It is the time of the year to start getting ready for Christmas. Toys For Tots are now being accepted at the following locations: more

The First Christian Church is hosting the annual bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec.14. Homemade vegetable soup, chili, sandwiches and pie are served starting at 11 a.m. There will be baked goods, candies, and gift items for sale. Money from the sales is used to help support various community charities. more

Christmas is a time for giving, and with the holiday season upon us, organizations are seeking gift donations. This year, the community can donate stocking stuffers to the specialized care program at the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch. more

For a few weeks now, I have let something a neighbor did consume me with bitterness. I could not forgive him or get it out of my mind. more

Don’t be intimidated by the the prospect of cooking a big Thanksgiving turkey. It’s not that difficult, even for novice cooks, says a University of Missouri Extension nutrition specialist. more

With Saint Nick’s annual visit approaching and winter’s cold starting to settle in, I can imagine some folks hoping to find warm fur caps, gloves, or coats under the Christmas tree. more

How well do you know Polk County? more

The staff of the Bolivar Herald-Free Press want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. more

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The holiday season is here, and more than half of shoppers are gearing up to buy gifts online. But an increase in online shopping also means a rise in scams. more

Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) has tips to help your holiday travel go smoothly this winter. more

11/28: National French Toast Day more

Forty-two Polk County students from the Bolivar Area Homeschoolers participated in hands-on lessons about agriculture during enrichment programming the past couple of months with Agriculture Education on the Move™ (Ag Moves). The group partnered with Ag Moves to provide elementary and middle school students with ten foundational lessons on the topics of agriculture. Local Ag Moves educator and University MU Extension 4-H Specialist, Velynda Cameron, facilitated the lessons for Polk County’s consumers of tomorrow, helping them make connections to agriculture in their daily lives. more

The Bolivar Herald-Free Press invites residents to send their engagement, wedding, baby, and other milestone announcements. more

David “Dave” Ray Roberson more

Earl Jason Walker more

Jacquelyn Lee Decker more

Southwest Baptist University is offering incoming freshmen or transfer students from Bolivar an additional $2,000 grant for the 2025-2026 academic year. more

The loss of a loved one can have powerful effects on each of us. If you are looking for a caring small group in which to find support, encouragement, and help, then our GriefShare groups might be just the thing you are looking for. This program is a grief support group that features Christ-centered, biblical teaching that focuses on grief topics associated with the death of a loved one. The DVD seminar features nationally respected grief experts, counselors, and real-life stories of people just like you, followed by a small group discussion about what was seen on the DVD. more

As the holidays approach, it is common to look back at memories from our past - the people who are gone, the moments we shared, and the times that can’t be recaptured. Recently, my thoughts drifted to autumn days in Calhan, Colorado where my grandparents owned a seven-acre homestead with a small collection of animals. One critter in particular was a grey goose with a major attitude. His name was Gus, and for much of my childhood, he terrified me. more

The holiday season is in full swing, and the Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce annual parade will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. This year’s theme is Down Home Country Christmas. more

MUNICIPAL COURT more

Do you recognize where this might be? Watch each week for a picture to see if you can guess where it is. A new picture of the same spot will be featured each Wednesday and Friday. Winner will be chosen in a random drawing from the entries with the correct guess. Winner will be announced in the last edition of that month’s Friday paper. Place your guess for the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the sponsoring business. more

Citizens Memorial Hospital maintained an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog, with the release of the fall grades. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries, and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. more

Christmas is a time for giving, and with the holiday season upon us, organizations are seeking gift donations. This year, the community can donate stocking stuffers to the specialized care program at the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch. more

11/23: National Adoption Day more