Area Wide News: Stories from Thursday, January 17, 2008

Alton woman dies in accident (01/17/08)
OREGON COUNTY -- An Alton woman was killed in a one-vehicle accident Jan. 8 east of Alton. According to a report from Troop G of the Missouri Highway Patrol, Sherry Williams, 50, was thrown from the 1993 Geo Tracker she was driving after it ran off the road, struck an embankment and overturned...

Trial date set for Steven Mitchell (01/17/08)
Former Melbourne High School teacher, Steven Mitchell, 33, of Pineville, has been given a trial date. He is accused of taking students across state lines to engage in sexual activity. Mitchell is set for jury trial at 9:15 a.m. Feb. 4 in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas in Little Rock...

A taxing job (01/17/08)
OREGON COUNTY -- Charles Alford serves as the assessor in Oregon County. He said the functions of the assessor is setting values on real estate property and personal property by using state statutes and guidelines to develop values. "Real estate property includes residential property such as homes and buildings that go with the residential property. This property is assessed at 19 percent value," Alford said...

Focal point of order (01/17/08)
Reporter's note: This is the second article in a series on elected offices in Fulton County. The county clerk's office maintains records of the courthouse and is the focal point for the orderly flow of paperwork through the courts of the county. "We have so many different functions. We wear a lot of hats around here, possibly more then any other county office. We are the county and circuit clerk combined," Fulton County Clerk Vickie Bishop said...

Extension election polling places announced (01/17/08)
OREGON COUNTY -- University Extension Agriculture Specialist Stacy Hambelton has announced where the polling places for the upcoming Extension elections will be. "The elections will be Jan. 19 through Jan. 24. Residents will vote in their voting district, the southern portion of the county or the northern portion," he said...

Thomasville teacher leaves learning legacy (01/17/08)
GON COUNTY -- Freshman students from Oregon County have first dibs on a scholarship at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. It is the Mable Symons Woodside Memorial Scholarship. Mable Symons was born in 1884 in England. Her family immigrated to the United States coming through Ellis Island. They eventually settled in Jackson, Mo., where her father owned and operated a dry goods store...

Salem welcomes new Veterans Service Officer (01/17/08)
Ron Beeching stepped in recently as the new Fulton County Veterans Service Officer. Beeching is a native of Fulton County and was born and raised in Mammoth Spring. He is married to Phyllis Beeching a retired registered nurse. The Veteran Service Office, located in the Federal Building on the south side of the Salem Square, helps veterans who may be eligible for military benefits after their service is up...

Election deadlines (01/17/08)
Filing for state and county elections will open Feb. 25 and end March 25. The primary election will be held in Missouri Aug. 5. Those wishing to register to vote in the August Primary have until July 31 to do so. Anyone wishing to file for a state position must do so at the Missouri Secretary of State's office in Jefferson City...

Enhancing Viola city park (01/17/08)
According to Viola Mayor Jackie Estes, the city is close to adding new playground equipment to the city park. The new equipment will be purchased to match the existing equipment and will be added to expand the facility. "Some equipment may be connected to the playground equipment or some may stand alone beside it," Estes said...

Wreck (01/17/08)
Photo by Jody ShackelfordA vehicle collision occurred at the junction of Highway 395 and Highway 62/412 in Salem around 9:15 a.m. Jan 3. The car owned by Morgan Dan Henley of Horseshoe Bend received considerable damage to the front section of the vehicle. The other vehicle, driven by Sam Roork of Salem also received frontal damage, according to Fulton County Sheriff Walter Dillinger...

Fire (01/17/08)
Photo by Jody ShackelfordIt's not often Areawide Media has news in its own back yard but that was the case Jan. 11. A grass fire traveled from the top of the hill behind the Areawide Media building, down the slope to consume the tall grass covering most of the hillside. Firefighters responded and were able to extinguish the fire before any damage was done...

