Missouri’s signature family festival combining fun activities with a celebration of the more

A Collins, Mo., man who is a registered sex offender was sentenced in federal court today for receiving child pornography on his cell phone. more

The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association recognized a Bolivar cattle producer as the 2023 Cattleman of the Year at the 56th Annual Missouri Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show on Jan. 20, 2024, at Osage Beach. Keith Stevens was presented the award for his commitment to advancing the Missouri beef industry. more

The Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH) Senior Health Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary with an open house from 9-11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26. The Center is at 1840 W. Broadway St. in Bolivar. more

The construction crew at Mid-Missouri Bank have had less than favorable weather conditions to continue their work on the renovations taking place at the bank. But they have been on the job throughout whatever Mother Nature throws at them. The bank is undergoing renovations inside and out and are expecting a target date of mid-May for completion.  more

Citizens Memorial Hospital and Stockton Family Medical Center welcome Jeffrey Tedrow, M.D., to the medical staff. more

The water fowl at Dunnegan Memorial Park have a small opening in the frozen pond to enjoy the ice cold water. The dangerous temperatures and frigid wind chills have made life difficult for a lot of people. Please use caution on the roads, always travel prepared for unexpected delays, check on your elderly and shut-in friends and family, go the extra mile for your pets and livestock. Be careful and be kind. more

The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce wrapped up its 20th Annual Light the Park on Saturday, Dec. 30. The event features light displays throughout Bolivar’s Dunnegan Memorial Park, provided by businesses and organizations. more

The Bolivar Educational Advancement Foundation (BEAF) proudly announces its commitment to fostering educational excellence by providing nearly $25,000 in grants to teachers within the Bolivar School District. These grants aim to empower educators and enhance the learning experience for students in the community. more

The Bolivar Liberator wrestling team traveled to Granite City, Illinois over the Christmas break to compete in the Granite City Tournament. more

A silent auction held on October 3, along with a number of "give cancer the boot" opportunities at BHS volleyball and football games, yielded a grand total of $3,060.02 for the Carrie J. Babb Cancer Center. In its sixth-year, the auction was held in the high school cafeteria prior to and during Bolivar's volleyball matches with Springfield Hillcrest, and many area merchants, attractions, and individuals provided a wide array of merchandise, passes, gift cards, baked goods, seasonal decorations, and much, much more for those in attendance to bid for. Since the event began in 2017 (no event was held in 2020), the grand total raised for the Carrie J. Babb Cancer Center has been $11,237.40. All the proceeds from the money raised goes to help patients and their families with medical oncology visits, radiation visits, patient lunches, reduced lodging/transportation, nutritional supplements, hygiene kits, and much more. The entire volleyball program at Bolivar High School wishes to give a big thank you to all the individuals who helped on that busy night, and especially all the businesses and individuals who provided so generously the items for the auction. more

As the sun sets on another academic year, the faculty and staff of Bolivar Technical College honored the graduation of its Practical Nursing (LPN) and RN to BSN Completion program students. Family and friends joined together on Saturday, Dec. 16, to celebrate their graduates and reflect on this milestone. more

As we bid 2023 farewell, here's to the memories that were made and going into 2024 our wish is for peace and prosperity. May the New Year bless you with health and happiness. From all of us at Bolivar Herald-Free Press - thank you for letting us serve you in the year past, and we look forward to bringing you the news in the upcoming year. more

Citizens Memorial Hospital and CMH Rheumatology and Osteoporosis Center welcome Justin W. Reed, D.O., to the medical staff. more

Citizens Memorial Hospital has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2023. CMH is one of only 262 hospitals nationwide and one of 16 in Missouri to receive the honor. more

Numerous neighborhoods in and around Bolivar are sharing the Christmas spirit with beautiful light displays. It really is the most wonderful time of the year for taking the family on a drive and enjoying the displays. more

Emergency responders from several area agencies came together on Saturday, Dec. 9, to shop with local children at this year’s Shop with a Cop. Law enforcement officers and firefighters joined together to shop with 138 children at Bolivar’s Walmart throughout the day. The children, who are in kindergarten through third grade and were nominated for the program by local school counselors, came from every school district in Polk County. Each child received around a $100 shopping spree for Christmas presents. The kids also had the chance to visit with Santa Claus and eat snacks after shopping. The Bolivar Police Department, which sponsors the program, raised around $30,000 for the program throughout 2023. more

Douglas, Haun and Heidemann, P.C. partner, Craig Heidemann has been selected as a Super Lawyer by the Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine. This is the seventh year Heidemann has been selected for this honor. more

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

Bolivar City Fire Department firefighters, Bolivar police officers and other area first responders had their hands full Wednesday evening, Dec. 6, as they handled multiple calls for service at the same time. more

It is beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas all around Bolivar and Polk County. Lots of Christmas events for the whole family to enjoy. more

"Let it snow" was the theme, but the moisture that arrived just in time for the annual Christmas parade wasn't frozen, making for a wet parade on Saturday, Dec. 2. But that didn't dampen the Christmas spirit, the streets were lined with kids of all ages as hundreds of people and floats made their way through the streets of Bolivar. It may have been cold and wet but spirits were warm and inviting to all the sights of Christmas coming to Bolivar. more

Friday, Dec. 1, Mark and Susie Stephens were surrounded by family and friends, not saying goodbye, just wishing them well after their recent retirement. Stephens Photography has been a major part of Bolivar for over 75-years and the number of lives they have provided priceless memories for is unlimited. The reception, organized by Stellar Real Estate and Billy Bruce Real Estate, gave the community an opportunity to visit with the couple. The Stephens Photography era may be coming to an end, but they will be remembered by many for years to come. more

Bolivar's Lady Liberator's 2023-24 version was introduced Tuesday, Nov. 28 in the nearby Polk County Morrisville Tournament. more