Local News
photos by David Vaughan There were more than a dozen fire departments who responded in mutual aid to the Spicewood fire off N Highway last week.
This year is shaping up to be one to remember in the Ozarks as Mother Nature has thrown a gamut of dramatic weather our way. In the two weeks, Ozark Countians saw rain, hail, a massive tornado, warm sunny days, below freezing temperatures and even a little sleet and snow.
In the mix of that crazy...
photo by Ed Doiron As of now, the tornado in Bakersfield is rated as an EF-3, which means evidence shows wind speeds of 140 miles per hour. The investigation is ongoing though, and the NWS has until May to finalize its decision.
The National Weather Service in Springfield has issued a preliminary opinion that the tornado that tore through Bakersfield March 14 is rated as an EF-3. What does that mean, how is it determined and is the rating the final determination of the destructive tornado? We spoke with Warning...
Photos by Karla Smith Above, a group of Bakersfield students work to help clean up Bakersfield Pride Park Sunday afternoon following the destruction of the baseball/softball facility by an F-3 tornado that swept through the town Friday night. This is the second time the stadiums and park have been ravaged by mother nature. In 2017, the park sustained immense damage from flooding, and the community worked together to clean it up and make needed repairs. This time, though, the park is a complete loss and will have to have a total rebuild. Below, Kyle Clayton uses his equipment to clean up downed trees and debris from the tornado.
When the deadly tornado swept through Bakersfield Friday night, it missed the school campus but completely destroyed Pride Park, the school’s baseball and softball complex, according to Superintendent Dr. Amy Padgett.
It’s the second time the baseball and softball complex has been demolished by...
April Lynne was sworn in by City Clerk Lisa Goodnight for the Gainesville center alderman seat during Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting. Lynne accepted the seat after resident Donald Amyx declined to accept the seat.
Water improvements
Water specialist Jessi Price reported that the city’s...
In remote areas where it's nearly impossible to use water to fight fires, standing hollow trees may have fire smoldering inside them, like this one photographed by TAVFD firefighter Dr. Aaron Newton at last week’s fire near County Road 829 east of Isabella. Firefighters call these smoldering trees "chimneys." The sparks they emit can cause wildfires to rekindle.
While Ozark County mourns the terrible aftermath of Friday night’s deadly tornado, the county’s weary volunteer firefighters continue to respond to almost daily calls for help during what many call “fire season.”
“The area continues to be in a red flag status – all outdoor fires have a very...
On March 14, three people lost their lives on Zastrow Hill in Bakersfield (pictured here) after an EF-3 tornado directly hit the property where two houses and several camper trailer residences were parked. Two others sustained injuries and have been hospitalized. Photo by Ed Doiron.
When storm chaser and TV star Reed Timmer rolled into Ozark County last Friday, March 14, the air was thick with anticipation.
Timmer and his crew stopped at the White Oak gas station and convenience store in Gainesville around 5:30 p.m. in the unmistakable “Dominator 3” storm-chasing vehicle,...
Times photo/Jessi Dreckman Newly hired Ozark County Jail Commander Todd Beaver, left, sits with Sheriff Cass Martin, center, and OCSD Administrator Curtis Ledbetter as they discuss a new program at the Ozark County Jail to house federal detainees for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
After three years of planning, the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department is set to undergo significant changes this week as it begins a contract with the federal government to house Department of Homeland Security detainees at the Ozark County Jail.
Sheriff Cass Martin said the sheriff’s department...
Ozark County Commissioners are, from left, Eastern District Commissioner Layne Nance, Western District Commissioner Jim Britt and Presiding Commissioner Terry Newton.
The Ozark County Commissioners opened two bids for culvert materials during the meeting held Monday, March 2. Dickey’s Culvert and Viebrock Sales were the only two companies to submit a bid.
Dickey’s Culvert submitted a bid of $53,519.76 for metal pipes and $60,555.40 for polypropylene.
Viebrock...
Ed Doiron shot these two photos of a dump truck fire last Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 5 and First Street in Gainesville, in front of the O’Reilly’s Store.
An Ozark County dump truck caught fire last Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 25, at the intersection of First Street and Highway 5 in Gainesville.
According to Eastern District Commissioner Jim Britt, the driver of the 2000 Peterbilt dump truck was traveling south on Highway 5 when he began smelling smoke...
Karla Eslinger
USA Today announced last week that it has named Wasola resident Karla Eslinger as one of its top 2025 Women of the Year.
The honors were extended to 61 women across the United States. “They are breaking barriers and pushing for change. They are making our communities better.
“They encourage us,...