He has been a familiar face for more than four decades when grocery shopping in Thayer. After 47 years, Dan Wrenfrow, manager at Harp’s Grocery Store has decided to retire. Beginning at 14-years-old as a bag boy/carryout on Nov. 12, 1974, Wrenfrow worked his way up to becoming manager of the store...

A benefit auction is in the works for Couch R-1 School District’s baseball field. To be held on Friday, Aug. 6 at Couch High School at 5 p.m., the fundraiser will consist of a live auction, silent auction and food as well as live music from Highway W Band. Commercial bounce houses will be available for children to enjoy...

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services added the south central counties of Oregon, Howell, Carter, Shannon and Dent counties to a list of advisory counties in the state due to an increase in COVID-19 numbers. On Friday, July 23, the department announced within the previous 14 days, the following new case numbers. Oregon County – 61 cases, Howell County – 356 cases, Carter – 34 cases, Shannon County – 49 cases and Dent County – 70 cases...

Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery has reopened after being closed to the public for approximately 14 months, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the state of Arkansas has opened, the hatchery is under federal guidelines. They have been working at the hatchery the last several months to prepare the facility to reopen. With the assistance of CARES Act funds, they were able to get safety precautions set in place to protect the public including sanitizing...

Individuals were asked to please IGNORE the worldwide web as Google reported Barker Funeral Home was “temporarily closed” and those words were the furthest thing from the truth. “The way we are doing it has changed a little bit, but we aren’t slowing down,” said Steve Barker as he prepared to step foot into the rubble of ash where once stood the facility he opened in January 1993...

CREATE Bridges Projects has a new grant program and is open to businesses and organizations to apply. Each applicant may receive up to a maximum of $2,000. “Providing resources for optimizing and jumpstarting effective, collaborative and timely strategies” is the mission of CREATE Projects, a “component of CREATE Bridges that provides an opportunity for businesses and organizations in Fulton, Izard and Sharp [counties] to turn ideas into actions,” according to a press release...

The Sharp County Quorum Court was held on July 12 at 6 p.m. at the Sharp County Courthouse. Judge Gene Moore called the meeting to order with all court members present. After the reading of the June minutes was waived and they were approved, the meeting proceeded with the county financial report...

There will be a FREE mammogram, dental and vision clinic held on Saturday, July 24, at the Cherokee Village First Baptist Church, located at 6 Iroquois Drive next to the Cherokee Village Elementary School. The doors will open at 8 a.m. and will remain open as long as patients keep coming and doctors are able to stay. ...

The Ash Flat City Council met on July 13 at 6 p.m. at Ash Flat City Hall, with Mayor Larry Fowler presiding. After the approval of the minutes from the June meeting, as well as the current meeting’s agenda, department reports followed. The new Ash Flat Fire Chief, Adam Bates, gave the monthly report for June for his department. ...

The Hardy City Council met July 13 at city hall, one week after their normally scheduled meeting due to the July 4 holiday. Mayor Ernie Rose brought the meeting to order at 6 p.m. after a quorum of council members was met. All members were present with the exception of Councilmen Herbert Wise and Bob Gilliland, and City Attorney Joe Grider was also absent. ...

Four-year-old Carstyn, son of Chad and Abby Casey, of Alton, was diagnosed with high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma. Currently, a patient of St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Carstyn is receiving chemotherapy treatments and radiation therapy. Chad Casey, Carstyn’s dad, stated after his last appointment with doctors, they were very pleased how everything is looking...

Plans are in the works for the Couch Back to School Fair to be held on Monday, Aug. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. Free haircuts and school supplies will be available at the event. However, supplies are still needed. In previous years, some of the items the fair has provided include paper, notebooks, folders, pens and pencils as well as body wash, lotion and shampoo and conditioner...

Mammoth Spring Chamber of Commerce discussed upcoming events and a current fundraising project during their regular monthly meeting held at Penny Loafers in Mammoth Spring on Thursday, July 15. Members gave updates on their businesses. Penny with Penny Loafers informed in a few weeks, the restaurant may change their morning hours to 10 a.m. ...

A Quilt of Valor is awarded to a service member or veteran in honor of their dedicated service to the United States. Gary Hirsch was recently awarded this prestigious quilt on Tuesday, July 13 for his service in the Army and serving in the Vietnam War as a medic...

Due to the increased number of COVID-19 cases in our area, Fulton County Hospital is updating its current visitation policy in order to protect patients and staff. As of July 9, only one visitor over the age of 14, per day, per patient will be allowed to visit patients admitted to the hospital during the hours of 4 to 6 p.m. No visitors will be allowed in the Emergency Department...

This summer the local Fulton County 4-H program hosted a variety of camps on Tuesdays sponsored by the Fulton County Extension office. The extensions office goal is to provide community education whether it is about farming or healthy living and nutrition they work to make sure the community is well informed...

