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Richard T. Gordon Murder Trial to continue as scheduled (08/18/10)
The trial of a Viola man accused of murder will be held next month in Salem, as scheduled. That was the ruling of Circuit Judge Tim Weaver during a Monday, Aug. 16 hearing. Richard Gordon, 61, was arrested in September of 2009 in connection with the shooting death of his neighbor, Joseph Clifton...

Faces & Places - Take a 'mini vacation' in beautiful Oregon County (08/18/10)
Oregon County is home to some beautiful scenery, including several places that are perfect for a mini-vacation or a weekend outing with friends and family. Grand Gulf State Park Grand Gulf State Park is located four miles south of Koshkonong and six miles west of Thayer...

Group discusses hospital and ambulance issues (08/18/10)
It seems after a meeting Aug. 10 at Highland City Hall regarding issues related to constructing a new hospital and financial distress of the ambulance service, more questions were brought to light than answered. Sharp County Judge Larry Brown, Ash Flat Mayor Danny Traw and Cherokee Village Mayor Lloyd Hefley met with Grace Richardson and Jeff Graefe with Spring River Paramedic Ambulance Service...

Wet/Dry Issue misses deadline (08/18/10)
After two years of volunteering her time to collect over 5,000 signatures to get the wet/dry issue on the ballot for the 2010 General Election, Ruth Reynolds is undoubtedly disappointed after discovering Aug. 12 the group Save Energy Reap Taxes (SERT) had missed the filing deadline...

Grader vandalized -- Reward offered (08/18/10)
Fulton County Judge Charles Willett is angry and wants someone to pay for more than $3,000 worth of damage to a road department grader. About 4 a.m., Aug. 11, residents of Sycamore Creek Circle, in the Mammoth Spring area, heard shots being fired. After daylight, they discovered a Fulton County road grader had been sprayed with bullets...

Viola men head to trial (08/18/10)
Two men involved in a June 7 shooting incident in Viola face October trial dates and neither is happy about it. Rodney Kankey, 49, who is charged with the illegal possession of a firearm, appeared at an Aug. 11 District Court hearing. Steve Henderson, 26, of Yellville, who was shot during a confrontation with Kankey, is charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct and possession of tear gas. He pleaded not guilty during the court hearing...

Three arrested in drug bust at Salem (08/18/10)
On Monday, Aug. 9 officers with the state police and the 16th Judicial Task Force were following up on information they had received and were walking along an electrical power line right of way when they discovered several suspected marijuana plants ranging in height from four to six feet...

Woman on probation arrested in drug bust (08/18/10)
A Mammoth Spring woman has been charged with multiple felonies and a misdemeanor following a drug bust on Tate Street on Sunday, Aug. 8. Over the last several months, the 16th Judicial Task Force had been receiving information from both the Mammoth Spring and Thayer Police Departments regarding suspected drug activity at the home of Judith Warren on Tate Street in Mammoth Spring...

Oregon County 4-H holds year end program (08/18/10)
The Oregon County 4-H clubs all came out on Friday, Aug. 13 to celebrate their accomplishments for the year and receive recognition for the projects they participated in. Members from the Go-ATS club, the Alton Comets club and the Thayer Bobcats club gathered together in Alton's Multi-Purpose building for an evening of potluck dishes and speeches from several of the students...

Fire on Moko Lane (08/12/10)
An afternoon fire on Saturday, Aug. 7, caused major damage to a home on Moko Lane in Salem. Owner Matthew Shaw was mowing his lawn when he spotted smoke coming from an enclosed rear porch. The fire spread to an attached room inside the house before the Salem Fire Department was able to get the fire under control...

Construction begins on passing lanes (08/12/10)
Richard Irby Staff Writer It was proposed and discussed for years and construction has been underway for months. And months. "Continual inconvenience," is how one Izard County resident describes it. But a new section of roadway is finally close to opening, part of a $10 million project to improve safety on Highway 9 between Melbourne and Brockwell...

