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A Hughes Towing operator loads a Howell County Sheriff’s Office school resource officer vehicle onto a flatbed after a two-vehicle collision Monday morning at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Abe Taylor Street in West Plains. The crash occurred around 8:42 a.m. when the patrol car collided with another vehicle and was pushed into the perimeter fence on the northwest corner the historic Lincoln School property. Responding crews from the West Plains Fire Department and South Howell County Ambulance reported no injuries. The West Plains Police Department is investigating the crash.

SRO vehicle damaged in crash near Lincoln School

             

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Wednesday, October 7, 2026

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Proposed data center sparks Oregon Co. debate

    As artificial intelligence data centers expand across North America, the potential for development in rural Southern Missouri is generating community concern over the facilities' heavy electricity and water demands.    
Jacob B. Garrett center, was sworn in Tuesday as a practicing attorney by 37th Circuit Associate Judge R. David Ray. The occasion marks the third generation of the Garrett family to practice law in Howell County. Joining the ceremony via Webex, a remote live feed, were Garrett’s grandparents, retired 37th Judicial Circuit Presiding Judge R. Jack Garrett and his wife, Kay. R. Jack Garrett also previously served as Howell County prosecuting attorney. His son, local attorney Jacob Y. Garrett, has practiced in West Plains for more than 30 years. The younger Garrett earned his undergraduate degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Gathered for the ceremony are, front row from left, McKenzie Garrett holding daughter Bowen, newly sworn attorney Jacob B. Garrett and Judge Ray. Back row: sister Haden Garrett, mother Erika Garrett and father Jacob Y. Garrett, and appearing on screen, grandparents R. Jack and Kay Garrett.

Three generations at the bar

     

Womack murder charge dropped

          A second-degree murder charge filed against a Winona man in connection with a 2018 drowning death in the Jack’s Fork River has been …
Ozark Heritage Welcome Center Tourism Assistant Terry Hampton, left, accepts the donation of a historic West Plains art print from Michael and Tonya Hinton. The couple, former West Plains resident, donated the gift along with their daughter, Melissa. The print was previously owned by West Plains native and Grand Ole Opry star Jan Howard and displayed in her Nashville home before being purchased by the Hintons at her estate sale.

Jan Howard art print returns to West Plains

A fine art print once owned by West Plains native and Country music pioneer Jan Howard has returned home following a donation Ozark Heritage Welcome Center by Michael and Tonya Hinton and their daughter, Melissa.
News

FYI

        Christos House 'Take Back the Night' reservation deadline Friday Friday is the deadline to reserve seats for the Christos House "Take Back the …
West Plains Kiwanis Club members, in keeping with Kiwanis motto “Serving the Children of the World,” have donated $2,000 to Junction Hill School. The funds will be used to buy recess equipment and a 9 Square in the Air game for its middle school. The game combines elements of volleyball and four square. Any money left over will be set aside by the Junction Hill Booster Club for future projects. Front row: Kiwanis Club Treasurer Cass Johnson presents the funds to Junction Hill Superintendent and Principal Tim Perkins. Back row: club members Weston Gant, Ron Grennan, John Grisham, Aaron Wheeler and Scott Womack.

Kiwanis Club donates to Junction Hill School

     

Public defender’s office disputes judge’s order in WP murder case

            A court order requiring the state public defender’s office to represent a local murder suspect is being challenged by the …
Representatives from K-MAC Enterprises and Taco Bell present a $40,000 Taco Bell Foundation grant to the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area. Front row, from left: Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Elisabeth Cawthon, David Black (Market Coach, K-MAC/Taco Bell) and Brandy Goebel (Boys & Girls Club). Back row, from left: Jodi Vogel (District Coach), Anthony Cox (Restaurant General Manager) and Kylie Prince (Restaurant General Manager).

$40K Taco Bell grant powers new Boys & Girls Club Teen Center

For teenagers, the future can often seem abstract — a distant reality set against another awkward conversation about life plans. The Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area is working to make that future clearer through its new Teen Center, a dedicated space where local youth can spend time after school while preparing for adulthood.
West Plains student council sponsor Kirsten Zuercher, kneeling, makes a last-minute fix to an errant corsage worn by 2026 Homecoming crown bearer Dallas Smith on Friday. The moment happened just before Smith took the field for the halftime coronation ceremony at Zizzer Stadium. West Plains defeated the Hillcrest Hornets 34-12. See Pages 12 and 13 of today’s Quill for more Homecoming coverage.

