Austin H. Lee son of Young Jang and Sean Lee and Makayla Methvin daughter of Kristal and Michael Methvin have been chosen Rotary Students for the month of October. more

THE BPS Fall Title Meeting will be from 5:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21. The meeting will be held in the BPS Art Room. more

The Polk County Retired School Personnel meeting will meet Tuesday, Oct 21 at 9 a.m. at Brenda’s Cafe. We will eat breakfast and then hear our speaker, Gerald Andrews, presenting about the growth of CMH. For more information or questions contact Jodie Young at 417-327-3094. more

The Polk County Museum will be open Oct. 16, 17 and 18 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.. A display of Cherokee straight dancing regalia will be on display during those hours. more

ABMF Past is Prologue Essay Contest Preserves Legacy of WWII American Fallen Heroes more

Polk County 4-H is joining schools, preschools, nonprofits, and local food enthusiasts in celebrating Farm to School Month by competing in a nine-State Crunch Off competition! Missouri is competing against Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota to determine who will be crowned the Mountain Plains Crunch Champion through having the most crunches into local apples or produce per capita. Throughout the week of Oct.12-18 local 4-H members will be tasting different varieties of apples and experimenting with apple preservation methods. This Crunch event encourages healthy eating, supports local agriculture, and helps students and community members gain a deeper understanding of the food system. Help Missouri win the Crunch Crown by crunching local produce during the week of Oct.12-18. For more information, or to participate in the Crunch, please contact Hillary Manning at hmanning@missouri.edu. more

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Bolivar High School hosted its 2025 College and Career Fair in the BHS gym, providing students with an invaluable opportunity to explore college and career options. The event saw more than 240 BHS students participate, alongside students from eight area schools—Halfway, Fair Play, Everton, Dadeville, Morrisville, Wheatland, Weaubleau, and Pleasant Hope. These schools brought an additional 150 students, bringing the total to more than 400 students benefiting from the event. more

The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for Orchard Eye Clinic, on Saturday, Oct. 4. The clinic is located at 1111 E Cambridge St., Bolivar. more

HI LOW CONDITIONS more

Saturday, October. 11, the streets were full of bands, floats, SBU alumni and kids of all ages enjoying the SBU Homecoming Parade.  more

How well do you know Polk County? more

The City of Bolivar will place a franchise agreement with Southwest Electric Cooperative on the ballot for the Tuesday, Nov. 4, election. Voters will decide whether to approve the agreement. more

​History was made at Silo Ridge on Thursday, Oct. 9, as the Bolivar High School girls golf team captured the first-ever team district championship in school history. This is a monumental moment for the Liberator golf program, as this is the first time a team has made the state tournament. more

In Polk County, enthusiasm and support for high school sports runs deep through generations of tradition and school pride. Local barber shops, cafes and parking lots find small town sports fans replaying last week’s games, questioning coaches and officials, assessing the area talent and reminiscing about their own glory days and longstanding rivalries. But under the Friday Night Lights in Pleasant Hope, three area schools are forgetting rivalries and forging a new brotherhood under one banner. more

On Sunday, Oct. 12, at approximately 1:20 p.m., there was a two-car accident on MO-13, three miles north of Bolivar. more

Friday, Oct. 17 more

Bolivar Technical College’s 20th Anniversary weekend, Oct. 4 was filled with celebration, gratitude, and community pride as students, alumni, and supporters gathered to honor two decades of excellence in education. The day kicked off with a Community Celebration, featuring live music, games, inflatables, refreshments, and tours of the college’s state-of-the-art simulation labs. Alumni and their families returned to campus for a special luncheon sponsored by Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH), reconnecting with classmates, faculty, and mentors. more

It was an honor to be the winning bidder for Minda Cox's exceptional painting at the Bolivar Technical College Gala auction. To stop by and visit with Minda, a truly inspirational artist and neighbor, and share this moment with her was especially meaningful. more

Mary Lou Robertson more

True Charity is teaming up with Polk County Cares, Community Outreach Ministries, Polk County Health Center, CMH, Community Connections, and Grand Missouri Bank for a Community Workshop aimed at fostering more effective, compassionate responses to poverty. True Charity, a national organization dedicated to championing a resurgence of civil society in the fight against poverty, will bring their team of experts to share seven key principles, blending philosophy with practical solutions. more

As a writer, finding the most concise word is important. Using the word flower, for example, might be sufficient. Yet, a red rose brings a very distinct image to mind. The color, the smell, the thorns, the symbol of love. It makes a difference. Words matter. In writing. And in life. more

Clint A. Allison more

IN TODAY’S ISSUE more

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