News | West Plains Daily Quill

The West Plains High School Class of 1974 celebrated its 50th class reunion the weekend of May 28 and 29 with 102 classmates in attendance. On May 28 , a meet-and-mingle event was held at the People’s Park pavilion, during which attendees visited with fellow classmates from near and far. The following day, classmates held a pizza party and visited more in the Magnolia Room at the West Plains Civic Center. There, Jackie (Collins) Biesen read the speech she gave at graduation 50 years ago. This photo was taken that evening at Rubydoo’s Vintage Events Center, where the alumni enjoyed a catered meal they said was delicious. In the venue, a memorial board listed the names and pictures of the 74 classmates now deceased. The memorabilia table was filled with school keepsakes and boards bearing yearbook pictures for all to enjoy. A program gave highlights from high school with special performances by “Caw-Vac” and “Sonny and Cher.” An auction held with items donated by classmates raised $6,410, all going to Hammond Mill Camp. Plans are now to have a float in the Zizzer Homecoming Parade Sept. 27.

Zizzer Class of '74 raises $6K for Hammond Mill Camp at reunion

7/10/24

July 4 incident in WP leads to assault, abuse charges

David L. Lange, 38, West Plains, is charged with four felonies in connection with the alleged July 4 assault of three children and four adults at a home on West Leyda Street in West Plains. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 7/10/24

City of Mtn. View discusses wastewater improvement plan

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Mtn. View Mayor Charry McCann and city council members Calvin Perry, Ed Martin and Judi Colter held an open work session July 2 ahead of a public hearing regarding a program to improve the city’s wastewater system, which was held Tuesday this week at the Community Center. Alderman David Bauer was absent from the work session. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 7/10/24

WP Council on the Arts brings back Young Writers Workshops

West Plains Council on the Arts and West Plains Public Library will cohost summertime writing workshops for local and visiting youth for the second year in a row from July 29 through Aug. 2 in the in the Community Room at the West Plains Public Library, 750 W. Broadway. more

7/9/24

Country music vocal group Girls Next Door, of Nashville, Tenn., are among the guests slated to perform at the 68th annual International Country Gospel Music Awards Convention July 11 through 13 at The Bridge Church on South U.S. 63, West Plains. The group initially formed in 1982 and is best known for its 1986 song “Slow Boat to China.” The group consists of original members Cindy Nixon Psanos, Diane Williams Austin, Tammy Stephens Smith and Doris King Merritt and recently released a new album, “Girls Next Door 2.0 - Now or Never.” The convention and performances are free to the public.

Reminder: ICGMA Convention and Awards starts Thurs.

The 68th annual International Country Gospel Music Association (ICGMA) Convention and Awards Show will be in full swing Thursday through Saturday at The Bridge Church in West Plains more

7/9/24

Staffing, budget updates given during June meeting of R-7 School Board

The latest meeting of the West Plains R-7 school board, held June 25, resulted in personnel changes discussed during closed session and approved during open session. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 7/9/24

WP Bank and Trust Company to sponsor free pool day in 4 cities

West Plains Bank and Trust Company will sponsor a free pool day on July 17 in West Plains, Mtn. View, Willow Springs and Houston. more

7/9/24

Two women charged with child endangerment after traffic crashes

Two area women have been charged with child endangerment after separate vehicle crashes that put child passengers at risk of injury. In one case the suspect reportedly crashed her vehicle as she was being pursued by law enforcement. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 7/9/24

City of Mtn. View to hold public hearing on wastewater rates today

Mtn. View City Council will hold a public hearing to discuss wastewater user charge rates at 5 p.m. today at the Mtn. View Community Center Building, 125 W. First St. more

7/9/24

‘Cowboy Rick’ suffers serious injuries in West 160 crash

Rick A. Hamby, 65, Caulfield, a longtime radio historian known to many locally as “Cowboy Rick,” suffered serious injuries in a head-on collision at 10:08 a.m. Sunday on West U.S. 160, 3 miles west of West Plains in Howell County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

