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photo courtesy of Mark Twain National Forest Glade Top Trail is located in the Mark Twain National Forest near the Ozark - Douglas Counties line. The 23-mile, two-lane gravel road follows a narrow ridge top, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It has the distinction of being Missouri’s only national forest scenic byway.
Each June, the summer solstice marks the official beginning of summer - and gifts us the longest day of the year. It's a moment that invites stillness, reflection, and, for many people, an early-morning drive in search of the perfect sunrise. To celebrate the occasion, one survey asked the question...
Rockbridge Rainbow Trout and Game Ranch owner Ray Amyx holds the first can of Rockbridge Spring Creek Lager after its debut from Piney River Brewing Company at the Rockbridge restaurant last week. The brewery, located in Bucyrus, Missouri, posted about the new beer on June 10, showing off the...
Bakersfield Volunteer Fire Chief Greg Watts has been named the 2025 Hootin an Hollarin parade marshal for his decades of dedication to the community.
Ozark County’s famous Hootin an Hollarin festival is three months away, and Chairperson Paula Rose said plans are well underway for a spectacular event this year.
The three day festival, which celebrates the history and heritage of Ozark County’s pioneer roots, will be held Thursday, Sept. 18,...
Vincent Anderson was named Baxter County Historian at quorum court June 3 for his dedication to preserving the history of the Twin Lakes region.
Vincent Anderson’s love for history began, not in a classroom, but on the front porches of old country homes, where neighbors swapped stories as the summer sun dipped behind the quiet hills of the Mammoth community. It was in the warmth of the country store down the road, where his dad brought him...
After church services on Sunday, June 8, members of Freedom Church's leadership team dig shovels into the ground to signify the official start of construction of the 7,200 square foot building. Pictured, from left, is David Murphy, Pastor Cody Freeman and executive pastor Sid Smith.
Construction of Freedom Church’s new building has officially begun following a ground-breaking ceremony held Sunday, June 8 on their property on Highway 181 north of Gainesville.
“We’re really believing this is going to be a place where a lot of people come to know Jesus,” Pastor Cody Freeman said...
Hunter is pictured here with, from left (front row): sister Stella, mother April and father Todd; (back row) aunt Jessica Blackburn, cousins Regan and Hudson and uncle Gabe Blackburn; grandfather Robert Klineline, grandmother Jackie Klineline, brother Chase and grandmother Juanita Luna.
Gainesville High School 2025 graduate Hunter Luna recently signed to play baseball at Missouri State University-West Plains. “I’m extremely proud of Hunter,” GHS Head Coach Blake Hobbs said. “He accomplished a lot while he was here. He was a three-time district champion, hit eighth for us when we...
Edwina Welch, a high school dropout, eventually earned her GED and started college in 1999 after raising eight children with husband Harold Welch. She started teaching at Gainesville Elementary School in 2003 at age 42 and earned a master's degree two years later. She retired in May after teaching 22 years and now enjoys helping run her family farm in Douglas County, just over the Ozark County line.
Edwina Welch is an inspiration for anyone who thinks it's too late to start over or too hard to overcome challenges that stand in the way of a dream. Edwina retired last month after teaching for 22 years – quite an accomplishment for a woman who dropped out of high school at age 16 and had two...
Now retired after working 32 years at Gainesville Schools, Jody Argabright is shown here at her family’s stockyards near Atwood, Kansas, where she has moved to make it more convenient to visit her children and grandchildren.
Jody Argabright, who retired after working as a school nurse for 32 years, said she "really enjoyed" working with the students. "We had fun," she said. And also, she adds, "They taught me a lot."
A Kansas native, Jody has Licensed Practical Nurse credentials. "Actually, I say I have an LPN and a...
For the first time in recent memory, a professional fireworks show will light up the Gainesville sky this Fourth of July — and this year, they share the stage with bucking bulls and cowboy boots. Fireworks spectators should mark their calendars for dark (approximately 9:30 p.m.) Friday, July 4, for...
Restaurant owner Joe Fortuna Sr., left, Destiny Bearden and Joe Fortuna Jr. were all smiles last Thursday just before the reopening of Smokin’ Joe’s restaurant. The cafe sits just off the southwest corner of the Gainesville square. Times photo/Jessi Dreckman.
After nearly two years with shuttered doors, Joe Fortuna reopened Smokin’ Joe's BBQ in Gainesville last Thursday - and judging by the steady flow of diners, the community is happy about it.
“[We’re] overwhelmed with gratitude and the support we received opening back up! We got our butts kicked,”...