Business | West Plains Daily Quill

MV-BT School District receives $500 donation from local bank, association

The Missouri Bankers Association (MBA) selected West Plains Bank and Trust Company as a winner of MBA’s Teach Children to Save Challenge thanks to a social media post featuring Mountain View-Birch Tree fourth graders. more

7/24/24

Mtn. View Chamber conducting annual membership renewals

The Mtn. View Chamber of Commerce is renewing memberships through July and has added several new items to its membership package, announces Director Catalina Pokorny. more

7/24/24

CHAMBER CHAT

Hello members of the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce! As we close the second quarter of 2024, I am pleased to recap the events and achievements of our Chamber thus far this year. more

By Board Chair Eric Gibson, Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce | 7/22/24

WP Chamber to celebrate new location

All are invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on July 25 to celebrate the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce’s move to 397 Jackie Garrett Drive, the former site of the Greater Ozarks Center for Advanced Technology. more

7/18/24

Bear City Ball date announced

The Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce has announced the date of the Bear City Ball: It will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 16 at Pine Meadows Venue, 1449 Highway 76 in Willow Springs. more

7/17/24

The Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce recently presented a check in the amount of $1,422 to the Willow Springs Police Department. The check was presented as part of the city’s Fourth of July festivities, which included the I Ran from the Cops 5K and S.W.A.T. Challenge fundraiser competitions. It was the second year for the events, which chamber Director Kim McCormick declared a “big success.” “The support from the community was phenomenal!” said McCormick. We look forward to partnering with WSPD next year for an even bigger event! We appreciate all the business supporters and participants who helped make this event a success.” Present for the check presentation were, from left, Assistant Police Chief Al Lewis, McCormick and Police Chief Wes Ellison.

July 4 law enforcement fundraisers raise $1,422

7/17/24

Lacey Carter promoted to chief operations officer at Ozarks Healthcare

Ozarks Healthcare Chief Nursing Officer Lacey Carter has been promoted to the position of chief operations officer, health system officials announce. While taking on the duties of her new role, they said, Carter will continue to serve as CNO, overseeing the management and operations of all nursing services across Ozarks Healthcare. more

7/16/24

Chris Harlin stands beside the old safe that was installed in the Bank of Gainesville (now Century Bank of the Ozarks) when it opened on the Gainesville square in 1894. The 4,500-pound safe was hauled to Gainesville by horse-drawn wagon from West Plains and had to be retrieved from the river when it fell into the water during the crossing at Tecumseh. The safe now stands near the front door of the Century Bank lobby in Gainesville.

Century Bank president to share bank's colorful history July 25 at Historium

During a presentation July 25, at the Ozark County Historium on the Gainesville Court Square, Chris Harlin will share highlights and anecdotes from his family's four-generation history with what began as the Bank of Gainesville 130 years ago and is today Century Bank of the Ozarks. more

7/15/24

From left: Piney River Brewing’s U.S. Open Beer Championship winners Float Trip Ale, Andy’s Root Beer, Missouri Waltz, Black Walnut Wheat and Raise a Ruckus Imperial Stout.

Piney River Brewing claims 5 medals in U.S. Open Beer Championship

Piney River Brewing, of Bucyrus in Texas County, won five medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship 2024 competition in Oxford, Ohio, officials announced Friday. more

7/15/24

Tina Wheelis, Ozarka College’s executive vice president of finance and administration, left, presents employee of the quarter recognition to Dan Blandon, coordinator of housekeeping.

Blandon selected as Ozarka employee of the quarter

Officials with Ozarka College in Melbourne, Ark., announce that Dan Blandon, Melbourne, has been selected as Ozarka's employee of the quarter. Blandon is the coordinator of housekeeping for the maintenance department. more

7/10/24

Amanda Koon, owner and operator of Knockouts Tanning, second from left, received a microloan through the Ozarks Small Business Incubator to relocate and expand her existing business. Knockouts offers ultraviolet tanning, red-light therapy, spray tanning, and eyelash and makeup services in addition to a selection of accessories and wellness products. Visit the business at its new location, 806 W. Broadway in West Plains, or check out the Facebook page @KnockoutsTanning. OzSBI’s Microloan Fund offers loans of up to $50,000 to qualifying businesses in Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Shannon, Texas and Wright counties and within the city limits of Mammoth Spring, Ark. The goal of the program is to stimulate the local economy by providing startup and expansion loans to new and existing businesses. Microloans may be used as direct loans, seed capital, or “gap” financing combined with other lending. The application process is similar to a traditional bank loan application. The main qualifiers for consideration are good credit and a sound financial plan. For more information about the microloan program, visit www.ozsbi.com or call 417-256-9724. With Koon, from left, are, Reta Cooper, Maurice Koon and OzSBI Chief Financial Officer Ila Sloan and Business Development Specialist Autumn Shirley.

