We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at sales@lakeexpo.com or call us at 573-693-1990 The rumors are no more…the iconic Lodge of Four Seasons at Lake of the Ozarks has been sold That’s according to the Camden County Recorder’s Office which shows a recording back on November 27 with the Lodge of Four Seasons LLC and Avila Development LLC as grantees with another recording dated April 17 showing PRP-Ozark V LLC and Banc of California as the grantors in the transaction Further information appearing in online records from the Recorder of Deeds Office shows that the amount being financed for the transaction is $24,737,993.36 Camden County records also indicate that PRP-Ozark V LLC has been very active in the lake area and in the Horseshoe Bend area with several filings dating back to late November An online business search on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website also indicates the LLC was formed just about a week before the filing showing that the transactions PRP-Ozark V LLC has corporate offices located in Clayton KRMS Radio and TV has attempted to reach out to the offices and has not had a reply as of today (5/2/2025) KRMS News will pass along more information about the sale when it becomes available We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our Website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address email address or telephone number) about your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here 2025 Viper Communications Inc.   |   Grow Your Online Presence with BEST Digital The race for Ozark mayor was highly contested this year with two aldermen challenging the incumbent for office voters selected incumbent Donald Currence to continue to serve as the head of the city according to the Christian County Clerk's Office over David Snider's 437 and Eddie Campbell's 331 fiscal responsibility and building strong community partnership relationships in his campaign He is the administrative pastor at First Baptist Church in Ozark and serves as the volunteer Ozark Police Department Chaplain Conservative values were a common denominator in the race touted by all three mayoral candidates in their campaigns a retired Springfield Police Department officer and Army veteran focused on his strong advocacy for public safety and the need to strengthen infrastructure to encourage growth Snider has served as Ward 1 Alderman for several years and previously ran for mayor He was recently named the next transportation director for the Ozark school district He was first elected as Ward 3 Alderman in 2010 Campbell used to work in commercial construction he emphasized avoiding additional taxes in the community Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader Thirteen community organizations have joined hands to educate voters and engage candidates ahead of the April 8 municipal election the Informed Voter Coalition is hosting a series of candidate interviews with those in races for Springfield City Council Zone 4 Springfield Public Schools Board of Education and Ozark Mayor The organizations that make up the Informed Voter Coalition include Be Civil Be Heard; Drury University's Meador Center for Politics and Citizenship; KSMU Ozarks Public Radio; Leadership Springfield; League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri; Missouri State University's Office of Public Affairs; NAACP Springfield; Ozarks Technical Community College's Social Sciences Department; Rosie; Show-Me Christian County; Springfield Business Journal; Springfield-Greene County Library District; and Springfield News-Leader Questions for the interviews were submitted by Informed Voter Coalition partner organizations and were not provided to the candidates in advance The order of the candidate interviews was determined by a random drawing I'm Rachel Campbell with Show-Me Christian County one of the nonpartisan organizations that make up the Informed Voter Coalition we are interviewing candidates for mayor of Ozark Eddie Campbell was invited to participate but was unable to join us today Each candidate will be interviewed individually and asked the same questions They will have one minute to introduce themselves and two minutes to respond to each question Let's begin by having you introduce yourself and tell us why you decided to run for this office and I also served four years with Uncle Sam in the United States Army I could not do that because of the conflict of interest But I wanted to become more involved with city government in Ozark I will tell you the most important people are not here today And I have a son who graduated College of the Ozarks and what specific steps would you take to move the city in that direction but I believe Ozark is growing too fast in some ways What I would like to see is to get our economy thriving but I want to see some of the construction aspects We need to get control of what we have before we start to build on the future an overwhelming use of apartment complexes I think we need to go back to family values with simple single residential rooftops I think we need to get that under control first But I do think that we're being overrun with them — with storage buildings and apartment complexes we're going to have to get folks to live in Ozark And I think home ownership is going to be a key to that I do believe that it's going to be a necessity to help us thrive I would like to see us promote our family values with our community different aspects of our community here from different areas here I want people to come to Ozark to live and not just to stay Ozark has experienced significant growth over the past decade What do you see as the biggest priority in managing that continued growth effectively the biggest hurdle that we have is maintaining what we have We cannot go out and build something we don't have if we can't take care of what we already have We've got to take care of the people that made Ozark what it is I do believe we're running into issues right now and we need to rebuild that infrastructure reach outside and try to build something that we can't even take care of right now I see a lot of issues right now with developers that want to come in here and build nothing The Show-Me Christian County has done a real good job The (Ozark) chamber has done a real good job promoting what we have we have to first concentrate on the efforts that we have here at home I want small businesses to stay here in Ozark The people are the most important aspect of our community I want them to feel comfortable within the city limits of Ozark and the Ozark community as a whole I think there is a problem we need to address and that's the fact that people believe Ozark is getting too big We have to concentrate on what we have to make it better The April election for Ozark mayor features the same three candidates as the previous race What new factors or issues do you think will shape this mayoral election compared to the last one I do not want to see a finger pointing game here the third candidate that's not here today (Eddie Campbell) does a lot of finger pointing What I can bring to the table here is true leadership This is what I can do for the city of Ozark I want people to know that they can come to me and I want people to know that they can trust what I do and what I say And it's been pointed out that I have taken special interests of certain groups because a special interest that these folks have are special to me and I'm going to fight for them regardless of what it is feedback often comes from the most vocal and frustrated residents How do you plan to engage with a broad range of community members and ensure that all perspectives are considered But if I truly listen to what's going on with that train I'll find out what direction it's coming from If I listen to what's going on in the air with that airplane I can look up and tell you where it's going and where it's coming from I need to be able to engage with these folks They're the most important thing that we have in Ozark because they make it They are the knitting that keeps it together and I believe that I will be every quarter Let me listen to what you have to say so I can give you a response I can't react appropriately if I don't know what the problem is I understand the frustration that some people have I honestly do understand that if they have a question that I can answer If I can't get that answer right then and there I will get one for them and I will call that person back I've already done that and I'm very proud of that Ozark's growth brings both opportunities and challenges particularly in housing availability and workforce development How do you plan to address the city's housing needs to ensure that workers families and businesses can thrive again there Snider: There are some folks out there that do not agree with my philosophy on multifamily housing I see the issues that come with multifamily housing What I am going to propose is a temporary moratorium on multifamily housing until we can address the needs that we already have Ozark is unique in the fact that we are literally divided into three sections: North We have a unique feature in Ozark that hardly any other city in Missouri has We have a river that runs right through it So I want to be able to attract things there I want families to be able to come down to that river I want to see families come down to the park and thrive I want to see a mom and dad see their kids grow up so when they become a grandfather and a grandmother I want people to live here in Ozark with us I don't want them just to stay here and go to work in Springfield or go to work in Strafford or Republic I want them to be able to depend on what we have in Ozark That way we can promote our growth from within Thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us thank you very much for allowing me to be here in your house again Would you please introduce yourself and tell us why you decided to run for this position And this is something where I never dreamed one day I would be mayor I am the church business administrator for 32 years at my church at First Baptist in Ozark and did not realize when I was encouraged to run when our former mayor was being appointed to the position that all my skills I've done for my whole life are the same skills that carries over to be mayor a lot of things happened this past two years and the things I want to continue to get done and therefore I want to run another term to help finish what we've done one thing that happened was we lost five directors city administrator and two aldermen who got reappointed in my first year Our city is so blessed with the people who have hired and I want to continue what we are planning to do in the next years to come. What is your vision for Ozark's future and what specific steps would you take to move the city in that direction we are in a wonderful location as 10 miles south of Springfield everyday 75% of our working population goes north to work in Springfield so that presents special challenges and all the most important thing about the city of Ozark residential development as for economic development and preparing for that so we are able to handle the growth as it comes they told me that of the 16 projects that they're working on currently which is outstanding because people want to come to this city because they've heard about it that's another benefit that we have that we take for granted but I've come to appreciate so much more now as the mayor and seeing what great things our city has the city administrator and all are ready to lead us to where we need to be going and looking ahead because especially our new city administrator he has the vision to know where we need to be going as for our style of government and what we need to change and just to do what's best for the citizens of Ozark And that's one thing happening right now with MoDOT 75% of our working population each day travels north in the morning that's why they've been widening the roads that is something that's going to be worked on this year because with the addition of Olde World Estate So you have to look at where is the growth is taking place they thought the growth was going to happen south of Ozark We do have a new subdivision about 150 homes south of Walmart that's being worked on right now That's why we're putting in right now a lift station south by the old Fasco building in order to help with the control of the sewage we are routing things that have been going to the main sewage treatment plant is coming south with what's being developed right now with this lift station and they're putting in like 23,000 feet of pipes and all to deal with this