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A fire caused extensive damage to a home on Foxrun Drive in Bonneville County on Friday.
IDAHO FALLS — Just after 2 p.m. on Friday, the Bonneville County/Idaho Falls Dispatch Center received a call from an individual reporting that their neighbor’s house was on fire and that there was smoke and large flames.
The neighbor did not know if there was anybody inside the home.
The Idaho Falls Fire Department and Bonneville County Sheriff's Office responded to the 6000 block of Foxrun Drive in Bonneville County.
IFFD responded with four engines, two ambulances, the ladder truck and battalion chief.
As the battalion chief was in route he noted a large column of smoke. Engine 4 noted a single story home with flames coming from the roof.
The homeowners were not home at the time of the fire. There were no injuries to civilians or first responders.
The fire spread quickly from the back of the home, deck, garage and then to the attic and roof, and throughout most of the upstairs living spaces.
There was smoke damage throughout the home.
Firefighters reported having most of the fire knocked down by approximately 2:30 p.m.
Due to the extensive damage, approximately $350,000, the homeowner was displaced from the home but was able to make arrangements for a temporary place to stay.
Chaplains from the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy of Idaho were dispatched to provide assistance to the homeowner.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by IFFD’s Fire Prevention/Investigation Division. No other information will be released at this time. | 2022-08-13T20:28:15Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Fire inflicts extensive damage on local home, leaves residence uninhabitable | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/fire-inflicts-extensive-damage-on-local-home-leaves-residence-uninhabitable/article_d3293f82-b792-5f88-b198-2a65125045c6.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/fire-inflicts-extensive-damage-on-local-home-leaves-residence-uninhabitable/article_d3293f82-b792-5f88-b198-2a65125045c6.html |
Richard Hollingsworth, District 7 commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, stands in front of the Bannock County Veterans Memorial Building in Pocatello. Hollingsworth is one of the organizers of the first Veterans Day parade in Pocatello since the World War II era.
POCATELLO — Members of each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, classic sports cars and a possible flyover by A-10 Thunderbolts are just a few of the highlights organizers have planned for the first Veterans Day parade in Pocatello since the World War II era.
Richard Hollingsworth, District 7 commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said he and several other committee members are pulling out all the stops to make this coming Veterans Day special, particularly for the significant number of local veterans whose welcoming after service abroad was less than warm and receptive.
The first floats and participants in the parade, set to begin at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, will include members of the U.S. Army followed by an Army official who will ride in a classic sports car and serve as the Army parade marshal, Hollingsworth said. The Idaho State University marching band will perform during this first portion of the parade featuring the Army.
Hollingsworth said he and the other six members of the parade planning committee have worked tirelessly to include members in the event from each branch of the military, including the Army, ISU Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Marines, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, Space Force and even the Coast Guard and Merchant Marine.
Each branch of the military participating in the parade will have its own parade marshal.
In addition to ensuring each Armed Forces branch will be represented at the parade, Hollingsworth said the committee hopes to have more than 15 veteran services organizations participate in the event. He said each veteran services organization will have members of the Boy Scouts of America with them during the parade carrying a special banner depicting the group’s name, emblem or insignia, and the date it was established.
The parade will feature a memory and honor walk with veterans from the Idaho State Veterans Home in Pocatello as well as members of the community holding photos of fallen veterans.
Hollingsworth said the committee is also looking to have some horses participate in the parade and has put in an application to have between two and four A-10 Thunderbolts fly over the event.
At Caldwell Park, parade watchers will have the opportunity to hear Paul Anderson, a longtime Pocatello radio broadcaster, and Melissa Hartman, the Bannock County veteran services coordinator and a key organizer in the annual Idaho Field of Heroes Memorial, announce the history of each military branch and veteran services organization that's participating in the parade. Hartman and Anderson will also announce the name of the parade marshal for each branch, Hollingsworth said.
In addition to Hollingsworth, the parade planning committee includes Marshall G. Riggall, a retired Navy commander; Mike Myers of Farm Bureau Insurance; Mike Smith, a lieutenant with the Air Force Civil Air Patrol; George Breshears, a retired Civil Air Patrol colonel; Steve Roberts, a retired Army colonel; and Hiedi Young with Veterans Family Services.
Hollingsworth also gave a special thank you to Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad and the city staff for all of their assistance. | 2022-08-13T20:28:40Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | 'BEST PARADE EVER': Details released on first Pocatello Veterans Day parade in eight decades | Local | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/best-parade-ever-details-released-on-first-pocatello-veterans-day-parade-in-eight-decades/article_4f6be271-19d6-5829-b6b2-fd25b3997ca5.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/best-parade-ever-details-released-on-first-pocatello-veterans-day-parade-in-eight-decades/article_4f6be271-19d6-5829-b6b2-fd25b3997ca5.html |
Greg and Angie Poulsen (left, middle) and Wendy Guess (right) of Eagle Mountain, Utah, with a 124-inch white sturgeon from CJ Strike Reservoir, clinching the current catch-and-release state record.
Greg Poulsen, Brett Jones for IDFG
By Martin Koenig Idaho Fish and Game
Well, it's happened again! C.J. Strike Reservoir in southwestern Idaho — typically known for abundant crappie and smallmouth bass — has once again produced an eye-popping state record fish. Although, this time it's not a catfish. Greg and Angie Poulsen of Eagle Mountain, Utah traveled to Idaho, hoping to tangle with North America's largest freshwater fish, the white sturgeon. While fishing on C.J. Strike Reservoir on Aug. 5, Greg Poulsen got his chance and hooked into a big one! Greg ultimately landed the 10-foot 4-inch monster sturgeon, and set the hook on a new state record in the process. | 2022-08-14T03:48:11Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Record smashing 10-foot 4-inch sturgeon caught at Idaho reservoir | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/record-smashing-10-foot-4-inch-sturgeon-caught-at-idaho-reservoir/article_8dfbff9a-7f20-5498-8b74-3ba689e0d71b.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/record-smashing-10-foot-4-inch-sturgeon-caught-at-idaho-reservoir/article_8dfbff9a-7f20-5498-8b74-3ba689e0d71b.html |
At the Painter family reunion held at Heyburn State Park near Plummer, Idaho, last week, four of my five children and their families gathered from far-flung places such as Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia to camp out and roll in the dirt. (Northern Idaho seems to be kind of a central location for most of us.)
Perhaps the park’s biggest claim to fame is the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. The paved pedestrian/bike path winds from Plummer to Mullen near Wallace for more than 71 miles past huge lakes and rivers. The path is a former railroad bed and never gets steeper than 3%. Every day we were there, the path attracted dozens of cyclists from serious road bikers to kids on training wheels. If you come here, don’t forget your bicycle. | 2022-08-14T09:36:15Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Getting down and dirty at Heyburn State Park | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/getting-down-and-dirty-at-heyburn-state-park/article_8862ad00-3e9f-52f3-b494-dc0d19c049b0.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/getting-down-and-dirty-at-heyburn-state-park/article_8862ad00-3e9f-52f3-b494-dc0d19c049b0.html |
Holden Ralph Holden Ralph Lindsey Holden transitioned to his heavenly home on August 1, 2022 in Sun City West, Arizona. Ralph was born in St. Louis, Missouri July 14, 1928 to Cyril Robert Holden and Annabelle Cooper Holden, the third of their four children. He grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho and married his high school sweetheart Lois LaRee Hoffman on March 25, 1948. Lois preceded Ralph in death on March 31, 2010. They raised four children in Pocatello, Idaho; Kristie Stratford (Ken), Mary Kay McCollum (Lee), Frank Holden (DeeAnn), and Cindy Holden. Ralph attended the University of Idaho from 1946-47 pledging Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He returned to Idaho Falls to marry Lois, farm and raise their family. He was president of Kiwanis in Pocatello and a member for 23 years. Ralph was also a member of Idaho Food Dealers, Pocatello Country Club, ISU Bengal Boosters, Pocatello Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Merchants, United Campaign and Pocatello Chiefs. Ralph was an entrepreneur his entire life. He managed and owned Okay's Food Center in Pocatello for many years. He began as a potato farmer, started a satellite business, an insulation business, a gift store (The Underground), and finally a Snug Fleece Woolens Store. He retired to Sun City West, Arizona and enjoyed a long retirement with Lois. Ralph played years of golf and tennis. Much of his leisure time was spent with his many special friends. Ralph was dearly loved, admired and respected by all who's lives he touched. He was one of the very good ones, the epitome of what it truly means to be called a 'gentleman'. He could always lighten a room and bring a smile to a face, no matter the age of the person with whom he was engaging. He enjoyed a very full journey through this life, living just into his 94th year, in spite of being mostly blind for the last 20 years. His motto, repeated often, was "I never had a bad day". We are blessed to have had him as our father. Ralph leaves behind, his four children, his grandchildren, Troy Stratford (Dixie), Lindsey Bender (John), Christian McCollum (Anne), Andrew McCollum (Kim), and Holden Nielson and 11 great grandchildren. We lost grandchildren Cassie Holden in 1988 and Rodney Stratford in 2010. Ralph's family would like to thank the loving friends who have helped him these last years of his life. His friends Alice Thielman and Sandy Cryer; his Hospice nurse Mandy Read, care companions Heather Adams and Lauren Foley. They have all given him love and comfort when he was most in need. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts. There will be a private family service at a later date.
Ralph Lindsey Holden
Lois Laree Hoffman
Annabelle Cooper Holden | 2022-08-14T09:36:28Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Holden, Ralph | Obituaries | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/obituaries/holden-ralph/article_68585df8-55a9-585f-971f-909de27c05c9.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/obituaries/holden-ralph/article_68585df8-55a9-585f-971f-909de27c05c9.html |
Idaho Department of Correction Photo
Idaho Department of Correction News Release
The Idaho Department of Correction is searching for a Treasure Valley Community Reentry Center resident who walked away from his job in the community.
Michael Frangesh, IDOC #113000, was last seen at a job site near Boise Airport around at 8:00 a.m. Saturday.
Frangesh, 60, is white, 6 feet 2 inches tall, 200 pounds with brown eyes and gray hair.
Frangesh’s criminal record in Idaho includes a conviction for aggravated driving under the influence in Bannock County. He has been eligible for parole since Feb. 6, 2020. His sentence was to be discharged on Feb. 17, 2029. | 2022-08-14T18:31:52Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Inmate convicted in Bannock County walks away from worksite | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/inmate-convicted-in-bannock-county-walks-away-from-worksite/article_3c413f2f-0ddd-5241-8dcb-d3227a602194.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/inmate-convicted-in-bannock-county-walks-away-from-worksite/article_3c413f2f-0ddd-5241-8dcb-d3227a602194.html |
POCATELLO — A man and juvenile were seriously injured Sunday afternoon in a motorcycle crash that has shut down a south Pocatello road.
The man and juvenile were on a motorcycle that crashed around 3:30 p.m. while heading westbound on the South Valley Connector, authorities said.
The names of the accident victims have not been released.
As of 4 p.m. Sunday the South Valley Connector remained shut down because of the crash. | 2022-08-14T23:58:26Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Man and juvenile seriously injured in motorcycle crash on south Pocatello road | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/man-and-juvenile-seriously-injured-in-motorcycle-crash-on-south-pocatello-road/article_6b8b4518-ec88-577e-a1d2-31836105bdba.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/man-and-juvenile-seriously-injured-in-motorcycle-crash-on-south-pocatello-road/article_6b8b4518-ec88-577e-a1d2-31836105bdba.html |
POCATELLO — A man and young girl were seriously injured Sunday afternoon in a motorcycle crash that temporarily shut down a south Pocatello road.
The man and girl under age 10 were on a motorcycle that crashed around 3:30 p.m. while heading westbound on the South Valley Connector, authorities said.
The names of the accident victims have not been released. Police said both victims are from Pocatello and were wearing helmets at the time of the crash. | 2022-08-15T01:38:34Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Man and child seriously injured in motorcycle crash on south Pocatello road | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/man-and-child-seriously-injured-in-motorcycle-crash-on-south-pocatello-road/article_6b8b4518-ec88-577e-a1d2-31836105bdba.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/man-and-child-seriously-injured-in-motorcycle-crash-on-south-pocatello-road/article_6b8b4518-ec88-577e-a1d2-31836105bdba.html |
Dan and Denise Hoffa celebrate 50th wedding anniversary
Dan and Denise Hoffa were married on Aug. 19, 1972 in Boise at The Debonair. Dan worked for Farm Bureau Insurance for 34 years, and Denise was a cosmetologist for 15 years and worked for Dr. Darth West for 20 years.
Dan and Denise have two children, Jason and Kellie (Armstrong) and four grandchildren.
They have enjoyed traveling throughout their marriage and plan to continue with their adventures. Over the years, they have enjoyed spending time with their family whether it be traditional holiday gatherings or attending all of their grandchildren’s activities, like soccer, football and volleyball to name a few.
Their family would like to express their love and gratitude to them and thank them for their example of unconditional love through the years.
Happy 50th, Mom and Dad, with many more to come.
Denise Hoffa | 2022-08-15T17:49:26Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Dan and Denise Hoffa celebrate 50th wedding anniversary | Community | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/community/dan-and-denise-hoffa-celebrate-50th-wedding-anniversary/article_7f051613-15ec-589e-92a9-a45b25d28fe6.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/community/dan-and-denise-hoffa-celebrate-50th-wedding-anniversary/article_7f051613-15ec-589e-92a9-a45b25d28fe6.html |
UPDATE FROM BANNOCK COUNTY:
The Bannock County Coroner’s Office, in cooperation with the Idaho State Police, has confirmed the identity of the deceased following the vehicle collision on US Highway 30 milepost 360 near McCammon on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022.
Deceased: Mark Allan Waller, 58 of Bancroft.
ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE FROM IDAHO STATE POLICE: | 2022-08-15T17:49:27Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Authorities release name of local motorcyclist killed in crash | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/authorities-release-name-of-local-motorcyclist-killed-in-crash/article_3d0ba6ef-160c-5255-8ca2-07a20513559e.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/authorities-release-name-of-local-motorcyclist-killed-in-crash/article_3d0ba6ef-160c-5255-8ca2-07a20513559e.html |
Central Idaho does have a recent history of high precipitation, which has resulted in Mackay Dam overtopping three times in the last 15 years: in 2010, 2011 and 2017, according to a 2018 complaint to then-Gov. Butch Otter. The overtopping event in 2017 came after warnings for high amounts of snowmelt from the National Weather Service, The Challis Messenger reported.
