The Polk County prosecutor has ruled the officer-involved shooting of John Erven as justified. more

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On Dec. 15 at 1:25 p.m, Trooper A.R. Enerle responded to a single-car accident three miles south of Humansville on Highway 13. James Soukup, Bronwen Soukup, and Barbara Miller, all of Raymore, were traveling southbound on the highway when their vehicle, a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country, traveled off the left side of the roadway into the median. The driver, James Soukup, was taken to CMH Bolivar with minor injuries. Passenger Bronwen Soukup sustained moderate injuries and was taken to the same facility. Both were wearing seatbelts. Passenger Barbara Miller was not wearing a seatbelt and received serious injuries. She was taken to Cox South in Springfield. The totaled vehicle was removed from the scene by C and H Towing. more

Whether you choose a real one or opt for the everlasting fake one, there is no doubt that the tree is the centerpiece of any yuletide decor. I remember my mom’s trees were always showpieces; our Victorian-styled house had a coinciding tanenbaum bejeweled in beautiful white lights and delicate ornaments that took her days to arrange just right. She then got ambitious and decided our lodge-style den needed an equally elaborate tree with bears and moose adorning every branch. One was the fun tree, the other was the fancy tree, but both were always the focal points of our home. more

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A Bolivar man is facing felony charges in Polk County Circuit Court after breaking into Bolivar City Hall on Friday night, Dec. 8. more

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SHERIFF’S REPORTS more

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On Monday, Nov. 27, Gary Henderson was driving his 2012 Chevrolet Silverado northbound on Highway 13. Two miles north of Bolivar, the tire of his vehicle came off and struck 28-year-old Jacob Detherage, who was doing work in the median. Detherage received serious injuries and was transported to Cox South via ambulance. Henderson, 65, of Ankeny, Iowa, was not injured in the accident but his truck did sustain minor damage. It was removed from the scene by B&B Towing. Trooper M.J. Owens was the responding officer. more

Polk County Republican Women will hold their monthly meeting Wednesday, Dec. 6, at Brenda’s Café at noon. We will collect Share Your Christmas gifts for teenage girls. Please bring an unwrapped item with you to the meeting. We will be welcoming our new slate of officers for the 2024 year. Please call your lunch orders in ahead of time to help the wait staff. more

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On Friday, Nov. 3, at 1:40 p.m., Corporal J.R. Rorie responded to a vehicle accident three miles south of Bolivar on MO-13. Tammy Combs, 57, of Springfield, was driving north on the highway when she went off the road. Combs was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected when her vehicle overturned. She was transported to CMH in Bolivar and was pronounced deceased at 2:48 p.m. by Dr. Assmann. Combs’ 2008 Chevrolet Impala was totaled in the accident and was removed by B&B Wrecker. more

The Bolivar Police Department is seeking the community’s help in identifying the driver of a vehicle in a hit and run incident. more

The Polk County Courthouse will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023 in observance of the Veteran’s Day Holiday. more

The Bolivar School District has called for an election on Nov. 7, 2023, for the residents within their boundaries. Absentee voting started on Sept. 26. The Polk County Clerk’s office will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday and open through the lunch hour for absentee voting. The deadline for casting an absentee ballot in person at the County Clerk’s office is 5 p.m. the day before the election, Tuesday, Nov. 7. The County Clerk’s office will also be open on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to noon. more

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At 2:43 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, there was an accident involving three vehicles seven miles south of Bolivar on MO-13. Sixty-seven-year-old Ruby McNight of Pleasant Hope, driving a 2012 Ford F-150, attempted to cross the north lanes of the highway. Her Ford struck a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Terry Neal, 43, of Bolivar. The truck continued crossing the road and traveled directly into the path of Kendra Smith, who was driving a 2016 Dodge Challenger. Smith, of Bolivar, was traveling with a four-year-old girl; both sustained minor injuries. They were taken to CMH. The Camaro received minor damage and was driven from the accident scene. The other two vehicles were totaled and were removed by B&B Wrecker. All occupants of the vehicles were wearing seat belts. Corporal J.R. Rorie was the responding officer. more

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The first accident occurred at 1:01 p.m., one mile south of Halfway. This single-vehicle incident involved a 1995 Chevrolet GMT-400 driven by 66-year-old Donald Waterman of Tunas. Waterman was traveling southbound on Route H. He traveled partially off the right side of the road and then corrected, overturning the vehicle. Mr. Waterman sustained moderate injuries when his GMT-400 landed on its top; he was not wearing a seatbelt. Trooper D.J. Jackson, Sergeant S.W. Long, and Corporal J.R. Rorie were the responding officers. An ambulance transported Waterman to CMH, and B&B Wrecker of Bolivar removed his totaled vehicle from the scene. more

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According to court records, Polk County Public Administrator, Barbara Davolt, was issued three municipal violations for thefts at the Wal-Mart here in Bolivar. Though the citations were filed on Sept. 14, these thefts were said to have occurred during July and August. There are currently no details of the allegations in the citations. more

Saturday, Oct. 7, the parade route for the SBU Homecoming was lined with Bearcat fans. The first morning that felt like fall but all the excitement of a parade radiated through the crowd. more