James and Jessica Brimsberry have a bit of a mystery on their hands, but one that adds a touch of interest to their work in restoring outbuildings on their property near the western edge of town, an area that has seen quite a bit of expansion over the last 40 years or so. more

Downtown Willow Springs is looking like it will be abuzz with activity today, starting with breakfast and children’s activities this morning and wrapping up with this evening’s Christmas parade. more

Nestled within the rolling hills of Missouri, West Plains is a town that holds within its streets and structures the untold stories of a bygone era. This guide embarks you on a self-guided tour, a journey that will lead you through the heart of downtown West Plains, unveiling its rich history and cultural heritage. As you wander through its lanes, you'll find each corner whispering tales of triumph, tragedy, and time-honored tradition. more

The Missouri Lottery announced this month it has awarded funds to schools statewide, raised from the sales of Scratchers and draw games lottery tickets in the 2023 fiscal year. more

Alex McHenry, 18, and Mike Owen, 19, arrived at Martha Vance Samaritan Outreach Center on Aug. 7; their son Finnegan Owen arrived Nov. 3, joining his young parents at the only home he's known so far. more

Two women from West Plains who have climbed the ladders to success in their respective fields are recognized among the 2023 Top 50 Missourians You Should Know by Ingram’s Magazine, a long-standing business publication serving Kansas and Missouri. more

For the fourth year in a row, The Chaos Closet is sponsoring a storage unit for the 37th Circuit Children’s Division.  more

The Missouri Department of Conservation is asking the public for help in finding the person who, between Saturday and Sunday, illegally killed and left a bull elk near Klepzig Mill in Shannon County. A local deer hunter found and reported the animal’s location to MDC. more

Whether you’re a native-born or naturalized Ozarker, Dr. Phil Howerton’s latest poetry collection, “Gods of Four Mile Creek,” is sure to touch your heart and sentiments. more

Gov. Mike Parson visited West Plains on Tuesday to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the building that will permanently house an existing autism student support program at Missouri State University-West Plains. more

West Plains’ name ties to its founding in the 1850s — it came to be called that because the settlement was west of nearby Thomasville — but the town today is known for other names, too. Legacies that began locally include famed musicians Jan Howard and Porter Wagoner, baseball legends Bill Virdon and Preacher Roe, and actor Dick Van Dyke. more

A group of West Plains High School students is gaining valuable hands-on experience while helping make the campus safer and more accessible to students and staff who require the use of a wheelchair. more

The Arrive Alive challenge was high tech, but the message was relatively simple for the Willow Springs High School students who donned virtual reality goggles and got behind the wheel of an SUV. more

The West Plains High School FFA organization is taking orders for adviser Jay Hale’s “famous” baby back smoked pork ribs. more

Outgoing Missouri State University President Clif Smart gave his final state of the university address Friday afternoon at Hass-Darr Hall on the Missouri State University-West Plains campus. more

Several contests are held each year at the annual Black Gold Walnut Festival, set to take place Friday and Saturday on the historic court square in Alton. more

The Willow Springs Bear City Fall Festival, coordinated by the city’s chamber of commerce, will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday and end at 3 p.m. more