News | West Plains Daily Quill

Citizen's tip leads to arrest of man on child sex crime charges

A Mtn. Grove man has been charged with four felonies and a misdemeanor after allegedly attempting to meet a girl he believed to be 11 years old for sex, and an investigation reportedly uncovered other attempts to meet underage girls, plus evidence he'd exchanged sexually explicit with girls he believed to be underage. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/12/24

West Plains R-7 School District Superintendent Dr. Wes Davis gave an overview of the many recent district improvements, plus provided some figures showing the financial health of the district, during a Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon Sept. 5.

Chamber members hear R-7 district updates at monthly meeting

Dr. Wes Davis, superintendent of the West Plains R-7 school district, was the featured speaker of the September Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon, and gave a PowerPoint presentation showcasing improvements to facilities and safety measures, various academic and training programs, and the financial health of the district. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/12/24

Locals impacted by May severe storms have until Sept. 23 to register with FEMA

Residents of Howell, Shannon and Texas counties who were affected by severe weather and flooding between May 19 and 27 have until Sept. 23 to apply with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance with disaster recovery, officials announce. more

9/12/24

September is Library Card Sign-up Month

9/12/24

Quill honors Patriot Day, National Day of Remembrance and Service

Within the pages of today’s Quill, readers will find special advertisements taken out by local businesses and organizations in recognition of Patriot Day, a national day of mourning and remembrance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. more

9/11/24

Richards School Board to meet Sept. 19

The Richards School District Board of Education will meet in regular monthly session at 6 p.m. Sept. 19 in the school’s boardroom. more

9/10/24

Echo Bluff State Park in Shannon County is located within Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and is one of the many locations along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers available for camping, hiking, boating and other recreation. Each year, the National Park Service (NPS) compiles data on tourism and its economic impact in the areas surrounding national parks. Last year, 1.3 million visitors spent about $66.8 million in the communities near the park and supported 908 area jobs.

ONSR reports community economic benefit of $77M in 2023

The National Park service (NPS) has released figures showing the economic impact of tourism in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways area during 2023. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/10/24

Blue Jean Ball returns, will be held in new venue

After a hiatus of several years, the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation has announced the return of the annual Blue Jean Ball in a new venue. The 10th annual event was celebrated in 2018 and raised over $79,000 for the foundation’s various community-oriented health care projects. more

BY QUILL STAFF | 9/10/24

The Howell County Democratic Party headquarters is now open at 41 Court Square in West Plains. A grand opening was held Friday evening, featuring visits from Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan and Vice Chair Yvonne Reeves-Chong, lieutenant governor candidate Richard Brown and 154th District state representative candidate JoJo Stewart. Additional Democratic candidates who talked about their qualifications and goals were Jeffrey Collins, running for Howell County coroner, and Bill Echols, running for Howell County Northern District Commissioner. Supporters of Democratic candidates may go to the headquarters for yard signs and candidate merchandise, and voters can get information on national and state candidates, voter's rights and the Missouri Amendment 3 ballot initiative regarding reproductive rights. The headquarters are open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 5, when the general election is held. Call Howell County Democratic Co-Chair Mark Jolliff at 417-293-3317 or email him at 911mrj@gmail.com for more information. From left: Echols, Howell County Democratic Co-Chair Terry Moore, Reeves-Chong, Carnahan, Brown, Stewart, Collins, former 152nd District State Rep. J.C. Kuessner and Jolliff.

