Details here on the Wayward Son Productions Facebook page.
Tickets for Friday: ticketmaster.com and for Saturday: ticketmaster.
From organizer:
West Plains… get ready for something special when the Wayward Son Extreme Bull Riding Tour – March 22 & 23rd, 2024 returns to the West Plains Civic Center.
HB Boot Corral will be presenting the World Championship Miniature Bull Bash! Young bull riders from across the nation will compete all day Friday (3/22 – 10am start time) and Saturday (3/23 – 10am start) for a chance to ride with the professionals each night AND qualify for the WCMB world finals in 2024.
Bull riders from 4 to 17 years of age will be displaying their talents in one of the world’s biggest events for miniature bull riding and YOU get to witness the next generation of Bull Riding Super Stars!
Tag your friends/family and invite them out to an exciting event – Wayward Son Extreme Bull Riding Tour – March 22 & 23rd, 2024
Thank you to the following sponsors:
Hirsch Feed and Farm Supply West Plains
HB Boot Corral
Bobcat of West Plains
Colton’s Steak House & Grill
Holiday Inn Express & Suites West Plains
ComSec Consulting
Adams Construction Company
Financial assistance for this project has been provided by the City of West Pains Development Grant Program. Explore West Plains
Call the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 417-256-8087, or order online at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices start at $29 plus fees.
38 Special concert event to kick off Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path!
Legendary southern rock, powerhouse band 38 Special will be in concert at the West Plains Civic Center Friday, April 5. Joining the group will be acclaimed regional favorites, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert begins at 7 p.m.
After more than four decades, multiple Gold and Platinum albums and a touring schedule that still includes over 100 cities every year, 38 Special continues to entertain and amaze audiences with their powerful performances. Since 1976, the band has released more than 15 albums and toured extensively, bringing their signature brand of ‘muscle and melody’ to fans worldwide. With sales in excess of 20 million, most associate the band with their arena-rock pop smashes, “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ Into the Night,” “Caught Up in You,” “Fantasy Girl,” “If I’d Been the One,” “Back Where You Belong,” “Chain Lightnin’,” “Second Chance” and more. Their timeless hits remain a staple on Classic Rock outlets.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, based in Springfield, Mo., have recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. Their songs include the chart-topping single “Jackie Blue,” along with “If You Wanna Get To Heaven,” “Standing On The Rock,” “Country Girl,” “You Made It Right” and many others. Their sound is a genre-defying blend of rock and country-rock along with other influences. They infuse their music with harmonies, a variety of instruments and a playful approach to performing such songs as “Chicken Train” and “Time Warp.”
The concert will be the kick-off event for the four-day “Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path” to celebrate the good fortune of West Plains having approximately three minutes of ‘totality,’ when the sun will be totally eclipsed from view by the moon, on April 8. There will be a variety of other events throughout the weekend with fun for all ages.
For more information about the concert, please contact the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 110 St. Louis Street, West Plains, call 417-256-8087 or visit 38special.com and theozarkmountaindaredevils.com. For details about the Total Solar Eclipse and associated festivities, visit explorewestplains.com/tse/ or “Eclipse West Plains” on Facebook.
Tickets here.
Save the Date: April 7th, 2024! Join us for the ultimate celebration. Prepare for epic moments at our Balloon Glow in collaboration with the Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path 4-day festival! Live performances from Bands Fender Bender & Ha Ha Tonka, kids zone, food trucks, vendors, fireworks and so much more!
Join us in making a difference! 🌟 Reserve your tickets now for the Balloon Glow and be part of a cause that truly matters. Your support can change lives. Act with purpose, purchase your ticket today!
Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path 4-day festival Information: explorewestplains.com/tse/
Event Schedule:
Gates open at 4:00 p.m.
Fender Bender 5:30 p.m.
Ha Ha Tonka 7:00 p.m.
Balloon Glow 7:30 p.m.
Fireworks 8:30 p.m.
Get tickets at the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 417-256-8087, or on ticketmaster.com.
See Cystic Fibrosis of West Plains on Facebook for details.
From organizers:
Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host an exhibit about the African American experience in the Ozarks during Black History Month in February.
Titled “African American Heritage in the Ozarks,” the traveling exhibit curated by the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31 at the center inside the Garnett Library, 304 West Trish Knight St., on the MSU-WP campus.
The exhibit will highlight the voices, memories and history of African American people who call, or have called, the Ozarks home, according to organizers.
In 2021, the SHSMO received an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities and Missouri Humanities for an interactive exhibit which was on display at the SHSMO Art Gallery last year. SHSMO officials also created a smaller traveling exhibit for use by other Missouri communities, organizers said.
For more information about the presentation, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.
