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Community rallies to create West Plains United

Faced with the possibility of a federal shutdown withholding November SNAP benefits, a network of local churches, nonprofits and community members has formed to create a local safety net.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

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Ozark Heritage Festival 2025

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The West Plains Lady Zizzers cross country team celebrates with their first-place plaque after winning the Class 4, District 2 championship Saturday in Nixa. The win marked the team's 33rd district title in program history and their second consecutive, qualifying the Lady Zizzers for the MSHSAA State Championship meet. With the team, from left, are assistant coach Wes Gunter, Head Coach Alicia Gunter and assistant coach Ashley Bray.

Zizzers cross country repeats as district champs; State send-off Thursday

The Zizzers cross country girls and boys teams are moving on to the Missouri State High School Activities Association state meet this week, following repeat first-place wins for both teams Saturday at the Class 4, District 2 championship at Nixa High School. 
State District 154 Rep. Lisa Durnell, left, and 33rd District Sen. Brad Hudson were speakers at the recent annual legislative breakfast, hosted by the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative. The event, held Oct. 23, gives state legislators a chance to talk to constituents about laws that can affect the operating costs of businesses, including Proposition A. The ballot initiative was passed by Missouri voters and included a requirement that most businesses offer an hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, but that portion was repealed with the passage of Missouri House Bill 567.

Durnell, Hudson speak at legislative breakfast

West Plains Mayor Mike Topliff recently signed a proclamation commemorating Nov. 1 as National Family Literacy Day, joined by members of the Ozark Spring Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. National Family Literacy Day was established by Congress in 1994 to highlight the importance of reading for the entire family. In 1989, NSDAR created a Literacy Promotion Committee to encourage members to be involved in helping children and adults develop literacy skills. From left: Jan Tappana, Kathy Barnett, Cindy McKee-Pirch, Linda Collins, Mary Ann Mutrux, Mayor Topliff, Karen Ryburn, Angela Anderson, Pam Topliff and Cathy Roberts.

Mayor Topliff proclaims Family Literacy Day

A $1,000 grant from Always a Future For Kids (AFK) was recently presented to Christos House domestic and sexual violence shelter and outreach program, to be used for the organization’s Tiny Homes Village project. Seated, from left: Christos House Resale Shop Store Manager Amber McFarland, Outreach Advocate Kenya Cook and Director Kelli Neel. Standing: AFK Secretary Meghan Berry and board member Suzannah Pace; Christos House Office Manager Nicholas Haring; AFK Treasurer Ben Bird and President CJ Collins; Christos House Outreach Advocate Brenda Lewis, Information Technology Specialist Othniel Emunah and resale shop employee Patricia Schrippe; and AFK Vice President Rich Elijah.

AFK donates $1,000 to Christos House

News
People hold up signs opposing Prop 50 during a press conference in Chico, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

What's next in the national redistricting fight after California approved a new US House map

The new congressional map that California voters approved marked a victory for Democrats in the national redistricting battle playing out ahead of the 2026 midterm election. But Republicans are still …

Ozark Action receives CFO grant

Ozark Action, based in West Plains, recently received a $1,500 grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks' Inclusion & Belonging Grant Program, to support adaptive and sensory-friendly learning tools.
Greg Simpkins

SIDELINE STORIES: ‘One play taught me everything’

Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of conversations between former Quill Sports Editor Dennis Crider, a Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame inductee, and former Zizzers head coach Greg Simpkins, who was recently inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
West Plains Greenhouses and Nursery recently supported the 37th Judicial CASA as a $1,500 sponsor of the "Cutthroat Christmas" mystery dinner theater fundraiser. The event, an "ugly Christmas sweater" themed dinner held Saturday at Rubydoo's Vintage Events, raised funds to support CASA's mission of advocating for abused and neglected children in Howell, Oregon and Shannon counties. From left: Shari Perkins-Trent, Connie Pendergrass and West Plains Greenhouses owner Lisa Cropper and Manager Tsion Davis. Watch the Quill for more about the event.

