I’ve been an active member of many civic organizations since coming to Buffalo in 1978. I had never before been a “joiner,” outside of Future Farmers of America in high school. The eldest son of a former FFA member, I didn’t give joining FFA any thought at all. I just did it. That was what farm boys did. more

Oct. 20, 2025, marked the start of School Bus Safety Week and the Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind motorists that school bus safety is an important part of driver etiquette. more

Bolivar High School is excited to welcome local senior citizens for a night of great food, entertainment, and community connection at the annual BHS Senior Citizen Night on Thursday, Nov. 6. This free event is a beloved Bolivar tradition celebrating the district’s appreciation for the senior members of our community. more

Halfway R-3 Schools will host their annual Senior Citizens Holiday Dinner on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in the library at 11 a.m.. All seniors in the Halfway School District are welcome to attend by making reservations on or before Nov. 19, by calling the school at 417-445-2200, extension 5. more

The annual Morrisville Agrileaders/FFA Turkey Shoot will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at the west ballfield at Marion C. Early School. more

Friends of the Polk County Library will hold their fall book sale on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24 and 25, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the library in Bolivar. more

Coach Nathan Rothdiener’s clipboard holds a dwindling stack of papers, each marked with just one big, black number. This week, the tennis Lady Liberators ripped number 22 from the top of the stack as they earned their 22nd win on the season along with their second consecutive State Final Four berth. The Lady Liberators have been tearing through the stack of numbers on Rothdiener’s clipboard and the postseason, racking up wins and titles in October. As the 2025 team tallies wins, the current athletes are also adding to some impressive streaks for the program including three straight Conference titles, six consecutive District titles, and back-to-back State berths. With a quarterfinal win over Odessa Monday, Oct. 20, the Lady Liberators punched their ticket to another Final Four and set their focus on the next number on the clipboard. more

Citizens Memorial Hospital and Burrell Inc. have established a mutual referral relationship to improve mental health care across the communities they serve. more

Bolivar High School Veterans Day Breakfast and Assembly Nov. 11. more

OATS Transit is currently offering regular transportation services to rural residents of any age. To schedule a ride or to inquire about services available in your area, please call the OATS Transit office at 417-887-9272 or 800-770-6287. You can also visit our website at www.oatstransit.org, where you can find your local schedule by clicking on your county under the “Bus Schedules” tab. OATS Transit is available to the rural general public of any age. Additionally, we contract with various agencies to serve their clients. Our offices are closed and regular routes will not be running on November 11, 2025 due to the Veterans Day holiday. more

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that Jerry Fellers, owner of Build Tech Structures, has been sentenced for 15 felony counts of Unlawful Merchandising Practice in connection with a barn and greenhouse construction scheme that defrauded Missouri consumers out of more than $158,000. more

George Milan Cop more

Billy Lee Sowards more

Jimmy G. Hildebrand more

Gerard Isaac Porter more

John Robert Cole more

David Hanlon more

Donated deer meat goes to local food banks and food pantries to help feed hungry Missourians. more

INSIDE TODAY’S ISSUE more

Elizabeth A. Skinner Baumgarden more

The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Oct. 15, to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Creator Delights. Owners Trina and Dwain Banner cut the ribbon surrounded by family, friends, and Chamber representatives as they marked the milestone occasion. more

Applications must be received by Nov. 19, 2025. more

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

 “Ghost tapping” sounds like it might be related to Halloween fun, but unfortunately, it’s scary for a different reason: It’s a new type of scam to beware of. Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) advises consumers to take precautions to avoid this spooky scam. more

CIVIL ACTIONS more