Sheriff Matt Roberts

06/08/2026

Residents of the area and those traveling County Road 8270 please take note of the temporary travel impact below as crews work to improve the road.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝟖𝟐𝟕𝟎
Slab replacement work on County Road 8270 is scheduled to begin Monday, June 8, weather permitting. Please plan for delays, slow down near crews, and use caution when traveling through the area.
Your patience helps keep everyone safe.

06/08/2026

ATTENTION HOWELL COUNTY!!

Portions of the county have received large amounts of rainfall in a very short period of time this evening. Most low water crossings are running over the road. Additionally, a Flash Flood Warning issued June 7 at 7:32PM CDT until June 8 at 1:30AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO.

Please drive with caution and do not drive into any water!

06/06/2026

Please use caution if travelling on U.S. Highway 63 near the Heart of the Ozarks Fairgrounds! Traffic is backed up waiting to turn into the Fairgrounds.

06/04/2026

We had another day of active Shooter training for our commissioned deputies today, Lt Smith, Sgt Wake and other instructors put on a great day of training for over 20 of our Deputies. Thank you, to West Plains Schools for their continued support of our agency and training goals!

Please do not be alarmed by the increased law enforcement presence at WPHS today. We are proud to host a training exercise conducted by the Howell County Sheriff’s Office. ⚡

West Plains Schools is always grateful for the strong partnership and support we receive from HCSO as we continue working together to keep our schools and community safe. ❤️

06/01/2026

Great work by all involved. I'm thrilled we were able to get these 2 in custody before anyone here was targeted!

05/30/2026

11:10 PM UPDATE:

State Route 17 has now been fully reopened.

ORIGINAL POST:

State Route 17 just south of County Road 8290 is closed. Emergency crews are on scene of a one vehicle accident involving a fire truck from outside of our area. At this time, we are unsure how long this closure will last. We ask that you avoid the area and find alternate routes of travel.

05/27/2026

If you see a large presence of our Deputies around West Plains Schools today, don't worry! We are conducting our annual Active Shooter training for a portion of our deputies today.

Please do not be alarmed by the increased law enforcement presence at WPHS today. We are proud to host a training exercise conducted by the Howell County Sheriff’s Office. ⚡

West Plains Schools is always grateful for the strong partnership and support we receive from HCSO as we continue working together to keep our schools and community safe. ❤️

05/27/2026

I'm really liking some of the ideas we've seen so far! We're going to keep taking suggestions for the rest of the week before we narrow it down to a few finalists.

If you've got a suggestion please post it up for consideration! I appreciate the community being willing to jump in and help us find a good spot. My goal is to change up our photo each year and keep showcasing our awesome community!

📸 We Need Your Help! 🌄

We’re looking for the perfect scenic location in Howell County for an upcoming official office photo, and we’d love to showcase the beauty of the community we proudly serve.

Do you know of a great spot with:
• Beautiful natural scenery
• Historic or recognizable Howell County landmarks
• Open space for a group photo
• A backdrop that represents the spirit of our county

Whether it’s a rolling hillside, a river view, a historic site, downtown landmark, or another hidden gem, we want to hear your suggestions!

Please comment below with your favorite locations or send us a private message with photos and details. Community involvement means everything to us, and we’d be proud to feature a location that reflects the people and places that make Howell County special.

Thank you for your continued support of the Howell County Sheriff’s Office.

05/21/2026

Residents in the area of State Route CC, Catherine Dive and Terra Drive in West Plains will notice a large law enforcement presence in the area. A Howell County Deputy was just involved in a vehicle pursuit.

The suspect vehicle stopped and 2 occupants fled on foot. Both suspects were taken into custody. There is no danger to the community from this incident.

This is an active investigation with details still emerging. I will post more details when they become available.

04/28/2026

We've received multiple reports of blocked roadways and minor damages to structures from falling trees. Our deputies are out checking roadways and coordinating with Howell County Road and Bridge and MoDOT to get those roadways cleared. If you locate any downed trees or power lines across roadways please call the Sheriff's Office at 417-256-2544.