5b2qh

Polk County April Elections 4e6o45

The first of the 2025 elections is over, and the results are in. New mayors were chosen, aldermen elected, and school boards established in this round.

Bus Crash on Springfield Avenue 661r1a

City says students are safe

Benenhaley sentenced 573e4b

On March 27, Curtis Benenhaley was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his October conviction of sex charges.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CMH Topping Out Ceremony is Feb. 14 1q2ic

Citizens Memorial Hospital is hosting a Topping Out Ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at the hospital construction entrance on North Butterfield Road, Bolivar.

Friday, June 13, 2025 3w1p4o

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Election

New faces at the Alderman meetings 152l68

Mayor elect became Mayor Stephens at Tuesday

Skopec honored for his years of service

News

Ozarks RFD 4042

We weren’t raised as vacation types

Ozarks RFD 4u1v6c

Springtime would find me at the river

Ozarks RFD 4u1v6c

Another time, another country

May 16 MDC virtual program will have tips on avoiding outdoor hazards 4g235t

Program will focus on avoiding poison ivy, ticks, and other outdoor worries.

Share your milestones 57x22

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

Index 4w2oj

Index
Sports

State ranked Log Rog escapes Liberators 4-2 6u6r3x

Evan Mortensen steals second.


STAFF PHOTOS/BOB CAMPBELL
May 21 will see the district baseball tournament at Central High School in Springfield.

Community Events 1a6h6v

Friday, May 9
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SBU track and field setting records a3a1c

The SBU men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the GLVC Championships this past weekend. Both teams had incredible finishes, with the women taking third place and the men taking fifth place.
Colton Ingold makes a kill shot at the net.


STAFF PHOTOS/BOB CAMPBELL

Bolivar dominates individual and doubles district 69552

District play in tennis began with eight districts in class 1A in Missouri. Bolivar hosted District 6.
Brody Campbell (front) and Brody Ingold part of the self-proclaimed B-squared doubles team.


STAFF PHOTO/BOB CAMPBELL

Polk County Scoreboard 6b443

Boys
Zoe Tull, number 27, celebrates with teammates Olivia Vernon, center, and Abby Clark after adding to the Lady Liberator lead with her goal against Aurora.


STAFF PHOTOS/ANNIE THOMAS

Pushing for a strong finish 4z1o25

Bolivar soccer has entered the final two weeks of regular season play before Districts, but the schedule is only intensifying. Recent weather forced the Lady Liberators to postpone, relocate or adjust multiple matches. Still, the girls in blue and white continue to push toward a strong finish.
The Middle School Lady Pirates.


PHOTO/MIKE KOOTZ

A great season for Pleasant Hope softball 645a53

The 2024-2025 Middle School Softball Team is composed of Alea Dawson (8th grade), Liddy Moore (8th grade), Melina Novak (8th grade), Kloie Richardson (8th grade), Autumn Snow (8th grade), Alessandra Buckle (7th grade), Lily Burdette (7th grade), Hailee Eaton (7th grade), Ardon Emerson (6th grade), Addie Harley (6th grade), Karlee Sims (6th grade), Lydia Sims (6th grade), Olivia Stephens (6th grade), Tawnee Wood (6th grade), and Kaylee Cartwright (6th grade). Each athlete occupies a specific position and has played a vital role in the team's success this season. The team has shown consistent improvement with each game, concluding with a strong finish in second place in the Greater Ozarks Conference (GOC), fell out by Marion C. Early, with a score of 9-1. Led by Head Coach Stacy Burdette and Assistant Coach Rylee Stell, the team is dedicated to enhancing individual skills, building strong team chemistry, and maintaining a positive, resilient attitude. Key contributors include Lily Burdette, an effective pitcher; Liddy Moore, a dependable catcher; and players with versatile skills capable of filling multiple positions. Notably, this year's team achieved more wins than the combined total of the past two years.
Mac Rich makes a fine return against the Tigers.

Liberator tennis defeats undefeated Tigers 8-1 71z2h

In a late season scheduled match the Liberator tennis team, 18-0 got the opportunity to face Class 2 Warrensburg, 13-0.
Basketball

Lady Liberators finish the season second in District 10

The Bolivar Lady Liberators competed in the class 4 district 10 tournament at Osage High School this week.

The Bolivar Liberators met the Strafford Indians in the championship game in District 10 with a chance to move on to the state playoffs.
Wednesday, March 5, Bolivar's fans had a hoops treat as the District 10 boy's playoff moved into the semi-finals.
The Bolivar Liberator Special Olympics basketball team hosted Ozark on Thursday, Feb. 27. It was a special night for all the athletes as they performed for their super fans and a crowd of ers.
Opinion
Binweed and Nutsedge
Fun facts about the fifth month
Impatience: Digital cameras made it worse
I walk through the house, my eyes laser-focused on my foe. I mentally prepared myself for what I was about to do. It feels like a lifetime ago when I became a crusader, seeking a surrounding clear and clean of vermin.
School
As summer vacation comes to a close, it’s almost that time of year when parents rush to the stores for supplies and teachers dress up their classrooms to welcome back fresh-faced students.
While donations of supplies have poured in, organizers of Saturday’s Tenth Annual Polk County Back to School Extravaganza say more are always needed.
A Missouri State University student from Halfway was awarded for her success at the 2023 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Collegiate National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 22-25.
Registration for all Humansville R-IV students will take place Aug. 9 through Aug.11, from 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration packets will be available for parent pick up starting Tuesday, Aug. 8.
Sullivan Bank in Pleasant Hope will be doing a school supply drive for the Pleasant Hope School District.
Business
DEATHS
Monday, May 12 — Celebration Day! Goulash, side salad, WG roll, ice cream.
Sew 'N' Sew Quilt Guild will meet Friday, May 16, at the United Methodist Church, 105 E. Division Street. Please come to the east entrance into the Fellowship Hall. Social time is at 9:30 a.m. with the meeting starting at 10 a.m..
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