HI LOW PRECIPITATION more

Friday, Feb. 14, was an exciting day for Citizens Memorial Hospital as they observed the Topping Out ceremony on the new construction. more

Cattle, tractors, hayfields and the blue jackets of the FFA are common sights throughout rural Missouri. High school vocational agriculture programs and FFA chapters nearly as old as the schools themselves have been growing future farmers for generations. In most cases, however, opportunities for school-based agriculture education don't exist until the secondary grade levels. Leaders at Marion C. Early Schools in Morrisville are changing that with the addition of a new elementary agriculture program for all 2nd-5th grade students aimed at cultivating knowledge and skills in future agricultural leaders and citizens. more

How well do you know Polk County? more

Trillma Irene Wollard more

Bart Millard’s parents were divorced when he was three-years-old. His mother didn’t want him so Millard was sent to live with his father who was abusive to him through much of his childhood. As a child he lived in fear of his father. When he would get upset about something he would take it out on Bart. more

Sew 'N' Sew Quilt Guild will meet Friday, Feb. 21 at the United Methodist Church, 105 East Division St. Please come to the east entrance into the Fellowship Hall. Social time at 9:30 am with meeting at 10:00. Georgia Highley will present a program on the Disappearing Hour Glass. All those interested in quilting are welcome to attend. Any questions, please call Elizabeth Morgan at 417-422-7195. more

Program will also have information on seed collection and storage. more

Operation Soap (OS), whose name comes from a joke about dropping soap in prison, has a Facebook following of nearly 30,000 people. Their mission is to clean the streets, one predator at a time. more

Linda Lou Murdock Hopwood more

Sherida Lei Rutan Miller more

DEATHS more

DEATHS more

Boys more

CIVIL PETITIONS more

The absentee ballots for the April General Municipal Election will be ready for voting on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The Polk County Clerk’s office will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-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 which 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 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2025. 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, April 7, 2025. The County Clerk’s office will also be open for absentee voting on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 8 a.m. to noon. more

SHERIFF’S REPORTS more

I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if I had not grown up in the Missouri Ozarks surrounded by nature. It was here in this land that I learned to be curious and explore the world of animals, insects, wildflowers, plants and trees. I learned what lived in woods and waters. I gained confidence, learned to be alone, enjoyed myself and felt at home. more

For whatever reason, the studios decided that what America wanted this Valentine’s season more

My husband Tom once accused me of being unromantic. As much as I hate to admit it, I think he might be right. more

The SBU baseball team started began the season with a pitching clinic, clinching a series win off Southern Nazarene to begin 3-1. The Bearcats controlled the entire series only trailing for one full inning across all 30 that were played. more

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. more

Ron and Helen (Francka) Stander, Bolivar, will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. They were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bolivar on Feb. 19, 1955, just two weeks after Ron’s return from a 16-month Army deployment to Korea. more

The local chapter of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association will meet Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. at Brenda‘s Café on Broadway in Bolivar. Any retired school personnel are welcome and encouraged to attend. This includes support staff as well as teachers and can be from any school district. Breakfast will be available for purchase if desired. Kermit Hargis from Polk County Health Center will be presenting a program called Ready in Three which is a three step process to preparing for a large emergency or disaster. For more information contact Jodie Young at 417-327-3094 or email at 4youngnz@gmail.com. more

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. more