West Plains Greenhouses donates in support of CASA

Head Start programs that serve tens of thousands of the nation's neediest preschoolers are facing a cutoff of federal funding at the end of the month because of the government shutdown.

Some Head Start preschools shutter as government shutdown continues

The government shutdown is triggering a wave of closures of Head Start centers, leaving working parents scrambling for child care and shutting some of the nation's neediest children out of …
Sports
A ball flies out of bounds as, from left, the Lady Zizzers volleyball team's Lucy Hafer, Natalie Ell and Libby Welch look on during the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 4 State Championships versus the Saint Pius X Lady Lancers on Nov. 1 at the West Plains High School gym. The Lady Zizzers lost the game in three sets (11-25, 18-25, 14-25).
Lady Zizzers’ historic season ends in state opener
The season ended for the Lady Zizzers varsity volleyball team last Saturday with a 3-0 (11-25, 18-25, 14-25) loss to the Saint Pius X Lady Lancers in the opening round loss of the Class 4 State Tournament at the West Plains High School gym.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (1-0) at Arkansas Razorbacks (1-0) Fayetteville, Arkansas; Friday, 11:30 a.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Arkansas hosts UAPB after Bonnie Deas scored 25 points in …
South Carolina State Bulldogs (0-1) at Samford Bulldogs (0-1) Birmingham, Alabama; Friday, 8:30 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bulldogs -13.5; over/under is 155 BOTTOM LINE: Samford …
Kansas Jayhawks (1-0) at North Carolina Tar Heels (1-0) Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Friday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tar Heels -1.5; over/under is 157.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. 19 …
Valparaiso Beacons (1-0) at Kentucky Wildcats (1-0) Lexington, Kentucky; Friday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Wildcats -33.5; over/under is 157.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. 9 Kentucky hosts …

Wiggins leads Florida State against Alabama State after 22-point outing

Alabama State Hornets at Florida State Seminoles Tallahassee, Florida; Friday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Seminoles -25; over/under is 163 BOTTOM LINE: Florida State hosts Alabama …

Doogan leads No. 24 Richmond against No. 4 Texas after 28-point performance

Richmond Spiders (1-0) at Texas Longhorns (1-0) Austin, Texas; Friday, 8 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: No. 24 Richmond visits No. 4 Texas after Maggie Doogan scored 28 points in Richmond's 83-49 …
People & Events
West Plains author Jill Pietroburgo, shown with her book, "Sometimes Grandma Calls Me Jean," will be a featured guest at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Children's Literature Festival on Thursday and Friday in Mansfield. The book won first place in the Family Matters category of the Story Monsters Purple Dragonfly Book Awards in 2024, along with an honorable mention in the Spiritual/Religious category. Pietroburgo will discuss the book's themes of dementia and compassion with students at the event.

West Plains author to be featured at Wilder festival

West Plains author Jill Pietroburgo will be a featured guest at the upcoming Laura Ingalls Wilder Children's Literature Festival on Thursday and Friday in Mansfield.
A $500 donation from the John T. Kirk VFW Post 1828 in West Plains to Salutes Thrift Store and Shelter for veterans has been matched by a grant from the VFW Foundation “Uniting For Veterans” program. It will be earmarked for resolving veteran hunger and homelessness. Salutes, a nonprofit located at 1769 S. U.S. 63 in West Plains, is the only shelter in the area that prioritizes long-term shelter, clothing and meals for veterans and also assists clients with finding medical and mental health treatment and job placement for long-term success. Donations to an attached thrift store that supports the Salutes mission are accepted during business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. From left: VFW Post 1828 Commander Danny Brown, Salutes directors Kevin and Bethany Falkner, and shelter manager and thrift store co-manager Frank Charboneau.

VFW donation to Salutes matched by foundation grant

Alton Elementary announces first quarter academic recognitions

PRINCIPAL’S HONOR ROLL

Always a Future for Kids (AFK) recently awarded a $500 grand to Ozark Action Head Start in Willow Springs to create a calm-down area that helps overwhelmed students regulate their emotions. The grant is one of several the organization distributed to local nonprofits serving children. Front row, from left: AFK board member Mikaelynne Shoemake presents the check to Head Start teacher assistant Nora Ennis. Back row: AFK Vice President Rich Elijah, President CJ Collins and Treasurer Ben Bird; Head Start Family Advocate Susan Thompson and teacher Crystal Collins; and AFK Secretary Meghan Moore.

