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MSU-WP photo Gainesville’s Keegan Corbin was one of nine students to receive the first certificates in advanced fabrication and welding awarded by Missouri State University-West Plains. The certificates were presented during the university’s May 21 commencement ceremony at the West Plains Civic Center.
When officials at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) awarded certificates to the first graduates of the Terry L. “Bo” Pace Advanced Fabrication and Welding Program May 21, Gainesville’s Keegan Corbin was among them. Corbin was one of nine students to receive his certificate that day at...
Ozark County’s Andy and Jane Elder will be teaching a traditional jig dancing workshop at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 3 in the exhibit hall of the West Plains Civic Center. The class will be for middle school students, and is part of the Old-Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival at West Plains. Willi...

Photo by Karla Smith Photography The Gainesville Bulldogs baseball team took fourth place in the Missouri Class 2 state tournament held at U.S. Baseball Park in Ozark May 30-31. It was the first time in school history that a baseball team has made it to the final four. Members of the team are, from left, (front row) Logan Hillhouse, Brady Myers, Jake Leeker, Bryce Hambelton, Landry Jenkins, Wyatt Alms, Camden Evans, Isaac Pippin; (back row) Assistant Coaches Austin Thompson and Josh Richer, Kannon Morrison, Jarett Hogan, Daden House, Hunter Luna, Nathan Kiger, Andrew Hambelton, Bryson Martin, Carter Wise, Briar Walrath, Aden Yarger and Head Coach Blake Hobbs. A full-color special section will be published in next week’s Ozark County Times commemorating the history-making season, the players and coaches.
The Gainesville Bulldogs baseball team took fourth place in the Class 2 state championship after falling to Plattsburg 13-5 Tuesday, May 31. It’s been an exciting season for Bulldog fans, who flocked from Gainesville to watch them play in the post-season tournament held at the US Ballpark in Ozark...

Times file photos Local pastor Davin Friend, left, and Theodosia area resident Michael Atkins are shown in these file photos from a story the Times published in 2018 when Friend rescued Atkins from drowning on Bull Shoals Lake at Theodosia. The two will reunite in Bull Shoals Lake Sunday, this time at Pontiac, when Friend baptizes Atkins at a community baptism. The event is open to all. It will be held from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at Pontiac Cove Marina.
Many longtime Ozarkers remember the days gone by of mass baptisms at area lakes and streams, and for a group of local Christians, they’re hoping to recreate the spiritual event with a community baptism planned for Sunday, June 5 at Pontiac Cove Marina on Bull Shoals Lake. The event will be 1 to 3 p...

The Gainesville Bulldogs take on the Portageville Bulldogs at 10 a.m., Monday, May 30 at U.S. Ballpark in Ozark. Members of the team, are, from left, (front row) Logan Hillhouse, Brady Myers, Jake Leeker, Bryce Hambelton, Landry Jenkins, Wyatt Alms, Camden Evans, Isaac Pippin; (back row) Assistant Coaches Austin Thompson and Josh Richer, Kannon Morrison, Jarrett Hogan, Daden House, Hunter Luna, Nathan Kiger, Andrew Hambelton, Bryson Martin, Carter Wise, Briar Walrath, Aden Yarger and Head Coach Blake Hobbs. Photo by Karla Smith Photography
The Gainesville Bulldogs are headed to the first baseball Final Four in school history after defeating the Marionville Comets 2-1 Wednesday, May 25 at Parkview High School in Springfield. Wyatt Alms hit the go-ahead 2-run home run in the third inning. “Wyatt is a clutch hitter,” said GHS Coach...

In 1950, the Corps of Engineers moved 272 graves from the original Friend Cemetery and five smaller cemeteries that would have been inundated by the impounded waters of Bull Shoals Lake to a 1.05-acre site on what is county Road 863 near Isabella. Since then, the Donley family has donated more land for the “New” Friend Cemetery.
Kay Stockton remembers when the annual gathering at Friend Cemetery would attract a big turnout. “Folks would come from all over, and you’d see relatives you hadn’t seen for a year,” she said last week, looking over the cemetery records that became her responsibility when her cousin, Doyle Kelley,...

Thornfield Cemetery
Across Ozark County’s hills and hollers, alongside county roads and state highways sprinkled with wildflowers, old cemeteries are blooming this week with bright, manmade color as families and friends continue the decades-old Decoration Day tradition.  Although placing flowers and other mementoes on...

Photo by Karla Smith The Gainesville Bulldogs were all smiles after winning their second consecutive district championship when they defeated the Seymour Tigers Tuesday, May 17. The Bulldogs went on to defeat Plato on Monday, May 23, winning their second consecutive sectional championship. They head to Marionville to take on the Comets in quarterfinal action at 6 p.m. today, May 25 at Marionville.
The Gainesville Bulldogs baseball team won the Class 2 District 10 championship on Tuesday, May 17, then topped it off with a sectional win over Plato Monday, marking the second consecutive year for the team to advance to the quarterfinals of the Class 2 state tournament. The wins set up a state...

Times photo/Bruce Roberts Ozark County Commissioners are considering building a new road in order to combat traffic congestion on Highway 160 at the Ozark County Food Pantry, west of downtown Gainesville. During the two Wednesdays a month the pantry distributes food to more than 100 of Ozark County families, traffic is backed up on the shoulder of Highway 160 at the pantry site. The congestion has led to some minor accidents and the need for sending an Ozark County deputy to direct traffic, taking the officer away from other duties. The proposed road would start on County Road 806 (old Highway 160) near the Ozark County jail and travel down the hill to the food pantry.
Ozark County Commissioners are considering putting a new road from near the Ozark County jail to the Ozark County Food Pantry to keep traffic off Highway 160 during food pantry distribution days. “The traffic on 160 there gets backed up on the shoulder and there have been a few minor fender-benders...
As the school year draws to a close in Missouri, most teachers are more than ready for the summer break, as the lingering covid-19 pandemic has added extra stress the past couple school years and a looming teacher shortage is brewing like storm clouds on the horizon. Recent news stories of 650...

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Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

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