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Golfers lined up and loaded up, ready to get on the course.


STAFF PHOTOS/LINDA SIMMONS

“Paws” for a good cause

“Our inaugural Putts for Paws golf outing was a great success due to an outpouring of donations from Bolivar area businesses,” said Amy Ridall Campbell, Polk County Humane Society board member.
Dr. Michael Methvin.


CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

New Superintendent Dr. Michael Methvin leads Bolivar School District into the 2024-2025 school year

The first day of school for the Bolivar School District is August 20, and this year, it will have a new leader at the helm. In February, Bolivar Schools announced that Dr. Michael Methvin was named the new superintendent after Dr. Richard Asbill announced he was retiring at the end of the year.
Presenting Parks with a commemorative plaque, Prosecutor Keaton Ashlock.


STAFF PHOTO/LINDA SIMMONS

John Parks serving the community for 21 l/2 years

After serving the community as the Regional Prosecutor for Child Support, John Parks is retiring. Parks has had the position since 2003 and has served the counties of Polk, Dallas, Hickory, Cedar, and Benton. Friday, July 26, colleagues, friends, and family, honored Parks at a reception at the Polk County courthouse. Stepping into the position is Jill Espelien.
Gathered around the familiar PCE truck: Front row left to right: Adam Glendenning, Rodney Taylor, Mike Wood, Lee Eversoll, Ken Kump, Bob Franklin and Jim Faulkner; second row, Dana Eversoll, Jamie Straight, and Josh Faulkner; third row, Brady Andrews, David Glendenning, Brad Andrews, Dan Roderick, and Alex Glendennning.


STAFF PHOTO/LINDA SIMMONS

Flipping the switch after nearly 80-years

In 1945 while Americans celebrated victory in Europe and Japan, back home, the newly formed Rural Electric Administration had put the brakes on its goal of providing electricity to every farmer in Missouri. Rationing and shortages of materials had held the focus of the nation for four long years. Now the REA was poised to begin an electrical revolution on the farm. Towns and cities had access to electricity but the farming communities had such sparse populations that they did not produce as much revenue per mile of line, therefore they went mostly unserved. Around 10% of the farms in the area had electricity. Twelve men from the Bolivar area were faced with a daunting task. They had to build the Southwest Electric Cooperative from the ground up by becoming its charter members. Talking up the benefits to thrifty farmers who had just survived the Great Depression, they were able to convince them to pay a $5 membership fee and the new members also encouraged their neighbors to sign up as well. Three members per mile were required if the REA was going to fund fully. The project that WWII had halted the progress of. But with the end of the war, came a demand for change. At one time, four thousand customers were on the waiting list to get electrical lines leading to their farms.
Election

Absentee ballots

The Polk County Clerk’s office will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and open through the lunch hour for absentee voting. Those casting a ballot by mail must make sure their written and signed request states the reason for voting absentee, and an address to where the ballot should be mailed. Those requesting ballots by mail must make sure their written request for a ballot arrives at the County Clerk’s office by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in order to be processed. The deadline for casting an absentee ballot in person at the County Clerk’s office is 5 p.m. the day before the election, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. The County Clerk’s office will also be open on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 from 8 a.m. to noon.

News

One man injured in Monday morning accident

A little before 7 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 14, Corporal J.R. Rorie responded to a single-vehicle crash north of Bolivar.

Community Events

Saturday, Oct. 12

Animal and pet art show

Art Sync Gallery & Gift will have their Animal & Pet Art Showing, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Oct. 19, at the gallery on the Bolivar square.

Index

DEATHS

Deaths

DEATHS

Grand Jury indicts Bolivar man for child sex crimes

Jerry Wayne Courtois, 54, of Bolivar was indicted by a grand jury on three felony counts of child molestation-related crimes.
Sports

Tennis Takes Title in First OMC Tournament

8410: Emma Goodman and Sofia Smashey watch as a blast from Smashey finds the corner for the point in their 8-4 semifinal win.


STAFF PHOTOS/ANNIE THOMAS
For the second consecutive year, the tennis Lady Liberators have captured a conference championship. The 2023 conference title came in Bolivar’s final year with the Ozark Conference. This week, the Lady Liberators became the first ever Ozark Mountain Conference tennis champions in the inaugural season of the OMC. Bolivar hosted the six team tournament for nearly nine hours of competition on Oct. 8. With the low score of 16 points, the Lady Liberators secured first with a three point margin of victory over Branson with 19 followed by Carl Junction with 20, two teams that bested Bolivar in tight matches previously in the season.
STAFF PHOTOS/


Chris Herbolsheimer

Liberator defense takes the "zizz" out of West Plains, 20-3

The Bolivar Liberators made the long trip to West Plains to take on the Zizzers in an Ozark Mountain Conference matchup, on Friday, Oct. 4.
#13 Makayla Methvin had a solid game from the circle.


STAFF PHOTOS/BOB CAMPBELL

Lady Liberators shine against Log-Rog, win 14-4

Ozark Mountain Conference members, the Bolivar Lady Liberators, and Logan-Rogersville Lady Wildcats met in Bolivar, on Thursday, Oct. 3, to play the first conference softball game between the two schools. Bolivar had met them in the conference tournament earlier in the year and outlasted Log-Rog 9-8.
Senior defender Connor McClelland clears the ball out of the backfield to shut down Parkview’s attack.


