Log in
Community News
Sort by: Featured Most recent
247 results total, viewing 1 - 20
Teacher wages set by new Mo. law put strain on R-7 budget
A highlight of the first West Plains R-7 School Board meeting of the year included an announcement that no new candidates filed for the upcoming school board election, so member Sam Riggs and President Cindy Tyree will retain their seats for another three years, their set to expire in April. more
|
The Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award went to the West Plains Public Library and its manager, Dr. Greg Carter. Chamber Chair Eric Gibson presented the award to Carter. He said the library has embraced the arts with local art displays, and forged relationships with the West Plains Council on the Arts and the Missouri Humanities Council. The library's summer youth program saw a near-40% increase in participation, with additional sessions added to accommodate growing demand. In 2024, the library’s membership grew by 27% and saw an increase of nearly 60% in program attendance. Not counting special events, the library set a record attendance of 55,000 people, and saw 33,000 individual wire sessions and 6,000 logins to public computers. In addition, it has doubled private donations from $17,000 to $32,000. Watch the Quill next week for more photos from the event.
WP library among recipients of 2024 chamber awards
Recognizing those who go above and beyond to boost the community, the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce presented its annual awards ceremony Thursday at the West Plains Civic Center.  more
|
Sheriff Roberts responds to SRO petition
A group including parents of South Fork Elementary students is protesting the transfer of Howell County deputy and Student Resource Officer Shannon Sisney from his post at South Fork which he has held for about three years, and an online petition posted on change.org signed by about 475 individuals as of Friday morning. more
|
The West Plains R-7 School Board presented the family of Lexi Williams with a check for $15,322 at the beginning of its monthly meeting Tuesday night. Williams is a junior and a member of the girls tennis team who caught a virus in November that resulted in an immune response that caused temporary paralysis, a hospital stay and recovery including physical therapy. The fundraising effort was the result of district officials including the school board, faculty and staff, students, and other community members. From left: school board President Cindy Tyree; High School Principal Ryan Smith; Lexi Williams with mother Kayla, father Mike and brother Roman; and Zizzer Athletics and Activities Director Dr. Ashley Cooley.
Zizzers boost Williams family with $15K check
After two months of students, faculty, staff and community rallying around a Zizzer facing a serious illness and recovery, a check for $15,322 was presented to Lexi Williams and her family at Tuesday night's school board meeting. more
|
WP woman charged following Hazel Street search warrant
The West Plains Police Department recently announced the seizure of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, the result of a search warrant executed Jan. 8 at a home on Hazel Street by the department's Special Response Team. more
|
The Last Supper, as interpreted by artist Johnnie Lee Fullington of West Plains, right, was sold to Robert F. Stroud, Jr., of Mtn. View, during Fullington's art show reception Thursday at The Frame Shop and Gallery, 403 Washington Ave. in West Plains. His work is scheduled to be on display through the end of January.
In first solo show, ‘Artist Known as Johnnie’ sells several paintings, including a commission
With a wall of paintings on display, Johnnie Lee Fullington, 31, West Plains, conducted a show and sale during his art show reception Thursday at the Frame Shop and Gallery, 403 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The event was Fullington's first solo exhibition.  more
|
Faith Collins, Alton, a 2024 graduate of Missouri State University-West Plains, is one of six students to receive the 2024-2025 Citizen Scholar Award from Missouri State University in Springfield. To the left of Collins is MSU-WP Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Michael Orf.
MSU-WP graduate receives Citizen Scholar Award from MSU
Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) graduate Faith Collins, Alton, was among six students who recently received Missouri State University’s 2024-2025 Citizen Scholar Award. more
The Lincoln School was packed Monday for a ceremony remembering the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. Monday was the national holiday designated to honor the civil rights leader and his impact on the furtherance of social justice. The Lincoln School is a restored one-room schoolhouse that was the local school for Black students during the segregation era, until 1958. Since being reopened as a community center, it has been host to events dedicated to educating the public, and will be the center of several Black History Month events in February.