WS Head Start receives $500 AFK grant

This week's featured pet is Cookie, a 2-year-old neutered male cat at West Plains Regional Animal Shelter. According to shelter volunteer Trish Hammen, Cookie is a "very sweet and gentle guy" who will have all his shots. He is available for adoption at the shelter, located at 1486 BB Highway. The adoption fee for cats is $45. Hammen noted the shelter has a temporary phone number, 417-372-1281, as it is in the process of changing phone companies. The shelter is also in need of donations of cat litter and funds to help pay a large veterinarian bill, she said.

Pet of the Week

Records
Arkansas news
Missouri news
Features

Slaughter cow prices ease, bulls hold steady in West Plains

WEST PLAINS, MO., Nov. 5, 2025 — Compared to last week, slaughter cows were steady to 2.00 lower and slaughter bulls were steady at the Ozarks Regional Stockyards on Wednesday, November 5. Demand was good on a heavy supply of slaughter animals and a moderate supply of replacement cattle. Slaughter animals outnumbered replacement cattle which hasn’t been seen for several months.Total receipts were 752 head, down from 809 last week.

FAITH COMMENTARY: Disagree God’s way

Today, I am writing to encourage a Biblical response to our country’s current political divisions. This column is not an attempt to move people toward either party, or even toward a middle group.

MOMENT IN THE WORD: In search of God’s Ark, part 11

Isaiah 30:1-3: “Woe to the obstinate children, declares the Lord, who carry out plans that are not Mine, forming an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin; who proceed down to Egypt without consulting Me, to seek help from Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shadow. But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame, and the refuge of Egypt’s shadow your disgrace.”
Jenn and Danny Harper of Harper Family Farm offer alpha gal-friendly bath and body products, as well as custom hats, shirts and cups.

‘GO FARM’ FARMER’S MARKET: Santa Claus is coming to the market

Mark your calendar for 10 a.m. Dec. 6, when Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at the Farmers Market.

DOWN HOME WITH SUE: A holiday test run for the cookie jar

Hey foodies, it's November! Like so many, I have the holidays on my mind with menus to plan.
Special Sections

The week that followed: A look back at the Quill’s 9/11 coverage

In the days after Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. was a nation grieving and on edge. A terrorist attack on U.S. soil happened in a way many, if not most, found unimaginable.
The Big Parade, set this year for 2 p.m. Sept. 20, is a highlight of the annual Hootin an Hollarin Festival in Gainesville.

64th Hootin an Hollarin Festival Set for Sept. 18-20

The 64th annual Hootin an Hollarin festival, one of the oldest of its kind in Missouri, will be held Sept. 18 through 20 on the square in Gainesville.
Marine Corps veteran Chris Thomas, of Willow Springs, shows fourth-grade students in Whitney Solik's class the proper way to hoist the American flag during a recent lesson on flag etiquette at Willow Springs Elementary. The students are responsible for raising and lowering the school's flag each day.

4th grade Bears get a lesson in red, white and blue

Whitney Solik’s fourth grade class recently had the honor of learning directly from someone who has lived a life of service: local Marine Corps Veteran, Chris Thomas.

10 perfect activities for grandparents and their beloved grandchildren

Sunday marks Grandparents’ Day. It’s the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with your grandchildren. Get inspired by these intergenerational activities and create unforgettable moments together.
Winning first place in the Quill's recent people's choice Grandparents' Day photo contest is "Poppy's Pride & Joys," submitted by Amanda Turner of West Plains. Seated on "Karma," the vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycle, is Don Turner with granddaughter Trulyn Turner-Reed in back. They are joined by Turner's dog, Sweetie.

Grandparents Day winners announced

The Quill held a Grandparents Day photo contest, which concluded this week. 

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