El Dorado Springs Sun - Newspaper

12/05/2025

https://eldoradospringsmo.com/news/hunters-can-learn-how-to-score-harvests-with-mdc-workshop-dec-13-in-ash-grove/

Hunters won’t want to miss an upcoming opportunity to learn how to score their deer. Join the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for a “Learning to Hunt: Measuring Your Trophy” workshop from 9-11 a.m. Dec. 13 with in-person and virtual options available. Join experienced instructors at ...

12/05/2025

📚 FREE BOOK FOR YOUNG READERS (Ages 9–15)

On Saturday, Dec. 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dablemont will be giving away signed copies of his book Dogs, Ducks and Hatrack Bucks—a collection of Ozarks outdoor stories for kids who love nature, adventure, and the outdoors.

📍 Big Piney Nature Center
6410 South Highway 63, about one mile south of Houston, Missouri

Books normally sell for $15, but this event is completely free for young readers who receive them as Christmas gifts.

The fire had burned down in the fireplace, and it was a trifle warm, so I stepped out on the back porch to feel the coolness of the oncoming winter, looking down on the dark river valley. The moon was faint, shining through the clouds and it was so still you could have heard a

12/04/2025

BBB Warns: Holiday Puppy Scams on the Rise 🐶🎄

Who wouldn’t want a cute puppy waiting under the tree? 🎁🐾
But before you buy that “perfect” holiday pet, the Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers to pause—and learn how to spot a puppy scam that could cost you hundreds.

A newly updated BBB study reveals:
• Scammers frequently use popular breeds—German shepherds, French bulldogs, dachshunds—to lure in excited buyers.
• Thousands of fake websites and social pages have been set up to look like legitimate breeders.
• Some scammers even steal real business identities to trick buyers into paying for pets that don’t exist.
• Median losses are in the hundreds of dollars, with some fraudsters pressuring victims by claiming an animal will be harmed if they don’t pay more.

The good news? Knowing the signs can protect you—and your wallet.

🚩 Red Flags of a Puppy or Pet Scam

• Prices that seem too good to be true for popular breeds
• Seller refuses to meet in person or take a video call
• Sudden “extra fees” for crates, shots, shipping, etc.
• Ads using the word “teacup”
• High-pressure tactics claiming the animal may be harmed

✔️ How to Avoid a Puppy Scam

• See the pet in person — scammers can’t fake that
• Ask for a video call to verify the animal
• Use reverse image search to check whether photos appear on other sites
• Know real market prices for breeds
• Consider visiting a local shelter for a safe, in-person adoption experience

Want to learn more about how scammers operate?
Read the full BBB report here ➜ [Link to your website]

For additional scam alerts, visit BBB.org/scamstudies

https://eldoradospringsmo.com/features/bbb-tips-on-the-red-flags-of-a-pet-scam-how-to-avoid-them/

These scam studies were conducted to give consumers and businesses a more in-depth understanding of how each specific scam works. Learn how scammers use social engineering and play on emotions to trick their victims.

12/04/2025

Look who is coming to town, it's Santa. Come have breakfast with Santa at the Wayside Inn Museum, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Don't forget to wear your PJ's.

12/04/2025

By Johannes Brann | The El Dorado Sun

A routine Northeast Vernon County (NEVC) R-1 School Board meeting turned emotional on Nov. 20 when a local mother stepped forward to share a concerning incident involving her first-grade son.

Dana McCannon, a district graduate and parent, described how her son suffered symptoms consistent with a concussion after an incident on the school bus—an event she says went unreported to his teacher or Principal Eric Rhodes.

“As a nurse, I knew what to look for,” McCannon told the board. “But not everyone’s mom is a nurse.”

She urged the district to review its reporting procedures and ensure parents are promptly informed when safety concerns arise. Board President David Bruce thanked her for speaking and noted the matter will be reviewed in closed session.

Read the full story and district response https://eldoradospringsmo.com/school/nevc-board-parent-complaint-and-low-test-scores/

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By Johannes Brann Meeting a week before Thanksgiving (Nov. 20th), the six board members present (absent: Heather Brown) at the Northeast Vernon County (NEVC) R-1 School Board approved the purchase of four new school bus tires, increased substitute bus driver pay from $37.50 to $46.00 per trip ($92 p...

12/04/2025

Do you know a local or nearby soldier who is away during this holiday season? 🇺🇸💛
We would love to honor them.

