Local News


World War II veteran Bob Usrey, shown here in 1955 with his daughters, from left, Vicky, Missy and Pam, moved to Gainesville in 1952 with his wife Cleta to become manager, funeral director and embalmer at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home. The twins, now Pam McGinnis and Vicky Evans, were 14 months old when the family moved here. Missy (now Foster) was born in 1955.
Most folks today probably think of funeral homes as somber places where the hard fact of death is a constant presence. But for a certain bunch of Gainesville kids who grew up in the 1950s and '60s, Clinkingbeard Funeral Home was a fun place where we shared way more laughter than tears. It was a...
Joseph L. Kish, 42, was killed in a head-on crash at 3 a.m. last Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, on Highway 5, about five miles south of Wasola.  According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s online crash report, Kish was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze southbound on Highway 5 when, around 3 a.m., he...

Those at the donation presentation were, from left: Josh Sherman with K9 Karo, Peggy Williams, Matt Rhoades, Curtis Ledbetter, Gannan Moss, Rhonda Sedlacek and Debra Schilling Smith.
Debra Schilling Smith and Peggy Williams with United Country Missouri Ozarks Realty raised $3,400 for the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department Shop with a Cop event.  The pair organized a fundraising effort called "Stuff the Stockings with Change for Christmas," in which they placed 5-foot tall candy...

Longtime newspaper columnist Jerry Crownover has published his final “Life is Simple” column this week (see page 2) after nearly 30 years of writing about his life as a farmer. Those who will miss his column are encouraged to visit his new YouTube channel, Crown Cattle Company, where he will continue to post videos, telling the beloved humorous stories he’s known for.
After writing a humorous farm column that has entertained thousands of newspaper and magazine readers all around America for nearly 30 years, Jerry Crownover is calling it quits – and no one is happy about it.  Well, except maybe his wife, Judy, who has seen him fret and stew, trying to think up...

The annual Ozark County Toy Drive provided new toys and other Christmas gift items to Ozark County families for more than 200 children, organizers say. Toy Drive volunteers are pictured in the background preparing to help guide families through the room full of gifts that morning.
Toys and other gifts for more than 200 Ozark County children were distributed Saturday, Dec. 16, at this year’s Ozark County Toy Drive. The event was held at the First Baptist Church event center building on Third Street in Gainesville. “I thought it went real well,” said chairperson Nancy Walker...

Ozark County officials lowered the courthouse flag to half-staff last week in honor of Caulfield firefighter Richard Clewett, who died in a fiery crash.
Caulfield resident and local volunteer firefighter Richard Clewett, 39, was laid to rest at a family cemetery Friday in a service with full military honors. Clewett was killed in a Dec. 13 crash on V Highway, about two and a half miles west of Caulfield.  He was a Caulfield volunteer firefighter,...

Six Gainesville High School seniors graduated from Ozark County’s first EMT class on Thursday, Dec. 14. The course, sponsored by Ozark County Ambulance District and Gainesville High School, gave the students the training they need to become certified emergency medical technicians. All six students took and passed the first portion of National Registry EMT Skills Test in Joplin on Saturday. They have one more test to take before earning their license that will give them the opportunity to work as an EMT in 42 states. Pictured, from left, (front row) graduates Leigha Rowland, Diana Wages, Savannah Bushner, Jillian Morse, Jamon Crisp and Elijah Burrow; (Back row) EMT preceptor Brian Morgan, Ozark County Ambulance district administrator Stacy Raney, Gainesville School superintendent Justin Gilmore, Gainesville High School principal Dr. Richard Wylie, paramedic Chelan Phillips, course instructor James Lannan of Ozark County Ambulance, assistant instructor Karlie Jones and Ozark County Ambulance board members Doug Hawkins, Greg Zubrod and Jerri Sue Crawford.
The first Gainesville High School seniors to take a semester-long emergency medical technician course offered in a collaboration between the Ozark County Ambulance District and Gainesville High School graduated the course at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. Six students started the class at the beginning...
Times photo/Regina Mozingo Work started Saturday, Dec. 9, to repair and update the west entrance to the Ozark County Courthouse. Work on the east entrance will begin after the west steps are finished. The handicap accessible entrance to the basement will be finished last. Ozark County Presiding...

This colorful artwork, “Clowning Around Too,” is for sale for $35 or $70 with an accompanying piece titled “Clowning Around.”
The artwork of Pontiac resident and owner of Gray Barn Studio Ronee Looney and other artists from the studio, is now displayed at the Ozark County Volunteer Library as part of the organization’s visiting-artist exhibit program. The current exhibit, titled “Masters of Water,” continues through the...

Christian Ries, shown with coach Joe Humbyrd, recently broke the national record in the deadlift category in his class with a 405-pound lift. In the deadlift, a loaded barbell or bar is lifted off the ground to the level of the hips, torso perpendicular to the floor, before being placed back on the ground.
Gainesville High School sophomore Christian Ries recently competed in the Warriors Powerlifting Federation Warrior Champion-ships held at STS Fitness in Harrison, Arkansas.  Ries competed in the push/pull division which consists of two disciplines, the bench press and the deadlift.  He lifted a...

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Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423