This week, Gov. Mike Parson announced the Department of Economic Development has awarded $30 million funded through the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) Workforce Training Grant Program to help companies address workforce shortages by recruiting and training thousands of Missourians. more

Ridgerunner magazine, a publication written by West Plains High School folklore students packed with stories of the Ozarks area and points of interest throughout Missouri and Arkansas, has a legacy of excellence going back 39 years. more

Junction Hill School will host preschool and new kindergartener screenings by appointment Feb. 17 for the 2023-24 school year.  more

Arkansas seniors who have participated in county, district and Arkansas state fairs are eligible to apply for the Arkansas Fair Manager’s Association scholarship. more

Since 2004, FCS Financial has provided nearly $775,000 to Missouri high school seniors seeking higher education. Up to 35 scholarships, each at $1,500 will be awarded to children or grandchildren of FCS Financial members. more

In open session at this week’s meeting of the West Plains R-7 School Board, South Central Career Center Director Dr. Josh Cotter spoke about the center's lineman program. more

Wayne Stewart, after 38 years in education and 14 years as superintendent of Glenwood School, will retire at the end of the school year, effective June 30. more

The recently-passed federal budget allocates more than $75 million for Missouri State University and its projects for which Sen. Roy Blunt advocated, including a share to benefit the ASCEND program on the West Plains campus, university officials announced Wednesday. more

Below are several upcoming events at Missouri State University-West Plains, many of which are open to the community. Feel free to clip this calendar and keep it for your reference to make sure you don’t miss any events that might interest you. Also listed are several important dates on the university’s calendar that area residents might want to keep in mind.  more

When Josh Cotter graduated from West Plains High School in 2000, he, like many of his peers, chose to stay close to home and attend Missouri State University-West Plains. Not only could he save money by using funds from the state’s A+ Program to pay for his tuition, he could still hang out with his friends while completing his associate’s degree and acclimating to college life. more

Welding is one of the fastest growing careers in the country, but only a handful of women currently fill its ranks. more

On Tuesday, West Plains R-7 School District officials recognized teachers and staff chosen by their peers with a district award of excellence. Teachers were honored as part of the regional #TeacherProud social media campaign that celebrates teachers on the second Tuesday of each month. January’s recognized teachers are South Central Career Center and West Plains High School Agricultural Science teacher Tonya Jedllicka and West Plains Middle School fifth grade teacher Allison Arnold. Noncertified staff recognized as Zizzer Champions are South Fork Elementary Administrative Assistant Lisa Fox and custodian Chad O’Dell. To nominate a teacher or staff member to be honored in February, complete one of the following forms: forms.gle/7YZC11EZqiVqHz7Y6 (teacher) and forms.gle/rWTnntDxB6gGFwYt8 (staff). more

PRINCIPALS HONOR ROLL more

PRINCIPAL’S HONOR ROLL more

Ozarka College in Melbourne, Ark., welcomes Shannon Williams as the new certified flight Instructor for the school’s Aviation Department. more

Area residents aged 62 and older who would like to take a class at Missouri State University-West Plains during the 2023 spring semester can do so under the Senior Citizen Fee Waiver Program. more

Longtime Ozarks educator and former Missouri State University-West Plains Chancellor Shirley Lawler is joining the Community Foundation of the Ozarks as the new Rural Schools Partnership coordinator. more

The West Plains Education Foundation announced Tuesday that 16 West Plains School District educators earned Classroom Innovation Grants for the 2022-2023 second semester. more

Members of the West Plains R-7 School Boar recently held their regular monthly meeting, which opened with presentations from coaches and band directors giving updates about student achievements. more

West Plains High School senior Miles McWilliams, who took a five-day trip to Washington, D.C., at the end of November, gets almost breathless when talking about what he saw, the people he met and the impact of the historical sites he visited. more