David R. Stecklein, 68, Theodosia, has been charged after allegedly stealing a neighbor's pet chicken, killing it and hanging it from a tree in his front yard. more

An Ozark County resident who pleaded guilty in February to felony charges of shooting at a building and third-degree assault in Ozark County has had his charges and sentence altered, according to court records. more

A narcotics search warrant served March 26 at a room at the Baymont Inn in West Plains has resulted in felony drug charges filed against four area residents. more

Tabatha R. Adam, 27, Wasola, is charged with second-degree statutory rape and incest, both felonies, after it was alleged she sexually assaulted a teenaged family member, resulting in the birth of a child. more

Bakersfield School will hold screenings for its early childhood programs by appointment April 23 and 24. During those days, students currently enrolled in those programs will not have classes, said officials. Students currently enrolled in Head Start and preschool programs will be screened for preschool and kindergarten, respectively, during school hours. more

Ozarks Healthcare recently announced Dr. Joseph Barnard, board-certified family medicine physician, is now caring for patients at the health system’s clinic in Gainesville.  more

A Tecumseh resident has pleaded guilty and been sentenced in three cases, two in Howell County and one in Ozark County, all of which were filed within a three-month period last year. more

Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick recently issued monthly reports detailing the compliance of cities and other political subdivisions with financial reporting laws. more

A West Plains man suffered serious injuries when the four-wheeler he was driving rolled onto him, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

Highway 181 in Ozark County will be closed for part of next week as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace several culverts under the road.   more

An Ozark County man has been charged with two counts of felony tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution, the latest in a string of charges since September that includes a count each of felony charges of failure to register as a sex offender, third-degree domestic assault and resisting arrest for a felony, plus three misdemeanor counts of violation of an order of protection for an adult. more

I hope you all have had a wonderful week and that you are enjoying the rise in temperature. This past week, we heard from the governor in his State of the State Address and looked back over the great work that has been accomplished for Missourians.   more

Popular farm-humor columnist and speaker Jerry Crownover, who grew up in Mammoth, Ozark County, and graduated in 1970 from Gainesville High School, will speak at 10 a.m. Feb. 15 at the Ozark County Historium, 361 Main St. in Gainesville. The presentation is free and open to everyone. more

State Rep. Travis Smith, Twin Bridges and formerly of West Plains, announced his candidacy for the State Senate on Thursday. He is running for the 33rd District seat currently held by Karla Eslinger, Wasola, who will not seek reelection at the conclusion of her term. more

The yearly Project Homeless Connect event, an outreach service day to put the area's unhoused and unsheltered into contact with assistance agencies and one-day services like medical care, haircuts and help with food and clothing, will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 25 at the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St. more

As the bitter cold continues through the first half of the week, and with a slight possibility of a further dusting of snow today, several area schools have called off in-person classes for Tuesday. more

More than a dozen area school districts and Head Start programs canceled classes Friday ahead of a forecast that includes strong winds, a sharp temperature drop and the possibility of snow. more

A man from Lakeview, Ark., died in a crash at 3 a.m. Saturday on Highway 5, five miles south of Wasola in Ozark County, reported the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

A caregiver from Ozark County who allegedly pressured her employer to add her name to a property deed and took money from another person without permission now faces felony charges. more