Local News
Tristan Wittkofski, 19, of Gainesville and Melanie Hann, 17, of Willow Springs, were transported by ambulance to Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains after sustaining injuries in a single-vehicle crash Friday on Highway 181, about 2 miles south of Dora.
The online Missouri State Highway Patrol...
Timothy Sprague (Ozark County Sheriff's Department mug shot from December 2019)
Alleged murderer and kidnapper Timothy K. Sprague, 31, of Gainesville, was arraigned July 22 before Associate Judge Raymond Gross on charges of second-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, first-degree robbery, two counts of kidnapping (leaving the state), unlawful possession of a...
A Brixey woman, the mother of four children, was one of two fatalities in a single-vehicle crash that occurred Monday afternoon on Highway 5 north of Ava.
Rebecca Mahan Brandon, 34, and Owen R. Dobbs, 25, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by Douglas County Coroner Rick Miller at 2:04...
The body of Pomona resident Norman Robinson was found about 100 yards downstream from Blue Spring, pictured above. The spring, located on a short trail that is accessed from the North Fork Recreation Area (known locally as Hammond access) is a popular swimming hole in the summer months.
A man and his young son were floating on the North Fork of the White River Sunday morning when the boy reportedly spotted an orange shirt under the water about 100 yards downstream of Blue Spring near the Hammond access on CC Highway southeast of Dora (officially known as North Fork Recreation Area...
Gainesville R-V School superintendent Justin Gilmore, center, picked up a $161,265.31 check for the school from Ozark County Presiding Commissioner John Turner, left, and Eastern District Commissioner Gary Collins, right, Monday, July 13. The money came out of the $1,076,293 the county received in federal funds distributed through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was passed by Congress on March 27. The school submitted a request that was approved in June, itemizing how the district would use the funds. This portion of the approximately $211,000 requested by the school was used for cleaning and sanitizing supplies, including two Trident Scrub Ride floor cleaners, sanitizer, soap, towels, disinfectant wipes, etc. The school is also ordering Chromebooks, hands-free faucets and water fountains used to fill water bottles, all of which will be reimbursed out of the county’s CARES fund. “The Gainesville R-V District is very thankful that our county commissioners have been so supportive of the school utilizing these funds to help provide a healthier environment for our students and staff,” Gilmore said. “The funding is very beneficial, especially considering schools have been taking huge budget cuts due to revenue shortfalls. . . . I appreciate the help and support I received from Johnnie Turner, Greg Donley, Gary Collins and Brian Wise throughout this process.” Times photo / Norene Prososki.
The Ozark County Commissioners, at their Monday morning meeting, discussed this year’s sales tax revenue amid the challenges of the current COVID-19 pandemic and were pleased to see that the “silver lining” of increased sales tax revenue is continuing after first being announced in April. Sales tax...
Linda Dunsmuir says she loves playing in the dirt. She does plenty of that in her garden, which features several different container planters situated in an area that has weed barrier and pea rock to keep space neat and tidy.
Editor’s note: The Dunsmuirs moved to the United States from England in 1976. They stayed briefly in Koshkonong but spent the majority of their time in Mansfield, where their kids went to school. They moved permanently to their home in Pontiac 26 years ago.
Gardeners:
Linda Dunsmuir (and...
Mrs. Anstine
Bakersfield School District is gaining two new teachers for the upcoming 2020-21 school year.
Sherry Anstine has been hired as the new special education director and elementary special education teacher, and Jordan Grigg has been hired as the new high school agriculture teacher. Kirsten Jarvis is...
The Ozark County Substance Abuse Task announced at its June meeting that Josh Browning, left, and Cheryl Thurman have been selected as community navigators to serve as liaisons between community organizations and those who are in treatment and / or recovery for addition. Browning will serve Douglas and Ozark counties; Thurman will work in Wright and Texas counties. The jobs are funded by a three-year Behavioral Health Systems Change Grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. Photo submitted.
The Ozark County Substance Abuse Task Force has selected Cheryl Thurman and Josh Browning as community navigators to serve as liaisons between community organizations and individuals who are in treatment and / or recovery for addiction. The navigators’ goal is to assist these clients in overcoming...
Cora, 3, left, and Josie, 5, worked all day Saturday picking corn from the garden with their grandfather, John Steffensen.
The gardeners:
John Steffensen (with wife, Judy), Locust Road (Ozark County Road 603), Gainesville
Garden size and format:
Our garden is 40 by 80 feet. We only grow what we use, which are the standards; however, some years I get carried away and plant too much. Then, we share. This year we have...
The Land family’s Premier Foxtrotters business trains horses to be rock-steady trail-riding horses that are unflappable in a wide variety of situations. The trained foxtrotters also willingly respond to instructions, even when asked to strike an unusual pose for photos, as this one did with trainers Keeli Land and her dad, Brian Land.
Anyone asked to name Ozark County’s leading “exports” would be right in mentioning cattle, and also the cedar products shipped from Giles & Kendall, or the plastic construction materials manufactured by Wilson Industries, or the nut butters made at the East Wind Community. But maybe you would...