So you got to be — you can't be looking at you got to look at what the problem is in five years and things like that And of course that's why it's important partnership with the school and all because what affects us affects them when you add new housing development because what affects them is not so much apartments It's single residential homes that cause growth in the school system what's going to be different this time is last time we were all newbies Eddie (Campbell) and Dave (Snider) both have been aldermen and Eddie also has been on planning and zoning have I been involved in church life my whole life And I've been involved in politics with the Southern Baptist Convention which at meetings where I'm helped as one of the officers I was involved in the city as part of the chamber I've been involved with committees for the school board and things I'm always begging for donations to that so a lot of business people knew me I didn't realize how well my mindset as what I've done as a church business administrator carries over to be the mayor of that And that has just been a great benefit because I have background when it comes to budgeting utilities and all that that is part of the city life the most important thing as mayor is your people skill whether you're in a church or whether you're at the city you have to work with people and how to work with people and how to listen to them That's one thing when people ask me to run for mayor I got to talk to the directors and try to get the backstory because there's always a backstory And then make what is the best decision for the citizens of Ozark How do you plan to engage with a broad range of community members and ensure all perspectives are considered I always go to planning and zoning meetings because everything at planning and zoning and that way I can kind of see what are the concerns hear what's taking place and talk to them and say We also have neighborhood meetings now on new developments to help them meet with the developer and try to get their questions answered because a lot of times they don't know or unfortunately you have the public session where people who are for the bill or speak against the bill if there's 20 people there from a neighborhood that wants to speak they can have that opportunity to do that because that's the right thing to do to allow them to hear that I have that the second Saturday of each month I'll listen to them and see what's going on and I'll do the backstory I remember I've had several people surprised when I'll call them back and hey We're not taking recap from my mayor meetings When I find out answers and things and putting that in the newsletter this is what questions people are asking and these are the answers because maybe other people may have the same question you got to be open and listen to them and see what the concerns are because it's important to them. Ozark's growth brings both opportunities and challenges we have lots — we are like 60/40 or 66/30% as for residential housing versus apartments they can't afford the down payment and things like that That's going to be about 113 homes that are more starter homes but that's we're higher than the state average which hopefully will address this in a very large way as for apartments you have to have developers who wish to come in and we are very blessed we're not as Ozark outgrown our city limits and things like that And so you have to make available for — hope they'll come and want to develop and listen to them that's always ongoing challenge is to have the balance between That's why the historic square that we have the things that go on down there at Christmas time the duck race and all are so important because it helps gives that feeling of the small town who we are as Ozark So we still have the amenities of that feeling We hope you continue to research the candidates to see how their values and positions align with yours you're encouraged to exercise your right to vote If you have questions about where or how to vote or the status of your voter registration may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright holder League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri There's so much to do in this Ozarks this month you might just need a time machine to get to it all though — we've got a listing to help you plan your May From Springfield traditions like Artsfest to live music to Mother's Day activities Based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale and the Disney musical retelling, "The Little Mermaid" follows a young mermaid as she explores life beyond the waves. The score by Alan Menken includes songs like "Part of Your World," "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl." Tickets start at $17 and are on sale at www.SpringfieldLittleTheatre.org. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 1 and 2, come browse books, movies, CDs and vinyl at the Friends of the Library book sale. According to the Facebook event most books and audiovisuals are $1 or less on May 3; $1 and $5 Bag Day is from 1 to 5 p.m Cash or check is accepted and guests should being a bag Eat tacos and raise money to help the Developmental Center of the Ozarks at Tacos de SOMO. From 6 to 9 p.m., guests can enjoy tacos, margaritas and local beer and help decide on who wins the People's Choice award. General admission is $35 in advance and $45 day of the event Grab some local brews and meet animal ambassadors from Wonders of Wildlife starting at 5 p.m. at Hold Fast Brewing. The event is celebrating Wonders of Wildlife's seventh nomination for Best Aquarium in USA Today's 10BEST Reader's Choice Awards Artsfest, "one of the biggest outdoor art festivals in southwest Missouri," according to the Springfield Arts Council The festival features Tickets are $5 per day for people ages 6 and older Heroes at the Farm at Rutledge-Wilson Farm ParkWhen: May 3 All ages can get in for free to visit first responders, emergency workers and their vehicles from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during Heroes at the Farm Sensory-friendly hour runs from 10 to 11 a.m. The Shandies, a Springfield couple that performs folk music, will be the first performance of the GLO Center's outdoor concert series featuring local queer artists Attendees should bring their own seating and blankets TAME Pet Magazine is hosting Downtown Dog Day at Park Central Square dogs can also compete in The "Paw-scars," in categories like floppiest ears Love all things deep-fried and related to fair food? The Ozark Empire Fairground is hosting the Corndog Kickoff from 6 to 9 p.m Guests can sample fair food including fried PB&J General admission adult tickets are $25 in advance and $30 day-of Kids between 6 and 12 years old can attend for $20 if tickets are purchased in advance and for $25 the day of the event Proceeds benefit the Ozark Empire Fair Foundation Star Wars Day tournament at Meta-Games UnlimitedWhen: May 3 Looking for something to do ahead of Star Wars Day (May 4)? Celebrate with Meta-Games with a Star Wars Unlimited tournament on May 3 Star Wars Unlimited is a trading card game Participants can win prizes including a trophy Christian County Master Gardeners' Annual Plant SaleWhen: May 3 succulents and more from Christian County Master Gardeners Cash or card is accepted and master gardeners will be present to answer any questions Proceeds from the annual plant sale "go back into the community" with Ozarks Tech scholarships and neighborhood projects Emo/pop-punk band Playing with Matches is re-uniting for a performance starting at 7 p.m. at The Riff then played in the Vans Warped Tour in 2005 and 2006 where they performed alongside bands like Angels and Airwaves Metalcore Spring Break Tour comes to Springfield with The Devil Wears Prada, ERRA, Kingdom of Giants and Acres in May. The show is all ages. Tickets are available online Mother's Day Perfume-Making WorkshopWhen: May 8 Guests can treat mom or another special woman in their lives to a hands-on perfume-making workshop people will learn about fragrance families and how to blend Each participant will take home a one-ounce custom perfume Enjoy the Primrose Pop-Up Park with a community party from 6 to 8 p.m The event will feature food trucks and live music Where: Tour starts at University Heights Baptist Church The Rountree Council for Preservation is hosting its annual historic house tours from 10 a.m The self-guided tours allow participants to learn about architectural and creative restoration as well as meet and talk with the homeowners about the history of their homes and efforts but the tour route is also walkable and bikeable Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the event Mother's Day Sip 'N Shop at Wire Road BreweryWhen: May 11 Celebrate Mother's Day with drinks, shopping and live music starting at noon at Wire Road Brewing The Mother's Day Sip 'N Shop will feature local vendors selling jewelry Wire Road Brewing will offer its regular selection of beer Guests are invited to celebrate Garden Day 2025 with plant sales free admission to the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden and the season's opening of the butterfly house From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests can peruse more than 20 local vendors at The Marketplace Boutique create their own bouquets and put together a basket for Mother's Day West Plains Art Council is hosting a workshop conducted by a local artist where participants can customize a 9-inch-by-13-inch glass baking dish using glass etching Register by May 6 by texting 417-505-0812 or emailing info@westplainsarts.org Nixa SuckerDays returns to downtown Nixa for its 67th year The free-to-attend festival features sucker fish tastings 5th Annual Midwest Muscle Car ShowWhen: May 17 Check out more than 450 muscle cars and trucks at the 5th Annual Midwest Muscle Car Show the event will feature food trucks and alcohol raffle prizes and a bounce house section for kids with kids younger than 12 admitted for free From 8 a.m. to noon, owners and their dogs are invited to visit Phelps Grove Park for vendors, refreshments, live music and a group dog walk. Bark in the Park is free for all participants Criss-cross Route 66 in Joplin for a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize. Contestants, as individuals or in groups, will uncover clues hidden across Joplin’s downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods. The event is $25 per person. Participants should register online at murphysburg.org or pay in person on event day starting at 9 a.m All proceeds support Historic Murphysburg Preservation Inc Where: The Lightroom Lounge at Martha's Vineyard High Tide Theatrical is performing the Grammy and Tony Award-winning musical "Hair," which follows a group of young adults fighting against conscription into the Vietnam War. The musical includes iconic songs such as "Hair," "Let the Sunshine In" and "Good Morning Starshine." Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students/military/seniors 65 and older, and are available for purchase online at hightidesgf.org Spread out a blanket and set up a lawn chair for "Wicked," the first movie of the season at Jordan Valley Park's Movies in the Park Starting at 9 a.m., the Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness is hosting a free community outreach event offering free haircuts Where: Starts at Springfield Brewing Company Celebrate Springfield Brewing Company's first light beer with its first-ever brewery bus tour, Tour de Gold will head to Mile 6 Taproom and One 2 Five Taproom for live music beer and cocktails before heading back to Springfield Brewing Company for an after party Try out regional food trucks and trailers at the Second Annual Ozarks Food Truck Rally guests can enjoy live music and beer from 11 a.m Springfield Cosplay is hosting its Matsu Market from 10 a.m Want to include Fido when the family enjoys charcuterie? Finley Farms is hosting an event featuring Lavish Grazing where dog parents can learn how to create grazing platters fun arrangements and cutting techniques that can apply to human charcuterie boards and what snacks are "pup-approved," all alongside their favorite furry friend Tickets are $30 per person and should be purchased from Finley Farms Be one of the first to try our new activity feed On a winter thru-hike of the Ozark Highlands Trail and bushwhacked paths overgrown with bramble—and discovered the rugged heart of one of America’s lesser-known long trails It was the middle of a long Montana winter The landscape was a canvas of snow-covered peaks In late 2020 I had thru-hiked the Ouachita Trail hikers and trail angels kept recommending the Ozark Highlands Trail It’s also a lot more remote:  It avoids most towns and roads along its 250-mile route and a lot tougher to escape if weather rolled in I thought I might even be able to do it twice and caught a ride from a good friend and incredible hiker who drove us to the terminus at Lake Fort Smith to begin the thru-hike We had last backpacked together in the Sierra when I was a 20-year-old with an external-frame pack and Buddha was out finding himself on the long-distance trails of America While our lives had run parallel since then—we both built our careers around our passion for foot travel on trails—we hadn’t shared miles in too long The path meandered around the shores of the lake crossing small streams that spilled into the lake at each inlet we had covered the first 30 miles of the trail Buddha was as strong a hiker as I remembered: Unlike with other partners I never had to worry whether he could break camp fast enough or keep pace with me and a nearby stream to have an icy soak in we were back on the trail and heading east After two days with a partner and help with a resupply The streams swelled until they spilled their banks The trail’s sunny start faded into a distant memory Among the many stream crossings on the Ozark Highlands Trail it is the size of a river and swells quickly with the weather Every inch of the creek is different: At one bend large boulders may be stacked up haphazardly all the way across the water the current may have cut a deep channel into the soil At the first crossing, I found a series of boulders a foot below the raging current and tiptoed my way across. But at the second crossing, there were no rocks. The banks were near vertical and mostly made of soft mud. I slowly side-hilled my way upstream a couple hundred yards, but it took 30 minutes, and I knew I would need to cross it The water was muddy and nearly 30 feet across; I couldn’t tell how deep it was I packed everything in watertight bags and waded into the creek aiming slightly upstream and letting the current correct me focusing on holding my head up and rhythmically stroking my arms through the muddy water It was eerily similar to swimming the Kennebec River on the Appalachian Trail—an unwise act I had hoped never to repeat I had neglected to plan for changing weather and the impact of torrential rain on water sources Now, I had another problem: I was wet, and the temperature had dropped into the 20s My situation was beginning to feel dangerous A hotel and a break after the events of the day were much more appealing than huddling for warmth in a damp tent and sleeping bag I hiked to Highway 7 and thumbed a ride into Clarksville A couple with a long history in the area picked me up and spent the ride filling me in on the viewpoints and the Rotary Club’s work maintaining trailheads and outdoor recreation through the remote mountain range I had missed this kind of history on the 18-inch-wide footpath What the remote route offered in nature and ruggedness it lost in its connection to the communities it passed If my ride was an introduction to local culture I got a full immersion once we arrived in Clarksville and it happened to be a dingy-looking buffet It was a return to my roots: Eat until you can barely walk I thought back to my original plan to thru-hike the trail in one direction and then try for an FKT on the return trip No one sets a record time on a trail that involves swimming Knowing it wasn’t going to happen actually eased my mind: Now I had the luxury of slowing down and enjoying the views The sky was dotted with fluffy clouds and patches of sunshine forested hills disappeared into the distance and the trail began to climb more steeply up the mountains I felt oddly comfortable on the rough path My next obstacle was the Buffalo River I had originally planned on turning around there I decided to continue onward along the OHT’s proposed route to Matney Knob and there was no way I was swimming this one listening to elk bugle in the meadow nearby carried down by the rain as it flowed off the surrounding hills a boat launched from the campground on the other side I truly did intend to keep hiking off into the wilderness It was obvious few hikers had ventured beyond the Buffalo: Over and over again the trail climbed straight up to the top of a 300-foot rock wall overlooking the river and then suddenly dropped back down to its banks grabbing at my clothing and cutting up my legs Blackberry thorns had long overgrown any potential pathway; the route followed the side of a muddy hill and casual glimpses of the river were my only assurance that I was on track and crawled through brambles to connect back to a more maintained trail 15 miles further on This section of the trail had seen little love (if any) I camped for the night and looked at my maps before falling asleep and they would be my best chance at completing this entire route on foot I found one road that I could hike to a more popular trail My goal changed again: I decided to push hard in hopes of wrapping up the adventure before the snow arrived Regaining the trail the next morning was a treat The terrain was completely different: The woods were old and eerie with hundred-foot trees and very sparse undergrowth and my tent nearly doubled over in the wind and the storm showed no sign of letting up I packed up to begin my last 18 miles: My desire to be comfortable had finally surpassed my hunger for adventure I figured my soaked gear and I could hit the finish line by mid-afternoon After seven more hours of trudging through the swampy forest and across more creeks and ledges I finally arrived at Matney Knob Trailhead My adventure on the OHT hadn’t been what I expected but it was every bit as invigorating as I had hoped As the falling flakes built into a snowstorm bound for Fort Smith and then back to snowy Montana for the winter Mentally prepare for wet feet: Waterfalls and streams are everywhere and keeping your feet dry is impossible in many of the sections Map out all possible resupply points: Even if you intend to do long carries having a list of the possible early bailouts and resupplies will make any plan changes much easier Prepare for quickly changing weather: The trail lacks the exposure of many alpine and high-altitude trails Both termini are hard to reach from an airport: Set up a ride or have a plan for the start and conclusion of the hike The 30-mile thru-hike was the ideal trip for putting our backpacking and hiking candidates through the wringer When Devin Jarvis arrived in Springfield as a toddler in the early 1970s there was one Mormon congregation in Springfield and another in Joplin Jarvis oversees 13 of the 26 congregations in the greater Springfield area That growth has continued over the past five decades leading to another congregation starting in the Fremont Hills area south of Springfield Those numbers have also led the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to decide to build a temple in Springfield The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the past referred to as the LDS or Mormon church founded in the early 19th century in New York by Joseph Smith which he said was found on a set of golden plates buried near his home by a prophet named Moroni the source of the term Mormon for the church and its members Missouri also plays a critical role in the church’s early history the governor issued an executive order expelling the approximately 15,000 Mormons who had settled here which has continued to serve as the church’s headquarters It was more than 150 years later that a temple was built in Missouri — St Louis in 1997 and Kansas City in 2010 — but there are several historic sites and landmarks commemorating the short time the settlers were in the Show-Me State And there have always been Mormons living here Wade and Char Smith moved to the United States from Alberta and have lived in the Springfield area for more than 40 years Two other congregations were in Willard and Branson with smaller branches in Stockton and Marshfield when Wade served as a bishop (bishops are unpaid The Smiths chose the Ozarks because the land was affordable and could support more cattle than in Alberta Cattle ranching also brought the Jarvis family here but Devin Jarvis believes that the cost of living He acknowledges that many recent church members in the area have also been drawn by family and friends some moving back after living in more urban areas Pam and Ivan Arismendi Ortiz are originally from Bolivia While the initial reason for the move was a position with Cox having a church community was equally important “I work long hours,” Ivan Arismendi Ortiz said While there was no temple at all in Bolivia when they were growing up — the closest was in Buenos Aires Argentina — the Arismendi Ortiz family enjoyed having a temple nearby in St and look forward to experiencing that in Springfield when the temple here is completed “There is a lot of noise in the world,” Pam Arismendi Ortiz said calms my heart and brings me joy.” Her eyes spill over as she talks about it “There are no other voices telling me what do Welcoming a temple to SpringfieldAmong the Latter-day Saints a temple serves a different purpose than a typical church or even a cathedral There are no regular Sunday services or large gatherings It is a sacred structure that welcomes members to perform certain church rites including baptism for the dead and eternal marriage sealings as well as receiving instructions and making covenants and having a temple nearby will allow many followers access that is difficult if they have to drive long distances whose parents joined the church when she was 5 years old spends as much time as she can working on her family’s ancestry pouring through genealogical records kept by the church from around the world Baptism and sealing ordinances are offered for family members who have passed on without the benefit of performing those ordinances themselves she can go to a temple to perform the ordinances on their behalf ensuring them a place with the family throughout eternity according to Latter-day Saints doctrine and theology Ward generally travels once or twice a month to Bentonville That requires a two-hour drive early in the morning leaving her little time before the temple closes again until evening she said she would likely go weekly and spend more time to accomplish more ordinances But having access to a temple is more than just a place to baptize long-dead relatives “It’s like a piece of heaven on earth when you go into the temple,” Ward said and there are no children or outside disturbances to draw her attention She said she often attends as many as four teaching sessions in a visit but ultimately she is able to shed the world and focus on God’s message Jarvis explained that the temple “points us to Jesus Christ and a way to more personally worship.” He called the experience a “more individual worship.” When that experience will finally be available in Springfield is still an unknown The LDS church announced plans to build a Springfield temple in 2023 Jarvis said he has no inside knowledge of the schedule just as he had no knowledge of the initial plans until they were announced “I still don’t know the timeline,” he said Temple sites are generally located in areas with enough members — although there’s no required number — to warrant construction or where great distances exist between temples The fact that the Springfield and Springfield South stakes (a stake is an administrative unit within a geographical area that includes wards and branches) have each grown by about 1,000 people in the past two years may have given the city a legitimate chance of being one of the 15 new temples announced in April 2023 The location of the Springfield temple was announced in mid-2024 The approximately 29,000-square-foot temple will be constructed on a 38-acre plot of land located at 2720 E Much of the church’s growth has also focused on that area visiting a temple that is two or more hours away is a struggle for families such as the Arismendi Ortiz family With a temple only minutes from their south Springfield home those visits will be easier and more frequent providing a resource that can only be found in that holy environment There is a spirit of calmness and reverence and peace the same peace we should have in our homes.” Some of the terminology used within the church may be unfamiliar to those outside it Temple ordinances — Sacred ceremonies that take place in the temple The three main ordinances include baptism for the dead marriage ceremonies called temple sealings and the endowment ceremony when participants make special promises to God Baptism — A baptismal candidate