“(The Big Lost River Irrigation District’s) seismic analysis and understanding of the spillway, even when it was constructed in the '50s, is totally absent and inadequate,” said Tami Thatcher, who writes about nuclear issues for the Idaho National Laboratory and writes for the Environmental Defense Institute. “Then, after the 1983 Borah earthquake, the dam survived, but they were concerned about the rock cliffs above the spillway. The next year they hired someone to come in and blast rocks.”
“I certainly don’t envy the Big Lost River District,” Thatcher said. “These are just guys who wanted to, you know, irrigate, and and they have a very difficult job of just managing that town, managing the routine maintenance, managing the day-to-day operations. That’s no job for cities.”
Byron Pherson | 2022-08-15T17:49:28Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Mackay Dam described as 'accident waiting to happen' | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/mackay-dam-described-as-accident-waiting-to-happen/article_e4e9ee3c-f42f-53b6-b12b-24d0c8c91520.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/mackay-dam-described-as-accident-waiting-to-happen/article_e4e9ee3c-f42f-53b6-b12b-24d0c8c91520.html |
A motorist fills up the tank on a sedan on July 22 in Saratoga, Wyoming.
In Idaho, gas is 9 cents less than last week and 47 cents less than a month ago, according to AAA Idaho, but it’s still above the national average at $4.70 per gallon.
“Fuel demand increased last week from 8.5 to 9 million barrels per day, but that’s still more than 300,000 barrels per day less than a year ago,” AAA Idaho spokesman Matthew Conde said in a press release. “There’s a bit of a standoff right now. Falling prices are starting to pull some folks off the sidelines and back onto the roads, but there are still a lot of people waiting for a better deal in hopes of one last summer road trip.”
Despite falling prices, gas in the Gem State is still more expensive than the national average of $3.96 per gallon, which is 10 cents less than a week ago and 62 cents less than a month ago.
Idaho currently ranks seventh in the U.S. for most expensive fuel behind California ($5.37), Hawaii ($5.36), Nevada ($4.94), Alaska ($4.93), Oregon ($4.87) and Washington ($4.81). At $3.45, today’s least expensive pump prices can be found in Texas. | 2022-08-15T22:23:49Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Average US gasoline price falls to $3.96 per gallon; Idaho at $4.70 | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/average-us-gasoline-price-falls-to-3-96-per-gallon-idaho-at-4-70/article_80e0777f-e680-5644-b20d-db5811257cb0.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/average-us-gasoline-price-falls-to-3-96-per-gallon-idaho-at-4-70/article_80e0777f-e680-5644-b20d-db5811257cb0.html |
SALT LAKE CITY — A Republican state lawmaker in Utah said Friday he plans to introduce legislation that would require clergy to report child abuse to authorities, eliminating the clergy-penitent privilege in a state where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the predominant religion.
Lyman, a member of the faith who himself served six years as a bishop of a local congregation, said he had already been working for months on his legislation but called the AP story “powerful” and an example of the kinds of problems caused by delaying reports of the abuse.
“People should be able to go and confess their sins to their bishop without fear of being prosecuted up until when they are confessing something that has affected someone else's life significantly,” Lyman said. “Right now, you’d hear their confession and you would say, ‘Gosh, I don’t know what to do with this.’”
Church officials didn’t immediately respond to an email Friday seeking comment. The faith said in a statement issued one day after the AP story was published that the piece “seriously mischaracterized” the reporting systems and that a helpline that local leaders are supposed to call to report abuse focuses on helping victims. | 2022-08-15T22:24:01Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | LDS lawmaker pushes abuse reporting reform in Utah | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/lds-lawmaker-pushes-abuse-reporting-reform-in-utah/article_aad0fcb1-28f1-5d15-9507-ed2d61a38927.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/lds-lawmaker-pushes-abuse-reporting-reform-in-utah/article_aad0fcb1-28f1-5d15-9507-ed2d61a38927.html |
Bannock County Search & Rescue team, Portneuf Air Rescue and Idaho State University Public Safety recently took part in joint air rescue training.
POCATELLO — At around 7:43 pm on Thursday night, a Bell 407 helicopter touched down in the middle of Idaho State University’s Quad. Awaiting its arrival were about 20 individuals, some wearing neon yellow vests labeled Bannock County Search & Rescue, while others donned badges and gear.
This gathering wasn’t a rescue the air crew and search and rescue team had to tackle, however. This night they gathered to attend the joint air rescue training hosted by the Bannock County Search & Rescue team, Portneuf Air Rescue and Idaho State University Public Safety.
“We like to hold these trainings once every year … just to refresh the members on setting up landing zones and working with Portneuf Air Med,” Sgt. Nick Zweigart said. “They’ll come in, land the chopper, and they’ll talk to us about what they’re looking for on areas to land and will refresh our guys on how to load and offload a patient as far as getting them into the helicopter.”
While BCSR has done plenty of air rescue trainings in the past, Idaho State University’s campus was a new training location chosen by both BCSR and ISU Public Safety to broaden each agency’s capacities to respond to emergency events in different environments.
“This is a good opportunity to train with other agencies in case there ever was an incident close to ISU,” Zweigart said. “(ISU Public Safety) will be familiar with the different spots they can land the helicopter.”
Search and rescue members, along with ISU Public safety officers, learned about inter-agency communication, critical patient medical care, how to construct landing zones and more.
Thursday night happened to be Tristen Tallerico’s first air rescue training with BCSR after he joined the team four months ago.
“I decided to get on with search and rescue to learn a little bit more,” said Tallerico, who is a firefighter with North Bannock Fire Department and is studying homeland security at ISU. “I’ve been in the army for almost five years, so I did a little bit of medical training with them, so it just kind of seemed like the natural step.”
Although Tallerico has been on helicopters many times in the past for the army, he explained the training was beneficial as Air Rescue demonstrated how to properly and efficiently load patients into the helicopter, something he wasn’t too familiar with in the past.
“Any way we can make it faster is a benefit,” he said.
Also in attendance was Steve Roberts, who has seven years of experience with BCSR under his belt and has attended dozens of trainings like this in the past. Roberts, who worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 41 years, explained that trainings like this are always important to attend as there is always something new to learn.
“If you don’t get something new out of your training, there’s a problem,” Roberts said. “You should always be open for learning because you can always learn. And the minute you stop learning,and say you know it all, that’s when you’re gonna make a mistake. You’re either gonna get yourself hurt or somebody else.”
Roberts explained that Thursday night’s training has been different in the past since they used a different helicopter, and with that, comes different ways of operating the equipment.
“And these guys are so good to work with,” he added, referring to Portneuf Air Rescue. “I mean…they’re always right there to help you out. I think out of the seven years (I’ve been with BCSC), this has been the best service I’ve worked with from there. So they do an excellent job.”
Both Tellerico and Roberts are part of a team of about 25 individuals who volunteer to be on call 24/7 and dedicate their time, skills and knowledge to assist the community and serve on the Bannock County Search & Rescue team.
“All these guys, they have jobs, they don’t get paid to do this,” Zweigart said. “They truly are here to help the community and be of service. They … take time out from their families, their work to make these trainings happen and they do all that on their own. And that’s a pretty big thing.”
Tristen Tallerico
Portneuf Air Rescue
Nick Zweigart | 2022-08-15T22:24:01Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Education from the sky: Bannock County Search & Rescue holds joint training with Portneuf Air Rescue and ISU Public Safety | Local | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/education-from-the-sky-bannock-county-search-rescue-holds-joint-training-with-portneuf-air-rescue/article_a05a8948-3ca8-5d1f-a208-a62bdcb398fc.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/education-from-the-sky-bannock-county-search-rescue-holds-joint-training-with-portneuf-air-rescue/article_a05a8948-3ca8-5d1f-a208-a62bdcb398fc.html |
At Hollywood Vibe National Dance Convention, Pocatello's The Dance Factory’s Vibe Team took home several awards and was one of five chosen out of hundreds of studio dances to compete in the Battle of the Stars, where they placed second in their division.
Photo courtesy of Sloane Lewis
POCATELLO — When Gina Underwood first started The Dance Factory 27 years ago, she was fresh out of high school and teaching out of a small storage unit on Arthur Avenue in Historic Downtown Pocatello.
Now, she owns a 10,000-square-foot building at 5026 Brook Lane in Chubbuck, maintains nearly 400 students and recently had several of her dance teams win top awards at a national dance convention in Anaheim, California.
In July, two of Underwood’s dance teams took home several platinum awards and several first- and-second place awards at the Hollywood Vibe National Dance Convention. Her Vibe Team’s dance “Gone Too Soon” took home first place contemporary, first place overall in line and production, and won the Vibe Award, which is the convention’s highest award possible. It was also one of five chosen out of hundreds of studios across the nation to compete in the Battle of the Stars, where they took home second place in their division.
“(Hollywood Vibe) is huge,” said Underwood, who runs the studio with her daughter, Jaida. “It’s nationwide. … We qualified in Utah and then we went to Anaheim for their nationals … and in their age category they won one of the top scores. And then they were put to a battle round with four other dances. And they got second. … It was above and beyond. I’m super proud of them.”
“Gone Too Soon” was choreographed by Chelsea Thedinga, who has danced with Travis Wall of So You Think You Can Dance, and has worked with Underwood’s studio for the past 12 years.
In addition to this, the Vibe Team took home first place in lyrical and won a platinum award for their dance “If I Be Wrong.” One of their dancers, Olivia Harker, made top 10 in her division for Hollywood Vibe’s “Dancer of the Year” award.
Their Inspire Team took home several platinum awards and second place in Jazz Small Group, and together both the Inspire Team and Vibe Team took home two platinum awards and won first place in Hip Hop Line with their dance “Be Like Me.”
“They’ve done awesome,” Underwood said. “These girls have worked so hard to get to this point, especially since COVID, and to recover the way that they have has been really impressive. Especially since they were only dancing two days a week last year. … It just shows their work ethic and how hard they do work when they’re here and how that training helps.”
Noa Lewis, 12, who is on the Vibe Team and has been dancing for roughly nine years, said that when they announced the results of the Battle of the Stars, she was shocked.
“It was crazy,” she said. “I knew we did good, but I wasn’t sure how we would place.”
After the awards, Underwood explained the girls celebrated — by bursting out into an impromptu dance party.
“They actually walked over to Downtown Disney and there was a live DJ and they took over the Downtown Disney area and had a huge dance party,” Underwood said. “By the time they were done, there were probably fifty people just standing around to watch them. It was the coolest thing, and they had so much fun.”
The Dance Factory itself received recognition on a local level when it was voted Best Dance Studio by the community in the Idaho State Journal’s 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards. It has been voted as one of the top dance studios for the past 15 years, Underwood said.
The studio provides dance classes and exercise recreation programs from ages 2 to adult and offers a wide variety such as ballet, jazz, hip hop, acro/tumble and more. Recently Underwood also had dancer and choreographer Ricky Malouf, whose choreography has been showcased at many national-level events, come to the studio to work with two of her advanced teams.
“We have big, big people come to our studio and not a lot of people know about it,” Underwood said. “And a lot of people will go, ‘who are these people?’ But in the dance world, they’re huge.”
In addition to bringing in skilled dancers to teach her students, Underwood explained she strives to teach them diverse styles of dance.
“My big thing as the owner that I’ve always had since the beginning is that I want to make them well-rounded in everything,” she said. “I don’t want them just to be good at one dance form. And a lot of people say, ‘No, you should specialize,’ and that’s fine if that’s your niche and what you want to do. But workability wise, if they want to go to college and do it or if they want to one day own a studio, they need to be well-versed in everything to be successful.”
While Hollywood Vibe’s convention was one of the larger events The Dance Factory planned to do this year, Underwood explained that they do have several events to perform at before the year ends. Such events include Idaho State University’s homecoming parade in October and the Festival of Trees Breakfast with Santa event in November, although the studio is always happy and open to performing at community events.
Currently, the Dance Factory is holding sign-ups for new members. For those interested, visit dancefactoryid.com for more information. | 2022-08-15T22:24:15Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | The Dance Factory brings home to Pocatello several top awards earned at national convention | Local | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/the-dance-factory-brings-home-to-pocatello-several-top-awards-earned-at-national-convention/article_f612cedb-cdce-5b0b-8162-17252ef4f2e8.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/the-dance-factory-brings-home-to-pocatello-several-top-awards-earned-at-national-convention/article_f612cedb-cdce-5b0b-8162-17252ef4f2e8.html |
Abortion is essential, not only for healthcare reasons, but for economic and social reasons as well. Abortion is the treatment for ectopic pregnancies, which are not viable and threaten the pregnant person's life through damage of surrounding tissues and organs. Abortions are also vital in cases in which the fetus is growing abnormally and will not survive. Not only that, but mental health is widely overlooked in our society. There are many individuals who cannot support raising or even carrying a child due to mental illness. Mental illness of a parent can affect a fetus by creating an unstable environment in the womb. Hormones produced due to parental stress can cause many different complications, ranging from low birth weight and premature birth, to allergies and asthma, and even complications in brain development. People with anxiety and/or depression are much more likely to experience high levels of stress during pregnancy. Another mental illness that often goes overlooked is substance abuse. This contributes significantly to birth defects, one example being fetal alcohol syndrome. If a person suffers from a mental illness and chooses not to have a child to spare the child a lower quality of life, there is no reason that person should be forced to bring that being into the world.
Economically, abortion is essential because many people cannot afford to have a child. I often hear people say, "It's not my job to support the kids you decided to have." In a state as conservative as Idaho, many people can understand why the economic burden of a family should not be placed on others. It also should not be placed on people who already know they cannot afford to have a child. 61% of individuals who receive abortions are people who have already had a child and know they do not have the money, time, or energy to devote to having another.* And while many people argue that contraceptives are enough to prevent pregnancy, they are not. Studies show that 51% of people who obtain abortions use contraceptives and still get pregnant.**
The social impact of abortion is worth more than just noting. Not only does access to safe, legal abortions prevent people from dying by means of unsafe abortion methods, but it allows people to have autonomy over their own lives. In a society that perpetuates rape culture, taking away people's ability to make autonomous decisions about their futures further enhances the idea that autonomy and consent are unimportant. If one is not given a chance to consent to birthing a child, why would consent be seen as necessary in sexual interactions? As a victim of sexual assault myself, it is terrifying to think that my right to consent could easily become seen as even less important than it is today. Not only will abortion bans preserve or even intensify rape culture, it will set a precedent for other rights to be taken away. As Idaho's Supreme Court deliberated over the lawsuits that Planned Parenthood brought against it on Wednesday, the Deputy Attorney General stated that the drafters of the Idaho Constitution would not have supported abortion rights. However, they also did not support women's right to vote, as women did not have that right when the Idaho Constitution was drafted. The LGBTQ community is also at risk of having their rights taken away. After Roe V. Wade was overturned, Justices stated that they would support gay marriage being put in state's hands. Interracial marriage is another right that could be attacked due to the ruling in Dobbs V. Jackson, as the legal reasoning for the overturn of Roe could also lead to the overturn of Loving V. Virginia.