Howell Co. Democrats open HQ on Court Square

9/10/24

McAlister's Deli will open its doors with a grand opening at 10 a.m. Sept. 16 it 703 N. Kentucky Ave. in West Plains. A complimentary meal will be offered to "community heroes" including first responders, veterans and active military personnel, teachers and truck drivers from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the store. Regular business hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

McAlister’s Deli to hold West Plains grand opening Sept. 16

McAlister's Deli, a fast-casual chain restaurant, will open the doors of Missouri’s 34th location at 10 a.m. Sept. 16 at 703 N. Kentucky Ave., next to 10Box Cost Plus grocery store in West Plains. more

9/9/24

Late-night crash claims Cabool driver's life

Gideon S. Mori, 22, Cabool, was the victim of a fatal crash when he was thrown from his vehicle at 11:25 p.m. Sunday on AC Highway, 6 miles northeast of Cabool in Texas County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

9/9/24

Four recent crashes claim lives of five Arkansans

Arkansas State Police reported the death of an Izard County man after a crash at 3 p.m. Saturday on Highway 9 in Mt. Olive, Izard County. more

9/9/24

3rd annual Downtown Fall Block Party next Saturday

Get ready, West Plains, because the 3rd annual Downtown Fall Block Party is just around the corner, and it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest and best events of the year! From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 14, the heart of downtown will be transformed into a bustling celebration, where community spirit, local talent, and the vibrant energy of fall come together for an unforgettable day. more

9/6/24

Woman charged with robbery, assault after leading deputies on pursuit

Misty D. Ryan, 47, West Plains, has been charged following a chase by Howell County deputies after she allegedly cut another woman with a knife during a struggle before stealing the woman’s vehicle. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/6/24

Heart of the Ozarks United Way announces opening of grant season

The Heart of the Ozarks United Way is now accepting grant applications for up to $10,000 from 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies in Howell and Oregon counties, and Fulton County, Ark. more

9/6/24

The West Plains R-7 School District has launched a contest, asking the public to help name the district’s new mascot. The mascot, a lightning bolt with a bold grin, is a gift from the West Plains Zizzer Quarterback Club. Students are already auditioning for chance to wear the costume, said officials, but there’s just one thing missing — a name. “We need your creativity to give our mascot its new identity,” said district officials, encouraging people to submit their ideas online at forms.gle/6Rc2yem9DhDpVM448. “Once we gather your suggestions, we’ll narrow it down to the top 5 and bring it back to the community to vote!” Submissions are due by Sept. 20.

Zizzers' new mascot needs a name

9/6/24

A 1/3 total carat weight diamond pendant in a 10 karat white gold setting valued at $900 has been donated by Rickie David Jewelers to the 37th Judicial CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). The jewelry piece will be auctioned off Saturday during the organization's dinner theater fundraiser. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a mixer at Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center, 940 County Road 9190 east of West Plains, followed by dinner at 6:30. Tickets to the event have sold out, CASA officials shared Wednesday evening on social media. Attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite literary character in keeping with the play, "How To Enchant a Bookshop" by Todd Wallinger, the evening's performance.

Rickie David Jewelers donates to CASA cause

9/5/24

Pedal the Cause bike ride set for Oct. 5

The annual lWest Plains Rides for Pedal the Cause Community Bike Ride will be held Oct. 5, starting and finishing at West Plains High School. more

9/5/24

Lesley Rone, Southeast Regional Manager for the Development Division of Regional Engagement for the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Missouri Designee of the Delta Regional Authority, spoke recently at an annual meeting held at the Heritage Business Park in Pomona. Rone gave a presentation about tools communities can use to attract businesses and employers to Howell County, and the meeting was attended by about 30 governmental and business representatives of the county, including West Plains Mayor Mike Topliff, to the right of Rone, and Mtn. View Mayor Charry McCann.

Local government, business leaders hear presentation on tools to support growth

POMONA — Great Rivers Distributing was the location of a recent annual meeting held by officials with the Heritage Business Park to highlight the progress of Howell County cities over the past year and hear about tools and funding that county and city administrators can use to help attract businesses and employers. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/5/24

Willow Springs sets annual tax rate, considers flood mitigation project

A public hearing on the annual setting of the tax levy, held ahead of Willow Springs City Council’s August meeting, lasted one minute, as no one from the community was present to offer comments or ask questions on the matter. more

9/5/24