OZARK, Mo. - We are counting down the days to when districts across the Ozarks go back to school.

As kids are packing their backpacks and grabbing their keys, one thing to keep top of mind is safety.

"You have students that are on sidewalks using road crossings," said Lt. Jared Drye with the Ozark Police Department. "Young students at elementary schools, they may be walking home, students walking around. And that just generates an opportunity for vehicles and pedestrians to be on the road together at the same time."

Ozark PD and the school district say there are different ways they help keep drivers and pedestrians safe.

"We schedule extra patrolling times, especially during the first week of school," said Director of Ozark School Resource Deputies Sgt. John Wilkerson. "That presence i

See Full Page