Eminence Daily Digest Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Ty's Take
Eight years is a long time to wait for answers, longer still when the questions involve your own law enforcement, but Shannon County is finally getting somewhere with the Tory Sanders case—three people charged with murder, former deputies facing their own reckoning, and the kind of institutional accountability that doesn't come easy in small counties where everybody knows everybody. This didn't happen because the system worked the way it's supposed to; it happened because somebody kept pushing, kept asking why things didn't add up, kept caring enough to make noise when the official story didn't sit right. That's the kind of pressure that moves mountains, or at least moves a courthouse to do the work it should've done from the start. Whatever comes next in court, this much is certain: Shannon County's reputation for handling its worst moments has taken another hit, but so has the darkness that was allowed to settle over it.
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West Plains Daily Quill - Shannon County
Three charged with murder 8 years after Shannon Co. death
Nearly eight years after Robbie Crites' death was ruled an accidental drowning, three men from the Ozarks have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the June 2018 incident. According to court documents, witnesses say the suspects assaulted the 20-year-old over an alleged drug...
Charges mount against former Shannon Co. law enforcement staff
Two more former employees of the Shannon County Sheriff's Office have been charged with felonies, bringing the total number of former law enforcement staffers facing charges to five since November. The full details of the charges are available to paid subscribers of the West Plains Daily Quill.
Ozarks Healthcare sets heart health events for February
Ozarks Healthcare is hosting free heart health screenings and educational dinners throughout February to combat cardiovascular disease in the region. The initiative includes lipid panels, blood pressure checks, and glucose testing at seven regional locations, plus two community dinners featuring...
Arctic blast to bring sub-zero chills; snow totals uncertain
A dangerous Arctic cold front will plunge the region into sub-zero temperatures by Saturday, with wind chills potentially dropping below zero and snow accumulation ranging from minimal to 12 inches depending on storm development. Forecasters warn of a 70-90% chance of winter weather impacts this...
VFW Auxiliary launches military banner program
The VFW Auxiliary Post 3009 is launching the Military Tribute Banner Program in Mountain View to honor local veterans and active-duty service members with 24-by-48-inch patriotic banners displayed along city streets from Memorial Day through Veterans Day. Orders are being accepted through February...
Local students named to State Tech dean’s list
Five local students have earned dean's list recognition at State Tech for the fall 2025 semester by maintaining grade point averages between 3.5 and 4.0. The honorees include Carter Cutbirth of Ava, Daniel Eastman of Cabool, Wilson Masters of Dora, Sierra Green of Eminence, and Roan Brown of West...
Summersville Branch Library is launching a new monthly book club, expanded fiction collections, and a January book sale while seeking new members for the Friends of the Library volunteer group. The library offers free cards, ongoing programs including story time and crochet clubs, and now features...
Current River Callers to host NWTF Hunting Heritage Banquet Jan. 18
Current River Callers NWTF chapter will host its annual Hunting Heritage Banquet on January 18 at the Winona R-3 building to support local youth hunting programs and conservation efforts. The chapter is offering free youth memberships with meal ticket purchases and selling raffle tickets for a...
Birch Tree woman dies in Christmas Day crash
A 70-year-old Birch Tree woman died in a head-on collision on U.S. 60 near Mountain View on Christmas morning when her northbound vehicle entered the path of an eastbound pickup truck. The driver was not wearing a seat belt; a passenger in the pickup truck was hospitalized with injuries while the...
MSHP trooper charged with rape; cases proceed against Shannon Co. deputies
A newly graduated Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper has been charged with second-degree rape for an alleged July incident, while three Shannon County deputies face multiple felony charges including sexual misconduct and abuse. The charges stem from separate investigations that uncovered alleged...
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