Quick fix for young royalty

     
Sports
West Plains' Addi Simpson goes for a return during her doubles match alongside teammate June Sanderson as the Lady Zizzers take on Hillcrest on Sept. 24 at the West Plains High School tennis courts. West Plains defeated the Lady Hornets 5-4.
Lady Zizzers tennis bests Hillcrest, places fifth at Joplin Tournament
The West Plains Lady Zizzers tennis team secured its fourth win of the season with a tight 5-4 victory over the Hillcrest Lady Hornets on Sept. 24.
Lady Zizzers freshman infielder Morgan Russell comes around to cross the plate Sept. 30, as West Plains took on Hartville and scored a 10-9 walk-off win at Zizzer Ballpark.
      The West Plains Lady Zizzers softball team shook off a difficult stretch to secure a 10-9 walk-off victory over Hartville on Sept. 30 at Zizzer Ballpark.  
West Plains Zizzer Softball hosted its annual Strike Out Cancer game Sept. 29, at Zizzer Ballpark to raise awareness and honor those whose lives have been impacted by the disease. Through T-shirt sales and donations, the softball team was able to donate $600 to Ozarks Healthcare Cancer Treatment Center, according to West Plains R-7 Activities Director Dr. Ashley Cooley. She expressed thanks to Posey Patch for donating roses presented during the game. "We are incredibly grateful to everyone who purchased a shirt, made a donation, attended the game or helped make the evening possible," Cooley said. "The strength, courage and memory of those affected by cancer are never taken for granted." Front row, from left: Lady Zizzers softball team members Morgan Russell, Roxie Bryant, Gracie Young, Molly Orr, Bella Bridges, Remini Williams and Cadence Tackitt. Back row: assistant coach Kris Kirby, Head Coach Don Long, Kennedy Evans, Adilee Joyner, Bailey Wake, Aubrey Ellison, Brooklyn White, Sloane McNett, Oliva Cudworth, Mick Price, Taylor House and assistant coach Madalyn Ivy. 
     
West Plains' Charlie Huddleston tees off Sept. 30 at the West Plains Country Club as the Lady Zizzers played host to Poplar Bluff. Huddleston and teammates Bella Juline and Hadley Smith shot a 71 to top the three-person scramble.
    The West Plains Lady Zizzers captured the Ozark Mountain Conference championship on Thursday edging out the competition in a fifth-score tiebreaker at Silo Ridge in Bolivar.  
West Plains quarterback Cale Combs finds himself in a tight spot against the Carl Junction defense Friday at Zizzer Stadium. The West Plains defense delivered a dominant performance to secure a 7-0 victory, improving the team's record to 5-1. The Zizzers held the Bulldogs to just 38 rushing yards, 150 yards of total offense and zero fourth-down conversions. The game's lone score came in the second quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Gavin Marshall, followed by an extra-point kick from Caleb Cobb. "This game was won with a lot of heart and determination," West Plains Head Coach Brock Kenaga said. "It was just a good, old-fashioned, hard-nosed game. Both offenses struggled to move the ball, so it just came down to who was going to have the fewest mistakes and who wanted it more."
               

Zizzers sink Mules at West Plains Duals

West Plains freshman Matthew Stewart takes a breath on his way to winning the 400 freestyle on Sept. 24, at the West Plains Civic Center. Stewart finished in 6:04.92 to help the Zizzers defeat Poplar Bluff 69-46. West Plains won seven of the meet's 12 events.
The West Plains boys swimming and diving team captured first place in seven of 12 events to defeat the Poplar Bluff Mules 69-46 at the West Plains Duals on Sept. 24.

ZIZZER SPORTS BRIEFS

      Lady Zizzers volleyball tops Logan-Rogersville in four sets The West Plains Lady Zizzers defeated the Logan-Rogersville Lady Wildcats 3-1 (25-12, 26-24, …

Zizzers to host Military Appreciation Night

The West Plains Zizzers will host Military Appreciation Night during their home football game on Friday.

Stoltzfus, Cooper take overall titles at 'I Ran From the Cops 5K'

Josh Stoltzfus and Lisa Cooper captured the overall male and female titles at the annual I Ran From the Cops 5K on Sept. 12, in Willow Springs.

