As the bitter cold continues through the first half of the week, and with a slight possibility of a further dusting of snow today, several area schools have called off in-person classes for Tuesday.
As of press time, schools announcing they will not be in session include Alton; Ava, including Head Start; Bakersfield; Cabool, Cabool Head Start and CSB Preschool in Cabool; Couch; Dora; Eminence; Gainesville, including Head Start; Glenwood; His Place Academy in West Plains; Koala Bear Daycare and Learning Center in Ava and Gainesville; Koshkonong; Licking Head Start; Mtn. Grove, including Head Start; Mtn. View-Birch Tree and Mtn. View Head Start; Ozark Horizon in West Plains; Plainview in Ava; Shannon County Head Start; Skyline in Norwood; Skyview in Mtn. Grove; Thornfield; West Plains, including Head Start; Willow Springs, including Head Start; and Winona, as well as Mammoth Spring, Norfork, Mtn. Home, Salem and Viola in Arkansas. Missouri State University campuses in West Plains and Mtn. Grove have canceled seated classes, but students should check their university email regarding specific instructions about their particular classes, said officials. Online classes will be held as scheduled.
This list will be updated as more schools announce; watch www.westplainsdailyquill.net for those updates.
In West Plains, district officials cited both the extreme cold and hazardous road conditions for the closure. Extracurricular activities including athletic practices, workouts and games, initially scheduled for Monday have also been canceled. No classes were held Monday due to the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday.
A wind chill advisory issued Friday by the National Weather Service Office in Springfield remains in effect through noon Tuesday. Overnight lows Monday are expected to dip below zero, falling to -1 degree, with wind chill temperatures as low as -14 degrees and gusts as high as 22 mph.
The cold continues Tuesday, with a daytime high of 19 degrees and wind chill values as low as -17, and a nighttime low around 6 degrees and wind chill values as low as -5. Wednesday and Thursday are expected to bring a slight reprieve with the mercury climbing to above freezing for the first time since Friday to a forecast high of 37 degrees and 38 degrees Thursday, and overnight lows respectively forecast to be 20 and 11 degrees.
Long-range, temperatures are expected to return to below-freezing values Friday and Saturday with another Canadian air mass moving into the area, but there is no more precipitation expected this week after Monday, while the area can expect plenty of sunshine.
Anyone in West Plains needing shelter from the cold can take advantage of several available options, including the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St., during business hours, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, or the West Plains Police Department lobby at 1912 Holiday Lane.
An overnight warming shelter is offered by Martha Vance Samaritan Outreach, 715 Missouri Ave., when temperatures are below 15 degrees. Those seeking accommodations should arrive between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. to check in. Call 417-257-7184 for more information.
The Rescue Church, 1010 W. Sixth St. offers shelter from the cold when temperatures fall below 20 degrees; an overnight shelter is available if there is enough need. Check in between 6 and 9 p.m.
The Department of Health and Senior Services also shows warming shelters that have opted to be listed with the state agency. Patrons are reminded to call the facilities first to confirm they are open, because stating issues may limit their availability.
Howell County: West Plains Public Library, 750 W. Broadway, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 417-256-4775; West Plains Senior Center, 416 E. Main St., 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, 417-256-4055; Willow Springs Senior Center, 501 Senior Lane, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, 417-469-3892; and Mtn. View Senior Center, 905 E. Fifth St., 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, 417-934-6504.
Ozark County: Gainesville Senior Center, 516 County Road 800, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, 417-679-4746.
Douglas County: Douglas County Public Library, 301 S.W. Third Ave. in Ava, 9 a.m. 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, 417-683-5633, and Ava Senior Center, 108 N.E. Second St., 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, 417-683-5712.
Wright County: Mtn. Grove Library, 206 N. Greene Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays with an hour lunch closure at noon and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, 417-926-4453. Ozarks Family YMCA, 1 YMCA Drive in Mtn. Grove; hours are5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; call 417-926-637.
Texas County: Cabool Library, 418 Walnut St., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, 417-962-3722; Cabool Senior Center, 910 Cherry St., 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, 417-962-3860; Houston Senior Center, 301 S. Grand St., 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, 417-967-4119; Texas County Health Department, 950 N. U.S. 63 in Houston, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays; 417-967-4131; Texas County Library, 117 W. Walnut St. in Houston, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays or to 5 p.m. other weekdays and to 1 p.m. Saturdays, 417-967-2258; Texas County Library-Summersville Branch, 139 Rogers Ave., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, 417-932-5261; and Summersville Senior Center, 129 Rogers Ave., 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. weekdays, 417-932-4044.
Shannon County: Eminence Senior Center, 108 Grey Jones Drive, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, 573-226-3839; Shannon County Health Center, 18018 Grey Jones Drive, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 573-226-3914; and Winona Senior Center, 212 Sapper St., 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, 573-325-4636.
Oregon County: Alton Senior Center, 204 S. Main St., 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, 417-778-7342; Oregon County Health Department, 4 Court Square in Alton, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays with an hour lunch closure at noon, 417-778-7450; Thayer Fun and Friends Senior Center, 100 Chestnut St., 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays, 417-264-7354; Oregon County Health Department, 201 Market St. in Thayer, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays with an hour lunch closure, 417-264-3114; and Myrtle Public Library, 1 V Highway, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, 417-938-4350.
Those in need of shelter may also dial 211 to find the nearest warming shelter.
Last updated 4:45 p.m. Jan. 15