I know that I, for one, do not want to live in a country that claims freedom but does not legally protect people exercising those freedoms. Do you?
*Jones, Rachel K., et al. “‘I Would Want to Give My Child, like, Everything in the World.’” Journal of Family Issues, vol. 29, no. 1, 2007, pp. 79–99., https://doi.org/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0192513x07305753.
**Jones, Rachel K. “Reported Contraceptive Use in the Month of Becoming Pregnant among U.S. Abortion Patients in 2000 and 2014.” Contraception, vol. 97, no. 4, 9 Jan. 2018, pp. 309–312., https://doi.org/https://www.guttmacher.org/article/2018/01/reported-contraceptive-use-month-becoming-pregnant-among-us-abortion-patients-2000.
Chloe Rhiannon, | 2022-08-16T02:18:57Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Abortion | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/abortion/article_366c2451-9397-590e-a0e2-b9c51c875c6e.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/abortion/article_366c2451-9397-590e-a0e2-b9c51c875c6e.html |
Reclaim Idaho is putting an education issue on the November 8 ballot. We are asked to spend 300 million more on education. This measure is sure to pass, no matter how much it raises our taxes, because after all, “it is for the children”.
Some want us to believe that the more money we spend on education the better our education will be. It has been shown time and time again that spending more money has little to do with academic achievement.
Idaho spends a little over $8,000 per pupil on education. Washington DC spends a little over $18,000 per pupil. Yet achievement in DC is no better. A judge in Kansas City, Missouri decided to spend unlimited amounts on education, yet in ten years it made little difference.
If you want to tax yourself much more and pay teachers more, then remember they only work ten months a year and have many other benefits.
Spending more on education will do little to improve achievement, but it will make a lot of teachers and administrators richer. Is that what you want? Please vote “no” on November 8.
Jim Hollingsworth,
Hayden, Idaho | 2022-08-16T02:19:41Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Reclaim Idaho | Freeaccess | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/reclaim-idaho/article_b80c0b04-a57b-578b-b881-15e3a269b7c0.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/freeaccess/reclaim-idaho/article_b80c0b04-a57b-578b-b881-15e3a269b7c0.html |
Idaho State University President Kevin Satterlee addresses audience members during the annual President's Fall Address at Frazier Hall on Monday.
POCATELLO — Idaho State University aims to become a carbon-neutral school while ensuring all incoming students have a mentor to offer assistance throughout their first college semester, ISU President Kevin Satterlee said Monday.
Satterlee announced the university’s goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions and to increase the number of available mentors for first-time students during his annual fall address to faculty and staff Monday morning at the Frazier Hall auditorium on the Pocatello campus.
Satterlee also spoke about the many successes from the university’s various colleges and revisited the school’s recently approved five-year strategic plan.
“Today, we're going to move ISU forward on the path of eventually operating in a carbon-neutral, net-zero fashion,” Satterlee said. “So this year, we are going to assess and inventory our carbon footprint, collect the right data and create informed and achievable objectives that will move us toward a carbon neutrality goal. This undertaking is not going to be simple or easy. … We will take the advice from experts once they have the data, but I think there are some efforts that we can begin right now.”
While the university develops its long-term sustainability goal, Satterlee said the school will begin investigating the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of its buildings. All power generated from the rooftops will be distributed to students living in on-campus residence halls.
“Hopefully in a short amount of time we will be able to tell all of our incoming students that the power where they live is supplied by the sun,” Satterlee said, adding, "so that our students can know that living on our campus has a lower impact on their environment.”
Satterlee also said the school is working to install electric vehicle charging stations at its residence halls, which should be available for students by the start of the fall semester on Aug. 22.
“I’ve asked our operations team to begin installing charging stations on our campuses,” Satterlee said. “Further, I’ve asked them to investigate transitioning all of our university-owned fleet vehicles to electric vehicles.
“We’re going to work on our recycling and composting programs and we’re going to do many other things using the right experts and the right data to make sure that we will develop the most impactful and most realistically achievable ways we can move forward on a carbon neutrality goal.”
Last fall, ISU introduced its Bengal Connect program, which involved nearly 200 faculty and staff members “stepping up to be mentors to our first-year students,” which resulted in 850 incoming students having someone to serve as their personal connection and campus resource, Satterlee said.
Satterlee on Monday announced the program will now be available for every new student who attends ISU this fall.
“Every new student at ISU will receive a mentor when they sign up for classes next week,” Satterlee said. “Please go online and sign up to be a mentor because you make a difference. Why do we retain these students? Retention is so important for them and their future and how they better their lives through education, but it’s because we’re here to serve these students. It’s our job on another level to produce an educated citizenry — to make our world better.”
Satterlee spoke about ISU receiving accreditation commendations from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities for the school’s “improved efforts to effectively and transparently communicate” and for "our culture of fostering an inviting, inclusive and student-centric environment where members of the community feel valued, seen and heard.”
Satterlee said those accreditations would not be possible without the work of all faculty and staff throughout the university's numerous colleges and departments.
Satterlee highlighted the College of Arts and Letters for its distance learning technology that allows Idaho high school students in rural communities the opportunity to be directly involved in ISU classes.
He spoke about the College of Education launching a program that helps practicing paraprofessionals in schools earn their college degrees and obtain their teaching certificates to help us solve the teacher shortage in Idaho.
The College of Business is creating the Walter P. Brown Center for Sales Excellence, which will be the first sales center in the entire state, Satterlee said.
“The College of Science and Engineering is meeting statewide demands in rapidly growing fields by launching new programs and degrees in cybersecurity and computer engineering,” Satterlee said. “And the College of Technology is solving industry workforce shortages with new certificates and degrees in cloud computing, respiratory therapy, nuclear welding and nuclear facility operations.”
The graduate school recruited more graduate students and enrolled their largest ever class last fall, Satterlee added.
“And as the state's designated leader in health sciences for the state of Idaho, the College of Health continues to expand both their expertise and the breadth and depth of their programming to meet the ever-increasing health care needs of this entire state,” Satterlee said. “Something else that we announced last spring was a $14 million donation from the ALSAM Foundation to serve as the lead gift to undertake a $20 million remodel of our Skaggs College of Pharmacy’s home in Leonard Hall. This is the largest single gift in our university's history.”
ISU completed its new five-year strategic plan in June and Satterlee detailed that plan on Monday, of which the mission statement is to “engage students through learning and research opportunities that improve the intellectual vigor, cultural vitality, and health of our communities.”
The plan is rooted in six key values — integrity, community, inclusivity, teamwork, shared responsibility and learning.
The plan outlines five key goals, which include increasing student access, opportunity, retention and success; strengthening programmatic excellence; cultivating external partnerships; energizing the Bengal community; and expanding research, clinical and creative activities.
“This plan provides our path to our future — to the future that we wrote, that we created together,” Satterlee said. “This was a combined effort, a broad and inclusive process of our entire campus community. It outlines a mission, vision and values we will use to become the best version of ourselves and it also sets forth the practical and detailed plan as to how we do it.”
In his concluding remarks, Satterlee said the ISU Bengal roar will be heard throughout the entire state and beyond, adding that as the university continues on its path of success, the school’s athletic teams will be one of the most sought-after in the Big Sky Conference.
“This year, we will continue to support and advance our academic mission. We will embrace the values of the institution in line with the new strategic plan. … We will continue to align our programs with industry and workforce needs so that our students are best prepared when they leave us,” Satterlee said. “We will further our research that makes our world a better place and we will continue to work on a culture of trust, compassion, stability and hope across all levels of our institution. We'll reinvest in ourselves, in our future, an environmentally sustainable future here at Idaho State University.”
Satterlee continued, “We will show this state our roar and the true meaning of leadership in the health sciences. We'll continue to accomplish great things together and spread the reach of our programs into high schools across the state to show those students they can be successful here. Our fight will make our athletic teams the envy of the Big Sky Conference in every sport and we will celebrate the academic successes of all of our students because this tiger team we have at ISU, we still have a lot of fight in us. And with that, we can and will do great things and I look forward to doing them all with you. Have a great year. Roar, Bengals, roar.” | 2022-08-16T02:20:12Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | GOING GREEN: Satterlee pledges ISU will become carbon-neutral university | Local | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/going-green-satterlee-pledges-isu-will-become-carbon-neutral-university/article_2536e584-336b-54d3-8ca5-311de8198fcf.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/going-green-satterlee-pledges-isu-will-become-carbon-neutral-university/article_2536e584-336b-54d3-8ca5-311de8198fcf.html |
Constantino Michael Constantino Michael Constantino died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family in Sandy, Utah on July 17, 2022 at the age of 92. He was born on January 13, 1930 to Lukas and Sophia Teganos Pappas Constantino in Helper Utah, the youngest of eight children. The family moved to the Los Angeles area when he was a year old. When he finished high school, he worked at Lorenzoni Staff and Stone as an assistant stone mason. He was drafted to serve in the US Army in Korea 1951 to 1952. When he returned home, he became a ballroom dance teacher for Arthur Murray Studios in California and Florida. . He married Nina Pulliam in Reno, NV in 1955. They had a son Alexander Louis and divorced in 1961.It was as a dance instructor that he met his future wife, when she came to learn how to dance. He married Judith (Judy) Rush MD on May 1, 1966 in Glendale, CA and they had 3 children: Gregory Michael, Alex Christopher, and Lisa Marie. He then went on to work for trade schools as a student recruiter. In 1983 the family moved to Pocatello, Idaho, where he worked in the family business, Rush Equipment. In 1988 he opened his own restaurant and kitchen supply store, Rush's Kitchen Supply, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He was very proud to own his own business. His son Alex worked with him for 10 years until he retired. Then following family tradition since 1910, Alex is now the owner. Mike loved ocean fishing, world travel, and reading, but his real passion was restoring antique cars. He loved going to car swap meets on the search for car parts. He restored several Model Ts and Model As which he sold so he could start a new project. J.B Nethercutt, a well-known car collector and the CEO of Merle Norman Cosmetics, bought a 1911 Model T Touring Car that Mike had restored so perfectly that it went directly to the marble floors of the museum that displays the Nethercutt car collection in Sylmar, California. Finally, he restored a 1914 Model T Touring Car for his son Alex, a 1931 Model A Roadster for his son Greg, and a 1930 Model A Roadster Pickup for his daughter Lisa. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Judy of Sandy, Utah, sons Gregory Constantino (Tawnya) of Sandy, Utah, Alex Constantino (Mary) of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and a daughter Lisa Constantino Livingston (Matt) of Reno, Nevada. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, two great grandchildren and nine nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, seven siblings, two nieces and one nephew and their spouses. A memorial service will be held at the Wasatch Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2139 Foothill Dr. Salt Lake City, Utah 84109 on Saturday afternoon, August 20, 2022. At 1:00 PM. A lunch of Mike's favorite Greek food will be held, followed by the Memorial Service at 2:30 PM. Pastor Barry Curtis will preside. There will be Greek desserts after the service. Come and help us celebrate Mike's life. | 2022-08-16T08:50:55Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Constantino, Michael | Obituaries | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/obituaries/constantino-michael/article_a6793a3d-b67a-5302-826d-43a04723aea5.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/obituaries/constantino-michael/article_a6793a3d-b67a-5302-826d-43a04723aea5.html |
Constantino Michael Constantino Michael Constantino died at home in Sandy, UT July 17, 2022 at the age of 92. He was born January 13, 1930. He was a 30 year resident of Pocatello, Idaho and owned Rushs Kitchen Supply in Idaho Falls. There will be a Memorial Service at Wasatch Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2139 Foothill Dr. Salt Lake City UT 84109 beginning with lunch at 1:00 PM. August 20. Further information at www.serenityfhs.com. | 2022-08-16T08:50:56Z | www.idahostatejournal.com | Constantino, Michael | Obituaries | idahostatejournal.com | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/obituaries/constantino-michael/article_d139993e-0ed4-5dbe-b7ff-d52d7c21f049.html | https://www.idahostatejournal.com/obituaries/constantino-michael/article_d139993e-0ed4-5dbe-b7ff-d52d7c21f049.html |
JONESBORO — A Jonesboro man was given a $25,000 bond Tuesday after a judge found probable cause to charge him with first-degree terroristic threatening, aggravated assault and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Special Judge David Goodson approved the charges against Willie Pugh, 41.
Pugh aimed a pellet gun at four CWL employees and threatened to kill them, according to a police report. Goodson reduced Pugh’s temporary bond of $100,000.
In other cases, Goodson found probable cause to charge:
Kyle Blazer, 22, of Brookland, with felony failure to appear. Blazer was originally charged in January 2020 with with commercial burglary, first-degree criminal mischief causing over $1,000 but $5,000 or less in damage and theft of items valued at $1,000 or less from a building. Blazer also vomited in a high school classroom filing cabinet and stole a large kitchen knife from the cafeteria and phone charger from the library, according to the affidavit. Goodson set a total bond at $26,500.
Charles Penley, 48, of Jonesboro, with probation violation and felony failure to appear; $5,000 bond.
Tracey Scott, 36, of Jonesboro, with felony insurance fraud; release on own recognizance for felony; $1,350 bond for misdemeanors.
Colton Davis, 27, of Lake City, with possession of meth or cocaine greater than 2 grams but less than 10 grams and felony failure to appear; $7,500 bond.
Joseph Wheeler, 35, of Brookland, with third-degree battery (multiple offenses in last five years); $5,000 bond. | 2022-01-06T02:37:25Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Pellet gun incident gets man $25,000 bond | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/pellet-gun-incident-gets-man-25-000-bond/article_b5017ce6-74b3-5a0e-8156-cf531cbca09a.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/pellet-gun-incident-gets-man-25-000-bond/article_b5017ce6-74b3-5a0e-8156-cf531cbca09a.html |
JONESBORO — While two lawsuits challenging Arkansas’ legislative redistricting plan work their way through federal court, a new effort has begun to change the process.
A coalition of Arkansas community groups called People Not Politicians (PNP) announced a new campaign Tuesday to take the process out of the hands of elected officials and create a Citizens’ Redistricting Commission tasked with redrawing district maps
Victor Hill, a former circuit judge in the 2nd Judicial District here in Northeast Arkansas, is scheduled to testify in that case, which claims that state-elected officials have worked to dilute the voting strength of minority voters.
