With just three days left until Christmas, Polk County, along with most of the rest of the country, found themselves in the grip of a historical winter storm. Record breaking temperatures and wind chills caused havoc for business and shoppers alike. First responders, electrical linemen, plumbers and heating repairmen found themselves overrun with problems to fix. Businesses that expected to welcome lots of Christmas shoppers closed their stores early, if they even opened at all. Black ice covered the roadways very early on Thursday morning, Dec. 22, then changed to snow mid-morning with wind speeds in the 35 mph range. The upcoming holiday, however, looks to be a little warmer — in the 20s. more

DEATHS more

DEATHS more

Citizens Memorial Hospital welcomes Chad Garner, RN, BSN, CEN, as the director of hospital nursing services. more

Bolivar City Hall will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 2, for the holiday season. For more information about Bolivar City Hall, call 417-326-2489 or visit bolivar.mo.us. more

The Polk County Courthouse will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, in observance of the Christmas Holiday. more

The theater class of Bolivar Middle School presented their winter play, The Grunch, Dec. 15 through Dec. 17. The Grunch is a new children’s musical based on The Grinch by Dr. Seuss. more

Bolivar Primary School winners more

Lanetta Ann Butler more

J. Scott Crowell more

Calvin Eugene Stoops more

LAND TRANSFERS more