Stories from Wednesday, April 17, 2013

A packed house of Thayer residents gathered to witness three newly elected city leaders take their places on the Thayer City Council during its Tuesday, April 9 meeting. The first order of business was the swearing in of newly elected Mayor Ron Paulson and new Aldermen Merle Williams and Junior Brewer by City Clerk Donna Martin...

The Oregon County Food Producers and Artisans Co-op held a meeting on Friday, April 12 to discuss the group's final plans for a grand opening. What once seemed like a dream to OCFPAC leader, Rachel Luster, is now a reality with the grand opening just days away...

On Thursday, April 11, members and guests of the Ozark Gateway Tourist Council's Annual meeting were treated to a great night at one of the area's newest duck hunting destinations. The Stan Jones Mallard Lodge in Hoxie, which has been highly praised by area duck hunters, hosted the event where community supporters of tourism were recognized and given awards...

In his 35 years of working for the City of Thayer, Stanley Hedden had an unusual job. He was the longtime sexton (caretaker) of the Thayer Cemetery, when he retired at the end of March. Those who know Hedden say his dedication to his work will be missed...

Jennifer Hyde, resident of Thayer is now practicing law at Perkins Law Office, L.L.C. in Thayer. Hyde recently became licensed to practice law in Arkansas, in addition to being licensed in Missouri. Hyde graduated law school with her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia in May 2012. Soon after graduation, she passed the Missouri bar exam and was sworn in to the Missouri Bar on Oct. 5, 2012...

Jacob "J.J." Collins, the son of Donna Collins and the late Homer Collins of Mammoth Spring, Ark., was named Teacher of the Year at a March banquet at Mustang Middle School at Mustang, Okla. Collins was born and raised at Mammoth Spring, and graduated in 1998 from Mammoth Spring High School...

Brennan Leigh McLaughlin was born at 9:44 a.m. on March 20, 2013 at the Ozarks Medical Center. He weighed four pounds, six ounces and was 17-inches long. Brennan's mother and father are Jamie and Greg McLaughlin of Thayer, Mo. His grandparents are John Reynolds of Phoenix, Ariz., JoAnna Reynolds of Thayer, Mo., Rose McLaughlin of Scottsville, Ky. and the late Sherwood McLaughlin. His siblings are Layton, 12, Drayden, 6, Gavin, 5, and Annabella, 2...

Hazel Bertha (Ary) Bennett went to be with the Lord, peacefully, on Monday evening, April 8, 2013, in West Plains, Mo. She was born in Oregon County, Mo., on Jan. 3, 1918, as one of nine children of the late James H. Ary and Leona (Janes) Ary, and was a lifelong resident of Thayer, Mo...

Norbert L. "Woody" Wudarcki was born in Pontiac, Mich. on July 16, 1926, son of Lawrence and Mary (Walerych) Wudarcki. He departed this life on April 7, 2013, at the Fulton County Hospital in Salem, Ark., at the age of 86 years, 8 months, and 22 days...

Hazel B. Bennett, 95, of West Plains, Mo., formerly of Thayer, Mo., died on Monday, April 8, 2013 at the Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains, Mo. Arrangements by the Carter Funeral Home of Thayer, Mo. Etta Ashley, 70, of Cave City, Ark., died on Monday, April 8, 2013 at Little Rock. Arrangements by the Qualls Funeral Home of Cave City, Ark...

Mildred L. Murphy was born the daughter of Edwin Files and Odie (Huffman) Files on May 6, 1928 in Koshkonong, Mo., and departed this life April 7, 2013 at Shady Oaks Healthcare Center in Thayer, Mo. at the age of 84 years. She was united in marriage on July 21, 1948 in Thayer, Mo. to Harold Murphy who preceded her in death on November 9, 1996...

Ben Whitaker, 95, a resident of Cherokee Village, Ark. for the past 35 years, and formerly of Memphis, passed away on Monday, April 8, 2013 at the Fulton County Hospital in Salem, Ark. He was born June 19, 1917 in Shelby County, Tenn. to the late William Ben, Sr. ...

I have been asked many times by readers how I come up with topics for the columns and stories I write. My answer is always the same -- the people in my life and the community provide more content than I could hope to write in a lifetime. This last week was a prime example of my reason for having spent my entire life in this area, and never longed to live anywhere else...