Holly Dickson, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas, said in an interview published Tuesday by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette she favors a non-partisan redistricting process such as the one proposed proposed by People Not Politicians.
inman@jonesborosun | 2022-01-06T02:37:37Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Redistricting ballot initiative proposed | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/redistricting-ballot-initiative-proposed/article_e31abf0c-00af-5295-b443-79f4be6832ff.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/redistricting-ballot-initiative-proposed/article_e31abf0c-00af-5295-b443-79f4be6832ff.html |
JONESBORO — As students return from the holidays and COVID-19 rates go up with the new variant, schools face familiar challenges as they go into 2022. Local school districts seem to find themselves at varying levels of concern as the numbers come in.
This comes as the Arkansas Education Association sent out a press release on Monday expressing it’s concern with the health, safety and welfare of the state’s students and educators.
Arkansas State Governor Asa Hutchinson said in his weekly briefing yesterday that school districts with full mask mandates for students and staff saw a 25 percent reduction in COVID-19 case rates and pointed out that schools do have the option to impose a mandate, as allowed by Circuit Judge Tim Fox’s ruling on Act 1002 as unconstitutional.
Arkansas Secretary of Health José R. Romero, MD, said during the press conference that masks are essential and urges schools to please use the masks.
He said that he also wanted to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated and stated that children five to 11 years of age should be able to get a booster shot soon.
Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education Johnny Key said during the press conference that schools need to stay the course. “They have to watch their data and if masks are available, use them.”
He asked that every school district look at their numbers and make a decision.
Keys noted that schools have done a great job at setting criteria and reminded them that the new vaccine can be a new criteria as well, but said he believes the new Omicron variant will pass through quickly.
Since last October, many local schools have made masks optional for students and faculty after numbers declined.
Valley View School District Supt. Bryan Russell said in an email yesterday afternoon, “Our numbers did not look like those being reported by the county that had been reported to our POC, however after being back in school one day our numbers are really jumping, so we may in fact be back in masks following our board meeting tomorrow night.”
Russell added “We thought we would get some guidance this morning from a zoom meeting with state superintendents, ADH, Dr. Romero, and DESE Commissioner Johnny Key, but we were told to just use the measures we had in place for now and more information would come soon.”
Russell noted problems could develop with having enough staff to provide instruction to students if numbers continue to rise of staff members having to quarantine due to testing positive or their family members testing positive.
Nettleton School District Supt. Karen Curtner said Tuesday afternoon that as of the end of the school day on Monday, the school system had 50 students who tested positive with 82 students in quarantine and 19 staff members who had tested positive.
Curtner said that masks are still optional at the moment, but they were highly recommending masks for all.
“I expect the number will probably go up,” Curtner added, “but as long as we have teachers, we will have school.”
However, Jonesboro School District Assistant Supt. William Cheatham said Tuesday morning that their numbers are comparable to the numbers from before the Christmas break. He noted they did have several students out for quarantine due to possible exposure but no huge impact so far.
Cheatham said that he expects the school board to readdress the mask requirement at the next meeting, but numbers have stayed relatively below the rates required to reinstate masks.
He also pointed out that the school is encouraging students and faculty to wear masks, but it is still their choice at this point.
“The masks were impeding teachers ability to teach to the best of their ability as students sometimes had issues hearing them,” Cheatham said, noting social distancing and sanitation has allowed masks to be optional. “We are doing all we can to insure our students’ safety and want to remain hopeful and optimistic.”
He added that the new variant has died out fairly quickly in most areas, and he hopes it does that same here.
Brookland School District Supt. Gorge Kennedy also said Tuesday morning that he believes there was no major cause for concern.
“There have been no huge spikes and the students and faculty are doing okay,” Kennedy said. “Hopefully, we will not have to return to full masks. We are still well under the 10 percent requirements.”
He added that Tuesday was just the second day back to school and it might take a few days to see the full impact, but the school will be watching the numbers closely.
Unfortunately, Westside Consolidated District was unavailable for comment at the time of this report.
As COVID-19 cases surge to record numbers in the state, pediatrician members of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics are reiterating their strong recommendation that schools and child care facilities implement school-wide mask policies for staff and students older than two years of age, according to a press release form the Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Pediatricians also recommend all eligible staff and children receive COVID-19 vaccines, which reduce infections, hospitalizations and death from the virus.
The Arkansas Department of Health website, reported the current number of active cases on Monday and cumulative cases since August 2021 in our local schools as:
Jonesboro School District had 38 current active cases, with 551 cumulative student and faculty cases.
Nettleton School District had 49 current active cases, with 300 cumulative student and faculty cases.
Brookland School District had 15 current active cases, with 228 cumulative student and faculty cases.
Westside Consolidated School District had 10 current active cases, with 174 cumulative student and faculty cases.
Valley View School District had 10 current active cases, with 148 cumulative student and faculty cases. | 2022-01-06T02:37:43Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Students return to school amid new surge in COVID-19 numbers | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/students-return-to-school-amid-new-surge-in-covid-19-numbers/article_07bc0cfc-4b3b-5651-b7cf-66ad3295771d.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/students-return-to-school-amid-new-surge-in-covid-19-numbers/article_07bc0cfc-4b3b-5651-b7cf-66ad3295771d.html |
Brookland’s Cole Kirby (right) drives for a layup while being defended by Highland’s Nathan Kulczycki during the first quarter of Monday’s game at Bearcat Arena. Kirby scored 17 points in Brookland’s 71-49 victory.
SOUTHSIDE — Tanner Darr and Jackson Wolf combined for 13 of Westside’s 17 points in overtime Monday night as the Warriors defeated Southside Batesville 63-57 in 4A-3 conference senior boys’ basketball.
Darr scored seven points in overtime while Wolf produced all six of his points in the extra period. Spencer Honeycutt and Lukas Kaffka also scored in overtime for Westside (9-4, 2-2 conference).
Honeycutt and Darr, who hit four of Westside’s eight 3-pointers, finished with 19 points each. Kaffka added 13 points for the Warriors.
Westside led 15-11 after the first quarter, but Southside came back to lead 29-28 at halftime and the teams were tied at 36 to end the third quarter. The score was tied at 46 to end regulation.
Jacob Longo hit four 3-pointers while scoring 16 points for Southside. Ayden Cuzzort and Curtis Sutton added 12 points each for the Southerners (7-7, 1-3).
Southside won the junior boys’ game 49-28. Weston Honeycutt scored 16 points for Westside.
BLYTHEVILLE — Blytheville extended its winning streak to seven games Monday with a 55-35 victory over Valley View in 4A-3 conference senior boys’ basketball.
The Chickasaws (13-3, 4-0 conference) broke the game open in the second quarter, outscoring the Blazers 19-8 to take a 30-13 lead. Blytheville held a 38-23 lead after the third quarter.
Rashaud Marshall scored 16 points to lead Blytheville, which is ranked third in Class 4A in this week’s Arkansas Sports Media poll. Camron Jones and Shamar Marshall added 11 and nine points, respectively.
Caleb Allen scored 10 points and Connor Tinsley added nine for Valley View (4-7, 3-1 conference).
Valley View (9-3, 4-0 conference) won the junior high game 32-30, led by Gavin Ellis with 13 points and Drew Gartman with nine.
Brookland 71, Highland 49BROOKLAND — Cole Kirby scored 17 points to lead five Brookland players in double figures during the Bearcats’ 71-49 victory over Highland in 4A-3 conference senior boys’ basketball Monday.
Masen Woodall was next with 12 points, while David York, Tyler Parham and Matt Harrell scored 10 points each for Brookland (7-6, 3-1 conference). Parham and Harrell hit two 3s each as the Bearcats made eight as a team.
Kirby scored eight points and Parham six in the first quarter as Brookland took a 16-7 lead. Six Bearcats scored in the second quarter as their lead grew to 33-14 at halftime. Brookland led 55-34 at the end of the third quarter.
Dylan Munroe scored 22 points, including 18 in the second half, and Warren Burton added 11 for the Rebels.
Highland won the junior high game 36-20. Hayden Elder scored 10 points for Brookland.
Walnut Ridge 63, Osceola 45OSCEOLA — Ty Flippo scored 22 points Monday to lead Walnut Ridge past Osceola 63-45 in 3A-3 conference senior boys’ basketball.
Jayden Hollister added 15 points and Maddox Jean finished with 11 for the Bobcats (9-1, 4-0 conference), who are ranked second in Class 3A in this week’s Arkansas Sports Media poll.
Daylen Love scored 16 points and Jerry Long added 12 for Osceola, which is ranked third.
SWIFTON — Cooper Rabjohn scored 32 points and Kameron Jones produced a triple-double Monday to lead top-seeded Rector to an 80-62 victory over Cross County in the boys’ division of the Kell Classic.
Rabjohn was 11-of-14 from the field for the Cougars (13-5). Jones finished with 27 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Lane Stucks also finished in double figures with 18 points.
A.J. Beale led Cross County with 22 points.
In girls’ games Monday, second-seeded Salem defeated East Poinsett County 71-23, third-seeded Marmaduke routed Cross County 74-23 and fifth-seeded Tuckerman ousted Pocahontas 49-23.
Bean Hoffman scored 20 points and added six assists for Marmaduke, which is ranked second in Class 2A in this week’s Arkansas Sports Media poll. The Lady Greyhounds (19-1) made 14 3-pointers as a team.
Maranda Bear added 11 points; Baylie Joiner had a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds; Justis Joiner finished with nine points and nine rebounds; Makenzie Hampton scored 10 points; Chancey Henry grabbed six rebounds; and Heidi Robinson contributed six rebounds and three assists.
Tuckerman opened a 24-2 halftime lead in its victory over Pocahontas. Ansley Dawson scored 16 points, Kenzie Soden 13 and Kenadi Gardner 10 for the Lady Bulldogs.
Rector 59, Holcomb, Mo. 32RECTOR — Rector won for the 11th time in 12 games Monday, defeating Holcomb, Mo., 59-32 in senior girls’ basketball.
Ellie Ford scored 15 points, followed by CC Rients and Kaley Isom with 10 each for Rector (12-5). The Lady Cougars led 31-15 at halftime and 46-25 after the third quarter.
Sloan-Hendrix 74, Ridgefield Christ. 54IMBODEN — Six Sloan-Hendrix players scored in double figures Monday during the Greyhounds’ 74-54 victory over Ridgefield Christian in senior boys’ basketball.
Braden Cox scored 19 points for Sloan-Hendrix, which is ranked fourth in Class 2A in the Arkansas Sports Media poll.
Cade Grisham added 13 points for the Greyhounds (16-4). Harper Rorex was next with 11 points, while Luke Murphy, Ethan Lee and Ethan Pickett scored 10 points each for Sloan-Hendrix, which led 37-22 at halftime.
Noah Stracener scored 26 points and Michael Carl 13 for the Warriors. Carl’s totals included four 3-pointers.
Sloan-Hendrix (16-1) won the junior high game 50-30, led by Hudson Rorex with 23 points and Karson Roark with 10.
Corning 53, Harrisburg 13CORNING — Corning shut out Harrisburg in the first and third quarters of Monday’s 53-13 victory in 3A-3 conference senior girls’ basketball.
The Lady Bobcats (10-2, 6-1 conference) led 17-0 after the first quarter, 29-7 at halftime and 44-7 after the third quarter. Whitley Bolen scored 21 points and Kenlie Watson added 11 for Corning.
Carly Casebier scored 10 points for Harrisburg.
Corning (8-5) won the junior girls’ game 39-27 as Katie Karr scored 22 points.
MacArthur 38, Mtn. Home 26MOUNTAIN HOME —MacArthur defeated Mountain Home 38-26 Monday to improve to 15-0 in junior boys’ basketball.
Drew West and C.J. Larry scored 10 points each for the Cyclones.
MacArthur also won the eighth-grade boys’ game 39-17.
PARAGOULD — Greene County Tech defeated Batesville 44-28 Monday night in junior boys’ basketball.
Parker Harris scored 13 points to lead the junior Eagles. Hayden Jackson finished with 11 points, while Ripken Tucker added 10.
GCT led 9-7 after the first quarter, 19-7 at halftime and 31-15 after three quarters. | 2022-01-06T02:38:26Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Darr, Wolf power Warriors in overtime | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/darr-wolf-power-warriors-in-overtime/article_678ed763-60e2-52cd-aa7c-1fdbce26446b.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/darr-wolf-power-warriors-in-overtime/article_678ed763-60e2-52cd-aa7c-1fdbce26446b.html |
Curtis Fain Sr.
Curtis Neal Fain Sr., 73, of Walnut Ridge, passed from this life on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, at his residence.
He was born March 9, 1948, to the late William and Ruth Marie Fain Elridge in Leachville. He was a truck driver and a member of Cache River Pentecostal Church. Curtis served in the army during the Vietnam War.
In addition to his parents, Curtis was preceded in death by his daughter, Natasha Annette Fain; one brother and one sister.
Survivors include one sister; sons, Curtis Fain II (Faith) of Beebe and Andy Fain (Tabiatha) of Tupelo, Miss.; daughter, Sabrina Jones (Randy) of Conway; grandchildren, William Hoffman (Sarah), Elizabeth Defries (Hayden), David Davison, Savannah Davison, Gavin Fain (Meagan), Gabriella Smith, Slade Fain, Phoenix Fain, Ainsley Fain and Spike Fain; great-grandchildren, Brinley Defries, Joey Hoffman, Addison Defries and Londyn Light.
A graveside service will be held at a later date planned by the family. | 2022-01-06T02:39:14Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Curtis Fain Sr. | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/curtis-fain-sr/article_af9704e7-5879-5748-9348-81a61e73ace4.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/curtis-fain-sr/article_af9704e7-5879-5748-9348-81a61e73ace4.html |
State Representative James Ratliff of Imboden will seek the democratic nomination to the office for newly formed District 60. The new district will include all of Lawrence County, along with parts of Greene, Randolph and Sharp counties.
A reunion was held at Don’s Steak House to honor longtime coach Bobby C. Watson. Former Little Leaguers, softball players, track and fielders, golfers, football and basketball players all stood in line for a chance to visit with the former coach. The event was the idea of former Hoxie High School student athlete Linda Graddy Black.
State Representative Don House of Walnut Ridge announced that he will seek a third term in the Democratic primary in May.
The River Valley boys and Sloan-Hendrix girls finished as runners-up in their respective divisions of the NEA Invitational Tournament held at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro.
