Community

VFW Post 7831 will host a pig roast fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 30 beginning at 11 a.m. at the VFW Post 7831 located at 418 VFW Road in Mammoth Spring. Food will include roasted pig with a choice of two sides including potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans and corn on the cob. Dessert options will include pineapple upside down cake or applesauce cake. Available drinks will be coffee, tea, lemonade, water or cider...

University of Missouri Extension will offer a three-night webinar series on “Establishing and Maintaining Food Plots for Wildlife.” The series, 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 26-28, is intended to help landowners design, establish and maintain food plots for deer, turkey and other wild game. Topics include planting and site selection, wildlife nutrition, landscape design for wildlife, maintenance and rotation of food plots and soils...

The Friends of the Thomasville Community Center look forward to a fundraising Christmas Bazaar to be held Saturday, Nov. 20. First held in 2017, the Bazaar has become a primary fundraiser to support ongoing maintenance and operational expense of the community center...

Greater Ozarks Center for Advanced Technology (GOCAT) and Missouri State University-West Plains will offer Advanced Industrial Maintenance Certification. The 32-week training will offer 27 college credit hours as well as a flexible class/lab schedule. There is a two-year degree option...

What is WIC? WIC is a nutrition education/health promotion program designed to help moms and young children eat well and stay healthy. WIC provides nutrition information, promotes health and provides nutritious foods to supplement your diet. Your WIC food package may include: milk, cheese, evaporated milk, cereal, juice, eggs, peanut butter, beans, fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits, and bread, tortillas or brown rice. ...

Cell phones and digital cameras with video options have made it easier than ever for area residents to let their inner Steven Spielberg out and try their hand at making films. And officials in Missouri State University-West Plains’ (MSU-WP) University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department want to highlight some of these creations during the first ever Southern Missouri Amateur Short Film Festival Nov. 30 at the West Plains Civic Center...

This webinar will discuss the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness, and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). The Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) will be hosting a webinar with representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Missouri State University on Wednesday, Oct. 27...

Medicare open enrollment runs Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. The Missouri Department of Commerce & Insurance is encouraging consumers who are eligible for Medicare to review their plan options and costs during this year’s open enrollment. The open enrollment period, which runs Oct. ...

The GFWC Crescite Club of Thayer met on Sept. 2, at the Atkins house in Mammoth Spring with Billie Mooney as hostess. The program on arts and culture was given by Regina Willard of West Plains, who presented her beautiful art work and interesting stories. Members donated $95 to the Oregon County Backpack Program and $65 to the Fun and Friends Senior Center...

West Plains Senior Center is welcoming all children to visit the center for trick or treating on Friday, Oct. 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cetner is located at 416 East Main Street in West Plains. For more information, call 417-256-4055.

Everyone is invited to attend the Fall Revival at Grand Gulf Shiloh Church beginning Friday, Oct. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 31.  Evangelist Wayne Adrian will be the guest speaker for Friday and Saturday nights at 6:30 p.m.  Pastor Rick Krietemeyer will speak Sunday morning at 11 a.m. To get to the church from Thayer, take Highway W west six miles and turn left on CR 378.  For more information, call Pastor Rick at 918-440-8085...

On Oct. 7, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced the approval of Missouri’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) plan and distributed remaining ARP ESSER funds to them. Missouri’s plan details how the state is using and plans to use ARP ESSER funds to safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and equitably expand opportunity for students who need it most, particularly those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic...

Local government agencies in Missouri can avoid common mistakes and take several steps to safeguard electronic data from hacking, theft and other disruptions, State Auditor Nicole Galloway said. The Auditor today released her annual summary of the most common cybersecurity risks found by her audits of local governments and courts, along with recommendations those agencies can follow to better safeguard data...

The factory employee reunion will be held Saturday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. at the Country Cottage in Thayer. Please come and share memories with friends. For more information, contacted Rosie Mainprize at 816-578-2330. See you there!

Madison M. Bowers, Thayer, has been awarded the Bill Burris Endowed Scholarship for Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP). Bowers, a 2021 graduate of Thayer High School in Thayer, is a freshman at MSU-WP and plans to pursue a degree in the medical field...

