The News

The Izard County Quorum Court held their regular meeting Jan. 16 during which a vacancy for the position of sheriff was declared. Following the declaration, those interested in the position spoke to the court. Ultimately, the court voted to appoint Jack Yancey to the position...

Viola City Council met Monday, Jan. 13. Present at the meeting were: Mayor Jackie Estes, Councilmen Dennis Haber, Jerry Allen, Robert Lash, Vearl Downum, Water Supt Joel Huett, Bookkeeper Sarah Huett and 12 citizens. The city council meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Estes...

All deputies of Fulton County Sheriff’s Office are now equipped with bulletproof vests, thanks to a $1,400 donation from Gerald Stellar with Stellar Construction Company. Though the tax implementation for the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has helped tremendously, the department still doesn’t have a surplus of funds. “We don’t always have the safety equipment that we need. Now every deputy has a vest,” said Fulton County Sheriff Al Roork...

Thieves have stolen the old school bell that hung at the top of the steps at the historic Old Main Schoolhouse in Salem. The bell was discovered missing by Friends of Old Main Board of Directors member Ron Plumlee while checking on maintenance at the old schoolhouse...

Fulton County Quorum Court met for the first meeting of 2020 on Monday, Jan. 13. A Gepp resident presented concerns about Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s decision to allow refugees in the State of Arkansas. The resident expressed her concerns and asked, “Can we stop that and how? What can I do to help?”...

A Salem business was the victim of burglary the weekend before Christmas. Hillbilly Manufacturing filed a report with the Salem Police Department following a break-in to their facility. Two welders were stolen with an accumulative value of approximately $8,000...

Fulton County resident Ron Hutchins, 58, has been charged with 50 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child. On Dec. 26, 2019, six counts of the same charge were filed following an incident on Dec. ...

Approximately 3,000 residents in Izard County will travel to the polls at the newly designated locations after a decision by the Izard County Election Commission. Those residing in Calico Rock – city and rural, Claiborne, Dolph and Pineville - city and rural will now vote at Bran New Church; those residing in Franklin – city and rural, Myron, Violet Hill and Wiseman will vote at the Franklin Community Building; those in GID and Guion – city and rural will vote at the Guion Fire Department; Horseshoe Bend - city and rural residents will vote at the Horseshoe Bend Music Theater; Brockwell, Newburg and Oxford City in Brockwell will vote at the Izard County Senior Center; Big Spring, Lafferty and Mt. ...

Two felony and two misdemeanor charges have been filed against Rebecca Lynn O’Donnell in Jackson County, where she is currently being held for the murder of Pocahontas resident and former senator Linda Collins. On Jan. 14, a probable cause affidavit stated O’Donnell is being charged with two counts of solicitation to commit capital murder (class A felony) and two counts of solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence (class A misdemeanor)...

Mammoth Spring Council held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, Jan. 6. The December meeting minutes were approved before moving onto discussing fire department signs that are being prepared. The council then moved onto discuss city welcome signs. Mayor Charles Vaughn stated it will be spring before they will be worked on and would like for Larry Hollis to work on them...

A longtime City of Salem staple, the SkyVue Shopping Center, was destroyed by fire on Sunday, Jan. 5. Skyvue Shopping Center is owned by local businesswoman Renee Clay-Circle, who said every unit was rented, except for two. Balance 30, TNT Gymnastics, La Casa De La Fiesta, H & R Block, Ozark Scanning Services and possibly more – are the businesses who call SkyVue home. As of now, H & R Block is the only business open and not damaged by the fire...

The Izard County community, and surrounding areas, are mourning the loss of Izard County Sheriff Earnie Blackley, who died Jan. 4 at his home in Sage. Blackley was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer last summer, and was laid to rest Wednesday, Jan. 8, just two days before his birthday when he would have turned 59 years old...

As the second of week of 2020 passes by, enjoy reading the top local news stories from July to December, 2019. July There was a noticeable difference at the start of the Salem City Council – after almost 27 years, Recorder/Treasurer Pam Bryant resigned and Jeremy Stone was appointed to fill the remainder of the term...

Ronald Lee Taylor, 32, of Salem, was arrested Dec. 13 following a short pursuit. On Dec. 13, a Dollar General employee in Salem reported a theft from the store. The employee said the perpetrator stole two cell phones and was heading east on Hwy. 62 in a dark colored Chrysler 300 with paper tags...

Fulton County resident Lori King is passionate about helping individuals affected by suicide. King started the support group, Touched by Suicide, last year and is continuing the meetings into 2020. King’s 18-year-old son, Seth, died by suicide May 2, 2014 in Alaska, where she formerly lived. Since then, she has pushed forward and wants to help others who may dealing with a situation similar to her’s, or even her son’s...

In order to finalize the 2020 budget, a special called meeting of the Fulton County Quorum Court was held Friday, Dec. 27. During another special called meeting, held Dec. 17, Fulton County JPs voted “option C” as the 2020 budget. “Option C is identical with two exceptions; it has nothing in it for Boggy Bottom Road and it doesn’t have the 24-hour deputy OEM position in there,” Judge Jim Kendrick explained at the meeting. ...

As 2020 begins, enjoy this reflection of top news stories published from January to June, 2019, in The News. January The Montgomery and Evans families, of Fulton County, were recognized by Governor Asa Hutchinson and Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward, as part of 42 Arkansas farms inducted into the Arkansas Century Farm Program at the State Capitol...

The City of Salem City Council met at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19 at Salem City Hall. Mayor Daniel Busch called the meeting to order. The first order of business was the consideration of the minutes from the November meetings. The minutes were reviewed and approved...

