EVENTS
Click on the “+” on the right side of the event for additional information, if available. Check back often to view West Plains events!
To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email , visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.
Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 2024. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer. Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”
Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw. Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott .
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography.
Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth.
“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Dianna Locke <> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at
Dinner and learning, $10 per person. Register here.
All are invited to the dedication of a mural painted by Mtn. View artist Paul Jones at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) inside MSU-WP’s Garnett Library, 304 W. Trish Knight St., in West Plains. The mural measures 6 feet tall by 20 feet wide and includes five panels, OHRC officials said. The images painted on the panels represent the past, present and future of the Ozarks, they added. The mural has been installed on the walls next to the OHRC doors.
For more information about the event, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or .
From organizers: Journey through Bennett’s Bayou and lose a horse in an Ozark County Slough as presented by Vincent Anderson.
Free and open to the public with light refreshments provided.
Learn more about Henry Rowe Schoolcraft’s legendary expedition through the Ozarks Dec. 3 when the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) hosts historian and author Vincent Anderson. Anderson will present a program on “Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and Levi Pettibone Stuck in the Ozarks” beginning at 6 p.m. at the OHRC inside MSU-WP’s Garnett Library, 304 W. Trish Knight St., in West Plains.
Anderson, who is also a teacher and Ozarks historical tour guide, will take those attending on Schoolcraft and Pettibone’s journey through Bennett’s Bayou and their loss of a horse in an Ozark County slough, organizers said.
More about Anderson
Born in Mountain Home, Arkansas, Anderson grew up along the Arkansas/Missouri state line and later served in the U.S. Air Force at Little Rock AFB as an altitude chamber instructor. He obtained a Bachelor of Biblical Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. In 2018, he completed his graduate degree in American history from American Military University. His thesis was focused on the history of the White River in 1888.
Anderson published his first book, “Bald Knobbers: Chronicles of Vigilante Justice,” in 2013. He was appointed by former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson to serve on the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park advisory committee for five years. He also has served on the board of directors for the Arkansas Genealogical Society and as president of the Baxter County Genealogical and Historical Society.
Anderson has worked as a consultant for the Travel Channel, the Discovery Channel, SYFY network, The New York Times and Animal Planet. He also is a guest columnist for The Baxter Bulletin, writing various articles on historical events in the Ozarks and county politics. He began a new radio show, “Retracing Our Roots” in September on KTLO in Mountain Home.
Currently, Anderson works as a historian and teacher at the Baxter County Library in Mountain Home and guides historical Ozarks tours. He lives in Baxter County, Arkansas, where he maintains the blog and YouTube channel Ozarks History.
For more information about the event, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or .
Henry Rowe Schoolcraft & Levi Pettibone Stuck in the Ozarks by Vincent Anderson on Facebook.
West Plains Women’s Acappella Community Chorus Rehearsals, Every Tuesday, 7pm to 9pm, West Plains Boys and Girls Club. Women singers always welcome. Get more information at 661-303-8686
To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email , visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.
Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 2024. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer. Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”
Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw. Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott .
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography.
Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth.
“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Dianna Locke <> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at
To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email , visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.
Join us for hot chocolate, refreshments and discounts! Pick up a copy of the “Porter Wagoner Trail” and see the newly installed commemorative Eclipse Mural.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be making an appearance from 4-6 p.m. Stop by for visits and pictures!
Friday, December 6, open house hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 2024. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer. Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”
Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw. Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott .
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography.
Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth.
“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Dianna Locke <> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at
Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and take your picture with them, if you’d like. The event is part of our Holiday Open House which is going on from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Join us for hot chocolate, refreshments and discounts! Pick up a copy of the “Porter Wagoner Trail” and see the newly installed commemorative Eclipse Mural.
Celebrate the sounds of the season during upcoming performances by the Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) University/Community and Jazz Bands.
The University/Community Band will perform at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at the West Plains Civic Center theater. The event is being co-sponsored by the West Plains Council on the Arts, which received partial funding for the project from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
The Jazz Band will perform at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 in the Carol Silvey Student Union at Hass-Darr Hall.
