Community

See barred, great horned and screech owls from Dickerson Park Zoo. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host Dickerson Park Zoo at Twin Pines Conservation Education Center in Winona for Owl-o-ween, Friday, Oct. 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. “We’ll get to see various types of owls up close and learn about the myths and superstitions surrounding them, along with lots of owl facts,” said Skyler Bockman, manager of Twin Pines...

A new lighting system for the stage is the goal of a fundraiser drive sponsored by the drama and music departments at Alton High School. The current system is original to the building that was constructed in 1964. “We are raising money to replace our outdated lighting system with an LED system that will be operated from a laptop computer on the floor,” stated Anne Oesch, drama instructor. “Our students are not learning the skills needed to operate a modern lighting system,” Oesch added...

The Alton Junior and Senior High vocal and instrumental music students will present “American Showcase” on Tuesday, Oct.15 as a fundraiser concert. All proceeds from the concert will go towards the purchase of a new lighting system for the stage. Students will perform 20th century music including jazz and swing, rock, folk, pop and country. ...

The GFWC Crescite Club of Thayer met on Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Engle Hotel Coffee Shop and was hosted by Rebecca Currier. Plans were finalized for hosting the Fall Festival King and Queen Contest on Oct. 12 and having their traditional homemade candy booth...

While it’s craft event season here in the Ozarks, (and thankfully, cooler,) be sure and visit our excellent craft vendors at the Oregon County Farmers Market! Still coming in as well are fresh garden vegetables, and ours is a producer only market focusing on vendors that provide their own products that are grown, raised or made locally. ...

Alton Wednesday, Oct. 9: Eggs, sausage gravy, hash browns, biscuits and cinnamon roll. Craft class with Cindy – salt dough ornaments from 12 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10: Cheeseburgers with all the fixings, potato wedges, Waldorf salad and trifle. Walking exercise with Sandy from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m...

Does your plan meet your heath and prescription needs for 202? Enroll or change your Medicare prescription plan or Medicare Advantage Plan from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Enroll or change your Marketplace Health Insurance plans fro Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. We can help you: Explore your plan options, sign up for a plan that fits your income and meets your needs and understand any changes there may be to health insurance rules...

ARKids First prepares for flu season, clarifying common misconceptions about the flu vaccine ARKids First, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in Arkansas, covers flu shots and other immunizations for Arkansas children at no cost. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests all children be vaccinated by the end of October...

There is a lot of misinformation about e-cigarettes and vapes, but you should get the facts straight before you vape. Vaping is the act of inhaling a vapor, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device. The term “vaping” is used because e-cigarettes do not produce smoke as traditional cigarettes do, but rather an aerosol that consists of fine particles potentially containing varying amounts of toxic chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, as well as seizures, respiratory and heart diseases.. ...

On Nov. 20, from 1-3 p.m., Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri (CCSM) will present its disaster preparedness curriculum, “Plan.Prepare.Protect.” at the West Plains Public Library, 750 West Broadway. To attend the training participants must pre-register through Ozark Independent Living (OIL), 417-256-8714, or at mailto:thampton@ozarkcil.comthampton@ozarkcil.com. The program is offered free of charge and includes course resource materials...

If you’re making plans to attend the Oct. 30 Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball game, make sure you bring some non-perishable food items with you. Members of the Student Government Association (SGA), Student Nurses Association (SNA) and Phi Beta Lambda student business organization are collecting the items for Samaritan Outreach Center in West Plains...

Spring River Art Gallery (SRAG) sends a big THANK YOU to all those who were part of the Fine Art Show held Sept. 5-15. The winners are as follows: Honorable Mention: Mary Sutterfield, “Gone Fishing”, Sally Papich, “Skyline”, Dewana McIntosh, “Color Blind”, Dottie Carlisle, “Mythical Bird”, and Jeanne Roth, “Indoor Garden”...

There is a lot of misinformation about e-cigarettes and vapes, but you should get the facts straight before you vape. Vaping is the act of inhaling a vapor, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device. The term “vaping” is used because e-cigarettes do not produce smoke as traditional cigarettes do, but rather an aerosol that consists of fine particles potentially containing varying amounts of toxic chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, as well as seizures, respiratory and heart diseases.. ...

Several local dancers and staff members of NADT Dance Academy attended the Immerse Artists Experience dance convention (IAX) in Memphis on Sept. 29. IAX is a new dance convention that chose Memphis as its first city for debut! Dance professionals from all over the country were brought in to teach class in Technique, Improv, Hip Hop, Tap, Contemporary, and Jazz. Havyn Hubberd, of Mountain View, was awarded an Excellence in Technique scholarship award...

Brittany Kunkel (Sharp County) was the winner of the “Best of the Best” competition at the North Central Arkansas District Fair. Brittany was presented with a buckle by the NCAD Fair and a $500 tuition scholarship from Ozarka College in memory of the Nancy Orr. Orr was a founding board member of the district fair and served on the board of directors of Ozarka College Foundation...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce held a Blue Ribbon Welcome for new member Pioneer Auto Auction during their 25th Anniversary Celebration on Oct. 3. Pioneer Auto Auction is a full service dealer, public independent action held every Thursday starting at 6 p.m. ...

