News | West Plains Daily Quill

West Plains Mayor Mike Topliff, invoking warm tropical breezes, sandy beaches and the relaxation related to the "aloha" culture of Hawaii, has declared each Friday from Memorial Day through Labor Day to be Hawaiian Shirt Day. The tradition has been in place for several years in West Plains, at least informally, and Topliff recalled fond memories as a former resident of Hawaii during his service in the U.S. Navy. West Plains residents are encouraged to wear the shirts to celebrate the ends of their work weeks this summer. West Plains City Council members leading the trend, from left are John Niesen, Johnny Murrell, Topliff, Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Nease and Greg Collins.

WP mayor proclaims: Hawaiian Shirt Days are back

5/22/24

Banjo workshop presenter Clarke Buehling at the Fresh Grass square dance 2022

Workshops announced for Old-Time Music, Ozarks Heritage Festival

Attendees at this year’s Old-Time Music, Ozarks Heritage Festival are encouraged to learn about traditional instruments by participating in workshops planned for both days of West Plains’ signature event. The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 7 and 9, with workshops held in Dogwood Room 1 at the West Plains Civic Center both days. more

5/22/24

Gassville motorcyclist fatally injured in Friday crash

A 71-year-old motorcyclist from Gassville, Ark., suffered fatal injuries in a crash at 10:46 a.m. Friday in Yellville, Marion County, Ark., reports the Arkansas State Police. more

5/21/24

As summer sets in, ATV safety emphasized, particularly for children

Warm weather starts the season of outdoor activities in Missouri, and off-road vehicle riding is a popular way to spend time for many families, including young children. The Missouri State Highway Patrol has long urged drivers and riders to make safety a priority to prevent serious injury or death during off-road riding. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 5/21/24

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Mtn. View-Birch Tree Liberty High School awarded diplomas to 70 seniors Friday evening. Ava Greenan was named valedictorian and salutatorian is Sukhraj Singh. Thirteen students graduated summa cum laude with a GPA of at least 4.0; four graduated magna cum laude, with a 3.75 to 3.99 GPA; and eight graduated cum laude, GPA of 3.5 to 3.74. There were 23 graduates that qualified for A+, meaning they met the academic, attendance and service requirements needed to receive tuition to two-year colleges or vocational schools. One student, Ellee Glenn Miller, graduated with an associates degree.

Liberty Class of '24 takes flight: 70 seniors graduate

5/21/24

Memorial Day deadlines and closures announced; city pool to open

Ahead of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, the Quill announces an early advertising deadline for the May 29 print edition. more

5/21/24

WP man charged with beating elderly relative

A West Plains man with a decades-long criminal history has been charged after allegedly striking an elderly family member with a baseball bat and preventing in-home healthcare workers from visiting the man's home. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 5/21/24

Editorial Roundup: Missouri

Kansas City Star. May 14, 2024. Editorial: Teens can’t make lifelong commitments. Missouri must ban marriage under age 18 Missouri doesn’t have a stellar record when it comes to … more

By The Associated Press | 5/21/24

Editorial Roundup: Nebraska

North Platte Telegraph. May 18, 2024. Editorial: Mail ‘efficiency’? Rural America deserves better We’ll give one cheer for this week’s news that North Platte’s mail sorting won’t … more

By The Associated Press | 5/20/24

FILE - Signage hangs at CNN center, April 21, 2022, in Atlanta. Alice Stewart, a CNN political commentator and veteran political adviser who worked on a number of GOP presidential campaigns, has died at age 58, the news network reported Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

Alice Stewart, CNN political commentator and veteran political adviser, dies at 58

Alice Stewart, a CNN political commentator and veteran political adviser who worked on a number of GOP presidential campaigns, has died at age 58. That's according to the news network. Police said … more

By DEEPA BHARATH | 5/18/24

Fire Chief Wilbanks announces retirement

West Plains Fire Department Chief Kurt Wilbanks has announced his retirement from active duty with the City of West Plains. more

5/18/24

Traffic stop in Willow Springs leads to felony drug charges

Darrel L. Mohesky Jr., 42, Mtn. View, has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia used to ingest amphetamine or methamphetamine. The charges were filed following a traffic stop by a Howell County Sheriff's deputy. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 5/17/24

Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc., 85th Annual Meeting of Membership

The 85th annual meeting of Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative was held May 3 at the West Plains Civic Center with 1,100 people in attendance, co-op officials announced. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Ava Greenan, Mtn. View-Birch Tree FFA President. more

5/17/24

Glenwood School set to begin construction projects the first week of June

Construction on improvements to the Glenwood School are close to being financed, and are scheduled to begin the first week of June, school officials have announced. The funding and improvements are the result of a ballot initiative passed by district patrons in April. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 5/17/24

Ed Martin, at left, was sworn in Tuesday as a City of Mtn. View West Ward alderman, filling the last remaining vacant seat. Interim City Clerk Jessica Smith administered the oath of office to Martin, and was sworn in herself after being offered and accepting the permanent clerk position. Mtn. View City Attorney Deedra Nicholson swore Smith in.

Mtn. View City Council swears in West Ward alderman, filling all vacancies

MOUNTAIN VIEW - At the regular monthly meeting of the Mtn. View City Council held Tuesday, Ed Martin was appointed West Ward alderman and sworn in by interim City Clerk Jessica Smith, who was offered the job permanently during a closed session held at the beginning of the meeting, and accepted. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 5/17/24

Deep South News Digest, 7pm update

Here's a look at how AP's general news coverage is shaping up for select Deep South stories. For up-to-the minute information on AP's complete coverage of Deep South and the rest of the world, visit … more

5/16/24

Missouri State University President Clif Smart conferred his final degrees as the university’s president at Saturday’s MSU-West Plains commencement held Saturday. He presented degrees to nearly 30 specialist, master’s and bachelor’s degree recipients who attended the ceremony. Most completed their degrees through Missouri State University Outreach on the West Plains campus. On May 2, he was recognized during the annual Alumni and Friends Picnic for his support and leadership over the past 13 years. MSU-WP Chancellor Dennis Lancaster praised Smart’s steady hand in guiding the university through the pandemic and noted his support allowed the university to add several physical features and academic programs to the campus. These include Gohn Hall, Hass-Darr Hall, the Student Recreation Center, amphitheater, the Pace Industrial Science Center and 17 new degree and certificate programs. In brief remarks, Smart said from the moment he became president he believed his duties applied not only to the Springfield campus, but also the West Plains, Mtn. Grove and extended campuses overseas and he worked for the betterment of all of the campuses. Smart will retire July 1.

MSU President Clif Smart praised for 13 years of support, leadership

5/16/24

13-year-old boy succumbs to injuries from ATV crash

A 13-year-old boy who was flown to Mercy Hospital in Springfield on Sunday after an ATV rolled on top of him has succumbed to his injuries, reports the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

5/16/24

Five new felony charges filed against Quincy Collins

Quincy L. Collins, 28, Dora, has added five felony charges to a list of multiple felonies already filed in Howell County, many related to domestic assault. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 5/16/24

A group of area residents took to West Plains’ Court Square on Saturday afternoon to show support for Palestinians after Israel ordered new evacuations in Rafah, considered the last refuge in the Palestinian territory of Gaza. The order was issued as part of an ongoing conflict which began with an attack on Israel by Hamas in October 2023. The local protest was one of many that have taken place around the world, including at college campuses across the U.S. The Associated Press reported May 7 that more than 2,600 people had been arrested on 50 U.S. campuses since April 18, when the movement began with a protest at Columbia University in New York. In a span of about 20 minutes, the Quill observed half a dozen travelers passing by the protest honking and waving in support, and demonstrators said they had only encountered one angry passerby, while another stopped to ask questions and learn more about their cause. “It’s all connected. If Black and white people can be ethnically cleansed or in other places, then who’s next?” said Nick Hackworth, a protester from West Plains explaining why the group was there. Demonstrators, from left: Danette Dalbey and daughter Stevi Dalbey, Thayer, and Hackworth, Stevie Miller, Conner Clevenger and Mariah Begley, West Plains. Editor's note: This caption was edited to correct the location of Columbia University.

Locals demonstrate in support of Palestine

5/16/24