Mammoth Spring passes ordinances (01/17/08)
MAMMOTH SPRING -- The Mammoth Spring City Council met in regular session Jan. 7 with all council members present. The council voted to pass two new ordinances, The first was ordinance 200801 which amended the 2007 budget. The second ordinance was 200802 which adopted the 2008 budget...

Fire (01/17/08)
Photo by Jody Shackelford The Salem Fire Department was called to a house belonging to William Jarrett at 265 Byron Road at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 10, according to Fire Chief Heath Everett. When firefighters arrived, the kitchen was engulfed in flames. The nine firefighters who responded brought three trucks to battle the fire and used approximately 5,000 gallons of water to extinguish the flames. ...

Spring-like storm (01/17/08)
Photos by Eric King Two shop buildings that housed Rock-N-Oak Enterprises received severe damage when strong straight-line winds blew through Oregon County Jan. 8. The buildings were located just south of Alton on Highway 19. A heating and cooling business was located in one building and trikes were made in the other building. The property is owned by Dale Carey...

Howell back in custody (01/17/08)
Fugitive parole absconder James Henry Howell, 42, was arrested Jan. 12, following information provided to Izard County Chief Deputy Earnie Blackley that Howell was in the area of Culp Road in Izard County. All tip information received from the public indicated that Howell was armed and had made statements that he would not be taken back into custody...

Getting rid of lake weeds (01/17/08)
MAMMOTH SPRING -- In an effort to freeze out the dense vegetation in the lake at Mammoth Spring State Park, the lake has been drained. This makes the sixth year officials at Mammoth Spring State Park have made the decision to drain the lake at the park...

One step closer (01/17/08)
The 25 acre Fulton County Recreation Complex will soon enter phase two with a new $130,000 grant coming soon from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, according to Karen Coffman with the Salem Little League Association. "We just got a letter that we have been awarded a grant of $130,000 for phase two. That will go for four ballfields and the fencing," Coffman said...

Trial date set for Steven Mitchell (01/17/08)
Former Melbourne High School teacher, Steven Mitchell, 33, of Pineville, has been given a trial date. He is accused of taking students across state lines to engage in sexual activity. Mitchell is set for jury trial at 9:15 a.m. Feb. 4 in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas in Little Rock...

Focal point of order (01/17/08)
Reporter's note: This is the second article in a series on elected offices in Fulton County. The county clerk's office maintains records of the courthouse and is the focal point for the orderly flow of paperwork through the courts of the county. "We have so many different functions. We wear a lot of hats around here, possibly more then any other county office. We are the county and circuit clerk combined," Fulton County Clerk Vickie Bishop said...

A taxing job (01/17/08)
OREGON COUNTY -- Charles Alford serves as the assessor in Oregon County. He said the functions of the assessor is setting values on real estate property and personal property by using state statutes and guidelines to develop values. "Real estate property includes residential property such as homes and buildings that go with the residential property. This property is assessed at 19 percent value," Alford said...

Mammoth Spring passes ordinances (01/17/08)
MAMMOTH SPRING -- The Mammoth Spring City Council met in regular session Jan. 7 with all council members present. The council voted to pass two new ordinances, The first was ordinance 200801 which amended the 2007 budget. The second ordinance was 200802 which adopted the 2008 budget...

Extension election polling places announced (01/17/08)
OREGON COUNTY -- University Extension Agriculture Specialist Stacy Hambelton has announced where the polling places for the upcoming Extension elections will be. "The elections will be Jan. 19 through Jan. 24. Residents will vote in their voting district, the southern portion of the county or the northern portion," he said...

Alton woman dies in accident (01/17/08)
OREGON COUNTY -- An Alton woman was killed in a one-vehicle accident Jan. 8 east of Alton. According to a report from Troop G of the Missouri Highway Patrol, Sherry Williams, 50, was thrown from the 1993 Geo Tracker she was driving after it ran off the road, struck an embankment and overturned...

