Monday, Jan. 22 — Biscuits and gravy, sausage, cheese omelet, fresh fruit. more

Monday, Jan. 15 — Martin Luther King Day, closed. more

I have always been a bit of a tomboy with a girly flair, at least that is how I best describe it. When I was little I could play with my set of Matchbox cars in the morning, have a Barbie party with some friends in the afternoon, then play dress up and pretend we are the girlfriends of the en vogue boy band by night. I loved to go to Grandma’s farm and frolic through the land, having imaginary scenarios of dancing with a prince just to have that same prince be bested by my tree-climbing prowess. more

Monday, Jan. 8 — Chili dogs on a bun, French fries, cole slaw, ice cream, celebration cake. more

Monday, Jan. 1 — Close. Happy New Year. more

Citizens Memorial Hospital’s Addiction Recovery Program is featured in the online Rural Health Information Hub as a successful model for rural health care. more

Monday, Dec. 18 — Smothered chicken breast, rice, country mix veggies, biscuit, pears more

Christmas movies come in all styles, forms, and qualities. People like to feel a certain way during the holidays. They want joy. They want fun. They want to escape the quagmire that is the everyday world, even if just for a few moments. Christmas movies, in all their cheesy wholesomeness, provide that siesta from life’s doldrums. Luckily for all the holiday movies junkies, there are enough to keep you binge-watching into the yuletide. I have the ones close to my heart. The newest version of The Grinch, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch always gets me smiling. I love any Christmas Carol movie. My guilty pleasure is the Muppet version that combines the ridiculousness of the Muppets with the dead-pan seriousness of Michale Caine’s Scrooge. more

I have never liked parades - there I said it. I know they are a staple of small town, Midwest America and it is one of the aspects that make me a bit of an outsider around here; this town loves a good parade. I admit, I have avoided them, forgotten about them, gone out of town when they occurred, locked myself in my house, and done just about anything to stay away from the crowded streets filled with gaudy decorated vehicles and people walking by waving at strangers. I guess it is one of the Grinch-like, bah-humbug aspects of my personality, all the cheer and inconvenience of blocked roads just were not my thing! In all fairness, I blame my equally bah-humbug mother. She thought parades were boring so I never went to them and in turn inherited her disdain for watching people walk in straight lines in front of me. So naturally, I decided to participate in one. more

The Polk County University of Missouri Extension will be sponsoring a Beginning Beekeeping Workshop at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11. It will be held at the Polk County Fairgrounds Activities building, 4560 S. 100th Road, Bolivar. There is no charge for the workshop. more

Monday, Dec. 11 — Celebration day, beef vegetable soup, side salad, hoagie roll, ice cream. more

Dear Editor— more

Monday, Dec. 4 — Goulash, green beans, wheat roll, cherry Jell-O with whipped cream. more

**All branches closed on Thanksgiving** more

As I was driving toward Springfield last night, I realized I did not have my phone. That left me with quite a dilemma. It was alright to be shut off from the world for a while; no alerts for emails, no text message buzzes, and no phone calls interrupting my drive, were just fine with me. What I lamented was the lack of my beloved playlist blaring through my car stereo. There was no podcast or music designed just for my listening enjoyment. I had a choice to make: sit in silence (Heaven forbid) or go through the radio searching for a station that was actually playing music. I chose the latter and began my quest, hitting the ‘next’ button repeatedly. After hearing DJs waxing on for multiple stations, I finally stumbled upon some music. more

Sweet potatoes may be stars; cornbread dressing a contender. Dinner rolls are divine and green bean casserole a go-to. But Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without turkey. more

Monday, Nov. 20 — Beef pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas and onion, wheat roll, chocolate mint cake. more

Most Americans hold the military in high esteem, and rightfully so; they bravely go places many of us avoid. Since the beginning of our nation, nay, before we were a nation, our fighters have led the United States to multiple victories, keeping us a free nation, at the detriment of their safety, mental well-being, and lives. Unlike Memorial Day, which pays homage to those service members no longer with us, Veterans Day respects those still able to feel the praise of a grateful populace. Every nation, be it Canada with Remembrance Day, France with Armistice Day, Britain with Remembrance Sunday, or America with Veterans Day, has a day established for demonstrating pride in their fighting forces. Interestingly, all of these countries chose on, or near, November 11 to have this holiday. What is it about the eleventh day of the eleventh month that makes it a prime choice for celebrating the military? more

Monday, Nov. 13 — BBQ beef stuffed baked potato, cheese, sour cream, onion, side salad, chocolate pudding, celebration cake. more

All month: more

CMH Hospice's annual holiday fundraiser honors the lives of loved ones more

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

Monday, Nov. 6 — Kielbasa and potatoes, cabbage, wheat roll, apple cobbler. more

The Bolivar Branch is still under construction so there are no events scheduled there at this time.  These other branches have the following events:  more