Anna K. Johnson, a senior at Walnut Ridge High School, has been selected as one of 2,000 semifinalists in the 2001-2002 Coca-Cola Scholars Program.
The staff at The Times Dispatch joined the collective voice of other members of the press in choosing Sept. 11 as the number one story covered in 2001. The staff chose the following stories as the top ten stories covered by The TD last year: 1. Sept. 11 terrorist attacks; 2. Investigation and closing of the Arkansas Education Service Center in Portia; 3. Local Arkansas National Guard Unit called to active duty; 4. State cuts funding for libraries – local library tax passes; 5. Kristen Myers named national finalist in the Wendy’s High School Heisman Contest; 6. Budget crisis at Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department; 7. Walnut Ridge Regional Airport receives major grants; 8. County receives significant rainfall in December; 9. Walnut Ridge hosts Little League tournament; 10. New sidewalks, light fixtures completed in downtown Walnut Ridge.
John Phillips of Walnut Ridge and Michele Sloan of Black Rock each received a Life-Saving Award from Gov. Bill Clinton. Both Phillips and Sloan revived Ben Bush of Walnut Ridge on Feb. 15, 1991, when he suffered a cardiac arrest.
The Michael “Button” Wallins of Old Pocahontas Road were named first place winners in a Christmas lighting contest sponsored by the Twin City Jaycees.
Sloan-Hendrix senior girls of Imboden captured the NEA Title by defeating Marmaduke, 63-53. Dannette Rowsey led the team with 21 points, followed by Bridget Benson with 20.
FRANKLY SPEAKING by Jim Bland Jr.: I was lying in bed when James, my seven-week old grandson and his mother arrived Saturday afternoon, Dec. 21. My daughter Beth put him in bed alongside me. James looked me over for a couple of minutes and then his face blossomed with a great, big smile. He captured my heart, forever.
Champ Williams, who owns a huge restaurant complex in the Orlando, Fla., airport, and a native of Black Rock, held a homecoming in Black Rock. He served hundreds of Black Rock residents food shipped by refrigerator truck from Orlando, where his chefs had prepared it. He had not lived in Black Rock for more than 50 years.
Jimmy Gipson of Hoxie participated in a two-day meeting of the Stockholders Advisory Committee of the Federal Land Bank of St. Louis, recently.
Leigh Riddick of Walnut Ridge won the preliminary creative arts (talent) division of the Arkansas Junior Miss Contest in Little Rock. She played the drums, fronting a combo which included Daniel Midkiff, Phillip Midkiff, Sam Ponder, John David Combs, David Johnson and Arlin Jones.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Taylor were honored by their children, Lt. and Mrs. Jerry Taylor of Fort Bragg, N.C., Sandra Taylor of Conway and Tim Taylor of the home, at a reception celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary last Sunday afternoon at their home in Hoxie.
Karr Holobaugh was elected Worshipful Master of the Black Rock Masonic Lodge at annual election of officers last Thursday night. Others elected were Lavelle Clark, C.C. Weir, Percy Townsend, Leroy Clark, Jess Goodrum, Victor Clark, Leland Aaron, Lester Smith, O.D. Oldham Jr. and Lark Smith.
Mrs. Harry Adams and Daly Lacey are the newly elected Worthy Matron and Patron of the Walnut Ridge Order of Eastern Star. Others selected were Juanita Tolson, Tom Bottoms, Gladys Bottoms, Naomi Moore, Effie Lacey, Mary Agnes Twombley, Lucy McCormick, Velma Roberts, Edna McCullum, Harry Adams, Johnia Hood, Edna Murphy, Inez Campbell, Lucille Evans and Vera Crider.
Jerry Bassett, Joe B. Sexton, Maurice and Raymond Moseley and Pete Page of Newport will leave Sunday for New Orleans, La., where they will attend the Sugar Bowl game between Tennessee and Maryland.
Mr. and Mrs. Max Sallings of Bald Knob were guests during the holiday weekend of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sallings, and other relatives.
The Times Dispatch has been notified that Mary Lou Buchanan of Clover Bend has been nominated as a page in the Arkansas Legislature during the coming session by Hal Moody.
Green Nealy, 82, of near Egypt, is reported cutting his third set of teeth. Mr. Nealy is a fisherman and lives on the east banks of the Cache River. He has lived around there for 50 years, is still active in sports, has a handlebar mustache, never had false teeth, and looks like he never will.
Class officers for the school term of 1946-47 have been elected at Walnut Ridge schools. They are: (in order of president, vice president and secretary) 12th – Ernest Burns, Marianne Smith and Helen Hackworth; 11A – Bobby Jean Delzell, Jewell Rainwater, Katie Schultz; 11B – Frances Claxton, Mary Allison, Merle Shields; 10A – Bobby Jackson, Lloyd Dinkins, Minnie Cravens; 10B – Betty Lou Aaron, Jimmye Moore and Calvin Oliver.
A veteran of the first World War who saw combat service in France and as a member of the Pershing Expeditionary Force into Mexico preceding the European version of the AEF will direct Lawrence County’s war bond effort in the second World War. J.H. Myers will direct the effort.
Mrs. Manley Jackson of Little Rock, daughter-in-law of Senator W.A. Jackson, accompanied other members of the family to Walnut Ridge last Thursday when advised of the serious illness of Senator Jackson.
Cecil Higginbotham, son of Mrs. James Riggs, is home for the Christmas holidays. Corporal Webber of Des Moines, Iowa, accompanied Cecil home. They are both stationed at Camp Funston, Kan.
Nathaniel “Sanny” Watson was drafted into the Army on Dec. 26. He is the son of Elam and Mary Watson of Swifton. | 2022-01-06T02:39:33Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Yesteryears | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/opinion/yesteryears/article_4c6dbf9c-671e-5ffe-80f6-86531b24b2a8.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/opinion/yesteryears/article_4c6dbf9c-671e-5ffe-80f6-86531b24b2a8.html |
Beginning Farmer Classes start Jan. 11, presented by the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food via Zoom.
By John Lovett U of A System Division of Agriculture
The Center for Arkansas Farms and Food will present a new round of Beginning Farmer Classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Jan. 11 to March 1.
The 2022 Beginning Farmer Classes have been redesigned to highlight the practices of successful farmers and offer learning activities with information from local service providers and regional farmers.
“Even if you’ve taken the course before, you can expect new knowledge and insights,” said Heather Friedrich, program manager for the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food.
CAFF was created to help increase the number of farms and farmers in Arkansas. The goals of the center are centered on supporting a regional food system by connecting to established farms and training the next generation of farmers. CAFF is a center of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Each course costs $10 and will be presented via Zoom. Class times are 6-8:30 p.m. except the first session, “Farming as a Profession,” which will be 7-8:30 p.m. on Jan. 11.
To register, visit https:// farmandfoodsystem.uada.edu/classes/.
Jan. 11, Farming as a Profession – Learn about farming as a profession from successful farmers.
Jan. 13, Soil Health – What is soil health? Why is it important? And how to get it.
Jan. 18, Sustainable Crop Production I – Crops and Nutrients: Crop needs, practices for soil fertility and soil testing.
Jan. 20, Sustainable Crop Production II – Planning and Rotation: Crop families, rotations and how to plan your production.
Jan. 25, Recordkeeping for Success – Effective recordkeeping for production and business.
Jan. 27, Farm Finances 101 – Learn about the primary financial sheets for a farm business, why farms need them, and the basics for using them.
Feb. 1, Sustainable Crop Production III – Insects, weeds, and disease. Learn prevention and management.
Feb. 3, Post-Harvest Handling – Learn post-harvest handling and food safety, packing and cooling.
Feb. 8, Exploring Markets – Explore options like farm stands, CSAs, farmers markets and wholesale.
Feb. 10, Social Media Marketing – Promote your farm business with these social media tips.
Feb. 15, Protect Your Farm – Learn more about your farm business structure and liability.
Feb. 18, Access to Credit – Discover how to access financing and credit options for your small farm.
Feb. 22, Fighting for Food Justice – How do we create food and agriculture systems that are diverse, equitable and inclusive?
March 1, Planning Your Farm Business – Plan your sustainable farm business. Learn tools and methods. | 2022-01-06T19:51:41Z | www.jonesborosun.com | 2022 Beginning Farmer Classes start with new focus | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/2022-beginning-farmer-classes-start-with-new-focus/article_887cd0e5-3af8-523b-b951-15bd3685ccc4.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/2022-beginning-farmer-classes-start-with-new-focus/article_887cd0e5-3af8-523b-b951-15bd3685ccc4.html |
2 charged with failure to register as sex offenders
JONESBORO — Special Judge Mike Smith on Wednesday in District Court found probable cause to charge two convicted sex offenders with failure to register with local authorities.
Joshua Tramble, 34, of Jonesboro, is also charged with possession of a Schedule I or II drug not meth or cocaine greater than 2 grams but less than 10 grams, possession of meth or cocaine greater than 2 grams but less than 10 grams and parole violation.
Tramble’s total bond is $110,000.
In the other case, Brent Rogers, 48, of Jonesboro, was also charged with parole violation, possession of meth or cocaine greater than 10 grams but less than 200 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. He received a $5,000 cash-only bond from Smith.
Shemar Willis, 18, of Jonesboro, with theft by receiving of a firearm and felony probation violation; $5,000 bond.
Rodney Dewayne McMillian, 21, of Jonesboro, with aggravated assault and felony and misdemeanor failures to appear; total bond of $127,890.
Clifford Robinson, 21, of Blytheville, with felony failure to appear; $5,000 bond.
Diane Ball, 56, of Jonesboro, with theft greater than $5,000 but less than $25,000; $5,000 bond.
Samantha Miller, 25, of Jonesboro, with first-degree terroristic threatening and assault; $1,500 bond.
Hollie Trammel, 37, of Trumann, with possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor failure to appear and contempt of court; total bond of $6,835.
Dearies Smith, 30, of Jonesboro, with possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams and misdemeanors contempt of court, violation of a no-contact order, domestic battery and possession of marijuana; $10,000 bond.
Darrell Williams, 22, of Searcy, with theft by receiving and misdemeanor fleeing and driving on a suspended license; $25,000 bond. | 2022-01-06T19:52:42Z | www.jonesborosun.com | 2 charged with failure to register as sex offenders | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/2-charged-with-failure-to-register-as-sex-offenders/article_2564127a-43b1-591c-84f3-25a733187d8f.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/2-charged-with-failure-to-register-as-sex-offenders/article_2564127a-43b1-591c-84f3-25a733187d8f.html |
Council hears more about development proposals
JONESBORO — The donation of a small parcel of property on Drake Street will open up opportunities for redeveloping a blighted portion of Jonesboro, Planning Director Derrel Smith said.
“This will give us something that we can go out and market now and try to get somebody to develop something and revitalize the area,” Smith said Tuesday in response to a question from council member Chris Moore.
The city council approved the donation by Linda Hilderbrand of Jonesboro of a house and land at 105 Drake St.
The Jonesboro Land Bank Commission requested the donation, which, according to an independent appraiser, was valued at $28,000.
Smith said the city already owns adjacent property,
“Almost the entire block,” Smith said. “There’s one property that we don’t have, but the land bank has been working to get this property for about three years.”
Also Tuesday, a developer explained plans to handle additional traffic that would be generated by a proposed new residential subdivision in northwestern Jonesboro.
The council heard the second readings of the proposed ordinance that would rezone 29.82 acres owned by Roger Watkins Sr. and Sylvia Watkins from R-1 single family residential to PD-R, planned development residential.
The vacant land is south of Bettie Drive and west of North Church Street (Arkansas 141). French Street also ends at the property line. Terra Verde LLC, a central Arkansas development company, seeks to build 115 attached houses on the property, for a total of 230 housing units.
There have been questions about ingress and egress for the property. Bettie Drive is a short, narrow street.
Developer Don Overton said future plans call for three different access points to the development site.
“Bettie is on the master street plan for the City of Jonesboro as a collector,” Overton explained. “Eventually, at some point, that’s going to connect Church to Culberhouse.”
Overton said a 60-foot wide right of way has already been donated to the city by a previous developer to extend Bettie Drive further west through the acreage. Overton said the current developer plans to donate an additional 10 feet, and will extend Bettie Drive at beyond an intersection with French Street during the development process.
A rezoning proposal by Herbert and Sharon Stallings would change 0.43 acres at 3200 and 3217 Neil Circle from I-2 general industrial to I-1 limited industrial, also received its second reading.
The council is scheduled to hear the final readings and vote on the rezoning proposals at its Jan. 18 meeting.
Council members also heard the first of three required readings of an ordinance proposed by Corey Hudson to rezone 0.4 acres at 5005 E. Nettleton Ave. from R-3 multifamily to C-3 general commercial.
A proposed ordinance that would establish 25 mph speed limits at West College Avenue from Wood Street to Frierson Avenue was also heard for the first time. The proposal would also install “no parking signs” at West Gordon Street between Main Street and 2nd Street.
The council gave final approval to a separate ordinance that sets the speed limit at 25 mph at Granger Drive, Mitzi Lane, Duncan Road, Fairway Drive and Lakeshore Drive. | 2022-01-06T19:52:48Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Council hears more about development proposals | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/council-hears-more-about-development-proposals/article_64ddce0d-e6ad-587a-b42f-f4e91ae921fb.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/council-hears-more-about-development-proposals/article_64ddce0d-e6ad-587a-b42f-f4e91ae921fb.html |
JPD patrol officers start 11-hour shifts
JONESBORO — Jonesboro Police Department patrol officers started working 11-hour shifts at the beginning of the year, and Chief Rick Elliott believes the change will help ease a shortage of patrol officers.
“We’ve been experiencing a shortage for years,” Elliott said. “We get 6,000 calls a month and have officers going from call-to-call.”
The new shift will have officers working four days on and getting four days off or working five days on and five off.
Shifts will overlap
Elliott describes the change as a move to be more proactive than reactive. He said it’ll give the department more traffic enforcement and add patrols in neighborhoods. And, he said, he believes it’ll help the department curb its overtime pay.
“We should have more numbers on the street than we’ve ever had,” Elliott said.
He said the change should enable officers to spend more time with their families, noting that police work can cause stress with family life.
“It gives officers more time off,” Elliott said. “I think it’ll give better quality time for officers with family.”
Not all patrol officers were in favor of the change, he said. Some on the first shift who work Monday through Friday were opposed to it. Those officers didn’t want to give up their weekends off, he said
The change only affects the Patrol Division. Other divisions, such as the Criminal Investigation Division, won’t change their shifts.
Elliott also said Mayor Harold Copenhaver is looking at ways to increase salaries for the police and fire departments, as well as other city employees.
