Vera Jamison, of Viola, celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 5. Friends and family celebrated her 100 years at the First Baptist Church in Viola on Saturday, Oct. 5. Jamison was born in her grandmother’s house in North Wales, Great Britain. Her mother was pregnant with her when on the ship ride to England, and when Jamison was three-months-old, she made the trip back to the United States, where they lived in Pittsburgh, Pa...

Author George Jared recently released his third true crime book, Whispers in the Willows. Jared has family ties in Hardy, Ark., and was a former reporter for Areawide Media, several years ago. Witches of West Memphis and The Creekside Bones were Jared’s first two true crime books...

In this day and age, emergency personnel can never be too prepared to handle a number of disasters. Fulton County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy John Cawvey spent six months preparing for an active shooter training which came to fruition on Friday, Oct. 11...

A public hearing concerning water and sewer rates was held before the regular monthly Thayer Council meeting held Tuesday, Oct. 8. Council moved onto public participation after approving the consent agenda and bills paid and to be paid, which included approving requests for kennel licenses from William T. Hass and Bobby Romans, approving to renew appointment of Sam Currier to the SCORDC board with SCOCOG and part one net metering application from Community First Bank...

Mammoth Spring Council met on Monday, Oct. 7 to discuss city business. The city purchased a new copier/printer for approximately $2,300. The all-in-one machine comes with a three-year warranty. One of the older copiers was given to the police department...

U.S. News & World Report 2019 Rankings were recently released featuring area schools. Alton R-IV School District, Couch R-I School District and Thayer R-II School District are ranked in the top 10 percent of the state Class I and Class II schools according to U.S. News & World Report Rankings for 2019...

Steven J. Danielson, 72, of Mammoth Spring, died from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident in Viola on Highway 62 on Sunday, Oct. 13. Danielson was driving his 2003 Jeep westbound around 3:40 p.m. when he travelled off the roadway and overturned...

Colten L. Smith, 18, of West Plains, was seriously injured the evening of Oct. 12 when the 1998 GMC Sierra 1500 he was driving traveled off the left side of the highway and struck a tree, five miles north of Koshkonong on Highway M. Smith was ejected from the vehicle...

According to Butler County court documents, four individuals have been charged with identical class D felonies: Tampering with a witness (two counts each) and perjury in a procedure involving a felony charge. The individuals charged are Linda Amick, Michael Amick, James Higdon and Adam Woody. ...

Following the revaluation of properties under the Cherokee Village Suburban Improvement District (SID) in September of 2018, the new assessment rates will be rolling in following the Oct. 15 deadline for payment of taxes. Since the increase, the City of Cherokee Village has reported an increase in their portion of payment received from the SID and following a recent meeting, the SID determined rates would not be increased for this year...

In October of 2015, Sadie Medlock a graduate of Cave City High School passed away after losing her battle with Cystic Fibrosis. From that, Medlock’s family used their experiences during Sadie’s battle to create something positive in order to help others...

The Ash Flat City Council held its regular meeting Oct. 10, discussing sidewalk repair, sign permits and more. Fire Chief Stacy Horton was first to deliver his department report. “This report is from Sept. 4 to Oct. 3. The department participated in the Kevin King Memorial 5k Run in Loberg Park. ...

The Sharp County Quorum Court held its regular meeting Oct. 7 during which, a millage increase was discussed. Wanda Girtman presented the county treasurer’s report. “Sales tax is good... My county general checking balance is $200,000 in the red as of today,” Girtman said...

An Old Fashioned Scrap Drive will be held in Sharp, Izard and Fulton counties the last part of October to benefit the Tri-County Recycling Center. According to Lauren Siebert, event organizer, the event is a simple way to help generate funds for the recycling center which not only provides a service, but is required to exist by law...

Ozark Acres will hold a fall festival event Oct. 26 at the Ozark Acres Fire Department beginning at 11 a.m. According to one of the event organizers, Bernadine Jarvis the festival is open to anyone who would like to attend. “We will have about 10 games for the children. ...

Arkansas State Representative Michelle Gray, of Melbourne, recently received two awards; 2019 Statesman Award and 2019 Business Matters Leadership Award. A press release detailing the awards were issued. Gray was awarded the 2019 Statesman Award by Family Council Action Committee. ...

