Why even the Man of Steel needs dog kisses more

After three “Jurassic Park” movies and three “Jurassic World” movies, it seems the time has come to kickstart the “Jurassic” franchise again with “Jurassic World: Rebirth.” I’ll give the franchise credit for recognizing that there was no need to continue with the Chris Pratt or Bryce Dallas Howard characters from the last three movies, who were widely seen as uninteresting. Even the more popular “classic” characters played by Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum are probably best taking this movie off after fans got sufficiently caught up with them in 2022’s “Jurassic World: Dominion.” Good on this movie for coming up with a new set of heroes. I can’t say I always cared for the story, action, or generally the movie around them, but the movie is better for having them. more

The annual Halfway Antique-Farm Stock-Classic Tractor Pull will be held on Saturday, July 12, at the Lions Club grounds in Halfway. Weigh in starts at 1 p.m. with the first class of tractors pulling at 6 p.m. All proceeds go towards community projects and facility maintenance. Trophies will be presented to the top four finishers in each class. Admission is $5 per person, 10 and under free. Bring your lawn chairs! Concessions such as grilled hamburgers, pulled pork, brats and homemade pie will be available. Contact Casey Jones at 417-328-9051 or Dean Voris at 417-399-3665 for more information. more

POLICE REPORTS more

Monday, July 14 — Celebration Day! Chicken salad sandwich on WG bun, potato slad, cucumbers and tomatoes, ice cream. more

Grace Natalie Gibbs more

The American Legion Post 138 will have the monthly Fish Fry on Friday, July 18, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. more

Saturday, July 12 more

Springfield Dentistry 4 Kids (SD4K) will partner with Home State Health and OACAC Polk County Community Center to host a Kids Dental & Family Resource Fair on Friday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Open Hearts United Methodist Church, 105 E Division Street, Bolivar. more

The Polk County Health Center and Community Outreach Ministries kicked off the summer lunch program earlier this week. Volunteers provide service with a smile and kids can enjoy a great meal with friends and family, then have some fun at the splash pad to cool off on a hot day. The program runs through the month of July. Meals are also served in a Grab & Go fashion at Humansville, Pleasant Hope, Morrisville and Fair Play. more

The Bolivar Police Department hopes to encourage neighborly relationships and share free fun for families and folks of all ages at an upcoming community event. more

How well do you know Polk County? more

Bolivar Pentecostal Church of God will be in revival July 18 - 20, with Evangelist Shamgar Deatherage and family from Sterlington, Louisiana. Service times are 7 p.m. nightly and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. more

Wellspring Baptist Fellowship, located at 2110 South Spring Place, Bolivar, will host its annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) July 14-18, from 9 a.m. to noon each day. more

Darren Myers with Freedom Encounter will be speaking at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sunday, July 13, at Liberty Baptist Church. more

Thomas Allen Newberry, 70, of Bolivar, passed away at his home on Monday, July 7, at 9:47 a.m. after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara Newberry, and his father, James Robert Newberry. He is survived by his wife, Floeva Newberry; a son, T.J. Russell; a sister, Cheryl Singleton and her husband Dean; a stepdaughter, Laura Riland and her husband Mike; as well as three grandchildren, two nieces, and a growing family of great-nieces and nephews. more

DEATHS more

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

INSIDE TODAY’S ISSUE more

No matter how broken you feel, how far you have wandered, or how long it has been, healing is still possible. There is hope for you. more

Free school supplies, hygiene items for Polk County students more

The Fair Play Betterment Association, sends out a big thank you to all the volunteers, businesses and Fair Play councilmen Ethan Grotheer and Steven Bruce for helping make our Flags On Poles project happen! more

Work will soon begin on a City of Bolivar project designed to increase safety, improve stormwater management, and enhance pedestrian accessibility. more

How well do you know Polk County? more

On July 2, Kubota Tractor Corporation and the Farmer Veteran Coalition, together with local dealer Quarles Supply Company, honored U.S. Army veteran Kyle Londre and his wife, U.S. Air Force veteran Karalina Londre, with the delivery of a new Kubota RTV-X CREW utility vehicle at their Bearded Horns Ranch in Wheatland. The donation is part of Kubota’s “Geared to Give” program, which supports military veterans as they build careers in agriculture. more