Most teachers would never dream of giving control to a bunch of seven or eight-year-olds. However, that is exactly what Amber Tucker, Bolivar Primary School (BPS) music teacher, did for the second-grade Christmas play, “Reindeer Zone.” more

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive more

Rex Bennett Brown more

Amy Hutchison more

Grace Raygan Harmon more

The Tri-County Baptist Group will hold its regular Fifth Sunday Service on Sunday, Dec. 29, at Rock Prairie Missionary Baptist Church in Polk County. more

DEATHS more

DEATHS more

Norma Ann Pitts more

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

I often sit at the bar attached to my kitchen island, drink my morning coffee, and let nature entertain me. more

Ann Elizabeth Ladish more

Tuesday, Dec. 10, Fair Grove Eagles fresh off the state championship football game traveled to the Bolivar field house to challenge the Bolivar Liberators. more

SHERIFF’S REPORTS more

The Polk County Courthouse will be closed from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday Dec. 17, for an employee Christmas lunch. Thank you. more

“Gladiator II” has some awfully big sandals to fill, both commercially and creatively. Its predecessor, 2000’s “Gladiator,” made $187 million at the domestic box office. The new film has thus farmade an estimated $132 million after three weekends of release. With a lot of money up for grabs in the upcoming holiday season, another $55 million isn’t out of the question. Maybe I could even stretch to see it making the $68 million it needs to hit the $200 million mark. Yes, inflation means that it’s less impressive to make these numbers now than it did nearly a quarter-century ago, but these are attainable goals. What I do not see as attainable is the sequel ever becoming as well-regarded as the original. That film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, so already the new one has to live up to an impossibly more

The Department is investigating numerous reports of sick and dead waterfowl across Missouri. more

Fair Play police arrested Kevin Danielsen after he fled from police during a traffic stop on Dec. 10. more

SBU Director of Athletics, Clark Sheehy, announces Ashley Vest as the new SBU Cheer and Stunt coach. Vest joins the Bearcats with over 20 years of cheer and business owner experience. more

Hello, I'm Clementine. I may be a bit bashful at first, but I promise, it's worth getting to know me. I'm a bit of a lone ranger, cherishing my solitude and independence. I enjoy spending my days observing the world around me, and finding joy in the little things. I may not be the first to greet you, but once I trust you, I'll be your cuddle bug. more

The LWML Ladies Guild at Zion Lutheran Church held a chicken noodle dinner and bazaar fundraiser in November, and with the proceeds, they were able to support many local organizations. One of those organizations was the Heart of the Ozarks West (HOTO) chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Other organizations receiving funding were Alpha House, House of Hope, Community Outreach Ministries, S.O.A.R., Bolivar PD Shop with a Cop, and Care to Learn – Bolivar. more

Friday, Dec. 13 more

Do you recognize where this might be? Watch each week for a picture to see if you can guess where it is. A new picture of the same spot will be featured each Wednesday and Friday. Winner will be chosen in a random drawing from the entries with the correct guess. Winner will be announced in the last edition of that month’s Friday paper. Place your guess for the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the sponsoring business. more

Monday, Dec. 16 — Ham and Beans, tomatoes and zucchini, WG cornbread, peanut butter fudge. more

Get out of your house and go to a quiet place. Escape the politics, diversity and division. more