Owen Cornell, a student at Bolivar High School, has been selected to the Missouri All-State Band. On Dec. 2, over 1,400 students from across Missouri met at Hickman High School in Columbia to audition for the honor of participating in the top honor band in the state. Only 108 students are accepted into this elite ensemble. The band will meet, rehearse, and perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference held Jan. 24-27, 2024, at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Lake of the Ozarks. more

A Bolivar Red Hat Group, the Red Hat Mamas, donated $300 to Bolivar Police Department's "Shop with a Cop" event. Chief Webb, graciously posed for a picture wearing a Red Hat while accepting the donation. Also pictured are Judy Wollard, left and Judy Johnson. more

Courtney Swarzentruber, representing the Halfway Saddle Club, presents a check to the Halfway Schools Backpack Program from the proceeds of their November Fun Show. more

Landon Duchscherer, a senior at Marion C. Early High School, took second place in the MSHSAA Class 1A State Cross Country Meet November 3, 2023 with a time of 15.55.20. Duchscherer was undefeated during the regular season and finished only seven seconds behind the three time state champion Riley Blay from West Nodaway High School in his final race. Recently, he finished ahead of more than 5,000 participants to win the 29th Annual Springfield Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. He is the son of Kevin and Jane Duchscherer of Morrisville, MO. more

One of the most common sparrows in North America has a history that’s far more interesting than many people realize. more

We’ll be going into winter soon, Dec. 21 — maybe sooner if Mother Nature gets impatient. more

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) is now accepting applications for a new tax credit program created to promote investment in urban agriculture. more

Filing began at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5 and the deadline to file is 5 p.m. Dec. 26. File at the central office during regular business hours, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m (the final day, Dec. 26 open until 5 p.m.) The order of filing will be the order on the ballot. Voting is for two spots on the school board. more

CIVIL ACTIONS more

I have never liked parades - there I said it. I know they are a staple of small town, Midwest America and it is one of the aspects that make me a bit of an outsider around here; this town loves a good parade. I admit, I have avoided them, forgotten about them, gone out of town when they occurred, locked myself in my house, and done just about anything to stay away from the crowded streets filled with gaudy decorated vehicles and people walking by waving at strangers. I guess it is one of the Grinch-like, bah-humbug aspects of my personality, all the cheer and inconvenience of blocked roads just were not my thing! In all fairness, I blame my equally bah-humbug mother. She thought parades were boring so I never went to them and in turn inherited her disdain for watching people walk in straight lines in front of me. So naturally, I decided to participate in one. 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