Local News

In anticipation of upcoming civil and criminal jury trials in Ozark County, the 44th Judicial Circuit recently released guidelines on how the proceedings will be modified to help take precautions against the spread of the covid-19 virus. “Our courts now have several cases, both civil and criminal,...

Russian tea Stella Luna’s handwritten recipe for “Russian tea” has been a longtime favorite for her daughter, Mary Ruth Luna Sparks, and Sparks’ children and grandchildren. Inset: Stella Martin Luna, 1914-2003.
The Ozark County Times is collecting old, beloved, handed-down recipes for this year’s Ozark Country Cookin’ cookbook, to be published Nov. 25. We’re asking readers to share their cherished family recipes by taking a photo of the recipe card or cookbook page and emailing it to Times editor Sue Ann...

Times file photo / Norene Prososki 
Trail Acklin, left, and brother Timber, children of Rockie and Trisha Acklin, dressed up as Curious George and the man in the yellow hat for Gainesville’s 2019 trunk-or-treat event, which was held inside due to inclement weather. This year, the event will be held outside on the square with covid precautions.  
Bakersfield trunk-or-treat Bakersfield trunk-or-treat will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Halloween night, Saturday, Oct. 31, at Bakersfield’s Pride Park. Those handing out candy can set up as early as 4 p.m., organizers said.    Dora trunk-or-treat The Dora Saddle Club will host trunk-or-treat at 4 p.m...

Photo courtesy Gainesville R-V School District First place The Gainesville Junior High School cross country team, coached by Gary Emrick, took first place at the Mountain Grove Invitational meet Thursday, Oct. 15. Members of the team are, from left, Hudson Phoenix, McCartney Armstrong, Peyton Hathcock, Lyle Pippin and Isaac Pippin.
Gainesville R-V elementary, junior high and high school runners raced in the Mountain Grove Invitational cross country meet Thursday, Oct. 14, at the Randell Hinkle Golf Course in Mountain Grove.  The Gainesville boys junior high team took first place in the 2,400-meter run at the meet. Eighth...

Photo courtesy Dr. Sherri Caraway, Gainesville band/choir teacher
  The Gainesville High School Bulldogs Marching Band took home the first place trophy at the Hartville Fall Festival parade Oct. 10. Pictured, from left, are Tori St. Pierre, McCoy Dobbs, Ian Leggitt, Diana Wages, Dylan Abraham, Leann Wrinkles, Nathan Sanchez, Gabby Tank, Jesse Wallace, Maci...

Ozark County’s eccentric hermit and caveman Harry Kinman seemingly owned only a single shirt and pants that were never changed or laundered.
William Hardin Kinman, known to all as “Harry” or “Bluff,” was born in Illinois on Feb. 4, 1841. His father was an officer serving there at the time and would go on to earn a place in history serving with the Union Army during the Civil War.  Lt. Col. William Kinman was leading the 115th Regiment...

Nathan Phenix, the new pastor at Grace Baptist Church, shown here with his wife, Renae, said the church, which started in the 1970s as Calvary Baptist, is undergoing remodeling and has new signage as it welcomes area residents to join the renamed congregation.
Christians know that God works in mysterious ways. The newly reorganized Grace Baptist Church in Gainesville is a good example of how he uses unexpected tools to accomplish his works. To relaunch the church on Highway 160 west of town, which was known since the 1970s as Calvary Baptist and more...

Ozark County’s newest sheriff’s deputy, Justin Brown, was sworn in by Ozark County Circuit Clerk Becki Strong Tuesday morning. Brown was hired to replace former deputy Vesa Phelan, who resigned from the department last month. The deputy worked with West Plains Police Department canine Tuk in 2018 before the dog had to retire due to medical issues. Brown said that Ozark County’s new police canine, Rye, pictured right, looks a lot like Tuk. He said he’s excited to work with the dog in Ozark County.
The Ozark County Sheriff’s Department this week gained a new deputy, West Plains resident Justin Brown. Brown, an experienced canine handler and crisis negotiator, will be working with OCSD canine Rye.  Brown started his tenure with the OCSD Tuesday, replacing former Ozark County Deputy and canine...

Chuck Coatney, the youngest child of Charles Coatney and his second wife, Clem, grew up with his two siblings, Bill and Clara Kaufman, in what is now the Caney Mountain Conservation Area, which Charles Coatney managed for 32 years. Last week’s Times featured Chuck’s half-brother Dick Coatney, Charles Coatney’s first child with his first wife, Daisy. The two brothers are 24 years apart, and both have many colorful memories of growing up in what’s known locally as “the refuge.”
A feature in last week’s Times told the story of Gainesville-area resident Dick Coatney, who moved with his family in 1943 to what is now Caney Mountain Conservation Area, where his dad, the late Charles Coatney, helped rebuild Missouri’s wild turkey and deer populations. Charles Coatney and his...
Katherine Loftis said her dog, Ruby, played with this tarantula for a while in her yard near Barren Fork Friday before gently carrying it to the porch, where she watched it for more than an hour. Fall in the Ozarks means male tarantulas are on the move, looking for females; they’re often seen on...

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Ozark County Times

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Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423