Villager Journal

The Ash Flat City Council met June 8 at 6 p.m. at city hall with Mayor Larry Fowler presiding. The minutes from the May meeting and the current meeting’s agenda were approved. Department reports followed. Fire Chief Stacy Horton gave the fire department report for May. ...

The Hardy History Association met on June 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the old Hardy Gym. President Darlene Wilson opened the meeting, the first at the Hardy Gym, which was to be the topic of the night’s guest speaker, Rebecca Ashcroft. Wilson began with the treasurer’s report. There was a generous donation from First National Bank for $1,000 on June 3. As of the end of May, the association’s account balance was $13,442.77, which does not include the $1,000 donation...

Three members of the Highland Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4772 presented $500 scholarships to three Highland senior students at the school academic awards night on June 4 at the A.L. Hudson Center. They were presented to Delaney Harris, John Rhett Carter and Cayse Fowler. A fourth student was home-schooled, so Wes Austin, Quartermaster of the post, surprised Katerina Spoonhour at her home with her $500 scholarship...

On June 1 at 6 p.m., the Ash Flat Planning and Zoning commission (P&Z) held its regular meeting at city hall. The meeting opened with a special welcome to hear ideas from two entrepreneurs with plans on bringing a new business to the city. The plan, initially presented by Megan Long, is to replicate what they are currently doing in Highland with their business “kup a luv.” “We hope to be able to expand with the area expanding,” said Long. ...

Madelyn Marie Smith, a recent honor graduate of the 2021 class of Mountain Home High School, has an exciting future ahead of her. The extension of her education is not just beginning, but rather started back when she had a dream while in her sophomore year in high school. ...

The Cherokee Village Animal Control facility (CVAC), located at 1531 Hwy 289 North in Cherokee Village, is one of the few animal control facilities in Sharp County. Animal Control Officer Carolyn Parks stays busy answering all kinds of calls from Cherokee Village residents. Much of the information provided in this article can be found on their website at www.cherokeevillage.org/animal...

Hardy held an ATV ride organized by Steven Richey on May 22 that was a record-breaking success. With 63 entries, the ride raised $1,008 for the Hardy Fire Department, which is more than triple what any single previous ride has raised. Participants came from all over, thanks to the advertising that Richey did with flyers, Facebook and radio. ...

The Hardy History Association met on Thursday, May 6 at the Hardy Civic Center. Please note: The meeting overlapped with the Hardy Thursday night dance. For this reason, the history association meetings have been moved to the Hardy Gym which began June 3. Members are also welcome to watch the meeting via Zoom...

The Hardy City Council met Monday, June 2, at 6 p.m. at city hall. The meeting was opened by Mayor Ernie Rose and Recorder/Treasurer Greg Bess led the proceedings. Minutes from the May meeting were approved, as well as the current meeting’s agenda. First on the agenda was a report from the advertising and promotions commission (A&P) given by A&P Secretary Mark Huscher. ...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce and the Quad Cities Rotary Club of Sharp County is excited to announce the Annual Spring River Open Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, June 26 at the South Golf Course in Cherokee Village. Last year the event was canceled due to COVID restrictions...

It has been less than a month since the Hardy Social Lounge opened its doors in downtown Hardy, and locals are taking advantage of the new offerings. According to Malcolm and Stacy Wright, owners of the newest hot spot in town, the idea to open the lounge came after residing in the area for approximately two years...

The Cherokee Village City Council met in its monthly meeting on May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at city hall. Mayor Russ Stokes opened, and after the minutes from the April meeting were approved, along with the current meeting’s agenda, he proceeded. Mayor Stokes explained about the malfunctioning of a storm siren in the city. There had been a lightening strike that caused a control panel to be shorted, so the storm sirens are still not functioning properly...

The Highland School District was formed in 1964, combining the Hardy and Ash Flat schools. Near the end of the school year, the Highland Student Council held a ceremony in dedication of the bells being re-located from the Cherokee Elementary to Rebel Memorial Field...

Just over one month has passed since the murder of 19-year-old Salem resident, Davidlee Stansbury and a third arrest has been made in the investigation of his death. In a press release issued by Fulton County Sheriff Al Roork, it was revealed that on Friday, May 21, Salem Police Chief Shad Overman, arrested 19-year-old Travis Eugene Barker, of Jefferson City, Mo., for his involvement in the murder of Stansbury. ...

Three graduating seniors of the Highland High School Class of 2021 recently received recognition from the Rotary Club of Quad Cities of Sharp County. Rotary met May 10 to present three $500 checks to Kelsey Miller, Caitlan Boyce and Natalie Becker. The scholarship funds are awarded to help high school graduates as they further their education. Funds may be used to assist with college tuition, books or other expenses...

