2024 was a busy year with plenty for the Quill to report on, from weather events to milestones and plenty in between.
The year saw travelers and locals gather for a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse and the first-ever West Plains Pride, not to mention the traditional standbys: the Old-Time Music, Ozarks Heritage Festival, Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Festivals and the Heart of the Ozarks Fair.
The historic Downtown Aid Antiques store closed with the retirement of Toney Aid, himself a notable figure in the West Plains business community, and the city welcomed several new businesses, including McAlister’s Deli, which drew a crowd of hundreds on opening day despite drizzly autumn weather.
Work began on the much-anticipated Independence Drive railroad overpass, and businesses grew their footprints.
Readers honed in on some of these stories, driving them to the top of the Quill’s website hits or Facebook page engagement statistics, and still other everyday moments also made the cut.
Here’s which headlines readers found most interesting in the Quill’s pages and online in 2024:
1. Police identify suspect, victim in Wednesday night fatal shooting, Nov. 21
2. Arby’s offers free roast beef sandwiches to veterans on Monday, Nov. 8
3. Metal to Rust - The Pontiac GTO: A journey through American Muscle Car History, Nov. 17, 2023
4. Skeletal remains found in rural Howell County, Aug. 15
5. The tragedy of West Plains: The unsolved mystery of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion, Feb. 16
6. Driver in fatal BB Hwy. crash charged with manslaughter, Feb. 1
7. Best of West Plains 2023, March 30
8. West Plains woman charged with murder after fentanyl overdose, Feb. 15
9. 19-year-old charged after crash leaves man with serious injuries, Nov. 29
10. Financial trouble leads to attorney’s two-year suspension, Feb. 7
1. KS man held on $25K cash-only bond in Shannon Co. homicide-related case, Jan. 2
2. Metal to Rust - The Pontiac GTO: A journey through American Muscle Car History, Nov. 17, 2023
3. Suspect charged in late-December Shannon County murder case, Jan. 8
4. Drug raid on Harlin Drive leads to arrests, Jan. 9
5. Law enforcement: Levi Gunter reported missing, Dec. 28, 2023
1. Driver in fatal BB Hwy. crash charged with manslaughter, Feb. 1
2. West Plains woman charged with murder after fentanyl overdose, Feb. 15
3. Metal to Rust - The Pontiac GTO: A journey through American Muscle Car History, Nov. 17, 2023
4. Financial trouble leads to attorney’s two-year suspension, Feb. 7
5. Two from WP accused of kidnapping teen, taking her to Tennessee, Jan. 30
1. Metal to Rust - The Pontiac GTO: A journey through American Muscle Car History, Nov. 17, 2023
2. Best of West Plains 2023, March 30
3. Police: Officer hurt while apprehending man on outstanding warrants, March 1
4. WP woman faces arson charge for Olden Street house fire, March 4
5. From the Ozarks to the mound: The early life of Preacher Roe, March 3
1. Five charged in convenience store gambling machine crackdown, April 9
2. Best of West Plains 2023, March 30
3. Visitor’s guide to Eclipse West Plains Party on the Path activities, April 6
4. Metal to Rust - The Pontiac GTO: A journey through American Muscle Car History, Nov. 17, 2023
5. Budweiser Clydesdales arrive in West Plains, April 4
1. Mtn. View opens storm shelter for those displaced by Sunday evening tornado, May 26
2. WP man charged with beating elderly relative, May 21
3. ‘We can all celebrate together’: West Plains Pride event is June 15-16 at Galloway, May 24
4. With support from Fidelity, Richards rocketry teams head to D.C. for seventh year in a row, May 16
5. ‘Victorious’: 280 Zizzers graduate with WPHS Class of ’24, May 14
1. OZARKS COMMONS: Pride in our community, June 15
2. Charges filed two years after crashed that claimed lives of mom and kids, June 6
3. The tragedy of West Plains: The unsolved mystery of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion, Feb. 16
4. Bidding farewell to Aid’s Downtown Antiques: Celebrating a legacy and embracing new beginnings, June 28
5. West Plains road closures due to train-vehicle crash, June 3
1. Authorities identify woman whose body was found in 2022 by U.S. 60 in Winona, July 18
2. U.S. 63 crash in Thayer claims life of Westphalia man, July 5
3. Fourth of July event roundup, June 29
4. ‘Cowboy Rick’ suffers serious injuries in West 160 crash, July 8
5. The tragedy of West Plains: The unsolved mystery of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion, Feb. 16
1. Skeletal remains found in rural Howell County, Aug. 15
2. West Plains R-7 back-to-school and open house information, Aug. 2
3. Former Fairview teacher charged with stalking, harassing former student, Aug. 19