‘If you can’t fly, run’: Locals remember Dr. King’s impact in Lincoln School ceremony
About 65 people attended a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., held Monday at the historic Lincoln School, including West Plains Mayor Mike Topliff and his wife Pam; Travis Smith, who just ended a term as Missouri's 155th District representative; and Missouri State University-West Plains athletes and other students. more
|
HOEC: Extreme cold caused power lines to shrink, leading to Monday morning outage
The Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative has issued a peak alert notice to its members, asking them to conserve energy use through 9 p.m. today. The alert was issued Sunday afternoon ahead of single-digit overnight lows, and early Monday morning, co-op officials reported, a power outage affected 999 member households. more
|
The latest Dollar General store to open a new location is going up quickly at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and West Abe Taylor Street, after a home on the lot was demolished and the ground was leveled. It will be the fourth Dollar General in West Plains, and the approval for the construction was given in October by West Plains city council members. The site plan shows the 10,640 square-foot building will face Abe Taylor Street and have a parking lot entrance off of Lincoln Avenue, built on 1.62 acres.
Construction on new Dollar General progressing quickly
The City of West Plains has planned a power outage from 11 p.m. tonight to about 12:30 a.m. Friday in the area marked in red on this map. A utility pole is being replaced, officials said.
Planned power outage to impact part of West Plains tonight
The City of West Plains has announced there will be a planned power outage for part of town beginning at 11 p.m. today, Thursday, and estimated to last about 90 minutes. more
Torie Collins snapped this photo of her son Sawyer rolling up a large snowball on the family’s property in north West Plains. 
GALLERY: Snow day photos
The Quill asked, and readers responded. more
“I want you to know my door is always open, and I’m excited to hear from you your ideas for what comes next,” said Abby Hess, newly-named general manager of the West Plains Daily Quill.
Hess named new general manager of the Quill
Quill Managing Editor Abby Hess has been named the West Plains Daily Quill’s General Manager, effective immediately. more
Public Defender Commission meets Wednesday
Scrutiny of the hiring practices of the Missouri Public Defender's Office prompted by the discovery that a suspect in the 2007 rape and murder of Rowan Ford has been working in the state public defender's West Plains office has led to the topic of hiring practices being placed on the agenda of a public meeting being held at 9 a.m. Wednesday via Zoom. more
|
WP Senior Center in need of volunteer drivers for home meal delivery
The West Plains Senior Center, 416 E. Main St., is in need of volunteers for its food delivery program. Administrator Joy Pace said the volunteer opportunity is available for route drivers of home-delivered meals.  more
|
WP man accused of giving youth THC before sexual assault
Editor’s note: The following article describes an investigation into the reported sexual assault of a youth. While care has been taken to report on charges with sensitivity to survivors and readers, it may still be disturbing to read. If you are experiencing domestic or sexual violence, or if you’re a survivor of the same and in need of support, call Christos House’s hotline, 800-611-5853. more
|
FYI
Quill to close for training Fri. a.m. more
West Plains man faces charges spanning multiple states
Paul J. Storms, Jr., 53, West Plains, is held in Howell County Jail with no bond after allegedly fleeing from deputies in September during an investigative traffic stop, then failing to appear for court on a charge of resisting arrest. He had an additional charge of resisting arrest added about a month later as the result of another alleged chase. more
|
Theodore B. Smith, held here by his mother, was born at 3:23 a.m. Jan. 3 at Ozarks Healthcare’s Women’s Center to parents Matthew Smith and Katrina Long. Dr. Tony Lam, right, delivered Theodore, the first baby born in 2025 at the center.
Ozarks Healthcare welcomes first baby of 2025
Ozarks Healthcare officials in West Plains have announced the arrival of the first baby born at its Women’s Center in 2025. more
Janet Hawkins of West Plains shared this photo of her dog, Hadassah, noting the pooch “loves the snow.” Howell County received between 4 1/2 inches and 6 1/2 inches of snow Friday, varying in locations.
Snow Day: Several inches of snow fall across southern Missouri
Students, and undoubtedly some of their parents, got a snow day Friday as a winter storm predicted to drop several inches of the white stuff moved into the area overnight Thursday. more
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 … 13 | Next »
Currently viewing stories posted within the past 182 days.
For all older stories, please use our advanced search.

X
© Copyright 2025 West Plains Daily Quill
Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions
X