Kimberly Langston

With temperatures expected to dip below freezing this weekend, and likely to stay below freezing during the day throughout the first half of next week, those who are unhoused or in a living situation with inadequate heat might want to consider local services that can offer shelter or a hot meal.

City officials explained the cause of a power outage Wednesday morning which affected the eastern portion of West Plains as an over-amperage — excessive draw of electrical current — caused by the extreme cold and the added draw on power from the use of heating devices, causing the system to shut down.
 Over-amperage occurs when the demand for electricity exceeds the capacity that a substation or circuit can safely handle, officials explained, and protective systems activate to prevent equipment damage or safety risks , which can result in outages as the system automatically shuts down to safeguard critical infrastructure.

Students, and undoubtedly some of their parents, got a snow day Friday as a winter storm predicted to drop several inches of the white stuff moved into the area overnight Thursday.

Editor’s note: The following article describes an investigation into the reported sexual assault of a youth. While care has been taken to report on charges with sensitivity to survivors and readers, it may still be disturbing to read. If you are experiencing domestic or sexual violence, or if you’re a survivor of the same and in need of support, call Christos House’s hotline, 800-611-5853.

Scrutiny of the hiring practices of the Missouri Public Defender's Office prompted by the discovery that a suspect in the 2007 rape and murder of Rowan Ford has been working in the state public defender's West Plains office has led to the topic of hiring practices being placed on the agenda of a public meeting being held at 9 a.m. Wednesday via Zoom.

A firefighter with the Thomasville Volunteer Fire Department is the victim of a fatal accident that happened as he and another firefighter were responding to a call, the Quill confirmed with a fire department spokesperson.

The Quill has learned the victim of a fatal car accident on Tuesday, first reported by the Missouri State Highway Patrol as an adult man, is a 6-year-old boy.

The Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative has issued a peak alert notice to its members, asking them to conserve energy use through 9 p.m. today. The alert was issued Sunday afternoon ahead of single-digit overnight lows, and early Monday morning, co-op officials reported, a power outage affected 999 member households.

About 65 people attended a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., held Monday at the historic Lincoln School, including West Plains Mayor Mike Topliff and his wife Pam; Travis Smith, who just ended a term as Missouri's 155th District representative; and Missouri State University-West Plains athletes and other students.

Jan 21, 2025 1 view By: KIMBERLY LANGSTON and ABBY HESS, [email protected] Source: West Plains Daily Quill