Community News | West Plains Daily Quill

Several area communities are holding Fourth of July events this week, beginning today. more

6/29/24

Fire Marshal Bean: Safety comes first with fireworks

While the drought conditions that plagued Missouri for over a year have eased, the Division of Fire Safety is urging Missourians to continue to exercise extreme caution if they choose to use consumer fireworks as part of July Fourth celebrations. Across the nation, the Fourth of July is not only the busiest day of the year for fireworks, it’s the busiest day of the year for fires, said division officials. more

6/28/24

Zizzer Pride Band to perform 7 p.m. today at civic center

All are invited to see the Zizzer Pride Band performance at 7 p.m. today at the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St. more

6/28/24

Sheriff: Body found in Norfork Lake at Pigeon Creek

A Baxter County Sheriff's Office diver recovered a body from a vehicle that ran off the causeway inside the Pigeon Creek park, about 6 miles north of Mtn. Home, Ark., and became submerged under the water, reported Sheriff John Montgomery. A causeway is a raised road traversing a body of water or wet ground. more

6/28/24

Birthday Blessings recently delivered summer care packages to 37th Judicial CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), which advocates for children who have suffered abuse or neglect. From left, Kathleen Wolf, Shari Perkins and Connie Pendergrass are CASA staff members who will help distribute the bags to children in foster care who are struggling. The care packages are designed to provide an emotional boost to kids who feel isolated and lonely, explained Birthday Blessings Executive Director Shannon VonAllmen.

Birthday Blessings set to host second annual July Toy Drive

Those in the community wondering how to make a difference in the life of a child in foster care have an opportunity to consider in second annual Birthday Blessings July Toy Drive. more

6/27/24

Burlin sentenced to prison on 2018 child endangerment conviction

A West Plains woman has been sentenced to three years in prison after violating probation on a 2018 first-degree child endangerment conviction. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 6/27/24

This file photo from 2018 shows then-candidate for secretary of state, Jay Ashcroft, speaking at the Howell County Lincoln Day event. Having won that office, Ashcroft now seeks the office of Missouri governor.

Ashcroft returns to West Plains Saturday for campaign meet and greet

Secretary of State and candidate for governor, Jay Ashcroft, will host a meet and greet with Howell County residents from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Colton's Steakhouse, 1421 Preacher Roe Blvd. in West Plains. There, he plans to discuss his approach to leadership and path to reform over coffee and light refreshments. more

6/26/24

Junction Hill School Board meets Thursday

The Junction Hill School board will hold its June meeting at noon Thursday in the school cafeteria. more

6/26/24

Rep. Travis Smith, right, speaks with Justin Jones, left, and his wife Louise, of Moody, at a recent campaign event at Dev’s Steakhouse &amp; Piano Bar in West Plains. Smith currently represents the 155th House District, and is running for the 33rd Senate District seat currently held by retiring Sen. Karla Eslinger.

Travis Smith makes campaign stop in West Plains

Republican State Senate candidate Travis Smith, who is currently serving as representative of Missouri’s 155th House District, hosted a campaign event last week at Dev's Steakhouse & Piano Bar, 37 Court Square in West Plains. more

BY CHRIS HERBOLSHEIMER, CHRISH@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 6/26/24

E-Communications radio network recently took first place at the annual Missouri Broadcasters Convention held at Lake of the Ozarks. The award was presented for the network’s communitywide St. Jude Radiothon, which last February raised over $265,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee. “This award goes to the community who so actively embraces this great cause to find cures and save lives with the efforts at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,” said E-Communications co-owner Bob Eckman, left. He explained, “St Jude shares freely research with hospitals all over the world. Each February for the past 35 years-plus, the radio stations host this radiothon in February with 100% of donations going to kids in an effort to find cures. Today nearly 90% of all childhood cancers are treatable due to the vigorous research and commitment at St. Jude in Memphis.” With Bob Eckman is co-owner Timothy Eckman.