“OZARK WOMEN” EXHIBIT TO FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY OF JOYCE MC MURTREY
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition entitled “Ozark Women” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from February 10 through March 14, 2024. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
“Joyce McMurtry’s work captures real people sharing their own stories and images with their own voices. It is also rooted in a sense of place. We learned this through her “King of the Ozarks” exhibit which delved into the lives of a special family from her hometown. Her treatment of “Ozark Women” promises to be equally engaging with thought-provoking nuance and depth. I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate women and Women’s History Month,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
Artist statement: “I finally feel like an Ozark woman.”
“I knew this place was different when I was in the 5th grade and came to visit from Columbia with my dad, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Missouri. My interest in grape growing stems from him, but my love of the Ozarks is due in large part to the women I’ve met since I moved here in 1976. Tough. Resilient. Rugged. Beautiful. These are words that describe both the Ozarks and the women who make their home here. For this project, I have chosen to photograph women who have lived in the Ozarks for at least thirty years. I believe it takes that long for life and this landscape to create an Ozark woman.
“Ever since I saw the photography of Dorothea Lange, I’ve wanted to take pictures like that. I hope I’ve come close to that with these images of Ozark women.”
WPCA will host a Meet the Artist reception Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 2-4 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. McMurtrey says, “I’ve asked five women to join me. Each of these women participated in this project. Three will share their stories, one will share her mother’s story, and the fifth will talk about what it’s like to be a young woman working and raising a family currently in the Ozarks.”
All are invited to attend, meet the artist and speakers, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey
ART DISPLAY AT OZSBI FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF JANEY HALE
JANUARY THROUGH MARCH 2024
Local artist Janey Hale’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of January through the end of March 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.
Artist Statement:
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in creating. My earliest memories are of making things out of everyday objects, matchboxes became covered wagons, doll beds and treasure chest. Going to school in the 50’s and 60’s I didn’t have formal art lessons. A touring show of Old Master Painting was my first experience with “real” art. That show and an older high school student were the encouragement I needed to want to learn more.
Fast forward to college I majored in business because I didn’t know one could teach art much less make a living painting. I married, had three boys, and worked various jobs that utilized my business background. When my sons were in school, I returned to college to major in art education. College was a wonderful opportunity to experience and be exposed to artists both past and present.
I spent the next 28 years teaching high school students that art is what makes our life richer. I was fortunate to have several gifted students along the way that I believe encouraged me as much as I did them. I retired from teaching in 2016 and have since devoted my time to painting both in the studio and en plein air. I still can’t imagine a time when I won’t be creating. Art has truly made my life richer, through the friends I’ve made, the places I’ve been, and of course the process of creating.
I don’t have just one thing I like to paint. Could be the sun shining through a tree behind a chicken coop or an abandoned piece of farm machinery. I hope my works tell a story or evoke a memory. I feel so blessed to have this gift that I hope it blesses others when they view my work.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2024, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Hale and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com
at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott <audrey.scott@zizzers.org>
Dennis Crider has always had a camera in his hand and, as a child in Wichita, Kansas, he just had to capture the moment on film.
During his 39 years as a reporter, photographer and sports editor at the West Plains Daily Quill Newspaper, he captured thousands of moments on film, and 39 of those will appear in this unique display.
The highlight of his career occurred 15 years after his retirement. When, on October 19, 2023, he became the 77th person to be inducted into the Missouri Press Association Photojournalism Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held at the State Historical Society’s Center for Missouri Studies in Columbia. Crider was nominated for this award by former Quill Publisher and Editor Frank L. Martin III, who is a member of the Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame.
In light of this honor, Crider decided to show a few of his favorite photographs from his tenure at The Quill. He thumbed through hundreds of pages of bound copies of the newspaper to find dates, then searched through boxes of stored negatives to build the collection. Once he identified the images he wanted, he scanned the negatives, and then downloaded the images to a third-party firm that printed the images on canvas.
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Students from West Plains schools, along with Southfork students, will contribute to the display to be featured January 12 through mid-March 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Displayed works will include pieces from the classes of Tiffany Bryce, Kathy Grigsby, Mary-Louise Grisham-Nash, Karen Pitts, Audrey Scott, and Terri Tomlinson.
WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott says, “We are incredibly excited to be able to display these young artists’ work! It is inspiring to see their technical skill level and commitment to their work, as well as their fresh perspective on artmaking and their unrestrained imaginations at play.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, 10a.m. till noon at the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the young artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott audrey.scott@zizzers.org
![]()
Artwork by Emily Ritter, WPHS
Details here on the Wayward Son Productions Facebook page.
Tickets for Friday: ticketmaster.com and for Saturday: ticketmaster.
From organizer:
West Plains… get ready for something special when the Wayward Son Extreme Bull Riding Tour – March 22 & 23rd, 2024 returns to the West Plains Civic Center.