Wreck (01/17/08)
Photo by Jody ShackelfordA vehicle collision occurred at the junction of Highway 395 and Highway 62/412 in Salem around 9:15 a.m. Jan 3. The car owned by Morgan Dan Henley of Horseshoe Bend received considerable damage to the front section of the vehicle. The other vehicle, driven by Sam Roork of Salem also received frontal damage, according to Fulton County Sheriff Walter Dillinger...

Fire (01/17/08)
Photo by Jody ShackelfordIt's not often Areawide Media has news in its own back yard but that was the case Jan. 11. A grass fire traveled from the top of the hill behind the Areawide Media building, down the slope to consume the tall grass covering most of the hillside. Firefighters responded and were able to extinguish the fire before any damage was done...

Howell back in custody (01/17/08)
Fugitive parole absconder James Henry Howell, 42, was arrested Jan. 12, following information provided to Izard County Chief Deputy Earnie Blackley that Howell was in the area of Culp Road in Izard County. All tip information received from the public indicated that Howell was armed and had made statements that he would not be taken back into custody...

Thomasville teacher leaves learning legacy (01/17/08)
GON COUNTY -- Freshman students from Oregon County have first dibs on a scholarship at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. It is the Mable Symons Woodside Memorial Scholarship. Mable Symons was born in 1884 in England. Her family immigrated to the United States coming through Ellis Island. They eventually settled in Jackson, Mo., where her father owned and operated a dry goods store...

Salem welcomes new Veterans Service Officer (01/17/08)
Ron Beeching stepped in recently as the new Fulton County Veterans Service Officer. Beeching is a native of Fulton County and was born and raised in Mammoth Spring. He is married to Phyllis Beeching a retired registered nurse. The Veteran Service Office, located in the Federal Building on the south side of the Salem Square, helps veterans who may be eligible for military benefits after their service is up...

Fire (01/17/08)
Photo by Jody Shackelford The Salem Fire Department was called to a house belonging to William Jarrett at 265 Byron Road at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 10, according to Fire Chief Heath Everett. When firefighters arrived, the kitchen was engulfed in flames. The nine firefighters who responded brought three trucks to battle the fire and used approximately 5,000 gallons of water to extinguish the flames. ...

Enhancing Viola city park (01/17/08)
According to Viola Mayor Jackie Estes, the city is close to adding new playground equipment to the city park. The new equipment will be purchased to match the existing equipment and will be added to expand the facility. "Some equipment may be connected to the playground equipment or some may stand alone beside it," Estes said...

Spring-like storm (01/17/08)
Photos by Eric King Two shop buildings that housed Rock-N-Oak Enterprises received severe damage when strong straight-line winds blew through Oregon County Jan. 8. The buildings were located just south of Alton on Highway 19. A heating and cooling business was located in one building and trikes were made in the other building. The property is owned by Dale Carey...

Getting rid of lake weeds (01/17/08)
MAMMOTH SPRING -- In an effort to freeze out the dense vegetation in the lake at Mammoth Spring State Park, the lake has been drained. This makes the sixth year officials at Mammoth Spring State Park have made the decision to drain the lake at the park...

One step closer (01/17/08)
The 25 acre Fulton County Recreation Complex will soon enter phase two with a new $130,000 grant coming soon from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, according to Karen Coffman with the Salem Little League Association. "We just got a letter that we have been awarded a grant of $130,000 for phase two. That will go for four ballfields and the fencing," Coffman said...

Election deadlines (01/17/08)
Filing for state and county elections will open Feb. 25 and end March 25. The primary election will be held in Missouri Aug. 5. Those wishing to register to vote in the August Primary have until July 31 to do so. Anyone wishing to file for a state position must do so at the Missouri Secretary of State's office in Jefferson City...

Robien J. Cook (01/17/08)
Army Pvt. Robien J. Cook has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. She is the daughter of Robert James of Koshkonong, Mo. Cook graduated in 2001 from West Plains High School. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.. ...