must be at least 8 years old to receive the church’s total immersion water baptism Baptism for the dead is performed in the temple by living members on behalf of someone who is deceased Sealing — A temple ceremony bonding a husband and wife for eternity or binding children to their parents if the children were born outside of the faith administrative grouping of three or more wards Ward —A local congregation presided over by a bishop made up of members from a geographical location Branch — A congregation that is not large enough to comprise a ward To learn more, visit www.churchofjesuschrist.org 'Ozark Law' documents police departments' work when the Lake of the Ozarks sees a significant increase in visitors The new A&E series "Ozark Law" starring mid-Missouri police departments is set to air Wednesday night at 9 p.m The Lake Ozark and Osage Beach police departments will be featured in the new 10-episode series on A&E "Ozark Law" will document the departments' work during the summer months when the Lake of the Ozarks sees a significant increase in visitors According to a news release from the city of Osage Beach the unscripted documentary series will follow the two local police departments as they juggle the challenges of maintaining safety during the area's peak tourist season "When the population rapidly multiplies literally overnight it presents unique challenges for our officers," said Todd Davis "The series shows how dedicated we are to serving the Osage Beach community.” While the towns around the lake are home to just a few thousand residents for most of the year creating a unique set of issues for law enforcement According to an Osage Beach Police Department Facebook post this show "shines a national spotlight on the lake." To report an error or typo, email news@komu.com Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: WDHN - wdhn.com OZARK, Ala (WDHN) — An Ozark family is calling on the community for help while a beloved friend and loved one is fighting for his life in Birmingham after being blindsided by a trip to the hospital Carl ‘Coop’ Cooper is a golf-loving Carroll High School alum who is a beloved friend to so many across the Wiregrass “He is just a social butterfly,” His girlfriend Cooper was rushed to Dale County Medical Center on the Friday before Easter where he was told he had a tear in his heart “It came as a shock because he is always doing something,” Boyd said and this just so blindsided us because he takes care of himself he was taken to UAB Hospital in Birmingham where doctors gave him medication for the tear doctors had to put Cooper on ECMO to control his lungs and heart “Each day we see a little bit of progress,” Boyd said “He’s on the lowest doses of everything Boyd said he is fighting so that he can return to Wiregrass and continue living the life he loves you know he still has a lot of life left in him and a lot of life left to live and we just want to bring him home so we can continue down that path,” Boyd said Boyd says that the last nine days have been very hard watching her boyfriend go through this but it is also leaving an impact on their finances It has taken Boyd away from her job at The Village Inn in Newton and Cooper is retired and on a fixed income and I have been staying in the room with him,” Boyd said “Any help would be greatly appreciated We have no idea how long he is going to be here.” This hospital stay has left the couple looking for help from the community which they have already received in small doses “Just shows you the kind of people that there are in the community it’s really amazing to see,” Boyd said “I know it’s in God’s hands and he’s fighting I know he’s not going to give up.” Friends of the couple are raising money to help them during their time in Birmingham while The Village Inn is also collecting donations Boyd is also collecting donations through her Venmo (@Trudi-Boyd) they can also keep the family in their thoughts and prayers these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Thanks for visiting Note: This story was complete before Matthew Growcock was appointed late Monday afternoon to fill a seat vacated by Guy Callaway The appointment means only three of the four certified candidates will appear on the April 8 ballot One incumbent is among the three candidates vying for two open seats on the Ozark school board this spring has served since 2022 and is not running for a second term The other candidates are Rae-Ann Wade and Wade Wheeler The two candidates with the most votes in the April 8 election will be sworn in mid-April to serve three-year and hires and evaluates the superintendent Four candidates were certified to be on the ballot but Matthew Growcock was appointment to a vacant seat Monday afternoon He will fill the unexpired term left vacant when Guy Callaway resigned at the end of 2024 Here are the four candidates who were initially certified to be on the ballot: Career: President and funeral director at Adams Funeral Home in Ozark and Nixa District connection: She graduated from Ozark High School in 1987 and has lived in Ozark her entire life She and husband Bruce Galloway have two daughters; the youngest is a freshman at Ozark High community service: Founding member of Impact 100 Ozark has been a member of the Ozark Chamber of Commerce for three decades and a member of First Baptist Church of Ozark since age 10 Why run this year: "One of the main reasons families move to Ozark is because of our good schools — I want to work to help make the 'best better.' During the past 12 years on the school board our district has offered students award-winning academic how will you make an impact: "My goal is to help our community continue and build upon the important partnerships between our families At the request of some parents and community members I've started an anti-bullying initiative and committee in partnership with our local sheriff's department I directly helped with an intergovernmental agreement between the school and the city for underpasses and crosswalks to our schools." District connection: "I have lived in the district since 2004 All three of our children attend school in the district." community service: "I have served on many boards in the region over the last 15+ years I serve on boards for the Ozark Fire Protection District I also currently serve on the Financial Oversight Committee for the Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District." Why run this year: "I have long considered running for a position on this board because I wanted to serve on a board that directly impacts my children how will you make an impact: "I hope that I can make an impact by bringing to the board the problem-solving skills and legal knowledge I have developed over the last 20 years and to be able to use those skills to help the board navigate the tough issues the district faces." I hold 12 credit hours toward a doctorate in educational administration and a teaching degree in secondary mathematics and secondary education My professional career includes eight years as a junior high and high school mathematics teacher and three years as a principal during which I helped create the school budget and regularly reported to a school board." District connection: "I have lived in the district for 18 years I have had the privilege of raising six children in the Ozark school district (three of which have graduated) providing me with a firsthand understanding of the district's strengths and opportunities." community service: "As an active PTA member I served as a room mother at North Elementary and Ozark Middle School twice a week for 11 years I am an engaged member of the JROTC Booster Club and Ozark Cheer Booster Club supporting student programs that build leadership I dedicated four years to serving on both the Ozark Football Booster Club and the Ozark Band Booster Club." Why run this year: "I am seeking to serve on the Board of Education to support the students and administrators within the Ozark school district." how will you make an impact: "My goal is to contribute meaningfully to the district's success by leveraging my education I am passionate about fostering an environment where students can thrive and families are confident in the quality of education being provided." More: Who is running for the Nixa school board? Here are the 4 candidates Career: General dentist who started a practice in Springfield starting in 1998 District connection: "My family and I have lived in Ozark since 2019 We have graduated two of our three children from Ozark community service: "In the past I served on the Ronald Mcdonald House Tooth Truck board I am currently on the OTC Dental Advisory board My wife and I are long-time donors and multiple-time volunteers with Convoy of Hope." Why run this year: "What prompted me to run was watching the current board show zero interest in what members of the community had to say about issues that the board was currently discussing/voting on." how will you make an impact: "I am running with the hope of increasing board awareness of and accountability to community input." Contact: Dena Matteson Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go This hidden gem of a thru-hike shows off all the Ozarks have to offer The 230-mile OT thru-hike is the main event in Missouri Ozarks winding from Onondaga Cave State Park southeast of St Louis to the western edge of the Mark Twain State Forest If you’re searching east of the Rockies for stunning scenery, technical terrain, and a long hike option sans the AT crowds, the Ozark Trail checks all the boxes. You’ll cross paths with fewer people than you can count on two hands—just keep an eye out for mountain bikers and horseback riders who frequent the multi-use sections of the trail The 230-mile backbone of the Ozark Trail links eight continuous trail sections: the Courtois Creek hikers embark on the first 48-mile section full of white oak Duck into caves carved into the bluffs along Courtois Creek and spot wildlife within Huzzah Conservation Area Popular campsites on this section include Berryman Campground around mile 22 or dispersed creek-side spots under red bluff walls on Huzzah Creek past mile 32 The next section along Trace Creek is an enjoyable Camp at the Hazel Creek Campground at the start of this section or continue on for 12 miles through dense oak and pine forests to Middle Fork/John Roth Memorial section Some hikers may choose to continue on Trace Creek to the Taum Sauk section but OT thru-hikers should head west onto Middle Fork/John Roth Memorial section to complete the full route This hilly 26-mile segment gains over 2,600 feet of elevation It meanders over a contoured landscape crossing brooks as well as small savannahs of oak and hickory hardwoods Camp at Highway DD trailhead near the section’s start or Harper Spring around the 15-mile mark This part of the trail mixes sweeping wetland prairies and ridge-lined valley views through the Sutton Bluff Recreation Area Camp riverside on a natural gravel beach along the West Fork of the slow-moving Black River set up a dispersed camp anywhere in the Mark Twain National Forest that’s at least 100 feet from the trail Keep an eye out for a short spur trail between Sutton Bluff campground and Highway TT the largest fen (peat-forming wetland) in non-glaciated North America Wetlands give way to ridgelines at the start of the Blair Creek section This 26-mile segment follows Blair Creek south as it carves down a valley through oak-hickory-pine forest before merging with the emerald waters of the Current River This marks the start of the 30-mile Current River section This section follows the river for two miles before veering south toward Stegall Mountain You’ll find this area along the Indian Creek and Rocky Creek flush with shut-ins and water-eroded rock formations unique to the Ozarks that feature complex systems of plunge pools Enjoy views of the Ozark landscape as you gain 500 feet of elevation over 2.5 miles to the top of Stegall Mountain Camp out at the top overnight and catch a glimpse of a full sky of stars if it’s clear The next 30 miles is the Between the Rivers section It does just as it says: bridges the gap between the Current River and the Eleven Point River Though there is an abundance of water nearby this section doesn’t have the larger swimming holes found up until this point on the OT A gradual climb along a ridgeline takes you through forests filled with white and scarlet oak Lock-in your thru-hike with the completion of the 29-mile Eleven Point River section The finish challenges hikers with over 3,200 feet of elevation gain It travels up slopes and through hollows following the contours of the Eleven