Log in
Featured Stories
Big Smith

2024 Old Time Music, Ozarks Heritage Festival headliners announced

Headliners announced for this year’s Old-Time Music, Ozarks Heritage Festival are CJ Newsom’s Classic Country from Branson with Terry Wayne Sanders, performing at 8 p.m. June 7, and Big Smith of Springfield, set to play at 8 p.m. June 8. Both performances will be held in the West Plains Civic Center theater. 
West Plains recipients of the State FFA Degree, from left: Cody Jedlicka, Jaden Brotherton, Hattie Patillo, Ruby Hinds and Hallie Bunch.

West Plains FFA earns another Top Chapter Award, several individual awards

The Missouri FFA Association awarded the West Plains FFA Chapter a Gold Emblem and a Top Chapter Award once again during the 96th annual state convention held April 17 through 19 in Columbia. West Plains placed 16th out of 362 chapters. Only 10% of state chapters receive a top chapter designation annually, officials pointed out.

Howell County 911 to get major upgrades with help from ARPA funds

Upgrades leading to better efficiency and accuracy of 911 services will soon be happening in Howell County and the surrounding area, thanks to grant funding appropriated through the American Rescue Plan Act and approved by the Missouri General Assembly and Gov. Michael Parson, supporting improvement projects in 65 counties in all.
The Mtn. View-Birch Tree School District was gifted an administrative office facility by Simmons Bank, plus office furnishings and a storage facility, and recently celebrated the occasion with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The building was formerly used as a bank, and unique elements like a vault and a night deposit box built into the wall remain, hinting at its history. From left: Mtn. View Assistant Superintendent Ryan Chowning, Simmons Bank Financial Center Manager Melody Cooper and community lender Lana Rector, school board member John Thompson, Simmons Bank Regional Community President Steve Vines, school board member Mikael Orchard, Superintendent Lanna Tharp and school board President Eric Wells and members Michael Smith, Josh Roberts and Shelly Mantel.

Simmons Bank gifts administrative building to Mtn. View-Birch Tree School District

MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Mtn. View-Birch Tree School Board recently celebrated the official opening of a new facility donated by Simmons Bank in Mtn. View, including administrative offices and furnishings and a 1,200 square foot storage building, located on Elm Street between Simmons Bank and Mtn. View Elementary School.

2 men accused of threatening women with guns in late-night weekend incidents

Two men have been charged in incidents that reportedly happened at almost the same time over the weekend at local businesses, each involving threats with a firearm.

How to setup Digital Access if you’re a print subscriber

Get the most out of your print subscription and sign up for digital access.

News

Arkansas lawmakers approve $6.3 billion budget bill as session wraps up

Arkansas lawmakers have given final approval to legislation outlining the state's $6.3 billion budget for the coming year. The House and Senate on Thursday approved identical versions of the …
Defendant Thomas Kinworthy Jr. sits in the courtroom during his first-degree murder trial on Thursday, May 2, 2024, in the 22nd Circuit Court in St. Louis. Kinworthy was found guilty of first-degree murder and other counts in the death of St. Louis officer Tamarris Bohannon, 29, who was shot and killed, and officer Arlando Bailey who was injured during a home invasion in August 2020. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, Pool)

Man found guilty of murder in 2020 fatal shooting of Missouri officer

A man charged with killing a St. Louis police officer in 2020 has been found guilty of murder. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that a jury convicted 46-year-old Thomas Kinworthy of murder and …
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks at a news conference next to former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines at the state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., Thursday, May 2, 2024. Sanders spoke before signing an executive order stating that Arkansas won't comply with new federal regulations intended to protect the rights of transgender students. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo)

Arkansas governor says state won't comply with new federal rules on treatment of trans students

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders says her state won't comply with a federal regulation that seeks to protect the rights of transgender students in the nation's schools. Sanders on Thursday signed …
FILE - The Missouri Capitol is seen, Sept. 16, 2022, in Jefferson City, Mo. A dayslong filibuster in the Missouri Senate ended Thursday, May 2, 2024, after a Republican faction allowed a vote on a more than $4 billion Medicaid program they had been holding hostage. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

Missouri Senate filibuster ends with vote on multibillion-dollar Medicaid program

A dayslong filibuster in the Missouri Senate has ended. Senators gave initial approval in a voice vote Thursday to a $4 billion Medicaid program that Freedom Caucus members had been holding hostage. …

Arkansas lawmakers approve new restrictions on cryptocurrency mines after backlash over '23 law

Arkansas lawmakers have approved new restrictions on cryptocurrency mining operations in the wake of a 2023 law that prompted backlash from some communities. The majority-Republican House on …

