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Picture left to right: Judge Chuck Replogle, Corner Zane Gore, Public Administrator Scott Pursselley, Southern Commissioner Bob Moreland, Assessor Rita Lemmon, Surveyor Kevin Nelson, Northern Commissioner Kyle Legan and Sheriff Danny Morrison.

Swearing-in to serve

The newly elected officials were sworn-in on Monday, Dec. 30 by Judge Chuck Replogle. 
Mike Pitts.


CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Bolivar Schools names new leadership appointments

Dr. Tim Garber next Assistant Superintendent of Academics, Mike PItts as Executive Director of Operations
STAFF PHOTO/LINDA SIMMONS

Bridge being replaced

The low water bridge located on E 435th Road between D Hwy and S 150 is being replaced. Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 18 be prepared to detour as the road will be closed while this is being built. The expected time for this project is at least 90-days. The county appreciates your patience while we make these much needed repairs.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Farewell reception

There will be a come and go reception to wish Mayor Christopher D. Warwick well as he leaves his post as Bolivar’s mayor and starts his new role as a state representative. It will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Bolivar City Hall, immediately before his final Board of Aldermen meeting.
Election

Democrats to meet Feb. 17

The Polk County Democrats will host their meeting on Feb. 17 at Basil & Bourbon at 6:30 p.m. Dinner is optional for those who want to eat and fellowship before the meeting at 5:15 p.m. The agenda will include updates on legislative activities, local charitable activities, and setting our goals for the year.

News

New therapy for dogs with cancer shows promise

Innovative Mizzou cancer research helps treat a Jefferson City dog.

Howard Lee Harris

Howard Lee Harris

Do you know about??

The Green Children of Woolpit

Janice Marie Cribbs

Janice Marie Cribbs

Deaths

DEATHS

KLife MERGE scholarship

Donations needed to send kids to spring retreat
Sports

Cold Weather Doesn’t Stop Runners at 46th Annual Polar Bear Run

STAFF PHOTO/LINDA SIMMONS
Southwest Missouri’s oldest annual running race, the Polar Bear Run, featured more than 100 runners and walkers at its 46th anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 8 in Bolivar. The Polar Bear Run is hosted by the City of Bolivar Parks & Recreation Department, with director Todd Schrader as the race director.
The 200 Medley Relay team of Annie Havens, Josie Thomas, Eleanor Woosley and Aby Kaufmann are all smiles as they prepare to smash the school record in Friday’s SWMO prelims. They would break their own record again 24 hours later in finals.


STAFF PHOTOS/ANNIE THOMAS

Swim Season Goes Out with a Splash

The Lady Liberators made their mark in BHS swimming history as they closed the 2024-25 season with two competitive days in the pool at the Southwest Missouri Championships Feb. 7 and 8. By the end of the weekend, BHS Varsity swimmers would have a new 200 Medley Relay school record, the most individuals in program history qualifying for SWMO finals, the best team finish and most points scored at SWMO finals in program history, and come a fraction of a second off another school record in the 400 Free Relay. Additionally, one relay and five individual medals earned in JV competition would become a BHS all-time best for the SWMO JV meet.
Carly Cribbs for three.


STAFF PHOTOS/BOB CAMPBELL

Lady Liberators shock #5 state-ranked Hillcrest 53-52

Thursday, Feb. 6, the Hillcrest Lady Hornets opened a basketball contest at the Bolivar gymnasium.
Maddux Nesmith-138, Mason McCurry-175, Logan Bunn-165, Sam Harless-190, Cale McCurry-157.


CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Wrestlers bring home the hardware

The boys varsity team had their turn in the Ozark Mountain tournament on Saturday, and brought home their share of hardware.
Julia Jones looks toward the wall while swimming butterfly in the 200 IM.


STAFF PHOTOS/ANNIE THOMAS

Lady Liberators Still Shaving Seconds, Looking for Strong Finish

Lady Liberator swimmers were among more than 450 individual athletes representing 39 schools from across the state at the Springfield Invitational last Saturday, Feb. 1 at Foster Natatorium. In more than seven hours of competition, Bolivar’s 20 swimmers combined for 30 best times with multiple Lady Liberators improving their rank among the program’s all-time top finishes.
Gardner Casey thrives under pressure.


STAFF PHOTOS/BOB CAMPBELL

The Bolivar Liberator Basketball Tournament shows great competition

The 90th Bolivar Liberator Basketball Tournament finished a three-day whirlwind of competition on Feb. 1, 2025.
Basketball
The 32nd Gary Keeling Memorial Tournament wrapped up Thursday, Jan. 23, at Bolivar High School, showcasing some of the best girls teams in the state.
Friday, Jan. 24, the Monett Cubs (9-8) traveled to Bolivar to take on the Liberators (10-4).
The Lady Bearcats won their third straight game as they defeated the Bearcats of McKendree University by a score of 75-65. SBU is now 7-8 (5-4 GLVC) on the season.
Opinion
Valentine’s Day
All January long, I’ve been mentioning (okay, “whining”) that the month is a dead zone for new movie releases. So it makes sense that the biggest release of the month would be one that opened on the very last day (Friday the 31 st ) before making most of its money in February. With an estimated $36 million in its first three days, “Dog Man” is already the biggest new movie of 2025. And its success isn’t just commercial, the joyful film also gets my first recommendation of the year. It’s a chilly recommendation, appropriate for January I suppose, but a recommendation nonetheless.
A battle for the aged
When a Coke was a nickel
You probably do not realize this but someone is watching you. It may be your child or grandchild, other family members, friends, or neighbors. Maybe someone you don’t even know.
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
The Polk County Cattlemen’s Association monthly meeting will be held Feb. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at LimeBank in Bolivar. The meeting is sponsored by Vitalix with a presentation by Travis Taylor, District Sales Manager, MO. Also speaking will be Polk County Jr. Cattleman, Ben Hines, and MSU Collegiate Cattleman, Chase Boggs, about their backgrounds and the Collegiate Cattlemen Showdown they both recently competed in and placed. We encourage all members to attend. NOt a member but interested in more information about what we do or how to join the Cattlemen’s Association? We welcome you to come to the meeting at Smith’s Restaurant, visit the Missouri Cattlemen’ Association website online at www.mocattle.org or call Ed Vest, Polk County Cattlemen’s Association president at 417-399-1430 for more information.
DEATHS
The Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH) Research Department and the Missouri Memory Center in Bolivar, will host free memory screenings on Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Polk County Library, 1690 W. Broadway St., in Bolivar. Doors will open at 1 p.m. and Dr. Curtis P. Schreiber will share a brief presentation at 1:15 p.m.
Missourians reminded of risk of damaging earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone
The Matilda Polk Campbell Chapter, NSDAR will hold its monthly meeting, Saturday Feb. 15, in Bolivar. Winners of recent essay contests will be recognized and will read their winning essays. The students include: American History Essay Contest winners Zoe Durnell of Weaubleau Elementary School, fifth-grade winner; and Luke Burchett, sixth-grade winner, Homeschool; the winner of the Patriots of the American Revolution Essay is Madison Young of Pleasant Hope High School. Other invited guests include the librarians of schools receiving the recent America 250 Celebration books.
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