- THE WEEKLY DROUGHT MONITOR SHOWS THE DROUGHT WORSENING... THIS DATA WAS COMPLIED TWO WEEKS AGO... FULTON COUNTY IS NOW D3, INDICTIVE OF EXTREME DROUGHT... SHARP AND IZARD COUNTY ARE D3, LAWRENCE AND RANDOLPH COUNTY ARE D2 WHICH MEANS SEVERE DROUGHT.... AREA STOCKMEN ARE USING UNCONVENTIONAL WAYS TO WATER THEIR LIVESTOCK, UTLITIZING PRIVATE WELLS, MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEMS, HAULING WATER AND CUTTING FENCE TO ALLOW LIVESTOCK TO MOVE TO AREAS WHERE THERE MIGHTY NORMALLY BE LOCATED.... WITH THE DROUGHT AND THE EXCESSIVE DRY CONDTIONS AND NOW LOW HUMIDITY AND WIND, FIRE DANGER REMAINS HIGH.....
- A PROPOSED DATA CENTER IN OREGON COUNTY IS DRAWING PROTESTS IN MAMMOTH SPRING AND THAYER... THE DATA CENTER WOULD BE BUILIT OUTSIDE OF THAYER ON HIGHWAY 142 ON A 226 ACRE TRACT OF LAND... PROTESTORS SAY THE LANDOWNER, CHARLES McCOLLOUGH HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE PROJECT FROM THE BEGINNING... RESIDENTS IN THE MAMMOTH SPRING AND THAYER AREA PROTESTS THIS PAST WEEK OVER THE EXPECTED DEMAND FOR HEAVY ELECTRICITY AND WATER DEMANDS ASSOCIATED WITH MODERN ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE DATA CENTERS.....
- SHARP COUNTY AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED A CHEROKEE VILLAGE MAN ON DRUG CHARGES... 33 YEAR OLD ALEXANDER ARMSTRONG WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR FAILURE TO REGISTER, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, POSSESSION OF DRUGS AND POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA... ARMSTRONG IS BEING HELD IN THE SHARP COUNTY DETENTION CENTER,....
- 44 YEAR OLD BRENT COLLOM OF POCAHONTAS HAS BEEN ARRESTED BY POCAHONTAS POLICE ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.. COLLOM IS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.. COLLOM IS BEING HELD IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, AWAITING A BOND HEARING AND THE ASSIGNEMENT OF A COURT DATE....
- CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE ROB RATTEN HAS ACCEPTED NEGOIRATED GUILTY PLEAS IN THE DISPOSTION OF SEVERAL CASES PENDING IN LAWRENCE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT... 27 YEAR OLD CLAYTON AUGISTINE OF HOXIE WAS SENTENCED TO 48 MONTHS PROBATION FOR POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA AND FINED $2500.... 39 YEAR OLD PATRICK MOODY OF WALNUT RIDGE WAS SENTENCED TO 36 MONTHS IN THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR THEFT OF SERVICES AND FINED $500... 29 YEAR OLD THOMAS WILLIAMS BRIGHT, JR. OF HOXIE RECEIEVED 48 MONTHS SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR EACH OF THREE COUNTS OF BREAKING OR ENTERING WITH AN ADDTIONAL 49 MONTHS SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR EACH OF TWO SEPERATE COUNTS OF THEFT OF PROPERTY AND ORDERED TO PAY $350 IN RESTITUTION....
- THE WALNUT RIDGE CITY COUNCIL HAS GIVEN MAYOR CHARLES SNAPP A HIGHER SPENDING LIMIT WHILE ALSO SETTING THE SALARY AND SUCCESSORS FOR SEVERAL CITY POSITIONS BEGINNING IN 2027... ALDERMAN APPROVED AN ORDINANCE RAISING THE MAYOR'S PURCHASING AUTHORITY FROM THE PREVIOUS $35,000 LIMIT TO $42, 921 WHICH MATCHES THE MAXIMUM SPENDING LIMIT SET UNDER STATE LAW... THE COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED APPOINTING COREY BALTZ AS CITY CLERK/TREASUER FOR A TERM BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027 AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2030.. BALTZ HAS BEEN TRAINING ALONGSIDE CURRENT CITY CLERK SHARON HENSON FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND SHE IS RETIRING AND NO ONE RAN AGAINST BALTZ FOR THE POSITION... IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE COUNCIL APPROVED REAPPOINTING ADAM BUTLER AS CITY ATTORNEY FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST WITH A SALARY OF $28,017.92....
- FULTON COUNTY JUDGE KEN CROWE ADVISES SOUTH CAMP CREEK ROAD IS CLOSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A LOW WATER BRIDGE.. THE ROAD IS PROJECTED TO BE CLOSED THROUGH FRIDAY.. MOTORISTS SHOULD PLAN TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE...
