City of West Plains

08/18/2026

🌊 LAST PUBLIC SWIM OF THE SEASON! 🌊

The West Plains Aquatic Center’s last public swim day of the season will be this Saturday, August 22nd!

With our lifeguards and Aquatic Center staff heading back to school, Saturday will be our final opportunity to enjoy the pool before we close for the season.

Come out, cool off, and enjoy one last day at the pool!

Thank you to everyone who spent part of their summer with us at the West Plains Aquatic Center. We’ve had a great season and can’t wait to see everyone back next summer!

08/17/2026

BACK TO SCHOOL: SLOW DOWN & STAY ALERT!

West Plains Schools are back in session Monday, Aug. 24! As students head back to the classroom, here are a few reminders for everyone on the road:

Plan for more traffic.
Expect increased traffic from approximately 7 to 8 a.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Give yourself a little extra time to get where you're going.

Watch for kids.
Students will be walking, biking and waiting for rides on and near roadways. Kids don't always watch their surroundings, so it's up to motorists to stay alert, slow down and keep an eye out.

Be ready for school buses.
Expect frequent stops along bus routes and ALWAYS STOP when a school bus has its stop sign extended. Be patient and give buses and students plenty of space.

A few extra minutes and a little extra attention can help keep everyone safe.

Here's to another great school year, West Plains!

08/17/2026

STREET CLOSURE

Deatherage Avenue will be closed between Rhonda Drive and Paula Drive on Tuesday, Aug. 18, beginning at 7 a.m. while city crews install a drainage pipe.

The closure is expected to remain in place through the end of the day.

Motorists are asked to use an alternate route and use caution in the area.

08/16/2026

Aquatic Center bathrooms temporarily closed today for a water leak, but the pool will remain open today!

⚠️ Important Aquatic Center Update ⚠️

The Aquatic Center is OPEN!

Yesterday, we experienced a water line break in the Aquatic Center restrooms. The restrooms are temporarily unavailable, but the restrooms at People’s Park are open and available for our guests.

Because of the inconvenience, admission will be reduced to $4.00 until the Aquatic Center restrooms reopen.

Our staff attempted to repair the leak last night; however, a section of concrete will need to be removed to complete the repair. We are working to have the issue addressed as soon as possible.

We understand this is inconvenient, and we sincerely apologize. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

08/11/2026

City of West Plains names Dianna Locke manager of the West Plains Public Library

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The City of West Plains is pleased to announce the promotion of Dianna Locke to the position of West Plains Public Library Manager.

Locke brings more than 30 years of experience in education and library services to the position. Since joining the West Plains Public Library in May 2024 as Collections Development Specialist, she has played a key role in expanding library programming, enhancing collections and strengthening community engagement.

Before joining the library, Locke served as librarian and Techbrarian at West Plains High School and spent more than two decades teaching English at schools throughout southern Missouri. She holds multiple graduate degrees in educational administration, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership and reading education.

"Taking on the role of manager of the West Plains Public Library is both an honor and a tremendous responsibility," Locke said. "I am committed to building upon the library's strong foundation, continuing its upward trajectory, and ensuring that we provide welcoming, high-quality programs, resources and service to everyone in our community. I look forward to working alongside our staff, board, schools and community partners to make the library an even stronger hub for West Plains."

West Pains Community Services Director Todd Shanks said Locke's passion for libraries, education and community engagement make her an excellent fit to lead the library into its next chapter.

"We're excited to see where Dianna can take the West Plains Public Library," Shanks said. "She has already made a tremendous impact in a relatively short time through her creativity, leadership and dedication. We're confident she will continue building on the library's success and creating new opportunities for residents of all ages."

The West Plains Public Library serves residents through a wide variety of educational resources, programs and services while promoting lifelong learning, literacy and community connections.

08/11/2026

⚠️ Splash Pad Closed Today ⚠️

The Splash Pad at Butler Children’s Park will be closed for maintenance today, Tuesday, August 11th. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

08/07/2026

Summer weather often means increased water and electric usage. UtilityHawk helps you monitor both throughout the month with free alerts and notifications.

UtilityHawk is a free service from West Plains Utilities that gives you more insight into your utility usage and helps you stay informed before your next bill arrives.

With UtilityHawk, you can:
• Track your water and electric usage
• Set personalized alerts
• Receive notifications about unusual usage or potential leaks
• Choose to receive alerts by text, email or phone

Sign up today by visiting westmo.utilityhawk.us/login

08/07/2026

Storm Debris Drop-Off Available Next Week

Following last night's storms, the West Plains Transfer Station will accept storm debris from City of West Plains residents at no charge to assist with cleanup efforts.

The Transfer Station, 1853 Old Airport Rd., will accept debris at no charge Monday, Aug. 10 through Friday, Aug. 14, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

This free drop-off is available to City of West Plains residents and is intended for storm-related yard debris only.

Send a message to learn more

08/06/2026

Road Closure Notice

The City of West Plains Water Department has temporarily closed Aldridge Street between S. Thayer Avenue and Lanton Road while crews install a new water tap.

Please use an alternate route if possible and use caution when traveling near the work zone. We appreciate your patience as our crews complete this necessary infrastructure improvement.

08/04/2026

Today is Election Day in the City of West Plains.

Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., giving registered voters the opportunity to cast their ballot on today's races and ballot issues, including the proposed 1% city sales tax measure.

If you're a registered voter, we encourage you to take part in the election and make your voice heard.

Need to find your polling place or view your sample ballot? Visit howellcounty.net or contact the Howell County Clerk's Office.

Your vote. Your voice. Your community.