Patch is a young male kitty, mostly white with gray stripes. Cute and playful, he will be the best 10 pounds you’ve ever gained! Come and visit the Cherokee Village Animal Control and find a wonderful friend who will love you no matter what. Call 870-994-4445 for more information...

Babye the miniature horse visited Alton Library on Thursday, April 11, during which, she was greeted by excited preschoolers, with one even reading her a book. Babye is one of the miniature therapy horses at Mini Blessings Farm in Thomasville owned by Jenny Kiest...

Thayer resident, Doris Brown, is looking for assistance with the maintenance of the Veterans Memorial Park located in downtown Thayer. She is looking for able bodied volunteers who would like to help the upkeep of the many beautiful flowers and trees she and her husband, Kenny, have planted and often tend to...

Thayer City Council held their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 9. Council accepted the certified election results and reappointed Chantelle Allison as city clerk, who was sworn in by Mayor Ken Cotham. Allison then swore in the newly elected officials to the council including Ken Cotham as mayor, Stephen Clark, Terry Tillman and Roger Foley for aldermen positions and Janice Tolar as tax collector...

Alton City Council held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, April 8. The March minutes and bills paid and to be paid were reviewed and approved. The results of the recent election were read aloud and the two aldermen, Holly Reese and John Wheeler, were sworn in by City Clerk Amy Harrington...

During a bench trial held Wednesday, April 10, Jason House, of Caulfield, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of his estranged wife, Bobbie McGhee House on Oct. 7, 2016. He was found guilty on seven additional counts including armed criminal action and endangering the welfare of a child...

On Tuesday, April 9 at approximately 22:45 hours [10:45 p.m.], the Thayer Police Department received a report from the Oregon County Sheriff’s Office of multiple gunshots and a male bleeding at 2097 East Adams Street in Thayer. A Thayer officer, a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and an Oregon County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the scene, secured it and rendered aid to the victim. ...

There are many Easter activities for residents to enjoy this weekend. Following is a list of activities. The annual KKountry 95 Easter Egg Hunt will be held Friday, April 19 at 2 p.m. at the Alton ball field. There will be more than 1,000 eggs filled with candy and prizes. The event is for children ages 12 and under. Live bunnies will also be given away. KKountry 95 will broadcast live from noon to 2 p.m...

The Salem Public Schools Board of Directors held their regular monthly meeting April 15. Dr. Guy B. Smith called the meeting to order and a quorum was established. All members were present. The minutes from the March 11 meeting were considered and approved...

Shining Light Food Pantry of Mammoth Spring officially opened for distribution on Monday, April 15. The nonprofit organization is located on Highway 63 South, a few doors down from the Spring Dipper. When asked about the advantages and disadvantages to the new location, pantry volunteer Jennifer Smith stated advantages are there is a little more room in the facility and the land is more level, making it easier to carry food in and out. ...

The “This is How I Fight my Battles Benefit” for Brenda Wright will be held at the Abundant Life Church on FM 101 Road April 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. According to AK Barnes, fellow church member and partial event organizer, the event will be a spaghetti dinner fundraiser with all of the proceeds being given to Brenda and her husband Lemar...

There will be no shortage of things to do in the Spring River area April 20, but if you’re looking for a day of food and fun, and something new, the first ever Arkansas Pie Festival will be held in Cherokee Village at Town Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m...

The 8th annual Art Extravaganza Tour D’Art is slated to take place April 18 from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. at Ozarka College in Melbourne. According to Tena Rosse, president of the Friends of the Library, this year’s event will feature music, art and more...

The Spring River Shrine Club is hosting the first ever Lake Omaha Hook, Line and Sinker Bass Classic. It will be held May 4, and fishers will participate from 6 a.m., to 2 p.m. and be competing for a total of $1,750 in prizes. According to Doug Driesel with the Shrine Club, the Shrine Club in Cherokee Village was formed during the same time frame as the Village itself...

The Ash Flat City Council held their regular meeting April 19. During his report, Fire Chief Stacey Horton told the council the department received a FireWise grant for $2,500 and received a kit from the Arkansas Forestry Commission which consisted of 10 wild-lands jump suits, two back pack blowers and some special rakes designed for fighting fires. The department had 40 calls for service since the last meeting...

