News

Residents of Ozark County have recently reported multiple sightings of drones hovering over their homes and in various rural areas across the area, raising questions about their purpose and origin.  The reports mostly describe the drones as operating during nighttime hours, with some being...

photo by Ed Doiron Firefighters with West Plains city fire department, far left, and Gainesville Fire Department, utilize their ladder fire trucks to analyze the Bakersfield School building last Tuesday morning, Dec. 10, after a fire broke out in the school’s heating and cooling unit. Other fire trucks, pictured from left next to the Gainesville ladder truck, were those of Tecumseh, Bakersfield and Caulfield Fire Departments. Rural Howell County and Gamaliel, Arkansas, departments also responded in mutual aid.
Bakersfield School’s Maintenance Supervisor Jason Marsh first learned of an issue with the school’s HVAC unit on the evening of Friday, Dec. 6, when a school employee reported to him that the boys locker rooms seemed especially cold and weren’t warming up like they usually do.  When classes resumed...
Ozark County Commissioners say the county has recieved the first four checks from the internet “use tax” passed by Ozark County voters in April. And the results are what they had hoped for, averaging around $25,000 per month. Ozark County Presiding Commissioner Terry Newton said the first check the...

photo submitted This home on Reid Drive in Theodosia was a complete loss after a fire in an outbuilding spread to a wall of the main structure and then into the home’s attic on Dec. 3. The homeowners were inside the home when the fire was spotted and called the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department dispatch office to report the blaze. Theodosia, Gainesville and Pontiac VFDs responded.
At 8:39 a.m. last Wednesday, Dec. 4, the Theodosia Volunteer Fire Department was toned out to a structure fire on Reid Lane, located behind the fire department in the Theodosia city limits.  The homeowners, whose names are not known by the Times, awoke that morning, noticed a fire and called 911. ...

photo by Karla Smith Andrea Winrod, 16-year-old daughter of Nathanael and Faith Winrod of Tecumseh, is pictured here before the Gainesville High School prom last year.
Ozark County’s close-knit community is mourning the tragic loss of 16-year-old Andrea Winrod, a Gainesville High School junior, who was killed in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 5 north near Wasola on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The daughter of Nathanael and Faith Winrod of Tecumseh, Andrea was known for...
Editor’s note: Due to illness, a reporter was unable to attend the Nov. 19, Gainesville City Council meeting; Therefore, we are printing the minutes from the meeting.    The City Council of Gainesville met in regular session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, at Gainesville City Hall.  The following...
Those interested in filing for seats coming open on Ozark County’s school boards and municipality boards can do so from Dec. 10-31.  For the most part, those interested can file at the respective school or city/village office during regular hours. Filing will not be held at schools when inclement...
Christmastime is here, and there are several events planned in Ozark County to celebrate the season.  To add your Ozark County holiday event to the list, email  jessi@ozarkcountytimes.com. • Library Christmas giveaway table (now through Dec. 13) - The Ozark County Volunteer Library is hosting a...

Nancy Walker, this year’s Jingle Bell Parade marshal during Gainesville’s Dec. 6 Wonders of Christmas celebration, led the Hootin an Hollarin Committee as chairperson from the early 1990s until turning over the leadership role to Paula Rose in 2021.
Nancy Walker has never been one to criticize others, but she keeps thinking Gainesville’s Wonders of Christmas Committee could have found someone more deserving to honor as the 2024 Jingle Bell Parade marshal.  [Reporter checks notes. Nope. No one deserves the honor more than Nancy, who has been...

D.E. Pleasant drives his truck pulling the Bumper-to-Bumper Christmas float during last year’s Jingle Bell Parade at the 2023 Wonders of Christmas on the Gainesville square event.
The annual Wonders of Christmas on the Gainesville Square festival and Jingle Bell Parade will be held this Friday, Dec. 6. The festival opens at 5 p.m. with vendor booths, which will remain open throughout the night. Also at 5 p.m., there will be singing in the gazebo, located on the courthouse...

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Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

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