News
The Ozark County Food Pantry last week transitioned into a drive-through operation in response to directives aimed at helping stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Ozark County Health Department administrator Rhonda Suter said that, during the pandemic, those who are new to the food pantry only need to show an ID and proof of Ozark County residency to receive help. The food pantry operates out of the former Hodgson Mill Enterprises building on County Road 806 west of the Ozark County Sheriff’s office. photo courtesy of Ed Doiron.
The Ozark County Food Pantry last week served 205 families – 20 to 40 more families than usual – after transitioning to a drive-through service for its April 8 distribution. Rhonda Suter, Ozark County Health Department administrator, said Monday that “everything went smoothly. The line kept moving...
Left: Becki Strong parks her cart at the red tape at the checkout line at Town & Country Super-market in Gainesville Monday. Below: Red-tape markers are spaced 6 feet apart in each check-out line, helping customers maintain “social distancing” to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The Ozark County Commissioners held their usual weekly meeting Monday morning in an unusual place – the second-floor courtroom in the Ozark County Courthouse. Mindful of the Centers for Disease Control directive to maintain a 6-foot distance between each other and have no more than 10 people in any...
Fifteen-month old Cora Grace Lee raises her hands in praise in her parents’ minivan as Nancy Collins leads the singing at one of Needmore Church of God’s recent drive-in church services on Highway 181 south of Dora. Cora Grace is the daughter of Dora residents Richard and Anna Lee. The outdoor service allows church-goers to worship together while heeding Centers for Disease Control guidelines for helping stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Ozark County Ambulance District personnel have outfitted one of the district’s three ambulances to safely transport patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection, OCAD administrator Stacy Raney, pictured here, said Mon-day. The newly outfitted ambulance has a negative-pressure hospital-...
Pontiac resident Linda Dunsmuir has painted 16 colorful gourd “eggs” that are now hidden in the Pontiac campground for youngsters to find, photograph and put back in their hiding places for others to discover. Dunsmuir asks families to be mindful of social distancing and CDC group-size limits while...
JR Evans, 1-year-son of JR Evans and Racquel Uhlmann, found this large morel mushroom while hunting with his dad Friday, April 3.
Mushroom hunters across Ozark County are gearing up for the peak of one of spring’s most exciting events, the annual morel mushroom hunt. As the weather turns warmer and spring rains soak the ground, the fungi has begun to spring up among the moss, leaves and soil.
Three species of morel mushrooms...
Natalie Kiger reached the finish line of her own 13.1-mile half-marathon route at Highways 160 and Third Street in front of Top Dog Fitness Center. In true Ozark County fashion, Natalie’s brother Nathan, left, and father Jerry, used a discarded hay wrap netting as an improvised finish line.
By Jessi Dreckman
jessi@ozarkcountytimes.com
Gainesville resident Natalie Kiger, a student at College of the Ozarks, had been training for the March 29 Go! St. Louis half marathon with friend and running partner Kara Ford since December, but like most events across the country, the race was...
Sydnie Russian, front row center, has been volunteering with the Peace Corps for the last 18 months. She is pictured here with her host parents, mother Bukurje, father Reshat, and siblings 9-year-old Nina and 5-year-old Labi. Her other host brother, 11-year-old Nali, took the photo. “This was taken on the last day of Ramadan, Bajram. It’s a big celebration in which everyone gets new clothes and hosts guests all day,” Sydnie said.
Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series outlining former Gainesville resident Sydnie Russian’s experience as a Peace Corps volunteer. The story’s conclusion in next week’s Times will describe her abrupt departure from North Macedonia as the Peace Corps evacuated all volunteers...
Ozark County officials are now urging all Ozark County residents to stay home and “self-shelter” in an attempt to help curb the spread of COVID-19, a potentially deadly virus now categorized as a pandemic that continues to spread vigorously throughout the world.
More than 1 million people have been...
The driver of this Dodge pickup truck was arrested Friday morning, March 27, after fleeing the scene before authorities arrived. He was arrested a short time later, uninjured, after officers were made aware that he had active warrants from both Taney County and Kansas City. He was booked and released at the Ozark County Jail after officials in both areas declined to receive him amid COVID-19 concerns. Photo submitted.
First responders and other emergency personnel were busy Friday, March 27, responding to two vehicle crashes that occurred within an hour and a half.
First responders from Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department, along with the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol,...