As the publisher of the West Plains Daily Quill and West Plains Gazette, I am compelled to reflect on the rollercoaster year of 2023 and share our vision for the future. Change, as we all know, is the only constant, but its embrace does not always come easy. This past year at the Quill has been a testament to that truth. more

I am not one for New Year’s resolutions. more

To the editor: more

This is the last column for the year and what a year it has been at Summersville Branch Library! more

Lord willing, I’ll be 76 years old as of Saturday, Dec. 30 — exactly 60 years from the day I became old enough to legally drive on Missouri highways. more

Hey there! Today, I want to chat about a song that's as synonymous with New Year's Eve as fireworks and midnight kisses – "Auld Lang Syne." Ever been at a New Year's party, heard this tune, and just mumbled along because you didn't really know the words? You're not alone. It's probably one of the most "mumbled-through" songs in history! more

Dear Readers, more

There's no other place I'd rather be than rural Missouri. For me there is something a little special about forgetting to grab the keys from my truck and knowing it will still be there when I get back from lunch or stopping by the feed store to hear about who nailed the biggest buck of the year. more

There’s truly nothing like Christmas. It’s a special time of the year where we gather around with family and loved ones and take part in our favorite traditions, whether it’s singing along to beautiful hymns in church, making a cookie recipe passed down through generations, or sitting down at the dinner table for a delicious feast. But the most important thing is to remember why we celebrate this joyous day each year: the birth of Jesus Christ. more

The Willow Springs Tuesday Study Club met at Club 60 in Mtn. Grove on Dec. 5 for its annual Christmas Party. Pauline Cape, Kathleen Carel and Claudia Marvin were the hostesses. Pauline and Claudia beautifully decorated the meeting room at Club 60 with decorations provided by Claudia and Pauline. more

What did I enjoy the most? I watched the Zizzers boys basketball team play Rogersville last Friday night, and on Saturday morning I am remembering and thinking what I enjoy the most. more

I’ve almost always believed in Santa Claus, but I never thought he was real. more

When I was a kid back in Ozarks of the 1960’s, it seemed like Christmas did not start as early as it does now. I don’t remember ever starting the day after Thanksgiving. more

Year after year, as the days shorten and the air chills, a ritual unfolds in many a living room: the annual viewing of "It's a Wonderful Life." This year, I found myself a bit behind schedule, but the moment I settled in to watch, time fell away. Suddenly, I was a child again, back in the 90s, eagerly awaiting the familiar black and white images to flicker across the screen on network TV, an annual tradition as expected as the carols and the tree. more

Editor’s note: This column was first published Dec. 19, 2017. more

And “Whoomp, there it is,” to quote the Tag Team song from the ’90s.   more

To the editor: more

Dear Readers, more

It’s less than two weeks before Christmas Day, and our children’s Christmas books as well as adult Christmas novels and movies are being checked out as quickly as we get them in! A good selection of Christmas books and movies can be found on the endcap displays throughout the library. more

We’ll be going into winter soon, Dec. 21 — maybe sooner if Mother Nature gets impatient. more