News | West Plains Daily Quill

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

2/1/24

Missouri State sets dates for presidential finalist forums

The final three candidates for the next president of Missouri State University will take part in a series of open forums across the university system in February, officials announce. more

2/1/24

Reviewing a list of this year’s legislative priorities proposed by the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (MAPA), which named 154th District Rep. David Evans of West Plains its 2023 Legislative Champion, front row, from left: Evans and Annie Gibson, MAPA president and Daviess County prosecuting attorney. Back row: MAPA members Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd, Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson, Howell County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Hutchings, Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Russell, Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Weatherman, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson, Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Mark Welker and Assistant Missouri Attorney General Greg Goodwin.

Evans named 2023 Legislative Champion by prosecutors' association

The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (MAPA) recently recognized 154th District Rep. David Evans, West Plains, chair of the Missouri House Judiciary Committee, as MAPA’s 2023 Legislative Champion. more

2/1/24

Driver in fatal BB Hwy. crash charged with manslaughter

With law enforcement citing excessive speed and the presence of narcotics discovered as part of a crash investigation, a West Plains man has been charged by a grand jury with first-degree involuntary manslaughter relating to a fatal crash in May 2023. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 2/1/24

Grand jury indicts Howard Applegate after six-year murder investigation

An Ava resident with five active felony cases in two area counties has now been charged with first-degree murder by grand jury indictment in Douglas County, filed Tuesday. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 2/1/24

Since the 1977 founding of the Ozark Spring, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter under the leadership of the late Dorotha Reavis, a well-known local historian and genealogist, its membership continues to grow. At the January monthly meeting, two new members were sworn in by Lois Frazier, right, on behalf of Chaplain Jessica Joice-Frazier: Robin Logue, left center, and Cathy Roberts, right center, both of West Plains. The NSDAR was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women's service organization with a mission to promote patriotism and the preservation of American history, engage in community service projects in support of veterans and provide opportunities to secure America's future through better education for children. Also with the new members is Ozark Spring Chapter Regent Jan Tappana.

Ozark Spring Daughters welcome two new members

2/1/24

Three hurt in recent area crashes

Kelby D. Hutlser, 54, West Plains, suffered minor injuries in a crash at 7 p.m. Jan. 31 on north U.S. 63, 5 miles south of Licking in Texas County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

2/1/24

FILE - Taylor Swift stands on the field after an AFC Championship NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. States were already sorting out how to address the growing issue of AI-generated deepfakes. Then Taylor Swift was victimized with her face appearing on pornographic images, and interest in addressing the problem grew. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

What to know about how lawmakers are addressing deepfakes like the ones that victimized Taylor Swift

The growing issue of AI-generated deepfakes has already been a hot topic in state legislatures. Then Taylor Swift was victimized with her face appearing on pornographic images. At least ten states … more

By GEOFF MULVIHILL | 1/31/24

Melia Wiehe, right, West Plains, and Israel Webster, Bellefontaine Neighbors, were crowned the 2024 Grizzly Homecoming Queen and King, respectively, during halftime activities of Saturday’s basketball game between Missouri State University-West Plains and State Fair Community College in Joe Paul Evans Arena at the West Plains Civic Center. Wiehe was sponsored by the Student Government Association, and Webster was sponsored by the Agriculture Club. For more about the Homecoming Court, turn to Page B3 of today’s Quill.

Grizzly royalty crowned Saturday

1/31/24

'Family feud' boils over, two women taken into custody

Two Ava women have been charged after a "family feud" boiled over on Thursday, reportedly resulting in injuries to both. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 1/31/24

Employees of Wood &amp; Huston Bank in West Plains joined forces to raise $3,221.85 for the Ozarks Healthcare Mobile Mammography Unit. The initiative, driven by bank employees, represents a shared commitment to women's health in the region. Wood &amp; Huston Bank presented the collected funds to members of the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors.