Areawide Media welcomes Shackelford as new reporter (01/17/08)
Jody Shackelford has been hired as a reporter/photographer for The News. Shackelford's duties include writing news articles about events happening in Fulton and Izard counties. He graduated from Williford High School and attended Ozarka College. He served two years with the Army National Guard and has owned and operated a photography business for six years...

Wooldridge receives pilot certificate (01/17/08)
Lisa Wooldridge of Thayer, Mo., received her Airman Certificate for private pilot, airplane, single engine land, rating on Jan. 2. Wooldridge attended Sky Venture Aviation Flight Training Center in Jonesboro, Ark., for her preparation for her check ride...

Areawide Media welcomes Shackelford as new reporter (01/17/08)
Jody Shackelford has been hired as a reporter/photographer for The News. Shackelford's duties include writing news articles about events happening in Fulton and Izard counties. He graduated from Williford High School and attended Ozarka College. He served two years with the Army National Guard and has owned and operated a photography business for six years...

Wooldridge receives pilot certificate (01/17/08)
Lisa Wooldridge of Thayer, Mo., received her Airman Certificate for private pilot, airplane, single engine land, rating on Jan. 2. Wooldridge attended Sky Venture Aviation Flight Training Center in Jonesboro, Ark., for her preparation for her check ride...

Robien J. Cook (01/17/08)
Army Pvt. Robien J. Cook has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. She is the daughter of Robert James of Koshkonong, Mo. Cook graduated in 2001 from West Plains High School. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.. ...

Kosh has happy homecoming (01/17/08)
On most nights, shooting 47 percent from the free throw line will get you beat. But this was not most nights. This was Winter Wonderland night, and while the Koshkonong Bluejays were just 11-of-23 from the charity stripe, they were playing in front of an energized homecoming crowd and came up with a flurry of 3-pointers at just the right time, helping them knock off the Mammoth Spring Bears 51-48 Jan. 11...

Bluebirds get it done on the road (01/17/08)
Winning a conference basketball game on the road is never an easy thing. Especially when you let your host come roaring back from a double-digit deficit late in the game, allowing them to outscore you 16-7 down the stretch in the fourth period. But despite their late-game woes, the visiting Mount Pleasant Bluebirds, ranked number 10 in Class 1A hoops, still had built enough of a cushion to survive a last-minute uprising from the Twin Rivers Panthers, as the Bluebirds topped the Panthers 57-50 in 1A-2 North play Jan. ...

Kosh has happy homecoming (01/17/08)
On most nights, shooting 47 percent from the free throw line will get you beat. But this was not most nights. This was Winter Wonderland night, and while the Koshkonong Bluejays were just 11-of-23 from the charity stripe, they were playing in front of an energized homecoming crowd and came up with a flurry of 3-pointers at just the right time, helping them knock off the Mammoth Spring Bears 51-48 Jan. 11...

Antoinette Violet Rich (01/17/08)
Antoinette Violet Rich, 81, of Cherokee Village, Ark., died Jan. 5, 2008, at Eaglecrest Nursing and Rehab. She was born in Tirani, Albania. She was a real estate broker in Michigan. She served as church secretary at the United Methodist Church in Cherokee Village...

Lucille Mildred Juds (01/17/08)
Lucille Mildred Juds, 87, of Horseshoe Bend, Ark., died Jan. 10, 2008, at the Community Medical Center of Izard County in Calico Rock, Ark. She was born Jan. 30, 1920, in Tomah, Wis., the daughter of the late Louis and Laura (Roscovious) Utke. She was a member of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Horseshoe Bend and a member of the Turkey Mountain Golf Association...

Milford Roy Smith (01/17/08)
Milford Roy Smith, 94, of Horseshoe Bend, Ark., died Jan. 9, 2008, at Ash Flat, Ark. He was born Dec. 27, 1913, in Manhattan, Ill., the son of the late Roy and Jessie (Mason) Smith. He was a member of the Horseshoe Bend Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Club, Horseshoe Bend Lions Club; he worked for many years as a mortician for Madden Enterprises serving locations in Horseshoe Bend, Melbourne, Calico Rock, Highland and Salem. He was member of the First Baptist Church of Horseshoe Bend...