- ARKANSAS PROPRETY OWNERS HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 15 TO PAY THIER PROPERTY TAXES OR FACE A TEN PERCENT PENEALTY...THE STATE'S ONLINE PROPERTY TAX CENTER INDICATES THE DEADLINE APPLIES STATEWIDE.. PROPERTY OWNERS CAN PAY ONLINE, BY MAIL OR IN PERSON AT THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE AT THE HOME COUNTY COURTHOUSE.. ONLINE PAYMENT IS AVAILABLE IN MOST COUNTIES.. THE AMOUNT OF TAX OWED IS BASED ON THE PROPERTIES ASSESSED VALUE, WHICH IS DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY ASSESSOR. HOMEOWNERS, MAY ALSO CLAIM A HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX CREDIT, WHICH LOWERS THE TAX OWED ON A PRIMARY RESIDENT. MISSING THE OCTOBER 15 DEADLINE WILL MEAN A PENALTY, THE STATE ALSO OFFERS GOV2GO, A FREE SERVICE THAT SENDS REMINDERS WHEN IT IS TIMNE TO ASSESS PROPERTY, PAY PROPERTY TAXES AND RENEW VEHICLE TAGS.. PROPERTY OWNERS CAN VIEW PAYMENT OPTIONS AND PAY ONLINE AT arkansas.govpropertytaxcenter.
- AN OXFORD MAN IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES AFTER IZARD COUNTY DEPUTIES CONDUCTED A TRAFFIC STOP NEAR BROCKWELL.. 33 YEAR OLD JOHNNY JONES IS CHARGED WITH CARELESS DRIVING, POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND OBSTRUCTING GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS.. JONES IS BEING HELD IN THE IZARD COUNTY DETENTION CENTER...
- SHERIFF SHANE RUSSELL RELEASED A STATEMENT REGARDING THE MULTIPLE ARRESTS LAST WEEK INVOLVING VIOLATIONS OF BY REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS IN SHARP COUNTY.... NUMEROUS COMPLIANCE CHECKS WERE CONDUCTED, RESULTING IN MULTIPLE ARRESTS FOR VIOLATIONS OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, DRUGS, FIREARMS AND OTHER RELATED OFFENSES... SHERIFF RUSSELL SAYS THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.... SEVERAL MORE CONVICTED OFFENDERS WERE BOOKED INTO THE SHARP COUNTY DETENTION CENTER.. THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 46 YEAR OLD JEFFERY DEAN KING OF SMITHVILLE, A LEVEL 3 HIGH RISK CONVICTED OFFENDER ACCORDING TO THE ARKANSAS CRIMES SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY... 72 YEAR OLD JIMMY STERLING WYATT OF CHEROKEE VILLAGE, BOOKED IN TO THE SHARP COUNTY DETENTION CENTER WITH FAILURE TO REGISTER, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS... 33 YEAR OLD ALEXANDER RIDDLE ARMSTRONG OF CHEROKEE VILLAGE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.. ARMSTRONG WAS CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SECOND DEGREE IN FEBRUARY, 2024... 57 YEAR OLD DAVID GOODMAN OF HARDY BOOKED INTO THE SHARP COUNTY DETENTION CENTER ON CHARGES OF FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS... ALL FOUR REMAIN IN CUSTODY OF THE SHARP COUNTY DETENTION CENTER AWATING THEIR NEXT COURT PROCEEDING.... MULTIPLE SEX OFFENDERS WERE ARRESTED EARLIER LAST WEEK... THEY INCLUDE, 62 YEAR OLD MATTHEW BALDRIGE OF CHEROKEE VILLAGE, 53 YEAR OLD DONALD JAY WUTKE OF HARDY, 23 YEAR OLD LUCAS CLUTE OF CHEROKEE VILLAGE, 51 YEAR OLD ALVIN MOORE OF CHEROKEE VILLAGE, 33 YEAR OLD JACKY LEE DALTON OF HIGHLAND AND 69 YEAR OLD CARL DAVID WALLS OF ASH FLAT... ALL OF THESE SUBJECTS ARE BEING HELD IN THE SHARP COUNTY DETENTION CENTER...
