This year’s back to school season is full of uncertainties. Regardless, students need supplies and the Clarity Church organized this year’s Back to School Fair held Wednesday, July 29. The fair, open to any student living in Oregon County or Mammoth Spring, was held at the Thayer Elementary School. Generous donations from local businesses and volunteers made this year another success...

A fatal accident claimed the life of 16-year-old Alyssa Bair on Sunday, June 28. Dealing with the loss of a loved one, especially a child, is devastating. However, when a community comes together to honor a life or to help make family members’ lives easier after such a loss, is an uplifting sight to see...

U of A System Division of Agriculture Did you receive a packet of seeds or some trinket that you didn’t order? The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is asking Arkansans to let the department know if they received unsolicited packages in the mail. Anyone receiving packages of seeds that they did not order should contact Arkansas Plant Industries Division at 501-225-1598, or by email: Paul.shell@agriculture.arkansas.gov or Mark.stoll@agriculture.arkansas.gov...

Zeta Omicron Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi and the Fulton County Fair will submit a plan to the Arkansas Health Department to have the Fulton County Fair Pageants in September. With the size of the Salem Civic Center, that guideline can be achieved. Officials feel the pageants can be approved because of the size of the civic center and the number of entrances for the facility. The tentative date is Sept. 12 and all pageants will be held on that day...

The City of Mammoth Spring is the recipient of a $200,000 grant to build a new senior center. The no matching fund grant through White River Planning and Development will allow for a new senior center facility to be built on the city property next to the Mammoth Spring ambulance building...

Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20) and Congressman Billy Long (R-MO-07) have introduced H.R 7883, the Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives to help preserve agricultural fairs across the country and offset the devastating financial losses they have experienced due to COVID-19. The Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act will provide grant funding for agricultural fairs through state departments of agriculture to keep them functioning and preserve them for the future...

There is no question 2020 has been a difficult year for much of the world’s population. From economic uncertainties to famine, it can be difficult to find positivity, but did you know, August is Happiness Happens Month? Not only that, but did you know there is a Secret Society of Happy People (SOHP)... that’s not so secret?...

Highland Fire Chief Kal Dienst said due to the cooperation of the Highland Public Water Authority and work by the department, he recently received notification that the city’s ISO rating had dropped from a seven to a five, following this year’s inspection...

The Ozark Acres Suburban Improvement District held their regular meeting July 21. Prior to the opening of the meeting, a 30 minute property owner comment session took place. The meeting then began with the reading and correction of minutes and a report by Deputy Ashton Hester...

Approximately 25 percent of property owners across Sharp County received letters recently informing them their property taxes had been increased, however; this is not unique to Sharp County. According to Kathy Nix, the letters were a result of a state mandated reappraisal which takes place twice per decade...

The Cherokee Village Lions Club celebrated the placement of their first bench recently. The granite bench, located at the Cherokee Village Community Park adjacent to city hall has been a project in the making according to Cherokee Village Lions Club President Marc Herring...

Evening Shade resident John Kunkel is one of the Sharp County COVID-19 patients. Hoping to shed light on the seriousness of coronavirus, Kunkel has been sharing his coronavirus journey through social media. Using social media might not be everyone's “niche”, however; for Kunkel, he is hoping his painful, and ongoing experience, will open the minds of some. Social media is also therapeutic for Kunkel...

The City of Mammoth Spring is the recipient of a $200,000 grant to build a new senior center. The no matching fund grant through White River Planning and Development will allow for a new senior center facility to be built on the city property next to the Mammoth Spring ambulance building...

A fatal accident claimed the life of 16-year-old Alyssa Bair on Sunday, June 28. Dealing with the loss of a loved one, especially a child, is devastating. However, when a community comes together to honor a life or to help make family members’ lives easier after such a loss, is an uplifting sight to see...

To the citizens of Fulton County: During this time of the COVID-19 crisis, some people have felt the need to try and defraud the government and commit identity theft on some of our citizens. The individuals are attempting to obtain unemployment benefits through identity theft. ...

Additional charges have been added since an initial press release from April 27, regarding allegations of sexual misconduct involving Fr. Gary Carr, who was pastor at Sacred Heart Mission Church in Thayer and St. Mary Parish and principal at St. Mary Catholic School in West Plains...