West Plains youth basketball registration open through Oct. 12

Registration remains open through Oct. 12, for West Plains Parks and Recreation's 2026 youth basketball programs, while local softball and volleyball leagues continued play earlier this week.
People & Events
Quilts made using patterns of long ago were on display during Pioneer Days Sept. 26 in Mtn. View. Though often elevated to an art these days, the craft of quiltmaking demonstrates the resourcefulness of homemakers of long ago, who usually gathered scraps of worn clothing or old bed sheets that were repurposed into bed coverings. The quilt show was sponsored by Connolly Insurance.

From harvest to heritage: Fall festivals bring communities together

                                  …

Schools, nonprofits can apply for state park transportation grants

    The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks is accepting applications for its 2026-2027 Bus Grant Program, which helps fund student field trips to …

COMMUNITY CALENDAR:

 Know of an event not listed here? Email submissions by 9 a.m. Wednesdays to news@westplainsdailyquill.net with “CALENDAR” in the subject line. Three sentence maximum must include event description, date, time, location, cost and source for more information. Weekly events will be printed for no more than a month at a time unless renewed by the host. Call the Quill, 417-256-9191 with questions. Unless otherwise noted, events are in West Plains.

CFO, Coover Foundation open grant round for rural schools

    The Community Foundation of the Ozarks and the Coover Charitable Foundation have opened applications for a grant program designed to support rural schools and their hometowns. …
Festivalgoers gather at tables in downtown Thayer during the 2016 Fall Festival. This year's celebration returns to the downtown area on Oct. 10, offering free admission, live music, a car bash and a variety of family activities.

Thayer Fall Festival to bring autumn fun downtown Oct. 10

The Thayer Fall Festival will bring an evening of free family entertainment, live music and classic autumn activities to downtown Thayer from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10.
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Tim Richards

FAITH COMMENTARY: The power of love

    In Rodney Stark’s modern classic, "The Rise of Christianity," the famous sociologist wrote about Jesus’ priorities of love and service and how early Christians demonstrated those values.  

OZH offers ‘Senior Solutions Hour’ events

      Ozarks Healthcare will host three "Senior Solutions Hour" community events this month to help area senior citizens prepare for the upcoming Medicare Annual Open …

Rain deficit remains a concern for cattle producers

Compared to last week, slaughter cows were steady to $2 lower and slaughter bulls were $4 lower Wednesday at Ozarks Regional Stockyards.

Think you know your way around the community? Tell us where this week’s photo was taken!

    HOW TO ENTER: • Email: Send your best guess to news@westplainsdailyquill.net • Phone: Call us at 417-256-9191 • Online: WestPlainsDailyQuill.net/Spot …

Heritage Tractor plans Halloween Howl event

Heritage Tractor, 3285 Porter Wagoner Blvd. in West Plains, will host a Halloween Howl event from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 24.
Special Sections
2024 Letters to Santa cover
A host of Zizzers stop a Hillcrest run during the West Plains High School homecoming game Friday at Zizzer Stadium. The West Plains defense held the Hornets scoreless in the second half as the Zizzers secured a 34-12 victory.

Zizzers take charge of second half for homecoming win

The West Plains Zizzers pulled away in the second half to secure a 34-12 homecoming victory over the Hillcrest Hornets on Friday.
Aubrey Tidwell, back left, was crowned the 2026 West Plains Homecoming Queen on Friday during halftime of the Zizzers' football game against Hillcrest at Zizzer Stadium. Joining her are her escort, Mason Matejek, center, and 2025 Homecoming Queen Olivia Rodriguez, right. In front are flower girl Natalie Schultz and crown bearer Dallas Smith. The Zizzers won the game 34-12.

Zizzer Homecoming Highlights

                                  …
The Mtn. View Chamber of Commerce will host the 36th annual Pioneer Days beginning with a pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Saturday in downtown Mtn. View. The festival features live music, heritage demonstrations, contests, vendors, food and family activities.

Pioneer Days set for Saturday in Mtn. View

The Mtn. View Chamber of Commerce will host the 36th annual Pioneer Days on Saturday in downtown Mtn. View, featuring live music, heritage demonstrations, contests, vendors, food and family activities.

West Plains R-7 Homecoming Spirit Week

    Monday: No school across the district.   West Plains High School • Tuesday: "Hotel California" (Comfy Clothes Day). • Wednesday: "Back in Black" …

Zizzer Homecoming Parade theme announced

The 2026 West Plains High School Homecoming Parade will be held Friday. This year’s parade theme is “Rock and Roll,” as the Zizzers prepare to play the Hillcrest Hornets.

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