Local News
Six of Ozark County’s elected officials were sworn into office for their new terms after being elected in the 2024 Primary (all candidates ran as Republicans) and General Elections.
Pictured, from left, are: Assessor Jama Berry, Public Administrator Melinda Abraham, Coroner Gene Britt alongside...
all photos courtesy of Milken Family Foundation Former Gainesville resident Dallas DeWeese, second from left, was recently honored with the 2024 Milken Educator Award and $25,000 for his work as a middle school teacher and coach at Hollister School District. Pictured with Dallas, from left, are: Hollister Superintendent Dr. Brian Wilson; Missouri Commissioner of Education Karla Eslinger; Middle School Principal Rachel Hodges; and Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop.
Although Gainesville native Dallas DeWeese doesn’t have a shiny golden Oscar statuette to show off, he shares something far more meaningful with those who do: national recognition for his passion, dedication and impact of his career.
That acclaim - and the spotlight that came with it - was granted...
Ozark County Commissioners approved a new county ordinance pertaining to creating and naming new county roads during the Dec. 23, 2024, meeting.
According to Presiding Commissioner Terry Newton, the newly adopted ordinance should alleviate a problem that came up concerning several properties off...
After the vehicle crash that left Jeff with a severe spinal cord injury, he and his wife, Rachel, and their children Simon, 8, and Hattie, 4, were supported by a diverse community of friends, relatives and Jean’s Healthway employees and customers who extended heartfelt love, kindness, help, prayers and financial gifts. This photo was taken at Silver Dollar City, an outing that came about because “someone sent us ‘fun money’ and said go do something you would enjoy,” Rachel said.
Jeff Barry surprised a lot of people during a Dec. 10 hearing in an Ozark County courtroom. One person at the hearing, maybe speaking for others who also witnessed the scene, said it was something she would never forget.
The court case pertained to a vehicle crash that happened 13 months ago....
Council members Treva Warrick, Lana Bushong, Dana Crisp and Renee Schmucker were present at the Dec. 10 Gainesville City Council meeting. Teri Edades was absent.
Request for variance to place septic
During an open forum session, Michelle Vivero, a real estate agent, spoke on behalf of Amber and...
photo by Michael and Autumn Warren
The Dora Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of a fire on a trailer hauling a full load of round bales at Highways 181/14 around 4:37 p.m. last Friday, Dec. 13. Eastern Douglas County VFD was called for mutual aid. The truck and trailer owners, Michael and Autumn Warren of Dora, say the...
photo by Ed Doiron
An early-morning camper fire Dec. 10, on Highway 5, south of Gainesville near the Missouri-Arkansas state line, is part of a criminal investigation, and therefore little information is available, according to Timber Knob Fire Chief Nancy Winslow and the Missouri Fire Marshall’s Office. The Ozark...
This photo of Jack and Inez Pahlmann was taken at Rockbridge several years ago. Recently Jack donated $1,000 to every fire department in Ozark County in honor of Inez, who died Aug. 6, 2023. Inez owned and led a large team of Realtors with United Country Missouri Ozarks Realty, alongside her daughter Kim Grennan, who continues to operate the business today.
Each volunteer fire department in Ozark County has recently received a donation of $1,000, thanks to the generosity of Jack and the late Inez Pahlmann of West Plains.
The donation checks were mailed to Ozark County’s 14 different volunteer fire departments at Bakersfield, Brixey/Rockbridge, Caney...
Residents of Ozark County have recently reported multiple sightings of drones hovering over their homes and in various rural areas across the area, raising questions about their purpose and origin.
The reports mostly describe the drones as operating during nighttime hours, with some being...
photo by Ed Doiron Firefighters with West Plains city fire department, far left, and Gainesville Fire Department, utilize their ladder fire trucks to analyze the Bakersfield School building last Tuesday morning, Dec. 10, after a fire broke out in the school’s heating and cooling unit. Other fire trucks, pictured from left next to the Gainesville ladder truck, were those of Tecumseh, Bakersfield and Caulfield Fire Departments. Rural Howell County and Gamaliel, Arkansas, departments also responded in mutual aid.
Bakersfield School’s Maintenance Supervisor Jason Marsh first learned of an issue with the school’s HVAC unit on the evening of Friday, Dec. 6, when a school employee reported to him that the boys locker rooms seemed especially cold and weren’t warming up like they usually do.
When classes resumed...