Missouri Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) welcomed 5,000+ attendees from nearly 400 chapters to the record breaking State Leadership Conference April 14-16, 2024 to celebrate our 65th year as an organization. Members and advisers gathered in person to expand their leadership knowledge, compete in various events, and connect with others from across the state. FBLA members competed in over seventy-six competitive events ranging from Accounting and Business Ethics to Social Media Strategies and UX Design. The Top 10 individuals/teams in each event were awarded medals onstage at Great Southern Bank Arena. The Top 4 in each competitive event received trophies and will advance to the National Leadership Conference this summer in Orlando, Florida. more

Mary Ann Brazzell, an 8th grade student at Halfway R-3 Schools, has taken two steps to become an internationally recognized artist by winning a local and district competition sponsored by the Halfway Lions Club. more

The Polk County Genealogical Society (PCGS) will once again be offering the service of placing flowers on graves for Memorial Day. Orders may be made through May 3. The choices will be either a small spray placed by the stone or a saddle placed over the top of the stone. The cost for the saddle is $50 and the bouquet is $20. Deliveries can be made to cemeteries in Polk County. more

Ozarks Community Health Center (OCHC) is proud to announce the recipients of our scholarships, awarded to exceptional students who have demonstrated academic excellence, interest in medical, dental or behavioral health and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities. Scholarships were only awarded to students from the Dallas, Hickory, Dade and Polk counties. more

A come-and-go reception for Marjorie Van Vranken’s 90th birthday is set for 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at Open Hearts Methodist Church, Bolivar. Omission of gifts is requested. more

The Fair Play Schools would like to invite everyone to a retirement reception in honor of Mrs. Phyllis Garrison. more

The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting celebrating 10-years of service provided to the community by Brad’s Trophy Shop. Besides trophies and engraved plaques, recently added novelty socks, mugs and tumblers. Follow Brad’s Trophy Shop on Facebook or Instagram or email them at bradstrophyshop@gmail.com. more

Monday, April 29, Paula Hubbert received the Civic Service Award at the annual Rotary Club ceremony. Read the full story in BH-FP edition Friday, May 3. more

In recognition of the importance of the beef industry to the economy and the more

The past couple of years April has proven to be a month to be prepared for storms of all types and Polk County has been finding out that hail is as much to be expected as thunderstorms and/or tornados. With spring arriving there are always plenty of outdoor events planned and everyone just hopes that the weather will hold out to not cause cancellations of some of their favorite events. Many were hit hard once again with hail damage on April Fools Day and the forecast didn’t sound all that favorable for Saturday to be a great day for a car show, a city wide garage sale, Beef Days turning the cows out, or any other outdoor event. But all the events went off without a hitch under some heavy cloud cover and a little wind. more

Veda L. Locke more

John “Junior” Fuller more

The Lindley Prairie Cemetery will have their annual board meeting on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. in the cemetery church building. Anyone interested in the cemetery is invited. more

Dr. Steven Ray Butcher more

Enon cemetery will have decoration service Sunday May 12, at Enon Missionary Baptist Church. Services will start at 11 a.m. with Bro Martin Hosiner preaching.There will be a basket lunch following the morning service. The afternoon service will start at approximately 2 p.m. with a short business meeting followed by a sermon by Bro. Randy McCoy. Everyone is welcome to attend. more

The Mitchell Campground/Cemetery will hold its annual business meeting on Sunday, May 26. A service will begin at 2 p.m. and the business meeting will follow. For more information, contact Sherrie Mosher at 417-298-0396. more

The Polk County Genealogical Society (PCGS) will once again be offering the service of placing flowers on graves for Memorial Day. Orders may be made through May 3. The choices will be either a small spray placed by the stone or a saddle placed over the top of the stone. The cost for the saddle is $50 and the bouquet is $20. Deliveries can be made to cemeteries in Polk County. more

The Downtown Bolivar Association is now accepting applications for vendors who would like to sign up for a booth space at Country Days. This annual event hosts a variety of organizations and vendors who offer food, entertainment, and other goods. This year, Country Days will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. more

Congratulations to Melissa Hegle for correctly guessing this month’s location, the Bolivar Recreation and Aquatics Center. Watch for a new location starting on May 1. more

A fifteen-year-old male perished in a dirtbike accident on April 29. Corporal J.R. Rorie was called to 540th Road, west of Pleasant Hope, at 6:00 p.m. for the single-vehicle incident. The juvenile male, from Bolivar, was driving a 2022 Honda CRF125F bike traveling westbound when he lost control on a rutted roadway. The bike flipped, killing the rider, who was wearing a helmet. He was pronounced deceased on the scene by Dr. Assman at 6:47 p.m. The teenager was taken to Pitts Funeral Home by Polk County Assistant Coroner Purselly and the bike was picked up by the owner. Next of kin has been notified.  more

Citizens Memorial Hospital earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. more

DEATHS more

DEATHS more

Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 24-05, extending Missouri’s drought alert to Sept. 1, 2024. The action directs continued coordination of resources and combined response efforts across state government until conditions improve in drought-impacted areas. more

The Bolivar Herald-Free Press invites residents to send their engagement, wedding, baby, and other milestone announcements. more