Villager Journal

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...

Two special meetings were held by the Cherokee Village (CV) City Council on Thursday, Aug. 26 and Friday Aug. 27, at 6:30 p.m. at city hall. Mayor Russ Stokes presided over both meetings. The second meeting was called by one of the councilmen who voted in the majority at the first meeting, primarily to reconsider some of the issues and to allow input from more council members...

The Cherokee Village Suburban Improvement District (SID) held a special meeting Thursday, Aug. 26, at 5 p.m. at Omaha Center to discuss the lawsuit filed by Cherokee Village (CV) property owners in 2018 against the City of CV, SID, the American Land Company (ALC) and Sharp County. A potential settlement agreement had been proposed by the plaintiffs facing an upcoming bench trial to begin on Monday, Aug. 30. Commissioner Jim Best called the meeting to order...

The Hardy Advertising and Promotions Commission (A&P) met Monday, Aug. 23, at the Hardy Civic Center. Chairman Charles Wilson opened the meeting at 6 p.m. After the pledge of allegiance, Wilson welcomed new commissioner Amanda Smith, who was sworn in at the Hardy City Council meeting on Aug. ...

The Arts Center of North Arkansas (ACNA) in Cherokee Village Town Center is hosting an Open House on Saturday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center is celebrating its rebirth by showcasing the artwork of many new artists, local and beyond, which is on sale by consignment through ACNA. This Grand Re-Opening will provide an opportunity for people to meet and chat with the artists themselves. There will be prize drawings every hour starting at 11:30 a.m...

On Aug. 30 at 1:05 a.m., the Cave City Fire Department was dispatched to the 1400 block of Jackson Springs Road, outside of Cave City, for a fully involved mobile home fire. While fighting the fire, firefighters located an unidentified deceased male subject inside the residence. The Sharp County Sheriff’s Department was notified at that time...

The Spring River Gem and Mineral Club (SRGMC) held its monthly meeting on Aug. 5 at the Omaha Center in Cherokee Village at 10 a.m. Vice President Wayne Pinner began with meeting business by welcoming new members, young and old, as well as visitors. Pinner commented that while meeting attendance was down a bit, it is coming back as meetings are occurring regularly again after the 2020 COVID hiatus. The club’s momentum is regaining its strength...

Where there is a child in need, responses come in good deeds. At least, that was the hope that sprouted in the heart and mind of Christina Curry, a Hardy resident and angel with a mission to reach out to help the needy, and particularly children. “The idea came to me while visiting the park with my children,” explained Curry. ...

The Ash Flat City Council met on Tuesday, Aug. 17 at 6 p.m., and due to the recent rise in COVID cases, the meeting was held at the Ash Flat Fire Station. After the minutes from the July meeting were approved by council, as well as the current meeting’s agenda, proceedings continued with department reports with Mayor Larry Fowler presiding...

Cherokee Village (CV) City Council met Thursday, Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at city hall. Mayor Russ Stokes called the meeting to order with two council members absent. After the minutes from the July meeting and the current agenda were approved, the mayor welcomed comments from the audience. ...

Is there a beep or a chirp coming out of your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm? What does that sound mean? Knowing the difference can save your home and your family.  State Farm Agent Mike Watson and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are teaming up with the Highland Fire Department to promote fire safety during this year’s Fire Prevention Week from Oct 3–9, 2021.  The campaign educates everyone about the different sounds that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make...

Spring River Home Health has partnered with Amerita Speciality for a Monoclonal Antibody Infusion to battle COVID-19. This infusion contains two different monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies are ones like your body would produce but they have been made to attack certain parts of the COVID-19 virus. These antibodies bind to the viral spike protein the part of the virus that allows it to replicate into other cells in your body working to stop the virus from spreading throughout your body...

The Cooperative Extension Service is launching a new workforce training initiative, known as “CREATE LIFT.” The program is facilitated by the Department of Community, Professional and Economic Development, which is part of extension and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture...

The Highland School District held its board meeting on Friday, Aug, 13 at 5 p.m. at the Highland Administrative Building. Superintendent Jeremy Lewis led the meeting. Proceedings began with a report by School Nurse Megan Kulczycki on the current COVID status at the Highland Schools. ...

The following press release was issued by Sharp County Sheriff Mark Counts after a deputy received injuries in a shooting incident early Friday, Aug. 13. “On [Friday, Aug. 13], Sharp County Dispatch received a call from a motorist advising of a possible runaway juvenile male riding his bicycle on Arkansas Highway 175 between Wirth and Hardy. ...

With the recent rise in COVID cases in children around the nation, it is a major concern among parents and school boards about how to bring students back into the classroom safely as schools are opening for the fall semester. This is especially concerning for children under the age of 12 since they are currently not eligible to receive vaccinations. ...

