West Plains Daily Digest Tuesday, October 06, 2026
Ty's Take
The obit pages today carry the names of people who built this place, and the fire fighters memorial honors those who ran toward the danger when others ran the other way. That matters and deserves to be said plain. But there's a different kind of weight in some of these other headlines too. Vehicle break-ins are one thing, the kind of penny-ante stuff that happens in any town with a highway running through it, but when you start seeing pleas for help on a kidnapping conviction and alerts about a level three offender loose across the county line in Arkansas, you're reminded that the Ozarks aren't some separate country where trouble doesn't reach. This time of year, with hunting season ramping up and people moving through the timber roads at odd hours, it pays to keep your head up and your doors locked, whether you're heading into the woods or parking in town. The wildlife crossing warnings are about deer and turkey, sure enough, but it's worth remembering that not all the movement on our roads happens in daylight.
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MVPD Seeking Information on Vehicle Break Ins
Mountain View Police are investigating a series of vehicle break-ins and vandalism that occurred on the evening of October 1st around 8pm near James Street and Ridgeway Drive. Anyone with information about the incidents is encouraged to contact the department.
Watch for Wildlife Movement on Roadways
The Missouri Department of Transportation warns drivers that deer and other wildlife are increasingly active on roadways during October and November, with most vehicle collisions occurring between 6-7 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. Motorists should stay alert and avoid distractions while driving.
Several Former Fighters from our Area Honored at the Fire Fighters Memorial
The 25th annual candlelight vigil and service at the Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation in Kingdom City, Missouri, honored firefighters from the region who have passed away. Several local firefighters were remembered during the weekend ceremony.
Schafer Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping
Clayton Boyd Schafer of West Plains pleaded guilty to second-degree kidnapping on October 1st and was sentenced to five years in prison plus five years of supervised probation. He was also ordered to complete a batterer intervention program and undergo a mental health assessment.
Robert Dale Ratterree, a longtime resident of the Huggins area in Wright County and graduate of Mountain Grove schools, passed away on October 2, 2026, at age 95. He was born July 7, 1931, and spent his later years in Mountain Grove.
Carylon Jane Teeter, 71, of Salem, Arkansas, died on October 2, 2026. Born in Egypt, Arkansas, in 1955, she worked as a homemaker and restaurant owner.
Carlos 'Jim' Jimmy Comstock, 65, of West Plains, Missouri, passed away on October 2, 2026. He spent more than 40 years of his life working as a truck driver.
Ruth Imogene 'Puckett' Wade, 88, of West Plains, Missouri, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2026. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Elk Creek Cemetery.
William 'Bill' D. Wood, 79, of West Plains, Missouri, passed away on October 1, 2026. A native of Indianola, Iowa, and University of Iowa graduate, he served four years in the United States Air Force.
Izard County Sheriff’s Department Searching for a Level 3 Sex Offender
The Izard County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help locating Level 3 sex offender Joel Griffith, a 51-year-old white male. Anyone with information about Griffith's whereabouts should contact the sheriff's office at 870-368-4203.
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