West Plains Daily Digest Saturday, July 25, 2026
Ty's Take
Election season's heating up around here, and anybody paying attention can see the money's already flowing in from outside trying to shape what people think. Meanwhile, down in Willow Springs they're moving forward with practical things, fire engines and flood maps, the kind of work that doesn't require anybody's opinion to matter. Out at the university, the Zizzers are building something real too, with a schedule that keeps the home field busy and a young man making his mark on the court. The noise from politics is loud right now, but it's worth remembering what actually builds a county like this one: the work that happens whether or not anybody's running an ad about it.
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Weather Alerts
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 25 at 2:45AM CDT until July 28 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
* WHAT...Daily peak heat index values from around 105 degrees, up to near 110 degrees expected. * WHERE...All of southeast Missouri, and neighboring portions of southwest Illinois and far western Kentucky. * WHEN...From 11 AM Sunday to 7 PM CDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humid...
West Plains Daily Quill
Tracing the outside cash fueling local attack ads
A Missouri Ethics Commission investigation reveals that outside political action committees funded by St. Louis donor Rex Sinquefield and other sources are behind attack mailers targeting Rep. Lisa Durnell in the Aug. 4 primary race for Missouri's 154th House District in Howell County. We the...
Willow Springs Council approves fire engine rally, discusses FEMA flood maps
The Willow Springs Board of Aldermen approved use of Booster Field for an Oct. 10 fire engine rally organized by Eleven Point Rural Fire Chief Frank Vanhorn, featuring friendly competitions and activities for firefighters and families from across Howell County. The council also recognized four city...
Shield Maidens discuss state ballot issues
The Shield Maidens gathered to discuss state ballot issues affecting voters in the region.
Two Bismarck men charged with felony kidnapping in Oregon County
Two Bismarck men, Ethan A. Moore and Connor L.M. Coleman, face felony child kidnapping charges in Oregon County after authorities say they picked up a 17-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl near Koshkonong late last week following online contact via Snapchat. Officers located both suspects and...
Voters gather for political panel, debate at civic center
More than 150 residents attended a political forum at the West Plains Civic Center featuring county officeholders discussing proposed state constitutional amendments, a 154th District House debate between Democrat JoJo Stewart of Willow Springs and Republican Travis Smith of Pottersville (with...
Bears’ Osei-Bonsu named to NABC Honors Court
Missouri State University senior Michael Osei-Bonsu, a psychology major from Illinois, earned recognition on the 2025-26 NABC Honors Court for maintaining a 3.2 or higher cumulative GPA while excelling on the basketball court. The forward shot 59 percent from the field during his final season,...
MSU men's soccer finalizes 2026 schedule with 12 home matches
Missouri State men's soccer coach Michael Seabolt announced the 2026 schedule will feature 12 home matches at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium, including three exhibition games and 11 regular-season contests. The home slate begins Aug. 9 against Northwest Arkansas and features matchups with...
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Ozark Radio News
Mtn View City Meeting Agenda Announced for July 27th
The City of Mountain View Board of Aldermen will meet on July 27 at 5:30 p.m. to address items on the meeting agenda.
Cabool School District Hires New Office Secretary, New Teacher for Upcoming School Season
The Cabool R-IV School District hired Mandy Scarbrough as central office secretary for the 2026-2027 school year, bringing 18 years of administrative experience from the Willow Springs School District.
Bull Shoals Dam Road Closure Scheduled July 29–30
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will close Highway 178 across Bull Shoals Dam on July 29 and 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to unload and lower gates and equipment necessary for long-term dam maintenance.
Funeral services for Earby Monroe Hardin, 84, of Salem, Arkansas will be held Saturday, July 25 at The Doty Memorial Chapel in Salem, with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. and burial to follow at The Camp Cemetery in Camp, Arkansas.
Funeral services for Phyllis Diane Hubbard, 83, of Houston, Missouri will be held Monday, July 27 at The Evans Funeral Home in Houston, with visitation from 10 a.m. and interment at The Success Lane Cemetery in Success, Missouri.
Funeral services for Sharlene Medlock Read, 90, of Yukon, Missouri will be held Tuesday, July 28 at The Big Creek Church in Yukon, with visitation at 10 a.m. and burial at The Big Creek Cemetery in Yukon.
Graveside services for Jim Ratcliffe, 93, of Fordland, Missouri will take place Saturday, August 8 at The Glenwood Cemetery in Glenwood, Iowa, with a memorial visitation scheduled for Tuesday, July 28 at The Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home in Seymour, Missouri.
Memorial services for Teena Marie Hire, 68, of Springfield, Missouri will be held Friday, July 31 at The Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home in Mansfield, with memorial contributions accepted for Macomb Cemetery.
Melva Jean Stradley, 90, a resident of Ballwin, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, July 22 due to natural causes. Born in Mountain Grove in 1935, she attended school in Chicago and had deep roots in the region.
Featured Pet of The Day-Chisum
Chisum, a 3-year-old medium-sized dog available through The City of Mountain Grove Animal Control, is neutered, vaccinated, and looking for a new home with an owner willing to help him achieve a healthier weight.
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