service and volunteerism that Missourians provide to strengthen communities and improve quality of life. To provide a diverse group of awardees each year, the awards are presented by region and include age-specific awards, national service awards, business awards, and community awards. more

A Springfield man suspected of helping to attempt to cover up the death of an adolescent Springfield girl was taken into custody on Friday, Feb. 14. Evrinn Worlds, 18, was apprehended in Madison County, Ill.; he was extradited to Springfield and booked into the Greene County Jail on Friday, Feb. 21. more

A Nixa man was sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison on Thursday, Dec. 13 after a judge in Greene County determined he had violated the terms of his probation. Jared Nave, 27, was given a five-year prison sentence for one count of first-degree statutory rape, two years in prison for one count of fourth-degree child molestation, and another five-year sentence for a second count of first-degree statutory rape. He will serve the sentences concurrently. more

A show that is renowned for creating a kind of magic through the “remarkable fusion of art, science, and entertainment” is coming to Nixa. Gazillion Bubbles will be shown at the Aetos Center on Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2. more