The News

The Salem City Council met for its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, March 25. There being a quorum represented, Mayor Daniel Busch called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Council Members participating: Richard Frazier, Marcia Newton, Betty Teague and Ted York. City Attorney Dwayne Plumlee and Chief of Police Shad Overman were also present...

On Wednesday, April 7 the Fulton County Health Unit hosted a mass COVID-19 vaccine clinic. This clinic administered the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and 127 doses were given. “We had 200 and gave 127, so we were very pleased with this,” said Wanda Koelling, Fulton County Health Unit Director...

Senator John Boozman traveled to Ozarka College’s Carpenter Technical Center along with the future home of Emerson in Ash Flat on Tuesday. As part of the Senator’s three-day, North Arkansas visit, Boozman and his team toured the new CTE facility, which will serve as a regional hub for workforce training for welding technology, automotive and diesel service, and industrial machining. ...

The annual Cave City Watermelon Festival will arise again in 2021! It will resurface on Thursday, July 29 through July 31. After it was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID, much to the woes of its undying fans, it was nominated as “The Most Missed Festival of 2020” by the Arkansas Festivals and Events Association. Well, in December, it won that title as “Most Missed Festival of 2020,” and we can all celebrate in its resurrection in 2021...

Fulton County Sheriff Al Rook issued a press release on Friday, April 9 regarding a nearly 20-year cold case, which Dale Weaver, investigator at the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, recently solved. “The following press release is a very condensed version of a missing person investigation that Investigator Dale Weaver started eight months ago. ...

One person died and three were critically injured in a shooting at the Snappy Mart convenience store in Koshkonong, Mo. the morning of Saturday, April 11. After approximately four hours, Christopher Lindley, 28, of Thayer, was arrested in Howell County between Koshkonong and West Plains. He has been charged with first-degree murder a class A felony and armed criminal action an unclassified felony...

Witnesses with similar heartbreaking stories of sexual assault and rape continue to come forward against a Fulton County resident who has been behind bars since Feb. 24. Leonard William Pickle, Jr., 81, of Hardy, Ark., was arrested on class Y felony rape charges. He faces five counts for rapes committed between 1991 and 1995; two counts from 1994; one count from 2000 and one count from 2017...

With the recent announcement from Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson lifting the mask mandate for the state of Arkansas, many local schools are revising their policies. The original policies that many schools were following stated masks had to be worn at all times, students should try and social distance as much as possible and lunch would be six feet apart. ...

As of March 30, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson officially lifted the state’s mask mandate, after meeting various health criteria involving testing and case rates. However, Hutchinson is still encouraging everyone to continue to wear masks out of respect for one another...

Cathy Reef, LPN, is celebrating 30 years at Southfork River Therapy and Living in Salem. Thirty years is a fairly long time to do any one thing, especially work at one place. But to Reef her work is not simply her job but it is also her family. Reef began her nursing career in 1976 as an aide in St. ...

Spring River Home Health/Spring River Therapy had several reasons to celebrate on Thursday, April 1. A ribbon cutting event was sponsored by Salem Chamber of Commerce at the Open House for Spring River Home Health’s new facility, located on Hwy. 9 North. Not only was it a celebration for new beginnings in a state-of-the-art new location, but a celebration of 40 years of service to the community...

Fulton County Sheriff’s Office reports one of the largest heroin/fentanyl busts in northeast Arkansas following the seizure of 105 grams, which nearly equals a quarter pound, in Viola on Thursday, March 31. Fulton County Chief Deputy Joe Boshears observed a male suspect at Dollar General in Viola, who he believed to be 32-year-old Michael Kelly, of Franklin, Ark. ...

On Monday, March 29 Judge Gary Clayton was joined by staff of the Fulton County Health Unit as he signed a proclamation for Fulton County, deeming the week of April 5-11 as National Public Health Week. This week is intended to call upon the people of Fulton County to observe this week by helping our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and leaders to better understand the value of public health and supporting great opportunities to adopt preventive lifestyle habits in light of this year’s theme, “Building Bridges to Better Health.”. ...

