Local News

Gainesville-area resident Bonnie Luna has never starred in a TV crime-story series, but she’s still pondering how closely reality mimicked fiction when she was in a Branson store May 6 that was hit by a would-be robber. And while the attempted robbery was thwarted by bystanders, the story ended in...
Rhonda Sprague, 56, of Gainesville, was scheduled for a bond reduction hearing at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, at the Ozark County Courthouse before Associate Circuit Judge Raymond Gross.  According to the probable cause statement filed by Ozark County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Rhoades, the officer was...
The Village of Theodosia is implementing a sewer rate increase beginning June 1.  The residential sewer rate will increase $1.50 a month from $25 to $26.50 monthly, and residential sewer clients with a private pump station will see an increase from $23.75 to $25.25 monthly.  The business sewer rate...

Above left, the city of Gainesville maintenance employees Mike Davis, threading the hose into a manhole, Levi Evans, to Davis’s left, and Josh Easterday work with the new trailer-mounted sewer jetter to test how the equipment will help the city remove debris and clear main sewer lines. Above right, after the workers jet the sewer lines, they can run the city’s sewer camera into the line to see how clean it is and if there are any more spots that need additional jetting. The camera is able to measure how far it is inserted into the sewer line and can replay the information to the employees making it easy for them to know where they need to use the sewer jetter to remove additional debris. The city plans to slowly work toward viewing and cleaning all lines in the next few years, according to Water Specialist Jessi Price. “This is time consuming but will be worth it to keep our sewer moving freely to the treatment plant,” she said.
The city of Gainesville recently received its new sewer jetter, a piece of equipment that uses highly pressurized water to clean sewer lines.  The city council approved the purchase of the Mongoose brand jetter from Armour Equipment on July 29, 2021, for $54,603; however, the jetter didn’t get...

photo courtesy of Amelia LaMair Missouri State Highway Patrol marine troopers and another emergency responder look out upon the swollen water of Bryant Creek April 5 during the search for three floaters who had put in the day before for a 3-day canoe trip. The boaters got to their take-out location at Warren Bridge a day and a half early and were unharmed.
What started as a potentially scary situation for emergency personnel on Bryant Creek last Wednesday, May 4, turned out to have a happy ending.  According to Sgt. Eddie Young with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a marine division trooper received a call from someone who reported that three men...

Times photo/Jessi Dreckman A baby formula shortage currently exists in the United States, and statistics show that Missouri currently has at least half of all of its formula out of stock. This photo taken over the weekend at a nearby Walmart store shows the near empty shelves that parents are often met with. The Ozark County Health Department says local mothers and fathers are often struggling to find formula at all – much less WIC approved options for low-income families.
The current baby formula shortage has left already overwhelmed new mothers and fathers with a new, very real concern – with store shelves nearly empty of formula, how can they consistently and healthfully feed their babies? The issue is intensified in Ozark County due to its rural location and lack...
  Next week MoDOT contractor crews will begin working on Highway 160, making repairs to a job last year in a stretch that runs beginning at Highway 5, south of Gainesville, and running to Highway 101 in Howell County. Crews will also be applying an epoxy seal on the Lick Creek Bridge on Highway 160...

Girls in the graduating class are (from left) back row: McKenna Miller, Cassidy Hambelton, Destany Massey, McKayla Kendrick and Standish Wake. Front row: Dora Watkins, Kylie Jones, Kaitlyn Thompson, Lakin Church and Faith Mings.
Dora High School held its 2022 graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, May 6, in the school’s gym.  This year’s valedictorian is Kaitlyn Thompson and salutatorian is Elijah Spencer.  This year’s graduating class includes 23 seniors. 
  Gainesville resident Rhonda Sprague, 56, is being held in the Ozark County Jail without bond in connection with a shooting incident at her home on Highway 181.  She was arraigned Tuesday. A bond reduction hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 18.  Sprague faces felony charges of first-degree...

At left, Reagan Jones (Herrington), 1988 and at right, Reagan and her 6-year-old daughter, Vivian.
After a long absence, I was back in a familiar place recently, the soccer field sidelines. I was visiting my daughter and her family on a Saturday morning when her two youngest daughters, ages 4 and 6, were playing soccer in their different age groups.  I don’t know much about soccer, but I sat on...

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Ozark County Times

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