Editor’s note: In cases of abuse, and particularly when children are involved, the Quill makes every effort to protect the identities of potential victims, including withholding specific details that could be used to identify them. Due to the nature of some alleged crimes, however, at times, minors may still be identifiable. The Quill endeavors to make this as difficult as possible for their privacy. If you suspect a child is being abused, call the Missouri Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline, 800-392-378. If you are experiencing domestic or sexual violence, or if you’re a survivor of the same needing support, call Christos House’s hotline, 800-611-5853. more

A Pottersville man is in Howell County jail on a $100,000-bond warrant after allegedly threatening to shoot a man and firing a gun into the ground directly in front of a woman, causing her to bleed. more

Howell County Commissioners are set to meet in regular session at 10 a.m. Thursday in the conference room on the second floor of the county office building, 35 Court Square in West Plains. more

The Howell County Sheriff’s Office has issued an alert concerning a scam brought to authorities attention by way of “numerous calls” from citizens. more

After a severe storm blew through south central Missouri Saturday evening, West Plains and surrounding communities are getting a small break from the heat. more

A festival focused on a long-ago Mtn. View-area celebrity who reportedly not only had a close encounter with space travelers several times in the 1950s, but rode in their spacecraft, is in the works to coincide with the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse. more

Howell County Clerk Kelly Waggoner announced her office has mailed 2024-2025 voter identification cards to the 24,623 active voters within the county. Voters should receive their white post card with a blue banner and an American Flag within a few days. more

A heat advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service office in Springfield for central and southern Missouri, in effect through 9 p.m. July 28 due to expected heat index values of up to 109 degrees and limited overnight relief. more

The Howell County Commission is scheduled to meet at 10:45 a.m. Thursday with a representative of the Howell County Sheriff’s Office for a new grant for a counterterrorism officer. more

During this month’s quarterly meeting, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved the FY 2024-2028 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which lists transportation projects planned by state and regional planning agencies between July 1 of this year and June 30, 2028. more

An Ozark County man is facing domestic assault charges related to two separate alleged incidents near and in West Plains this month. more

The Howell County Commission will meet for its regular semiweekly session at 10 a.m. Thursday in the conference room on the second floor of the county office building, 35 Court Square in West Plains. more

Howell County Commissioners are scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. Thursday with Trent Courtney of the South Central Ozarks Council of Governments regarding a Community Development Block Grant for Christos House. more

A Mtn. View man faces two felony charges after reportedly throwing a pipe bomb out of the passenger window when the pickup truck in which he was riding was stopped by a deputy early Sunday morning. more

The Howell County Sheriff's Department on Thursday evening announced the retirement of one of its K9 officers, Otis, from narcotics detection work. Officials with the agency said in a social media post the retirement was prompted by the legalization of recreational marijuana in Missouri by voters in November 2022 and the beginning of recreational marijuana sales in early February. more

The Howell County Commission will meet for its regular semiweekly session at 10 a.m. Monday in the conference room the second floor of the county office building, 35 Court Square in West Plains. The public is welcome to attend. more

The results of an audit of Howell County by Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick was released Friday, showing a rating of "good" despite finding some concerns with the county's financial practices. more

A representative of the Howell County Sheriff’s Office is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. Monday with county commissioners for a new grant application conference. more

The Missouri Department of Transportation will soon begin work on U.S. 60 for erosion control. more