News | West Plains Daily Quill

On Friday morning, West Plains city workers began the temporary closure of some streets near the square in preparation for next weekend's four-day eclipse celebration, Party in the Path. The closures are at the intersections of Cass Avenue at Washington Avenue, and at Dixon Street at Washington Avenue, shown here. City officials say the effort is to increase pedestrian safety between parking lots and storefronts on Washington Avenue. In coordination with Missouri State University-West Plains, another temporary closure is planned for Garfield Avenue between West Main Street and Cass Avenue.

Several downtown streets temporarily closed ahead of eclipse celebration

3/29/24

Ozark Co. woman charged with rape, incest after genetic testing

Tabatha R. Adam, 27, Wasola, is charged with second-degree statutory rape and incest, both felonies, after it was alleged she sexually assaulted a teenaged family member, resulting in the birth of a child. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 3/29/24

Willow Springs School Board OKs purchase of new bus

During the March meeting of the Willow Springs School Board board members approved the purchase of a new school bus to be made in Fiscal Year 2025. more

3/28/24

Richards School Board meets tonight

The Richards School Board is set to hold its monthly session at 6 p.m. today in the school boardroom. more

3/28/24

Dice Run touted as fun way to see the Ozarks

The Dice Run to the Mills, sponsored by Colton’s Steakhouse & Grill, is set for April 7 and is one of the “Party in the Path” events to celebrate the upcoming total solar eclipse in West Plains. There is a week’s worth of activities scheduled for the party, starting on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting and culminating with the eclipse itself on April 8. more

3/28/24

Local author Jill Pietroburgo recently had the unique experience of reading her children's book "Sometimes Grandma Calls Me Jean" at the International School of Turks and Caicos, a British territory located in the Caribbean. Seated next to her on the right is her husband, Phil Pietroburgo. She was inspired to write the book after her mother, Bonnie Sullivant, was diagnosed with dementia in 2019. It deals with a young girl's relationship with her grandmother and how it changes after the grandmother's dementia diagnosis, including explanations about the disease and suggestions for families meant to help children understand it, and other memory disorders. The book continues to receive awards and positive reviews for its handling of the topic and quality writing and illustration.

Local educator, author's children's book about dementia receives acclaim, awards

Jill Pietroburgo, a local author who penned a children's book about Alzheimer's and other memory disorders, recently earned several awards and the book continues to earn positive reviews. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 3/28/24

Wright Co. crash claims life of Mtn. Grove woman

Jamie L. Holloway, 29, Mtn. Grove, suffered fatal injuries when her vehicle struck a semitruck at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday on AM Highway, a quarter mile east of Mtn. Grove in Wright County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

3/28/24

Write-in candidate for Mtn. View mayor to hold Q&A session today

A write-in candidate for Mtn. View mayor, Charry McCann, will hold a "Meet the Candidate" and question and answer session from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today at the Mtn. View Community Center, 125 E. First St. in Mtn. View. more

3/28/24

Robin Rank, right, hugs family friend, Pauline Engle, as Rank talks about the 2019 death of her son, Taylor Ware, Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. Rank told a 911 dispatcher Taylor would need space, and urged police to wait for backup because he was a former wrestler and might be a handful – advice that tracked best practices, yet wasn’t followed. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A mom called 911 to get her son mental health help. He died after police responded with force

When a 24-year-old former Marine experienced a manic episode at a southern Indiana rest stop, his mother called 911 for help getting him mental health treatment. The woman would watch as her son, … more

By RYAN J. FOLEY | 3/28/24

Rick Pliler, West Plains, is the winner of the Quill's Big Game football trivia contest, and recently stopped by to pick up his prize package. Pliler's entry was chosen at random from among those contestants who answered trivia questions correctly. The prizes, provided by contest sponsors, were two cases of Pepsi products, items from T-B-N Electrical Supply, two Little Caesars pizzas and a $50 Richards Brothers Feed Store gift certificate.

Big Game football trivia winner

3/27/24

Zizzer Pride Academy (ZPA) students in the Missouri Option Program told their stories at the March 19 West Plains R-7 School Board meeting, and focused on their accomplishments and the support they are getting from ZPA faculty and staff. The Missouri Option Program is offered to students at least 17 years old who are identified as being at risk of dropping out without earning a diploma. They were introduced by district At-Risk Coordinator Brandon Somoza, who gave the students credit for their work in transitioning from high school to the "real world," and further commented many of the students are also working to help support their families while getting their diploma. From left: Jake Rockwell, Trenton Bean, Ethan Bettis, Konnor Roberts and Bryant Walters.

R-7 School Board members thanked, ZPA program showcased at March meeting

The West Plains R-7 School Board celebrated School Board Appreciation Month during its March meeting, and board members were presented with gifts from each of the schools in the district, many of them made by students. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 3/27/24

Missouri boarding school closes as state agency examines how it responded to abuse claims

A rural Missouri boarding school at the center of abuse allegations has closed its doors. Meanwhile, a state agency is looking at itself to determine if it failed to adequately address past concerns … more

By JIM SALTER | 3/27/24

Arkansas Election Testing, Advisory

EDITORS: NEWS DIRECTORS: NOT FOR BROADCAST, PUBLICATION OR USE ONLINE The Arkansas Primary Runoff election is April, 2, 2024. Poll close: 8:30 p.m. EDT/7:30 p.m. CDT First results … more

3/27/24

Gov. Parson appoints Melissa Stewart to bench

Gov. Mike Parson recently announced Melissa L. Stewart, West Plains, has been appointed as associate circuit judge for Howell County in the 37th Judicial Circuit. more

3/26/24

All Mtn. View city seats contested in April 2 election; candidates sound off on issues

Mtn. View voters will have a full slate of candidates to choose from come April 2, including two write-in candidates who threw their hats in the ring after the Dec. 26 deadline for filing to be placed on the ballot. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 3/26/24

The Budweiser Clydesdales will be a part of the Neon Parade on April 6, a part of the Eclipse West Plains Party in the Path festivities.

World-renowned Budweiser Clydesdales to appear in WP to highlight total solar eclipse

The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the professed symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to make several appearances between April 3 and 6, celebrating their 90th anniversary and the April 8 total solar eclipse in West Plains. more

3/26/24

Editorial Roundup: Missouri

Kansas City Star. March 21, 2024. Editorial: Missouri politicians are pushing to centralize power by restricting citizen petitions One great thing about Missouri: When legislators won’t … more

By The Associated Press | 3/26/24

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Critical Race Theory Arkansas (COPY:V0800) <<CAT:General News-US Domestic>> Critical Race Theory Arkansas-Intro Vcr apa365646-Voicer--LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-(Lisa Dwyer, AP … more

3/25/24

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Critical Race Theory Arkansas (COPY:V0800) <<CAT:General News-US Domestic>> Critical Race Theory Arkansas-Intro Vcr apa365646-Voicer--LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-(Lisa Dwyer, AP … more

3/25/24

Dropbox tip leads authorities to find thousands of child porn images in investigation

Larry D. Morrison, Jr., 48, of Ava, has been arrested and is held without bond after an investigation reportedly led law enforcement to discover files depicting child sexual abuse that had been viewed and shared by Morrison. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 3/23/24