Point National Scenic River This segment provides plenty of options to dip your feet in clear pools and rock-stirred rapids along the way Enjoy sweeping views from dolomite bluffs and a hallmark lookout over Greer Spring at mile 12 The hike finishes at Eleven Point western trailhead (also known as 4155 Trailhead) With access to the Ozark Trail available year-round hikers will need to prepare differently for each season: Consider bringing waterproof shoes and treating your clothes ahead of time with permethrin to repel insects In the colder seasons insulating layers are a must A good rain shell for you and rain fly for your tent are necessary year-round A perk of hiking lesser-traveled trails are fewer (or non-existent) permits and parking fees or registration requirements for its trail sections A former JROTC instructor at Ozark High School was charged Monday with sexual contact with a minor was also charged with supplying alcohol to a minor It was not immediately clear if the alleged victim in the case According to court documents used to charge Haney he allegedly sexually assaulted the teenager after driving her to his home and supplying alcohol 8 at the Child Advocacy Center that she was with a friend when she met up with Haney on Oct She said after Haney insinuated that he had alcohol where she used the restroom and he bought alcohol which investigators were able to confirm after reviewing surveillance video from the store Haney allegedly provided the teenager with a Beast Monster Energy drink which has 6% alcohol and placed a bottle of vodka on the counter The teenager said during the forensic interview that not long after drinking the alcohol She said Haney kept making comments about her looks offered her a massage and then he took off part of her clothes The teenager said once the assault started she told Haney "no" and he stopped and looked scared She said she was uncomfortable and drank more alcohol before he gave her a ride home The teenager called a friend crying the next day She also told other friends about the incident and asked for advice on what to do next one or her friends or someone else contacted the Rogersville Police Department which then asked for help from the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team More: SPS school police officer asks district to take 2 officer jobs off chopping block Haney was hired by the Ozark district in summer 2022 to work in the high school's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps or JRTOC program, according to minutes from the June 23, 2022 school board meeting In response to a question about Haney's employment including when he last worked in the Ozark district Richard Haney no longer works for the Ozark school district we are unable to provide further details regarding allegations or accusations We are fully cooperating with local law enforcement as they conduct their investigation The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority and we are committed to maintaining a supportive and secure environment for all." an arrest warrant was issued for Haney with a requested bond amount of $20,000 (This story was updated with new information) The long-awaited release of Netflix's viewership numbers revealed "Ozark" as the streaming giant's most-watched original series of 2020 The Southern crime drama follows financial advisor Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) as he's forced to relocate with his family from Chicago to Lake of the Ozarks to launder money for the Navarro drug cartel Marty watches as he and his accomplices are executed by their cartel liaison Marty narrowly escapes the same fate even though he was in the dark about Bruce's theft With some quick thinking and the help of a random brochure he's able to convince Del that the quiet Missouri town is the perfect place to launder money and that he will be able to repay the $8 million Bruce stole by the end of the summer and son Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) are less than thrilled about their new zip code Marty forms a tentative partnership with local criminal Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner) to complete the task before he's killed by the drug cartel Now that this chapter of the Byrde family's saga is complete ranking the top 18 episodes of the gritty drama's record-breaking run Few people who enter Marty Byrde's orbit escape unscathed Ruth Langmore arguably sees more than her share of tragedy In "Game Day," FBI agent Roy Petty (Jason Butler Harner) attempts to paint her as an informant with a public conversation in sight of the cartel's icy lawyer but it's a hellish ordeal and a traumatic recovery This episode shows not only her strength of character but also the high cost of her association with Marty "Game Day" puts her in sharp contrast with Wendy as Marty cruelly reminds his wife of her infidelity Despite learning that Ruth previously tried to kill him by rigging the dock to produce a fatal charge The episode's biggest fireworks come in its final moments Helen orders local drug supplier Darlene Snell (Lisa Emery) to burn her poppy fields In another example of her destructive defiance but a desperate Wendy takes matters into her own hands distracting Darlene with adoption paperwork while Buddy (Harris Yulin) sneaks out to burn the fields It's a gorgeous sight and a poignant end to a beloved character as the Byrdes' elderly roommate passes away while Wendy drives them home Buddy dies protecting a family he's come to see as his own "The Badger" sees many characters rapidly approaching the point of no return Charlotte continues to infuriate by hiring an attorney to sue her parents for emancipation Marty takes steps to pass on cartel business to Ruth hoping to flee with his family to Australia It's not the first time he's erroneously believed he can extricate himself from the massive web of corruption he's spun Ruth finally begins to see the cost of her father Cade's (Trevor Long) influence as he and Wyatt (Charlie Tahan) rob the Lickety Splitz putting Ruth's business and Wyatt's future in jeopardy It begins with a flashback in which we see Jacob's (Peter Mullan) first introduction to the woman who will become his wife He remembers her crashing a date with a woman she calls boring and inviting him to follow her into a life filled with excitement He wakes from this dream while being driven away from the cartel's failed assassination attempt Jacob agrees to sell his land and plans to stab Darlene to death Jacob prepares to make his move but collapses before he can land a blow Darlene reveals that she poisoned his coffee before they left the house They pledge their love to each other as he dies in her arms bringing to an end a tumultuous but thrilling love story This episode begins her transformation from bored housewife to fearless and powerful player in the world of politics "Kaleidoscope" also reveals the instigation of the Byrdes' dealings with Del Marty initially balks at the illegal job offer but after Wendy expresses interest and they're wined and dined in Mexico This episode definitively shows that Wendy has never been hostage to Marty's fortunes She's been a willing co-conspirator from the start "Kaleidoscope" also provides a relatable backstory for Agent Roy Petty who began investigating the cartel as a way of coping with his mother's addiction to heroin Both Wendy and Roy will go on to make increasingly despicable decisions but knowledge of their complicated pasts serves to humanize them making their villainous actions all the more frustrating As the midpoint in the final season's first act "Ellie" advances several plot lines and reveals insights into many characters' motivations Jonah continues to burn bridges on all sides by telling his mother that Darlene is responsible for the missing posters suddenly papering the town Jonah tells Darlene that his parents helped cover up Sheriff Nix's (Robert C Wendy is tempted with an offer to get involved with widespread election fraud complicating her plans to go legit after completing their deal with the FBI Faced with cartel underboss Javi Elizonndro's freeze on her shipments of heroin Clare Shaw (Katrina Lenk) agrees to buy from Ruth and Darlene further entrenching her in the criminal world This episode also sees Marty and Ruth working together again Forced to recoup the drugs that Darlene had Frank Jr Ruth must once again trust her instincts and put herself in a dangerous situation to get the job done she demands a high price from Marty for her assistance Though these developments are all interesting "Ellie" is most notable for its shocking conclusion Darlene confronts Wendy in the Byrdes' driveway furious that she keeps interfering with her operations causing the old woman to collapse with chest pains Wendy watches Darlene have a heart attack in her driveway even sitting down to more fully enjoy her enemy's suffering The gleam in Wendy's eyes as she watches what could be Darlene's final moments are either chilling or cathartic depending on viewers' feelings about the fiercely protective mother Promotional material for the 3rd season of "Ozark" featured an image of a bound Marty on his knees in a dirty basement cell This disturbing imagery comes to fruition in "Boss Fight," as Marty is tortured by cartel boss Omar Navarro in a test of loyalty The previous episode concludes with Marty being forced into a car by three cartel agents — his fate unknown We join him as he's being tortured with rotten food and loud music in a cell beneath the cartel boss' feet Navarro repeatedly asks Marty what he wants Helen admits to Ruth that they want to see if she can launder money without Marty Ruth and Wendy set up a team of faux gamblers to lose the maximum amount of money each day that will avoid triggering an investigation and Ruth finds herself unable to fix a frozen account Marty proves his worth by resolving the problem in minutes This gives him the courage to tell the truth about what he wants which is essentially to be treated with respect and gratitude Wendy faces a critical decision of her own If she reports the abduction to FBI Agent Maya Miller the agency will have the authorization to retrieve him from Mexico but that would be a point of no return for the Byrdes and Wendy is forced to wait and see if she is about to become a widow Directed by producer and star Jason Bateman the final episode of Season 1 resolves some important plot threads while complicating life for the Byrdes Pastor Mason Young (Michael Mosley) decides that his conscience will not allow him to return to his waterfront preaching denying the Snells a way to distribute their drugs Mason pays a steep price for this decision He returns home to find his pregnant wife gone and his newborn son crying alone in the house It's a devastating turn of events showing the ripples of tragedy that follow in the wake of Marty's corruption Jonah holds him at gunpoint only to find that Buddy has secretly removed the bullets Buddy himself emerges and kills the hitman allowing Wendy to escape with her children The season ends on a slightly uplifting note as Wendy and the kids return home choosing to stick it out as a family rather than flee with their new identities The episode's most shocking moment establishes Darlene as a dangerously unpredictable element in the Byrdes' plans A recently tortured Marty brokers a deal between the Snells and Del to build a casino on the Snell's lakefront property seemingly resolving the tension between the two warring drug lords When Del makes an offhand comment about rednecks Darlene shoots him without a thought for the larger prices they will all have to pay This Season 4 episode is a mirror to Season 2's "Boss Fight" in which Marty is tortured by Navarro Marty travels back to Mexico as the de facto interim leader of the cartel while Omar Navarro (Felix Solis) is stuck in an American prison Having noticed discrepancies in some of his lieutenant's books Marty discovers that the man is stealing from his boss and is forced to order the same kind of torture he endured The job is further complicated when Navarro winds up in a coma after surviving an assassination attempt in prison Believing him to be the one who ordered the hit Marty must make all of the decisions himself placing the ethical dilemma squarely on his shoulders Marty has no choice but to order the man's execution especially when he realizes Navarro's sister is the one who ordered the assassination attempt The episode begins on a somber note with a flashback that shows the final moments of Wendy's brother Ben's life finally putting to rest hopes that he's been in hiding Tom Pelphrey delivers another touching monologue this