West Plains Daily Digest Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Ty's Take
There's a missing girl out of Fulton County and a couple of teenagers hurt north of Licking, which reminds you fast how thin the margin is between an ordinary Monday and the kind of day that changes a family forever. Meanwhile, down at Ozarks Medical Center, they're putting real money into the kind of improvements that keep people alive when seconds matter, and out in Shannon County the first responders are running lean enough that they're asking for help. This is the work nobody thinks about until they need it, and the people doing it are usually the same ones your kids run into at the grocery store.
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West Plains Daily Quill
Fulton County Girl Reported Missing
Authorities in Fulton County, Ark. are searching for 13-year-old Joselyn Hancock, who went missing Sunday around noon from the Camp area. The girl, described as 5 feet 4 inches tall with blond or strawberry blonde hair, left on foot and may have taken clothing and food with her. Anyone with...
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Howell County News
Publisher named Journalist of the Year
Ozark Radio News
Willow Springs Man Arrested on Multiple Charges Monday
A 25-year-old Willow Springs man is being held in the Howell County Jail after his arrest Monday on multiple felony charges including narcotics possession, firearm possession, and resisting arrest. Weslee Field was taken into custody before 11:45 a.m. and remains on a 24-hour hold.
Two Teens Injured North of Licking
Two teens were injured Monday afternoon when a 2007 Infiniti G35 crashed on Missouri Route CC, five miles north of Licking. The westbound vehicle, driven by a 19-year-old Licking man, ran off the right side of the road before returning to the pavement and leaving the roadway again. A 17-year-old...
West Plains Downtown Stroll to Preclude Dolly & Porter Days
West Plains will host its monthly Downtown Stroll this week with a "Hometown Heritage" theme before the upcoming Dolly & Porter Days event. The stroll is designed to celebrate and preserve local history for community members.
Oregon County Sheriff’s Office Reports 9-28-26
The Oregon County Sheriff's Office reported multiple arrests during the week of September 21-27, 2026, including Samantha Holloway Woolbright on an existing felony warrant for passing bad checks and 36-year-old Matthew Bates of Bourbon, MO on separate charges.
“Community Family Night” at Buck Park in West Plains Scheduled for Mid-October
Buck Park on the outskirts of West Plains will host a free Community Family Night on October 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring a chili cook-off, face-painting, kids activities, hotdogs, and smores. The event is open to families in the area.
TCMH Receives $580,000 Rural Health Transformation Award for Hospital Improvements
Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston, MO has received approximately $580,000 in Rural Health Transformation Program funding approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The funding will support infrastructure and operational improvements throughout the facility.
Shannon County First Responders Looking for Additional Members
Shannon County First Responders is seeking additional volunteer members to address personnel shortages affecting coverage in the Birch Tree and Winona areas. The organization reports that limited staffing is making it difficult to respond to all emergency calls in those regions.
Houston Man Charged with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
A Houston man was arrested after police located him at a church on Indian Creek Trail on September 23 and charged him with failure to register as a sex offender as required by Missouri law. Adam Corbine was taken into custody by the Houston Police Department.
Jake’s Day at Twin Pines October 17th
The Current River Callers chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is hosting Jakes Day at Twin Pines Conservation Center on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The free event for children ages 6 to 12 features outdoor skills activities in partnership with the Missouri...
Featured Pet of The Day- Blitz
Blitz, a 2-year-old Husky and Yellow Labrador Retriever mix, is available for adoption through The Humane Society of North Central Arkansas. The shy dog is looking for a home despite his unique appearance that sets him apart from other dogs.
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