Local News
In 2005, while serving with the Navy in Guam, Mike Hatcher, shown here with his wife, Gretchen, had a spiritual vision directing him to build a retreat for pastors at Theodosia, Missouri, a place he had never heard of. Two years later, the Hatchers bought land in Theodosia, and now they're living out that vision at Briar Creek, a respite retreat for pastors and missionaries they're building on P Highway.
Theodosia resident Gretchen Hatcher, 62, is no stranger to hardship and heartache. During her 24 years as a military wife, she parented two sons alone while her husband, Mike, a career Navy submariner, was repeatedly at sea for three months at a time. She grieved for five babies lost to...
Ozark County Commissioners will begin meeting with communities around the county next week regarding the proposed “internet use tax” measure, which will be on the April 2 General Municipal Election ballot.
The first community meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 4, at the Theodosia...
There are seven local county office positions that will be up for election during this year’s Aug. 6 Primary. They are eastern district commissioner, western district commissioner, sheriff, assessor, coroner, surveyor and public administrator.
The filling period for those who wish to file as...
The Gainesville City Council met for their regular monthly meeting Feb. 13 at City Hall.
One topic of discussion centered around the city’s sewer system issues they’ve seen with residents flushing tampons, flushable wipes and other items down the toilet. “We even found a shoe,” Mike Davis, City...
Delilah Dreckman, 5, takes a turn on the balance beam “fit station” at the Lutie Memorial Trail, a quarter mile paved walking trail with 20 exercise stations built along the way.
The winter season might not be the most obvious time to check out the local trails in and around Ozark County, but conditions are great to get outside with warm afternoons paired with the lack of various summertime irritants (dreaded ticks and chiggers, poison ivy and the like).
Ozark County...
Kelle Ann Workman, a 24-year-old Douglas County woman, went missing July 30, 1989 while mowing a cemetery in northwestern Douglas County.
Brixey resident Leonard "Dwight" Banks is one of three men who has been arrested for the 1989 murder of 24-year-old Kelle Ann Worman. The arrest came after a Douglas County grand jury indictment was filed in the cold case in relation to new information shared by a reported witness who came forward...
Ozark County Commissioners recently signed off on the 2024 county budget. The 249-page budget book details 30 funds and county offices.
County revenue
The county’s budget includes expected revenues of $7,138,141 for the upcoming year, down from almost $8,000,000 in 2023.
The 2024 budget...
American Family Insurance Agent Ryan Krug is pictured here with his wife Kayla (Thomas) Krug and their children Avery and Sawyer.
Ozark County resident Ryan Krug is now the American Family Insurance agent in Gainesville, after taking over the agency Nov. 1, 2023, from previous owner Dale Sanders, who retired.
The business is located in the same building as Sanders’ agency on the south side of the Gainesville square.
Krug is...
Last October, Edward M. Rice, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, joined the nuns of the new St. Joseph's Monastery for the blessing of the two bells, photo above, left, that will ring from the chapel belfry. The nuns named the bells Maria, for the Blessed Mother, and Cecelia, for the patron saint of music.
It’s not every day that Ozark Countians and other nearby residents have a chance to tour a new, multimillion-dollar facility being built in our area, but that opportunity is coming March 19 a short distance north of the Ozark County line.
The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, a community of...
Gainesville resident Rachel Klessig opened her French bakery, Petite Patisserie, on the Mountain Home, Arkansas, square in May 2023.
If you need something extra sweet for Valentine’s Day - or, really, any other day for that matter - stop in Petite Patisserie, a French bakery on the Mountain Home, Arkansas, square, owned by Gainesville resident Rachel Klessig and her husband Matt.
Inside, you’ll find rows and rows of freshly...