time recognizing the danger he's put his family in and forgiving his sister for her decision to give him up to Helen as this episode sees her threaten Clare Shaw with dire consequences if she doesn't uphold her financial pledge to the Byrde Foundation One of the series' most harrowing episodes "One Way Out" sees the annihilation of one family and the reunification of another When baby Zeke is taken into state custody Pastor Mason Young holds Wendy hostage until Marty finds a way to bring his son back After her attempt to break free is thwarted Wendy tries to talk her way out of Mason's basement and gives a monologue that could serve as a thesis statement for "Ozark" itself She rejects Mason's assumption that the virtuous choice is always clear saying that though she always intends to do the right thing sometimes the only option available is evil an unhinged Mason accuses the Byrdes of somehow altering his son and attempts to run away with Wendy in tow to protect her from her husband Marty is forced to kill the pastor to save his wife and the guilt he feels will linger long after they've disposed of the body as the Byrdes use the baby to project a wholesome image of family love an ironic twist given how they gained custody of him Marty refuses to vouch for Blue Cat manager Rachel (Jordana Spiro) with the cartel Ruth sobs in apology when the robbery she's set up for her father It's a startling moment for the strong character revealing the toxic level of emotional control her abusive father holds Death pervades this episode as local home stager Eugenia Dermody's (Sharon Blackwood) posthumous demands threaten Marty's laundering schedule Wendy solves the problem by buying the local funeral home an investment that will pay off in spades down the road Agent Roy Petty's relationship with Russ Langmore (Marc Menchaca) comes to an end when the agent plays a recording of Russ confessing to attempted murder and telling his lover that he is an FBI agent Roy tries to convince Russ to turn against Ruth agree to become an informant against Marty more out of heartbreak than any allegiance to his niece It's an agonizing scene, especially considering the amount of trust Russ has placed in the psychopathic agent. He learns of his lover's betrayal while musing about plans to escape his life of crime and start over with Roy in another town. Actor Marc Menchaca was devastated when he learned of Russ's fate saying but I also thought it was just such a heartbreaking turn in the story." With Marty's fate all but sealed who finally makes an important decision for her future Realizing that her prospects with Marty are better than with her family and that she will be blamed for his death this time succeeding in electrocuting both of her uncles before they can carry out their murderous plans Season 2 concludes with a literal bang as Marty finds himself caught between two powerful criminal enterprises Angered by his plans to construct the casino Kansas City mob boss Frank Cosgrove (John Bedford Lloyd) sends Marty a message by blowing up the Byrdes' office buildings assuring a reliable method of laundering for the foreseeable future After two seasons of watching Cade manipulate his daughter Ruth his time in the Ozarks finally comes to a close putting an end to the psychopathic agent's manipulations Once again proving himself to be anything but a criminal mastermind Cade faces being charged with the murder of an FBI agent He attempts to extort money from his daughter threatening to tell Wyatt that she is responsible for Russ' death Ruth finally realizes that her father is a toxic element in her life and calls his bluff telling Wyatt the truth and alienating her closest friend offering baby Zeke to Darlene after she kidnaps and shaves Jonah's head This money turns out to be payment for a hit and Cade is killed by a cartel gunman on his way out of town It's one of Wendy's more sympathetic actions and the fierce mother likely feels a strong connection to Ruth The story of a mild-mannered accountant who travels to the rural Ozarks to launder money may sound boring on paper but the Netflix phenomenon's pilot episode managed to hook viewers right away "Sugarwood" delivers shocking scenes of violence and scandal from its opening moments as Marty lectures potential clients about the coercive power of money while watching homemade adult entertainment videos on his laptop The video turns out to be a file sent to him by a private investigator Marty goes to confront her and is startled by the body of his romantic rival landing at his feet Gary "Sugarwood" Silverberg (Bruce Altman) has been thrown from his high-rise balcony must convince Del that Wendy doesn't deserve the same fate "The show doesn't work if we don't think of it framed through the marriage and framed through the family." Marty and Wendy may have larger-than-life problems but their fight to hold on to their marriage is entirely relatable The third season of "Ozark" debuted to a huge increase in popularity, earning 8.7 million viewers in its first 10 days on the streaming platform This success was bolstered by an explosive opening episode that places the Byrdes squarely in the middle of a drug war Season 3 begins with a series of brutal executions that leave money raining from the sky — bait to increase the collateral damage of the next explosion This carnage effectively sets the stage for the drama's deadliest season yet with a run of episodes that will feature many innocent people caught up in the Byrdes' dangerous web The Missouri Belle casino is now up and running with Marty and Ruth handling daily operations and laundering cartel money Wendy begins a plan to increase her influence with Omar Navarro and goes over Marty's head to conspire with Helen the formidable lawyer gets a taste of her own medicine when she's waterboarded to determine if her ex-husband knows anything incriminating "Wartime" contains several moments of dark humor Wyatt is caught luxuriating in the vacation homes of strangers and Darlene feels ostracized as the oldest woman in her Mommy and Me class Wendy releases some pent-up anger as she breaks into her old home and vandalizes it taking her rage out on the family that's now occupying her old life One of the most heartbreaking episodes in all four seasons "Fire Pink" sees Wendy forced to choose between the life of her brother and the lives of her children Ben has been a stressful houseguest since his arrival but Wendy's affection for her little brother causes her to overlook his increasing instability Ben suffers from bipolar disorder and has been staying with the Byrdes to avoid a bench warrant in another state he begins a relationship with Ruth that prompts him to stop taking his medication to avoid its sexual side effects Ruth drastically underestimates Ben's mental illness and sides with him against Wendy and many viewers likely joined Wendy in her sobs for her lost brother If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website Ruth vows to get revenge for Wyatt's death and drives to Chicago to ambush Omar Navarro's violent nephew while he's in town to meet with the Byrdes Still at odds over Ben and now fighting for Jonah's loyalty exposing the extent of their criminal operations to pharmaceutical entrepreneur Clare Shaw who's now in business with the Byrdes Ruth balks at first but then crashes the Byrdes' dinner with Clare and demands they all meet with Javi in Clare's office but Ruth is done suffering in the Byrdes' orbit sealing her fate should the cartel ever find out This episode also sees Javi savagely beat his former professor for suggesting he make his donation to his alma mater anonymous to avoid the stink of cartel money fully villainizes Javi and paints Ruth's actions as justified The entire episode is framed through Ruth's grief over her cousin and we see flashbacks of the two as children sleeping on the roof to avoid their parents' fights Julia Garner continues her Emmy-winning performance as the troubled young Southerner This is not the end of Ruth's story but is arguably its emotional peak as Ruth finally rejects the hold Marty has over her life This tense episode sets up one of the most shocking and devastating moments in the show's four seasons while dramatically escalating the stakes of several other plot lines After Marty refuses to place a hit on Frank Jr Ben sets out to get justice for his hospitalized girlfriend He storms into the Kansas City mob's trucking company but he's barred from entry and acts on his frustration by attacking a stranger at a bar This leads to an involuntary commitment to a state mental facility Helen has just ordered a hit on Sue (Marylouise Burke) Helen is growing tired of cleaning up their messes and seemingly gets approval from Omar Navarro to order their executions Ruth visits Ben and is shocked to see the toll confinement has taken on her boyfriend She convinces Darlene to pull strings for his release a compassionate decision that will have deadly consequences Ben goes straight to Helen's house and angrily yells at the lawyer revealing her mob affiliations to her daughter Erin This breaks Helen's iron-clad rule to never involve her family in her affairs and effectively seals Ben's fate The backyard confrontation plays out like a slow-moving car crash The audience is fully aware of how dangerous Ben's actions are and horrified by the huge risk his instability poses to his family Wrapping up a series about a family of antiheroes was always going to be tricky, but "Ozark" manages to end as shockingly as it began Still committed to the mental institution that once housed her brother about his true motives for seeking custody of Jonah and Charlotte It's a cathartic scene that feels like the confrontation Ruth will never get to have with Cade Wendy finally reconciles with her children and checks out of the hospital they survive the car crash teased in the opening moments of Season 4 It appears to be a true accident and solidifies their familial bond and she assumes control of cartel operations in Mexico and the FBI to formalize a deal that will finally remove the Byrdes from cartel involvement two dangling threads are waiting to unravel this happy moment Clare Shaw reveals the truth about Javi's death to Camila the Byrdes must stand down as Camila confronts Ruth and kills her in front of the construction site for her dream home They return home to find that rogue detective Mel Sattem (Adam Rothenberg) has found Ben's ashes and intends to charge them with his murder both Byrde children stand in defense of their parents It's the third time Jonah has held a threat to his family at gunpoint He finally pulls the trigger as the screen fades to black Directed by Robin Wright, this brutal episode is perhaps the closest the Byrdes will ever come to fully leaving the cartel behind they have brokered a deal between the FBI and Omar Navarro that will allow the drug kingpin to walk away a free man FBI directors demand Navarro stay on as an informant for the foreseeable future Everyone is horrified at this turn of events especially Agent Maya Miller (Jessica Frances Dukes) who now sees that her greedy bosses have no intention of actually dismantling the criminal enterprise but a disillusioned Maya has him arrested before he can return to Mexico the FBI offers the same deal to Javi Elizonndro He accepts and celebrates his newfound immunity by finally seeking revenge for Darlene's infractions Wyatt is collateral damage and Ruth finds their bullet-riddled bodies while attempting to make peace with her beloved cousin She is understandably devastated and barges into the Byrde home with a rifle the designation Ruth herself once had before she was brutally beaten by Frank Jr she screams that if the Byrdes want to stop her from hunting down Javi This shocking episode comes on the heels of Ben's death and leaves viewers on the biggest cliffhanger in the show's history as Marty and Ruth cremate Ben's remains while Wendy drinks in an unknown parking lot It's a scene that endears the audience to her and reveals the emotional cost of the decision she made while also highlighting Marty's emotional detachment when attempting to comfort Ruth We then cut to a brutal massacre at a baptism for Navarro's new child a horrific attack from the rival Lagunas cartel Darlene wins Ruth's loyalty by shooting Frank Jr in the crotch with her shotgun as revenge for the brutal beating he delivered in an earlier episode Aware that Helen is prepared to move against them the Byrdes devise a plan to prove their usefulness to Navarro by ending the cartel war They give Agent Maya Miller footage from Jonah's drone showing a Lagunas attack on U.S soil and giving Maya all the