• With peak summer driving season approaching and millions of Americans hitting the road, GasBuddy last week revealed which gas station brands have the highest-rated restrooms eliminating the stress and panic that often ensues when nature calls. In Missouri, the honor went to QuikTrip.
• Texas County winners in Missouri Lottery games in April were: Chase Jones, Michael Purvis and Bruce Whanger, Cabool, $1,000; Johnny Biram and Chad Hofstetter, Licking, $1,000; and Lillie Jackson, Summersville, $1,000.
• A Love’s Travel Shop is coming to Willow Springs’ south junction. The facility will include a 10,000 square foot building on 10 acres with a gas station for cars and tractor-trailers, a convenience store with a fast-food restaurant and tire shop. It is estimated to employ 30-35 full-time employees and six to eight part-time workers. A spring 2019 opening is expected. In another development, West Plains Bank has announced plans to open a branch in the community.
• Odds and ends: Town and Country Supermarket’s last day in Houston is Sunday, May 27… Houston’s new bus for its transit system arrived last week at Houston City Hall.
• A videographer from CBS Sunday Morning was in Texas County over the weekend for the “Midwest Vanlife Gathering” in the Mark Twain National Forest at the Slabtown Recreational Area northwest of Licking. Campers arrived in converted vans, buses and RVs. A story appears elsewhere in today’s newspaper.
• Those attending the event found gas prices are headed upward in the state. After a rise of 3.6 cents, the average was $2.66 on Monday. That’s 57.7 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and 22 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.