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This photo was taken at the 2021 Light up the Lake fireworks show.
The annual “Light up the Lake” fireworks display at Pontiac Cove will begin at dark Saturday, Sept. 3, over Bull Shoals Lake in Pontiac. If the weather is rainy or stormy, the event will be held the next night, Sunday, Sept. 4.  The longtime Fourth of July show transitioned to a Labor Day weekend...
The Caulfield Community Building was all abuzz with activity recently. On Friday it was the site of a special 100th birthday party for local matriarch Blanche Tackitt Langston Harden (see related story, page 16), but the real buzz was on Saturday when local beekeeper Lucas Hensley and his wife...

Lena Blanche Tackitt Langston Harden stands next to her birthday cake proclaiming that she is “100 years loved” Friday at the Caulfield Community Building. Dozens of family, friends and well-wishers turned out to help her celebrate.
“Aunt Blanche” as she is lovingly called by dozens of family and friends around the Caulfield and Elijah area, celebrated her 100th birthday with a big party at the old Caulfield Community Building Friday night. Lena Blanche Tackitt Langston Harden was born on Aug. 26, 1922 in Lavaca, Arkansas to...

Juanita Loraine “Waukee” Poe, now 101, says she looks forward to “paper day” each week so she can sit down and read the Times. Waukee, who lived in Udall for most of her life, now lives in at a skilled nursing facility in Springfield. She says she’s been overwhelmed and is so thankful for all the birthday cards and comments she’s received and visits she had with those that were able to be with her on her birthday.
The average life expectancy for an American is 78 years-old for men and 82 years-old for women. Less than one percent of us will live to be 100. So Aug. 25 was a special day for Waukee Poe, a lifelong Ozark County native who’s spent most of her life in-and-around Udall and now lives in Springfield...
I’ve been a journalist for 33 years, having started my career right here at the Ozark County Times in 1989. Back then I started out covering sports, including Gainesville volleyball … and now volleyball is back at GHS after having been dormant for three decades. Number one, that makes me feel old...
A 58-year-old man called the Ozark County 911 dispatch office around 9:17 p.m. Aug. 16, explaining that he was on the North Fork of the White River in his kayak, was taking on water and was lost. The weather had turned, and it was raining hard and there was a lot of lightning.  “He may be...

These two dogs have gone missing after a fire broke out at a residence on P13 off County Road 650 in Dugginsville.
It was around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, when a passerby called Ozark County’s 911 dispatch office to report what appeared to be a structure fire at or near a home on County Road 650 in the Dugginsville area, off P13. The Theodosia Area Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the scene, with...

Times photo/Bruce Roberts County commissioners discuss the proposed half-cent sales tax for law enforcement at the regular weekly meeting of the commissioners Monday morning. Commissioners voted to put the issue on the November ballot.
Ozark County commissioners on Monday voted to put a half-cent sales tax for law enforcement on the Nov.8 General Election  ballot. Presiding Commissioner John Turner, in making the motion to put the issue before voters, said “In my eight years in office I’ve never asked for a new tax, but I propose...

2020 Hootin an Hollarin princess pageant winners are pictured here.
Girls in first through sixth grades are eligible to participate in the annual Hootin an Hollarin princess pageants, to be held Friday, Sept. 16. Those who wish to enter the contest must pre-register by Friday, Sept. 9. The Hootin an Hollarin princess contests, which begin at 2:45 p.m. Friday on the...

After a rugged climb, Duane Grigg makes it to the peak of Pinnacle Mountain during the Ouchita Trail 50 ultra in Little Rock, Arkansas, several years ago.
Duane and Debbie Grigg, who now live by Lick Creek between Howard’s Ridge and Mammoth in Ozark County, lived along the Kuskokwim River in the Alaska bush  for 17 years. The first part of this story, published in last week’s Times, shared some of the adventures the Grigg family had while living in...

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