“The mayor wants to get us a more competitive pay,” he said.
Other JPD news
The Patrol Division got a boost this week when five officers were sworn in Tuesday. The group is composed of one certified officer from Tennessee and four people beginning their law enforcement careers.
According to a news release, District Court Judge David Boling swore them into office during a ceremony. This group will spend a couple of weeks learning policy and procedures before heading to Black River Technical College Law Enforcement Academy for 13 weeks of training. The five are Homero Gonzalez, Samuel White, Garrett Haney, Johnathon Porter and Faith Jankoviak.
At the end of December, the department announced six JPD officers were promoted during a ceremony.
The six are:
Sgt. Brian Arnold was promoted from detective corporal and will serve as a sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division.
Sgt. Shane Fox was promoted from detective corporal and will serve as a sergeant in CID.
Lt. Royce Smith was promoted from sergeant and will serve as a lieutenant in the Patrol Division.
Lt. Lyle Waterworth was promoted from sergeant and will serve as a lieutenant in the Patrol Division.
Sgt. Tony Zaffarano was promoted from corporal and will serve as a sergeant in the Patrol Division.
Sgt. Erik Johnson was promoted from corporal and will serve as a sergeant in the East Arkansas Fugitive Task Force.
Elliott said six positions will become open as officers are retiring this year. | 2022-01-06T19:53:00Z | www.jonesborosun.com | JPD patrol officers start 11-hour shifts | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/jpd-patrol-officers-start-11-hour-shifts/article_9a09fe79-b055-55f7-88de-f8d9bba8eef0.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/jpd-patrol-officers-start-11-hour-shifts/article_9a09fe79-b055-55f7-88de-f8d9bba8eef0.html |
State virus numbers up again, Craighead down some
JONESBORO — For the second day in a row Arkansas recorded the highest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The Arkansas Department of Health reported 7,488 new infections Wednesday from about 16,000 tests. On Tuesday, the state had 6,562 new cases. Active cases rose by 5,874 to 38,154.
Craighead County had 387 new cases Wednesday, but that number was lower than the day before and far fewer than three other counties in the state. Pulaski County recorded 1,658, followed by 533 in Washington County and 503 in Benton County.
The state recorded eight deaths Wednesday, but none in Northeast Arkansas.
In the previous 24 hours, the health department said 9,136 doses of COVID-19 vaccine was administered across the state.
Mississippi County recorded 124 new cases, followed by Greene with 118; Poinsett, 75; Randolph, 42; Cross, 56; Lawrence, 36; Jackson, 26; and Clay County with 14.
While the number of active cases grew statewide, Craighead County’s count dropped by one to 3,242.
Statewide COVID-related hospitalizations rose by 44 to 819. Of those, 128 were on ventilators, an increase of 10, according to the health department. Eleven fewer COVID patients were hospitalized in Northeast Arkansas facilities, but the number on ventilators grew by two to 14. | 2022-01-06T19:53:18Z | www.jonesborosun.com | State virus numbers up again, Craighead down some | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/state-virus-numbers-up-again-craighead-down-some/article_cf17f242-2c80-5079-94d8-17f631c0a968.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/state-virus-numbers-up-again-craighead-down-some/article_cf17f242-2c80-5079-94d8-17f631c0a968.html |
One benefit of knowing whether prominent and wealthy men engaged in sex acts with underage girls would be to remove them or keep them from leadership positions. It has already been revealed that Bill Clinton and Donald Trump were frequent fliers on Epstein’s jet. Flight logs introduced during Maxwell’s trial show Donald Trump flew on the jet between Palm Beach and New York City airports six times, sometimes accompanied by his then-wife, Marla Maples and infant daughter, Tiffany. Bill Clinton was a passenger at least 26times. Records obtained by foxnews.com show Clinton flew without his Secret Service detail for at least five of the flights and that trips between 2001 and 2003 “included extended junkets around the world with Epstein and fellow passengers identified on manifests by their initials or first names, including ‘Tatiana.’ The tricked-out jet earned its Nabakov-inspired nickname (Lolita Express) because it was reportedly outfitted with a bed where passengers had group sex with young girls.”
Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditorstribpub.com. | 2022-01-06T19:54:07Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Let's out the men in Maxwell-Epstein case | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/lets-out-the-men-in-maxwell-epstein-case/article_74aa17de-9c7e-56bd-b519-56ac949f1f61.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/lets-out-the-men-in-maxwell-epstein-case/article_74aa17de-9c7e-56bd-b519-56ac949f1f61.html |
Caroline Pulliam returns to the warmth of her snow covered car at the corner of Union Street and Jefferson Avenue in Downtown Jonesboro after picking up her beverages on Thursday morning. It was 25 degrees outside but felt like 13.
Nena Zimmer / The Sun Photos
The Doughboy stands tall as the snow covers the sidewalk below on Thursday morning at the corner of Main Street and Washington Avenue.
Zoey Housewright plays in the snow on the campus of Arkansas State University on Thursday morning. She was with her mother, Alexandria Ray, who works at the Business Office at A-State.
Snow-covered vehicles make their way along the slippery roadways on Thursday morning in Downtown Jonesboro. | 2022-01-07T09:54:00Z | www.jonesborosun.com | First snow of 2022 | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/first-snow-of-2022/article_fa22e214-6d3d-5978-a145-638d14c6ab31.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/first-snow-of-2022/article_fa22e214-6d3d-5978-a145-638d14c6ab31.html |
JONESBORO — As the COVID-19 case numbers in Arkansas and Craighead County have been on the rise, there have been some measures taken to help prevent the spread.
One such measure is the activation of 40 National Guardsmen, beginning Monday. Ten of those will report to Jonesboro.
According to information released by the National Guard, six have been assigned to St. Bernards Medical Center and four to Northeast Arkansas Baptist Memorial Hospital.
In all, nine hospitals in eight Arkansas cities will receive assistance to help with COVID-19 testing in order to help protect state residents and meet testing demand in the current COVID-19 surge.
Guardsmen will report for in-processing on Monday at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock. They will report to their assigned hospitals on Tuesday. Their initial orders are for 30 days, which may be extended or curtailed as conditions dictate.
In addition, Walmart announced Thursday the temporary closure of its store at 1815 East Highland Drive. The store closed at 2 p.m. and will be cleaned by a third-party specialist to sanitize the store.
“We want to assist health officials working against the pandemic,” Ashley Nolan with the Walmart Corporate Affairs Team said. “This is part of an ongoing company-initiated program.”
The store is scheduled to reopen to customers at 6 a.m. on Saturday.
“When the store reopens Saturday, we will continue conducting associate health assessments, and all unvaccinated associates must still wear face coverings,” Nolan said.
“We will continue working closely with elected and local health officials, adjusting how we serve the community while also keeping the health and safety of our customers and associates in mind,” Nolan said. | 2022-01-07T09:54:31Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Uptick in COVID-19 cases closes Walmart, brings in National Guard | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/uptick-in-covid-19-cases-closes-walmart-brings-in-national-guard/article_3e80f441-f1b1-5890-bc79-3ce7b7eeaf0f.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/uptick-in-covid-19-cases-closes-walmart-brings-in-national-guard/article_3e80f441-f1b1-5890-bc79-3ce7b7eeaf0f.html |
BRTC extends registration hours
Black River Technical College has extended its business hours to help students register for the spring semester. Offices on both the Paragould and Pocahontas campuses will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.
To set up an appointment, call 870-248-4000 for Pocahontas or 870-239-0969 for Paragould.
Brown Bag program set
The first Brown Bag Lunch program for 2022, hosted by the Greene County Master Gardeners, will begin at noon Tuesday at the Paragould Community Center, 3404 Linwood Drive.
A roundtable discussion on tree pruning will be featured with additional literature available.
The Brown Bag Lunch programs are free to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch.
Beta Sigma Phi to meet
The Preceptor Kappa Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday at First Community Bank, 630 Southwest Drive in Jonesboro.
Susan Glasgow will present the program.
Perkins reunion scheduled
The Perkins family and friends reunion will be Saturday, Jan. 15, at the covered pavilion at Lake Frierson State Park beginning at 11 a.m.
All friends and relatives are invited. Food and drinks will be provided.
For further information, call Calvin Perkins at 256-520-8989 or Donna Woods at 870-530-2449.
ARDOT adds to social media
The Facebook and Instagram pages are now up for The Arkansas Department of Transportation.
The official Facebook page can be found at www. facebook.com/myARDOT and the Instagram page is available at www.instagram.com/myardot/.
Inventors Club meeting canceled
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the Jan. 20 meeting of the Inventors Club of Northeast Arkansas has been canceled.
The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 17.
‘May We All’ to open
The initial production of the new country musical “May We All” by Troy Britton Johnson, Todd Johnson and Eric Pfeffinger with arrangements and orchestrations by Brian Usifer will run Jan 21-Feb. 20 at the Playhouse on the Square, 66 S, Cooper St., in Memphis.
The show features, among many other country-music hits, two original songs co-written by Florida Georgia Lines’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley.
For tickets, call the box office at 901-726-4656 or visit www.playhouseonthesquare.org.
Special ticket pricing for opening weekend is $27. A pay-what-you-can performance will be staged on Jan. 27. | 2022-01-08T06:59:26Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Events | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/events/article_93c8f108-cefb-5816-a76a-6ccde70f5fad.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/events/article_93c8f108-cefb-5816-a76a-6ccde70f5fad.html |
Country music star Jason Aldean has partnered for the fourth year with Greenway Equipment in Weiner to help raise funds to benefit three area food banks. Vehicles previously owned by Aldean and donated by Greenway will be raffled off with all funds going to support the food banks.
Giveaway seeks to relieve childhood hunger
WEINER — Greenway Equipment and country music star Jason Aldean are again partnering to combat child food insecurity in Arkansas and Missouri.
This is the fourth year for the company to give away two John Deere Gator utility vehicles that have been previously used by the musician.
All funds raised will be donated to the Backpack programs at three area food banks, Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock, Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas in Jonesboro and the Southeast Missouri Food Bank in Sikeston, Mo.
Greenway has donated a John Deere XUV835M Cab Gator and a John Deere XUV825M S4 Gator, previously used by Aldean on his property near Nashville, to be raffled off with all funds going to the food banks. A $10 donation per ticket is requested and no purchase is necessary to participate.
Each Gator features a plaque with Aldean’s autograph.
“Agriculture and food production is such a large part of what we do in this area, so it’s hard to imagine anyone – much less a child – going hungry,” Marshall Stewart, Greenway Inc. CEO said in a press release.
“Greenway has been a long-time supporter of the Backpack programs and food banks in the communities we serve, and this giveaway enables us to make an even greater impact,” Stewart added.
According to FeedingAmerica.org, one in four children in Arkansas and one in seven children in Missouri struggle with hunger. The Backpack programs provide food for a combined total of more than 4,600 children every weekend during the school year.
To register for a chance to win visit www.gogreenway.com, text keyword “gobackpack” to 44-321, or visit a local Greenway location.
Winners will be announced March 11. Two names will be selected with the first name drawn winning the choice of either vehicle. The second winner will receive the remaining prize. | 2022-01-08T06:59:32Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Giveaway seeks to relieve childhood hunger | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/giveaway-seeks-to-relieve-childhood-hunger/article_ea6c6afc-15eb-5517-a98c-82e42603989e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/giveaway-seeks-to-relieve-childhood-hunger/article_ea6c6afc-15eb-5517-a98c-82e42603989e.html |
JONESBORO — The Jonesboro Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center is being streamlined to make its cameras more efficient, Chief Rick Elliott said Friday.
The center currently has more than 275 cameras that include SkyCop cameras in high-crime areas and cameras at intersections throughout the city, said Rachel Anderson, the crime center’s analyst who monitors all of the cameras.
The cameras have had 12 separate platforms, and modems will be upgraded where there will only be one, Elliott said. The modems have a cellular relay, which will help streamline videos.
The cameras not only provide surveillance of the intersections, but also counts the number of vehicles, which helps the City of Jonesboro engineers with its traffic numbers.
“It’s a fantastic effort,” Elliott said. “The city and police both benefit.
“We’re being innovative. It helps solve crimes and helps with accidents.”
He said videos of accidents help prove which motorist is at fault at an intersection. That helps alleviate the number of accidents that end up in court.
The funding for the cameras and upgrade is provided by the federal American Rescue Plan and falls under its community safety and preventing terrorism category, Anderson said.
The city received about $15 million in American Rescue Plan funds in 2021 and will receive an addition $7.5 million from it this year, Elliott said.
The crime center will add a second analyst position this year, Elliott said, which gives Anderson a backup.
“I’ve been on call 24/7,” she said.
The updates are provided by Critical Edge Technology, which received the contract from the city, Anderson said. The company is outfitting the cameras with new software, she said.
Anderson said city parks and community centers will have cameras to provide safety measures for people who use them.
Major intersection can have up to eight cameras, such as South Caraway Road and Highland Drive, she said.
Elliott said he hears good things about the cameras.
“Everyday we’re getting success stories about the cameras,” he said. “I’m excited what it’ll bring in the near future.”
Anderson agreed, saying a person went missing from the Walmart on Highland Drive recently. She was able to find the person at the intersection of Harrisburg Road and Highland Drive by using the cameras. | 2022-01-08T06:59:50Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Elliott excited about camera upgrades | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/elliott-excited-about-camera-upgrades/article_5a9eb2eb-a497-59d1-92ad-1893692bc26a.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/elliott-excited-about-camera-upgrades/article_5a9eb2eb-a497-59d1-92ad-1893692bc26a.html |
JONESBORO — Talented high school students from across the region worked hard to impress the judge with their unique works of art for the seventh annual Inspired Exhibition.
Bradbury Art Museum’s doors will open Thursday, Jan. 13, at 5 p.m. for the opening reception of the exhibition.
Each fall, local area high school students are invited to participate in an interactive tour of Bradbury Art Museum.
The students then create artwork and write artist statements that are influenced by the works on view at that time, followed by an honored juror making selections to be exhibited in the annual “Inspired” exhibition.
Students found their inspiration in response to the “Legends” exhibition, which included works by the legendary artist and this year’s juror Peter Kuper. Kuper’s work can be seen in The New Yorker, The Nation, and Mad Magazine.
“With nearly 150 submissions this year, the juror had an especially difficult task selecting only a third of those works for exhibition,” BAM Education Coordinator Haley Voges said.
“It is important to us that we continue offering this program annually,” she added. “Although current circumstances require many schools to participate virtually. Regardless, the students’ passion for the project never disappoints and is evident within the artwork and artist statements on display in the exhibition.”