7/8/24

The Zizzer Pride Band recently gave a free evening concert at the West Plains Civic Center to showcase skills learned at summer band camp, including the guards (flags) and drum line. The show, presented to friends and family of band members, had a theme of "Burn!" and performances included "Light My Fire" by the Doors, "Fireball" by Pitbull, "Burning Down the House" by the Talking Heads and "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis. The drum line was highlighted with a sampling of four cadences that set the rhythm of the marchers as they take the field or march along parade routes. Drum cadences originally began as a military tool to set the tempo for marching soldiers, and serves the same purpose for marching musicians today as they enter or exit the football field or make their way along parade routes. The cadences included "Smokestack" - (Drop That Beat!), keeping with the band's theme "Burn!", that led into a performance of the song "Burn" by Ellie Goulding. The June 28 event was also an introduction of new band directors A.J. Haessly and Zane Johnson, who join Melody Alford. Clips of the performance may be seen on the band’s Facebook page, @wpzizzerband.

Zizzer Pride Band showcases skills learned, introduces new directors

7/8/24

Meet the candidates running for Missouri's 154th House District

With the deadline for registering to vote in the Aug. 6 primary approaching on Wednesday, here is an introduction to the three Republican candidates vying for a spot on the Nov. 5 general election ballot for 154th District representative. A Democratic candidate is running unopposed in the primary race. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 7/6/24

The Howell County Sheriff’s Office recently finished a three-day training in conjunction with Missouri State Emergency Management Agency and Louisiana State University National Center for Biomedical Research and Training. The West Plains Police Department and West Plains Fire &amp; Rescue Station No. 1 were also participants. The training course was designed to improve interagency collaboration during a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive incident, explained Howell County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Angela Conboy. She noted the program enables members of the emergency community to recognize their roles and the roles of other first responder duties when preparing for and responding to disasters. During the training session, Deputy Timothy Gordon, left, is sprayed down by fireman Alex Brooks during a mock decontamination procedure.

First responders complete disaster response training course

7/6/24

Woman killed in Quarry Road crash

A two-vehicle crash reported to West Plains Police at about noon Tuesday, involving a commercial vehicle and a passenger car, resulted in the death of a 46-year-old woman, police reported. more

7/5/24

U.S. 63 crash in Thayer claims life of Westphalia man

A Monday morning crash on U.S. 63 near the intersection of Alton Road in Thayer resulted in fatal injuries for an Osage County man, and serious injuries to two children, Thayer police reported. more

7/5/24

Howell Co. Commission to consider bridge bids Monday

Howell County Commissioners are expected to open and review sealed bids for the repair of six low-water crossings in the Northern District during their regularly semiweekly session on Monday. more

7/5/24

The "Spirit of '76" was recreated by two drummers and a flute player during Thursday's parade in Willow Springs. The trio are recognizable as Revolutionary War figures and the subjects of a famous painting created in 1876 in celebration America's centennial celebration.

Willow Springs celebrates liberty, history with annual 4th of July Parade

7/5/24

WS firefighters offer free smoke alarms and installation

The Willow Springs Fire Department is partnering with the American Red Cross to launch a new program aimed at providing free smoke alarms local households, to be installed by a firefighter. more

7/3/24

Missouri Secretary of State and Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Jay Ashcroft, standing with his family, held a meet and greet Saturday morning at Colton's Steak House &amp; Grill as part of a campaign tour through the area. He was introduced to a crowd of about 60 by outgoing 154th District Rep. David Evans, standing left, Howell County Commissioner Ralph Riggs, West Plains Mayor Mike Topliff and former Howell County Commissioner Mark Collins, who is seeking Evans' office. Ashcroft is looking to win the Aug. 6 primary and placed on the ballot for the general election, to be held Nov. 5. The last day to register to vote in the primary election is July 10 and the last day to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 9.

Ashcroft makes campaign stop in West Plains

Current Missouri Secretary of State and Republican gubernatorial candidate John R. "Jay" Ashcroft held a meet and greet Saturday morning at Colton's Steak House & Grill in West Plains, one of several in a tour that included stops in Ozark, Shannon, Oregon, Carter and Ripley counties. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 7/3/24

Fourth of July closures announced

The West Plains Daily Quill will be closed Thursday in observance of the Independence Day holiday, with normal office hours resuming at 8 a.m. Friday. Due to the holiday, there will be no news published online Thursday. The Quill will resume online publishing Thursday and the Saturday Gazette will print as normal. more

7/2/24