Staff members at Echo Bluff State Park invite the public to their annual Halloween in the Park at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30. Activities for the day include: Craft: Festivities will begin at 3 p.m. with a grab-and-go craft that can be picked up at the check station in the campground until 4 p.m. or while supplies last...

DESE announces partnership with rootEd alliance to place college and career advisors in rural high schools. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in partnership with philanthropic organization rootEd Alliance, today launched a statewide initiative to ensure high school students, particularly those in rural communities, have an advisor exclusively focused on helping them achieve success following graduation. ...

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is seeking information from Missouri communities on their water infrastructure funding needs. Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects in Missouri are critical to providing essential service to Missouri citizens and businesses, but are largely underfunded...

Ozarks Healthcare At Home: Hospice recently honored Robert Littles of Alton, Mo., for his service in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War with a “We Honor Veterans” ceremony. Littles served as a welder during his term of service. Littles and his wife Ruth Ann have been married since 1994 and have six children, 16 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren...

Following a lower census of COVID-19 patients, Ozarks Healthcare is updating its visitor restrictions, effective immediately. Beginning Thursday, Oct. 14, each patient admitted to Ozarks Healthcare’s hospital will be permitted two visitors (18 years and older) per day during visiting hours. ...

On Thursday, Oct. 14, Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO) visited Brookwood Ranch in Thomasville. The Congressman toured the property and met with the owners to discuss recent challenges in the meatpacking industry. “It was great meeting with Dr. Mark and Kim Dake at their Brookwood Ranch,” said Rep. ...

“This fall, millions of Americans will make an annual pilgrimage to a retail outlet to purchase a vegetable they, unfortunately, are unlikely to eat,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. In the United States, this colorful member of the gourd family sells mainly for decoration. But this verse from about 1630 suggests that American colonists relied heavily on pumpkin for food:...

October is National Vegetarian Month. Have you ever wondered what a vegetarian diet is? Many individuals follow a vegetarian diet because they want to be healthier or want to avoid animal products that may have hormones in them, Teresa Henson, Extension specialist-program outreach coordinator at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, said...

White River Health System (WRHS) was recently awarded with an Arkansas Governor’s Quality Award during the 27th Annual Awards Celebration. WRHS received the Commitment Award, a level designed for organizations that have progressed to a point of demonstrating serious commitment to the use of quality principles to attain performance excellence. ...

Winners in beef divisions were announced Oct. 17 following competition at the 2021 Junior Livestock Show of the Ark.kansas State Fair. Winners include: Champion Angus Female Champion: Leighton Vines, Glenwood, Ark. (Pike County)  Reserve Champion:  Clay Huber, Subiaco, Ark. (Logan County)...

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Arkansas is accepting applications to receive financial assistance to implement conservation activities through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the 2022 program year. NRCS accepts program applications on a continuous basis but sets dates to batch and rank applications as funding allows. ...

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is reminding Arkansans about the importance of the upcoming Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 23. The biannual event is an opportunity for Arkansans to clean out their medicine cabinets, taking any unused or expired medications to one of the State’s more than 270 drop-off locations from 10 a.m. ...

Only a few more Saturdays to shop with our vendors at the market! If it’s delicious, fresh, and local, you’ll find it at the Oregon County Farmers Market. Of course, you can continue to order directly from many of them, for not all gardens and local products will end on the last day of October. ...

Eligible individuals interested in attending the 43rd Arkansas Governor’s School as a student should inquire with their school counselors about the nomination process. Information and instructions for applying are available at www.atu.edu/ags. Additional information may be acquired by sending e-mail to ags@atu.edu...

Come out for an evening of fun for the whole family when officials with Missouri State University-West Plains’ (MSU-WP) University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department hosts Halloween Movie Night Friday, Oct. 29, at the West Plains Civic Center theater...

Ozarka College will host a complimentary lunch to show appreciation for those who serve and protect our communities. The lunch will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the Culinary Café of the Administration building in Melbourne. The Ozarka Culinary team will provide lunch free of charge to local law enforcement officers and first responders...

