If you thought that last year’s Missouri Beef Days rodeo action was intense, just wait until you see the action at a brand-new competition this year – the Missouri Beef Days Celebrity Chef Showdown! more

The 34th annual Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation Medical Excellence Golf Classic, presented by SGC Foodservice, is set for Thursday, June 6. The event will be held at Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club in Bolivar. more

Codefi Launches New Co-Investment Funds Pioneering Hybrid Model Blends Seed Funding and Venture Philanthropy to Catalyze Startup Growth in Smaller Metropolitan Areas and Rural Communities Across Southern Missouri. more

Auditions are now open for the annual Polk County’s Got Talent show, an event that recognizes local talent and raises funds for Community Outreach Ministries. more

The family of Norma Lenz will be celebrating her 95th birthday on Saturday, May 4 with a come and go brunch from 10 a.m. to noon at the Rose Building, 114 N. Springfield Avenue, Bolivar. more

Melissa Hegle was the winner of the gift card to Brenda’s Cafe after winning the April I-Spy game, correctly guessing Bolivar Recreation and Aquatic Center. Melissa is proof that reading the paper doesn’t just provide you with news and entertainment, it can pay off as well. more

The regular monthly meeting of the Polk County Genealogical Society will be held Thursday, May 2. Speaker for the evening will be Billy Marshall who will share information on the town of Orleans that was one of the first settlements in Polk County. The meeting, held at the PCGS Research Facility on the southeast corner of the square, will begin at 7:00 with a short business meeting and what has become a tradition – trivia questions! more

Girls more

SBU athletics department announced Issac Scroggins and Kallyn Stumbo as this years’ Rex Brown award winners as announced at the 2nd annual Purple Carpet Premiere. more

Rebekah Harless, daughter of Kristy and Aaron Harless and Jacob Morgan son of Jessica and Dustin Morgan have been chosen as Bolivar High Schools Rotarians for the month of May more

Veteran advertising executive Deanna Moore, publisher of the Bolivar Herald-Free Press and four additional southwest Missouri newspapers, was honored the evening of April 18 with the 2024 Dee Hamilton Memorial Sales Pro Award. more

Thursday, May 2 more

Weather report more

Promotion to Vice President of Programs, Hiring of Chief Operations Officer. more

All are invited to join with Polk County Community Connections in partnership with First Baptist Church-Bolivar for the annual ‘Gathering Practice’ in observance of the National Day of Prayer. The non-denominational, community event, at 7:30 a.m., Thursday, May 2 is at the Rose Building, 114 N. Springfield Ave., Bolivar. A light breakfast will be provided by First Baptist. All are invited. more

CIVIL PETITIONS more

The Polk County Courthouse will be closed on Wednesday, May 8, in observance of the Truman Day Holiday. more

Jason Mauck more

I find myself at the crossroads as I recently realized I may have traversed the bridge to old fuddy-duddyness. I noticed the first traces of it about five years ago, probably around the time the first grey hair appeared at my temples. more

All a telephone was good for when I was a boy was talking to people beyond earshot. more

Coaches often work to build a team that feels like family. For six soccer Lady Liberators, it is family. Three sets of sisters currently suit up for Bolivar and at times this season, they’ve comprised over half of the 11 positions on the field. With girls representing all four grade levels at BHS, junior Ellen Garber, freshman Sophia Garber, senior Ese Jones, junior Julia Jones, senior Ellie Thomas, and sophomore Josie Thomas are soaking up this one season all six get to share. more

Kathy’s Pasta and Savour, at 329 S. Main Ave, have been in Bolivar for years but came under new ownership in December, when husband and wife, Iris Pogue and Edward Cahoj, took over the business. more

All Branches Closed May 8 more

The Marion C Early Class of 1964 will hold a 60th anniversary class reunion from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, June 7, in the FEMA Building of the MCE Campus from 4 to 7 pm. more

Missouri Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) welcomed 5,000+ attendees from nearly 400 chapters to the record breaking State Leadership Conference April 14-16, 2024 to celebrate our 65th year as an organization. Members and advisers gathered in person to expand their leadership knowledge, compete in various events, and connect with others from across the state. FBLA members competed in over seventy-six competitive events ranging from Accounting and Business Ethics to Social Media Strategies and UX Design. The Top 10 individuals/teams in each event were awarded medals onstage at Great Southern Bank Arena. The Top 4 in each competitive event received trophies and will advance to the National Leadership Conference this summer in Orlando, Florida. more