Fulton and Izard counties have selected liaisons for each county’s Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program, which was made possible through grant funding. Izard County Sheriff Jack Yancey was the first to apply for the grant, followed by Fulton County Chief Deputy Jo Boshears. Both counties received the grants, and after some delays from the coronavirus pandemic, the liaisons have hit the ground running...

Salem High School Senior JR Schaufler recently received a welcome surprise by way of a prestigious scholarship for Arkansas State University. The License2HOWL scholarship is offered by the A-State Alumni Association, funded by sales of the A-State license plates, and provides $5,000 a year, for a total of $20,000...

Sometimes we walk through life and miss opportunities, those kinds of chances to help someone else in need, whether that help be for feeding, healing or happiness. It’s an easy thing to ignore because we all have our own problems and needs and must look out for ourselves first, right? Not so for artist, philanthropist and man with a heart of gold, Garrett Melby...

Fulton County Quorum Court met on Monday, March 15 for its regular meeting. Minutes from the previous month’s meeting were approved along with the clerk’s and treasurer’s reports. During the treasurer’s report, Justice of the Peace Joanna Defoe had questions, one regarding the boat and safety fund and library fund. ...

The Fulton County Hospital Board of Governors held its monthly meeting on Monday, March 22. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Charles Owens. All members were present except Dr. Griffin Arnold. The minutes from the previous meeting were given and approved. ...

If you’re seeking some creative suggestions on how to make use of those little, and not so little, creatures running around in your backyards and fields and swimming in your streams, look no further than the advice of wildlife connoisseur and gourmet chef Mark Gordon. ...

Viola City Council met on Monday, March 8. Present at the meeting were: Mayor Jackie Estes; Council members Brandi Johnson, Dennis Harber and Mike Sherman; Water Superintendent Joel Huett and Bookkeeper Sarah Huett. Mayor Estes called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m...

March is designated as Women History Month, to celebrate and appreciate all the women in our lives and communities who have made an impact over time and those who continue to make every day better. Here at Areawide Media, we wanted to highlight some of the local women in our community that play big roles in its daily operations such as elected officials, salon owners, store owners and health care workers...

Rural fire departments in Sharp and Fulton Counties were seemingly ran ragged the week ending March 12, as an excessive number of fires required departments to respond. Additionally, the Arkansas Forestry Department was also called out multiple times to assist in controlling the blazes and preserving property...

As announced by Governor Hutchinson, the State of Arkansas through the Arkansas Department of Agriculture is donating 10,000 oak tree seedlings to families to honor those lost due to COVID-19. “Our deepest sympathy is extended to the Arkansas families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19,” said Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “We are deeply honored to provide a remembrance to these families on behalf of the State of Arkansas.”...

Every year March is dedicated as Women History Month, to celebrate and appreciate all the women in our lives and communities that help to make every day better. Here at Areawide Media we wanted to highlight some of the local women in our community that play big roles in its daily operations such as elected officials, salon owners, store owners and health care workers. ...

Charles Willett was a longtime servant of Fulton County. After a lengthy hospital stay and battle with COVID-19, Willett passed away on Friday, March 5, surrounded by his family. He was a former Fulton County Judge, but shortened his term to join Fulton County Hospital, as its CEO. He served approximately eight years as county judge and five years as administrator of the local hospital...

Mayor Daniel Busch announced this week, the scheduling of the spring cleanup. The City of Salem will conduct their annual spring cleanup beginning Monday, March 22. The date was incorrectly published last week. City trucks will run all streets in Salem to pick up accumulations of items that are normally not covered under the regular weekly trash pickup. ...

On Sunday morning, March 7, deputies from the Izard County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic altercation at 73 Pounders Lane near Melbourne. Upon arrival deputies met a female identified as Sandi Clapper. Mrs. Clapper stated that she had ran from the house. ...

The Salem City Council met for its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 25. There being a quorum represented, Mayor Daniel Busch called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Council members participating were Richard Frazier, Marcia Newton, Betty Teague and Ted York...

