The First Annual Fair Play Christmas Market will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Fair Play high school cafeteria. more

Please join us at Bolivar Pentecostal Church of God on Sunday evening, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. for our Christmas play, “The Sky is Falling!” Written & directed by Gwendolyn Miller. more

It is the time of the year to start getting ready for Christmas. Toys For Tots are now being accepted at the following locations: more

The First Christian Church is hosting the annual bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec.14. Homemade vegetable soup, chili, sandwiches and pie are served starting at 11 a.m. There will be baked goods, candies, and gift items for sale. Money from the sales is used to help support various community charities. more

Step into the holiday season with Christmas at Fellowship Park, a free event designed to bring the Bolivar community together in the spirit of joy and giving. The third annual event is organized by Bolivar FIrst Baptist Church and features a live nativity by the Open Hearts Methodist Church. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the community park, on the campus of Bolivar First Baptist Church, north of the Bolivar square. more

The 44th annual Festival of Christmas, presented by Southwest Baptist University and Community Outreach Ministries, will take place at 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, in Pike Auditorium on SBU’s Bolivar campus. more

Christmas is a time for giving, and with the holiday season upon us, organizations are seeking gift donations. This year, the community can donate stocking stuffers to the specialized care program at the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch. more

With the holiday season officially here, the Bolivar Police Department is seeking the community’s help as it works to make Christmas special for Polk County children. more

The 40th Share Your Christmas distribution sponsored by Polk County Christian Social Ministries will be held next Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 11 and 12. Distribution will once again be a drive through event to be held at the Bolivar First Assembly of God Church on S. Springfield Ave. in Bolivar. The volunteers loading the items in the cars are asking that the vehicles be clutter free. This makes it easier to load all the items. more

Join the Downtown Bolivar Association for a Treat Trot Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. more

Young customers invited to celebrate the holiday with a free, interactive craft event more

The 2025 class will visit Kansas City for a hands-on look at careers in agriculture. more

HI LOW PRECIP more

Wednesday, Dec. 4 more

Polk County Community Connections will host its monthly breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Polk County Senior Center, 1850 W. Broadway, Bolivar. A free breakfast is provided. more

Trash-can-decorating contest runs through March 14 more

Charles Albert Burt more

John Joseph Butler more

Shelvin Dewayne Sawyer, 59, of Bolivar, passed away at home surrounded by his family. Shelvin was born on Feb. 9, 1965, in Springfield, to Elvin and Mary (Hampton) Sawyer. He was saved at the age of 13 at a revival at Elkland Methodist Church. He was a member at the Morrisville Assembly of God church. Shelvin served as a Corporal in the United States Army during Desert Storm. He received a Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Overseas Service Medal, a Persian Gulf Medal, and three Army Achievement Medals. He was a recovery specialist and combat life saver. After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1994, Shelvin worked in many fields. His favorite was driving a truck. Shelvin worked as an over the road truck driver for TMC Trucking in Springfield. When he could, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, Shelvin was a huge Chiefs fan. He loved the Republican party and was so relieved when President Trump was re-elected. He loved his truck, a 2017 Ford F-150, almost as much as he loved his dog Molly, who was his little companion. Shelvin married Shannon Marshall on Feb. 8, 2013. When he married her, he gained a family. He loved his newly gained children with all his heart; and when he became “Pops, “ he found his new favorite job. more

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

DEATHS more

DEATHS more

It was in the spring of 2004 that I first saw Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth perform the show stopping “Defying Gravity” from the Broadway blockbuster “Wicked” at the Tony Awards. Since that moment was over 20 years ago, it means that I have waited literal decades for a big-screen version of “Wicked.” I’ve more than satisfied my appetite for the stage version, having seen it five times, once with Menzel still in the cast (sadly never with Chenoweth). But I’ve always wanted the vast production to be available to the world, with added scale and visual spectacle to boot. Now the wait is finally over, and the result is… reasonably acceptable. more

The First Annual Fair Play Christmas Market will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Fair Play high school cafeteria. more

The First Christian Church is hosting the annual bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec.14. Homemade vegetable soup, chili, sandwiches and pie are served starting at 11 a.m. There will be baked goods, candies, and gift items for sale. Money from the sales is used to help support various community charities. more