Stories from Wednesday, June 27, 2018

The Fulton County Hospital Board met in regular session on Monday, June 25 at 5 p.m. First order of business was to review the financials for May, which showed the hospital had a loss of $96,088, but was maintaining a positive balance of $781,105 for the year. ...

The sinkhole on Spring River near Saddler Falls in Fulton County has received a lot of attention, and rightfully so as the dangerous whirlpool claimed the life of a Searcy man June 9. Shortly after the drowning, officers with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission released a statement regarding the sinkhole on the river and asked everyone to use caution when floating Spring River and to avoid the area near Saddler Falls...

New Viola Masonic Lodge #741 honored two community leaders Monday, June 25. The lodge recognized Danny Perryman and Jackie Estes and they were each presented with an inaugural “Outstanding Citizen Award.” Worshipful Master JB Etheridge welcomed a packed house, and drew out the anticipation a little while longer, as Perryman and Estes were unaware they were receiving recognition, even though the lodge was filled with family and friends of each man...

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative will host a blood drive Thursday, June 28, at the co-op’s headquarters at 225 South Main Street in Salem. American Red Cross employees will be in the Orange Room from 1 to at least 5 p.m. Anyone who would like to reserve a donation time may visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “NAECS” to find the drive. Walk-ins also are welcome...

Fulton County Water Authority users will see a $1 base-rate increase to the first 1,000 gallons of water used beginning July 1. This increase will raise the base rate from $21.50 to $22.50 for residential meters and from $24.50 to $25.50 for those with 1-inch commercial and farm meters. The base rate for those with 2-inch commercial and farm meters will increase from $35 to $36 for the first 1,000 gallons. Increases will be reflected on August statements...

Jennifer Collins, 56, the woman accused of attacking a woman in her care, pled guilty to murder in the second degree, before Judge Harold Erwin June 20. She was immediately taken into custody by Sheriff Mark Counts following her sentencing which included 240 months (20 years) in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, a $2,500 fine and 120 months (10 years) suspended sentence...

A Cherokee Village woman has started a petition to effect change in regards to insurance and how insurance companies serve families with children who suffer from Mitochondrial Disease. According to Cori Redeker, who has a daughter, Libby, who suffers from Mitochondrial Disease, presently, what is known as the “mito cocktail” is not covered by certain insurance providers...

Some changes have recently taken place at Fountain Place, the non-profit Christian Independent Living facility located in Cherokee Village. James Sanders, acting manager at Fountain Place, said the facility is looking to re-introduce itself to the community, become more involved and also to offer their services to those who may be seeking place to relocate to and call “home”...

Jerrett Stanford, the man who led authorities on a manhunt lasting several days, was apprehended June 22 by Ravenden Police Chief Tim McComas and Sharp County Deputy Stan Haney. According to McComas, Haney had pinged Stanford’s cell phone the morning of the day he was apprehended and the ping had registered that Stanford was located in West Plains...

If you’re looking for something to do to celebrate Independence Day in Sharp County this coming week, there are no shortage of events and activities to attend. Here is a schedule of events for the area. The Hardy Independence Celebration will take place June 30 from 3 p.m., until dark. According to event chair, Freda Mae Gamblin, there will be several food vendors and children’s activities throughout the day...

Medical Marijuana in the State of Arkansas will once again move forward after the decision to overturn a previous ruling ceasing the issuance of cultivation facility licenses was made by the Arkansas Supreme Court June 21. Although the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration; Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division and Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission had completed the selection process to grant licenses to five applicants earlier this year, Judge Wendell L. ...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce held their regular monthly meeting June 19 at Gramma’s Country Kitchen in Hardy. Speaker for the meeting was Graycen Bigger, with the Spring River Innovation Hub. “I talked about this a little bit last year, but this was a project some of my colleagues have been dreaming about since about 2015 and I’ve been working on for about two years now. ...