News


Longtime newspaper columnist Jerry Crownover has published his final “Life is Simple” column this week (see page 2) after nearly 30 years of writing about his life as a farmer. Those who will miss his column are encouraged to visit his new YouTube channel, Crown Cattle Company, where he will continue to post videos, telling the beloved humorous stories he’s known for.
After writing a humorous farm column that has entertained thousands of newspaper and magazine readers all around America for nearly 30 years, Jerry Crownover is calling it quits – and no one is happy about it.  Well, except maybe his wife, Judy, who has seen him fret and stew, trying to think up...

The annual Ozark County Toy Drive provided new toys and other Christmas gift items to Ozark County families for more than 200 children, organizers say. Toy Drive volunteers are pictured in the background preparing to help guide families through the room full of gifts that morning.
Toys and other gifts for more than 200 Ozark County children were distributed Saturday, Dec. 16, at this year’s Ozark County Toy Drive. The event was held at the First Baptist Church event center building on Third Street in Gainesville. “I thought it went real well,” said chairperson Nancy Walker...

Ozark County officials lowered the courthouse flag to half-staff last week in honor of Caulfield firefighter Richard Clewett, who died in a fiery crash.
Caulfield resident and local volunteer firefighter Richard Clewett, 39, was laid to rest at a family cemetery Friday in a service with full military honors. Clewett was killed in a Dec. 13 crash on V Highway, about two and a half miles west of Caulfield.  He was a Caulfield volunteer firefighter,...

Six Gainesville High School seniors graduated from Ozark County’s first EMT class on Thursday, Dec. 14. The course, sponsored by Ozark County Ambulance District and Gainesville High School, gave the students the training they need to become certified emergency medical technicians. All six students took and passed the first portion of National Registry EMT Skills Test in Joplin on Saturday. They have one more test to take before earning their license that will give them the opportunity to work as an EMT in 42 states. Pictured, from left, (front row) graduates Leigha Rowland, Diana Wages, Savannah Bushner, Jillian Morse, Jamon Crisp and Elijah Burrow; (Back row) EMT preceptor Brian Morgan, Ozark County Ambulance district administrator Stacy Raney, Gainesville School superintendent Justin Gilmore, Gainesville High School principal Dr. Richard Wylie, paramedic Chelan Phillips, course instructor James Lannan of Ozark County Ambulance, assistant instructor Karlie Jones and Ozark County Ambulance board members Doug Hawkins, Greg Zubrod and Jerri Sue Crawford.
The first Gainesville High School seniors to take a semester-long emergency medical technician course offered in a collaboration between the Ozark County Ambulance District and Gainesville High School graduated the course at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. Six students started the class at the beginning...
Times photo/Regina Mozingo Work started Saturday, Dec. 9, to repair and update the west entrance to the Ozark County Courthouse. Work on the east entrance will begin after the west steps are finished. The handicap accessible entrance to the basement will be finished last. Ozark County Presiding...

This colorful artwork, “Clowning Around Too,” is for sale for $35 or $70 with an accompanying piece titled “Clowning Around.”
The artwork of Pontiac resident and owner of Gray Barn Studio Ronee Looney and other artists from the studio, is now displayed at the Ozark County Volunteer Library as part of the organization’s visiting-artist exhibit program. The current exhibit, titled “Masters of Water,” continues through the...

Christian Ries, shown with coach Joe Humbyrd, recently broke the national record in the deadlift category in his class with a 405-pound lift. In the deadlift, a loaded barbell or bar is lifted off the ground to the level of the hips, torso perpendicular to the floor, before being placed back on the ground.
Gainesville High School sophomore Christian Ries recently competed in the Warriors Powerlifting Federation Warrior Champion-ships held at STS Fitness in Harrison, Arkansas.  Ries competed in the push/pull division which consists of two disciplines, the bench press and the deadlift.  He lifted a...
The Ozark County Toy Drive, a charity effort that offers free Christmas gifts to those in need, will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the First Baptist Church Event Center on Third Street in Gainesville. The annual event offers gifts for Ozark County children and teens age 17 and younger. ...
The tributes that honored former First Lady Rosalynn Carter after her recent death reminded me of my own long-ago encounter with Mrs. Carter’s legendary kindness. It happened 43 years ago, in 1980, when I was a rookie reporter at a big-city daily newspaper in Ohio. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter...

Members of State Senator Karla Eslinger’s family were on hand to congratulate her following the Tuesday, Dec. 5, announcement of Eslinger’s appointment as Missouri Commissioner of Education. Pictured with Eslinger, center, are her son-in-law, Gainesville R-V School superintendent Justin Gilmore, and her daughter, GHS business teacher Chelsey Gilmore. Eslinger’s youngest daughter Katy Chapman, not pictured, has also made education her career and currently serves as the Ava Elementary School principal.
The Missouri State Board of Education announced Tuesday, Dec. 5, that Senator Karla Eslinger will assume the role as the state’s next commissioner for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) effective June 1, 2024, after concluding her work in the Missouri Senate during the 2024...

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Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

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