Villager Journal

It has been almost one year since Fulton County Sheriff Al Roork expressed his concerns of his deputies’ salary to the Fulton County Quorum Court. Roork made waves throughout the state with his presentation at the August 2018 meeting – waves that led to a special election for a countywide tax to benefit Fulton County Sheriff’s Office...

Although the trial ultimately ended in a mistrial after a hung jury was dismissed by Circuit Judge Harold Erwin, July 2 started the second day of trial for Cherokee Village Police Officer Josh Trivitt, as the second round of state’s witnesses were called, beginning with recently reinstated Ash Flat Police Officer Colton Wilson...

An incident occurring July 4 landed a Sharp County couple in jail after it was reported one was attempting to drown their child. According to a release from the Sharp County Sheriff’s Department, 911 received a call of a father holding his 12-year-old daughter under water at the Huelett access on the Strawberry River...

On June 25, word spread quickly after it was discovered a resident of Hardy had attempted to work on the large mural located on Spring Street. Members of the community expressed their displeasure as the work had not been sanctioned by any of the city’s governing bodies such as the Hardy City Council or Advertising and Promotions Commission (A&P)...

After spending a short time in the Spring River area, it didn’t take long for Laura Smith and her husband to determine their hearts belonged to Hardy. The couple chose to relocate to the area and Smith has become a champion for the arts community, so much so, she began working on a project known as the Hearts of Hardy...

On July 7, Jimmy L. Novak, a man walking across the country to raise awareness for veteran suicide, made a pit stop at the Spring River Draft House in Hardy. On March 22, Novak began his journey leaving from Dupont, Wash. with the goal to walk 22 miles a day to symbolize one mile for each veteran who will take their own life...

Hosea Rhoades was born the son of Abner S. Rhoades and Julia A. Leu Rhoades on January 12, 1922 in Couch, Mo. and departed this life on June 26, 2019 at Shady Oaks Healthcare in Thayer, Mo. at the age of 97 years. He was united in marriage on July 5, 1945 to Anna Marie Moreland in Salem, Ark. Anna was a beautiful Christian girl who he met at a large tent revival that was held on the Add Smith farm east of Couch...

Stolen property was recovered and a Cave City man was taken into custody following an unusual series of events. According to a report from the Sharp County Sheriff’s Department, on June 3, Deputy Marc Boyd was dispatched to a residence outside of Cave City for a stolen camper trailer. When Boyd arrived, he spoke to the complainant who stated his 2006 Gulf Camper had been stolen...

The first Box Lunch Social will be held in Cherokee Village July 20 beginning at 11 a.m. The event, created by the Cherokee Village Advertising and Promotions Commission (A&P), is hosting the “bid on a box” community picnic to raise funds for the 2020 Thunder on Thunderbird fireworks celebration...

This year marks the 20th anniversary for the Storybook Project of Arkansas. The 501-c-3 non-profit organization began in 1999 when a group of volunteers gathered and began working with the goal of keeping incarcerated parents connected with their children...

On any given day, you might see Cherokee Village resident Jenna Lewis running by the roadside preparing for her next St. Jude’s marathon. Also known for her love of fashion from the 1930’s to 1950’s, it’s not uncommon to feel you’re seeing a blast from the past when in passing at the grocery store...

Following jury selection early on the morning of July 1 at the Sharp County Courthouse in Ash Flat, Cherokee Village Officer Josh Trivitt entered the courtroom of Circuit Judge Harold Erwin to stand trial for the injuries he allegedly inflicted on Ash Flat resident Randall Veazie in November of 2016...

A spaghetti dinner and silent auction fundraiser will be held at the Spring River Draft House in Hardy June 30 from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. According to Rhonda Messer, owner of the draft house, the proceeds will be used to help a family who unexpectedly lost a loved one, recover financially...

The Ash Flat City Council held it’s regular meeting June 11, during which, Kevin Grissom was sworn in as alderman for Ward 3, Position 1 took place. Following his swearing in, Kevin Grissom took his seat at the table. Fire Chief Stacey Horton reported the annual pump test, with the exception of Engine 4, was a success...

Over the course of the past two weeks, Sharp County has seen an increase in motor vehicle accidents and fatalities. The most recent series of accidents which resulted in injury or death started June 19 at approximately 8:30 a.m. and resulted in the death of Johnny and Linda Carter, of Harrison...

Highland Assembly of God will hold the first Highland Assembly Community Wide Yard Sale event July 13 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. According to Pastor Chris Clem, the event will be open to the community and there will be a lot of items being sold not only from the church, but members of the community may also take advantage...