HB Boot Corral will be presenting the World Championship Miniature Bull Bash! Young bull riders from across the nation will compete all day Friday (3/22 – 10am start time) and Saturday (3/23 – 10am start) for a chance to ride with the professionals each night AND qualify for the WCMB world finals in 2024.
Bull riders from 4 to 17 years of age will be displaying their talents in one of the world’s biggest events for miniature bull riding and YOU get to witness the next generation of Bull Riding Super Stars!
Tag your friends/family and invite them out to an exciting event – Wayward Son Extreme Bull Riding Tour – March 22 & 23rd, 2024
Thank you to the following sponsors:
Hirsch Feed and Farm Supply West Plains
HB Boot Corral
Bobcat of West Plains
Colton’s Steak House & Grill
Holiday Inn Express & Suites West Plains
ComSec Consulting
Adams Construction Company
Financial assistance for this project has been provided by the City of West Pains Development Grant Program. Explore West Plains
Call the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 417-256-8087, or order online at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices start at $29 plus fees.
38 Special concert event to kick off Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path!
Legendary southern rock, powerhouse band 38 Special will be in concert at the West Plains Civic Center Friday, April 5. Joining the group will be acclaimed regional favorites, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert begins at 7 p.m.
After more than four decades, multiple Gold and Platinum albums and a touring schedule that still includes over 100 cities every year, 38 Special continues to entertain and amaze audiences with their powerful performances. Since 1976, the band has released more than 15 albums and toured extensively, bringing their signature brand of ‘muscle and melody’ to fans worldwide. With sales in excess of 20 million, most associate the band with their arena-rock pop smashes, “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ Into the Night,” “Caught Up in You,” “Fantasy Girl,” “If I’d Been the One,” “Back Where You Belong,” “Chain Lightnin’,” “Second Chance” and more. Their timeless hits remain a staple on Classic Rock outlets.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, based in Springfield, Mo., have recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. Their songs include the chart-topping single “Jackie Blue,” along with “If You Wanna Get To Heaven,” “Standing On The Rock,” “Country Girl,” “You Made It Right” and many others. Their sound is a genre-defying blend of rock and country-rock along with other influences. They infuse their music with harmonies, a variety of instruments and a playful approach to performing such songs as “Chicken Train” and “Time Warp.”
The concert will be the kick-off event for the four-day “Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path” to celebrate the good fortune of West Plains having approximately three minutes of ‘totality,’ when the sun will be totally eclipsed from view by the moon, on April 8. There will be a variety of other events throughout the weekend with fun for all ages.
For more information about the concert, please contact the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 110 St. Louis Street, West Plains, call 417-256-8087 or visit 38special.com and theozarkmountaindaredevils.com. For details about the Total Solar Eclipse and associated festivities, visit explorewestplains.com/tse/ or “Eclipse West Plains” on Facebook.
Tickets here.
Save the Date: April 7th, 2024! Join us for the ultimate celebration. Prepare for epic moments at our Balloon Glow in collaboration with the Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path 4-day festival! Live performances from Bands Fender Bender & Ha Ha Tonka, kids zone, food trucks, vendors, fireworks and so much more!
Join us in making a difference! 🌟 Reserve your tickets now for the Balloon Glow and be part of a cause that truly matters. Your support can change lives. Act with purpose, purchase your ticket today!
Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path 4-day festival Information: explorewestplains.com/tse/
Event Schedule:
Gates open at 4:00 p.m.
Fender Bender 5:30 p.m.
Ha Ha Tonka 7:00 p.m.
Balloon Glow 7:30 p.m.
Fireworks 8:30 p.m.
Get tickets at the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 417-256-8087, or on ticketmaster.com.
See Cystic Fibrosis of West Plains on Facebook for details.
From organizers:
Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host an exhibit about the African American experience in the Ozarks during Black History Month in February.
Titled “African American Heritage in the Ozarks,” the traveling exhibit curated by the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31 at the center inside the Garnett Library, 304 West Trish Knight St., on the MSU-WP campus.
The exhibit will highlight the voices, memories and history of African American people who call, or have called, the Ozarks home, according to organizers.
In 2021, the SHSMO received an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities and Missouri Humanities for an interactive exhibit which was on display at the SHSMO Art Gallery last year. SHSMO officials also created a smaller traveling exhibit for use by other Missouri communities, organizers said.
For more information about the presentation, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.
