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Private landowners, tribes, land trusts and other groups wanting to restore and protect critical wetlands and protect agricultural lands and grasslands through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) have until Dec.31, 2021, to apply for funding consideration during the 2022 enrollment period. The deadline is for the Wetlands Reserve Easements and Agricultural Land Easements programs...

The Williams women’s basketball team defeated the Baptist Bible College Lady Patriots 89-71 on Saturday afternoon behind Taylor Freeman’s career high 34 points to go along with 15 rebounds and 7 assists. With the win, the Lady Eagles are now 4-5 on the season...

Lady Longhorns came out on top in a Conference match-up with Concord at the Corral on Friday night. Advancing their Conference Record to 2-0, overall Record 3-4. Viola 22 17 11 5 55 Concord 4 0 6 6 16 Stats played out as follows:  AJ McCandlis was 6- 8 from the 3 point line in the first half. She finished with 18...

Melbourne saw its football season come to an end in the second round of the state 3A playoffs Friday night.  The matchup between Melbourne and the overall number 2 ranked team in 3A McGehee started quickly for the Bearkatz. After winning the coin toss, Melbourne would strike first on a third and long with a touchdown reception for Junior Malachi Cruz for 69 yards.  Freshman kicker Fernando Ventura nailed the point after for a Bearkatz lead of 7-0.  However, the McGehee Owls would answer back on their first play after the kickoff to tie the score.  At the end of the first quarter the score was knotted at 7.  Melbourne matched the Owls in the first quarter and early in the second quarter but missed scoring opportunities and penalties later in the second quarter proved to be too costly.    . ...

The Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly Volleyball team will add some new hardware to the trophy case. The Grizzlies (30-6) downed the Butler College Grizzlies (37-4) from El Dorado, Kansas, 3-1 in the third-place game this evening at the NJCAA Division I Women's National Volleyball Championship Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. The scores were 19-25, 27-25, 25-12, 25-18. ...

The Viola Lady Longhorns played a good old-fashioned barn burner at the Viola Corral on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at home with Western Grove. Though they didn’t come out on top, they played a hard fought game. Sophomore Audrey Newberry hit the go ahead three with 4.5 seconds left on the clock to give Viola a 50-49 lead. Western Grove however, would get fouled under the basket as time expired. Western Grove’s Macy Young hit two free throws to give the Warriors the 51-50 win...

A sound victory on Friday, Nov. 12 for Melbourne sends the Bearkatz to the second round of the 3A State Football Playoffs where they will be matched up against the McGehee Owls. The Katz began scoring early in the first quarter and continued to pound out multiple touchdowns all the way to the half-time buzzer, while shutting out the Perryville Mustangs in the first half...

Mammoth Spring Senior Girls lost to Marmaduke (80-66). Brynn Washam scored 20 points, Chevelle Graves scored 14 points and Laney Young had 11 points. Lady Bears are now 6-2.  Mammoth Spring Senior Boys lost to Bay in a close game (63-62). Gavin Boddie scored 18 points,...

Top harvest counties for opening weekend were Franklin, Texas, and Benton. Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 89,861 deer during opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season Nov. 13 and 14. Of the 89,861 deer harvested, 54,415 were antlered bucks, 7,187 were button bucks and 28,259 were does...

MDC collected more than 18,700 tissue samples during opening weekend for CWD testing. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) thanks the many deer hunters who participated in its mandatory sampling efforts in 34 counties Nov. 13 and 14 to find cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in harvested deer. Thanks to hunter participation, MDC collected tissue samples of lymph nodes from more than 18,700 hunter-harvested deer for CWD testing...

Getting your deer tested for chronic wasting disease not only is free through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, it might even land you a free hunting and fishing for life. Thanks to a donation from the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, every Arkansas resident who has their harvested deer tested for CWD this year will be entered to win one of two gift certificates for a free Resident Sportsman’s Lifetime Combination License and Permit. ...

Native to Europe, the German brown trout found in the tailwaters of Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork and Greers Ferry dams, typically start their spawning run during fall and winter, offering die-hard anglers a chance at some fantastic fishing. But biologists ask anglers to keep a conservation mindset when chasing these gems of the tailwater so everyone will be able to enjoy them for years to come...

