News | West Plains Daily Quill

FILE - Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stand at their podiums during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

Want to tune in for the second GOP presidential debate? Here's how to watch

The second Republican presidential debate is drawing near with a smaller on-stage lineup than last month's event. The two-hour debate starts at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan … more

By MEG KINNARD | 9/26/23

Missouri's GOP attorney general sues school for closed-door debate on transgender bathroom use

Missouri’s Republican attorney general is suing a school district for secretly discussing transgender student bathroom access. The Tuesday lawsuit claims a suburban St. Louis school board violated … more

By SUMMER BALLENTINE | 9/26/23

"We always say once a Zizzer, always a Zizzer. We talk about the Zizzer family, and in true Zizzer fashion the Zizzer family wants to help the family of Connor Lair," West Plains R-7 School Board President Jim Thompson said at the beginning of the board’s September meeting. A check for $10,000 was presented to the Lair family by the board, including gate proceeds from the Sept. 15 Homecoming game, donations from Rolla High School, passing a football helmet to collect cash donations and purple sticker sales. Lair is a 2022 West Plains High School graduate and Zizzer football standout who was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He is now attending Missouri State University in Springfield, playing football for the Bears, and has begun treatment at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. From left: board member Reid Grigsby, Vice President Cindy Tyree and member Brian Mitchell; Lair's grandmother Carolyn Honeycutt; Zizzer Athletics and Activities Director Ashley Cooley; and board member Christena Coleman, Thompson and member Jodi Purgason.

R-7 School Board presents $10K check to Lair family

9/26/23

Inaugural event held Friday to recognize Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month

September is suicide awareness and prevention month, and local mental health professionals and representatives of government and law enforcement met Friday evening for a public event to draw attention to resources. The event focused on prevention of the use of firearms in suicide attempts, including an emphasis on youth ages 12 through 20 and former or active military service members. more

By KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/26/23

93-year-old woman missing from Mtn. View

The Mtn. View Police Department on Tuesday morning issued an endangered person advisory for Effie Maxine Holden, 93, who police say has been missing since noon Monday. more

9/26/23

WP Chamber sets date for Christmas Parade

The West Plains Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade will take place at 4 p.m. Dec. 9. This year’s Parade theme is “The Joys of Christmas,” and the procession will once again make its way through downtown. more

9/26/23

The 2nd GOP debate field will be a little bit smaller — and still missing Trump. Follow live updates

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson didn't qualify for the second Republican presidential debate, but he says he's not leaving the race. Hutchinson says he measures his success by the response he … more

By The Associated Press | 9/26/23

The University of Missouri Extension Century Farm belonging to Andy and Debbie Cooper of Ozark County was recognized by Extension representatives Callie Clayton and Alicia Winrod Saturday at Hootin' and Hollarin'. From left: Clayton, Winrod, the Coopers, and extended family Donna and John Epley and Amy and Jason Cooper.

Gainesville's 62nd Hootin an Hollarin is a hit

9/26/23

DAR calls for volunteers, sponsors to support Wreaths Across America ceremony

At 11 a.m. Dec. 16, Wreaths Across America will be at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1019 E. Third St. in Mtn. View, to remember and honor local veterans buried there. The cemetery has 184 veterans laid to rest. more

9/26/23

Attorney General Merrick Garland accompanied by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram, looks at photographs of people who had died from drugs during the Second Annual Family Summit on Fentanyl at DEA Headquarters in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Families of those killed by fentanyl gather at DEA as US undergoes deadliest overdose crisis

About 150 people from families who have lost a loved one to fentanyl poisoning have gathered at the headquarters of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as the U.S. faces its deadliest overdose … more

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST | 9/26/23

Editorial Roundup: Missouri

Kansas City Star. September 20, 2023. Editorial: KC Chiefs, Royals, Current want sports betting. Missouri lawmakers drag their heels Direct democracy is, amazingly, still alive and well in … more

By The Associated Press | 9/26/23

7 candidates have qualified for the 2nd Republican presidential debate. Here's who missed the cut

