Villager Journal

The Cherokee Village (CV) Suburban Improvement District (SID) held its monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Omaha Center. Commissioner Jim Best brought the meeting to order, with Commissioners Joe Waggoner and Tim Lee present, along with General Manager (GM) Betsy Waugh and a full audience in attendance. After the minutes from the October meeting were approved, proceedings continued with old business...

The Hardy History Association (HHA) held a special recognition luncheon to honor all of the volunteers who have helped in the planning, development and operation of the HHA Museum since its inception in 2019. The luncheon was held at the Pill Box Café on Nov. 9, and most of the volunteers attended, along with some HHA board members and other invited guests...

Another ATV/UTV and Jeep event will be held in Hardy on Saturday, Nov. 27. It will leave from the Hardy Civic Center at 10 a.m. Participants are encouraged to show up early. The Sharp County Search and Rescue and Skywarn team, the beneficiary of proceeds from the ride, will be there with their tracking trailer and of course their canine team member, Radar...

As the Thanksgiving season approaches, many families and children are expressing gratitude by giving back to children in need around the world. For those who are including Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts as part of their holiday, more than 4,000 drop-off sites are now open...

In a special ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 28, Melbourne School District officially donated the City of Guion with irreplaceable gift, the “old Guion School Building”. In a press release from the district by Leeanna Hoskinds, it was stated, “It is with great honor that the Melbourne School Board of Directors donated the property to the City of Guion on Thursday, October 28, 2021. ...

The Cherokee Village (CV) Suburban Improvement District (SID) met in its monthly meeting at the Omaha Center at 3 p.m. on Oct. 25, postponed by one week. Commissioner Jim Best brought the meeting to order with all three commissioners present, along with General Manager (GM) Elizabeth Waugh. The agenda for the current meeting was approved, as were the minutes from the Sept. 20 SID meeting...

The Hardy Advertising and Promotions Commission (A&P) met Monday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Hardy Civic Center. Chairman Charles Wilson opened the meeting, one of his last duties as chairman and commissioner. After the minutes from the September A&P meeting were approved, as well as the current agenda, proceedings continued with the financial report...

On Saturday, Nov. 6 at 10 a.m., the Ash Flat Library will host a book-signing event for retired teacher and author Stanley Eugene Horton. He has recently published a children’s book, “The Tails of Kit and Kaboodle—Kit and Kaboodle Visit the Rainbow Bridge” which was illustrated by his sister, Shannon Horton Kendrick. The story is a wonderful adventure about a cat and a dog who accidentally find themselves at the Rainbow Bridge in Heaven...

Ash Flat Library Director Susan Funnell, and President of the Library Board and Project Manager Terry Hill, have been hard at work over the last few months developing a special “storywalk” at the ballpark in Ash Flat. In July, through the American Rescue Plan, Arkansas State Libraries were offered grant awards “to be used in helping communities respond directly and immediately to the pandemic through equitable approaches.” The Ash Flat Library received a total of $1,088 in funding toward such a project, which is what the storywalk is intended to do.. ...

A special meeting was held on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at the Hardy Civic Center at 12 noon focusing on the upcoming 2024 total solar eclipse. Hazelle Whited with the Create Bridges Podcast, the University of Arkansas and the Community of Professional and Economic Development Unit, opened the meeting by recognizing Mayor Jonas Anderson of Cave City and Mayor Russell Truitt of Highland. ...

Halloween is finally coming, this weekend, Sunday, Oct. 31! That’s right, it seems like we’ve been celebrating it for weeks with all the Halloween related activities that have been going on. Some of the special ones are either still ongoing or holding out for the actual weekend. You might want to take note of the new local activities coming up this weekend, especially if you have young ones who are getting antsy as the big day gets closer...

According to a social media post from Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose, a missing persons case turned into a recovery. “A man who was reported to have went missing two days ago has been located. He was found deceased, not far from his residence off Griffin Road near Hardy in the woods. He appears to have died from a self inflicted gun shot wound. The Sharp County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into the incident...

The Cherokee Village (CV) City Council held its regular monthly meeting on Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at city hall. Mayor Russ Stokes brought the meeting to order. After the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence, the current meeting’s agenda was up for approval. The mayor then opened the floor for audience members to speak on the current agenda...

The Spring River Gem and Mineral Club (SRGMC) held its monthly meeting on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. at the Cherokee Village Omaha Center. Vice President Wayne Pinner opened the meeting and Secretary Dorothy Rolland read the minutes from the September meeting. It was announced the meeting’s lunch for the day was to be held at Artisan Grill in Ash Flat...

The Highland City Council met Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. at city hall. Mayor Russell Truitt presided over the meeting. The minutes of the September meeting were discussed regarding the permission given to Police Chief Shane Russell to interview for an additional day-shift police officer. ...

State government will collect more in tax revenue this year than previously estimated, according to a revised forecast by the Department of Finance and Administration. The department notified the Legislative Council that revenue for the current fiscal year would be $246 million more than was projected earlier, when legislators finalized a state budget...

The Ash Flat City Council met Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Ash Flat Fire Station. Mayor Larry Fowler presided over the proceedings. After the minutes from the September meeting were approved, along with the current agenda, the meeting continued...

Sharp County Sheriff Mark Counts recently issued two press releases regarding separate incidents, both in Cave City, however. Young female found deceased On Oct. 12, at 5:33 p.m., Central Dispatch received a 911 call of a deceased female at 18 St. John’s Apartments in Cave City. ...

