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

Ozarks Healthcare officials in West Plains have announced the arrival of the first baby born at its Women’s Center in 2025. more

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

City officials explained the cause of a power outage Wednesday morning which affected the eastern portion of West Plains as an over-amperage — excessive draw of electrical current — caused by the extreme cold and the added draw on power from the use of heating devices, causing the system to shut down.
Over-amperage occurs when the demand for electricity exceeds the capacity that a substation or circuit can safely handle, officials explained, and protective systems activate to prevent equipment damage or safety risks , which can result in outages as the system automatically shuts down to safeguard critical infrastructure. more

West Plains schools will resume classes as normal on Tuesday, officials with the West Plains R-7 District announced. more

John C. Holstein, a retired judge whose storied career began in Howell County and included serving as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri, died Tuesday, Dec. 31 at his home in Springfield. He was 79. more

The West Plains Police Department has announced that its high-visibility Driving While Intoxicated Enforcement Campaign, intended to enhance safety during the New Year's Eve holiday, resulted in the arrest of one person on a charge of driving while intoxicated, and additional arrests on a no-bond warrant and driving while revoked or suspended. more

Friends of Garnett Library more

With temperatures expected to dip below freezing this weekend, and likely to stay below freezing during the day throughout the first half of next week, those who are unhoused or in a living situation with inadequate heat might want to consider local services that can offer shelter or a hot meal. more

2024 was a busy year with plenty for the Quill to report on, from weather events to milestones and plenty in between. more

Missouri State University-West Plains has been awarded a $359,000 grant to provide continued support for the recent expansion of the nursing program. more

Holiday hours reminder more

The Heart of the Ozarks United Way has selected four recipients for a new grant to help teachers provide in-class libraries and diversified literary materials for their students. The first round of the Books for Teachers Grant, in the amount of about $1,155, will go to teachers in the West Plains R-7 school district. more

The December meeting of the West Plains R-7 school board began with an introduction of high school students who took part in fall athletics and activities, some of which have concluded their seasons. more