Villager Journal

This article addresses concerns of some of our veterans that are getting out of the service now and attending classes at our local schools of higher learning. At a congressional hearing earlier this month, lawmakers pleaded with Department of Veterans Affairs officials to give them a date when a severe technology problem that caused payment delays and incorrect payments to thousands of student veterans would be fixed. ...

Mammoth Spring Fire Department and Thayer Fire Department responded to a call at the Riverview Motel on Thursday, Nov. 29. It was determined the fire originated in the bathroom area of room 205. According to Mammoth Spring Fire Chief Casey Poulette, the source of the fire appears to be electrical and was determined to be caused by an exhaust fan being left on in room 205. Two rooms received damage, rooms 205 and 106...

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) recently launched Be Well Arkansas, an enhancement of previous tobacco cessation services, to provide Arkansans with resources to improve their health and well-being. In Arkansas, the leading causes of death include stroke, heart disease and cancer. ...

Dec. 15 is a critical date for Arkansans seeking affordable health insurance coverage. It is the last day for open enrollment in the state’s My Arkansas Insurance Individual Marketplace. This is the program, managed by the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace (AHIM), that provides health insurance plans for individuals who do not have access to employer-provided insurance...

A microburst is being named as the cause of devastating damage to an Ash Flat business following the convergence of two storms in the early hours of Dec. 1. A microburst is defined as a sudden, powerful, localized air current, especially a downdraft...

This article is the third in a series of exploring the working relationships between the Cherokee Village Suburban Improvement District (SID), American Land Company (ALC) and City of Cherokee Village, their roles in regards to Cherokee Village and the operations, contracts and agreements between each party...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce held their regular meeting Nov. 20 at Leaves and Beans in Hardy. Ethan Barnes spoke about the chamber’s ShopLocal campaign and reminded those in attendance about the vacation giveaway promotion the chamber has sponsored...

The Sharp County Quorum Court held their regular meeting Nov. 26 during which they discussed the approval of a private club license and the possibility of additional county taxes. While discussing the new business agenda items, the first on the list was the approval of a private license for the Griffin Park Grill also known as The Pub...

The annual Cherokee Village Holiday Light Decorating Contest has kicked off with two contests. Judging for the city wide Holiday Light Contest, sponsored by Village Pride and the Cherokee Village Townhomes Judging will take place Dec. 16 beginning at 6 p.m. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners...

The Highland City Council held their regular meeting Nov. 20. Grants, budget changes and equipment were among the topics of discussion. Fire Chief Kal Dienst updated the council about the progress being made at the fire department in regards to the new reporting system...

On Saturday, Dec.1, Pioneer Village in Searcy, Ark. will celebrate an Old Fashioned Christmas in the Village from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Village, decorated in the style of the late 1800’s with live greenery, berries, and other natural materials will be alive with music, carolers and the sights and sounds of Christmas. ...

This article is the second in a series of exploring the working relationships between the Cherokee Village Suburban Improvement District (SID), American Land Company (ALC) and City of Cherokee Village, their roles in regards to Cherokee Village and the operations, along with contracts and agreements between each party. In last week’s article, the establishment of the SID and ALC, as well as the contract regarding the sale of lots in Cherokee Village, was discussed...

A local business is taking an unusual approach toward the spirit of giving by asking families to have their child place an ornament on a tree inside the store. According to Shirley Wiles, owner of Ann’s Flowers in Highland, for each ornament placed on the tree by a child, a gift will be given to a resident at one of the area nursing homes...

Law enforcement agencies across Sharp County are making their final push to gather as much funding as possible for the upcoming Shop with a Cop event slated for Dec. 15 at 8 a.m., Walmart in Ash Flat. According to Sharp County Sheriff Mark Counts, families may come to the Sharp County Sheriff’s Department to register, however; presently, the group’s funds are lower than in past years which will limit the number of families they are able to help provide Christmas for...

White River Area Agency on Aging is sponsoring Silver Angel Christmas Baskets for senior citizens in the counties of Fulton, Izard and Sharp. Various businesses and/or individuals have joined WRAAA in each county to assist in sponsoring the program. The holidays can be a lonely time for many seniors. Join in the efforts to provide them with the magic of Christmas...

The Ash Flat City Council met Nov. 20 during which the reinstatement of officers Colton Wilson and Tom Rigsby was discussed. While giving his department report, Anthony Wiles said his department had responded to 108 calls for service since the October council meeting...