“OZARK WOMEN” EXHIBIT TO FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY OF JOYCE MC MURTREY
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition entitled “Ozark Women” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from February 10 through March 14, 2024. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
“Joyce McMurtry’s work captures real people sharing their own stories and images with their own voices. It is also rooted in a sense of place. We learned this through her “King of the Ozarks” exhibit which delved into the lives of a special family from her hometown. Her treatment of “Ozark Women” promises to be equally engaging with thought-provoking nuance and depth. I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate women and Women’s History Month,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
Artist statement: “I finally feel like an Ozark woman.”
“I knew this place was different when I was in the 5th grade and came to visit from Columbia with my dad, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Missouri. My interest in grape growing stems from him, but my love of the Ozarks is due in large part to the women I’ve met since I moved here in 1976. Tough. Resilient. Rugged. Beautiful. These are words that describe both the Ozarks and the women who make their home here. For this project, I have chosen to photograph women who have lived in the Ozarks for at least thirty years. I believe it takes that long for life and this landscape to create an Ozark woman.
“Ever since I saw the photography of Dorothea Lange, I’ve wanted to take pictures like that. I hope I’ve come close to that with these images of Ozark women.”
WPCA will host a Meet the Artist reception Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 2-4 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. McMurtrey says, “I’ve asked five women to join me. Each of these women participated in this project. Three will share their stories, one will share her mother’s story, and the fifth will talk about what it’s like to be a young woman working and raising a family currently in the Ozarks.”
All are invited to attend, meet the artist and speakers, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey
ART DISPLAY AT OZSBI FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF JANEY HALE
JANUARY THROUGH MARCH 2024
Local artist Janey Hale’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of January through the end of March 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.
Artist Statement:
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in creating. My earliest memories are of making things out of everyday objects, matchboxes became covered wagons, doll beds and treasure chest. Going to school in the 50’s and 60’s I didn’t have formal art lessons. A touring show of Old Master Painting was my first experience with “real” art. That show and an older high school student were the encouragement I needed to want to learn more.
Fast forward to college I majored in business because I didn’t know one could teach art much less make a living painting. I married, had three boys, and worked various jobs that utilized my business background. When my sons were in school, I returned to college to major in art education. College was a wonderful opportunity to experience and be exposed to artists both past and present.
I spent the next 28 years teaching high school students that art is what makes our life richer. I was fortunate to have several gifted students along the way that I believe encouraged me as much as I did them. I retired from teaching in 2016 and have since devoted my time to painting both in the studio and en plein air. I still can’t imagine a time when I won’t be creating. Art has truly made my life richer, through the friends I’ve made, the places I’ve been, and of course the process of creating.
I don’t have just one thing I like to paint. Could be the sun shining through a tree behind a chicken coop or an abandoned piece of farm machinery. I hope my works tell a story or evoke a memory. I feel so blessed to have this gift that I hope it blesses others when they view my work.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2024, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Hale and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com
at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott <audrey.scott@zizzers.org>
Dennis Crider has always had a camera in his hand and, as a child in Wichita, Kansas, he just had to capture the moment on film.
During his 39 years as a reporter, photographer and sports editor at the West Plains Daily Quill Newspaper, he captured thousands of moments on film, and 39 of those will appear in this unique display.
The highlight of his career occurred 15 years after his retirement. When, on October 19, 2023, he became the 77th person to be inducted into the Missouri Press Association Photojournalism Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held at the State Historical Society’s Center for Missouri Studies in Columbia. Crider was nominated for this award by former Quill Publisher and Editor Frank L. Martin III, who is a member of the Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame.
In light of this honor, Crider decided to show a few of his favorite photographs from his tenure at The Quill. He thumbed through hundreds of pages of bound copies of the newspaper to find dates, then searched through boxes of stored negatives to build the collection. Once he identified the images he wanted, he scanned the negatives, and then downloaded the images to a third-party firm that printed the images on canvas.
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Students from West Plains schools, along with Southfork students, will contribute to the display to be featured January 12 through mid-March 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Displayed works will include pieces from the classes of Tiffany Bryce, Kathy Grigsby, Mary-Louise Grisham-Nash, Karen Pitts, Audrey Scott, and Terri Tomlinson.
WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott says, “We are incredibly excited to be able to display these young artists’ work! It is inspiring to see their technical skill level and commitment to their work, as well as their fresh perspective on artmaking and their unrestrained imaginations at play.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, 10a.m. till noon at the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the young artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott audrey.scott@zizzers.org
![]()
Artwork by Emily Ritter, WPHS

Details here on the Wayward Son Productions Facebook page.
Tickets for Friday: ticketmaster.com and for Saturday: ticketmaster.
From organizer:
West Plains… get ready for something special when the Wayward Son Extreme Bull Riding Tour – March 22 & 23rd, 2024 returns to the West Plains Civic Center.
