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Improving to the End
Jason Hoekema Freelance HOLLISTER – The Ava Bears’ season ends at 6-19 overall and 3-4 in the South Central Association conference this year after suffering a 64-48 first-round loss to Forsyth in the Class 4-District 11 Tournament. The Bears’ season has been fraught with adversity, starting the season with no experienced core of players to…
Read MoreUndisputed, Again
Jason Hoekema Freelance WILLOW SPRINGS – The Lady Bears jumped their biggest South Central Association hurdle with their 54-36 leap over the Salem Lady Tigers. Unfortunately, Old Man Winter shuffled the conference schedule with some heavy snow and rough roads. With the snow-in, Ava was forced to move Willow Springs to the end of their…
Read MoreWasola Man Among 5 Killed in Plane Crash in Arkansas
A Wasola man was among five people who worked for an environmental response consulting firm that were killed in a plane crash Wednesday, Feb. 22, in Little Rock, Arkansas, while on their way to a metal factory explosion site in Ohio, officials said. The plane was carrying employees of the Center for Toxicology and Environmental…
Read MoreAva Man Dies in Crash
A man was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Douglas County last night, Feb. 22. Nathan I. Schmude, 30, of Ava, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at 8:40 p.m. on Feb. 22. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, Schmude was driving a 2000 Honda Civic on Highway 76 a…
Read MoreMore Federal Charges Filed Against Blair
More charges have been filed against an Ava man previously indicted for producing child pornography after photos of the child victim’s sexual assault were discovered at his former residence. He now faces additional charges that include victimizing a second child. Harold Lloyd Blair, Jr., 66, was charged in a three-count superseding indictment returned by a…
Read MoreFirefighter of the Year
The City of Ava Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year is Dan Eager, at left. He was presented the award by Chief Scotty Upchurch.
Read MoreJunior Firefighter of the Year
Austin Vinyard, left, was awarded the City of Ava Fire Department’s Junior Firefighter of the Year.
Read MoreFire Department Officer of the Year
The City of Ava Fire Department’s Officer of the Year is Scotty Upchurch. Curly Rawlings, at left, presented Upchurch with the award.
Read MoreTwice as Sweet
Jason Hoekema Freelance SPRINGFIELD – The Ava Lady Bears continue their dominance on the court and got a second win over district rival, the Logan-Rogersville Lady Wildcats. The second match up between the teams came in the first round of play at the annual Pink and White Tournament and resulted in Ava’s sixth-consecutive win by…
Read MoreRoute AC in Douglas and Ozark Counties Closed for Culvert Replacement
Missouri Route AC in Douglas and Ozark Counties will be closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert under the roadway. This section of roadway is located between Route 14 in Douglas County and County Road 178 in Ozark County. Weather permitting, work will take place Tuesday, Jan. 3 through Thursday, Jan. 5 from 7:30 a.m.…
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