Local News
Left: Dora sophomore Cade Nold brought home two first-place finishes at the Class 1 State Track and Field Meet held May 19-20 in Jefferson City. Right: Dora High School senior Autumn Nold took first place in the 400m dash and second place in the 800m run at the state meet.
Ozark County was well-represented by athletes from Dora and Gainesville who qualified to compete at the class 1 and 2 state track and field meets held in Jefferson City May 19-20. Nine Falcons and two Bulldogs earned the right to make the trip.
It’s been a successful season for the athletes and...
Photo by PJ Maigi/OzarksSportsZone.com Shown are the Gainesville High School Bulldogs who have won their third district title in three years. Front row, from left, Aden Yarger, Briar Walrath, Wyatt Alms, Daden House, Camden Evans and Carter Wise. Back row, C.J. Powell, Cutter Morrison, Jarett Hogan, Kannon Morrison, Dawson Hewett, Andrew Hambelton, Grant Leeker, Hunter Luna, Brady Myers, Brayden Miller, Isaac Pippin, Lyle Pippin and Owen Donley.
The Gainesville Bulldogs are back-to-back-to-back district champions.
The three-peat Bulldog baseball squad bested Seymour in a ‘nail-biter of a district championship game last week, winning 6-5 over the Tigers.
“Talk about relentless,” Gainesville coach Blake Hobbs exclaimed. “I’m proud that our...
Bakersfield’s track relay team competed at sectionals last week, and while they didn’t advance to state, the team did achieve a personal record. Shown are Nathan Watlington, Gaige Samuels, Coach Tammy Lamb, Jacob Watlington, Brooks Amburgy, Amani Kowiti and assistant Kurt Watlington.
The Gainesville City Council took up a fairly light agenda at its regular monthly meeting May 9. In addition to getting an update on the sidewalk and storm water drainage project on Third and Main Streets (see page 1), the council discussed these items:
• City Attorney Jessica Blackburn attended...
World War II veteran Jim Rigger died May 6. In this 2016 photo, he shows the family Bible, a “pocket testament” his father carried in World War I. Jim carried the Bible during World War II, his brother Joseph Rieger carried it as he served in the army of occupation in Germany. His son-in-law carried it in Vietnam, and his son carried it while serving internationally with the Air Force. The source of the brown splotches on the pages of Acts 3 are unknown, but Jim wondered if they might be blood.
Editor’s note: We’re including this slightly edited version of a story, written by former Times editor Sue Ann Jones for the Nov. 2, 2016 edition of the Ozark County Times, in honor of Junior “Jim” Rigger who died May 6, 2023. His obituar,y is published on page 8 of this week’s edition.
When 16-...
Multiple storage buildings, displayed at Nash & Sons off Highway 160 just west of Gainesville, were destroyed by strong wind gusts last week. The buildings were caught up in unusually strong wind gusts following a line of rain that came through the area May 11, which also flipped a camper over...
Regular drivers of W Highway may have experienced a bit of deja vu last week when passing by this little white home, located on the sharp curve on W Highway near County Road 609, after a vehicle smashed into the side of the building, leaving a second hole in its side. The two photos above were...
Employees of Joe’s Bridge of Poplar Bluff, the company that is contracted to install new sidewalks and storm water drainage along Main and Third Streets in Gainesville, discovered a cavernous old drainage system that runs underneath Douglas Hawkins Shelter Insurance agency’s corner building. The discovery was a surprise to the workers and city officials, who did not know the drainage system was installed there. Water specialist Jessi Price said the city has spoken with an engineering firm that recommended the cavern be filled in as to not interfere with the new storm water drainage, the primary reason for the project, which will be installed under the asphalt alongside the sidewalk. The recent rains proved that the drainage is operational, and water flows through it.
The Gainesville city project to replace the Third and Main Street sidewalks and install proper storm water drainage in those areas began late last month. Recently, the work uncovered an unexpected look at the past.
In the process of removing the Main Street asphalt to run new large drainage pipes...
Cody’s, a bar located off Highway 160 in Theodosia, is hosting its grand opening this weekend. The establishment, open to those age 21 and older, is named after 34-year-old Cody Wright, pictured at right, who died of terminal illness last fall. Cody’s brother J.R. Wright and his mother Ellen Wright, own and will operate the bar in Cody’s honor. J.R. told the Times that his brother loved live music and karaoke, which they’re calling “Cody-oke” at the bar.
Theodosia residents J.R. Wright and his mother Ellen Wright are opening Cody’s, a new bar and gathering spot located on Highway 160 in Theodosia. The place is named in honor of J.R.’s brother and Ellen’s son, Cody Wright, who died in September 2022 from a terminal illness.
“He loved live music and...
The Bakersfield School greenhouse will be open each school day from 9 a.m. until noon for plant sales.
The Bakersfield School’s greenhouse will be open for vegetable and ornamental plant and flower sales, beginning today (May 10) from 9 a.m. until noon.
Bakersfield’s FFA adviser Jordan Gregg said the school has a lot of plants and flowers for sale again this spring.
Here is what is being offered:...