- A WARRANT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR A CONTRACTOR WHO TOOK MONEY TO FIX A CANOPY OVER GAS PUMPS AT A CONVENIENCE STORE IN IZARD COUNTY BUT NEVER COMPLETED THE JOB. A WARRANT HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED FOR 69-YEAR-OLD JERRY DEAN STILES OF SEARCY FOR DOING THE SAME THING AT A SERVICE STATION OUTSIDE OF SEARCY EARLIER THIS YEAR. STILES HAS TWO PREVIOUS ARRESTS ON HIS RECORD FOR TAKING MONEY FROM CUSTOMERS AND NOT PERFORMING THE WORK. ACCORDING TO THE PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVIT FROM THE IZARD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, A COMPLAINT WAS FILED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PIZZA PRO DEPOT IN MELBOURNE THIS MONTH, SAYING THE CANOPY OVER THEIR DIESEL PUMPS WAS DAMAGED IN FEBRUARY. WHEN TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE TO FIX THE CANOPY, THEY FOUND JD CONSTRUCTION OF SEARCY ON THE INTERNET AND ASSUMED IT WAS A LICENSED AND REPUTABLE COMPANY. STILES, THE LISTED OWNER OF THE COMPANY, MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PIZZA PRO DEPOT AND QUOTED THEM A PRICE OF $7,900 TO MAKE THE NEEDED REPAIRS. THE STORE APPROVED THE PRICE AND PAID HIM BY CHECK. IN MAY, THE COMPANY PAID STILES ANOTHER $4,000, AND AN ADDITIONAL $3,300 WAS PAID IN AUGUST. THE REPRESENTATIVES PROVIDED COPIES OF CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THEM AND STILES CONCERNING HIS LACK OF COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT. STILES SAID DUE TO HEALTH CONDITIONS, BEING UNABLE TO HIRE HELP, AND EQUIPMENT FAILURE, HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DO THE WORK. THE COMPANY EVENTUALLY HAD TO HIRE ANOTHER CONTRACTOR TO DO THE WORK AT A COST OF $7,850. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS LEARNED THE ARKANSAS CONTRACTORS LICENSING BOARD HAS RECORDED NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED INSTANCES OF STILES RECEIVING PAYMENTS FROM CLIENTS BUT FAILING TO START OR COMPLETE THE WORK AND THEN NOT REPAYING THE FUNDS. THE BOARD HAS IMPOSED SEVERAL CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST STILES. IN THE IZARD COUNTY CASE, STILES IS CHARGED WITH THEFT OF PROPERTY TOTALING MORE THAN $5,000 BUT LESS THAN $25,000. HIS BOND WILL BE SET AT $15,000 ONCE HE IS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. COURT RECORDS SHOW SIX CIVIL LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST STILES, AND ALL SIX OF THE PLAINTIFFS WON THEIR SUITS. THREE OF THE LAWSUITS WERE FILED BY INDIVIDUALS, AND THREE WERE FILED BY BUSINESSES.
- A WALNUT RIDGE MAN IS BEING HELD ON MULTIPLE CHARGES AFTER HIS ARREST LAST WEEK.. ROSS TILLMAN ASHFORD IS CHARGED WITH FAILURE TO APPEAR, A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR, REVOCATION OF A SUSPENDED IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE.. ASHFORD IS BEING HELD IN THE LAWRENCE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, AWAITING A COURT PROCEEDING....
- A BLOOD BORNE PROTOZOAL PARASITE CARRIED BY THE INVASICE ASIAN LONGHONRED TICK IS ACTIVELY AFFECTING CATTLE IN 20 ARKANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDING LAWRENCE, SHARP AND INDEPENDENCE. LAWRENCE COUNT EXTENSION AGENT BRYCE BALDRIDGE SAYS THE PARASITE WAS FIRST DETECTED IN THE UNITED STATE NINE YEARS AGO... BALDRIDGE ADDED THE DISEASE SPREADS SILENTLY AND IN MAY CASES, STOCKMEN MAY NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AND THAT MANY TIMES THE AFFECTED ANIMAL DOESN'T SHOW ANY SYMPTOMS.. THERE IS NO APPROVED TREATMENT OR VACCINE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE... BALDRIDGE SAYS TEH STATE EXTENSION SERVICE IS RECOMMENDING CHANGING NEEDLES BETWEEN COWS AND SANITIZING SQUIPMENT AFATER EVERY USE TO SLOW TRANSMISSION.. IF YOU THINK THERE IS A POSSIBILITY YOU HAVE CATTLE THEY MAY BE AFFECTED CALL YOUR LOCAL COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE..
- THE FLU SEASON IS HERE, THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTS A LOW VOLUMNE OF FLU CASES THUS FAR.. KSAR'S MEDICAL CONTRIBUTOR DR HOMER BROOKS ADVISED HE HAS ONLY SEEN A HANDFUL OF FLU PATIENTS IN THE RECENT WEEKS AND ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUALS TO GET YOUR FLU SHOT TO HELP AVOID THE FLU AND TO LESSEN THE SYMPTOMS SHOULD YOU GET THE FLU.. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER OR VISIT YOUR LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO RECEIVE A FLU SHOT..
