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SBU Homecoming Parade
Front row left to right: Mike Stephens and Frederick, John Howell, Kevin Pierce, Lee Sandwell, Sue Davolt, Ellie Rocco, Jim Davolt, Matt Henenberg, R.D.Vestal, Gary Lynch. Second row left to right: Angela Oloman, Mike Fraser, Ben Franklin, Barbara Hensley, Nancy Blackwell, Christie Johnson, Kay Beers, Chuck Beers, Shelli Coffin, Renee Meyer, Clay Meyer, Nancy Hodges, Sandy Jones, Bill Jones. Third row left to right: Donna Shelton, Linda Fraser, Chris Sandwell, Betty Lemons, Madison Burns, Mary Helen Jordan, Annie Potts, Dan Bunch, Linda Bunch, Fred Esser, Stacie Esser, Linda Brinkman, Steve Brinkman,Arlene Ankrom, Randy Ankrom. Not pictured: Arvil Krueger, Donna Wells, Kay Long.

7th Annual walk raises money for St. Jude Hospital

Jim and Sue Davolt are thankful for the community and the many friends for always being willing to support the annual St. Jude Walk in the park. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the …
Joined by Mayor Mike Stephens and Thomas Relford, members of the Matilda Polk Campbell chapter gathered on the Bolivar square to take part in “Bells Across America:; left to right, Becky Wilson, Regent Linda Anderson, Mayor Mike Stephens, Jill Campbell, City Administrator Thomas Relford, and Jennifer Smith.

Bells Across America

The DAR (National Society Daughters of the American Revolution) was founded in 1890; membership is for women who can trace lineage to someone who supported American independence during the …

Liberators Bounce Back at Homecoming

Bolivar Football faced off against district and conference opponent Hillcrest on Friday Sept. 18. The Liberators came into the matchup with a record of 2-1, ranked ninth in the state in Class Four …
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Wednesday, October 7, 2026

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Election

Petition Signing - Dec. 2

The Polk County Democrats are hosting a petition signing event on Tuesday December 2, at the Polk County Library, 1690 W Broadway, Bolivar, Missouri. It will be located in the McDaniel room. There will be representatives from Polk, Dade, Cedar and Hickory counties to help you with the process.

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News

SBU Homecoming

Southwest Baptist University’s annual Homecoming event will be Friday, Oct. 2 through Saturday, Oct. 3, with the theme: “HIS GLORY, OUR JOY!”   Featured Events:  This …
Jacob Carsten

BHS Student Rotarians

Jacob Carsten son of Amy and Charlie Carsten and Eleanor Woosley daughter of Mari and Jon Woosley have been chosen Rotary Students for the month of August.  School Activities in which Jacob …

National 4-H Week 2026 – October 4-10, 2026

Polk County 4-H Celebrates National 4-H Week: Beyond Ready In 2027, Polk County 4-H will join a landmark celebration as 4-H commemorates its 125th anniversary of empowering young people across …

MHCA District IV hosting Golden Age Games for long-term care residents

The Missouri Health Care Association District IV Golden Age Games are back for their 26th year with events in Bolivar, Monett and Springfield. The games bring together residents from 26 …
Sandy Crawford

Crawford to be honored at PCFRWC meeting, Oct. 7

The Polk County Federated Republican Women’s Club will meet Wednesday, Oct. 7 at noon at El Rodeo Restaurant. Sophia DeHart, a senior at Halfway High School, will give a report on …

Rock the Rec

Don’t miss Rock the Rec this Saturday! City of Bolivar staff is ready for this year's Rock the Rec Music & Food Truck Festival.  The event will run from 1-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. …

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Sports

Bolivar Varsity Tournament

Goodman backs up Seay en route to their first place finish in flight one doubles.
After traveling to Glendale and winning 7-2 on Wednesday, Sept. 29, the Lady Liberator Tennis team hosted the Bolivar Varsity tournament on Thursday, Sept. 30. With postseason play coming up soon, …
Liberator coach Kyle Smith going through the game plan.

Pink Out Volleyball

Bolivar Volleyball hosted the ninth annual Pink Out volleyball game and silent auction on Thursday, Oct. 1. All proceeds from the auction went to the Carrie J. Babb Cancer Center in Bolivar. …
Isaiah Lobdell, 15, finishes his PK and returns to teammates Luke Thomas, Eli Bryan and Bo Sanderson. The four Liberators all hit shots for the win over New Heights in Bolivar’s fourth game to end in PKs this season.

Midseason Momentum

Bolivar soccer opened September with an even 2-2 record in week one of the season before adding seven more wins in nine games to close the month. Now at 9-4, the Liberators enter the second half of …

Liberator Softball Blanks Hillcrest

Bolivar Lady Liberator Softball came into their game against Hillcrest on Thursday, Sept. 17 ranked ninth in the state for class three. Bolivar came off a shutout loss to Marshfield on 9/15, losing …

Polk County Scoreboard

SOFTBALL: 9/4: Humansville 0 Halfway 10 9/8: Humansville 12 Walnut Grove 2 9/8: Fairplay 1 Dadeville with Everton 16 9/8: Halfway 16 Sherwood 0 9/9: Halfway 15 Laquey 0 …
Brielyn Hines

Bolivar Golf Invitational

The Lady Liberator Golf team held the Bolivar Invitational at Silo Ridge Golf Course on Monday, Sept. 14. On a hot day on a challenging course, Springfield Catholic took first place, with Nixa …
Bolivar quarterback Chapel Banner on the move.