Every 10 years the decennial census is held to determine to make sure every person is counted in the United States as well as help to determine important factors including funding support for communities. Census 2020 marks the 24th time since 1790 the United States has counted its population and the data collected is used to determine how federal funding is spent, voting district boundaries and Congressional seats for each state...

Thayer Fire Department recently purchased new turnout gear thanks to a grant that City of Thayer Grant Writer Jean Pace was able to acquire for the city. The USDA grant was in the amount of $23,000 allowing the department to purchase 15 complete sets of turnout gear including helmets, jackets, pants, boots and gloves from David’s Fire Equipment in Arkansas...

The Cherokee Village Suburban Improvement District held its regular meeting July 20. Following the approval of the agenda and June meeting minutes, the commissioners discussed old business. “Our first item is the ISO rating,” Joe Waggoner said. “Our ISO rating went from a five to a four. This will be good news from an insurance aspect. Also, I’ve observed a lot of action with the fire department and the water department out jointly and separately checking flow.”...

Fulton County Hospital CEO Curren Everett recently reviewed some statistical information with Areawide Media and how the hospital has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Luckily, very minimal changes have been made in the staffing of FCH. However, Everett said overall, the pandemic has hurt the hospital. ...

The Highland City Council held its regular meeting July 14. Following the approval of the previous meeting’s minutes and the agenda, Mayor Russell Truitt presented the fire department report. “We had a fairly quiet month. We have been running mostly medical calls, again and he’s allowing them to run the calls,” Truitt said. “They have been working with the water department and as you notice if you look at a hydrant when you go by, there are decals on the fire hydrants.”...

The Ash Flat City Council held its regular meeting July 14. The first order of business was to approve the minutes from the regular meeting held June 9 as well as a special meeting held June 16. During the special meeting held June 16, the council voted to approve a partnership with the Northeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal to have tanks removed from the Cherokee Frame property in order to proceed with an Environmental Site Assessment...

The 2020 Sharp County Farm Family is the Davis Family, of Williford. James, Christy and Hayden, along with Austin, Amanda, Brinley Jo, Alexis and Allie; are true examples of what it takes to make a successful farming operation, all while keeping it in the family...

The construction of a new bridge in Fulton County is quickly approaching as the state prepares to accept bids to replace the Humphries Ford/Camp Kerl Bridge located on Bluff Road/9 Mile Ridge Road. According to Fulton County Judge Gary Clayton, he recently spoke with project leaders about the project...

The Cherokee Village Suburban Improvement District held its regular meeting July 20. Following the approval of the agenda and June meeting minutes, the commissioners discussed old business. “Our first item is the ISO rating,” Joe Waggoner said. “Our ISO rating went from a five to a four. This will be good news from an insurance aspect. Also, I’ve observed a lot of action with the fire department and the water department out jointly and separately checking flow.”...

The Highland School District will hold a special election Sept. 8 for millage retention for the Highland School District. According to Superintendent Don Sharp, the special election is not to request an increase, but rather to retain what the district currently has...

The Sharp County Quorum Court held its regular meeting July 13 during which, a resolution to petition to rezone a property within the corporate limits of the City of Ash Flat. Under reports, County Treasurer Wanda Girtman told the court sales tax was still holding steady...

In 2016, Arkansans made their way to the polls to cast their ballots for many issues, one of which was whether or not the citizenry was interested in seeing medical marijuana dispensaries and grow facilities be allowed to operate within the state. Following a majority vote to allow for the implementation, the Medical Marijuana Commission (MMC) was formed and began creating some of the strictest regulations among states which allow for the use of Medical Marijuana...

If you are no stranger to Mammoth Spring State Park then you are more than likely to be familiar with the musical talents of local artist, Dennis Hobbs, who often visits the park to play guitar and sing, even during the hot humid summer days of July...

A traffic stop in Pineville landed a Viola woman and a man from Saffell behind bars July 16 after a large quantity of methamphetamine and cash was found. According to a release from the Izard County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Charley Melton, the traffic stop was initiated by officers with the Izard County Sheriff’s Department as well as the department’s drug dog Mendy...

The construction of a new bridge in Fulton County is quickly approaching as the state prepares to accept bids to replace the Humphries Ford/Camp Kerl Bridge located on Bluff Road/9 Mile Ridge Road. According to Fulton County Judge Gary Clayton, he recently spoke with project leaders about the project...