Kevin Sanders, 49, was charged with obstruction of interference with emergency medical personnel or first responder, class D felony, from an incident occurring on Sept. 7. Randy Ninemire, of Mammoth Spring, was charged with maintaining drug premises, class B felony; possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine/cocaine), class C felony; and use or possession with the purpose to use drug paraphernalia, class D felony...

The traditional country sounds of Porter Union will return to the Salem Civic Center during the Fulton County Hospital Foundation’s Boots, Bands & BBQ fundraiser Saturday, Nov. 2. Cole Michael Porter and wife Kendra Porter, of Springfield, Mo., have crisscrossed the country performing for a decade. ...

Marlin Matchett, of Monett, who has been employee of Oregon County Ambulance District for more than 20 years, was recognized Monday, Oct. 7 for his response in the duck boat tragedy that occurred on Table Rock Lake in Branson on July 19, 2018. Matchett was presented the Public Safety Civilian Partnership Award by Missouri Governor Mike Parson during a ceremony held in Jefferson City...

Announcement made after town makes social media outreach to add a store The campaign for Koshkonong to have a Dollar General added to the town did not go unnoticed and has resulted in plans for a store. Dollar General announced Friday, Oct. 4 it “is excited to announce it is planning to add a new store to Koshkonong, Mo. ...

Oregon County Library Coordinator Janice Richardson recently attended the 2019 TAP into Libraries conference in Burlington, Vt. held Sept. 4 through Sept. 7 during which she attended various sessions. As part of the process of being selected included, Richardson wrote a continuing education grant to the Missouri State Library to attend the conference presented by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries...

Community members were invited to visit the historic home located right off of Main Street in Mammoth Spring to learn about an upcoming restoration project on Friday, Oct. 4, which, when completed, will bring various artists to the region as well as different culture...

Thayer Fun and Friends Senior Center needs volunteers to deliver Meal on Wheels and to help with the duties at the front desk including greet visitors to the center. There are five routes to deliver meals to and only three volunteer drivers. Delivery drivers may use their own vehicle or vans are available for transportation for the trips. Drivers must have a valid driver’s license and up to date insurance. Volunteers will receive a free lunch at the center for delivering meals that day...

Thayer Fall Festival will be held in the downtown on Saturday, Oct. 12s from 4 to 8 p.m. The event will feature live music by The Howell Family, who will begin singing around 5:30 p.m., and Alec Shrable, who sings contemporary Christian music, will sing during intermissions. There will be numerous booths, vendors and games for patrons to enjoy including food, crafts, and bounce houses...

The seventh annual Oregon County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Farm Trade Show will be held on Saturday, Oct.12 at the Thayer High School, East of Thayer, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. There will be many vendors and booths as well as door prizes, games and more. Agriculture vendor booths are $50 deposit. Merchandise will be available for purchase. Vendors from all areas will be there. To reserve a booth call 417-778-7561 ext. 3...

The Hardy City Council held its regular meeting Oct. 1 during which, the city’s water system, grants and more were discussed. Following the approval of minutes and additions to the agenda, Councilman and Hardy Advertising and Promotions (A&P) Commissioner Bruce Thurow provided the A&P report...

Following a gut wrenching accident during the Oct. 4 football game at Rebel Stadium in Highland, students gathered to support one of their own. Highland High School student Brandon Dennis was taken off the field in an ambulance and sent to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock Friday night. That night Michael Spurlock, who is a member of the Highland Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) approached the club sponsor, Blake Medlock, to see if it would be possible to hold a prayer circle for Dennis...

Vincent Prokop, 29, of Cherokee Village, was sentenced to one year in the Arkansas Department of Corrections with 90 months suspended sentence, by Judge Harold Erwin Oct. 3 for the charge of sexual assault in the second degree, a class B felony. Prior to the plea agreement, Prokop was facing charges of rape, computer child pornography and pandering or possessing visual or print medium depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child...

The City of Ash Flat will be taking applications for the position of Chief of Police following the resignation of Anthony Wiles. According to Mayor Larry Fowler, Wiles’ last day was Oct. 3, however; Wiles has offered to help if needed over the coming days until a new chief is selected...

Evening Shade resident, 27-year-old Ryan Harrington, has always had a love for rockets. So much so, when he could not afford the kits, he began constructing detail oriented and scaled models from paper. “When I was little I always wanted model rockets, but they were always too expensive and actually they still are. ...