ammunition she needs to take the rival cartel down Jonah takes his shotgun and threatens Helen in her home but this revelation causes a major rift between him and his mother Marty and Wendy are summoned to Navarro's second baptism in Mexico They fear this is a ruse that will end in their executions but Navarro has chosen them and executes Helen right in front of their eyes completing their initiation into the cartel's inner circle After experiencing what founding member John Dillon described as a "flood of love," The Ozarks Mountain Daredevils will conclude its final tour of this magnitude with a trio of performances in Springfield The historic three-night event is set for Nov the band's Curtain Call Concert Series – 53 Years of Music 3 Unforgettable Nights will mark the culmination of the current tour with a series of special shows "The last couple years has just been basically a flood of love," Dillon told the News-Leader it's a terrific feeling to be able to perform for people who care so much about your music and what you've been able to give to them over the years." the beloved band embarked on what was billed as its farewell tour called "When It Shines" — a nod to its second studio album released in 1973 The tour included shows near and far ranging from the Ozarks Amphitheater and Black Oak Amphitheater to the Grand Ole Opry and the National Mall in Washington where the band performed as part of the 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Dillon said it was important for the band to end the tour in the Ozarks "The reason we still exist today as an entity is because of our adherence to a shared sense of place And it's not just about the topography," he said Most of the original members of the band hailed from Springfield and the Ozarks more than 30 artists have been part of the band known for a range of songs from "Chicken Train" and "If You Wanna Get to Heaven" to "Jackie Blue." "Each song stands alone and if you look at our catalog you realize that we are a band that basically jumps genres all the time," Dillon said "And so it becomes the individual songs that have the power or what we look like or our celebrity status — which never has existed much Dillon added: "It's about the songs and what the songs mean to the people who listen." Founding members have been part of this tour along with noteworthy Springfield area musicians including Bill Jones talented people — have been part of the effect these songs have had and I am so very grateful to be part of that," Dillon said Despite originally referring to this as a "farewell" tour Dillon said there is no stopping the music More: These storytellers inducted into SPS Hall of Fame offer life lessons for students where you travel around all these places and play," he said He said the music will keep going and the creative souls who are involved will continue to make music We have other ways to keep the brand alive," he said he said 'we're landing the plane' and then I said 'but we're not necessarily leaving the terminal.'" Dillon said ending this tour in Springfield is "truly special." and the connection with our fans have defined this journey and these three nights will be a powerful reflection of everything we’ve built together over the years," he said "We look forward to taking the stage and sharing this experience with everyone who has been part of our story." More: Ozark Mountain Daredevils to retire from touring. Here's a look at the past 53 years Tickets for the three shows start at $49 and go on sale Feb. 21. They can be purchased online at HammonsHall.com, by phone at 417-836-7678, or in person at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall box office. "We are thrilled to build on the overwhelming success of our 2022 collaboration with The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and The Springfield Symphony Orchestra," Keith Boaz, executive director of Juanita K. Hammons Hall, said in a Tuesday news release. "This series is a rare opportunity to experience the band’s legacy in a unique and powerful way. It’s an honor to host these performances, and we can’t wait to share them with fans old and new." Ozark Mountain Daredevils concertsHere are details about the three concerts: Photo by: Joel WautersUNI women’s golf heads to Missouri for the Ozark National Invitational3/23/2025 6:43:00 PM | Women's Golf Iowa --- The UNI women's golf team will tee off Monday morning at the Ozarks National Invitational in Hollister The Panthers will play at Ozarks National Golf Course UNI will tee off at 10:00 am for Monday and Tuesday's first two rounds followed by a 9:00 tee time for Wednesday's final round UNI will be joined by Missouri State (Host) UNI golf action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Golf) and on X (@UNIPantherGolf) along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com This past week, I got to do a lot of hiking in Missouri. The highlight of my week came on the day I got to hike a section of the Ozark trail The trail has over 430 miles divided into sections The trail traverses a diverse landscape made up of forests Some parts of the trail are called the “Highlands” because the region includes plateaus They were first called the Highlands back in 1819 it's hard to decide which one to hike first “Between the Rivers." This section passes between two beautiful and National Scenic Rivers: the Eleven Point River and the Current River The trail bridges the gap between the two while never touching either one This section is 29 miles in length and has a total elevation gain of 3,100 feet going from west to east It’s considered moderate in ease of hiking Much of the Ozark trail is located in the Mark Twain National Forest.The forest officially opened in the 1930s It consists of 1.5 million acres in 29 counties in Missouri.It was a gorgeous fall day in Missouri when I hiked part of this beautiful trail blue sky overhead and just a bit of morning chill in the air made for perfect hiking weather The trailhead for this section of the OT is right outside of Van Buren I pulled into the gravel parking lot and felt a wave of excitement another box would be checked off of my hiking bucket list With my day pack on my back and my trekking poles in hand I took in all the sights and sounds around me on the woodland trail The trail was covered with leaves in places I found some similarities between this trail and some of the ones that I hike back home There are more elevation changes in the Ozark than there on the trails in Indiana And the forest in the Ozarks tends to be a lot more dense I felt at home in this vast national forest and the change in the seasons all made me feel welcome The morning went by quickly and soon I had to turn around and go back hikers either have to have a car waiting at the other end or turn around I hope to go back some day to hike another section of the trail The best way to find this trail is to download the free online trail maps offered by the Ozark Trail Association. These can be found on their website: https://ozarktrail.com/ A quote for your week: ”My heart’s in the Highlands wherever I go.” — Robert Burns This story has been updated to include additional information and comment from the board president The executive director of Ozark Greenways has resigned a month after starting the job leaving the nonprofit to look again for new leadership according to an Ozark Greenways news release Ashe had been announced as the new director in late October but officially started on the job Jan president of the Ozark Greenways Board of Directors told the News-Leader via email that Ashe joined the nonprofit Nov 1 but transitioned to the full-time director position in January She clarified that Ashe submitted his resignation Jan "He has offered to assist as needed during this unexpected transition," Shurtz said in an email "His relationship with the Ozark Greenways Board remains amicable." The board's goal is to fill the position soon though does not plan to appoint an interim director during this period Ashe was hired to fill a vacancy left in May by the former executive director who had led the organization for seven years Ozark Greenways oversees more than 100 miles of trails around Greene County and the greater Ozarks region. Most recently Springfield was awarded almost $25 million through a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant to "ungap the map," adding 3.1 miles of connections This includes areas along the Trail of Tears More: Why Missouri Sports Hall of Fame official says 'we've turned the corner' Beyond the funding for this project, Ozark Greenways is working with various partners on 10 other projects across the Springfield area to improve connectivity on trails, including construction of the Chadwick Flyer Trail and a bridge at Fellows Lake Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus staff will conduct business virtually on Monday “ATU-Ozark instructors are asked to reach out to students with introductory communication,” said Dr please check Blackboard for information and updates.” Arkansas Tech Career Center will be operational for students from districts that are in session on Monday “We will be in touch regarding plans for Tuesday The ATU campus in Russellville will be open for normal operations on Monday which is the first day of classes for the spring 2025 semester at Arkansas Tech TECH ACTION Smith has been selected to serve as vice chancellor for academic affairs and workforce advancement at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus Smith’s extensive background in advocacy professional development and administration she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help drive our vision and mission forward,” said Jacobs “Her unwavering commitment to student success and her proven track record of educational excellence will be invaluable in advancing both the academic outcomes and workforce initiatives at ATU-Ozark and across the university student-centered leadership will make a lasting impact on our students and we look forward to working alongside her in service to our shared goals.” She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in history education from ATU She also holds a Doctor of Education degree in adult education and a Master of Education degree in secondary education from the University of Arkansas as well as graduate-level certificates for counselor certification from John Brown University and for curriculum administration from the University of Arkansas “I am deeply honored to accept the position of vice chancellor of academic affairs and workforce advancement at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus,” said Smith “This opportunity to work alongside such a dedicated team committed to empowering students and strengthening community partnerships aligns perfectly with my passion for education and workforce development I look forward to advancing the mission of ATU-Ozark and contributing to the success of our students faculty and the community we serve.” After beginning her career as a social studies teacher at Ozark Junior High School Smith progressed to serve as a high school and junior high school counselor in the Ozark School District director of curriculum and federal programs for the Ozark School District and leadership and curriculum coach for the Arkansas Public School Resource Center Smith was director of policy and special projects for the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education from 2016-22 She also has experience as Arkansas state director for Solution Tree as an adjunct instructor at the University of Central Arkansas and as a consultant for the Arkansas Family Alliance Learn more about ATU-Ozark Campus at www.atu.edu/ozark it was because I just loved school so much it was: what career can I do that's going to make a difference every single day a lasting impact that's going to make future generations better that definitely changed as I got older into what can I do What can I do today to make a difference in a kid's life I want to make memories with them that will last a lifetime I am hoping that those things come alive in my lessons So potential and kinetic energy is not boring They'll always remember when they're riding a roller coaster but I want I want my class to be memorable in more ways than one I'm here 6:30 in the morning greeting kids as they come in as their parents are dropping them off in the morning but I try to make a point to go in the hallway so I can see my scientists and welcome them into the school so every hour another grade level is coming up and we're doing engineering and I have five minutes in between each class to kind of get that experiment or