For those who have lost a loved one, the holiday season is often the most difficult time of the year. If this describes your situation, we want to try and help by providing a special event called “Surviving the Holidays.” more

Shae Smith more

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

The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting at Bolivar Technical College on Saturday, Oct. 4, to celebrate the college’s 20th anniversary. Located at 1135 N. Oakland, Bolivar Technical College specializes in nursing and healthcare programs. more

The annual Morrisville Agrileaders/FFA Turkey Shoot will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at the west ballfield at Marion C. Early School. more

SHERIFF’S REPORTS more

The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated GPS Property Management with a ribbon cutting on Friday, Oct. 17, at their rental property, 640 E. Forest. Owners Peter and Ericka Peppers were joined by Chamber board members and community friends as they cut the ribbon. more

Hi, I'm Roxie! I'm a sweet girl but need to be the only animal in the home. No worries as I can make up for the lack of other animals with my cuddly and loving nature. I'm front declawed so I will need to be an indoor only home. more

Halfway R-3 Schools will host their annual Senior Citizens Holiday Dinner on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in the library at 11 a.m.. All seniors in the Halfway School District are welcome to attend by making reservations on or before Nov. 19, by calling the school at 417-445-2200, extension 5. more

Citizens Memorial Hospital has awarded Chantel Carter, RN, the DAISY Platinum Award after she received 11 nominations for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Chantel is a registered nurse with CMH Hospice. more

Bolivar High School is excited to welcome local senior citizens for a night of great food, entertainment, and community connection at the annual BHS Senior Citizen Night on Thursday, Nov. 6. This free event is a beloved Bolivar tradition celebrating the district’s appreciation for the senior members of our community. more

Polk County Christian School - Friday Nov. 7 more

Trunk-Or-Treat at Berean Baptist Church more

How well do you know Polk County? more

The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) announced today that due to the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) has informed state agencies that November 2025 SNAP cannot be issued at this time. more

DSS has announced that it will be unable to issue SNAP payments in November due to the government shutdown, and has suggested that those affected should try to spread out their October benefits and check with local food banks and food pantries for more information. more

City will Rock the Rec this Saturday more

If you know a veteran, send a photo to linda.simmons@bolivarmonews.com, via Facebook, or in person at our local branch at 335 S. Springfield. more

The skies darken, the thunder rumbles, the lightning flashes, the rain comes down, the storm begins. more

Campbell Grove Missionary Baptist Church will be having a revival held by Brother Matt Millam. The revival will start Monday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. more

Monday, Oct. 27 — Tuna casserole (WG noodles), broccoli, wheat roll, banana pudding. more

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) State Unit on Aging, in collaboration with the state’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), announced that Missouri is one of only a handful of states to come into full compliance with the Older Americans Act (OAA) final rule. This milestone marks Missouri as a leader in advancing accountability, transparency and quality in services for older adults and their caregivers. more

Postseason play came to Polk County Monday night after the Class 1 District 1 softball championship was relocated from Norwood to Bolivar, a more central location between the two finalists. The title game featured a familiar Polk County postseason matchup between the Halfway Lady Cardinals and the Marion C. Early Lady Panthers. This season’s final was the sixth meeting of the two programs in the last seven years of District tournaments. After eliminating the Lady Cardinals in postseason play and eventually earning District titles four straight years in 2020-2023 including back-to-back Final Four runs in 2022 and 2023, the Lady Panthers were reclassified to Class 2 for the 2024 season. This season found both teams back in Class 1 Districts together and the Lady Cardinals looking for a win of their own. more

Pursuant to 50.333 RSMo., the Polk County Salary Commission, is required by law to give notice of the meeting of the Commission. Following is the required notice: The 2025 meeting of the Polk County Salary Commission will be held on Monday, November 10, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. in the Courthouse, 102 East Broadway, Room 12, Bolivar, MO. The County Clerk shall present a report of the financial condition of the County and any other new business that comes before the Salary Commission. more

University of Missouri Extension will host a series of educational programs this fall titled “Baled Late, Fed Smart,” designed to assist livestock producers in managing and utilizing lower-quality hay effectively. more