One or two times a month at the North Central Prison Unit in Calico Rock, Ark., a loud call goes out over the PA system to the 850 inmates, “Jehovah’s Witness study group.” About 30 men make their way out of their barracks and down the hall. The men are going to a study group to find hope, hope to change their personalities and find meaning in life by building a relationship with God...

Local longtime business, Barker Funeral Home in Salem, was a total loss in a structure fire which occurred late Thursday, July 8 into the early morning hours of Friday, July 9. Salem Fire Chief Sam Rossitto said his department was dispatched just a few minutes before midnight Thursday and the first truck was on scene six minutes later. Though the department responded quickly, the fire was too involved for any of the structure to be saved...

Located on the Salem town square, next to the courthouse is the Veteran Memorial Monument. This structure has been standing for many years and was in need of a cleaning. Hammond Monument Maintenance and Restoration noticed this and volunteered to help...

Steven R. Bashaw, 37, of Salem, Ark., was recently arrested and charged with several felony crimes following a cattle transaction in Searcy County, which also involved Fulton County residents. On June 21, Searcy County Chief Deputy Dewayne Pierce was contacted by a Saint Joe resident in regard to theft and other livestock from his property. ...

The Spring River Gem and Mineral Club met on July 1 for the first time after a long hiatus due to the COVID pandemic. The meeting was held at the Omaha Center where quite a few members, along with some new members, gathered at 10 a.m. Treasurer Carla Quataert opened the meeting by allowing new people and members to introduce themselves...

In case you are not an avid reader and do not make it to the end of this article, at least read this take-home message: David Woods heads the Sharp County Search and Rescue Team (SCSAR), a strictly volunteer group that has been performing search and rescues locally for years. ...

The “Treasures in the Ozarks” (TITO) event will be revived this Fall at the Hardy Civic Center on Oct. 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The committee organizing the event announces “TITO is back!” after two years since the 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID. ...

The Hardy History Association (HHA) met on July 1 at 6:30 p.m. at a special location. Andy Jackson, long-term resident of Many Islands, was kind enough to offer the venue of his home in Many Islands where he resides in a lovely spot right on the Spring River south of Mammoth Spring and north of Hardy. Despite the rains that had been ongoing all day, the clouds had parted and there was a good crowd attending the evening’s event...

KB Home (NYSE: KBH) announced on Thursday, July 8 that [Oregon County native] Robert McGibney has been elected Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, effective July 1. In this role, McGibney will be responsible for the company’s operations in its West Coast and Southwest regions, as well as several of the company’s key strategic functions, including architecture, design studio, national contracts and sustainability...

In August, Missouri will be celebrating its bicentennial. In honor of this milestone, The State Historical Society of Missouri has partnered with Saint Louis Ambassadors to create the Missouri Bicentennial Time Capsule for which they are requesting the public’s help for items to be placed in the time capsule...

Mammoth Spring VFW Post 7831 is gearing up for their annual Old Soldiers Reunion. The week-long event will begin on Monday, July 19 with Bingo from 6 to 10 p.m. Starting on Tuesday, July 20 and continuing through Saturday, July 24 will be carnival rides and games...

Oregon County Health Department announced on Wednesday, July 7 a confirmed case of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in the county. Since the beginning of June, cases of COVID-19 have increased with 81 newly confirmed cases. Oregon County Health Department Administrator Susan Arasmith stated they are seeing an increase in cases in the county again since the beginning of June and it began to hit harder in the first part of July...

Baxter Regional Medical Center recently received notification of Magnet recognition. Magnet recognition is based on nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence...

Baxter Regional Medical Center postpones Friday Night Live Magnet Celebration at Hickory Park due to rise in COVID-19 cases in the county. Due to the recent influx of COVID-19 patients admitted to Baxter Regional Medical Center and the spike in state-wide infections, Baxter Regional has decided to postpone their upcoming Friday Night Live Magnet Celebration at Hickory Park until Friday, September 3rd. At this time, the date is the only detail being changed to the original line up...

According to Chief Deputy Charley Melton, the following people were arrested during the week prior to July 6. Alecxander Sexton, 28, of Calico Rock, was arrested June 28 for failure to appear, domestic battery 3rd degree and possession of a controlled substance, all misdemeanors. Bond was set at $2,080...

Travis Stevens, 19, had the following charges filed against him on June 10: theft of property having a value of $5,000 or less, but more than $1,000 (class D felony). A $5,000 bond has been set. Adam Beard, 28, had the following charges filed against him on June 15: aggravated assault on a family or household member (class D felony) and domestic battering in the third degree (class A misdemeanor). A $2,000 bond has been set...

The Salem City Council met for its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, June 24. Mayor Daniel Busch called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Those participating were: Councilmen Marcia Newton, Betty Teague and Ted York. City Attorney Dwayne Plumlee, Police Officer Clayton Everett, Fire Chief Sam Rossitto and Public Works Department Head Bill Worsham were also present...