Join us for a drive-thru trick or treating experience! The Highland School will hold its third annual Trunk or Treat on Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the school parking lots. This is for children and students up through sixth grade. The event is sponsored by HHS Student Council and Rebels Against Drugs...

If you’re an investor, you probably enjoy the convenience of managing your accounts online. But you’ll also want to make sure that you’re not making it convenient for hackers, “phishers” and others with bad intentions to gain the same access. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to protect your privacy. Here are a few suggestions offered by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission:...

The Daughters of the American Revolution was founded Oct. 11, 1890; members nationwide recognize this date annually with Service to America, and we give back to our communities by volunteering. Strawberry River Chapter participated in three Service to America projects the week of Oct. 11...

Ozarks Healthcare and the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) will host a blood drive on Wednesday, Oct. 27, from noon until 6 p.m., at the Willard Hunter Classroom in the Ozarks Healthcare Parkway Center at 1211 Porter Wagoner Blvd. in West Plains. The CBCO is the exclusive provider of blood, platelets, and plasma to all local hospitals, including Ozarks Healthcare...

The Salem Masonic Lodge is hosting its annual Coats for Kids collection. Coats for children are needed of all ages and sizes. Monetary donations may also be made so that new coats can be purchased. Donations may be dropped off at the Fulton County Courthouse in Salem or by contacting Frank Kish (870-750-1249) or Jim Weathers. Monetary donations may be sent to Salem Masonic Lodge #418, PO Box 905, Salem AR 72576...

Fall is returning to Batesville, and with that, White River Medical Center (WRMC) is excited to bring back the HealthFirst Women’s Health Event. For the ninth year, First Community Bank (FCB) and WRMC have partnered to offer area women an event focused on women’s health. ...

As Arkansans fill their calendars with school activities this fall, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is sending an important warning for parents to make sure to take the time to monitor their child’s internet usage and social media accounts. The internet and social media sites are a valuable resource for learning and connecting with friends, but social networking sites are also prime targets for criminals...

Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick today recognized October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). “Individuals with disabilities make important contributions to Missouri’s workforce and I am proud to recognize these contributions during National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” Treasurer Fitzpatrick said. ...

Sunni Fine, owner of Breathe: A Place to Find Your Balance, recently received a microloan through the Ozarks Small Business Incubator to help relaunch her business in West Plains. Breathe offers Thai Yoga Massage, a unique blend of yoga and massage that is sometimes called “lazy yoga” since the client is passive while a trained practitioner guides them through gentle stretches and breathing while offering a low impact massage. ...

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is warning Arkansans about the dangers of personal information being compromised. More and more, Arkansans’ personal information is requested to make an online purchase or sign up for a subscription. This can include “fun” quizzes or surveys on social media inviting participants to share the name of a first pet, the street first lived on or the name of a favorite teacher. ...

On Oct. 1, the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation launched its new fundraising initiative for a mobile mammography unit in conjunction with the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Oct. 1, local West Plains businesses including The Fish Shack, Colton’s Steak House & Grill, and Hirsch Feed & Farm Supply participated in the Foundation’s kick-off date by agreeing to donate a portion of their proceeds to the campaign. ...

On Thursday, Sept. 30, Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson joined together at the Missouri-Arkansas state line for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the I-49 Missouri-Arkansas Connector. The connector includes the final five miles of the I-49 and I-29 corridor that stretches from North Dakota to Louisiana...

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, today, announced the launch of the Missouri Bicentennial Photo Drive, celebrating 200 years of statehood. This effort is sponsored by the Missouri State Archives, a division within his office. Starting Oct. 4, 2021, and running through August 2022, the public is invited to submit up to seven images each in an effort to expand our state’s photographic history. ...

Great Rivers Distributing Co., Inc., has made a donation of $5,000 to the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation’s fundraising initiative for a mobile mammography unit. The funds will be used to help with costs associated with the purchase of a mobile mammography unit to help make routine screenings more accessible for women who might not otherwise have access to this service...

Mason Phipps, Winona, will receive free tuition for a year for taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Phipps was the grand prize winner in Missouri State University-West Plains’ (MSU-WP) student vaccine incentive program. The estimated value of the prize is $4,560...