STAFF PHOTOS/ANNIE THOMAS

Bolivar Soccer Striking Up Success

Bolivar soccer improved to 9-2 on the season after picking up two wins at home in the last week. With their only losses coming back-to-back in week two, the Liberators have since built an eight game winning streak that includes capturing a first place finish in the Willard Tournament after three difficult games with Logan Rogersville, Hillcrest, and the host team, Willard. Outscoring their opponents at nearly a 9 to 1 rate, the Liberators have tallied an impressive 35 goals on the season while allowing only four defensively.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Bearcats edge out the Blue Tigers

The SBU football team continued GLVC action last Saturday afternoon as they hosted the Lincoln Blue Tigers on homecoming. Behind a packed crowd full of former and present Bearcats, SBU edged out the Blue Tigers to 17-13. They pick up their first conference win of the season moving to 2-2 (1-1 GLVC).
Homecoming court seated left to right; Avery Hofstetter, Brodie Fugere, Ellen Garber, Queen Sydney Waters, Caitlyn Cribbs, Asa Scholten, Adelyn Seay. Standing left to right; Connor Neal, Mason McCurry, Gardner Casey, Maddux NeSmith, Garretson Cook, Brant Sawyers, Daniel Kozlowski.


STAFF PHOTO/BOB CAMPBELL

Liberators defend the royalty with a 47-13 win at homecoming

After a week of festivities including a homecoming dance, a parade and the crowning of the queen, the Bolivar Liberators went out for the coin toss with the Marshfield Bluejays.
Basketball
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Coach spotlight - Wyketha Harrell

Wyketha Harrell enters her second season at the helm of the SBU women’s basketball team. She began her head coaching career as a Bearcat and made significant impact right away defeating rival and #12 ranked Drury University.

Rock Hill, S.C. – SBU women’s basketball head coach Wyketha Harrell is selected to participate in the NCAA College Basketball Academy. This event takes place on July 27-29, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Harrell is one of the few coaches across Division II, Division II, NAIA, and junior college to be selected for this opportunity.
SBU athletics department announced Issac Scroggins and Kallyn Stumbo as this years’ Rex Brown award winners as announced at the 2nd annual Purple Carpet Premiere.
On Tuesday, March 5, the Bolivar Liberators were looking to bring the amazing energy and teamwork that powered them through the district tournament to the state sectional game with Father Tolton Regional Catholic High School of Columbia.
The Lady Knights of Polk County Christian School were recognized as state champions in division 4 for the girls Missouri Christian Schools Athletic Association ( MCSAA) basketball state championship.
Opinion
What’s your edible timeline?
Bo was a beagle, and they were usually rabbit dogs, but Bo was a squirrel dog. He cared nothing about rabbits. He loved to chase and tree squirrels. Creeks, barbed wire fences, or briar thickets could not keep him from his mission.
As I sit to write this, Buffalo is preparing to host another Celtic festival to celebrate the Scots-Irish heritage of many Ozarks families.
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalms 23:5-6 (KJV)
Few Missouri trees have histories that are more interesting than the Osage orange. These trees are probably most noticeable at this time of year due to the large bright green fruit – called “hedge apples” or “Osage oranges” – that appear on the trees in late summer and early fall. Also known as hedge, hedge apple or bois d’arc trees; these thorny trees are frequently associated with the overgrown and neglected edges of pastures, fields and old farmsteads. In most settings, hedge trees appear to be little more than scrub vegetation in forgotten corners of the landscape.
School
As summer vacation comes to a close, it’s almost that time of year when parents rush to the stores for supplies and teachers dress up their classrooms to welcome back fresh-faced students.
While donations of supplies have poured in, organizers of Saturday’s Tenth Annual Polk County Back to School Extravaganza say more are always needed.
A Missouri State University student from Halfway was awarded for her success at the 2023 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Collegiate National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 22-25.
Registration for all Humansville R-IV students will take place Aug. 9 through Aug.11, from 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration packets will be available for parent pick up starting Tuesday, Aug. 8.
Sullivan Bank in Pleasant Hope will be doing a school supply drive for the Pleasant Hope School District.
Business
Anna Roberts, daughter of Lukas and Alicia Roberts of Bolivar, and Garrett Shockley, son of Gary and Becky Shockley of Polk, are to be married on Saturday, Oct. 12. The wedding will be at the Sentinel Missionary Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Roberts went to Halfway High School and Shockley attended Bolivar High School.
If you know a veteran, send us a photo to news@bolivarmonews.com, via Facebook, or in person at our local branch: 335 S. Springfield.
CIVIL ACTIONS
The Polk County Republican Central Committee will be having a "Meet the Candidates" event on Thursday, Oct. 17, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Elks Lodge in Bolivar. The Elks will be serving pulled pork sandwiches, sides, and drinks for $5 per person. Desserts will be provided. Polk County voters will have an opportunity to meet candidates, and ask questions about the Constitutional Amendments and how the law will be affected. Polk County candidates and office holders will be introduced. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
Halloween at the City Park in Pleasant Hope on Hwy H.
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