Peter has lectured extensively throughout the world, has taught comics and illustration courses at Parsons and The School of Visual Arts, as well as Harvard University’s first class dedicated to graphic novels. He is the 2020-21 Jean Strouse Fellow at The New York Public Library’s Cullman Center.
“The problem I encountered was the quantity of really top-notch work,” Kuper said. “Choosing what to include and award was confounding since there were more choices than the terms of selection allow. The three top choices and the merit awards were a further quandary since there were so many fine pieces that were worthy of that distinction.”
Several awards will be given and will be displayed on tags next to the honored works.
Included in the exhibition are 51 students from nine schools:
Annie Camp Jr. High:
Erin Bryan, 9th
Sakkaora Hampton, 9th
Kaylee McCullough, 9th
DaJah Vincent, 9th
Gabriella Hillis, 10th
Addison Staggs, 10th
Hannah Pierce, 11th
Lily Blalock, 12th
Chandly Bradley, 12th
Madison Brand, 12th
Jade Dougherty, 12th
Maggie Long, 12th
Cassidy Powers, 12th
Brookland High School
Anna Galbraith, 12th
Cedar Ridge High School
Alex Sanchez, 11th
Ashley Brinkley, 12th
Lauren Klindworth, 12th
Maria Guzman, 9th
Devin Hutchison, 9th
Nadia Farmer, 10th
Maggie Hogue, 10th
Vivian Morgan, 10th
Natalie Smith, 10th
Sadey Bowen, 11th
Lance Collins, 11th
Kaylee Correa, 11th
Kaley Wake, 11th
Lillian Wilson, 11th
Molly Bates, 12th
Emily Holland, 12th
Nala Wallace, 12th
Jonesboro High School
James Taylor, 11th
Brian Holmes, 12th
Anny Victoriano, 12th
Nettleton High School
Gwen Oliver, 10th
Le’Marion Burgess, 11th
Alysee Carter, 11th
David Hughes, 12th
Piggott High School
Lexi Rigdon, 10th
Valley View High School
Lauren Box, 10th
Laura Amorim, 11th
Jegs Antonio, 11th
Courtney Brickey, 11th
Margaret Gao, 11th
Gracey James, 11th
Josiah Kuizin, 11th
Sydney Woodard, 11th
Kaylee Brown, 12th
Molly Findley, 12th
Anh Nguyen, 12th
Brianna Webster-Serpico, 12th
Admission to the museum is free. The exhibition will continue through Feb. 2. For additional information about the exhibition, visit BradburyArtMuseum.org or contact the museum at 870-972-3765. The Bradbury Art Museum is located at 201 Olympic Drive in the Fowler Center on the campus of Arkansas State University. | 2022-01-08T07:00:02Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Inspired Exhibition will open Thursday at BAM | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/inspired-exhibition-will-open-thursday-at-bam/article_c6f5b0bb-310e-54ca-b97e-8312b41bd925.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/inspired-exhibition-will-open-thursday-at-bam/article_c6f5b0bb-310e-54ca-b97e-8312b41bd925.html |
JONESBORO — Arkansas has set new daily records for new coronavirus infections multiple times this week.
And on Friday, the Arkansas Department of Health reported another record with 8,334 new cases statewide. The death toll rose by 20, including two in Jackson County and one in Poinsett.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the 705,264 new cases nationally reported Wednesday more than doubled the January 2021 peak.
The health department said Craighead County recorded 340 new cases Friday, down slightly from previous days this week. New cases in Northeast Arkansas included 145 in Greene County; Mississippi, 102; Poinsett, 90; Cross, 52; Clay, 42; Jackson, 30; Randolph, 27 and Lawrence, 25.
On Thursday the health department reported 7,787 new cases. On that same date a year ago, Arkansas reported 2,323.
In Northeast Arkansas, the numbers are almost tripled.
Craighead County had 392 new cases Thursday, compared to 107 a year earlier. While Greene County’s 135 cases Thursday far exceeded the 48 recorded a year earlier. Poinsett County had 88 new cases Thursday, compared to 39 on Jan. 7, 2021.
Active cases in some NEA locales are more than tripled the year ago numbers. Craighead County had 3,451 on Thursday, compared to 909 on the first Thursday of 2021; Mississippi County had 849 compared to 274; Greene had 828 compared to 379; and Poinsett had 585 active cases compared to 220 a year earlier..
The CDC said the entire country is now experiencing high levels of community transmission.
“While early data suggest Omicron infections might be less severe than those of other variants, the increases in cases and hospitalizations are expected to stress the healthcare system in the coming weeks,” CDC said in its COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review.
In addition to the 392 new cases reported among Craighead County residents Thursday, the county’s death toll rose by one, bring the total to 262 deaths since March 2020.
Greene, Lawrence and Mississippi counties also reported one death each on Thursday. | 2022-01-08T07:00:15Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Record-setting COVID week | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/record-setting-covid-week/article_c7f7a7aa-d2fa-5879-a7d0-0cb38e63066c.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/record-setting-covid-week/article_c7f7a7aa-d2fa-5879-a7d0-0cb38e63066c.html |
JONESBORO — A non-working license plate light caused a Faulkner County man to get pulled over and subsequently arrested Thursday night.
Clifford Sexton, 63, of Letona was pulled over at the intersection of Southwest and Ozark drives. A search of his vehicle turned up 13.6 grams of suspected meth, police said.
Police arrested Marlon Tramble, 32, of the 20 block of South Jefferson Street, Wilson, on Thursday evening after a traffic stop at the intersection of East Johnson Avenue and Leggett Street. He is being held on suspicion of possession of marijuana with the purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and improper turn signal.
Police arrested Alex Sexton, 28, of the 900 block of Village Drive, Newport, on Thursday night in the 2900 block of South Caraway Road following a traffic stop. Sexton is being held on suspicion of possession of meth or cocaine less than two grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a suspended license, no proof of insurance and driving with expired tags.
An 83-year-old Jonesboro woman told police Thursday night that she was scammed for $4,000. The woman said a caller said he was from Microsoft and that she need to buy gift cards.
A 37-year-old Jonesboro woman said her 17-year-old daughter’s boyfriend assaulted her daughter and threatened the family. The woman made the report Thursday night. She lives in the 1300 block of Golf Course Drive.
A 36-year-old Jonesboro woman reported Thursday morning that someone broke into her vehicle in the 200 block of North Fisher Street and stole items. The total amount of items taken was listed at $400.
Police arrested Matthew Uyeda, 39, homeless, Thursday afternoon in the 2400 block of Race Street following a welfare check. Uyeda is being held on suspicion of possession of meth or cocaine less than two grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, public intoxication and criminal trespass. | 2022-01-08T07:00:21Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Traffic stop ends with meth arrest | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/traffic-stop-ends-with-meth-arrest/article_1af7243f-2865-5cc9-aa97-3593e1e2923d.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/traffic-stop-ends-with-meth-arrest/article_1af7243f-2865-5cc9-aa97-3593e1e2923d.html |
JONESBORO — The planned upgrade of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (formerly Commerce) has prompted a proposal for a new truck stop along the route.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission on Tuesday will consider a proposal to rezone 27.76 acres at the intersection with C.W. Post Road from I-1 limited industrial to C-3, general commercial.
While the address of the property is 5712 C.W. Post Road, the parcel includes more than 500 feet of frontage on MLK Drive.
While currently only a two-lane road, the Arkansas Department of Transportation plans a major widening of MLK Drive and to extend the road further north to connect with East Johnson Avenue (U.S. 49), providing a more direct route to Interstate 555.
The upgrade will allow through traffic to avoid congestion at Hilltop and Red Wolf Boulevard.
Construction of the highway project had been scheduled to begin in 2021, but has been delayed by right of way acquisition, ArDOT officials have said.
Caliarka Petro, which has a CITGO store at 3910 S. Caraway Road, is seeking the rezoning. The applicant submitted a concept design for a TA Express, a smaller version of the larger Travel Centers of America truck stops found in 43 states.
In announcing plans to expand into Jonesboro, TA said the location would feature:
Branded gasoline with 12 fueling positions
Truck diesel with six fueling positions
About 75 truck parking spaces
About 75 car parking spaces
Six showers
Driver’s lounge
Weight scale
Two quick-serve restaurants
The commission will also consider a proposal by Mike Cameron to rezone 2.35 acres at 1510 and 1604 Woodsprings Road from C-4 neighborhood commercial to RS-6 single family.
The land is just east of Woodsprings Pharmacy and across Woodsprings from Twin Oaks Avenue.
Plans submitted with the rezoning request indicate 11 townhomes on the property with green space set aside for picnic tables and grills.
The commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Municipal Center, 300 S. Church St. | 2022-01-08T07:00:27Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Truck stop proposed for MLK Drive | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/truck-stop-proposed-for-mlk-drive/article_d793dd05-6830-54cb-ae1c-19ddf671cea9.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/truck-stop-proposed-for-mlk-drive/article_d793dd05-6830-54cb-ae1c-19ddf671cea9.html |
Clarifies comments
I am writing to address two Jonesboro Sun articles that provided inaccurate information in regards to my addressing the Craighead County Quorum Court at the final meeting of 2021. The first article was on December 15th and the other was on December 29th.
In both articles, it was reported that I addressed the Quorum Court to oppose the new Kronos Facial Recognition System. While I have serious concerns about the system after speaking with a number of county employees, that is not at all what I stood to oppose.
As part of the very broad ordinance that was passed that included the Kronos System, the Justices of the Peace also made a very significant and very drastic change to the way that Vacation Time and Personal Time is accrued for county employees. The Sun reporter did get it correct that I regard this as a slap in the face to county employees, and it’s not the first one for them to receive.
The Justices changed paid time off from being calculated based on 40 hours a week and 52 weeks to solely being calculated on time that a given employee works. In doing so, they have set up a system that penalizes employees if they actually use their rightfully, earned paid time off. The longer an employee has worked for the County, the more they are penalized with this new manner of calculation.
For example, employees who have worked for the county in excess of 16 years will lose an entire day off if they take off for a period of two weeks.
Does anyone think this tells county employees that we appreciate their loyal, long-term service to the citizens of Craighead County?
I hope that my prediction does come to pass that there will be backlash concerning this insulting change and the members of the Quorum Court will rethink their decision and reverse this bad policy.
While I do appreciate tensions are still high as a result of theft of public funds from former County Clerk Kade Holliday. The County Judge needs to bring back the annual, ad hoc Budget Committee he dissolved his first year to look at departmental spending in order to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars instead of seeing how much penny pinching can be done to employee benefits.
Andrew Stricklin
Dan Sullivan has been instrumental on the attack at the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library, and now he is attacking Arkansas PBS. In Sullivan’s 1/6/22 opinion piece in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, he states that a “woke” producer is creating shows “directed at our children.” First, he wanted to censor LGBTQIA+ and their allies’ voices at CCJPL. Now, he is wanting to censor anything that is not aligned with his personal definition of conservative, traditional values at Arkansas PBS. He is attacking this producer because he thinks they are liberal. Arkansas PBS promotes the truth and free access to information. Much like the library, Arkansas PBS must not be censored and not cower to extremist demands.
In his December appearance on KLEK 102.5 FM’s Community Conversations, Sullivan took questions about CCJPL and Arkansas PBS. Contrary to his claim that PBS Newshour is biased, allsides.com rated PBS Newshour as both unbiased and highly credible. The claim of bias against PBS actually highlights the extremism of Sullivan and his base.
He went on to lament that the library will not give a parent access to a child’s library card. In addition to being in CCJPL’s policies, it is literally against the law for a librarian to do so according to Arkansas Code § 13-2-704. He also claims that his side does not want to ban any material from library despite many of his supporters filing reconsideration forms explicitly using the word “ban” (see Citizens Defending the Craighead Library post with actual photos of the reconsideration forms). He goes on to say “well you say we’re Nazis and burning books, well that’s not what this is at all” once again in direct opposition to the many public calls to ban or even burn books (CDCCL has screenshots of these as well).
It is only a matter of time before Sullivan and his extremist followers start to attack other folks different from them: different religious backgrounds, science, black, brown, and indigenous voices. In fact, they’ve already started. Mitch Doss, an extremist that left the November library board meeting shouting “Let’s Go Brandon,” the juvenile and nonsensical colloquialism that allows those that somehow claim to identify as both Christians and patriots some measure of deniability while cursing out a sitting President, an office they deemed beyond reproach just 351 days ago, submitted a reconsideration form for the book All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson. The decision on that form was to not move or remove that book from its current location. Doss appealed the decision. We can expect to hear more pro-censorship from Doss at CCJPL’s board meeting Monday night.
The point of my letter is this: censorship is a slippery slope. If you censor one voice or some information, that opens the gates to censor more. I applaud CCJPL, its staff, and director and assistant director. They have stood firm and not wavered to extremist demands. I also applaud the CCJPL board members as well: under immense pressure, you made the right decisions in November. They voted in favor of keeping the library a free, open repository of information for all, and against censorship. I urge Arkansas PBS not to cower to Sullivan’s unsubstantiated and politically motivated attacks.
Chenoa Summers
I would like to share my thoughts and opinions on the New Year and our choices. The beginning of a New Year brings various resolutions for changes, better choices, and improvements in our lives. Some we are able to keep and others eventually fall by the wayside.
God does not force us to love or obey him. He gave us a free will to make our own choices, as we saw in Adam and Eve. Even if we don't make New Year resolutions, we all face choices daily from the following list: God or Satan, right or wrong, good or evil, truth or lies, love or hate, belief or unbelief, darkness or light, compassion or indifference, righteousness or corruption, faithful or unfaithful, moral or immoral, helpful or harmful, forgiving or unforgiving, honest or dishonest, hope or despair, blessings or cursings, reject or condone and accept, etc.
Before we know it these choices have become our lives, which are like a vapor that appears for a moment and then vanishes away. We live and die with the choices we make. Even death has two options, Heaven or Hell. Choose wisely every day in the New Year because we are not guaranteed a tomorrow.
Diane Parnell | 2022-01-08T07:01:28Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Letters to the Editor | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article_8fd3f09a-1747-5a1b-a7f2-016aedf8a783.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article_8fd3f09a-1747-5a1b-a7f2-016aedf8a783.html |
Cloudy with rain developing this afternoon. High near 45F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..
Roundup: Jonesboro crushes Batesville in 5A-East opener
JONESBORO — Jonesboro enjoyed an easy evening to begin 5A-East conference play.
The Hurricane scored the first 27 points Friday night and went on to blast Batesville 87-20 in senior boys' basketball at Don Riggs Hurricane Gym.