Fulton County Quorum Court held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Once the meeting was called to order and roll was taken, the minutes and clerk’s report from the last meeting were approved. Barry Abney gave the treasurer’s report and his report was approved...

A special announcement was made by North Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s fiber subsidiary NEXT at its Mountain Home offices on Friday, Feb. 26. Special guest, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, flew in from Little Rock Friday morning to share with local media and community leaders that NEXT won $27.5 million in the most recent Federal Communications Commission auction. ...

During Governor Asa Hutchinson’s press conference regarding COVID-19 on Friday, Feb. 26, several significant announcements were made about Arkansas’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes reflect the state’s downward trend in key COVID-19 numbers...

A contractor has been selected for the Humphries Ford Bridge project in Fulton County. The project has also been referred to as the “Spring River Bridge” as the bridge connects those who live in the Nine Mile Ridge community to the closest town of Hardy and a main highway...

The fire you just drove by still smoking from the recent flames, or the wreck you pass on the highway during the night in the pouring rain with the man standing outside directing traffic. These instances are just a few examples of what our volunteer first responders handle each time they are called to action. From midnight phone calls, to early morning crisis, they do it all...

Well, it’s nearing the end of February 2021, and the coronavirus pandemic still lingers on, despite there being a new president in the oval office, plus at least two COVID-19 vaccines in circulation and two more within reach. We are now facing almost one-half million deaths resulting from the virus. ...

As this record-breaking winter system ends, North Arkansas Electric Cooperative does not anticipate being mandated to shed load through rolling power outages, or curtailments. Regional transmission organization Midcontinent Independent System Operator placed NAEC on standby for curtailments Feb. 16 and Feb. 17, but the cooperative did not get the order to begin shedding load. However, several distribution co-ops in Arkansas and many more in surrounding states had to do so...

When thinking about my high school education and what lessons really stuck with me throughout the years, it’s my time spent in agriculture classes and experiences I gained as a member and officer of FFA which stand out the most. I grew up with uncles who owned and operated farms and going to friends’ houses whose families ran full time farming operations, and aside from all that, growing up in Myrtle, Mo., it is nearly impossible to not have some connection to farming. ...

The Fulton County Hospital Board of Directors recently held its January 2021 meeting. Bill Couch of Welch, Couch and Company presented their FYE 2020 annual financial audit. The audit cited no areas of concern. The Annual Safety Summary was presented. The summary noted total number of safety drills, workers compensation claims and staff education...

Members of the Bright Future 4-H Club in Fulton County lifted spirits with handcrafted Valentines for the third year in a row. This year, employees from the Fulton County Hospital were at the receiving end of this special project. Ruthanne Shepherd found out the hospital has 120 employees, so members got to work. “Each child that participated created five Valentines. I got super hero Valentines this year because we felt that those that worked at the hospital were super heroes,” she explained...

Betsy Benton celebrated her 100th birthday on Thursday, Feb. 11. Though a longtime resident of the Salem area, she has been resident of Southfork River Therapy and Living Rehabilitation in Salem, for several years. She was joined by family members to celebrate the special milestone on Saturday, Feb. 13...

An update from NAEC has been issued since this publication. The original statement, published in The News and Villager Journal this week, is posted below the update. North Arkansas Electric Cooperative received an order late Feb. 16 by the regional transmission organization Midcontinent Independent System Operator to prepare to shed load. ...

Despite winter weather and the COVID-19 pandemic, the region once again showed up to raise funds for the Annual Country Cares for Kids St. Jude Radio-thon. The successful event was held on Wednesday, Feb. 10 on KKountry 95, The Train and The Gift from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., raising more than $202,000 for children at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital...

A civil lawsuit was filed against the Highland School District and several individuals, in the Sharp County Circuit Court on Jan. 7. A minor student, through parent/guardian Shelly Miller, is listed as the plaintiff and the following are listed as defendants: Highland School District, Kelly Geoffrion, Gina Abney, Payne Abney, Tammy Reese and Jane Doe. The defendants are listed “individually and in their official capacities as employees of the Highland School District”...