OZH Mobile Mammography Unit gets support from Wood & Huston employees

In what Ozarks Healthcare officials describe as “a powerful demonstration of community spirit,” employees of Wood & Huston Bank in West Plains teamed up to raise $3,221.85 for the OZH Mobile Mammography Unit. more

1/30/24

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: The State of the State

I hope you all have had a wonderful week and that you are enjoying the rise in temperature. This past week, we heard from the governor in his State of the State Address and looked back over the great work that has been accomplished for Missourians. more

By Sen. Karla Eslinger, Republican, 33rd District  | 1/30/24

Two from WP accused of kidnapping teen, taking her to Tennessee

Two West Plains men each face a Douglas County charge of first-degree kidnapping while facilitating a felony after allegedly taking a 16-year-old girl from Douglas County to Tennessee. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 1/30/24

Community First Banking Company employees pay to wear jeans on Fridays and, each quarter, choose a charity to support with the proceeds raised. For the fourth quarter of 2023, bank staff chose to contribute to the Hammond Mill Camp Capital Improvement Campaign with a donation of $1,000. The capital improvement fundraising campaign kicked off in 2023 in celebration of the camp’s 75th anniversary. Hammond Mill Camp is located west of West Plains on CC Highway and offers a place for summer youth camps, weddings and family reunions. Operated by a board of directors, the camp has seen facility upgrades over the last year. Work continues as the camp moves toward its $160,000 fundraising goal. Find updates on Facebook, @hammondmill.camp. Donations can be made by mailing a check to the Board Of Directors at 139 Hammond Mill Drive, Pottersville, MO 65790, or going online to the nonprofit’s PayPal account at paypal.me/HMCamp65790. From left: Community First employees Kelly Slayton, Lyndsay Sellars and Ruth Li-Whittington, and Hammond Mill Camp Board members Robin Mustion, Thad White and Jacob Schmitt.

Community First employees donate to Hammond Mill Camp

1/30/24

Deputy: Man charged with felonies after threatening woman with gun in presence of children

A Caulfield resident has been charged after allegedly threatening a family member and fleeing from law enforcement while armed with a handgun. At least part of the altercation was witnessed by five children who were in the home at the time, and the gun was left loaded and within reach of the children as the suspect ran from deputies, according to court documents. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 1/30/24

The Current River Caller’s chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) presented its 2024 scholarship at the Hunting Heritage Banquet held Jan. 20. Hailey Michel was present to receive the scholarship of $500. “Hailey is a senior at Summersville High school and is an outstanding student in her class and in the community,” said organization officials. “She also has a great love of the outdoors and hunting and believes it is important to preserve this heritage for future generations.” The scholarship is set up to ensure the NWTF has the dedicated conservationists needed in the future. Applicants for the scholarship are judged on their scholastic achievements, leadership abilities, community involvement and commitment to conservation. Michel’s application will be submitted to the state for a chance to win at least $1,000 in additional scholarship money. State winners then have a chance at the national scholarship worth $10,000.

Current River Callers, Jacks Fork JAKES host NWTF Hunting Heritage Banquet

The Current River Callers and Jacks Fork JAKES groups recently held their annual National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Banquet in the multipurpose building on the campus of the Winona R-3 School, with about 160 people in attendance, organizers announced. more

1/30/24

Editorial Roundup: Missouri

St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 28, 2024. Editorial: Ashcroft’s latest campaign stunts erode Republican values he claims to support As Missouri Republicans this year choose their nominee … more

By The Associated Press | 1/30/24

Summersville Library was filled with princesses of all sizes Jan. 20, as they attended the library’s annual Princess Tea Storytime. The girls braved single-digit temperatures to take part in this most popular library event, said librarian Kathie Cox. Among them was Madi Bell, shown holding a photo of herself attending the first Princess Tea in 2013. Bell was one of several Summersville High School Homecoming Queen candidates in attendance at the Jan. 20 event.

Princess returns to annual tea party as queen candidate

1/29/24

Mtn. View Elemntary students advance to national level of poster contest

The Mtn. View Garden Club sponsored three Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl poster contest winners from Mtn. View Elementary school in 2022, who went on to compete in the Central Region contest. From the Central Region contest, posters submitted by Adalie Kruse and Madyson Southworth went onto the national poster contest. more

1/29/24

Betty (Kriegh) McGuire, holding a photo of herself at the age of 16, will celebrate her 99th birthday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at Shepherd’s View Assisted Living in Alton. She is the eldest daughter of longtime West Plains weather broadcasters P.S. and Julia Kriegh. Betty was 16 when she married her husband, Donnie McGuire, and together they owned and operated the Alton Jewelry Store and, for more than 45 years, delivered mail between Thayer and Alton. Betty’s four children, Donna (McGuire) Caruthers, Micki (McGuire) Kirkham, David McGuire and Jim McGuire, will join her in welcoming friends and family to the birthday celebration.

Birthday celebration is Feb. 10 for Betty (Kriegh) McGuire

1/29/24