Dear Editor, Our Community Observes Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Denim Day April is Sexual assault Awareness Month, a nationally recognized time dedicated to raising awareness about and promoting prevention of sexual violence. During this month, Christos House will be joining with people throughout the state and the nation to focus the public's attention on this important issue...

Dear Editor, The employees of Safe Passage have been an invaluable resource for some of our patients who have come to our hospital after they have lived through an episode of domestic violence. There is a high incidence of domestic abuse in our area and Safe Passage employees have come to the hospital, at my request, to council with the patients and, if needed, take them to the Safe Passage Safe House...

Mammoth Spring has been named a 2012 Tree City USA for the eighth straight year. Tree City USA is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation to recognize Mammoth Spring's commitment to effective urban forest management. It is recognized for having a tree-care ordinance, a tree board and an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita...

The Mammoth Spring Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2831 and Ladies Auxiliary invite the community to participate in the Loyalty Day Parade and program. Loyalty Day activities will be Saturday, April 27. The theme for this year's parade is "Serving from the Heart for Veterans -- America's Precious Gems." There will be cash prizes awarded to the floats. ...

Dedication to academic success in high school has earned Quaid Turner, son of Brian and Jessica Chester, of Alton, and Eric Turner, of Myrtle, a Red and Black Scholarship in the amount of $500 per year to attend the University of Central Missouri. The Red and Black Scholarship is awarded to incoming UCM freshmen based upon their high school cumulative grade point average and ACT composite score. ...

Spring is here and it's time to renew healthy lifestyle habits! Join Ozarks Medical Center Executive Chef and former Branson Caterer Mark Litzau for a delicious, healthy meal from 6 to 7 p.m. on April 25 at the newly remodeled Parkway Education Center off Porter Wagoner Boulevard in West Plains...

American patriotism and self-reliance are the themes of the free Ozarks Freedom Festival at Koshkonong City Park on April 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by the Commonsense Property Rights Coalition in Oregon County, the family friendly event will feature speakers on topics including rights of landowners, firearms freedom, food freedom and how to express your opinion to your elected representatives...

The Shiloh Baptist Church of Rover presents Steve Chapman on Saturday, April 20 at the Rover Gun Club. Chapman is an author and outdoorsman. Family activities will begin at 2:00 p.m. A wild game meal will be served at 4:00 p.m. Chapman will speak, following the meal at 6:00 p.m. This event is free to public. Please bring your own lawn chairs. For more information, call Bro. Charles Allen at (417) 293-0056, Rover Gun Club at (417) 293-9020 or Fred Palmer at (417) 293-6435...

The George D. Hay Music Theater of Mammoth Spring will present Buzzard Run Bluegrass in concert on Saturday, April 20 at 7 p.m. The theater is located just south of Mammoth Spring, on Highway 63. Look for the sign. For information on upcoming shows, go to www.georgedhay.com...

The Missouri State Fair is collecting amateur photographs of women engaged in agricultural-related activities for a new Faces of Missouri Women in Agriculture Photo Tribute Display. Fair Director Mark Wolfe said the display will be showcased at the State Fair to be held Aug. 8-18 in Sedalia...

The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff is offering free credit monitoring for up to 589 Veterans whose personal information, including social security numbers, was discovered in a box that had been in an unoccupied storage room from December 2011 to its discovery this week...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) continues the fight against invasive feral hogs in Missouri. In Southeast Region, the MDC and public land partners have eradicated 165 hogs from public lands in Reynolds, Iron, Wayne, Stoddard and Pemiscot Counties. An additional 6 hogs were reported taken by private landowners...

The Missouri State University-West Plains University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department will host a lifeguard course April 29 through May 4 at the West Plains Civic Center. The course is part of the Jeff Ellis and Associates International Lifeguard Training Program (ILTP). Candidates must pass a written exam with a score of 80 percent or higher, pass individual technical performance exams and pass simulation practical exams to qualify for licensing...

April's showers and flowers make it the perfect month to celebrate gardening. During National Garden Month, you can reflect on all the benefits gardening brings beyond the fruit, produce or flowers that grow, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist...

Thayer High School graduate Chelsea Ehret spent her Spring Break differently than most college students. Ehret, a junior at Missouri University of Science and Technology, was one of 30 students from Missouri S&T who spent her spring vacation doing service work in Biloxi, Miss...

It's a Salem High tradition! The annual Putting on the Hits lip sync contest will be held on Friday, April 19 at 7 p.m. in the Salem High School gym. Admission is $2, and everyone is invited to join the fun. There will also be a silent auction and raffle drawing to raise money for the event sponsor, the Salem Band Boosters...