The Highland City Council held it’s regular meeting June 11 beginning with the raze and removal of a certain structure within the city limits. The property located on Winchester Drive has an abandoned trailer located on the premises which has been deemed unsafe and insecure...

Cherokee Village City Council held it’s regular meeting June 20 when, the council members heard several presentations including an update on the proposed millage rate increase for the upcoming special election slated for Aug. 13. The meeting opened with an update from Mayor Russell Stokes concerning the SID monies the city receives...

As Arkansans continue to recover from the recent historic flooding, some businesses may try to take advantage of consumers by raising prices beyond legal limits. Arkansas’s price-gouging law prohibits businesses from charging more than 10 percent above the pre-disaster price of goods or services...

Following the recent news announced that Izard County Sheriff Earnie Blackley has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, it didn’t take the community long to rally and begin planning a fundraiser to help defray medical expenses. Blackley has served the people of Izard County as a law enforcement officer for more than 20 years, serving as the chief deputy from 1999 until January of this year, at which time he began his elected role as sheriff...

In the 1970’s, a group of musicians from Arkansas received international attention for their unique style of rock music, so much so, the band Black Oak Arkansas had 10 charting albums released in less than a decade. Despite the group’s fame, fortune and rise to the top of rock and roll, one member of the band, Harvey Jett, was left feeling like there was more to life than just fame and fortune...

The second fatal motor vehicle accident in less than a week in Sharp County claimed the life of a Williford man June 16. According to a report from the Arkansas State Police, Vickery Dale Mcilvoy, 61, and his passenger Ashley Lee, 31, also of Williford, were traveling south on Hwy. 63 just after midnight in a 2000 GMC Sonoma when the driver of the vehicle swerved to avoid hitting two deer which were crossing the road...

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) formally recognized nine hospitals for excellence in stroke care performance June 7 at the Clinton Presidential Center. The ADH awards are based on hospital performance as documented in the Arkansas Stroke Registry between July 2017 and June 2018. ...

Established in 1947, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year has been one of the most prestigious recognitions given to those who spend countless hours cultivating land, facilities and more to help provide food sources in varying industries around the country...

The Cherokee Village Fire Department has recently been awarded a grant which will allow them to provide and install fire detectors in the homes of residents of Cherokee Village. According to Kal Dienst, the grant comes from the Arkansas Fire Prevention Commission in an effort to encourage the use of smoke detectors...

Steve Dravenstott, an officer with the Highland Police Department, recently completed the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute Crime Scene Technician Certification Program. On June 7, Dravenstott was one of a handful of officers across the state to add the certification to his list of accomplishments...

A two vehicle accident in Highland June 12 injured several and resulted in the death of an Ash Flat woman. According to a report from the Highland Police Department, Dakota Herrington was driving a 1997 Dodge Dakota Pickup truck near Cox Motor Sports in Highland. Herrington had merged into the turning lane at which time a 2018 Toyota Prius driven by Tad Graves also entered the turning lane...

A special election will be held Aug. 13 for those who reside in the Highland School District. The election is to seek the retention of the existing five mills and to request an additional four mills (less than half a cent). According to Don Sharp, Superintendent of the Highland School District, the district currently has one of the lowest millage rates in the state...

Tensions ran high at the Randolph County Courthouse in Pocahontas June 17 as rows of seats began to fill prior to the first appearance and bond hearing of Rebecca O’Donnell, 48, of Pocahontas. O’Donnell was the woman arrested June 14 in connection with the murder of former senator Linda Collins...

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) celebrated 79 years of serving its members at the annual meeting held Thursday, June 6, at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Salem. Though it was messy and rainy for most of the day and evening, that didn’t stop NAEC members from attending the annual event for a fun filled afternoon and evening. ...

Clear Springs Baptist Church will host its monthly third Saturday Singing on June 15 at 5 p.m. Everyone is invited bring your instruments or specials. After the singing, refreshments will be served. Clear Springs Baptist Church is located on Clear Springs Road off of Highway 63, halfway between Black Rock and Imboden...

A movie night will be held at the Evening Shade Gymnasium June 15 with a showing of Pete’s Dragon. The BBQ fundraiser and free outdoor movie night will begin at 6:30 p.m. and meals are $5 for children and $8 adults. The movie will begin at 8:30 p.m...

The Hardy Advertising and Promotions Commission (A&P) covered a lot of ground during their May 20 regular meeting. After hashing out the details of the corrections of the minutes, the commission moved on to discuss the contract for the book keeper, Darlene Wilson...

The Hardy City Council passed two ordinances during their regularly scheduled meeting June 4; one requiring a life preserver be used by children 12 and under while using public access points and the second requiring dogs to be leashed in public areas...

