West Plains City Council members, with the exception of John Niesen, who was absent, recently voted to approve a building permit request, a resolution regarding an emergency operations plan and the passage of an ordinance needed to complete a plan for battery backup of traffic signal lights. more

City of WP announces design contest more

Suicide has become a growing problem nationwide, and particularly in the Ozarks, where suicide rates are statistically higher than many other parts of the United States. more

Officials at Missouri State University and Missouri State University-West Plains announce that Dr. Robert Greim has joined the West Plains campus as its new director of development. In this role with the MSU Advancement Office, Greim will focus primarily on serving the West Plains campus. more

For the 12th year, Lady Zizzer Basketball, with the help of West Plains Bank and Trust Company, will raise funds to benefit local cancer patients through the team’s annual Pink Out game, scheduled for Thursday at West Plains High School. The Lady Zizzers will take on the Donettes of Doniphan, with junior varsity action beginning at 5:30 p.m. and a varsity contest beginning at about 7 p.m. more

The Office of U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore, Western District of Missouri, has released information about guilty pleas entered in a racketeering case that involved the illegal employment of undocumented workers in several midwestern states, including Missouri. more

In true Ozarks fashion the Koshkonong and surrounding communities are rallying to help an elderly Koshkonong couple recover from injuries and rebuild their lives after a fire destroyed their home on Friday, taking all their belongings with it. more

Organizers of this year's cystic fibrosis benefit concert have announced the headlining artist is Academy of Country Music award-winning artist Rodney Atkins, returning after performing for Cystic Fibrosis of West Plains’ fundraiser event in 2019, helping to raise more than $80,000, setting a new record at the time. more

During its most recent monthly meeting, held Jan. 21, West Plains City Council members heard from a developer who is requesting a zone change from single family residential (R-1) to multifamily residential (R-3) in the northern part of the city. more

A highlight of the first West Plains R-7 School Board meeting of the year included an announcement that no new candidates filed for the upcoming school board election, so member Sam Riggs and President Cindy Tyree will retain their seats for another three years, their set to expire in April. more

Recognizing those who go above and beyond to boost the community, the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce presented its annual awards ceremony Thursday at the West Plains Civic Center.  more

A group including parents of South Fork Elementary students is protesting the transfer of Howell County deputy and Student Resource Officer Shannon Sisney from his post at South Fork which he has held for about three years, and an online petition posted on change.org signed by about 475 individuals as of Friday morning. more

After two months of students, faculty, staff and community rallying around a Zizzer facing a serious illness and recovery, a check for $15,322 was presented to Lexi Williams and her family at Tuesday night's school board meeting. more

The West Plains Police Department recently announced the seizure of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, the result of a search warrant executed Jan. 8 at a home on Hazel Street by the department's Special Response Team. more

With a wall of paintings on display, Johnnie Lee Fullington, 31, West Plains, conducted a show and sale during his art show reception Thursday at the Frame Shop and Gallery, 403 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The event was Fullington's first solo exhibition.  more

Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) graduate Faith Collins, Alton, was among six students who recently received Missouri State University’s 2024-2025 Citizen Scholar Award. more

About 65 people attended a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., held Monday at the historic Lincoln School, including West Plains Mayor Mike Topliff and his wife Pam; Travis Smith, who just ended a term as Missouri's 155th District representative; and Missouri State University-West Plains athletes and other students. more

The Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative has issued a peak alert notice to its members, asking them to conserve energy use through 9 p.m. today. The alert was issued Sunday afternoon ahead of single-digit overnight lows, and early Monday morning, co-op officials reported, a power outage affected 999 member households. more