The "Music in the Mountains Show" will kick off spring by welcoming a variety of talent Saturday night, April 20 at 6 p.m. at the Horseshoe Bend Theatre in the lower level of the Diamond B Mall. Headlining this month's show will be MITM favorites Penny Wolfe, best known for her bluesy vocals, Robert Hutcheson and son Joe of Evening Shade, classic country performer Bonnie Sweet of Hardy, Amy Clemmons Brown of Sherwood, along with the Hwy. 289 Band and the Music in the Mountain cast...

National Volunteer Week, celebrated April 21 through 27, has special significance for the Fulton County Extension Service. Three affiliated groups -- Extension Homemakers, 4-H, and Master Gardeners - account for nearly 200 volunteers in the county. All three groups share common missions of education, leadership and community service...

According to National Weather Service investigators, a Wednesday evening, April 10 storm at Botkinburn in Van Buren County was definitely a tornado, but the storm which hit Horseshoe Bend was not. Radar showed a storm moving through Izard County into Fulton County had rotation in it, a sign of a possible tornado. ...

Facing losing a valued deputy to another county, Fulton County Sheriff Buck Foley made a proposal to create a Criminal Investigator position in his department at the Monday, April 8, meeting of Quorum Court. But even though the proposal would not cost the county any additional revenue, it touched off a heated discussion that did not lead to a decision...

Hayden and Louise Wiseman of Wiseman, Ark. recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married on April 7, 1953 in Salem, Ark. They are the parents of four children: Marsha Fletcher of Wiseman, Ark., Lindel (Jody) Wiseman of Wiseman, Ark., Sherry Corbishley of Jonesboro, Ark., and Cheryl Ekenes of Horseshoe Bend, Ark. TheWisemans have five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren with a new arrival coming in June...

Kay L. Robinson and Joshua W. Bennett were united in marriage on March 6, 2013 in a private ceremony. Kay is the daughter of Jeff Robinson and Regina Boatman of Bradford, Ark. She attended high school at Bradford and is continuing her education at UACCB in Batesville...

Patty Short Neal of Sturkie has been elected president of the Fulton County Heritage Foundation. The foundation met Monday to reorganize, elect officers and discuss plans to raise funds to replace the roof at the Old Main campus in Salem. In addition to Neal, officers include Carol Langston of Salem, vice president; Glenda Plumlee of Salem, secretary; and Teresa Bassham Brichacek of Pleasant Hill, Mo., treasurer...

The North Central District Fair Horse Show was held March 28 at Melbourne with 25 exhibitors and 42 entries. The following classes were won: Miniature Horses -- First Gwyneth Figgins, Second Kaylee Jo Guthrie, Third Emily Rice, Fourth Daniel Stapleton and Fifth Brinley Brink; Pony Class -- First Dalaney Harris, Second Shaina Manning, Third Zachery Collins, Fourth Emma Brink, Fifth Gwyneth Figgins and Sixth Daniel Stapleton; Geldings -- First Brayden Perkey, Second Robert Stapleton, Third Daleney Harris, Fourth Kyle Manning, Grand Brayden Perkey and Reserve Robert Stapleton; Mares -- First and Grand Shaina Manning, Second and Reserve Zachery Collins, Third Morgan Warren, Fourth Brayden Perkey and Fifth Dalaney Harris; Gaited Geldings -- First and Grand Robert Stapleton; Gaited Mares -- First and Grand Morgan Warren, Second Kyle Manning and Third Shaina Manning; Pee Wee Showmanship -- First Daniel Stapleton, Second Austin Manning and Third Emma Brink; Junior Showmanship -- First Brayden Perkey, there were nine in the class; Senior Showmanship -- First Shaina Manning. ...

The entry deadline for the Fulton County Homecoming Pageant is Monday, April 22. The pageant will be conducted by Zeta Omicron Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi and winners will be honored during the Fulton County Homecoming Festival Memorial Day weekend. The pageant will have eight divisions for girls age 6 months to 21 years of age, and for boys age 6 months to 6 years of age. ...

Supporters of the Jenny Gray Memorial Scholarship are raising money for the scholarship for Salem High School graduates by taking orders for smoked pork butts and ribs. The cost is $25 for an average 8 to 10 pound butt or slab of ribs. To place an order, call 870-371-0613 or 870-710-0441. Orders will be taken through Friday, April 26. Pickup will be at the Salem Drug Company on Saturday, May 4, from 9 to 11 a.m...

