SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A quarter of a century has almost passed, and now Ozarks First is taking a look at the local stories that captured the most readers on our website this year.
1. Public asked to help find eight people wanted by Missouri Probation & Parole District 20 (Dec. 3) This article is a public safety notice from Missouri authorities alerting residents that eight people are wanted for probation violations in District 20, which includes Camden, Hickory, Benton, and Laclede Counties.
2. Southwest Missouri and the epidemic that no one saw coming (Dec. 2) This article traces Missouri’s early experience with the AIDS epidemic — from its first, unrecognized Missouri victim in the late 1960s to the public fear and slow government response of the 1980s…