News | West Plains Daily Quill

10/31/23

Kansas City Star. October 24, 2023. Editorial: AG Bailey puts his abortion beliefs ahead of Missouri voters’ — and he wasn’t elected The job of the Missouri attorney general is to … more

By The Associated Press | 10/31/23

Students enrolled in building trades classes at West Plains High School, including many who travel from other schools to attend classes, have been working on completing a project that will connect the library to an annex located just east of the main building and make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as wall as safer by eliminating one of the outside entrances to the library. Kneeling is building trades instructor Chris Reese. First row, from left: Jerry Krewson, Thayer; Courtny Lancaster, Mtn. View; Carson Johnson and Hailey Day, Summersville; and Tristian Ourso, West Plains. Second row: Jacob Carl and Braydon Thompson, both of Mtn. View; Noah Quinn, West Plains; Hailey Day, Summersville; and Chevy Mahan, Gainesville. Back row: Kevin Uhlry, Jesse Swearingen and Quenton Reese, all of Mtn. View, and Morgan Strain, Gainesville.

Zizzers gain hands-on trade experience with high school annexation project

A group of West Plains High School students is gaining valuable hands-on experience while helping make the campus safer and more accessible to students and staff who require the use of a wheelchair. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 10/31/23

The children of Friendship Circle daycare, housed in the First United Methodist Church, 503 W. Main St. in West Plains, stopped by the Quill on Tuesday while making the rounds around the square to practice some early trick-or-treating. Costumes included a bull rider, firefighter, "Max" from How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Captain Jack Sparrow and some glamour girls.

'Trick or Treat!'

10/31/23

Homeowners at this house at the corner of North Ferguson and West Third Street in Willow Springs got creative for Halloween, putting a spin on the usual flamingo yard ornaments by instead displaying vultures feasting on one unfortunate soul whose bones appear to have pretty much been picked clean.

Willow Springs homeowners get spooky with crafty wake of 'vultures'

10/31/23

Thayer receives $500K DRA grant

The City of Thayer is the recipient of a half-million dollar grant, awarded by the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and made available through the States' Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP). more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 10/30/23

Ramona Heiney-State Farm Insurance Agency is a $1,500 sponsor of Boots and Barbecue, a fundraiser for the West Plains Rotary Club Backpack Program. Agency representatives, from left: Abbey Hicks, Megan Moore, Ramona Heiney, Brittany Diamond and Kate Martin.

WP Noon Rotary announces Boots and Barbecue event

The West Plains Rotary Backpack Program annual fundraiser is underway, culminating with a Boots and Barbecue event starting at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at Rubydoo’s Event Center, 9240 County Road 9190 off of ZZ Highway just east of West Plains. more

BY ABBY HESS, ABBYH@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 10/30/23

Prescribed fire workshop participants listen while Missouri Department of Conservation Private Land Conservationist Mark McLain, far right, explains how to use drip torches and leaf blowers during controlled fires.

Prescribed burn association holds first training session

The recently-formed South Central Missouri Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) held its first training session Oct. 20 at a member’s farm east of Gainesville in Ozark County. more

10/30/23

The Bear Ambassadors, a new leadership group at the Willow Springs High School, took a moment to thank Jalen Burris, a representative of health and wellness technology organization UNITE's Arrive Alive Tour. Burris ran an impaired-driving simulation Tuesday and Wednesday at the high school. The students are holding pledges signed by participating students to buckle up and put their phones down while driving to reduce the risks of distracted driving, and the likelihood of being injured or killed or harming others as a result. From left: Bear Ambassadors Katy Spence, Melaina Wilson, Kristen Buster and Nicole Barnett; Burress; and ambassadors Heidi Wehmer, Emma Wiles, Mary Spencer and Will Clarkston.

Virtual-reality experience aims to 'drive' home importance of safe travel habits for WSHS teens

The Arrive Alive challenge was high tech, but the message was relatively simple for the Willow Springs High School students who donned virtual reality goggles and got behind the wheel of an SUV. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 10/30/23

Viola HS announces 1st quarter honor rolls

All A’s Honor Roll more

10/30/23

Ben Timson, left, and Ruth Maxwell recently presented a history program on the village of Cedar Grove, now extinct, that was located on the upper Current River.

