Stories from Wednesday, March 25, 2015

The city of Highland will hold its first trash pick-up on Saturday, April 11, from 9 a.m. to noon. In efforts to encourage a volunteer base for the city and clean up the streets, city recorder/treasurer Mary Wiles and city clerk Melissa Bradshaw are heading up the Saturday morning trash pick-up...

Ash Flat is moving into the new year with a few changes including some new jobs and making the decision to purchase more efficient equipment for the city's water, sewer and street departments. The city met in their regular monthly meeting March 17 with several items of business on the agenda...

Moving recycling back to town center, bids for the city's rock and new jobs topped the agenda at Cherokee Village City Council's monthly meeting March 19. The meeting was opened with a letter thanking Cherokee Village Police Chief Rick Crook for assisting a man during the recent snow who had been ill and a letter from the late Mayor LLoyd Hefley's family thanking the city for the flowers for their father's funeral...

Sidney came alive with green this weekend for their 62 annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. The community came out to participate in this day long festival. Events included a BBQ cook off, poker run, pitch tournament, 5K Run and a parade that featured antique tractors. Live music was provided by Robert Hutchison and son and Justin Wilson and The Sharp County Outlaws. Venders sold items including, hand made woodwork, honey and other items...

Taxes when you buy a vehicle, taxes at the pump, now the possibility of taxes for how many miles a vehicle is driven. Could this be in the future for Arkansans, many of who live in very rural areas and must drive many miles daily to work? House Bill 1716 aims to pass legislation to allow the State Highway Commission to implement a pilot program that charges drivers based on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) was approved by the House Public Transportation Committee. ...

A proposal to hire a temporary, one-month recorder/treasurer for the city of Hardy was shot down by the council at its meeting on March 17. A long discussion about what is best for the city to be more organized took place regarding the issue. Reports from department heads were also heard at the meeting...

Photo/Kim Break Melvino the Clown, from the Kelly Miller Circus, put on a show at the Cherokee Village Elementary on Thursday, March 19 to promote the circus, which is coming to Ash Flat on April 2 presented by the Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce. Melvino made several stops throughout the county encouraging Sharp County residents to come out and enjoy the circus...

Cliff Hawkins, Thayer High School principal, was just trying to help a family and not looking for any recognition in return, however; recognition is what he received when one of his teachers nominated him for a statewide honor, the Everyday Hero Award...

The Couch/Myrtle community has seen the rise and fall of Indian Country Junction, a convenience store located at the corner of 142 East and E Highways, just a few hundred feet away from the Couch School. New owners of the convenience store are up and running and plan to make a successful business out of the place...

On Sunday, March 15 Oregon County Deputy, Donnie Jeffers responded to a domestic disturbance call, which led to the arrest of Greg Rackley, 35, of Myrtle. Rackley has been charged with a class B felony of domestic assault in the first degree. Oregon County Sheriff's Department received a phone call from victim Jennifer Rutledge that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend, Rackley, at their home in the Myrtle area. ...

Photo Submitted/ Bob Eckman Kiddie Korral Daycare and Learning Center L.L.C. in Thayer held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, March 3 with the Thayer Area Chamber of Commerce. Co-owners and staff were on hand for the ribbon cutting along with members of the chamber...

Photo Submitted Misty Hower won the November election to serve as the Oregon County Collector, but she was officially sworn in by County Clerk, Tracy Bridges on Friday, Feb. 27 when Jerry Richardson retired after 28 years.

Thayer City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, March 17 to tackle several agenda items, all of which the council hopes will improve the city. Issues under old business were resolved, such as approving repairs for well number three, while the issue of storing salt for the winter months for the Street Department was postponed until estimated costs and possibilities could be researched...

Fulton County is moving forward in the long anticipated further development of the Fulton County Recreational Complex located off Highway 9 North. This has been an ongoing process, started in 2006 by former judge Charles Willett. The athletic committee will be ready to begin phase three in development as soon as funds allow...

An Oxford man is behind bars after attempting to kill police officers with a machete when they responded to a domestic violence call at his home. Timothy Copes, 34, was arrested March 24 on charges of criminal attempt (capital murder)-three counts and battery in the second degree...

The Salem School Board's monthly meeting began after establishing a quorum and approving the 2013-2014 audit on March. One area that was addressed in the audit was the lack of ability to segregate duties as well as needed due to the size of the number of people that work in the district. ...

Harold Paul Adams was born in Heart, Arkansas, July 14, 1936, son of Chester Abraham and Otha Alberta (Cooper) Adams. He departed this life Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at Fulton County Hospital in Salem, Ark., at the age of 78 years, 7 months and 13 days...