On Saturday Sept. 21, the Ozarka College Foundation hosted the fifth annual Sprint at the Spring 5k at the Mammoth Spring State Park. This fundraiser for the Mammoth Spring Campus of Ozarka College is held each year in September. This event is made possible each year by the generous donations from area sponsors such as FNBC, NAEC, local Chambers of Commerce, the Rotary Club, as well as many others. ...

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, a sobering reminder that one in five children in the U.S. is obese, Teresa Henson, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Extension specialist– nutrition outreach coordinator, said. During the month, Arkansans can take some time to learn more about the causes of obesity in children, as well as some ways to encourage children to adopt healthy habits in regard to diet and exercise...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce a Mobile Workforce Center (MWC) will be at the 2019 Business Expo on Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the A.L. Hutson Memorial Center. The event is free to the public and many local businesses will be providing special offers, giveaways, prize drawings and there will be a change to win $250...

You and up to five other people are trapped in the Coal House, an ancient building famous for its mysterious past. From Saturday, Oct. 26 through Saturday, Nov. 2 (minus Sunday), the building has been transformed into a scientist’s secret lab. A SUPER ZOMBIE VIRUS has gotten loose and infected the scientist! To escape from “The ESCAPE ROOM”, your group must search for clues and solve puzzles to find the antidote. ...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce would like to invite our members and the public to a Blue Ribbon Welcome for new member and business Booman’s Go Kart Track on Thursday, October 10 at noon, located at 2530 Hwy 62/412 in Highland. The track is open Thursdays and Sundays 2 to 8 p.m., Fridays 2 to 10 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. ...

The Highland School District invites all parents and students to attend parent-teacher conferences. “When teachers and parents partner together for the education of the student, great results can be accomplished,” said Superintendent Don Sharp. Conferences will be held on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 1 to 7 p.m. Students will not have school on Thursday, Oct. 17 or on Friday, Oct. 18...

Cherokee Village residents, property owners, businesses and volunteers are invited to participate in the annual Fall Roadside Litter Pickup in Cherokee Village on Saturday morning, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers will sign in at the King-Rhodes Real Estate parking lot at 9 a.m. ...

Signup has begun for 2020 Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). Sharp/Fulton County Farm Service Agency in Ash Flat will be accepting applications through Nov. 15. The NAP program is designed to help farmers and ranchers who suffer greater than a 50% grazing loss in a year that a severe drought occurs. ...

Tommy Estes, of Ash Flat, former County and Circuit Clerk for Sharp County, has announced his candidacy for Justice of the Peace, District 5, for the Nov. 3, 2020 General Election, subject to the Republican Preferential Primary, March 3, 2020. The district’s boundary is Richwoods Township, which includes the city of Ash Flat...

The wait is over! The Mountain Home Moose Lodge’s 14th annual GermanFest will be held this coming Saturday, Oct. 12. Menu will include large hot pretzels, sauerbraten, sweet and sour red cabbage, sauerkraut, bratwurst, hot German potato salad and apple strudel. Advance tickets for this fun event remain available at $10 each but are going fast. Price will be $12 at the door the day of the event if tickets remain...

Pastors from various evangelical denominations in the Spring River area are coordinating a Family Values Summit to be held at First Baptist Church of Hardy (next to McDonald’s) on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. Jerry Cox, President and Founder of Arkansas Family Council, will be the featured speaker. ...

The Spring River Innovation Hub, in partnership with First Community Bank of Highland, will host an entrepreneurship course called, “Is Starting a Business Right For You?” along with business counseling sessions on Thursday, Oct. 17. This free startup class will be held at the Spring River Innovation Hub in the Cherokee Village Town Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is open to residents of Sharp, Fulton and Izard counties...

Baby Miss (age 0 – 18 months) Winner: Nora KayLynn Smith – age 17 mos. – daughter of Rusty and Abbi Smith (Izard County) 1 st Runner-Up: Ember Lawrence – age 8 months – daughter of Summer Morgan and Tristin Lawrence (Izard County) Tiny Miss (age 19 months – 2 years) Winner: Dwysyn Grace Butler – age 19 months – daughter of Grady and Sarah Butler (Stone County) 1 st Runner-Up: Aubry Crymes – age 2 – daughter of Cylan Crymes and Tori and Preston Callahan (Stone County) 2 nd Runner-Up: Phoebe Skye Greer – age 2 – daughter of Josh and Maussah Greer (Stone County). ...

After a wet and sweltering summer, most are breathing a sigh of relief as temperatures cool down and trees begin to change color – a sure sign that fall has arrived. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages people to enjoy fall foliage through camping, driving tours, hiking, or even canoeing or floating. To help, MDC offers weekly online fall color updates from agency foresters all over the state at mdc.mo.gov/fallcolor...