Extinct Cedar Grove village focus of recent history program

The Shannon County Museum's Fall History Program, held Oct. 13, was well-attended, report museum officials. Presenters Ben Timson and Ruth Maxwell shared the history of the rise and fall of the now-extinct village of Cedar Grove, which was on the upper Current River 8 miles above Akers. more

10/30/23

Birch Tree man hurt in crash north of Alton

Joel D. Marino, 77, Birch Tree, suffered serious injuries in a crash at 12:15 p.m. Friday on Highway 19, 8 miles north of Alton in Oregon County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

10/30/23

AP-Network 8:15 ped

T25 Missouri 38 (6) Oklahoma 33 intro wrap (COPY:V0716) <<CAT:Sports-Football>> T25 Missouri 38 (6) Oklahoma 33 intro wrap-Echli apa339305-Wrap--LAWRENCE, Kan.-(Greg Echlin … more

10/28/23

Paying tribute to the “grannywomen” who took care of their isolated communities in the rural Ozarks was the theme of the keynote address by Dr. Dawn Larsen at the 16th annual Ozarks Studies Symposium at Missouri State University-West Plains in September. Larsen, a Taney County native who now teaches theater at Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C., told the story of these women who served as healers, seers and midwives in their communities through word and song. Dr. Jason McCollom, one of the event’s organizers, said Larsen’s performance was the highlight of the three-day event. The symposium had its largest attendance ever this year, with an estimated 120 attendees taking part in the presentations and exhibits. Presenters from across the Ozarks, and some from out of state shared their current research and investigations into a variety of facets of Ozarks history, culture, architecture, oral history, the environment, literature, poetry and music. McCollom said the theme of next year’s event is “The Political Economy of the Ozarks” and all are invited to attend.

Ozarks Studies Symposium draws largest crowd to date

10/28/23

Why I chose to attend Missouri State-West Plains

Editor’s note: Having just graduated high school, traditional students may seem eager to embrace the next chapter in their educational journey – college. But that’s not always the case. Going through the processes to pick the college they want to attend can seem daunting, then comes actually attending the classes so they can get a degree. Shane Hull, a current sophomore at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP), has been through the processes and will be sharing his story in this column and subsequent columns in the coming months to provide insights into the higher education processes for others like him who are embarking on their own collegiate journey. Hull works part time on several projects in the MSU-WP university communications office. more

By Shane Hull, MSU-WP Contributing Writer | 10/28/23

MSU-WP Calendar of Events

Below are several upcoming events at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP), many of which are open to the community. Feel free to clip this calendar and keep it for your reference to make sure you don’t miss any events that might interest you. Also listed are several important dates on the university’s calendar that area residents might want to keep in mind. more

10/28/23

Law enforcement officers maintain their presence at Schemengees Bar and Grille in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. The suspect, Robert Card, a firearms instructor who grew up in the area, was found dead in nearby Lisbon Falls, Gov. Janet Mills said at a Friday night news conference. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

AP News Digest 3:10 a.m.

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the-minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan … more

10/28/23

West Plains Mayor Mike Topliff, right, has signed a proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in West Plains, joining in the national recognition of the problem of domestic violence and to "reaffirm our commitment, strongly supporting the efforts of national, state and local partners, and of every citizen to actively engage in public and private efforts, including conversations about what domestic violence is, how to prevent it, how to help survivors connect with services, and how every segment of society can work together to better address domestic violence." Joining him for the proclamation is Christos House Victim Advocate Kenya Cook

WP Mayor Topliff proclaims October Domestic Violence Awareness Month

10/27/23

Fall Spooktakular on Grace Ave. rescheduled

A Fall Spooktacular event sponsored by 154th District Rep. David Evans and 33rd District State Sen. Karla Eslinger has been postponed and will now take place from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Monday. more

10/27/23

County commission meets Monday

The Howell County Commission is set to meet at 10 a.m. Monday in the conference room on the second floor of the county office building, 35 Court Square, and the first item on the agenda is to approve payroll. more

10/27/23