For millions of people, Thanksgiving starts in the kitchen. Unfortunately, so do many safety risks, such as cooking fires. Emergency physicians offer a few health and safety tips to help you avoid a trip to the ER this holiday season. Research from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reveals that in 2017, on average, U.S. fire departments responded to a home fire every 88 seconds. And, Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for cooking fires...

Many schools in the tri-county area took their first AMI day Nov. 15, following an unusually early and heavier than normal snow fall the evening prior. Approximately two to three inches of snow fell in many areas across northeast Arkansas beginning late in the evening Nov. 14...

A lawsuit has been filed in the Circuit Court of Sharp County, Civil Division, as well as the Fulton County Circuit Court, against the Cherokee Village Suburban Improvement District #1 of Sharp and Fulton Counties; Greg Prenger, Joel Waggoner, Ronald Patterson in their capacity as commissioners of the district; David Webb as general manager of the district; the City of Cherokee Village; Russ Stokes in his capacity as mayor; American Land Company, LLC; Michalle Watkins, in her official capacity as Fulton County Collector; Charlotte Ratliff, in her official capacity as Sharp County Collector; Vickie Bishop, in her official capacity as Fulton County Clerk and Tommy Estes, in his official capacity as Sharp County Clerk.. ...

In recent months, the Cherokee Village Suburban Improvement District (SID), City of Cherokee Village and American Land Company have fallen under fire following the levy increase of fees to property owners in regards to amenities. This is the first article in a series which will explain the working relationships between each of the entities, their roles in regards to Cherokee Village and the operations, contracts and agreements between each party...

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission (MMC) is one step closer to announcing the results of the scoring process which will determine dispensary applicants who will receive the permit necessary to open medical marijuana dispensaries across the state...

Spring River Adult and Child Services Domestic Violence and Homeless Shelter (SACS) will be raising funds in partnership with The King Beez, a Beale Street performance group from Memphis. According to Ken Anderson, president of the board for SACS, the fundraising event will bring a one of a kind musical experience to the Omaha Center in Cherokee Village, “A Memphis Christmas” at 2 p.m. Dec. 9...

Arkansas’ investment receipts for the first quarter of fiscal 2019, which ended Sept. 30, reached $25.4 million, Treasurer of State Dennis Milligan told the State Board of Finance Tuesday, Nov. 13. Quarterly receipts haven’t been this high since the fourth quarter of 2008 when the Treasury was averaging about $28 million per quarter...

The holidays bring out the best in Arkansans, but there are some who try to take advantage of our kind hearts by posing as a charitable organization helping Arkansans during the holiday season. Scam artists can use similar-sounding names to legitimate charities and may often be pushy, but provide little information...

The Skillet Restaurant at the Ozark Folk Center State Park plans to host its annual Thanksgiving Buffet from 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full buffet) and 3:30 to 6 p.m. (smaller dinner buffet). The Skillet, which won top honors at Arkansas State Park’s 2018 Top Chef competition, will be open on Thursday, Nov. 22 for Thanksgiving and the following day on Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m...

If you’re hosting a holiday meal, make food safety a priority or you might end up with ungrateful guests. “Hosting a holiday meal often means having more people at the table, serving a wider variety of dishes and perhaps tackling some unfamiliar recipes. If you’re not careful, all those ingredients can add up to food-borne illness,” says Londa Nwadike, food safety specialist for University of Missouri Extension and Kansas State University Research and Extension...

During Red Ribbon Week, the Little Rock Federal Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with various state agencies, law enforcement and community partners worked together to coordinate a statewide same day viewing of “Chasing the Dragon” for students at participating campuses. Over 40,000 students, from 130 Arkansas middle schools, high schools and colleges, saw the film on Oct. 24...

With ongoing state and national recognition of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s Computer Science Initiative, educators are encouraged to showcase student successes and computer science best practices in the classroom. Positive stories can be shared on social media using #ARKidsCanCode...

A public information meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 28 in Batesville by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to discuss the development of a voluntary, non-regulatory Watershed-Based Management Plan for the Middle White River. The meeting will be at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, Independence Hall Banquet Room, 2005 White Drive (Highway 25). It will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude no later than 12 noon. There is no charge to attend...

Every year, countless American shoppers fall victim to identity thieves by not following a few simple rules while shopping online. Arkansans need to keep track of purchases and a watchful eye on bank and credit card statements to ensure transactions are legitimate...

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Justin King, joined by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, announced that 26,529 pounds of medication was collected as part of the semi-annual Prescription Drug Take Back held on Saturday, Oct. 27...