HB Boot Corral will be presenting the World Championship Miniature Bull Bash! Young bull riders from across the nation will compete all day Friday (3/22 – 10am start time) and Saturday (3/23 – 10am start) for a chance to ride with the professionals each night AND qualify for the WCMB world finals in 2024.
Bull riders from 4 to 17 years of age will be displaying their talents in one of the world’s biggest events for miniature bull riding and YOU get to witness the next generation of Bull Riding Super Stars!
Tag your friends/family and invite them out to an exciting event – Wayward Son Extreme Bull Riding Tour – March 22 & 23rd, 2024
Thank you to the following sponsors:
Hirsch Feed and Farm Supply West Plains
HB Boot Corral
Bobcat of West Plains
Colton’s Steak House & Grill
Holiday Inn Express & Suites West Plains
ComSec Consulting
Adams Construction Company
Financial assistance for this project has been provided by the City of West Pains Development Grant Program. Explore West Plains
Call the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 417-256-8087, or order online at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices start at $29 plus fees.
38 Special concert event to kick off Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path!
Legendary southern rock, powerhouse band 38 Special will be in concert at the West Plains Civic Center Friday, April 5. Joining the group will be acclaimed regional favorites, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert begins at 7 p.m.
After more than four decades, multiple Gold and Platinum albums and a touring schedule that still includes over 100 cities every year, 38 Special continues to entertain and amaze audiences with their powerful performances. Since 1976, the band has released more than 15 albums and toured extensively, bringing their signature brand of ‘muscle and melody’ to fans worldwide. With sales in excess of 20 million, most associate the band with their arena-rock pop smashes, “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ Into the Night,” “Caught Up in You,” “Fantasy Girl,” “If I’d Been the One,” “Back Where You Belong,” “Chain Lightnin’,” “Second Chance” and more. Their timeless hits remain a staple on Classic Rock outlets.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, based in Springfield, Mo., have recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. Their songs include the chart-topping single “Jackie Blue,” along with “If You Wanna Get To Heaven,” “Standing On The Rock,” “Country Girl,” “You Made It Right” and many others. Their sound is a genre-defying blend of rock and country-rock along with other influences. They infuse their music with harmonies, a variety of instruments and a playful approach to performing such songs as “Chicken Train” and “Time Warp.”
The concert will be the kick-off event for the four-day “Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path” to celebrate the good fortune of West Plains having approximately three minutes of ‘totality,’ when the sun will be totally eclipsed from view by the moon, on April 8. There will be a variety of other events throughout the weekend with fun for all ages.
For more information about the concert, please contact the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 110 St. Louis Street, West Plains, call 417-256-8087 or visit 38special.com and theozarkmountaindaredevils.com. For details about the Total Solar Eclipse and associated festivities, visit explorewestplains.com/tse/ or “Eclipse West Plains” on Facebook.
Tickets here.
Save the Date: April 7th, 2024! Join us for the ultimate celebration. Prepare for epic moments at our Balloon Glow in collaboration with the Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path 4-day festival! Live performances from Bands Fender Bender & Ha Ha Tonka, kids zone, food trucks, vendors, fireworks and so much more!
Join us in making a difference! 🌟 Reserve your tickets now for the Balloon Glow and be part of a cause that truly matters. Your support can change lives. Act with purpose, purchase your ticket today!
Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path 4-day festival Information: explorewestplains.com/tse/
Event Schedule:
Gates open at 4:00 p.m.
Fender Bender 5:30 p.m.
Ha Ha Tonka 7:00 p.m.
Balloon Glow 7:30 p.m.
Fireworks 8:30 p.m.
Get tickets at the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 417-256-8087, or on ticketmaster.com.
See Cystic Fibrosis of West Plains on Facebook for details.
“OZARK WOMEN” EXHIBIT TO FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY OF JOYCE MC MURTREY
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition entitled “Ozark Women” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from February 10 through March 14, 2024. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
“Joyce McMurtry’s work captures real people sharing their own stories and images with their own voices. It is also rooted in a sense of place. We learned this through her “King of the Ozarks” exhibit which delved into the lives of a special family from her hometown. Her treatment of “Ozark Women” promises to be equally engaging with thought-provoking nuance and depth. I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate women and Women’s History Month,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
Artist statement: “I finally feel like an Ozark woman.”
“I knew this place was different when I was in the 5th grade and came to visit from Columbia with my dad, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Missouri. My interest in grape growing stems from him, but my love of the Ozarks is due in large part to the women I’ve met since I moved here in 1976. Tough. Resilient. Rugged. Beautiful. These are words that describe both the Ozarks and the women who make their home here. For this project, I have chosen to photograph women who have lived in the Ozarks for at least thirty years. I believe it takes that long for life and this landscape to create an Ozark woman.
“Ever since I saw the photography of Dorothea Lange, I’ve wanted to take pictures like that. I hope I’ve come close to that with these images of Ozark women.”