Walking park in possible future (08/12/10)
A little unnoticed piece of city-owned land along Highway 62/412 at the east edge of Salem may one day attract a stream of regular visitors. Last week, bull dozers, backhoes and graders were busy clearing a portion of the property, which is located between Awl Electric and the First Baptist Church on Highway 62 east...

New doctor joins Fulton County Hospital (08/12/10)
Niki de Soto Staff Writer Dr. Ahmad Saab has joined the staff at Fulton County Hospital and as of Aug. 1 is accepting new patients at the North Arkansas Family Clinic. Dr. Saab and his wife Hala recently moved to Salem from Temeculah, Calif. They have three grown children and a shepherd mix dog named Duke...

Retired 4-Star General named to Army Ranger Hall of Fame (08/12/10)
Niki de Soto Staff Writer In the proud fighting force that is the United States Army, the Army Rangers are among the proudest and toughest of them all. Recently, a retired four-star general living in Oregon County joined the ranks of the elite few chosen to enter the Rangers Hall of Fame...

Supplying the children of our community for back-to-school (08/12/10)
Tammy Curtis Staff Writer The smell of crayons and glue will soon overpower the scent of fresh floor wax as area schools prepare for back to school. Yet again, residents of Sharp County opened their hearts and pocketbooks to support a worthy cause, helping families with the cost of school supplies...

It's Back to School Time (08/12/10)
Tammy Curtis Staff Write The events that let us know it is time to kiss summer vacation farewell and head back to school are happening all over the area. Football and band practice fields are bustling with students; churches and organizations are planning events to help with back to school expenses; and the halls of the schools are sparkling with coats of new wax...

Woman's body found in fire, husband charged (08/04/10)
An Izard County resident has been arrested in connection with a house fire which may have killed his wife. 74-year-old Donald Dickey was arrested on Wednesday, July 28, and charged with arson. Earlier in the day, investigators recovered human remains as they sifted through the burned out house where 67-year-old Mary Dickey lived...

It's Fair Time in Fulton County (08/04/10)
The 2010 Fulton County Fair is all about "Family, Friends and Fun." This year, the fair has expanded to six days, beginning on Monday, Aug. 9 and continuing through Saturday, Aug. 14. The fair will open on Monday with judging of the Creative Arts exhibits and a Beauty Pageant and Talent Contest on Monday night. A new Young Miss and Miss Fulton County will be crowned at 7 p.m. in the Theater Building with the Talent Contest immediately following...

117th Old Soldier's Reunion scheduled at MS Park (08/04/10)
The 117th Old Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Air Force Reunion will be held at the Mammoth Spring State Park Aug. 9-14. The Mammoth Spring VFW Post 7831 and the Ladies Auxillary annually sponsor this event. This year, the Ladies Auxiliary will sponsor a youth and adult talent show. On Monday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. the youth talent show will be held for youth ages infant to 12 years old. Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. will be the adult talent show for ages 13 and older...

Alton man charged in shooting death of brother (08/04/10)
The Oregon County Sheriff's Office, working with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Alton City Police Department conducted an investigation over the weekend into the shooting death of Robert Hardwick, 43, of Alton. Hardwick was found shot to death in a remote location off Oregon County Road 201...

First Time Beauty Contestant wins Miss Sharp County (08/04/10)
Tammy Curtis Staff Writer A new Miss Sharp County was crowned July 27 at the Sharp County Fair. Brooke Messer, a first time beauty pageant contestant, walked away with the prestigious title. Messer, 18, is a 2010 graduate of Highland High School who lives in Hardy. She is no stranger to competitions, although she has never competed in beauty pageants...

Two arrested in separate drug busts (08/04/10)
Tammy Curtis Staff Writer Two Sharp County men were arrested July 20 in separate incidents by the Sharp County Sheriff's Department for drug charges. According to an affidavit obtained from the Sharp County Sheriff's Department, a joint task force of Sharp County Sheriff's investigators and Drug Task Force Agents with the Third Judicial District went to the home of Elmer James at 131 Backbone Road in Sharp County...