- IT'S SPIRIT WEEK AT THE IZARD COUNTY STEM SCHOOL.. MONDAY IS CLASS COLORS DAY.. . WEDNESDAY IS ZOOM MEETING DAY.. THURSDAY IS NEON DAY... FRIDAY IS SPIRIT DAY, STUDENTS ENCOUARGED TO DRESS IHEIR COUGAR BLACK AND GRAY.. THE FOOTBALL COUGARS AND JUNIOR COUGARS WILL HOST JOHNSON COUNTY WESTSIDE IN THE HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAMES FRIDAY NIGHT AT COUGAR STADIUM... COUGAR FOOTBALL IS LIVE STREAMED EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT ON myhometownradiostations,com, CLICK ON THE COUGAR MASCOT, BILLY McBRIDE WITH THE PLAY BY PLAY....
- THE NOVEMBER 3RD "GENERAL ELECTION" IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, AND THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS TODAY... IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED IN A WHILE OR HAVE MOVED TO ARKANSAS FROM ANOTHER STATE, CALL OR STOP BY YOUR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE TO CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS AND VIEW YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT ON-LINE AT WWW.VOTERVIEW.AR-NOVA.ORG
- THE IZARD COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE IS HOSTING A FALL PRODUCER FIELD DAY THURSDAY OCTOBER 8TH AT THE MILLER POULTRY AND CATTLE FARM LOCATED AT 555 MILLER FARMS ROADS IN MELBOURNE, THE PROGRAM WILL BEGIN AT 10 AND WILL INCLUDE EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATIONS, SUCH AS A BALE PROCESSOR AND FEED MIXER DEMONSTRATIONS, AND MORE. IZARD COUNTY EXTENTION AG-AGENT MICHAEL PASKOWITZ WILL GIVE A PRESENTATION ON WINTER LIVESTOCK NUTRITION AND HAY TESTING, A MEAL WILL BE SERVED AT NOON. PRE-REGISTER BY TODAY BY CALLING THE EXTENSION OFFICE IN MELBOURNE AT 870-368-4323.
- OCTOBER IS 4-H MONTH. YOUNGSTERS AGES 5 TO 19 ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN 4-H. IZARD COUNTY FAMILY AND CONSUMERS SCIENCES AGENT ELIZABETH DAIGLE HAS WATCHED KIDS EXPAND THEIR SKILLS WHILE INTERACTING WITH OTHERS WHO SHARE SOME OF HTE SAME INTERESTS .. ALL PART OF THE OVERALL 4-H EXPERIENCE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON 4-H, CONTACT YOUR COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE., IN MELBOURNE, SALEM, ASH FLAT, WALNUT RIDGE, OR POCAHONTAS.
- THE IZARD COUNTY STEM SCHOOL LIVESTOCK TEAM HAD AN OUTSTANDING SHOWING AT THE RECENT NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT FAIR IN MELBOURNE. THE LIVESTOCK TEAM MEMBERS COMPETED IN CATTLE, GOATS, SWINE AND EDUCATIONAL CONTESTS, INCLUDING PUBLIC SPEAKING. THE TEAM CAME AWAY FROM THE FAIR WITH MANY MANY AWARDS.
- THE LAWRENCE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL HOLD THEIR ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10TH AT THE MOODY ROOM AT WILLIAMS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY NEAR WALNUT RIDGE. THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WILL BE DR. RODNEY HARRIS. TICKETS FOR THE EVENT ARE $30 EACH AND CAN BE PURCHASED BY CONTACTING ANY MEMBER OF THE LAWRENCE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD. . AWARD RECIPIENTS INCLUDE: THE CITY OF WALNUT RIDGE AND THE LAWRENCE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHO WILL RECEIVE THE PRESERVATION AWARD FOR THEIR WORK ON THE HISTORICAL 1908 IRON MOUNTAIN DEPOT IN WALNUT RIDGE. ALSO NANCY MATTHEWS OF JONESBORO WILL RECEIVE THE LIVING LIFETIME ACHEILVEMENT AWARD FOR HER EXTENSIVE FIELD WORK, TEACHING, WRITING, AND ON-LINE PUBLISHING RELATED TO LAWRENCE COUNTY GENEOLOGY. AND THE LATE RETTA COVEY OF WALNUT RIDGE WILL BE RECOGNIZED WITH THE LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD. COVEY WAS A LONG TIME EDUCATOR, CIVIC LEADER, LAWRENCE COUNTY PROMOTER AND ENERGETIC VOLUNTEER LEADER IN HISTORY-RELATED ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS THE NATION'S BI-CENTENNIAL EVENT IN 1976 AND THE STATES' SESQUI-CENTENNIAL IN 1986.
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