In 2016, Arkansans made their way to the polls to cast their ballots for many issues, one of which was whether or not the citizenry was interested in seeing medical marijuana dispensaries and grow facilities be allowed to operate within the state. Following a majority vote to allow for the implementation, the Medical Marijuana Commission (MMC) was formed and began creating some of the strictest regulations among states which allow for the use of Medical Marijuana...

Despite the crazy few months the pandemic has set into motion, the University of Arkansas Extension – Fulton County Office is still on the job, serving the community. Extension offices around the state closed to the public in mid-March, and though they have since re-opened to the public, these offices never quit serving residents across the state. Being a program through the University of Arkansas, information from agents with a variety of skill sets, is available for all extension programs...

Arkansans who may have concerns about going to the polls this November while the health crisis continues can make plans now to ensure their vote counts. Arkansas law allows voters to request absentee ballots if they will be “unavoidably absent” on Election Day or if they have illnesses or physical disabilities. ...

The Mammoth Spring Chamber of Commerce held their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, July 9 at Wood’s Riverbend Restaurant. Although the chamber typically meets monthly, due to COVID-19, meetings had been placed on hold since April, making the first order of business to discuss and approve the March meeting minutes...

Fulton County Hospital CEO Curren Everett recently reviewed some statistical information with Areawide Media and how the hospital has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Luckily, very minimal changes have been made in the staffing of FCH. However, Everett said overall, the pandemic has hurt the hospital. ...

The Fulton County Quorum Court held its regular meeting July 13 during which the court approved changes to voting stations in Fulton County. Following the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting, the court moved swiftly though department reports...

The City of Cherokee Village is pleased to announce that the community has been selected for a competitive National Endowment of the Arts matching grant. The $100,000 award will be utilized to launch the first phase of community master planning to benefit community and economic development over the next 18 months...

Highland High School is pleased to announce the achievement of Level 1 certification in Marzano High Reliability Schools™. Level 1 certification means Highland High School has created a “Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Culture,” which is the foundation for every level that follows. Without such a culture, student achievement will be compromised. Day-to-day school operations are addressed and evaluated in Level 1...

On Thursday, July 16, Governor Asa Hutchison issued Executive Order 20-43, requiring the public to wear face coverings when out in public. There has been much controversy surrounding the topic of masks. Regardless of public opinion, the order is in place effective Monday, July 20 and the following information was released during the governor’s daily COVID-19 briefing July 16...

The Cherokee Village City Council held its regular meeting Thursday July 16. The meeting opened with a moment of prayer, approval of a revised agenda and approval of the minutes from the June meeting the council moved on to correspondence, financial report and the mayors report...

Cherokee Village resident and World War II Air Force veteran Don Blackwell will soon celebrate his 100th birthday. Though the pandemic put a stop to plans being made for a large community celebration, his daughter, Kathi Blackwell, is still working to ensure her father’s 100th is one for the books...

Fulton County Hospital CEO Curren Everett recently reviewed some statistical information with Areawide Media and how the hospital has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Luckily, very minimal changes have been made in the staffing of FCH. However, Everett said overall, the pandemic has hurt the hospital. ...

The Board of Education of Couch School District R-I, Oregon County, Myrtle, Missouri met in regular session on July 13 at 6 p.m. in the Couch School Board Room. Couch Elementary Board Report • Parents of children who applied for preschool have been notified of acceptance. There are currently 12 students who are three years of age and four students who are four years of age...

A Classic Car Cruise-In and Auction will be held on Saturday, July 25 at Thayer High School. The Cruisin’ for Alyssa Car/Motorcycle Show and Cruise Fundraiser and Benefit Auction for the family of Alyssa Bear will begin at 3 p.m. with the auction at 6 p.m. A cruise between Thayer and Mammoth Spring will be held at 7:30 p.m...

The difficult decision has been made by Mammoth Spring Chamber of Commerce to cancel the 2020 Antique and Classic Car Show after deliberating the topic with Mammoth Spring State Park staff and reviewing new requirements from the Department of Health...

It is not every day you are driving back home from a summer Saturday swim and spot a black bear. However, this is exactly what happened to the Biggerstaff/Corbin family when traveling back home in an area near the Eleven Point River on Saturday, July 18...