The Quad Cities Rotary Club is selling chances to win tickets to the upcoming Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs game which will be held June 1 in at Busch Stadium in St. Louis MO. According to Ethan Barnes, the Quad Cities Rotary Club as well as other clubs in the district, will be selling tickets and half of the funds raised will be used to support the local organization...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce (SRACC) and the Quad Cities Rotary Club will be hosting their annual Spring River Open in Cherokee Village. According to Ethan Barnes, President of the SRACC, the tournament is used as a fundraising event and the proceeds are split equally between the chamber and rotary club in order to continue community projects each organization carries out through the year...

Gary Paxson, President and CEO of White River Health System (WRHS), recently announced the selection of four Vice-President (VP) officers within the system. Mr. Paxson selected Lindsey Castleberry as VP of Human Resources & General Counsel; Jeff Reifsteck as Assistant VP & Chief Information Officer; Jody Smotherman as VP of Community Engagement; and Dr. Chris Steel as VP & Chief Quality Officer...

Nature can be a force to be reckoned with, aside from natural disasters which occur sporadically throughout the year, there are also day to day challenges mother nature can throw our way. In Arkansas, pollen, pests, wasps, ants and other unwanted “visitors” have come early this year...

In today’s society, it can be difficult to find the time to slow down. It can also be difficult to find or make the time to exercise, pay attention to what is going on in one’s body and also to really acknowledge thoughts or feelings that may be tugging for attention...

According to statistics from the United Health Foundation, tobacco use among adults has decreased over the last decade, however; the percentage of users age 18 to 44 in rural America, is still much higher than the national average. Individuals with an income of below $25,000 in Arkansas who use tobacco products are 10 percent higher above the national average at nearly 40 percent...

What began as an off the cuff community mealtime event is now entering it’s fourth year in existence. Each Wednesday, community members, friends, volunteers and guests gather at the Hardy United Methodist Church for fellowship and to eat together during the weekly Souper Wednesday event...

Bill Russell, Darrell Taylor and Kurt Bratcher are the three men who run and operate the Hardy Barber Shop, located on Main Street – where a barber shop has been in Hardy for nearly 100 years, where Russell has been in business for nearly 60 years and where Russell and Taylor have been in business together for nearly 50 years...

When Elizabeth Smith, pharmacist/owner of Pharmacy Barn in Viola, opened her business last year, she wanted to do something to help the community. Though bringing a pharmacy and another restaurant option to the small town was one method of helping, Smith wanted to do something more...

Fulton County Quorum Court met for its monthly meeting Monday, April 8. Once minutes from previous meetings and reports were approved, quorum court members discussed items on the agenda. Advisory committees that met prior to quorum court were finance and budget, economic development and road and bridge...

Viola High School teacher Sharmin Jennings is encouraging her students, and residents all over Fulton County and surrounding areas, to wear to blue/green on Friday, April 12 to show support of April being National Donate Life. Sharmin and her family are advocates for organ donation due to her son being an organ donor and being able to give the gift of life, even after his tragic death...

The investigation as to whether a Hardy police officer was justified to use his firearm during an incident March 22 has come to an end. According to a letter sent to Wendall Jines of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division April 2 by Third Judicial Prosecutor Henry Boyce, Officer Dallas Montgomery’s actions have been determined to be justified...

“Find Your Future” Career Fair will be held on Thursday, May 2, at the Student Recreation Center on the Missouri State – West Plains campus located at 323 Trish Knight St., West Plains, MO 65775. “Every year, the Missouri Job Center partners with the Career Development Center at Missouri State University, to provide a regional job fair so job seekers and employers have access to each other in a large venue,” said Sheri Mayfield with the GOCAT/Career Development Center...

It is not hard to miss traveling the roads of Oregon County, trash in numerous areas littering the ditches. Though many may not think it’s much of a problem, litter is not only harmful to the environment and wildlife, it also has a negative impact on economic development and real estate values...

Oregon County Farmers Market opening weekend will be Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tucker Creek Walking Park in Alton. This season is scheduled to last longer than the first and will end on Saturday, Oct. 26. The opening weekend is expected to feature many great vendors. Some items will be homemade soaps, embroidered towels, grass fed beef, chicken, pork, fresh eggs, hot pepper plants, sausage, spring greens and herbs, crafts, baked goods, jams and various other artisan crafts...

