West Plains Daily Digest Friday, July 31, 2026
Ty's Take
Roads keep our region stitched together, and when Route VV goes down for pavement work, folks around Howell County adjust like they always do. Same week you've got Mountain View taking delivery of a new skid steer for their own maintenance needs, which tells you something about how seriously these towns take keeping things running smooth. Highway 63 had a rough week though, with two Licking men hurt in an accident that reminds us the asphalt doesn't care how much traffic it carries or how many near-misses we all walk away from. A motorcycle rider over in Gatewood wasn't so lucky swerving to miss an animal, which is the kind of split-second decision that ends badly out here where the roads are long and dark. Point is, the infrastructure that connects us to our jobs, our kids' schools, and each other demands respect, and a little more caution wouldn't hurt any of us.
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City of Mountain View Took Delivery of New Skid Steer
Mountain View has received a new Takeuchi TL8R2 skid steer from Hayden Machinery of West Plains to replace equipment destroyed in an April fire. The city applied its insurance settlement toward the $67,000 purchase price to reduce the final cost.
Texas County Memorial Hospital Hutcheson Pharmacy to Close in August
Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston announced that its Hutcheson Pharmacy will close on August 21st. Hospital leadership said the decision to shut down the retail pharmacy operation was made after careful evaluation by the board of trustees and executive team.
Route VV in Howell County Will be Reduced For Pavement Repairs
The Missouri Department of Transportation will reduce Route VV in Howell County to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction between Route 63 and Route PP near Brandsville for pavement repairs. Weather permitting, the work will run weekdays from August 3 through August 13 between 6:30 a.m. and 4:30...
Back to School Fair August 10th in Thayer
Thayer will host a Back to School Fair on August 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., offering free backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, and food for elementary through high school families. The event will also feature local business and educational booths, with Bryant Graphs and Crafts LLC participating.
Featured Pet of The Day- Carmel
Carmel, a 3-month-old mixed breed dog also known as Henry, is available for foster or adoption through Ozarks Pet Rescue after his recent adopter had to relocate. The dog is good with kids, cats, and other dogs.
Two Licking Men Injured in an Accident on Highway 63 Thursday
Two Licking men were injured Thursday in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 63 about five miles north of Licking when an 82-year-old driver pulled from a private drive into the path of a northbound Chevrolet. The 37-year-old driver of the pickup truck attempted to avoid the collision but the vehicles...
Early Voting Surges as Missouri Primary Election Nears
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins reports that early voting is surging ahead of the August 4 primary election, with county clerks across the state noting increased participation in the two-week no-excuse absentee voting period. Early voting turnout is outpacing previous election cycles.
WPPD Reports for 7/20-7/26/2026
This article contains only a police report log header with no substantive content to summarize.
Gatewood Man Seriously Injured Trying to Avoid an Animal on His Motorcycle
A 49-year-old Gatewood man was seriously injured Wednesday night on MO-142 about three miles west of Doniphan when he swerved on his 2006 Honda Roadking to avoid an animal and the motorcycle overturned. Despite wearing a safety device, the rider suffered serious injuries in the crash.
MSU-West Plains Chancellor Zora Mulligan Prepares for Upcoming Academic Year
Missouri State University-West Plains Chancellor Zora Mulligan reflected on her first year leading the institution and discussed plans for the upcoming academic year as students prepare to return to campus. Mulligan shared insights on her tenure and the university's direction moving forward.
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