The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce wrapped up its 20th Annual Light the Park on Saturday, Dec. 30. The event features light displays throughout Bolivar’s Dunnegan Memorial Park, provided by businesses and organizations. more

The Bolivar Educational Advancement Foundation (BEAF) proudly announces its commitment to fostering educational excellence by providing nearly $25,000 in grants to teachers within the Bolivar School District. These grants aim to empower educators and enhance the learning experience for students in the community. more

The Bolivar Liberator wrestling team traveled to Granite City, Illinois over the Christmas break to compete in the Granite City Tournament. more

A silent auction held on October 3, along with a number of "give cancer the boot" opportunities at BHS volleyball and football games, yielded a grand total of $3,060.02 for the Carrie J. Babb Cancer Center. In its sixth-year, the auction was held in the high school cafeteria prior to and during Bolivar's volleyball matches with Springfield Hillcrest, and many area merchants, attractions, and individuals provided a wide array of merchandise, passes, gift cards, baked goods, seasonal decorations, and much, much more for those in attendance to bid for. Since the event began in 2017 (no event was held in 2020), the grand total raised for the Carrie J. Babb Cancer Center has been $11,237.40. All the proceeds from the money raised goes to help patients and their families with medical oncology visits, radiation visits, patient lunches, reduced lodging/transportation, nutritional supplements, hygiene kits, and much more. The entire volleyball program at Bolivar High School wishes to give a big thank you to all the individuals who helped on that busy night, and especially all the businesses and individuals who provided so generously the items for the auction. more

As the sun sets on another academic year, the faculty and staff of Bolivar Technical College honored the graduation of its Practical Nursing (LPN) and RN to BSN Completion program students. Family and friends joined together on Saturday, Dec. 16, to celebrate their graduates and reflect on this milestone. more

As we bid 2023 farewell, here's to the memories that were made and going into 2024 our wish is for peace and prosperity. May the New Year bless you with health and happiness. From all of us at Bolivar Herald-Free Press - thank you for letting us serve you in the year past, and we look forward to bringing you the news in the upcoming year. more

Citizens Memorial Hospital and CMH Rheumatology and Osteoporosis Center welcome Justin W. Reed, D.O., to the medical staff. more

Citizens Memorial Hospital has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2023. CMH is one of only 262 hospitals nationwide and one of 16 in Missouri to receive the honor. more

Numerous neighborhoods in and around Bolivar are sharing the Christmas spirit with beautiful light displays. It really is the most wonderful time of the year for taking the family on a drive and enjoying the displays. more

Emergency responders from several area agencies came together on Saturday, Dec. 9, to shop with local children at this year’s Shop with a Cop. Law enforcement officers and firefighters joined together to shop with 138 children at Bolivar’s Walmart throughout the day. The children, who are in kindergarten through third grade and were nominated for the program by local school counselors, came from every school district in Polk County. Each child received around a $100 shopping spree for Christmas presents. The kids also had the chance to visit with Santa Claus and eat snacks after shopping. The Bolivar Police Department, which sponsors the program, raised around $30,000 for the program throughout 2023. more

Douglas, Haun and Heidemann, P.C. partner, Craig Heidemann has been selected as a Super Lawyer by the Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine. This is the seventh year Heidemann has been selected for this honor. more

A Bolivar man is facing felony charges in Polk County Circuit Court after breaking into Bolivar City Hall on Friday night, Dec. 8. more

Bolivar City Fire Department firefighters, Bolivar police officers and other area first responders had their hands full Wednesday evening, Dec. 6, as they handled multiple calls for service at the same time. more

It is beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas all around Bolivar and Polk County. Lots of Christmas events for the whole family to enjoy. more

"Let it snow" was the theme, but the moisture that arrived just in time for the annual Christmas parade wasn't frozen, making for a wet parade on Saturday, Dec. 2. But that didn't dampen the Christmas spirit, the streets were lined with kids of all ages as hundreds of people and floats made their way through the streets of Bolivar. It may have been cold and wet but spirits were warm and inviting to all the sights of Christmas coming to Bolivar. more

Friday, Dec. 1, Mark and Susie Stephens were surrounded by family and friends, not saying goodbye, just wishing them well after their recent retirement. Stephens Photography has been a major part of Bolivar for over 75-years and the number of lives they have provided priceless memories for is unlimited. The reception, organized by Stellar Real Estate and Billy Bruce Real Estate, gave the community an opportunity to visit with the couple. The Stephens Photography era may be coming to an end, but they will be remembered by many for years to come. more

Bolivar's Lady Liberator's 2023-24 version was introduced Tuesday, Nov. 28 in the nearby Polk County Morrisville Tournament. more

The Bolivar City Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire in the 110 block of North Elgin Avenue at around 1:55 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22. more

The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce’s 20th Annual Light the Park is now open from 6 to 8 p.m. every evening through Dec. 30. The event features light displays throughout Bolivar’s Dunnegan Memorial Park, 601 W. Forrest. Displays are sponsored by local businesses and organizations. more

Citizens Memorial Hospice held their annual Lights of Remembrance event Monday, Nov. 13, at the Kerry and Synda Douglas Medical Center at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar. more

The Bolivar School District has implemented water testing at each of its buildings this Fall. The tests check for levels of lead in the water as part of the state's "Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act." Last year, Missouri passed legislation requiring school drinking water to be tested and action steps to be taken if there are more than five parts per billion (ppb) of lead in the water, which is three times stricter than the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard of 15 ppb. more

This year OACAC with the support of several local businesses, organizations and individuals, were able to help provide over 120 Thanksgiving meals for Polk County families. With the help of volunteers the meals were able to be picked up at COM by driving through. OACAC feels so fortunate to have the support of so many that make this annual event a huge success. more

BOLIVAR, Mo - At the November 16th meeting of the Bolivar School Board, Dr. Richard Asbill, Superintendent of Bolivar Schools, announced that he will retire at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. The school board approved his retirement. Dr. Asbill has served as the Superintendent of Bolivar Schools for the past three school years. more

Two 100-year-old veterans from among the “Greatest Generation” found themselves at the same Veterans Day event hosted last week by the high school they both attended. Graduates of the Marion C. Early class of 1941 and World War II veterans Harlin Sell and Doyal “Spike” Lindsey returned to their alma mater among dozens of military honorees at the school’s annual Veterans Day event. “The MCE Veterans Day Assembly is our favorite event we host and to have not one, but two MCE alum and WWII veterans made this day extra special,” said MCE Superintendent, Josh Angel. High School Principal, Justin Crumpley added, “We were just so excited and honored to have these two American Heros on campus for this year's Veterans Day assembly.” more