The News

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?...

You’ve had a few rough months. It’s 2020, which has come to mean pandemic and lockdowns and  distancing. You’re thankful to still have a job and income. But this year has become a monster of added stress, so you’ve lost focus and have let a few things slip by...

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...

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. ...

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 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.”...

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...

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...

There have been several recent arrests in Fulton County. The following information comes from court documents obtained online for felony charges filed in Fulton County Circuit Court. Molly Susanna Rogers, 31, was charged June 2 with domestic battering in the second degree, a class C felony. She was later released after posting $2,000 bail...

Comfort Keepers Ministry Inc. (CKM) has re-launched their cool summers project as they have purchased 50 fans to be given to those who need relief from the heat. According to Lauren Siebert, president of CKM, 2020 has been a year of growth for the organization...

The City of Cherokee Village has finally received the results of the recent Insurance Services Office Inspection (ISO) and Fire Captain Kal Dienst said the news is good. “Our last inspection was about five years ago,” Dienst said. “We have made a lot of progress to make sure we have the right equipment. ...

It has been just over three weeks since the discovery of a large sinkhole at High Falls on the Spring River which claimed the life of a woman from Paragould. Immediately following the recovery efforts, signage was placed ahead of the sinkhole on the river to warn river goers of the danger. ...

The severe thunderstorms this past week upset the stripers. Fishing was very good until Thursday (July 2) due to the lighting storm we had Wednesday afternoon (July 1). That storm changed the bite from good to poor and the fish get in a funk and become inactive. It takes several days to see a change...

I have no words Hi folks, Abby here. Are you wondering why doesn’t Abby have any words to say? I’m just a small speck in this big ol’ world of ours. When you take a drive like we did this week, and see the beautiful, big world, from atop a big mountain range, you see just how huge this world is, and that we are just a little speck in it through God’s eyes. Yet, he knows how many hairs are on your head and how many freckles are on your face...

The Network of Community Options, Inc. Board of Directors meets on the fourth Wednesday during the months of February, April, June, August, October and December at 2:30 p.m. The meeting is held at the office of Rodney Downing, CPA, located at 971 Hwy 62/ 412 in Ash Flat. Upcoming meetings: Aug. 26; Oct. 28; Dec. 23 (alternative date may be selected); Feb. 24, 2021; April 28, 2021 and June 23, 2021...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce would like to invite our members and the public to a Blue Ribbon Welcome for new member Ck Contracting Solutions on Thursday, July 9 at 12 noon at the SRACC office, located at 119 E. Main St. in Hardy (inside Ruby’s next to Thompson Memorial park and public restrooms)...

Protect Yourself Against Financial Scammers It’s unfortunate, but true: During this period of economic uncertainty, one of the busiest “industries” has been financial scamming. But it goes on even during normal times, too, so you’ll want to know what to look for, and how to defend yourself...

As the state began a new fiscal year this week, we received some good news about the state budget. The fiscal year for the state budget always ends on June 30 and begins on July 1. While general revenue for Fiscal Year 2020 was $168 million less than the year before, it was $369 million above what economic forecasters predicted in the wake of the health emergency...

Maxine Huckabee, 84, of Poughkeepsie, Ark., died June 28 at her home. Arrangements are under the direction of Qualls Funeral Home in Cave City. Thomas P. Caudel, 89, formerly of Mammoth Spring, Ark., died June 30. Arrangements are under the direction of Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services in California, Mo...

The 40th annual Cave City Watermelon Festival slated for July 24 and 25 is quickly approaching, however the festival this year will look a little different than in times past. According to Julie Johnson, one of the event organizers for the 2020 festival, this year, it will be a two day event rather than a three day event; however, there will be many familiar activities still available...

The Salem City Council met at the Salem City Hall on June 25 for its regular monthly meeting. All council members were present. The minutes from the May meeting were presented and approved. Next, the financial report was presented and approved. Departmental reports were submitted for the council’s consideration and approved...

An American flag sculpture was donated to the City of Mammoth Spring the evening of Monday, July 6 at the regular monthly meeting. The donation was made to honor the memory of Dave Garner, who was a long-term resident of Mammoth Spring and supported area schools Mammoth Spring Bears and Thayer Bobcats...

Fulton County libraries reopened on Monday, June 15 after being closed for three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The library has new hours until further notice, which are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shorter hours are to allow for implementing additional cleaning measures including having books placed in a plastic bin when they are returned, sanitized and quarantined for 48 hours before placed back on the shelves...

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission met June 30 to discuss the addition of four new dispensaries spread throughout the state of Arkansas. The additional four have been added to help better serve the medical needs of underserved areas. One dispensary, Arkansas Green Cross Cannabis Dispensary, will be located in Zone 2 which serves Fulton, Izard, Stone, Baxter, Marion, Searcy, Van Buren, Cleburne and Newton counties...

Created as a reminder of the sacrifices of those who served in the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall passed through Mammoth Spring and Thayer on its way to Vietnam War Memorial Post 639 in Springfield on Wednesday, July 1. Bikers gathered at the state line of Arkansas and Missouri at The Beverage Shoppe and Gas Plus to escort the wall on its voyage. The wall was viewable for free until Monday, July 6...

Logan Moore, a life time resident of Sharp County and certified self defense instructor, will be offering free self defense classes to churches in the Sharp, Fulton and Izard County areas. Raised in Williford, Moore graduated in 2007 just prior to the consolidation of the Williford High School...

The Spring River Innovation Hub Board of Directors and the Sharp County Community Foundation Board of Directors are pleased to announce that Hazelle Whited has been named Executive Director for both organizations. Whited, who lives in Sharp County, is a marketing and business management professional with more than twenty years of experience in small business development...

While driving through the Ozarks there are many markers indicating the location of historic events or sights worth taking a moment to pause and enjoy the view. Many times, they are found in some of the most unusual places, from markers indicating locations in memory of the Trail of Tears and the path which was taken, to snippets of history of battle grounds during the Civil War...

The Viola City Council met Monday, June 22. Present at the meeting were: Mayor Jackie Estes; Council members Dennis Harber, Robert Lash, Vearl Downum, Becky Parton and Jerry Allen; Water Supt. Joel Huett, Bookkeeper Sarah Huett and several citizens...

Former Fulton County Chief Deputy John Cawvey was the subject of a recent investigation completed by 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Eric Hance’s office. Hance said the facts developed throughout the case were “not as strongly suggestive of theft as the allegations in the original report.” No charges were filed on Cawvey, as a result of the investigation...

The recovery efforts for a woman from Paragould who was knocked off her flotation device and into the Spring River has come to an end. The incident began on Sunday, June 21, when witnesses placed a 911 call to Sharp County Dispatch at approximately 3:45 p.m., stating a woman had gone under the water on a set of falls near Bobo Drive in Hardy and had not resurfaced...

This week, the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee reviewed the 2019 Annual Report from Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division. This report along with the quarterly reports from the Department of Human Services’ Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) are difficult to review but necessary in guiding our decisions of where to place resources...