The 23rd Annual Buddy Bass Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 20 to benefit the Friends of Horseshoe Bend Animals. Held on Crown Lake in Horseshoe Bend, the Box Hound Marina, Resort and R.V. Park will serve as headquarters and host for the tournament. ...

The Fulton County Diabetic Support Group will meet on Thursday, April 25 at noon at the Hickinbotham-Miller building at the Fulton County Fairgrounds. A healthy meal will be served free of charge. Please RSVP to 895-3301 for the meal. The Diabetic Support Group is sponsored by the Fulton County Cooperative Extension Service. For information, contact MaLinda Coffman at 895-3301...

The Hair Hut will host two slow pitch softball tournaments on Saturday, May 18 at the Fulton County Sports Complex. The first game will begin at 9 a.m. The two divisions will be 14 to 18 year old co-ed teams, and 19 and up co-ed teams. The fee is $100 per team, and the entry deadline is May 3...

Application forms are now available at Salem City Hall for the 2013 Summer Sewer Rate Program, which assists residential water and sewer customers who water lawns and gardens, May through September. Residential customers who sign up will be billed for sewer services during the summer months based on their sewer service charge in March of this year, which is considered an average month, giving them a break from charges for additional water usage from watering lawns and gardens...

The Garden Club of Horseshoe Bend will hold its Annual Spring Plant, White Elephant and Bake Sale on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the lower level of the Diamond "B" Mall. Special values on spring plants for the garden will be offered with many varieties on display. ...

The Agnos Cemetery Association will hold a clean up day on Saturday, April 20 at 8 a.m. Everyone is invited to bring tools and pitch in. Help is very much needed. In case of rain, the cleanup day will be moved to Saturday, April 27, at 8 a.m. Donations for maintenance of the cemetery are also much needed. They can be mailed to Agnos Cemetery Association Secretary Faye Bishop, 10606 Highway 62 East, Agnos, Ark. 72513...

Christy Himschoot recently accepted the position of executive director of Sharp County Community Foundation, a local affiliate office of Arkansas Community Foundation (ARCF). "We've already been so impressed by Christy's eagerness to serve and improve Sharp County," said Heather Larkin, ARCF President and CEO. "Her genuine commitment to the community makes her a great fit to lead our efforts to build local philanthropy in Sharp County."...

The Mt. Pleasant Elementary campus will hold its Kindergarten registration on Friday, April 26 at the school's Kindergarten room, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To be eligible for Kindergarten, a child must be five years of age on or before August 1, 2013. The following items will be needed for registration: a physical screening development assessment, a record of current immunizations, a social security number and birth certificate...

The Institutional Professional Development Committee of Ozarka College will offer "Customer Service," a presentation by Jason Lawrence, vice president of administration at Ozarka College, on Friday, April 19, from 1-2 p.m. in the John E. Miller Education Complex Lecture Hall on the Melbourne campus...

Seven Izard County High School students won state awards in the 2013 Statewide Laws of Life Essay Contest sponsored by the Arkansas Better Business Bureau. The theme of the essays was, What Matters Most In Life. The Izard County students woååçn seven of the 16 state awards presented in the awards ceremony held at Hendrix College in Conway on April 9. ...

On April 20, local photographer Clark Sanders (Clark Sanders Photography, Inc.) will join with PPA Charities (the philanthropic arm of Professional Photographers of America) to promote "Celebration of Smiles Day." This national fundraising effort will benefit Operation Smile, which treats children around the world who suffer with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities...

The Izard County Athletic Department will sponsor a three person golf scramble at the Course on Turkey Mountain in Horseshoe Bend on Saturday, April 27, starting at 9 a.m. Complimentary coffee and doughnuts will be provided beginning at 8 a.m. Lunch will be available during the tournament. The entry fee is $120 per team and will be limited to the first 40 teams to enter...

An ongoing powerpoint study of Middle Eastern history and geography is being taught by retired teacher Dr. Diana Haselman. The class meets on Thursdays from one to two p.m. at the Ash Flat Church of Christ. Texts being used are the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. Handouts will be provided...

There will be a community outrecah fish fry dinner Saturday, April 27 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Ash Flat Church of Christ and the public is invited to attend.