Sports
The Indy Autonomous Challenge Returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 6, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2024--The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) will make a grand return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) “The Racing Capital of the World” on September …
COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2024--HOMAGE, Inc., a leading vintage-inspired sports and licensed apparel company, today announced a strategic investment of growth capital from Maximum …
Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest say they reserve the right to remove any Palestinian flags and pro-Palestinian symbols at the show next week in Sweden. The announcement came amid heightened …
Gamers’ appetites for immersive sports video games have not changed much since the heyday of EA Sports' college football. Society, however, has. Video-game developer EA Sports is breaking back into …
MCLEAN, Va. & BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2024--MITRE’s 2024 Embedded Capture the Flag™ (eCTF) competition concluded this past week, marked by an awards ceremony held at JFK …

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2023 Concludes After an 8-Month Journey, Igniting the Collaborative Efforts of Hong Kong's Primary and Secondary School Students Towards a Technology-Driven Sustainable Future

Ying Wa Primary School and Ho Yu College and Primary School (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen) emerged as the Champions in the Primary and Secondary school categories respectively. Around 2,000 students …

Grizzly Volleyball adds 4 more players to 2024-2025 squad

FOUR MORE PLAYERS have been added to the Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly Volleyball team for the 2024-2025 campaign. They are, from left, Violeta Bachvarova, an outside hitter from Bulgaria; Chesnea Blakey, a libero from Rogersville; Isabella Calle, a libero from Colombia; and Elidjah Abomo, a middle blocker from France.
Paty Figueiredo, head coach of the Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly Volleyball team, has announced the signing of four more players to the 2024-2025 team. They are:
People & Events

S.T.A.R. Orientation dates set for new students registering for summer session, fall semester classes

New students planning to enroll in 2024 summer session and/or fall semester classes at Missouri State University-West Plains can sign up now for the university’s STudent Advising and Registration (S.T.A.R.) Orientation.

Ozarka to host Kids College this summer

Ozarka College in Melbourne, Ark., will host Kids College this summer.
West Plains High School art teacher Audrey Scott took first place in the adult division of the 2023 Mental Health Month art show, themed “Pieces of Me.” This year’s art show theme is “Note to Self.” Works will be on display Monday through May 17 at the West Plains Civic Center.

Mental Health Month art show starts Monday

The West Plains Council on the Arts and Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center (BHC) have again partnered to bring a themed collection of submissions by area residents to the West Plains Civic Center. WPCA will host the exhibition of works from Monday through May 17 in the gallery on the mezzanine in the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St. The gallery is open to the public during regular civic center hours.

Community Calendar: May 1 update

Know of an event not listed here? Email submissions by noon Fridays to news@wpdailyquill.net with “CALENDAR” in the subject line. Three sentence maximum must include event description, date, time, location, cost and source for more information. Weekly events will be printed for no more than a month at a time unless renewed by the host. Call the Quill, 417-256-9191 with questions. Unless otherwise noted, events are in West Plains.
Arkansas news
Missouri news
Features
Renee Williams, center, a nurse at the West Plains Clinic of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ John J. Pershing Medical Center, receives the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses from interim center Director James Warren, left, and Associate Director for Patient Care Services Chandra Miller.

John J. Pershing VA Medical Center honors Williams with Daisy Award

Jeannie “Renee” Williams, a registered nurse at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ John J. Pershing Medical Center clinic in West Plains, has been recognized with the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

Cedarhurst to host Goat Gala & Fashion Show

Cedarhurst of West Plains invites the public to its inaugural Goat Gala & Fashion Show to be held May 29 at the senior living facility, 1528 U.S. 63.
Texas County Memorial Hospital was recently awarded $177,292.50 in Department of Public Safety grant funding made available by the American Rescue Plan Act. The grant enables the hospital to purchase a new ambulance, replacing the ambulance in its fleet with the highest mileage, 514,506 miles.

TCMH receives $177K equipment grant for ambulance

Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston has been awarded a grant of $177,292.50 by the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Pie competition returns to Old-Time Music Fest

The 30th annual Old-Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival will celebrate Missouri culture June 7 and 8 in downtown West Plains, and as part of the festivities, the pie competition will return for a fifth year.

Night during the day: Why everyone is hyped for the eclipse

By now, the only folks who have not heard the buzz about the total eclipse happening in 2024 must be living under rocks. Yeah, that's right, another celestial blockbuster is on its way, and folks are getting seriously hyped up about it. It's not just your regular stargazers and astronomy buffs either; we're talking about people from all walks of life planning, plotting, and ready to hit the road for the best viewing spots. But why all the fuss about the moon photobombing the sun for a bit? Let's dive in and find out why everyone's marking their calendars and why you might just want to join the eclipse-chasing bandwagon.

Thayer, Mammoth Spring team up to host eclipse events

The City of Thayer is hosting eclipse camping through Tuesday, complete with a nightly bonfire, live music, shuttles and food vendors.

Call for submissions: Eclipse Keepsake book

The Quill will offer a keepsake book to commemorate the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse event taking place Monday.
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

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.
X
X