As of Thursday, July 1, Cherokee Village has a new Chief of Police. Sergeant Monte Lane was sworn in by Mayor Russell Stokes at an Oath of Office Ceremony held at 1:30 p.m. at Cherokee Village City Hall. After the pledge of allegiance and a special invocation by Street Superintendent John Kyllo, Mayor Stokes spoke of how the role of law enforcement has changed and become more challenging over the years, at both the local and national levels. ...

The Hardy Advertising and Promotion Commission (A&P) met on Monday, June 28 at the civic center. Chairman Charles Wilson called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. After the pledge of allegiance, the minutes from the last meeting were approved. There were no objections to an additional item to be added to the current meeting’s agenda about the advertising budget...

Representatives from the Mountain Home Salvation Army were guest speakers at the Rotary meeting held on Wednesday, June 30 at Woods Riverbend Restaurant in Mammoth Spring. The area covered by the organization includes Fulton, Sharp, Izard, Baxter and Marion counties...

Recently, area senior centers reopened after being closed for more than a year. Even though seniors were closed to foot traffic, workers still strived to ensure seniors were provided for. Under the umbrella of non-profit SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging are 36 senior centers in 17 counties including those in Alton, Thayer, West Plains, Willow Springs and Mountain View to serve the senior population in southwest Missouri...

It was in July of last year when Areawide Media began reporting on “Bruno the Bear” who made his appearance in our Missouri coverage area, Oregon County. During the last week, those who followed Bruno’s journey were sad to learn the bear died. The Ozarks Tourist Council were avid Bruno followers and issued the following statement on Wednesday, June 30:...

Baxter Regional Medical Center recently received notification of Magnet recognition. Magnet recognition is based on nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence...

Alton High School student Jace Reese has been selected to represent Alton as a National Youth Correspondent to the 2021 Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University in Washington, D.C. The conference, which is to be held July 18 to 23, was rescheduled from last summer to this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic...

Last week, area law enforcement agencies participated in ALERRT training on the Alton School campus. Instructors Jimmie Smith and Mark Scates presented the week-long class to officers from Howell County, Ozark County, Alton Police Department, Oregon County, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri Conservation...

Last Congress we made significant progress to expand Department of Veterans (VA) care and services for women with the passage of the landmark Deborah Sampson Act. This was a critical first step that we must continue to build on in order to uphold the promise we made to women who served in our nation’s uniform...

The purpose of this article is to outline Areawide Media’s election coverage policy for each of its three weekly newspapers: The News, The South Missourian News and Villager Journal. While election dates and offices are very different between Arkansas and Missouri, one aspect that doesn’t change is how Areawide Media handles election content...

The lives of 17 individuals are currently benefiting from a new grant program obtained by the Izard County Sheriff’s Office. Peer Recovery Support Specialist Josh Ramsey might argue that he should be included in that number. The overall grant program is a much needed resource for individuals with drug misuse disorder in the 16th Judicial District (Fulton, Cleburne, Izard, Independence and Stone counties). ...

Fulton County On Sunday, July 4, the City of Salem will host a corn hole tournament on the square beginning at 6 p.m. The Shaggy Cow food truck will be set up on the square along with Flying Pigs Pork Rinds and Kettle Corn. There will also be a fireworks display from the “Knob” in Salem at dusk...

On Wednesday, June 23, Kristen Smith went missing from her home on Pottawattamie Road in Cherokee Village (CV) around 8:30 a.m. She is 30-years-old with severe mental illness that had been diagnosed at the age of 14, according to her mother, Cori Redeker. She was without her medication. When she turned up missing, her parents immediately called the CV police dispatch, who sent an officer to the residence for a missing persons report on Smith...

Just when you think it’s safe to go outside, maskless and hug your neighbor, think again. Now I’m not trying to be a killjoy or spreader of bad tidings, I’m only here to inform of some of the COVID facts that have recently surfaced in our great state of Arkansas. These are facts that are bringing Arkansas to national attention...

Two individuals in the same motor vehicle were killed in a fatal car crash on Sunday, June 20. Around 7 p.m., Jeffery Bennett, 57, of Hardy, and Vickie Bivins, 56, of Salem were traveling on Firetower Road in a 2005 Chevrolet when their vehicle failed to stop at the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and overturned two times, coming to rest on Wolf Hollow Circle. Bennett was the driver and Bivins was his passenger...

Ozark Mountain Mobile Spay/Neuter has scheduled a clinic to be held on Aug. 24, 25 and 26 in Hardy at the Civic Center. Mark your calendars and watch for more information coming out next month. A phone line will open July 19 for more information and to begin taking reservations. Make sure to schedule reservations early, and please keep your appointment(s) or call well in advance to cancel. Time slots are limited!...