CIVIL PETITIONS more

The Polk County Courthouse will be closed on Wednesday, May 8, in observance of the Truman Day Holiday. more

A fifteen-year-old male perished in a dirtbike accident on April 29. Corporal J.R. Rorie was called to 540th Road, west of Pleasant Hope, at 6:00 p.m. for the single-vehicle incident. The juvenile male, from Bolivar, was driving a 2022 Honda CRF125F bike traveling westbound when he lost control on a rutted roadway. The bike flipped, killing the rider, who was wearing a helmet. He was pronounced deceased on the scene by Dr. Assman at 6:47 p.m. The teenager was taken to Pitts Funeral Home by Polk County Assistant Coroner Purselly and the bike was picked up by the owner. Next of kin has been notified.  more

Kellsey Warden, a 31-year-old Bolivar woman, sustained serious injuries from a two-car accident on Sunday, April 21 at 5:40 p.m. Warden was driving a 2017 Dodge Journey near the intersection of Hwy J and Hwy F in Laclede County. She did not yield after stopping at the stop sign and was struck by a 2011 Lincoln MKX, driven by a 17-year-old female from Montreal. Both drivers were wearing safety devices and no injuries were reported for the juvenile female. Warden was transported by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. The totaled Lincoln was towed by Bledsoe’s. The Journey, also totaled, was removed by C&S Towing. The responding officers were Trooper D.R. Willhite, Master Sergeant J.J. McDonald, and Corporal G.S. Sloan. more

At the start of the spring 2024 semester, the faculty at Bolivar Technical College launched more

CIVIL PETITIONS more

Friends of the Polk County Library will once again hold their spring book sale on Friday and Saturday, April 26-27, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the library in Bolivar. more

Valentine more

Bolivar: more

The citizens throughout Polk County’s communities made their way to the polls on Tuesday, April 2 to make their voices heard on a variety of issues, as well as municipal, and school board candidates. Safety was a topic on the ballot for school funding and propositions in Bolivar. Some candidates easily won their positions by large majorities or by having no opposition, while other candidates eked out wins by a single vote. more

At 9:20 a.m., Troopers Gunby and Marlin responded to a single-car wreck at Route D, four and a half miles north of Bolivar. Jacob Williams, 33, of Bolivar, was driving a 2012 Nissan Altima northbound when he lost control around a curve. He traveled off the road and then struck a guardrail and several trees. Though he was wearing a seatbelt, he received serious injuries and was transported to CMH via ambulance. A&J Towing removed his vehicle from the scene. more

Following a meeting with Liberty Utilities on Monday, April 1, to express concerns about potential rate hikes for Bolivar residents, the company notified our City administration of an adjustment to its proposed rate increases. more

Bryce Stanley is a normal guy; he has a nice house, on a nice street, in a nice neighborhood. He is a Bolivar-grown, down-to-earth type who married a girl he met at Bolivar High School, where he graduated in 1989. He did the typical small-town things; he played football and baseball, then went to college and got an accounting degree. For a while, he left Bolivar behind. It took a divorce, some self-discovery, and marrying a hometown girl to bring him back 30 years later. Though he may have re-established his roots here, there is little doubt that he is going places. more

On Saturday, March 30, at 9:47 a.m., Trooper Gunby responded to a two-vehicle crash at Mo. 13 and Route B, four miles north of Bolivar. The accident happened when a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by Kalie Libscomb, 44, of Dunnegan, was crossing northbound Highway 13 from Highway B. She was struck by a 2014 Ford Focus traveling north on the highway. The vehicle contained driver Patsy Ash, 74, and William Ash, 52, both of Collins. All involved in the accident were wearing seatbelts and sustained moderate injuries. They were taken to CMH Bolivar via ambulance. C&H Towing of Collins removed the Focus and B&B Wrecker removed the Equinox. more

There was a misquote in the March 29 article, “Liberty Utilities Proposes Drastic Water Rate Increase.” In the chart, it reads, “The information provided by Liberty’s website shows the new base rates for usage up to 5,000 gallons/month.” It should read, “The information provided by Liberty’s website shows the rates for the average customer using 5,000 gallons/month.” more

SHERIFF’S REPORTS more

Polk County Republicans are hosting their annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Thursday, April 4, beginning at 6 p.m. The dinner will be held at the McClelland Dining Facility on the campus of SBU. Local and state candidates who have filed for offices to be selected in the Primary Election on August 6, 2024, are expected to be there. This gives voters an opportunity to meet the candidates and become an informed voter. more

CIVIL PETITIONS more

Eileen more

Polk County Republicans are hosting their annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Thursday, April 4, beginning at 6 p.m. The dinner will be held at the McClelland Dining Facility on the campus of SBU. Local and state candidates who have filed for offices to be selected in the Primary Election on August 6, 2024, are expected to be there. This gives voters an opportunity to meet the candidates and become an informed voter. more

Get ready to treat your taste buds because the Spring Food Trucks at BTC event is coming, more

Wild Ink is Bolivar’s New Tattoo Place more

Open Hearts United Methodist Church, Bolivar, has announced the first $5,000 scholarship to be awarded from the Hegle Scholarship Fund established by a donation from former Bolivar businessman Weldon Hegle. more

Voters can expect several contested races for the upcoming election on Tuesday, April 2. The Bolivar Herald-Free Press would like to keep the community informed by featuring brief profiles for each candidate in the contested Bolivar, Fair Play, and Flemington municipal races and the Bolivar, Fair Play, Halfway, and Marion C. Early school board races. more

SHERIFF’S REPORTS more