News


Sara Jo Suter opened her new bakery, Suter’s Sweets Bakery, in the strip mall off Highway 160 in Theodosia earlier this month. Formerly employed as a nurse, Sara Jo said she took a leap of faith this year to pursue her real passion, baking and decorating cookies.
The aroma of fresh-baked cookies, pastries and other baked goods now floats through the air in downtown Theodosia several days a week, thanks to the town’s newest business addition, Suter’s Sweets Bakery.  Nestled in the shopping center off Highway 160, the bakery opened its doors earlier this...

The Daily News printed this photo of CSA leader Jim Ellison, left, and second-in-command Kerry Noble leaving a hearing at a federal court in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1985 following their sentencing on federal racketeering and weapons charges.
Editor’s note: This is the fifth installment of a series detailing the Covenant, Sword and Arm of the Lord, a religious commune located south of Pontiac in the 1970s and 1980s. The anti-government, paramilitary and white supremacist group of more than 100 people lived together on a 224-acre...
The Gainesville High School FFA entomology team took first place in the national contest at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. GHS junior Dylan Abraham also placed third individually in the contest. Team members, pictured from left, are: Dylan Abraham, Lilly Winrod, Lilly Hejdak and...
Several business matters concerning a grant for the upcoming Ozark County Recycling Center project were discussed and approved during the regular meeting of the Ozark County Commissioners Monday morning. The commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution to apply for the Community Development Block...

Mary Mahan, a lifelong resident of Ozark County, died Sept. 2, 1959, at age 89. She was born Feb. 24, 1870, at Theodosia, the daughter of Elisha and Mar Jane Friend.
Written by the late Rex Johnson and first published in the April 10, 1996, edition of the Ozark County Times.    Grandma [Mary] Mahan was a widow woman. She lived on a farm on Pond Fork Creek. Pond Fork empties into Little North Fork about a mile above Theodosia. As a boy growing up, I loved to go...

Members of the Bakersfield VFD stands with others in front of the department’s recently donated brush truck, which was painted by students at Southern Missouri Technical Institute in West Plains. Pictured above, from left, are: SMTI Director Josh Cotter, Bakersfield Fire Chief Greg Watts, Tecumseh Assistant Fire Chief JB Duke, BHS student Tate Bonham, BVFD Secretary Zaylor Watts, SMTI instructor Brian Hoyle and SMTI instructor Jason Pekarek.
After months of battling flames, braving floodwaters and helping in the aftermath of a massive tornado, the Bakersfield Volunteer Fire Department has good news to share - and it comes with a fresh coat of paint and a side of barbecue. In a year that has tested the fire department in what seems like...

This photo taken at the Covenant, Sword and Arm of the Lord compound in 1985 shows local residents Ozark County Sheriff James Shaw, far left in the tan hat, and Missouri State Highway Patrol Tpr. Steve Bartlett, far right, discussing a plan of action with other members of law enforcement agencies. The officers were attempting to serve a warrant for CSA leader James Ellison on a federal indictment for the possession of illegal firearms and silencers.
Editor’s note: This is the third installment of a series detailing the Covenant, Sword and Arm of the Lord, a religious commune located south of Pontiac in the 1970s and 1980s. The anti-government, paramilitary and white supremacist group of more than 100 people lived together on a 224-acre...

Areas along Highway 160 in Gainesville saw flash flood conditions Sunday morning after several inches of rain fell quickly and saturated low spots in town. This photo was taken by Holly Hannaford at the White Oak Station on First Street (formerly J-Mart).
Downtown Gainesville saw a bout of flash flooding Sunday morning, April 27, when a torrent of rain fell, leading to Lick Creek quickly rising and flooding its banks in a fashion that many residents remember only in the “1,000-year” flood of 2017.  Thankfully, the creek wasn’t up long and receded...

The new Mexican restaurant in Theodosia is now open. Owners, from left, William Bairez, Elena Cruz, Natti Cruz and Alberto Salinas are pictured in front of the El Tule Oaxaca Mexican restaurant in preparation of their opening last Friday. The family also owns the same restaurant in Ava.
Residents of Theodosia who have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the new Mexican restaurant, El Tule Oaxaca, no longer have to wait. The restaurant officially opened its doors to the public last Friday, April 25, and was warmly welcomed by the local community. The business owners, William...

Covenant, Sword and Arm of the Lord leader James Ellison
Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a series detailing the Covenant, Sword and Arm of the Lord, a religious commune located south of Pontiac in the 1970s and 1980s. The anti-government, paramilitary and white supremacist group of more than 100 people lived together on a 224-acre...

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Ozark County Times

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