Lucille N. Hunt (01/17/08)
Lucille N. Hunt, 72, of Ash Flat, Ark., died Jan. 11, 2008, at St. Louis, Mo. She was born Dec. 10, 1935, in Rock Creek, Ark., the daughter of Elijah Hoffman and Bessie (Lashley) Hoffman Walker. She was a member of the Pioneer Freewill Baptist Church in Ash Flat...

Patrick Lee Walsh (01/17/08)
Patrick Lee Walsh was born Oct. 13, 1949, in Indianapolis, Ind., the son of the late Thomas John Walsh and Violet Salyers Walsh. He died Jan. 4, 2008, in Ash Flat, Ark., at the age of 58. He was united in marriage July 3, 1969, in Mooresville, Ind., to Melinda Stevenson and to this union two children were born. Later he was united in marriage to Sharon Shelton...

Sherry (Casey) Williams (01/17/08)
Sherry Lynn (Casey) Williams, 50, of Alton, Mo., was born May 10, 1957, in Orange?County, Calif., and died Jan. 8, 2008, at the Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains, Mo. Survivors include: two sons, Shane Casey, Brandon Casey and wife Benita; two sisters, Angie Casey and husband Brant, of Alton, Mo., and Melody Forester of West Plains; two brothers, Kevin Green and Lane Green, both of California; four grandchildren, Amber, Gracie, Braden and Gavin; her companion, Larry Latham; two nieces, Crystal and Felisha; two nephews, Jason and Chris; three aunts, Jackie Burns, Betty Holmes and Judy Mason; and numerous other relatives and friends.. ...

Howard Mulkey (01/17/08)
Howard Raymond Mulkey was born the son of James Henry Mulkey and Stella Sweaney Mulkey on June 22, 1927, in Thayer, Mo., and died Jan. 3, 2008, in Thayer, Mo., at the age of 80. He was united in marriage to Daisy Mills on Sept. 8, 1946, at Mammoth Spring, Ark., and they were married for 61 years...

Lee Roland White (01/17/08)
Lee Roland White was born July 22, 1917, in Lutts, Tenn., the son of the late Lee Roy White and Laura Etta Moore. He died Jan. 3, 2008, at his home near Mammoth Spring, Ark. He was united in marriage Dec. 29, 1947, in Alcorn, Miss., to Mary Irene Curtis...

Billy Ray Hughes (01/17/08)
Billy Ray Hughes, 73, of Licking, Mo., died Jan. 7, 2008, at Houston, Mo. He was born May 6, 1934, at Princeton, Ky., the son of Archie Ray Hughes and Leda Naomi Riley Hughes. He was a retired transit driver for Dunklin County Transit in Mauldin, Mo., and of the Southern Baptist faith...

Ruby Maxine Jewell (01/17/08)
Ruby Maxine Jewell was born the daughter of John Mitchell Day and Floia Alba Bolton Day in Brandsville, Mo., in 1928, and died Jan. 9, 2008, at the age of 79. She was united in marriage Nov. 2, 1946, at Koshkonong, Mo., to Albert "Ted"?Jewell, who preceded her in death Dec. 21, 2001...

Ola Faye Moss (01/17/08)
Ola Faye Moss, of Salem, Ark., daughter of the late Alvie Pierce and Linnie Mae Durham Pierce, was born Jan. 14, 1939, in Ott, Ark. She died?Jan. 10, 2008, at her home at the age of 68 years. She was united in marriage to Jim Bob Moss on Sept. 8, 1957, at Hardy, Ark., To this union, two sons were born. She was the mailroom coordinator for Areawide Media in Salem for many years...

Glenn Smith (01/17/08)
Glenn Smith, 78, of Cave City, Ark., died Jan. 8, 2008, at the White River Medical Center in Batesville. He was born May 18, 1929, at Eutopia, Ark., to Ike and Enid Smith. He was a United States Army veteran having served in Korea. He worked for House and House Construction in Batesville until he retired. He was of the Baptist faith...