4. WP R-7’s new teachers gear up for start of school year, Aug. 13
5. The tragedy of West Plains: The unsolved mystery of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion, Feb. 16
1. Authorities seek public’s help with investigation into woman’s death, Sept. 20
2. The tragedy of West Plains: The unsolved mystery of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion, Feb. 16
3. Skeletal remains found in rural Howell County, Aug. 15
4. WPHS 2024 Homecoming Court, Sept. 20
5. Sunday afternoon thunderstorm flips camper, fatally injuring occupant, Sept. 23
1. Couple charged after exterminator reports finding toddler home alone, Oct. 24
2. One of three suspects in ’89 rape, murder case faces new charges, Oct. 17
3. Lawsuit alleges Fish Shack owners 12 years behind in tax payments, Oct. 4
4. The tragedy of West Plains: The unsolved mystery of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion, Feb. 16
5. Two new attorneys sworn in to practice law in Howell County
1. Police identify suspect, victim in Wednesday night fatal shooting, Nov. 21
2. Arby’s offers free roast beef sandwiches to veterans on Monday, Nov. 8
3. 19-year-old charged after crash leaves man with serious injuries, Nov. 29
4. Flash flooding cancels classes in West Plains, Nov. 4
5. MDC announces new CWD firearms hunting portion, antlerless deer permit for next year, Dec. 3, 2022
1. Traffic stop leads to first-degree drug trafficking charges for 3, Dec. 12
2. Suspect’s parents charged in Oregon Co. standoff case, Dec. 27
3. 19-year-old charged after crash leaves man with serious injuries, Nov. 29
4. The tragedy of West Plains: The unsolved mystery of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion, Feb. 16
5. Ozark County teen dies in Tuesday crash, Dec. 4
1. Police identify suspect, victim in Wednesday night fatal shooting - Nov. 21
2. Driver in fatal BB Hwy. crash charged with manslaughter - Feb. 1
3. Skeletal remains found in rural Howell County - Aug. 15
4. 19-year-old charged after crash leaves man with serious injuries - Nov. 29
5. Couple charged after exterminator reports finding toddler home alone - Oct. 24
6. Best of West Plains 2023 - March 30
7. Authorities identify woman whose body was found in 2022 by U.S. 60 in Winona - July 18
8. West Plains woman charged with murder after fentanyl overdose - Feb. 15
9. Authorities seek public's help with with investigation into woman's death - Sept. 20
10. One of three suspects in ’89 rape, murder case faces new charges - Oct. 17
1. Skeletal remains found in rural Howell County - Aug. 15
2. Flash flooding cancels classes in West Plains; more rain expected - Nov. 4
3. Police identify suspect, victim in Wednesday night fatal shooting - Nov. 21
4. Authorities identify woman whose body was found in 2022 by U.S. 60 in Winona - July 18
5. Driver in fatal BB Hwy. crash charged with manslaughter - Feb. 1
6. Best of West Plains 2023 - March 30
7. Authorities seek public's help with with investigation into woman's death - Sept. 20
8. Call for entries issued for April 6 Neon Parade - Feb. 28
9. U.S. 160/Independence Drive in WP to close for bridge construction - Oct. 24
10. From the Ozarks to the Mound: The Early Life of Preacher Roe - March 3
Most read: Grizzly Homecoming candidates announced, Jan. 8
Most shared: Frigid weather continues; area schools cancel classes, Jan. 15
Most read: Driver in fatal BB Hwy. crash charged with manslaughter, Feb. 1
Most shared: Call for entries issued for April 6 Neon Parade, Feb. 28
Most read and most shared: Best of West Plains 2023, March 30
Most and most shared: Budweiser Clydesdales arrive in West Plains, April 4
Most read: 'Victorious': 280 Zizzers graduate with WPHS Class of '24, May 114
Most shared: With support from Fidelity, Richards rocketry teams head to D.C. for seventh year in a row, May 16
Most read and most shared: Charges filed two years after crash that claimed lives of mom and kids, June 6
Most read and most shared: Authorities identify woman whose body was found in 2022 by U.S. 60 in Winona, July 18
Most read and most shared: Skeletal remains found in rural Howell County, Aug. 15
Most read and most shared: Authorities seek public's help with with investigation into woman's death, Sept. 20
Most read: Couple charged after exterminator reports finding toddler home alone, Oct. 24
Most shared: U.S. 160/Independence Drive in WP to close for bridge construction, Oct. 24
Most read: Police identify suspect, victim in Wednesday night fatal shooting, Nov. 21
Most shared: Flash flooding cancels classes in West Plains; more rain expected, Nov. 4
Most read: Traffic stop leads to first-degree drug trafficking charges for 3, Dec. 12
Most shared: JUSTICE MATTERS: Wishing all a happy holiday season ... especially those who open their hearts to children in need, Dec. 14