Cave City finished the season with a 6-5 record. The Cavemen were 4-3 in Conference. Shiloh’s record moved to 10-1 with the 48-7 score. Cave City was 4-2 at home and 2-3 away. Cave City scored 272 points and allowed 275 points. Shiloh Christian scored 6 points in the first quarter. ...

MDC is holding mandatory CWD sampling during opening weekend of the November portion of deer season for hunters who harvest deer in MDC CWD Management Zone counties. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds deer hunters that it will be holding mandatory CWD sampling during opening weekend of the November portion of firearms season, Nov. 13 and 14, for hunters who harvest deer in MDC CWD Management Zone counties...

With less than a month until Arkansas’s regular duck season, many excited hunters are going through old bags of decoys, looking for a reason to freshen up their spread. Instead of pitching those old, shot or faded decoys into the trash, let the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission rehome them and spark some interest in the next generation of waterfowl enthusiasts...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is asking for public input into the next version of its Reservoir Black Bass Management Plan, which is currently on track to be published in spring 2022. Taking only a few minutes to answer three questions can offer tremendous insight into the opinions of anglers and their desires for the future of fishing in Arkansas. The questionnaire is available at www.agfc.com/bassplan...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will again offer a variety of free options to have harvested deer tested for chronic wasting disease during the 2021-22 deer hunting season. In all, 105 testing locations will be available throughout the state to have your deer tested for CWD...

On Friday, Nov. 5, the Cave City Cavemen defeated the Trumann Wildcats 20-13 in conference action at Cave City. The Cavemen’s record stands at 6-4 overall and 4-3 in conference. Cave City is 4-2 at home and 2-2 on the road. Cave City has scored 265 points and allowed 227...

The Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly Basketball season is here! Fans can got their first look at this year’s squad on Saturday, Oct. 30, during a preseason scrimmage against Link Year Prep at the West Plains Civic Center. Admission was free...

Area youngsters entering grades two through eight are invited to participate in the Grizzly Basketball Camp Dec. 20-22 at the West Plains Civic Center. The camp is being hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Jared Phay, Assistant Coach Jason Owens and members of the Grizzly Basketball team. ...

On Fri., Oct. 29, the Thayer Bobcats won their home playoff game against Miller 64-0. The Bobcats’ record is now 7-3 overall and 5-2 in conference. Thayer is 4-0 at home and 3-3 away. The Bobcats have scored 358 points and allowed 180. Up next in the playoffs for Thayer is Ash Grove with a 8-3 overall record and 4-3 in conference. Ash Grove has scored 342 points and allowed 199 points...

The application period to catch and keep a trophy-size Arkansas alligator gar opened Nov. 1 and closes Dec. 31. Only 200 tags will be awarded for the 2022 calendar year. This tag is required to harvest an alligator gar larger than 36 inches. While not truly a dinosaur, the alligator gar was alive during the Cretaceous Period, and individual gar take decades to reach 6 feet long. ...

By Will Clark U of A System Division of Agriculture Nearly half of the nation’s forested lands are foreign owned, which can have broad implications in multiple realms from policy to carbon markets, said Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center...

The Cherokee Village Horseshoe Pitching Association has wrapped up its 2021 season. Next year’s scores will begin being published in May. For more information, call 870-257-2801. Star of the Week 2 Game Score Plus Handicap was Paul Prusak (200). Oct. 25 game winners (Wednesday rain out make-up)...

Cave City’s record moved to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in conference with a road conference win over the Gosnell Pirates 21-0. The Cavemen are 3-2 at home and 2-2 away. Cave City has scored 245 points and allowed opponents 214. Cave City is scheduled to finish the regular season on Friday, Nov. 5, in a home conference game against the Trumann Wildcats (8-2 overall and 5-1 in conference). With the win over Gosnell, Cave City secured a position in the state playoffs...

