Mary Jean Houk more

INSIDE TODAY'S ISSUE more

Naomi J. Barham more

Citizens Memorial Hospital and Southside Medical Center announce the addition of Kendra Vlieger, PMHNP-BC, a certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, to the medical staff. more

POLICE REPORTS more

Why shifting into park is a great idea more

Hunting seasons are getting ready to start. Many years ago, I told my wife that taking up hunting would be a good way to provide us with cheap meat. I explained to her that the Missouri Conservation Department had done a great job growing our wildlife populations. more

The 2025 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in Polk County MO offered free, nutritious meals to children 18 and under from July 9 through Aug. 15. The program, funded by the USDA, purchased food products through Ozarks Food Harvest and Community Outreach Ministries to provide meals. In addition to the financial support through SFSP, ToRCH funding from Citizens Memorial Hospital provided for supplemental food expenses and supply costs. Through these partnerships and funding the effort served 6036 meals during the six-week period to children and adults throughout the county. more

Bearcat Football crosses into strange territory as there is a new leader at the helm for the first time in over 10 years. The winningest coach in program history, Robert Clardy, stepped down from the head coaching role, opening the position up to a new up and comer across the Midwest. After consecutive highly successful seasons, Head Coach Paul Hansen steps up from NAIA to Division II, to lead the Bearcats. more

Saturday, Sept. 6 more

The Bolivar Community Teachers Association is now accepting applications for the fall 2025 student-teaching scholarship. Bolivar High School graduates currently involved in a student-teaching experience should contact Renee Shelenhamer at Bolivar Primary School 417-326-5247 or rshelenhamer@bolivarschools.org for an application. more

Hi, I'm Sir Chillins...I'm a cool guy with a gorgeous mane and a sweet disposition. My family became homeless so I had to come to the shelter in hopes of finding my own forever home. I'm a little shy so I would do best in a home without a lot of noise. Can you be my forever love? more

The Bolivar High School Class of 1963 will meet Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1:30 p.m. in the back room of Brenda's Cafe. Lunch will be served. Brenda’s is located at 119 W. Broadway, Bolivar. more

Open Hearts United Methodist Church presents Potter’s Wheel at their fall kickoff. more

Don’t miss the opportunity to help local vets and kids. Be a part of the Bolivar Elks Lodge golf tournament. $100 puts your business on a sign. more

The Polk County Democrats will be holding their monthly meeting on September 15th at Basil & Bourbon Restaurant, 113 S Main. Anyone who would like to meet for an early dinner before the meeting is welcome to come between 5-6:15 p.m. to enjoy friends and fellowship. The meeting will be at 6:30.p.m. more

​The annual Country Days event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Downtown Bolivar Association, along with a large number of volunteers, is proud to bring this event to the community each year. more

The Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Soirée is Saturday, Sept. 27, at Erickson Stock Farm, owned by Tim and Nancy Erickson, near Bolivar. more

Brianna Alizabeth To Represent the Down Syndrome Community in Unique Annual National Down Syndrome Society Video Presentation more

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of two individuals in connection with the theft of four bred cows. more

How well do you know Polk County? more

Beulah Mae Armbrust more

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

Monday, Sept. 8 — Parmesan fish or chicken strips, cole slaw, baked beans, hushpuppies, lemon cake. more

“Caught Stealing” is one of those twisty crime thrillers where it seems like the filmmakers cast as many interesting names as they could and then wrote the movie around using them all. For example, at no point did I feel it was necessary for the film to feature Matt Smith as a character with a 60’s U.K. punk rock aesthetic in this film set in New York in 1998 (itself an inexplicable choice). All the film needed was a neighbor character who’s mixed up with some bad people. But the movie got Smith for the role, and somebody, possibly Smith himself, wanted to see the character played with the crazy getup. The result is a character that is a scene-stealer to be sure, but is the story really helped by all his quirkiness? I don’t think so. If anything, he’s a distraction from the main character, whose journey is supposed to be the focus. Though maybe it’s for the best, because I wasn’t digging the main character and was welcoming all distractions. more