News


Husband and father Bakersfield business teacher Damon Sewell and his wife, Lisa, will celebrate their 10th anniversary next year. They’re pictured here with their two children, Eli and Lily.
Bakersfield High School business teacher Damon Sewell is very familiar with the small Ozark County community of 270 people, having grown up in Bakersfield and graduated from high school there and then returning to the district after college to teach students in his hometown.    Being a positive...
A new fund has been launched in the Ozark County Community Foundation with the goal of encouraging Gainesville property owners to complete repairs and maintenance work on their homes to improve curb appeal while also increasing their property’s value. OCCF board president Kerrie Zubrod said the...
Tecumseh resident Matthew Weatherman, left, was sworn in last week as the new Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney by Ozark County Clerk Brian Wise. Weatherman was appointed to the position by 44th Judicial Circuit Judge Craig Carter to fulfill the remaining year in retiring prosecutor John Garrabrant...

Dashing down the square in a one-horse open sleigh During the Wonders of Christmas festival Friday, Dec. 10, Ed and Liz Wills, newly settled Tecumseh residents and owners of GE Carriages, will be offering horse-drawn carriage rides from Real Life Church’s booth, located in the parking lot of Century Bank on the north side of the Gainesville square. The rides will be $10 each (the carriage can fit up to four family members comfortably) and will go from the Century Bank parking lot, around the east side of the square and down to the MFA Oil office, where the carriage will turn around and return to the starting point. The Willses recently relocated from Arizona, where they operated a horse-drawn carriage business for many years. Ed told the Times they will use the carriage, pictured above, with a black horse. GE Carriages is available for hire for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions. Contact the business at 520-235-2829 for more information.
Brandon Tanksley, pastor at Real Life Church in Gainesville, said recently that the church is partnering with GE Carriages to offer horse-drawn carriage rides at the Wonders of Christmas Festival, which begins at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, in Gainesville. The rides will be offered from 5 to 7 p.m.,...

Breakfast with Santa Charli Stevens and Santa Claus smile for the camera during the Breakfast with Santa event during Bakersfield’s “A Toyland Christmas” festival Saturday.
The Bakersfield Festival Committee hosted its annual Christmas festival and parade Saturday, Dec. 4. This year’s theme was “A Toyland Christmas.” “I am so proud of the community members that came out and supported the awesome kiddos who are still up to having some fun!” said Bakersfield resident...

Retiring prosecutor John Garrabrant was sworn in last week as a special prosecutor by Ozark County Clerk Brian Wise Dec. 1. Garrabrant is serving, unpaid, as a special prosecutor through the month of December to help newly appointed Ozark County Prosecutor Matthew Weatherman transition into the role. See related story about Weatherman, page 3.
John Garrabrant, who has served as Ozark County Prosecutor for the last five years, has transitioned into a temporary role as an assistant prosecutor for the month of December, which will be followed by his retirement at the beginning of the year.  Garrabrant and newly appointed Ozark County...

C-N-A Creations will be at this year’s Wonders of Christmas festival with their hot cocoa bombs and other gift items. This photo was taken at their booth during last year’s festival.
Gainesville’s 2021 Wonders of Christmas festival is set to begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, with plenty of good things to eat, do and shop for.  Booth coordinator Allisa West said that in addition to the big line-up of parade floats and entries, this year’s vendor-booth count continues to grow. The...
The city of Gainesville is publishing its final notice and explanation of a proposed creek bank stabilization project in this week’s legal section on page 10.  The notice is in connection with the city’s proposal to reconstruct the damaged areas of Lick Creek to help curb further erosion of a bank...

The wreaths and the rest of the courthouse display is dramatic at night.
The Gainesville square is trimmed in its best Christmas season displays, thanks to the coordinated effort of many hands and hearts.  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen it looking better than it is this year,” said Ozark County Chamber of Commerce vice president Douglas Hawkins. Among the elements of the...
The Bakersfield Festival Committee will host “A Toyland Christmas” event and parade Saturday, Dec. 4.  The event begins with breakfast with Santa in the Bakersfield School cafeteria from 9 to 11 a.m. The menu includes pancakes, sausage, milk and coffee for $2. Parents are encouraged to bring a...

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Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

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