The civil lawsuit involving multiple local law enforcement agencies, cities and Sharp County, has taken a turn after documents were filed June 5 in the United States District Court Eastern District of Arkansas Batesville Division. The initial civil suit filings by Randell Lee Veazie filed May 16, 2018 was against Cherokee Village Police Officer Josh Trivitt, Ash Flat Police Officer Colton Wilson, former Sharp County Deputy Jack Lowe, Ash Flat Police Officer Tom Rigsby, Ash Flat Police Chief Anthony Wiles, Cherokee Village Police Chief Rickey Crook, Sharp County Sheriff Mark Counts, the City of Ash Flat, the City of Cherokee Village and the County of Sharp County, in regards to alleged use of excessive force by officers in an incident occurring in November 2016.. ...

It was a packed house at the Arkansas Country Music Association (ACMA) awards June 3 when some of Arkansas’ most talented and proven artists gathered in Maumelle to be recognized for their achievements and contributions to the country music industry...

The investigation into the murder of former senator Linda Collins (Smith) is still ongoing and authorities aren’t releasing information in regards to the investigation, due to a gag order. Late in the afternoon on June 4, Collins’ son and father traveled to her residence as they had not heard from her and were concerned...

One Sharp County man is in custody and another is expected to be charged following a rash of thefts from multiple businesses in northern Sharp County. According to a series of incident reports from the Ash Flat Police Department, charges were taken to the deputy prosecuting attorney’s office to be filed against Trevor Woodham, 24, of Ash Flat and John Huffmaster, 21, of Ash Flat...

When the 2019-2020 school year begins, Highland High School will see some familiar faces in new places as Jeremy Lewis, formerly the assistant principal and athletic director will become the high school principal and athletic director. Additionally, Missy Floyd, formerly the instructional facilitator, will become the vice-principal...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce held their general meeting at Baros Mongolian Grill in Hardy May 21. The meeting opened with a welcome from chamber president, Ethan Barnes and the introduction of new members. Sandra Farnham, president elect for the Arts Center of North Arkansas (ACNA) and secretary for the Friends of the NRA, took a few moments to introduce herself...

Tragedy struck May 25 following the drowning death of a three-year-old child in Cherokee Village. According to a report from the Cherokee Village Police Department, officers were dispatched to the residence on Lake Omaha following a 911 call from a family member that a child had fallen in the lake...

Two Missouri State University graduate students along, with two professors, recently visited the Spring River to research the uniqueness of the tributary and its travertine deposits also known as naturally formed dams. During a previous visit to Mammoth Spring, graduate students Jordan Vega and Tyler Engelbart were directed to Jean Pace, who was able to get them access to a section of the river where one of the natural occurring bridges has directly formed...

Some examples that come to mind when considering health in general are typically heart health, obesity, diabetes, etc... One of the most important aspects of our health is often not considered enough, leading to negative associations...mental health...

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) sent a team of researchers to the Sharp County area the week of May 16 to conduct a planning study and gather input from the public in regards to the Highway 412 Corridor Planning Study. Although there is no funding allocated for the majority of the projects and locations marked out on the map, the corridor spans from the Oklahoma to Missouri state lines across northern Arkansas...

Highland City Council held their regular meeting May 14. Fire Chief Kal Dienst was absent for the meeting, but Mayor Russell Truitt offered his report to the council in his absence. Police Chief Shane Russell told the council he didn’t have much to speak about outside of his report...

After a warrant of arrest was filed in late April, Bobby Ray Eddy, 52, of Cave City, was taken into custody May 20 for felony charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threatening in the first degree and more. According to the affidavit for arrest from the Cave City Police Department, on April 10, Corporal Quinton Maag was dispatched to a residence on Laurel Street in regards to a man named Bobby who had entered an apartment and broken the television...

The Sharp County Quorum Court held their regular meeting May 13. JP Everette McGuire noted he did not receive his council packet prior to the meeting. He inquired as to whether it had been e-mailed to other individuals. County Clerk Alisa Black explained the packets were not e-mailed, but a financial statement had been sent...

In Arkansas, one farmer’s weed is another farmer’s favorite forage, Dr. David Fernandez, Extension livestock specialist and interim assistant dean of academic programs for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences, said...

The battle against scammers and thieves trying to separate citizens from their hard earned money seems to be never ending. Despite the hundreds of warnings issued by police, the Arkansas Attorney General and others, those looking to swindle others are not dissuaded from their mission...

Several law enforcement agencies were involved in a high speed chase spanning more than 40 miles and three counties May 15. Reportedly, the chase for a man later identified as James Cannon, of Little Rock, began just after 8 p.m. in Lawrence County after the authorities received a report of a reckless driver just outside of Black Rock on Highway 361...