WPCA will host a Meet the Artist reception Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 2-4 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. McMurtrey says, “I’ve asked five women to join me. Each of these women participated in this project. Three will share their stories, one will share her mother’s story, and the fifth will talk about what it’s like to be a young woman working and raising a family currently in the Ozarks.”
All are invited to attend, meet the artist and speakers, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey
From organizers: Celebrating Women’s History Month, we will have our very own community leaders speaking: Florence James- Owner of Kloz Klozet;
Karen Eggert-VP, Wood Huston Bank; Andi Hilburn-Vaini – The largest female owner/operator of McDonald’s restaurants in the United States with a total of 28 locations.
RSVP@lincolnschool65775@gmail.com or text 281-667-6430.
From organizers: Prepare for a fast-moving interactive program, presented by gifted speaker, Danette House, where you will be quizzed, tested, and entertained by “Ozarks-Speak,” and the unique language and culture of the southern Missouri Ozarks. Whether you are a native Ozarks speaker, history buff or simply curious about your Ozark heritage, this program promises to leave you with a profound appreciation for the linguistic treasures hidden within this remarkable region.
Details here on the Wayward Son Productions Facebook page.
Tickets for Friday: ticketmaster.com and for Saturday: ticketmaster.
From organizer:
West Plains… get ready for something special when the Wayward Son Extreme Bull Riding Tour – March 22 & 23rd, 2024 returns to the West Plains Civic Center.
HB Boot Corral will be presenting the World Championship Miniature Bull Bash! Young bull riders from across the nation will compete all day Friday (3/22 – 10am start time) and Saturday (3/23 – 10am start) for a chance to ride with the professionals each night AND qualify for the WCMB world finals in 2024.
Bull riders from 4 to 17 years of age will be displaying their talents in one of the world’s biggest events for miniature bull riding and YOU get to witness the next generation of Bull Riding Super Stars!
Tag your friends/family and invite them out to an exciting event – Wayward Son Extreme Bull Riding Tour – March 22 & 23rd, 2024
Thank you to the following sponsors:
Hirsch Feed and Farm Supply West Plains
HB Boot Corral
Bobcat of West Plains
Colton’s Steak House & Grill
Holiday Inn Express & Suites West Plains
ComSec Consulting
Adams Construction Company
Financial assistance for this project has been provided by the City of West Pains Development Grant Program. Explore West Plains
Call the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 417-256-8087, or order online at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices start at $29 plus fees.
38 Special concert event to kick off Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path!
Legendary southern rock, powerhouse band 38 Special will be in concert at the West Plains Civic Center Friday, April 5. Joining the group will be acclaimed regional favorites, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert begins at 7 p.m.
After more than four decades, multiple Gold and Platinum albums and a touring schedule that still includes over 100 cities every year, 38 Special continues to entertain and amaze audiences with their powerful performances. Since 1976, the band has released more than 15 albums and toured extensively, bringing their signature brand of ‘muscle and melody’ to fans worldwide. With sales in excess of 20 million, most associate the band with their arena-rock pop smashes, “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ Into the Night,” “Caught Up in You,” “Fantasy Girl,” “If I’d Been the One,” “Back Where You Belong,” “Chain Lightnin’,” “Second Chance” and more. Their timeless hits remain a staple on Classic Rock outlets.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, based in Springfield, Mo., have recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. Their songs include the chart-topping single “Jackie Blue,” along with “If You Wanna Get To Heaven,” “Standing On The Rock,” “Country Girl,” “You Made It Right” and many others. Their sound is a genre-defying blend of rock and country-rock along with other influences. They infuse their music with harmonies, a variety of instruments and a playful approach to performing such songs as “Chicken Train” and “Time Warp.”
The concert will be the kick-off event for the four-day “Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path” to celebrate the good fortune of West Plains having approximately three minutes of ‘totality,’ when the sun will be totally eclipsed from view by the moon, on April 8. There will be a variety of other events throughout the weekend with fun for all ages.
For more information about the concert, please contact the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 110 St. Louis Street, West Plains, call 417-256-8087 or visit 38special.com and theozarkmountaindaredevils.com. For details about the Total Solar Eclipse and associated festivities, visit explorewestplains.com/tse/ or “Eclipse West Plains” on Facebook.
Tickets here.
Save the Date: April 7th, 2024! Join us for the ultimate celebration. Prepare for epic moments at our Balloon Glow in collaboration with the Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path 4-day festival! Live performances from Bands Fender Bender & Ha Ha Tonka, kids zone, food trucks, vendors, fireworks and so much more!
Join us in making a difference! 🌟 Reserve your tickets now for the Balloon Glow and be part of a cause that truly matters. Your support can change lives. Act with purpose, purchase your ticket today!
Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path 4-day festival Information: explorewestplains.com/tse/
Event Schedule:
Gates open at 4:00 p.m.
Fender Bender 5:30 p.m.
Ha Ha Tonka 7:00 p.m.
Balloon Glow 7:30 p.m.
Fireworks 8:30 p.m.
Get tickets at the West Plains Civic Center Box Office, 417-256-8087, or on ticketmaster.com.
See Cystic Fibrosis of West Plains on Facebook for details.
“OZARK WOMEN” EXHIBIT TO FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY OF JOYCE MC MURTREY
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition entitled “Ozark Women” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from February 10 through March 14, 2024. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
“Joyce McMurtry’s work captures real people sharing their own stories and images with their own voices. It is also rooted in a sense of place. We learned this through her “King of the Ozarks” exhibit which delved into the lives of a special family from her hometown. Her treatment of “Ozark Women” promises to be equally engaging with thought-provoking nuance and depth. I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate women and Women’s History Month,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
Artist statement: “I finally feel like an Ozark woman.”
“I knew this place was different when I was in the 5th grade and came to visit from Columbia with my dad, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Missouri. My interest in grape growing stems from him, but my love of the Ozarks is due in large part to the women I’ve met since I moved here in 1976. Tough. Resilient. Rugged. Beautiful. These are words that describe both the Ozarks and the women who make their home here. For this project, I have chosen to photograph women who have lived in the Ozarks for at least thirty years. I believe it takes that long for life and this landscape to create an Ozark woman.
“Ever since I saw the photography of Dorothea Lange, I’ve wanted to take pictures like that. I hope I’ve come close to that with these images of Ozark women.”
WPCA will host a Meet the Artist reception Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 2-4 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. McMurtrey says, “I’ve asked five women to join me. Each of these women participated in this project. Three will share their stories, one will share her mother’s story, and the fifth will talk about what it’s like to be a young woman working and raising a family currently in the Ozarks.”
All are invited to attend, meet the artist and speakers, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey
From organizers:
Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host an exhibit about the African American experience in the Ozarks during Black History Month in February.
Titled “African American Heritage in the Ozarks,” the traveling exhibit curated by the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31 at the center inside the Garnett Library, 304 West Trish Knight St., on the MSU-WP campus.
The exhibit will highlight the voices, memories and history of African American people who call, or have called, the Ozarks home, according to organizers.
In 2021, the SHSMO received an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities and Missouri Humanities for an interactive exhibit which was on display at the SHSMO Art Gallery last year. SHSMO officials also created a smaller traveling exhibit for use by other Missouri communities, organizers said.
For more information about the presentation, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.
From organizers:
Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host an exhibit about the African American experience in the Ozarks during Black History Month in February.
Titled “African American Heritage in the Ozarks,” the traveling exhibit curated by the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31 at the center inside the Garnett Library, 304 West Trish Knight St., on the MSU-WP campus.
The exhibit will highlight the voices, memories and history of African American people who call, or have called, the Ozarks home, according to organizers.
In 2021, the SHSMO received an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities and Missouri Humanities for an interactive exhibit which was on display at the SHSMO Art Gallery last year. SHSMO officials also created a smaller traveling exhibit for use by other Missouri communities, organizers said.
For more information about the presentation, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.
“OZARK WOMEN” EXHIBIT TO FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY OF JOYCE MC MURTREY
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition entitled “Ozark Women” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from February 10 through March 14, 2024. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
“Joyce McMurtry’s work captures real people sharing their own stories and images with their own voices. It is also rooted in a sense of place. We learned this through her “King of the Ozarks” exhibit which delved into the lives of a special family from her hometown. Her treatment of “Ozark Women” promises to be equally engaging with thought-provoking nuance and depth. I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate women and Women’s History Month,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
Artist statement: “I finally feel like an Ozark woman.”
“I knew this place was different when I was in the 5th grade and came to visit from Columbia with my dad, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Missouri. My interest in grape growing stems from him, but my love of the Ozarks is due in large part to the women I’ve met since I moved here in 1976. Tough. Resilient. Rugged. Beautiful. These are words that describe both the Ozarks and the women who make their home here. For this project, I have chosen to photograph women who have lived in the Ozarks for at least thirty years. I believe it takes that long for life and this landscape to create an Ozark woman.
“Ever since I saw the photography of Dorothea Lange, I’ve wanted to take pictures like that. I hope I’ve come close to that with these images of Ozark women.”
WPCA will host a Meet the Artist reception Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 2-4 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. McMurtrey says, “I’ve asked five women to join me. Each of these women participated in this project. Three will share their stories, one will share her mother’s story, and the fifth will talk about what it’s like to be a young woman working and raising a family currently in the Ozarks.”