Liberators Battle West Plains in First Home Game

The Bolivar Liberator Football team came into their first home matchup ranked 10th in Class 4 in Missouri. They started the season with a win against Osage, taking them down 41-6. The Liberators …

Soccer Liberators Work Overtime

The 2026 soccer Liberators are even early in the season, splitting games at the Smith-Cotton Showcase and two overtime district matchups last week. Working to keep cool against heated competition and …

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Basketball
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

More Than a Game: SBU Creates Lasting Memories for Bolivar Schools

The yellow school buses lined up outside the Meyer Wellness Center Dec. 18, their doors swinging open as wave after wave of excited students from Bolivar schools poured out. It was Kids Day at the SBU Bearcats women’s basketball game, and more than 700 kids filled the stands with laughter and boundless energy.

Wyatt Bliss contributes points to the Liberator's torrid attack. STAFF PHOTOS/BOB CAMPBELL
The Bolivar Liberators, after an amazing run last year in the Blue and Gold Basketball Tournament in Springfield, returned Friday, Dec. 26.
Kami Bryan scores down low. STAFF PHOTOS/BOB CAMPBELL
The 6A Lee Summit North Lady Broncos galloped to Bolivar to take on the 4A Lady Liberators Tuesday Dec. 16 in basketball action.
Coach Robby Hoegh directed his Liberators to his 300th win. Son of a Hall of Fame Iowa high school coach, he is carrying on the tradition very well. STAFF PHOTOS/BOB CAMPBELL
The Versailles Tigers moved last season to strengthen their basketball season by scheduling the Liberators. The previous two seasons, they have gotten what they wanted. A tough loss at home last season, and this season was no different.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Over 50 years and 100 games later, the epic Hwy 13 rivalry continues. The Drury men’s and women’s basketball team travels 27 miles up Hwy 13 for a battle on the hardwood in the Meyer Sports Center. With games starting at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, Drury and SBU basketball programs are looking to give the Bearcats and Panthers faithful another entertaining edition of this rivalry.

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Opinion
Apparently I blinked and the 1998 chick flick “Practical Magic” developed a huge cult following. The film, about witch sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) Owens, came …
Writer sends a strongly worded letter Dear Mother Nature, Normally, I wouldn’t question a single thing you do. I’m a big fan of your work. Starry skies? Awe-inspiring. Tropical …
“By Any Means” is a movie about two disparate FBI employees that can’t decide if it wants to be a “Buddy Cop” movie or not. The pair are mismatched, but are they “comically” …
I watch the CBS Evening News almost every Friday. Not for the news. I watch it to see their short segment, On the Road with Steve Hartman, that ends the news on Fridays. They show good people and …
If there’s one horror franchise that loves its jump scares, it’s “Insidious.” The 2010 original is best known for a red-faced demon appearing out of nowhere. But that film also boasted an …

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Public Records
Dakota Ray Hardesty
On Sept. 10, Deputy Gerald Ralston and Deputy Atterbury responded to a careless and imprudent driver call in the Pleasant Hope area. Victims reported that somebody threw hammers at their vehicle and …
SHERIFF’S REPORTS The Polk County Sheriff’s Office released the following reports for: Friday, Sept. 4 Katherne Baley, 47, of Humansville was arrested for possession of a …
The Bolivar Board of Aldermen held a work meeting on Tuesday Sept. 8. To start, the Board further discussed topics tabled at earlier meetings. Aldermen Dusty Ross brought to the board issues …
The Bolivar Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday, Aug. 11 to discuss the ongoing issue regarding Flock cameras. In the last meeting, the city voted to look into ways to get out of the Flock contract and …
The Bolivar Board of Aldermen met on July 29 to discuss the growing concerns surrounding the use of Flock Cameras in Bolivar. Preceding the meeting, a town hall was held to hear the thoughts of …
Business
The Board of Aldermen met for a regular session on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The Board discussed a renewal agreement for an existing agreement with Civic Plus LLC for recreational management software …
Receiving the MO PQC Star award for CMH are, from left, Michael Calhoun, CEO/executive director of CMH and the Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation; Sarah Hanak, RN, chief nursing officer; Brenna Alexander, RN, registered nurse in the Birth Place; Joannah Albright, RNC-OB, Birth Place director; Katie Garretson, RN, registered nurse in the Birth Place; Shelly Meents, M.D., board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist at the CMH OB/GYN Clinic; and Sara Hennessy, director of hospital nursing operations.
CMH recognized for improving care for severe hypertension in pregnancy Citizens Memorial Hospital has earned the 2026 MO PQC Star designation for its work to improve the recognition and …
The family of Doug Potts proudly welcomes all the golfers in honor of Coach Potts. Pictured left to right front row, Lindsay (Randolph) Ledbetter, Annie Potts, Jennifer (Potts) Randolph; back row, Landry Randolph, Jack Randolph, Quinton Ledbetter, Brett Potts.
The greens at Silo Ridge Country Club were packed with purpose on July 13 as 43 teams gathered for the annual Doug Potts BEAF Golf Classic for Kids — an event that blends friendly competition with …
Planning is underway for the 12th annual Polk County Back to School Extravaganza, a charitable event that provides Polk County K-12 students with school supplies and other needed products. This …
The Polk County Humane Society (PCHS) is inviting area businesses, golfers and community members to tee off for the third annual Putts for Paws Golf Tournament on Monday, August 10, at Silo …

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