Villager Journal

This is the time of the year when North Arkansas Electric Cooperative is typically gearing up for its large and well attended Annual Meeting. As nearly all events have cancelled statewide, NAEC put the health and safety of its members and employees first and has followed suit...

The Sharp County Courthouse is now open to the public, with limited access. On Tuesday, May 26, Judge Gene Moore said the courthouse was ready for business to return to some state of normalcy. Sharp County Courthouse followed the directives closely, and closed their doors to the public mid-March. ...

Sharp County Coroner and Highland School Board member Renee Clay-Circle has spent the last several weeks keeping local residents informed about the COVID-19 pandemic and how the state of Arkansas is being affected. Clay-Circle provides daily updates on her Facebook page following Governor Asa Hutchinson’s daily briefing regarding the virus...

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) reminds drivers to “know before you go” and visit IDriveArkansas.com before traveling during the holiday season. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend you stay home as much as possible during the Coronavirus pandemic, but if you choose to travel there are several things to consider before you go. ...

A successful food business starts with a great idea, but turning an idea into a profitable product requires much more. The Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has numerous resources for entrepreneurs — from access to certified kitchens for manufacturing to help with business planning and recipe scaling...

The Sharp Library Board held its quarterly meeting May 6 at the Hardy Library. Following the reading and approval of minutes from the January regular meeting and February special meeting, the board moved on to the agenda at hand. The first order of business was to discuss the proposal and sample for updated bylaws...

The Highland City Council held its regular meeting May 12. Mayor Russell Truitt said overall there was not much to discuss, however; the city’s fire chief, Kal Dienst had placed a request for an additional fire hydrant. “Kal put in a request for another hydrant through public water. They gave us a quote and he wanted it behind the station so the trucks could be filled without being by the street,” Truitt said. “The quote was for $3,566.41. That is for future references.”...

The Ash Flat City Council held their regular monthly meeting May 12. During which, vehicle bids and a water extension request were discussed. Fire Chief Stacey Horton was first in line to deliver his report to the council. Horton said his report was from April 9 to May 6, during which he said he ordered four sets of turnouts to replace outdated sets...

The Sharp County Quorum Court held its April and May regular meetings May 11. Having no unfinished business, per request by the county treasurer and circuit clerk, reports from April were postponed until discussion reached the May updates. The court discussed a vote to pass an ordinance to amend ordinance 2019-9 for the calendar year 2019...

On May 11, John Kunkel, announced details about the One Community Cares Caravan. The parade of more than 70 vehicles was led by Sharp County Coroner Renee Clay-Circle. “We are blessed to live in a community that supports each other during difficult times. ...

The Cherokee Village City Council held its regular meeting July 30. Following the approval of minutes and the financial report, Mayor Russell Stokes spoke about revenue and gave an update on a grant from the National Arts Foundation. “Our revenue has shown a minor decline. ...

The deadline for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Classic applications to be considered for funding in fiscal year 2020 is June 12. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest up to $725 million for new enrollments, contract extensions, and renewals in fiscal year 2020. ...

Since the beginning of this health emergency, more than 60,000 tests for COVID-19 have been conducted in Arkansas. While testing was initially limited, the capacity at commercial labs has increased significantly resulting in shortened turnaround times...

Numerous articles have been written warning about the risk of an invasive insect known as the Asian Giant Hornet but also referred to as the “Murder Hornet” and it discovery in the United States. According to Jerry Musick with Musick Pest Control in Highland, the hornets are larger than average however; it is possible to eradicate them as he had an encounter with a nest approximately four years ago...

Hardy City Council held its first regular meeting since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic May 5. As no meeting was held in April, the council approved the meeting minutes from the March 3 meeting and moved on to the next agenda item which was department reports...

In an effort to create a safe way for members of the community to gather, socialize and worship, members of the Viola Baptist Church and community recently started participating in Tailgate Taco Tuesdays. According to Craig Golden, pastor of Viola Baptist Church, he began looking for opportunities and ways for people to safely gather and spend time socializing during the pandemic...

Two modern day cattle rustlers have been placed under arrest in Sharp County after stealing more than 20 head of cattle from two different auction yards. According to an affidavit from the Sharp County Sheriff’s Department, the arrest of Aaron Davis, 35, and Jessica Davis, 38 of Nacogdoches, Texas, stemmed from an incident occurring at the Ash Flat Livestock Barn in Ash Flat April 10...