Area youngsters entering grades two through eight are invited to participate in the Grizzly Basketball Camp Dec. 20-22 at the West Plains Civic Center. The camp is being hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Jared Phay, Assistant Coach Jason Owens and members of the Grizzly Basketball team. ...

On Friday, Oct. 29, the Highland Rebels lost a home conference game to the Westside Warriors 22-18. Westside scored 7 points in the first quarter, and Highland didn’t score. Westside added another 7 points in the second quarter, and Highland scored 12 points, and Westside led at the half 14-12. Highland scored 6 points in the third quarter and led 18-14 at the end of the quarter. Westside scored 8 points in the fourth quarter to make the final score 22-18...

If you’re an investor, you probably enjoy the convenience of managing your accounts online. But you’ll also want to make sure that you’re not making it convenient for hackers, “phishers” and others with bad intentions to gain the same access. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to protect your privacy. Here are a few suggestions offered by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission:...

A colorful longear sunfish will be featured on next year’s Arkansas Conservation License Plate, as announced at the most recent regularly scheduled meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.  The plate, designed by AGFC Graphic Artist Greta James, showcases the color of one of Arkansas’s most charismatic and often overlooked species of gamefish. ...

Melbourne turned its focus to league-leading Harding Academy on Friday night (Oct. 22) in Searcy. The Bearkatz (5-3) lost to Harding by a score of 16-40 to remain ranked third in conference. The opening drive for the Bearkatz ended when Junior Quarterback Trey Wren’s pass intended for Junior Carter Bray was intercepted. ...

The 1A Viola Longhorns opened up their basketball season by traveling to face 2A Marmaduke on Monday, Oct. 18. The Varsity Junior Girls came out with a win while the Longhorns’ Senior Varsity squads came up with a couple losses. The Varsity Senior Boys battled back and forth to the very end, getting beat by a last second basket by their opponent. Senior Landon Luna was high scorer with 27 points...

The use of bait while hunting an area -- including grain or other feed placed or scattered to attract deer or turkey -- is prohibited.  ROLLA, Mo. –  The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters to be aware of baiting regulations during the fall deer and turkey hunting seasons. ...

A colorful longear sunfish will be featured on next year’s Arkansas Conservation License Plate, as announced at the most recent regularly scheduled meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.  The plate, designed by AGFC Graphic Artist Greta James, showcases the color of one of Arkansas’s most charismatic and often overlooked species of gamefish. ...

Stars of the Week 2 Game Score Plus Handicap are Dave Gruger (196) and Ray Hollis (196) Oct. 18 game winners (Wednesday rain out make-up) Pit 1: Prusak and Yanke, 185 Pit 2: Gruger and Harbin, 182 Pit 3: Hollis and Howe, 183 Oct. 22 game winners: Pit 1: Gruger and Clementi, 184...

By Bob Mitchum The Cave City Caveman won their home conference game against Highland Rebels 35-20. Highland scored 6 points in the first quarter. Both teams scored 6 points in the second quarter, and Highland led 12-6. Each team scored 8 points in the third quarter, and Highland led 20-14. Cave City scored 21 points in the fourth quarter and held Highland scoreless making the final score 35-20...

By Bob Mitchum The Cave City Caveman won their home conference game against Highland Rebels 35-20. Highland scored 6 points in the first quarter. Both teams scored 6 points in the second quarter, and Highland led 12-6. Each team scored 8 points in the third quarter, and Highland led 20-14. Cave City scored 21 points in the fourth quarter and held Highland scoreless making the final score 35-20...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Ponca Nature Center will hold its 16th annual Color Fest Fine Art Exhibition, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Oct. 22-23. The event offers an open-air perspective of fascinating work by some of the best artists in the Ozarks...

“Field to Freezer” event will show steps to transform harvested deer into packaged venison. Once a hunter has bagged a deer, the work is only half over. How to field dress it, skin it, process the meat and store it for future tasty meals are skills hunters need to know...

The Highland Rebel Cross Country boys and girls teams both earned first place at the “Race on the Ridge” at Crowley’s Ridge College on Tuesday, Oct. 12. The meet was hosted by Green County Tech. The top 15 runners in each division, boys and girls, earned medalist recognition...