On Sunday, Nov. 8, at 6:19 p.m., the highway patrol responded to an accident involving a pedestrian on Highway 32, one mile east of Fair Play near 43rd Road. more

11/12: National Gingerbread House Day and Poinsettia Day more

Gary Short is stepping down after over 30 years at the helm of Ken’s Heating and Cooling, passing the torch to Trevor O’Brian. This once-employee is making the business his own, which is just fine with Short, “They’re in a different climate so to speak - it’s their business now.” more

12/7: National Letter Writing Day more

Hi, I'm Dayton! I'm around five months old, and I am a French Bulldog/Australian Shepherd mix. I'm looking for a family who loves fun as much as I do. With me, every day will be an adventure. Adopt me, and let's start our journey together! more

The Polk County Library will hold a Book+ Sale on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Morrisville Branch, located at 5308 S. Main Street, Morrisville. more

Today is National Cookie Day more

On Monday, Dec. 3, Faith Leann Ryan, 31, of Flemington, was sentenced on eight counts related to endangering the welfare of her children resulting in the death of one. more

Hi, I'm Mochi, a sweet 4-year-old kitty looking for a warm place to cuddle and sleep. I'm a big boy, weighing 13 lbs! I just say I have a little extra love to give because of it! I'm friendly and would be a great addition to your family. Mochi loves to play too. more

11/30: National Personal Space Day more

I get in trouble sometimes for complaining about changes in the Ozarks. more

The presidential pardon of a turkey each Thanksgiving became an annual tradition when George H.W. Bush offered a certain bird a reprieve, “Let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy - he’s presented a presidential pardon as of right now.” Though it has been a yearly practice since 1989, there were lucky birds before this administration. John Kennedy, Ronald Regan, and First Ladies Nixon and Carter had also extended the life of a fortunate fowl. According to the George Bush White House Archives, the first instance of a turkey pardon came from Lincoln when his son Tad asked him to spare the life of a pet tom named Jack. The archives also state that the National Turkey Federation raises a turkey specifically for this event and that particular animal is given special care and attention throughout its life. Once pardoned, turkeys retire to the Frying Pan Park’s Kidwell Farm in Virginia, to live out the remainder of their lives in a petting zoo. more

11/28: National French Toast Day more

As the holidays approach, it is common to look back at memories from our past - the people who are gone, the moments we shared, and the times that can’t be recaptured. Recently, my thoughts drifted to autumn days in Calhan, Colorado where my grandparents owned a seven-acre homestead with a small collection of animals. One critter in particular was a grey goose with a major attitude. His name was Gus, and for much of my childhood, he terrified me. 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

Citizens Memorial Hospital maintained an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog, with the release of the fall grades. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries, and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. more

Christmas is a time for giving, and with the holiday season upon us, organizations are seeking gift donations. This year, the community can donate stocking stuffers to the specialized care program at the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch. more

11/23: National Adoption Day more

Please join us at Bolivar Pentecostal Church of God on Sunday evening, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. for our Christmas play, “The Sky is Falling!” Written & directed by Gwendolyn Miller. more

Each year during the holiday season, several businesses around Bolivar and in Polk County set up an angel tree for Share Your Christmas. On each angel is a request from a child. These requests are taken during signups for the Share Your Christmas program sponsored by Polk County Christian Social Ministries. It has become a family tradition for families to choose an more

Saturday, Nov. 23 more

With the holiday season officially here, the Bolivar Police Department is seeking the community’s help as it works to make Christmas special for Polk County children. more

For three generations, the Martin family has walked the campus of Southwest more

The loss of a loved one can have powerful effects on each of us. If you are looking for a caring small group in which to find support, encouragement, and help, then our GriefShare groups might be just the thing you are looking for. This program is a grief support group that features Christ-centered, biblical teaching that focuses on grief topics associated with the death of a loved one. The DVD seminar features nationally respected grief experts, counselors, and real-life stories of people just like you, followed by a small group discussion about what was seen on the DVD. more

Read the story of David in the Bible. You might wonder what God saw in him. He fell as often as he stood. He stumbled as often as he conquered. So have a lot of us. more