POMONA (PP) – A war of words ratcheted into a full-blown scuffle in the Conley’s parking lot as an argument over which town could rightly claim ownership of a recent earthquake (which was incorrectly attributed to West Plains in the local media). The earthquake occured on Monday morning, Aug. 29 at 4:49 a.m. It measured with a magnitude of a mere 2.9, but it’s after effects may carry on much longer as a local news media source gave credit to West Plains for the earth shattering event. While the Howell County News located it precisely at quote, “10 miles south-southeast of Willow Springs, 9 miles north of West Plains and 13 miles southwest of Mountain View.” The only real damage the earthquake has caused thus far has been to Pomona-West Plains relations.
Conley's Parking Lot
Most would identify that area as Pomona, but so far the media has refused and that has left the issue to be settled by arguments, name-calling and scuffles. “We’re thinkin’ a full-blown fight is eventually gonna happen if someone don’t come out and decide this issue…and it ain’t West Plains cause 9 miles north of West Plains ain’t West Plains,” stated one witness of the scuffle. “These two boys kinda got loud and pokin’ fingers at each other after going on for a bit after this Zizzer fella started braggin’ about their earthquake the other day. An ol’ Pomona boy went to set him straight. It ended up with that Zizzer fella slammin’ the door on his truck and sprayin’ gravel in the lot, but he knows who’s right.”
Unfortunately the incident only increased tensions rather than easing them. At the table in Conley’s one curmudgeon seated between a gadabout and a braggard fears one day West Plains will take over Pomona if action isn’t taken now. In a concerned tone he said, “They already claim the airport. What’s next? If we don’t do something we’re goin’ to end up like them rural schools and be sucked into West Plains.”
For now tensions are high, but if cooler heads prevail the issue will most likely disappear. Should something cause the issue to flare up the most drastic talk is that of a hay bale barrier set up at N Hwy. and U.S. 63 to prevent anyone from West Plains having access to Pomona and its various amenities. This would force West Plainsians to drive all the way to the confusing tangle of exits at Willow Springs who’s only real gas station/convenience store is a one-holer with a McDonald’s attached.
A press release from a man walking down the railroad tracks read, “All we ask is that we keep our earthquake and are rightly identified as owners of this natural event.”
Excellent reporting on current events. Glad to see it. We were concerned that the Pomona Post had gone the way of so many small news media.
However, we urge citizens to reconsider the hay bale barricade as it would only serve to reroute cars and trucks down County Road 1350 which is in no condition to handle the traffic. AND, our dogs already go nuts every time a car turns on that road – we’d have to give them sedatives if the blockade materializes.