Disruptions in truck and barge traffic with the closure of the Interstate-40 bridge over the Mississippi River will likely translate into higher costs for consumers. The Hernando DeSoto Bridge connecting West Memphis, Ark. and Memphis, Tenn., was closed May 11 after transportation officials found a crack in its support structure. The 3.3-mile bridge, with its two distinctive steel arches, carries about 60,000 vehicles a day, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation...

In an unprecedented year with no banquet to announce and celebrate the Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce annual award winners, the ballots were still mailed out and the winners have been announced. Over the course of several weeks, awards were presented and may be viewed on chamber’s Facebook Page. Watch to see your local favorites be featured! The awards were produced by the Ozark Classic Crafts Mall at cost and sponsored by WRMC Medical Complex...

In recognition of National Police Week, U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) spoke on the Senate floor to share his support of the law enforcement community and honor Arkansans whose lives were tragically cut short in the line of duty in 2020: North Little Rock Police Sergeant James Dancy, Helena-West Helena Police Officer Travis Wallace, Pine Bluff Police Detective Kevin Collins and Hot Springs Police Corporal Brent Scrimshire...

A frequent topic of discussion these days is mental illness, Dr. Janette Wheat, Cooperative Extension Program specialist and associate professor of human development and family studies at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, said. Mental illnesses are defined as conditions that affect thinking, feelings, mood or behavior, according to Dr. ...

The Sharp County Fair is back for the 2021 year. It will be held at the Sharp County Fairgrounds and Rodeo Arena in Ash Flat from July 5-10. There may be an addition of Eagle Fest events on July 9; emphasize “may be” as that has not been exactly determined yet...

Highland City Council met on May 11 at city hall at 6 p.m. Mayor Russell Truitt opened the meeting with limited council members present, though a quorum was met. The minutes from the April meeting were approved, as was the current agenda. Mayor Truitt explained that Fire Chief Kal Dienst was not present due to a meeting he had to attend, a two-week class at the academy for arson inspection. ...

The Ash Flat City Council met on May 11 at city hall at 6 p.m. with Mayor Larry Fowler presiding. After the minutes from the April meeting and the special meeting on April 27, as well as the current agenda were approved, the meeting proceeded. Fire Chief Stacy Horton reported on recent fire department activities. ...

The Sharp County Quorum Court held its monthly meeting on May 10 at the Sharp County Courthouse at 6 p.m.with Judge Gene Moore presiding. After the minutes from the April meeting and the current agenda were approved, the meeting continued. Treasurer Wanda Girtman proceeded with the county’s financial report for the month of April. ...

Fulton County’s road system has suffered extensive damage from a series of heavy rains over the past few weeks, according to the Fulton County Judge’s office. All parties of the county and practically every road in the county have been affected, it was stated...

The ending of the school year means another special section for Areawide Media. This month it is the annual Tassel Time published by Areawide Media each year to honor our local graduating high school seniors. Be sure to look for the 22-page special section in this week’s issues of our subscription newspapers...

It’s time to let loose and get out and enjoy…the City of Hardy is having another ATV ride…so bring out your vehicles and come outside to enjoy a 47-mile ride May 22, 10 a.m., to start at Loberg Park and to end up at the river in Hardy with a barbecue, complements of First Community Bank of Highland. There have been several businesses who have donated for provisions and cash prize drawings. Proceeds will go to the Hardy Fire Department. Go to Hardy City Hall to sign up!...

The Cherokee Village Ham Radio Club is sponsoring a local fox hunt event on May 15 beginning at Highland High School. It is being joined by the Lawrence County Amateur Radio Club and the Batesville Area Radio Club in a friendly competition to discover from what direction a specific radio signal is being received, that is, radio direction finding...

The Hardy City Council met Tuesday, May 4 at 6 p.m. at city hall. Mayor Ernie Rose was absent as he was detained in Jonesboro. All council members were present, along with Attorney Joe Grider. Recorder/Treasurer Greg Bess called the meeting to order, asking if there were any objections from council that he take on that role, which the mayor had asked him to do. No one objected. After approval of the minutes from the April meeting, and the current amended agenda...

A classic sport is being contested and met at both the Highland high and junior high levels. Trapshooting is a well respected and highly competitive sport. It’s not just marksmanship that matters, but grace and etiquette are of utmost importance as well. Students may start out with uncertainty, but their spirit and confidence develop along with their skills...

The family of Davidlee Stansbury took to social media over the previous weekend, begging for information on the whereabouts of Stansbury. Information posted by Stansbury’s mother said he left her home in Salem around 3:30 a.m. on Friday. “He said he was going to help a friend and he would be back in about an hour. He hasn’t returned and the friend said not only [did he not] talk to him, but he wasn’t even in town,” read the post...