The field for the second Republican presidential debate will be smaller than the first. The Republican National Committee says seven candidates have qualified for Wednesday night’s debate in … more

By MEG KINNARD | 9/25/23

On Tuesday, Christos House Interim Executive Director Kelli Neel and Resale Manager Missy Street attended the Community Foundation of the Ozarks' Agency Partner Appreciation Luncheon at the White River Conference Center in Springfield. Neel and Street, representing Christos House, were presented with a check for $10,000 as part of meeting the foundation's endowment fundraising challenge. Between mid-July and mid-August, Christos House raised over $15,000 in sales and donations, in order to get an extra $10,000 to be donated to its endowment by the CFO. From left: CFO President and CEO Brian Fogle, board member Sarah Honeycutt of Cabool, Neel, Street and CFO board member Lynne Meyerkord of Springfield.

Christos House meets CFO Endowment Match Challenge  

Christos House successfully completed the special 50th anniversary Endowment Match Challenge set by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, officials have announced. more

9/25/23

Police: Two women report indecent exposure at WP park

James M. Meese, 37, West Plains, has been charged with two counts of first-degree sexual misconduct, repeat offense, after allegedly exposing his genitals to two women in separate incidents at Georgia White Walking Park in West Plains. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/25/23

FILE - Missouri's Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft speaks, Nov. 7, 2017, in Valley Park, Mo. On Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, a Missouri judge tossed Republican-written ballot language that described several abortion-rights amendments as allowing “dangerous and unregulated abortions until live birth.” The office of Ashcroft, who is running for governor in 2024, wrote summaries for the abortion-rights amendments. In Missouri, summaries are provided to voters on ballots to help quickly explain sometimes lengthy and complicated proposals. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

A judge has rewritten Missouri ballot summary language that described 'dangerous' abortions

A Missouri judge has tossed Republican-written ballot summary language Monday that described several proposed constitutional amendments as allowing “dangerous and unregulated abortions until live … more

By SUMMER BALLENTINE | 9/25/23

WPMS Principal Donnie Miller to transition to transportation director role

The West Plains R-7 School Board has appointed West Plains Middle School Principal Dr. Donnie Miller as the district transportation director, effective July 1, 2024. more

9/25/23

The Springfield Central High School Kiltie Drum and Bugle Corps is a regular entry in the Gainesville Hootin an Hollarin parade, and consistent crowd pleasers, too. The Corps is entirely made of female members who are flag bearers and drum, bugle and bagpipe players. The members also perform a coordinated routine that includes high steps and kicks, all in full regalia, and perform at seasonal and Scots and Celtic heritage festivals and parades throughout the region. Hootin an Hollarin took place from Thursday through Saturday in downtown Gainesville, the 62nd consecutive year for the event which focuses on Ozarks heritage and music with demonstrations, contests and traditional music performances. See Wednesday's edition for more photos from the festival.

'''Hootin', Hollarin' an' high-steppin'

9/25/23

MDC confirms mountain lion sighting in Shannon County

The Missouri Department of Conservation has confirmed an adult elk was killed by a mountain lion Sept. 12 in Shannon County, the agency announced Friday. more

9/25/23

AP-Network 11:15 aed

Education Four Day Weeks (COPY:V0101) <<CAT:General News-US Domestic>> Education Four Day Weeks-parent apa333066-Actuality--INDEPENDENCE, Mo.-(Brandi Pruente, Independence … more

9/25/23

Hudson, 7, left, Callahan, 13, middle, and Keegan Pruente, 10, right, stand outside their school on their first Monday home during the new four-day school week on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in Independence, Mo. Hundreds of school systems around the country have adopted four-day weeks in recent years, mostly in rural and western parts of the U.S. Districts cite cost savings and advantages for teacher recruitment. Still, some experts question the effects on students who already missed out on significant learning during the pandemic. (AP Photo/Nick Ingram)

More schools are adopting 4-day weeks. For parents, the challenge is day 5

Hundreds of school systems around the country have adopted four-day weeks in recent years, mostly in rural and western parts of the U.S. Districts cite cost savings and advantages for teacher … more

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH | 9/25/23