Texas County Sheriff Scott Lindsey has asked the Missouri State Highway Patrol to conduct an external investigation into the death of a woman who was found unresponsive in a holding cell on Saturday morning, he announced. more

An Ava resident with five active felony cases in two area counties has now been charged with first-degree murder by grand jury indictment in Douglas County, filed Tuesday. more

Two Ava women have been charged after a "family feud" boiled over on Thursday, reportedly resulting in injuries to both. more

Two West Plains men each face a Douglas County charge of first-degree kidnapping while facilitating a felony after allegedly taking a 16-year-old girl from Douglas County to Tennessee. more

Howell County Commissioners are in session today, having convened at 10 a.m. in the conference room on the second floor of the county office building, 35 Court Square. more

Members of the Willow Springs city council met Thursday for their regular monthly meeting, during which time they heard from a concerned citizen, recognized the achievement of a member of the fire department and the hiring of a new one, and heard an update on the progress of the restoration of the McClellan Building.
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Two Arkansas residents have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder following the investigation of a Jan. 8 stabbing death in Hardy, Ark., Fulton County Arkansas Sheriff Jake Smith announced Friday. more

State Rep. Travis Smith, Twin Bridges and formerly of West Plains, announced his candidacy for the State Senate on Thursday. He is running for the 33rd District seat currently held by Karla Eslinger, Wasola, who will not seek reelection at the conclusion of her term. more

Willow Springs Mayor Pro Tem Kim Rich has been reappointed to her position on, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee, contributing to a landmark moment for the committee, which now, for first time in its history boasts a female majority. more

The yearly Project Homeless Connect event, an outreach service day to put the area's unhoused and unsheltered into contact with assistance agencies and one-day services like medical care, haircuts and help with food and clothing, will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 25 at the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St. more

The annual election of council members for University of Missouri Extension in Howell County is underway. more

The Willow Springs School Board convened for its regular meeting on Jan. 8, swearing a new student representative and voting to create a committee dedicated to reforming evaluations of the school board and superintendent. more

As the bitter cold continues through the first half of the week, and with a slight possibility of a further dusting of snow today, several area schools have called off in-person classes for Tuesday. more

Officials with St. Paul Lutheran Church announce the blood drive at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Willow Springs for today, Friday, January 12, has been canceled due to inclement weather. more

A Seymour resident who is charged with 52 misdemeanor counts of animal neglect or abandonment, and has been charged with felonies related to an earlier arrest, has filed correspondence in court suggesting her constitutional civil rights were infringed upon when she was taken into custody on Oct. 14, 2023, for failure to appear in Ava municipal court for a traffic ticket. more

More than a dozen area school districts and Head Start programs canceled classes Friday ahead of a forecast that includes strong winds, a sharp temperature drop and the possibility of snow. more

The Willow Springs School District received what officials describe as “a generous donation” from the Paul family to go toward the high school Career and Technical Education Programs. more