The Hardy City Council met on Tuesday, April 6, at city hall at 6 p.m. The meeting was brought to order by Mayor Ernie Rose. Minutes from both the public meeting on the sewer expansion project grant proposal and the city council meeting from March 2 were approved, as well as the agenda for the current meeting...

Senator John Boozman traveled to Ozarka College’s Carpenter Technical Center along with the future home of Emerson in Ash Flat on Tuesday. As part of the Senator’s three-day, North Arkansas visit, Boozman and his team toured the new CTE facility, which will serve as a regional hub for workforce training for welding technology, automotive and diesel service, and industrial machining. ...

The annual Cave City Watermelon Festival will arise again in 2021! It will resurface on Thursday, July 29 through July 31. After it was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID, much to the woes of its undying fans, it was nominated as “The Most Missed Festival of 2020” by the Arkansas Festivals and Events Association. Well, in December, it won that title as “Most Missed Festival of 2020,” and we can all celebrate in its resurrection in 2021...

On April 2, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 911 call from a residence of Nine Mile Ridge regarding an ATV accident. A 16-year-old male, from Wynn, Ark., and a 15-year-old female, from Paragould, Ark., turned a side-by-side over in the road. The female, identified as Lacey Boling, was trapped under the machine. Boling was pronounced dead at the scene by the Fulton County Coroner...

The City of Ash Flat held a special meeting Monday, April 5 at 6 p.m. at city hall to discuss utilizing state and city funding for the improvement of streets. This funding pertains to the street program project which targets the reconstruction and resurfacing of streets within Ash Flat. A resolution was drawn up to designate which source of funding will be used for different aspects of street improvement...

Fulton County Sheriff Al Rook issued a press release on Friday, April 9 regarding a nearly 20-year cold case, which Dale Weaver, investigator at the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, recently solved. “The following press release is a very condensed version of a missing person investigation that Investigator Dale Weaver started eight months ago. ...

One person died and three were critically injured in a shooting at the Snappy Mart convenience store in Koshkonong, Mo. the morning of Saturday, April 11. After approximately four hours, Christopher Lindley, 28, of Thayer, was arrested in Howell County between Koshkonong and West Plains. He has been charged with first-degree murder a class A felony and armed criminal action an unclassified felony...

The Hardy History Association held its monthly membership meeting on Thursday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hardy Civic Center. The guest speaker was Betty Jo Daugherty Halbach, whose talk was titled “Special Place, Special People, Part 2.” Halbach is a native of Hardy and was a long-time resident, with memories and stories that were very entertaining...

Editor’s note: Reporter Elaine Brown is the newest member to the Areawide Media team, and she is also the newest resident to the area from our team. As a way to get to know the community better, she enjoys taking the time to get out amongst folks as they go about their every day lives. Whether inspired by an upcoming story, national event or weather change, you never know when you will get the chance to voice your opinion!...

Witnesses with similar heartbreaking stories of sexual assault and rape continue to come forward against a Fulton County resident who has been behind bars since Feb. 24. Leonard William Pickle, Jr., 81, of Hardy, Ark., was arrested on class Y felony rape charges. He faces five counts for rapes committed between 1991 and 1995; two counts from 1994; one count from 2000 and one count from 2017...

The band, “Forever Young,” will hold dances at the Hardy Civic Center every Thursday night starting April 15 from 7 until 9:30 p.m. Chuck Young, Eddie Cooper, Joe Young and Obie Lawrence comprise the band which has been playing together for more than seven years. ...

With the recent announcement from Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson lifting the mask mandate for the state of Arkansas, many local schools are revising their policies. The original policies that many schools were following stated masks had to be worn at all times, students should try and social distance as much as possible and lunch would be six feet apart. ...

As of March 30, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson officially lifted the state’s mask mandate, after meeting various health criteria involving testing and case rates. However, Hutchinson is still encouraging everyone to continue to wear masks out of respect for one another...

Sometimes we walk through life and miss opportunities, those kinds of chances to help someone else in need, whether that help be for feeding, healing or happiness. It’s an easy thing to ignore because we all have our own problems and needs and must look out for ourselves first, right? Not so for artist, philanthropist and man with a heart of gold, Garrett Melby...

The Ash Flat Library recently received a generous book donation from Highland Dollar General in March. Taunja Chapman, General Manager, said they were offering books for the library for general circulation and books targeted for the children’s summer reading program...

The Hardy Advertising and Promotion (A&P) Commission met on March 22 at 6 p.m. at the Hardy Civic Center. Chairman Charles Wilson brought the meeting to order. After the current agenda and minutes from the last meeting were approved, Jeff Munroe began with the financial report. ...