The general municipal election was held Tuesday, April 2. The official results are as follows. For the two positions open for Thayer R-II School Board: Ralph Jared Underwood received 242 votes (39.93 percent), Deanna King-Smith had 233 votes (38.45 percent) and Noval Willbanks received 127 votes (20.96 percent)...

Thayer Police officers are sporting a new look thanks to funding granted for the purchase of bullet proof vests for the department. The department received a Law Enforcement Block Grant in the amount of $5,250 to pay for new bulletproof vests. Money was previously budgeted to purchase the vests. However, by receiving the grant, they were able to utilize the funds for new uniforms instead...

After a nearly year-long testing and evaluation program, Oregon County Sheriff’s Deputies are now armed with body cameras. Oregon County Sheriff Eric King announced the deployment of the body cams to equip deputies with the latest technology. “They are considered a valuable evidentiary tool for prosecution of certain types of criminal cases by supplementing deputies’ court testimony with audio and video records of an incident. ...

Eric Miller, 37, of Salem, Ark., was killed in a one-vehicle accident on Wednesday, April 3 at 2 p.m. on Highway 9 near Mammoth Spring, Ark. The vehicle Miller was traveling in, a 2006 Honda Odyssey, was traveling north on Highway 9, crossed the center line at the crest of a hill causing the vehicle to run off the highway, hit a tree and overturn, according to an Arkansas State Police crash report...

Congressman Jason Smith visited Thayer High School on Friday, April 5 to present the Thayer Lady Bobcats basketball team with a Congressional Record to commemorate their historical win. During an assembly including junior high and high school, Smith explained to students he represents 30 counties in Missouri. ...

Tensions were high at the regularly scheduled Hardy City Council meeting April 2 as a citizen expressed concerns regarding the police department. The meeting opened with an update from Freda Gamblin about the upcoming annual Easter event slated for later this month...

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation and recently, several members of the Cherokee Village Pickleball team traveled to the Mid-South Regional tournament in Denton Texas, not only bringing home the gold, but also qualifying to compete in the national tournament later this year...

How time flies. What started as three months of “filling in” became a 10-year anniversary surprise celebration April 2 as a large crowd gathered at the Mission of Hope in Hardy to throw a party for director Julia Baldridge. “Keith Mince Moyer was my husband and he was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 [passing away in 2014]. ...

What began as misdemeanor shopping charges for a Sharp County man quickly escalated after a strange series of events. On April 4, Christopher Cone, 32, of Cherokee Village, was caught by police in Highland after authorities had been contacted regarding a case of shoplifting...

According to a report from the Highland Police Department, John Paul English, 30, of Cherokee Village, is facing multiple felony charges after he tried to prevent a woman from seeking help from a local domestic violence prevention center. On March 28, the victim and her children were trying to elude English and contacted the police after English hit her vehicle with his...

Imagine being 15-years-old and having to overcome more adversity in that short time than most have to in a lifetime. Overcoming obstacles, setting new goals and continued improvements are all aspects of 15-year-old Viola student and resident Kaitlyn Billinger's life...

Salem City Council met Thursday, March 28 to receive updates from various departments and review the sanitation service agreement. When discussing minutes from the previous meeting, Mayor Daniel Busch had a clarification regarding the automatic aid agreements discussed. ...

Approximately 40 members from Fulton, Izard and Sharp Counties gathered together at the Fulton County Fairgrounds for the CREATE BRIDGES meeting on Tuesday, March 26, the second in a series of meetings geared toward enhancing economic development and growth in rural economies...

The First Impact Foundation (FIF) partnered with Bearkatz Against Drugs, the Melbourne Fire Department, Arkansas State Police, Survival Flight, Izard County Sheriff’s Department, Vital Link and others March 27 as the students of Melbourne High School watched a re-enactment which would surly give the students some food for thought...

Mammoth Spring Chamber of Commerce held their monthly meeting on March 28 at Shorty’s Restaurant. After February minutes were read and approved, President Trena Spears informed are they not official as Mammoth Spring Chamber of Commerce but as MS Chamber of Commerce. They are also applying to be a nonprofit 506 organization, which would make them exempt from being taxed for purchases...