12/03/2025

El Dorado Christian School 7th grader Bentley Bowen ( #25) was unstoppable Monday night, pushing the ball down the court in a fast-paced matchup against Polk Co. Christian School in Bolivar.

Bowen delivered 20 of the team’s 25 points, powering the Junior High Buffalo to a 25–17 victory and setting the tone early for ECS athletics this week.

Read more highlights https://eldoradospringsmo.com/sports/ecs-boys-score-big/

🦬💙 🏀 ⛹️‍♂️ ⭐ 🏅 📰 📍

El Dorado Christian School 7th grader Bentley Bowen ( #25) drives the ball down the court during the Junior High Buffalos’ fast-paced matchup against Polk Co. Christian School in Bolivar. Bowen scored 20 of the team’s points, leading ECS to a 25–17 victory. El Dorado Christian School junior Isa...

11/28/2025

🚔 Cedar County Sheriff’s Office Conducts Multi-Phase Enforcement Operation Over Holiday Week

The Cedar County Sheriff’s Office has released details from a large multi-agency enforcement effort carried out over the Thanksgiving holiday week. The initiative—Operation Targeted Pressure—focused on narcotics activity, wanted fugitives, and compliance checks on non-compliant offenders throughout Cedar County.

Phase One: Narcotics Search Warrants

Deputies executed three narcotics search warrants, two of them simultaneously. These warrants were served with the assistance of:
• Bates County SRT Team
• Midwest Missouri Career Criminal & Drug Task Force (MMCCDTF)
• COMET Drug Task Force
• Cedar County Sheriff’s Office SRT Team

Across the locations, officers seized narcotics and related evidence, taking multiple suspects into custody and transporting them to the Cedar County Jail for processing.

Arrest warrants for:
• Colton Kain Austin
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class D Felony)
• Bond: $75,000 Cash
• Jessica Ann Haslock
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class D Felony)
• Bond: $25,000 Cash
• Donna Lynn Pitts
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class D Felony)
• Bond: $25,000 Cash

Phase Two: Wanted Subjects & Compliance Checks

Following the narcotics operation, deputies shifted to locating individuals with outstanding felony warrants.
• Arrest of Adam Gregg
Deputies executed a search warrant at a residence where Gregg was hiding. He was taken into custody on three active warrants and transported to the Cedar County Jail.
• Attempted Arrest of a Non-Compliant S*x Offender
A second warrant targeted a non-compliant s*x offender with a felony warrant. Deputies believe the individual may have fled the area before the operation.

Wanted Individual Still at Large

The Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s help in locating:

➡️ Thomas Paul William
(Photo attached)

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office at 417-276-5133 or email [email protected].

Acknowledgements

Sheriff James McCrary and Chief Deputy Clay Jeffries expressed gratitude for support from partnering agencies whose collaboration was “instrumental in the safe and successful execution” of the operation:
• Bates County Sheriff’s Office
• Henry County Sheriff’s Office
• Barton County Sheriff’s Office

The Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that all suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

11/24/2025

💙 “It’s Just Stuff” — A Reflection on Loss, Love, and What Truly Matters 💙

In a deeply personal and emotional piece, Cedar County Coroner Danny Leo Green shares a heartfelt reflection on the loss of his son, the quiet grief many families carry, and the way death can both divide and unite us.

Green writes about the invisible community of parents who have lost a child — “the club no one wants to be a member of” — and the painful realities that follow a loved one’s passing, including the struggle over belongings, the memories attached to simple objects, and the importance of relationships over material things.

His story is raw, honest, and full of compassion.
It is a reminder that while possessions may hold memories, the people still with us matter far more than anything they leave behind.
🕊️ “The important thing… is that while belongings and things may bring back memories… the relationships you have with the living here and now are far more valuable. It’s just stuff.” — Danny Leo Green

👉 Read the full reflection on our website:

When my son passed away fifteen years ago, my sister Kathy asked who did I want to give the service? I told her I had no idea because at that time, I had been away from home for over thirty years counting my Marine Corps, Army, and police officer time. She recommended Brent Bland, a

11/23/2025

Greg Castor was sworn in as the newest member of the Cedar County Memorial Hospital board at the regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 17.

Greg Castor was sworn in as the newest member of the Cedar County Memorial Hospital board at the regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 17.