Following the results of the 2018 midterm elections Nov. 6, Sharp County will move forward with their process to construct a new 100-bed facility jail. According to Sharp County Sheriff Mark Counts, there will be a 30-day window for the state to finish certifying the election and then a series of meetings will be held...

The Highland School District presented a second veteran with their high school diploma Nov. 9 during the Highland High School’s Veterans Day ceremony. Frank Massey, a Corporal who served in the United States Marine Corps, was only a half credit shy of graduating high school when he felt led to join the military...

Charles Hance, the Cherokee Village man who who admitted to sexually assaulting two male children under the age of 10 in November 2017, was sentenced to 240 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, after pleading guilty before Judge Harold Erwin in Circuit Court in Sharp County...

Thanks to the generous support of area business owners, Ronnie Ritter, with the Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry organization, said there will be additions to the Highland School District Backpack Program. “The Snack Stick program is something we did a soft launch on last spring to see if it would work, but we’re working through weekend backpack programs for kids who don’t have enough to eat on the weekends,” Ritter said. ...

The Mission of Hope in Hardy is entering their second week of their annual telethon fundraising drive. According to Mary Ann, a representative with The Mission of Hope, the telethon began Nov. 5 and will run until Dec. 7. Mary Ann explained the telethon gives members of the community the opportunity to support the organization and the many projects taking place throughout the year...

Voters across the state of Arkansas made their way to the polls Nov. 6 to cast their votes for the future of their communities. In Sharp County, there were many issues which prompted the highest early voter turnout on record. Although nearly 5,700 ballots were cast in total, it was just over 50 percent of registered voters in Sharp County...

Areawide Media had a staff member at the courthouses in Salem and Ash Flat, Ark. and Alton, Mo. We will add Izard County Election Results to our website and this link ASAP Wednesday (Nov. 7) morning. This link combines all counties where we were present on Election Night, Nov. 6. See next week's editions of The News (Fulton & Izard), Villager Journal (Sharp) and The South Missourian News (Oregon Co. & Mammoth Spring) for full election results and stories...

As fall season kicks into high gear, temperatures drop which means home heating costs begin impacting families’ budgets across Arkansas. But there are steps consumers can take to stay warm and save money. “By taking a few practical steps we can find the balance of keeping warm and saving money,” said Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “It is unknown what winter will bring this year, but as temperatures drop, keeping energy costs down is important to every family.”...

The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC) in conjunction with Izard County held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of a new nature trail at the Devil’s Knob/Devil’s Backbone, located 10 miles southwest of Melbourne. According to Izard County Judge Eric Smith, a little over a year ago, he contacted the ANHC after he and his wife had taken a hiking trip at the national forest...

The Spring River Ambulance Service (SRAS), in partnership with ZOLL, held an in service training for area firefighters, paramedics and EMT’s Nov. 1 to introduce new equipment which will be used by SRAS when needed. According to Bart Schultz, SRAS manager, the training was for a new AutoPulse mechanical CPR device which will be placed on each of the ambulances...

Mandy Trivitt, 44, of Cherokee Village, pleaded guilty to theft of property, a class B felony; fraudulent use of a credit or debit card, a class B felony and forgery in the second degree, a class C felony, before Judge Harold Erwin in court at Ash Flat Nov. 1...

Mike and Terri Cournoyer are offering a reward for information leading to the return of their property which was stolen early last month. They are also offering a reward for the property itself. According to the couple, their home located near Griffin Park, was broken into and robbed...

Highland Middle School held an independent celebration of Arkansas History Week Oct. 31 through an interactive series of speakers and events, bringing to life the culmination of an educational series regarding Arkansas’ history. According to Deanna Strobbe, fifth grade social studies teacher, she decided to do an Arkansas History Week because knowing the history of where you live is important...

A sixth grade teacher at Highland Middle School was among the five percent of teachers to be awarded a Scholastic James Patterson Grant to improve the library in her classroom. According to Alison Munroe, she applied for the grant some time ago and recently received confirmation she had been selected...

Sharp County Coroner: Renee Clay-Circle over Seth Wortham JP 1: Roger Stark over Phillip Sullivan JP 2: Briana DiIorio over Garry Lawrence JP 5: Tony Vaughn over Ruth Rogers JP 6: Everrett McGuire over Jackie Picket and David Cook City of Hardy Mayor: Ernie Rose over Jason Jackson, Tim Seager and Nina Thornton...