Stories from Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Former Shannon County deputy, Richard Lee O’Dell, 43, of Alton, was arrested Friday, Sept. 7 and charged with four counts of sexual contact with a prisoner dating from Oct. 25 to Nov. 5, 2016. The woman disclosed her story to investigators in which allegedly, O’Dell came into her cell while she was incarcerated and traded methamphetamine for sexual favors. ...

On Wednesday, Sept. 5 at approximately 11:37 p.m., Thayer Fire Department was dispatched to a residential fire on Airport Rd just outside of Thayer. Thayer Fire Department requested law enforcement assistance after discovering a deceased subject inside the residence. This is an ongoing investigation with the Oregon County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri State Fire Marshall and Thayer Police Department...

The City of Mammoth Spring held its regular monthly meeting Monday, Sept. 10 to discuss concerns of citizens and other city business. Alderwoman Baker read a loud the minutes from the August meeting. Included in this report were the bids for propane. The bid from Izard County was accepted at $1.25...

The stabilization of the Surprise Schoolhouse was a success as the project ended recently. “Historicorps did an amazing job pulling the historic school back together. All that is left to do for this phase of the restoration is to anchor the beams to the ground which will be done this fall,” said David Cain, Zone Archaeologist with United States Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest...

Horse riding is a favorite pastime for many and the Missouri Ozarks is home to more than 390 miles of trail for residents and visitors to enjoy. There are many trails accessible for horse riding located in the Eleven Point Ranger District listed on the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service website...

It is still officially summer, yet fall is in the air and officially just a little more than one week away, which means upcoming fall festivals. The first upcoming event will be Myrtle Yester-Daze on Saturday, Sept. 29, which will begin at 7 a.m. with the flag raising ceremony and singing of the National Anthem. ...

Robert “Bob” L. Russell, 75, of Hardy, Ark., died Aug. 2 at the Fulton County Hospital in Salem. Arrangements are under the direction of Wortham Funeral Home in Highland. Belinda Dian Baldwin, 55, of Oxford, Ark., died Aug. 31 in Oxford. Arrangements are under the direction of Barker Funeral Home in Salem...

Robert “Bob” L. Russell, age 75, of Hardy, Ark., passed away on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018 at Fulton County Hospital. He was born on Oct. 5, 1942 to the late Robert Floyd Russell and the late Catherine (Clarke) Russell in Hardy. Robert is survived by his wife, Sherlian Kay French-Russell of the home; his son, Randell “Randy” (Melissa) Russell of Batesville, Ark.; his daughter, Patricia Dailey of Hardy; grandchildren: Leslie (Eric) Holcomb, Randa (Brandon) Garlin and Quinton Russell all of Batesville; great-grandchildren: Raelee and Rushel Holcomb and Kaden, Randon, Kendall and Brinley Garlin all of Batesville; brothers: Floyd Russell of Hardy; John (Anita) Russell of Mustang, Okla. ...

Olen Russell celebrated his 97th birthday at Shady Oaks Nursing Home.

Kathlin Rhea White, of Alamo, Tenn., daughter of Kevin White, of Crockett Mills, Tenn. and Charlotte White, of Alamo, Tenn., and Adam Christopher Hamaker, of Jackson, Tenn., son of Keith and Donna Hamaker, of Hot Springs, Ark., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. White is the granddaughter of Perrylin Harber, of Alamo, Tenn. and Raymond Abel, of Humboldt, Tenn. Hamaker is the grandson of Betty Lou Peebles, of Cave City, Ark...

Fulton County Quorum Court passed the ordinance which will allow a special election, with a purpose to increase sales tax in the county for additional funds to operate the sheriff’s department, in December at its monthly meeting held Monday, Sept. 10...

Fulton County District Court Judge Johnnie Copeland and District Court Clerk Brandon Holder recently announced they are now accepting credit card payments. Copeland said a credit card machine has been set up at court to accept payments from people who wanted to make payments when they received their fine amounts. “They could do that at the sheriff’s department as well, but the system wasn’t working as good as we wanted to work,” said Copeland...

Horseshoe Bend has a new family friendly recreational place offering free games to spend Friday and Saturday nights – Our Place – Home of the Dogg House in the lower end of Diamond B Mall. Our Place offers free coffee, karaoke, pool, ping pong, chess, Trivial Pursuit, dominoes, dancing and more, along with live DJ music on Friday and Saturday nights. There is no cover charge and no charge for the games. In addition, Our Place is also a wifi hot spot...

North Arkansas Family Clinic at Fulton County Hospital will host Patient Appreciation Day on Tuesday, Sept. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. Nurse practitioners, Renee Crowl and Venita Ninemire, are excited about the opportunity to mingle with their patients, and possible future patients...

Families from all over the United States traveled to Southside Labor Day weekend to participate in the Exceptional Abilities Pageant. According to founder, Stacy Pretty, there are no judges and anyone of any age, no matter their disability may participate...

In the July 18 edition of the Villager Journal, an article titled “Local Business Threatened for Hosting Karaoke” was published. The article stemmed, local business owner Barbara Conway of Rhythm and Brews in Hardy, recieiving multiple phone calls and threatening letters from an organization known as the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), after a video was posted of karaoke taking place in her establishment...

Charges have officially been filed by Special Prosecutor John “Jack” McQuary against Cherokee Village Police Officer Josh Trivitt, 45, of Agnos. According to the paperwork filed Sept. 7 at the Sharp County Courthouse, the charge of battery in the second degree, a class D felony, has been filed...

John Keith Duncan, of Highland, is facing two felony charges after threatening family members with a firearm. According to a report from the Highland Police Department, Officer Jeff Hamilton was contacted by dispatch regarding a child being hit with a stick by his father...

The Sharp County Extension Council Committee held their annual meeting Aug. 30 in order to begin planning events and prioritizing projects for the upcoming year which will run from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2019. According to Chelsea Conway, the sub-committees of Family Consumer Science, 4-H, Agriculture and Economic Development, were able to brainstorm and discuss the information which was presented during the Aug. 30 meeting...

Centennial Bank of Highland recently donated $1,000 to the New Beginnings Pregnancy Help Center in Ash Flat for their 8th annual Fundraising Dinner. The funds will be used for the underwriting expenses of their annual fundraising banquet. The First Baptist Church in Cherokee Village will host the event on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m...

The second annual Treasures in the Ozarks, slated for Sept. 22-23 at the Hardy Civic Center, is quickly approaching and show director Tracie Moore said vendor spaces are filling up quickly. “The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m that Saturday and from 10 a.m. ...

The Food Bank of North Central Arkansas [FBNCA] will host their annual Bridge Bash event slated for Sept. 22 on the Arkansas State University Campus of Mountain Home. According to Jeff Quick, chief executive officer for the FBNCA, Bridge Bash is a multi purpose event in which volunteers can make a difference and the community can support and participate in the success of the fight against hunger...