As part of the post-World War II generation, I am proudly a “baby boomer.” more

CIVIL PETITIONS more

The annual Southwest Missouri Beef Conference and Trade show will be held Monday, Nov. 17 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Church, 1405 West Fair Play Street in Bolivar. more

DeLaney Daniels more

Polk County Community Connections will host its monthly breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Polk County Senior Center, 1850 W. Broadway, Bolivar. A free breakfast is provided. more

Citizens Memorial Hospital will host a free online men’s health seminar at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The webinar will be presented by board-certified urologist Mark Walterskirchen, M.D., with the CMH Urology Surgical Clinic in Bolivar. more

Sherri Cochran was the winner of the gift card to Brenda’s Cafe after winning the October II-Spy game, correctly guessing Aldi as the location. Sherriis proof that reading the paper doesn’t just provide you with news and entertainment, it can pay off as well. more

Thursday, Nov. 6 more

The American Legion Post 138 more

Jean Vincent will speak on the history of the Cherokee in Missouri and Northern Arkansas at the Nov. 6 meeting of the Polk County Genealogy Society. Vincent recently presented this program for the local DAR group. PCGS is looking forward to hearing Vincent’s presentation. The meeting is Thursday, Nov 6, at the PCGS Research Facility on the southeast corner of the Square. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. with a short business meeting that includes the election of officers for 2026. In October the nominating committee presented the following slate for election: President-Cay Sergent, Vice President-Betty Doyle, Secretary-Leta Gass, Treasurer-Julie Trout, and Member at Large-Lou Thelen Kemp. There were no nominees from the floor. more

In conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Open House weekend, the First Christian Church will have their annual bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 15. more

The Polk County Historical Society will meet for its annual Dinner Meeting on Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. at Flat Creek Restaurant in Bolivar. We will order from the menu. The public is welcome to attend. We will be discussing some of the things that have transpired at the museum during the Open Season of 2025. more

HI LOW CONDITIONS more

The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand reopening of Village Boutique under new ownership Friday, Oct. 31. New owner Cassie Taylor cut the ribbon surrounded by friends, family and community members. The boutique is located at 860 E. San Martin. more

Three local businesses will combine efforts to host a food and fund drive to benefit Community Outreach Ministries Food Pantry from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at The Dunnegan Estate. more

The holiday season is right around the corner, and there’s no better way to kick it off than by shopping local during the Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Open House, set for Thursday and Friday, Nov. 14 and 15. more

When presenting three Life Saving Awards from the Bolivar Police Department at the Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday, Oct. 28, Chief Johns said, “I’m very proud of my team.” more

COM sees the Polk County community coming together despite a loss of half a million dollars of food aid. more

Aldermen Tricia Bel-Price, Justin Ballard, Dusty Ross, Steve Sagasar, Ashley Raines, Alexis Neal and Brian Wilson were present; Jonathon Moores was absent. Others present included City Administrator Thomas Relford, Mayor Mike Stephens, City Attorney Don Brown, and City Clerk Paula Henderson. more

Citizens Memorial Hospice will host its annual Lights of Remembrance event from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at the Kerry and Synda Douglas Medical Center, 1155 W. Parkview St., in Bolivar. more

After an amazing game plan and execution last week against Log-rog, the Liberators hoped to put another solid game plan in play against Carl Junction in the district playoffs. more

How well do you know Polk County? more

The 2025 tennis Lady Liberators are leaving their mark on a program that already boasts a reputation for success. This class of Bolivar athletes closed the season with some impressive stats but will be remembered for more than just what they accomplished on the court. For the second consecutive year, the Lady Liberators found themselves among the elite few playing on the final day of the Missouri high school girls tennis season. In a re-match of the 2024 State Championship, Bolivar fell to Clayton in the state semifinal round Thursday, Oct. 30 but returned Oct. 31 for a win over Kennett and a Class 1 third place finish. more

Friday, Oct. 31 found the Bolivar square filled with spookiness, scariness and lots of cuteness! Kids of all ages enjoyed the annual Kiwanis Club Costume Contest along with business owners and churches handing out goodies. more

The hot topic for the Bolivar Board of Aldermen for the last several meetings has been whether or not to continue a contract with Empire District Electric Company, d.b.a. Liberty, for street lighting services. On October 14, 2025, a bill to extend the service for one year was tabled. Tuesday, Oct. 28, the bill, which reads, “An ordinance authorizing an agreement with the Empire District Electric Company, doing business as Liberty, for a temporary extension to the Municipal Electric Service Agreement for streetlighting until September 2026,” was presented for a rollcall vote. Aldermen voted two ayes and five nayes. The city will not be in a contractual agreement with Liberty at this point. Those in favor of extending the contract were Alexis Neal and Steve Sagasar. Those opposed were Dusty Ross, Tricia Bel-Price, Justin Ballard, Ashley Raines, and Brian Wilson. more