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HAPPY BIRTHDAY PORTER WAGONER! Porter Wayne Wagoner was born August 12, 1927, on a farm just south of West Plains and moved to town with his family when he was in sixth grade. While working as a meat cutter for Sid Vaughan in Sid’s market on the Square, Porter was discovered by Lou Black of

The heritage of the Ozarks is closely tied to the hard work of early settlers who found ways to get by with often limited resources in the south-central Missouri region. The work was and is balanced by the simple pleasures to be found in enjoyment of the rugged natural beauty of area surroundings, the creativity

Happy birthday to Jim the Wonder Dog! Born March 10, 1925, Jim, a Llewellyn setter, is the Official Wonder Dog of the State of Missouri. He was designated as such by the Missouri State Legislature due to his astounding intelligence and performance of unexplainable feats. Jim was born in the state of Louisiana but when

Since West Plains, Missouri, is in the path of totality for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse, it presents an opportunity for something that should be on everyone’s bucket list. It might not seem that noteworthy – I sometimes hear people say, ‘surely it’s not that big of a deal’ – but it truly

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION FUND   Grant supports restoration of African American burial ground Despite traffic that constantly buzzes by, the small grassy spot at the corner of U.S. 63 and Missouri 14 feels silent. An unknown number of stories are buried beneath a couple of trees. Only a sign near a small parking lot

Did you know that one of the most unique personalities to ever live in West Plains wasn’t actually a person at all? That’s right! One of our most interesting historical characters was actually a parrot named Polly. In fact, Polly the Parrot was such a fascinating figure that her story qualified for a Legends and Lore Marker,

This article is from one that originally appeared in the West Plains Gazette Magazine. It was written by the late Dorotha Newberry Reavis In January 1873, the weather in West Plains was probably cloudy and cold. A bit of sunshine and warmth, however, came riding down from the north that month in a one-horse buggy.

One of the saddest chapters of West Plains, Missouri, history unfolded on Friday the 13th, April 1928, when thirty-eight people were killed, three brick buildings were reduced to rubble, and windows were broken out all over Court Square in the downtown area in the aftermath of an explosion which occurred in a building on East

If you are looking for a day trip into some Ozark history, consider taking this route to visit Greer Spring Mill, Turner Mill, and Falling Spring Mill. From West Plains take Hwy 160 East to Alton then head north on Hwy 19. This is a beautiful drive through the Mark Twain National Forest! Greer Spring

Motorcycle enthusiasts will tell you that they love the curves and hills. It’s exhilarating! Combine that with breathtaking landscapes, and it really can’t get much better than riding the Ozarks backroads. There’s something for every rider whether you are on a cruiser, touring, or adventure bike. We enjoy riding with friends and riding alone. We