Corbie Eugene Smith, of Salem was arrested on April 5 for Domestic Battering Third Degree and Violation of an Order of Protection, following a domestic dispute. Matthew Arnold of Salem was arrested on April 4 for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia...

Joshua Dewaine Scholl, 24, was arrested at Oxford on April 13 on Minnesota warrants including failing to register as a sex offender. Scholl is awaiting extradition to Minnesota. David Eugene Thomas, 71, of Oxford was arrested on April 9 for criminal mischief. Thomas is accused of shooting and destroying a lawn figurine of a next door neighbor. Thomas was released after making a court appearance...

A Sharp County man has been sentenced in Sharp County Circuit Court in a case that made national news in February of 2012, after he was accused of chaining his 11-year-old step-daughter to a bed for five weeks while his wife was in New York. Michael Gilman was arrested on Feb.17, 2012 after his step-daughter made a call to a Sharp County 911 dispatcher and had a lengthy conversation about being mistreated by Gilman, including telling her she was chained to a bed in her home...

About 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, Brian Sanderson began setting up two large meat smokers at the edge of the Salem square. By 8 a.m. on April 12, 64 pork butts, weighing in at 550 pounds, were looking good, as Sanderson was engulfed in a cloud of smoke after lifting the lid to check them...

Photos/Richard Irby Strong winds made cool temperatures even colder on Friday, April 12, making selling and shopping a challenge during the first day of Salem's City Wide Yard sale. Many headed indoors to the Fulton County Fairgrounds which was holding a flea market inside the Hickinbotham-Miller Exhibit Building. ...

Tammy Curtis Managing Editor When mother nature pummeled the area with large amounts of rain on April 10, the area suffered some damage to buildings as unseasonably warm temperatures spawned nasty thunderstorms and maybe a tornado or two. It didn't take long after driving down Highway 58 toward Sidney to see the damage from the previous night's storm -- twisted red metal wrapped around the top of a utility pole gave an idea of how bad the weather was. ...

The April 4 meeting of the Three Rivers Firefighters Association meeting drew a good crowd, partly because where the meeting was held. Area firefighters have been anxious to get a good look at Ash Flat's new fire headquarters and the meeting in the new facility was their chance. After the meeting, members of the Ash Flat Fire Department followed a long standing firefighter tradition and pushed one of their fire trucks into its new home...

It is very important that all dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies. Dogs and cats can come in contact with rabid wild animals. It is a state law making it mandatory to vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies once a year by a licensed veterinarian. Dogs and cats need to be three (3) months old...

Proud parents, grandparents and other family members packed into the A.L. Hutson Center on Tuesday, April 9 for the 15th Annual Highland Student Art Show, sponsored by the ladies of the GFWC Timely Club. Works of art from students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade were framed and displayed in a gallery-like setting for the public's viewing pleasure. Children of all ages were wearing big smiles as they directed their parents to their artwork...

For many parents, the thought of science fair projects evokes moans and groans as the grownups normally end up doing as much of the project as the child, including purchasing supplies and searching the Internet for ideas. This year, teachers at Cherokee Elementary School required their students to construct their projects at school with teachers' assistance...

The Ozarka College is currently accepting applications for its Ozarka College Automotive Service and Culinary Arts classes. To enroll, students can apply for admission either online at www.ozarka.edu or by completing a paper application available at any of the four campuses in Melbourne, Ash Flat, Mammoth Spring or Mountain View. ...

Brandon Davis, 32, of Williford was arrested April 1 for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia. Brad Hackworth, 38, of Imboden was arrested April 1 for terroristic threatening and harassment. Sabrina Pettis, 42, of Williford was arrested April 1 for DUI...

Students from Mrs. Sha's Preschool in Ash Flat come out to show off their teeshirts for National Children's Week. The preschool will be celebrating the week with a variety of events during the week of April 15-19. The annual week is set aside for children and their families to take part in activities honoring children. Shalynn Lane is the owner of the preschool...

A group of nearly 40 local residents gathered April 10 at Cherokee Village to discuss ideas for the third season of the Spring River Farmer's Market, which will include a big change -- relocation to the Cherokee Village Town Center. Sharp County Extension Agent Joe Moore addressed the group and introduced guest speaker Ron Rainey, an associate professor at the University of Arkansas Agriculture division...

GFWC International, formed on April 24, 1890, is the parent organization of GFWC of Arkansas. The group is one of the largest and oldest nondenominational service organizations of women in the world, with millions of members in the United States and throughout the world. ...