The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) essay competition for middle school and high school students is Oct. 31. The essay competition gives students of all backgrounds a chance to win cash prizes and/or scholarship money toward their continuing education...

The Hardy History Association (HHA) met Thursday, Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting was held in the Hardy Church of Christ. President Darlene Wilson opened the meeting with a warm welcome to members and guests attending either in person or via Facebook live, as well as thanking the Hardy Church of Christ for hosting the meeting...

Because of Columbus Day, the Sharp County Quorum Court met on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Sharp County Courthouse. Sharp County Judge Gene Moore opened the meeting with all of the JPs present. After the minutes from the September meeting were approved, the meeting proceeded with the financial report...

Members of Highland Elks Lodge #2539 in Cherokee Village and Ladies Auxiliary members made five plarn (plastic yarn) sleeping mats which will be donated to Mission of Hope in Hardy to be used for the homeless, including homeless veterans. Each 6’ long x 2 ½’ wide mat is made from 800 plastic grocery bags that are cut into strips, then looped together, rolled into balls and finally crocheted into mats. ...

Shelby Bunch was a very instrumental member in starting Sharp County 4-H’s Vet Science Club. She graduated in May 2021 from Cave City High School with Honors. She is now a freshman at Lyon College in Batesville, double majoring in Biology and Chemistry in pursuant of an advanced degree in veterinary science. ...

The Hardy City Council met Tuesday, Oct. 5 at city hall at 6 p.m. Mayor Ernie Rose brought the meeting to order with the entire council present. The minutes from the September meeting, and the current meeting’s agenda, were approved. Proceedings continued with the Advertising and Promotions Commission (A&P) report. ...

The Cherokee Village (CV) Suburban Improvement District (SID) held a special meeting on Monday, Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Omaha Center. This meeting was to address several issues of concern among citizens regarding the pending settlement agreement in the lawsuit against the City of CV and CVSID. The settlement agreement is not finalized until the judge in the case rules on it on Oct. 20...

The Sharp County Regional Airport Authority (SCRAA) held its monthly board meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. at the airport terminal in Cherokee Village. Board Chairman Larry Thomas called the meeting to order. Treasurer Peggy Long updated board members of the airport’s revenue for September. ...

The Sharp County Farm Bureau held its 2021 annual meeting on Oct. 4 at the Sharp County Fairgrounds. After the business part of the meeting, a barbecue dinner was offered as the bureau acknowledged and honored many who have served the farm community over the year...

If a little nip in the air, longer shadows and multi-colored leaves floating from the trees doesn’t put you in a fall mood and holiday spirit, perhaps some of these semi-local seasonal events will. The Couch PTO will host its annual “Trunk or Treat” on Friday, Oct. 29 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Couch School between the lunchroom and high school buildings...

With the recent renovations coming to the Jim Hinkle National Fish Hatchery announced the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission recently, it is already a given that will be a boost to Fulton County. The timing couldn’t have been any better as just days after the groundbreaking ceremony, a fishing guide’s own personal catch would be a sign of things to come. However, local fisherman and river guide, Tim Shannon, believes it is all “a God thing.”...

Areawide Media is going through some changes. Our printing schedule for The News and The South Missourian News has changed. The papers will be available to be picked up after 1 p.m. on Wednesdays at our Salem and Thayer locations. Rack copies will be available in the afternoon on Wednesdays...

The Cherokee Village (CV) Suburban Improvement District (SID) met on Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. at the Omaha Center. Two Commissioners, Jim Best and Tim Lee, held the meeting with a large audience present. Commissioner Best called the meeting to order. When there were no comments from the audience on the meeting’s agenda, the two commissioners approved the minutes from the August meeting...

Here it is, the fall of 2021, and we are still talking about the COVID pandemic. My gosh, over a year and a half ago we thought for sure we’d be past this by now, but we’re not…why? This battle has been ongoing, seemingly never-ending, because our foe is a very tricky devil who is capable of changing into forms that dodge our efforts to bring it down, those efforts being the vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (J&J)...

The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) is holding a local, state and ultimately national competition for middle school and high school students of all backgrounds and school localities to win cash prizes and/or scholarship money for their continuing education. This is a great opportunity for students to use their writing skills toward expressing their patriotism and thoughts on the future of the United States of America...

The Cherokee Village (CV) City Council met Thursday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at city hall. Mayor Russ Stokes called the meeting to order. The current meeting’s agenda was approved and the minutes from the August council meeting and the two special meetings on Aug. 26 and 27 were discussed. Minutes from the Aug. 27 meeting were given to council members who had not yet received them. The minutes from all three August meetings were then approved by council...

Wayne Yanke (195) is Star of the Week 2 Game Score Plus Handicap. Sept. 20 game winners: Pit 1: Watts and Hollis (185) Pit 2: Gruger and Yanke (193) Pit 3: Weeks and Prusak (198) Pit 4: Lofquist and Brooks (178) Sept. 24 game winners: Pit 1: Hollis and Howe (173)...

The Hardy City Council met on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. at Hardy City Hall. Mayor Ernie Rose brought the meeting to order with all but one council member present. After the minutes from the last meeting were approved, as well as the current meeting’s agenda, proceedings continued with the Advertising and Promotions Commission (A&P) report...

The Hardy History Association (HHA) met live via Facebook and Zoom on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. President Darlene Wilson opened the meeting with an update on HHA business from August. The association has four new members, bringing the current total HHA membership to 159 members...