Due to the rising costs of postage, ink, and newsprint and in lieu of implementing a subscription rate increase to cover these rising expenses, the Bolivar Herald-Free Press will cease publishing the Friday edition effective Dec. 31. The BHFP will continue to deliver a printed newspaper every Wednesday. more

The Citizens Memorial Hospital Auxiliary will host a Shoe Roads shoe sale from noon to 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 11, and 8 a.m.to 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12, on the second floor of the Kerry and Synda Douglas Medical Center, 1155 W. Parkview St. in Bolivar. more

How well do you know Polk County? more

Sunday, December 7, the Aldrich United Methodist Church (AUM) and the Aldrich Christian Church will meet together for the 100th time to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. more

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, the only supplier of blood, platelets and plasma to patients at all Northwest Arkansas hospitals, encourages community members to wrap up the year by saving lives. Give the gift of life by donating at the blood drive in Bolivar on Thursday, Dec. 18. Donors will receive a limited-edition cozy fleece blanket, while supplies last. Blood drive is sponsored by Citizens Memorial Hospital. more

Meet Slasher – The Final Girl of Feline Fierceness. After raising a litter of horror-themed kittens, this fierce mama is ready for her happy ending. Slasher is loving, cuddly, and cool as a scream queen under pressure. She’s got the quiet strength of a true survivor and a soft side she saves for those she trusts. Now retired from the chaos of kitten-rearing, Slasher is looking for a peaceful home where she can rule with grace, get all the snacks, and finally star in a cozy, love-filled sequel. more

The Polk County Extension Council will increase fees for soil testing beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Fees per single sample will increase from $18 to $20. more

Alvin D. Meyer more

Constance R. Brown more

INSIDE TODAY’S ISSUE more

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

Hey, kids! Do you have a message or a wish list you would like to send to Santa? Write him a letter! more

Southwest Baptist Men’s Basketball completed a dominant rivalry win over the Drury Panthers on the first day of December. The Bearcats, who were picked 15th out of 15 GLVC teams in the league’s preseason poll, showed the Panthers (picked 5th) that they do not belong at the bottom and are ready to prove people wrong in conference play. Southwest Baptist won the game 76-59. more

Saturday, Dec. 6 more

POLICE REPORTS more

Are we old enough to do this? more

Dusty Ross and Matt Griswold more

The Citizens Memorial Hospital Auxiliary will host a Shoe Roads shoe sale from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, and 8 a.m.to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, on the second floor of the Kerry and Synda Douglas Medical Center, 1155 W. Parkview St. in Bolivar. more

CIVIL PETITIONS more

Who wouldn’t want to get a cute puppy as a gift for the holidays? Before you shell out for a new furry friend, read BBB’s new update to a 2017 study to learn how to spot a puppy scam. more

Harold Hamilton has been gone 20 years. more

For most hunters, wonderful season of the majestic whitetail deer is over for another year. Bow hunters still have a little time left. If you are a deer hunter, or have been, you are probably like me and have a lot of deer memories. more

We all know what it is like to have someone on our Christmas gift shopping list that is more challenging to buy for than others might be. In fact, I’ve been told that I am one of those people that are difficult to buy for. I don’t happen to agree with that opinion, but there must be an element of truth in it because I have heard it so many times. I met someone very special last year during a rough patch in life and she knows me better than some who have known me for decades. Judy Kline and I have a lot in common with similar likes and dislikes. She surprised me with an early Christmas present. Money. I know some people don’t think money is a good gift, but she put a neat little challenge with her unexpected gift. Her instructions were simple. Use it. Use it for something for me, or donate it to the Carrie Babb Cancer Center Emergency Fund or Relay for Life, or use it to buy gifts for our Angel Tree project at church. She knows all of those good causes mean something to me and I appreciate her thoughtfulness and friendship. more

“Understanding markets as well as suggestions on feeding cattle through the winter are important for a cattle operation to function properly,” says Patrick Davis, MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist. Furthermore, understanding financial tools that are available to cattle producers is helpful in planning for operational success in the future. Therefore, MU Extension is partnering with FCS Financial to provide a cattle producers meeting to cover these topics on December 11, at 6 p.m. at the Vernon County Fairgrounds Centennial Hall at 1641 E Ashland Street, Nevada, MO 64772. more