Ira Allen Broadway (01/17/08)
Ira Allen Broadway, 72, of Williford, Ark., died Jan. 7, 2008, at his home. He was born in Redding, Calif. He was a minister. He is survived by: his wife, Dorothy (Summers)?Broadway of Williford; a daughter, Sherry Bropmel of Hardy; and a brother, Thomas Broadway of Idaho...

Frances Boling (01/17/08)
Frances Boling, 97, of Horseshoe Bend, Ark., died Jan. 5, 2008, at Crown Point Nursing and Rehab in Horseshoe Bend. She was born Sept. 3, 1910, the daughter of the late Samuel T. and Minnie Jackson Williams in Melder, La. She was united in marriage to Theodore "Ted" Boling on July 20, 1929, in Grand Cane, La. ...

Vernon Armstrong (01/17/08)
Armstrong, 80 of Garnett, Kan., formerly of Ulysses, Kan., died Dec. 31, 2007. No services were held. Arrangements were by Forever Cremation Society of Kansas City. www.for evercemeteries.com.

Judith Ann Lamer (01/17/08)
Judith Ann Lamer, 54, of Viola, Ark., died Jan. 5, 2008, at her residence. She was born in Denver, Colo., on July 29, 1953, the daughter of the late Don and Ernestine Astorga (Hansen) Johnson. She worked as a secretary and was of the Jehovah Witnesses faith...

Jimmy Dale Bristow (01/17/08)
Jimmy Dale Bristow, 65, of Cave City, Ark., died Jan. 6, 2008, at his home. He was born Dc. 21, 1942, at Ash Flat, Ark., the son of Samuel Tillman and Sarah Irene (Roberts) Bristow. He was a United Sates Army veteran having served in Vietnam, a mechanic for Cave City School and of the Church of Christ faith...

Norman Langston (01/17/08)
Charlie Norman Langston, of Salem, Ark., son of the late Alva Langston and Nettie Blevins, was born ?Jan. 4, 1924, in Morriston, Ark. He died Dec. 26, 2007, at Fulton County Hospital in Salem, at the age of 83. He worked as a farmer and livestock trader for many years. He attended services at the Church of Christ...

J. Paul Davis (01/17/08)
J. Paul Davis, 79, of Evening Shade, Ark., died Jan. 8, 2008, at the White River Medical Center in Batesville, Ark. He was born Aug. 21, 1928, at Powell's Chapel, Ark., the son of William Frank and Elsie Mae (Anderson) Davis. He was a United States Army veteran having achieved the rank of Sergeant and served in Korea. He was a retired electrician and plumber, U.S. mail carrier and a farmer. He was a member of the Powell's Chapel Methodist Church...

Winford "George"?Myers (01/17/08)
Winford "George"?Myers, 79, of Thayer, Mo., was born Feb. 13, 1928, near Lesterville, Mo., and died Jan. 5, 2008, at the Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains, Mo. George was a member of the Mammoth Spring, Ark. VFW having served with the United States Army during the occupation following World War II and he was a member of the Thayer Masonic Lodge...

Nellie Lillian Mauldin (01/17/08)
Nellie Lillian Mauldin was born the daughter of Aria Campbell and Ellen Bell Campbell on June 25, 1919, in Alton, Mo., and died Jan. 2, 2008, in West Plains, Mo., at the age of 88. She was united in marriage at Alton, Mo., to Floyd Mauldin. She was of the Baptist faith...

Anna Lee Spurlock (01/17/08)
Anna Lee Spurlock, 76, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2008, in her home near Hardy, Ark. She was born Feb. 16, 1931, in Thayer, Mo. She was married to Conway D. Spurlock Sr. on Sept. 1, 1963, in Ash Flat, Ark. She worked as a cook at the Arkansas Traveler Theater in Hardy...