Amanda Koon with Knockouts Tanning receives OzSBI microloan

7/9/24

Gifts of almost $36 million to MSU Foundation break record

It was a record-breaking year for the Missouri State University Foundation, officials announced. more

7/8/24

Jasper Engines and Transmissions has announced the winners of its annual scholarship program benefiting graduating high school seniors who are children of full-time Jasper employees. A rating system of several criteria is used to determine recipients. Among those awarded scholarships is Lakaya Reece, a Cabool High School graduate who plans to continue her education at Missouri State University, where she will pursue a degree in accounting with a minor in business. She is the daughter of Tien and David Reece; Tien works in the Gas Department at Jasper’s Willow Springs facility.

Cabool HS grad awarded Jasper scholarship

7/3/24

TCMH prepares to open new clinic in Licking

Texas County Memorial Hospital has a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for the new TCMH Licking Family Clinic, board members heard at their monthly meeting last week. more

7/2/24

Lemonade stand fundraiser to support Alzheimer's care

7/2/24

From left: Amazon Team Lead Erika Lynn, Applicant Success Manager Carrie Beya, Account Development Executive Donovan Chandler and Business Development Manager Todd Ghys, Ozarks Small Business Incubator CEO Heather Fisher, Chief Financial Officer Ila Sloan, Business Development Specialist Autumn Shirley and Mentor Coordinator Gene Weinbeck.

Amazon becomes newest OzSBI member

Amazon is among the most recent organizations to join the Ozarks Small Business Incubator as a Champion Member. more

7/2/24

Willow Springs Chamber announces 4th of July event schedule

The Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce is partnering with local law enforcement, parade organizers and the Lions Club to coordinate a day full of activities and fun to celebrate Independence Day. more

6/26/24

E-Communications radio network recently took first place at the annual Missouri Broadcasters Convention held at Lake of the Ozarks. The award was presented for the network’s communitywide St. Jude Radiothon, which last February raised over $265,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee. “This award goes to the community who so actively embraces this great cause to find cures and save lives with the efforts at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,” said E-Communications co-owner Bob Eckman, left. He explained, “St Jude shares freely research with hospitals all over the world. Each February for the past 35 years-plus, the radio stations host this radiothon in February with 100% of donations going to kids in an effort to find cures. Today nearly 90% of all childhood cancers are treatable due to the vigorous research and commitment at St. Jude in Memphis.” With Bob Eckman is co-owner Timothy Eckman.

E-Communications wins award for St. Jude Radiothon

6/25/24

David M. Gohn Elected as Chairman of Missouri Bankers Association

David M. Gohn, president and CEO of West Plains Bank and Trust Company, was elected and installed as chairman of the Missouri Bankers Association (MBA) at the organization’s 134th Annual Convention held June 4 through 6 at the Hilton Branson Convention Center. more

6/25/24

Mystical Vibrations, owned by Dedra Auxier, is now a member of the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce and open at 1536 Imperial Center in West Plains. The alternative and holistic health store offers crystals; finished mineral and semiprecious gemstones and tools and artwork made from them; sage bundles, palo santo wood and incense; jewelry; and tarot cards meant to promote and assist mental and physical well-being. Business hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Call 863-265-9799, or visit the Facebook page at “Mystical Vibrations Crystals &amp; More.” From left: chamber ambassador Stephanie Beltz-Price, Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) representatives Madison Sutterfield and Autumn Shirley, Safe Harbor Yoga and Wellness owner Crys Mattison, OzSBI representative Gene Weinbeck, Auxier's husband holding children Mila and Ila, Chamber ambassador Bryan Adcock, Auxier, chamber ambassadors Diana Brown and Kathleen Hensley, chamber board Chairman-Elect John Niesen and ambassador Cynthia Haigler, and chamber member Greg Carter, ambassador Ann-Marie Newberry and board Chairman Eric Gibson.

Mystical Vibrations alternative health store joins WP Chamber

6/25/24