The Highland City Council met on Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. at Highland City Hall. Mayor Russell Truitt brought the meeting to order. There was almost a full council with only one member absent. After the minutes from the July meeting were approved, as well as the current meeting’s agenda, proceedings continued with department reports...

The Sharp County Quorum Court met on Monday, Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Sharp County Courthouse. Judge Gene Moore opened the proceedings with a full court of JPs present. After the minutes from the July meeting were approved, the session continued with the financial report. Treasurer Wanda Girtman said, “Everything is looking good, I’m really pleased. We had a good balance at the end of July.”...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce has canceled the 2021 Business Expo & Areawide Yard Sale that was planned for Sept. 25. “The chamber board of directors decided it would not be prudent for us to hold a public event due to the current increase in COVID cases,” said Kari Hollis, SRACC Executive Director. “We are extremely disappointed since we weren’t able to hold this event last year and we were excited to add the Areawide Yard Sale.”...

The Ash Flat Library hosted a book signing on Saturday, Aug. 7, at 10 a.m. for George Jared, a relatively local author of books on true crime and non-fiction of multiple murder cases. He is also an investigative reporter, a crime consultant and once worked as a journalist for Areawide Media when he lived in Salem, Ark...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring back the Business Expo this year and is adding a new component – an areawide yard sale for community residents. The event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the A.L. Hutson Memorial Center in Highland...

The Hardy History Association (HHA) held its monthly meeting on Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hardy Senior Citizens Center. President Darlene Wilson opened the meeting with a summary of the board meeting held prior. The Homesteaders’ Day will be taken over by the HHA starting in 2022, and they are looking for input from citizens, as well as volunteers to contribute to ideas, planning and organizing future Homesteaders’ Days events. ...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce is offering two $500 Small Business Grants. SRACC President, Lauren Siebert, was instrumental in creating this grant and procuring funding. “Through conversations with many residents, I have become aware that we have many new businesses opening in the area,” said Siebert. ...

The Hardy City Council met on Aug. 3 at city hall at 6 p.m. when Mayor Ernie Rose called the meeting to order. The minutes from the July 13 regular council meeting and the July 20 working meeting were approved, along with the current meeting’s agenda...

Well, well, well…it’s the summer of 2021, and we’re still talking about COVID and wearing masks, social distancing and washing our hands. That’s right, we are supposed to be done with this kind of stuff and living our lives normally. But there’s one little tiny thing that keeps “bugging” us that we can’t seem to shake off, a little itsy-bitsy thing known as a viral mutant, or variant as it’s called. ...

The Hardy Advertising and Promotion Commission (A&P) met on Monday, July 26 at the civic center at 6 p.m. Chairman Charles Wilson brought the meeting to order with three commissioners present. After the minutes from the June meeting were approved, as well as the current agenda, the meeting proceeded with the A&P financial report...

With everything that’s been going on this summer, between the pandemic, people trying to get back to normal, going to festivals and outdoor concerts, our expectations for this fall, I thought it was time to hit the streets again to find out what people are thinking and doing, whether work or play. ...

The 41st Cave City Watermelon Festival was held July 29, 30 and 31, after a two-year respite since the 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. The turnout for the festival at first appeared to be not as large as in previous years, which was likely due to both the extreme heat and the recent rise in COVID cases...

The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting event to welcome the new Tractor Supply Store in Ash Flat on July 29 at 12 noon. The store, located at 578 Hwy 62/412, actually opened its doors on July 17, but its official Grand Opening celebration was the following weekend on July 24 when vendors came and concessions were offered. ...

Individuals were asked to please IGNORE the worldwide web as Google reported Barker Funeral Home was “temporarily closed” and those words were the furthest thing from the truth. “The way we are doing it has changed a little bit, but we aren’t slowing down,” said Steve Barker as he prepared to step foot into the rubble of ash where once stood the facility he opened in January 1993...

CREATE Bridges Projects has a new grant program and is open to businesses and organizations to apply. Each applicant may receive up to a maximum of $2,000. “Providing resources for optimizing and jumpstarting effective, collaborative and timely strategies” is the mission of CREATE Projects, a “component of CREATE Bridges that provides an opportunity for businesses and organizations in Fulton, Izard and Sharp [counties] to turn ideas into actions,” according to a press release...

The Sharp County Quorum Court was held on July 12 at 6 p.m. at the Sharp County Courthouse. Judge Gene Moore called the meeting to order with all court members present. After the reading of the June minutes was waived and they were approved, the meeting proceeded with the county financial report...

There will be a FREE mammogram, dental and vision clinic held on Saturday, July 24, at the Cherokee Village First Baptist Church, located at 6 Iroquois Drive next to the Cherokee Village Elementary School. The doors will open at 8 a.m. and will remain open as long as patients keep coming and doctors are able to stay. ...