that engineering project out of the way and be prepared for the next grade to come in I knew I would be teaching K through four and I was only used to fourth grade I think coming in I was nervous to teach the little ones the kindergartners (editor's note: Chelsea has been teaching for 14 years.) I want to be in the classroom all the time I know other teachers have different goals I think just my long-term goal is for the future generations: make sure that they are empathetic Give every kid that comes in my room the confidence to know that they're capable and they know I live by this motto in here get messy if they leave me at the end of fourth grade knowing those things that's my future goal is just to teach the future generations those things And I think our world would be a better place for it I think giving those kids that confidence that you are capable of doing anything I think will carry over to anything else that they do The best thing about our job is that it matters every second of every day the worst thing about our job is that it matters every second of every day it's stressful in that aspect of no matter what is going on in my personal life or my home life And while I love my job and that's very easy everyone has things that happen outside of school Where most jobs you can kind of turn it off when you leave we still go home and we think about our kids and we worry about our kids I think comes from the heart of being a teacher We don't have the luxury of a job where it's like you walk in and then when you walk out We are constantly: how can I make this lesson better How can I bring excitement to my lesson tomorrow I hope this kid was happy or is going home happy you don't turn off your teacher brain ever Your teacher brain and your teacher heart (are) just always on you just have to be everything for all the kids It takes a certain person; it takes a certain heart you shouldn't be in this profession if you don't have a passion for it and you don't want to bring that pizazz to your kids and your classroom every day because your kids deserve that all the kids deserve that and they need that Because I think that those don't just pertain to science There's a solution to every single problem you come across and get messy There's not too big of a mess that can't be cleaned up the Ozark school board voted Monday to appoint attorney Matthew Growcock to fill the unexpired term of former member Guy Callaway Callaway's late December resignation ignited a controversy with a state lawmaker publicly questioning if the timing of the exit was delayed so the board was one of nine applicants for the appointment board president Mark Jenkins addressed concerns about what "It should be known that while the board was aware Mr it was understood that it was entirely up to him to make the determination of when he was going to resign," he said no board member knew in advance when he was going to resign and his resignation was not received until it was emailed to us on the morning of Dec board members noted Callaway was elected to the position and no steps could be taken to fill the seat until it had been vacated State Rep. Jamie Gragg, a Republican from Ozark, alleged in a mid-January letter sent to media outlets that the board "waited just long enough" so they could pick Callaway's replacement and "create an incumbent" that would be harder to beat in the next election “I am asking the Ozark school board to reconsider and do the right thing by allowing the voters of the school district to vote for who they would like to fill the board position vacated by Guy Callaway after his move out of the district,” Gragg wrote “By sidestepping state statute and appointing who the board wants you only darken the transparency needed by a school board to properly represent the people of the Ozark school district.” Gragg called for the board to add Callaway's unexpired term to the upcoming April 8 election Jenkins said the district sought legal counsel to be sure it was "following all laws specific to the filling of a vacancy position" on a school board The opening was posted and applications were accepted until Jan the district has also been following prescribed steps to prepare for the April 8 election when voters will elect board members to two board seats currently held by Sarah Adams Orr More: Missouri lawmaker seeks seat on Ozark school board, criticizes timing of vacancy Four candidates met the qualifications to be on the April 8 ballot and two of them — Growcock and Rae-Ann Wade — were also applicants for the Callaway vacancy Growcock's appointment Monday means the remaining certified candidates Rae-Ann Wade Wade Wheeler and Orr will vie for the two seats April 8 The other seven applicants for Callaway's seat were Mark Burton "I want to thank each and every one of the .. people who submitted (an) application to be considered for this vacancy," Jenkins said Monday "It says a lot about the Ozark school district to have individuals willing to donate their time and energy to help make important decisions for the district." Gragg told the News-Leader that if the board insisted on making an appointment he should be the one picked to serve out the rest of Callaway's term Jenkins asked each board member to review the nine applicants They were asked to list their first and second choice on a piece of paper at the meeting There were three votes each for Growcock and Wade There were no votes for Hembree or Rohlman Board members James Griffin and Christina Tonsing supported Wade for the appointment citing a business-related conflict of interest) Board vice president Amber Bryant and members Jenkins Orr and Dustin Kirkman — a majority — supported Growcock for the appointment board member Tonsing introduced two motions The first was "about this meeting in general," and involved challenging the way the district and its legal counsel interpreted state statute regarding the filling of a board vacancy The second motion was about the process used to pick an appointee Both of Tonsing's motions failed for lack of a second In seeking appointment to the Ozark school board Matthew Growcock filled out a detailed application he has lived in the Ozark district for 20 years He has three children in the district and wants them and other students to have the "best educational experience possible." He wrote: "I am passionate about the Ozark community and believe providing service to the board is one way for me to give back to this great community." Growcock as been a member of the PTA and booster club He also listed some of his involvement with civic Subscribe Now By Helen Bradshaw This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Some say it’s a massive cougar-like creature glowing red eyes and also Beauty and the Beast–style curly horns.” the Howler’s ambiguous description might be evidence that no one’s really seeing it at all that’s what makes this particular cryptid great The Ozarks occupy a region between Arkansas where political views collide and geographical boundaries blur “It’s a really complicated region with a lot of clashing sensibilities which is part of what I love about it,” she says “No one can decide if the region is the Midwest or the South or another third thing so the Howler is the perfect beast for a really contradictory area.” Though alleged encounters have become more frequent since the mid-twentieth century some internet sleuths believe the legend of the Howler has been around since the late 1700s or early 1800s when Daniel Boone spoke of killing a ten-foot-tall hairy creature called a Yahoo Others think it could be derived from Indigenous folklore or brought over by Irish immigrants in the nineteenth century In any case, the Howler seems to resurface every few years. There was a string of sightings in Northeast Arkansas between 2005 and 2010. In 2015, the Springfield News-Leader received an image that looked more like a German shepherd puppy with horns than a fearsome beast.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cryptid Sisters (@thecryptidsisters) it’s easy enough to mistake ursid for cryptid according to Keith Stephens of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission which occasionally fields a Howler-related call is that you’d treat a Howler exactly as you would a bear And if it is indeed the Howler you encounter there’s no lore about the Howler hurting anyone,” Stone says The Howler is more like a guardian of the rugged Ozarkian landscape than a vicious beast “It’s more about respecting the ecology of the region and making sure that you don’t step too far into the realm of nature,” she says Garden & Gun has an affiliate partnership with bookshop.org and may receive a portion of sales when a reader clicks to buy a book Helen Bradshaw and graduated from Northwestern University A look back at Lexington’s Calumet Farm and its storied cast of Thoroughbreds Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain wonderland still sparkles and we’re looking back at our own winner’s circle The future of conservation in the South just got a little bit brighter—and not just for salamanders but they’re the craftsmanship of local crustaceans called lawn lobsters The drawls are receiving a lot of flak across the internet but a North Carolina linguist argues they’re actually pretty accurate Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInOSAGE BEACH (KY3) - Two police departments from the Ozarks will be featured on national television in a news A&E series The new show called “Ozark Law,” which premieres Wednesday, January 8. One episode will feature footage from KY3 regarding the death of Officer Phylicia Carson on August 31 Officer Carson was killed after joining a high-speed pursuit when her patrol car began to skid and went off the road A&E says the 10-episode series follows the Lake Ozark Police Department and Osage Beach Police Department on their daily patrols around Lake of the Ozarks this summer Filming with the departments wrapped in early fall “We’re fortunate to live in a place of natural beauty where people want to visit,” said Osage Beach Police Chief Todd Davis “But when the population rapidly multiplies literally overnight it presents unique challenges for our officers The series shows how dedicated we are to serving the Osage Beach community.” Camdenton man charged after Osage Beach police officer killed in pursuit the production company Lucky 8 approached both departments in early 2024 To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com Please include the article info in the subject line of the email SUBSCRIBE View Issue SUBSCRIBE Christmas exploded onto the scene in Ozark this year with the arrival of Jingle A new immersive event arrived this holiday season. Jingle! has locations in Kansas City and St. Louis—and now there’s one in Ozark at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex under lighted archways and around other festive décor throughout the whole complex is organized into themed “neighborhoods” that all offer something a little different you can fly down snow tubing hills on real snow or go ice skating along a winding path through twinkling lights The Aprés-Ski neighborhood is where you can sip warm drinks or warm your hands by a fire And of course there’s The North Pole too with Santa and Mrs You can find grown-up drinks at the Tipsy Tree Lodge artists and handmade products—perfect for holiday shopping Visit the website to purchase event tickets snow tubing and preferred parking are all add-ons Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium has 45 kids summer camps to choose from this year Here's a list of our favorite state parks in southwest Missouri and Arkansas to help you map out your next outdoor adventure If you’re wanting to cut down a tree this year 417-land Christmas tree farms start opening their doors again around Thanksgiving Visit these you-pick flower farms in southwest Missouri to create beautiful displays of color and your own one-of-a-kind bouquet of.. Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus has announced its Chancellor’s List and Honor Roll for the fall 2024 semester The ATU-Ozark Campus Chancellor’s List recognizes students who complete a semester with a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) while the ATU-Ozark Campus Honor Roll honors students who complete a semester with a GPA between 3.5-3.9 A total of 505 ATU-Ozark Campus students earned special commendation for their academic achievement during fall 2024 including 280 students who recorded a 4.0 GPA The members of the fall 2024 ATU-Ozark Campus Chancellor’s List and Honor Roll are: CLARKSVILLE — Mackenzie Auterson (4.0) JACKSONVILLE — Jonathan Caldwell (4.0);