Alton Wednesday, Oct. 2: Spaghetti with meatballs, Italian veggies, garlic bread and apple pie. “Baskets of Love” collection month. Bring nonperishable food for Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. Thursday, Oct. 3: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, savory brown gravy, brussel sprouts, wheat roll and cherry poke cake. Cox Health flu shot clinic from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m...

Everyone is invited to the free Ozarks Native Plant Society meeting to be held on Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ozarks Regional Office of the Missouri Department of Conservation at 551 Joe Ozarks and how to identify them. For more information, call 417-257-7544...

The Eleven Point Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest is inviting the public to an event at the scenic and historic Narrows and Morgan Springs Recreation Areas. On Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., presenters will be discussing the historical significance of the area related to its Native American sites and its historic milling operations at Thomasson Mill, which was operated as B.B. Morgan’s aquaculture business with private camping and picnicking sites...

Members of the Student Nurses Association (SNA) at Missouri State University-West Plains will host a book fair for the local Born to Read program Oct. 14 and 15 at Hass-Darr Hall. Times of the “Collective Goods” fair are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 14 and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 15. All campus and community members are welcome, organizers said...

Alton City Clean-up Week will be Oct. 21 through Oct. 25. This does not include any end of life electronics including old computers, TVs and/or microwaves. City workers will not pick up old tires, steel, concrete or any construction/tear down material. No boards with nails will be picked up – all nails need to be removed. We are asking that you separate tree limbs and yard waste from other items or pickup. Please have the items you would like picked up out by noon on Thursday, Oct. 24...

Koshknong FFA will present a chili cook-off on Oct. 11 in the Koshkonong Elementary cafeteria at 6 p.m. Entry fee is $5. The jackpot winner takes half of the total entry fee. With every cup you buy, you will get a ticket to vote for your favorite chili...

State Technical College of Missouri would like to congratulate students who achieved the Honor Roll during the 2019 summer semester. Benjamin Greer, of Thayer; Blake Meizler, of Thayer, and James Brown, of Mammoth Spring.

This Saturday, Oct 5th, our market will be part of the festivities on the Alton Square!! Join us for the 34th annual Alton Black Gold Walnut Festival, beginning at 9 a.m. and throughout the day. You will find us on the north side of the square, so come see us!...

Connecting with Craft is a free event on Oct. 5-11 in conjunction with American Craft Week. Stone County, Ark. is known for the quality and artistry of its crafts people. Join us for a week of making connections with the handmade traditions of the Ozarks, the craft artisans of the region and the natural beauty that inspires their works...

The Hardy School Reunion will be Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the old Hardy gym on School Street. Alumni from Florida to California and Iowa to Texas are expected to gather for visiting and lunch, which will be provided free of charge...

Finally, it’s October when our days will start cooling down, BUT the Arts Center of North Arkansas (ACNA) is still heating up! On Thursday, Oct. 3, the Center Stage Thursday starts back up. We are excited to bring Arkansas Folk Singer, Charley Sandage to the platform. Charley will take us back to our roots. Bring a lawn chair and an expectation of a great time!!...

The Highland High School National Honor Society inducted several new members Sept. 25 Those inducted are senior Cory Eheart, and juniors Catie Boyce, Rhett Carter, Carly Haney, Breanna Hoffman, Elizabeth Holloway, Tate Isaacs, Kelsey Miller, Grant Sanders and Ashton Webber. ...

A gospel singing featuring Velvet Ridge Gospel Singers will be held Saturday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church in Ash Flat. The public is encouraged to bring family, friends and an appetite. The singing will be followed by a fellowship dinner...

The Sharp County Master Gardeners will be having a Work and Learn Day at the Hardy Cemetery on Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. They will be demonstrating how to prune certain shrubs and bushes, including overgrown Crepe Myrtles. It is open to the public, so bring your work clothes, pruners, shovels and any questions you may have!...

The Sonshine Singers, from Ash Flat, will be making a personal appearance on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Ash Flat Church of God. The concert will begin at 6 p.m. The Sonshine Singers will bless you with the gospel of God through songs. Ash Flat Church of God is located at 124 Arnhart St., the street behind the courthouse in Ash Flat. There is no admission charge but there will be a love will be received...

The WRMC Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Clinic recently held a Mako Appreciation Event to recognize patients who have completed the joint replacement process. During the event, speakers Mr. Gary Paxson, President and CEO of White River Health System, and Dr. ...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce held a Blue Ribbon Welcome for new member, author Ezra E. Manes on Thursday, Sept. 26. Manes is an accomplished author specializing in science fiction novels, including “Entangled Species”, “Entangled Awareness”, “Transformations”, the 4-book “Third Moon Rising” series and more. ...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce would like to invite members and the public to a Blue Ribbon Welcome for new member, Pioneer Auto Auction on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. in conjunction with their 25th Anniversary Celebration. Pioneer Auto auction has an auction every Thursday night at 6 p.m. ...