Business | West Plains Daily Quill

A cool solution: Mizzou researcher is designing a next-generation cooling system to help data centers become more energy efficient

Artificial intelligence (AI) is hot right now. Also hot: the data centers that power the technology. And keeping those centers cool requires a tremendous amount of energy. more

8/6/24

National Employ Older Workers Week highlights program for senior citizens

Missouri’s “Outstanding Older Worker of the Year” award program seeks to honor a Missouri resident who is 55 or older, employed at least 20 hours a week and displays dependability and new skills on the job. Nominations are currently being accepted. The winner will be recognized at a ceremony during National Employ Older Workers Week in Jefferson City, held the last week of September. more

8/6/24

Tickets on sale for Bear City Ball

Tickets to the Aug. 16 Bear City Ball at Pine Meadows Venue, 1449 Highway 76 in Willow Springs, are available for purchase in person or online, and Pizza Americana is offering a discount to ticketholders who visit the restaurant for dinner before the ball, announces Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce Director Kim McCormick. more

8/5/24

Rachel Stewart, founder of Travel By Rachel, has announced the opening of her newest location at the Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI), 408 Washington Ave, Suite 108 in West Plains. Stewart offers custom-made travel services specializing in tropical vacations, European getaways and luxurious cruises. Travel By Rachel provides comprehensive concierge services, ensuring every client's needs are meticulously met. “From the initial consultation through to the return journey, Rachel delivers personalized recommendations and manages all travel logistics, including flights, accommodations and activities,” said OzSBI officials. “With a commitment to prioritizing client preferences and interests, Rachel Stewart transforms travel dreams into reality, offering unparalleled peace of mind and exceptional customer care at every turn. To celebrate the opening of the new office, Travel By Rachel will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Aug. 23. For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit Stewart at her office during business hours, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays, or contact her directly at 417-293-1658.

OzSBI welcomes Travel by Rachel

8/5/24

Life Phases Metaphysical Store, 6 Court Square, is now open for business from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Follow “Life Phases” on Facebook to learn more about the store.

Life Phases Metaphysical Store opens in downtown West Plains

Brandi Woosley, a mentee of the Ozarks Small Business Incubator, has launched a new business on Court Square in downtown West Plains: Life Phases Metaphysical Store. more

7/31/24

Ozark Burger Company and More has joined the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce and celebrated with a ribbon cutting July 24. The food trailer is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and parked at 1626 Porter Wagoner Boulevard, where the ribbon cutting took place. The business also attend food truck festivals and similar events. The business is owned by the Heavener family and the menu includes hamburgers, chicken and hot dogs. Besides single, double and triple smash burgers with all the fixings, there are Ozark Buffalo Tots covered with Buffalo sauce and queso with ranch dressing and the quarter-pound Ozark Oldtimer Burger with a choice of traditional toppings. Out-of-the-ordinary sides offered include potato munchers, mac and cheese bites, fried mushrooms, fried pickles and cheese curds. Find the mobile eatery on Facebook at “Ozark Burger Company and More.” Front row from left: chamber ambassador Shirley Butler and members Tina Cline, Shannon North and Jared Underwood; business owners Mavis, Adam and William Heavener; and chamber ambassadors Lisa Ehret and Kathleen Hensley.

WP Chamber welcomes Ozark Burgers and More

7/31/24

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