Local News


Savannah Bushner and her horse Maya
When Gainesville High School senior Savannah Bushner woke up Oct. 8, she had no idea of the turn of events and emotional rollercoaster the next couple days would bring her and her family. The morning started as she’d planned, with Savannah and her mother Heather loading up their horses and heading...

Doris Baten accepts an award commemorating 50 years of service with the National Weather Service at a ceremony held in Springfield on Saturday, Sept. 16. As part of the ceremony, Doris had the honor of releasing the day’s weather balloon.
Doris Pinckney Baten of Girdner was recognized for 50 years of service as a Cooperative Weather Observer for the National Weather Service at a ceremony in Springfield on Saturday, Sept. 16. Doris’s husband Steve Baten, her son Tanner Pinckney and daughter Misty Souder and her husband Matt and many...
The City of Gainesville has been awarded a combined $5.6 million in funding through the Department of Natural Resources ARPA program, and major upgrades to the city’s water and sewer systems are being planned.  City employees say they are always on the lookout for grants or other funding...

Ozark County Commissioners are, from left, Layne Nance (Western District), Gary Collins (Eastern District) and Terry Newton (Presiding).
When the Ozark County commissioners met Monday, Oct. 2, they said they hoped that anyone who currently has a family cemetery will contact the county with information about the cemetery. This was in response to information in last week’s meeting about new procedures concerning new family cemeteries...

The Ozark County Historium will feature a program by Missouri State University Dean of Library Science Tom Peters on the Ozark Jubilee on Thursday, Oct. 26.
Hootin an Hollarin 2023 is now a memory but a happy one for sure!  By all accounts I've heard visitors had a wonderful time and were very pleased with the demonstrators, food, vendors and entertainment. I guess you might say the music is at the very heart of Hootin an Hollarin, and the festival...

Thelma, Jarrett and Lonnie Robertson, 1948
From the early 1920s to the 1950s live radio was our main source of electronic entertainment. Listeners could hear almost any kind of live program on the radio. Plays, talent shows, situation comedies, mysteries and news were always on the schedule. A wide selection of live musical performances was...

Brianna’s Produce and More, located at Highways T (Mammoth) and J at Howard’s Ridge, has a variety of pumpkins, mums, square bales, cornstalks and more for sale for decorating.
It’s that time of year when pumpkins, apple cider and crisp fall air set a festive tone in the Ozarks. Listed here are Halloween and fall events that residents can visit or attend in the coming weeks.  Those organizing a local fall or Halloween-themed event can contact Jessi Dreckman at 417-679-...

Times photo/Regina Mozingo Walt Schley, president of the Patrick K. Harrold Chapter 75 Vietnam Veterans of America in Leavenworth, Kansas, recently presented an official plaque designating Ozark County as a “Purple Heart County.” The Ozark County Commissioners voted in July to become a “Purple Heart County,” a designation made by the Military Order of the Purple Heart to signify that a county honors Purple Heart medal recipients and the sacrifices they’ve made to earn the decoration, which is awarded to members of the armed forces who were wounded or killed while serving. Accepting the plaque Monday morning were, from left: Ozark County Clerk Brian Wise, Circuit Clerk and Recorder Jackie Smith, Schley, State Representative Travis Smith, Eastern County Commissioner Gary Collins, Western County Commissioner Layne Nance, Presiding Commissioner Terry Newton, State Senator Karla Eslinger and County Assessor Jayma Berry.
Ozark County Commissioners Terry Newton, Layne Nance and Gary Collins approved family burial grounds procedures during their regular meeting Monday morning. The newly adopted procedures lay out five steps to be taken in order to establish a family burial cemetery.  The new procedures were adopted...

The Ozark County Times took home eight awards in the 2023 Missouri Press Better Newspaper contest, a statewide competition held each year. Times staffers, pictured from left, are: Owner Norene Prososki, Graphic Designer/Office Manager Regina Mozingo, Feature Writer and Times Past contributor Sue Ann Jones, Editor Jessi Dreckman and Publisher/Advertising Manager Jenny Yarger.
The Ozark County Times has been honored with eight awards in the Missouri Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest, which judges work that was written, designed and published in 2022.  Participating newspapers were notified of the winners in June; however MPA asked that the awards not be...

MaryJane Flygare was crowned the 2023 Hootin an Hollarin queen during Thursday night’s queen pageant. During the pageant, she talked about remembering the values she learned living in the Ozarks. She also discussed how much she enjoys participating in Lutie’s FFA chapter.
The 62nd Hootin an Hollarin festival, held Sept. 21-23, was one for the books. Ushered in by warm temperatures with highs in the 80s and mostly sunny skies, the weather was not a problem for this year’s event, and attendance proved it.  Large crowds turned out throughout the festival, especially on...

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Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

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