All are invited to attend, meet the artist and speakers, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey
ART DISPLAY AT OZSBI FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF JANEY HALE
JANUARY THROUGH MARCH 2024
Local artist Janey Hale’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of January through the end of March 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.
Artist Statement:
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in creating. My earliest memories are of making things out of everyday objects, matchboxes became covered wagons, doll beds and treasure chest. Going to school in the 50’s and 60’s I didn’t have formal art lessons. A touring show of Old Master Painting was my first experience with “real” art. That show and an older high school student were the encouragement I needed to want to learn more.
Fast forward to college I majored in business because I didn’t know one could teach art much less make a living painting. I married, had three boys, and worked various jobs that utilized my business background. When my sons were in school, I returned to college to major in art education. College was a wonderful opportunity to experience and be exposed to artists both past and present.
I spent the next 28 years teaching high school students that art is what makes our life richer. I was fortunate to have several gifted students along the way that I believe encouraged me as much as I did them. I retired from teaching in 2016 and have since devoted my time to painting both in the studio and en plein air. I still can’t imagine a time when I won’t be creating. Art has truly made my life richer, through the friends I’ve made, the places I’ve been, and of course the process of creating.
I don’t have just one thing I like to paint. Could be the sun shining through a tree behind a chicken coop or an abandoned piece of farm machinery. I hope my works tell a story or evoke a memory. I feel so blessed to have this gift that I hope it blesses others when they view my work.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2024, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Hale and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com
at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott <audrey.scott@zizzers.org>
Dennis Crider has always had a camera in his hand and, as a child in Wichita, Kansas, he just had to capture the moment on film.
During his 39 years as a reporter, photographer and sports editor at the West Plains Daily Quill Newspaper, he captured thousands of moments on film, and 39 of those will appear in this unique display.
The highlight of his career occurred 15 years after his retirement. When, on October 19, 2023, he became the 77th person to be inducted into the Missouri Press Association Photojournalism Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held at the State Historical Society’s Center for Missouri Studies in Columbia. Crider was nominated for this award by former Quill Publisher and Editor Frank L. Martin III, who is a member of the Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame.
In light of this honor, Crider decided to show a few of his favorite photographs from his tenure at The Quill. He thumbed through hundreds of pages of bound copies of the newspaper to find dates, then searched through boxes of stored negatives to build the collection. Once he identified the images he wanted, he scanned the negatives, and then downloaded the images to a third-party firm that printed the images on canvas.
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Students from West Plains schools, along with Southfork students, will contribute to the display to be featured January 12 through mid-March 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Displayed works will include pieces from the classes of Tiffany Bryce, Kathy Grigsby, Mary-Louise Grisham-Nash, Karen Pitts, Audrey Scott, and Terri Tomlinson.
WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott says, “We are incredibly excited to be able to display these young artists’ work! It is inspiring to see their technical skill level and commitment to their work, as well as their fresh perspective on artmaking and their unrestrained imaginations at play.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, 10a.m. till noon at the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the young artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott audrey.scott@zizzers.org
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Artwork by Emily Ritter, WPHS
from organizers:
CASTING CALL! OPEN AUDITIONS!
Join us for our first show of our 2024 theatrical season!
To audition, please go to this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/…/9040A4FAAA929A0FD0…
The Arts on the Avenue presents: William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”
Viola is separated from her brother in a shipwreck and needs to provide for herself. As a solution, Viola disguises herself as a man, calling her new persona, “Cesario,” as she begins to work for Duke Orsino. Quickly, she falls in love with him, but Orsino, who only knows “Cesario” is in love with Countess Olivia. Yet, Countess Olivia, when she meets Viola, falls in love with her thinking she is a man. So the fun begins!
While Shakespeare’s plays may SEEM intimidating, they were written for the common people. Twelfth Night is full of laughs and both the audience and the cast will have a great time!
Auditions are open to the WHOLE community. With a cast size of 14, there are ensemble opportunities for kiddos 13+!
The show will run May 16th with eight performances ending on May 26th
For more information on the show, go to: https://tinyurl.com/TwelfthNightAvenueTheatre
This event is free and open to the public.
The West Plains Photography Club currently has 34 members and meetings are at 6:30 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the Missouri State University-West Plains Creative Discovery Center, 411 West Main Street, Suite 1. Everyone regardless of age or ability is invited to join the club which has no membership dues.
The purpose of the club is to share and support everyone’s passion for photography arts whether they are a beginner or have been engaged in photography for many years. Present members include some who do not even own a camera to professionals who make a living by selling their art. For more information on the club feel free to call Bob Cunningham at 417-257-8206 or Dennis Crider at 417-274-7101.