The Ash Flat City Council met on July 13 at 6 p.m. at Ash Flat City Hall, with Mayor Larry Fowler presiding. After the approval of the minutes from the June meeting, as well as the current meeting’s agenda, department reports followed. The new Ash Flat Fire Chief, Adam Bates, gave the monthly report for June for his department. ...

The Hardy City Council met July 13 at city hall, one week after their normally scheduled meeting due to the July 4 holiday. Mayor Ernie Rose brought the meeting to order at 6 p.m. after a quorum of council members was met. All members were present with the exception of Councilmen Herbert Wise and Bob Gilliland, and City Attorney Joe Grider was also absent. ...

Local longtime business, Barker Funeral Home in Salem, was a total loss in a structure fire which occurred late Thursday, July 8 into the early morning hours of Friday, July 9. Salem Fire Chief Sam Rossitto said his department was dispatched just a few minutes before midnight Thursday and the first truck was on scene six minutes later. Though the department responded quickly, the fire was too involved for any of the structure to be saved...

The Spring River Gem and Mineral Club met on July 1 for the first time after a long hiatus due to the COVID pandemic. The meeting was held at the Omaha Center where quite a few members, along with some new members, gathered at 10 a.m. Treasurer Carla Quataert opened the meeting by allowing new people and members to introduce themselves...

In case you are not an avid reader and do not make it to the end of this article, at least read this take-home message: David Woods heads the Sharp County Search and Rescue Team (SCSAR), a strictly volunteer group that has been performing search and rescues locally for years. ...

The “Treasures in the Ozarks” (TITO) event will be revived this Fall at the Hardy Civic Center on Oct. 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The committee organizing the event announces “TITO is back!” after two years since the 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID. ...

As of Thursday, July 1, Cherokee Village has a new Chief of Police. Sergeant Monte Lane was sworn in by Mayor Russell Stokes at an Oath of Office Ceremony held at 1:30 p.m. at Cherokee Village City Hall. After the pledge of allegiance and a special invocation by Street Superintendent John Kyllo, Mayor Stokes spoke of how the role of law enforcement has changed and become more challenging over the years, at both the local and national levels. ...

The Hardy Advertising and Promotion Commission (A&P) met on Monday, June 28 at the civic center. Chairman Charles Wilson called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. After the pledge of allegiance, the minutes from the last meeting were approved. There were no objections to an additional item to be added to the current meeting’s agenda about the advertising budget...

Last Congress we made significant progress to expand Department of Veterans (VA) care and services for women with the passage of the landmark Deborah Sampson Act. This was a critical first step that we must continue to build on in order to uphold the promise we made to women who served in our nation’s uniform...

The purpose of this article is to outline Areawide Media’s election coverage policy for each of its three weekly newspapers: The News, The South Missourian News and Villager Journal. While election dates and offices are very different between Arkansas and Missouri, one aspect that doesn’t change is how Areawide Media handles election content...

Fulton County On Sunday, July 4, the City of Salem will host a corn hole tournament on the square beginning at 6 p.m. The Shaggy Cow food truck will be set up on the square along with Flying Pigs Pork Rinds and Kettle Corn. There will also be a fireworks display from the “Knob” in Salem at dusk...

On Wednesday, June 23, Kristen Smith went missing from her home on Pottawattamie Road in Cherokee Village (CV) around 8:30 a.m. She is 30-years-old with severe mental illness that had been diagnosed at the age of 14, according to her mother, Cori Redeker. She was without her medication. When she turned up missing, her parents immediately called the CV police dispatch, who sent an officer to the residence for a missing persons report on Smith...

Just when you think it’s safe to go outside, maskless and hug your neighbor, think again. Now I’m not trying to be a killjoy or spreader of bad tidings, I’m only here to inform of some of the COVID facts that have recently surfaced in our great state of Arkansas. These are facts that are bringing Arkansas to national attention...

Two individuals in the same motor vehicle were killed in a fatal car crash on Sunday, June 20. Around 7 p.m., Jeffery Bennett, 57, of Hardy, and Vickie Bivins, 56, of Salem were traveling on Firetower Road in a 2005 Chevrolet when their vehicle failed to stop at the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and overturned two times, coming to rest on Wolf Hollow Circle. Bennett was the driver and Bivins was his passenger...

Ozark Mountain Mobile Spay/Neuter has scheduled a clinic to be held on Aug. 24, 25 and 26 in Hardy at the Civic Center. Mark your calendars and watch for more information coming out next month. A phone line will open July 19 for more information and to begin taking reservations. Make sure to schedule reservations early, and please keep your appointment(s) or call well in advance to cancel. Time slots are limited!...