The Richards School Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the school boardroom for its regular monthly session. more

A total of 272 students will be candidates for graduation from Missouri State University-West Plains during the 2023 commencement ceremony Saturday at the West Plains Civic Center. more

MTN. VIEW — The Mtn. View-Birch Tree Liberty High School celebrated its 2023 graduating class Friday evening with a ceremony held at Liberty High School, awarding diplomas to 78 Eagles and recognizing student achievements. more

Family members of Zizzer Class of ’23 graduates will want to be sure to pick up a copy of Tuesday’s Quill. more

Officials at Missouri State University-West Plains received plenty of help when they planted two trees on campus on April 28, in honor of Arbor Day. They were joined by representatives from the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce, Heritage Tractor in West Plains and several eighth graders from Howell Valley School who were participating in service projects in the community that day. Above, the group gathers around a weeping cherry tree donated by Heritage Tractor. It was planted near the intersection of West Main Street and Minnesota Avenue. In no particular order, the group is made up of chamber Executive Assistant Jennifer Dryer and Executive Director Jessica Collins; MSU-WP groundskeeper/general maintenance worker David York; Howell Valley School counselor Liz Woodring, volunteer Holly Reichers and several eighth graders; Heritage Tractor Sales Manager Sandy Johnson and Service Manager Travis Moritz; and MSU-WP Director of Facility Operations Ron Hensley. Below, a group gathers around a red maple tree purchased from West Plains Greenhouse with funds from the MDC Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (T.R.I.M.) Grant awarded to the university earlier this year. It was planted near Garfield Hall at the intersection of Garfield and Cass Avenues. In no particular order, those present are MSU-WP Associate Vice President for Business Support Services Crockett Oaks III; Collins; Dryer; MDC Resource Forester Tyler Trantham; Hensley; Johnson; Moritz; MSU-WP Director of Library Services Rebekah McKinney; York; MSU-WP Procurement Specialist Misty Davis; MSU-WP Associate Professor of Nursing Barbara Caton; and MSU-WP custodian Deana Bell. more

Awards and accolades abounded when faculty, staff and students at Missouri State University-West Plains gathered April 20 for the Celebration of Leaders student awards ceremony at the West Plains Civic Center. 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

The Junction Hill School board will hold its May meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday in the school cafeteria. more

New students planning to enroll in 2023 summer session or fall semester classes at Missouri State University-West Plains can now sign up for the university’s STudent Advising and Registration (S.T.A.R.) Orientation. more

Area Future Farmers of America (FFA) members who want to continue their affiliation with the agriculture education organization following high school graduation can do so now through a new alumni and supporters chapter at Missouri State University-West Plains. more

Day Without Hate was celebrated Friday in the West Plains R-7 School District with student activities at West Plains High School and included a rally at Zizzer Stadium Friday evening featuring a cookout, music and a game of musical chairs accompanied by the brief appearance of a rainbow after a rain shower. more

High school students who are interested in the future of pork production, new technologies or want to be a leader in the pork industry are invited to attend the 2023 University of Missouri Youth Pork Institute in Columbia. more

After making the cut for the last five years in a row, the Richards School District will send not one but two teams to the American Rocketry Challenge, a national competition with 100 finalists. more

Willow Springs High School senior Gabby Gunter received the second-place Missouri FFA Agriscience Research Animal Systems Proficiency Award at the recent 95th Missouri FFA Convention. more

The Missouri FFA Association has once again awarded West Plains the FFA Chapter a Gold Emblem, a Top Chapter Award. The local youth agricultural organization has earned top chapter status several years in a row. more

The pay rate and benefits for noncertified and certified West Plains R-7 District personnel, and a collective bargaining agreement pertaining to district transportation department employees were agenda items at the recent April school board meeting. A unanimous vote was given to approve the collective bargaining agreement between the Missouri NEA/West Plains Full Time Route Drivers and the district. more

The Missouri State University Board of Governors Executive Committee approved increases in tuition and fees for the 2023-2024 academic year at Missouri State University-West Plains during its recent meeting in Springfield. more

West Plains R-7 School Board members will hear updates on the upcoming name change for the South Central Career Center during tonight’s regular monthly meeting, set to begin with a closed session at 5 p.m. and open to the public at 6 p.m. more

The West Plains High School Concert Choir recently added another major accomplishment to its already-impressive résumé, which represents a very long and rich history of excellence. 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