Admission to the performances is free; however, donations to the program will be accepted, university officials said.
More about the music
According to Director of Music Rocky Long, the Dec. 2 performance will feature a selection of Christmas and holiday favorites, including:
- “Veni, Veni” arranged by Chip Davis and adapted by Longfield. This arrangement of the tune “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is from the Mannheim Steamroller album “A Fresh Aire Christmas.”
- “Christmas on Broadway” by John Higgins. This is a medley of songs from the Christmas show by the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, including “God Bless Us Everyone,” “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas,” “March of the Toys,” “My Favorite Things,” “Pine Cones and Holly Berries,” “Toyland” and “We Need a Little Christmas.”
- “Christmas Vacation” by Barry Mann and Cynthia Well and arranged by Patrick Roszell from the popular holiday movie of the same name.
- “Songs of Joy” by Justin Williams, including “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and the chorale finale from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, “Ode to Joy.” “The arrangement is a very upbeat and contemporary treatment of these two songs,” Long said.
- “Christmas Fantastique” by Victor Lopez featuring a compilation of classic Christmas melodies including “Frosty the Snowman,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Up on the Housetop” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”
The Dec. 5 performance, Long said, will be a relaxing evening of jazz featuring many Christmas and holiday favorites.
More about MSU-WP’s Music Program
The University/Community Band is a traditional concert band ensemble whose membership includes MSU-WP students, high school students, community members and music educators. The band performs two concerts per semester and rehearses from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays at Putnam Hall on the MSU-WP campus when classes are in session. Members can earn college credit for playing in the group if they are registered for the course.
In addition to the University/Community Band, MSU-WP’s Music Program offers a jazz ensemble, pep band, small ensembles and private lessons.
For more information about the program, contact Long at or call 417-255-7291.
To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email , visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.
Join us for hot chocolate, refreshments and discounts! Pick up a copy of the “Porter Wagoner Trail” and see the newly installed commemorative Eclipse Mural.
Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 2024. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer. Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”
Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw. Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott .
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography.
Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth.
“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Dianna Locke <> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at
From organizers: Join us for an unforgettable evening of entertainment and community spirit! Enjoy a delicious dinner while immersing yourself in a captivating (and hilarious) theatrical performance. All proceeds will support the Jamaica Mission Team, which will be traveling back to Jamaica in February 2025 to provide medical care to our friends in the Trelawny Parish.
What to expect Friday and Saturday:
– a delicious meal, cooked with love and served with a smile
– dessert prepared by the best bakers in Howell County
– an engaging performance that will have you smiling, laughing, and reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas
– the cost for tickets for these 2 shows are $20 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under.
– all of the hillbilly hilarity with an unforgettable performance; no dinner will be served on Sunday
– the cost for tickets for the matinee is $10
Over 30 artists will be performing. Admission is one new, unwrapped toy for a child or a donation.,
December 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th at 6:30 PM
December 8th & 15th at 3pm
From West Plains Playhouse:
Order tickets online at Thundertix.com or purchase at the door.
The Box Office opens an hour before each performance inside the Dev’s Steakhouse Piano Bar Lounge lobby. Runtime is approximately 60 minutes. No intermission.
From organizers: To be held Saturday, December 7, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, December 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wide range of exhibits. No flea market items allowed. Admission is $3 per day. Children 14 and under admitted free if accompanied by adult. All proceeds go to youth-oriented projects in the area: scholarships, medical expenses, Mighty Mite football, T-ball, Christmas baskets and more.
For reservation of booth space and details, email or call Amy Ross, 417-255-6091, or Marc Hubbell, 417-293-3404. Deadline for reservations is November 1.
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography.
Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth.
“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
From organizers: Join us for an unforgettable evening of entertainment and community spirit! Enjoy a delicious dinner while immersing yourself in a captivating (and hilarious) theatrical performance. All proceeds will support the Jamaica Mission Team, which will be traveling back to Jamaica in February 2025 to provide medical care to our friends in the Trelawny Parish.