A man from Independence County, Mo., was declared deceased Sept. 24 following a head on collision with a semi. According to a report from the Arkansas State Police, Raymond Watson, 77, was headed north on Highway 63 South in his 2010 Ford Taurus, when he crossed the center line into the path of a 2005 Kenworth, striking the semi head on...

For quite some time, Izard County resident Sheri Jones, has been fighting for her life as she battles stage four colon, lymph node, liver and lung cancer. Although she has been receiving treatment from White River Medical Center in Batesville, Jones said the treatments are not only taking a toll on her health, but her finances as well...

Thomasville Community Center is closer to being fully restored after the devastating flood of 2017. Cost effective solutions are being utilized along the way. “When the old floor was torn off there was a concrete base there that was originally the support for the wood floor,” said Brenda Bell...

Thayer School District tragically lost a beloved coach over the weekend. While traveling with his family, Assistant Coach Bryan Tate died unexpectedly after a medical emergency while on the way to a football game in Quincy, Ill. on Saturday, Sept. 28. He was pronounced deceased at 2:30 p.m. after being rushed to Hannibal Regional Hospital in Hannibal, Mo. He is survived by his wife, Angela, a teacher at Alton School District...

After a lot of hard community work, The Ingle Hotel Coffee Shop officially opened the morning of Friday, Sept. 27 just in time for Thayer homecoming weekend. Visitors to the coffee café had the opportunity to purchase various kinds of coffee and pick from an array of sweet treats donated by local bakers...

The 34th annual Ozarks Black Gold Walnut Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 5. Sponsored by Southern Bank, the festival will begin at 9 a.m. on the square in Alton. On Friday, Oct. 4, events will kick-off with Alton Chamber of Commerce hosting the annual 5K/Walk for the Gold. ...

An arrest has been made in the vandalism of Mammoth Spring Fire Department in August. Sammy Poulette, 19, was arrested for allegedly tampering with fire trucks, draining the water and detaching equipment, disabling the vehicles from responding to a possible emergency call. Poulette, who is a relative of former Mammoth Spring Fire Chief Casey Poulette, is charged with felony obstruction or interference with emergency personnel or first responder. He was released on OR bond...

Brenda Breckenridge with the Sidney Baptist Church is seeking donations and volunteers to help create gift boxes as part of Operation Christmas Child. “It is part of Samaritans Purse and is spearheaded by Franklin Graham. This is my first year spearheading the project for our church and what we are asking for are hygiene products and other useful items and then what we call ‘WOW’ items. ...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce’s sixth annual Business Expo, slated for Oct. 19, is quickly approaching and Executive Director Kari Hollis said spots are filling up quickly. “We are accepting vendor applications for this year’s Expo. It will be held at the A.L Hutson Memorial Center. ...

Sheila Donley and Vicki Lamb, two area artists from the Spring River area, will be hosting a two-woman show at the Harlin Museum in West Plains, Mo. According to Donley, the show will be held the last two weekends of October and the first weekend in November. During those weekends, those who travel to the museum will have the opportunity not only to check out the more than 50 pieces of artwork, but also to purchase works...

Recycling and animal control were among the topics discussed at the Cherokee Village City Council Sept. 19 monthly meeting. Following the approval of minutes and the agenda, Mayor Russell Stokes offered his report to the council. Stokes said he had a proclamation for the month of October and Breast Cancer Awareness. He also discussed the issue of recycling...

Ariel Housmann has been selected as the new probation officer for Sharp County. Housmann started work as the new probation officer in mid-September and has spent time reviewing files and determining how she intends to structure her department. As the misdemeanor probation officer for Sharp County, Housmann oversees anyone who gets put on probation for misdemeanor charges. ...

This year marks the 29th annual Hardy Homesteaders Day slated for Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Loberg Park. The annual festival is among the longest running in Sharp County and is designed to give a brief glimpse into what life was like prior to modern convenience...

The Highland Rebels lost a home conference game on Friday, Sept. 27 to the Westside Warriors in a close contest, 20-14. Highland fell to 0-4 for the season and 0-1 for in conference play. Westside moved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in conference. The Rebels kicked off to the Warriors, and Westside started off at their own 36-yard line. ...