Volunteers are preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 18 through 25. More than 4,700 locations in the U.S. will open for collections, including more than a dozen locally. more

"Roaring" with mystery and intrigue, the Couch FFA fall fundraiser this year will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Couch School gymnasium, 22206 Highway 142 in Myrtle, Oregon County. more

The Missouri Department of Transportation and Missouri Highway Patrol Troop G will implement a Travel Safe Zone on two sections of U.S. 63 south of West Plains, starting Nov. 4. more

Arkansas Methodist Medical Center (AMMC) Family Practice & Urgent Care officials in Paragould, Ark., have welcomed Dr. Melissa Wright, board-certified family medicine physician, to its primary care team of providers. more

The Thayer Chamber Commerce will host the Thayer Fall Festival from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12, centered around the Whistle Stop Stage downtown in the Oregon County community just north of the Arkansas state line. more

The 39th annual Ozark Black Gold Walnut Festival in Alton will kick off this year's walnut buying season on Oct. 5, and will celebrate over 70 years of the local Strain/Mills family history of buying black walnuts. more

Glen E. Trantham, 75, Koshkonong, was the victim of a fatal UTV crash at 5:10 p.m. Friday on east U.S. 160, 4 miles west of Thomasville in Oregon County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

The Heart of the Ozarks United Way is now accepting grant applications for up to $10,000 from 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies in Howell and Oregon counties, and Fulton County, Ark. more

Members of the Couch FFA Chapter joined more than 725 FFA members and agricultural leaders at the Missouri State Fair on August 13, for the Missouri State FFA Food Insecurity Day of Service. The event is held in conjunction with the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids, a yearlong effort to stand in the gap for the 1 in 7 Missouri children facing food insecurity, said officials. more

Taylor A. Deckard, 18, Alton, has been charged with third-degree child molestation involving a victim younger than 14 after allegedly kissing and touching a 13-year-old on the chest and buttocks while she was sleeping. more

Voters in Oregon County ousted both of their incumbent associate county commissioners during Tuesday’s primary elections, according to uncertified results. more

With the help of the FBI, a forensics expert at the University of Florida School of Medicine and family members of the victim, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has identified a woman who was found dead in Shannon County more than two years ago, and charged her brother with first-degree murder.  more

A Thayer resident faces charges after allegedly walking around with a loaded rifle and telling witnesses he wanted to kill himself and die by “suicide by cop." more

A Monday morning crash on U.S. 63 near the intersection of Alton Road in Thayer resulted in fatal injuries for an Osage County man, and serious injuries to two children, Thayer police reported. more

Three people were seriously injured in a four-vehicle crash at 7:07 p.m. Monday on south U.S. 63 at Oregon County Road 364, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

Several area communities are holding Fourth of July events this week, beginning today. more

A fundraiser benefit to help pay for a child’s cancer treatment will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. June 19 at the Alton Fire Department, with giveaway drawings, craft and bake sales and face-painting. more

Beautifying county fairgrounds, painting bleachers and picnic tables, and community park improvements are a few of the community projects that 4-H and FFA youth will be doing this summer as recipients of a Shaping Rural Missouri Grant from FCS Financial. more

Marissa Ayers, a senior at Couch High School in Myrtle who will be attending Missouri State University-West Plains this fall, was one of 30 students selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship as part of the Missouri STEM Signing Day. more