What to expect Friday and Saturday:
– a delicious meal, cooked with love and served with a smile
– dessert prepared by the best bakers in Howell County
– an engaging performance that will have you smiling, laughing, and reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas
– the cost for tickets for these 2 shows are $20 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under.
– all of the hillbilly hilarity with an unforgettable performance; no dinner will be served on Sunday
– the cost for tickets for the matinee is $10
Note from Dev’s: We are excited to have Erin Walters Music in the lounge Saturday night! Glad we were able to snag her last open date of 2024 – you won’t want to miss it!
Over 30 artists will be performing. Admission is one new, unwrapped toy for a child or a donation.,
December 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th at 6:30 PM
December 8th & 15th at 3pm
From West Plains Playhouse:
Order tickets online at Thundertix.com or purchase at the door.
The Box Office opens an hour before each performance inside the Dev’s Steakhouse Piano Bar Lounge lobby. Runtime is approximately 60 minutes. No intermission.
Full orchestra performance of secular and religious Christmas arrangements that includes favorites like “The Nutcracker,” Handel’s Messiah and “Carol of the Bells.” This is a free event.
From Country Express: The Heights has a large dance floor, plenty of tables and seating, temperature controlled and clean restrooms. Coffee and bottled wather for sale. Admission is $6 per person.
Two step, Cha Cha, Waltz, Electric Slide, Charleston, Foot Boogie, River Waltz, Sweetheart, Around the Room, Tennessee Waltz, Neon Moon Cha Cha, and many more. Or just come listen to some good ole country music. Old country, new country, southern rock music. No alcohol allowed. Family fun for all ages.
(Check the Country Express Band Facebook page for potential cancellations due to weather, holidays or other unforeseen circumstances.)
From organizers: The Christmas Cantata is a community event as we have several singers from other churches in the community. All are welcome.
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From organizers: To be held Saturday, December 7, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, December 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wide range of exhibits. No flea market items allowed. Admission is $3 per day. Children 14 and under admitted free if accompanied by adult. All proceeds go to youth-oriented projects in the area: scholarships, medical expenses, Mighty Mite football, T-ball, Christmas baskets and more.
For reservation of booth space and details, email or call Amy Ross, 417-255-6091, or Marc Hubbell, 417-293-3404. Deadline for reservations is November 1.
• Parents will not be allowed behind or on stage.
• Children will choose an Elf who will stay with child through entire pageant.
• No makeup is allowed
• All Children will be allowed the chance to talk to Santa and have their picture taken.
• All children will receive a stocking with candy and toys.
• Winners will ride in the West Plains Christmas Parade.
ENTRY FORMS MUST BE TURNED IN TO THE DAILY QUILL BY NOVEMBER 15th
or emailed to
KEEP your tickets! for door prizes!!!
December 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th at 6:30 PM
December 8th & 15th at 3pm
From organizers: Join us for an unforgettable evening of entertainment and community spirit! Enjoy a delicious dinner (Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7 is the dinner, Sunday is show only) while immersing yourself in a captivating (and hilarious) theatrical performance. All proceeds will support the Jamaica Mission Team, which will be traveling back to Jamaica in February 2025 to provide medical care to our friends in the Trelawny Parish.
What to expect at the Sunday, December 8, 3 p.m. show:
– all of the hillbilly hilarity with an unforgettable performance; no dinner will be served on Sunday
– the cost for tickets for the matinee is $10
What to expect Friday and Saturday:
– a delicious meal, cooked with love and served with a smile
– dessert prepared by the best bakers in Howell County
– an engaging performance that will have you smiling, laughing, and reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas
– the cost for tickets for these 2 shows are $20 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under.
For ticket information, message us on Christmas at the Cricket County Cafe Facebook page or email .
From West Plains Playhouse:
Order tickets online at Thundertix.com or purchase at the door.
The Box Office opens an hour before each performance inside the Dev’s Steakhouse Piano Bar Lounge lobby. Runtime is approximately 60 minutes. No intermission.
Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 2024. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer. Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”
Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw. Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott .
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography.
Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth.
“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Dianna Locke <> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at
Saturday, December 7 • 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, December 8 • 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St.
Coming April 25-27, 2025