Photo/ Renee Janes The Shining Light Food Pantry in Mammoth Spring received a $1,000 donation from Harp’s Grocery Store in Thayer, Mo. Pictured are Harp’s employees and volunteers with the food pantry.

Comfort Keepers has entered its fifth year and has expanded its wintertime project to serve Sharp County and the surrounding areas. According to founder Lauren Siebert, this year, the project has expanded to offer small amounts of firewood in addition to electric heaters...

As the year is coming to a close, many use this time to reflect on experiences in the past and goals for the future. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Department is appreciative of the support from the community and emergency personnel, year round. “We work together with everyone and when it comes down to it, we are family, not just in law enforcement but everybody. ...

As the year is coming to a close, many use this time to reflect on experiences in the past and goals for the future. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Department is appreciative of the support from the community and emergency personnel, year round. “We work together with everyone and when it comes down to it, we are family, not just in law enforcement but everybody. ...

The Fulton County Quorum Court met Tuesday, Dec. 10 for its monthly meeting. Aside from department reports and approval of minutes, the main purpose was to adopt the 2020 budget, which didn’t happen. Judge Jim Kendrick presented two budgets for members of the court to review. ...

The Izard County Quorum Court held its regular meeting Dec. 3. Following the passage of minutes from the previous meeting, the court moved on to new business beginning with Ordinance 2019-6. An ordinance levying the school taxes, county taxes and municipal taxes for the year 2019 to be collected in 2020 was created. Once the ordinance had been read, the court voted to pass the ordinance...

After a rather lengthy November meeting which included a preliminary audit report by Bill Couch of Welch, Couch and Company, CPAs, the board conducted a brief December meeting on Monday, Dec. 16 in the conference room at the hospital. The board expressed remembrance of Dr. ...

In times of tragedy, especially in small communities, support from neighbors can take a tragic situation and turn it into something meaningful. Losing a loved one any time of the year is difficult, but maybe even more so right before the holidays. That is one reason why Cameron Shaver rallied the community and quickly organized a benefit for the family of Zander Laxton, who tragically died on Dec. 2...

With just a few weeks until the Christmas holiday, the community of Horseshoe Bend was dealt a heavy blow as one of their largest employers, South Bend Nursing, has been forced to implement an emergency evacuation protocol and close their doors. A process which was thought to have 21 days to complete, but was expedited to fruition over the weekend...

The following news story was published by neareport.com on Monday, Dec. 9. Areawide Media received permission to publish. Authorities have made a quick arrest in a murder investigation which was launched Sunday morning. An arrest was announced in the homicide of Alissa Reynolds, 50, of Jonesboro, police announced Monday morning...

The Salem School District has been notified that once again, for the fourth straight year, the high school and elementary schools have each received an “A” on the report card issued by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE). The reporting system has been in place for five years. The high school received a “B” the first year and since then, both have received the top grade. This is an achievement many schools in the state wish they could attain...

Gov. Asa Hutchinson presented $3,657.55 to Fulton County Fair Association from Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) Rural Services Division at a ceremony held Oct. 24 at the Arkansas State Capitol. In total, some $1.35 million was awarded to 49 communities throughout Arkansas...

The Fulton County Hospital Board of Governors met at 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25 in the conference room at the hospital. Chair Charles Owens called the meeting to order. The first order of business was the consideration of the minutes of the October meeting. The minutes were considered and approved...

For more than 30 years now, residents of Horseshoe Bend have worked to become the definition of a brothers/sisters keeper through a program called Telecare. According to Nancy Houdek, a volunteer with Telecare, the free service is one in which members of the community may sign up to receive a call each morning to make sure they are doing well...

The Fulton County Shop with a Cop program is still relatively new to the county. In 2016, funds were donated to begin the first ever Fulton County Shop with a Cop for 2017. Fundraising efforts began when Fulton County Fair Manager and community volunteer Carolyn Lewis, inquired about bringing the program to Fulton County after seeing the success of Sharp County’s event...

In South Central Missouri, just like everywhere else in the country, employment in healthcare occupations is projected to increase by 14% through 2028, a much faster growth rate than average for all occupations. Across the nation, 1.9 million new jobs will be opening up; significantly more than in any other occupational group...

Jason Rivers was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance (class D felony), distribution of controlled substances near certain facilities (felony enhancement of 10 years), possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver (schedule VI, class D felony) and as a habitual offender...

The Arkansas Century Farm Program recognizes Arkansas’s rich agricultural heritage and honors families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. The program is administered by the Arkansas Agriculture Department. The program is fairly new to Arkansas, as the first families inducted were in 2012. During the 2019 ceremony, two Fulton County farms received the recognition: Morris-Taylor Family Farm and Humphries Hubble Creek Farm...

It has been 15 years since the murder of Rebekah Gould and still, her killer is roaming free. Author George Jared has covered the murder from the beginning, when Rebekah was considered a missing person. He was also there the day her body was found. His third true crime book was released a couple of months, meaning new details and information he’s uncovered since the previous update. Though the whole book isn’t dedicated to Rebekah’s case, Jared included her story...

Bill Strauss, who was featured on front page last week for celebrating his 100th birthday Oct. 27, had an eventful week leading up to his birthday. On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Strauss made his first trip to Washington D.C. as one of 80 veterans privileged to take part in the Honor Flight of the Ozarks...

Recently, Salem Mayor Daniel Busch made a presentation to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. The presentation was about the grant proposal the City of Salem has submitted to the department, requesting funding to refurbish the city’s tennis courts. ...

Veterans Day became a national holiday in 1938 to honor all military veterans. Though it is a special day to honor veterans, everyone is invited to take part in observing through several special events in the community. American Legion Post 344 Commander Jim Rubright elaborated on the history of Veterans Day. ...