Local
Howell County Health Department reported on July 24 that the year-to-date total of COVID-19 cases in Howell County is ninety. Forty-one cases are on active status or on isolation as of press time; five cases are currently hospitalized with COVID related complications. Contact tracing has been...
A Birch Tree man has been charged with two felonies related to the sexual abuse of a child. Cody Austin Green, 23, stands accused of the molestation of a seven-year-old girl. According to a probable cause statement filed by Detective Joe Neuschwander of the West Plains Police Department, a Child...
A primary election is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, August 4. In Howell County, the races for Sheriff, Northern County Commissioner, and State Representative all feature multiple Republican candidates who will face no opponent in November. That means this Tuesday is the day to GET OUT AND...
Governor Mike Parson has called us back (the Missouri House and Senate) into summer session beginning the week of July 27. He has limited the issues of this session to battling the rise of violent crime in Missouri. This is an issue that I’ve been working on for several years in a special task...
There are four Republican candidates for the position of Howell County’s Northern Commissioner, a position soon to be vacated by the retiring incumbent, Bill Lovelace. There are no candidates from any other political party, so the August 4 primary election will determine the winner who will run...
On July 16, the Howell County Commission unanimously passed the funding for the COPS Hiring Program Award for the 2020 fiscal year. Mike Coldiron, on behalf of the Howell County Sheriff’s Office, was there to present the grant to the Commission. He explained the grant will fund 75 percent of the...
James Carr, currently a resident of Summersville, requested to appear before the Willow Springs City Council at their regular meeting on July 16. According to his request to be heard, his concerns were “city employee conduct” and “public safety.” He gave a short self-introduction, stating that he...
Assistant Chief Wes Ellison of the Willow Springs Police Department has returned to duty after suffering a heart attack on June 16. He was out of service a little less than a month; he returned to duty on July 13 with no restrictions from his doctor.
Asst. Chief Ellison reports he is doing...
The Mountain View Birch Tree School Board met on July 16 to discuss details of the 2020-2021 school year. School board president Keith Tharp called the meeting to order, and Shelly Mantel provided committee reports on the Missouri School Board Association recommendations for returning to school...
The Mountain View City Council met in regular session Monday, July 13. During the meeting, the council discussed holding two meetings a month to cover the large number of issues they need to address. Until the city ordinance for the meetings is reviewed, the council will hold special...