News
Gainesville woman’s vibrant and realistic paintings now on display at Ozark County Volunteer Library
The artwork of Gainesville resident Carol White is now displayed at the Ozark County Volunteer Library as part of the organization’s visiting artist exhibits.
The paintings, all acrylic on framed stretched canvas, featuring realistic depictions of various animals, insects and scenes that draw the...
By 1956, the Cooks needed a place to live because their 10-unit motel at Theodosia was frequently filled with paying guests. Boat dock owner L. B. Cook acquired a houseboat, shown at right in this photo, with the help of well-known White River guide Jim Owen. Then L.B. and his son, Bill, with three other local men, moved the houseboat from Forsyth. Using two boats with 10 horsepower motors and another boat with a 25 horsepower motor, it took the men three days and two nights to move the houseboat from Forsyth to Theodosia.
‘We went dry, washed away, burned out and flooded’
Editor’s note: This is the conclusion of a two-part story describing the Cook family’s 70 years of operating what is now Theodosia Marina Resort on Bull Shoals Lake.
By early spring 1953, Bull Shoals Lake had reached its power pool (654 feet...
The Ozark County Food Pantry is transitioning to a “scan card” method for check-in during monthly food distribution dates. All food pantry members will need to convert to the new system, as the April food pantry dates will be administered completely through the new scan cards.
Some food pantry...
photos by Dennis Crider Gainesville Health Care Center’s staff and residents enjoyed a visit with the Journey Stagecoach last week.
The residents of the Gainesville Healthcare Center enjoyed a unique visit last week by the Journey Stagecoach, several crew members and two of the crew’s horses, Boone and Swag.
“It was a big hit. There was lots of participation with the residents,” said GHCC activities director Tammie Loftis. “...
Photo submitted A large grass fire burned several acres on County Road 7920 on March 2.
Ozark County emergency personnel are hoping this week is a little calmer after a week of wildfires, structure fires and late-night tornado warnings have kept them busy.
Most recently it was the threat of tornadoes that had emergency personnel on high alert, as the National Weather Service office in...
Photo submitted Isabella resident Skyler Clark visited the Missouri Capitol March 1 and met Missouri Governor Mike Parson. During the visit, Skyler was able to tell Parson about a project he started a few years ago making and distributing handmade fishing lure keychains and necklaces to veterans.
Ten-year-old Isabella resident Skyler Clark, along with his parents and a few family friends, visited the Missouri Capitol last week as a guest of 155th District House Representative Travis Smith.
Smith introduced the young boy on the House floor, and Clark visited the capitol’s “whispering...
Seventy years have passed since the late L. B. and Polly Cook moved their family in 1952 from Joplin to develop what is now the Theodosia Marina Resort on Bull Shoals Lake. The family operation has expanded into five generations, with L.B. and Polly’s son, Bill, and his wife, Nadine, pictured center front, now overseeing the family business with the help of their children, grandchildren and great-grands. Front row, from left: grandson Mitchell Cook, Kentlee Cook, Bill (holding great-granddaughter Breklyn Cook), Nadine, great-grandson Maverik Cook and granddaughter-in-law LaTasha Cook. Back: Son Bret Cook and his wife, Melanie, Vikki Cook and her husband (Bill and Nadine’s son) Ben. The Cooks’ daughter Becky died in September 2021. Two family members, great-grandsons Chase and Eli Cook, were not available for the photo.
Their beginning at Theodosia was filled with setbacks, but 70 years later, the Cook family is now in its fifth generation as resort operators on Bull Shoals
Editor’s note: This is the first part of a two-part story describing the Cook family’s 70 years of operating what is now Theodosia Marina...
The senators hope to distribute “You Can, Too!” to every fourth grade classroom and school library in the state, followed by school visits from the senators after the end of session in May.
Bitter disagreements have plagued the Missouri state Senate this session, but there has been one exception: the women senators.
A record number of women serve in the Senate: 11. Last spring, the women — six Republicans and five Democrats — sat down together for a dinner. Each senator told the story...
White River Valley Electric Cooperative is moving forward with a plan to bring high speed fiber optic internet to its service area, which includes most of Ozark County.
The cooperative held a meeting with member county representatives on Feb. 18 at Branson and shared results of an online survey...
Dustin Johnson is preparing to run around the world and break several world records in the process. He attempted the run in 2019-20 with no major long-term injuries. However, once back home, while delivering a patriotic piece of furniture he’d made to a customer, someone shot a Roman candle firework at Dustin. The firework landed inside his glasses, where it exploded. He was rushed to the hospital and later had his eye removed. The eye injury means Dustin will be running with visibility in only one eye this time.
Editor’s note: This is the final installment of a three-part series which details Dustin Johnson’s world record run attempt in 2019-20 and his preparation for a second attempt to begin in a few weeks.
Dustin Johnson, a 2013 Dora High School graduate, is preparing to take on the run of a lifetime...