Outdoor News


ALTHEA SPRING - THEN AND NOW Ozark County commissioners and Missouri Department of Conservation biologist A. J. Pratt say one of the most noticeable results of the devastating 2017 flood along the North Fork of the White River is the loss of shade along the stream. These photos show an example of that change at Althea Spring, part of MDC’s public access point at Patrick Bridge on H Highway. Above: Before the 2017 flood, visiting the icy-cold water spilling over the small dam below Althea Spring meant a walk through the woods from the highway or splashing up the tree-shaded spring branch from the river. Below: Last year’s flood destroyed thousands of trees along the North Fork, including those that shaded Althea Spring. MDC has cleared away the towering pile of knocked-over trees and other debris along the spring pond, leaving a wide-open area where shade is difficult to find. Photo courtesy Jerry Luna
The flood that ravaged Ozark County a year ago over the April 28-30 weekend “was terrible, terrible, awful,” Ozark County Presiding Commissioner John Turner said last week at the commissioners’ regular Monday morning meeting. “Hopefully, we won’t see anything like it in our lifetimes.”But even...

SUNBURST RANCH After the devastating flood of 2017 wiped several structures from Sunburst Ranch’s property, including its campground bathroom and showerhouses, resort owners Justin and Amy Spencer decided to rethink the buildings. Now Sunburst Ranch has colorful bathrooms and showerhouses that are stand-alone structures that can be picked up and moved with heavy machinery when high water threatens the resort on the North Fork of the White River. After a wildly successful “sponsor a shade tree” fundraiser last summer, Sunburst Ranch has purchased and planted 100 trees in the campground over the winter and spring season after the flood swept virtually all of the trees away from the resort. They are planning to plant another 100 trees in another part of the campground next year.
Ozark County’s resorts on the North Fork of the White River took a huge hit during the historic flood that ravaged the area a year ago this week. But Ozarkians are known for their resilience, and river resort owners are proving the truth of that reputation. All the resorts on the North Fork have...
Warmer days and, more importantly, warmer nights will have both bass and crappie spawning this week and the next few weeks. Time to put the Carolina-rigged lizard to use as well as the shakey-head worm. Several bass were caught last week on top-water, and that form of fishing is as much fun as any....
It’s starting to get warm, and Norfork Lake fishing is picking up. The only problem we had was the full moon. On every full moon the stripers feed at night, like deer, and the bite is over very early after the sun comes up. That’s a good thing for those anglers who like to fish the “night shift.”...
In late March, the Ozark County commissioners declared April as “Clean Up Trash” month, encouraging residents to pick up trash along roadsides and other areas, but now that the month has ended, they hope citizen efforts will continue. To encourage the clean-up effort, the commissioners announced...

When the floodwaters of the North Fork of the White River receded enough Sunday morning, April 30, MSHP 2017, trooper John Roberts and other rescuers got Peggy Donahue and her daughter and son-in-law, Autumn and Joshua Shirley, from the roof of their two-story home on James Lane near Dawt. The three family members spent nine hours on the peak of the roof as the raging river uprooted trees and destroyed homes and other structures and sent the debris hurtling toward them. Pictured above: Peggy Donahue, seated in the boat wearing the orange life jacket, and, from left, Missouri Department of Conservation agents Mark Henry and Gerald Smith and MSHP troopers Jason Philpott, Cole Chatman and Roberts. This photo was taken as they reached the shallower edge of the floodwater where they would deposit Peggy before returning to the flooded house to rescue Autumn and Joshua. File photo courtesy Shawn Taylor
On that rainy Saturday, April 29, 2017, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers John Roberts and Jason Philpott began their shift at 6 a.m. by preparing for swift-water rescues in a flood they didn’t really expect to come.“Most of the time when a possible flood is predicted, we prepare and get the...

ALTHEA SPRING - THEN AND NOW Ozark County commissioners and Missouri Department of Conservation biologist A. J. Pratt say one of the most noticeable results of the devastating 2017 flood along the North Fork of the White River is the loss of shade along the stream. These photos show an example of that change at Althea Spring, part of MDC’s public access point at Patrick Bridge on H Highway. Above: Before the 2017 flood, visiting the icy-cold water spilling over the small dam below Althea Spring meant a walk through the woods from the highway or splashing up the tree-shaded spring branch from the river. Below: Last year’s flood destroyed thousands of trees along the North Fork, including those that shaded Althea Spring. MDC has cleared away the towering pile of knocked-over trees and other debris along the spring pond, leaving a wide-open area where shade is difficult to find. Photo courtesy Jerry Luna
The flood that ravaged Ozark County a year ago over the April 28-30 weekend “was terrible, terrible, awful,” Ozark County Presiding Commissioner John Turner said last week at the commissioners’ regular Monday morning meeting. “Hopefully, we won’t see anything like it in our lifetimes.”But even if...

SUNBURST RANCH - After the devastating flood of 2017 wiped several structures from Sunburst Ranch’s property, including its campground bathroom and showerhouses, resort owners Justin and Amy Spencer decided to rethink the buildings. Now Sunburst Ranch has colorful bathrooms and showerhouses that are stand-alone structures that can be picked up and moved with heavy machinery when high water threatens the resort on the North Fork of the White River. After a wildly successful “sponsor a shade tree” fundraiser last summer, Sunburst Ranch has purchased and planted 100 trees in the campground over the winter and spring season after the flood swept virtually all of the trees away from the resort. They are planning to plant another 100 trees in another park of the campground next year.
Ozark County’s resorts on the North Fork of the White River took a huge hit during the historic flood that ravaged the area a year ago this week. But Ozarkians are known for their resilience, and river resort owners are proving the truth of that reputation. All the resorts on the North Fork have...
Theodosia Marina Resort is holding a Crappie Tournament from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 28. Registration begins at 6 a.m. at Theodosia Marina. The entry fee is $50 per team (cash only). There’s a $10 side pot for big fish, with a $200 guarantee for the winner. The tournament is paying out 100...
Cutter Morrison, 10, killed his first turkey during youth season while hunting with his dad,  Marty Morrison. The gobbler had an 11-inch beard and 1-inch spurs.

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Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

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