E-Communications wins award for St. Jude Radiothon

6/25/24

David M. Gohn Elected as Chairman of Missouri Bankers Association

David M. Gohn, president and CEO of West Plains Bank and Trust Company, was elected and installed as chairman of the Missouri Bankers Association (MBA) at the organization’s 134th Annual Convention held June 4 through 6 at the Hilton Branson Convention Center. more

6/25/24

Kathryn Bratton, who turned 100 on June 17, celebrated her longevity Saturday afternoon at her home, West Vue Whispering Pines, surrounded by family, friends and representatives of county and state government. Officials presented her with proclamations and resolutions recognizing her contributions to the community, and Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative Member Services Manager Myles Smith was on hand with the gift of a blanket. Smith noted Bratton was perhaps the electric cooperative's oldest and longest-standing member, and still has an active account in her name. Front row, from left: Bratton's grandson Michael Harrington and wife Kristin; Howell County Clerk Kelly Waggoner; granddaughter Stephanie Harrington with Michael and Kristin's daughters, Eleanor and Amelia; Bratton's daughter Katherine Harrington; and Bratton. Back row: son-in-law Terry Harrington, nephew John Perkins, Smith, Bratton’s son Bill Perkins and wife Susan, 154th District State Rep. David Evans and Bratton’s cousins Duard Ehrhart, Colleen Harbison and Harold Harbison.

Kathryn Bratton celebrates milestone birthday

In remarkably good health for her age, and with plenty of company, Kathryn Bratton of West Plains celebrated her 100th birthday with about 40 friends and family on Saturday. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 6/25/24

Ambergurumi was one of about two dozen vendors on hand for the two-day West Plains Pride event held in Galloway Park, offering for sale crocheted stuffed animals crafted by artist Amber Bourland, right. Seated to the left of Bourland is her husband, Randall. Joining them, standing, is their child Eli Isaiah.

West Plains' first Pride event draws 900 for two days of celebration

Roughly 900 people turned out for the inaugural West Plains Pride celebration of the local LGBTQIA+ community, despite the onset of a blistering heat wave. more

BY ABBY HESS, ABBYH@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 6/25/24

Marcak sentenced to life in prison without parole

Joey A. Marcak, 36, West Plains, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty Friday to two counts of second-degree murder in Greene County. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 6/24/24

Marcak pleads guilty to second-degree murder in 2020 double-homicide case

Joey A. Marcak, 36, West Plains, has pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in connection with a May 2020 double homicide in West Plains. He was originally charged with two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and a count of first-degree attempted robbery. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WESTPLAINSDAILYQUILL.NET | 6/21/24

Zizzer earns back-to-back Beta national champion status

West Plains R-7 School District officials are congratulating Maren Thompson for securing first place in the Pottery Division 1 on Wednesday at the Beta National Convention in Savannah, Ga. Repeating her accomplishment from last year makes Thompson, who has just completed her sophomore year of high school, the back-to-back Beta National Pottery Champion. more

6/20/24

Richards School Board to meet June 27

The Richards School Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. June 27 in the school boardroom. more

6/19/24

Houston-based drag queen Lulu Chanel was one of seven performers to take the stage during the inaugural West Plains Pride event held Saturday and Sunday. Drag is a theatrical art in which performers are known as queens and kings, queens typically being men presenting themselves with exaggerated feminine features and kings typically being women presenting themselves in exaggerated masculine form. Over both days, the Pride event drew more than 900 attendees in celebration of the local LGBTQ+ community, said organizers. Watch the Quill for more coverage.

Inaugural West Plains Pride draws over 900

6/19/24

Charges filed in December fatal crash case

A West Plains woman has been charged with three felonies related to a fatal car crash that happened in late December 2023 on ZZ Highway, resulting in the death of passenger Brian E. Powell, 28, of West Plains. more

6/18/24

S. Stokes sentenced to 2 years in MDOC

A West Plains man who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in November 2021 has had his probation revoked and was sentenced to two years in prison, according to court records. more

6/15/24