Berean Baptist Church in Bolivar will soon be hosting Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. This financial organization and management program has been tried and proven literally millions of times over, and it can help you as well. If you struggle to make ends meet, if you have debt problems, if you don’t have an “every transaction” system of tracking expenses and budgeting, if you want to learn how to better save for retirement or children’s schooling, or if you just need to learn how to better manage finances, then this course is for you. Financial Peace University is a nine-week course, and will be on Sunday evenings from 5:30-7 p.m. starting on Feb.16 . If you would like to sign up or need more information, please contact Berean Baptist Church at www.bbcbolivar.com or call 417-326-7758. The address for the church is 4450 S. Scenic Ave., Bolivar, MO 65613. more

Caleb Simpson, an Agribusiness Management major at the University of Missouri – Columbia, won the 2024 Missouri Farm Bureau “Young Farmers and Ranchers” Collegiate Discussion Meet during the 110th annual MOFB meeting in December. Simpson received a plaque and $300, as well as an all-expense paid trip to the 2025 American Farm Bureau YF&R conference to represent Missouri in the national collegiate discussion meet. Simpson also served as Missouri Farm Bureau Ambassador for 2024 along with Madison Meyer of Dearborn, Missouri. In addition to his studies, Simpson works part time in the office of Senator Sandy Crawford at the Missouri State Capitol. He is the son of Alan and Sandy Simpson of Bolivar. more

Thursday, Feb. 13 more

HI LOW PRECIP more

Dustin Zook was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 8 for sending multiple text messages about blowing up the propane tanks at a Fast N Friendly gas station. more

Southwest Missouri’s oldest annual running race, the Polar Bear Run, featured more than 100 runners and walkers at its 46th anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 8 in Bolivar. The Polar Bear Run is hosted by the City of Bolivar Parks & Recreation Department, with director Todd Schrader as the race director. more

Citizens Memorial Hospital has awarded $194,147 in grants to 10 community partners to address social needs in Polk County. more

Students representing more than 100 teams from 57 schools across the region traveled to Morrisville last week for the 6th Annual History Bowl hosted by the Marion C. Early history department. The event included two full days of contests at both the junior high and high school levels. Competition opened with 46 teams in the large school division on Thursday, Feb. 6 followed by another 57 teams packing out the MCE gym for the small school division on Friday, Feb. 7. more

How well do you know Polk County? more

Roy “Jay” Welch more

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

The Matilda Polk Campbell Chapter, NSDAR will hold its monthly meeting, Saturday Feb. 15, in Bolivar. Winners of recent essay contests will be recognized and will read their winning essays. The students include: American History Essay Contest winners Zoe Durnell of Weaubleau Elementary School, fifth-grade winner; and Luke Burchett, sixth-grade winner, Homeschool; the winner of the Patriots of the American Revolution Essay is Madison Young of Pleasant Hope High School. Other invited guests include the librarians of schools receiving the recent America 250 Celebration books. more

Missourians reminded of risk of damaging earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone more

The Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH) Research Department and the Missouri Memory Center in Bolivar, will host free memory screenings on Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Polk County Library, 1690 W. Broadway St., in Bolivar. Doors will open at 1 p.m. and Dr. Curtis P. Schreiber will share a brief presentation at 1:15 p.m. more

DEATHS more

The Polk County Cattlemen’s Association monthly meeting will be held Feb. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at LimeBank in Bolivar. The meeting is sponsored by Vitalix with a presentation by Travis Taylor, District Sales Manager, MO. Also speaking will be Polk County Jr. Cattleman, Ben Hines, and MSU Collegiate Cattleman, Chase Boggs, about their backgrounds and the Collegiate Cattlemen Showdown they both recently competed in and placed. We encourage all members to attend. NOt a member but interested in more information about what we do or how to join the Cattlemen’s Association? We welcome you to come to the meeting at Smith’s Restaurant, visit the Missouri Cattlemen’ Association website online at www.mocattle.org or call Ed Vest, Polk County Cattlemen’s Association president at 417-399-1430 for more information. more

Donations needed to send kids to spring retreat more

DEATHS more

Janice Marie Cribbs more

The Green Children of Woolpit more

Howard Lee Harris more

Innovative Mizzou cancer research helps treat a Jefferson City dog. more

The Polk County Democrats will host their meeting on Feb. 17 at Basil & Bourbon at 6:30 p.m. Dinner is optional for those who want to eat and fellowship before the meeting at 5:15 p.m. The agenda will include updates on legislative activities, local charitable activities, and setting our goals for the year. more

POLICE REPORTS more

The absentee ballots for the April General Municipal Election will be ready for voting on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The Polk County Clerk’s office will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, and open through the lunch hour for absentee voting. Those casting a ballot by mail must make sure their written and signed request states the reason for voting absentee and an address to which the ballot should be mailed. Those requesting ballots by mail must make sure their written request for a ballot arrives at the County Clerk’s office by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The deadline for casting an absentee ballot in person at the County Clerk’s office is 5 p.m. the day before the election, Monday, April 7, 2025. The County Clerk’s office will also be open for absentee voting on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 8 a.m. to noon. more