West Plains Daily Digest Sunday, August 16, 2026
Ty's Take
Road conditions around here have been the subject of plenty of talk over the years, but this week's accident reports from Ellsinore and Houston remind you that talk doesn't change much on the pavement. Two separate crashes, injuries adding up, the kind of incidents that show up in the sheriff's log and then fade from memory until the next one happens. What stays, though, is the work of the people who show up after the impact, the emergency room physician at Ozarks Medical Center who got mentioned this week for the kind of split-second decision that means somebody goes home instead of doesn't. That's the part worth remembering when you're heading out on these roads that connect one county to the next.
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Weather Alerts
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued August 16 at 12:22AM CDT until August 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with peak heat indices in the triple digits up to around 110 degrees; localized higher heat indices are possible. * WHERE...All of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...Until 8 PM CDT /9 PM EDT/ this evening. *...
Ozark Radio News
Two Injured in Ellsinore Crash
A motorcycle and ATV collided on State Route N near Ellsinore on Saturday evening, leaving two people injured. The crash occurred at 6:40 p.m. about half a mile northeast of town, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol.
MSU-WP Announces the Summer Chancellor and Vice Chancellor Lists
Missouri State University-West Plains has announced its 2026 Summer Semester Chancellor's List and Vice Chancellor's List, recognizing students from across the United States and internationally for their academic achievement.
Patient Thanks TCMH Emergency Medicine Physician for Life-Saving Clinical Judgment
A Success, Missouri man credits an emergency medicine physician at TCMH in Houston with saving his life through careful clinical judgment during a hospital visit. Dr. Paul Schaefer suspected a heart attack despite initial blood work results appearing normal, potentially preventing a fatal outcome.
Man charged after motorcycle pursuit, patrol car collision
Joshua Simmons of Douglas County was arrested July 29 and charged with multiple felonies after authorities say he fled on a motorcycle and struck a Douglas County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle. The charges include first-degree assault or attempted first-degree assault involving serious physical...
Oregon County Sheriff’s Report August 3-9
The Oregon County Sheriff's Office, based in Alton, released its weekly incident report covering August 3 through August 9.
Crash Near Houston Injures Two
Two people were injured Friday afternoon in a head-on collision on U.S. 63 south of Houston when a southbound vehicle crossed the centerline. The crash happened at 12:50 p.m. on August 14 involving a 22-year-old driver from Willow Springs.
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