News

At their weekly meeting Monday, Dec. 16, the Ozark County Commissioners approved a payment of $250 to Agape House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Mountain View. The payment will be made from Ozark County’s Commission on Domestic Violence fund, which, according to Circuit Clerk Becki...

The interior of the Dora Youth Connect building has been remodeled as a comfortable gathering place for high school students, offering “short-order”-style food, games and activities. Photo submitted
A popular gathering place for Dora-area teenagers has reopened under a new name but with the same enthusiastic church support and in the same age-old Dora building, now spruced up for its rebirth.  Dora Youth Connect, a project sponsored by the Family Life Church in Dora, will be open from 6 to 9 p...

Charlotte Holmes, center, and granddaughter Shai Meek, left, delivered Christmas cookies Wednesday to Century Bank of the Ozarks, where employee Lowana Collins accepted the treats from Gainesville Health Care Center. Times photo/Norene Prososki
One day back in September, Charlotte Holmes watched from above as a dozen medical personnel surrounded her hospital bed and fought heroically to bring her back from death. One staff member knelt astride of her on the bed, delivering chest compressions as others administered drugs, adjusted monitors...

The Ava Nazarene Church’s gym was transformed into a winter wonderland Dec. 14 for the Christmas party in honor of 44th Judicial Circuit foster children and foster families. Photo submitted
Thanks to dozens of warm hearts and busy hands, every foster child and family in Ozark, Douglas and Wright Counties was welcomed with open arms to an extravagant Christmas party thrown in their honor Dec. 14 in Ava.  “We all have those moments from our childhood that are magical and hold a special...

Santa and Mrs. Claus wave from their wagon at the end of the Downtown Springfield Christmas parade on Dec. 14. Some Ozark Countians may recognize the man behind the beard as an Ozark County native. Photo courtesy KY3.com
You may not know this, but Santa Claus is an Ozark County native – at least the Santa Claus who has ridden in the annual Downtown Springfield Christmas parade for more than 30 years is. The Ozark County Times interviewed the jolly old elf recently for an update on what he’s learned and experienced...

Volunteers helped organize gift stations, categorized by gender and age, at the 2019 Ozark County Toy Drive on Dec. 14. This photo, taken before the annual event began, shows some of the gift items parents could choose. Photo courtesy of Crystal Walker House.
Before the sun peeked above the Ozark County hills Saturday, an army of Santa’s helpers were awake and scurrying about, doing their part for the annual Ozark County Toy Drive.  In all, more than 80 volunteers, including 40 students, rustled together the makings of the magical event, held...

The U.S. Forest Service has announced a ban on feral hog hunting within the Mark Twain National Forest except in “opportunistic circumstances,” when a hunter sees a hog while hunting for deer or turkey. In this MDC photo, the destructive invasive species was photographed polluting a normally pristine Ozark County spring.
Missourians will no longer be able to hunt feral hogs freely on public land within the Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF). The announcement was made earlier this month by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) as the agency continues its work to eliminate the invasive species from the state. Feral hog...

As Confederate Gen. John Sappington Marmaduke led his troops from Arkansas into southern Missouri in 1863, some of the units in his and Col. “Long-haired Emmett” MacDonald’s columns passed close to Isabella on the Old Salt Road on their way to Springfield. A third Confederate column, led by Col. Joseph Porter, passed by Gainesville.
The Battle of Pea Ridge, described in the previous Ozark Journey column, secured Missouri’s future as a Union state; however, it was far from the end of hostilities in southwest Missouri. One of the Confederate leaders who stayed engaged on Missouri soil was Missouri’s native son, Gen. John S....

Jonathan Latham
Wright County Associate Judge Lynette Veenstra on Dec. 9 sentenced Gainesville resident Jonathan W. Latham, 48, to the maximum sentence allowed under Missouri law in two 2016 cases before her in Ozark County. Veenstra, who is assigned cases when Circuit Judge Craig Carter has a conflict or a full...

Brayden Roberts, seated on Santa’s knee, and sister Finley, had a jolly good time eating breakfast and chatting with Santa at Rockbridge Rainbow Trout Ranch Saturday, Dec. 14, during the resort’s Breakfast with Santa event. Brayden and Finley are the children of Gainesville residents John and Ralena Roberts.
To have your Christmas or holiday-themed event added to next week’s listing, call the Ozark County Times at 417-679-4641 or email jessi@ozarkcountytimes.com by 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19.    Saturday, Dec. 21 Santa visits Gainesville Subway Santa Claus will visit with children in the Gainesville...

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Ozark County Times

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PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

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