On Saturday, May 2, Justin Buckley, 27, made the drive from his home in Benton to Melbourne for a visit with family; his sister, brother in law, their children and to spend some time with his own children. “He and my son were very close, I can still see them playing in the yard,” Amanda Tiernan, Buckley’s sister said...

On March 18, the Community Foundation activated the COVID-19 Relief Fund to offer rapid response grants give a necessary and quick injection of funds to those nonprofits serving on the front lines of pandemic relief. On Sunday, April 5, at his daily COVID-19 press conference, where he was joined by Arkansas Community Foundation President and CEO Heather Larkin, Governor Asa Hutchinson declared Arkansas Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund the best choice for pandemic relief donations in the state. ...

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has three objectives which are Historic Preservation, Education and Patriotism. The National Defense Committee strives to preserve our American heritage of freedom, to protect the U.S. Constitution, and to ensure the survival of our national sovereignty. ...

Treasurer of State Dennis Milligan is encouraging families to talk to their children about money and finances. Milligan announced his financial education initiative “Educate Your Financial Future,” to commemorate Financial Literacy Month, which occurs each year in April. The new initiative will focus on teaching children in grades pre-K through 12th about saving money and spending wisely...

The Highland School Board held a special meeting April 28 to discuss food service, graduation and more. According to Superintendent Don Sharp, a primary focus of the meeting was to discuss whether or not the district should outsource its food service to a private food service vending company...

Fulton County was notified on Thursday, April 23, of its first positive COVID-19 test result. The Arkansas Department of Health contacted Fulton County Judge Jim Bicker April 23 with notification of a positive COVID-19 test in Fulton County. “There was little additional information given at that time. ...

The Highland School District held another in a series of public Facebook forums April 29. As with previous weeks, Superintendent Don Sharp began with a greeting to the public and a thanks to the hardworking staff members of the Highland School District before opening up the floor for a question and answer session...

Fulton County was notified on Thursday, April 23, of its first positive COVID-19 test result. The Arkansas Department of Health contacted Fulton County Judge Jim Bicker April 23 with notification of a positive COVID-19 test in Fulton County. “There was little additional information given at that time. ...

After graduating high school, Thayer native Halie Wooldridge moved to Nashville, Tenn. and began chasing her dreams in the music industry. Making the move to Nashville was a big step in the right direction, but an even bigger step is becoming a part of NBC's hit show, Songland...

Arkansas veterinarians have pitched in to help healthcare workers on the COVID-19 frontlines, an effort that began with a donation from some future veterinarians. In March, the Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Little Rock had more than three dozen cases of COVID-19...

Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land recently announced that the 2020 tax auction season has been cancelled due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19. The season’s early auctions had been canceled earlier. Today’s announcement cancels the remaining auctions for this year...

The current COVID-19 pandemic may have forced a change in plans, but it hasn’t deterred members of the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council from their goal of raising enough money to provide one million meals to Arkansans struggling with food insecurity...

A man from Conway is facing multiple felony charges after leading police on a chase for the third time in less than a year. According to a report from the Cherokee Village Police Department, Wesley Roberts, 35, was taken into custody April 17 after leading multiple officers on a chase across county lines...

Among the list of cancellations and closures, public libraries and events associated with libraries, have also been impacted. Recently, the Friends of the Hardy Library announced the cancellation of the annual book sale, however; treasurer for the organization, Hope Smith, said there are still ways to access books that some may have forgotten about...

The Ozark Acres Suburban Improvement District (SID) held a special meeting April 22 to conduct a swearing in ceremony of the new and re-elected commissioners. In March, the annual election resulted in the re-election of commissioners Tom Parsons and Jean Murphy and newcomer Deb Lumley...

In the wake of the COVID-19 virus, many changes have taken place across the country. From the mandated closure of certain types of businesses, to the extended deadlines for the payment of taxes, many don’t realize the participation in the 2020 census is ongoing...

Comfort Keepers Ministry Inc., (CKM) has partnered with the Spring River Innovation Hub (SRIH) and Spring River Adult and Child Services (SACS) to host a Senior Citizen Food Distribution event slated for April 25 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the SRIH located in Town Center in Cherokee Village...

