Republic Licenses Offices Will Close For Six Days.
The Missouri Department of Revenue just awarded the Republic License Office contract to BCFO Titleworks, Inc.
The office at 243 W. US Hwy 60 will close after Friday, Oct. 3, and reopen Thursday, Oct. 9—same spot, new management.
New hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–5, Sat 8–noon.
While it’s closed, you can hit up nearby offices in Aurora, Crane, or Nixa.
Jimmy Dean Corndog/Sausage on a Stick Recall
Big recall alert: About 58 million pounds of corn dogs and sausage-on-a-stick products are being pulled nationwide. Some items from Hillshire Brands, including “State Fair Corn Dogs on a Stick” and “Jimmy Dean Pancakes & Sausage on a Stick,” may contain pieces of wood in the batter.
The recall covers products made between March 17 and last Friday at a Texas facility. A few consumers have already reported injuries. These items were sold in stores, online, schools, and even some military facilities.
If you’ve got these products at home, throw them out or return them to the store. Check the packaging for the names, use-by dates, and establishment numbers EST-582 or P-894.
Walnuts For Cash! Pick'em Up Starting October 1
The 2025 Black Walnut Harvest will begin October 1st and will run through the entire month of October. Need extra money- its just laying on the ground! Follow the steps to earn the green.
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Step one: find yourself some Black Walnut trees. (And yes, ask permission if they’re not in your yard—neighbors are usually thrilled for you to take them off their hands).
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Grab the nuts right after they hit the ground, when the hulls are still green. Pro tip: you can pick them up by hand or use the Nut Wizard, which is basically the Roomba of nut gathering.
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Toss your haul into bags or the back of your truck.
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Head to your nearest Hammons hulling station within a couple of days. They’ll run the nuts through a machine, strip the hulls, and pay you by the weight. Bonus: the fresher they are when you bring them in, the better they’ll taste.
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Cash in, make memories with your crew, and flex a little next time you spot Black Walnuts in the grocery store—because you helped make that happen.
Delays On Road Work Completion
Springfield was set to reopen the rebuilt stretch of LeCompte Road (between Division and the future Eastgate extension) on Tuesday, but the rain said nope. Crews still need to finish up striping and other details before traffic can roll through.
City officials say once they catch a dry spell, the Division-to-Springfield Underground section should open within a week. That’s Phase One—widening LeCompte to three lanes. Phase Two will tackle the stretch between the new Eastgate intersection and Kearney.
Meanwhile, crews are also extending Eastgate north from Division, curving it over to connect with LeCompte at Springfield Underground’s south entrance. That Division/Eastgate intersection will get traffic lights and better turn lanes to help with flow.
Bottom line: once it’s all wrapped up, the upgrades should make things safer and smoother, especially for the truck traffic heading in and out of Springfield Underground.
Here's The Deals For National Pancake Day!
It's National Pancake Day! Who has the specials?
Cracker Barrel is offering All You Can Eat pancakes for $5.00
IHop On this day, the chain offers a free small stack of buttermilk pancakes, in exchange for donations that go to charitable organizations.
Perkins is offering customers who wear their pajamas to the restaurant a free short stack of pancakes with any purchase.
Weekend Planner For Sept. 26-28
Fun stuff list for the weekend!
Weekend Update for September 19-21
FRIDAY
Rodney Carrington at Hammons Hall 7 pm Tickets available\
Gillioz Ghost Light Session 8 pm FREE but audience seating is limited
Fun Day Dickerson Park Zoo 12:45 pm admission applies
SATURDAY
Ozarks Bacon Festival at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds doors open at 11 am – tickets are available
City-Wide garage sale 8 am...Springfield....
Downtown Jazz Takeover at Park Central Square 2:30 p.m
Wag-N-Walk Dog Fundraiser at Rutledge-Wilson Farm park at 9:30 am- Registration is at 8 am...Entry fees apply
Dinner on the Diamond with Tony La Russa 5 pm at Hammons field. Tickets available
National Hunting & Fishing Day celebration at Wonders of Wildlife at 9 am. Tickets apply
Dogfest at Chesterfield Family Center 9 am- 1:30 pm
Brew at the Zoo and Football Too 1401 W. Norton Road at the Dickerson Park Zoo. Get tickets at Dickerson parkzoo.org
Saturdaze in the Park at the Doling Family Center. Back with another round of open-air beats, good vibes, and barefoot dancing in the grass. Free but donations welcome. 4-10 pm
Rockin’ Rogersville with Matt Stell...5- 10 pm. Gates open at 4 pm Highway 60 and Farm road 247 . tickets available
Fair Grove Heritage Reunion Craft days Craft fair at the old mill. Hundreds of vendors selling crafts, and bakery items. Free admission. 10 am- 4pm Sunday 11-2pm
CU Rate Hike Increase Has Been Approved!
Springfield City Council has officially signed off on a pair of rate hikes for City Utilities customers.
The first bump hits in early 2027—about a three percent increase. Then another 3.6 percent hike comes in 2028.
For the average household, that adds up to around nine extra dollars a month on your utility bill.
So, what’s the money for? CU says it’s funding some big projects to keep up with future energy demand.
They’re planning to build three new natural gas turbine units—basically backup engines to keep power flowing when usage spikes.
And they’re also rolling out two big battery storage systems so they can store extra energy and use it when demand is high.
Utility leaders say the idea is: a little more cost now… for a more reliable and efficient system down the road.
It’s all part of CU’s long-term strategy to make sure Springfield has affordable, dependable power—even as demand keeps growing.
New Discount Store Coming To Springfield
Discount retailer Ollie’s will open its first Springfield location on Thursday, October 23 at 9 a.m. The store is moving into the former Big Lots space on East Battlefield next to Food 4 Less.
Ollie’s, known as the nation’s largest closeout retailer, has been expanding in the region. Its Lebanon location opened in June, with additional stores recently launched in Sedalia and Mountain Home, Arkansas.
The former Big Lots on North Kansas Expressway remains vacant.
Absentee Voting Now Underway For Nov. 4 Election.
Absentee ballots are now available for the November 4, 2025 Special Election. You can vote absentee if you’ll be away, ill, caring for someone, observing religious beliefs, working certain jobs, incarcerated (if still eligible), or in the Address Confidentiality Program.
In-person voting (Greene County): Greene County Elections Center, 1126 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Mon–Fri, 8 AM–5 PM, through Nov. 3.
Photo ID required: Missouri driver/non-driver license, U.S. passport, military ID, or other U.S./Missouri-issued photo ID.
To vote by mail, submit a handwritten request or use the fillable form on the Greene County Clerk’s website.
Mailed ballots must be voted, notarized, returned by mail, and received in the Office of the County Clerk before 7:00 PM on Election Day.
Questions about absentee voting may be directed to the Office of the County Clerk at 417-868-4060.
Winter Is Coming! MoDOT Needs Help!
MoDOT is already preparing for winter after facing driver shortages last year. In the Ozarks and across the state, workers were shifted around to keep roads clear.
This year, MoDOT is offering flexible part-time positions, especially in the Springfield area where vacancies are highest. New 8-hour shifts start at $22.91 per hour in the Ozarks and $25.91 in Kansas City and St. Louis. Part-time applicants must already have a CDL, while full-time hires can receive training through MoDOT.
The agency says the plan fits within its budget, which last year included $62 million spent on salt, equipment, and personnel. With flexible shifts, MoDOT hopes to recruit more drivers and keep roads safe this winter.