Troy Daniel, 37, of Cherokee Village was placed under arrest and is facing the formal filing of several felony and misdemeanor charges following an incident which took place April 12. According to a report from the Cherokee Village Police Department, Officer Bryan Buchanan responded to a call on Kewe Drive where he was told Daniel had assaulted another individual and was still in the residence...

Tragedy struck April 16 after a two vehicle accident claimed the life of a Sharp County man. According to the Arkansas State Police Fatal Crash Summary Report, Udell Simmons, 86, of Hardy was in his 2011 Polaris facing west on 175 near Wirth. Simmons was in the process of crossing the highway when he was struck in the passenger side by a 2011 Ford Escape...

The Highland School District held another in a series of Wednesday public forums which allow the public to ask questions about changes during the transition to online education. The forum began with a welcome from Superintendent Don Sharp who said the district was working to move forward with distributing information and electronic devices to students to allow them to complete their school work...

Comfort Keepers Ministry Inc., (CKM) has partnered with the Spring River Innovation Hub (SRIH) and Spring River Adult and Child Services (SACS) to host a Senior Citizen Food Distribution event slated for April 25 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the SRIH located in Town Center in Cherokee Village...

For more than a decade, the roads in the City of Williford have been steadily declining. Earlier this year, Michelle Forehand, Mayor of Williford, was notified the city had received a $300,000 roads improvement grant, something which as of last week, has allowed for much needed repairs...

On March 11, an emergency was declared in Arkansas as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency declaration was created in order to limit person-to-person contact, restrict gatherings and suspend businesses that require significant person-to-person interaction...

The Arkansas Department of Health reported a second case of COVID-19 in Sharp County the week of April 8 with the first confirmed case being reported April 2. Additionally, a case has also been reported in Izard County and according to the tracking statistics, the patient has since recovered. However, Judge Eric Smith released over the weekend he had received information about a second confirmed case in Izard County...

The Highland School District held an informational forum, utilizing the Facebook live feature on April 8 which allowed members of the public to ask questions of the district and changes to the school year thus far. The forum opened with a welcome from Superintendent Don Sharp who was joined by several co-workers including John Gotte, Kelly Goodson, Kara McEntire, Jeremy Lewis and Kasey Carter...

The Cooperative Extension Service has been serving the people of Arkansas, from agricultural communities in rural areas to school children in the cities, for more than 100 years, through good times and bad. Our current era, in which we all face serious health risks from the COVID-19 virus, is no different...

The Highland School Board held a special meeting April 7 to discuss a plan of action for the upcoming election which will determine whether or not the district retains the five mills which are approaching their sun setting period. The meeting was called to order by Highland School Board President Justin Dunn. All board members were present, with two members attending remotely by way of phone...

In November 2019, Sharp County Quorum Court approved an ordinance to establish the Sharp County Economic Development Research Team (SCEDRT) for the purpose of promoting and enhancing Sharp County by developing business and industry to provide jobs in the county and strengthen the local economy. ...

The second annual Hook, Shrine and Sinker Bass Fishing Tournament initially slated for April 25 at Crown Lake in Horseshoe Bend has been moved to May 30. According to Doug Driesel, event organizer, the decision to move the tournament to a later date comes as a result of the COVID-19 virus. Although the tournament date has been rescheduled, registration is still open...

In an effort to assist with COVID-19 relief efforts across their 21-state footprint, Fidelity Communications and the other Cable One family of brands have donated $150,000 to the Meals on Wheels America COVID-19 Response Fund and $150,000 to local food banks in the markets they serve...

Arkansans have adapted to a new environment where social distancing has become our new normal, and working from home brings a new set of challenges. Virtual meetings provide an essential mode of communication for work and school, but bad actors have also found opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities in the virtual environment to steal or extort money from individuals and businesses...

Oregon County announced its first confirmed COVID-19 test on Tuesday, April 7. The only information released was that the patient was a 49-year-old male. By Wednesday morning, Areawide Media received reports the individual had been seen in public, after he had received his positive test results. ...

Arkansans are receiving a failing grade for practicing social distancing according to a study performed by Unacast, a cellular data analysis company. The initial ranking was a D -, along with many other southern states, the data shows residents are not practicing appropriate social distancing and are not abiding by the requests set forth by the government...