Jesse Washington hit three of Jonesboro's 12 3-pointers in scoring 17 points for the Hurricane, which is ranked first in Class 5A and second overall in the Arkansas Sports Media poll. Isaac Harrell added 14 points, Phillip Tillman 13 and Kylen Kelly 12 for Jonesboro (10-3, 1-0 conference)
Quion Williams, an Oklahoma State signee making his season debut for the Hurricane, added eight points.
Jonesboro led 30-2 after the first quarter. The Hurricane increased its lead to 47-4 at halftime and 77-12 at the end of the third quarter.
Jonesboro 61, Batesville 37
JONESBORO — Bramyia Johnson scored 24 points Friday night to lead Jonesboro to a 61-37 victory over Batesville in 5A-East conference senior girls' basketball.
Johnson scored 16 points in the second half as the Lady Hurricane (7-5, 1-0 conference) expanded on a 29-19 halftime lead. She scored 10 points in the third quarter to help Jonesboro increase its lead to 47-30.
Ereauna Hardaway added 15 points for Jonesboro, including three 3-pointers in the second quarter. Destiny Thomas finished with 14 points.
Taylor Rush scored 19 points to lead Batesville (4-7, 0-1).
BIC 66, Ridgefield Christian 65
MONETTE — Jaron Burrow scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds Friday to lead Buffalo Island Central to a 66-65 victory over Ridgefield Christian in senior boys' basketball.
Nicholas Patterson scored 12 points, while Caden Whitehead added 11 points and nine rebounds for BIC (17-5). The Mustangs trailed after each of the first three quarters, including 32-29 at halftime and 43-41 after the third quarter.
Noah Stracener led Ridgefield Christian with 27 points. Doss McDaniel added 14 points and Evan Massey 12 for the Warriors.
BIC won the junior boys' game 41-36, led by Leo Contreras with 19 points and Kell Gathright with 12. Ryan Lamkin scored 13 points and Evan Ellenburg 10 for Ridgefield Christian.
BROOKLAND — Southside outscored Brookland 17-10 in the fourth quarter Friday to earn a 40-35 victory in 4A-3 conference senior girls' basketball.
Olivia Allen scored 16 points and Kamie Jenkins 13 for the Lady Southerners (16-1, 5-0 conference). Allen and Jenkins scored six points each in the fourth quarter.
Stella Parker scored a game-high 21 points to lead Brookland. Southside led 15-13 at halftime before Brookland took a 25-23 lead at the end of the third quarter.
TRUMANN — Blytheville pulled away from Trumann in the fourth quarter Friday to finish a 43-32 victory in 4A-3 conference senior boys' basketball.
Down 16-14 at halftime, the Chickasaws (14-3, 5-0 conference) took a 29-25 lead to end the third quarter and outscored the Wildcats 13-7 in the final period. Rashaud Marshall scored 16 points to lead Blytheville, followed by Camron Jones with 11 and T.J. Jackson with eight.
Ja'quavious Love scored 11 points for Trumann, with Drew Osment and Devin Miles adding eight each.
Walnut Ridge 77, Corning 54
CORNING — Walnut Ridge shook off a halftime deficit Friday night to defeat Corning 77-54 in 3A-3 conference senior boys' basketball.
Ty Flippo scored 25 points and Jayden Hollister added 15 for Walnut Ridge (11-1, 6-0 conference). After trailing 31-30 at halftime, Walnut Ridge moved in front 53-41 at the end of the third quarter.
Jayce Couch scored 23 points and Clayton Vanpool added 12 for Corning.
Corning won the junior boys' game 49-42.
Wynne 63, Forrest City 40
FORREST CITY — Wynne opened a 19-point halftime lead Friday on the way to a 63-40 rout of Forrest City in 4A-5 senior girls' basketball.
Wynne (9-5, 2-0 conference) led 36-17 at halftime.
Derriona Spencer scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Lady Yellowjackets. Zahryia Baker had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Shay Lewis added 12 points and four steals. | 2022-01-08T14:55:35Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Roundup: Jonesboro crushes Batesville in 5A-East opener | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/roundup-jonesboro-crushes-batesville-in-5a-east-opener/article_194ad26a-b595-5d6a-9dc8-36b44f8d038e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/roundup-jonesboro-crushes-batesville-in-5a-east-opener/article_194ad26a-b595-5d6a-9dc8-36b44f8d038e.html |
Cloudy and windy with rain ending in the afternoon. Morning high of 51F with temps falling to near 35. Winds N at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Higher wind gusts possible..
Arkansas State's Desi Sills drives to the basket during Saturday's game at Louisiana-Monroe.
Red Wolves rally for victory at ULM
MONROE, La. — Arkansas State made the plays that mattered most in the second half of Saturday's game at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Down 11 points with 11:24 to play, the Red Wolves rallied to end Louisiana-Monroe's eight-game home win streak with a 90-83 victory in Sun Belt Conference men's basketball.
ASU (11-4, 2-1 Sun Belt) closed the game by outscoring ULM (9-7, 1-3) 19-7 over the final four minutes. A 7-0 run gave the Red Wolves the lead for good and they made six free throws along with a short jumper in the final minute of the game.
"The fight that our guys had today was just phenomenal," ASU head coach Mike Balado said during his postgame radio interview. "I'm so proud of them."
Double-doubles from Norchad Omier and Caleb Fields highlighted four ASU players in double figures.
Marquis Eaton finished with a season-high 25 points and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line to break the program record with his 38 consecutive free throws made. Omier had 24 points and 11 rebounds for his 10th double-double this season and 25th of his career.
Fields had 17 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, also adding six assists. Desi Sills added 12 points and a game-high eight assists. Avery Felts provided a spark off the bench with seven points, all in the final eight minutes.
Four players scored in double figures for ULM, led by 22 points from Nika Metskhvarishvili.
ASU got off to a quick start, leading 11-0 just under three minutes into the contest, but the Warhawks took the lead with a 14-0 run midway through the half and led 51-42 by halftime.
Both teams shot above 50 percent in the first 20 minutes with the Warhawks knocking down 62 percent (21-34) from the floor, including 7-of-11 beyond the arc. ASU shot 57 percent (16-28) in the first half and was 4-of-8 from 3-point range.
Over the final 12 minutes of the game, ULM was only 7-of-27 from the field as ASU rallied while making 12-of-20 attempts. ASU limited ULM to 34 percent (13-38) shooting in the second half and the Warhawks made just 2-of-13 (.154) from 3-point range.
"We made some small adjustments to their offense in the second half, which helped us tremendously, and we had really good defensive personnel out there," Balado said. "With Avery and Desi and Caleb and 'Quis, you can do a lot of switching, and Norchad can also guard somebody on the perimeter. I was really proud of the way they adjusted to the strategy change, and they made shots when they needed to."
Trailing 66-55 with 11:24 to go, ASU started the rally. A Felts 3-pointer cut the deficit to 66-60 with 8:06 to play, but ULM scored the next four to regain a 10-point advantage.
Trailing 72-63 with 6:16 left, ASU took over with a Felts layup trimming it to a 7-point deficit and Eaton knocking down a 3-pointer to cut it to four, 72-68.
ULM answered with a layup, but Fields sank a 3 from the left side on an assist from Felts to make it 74-71 with 4:38 to go. ULM responded again with a layup, but Sills and Eaton scored the next four to make it 76-75 with 2:44 remaining.
After a ULM free throw, Felts made a layup to tie the game at 77. Omier's three-point play gave the Red Wolves an 80-77 lead with 1:38 to play.
ASU closed the game behind perfect 6-of-6 free throw shooting in the final 50 seconds.
Behind the 11-rebound efforts from Omier and Fields, ASU won the battle on the glass 38-33, but 12 offensive rebounds helped ULM outscore the Red Wolves 15-3 in second-chance points. ASU was outscored in the paint 50-38 but held a 17-6 advantage on the fast break.
The Red Wolves are scheduled to play Arkansas-Little Rock twice this week, Thursday in Jonesboro and Saturday in Little Rock. UALR canceled Saturday night's game at Louisiana-Lafayette because of positive COVID-19 tests in its program, the university announced.
A UALR press release said the team had "a number of positives" during Saturday morning testing and the status of the Trojans' games against ASU will be reevaluated early in the week. | 2022-01-09T07:57:15Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Red Wolves rally for victory at ULM | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/red-wolves-rally-for-victory-at-ulm/article_f53b8610-d0bb-5b32-84dd-35e72fd60d41.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/red-wolves-rally-for-victory-at-ulm/article_f53b8610-d0bb-5b32-84dd-35e72fd60d41.html |
JONESBORO — Be prepared to drive slower in Jonesboro, especially along East Johnson Avenue and East Highland Drive.
Crews for the Arkansas Department of Transportation began installing new speed limit signs on Johnson Avenue Monday between Main Street and Red Wolf Boulevard. The new speed limit will drop from 45 to 35 mph. After signs are installed, the new speed limit on Highland Drive (Arkansas 18) will drop from 60 mph to 45 mph between Distributor Drive and Moore Road.
The Jonesboro City Council requested the lower speed limits in early December, citing increasing accidents and pedestrian injuries and deaths.
The city documented 624 accidents on Johnson Avenue (Arkansas 91) between North Main Street and Red Wolf Boulevard from January 2019 though October of this year. Three people were killed and 24 sustained severe injuries. There were 56 accidents on Highland Drive between Distributor Drive and Moore Road during that same period, with two fatalities.
Brad Smithee, ArDOT’s district engineer, said Little Rock-based traffic engineers studied motorists’ behavior on those two stretches and confirmed the lower speeds were warranted.
He stressed that, for the new speed limits to reduce accidents, it will take cooperation from everyone.
“Most importantly, is cooperation from the public,” Smithee said. “Paying attention and obeying those laws will make a safer travel corridor for everybody. And then if that doesn’t work all by itself, of course, the enforcement component is a necessary creature. Without enforcement, folks will tend to ignore those signs at times.” | 2022-01-11T11:25:14Z | www.jonesborosun.com | ArDOT lowers speed limit on two urban stretches | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/ardot-lowers-speed-limit-on-two-urban-stretches/article_68d9245e-40a9-596f-9ff6-b6ad09b55dd1.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/ardot-lowers-speed-limit-on-two-urban-stretches/article_68d9245e-40a9-596f-9ff6-b6ad09b55dd1.html |
JONESBORO — District Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause Monday to charge a Jonesboro man with first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree domestic battery and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Ruben Rivera, 41, is accused of cutting a man’s hand with a machete.
Fowler set his bond at $25,000.
Alazeon Otey, 20, of Jonesboro, with second-degree forgery, possession of a forgery device, possession of a Schedule III drug greater than 2 grams but less than 28 grams, possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver, refusing to submit to arrest and fleeing; $35,000 bond.
Tyshawn Campbell, 21, of West Memphis, with second-degree forgery; $7,500 bond.
Jevonte Williams, 27, of Jonesboro, with possession of a Schedule I or II drug not meth or cocaine greater than 10 grams but less than 200 grams; $35,000 bond.
Charles Hardaway, 33, of Jonesboro, with third-degree domestic battery; $15,000 cash-only bond.
Christopher Dougan, 39, of Jonesboro, with possession of meth or cocaine with purpose to deliver greater than 10 grams but less than 200 grams, possession of a Schedule IV or V drug with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver; $35,000 bond.
Johnny Johnson, 20, of Jonesboro, with possession of a Schedule I or II drug not meth or cocaine, driving on a suspended license and no proof of insurance; $3,500 bond.
Denzel Jackson, 38, of Jonesboro, with aggravated assault on a family or household member, third-degree domestic battery, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a Schedule IV or V drug and violation of a no-contact order; $50,000 bond.
Tyler Howard, 33, of Jonesboro, with kidnapping, third-degree domestic batter, aggravated assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm and criminal mischief; $35,000 bond.
Jeremy Darr, 47, of Jonesboro, with probation violation and failure to appear; $25,000 cash-only bond. | 2022-01-11T11:25:32Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Fowler sets $25,000 bond for alleged machete wielder | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/fowler-sets-25-000-bond-for-alleged-machete-wielder/article_306c9979-279b-52e1-b4d9-918b7778e92a.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/fowler-sets-25-000-bond-for-alleged-machete-wielder/article_306c9979-279b-52e1-b4d9-918b7778e92a.html |
Pope Francis rattled some big cages when he said people who adopt pets instead of people are selfish (BEG ITAL)in some cases.(END ITAL) The last part of that sentence was left out of many stories, and the rest informed some rabid reactions from pet lovers, as well as some childless-by-choice folks.
I am an irrational animal lover -- I love anything with a heartbeat -- and so my heart swells when an animal is rescued and adopted. But the idea that animal lovers like me ought instead to be having or adopting children -- and are selfish for not doing so -- seems to me a preposterous conflation leading to a false conclusion.
As someone who has had it all -- children and an unbroken series of adopted animals, including three dogs, two cats and about 40 free-flying "pet" birds -- I can't rightly say. But I'll tell you what an old friend told me when I told him I was expecting. "That's wonderful," he said. "Now you can know what love is." | 2022-01-11T11:26:27Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Is Pope Francis right about babies and pets? | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/is-pope-francis-right-about-babies-and-pets/article_82291974-a9e3-5c92-b9e7-036b856d95a1.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/is-pope-francis-right-about-babies-and-pets/article_82291974-a9e3-5c92-b9e7-036b856d95a1.html |
Steiling appointed to MAPC Committee
JONESBORO — One ordinance and two resolutions were passed by the Craighead County Quorum Court at its first meeting of 2022 on Monday.
First up was an appropriation ordinance for the prosecuting attorney case coordinator position in the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. This was the final step to switch the position from hourly to salary. The ordinance passed without further discussion.
Next, justices considered a resolution confirming mutual aid agreements and distribution of fire monies. The resolution, which did not reflect any changes from past agreements, passed without any discussion.
Also during the meeting, the court voted to appoint Jeff Steiling to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Committee.
Judge Marvin Day said, “The city requested that Handwork be replaced as quick as we could.”
Steiling will be replacing David Handwork, county appointee, who resigned prior to the completion of his term on the MAPC. His term was set to expire on March 25, 2022.
Steiling was recommend by the Craighead County judge and will complete Handwork’s term. His term became effective on Monday, Jan. 11, with passage of this resolution, and will end March 25.
Before adjourning, Justice Richard Rogers asked a question regarding the employee handbook changes passed in December. He said he wanted to make sure that employees are not losing sick time or vacation time.
Day said they would be going back over the issue and would get back to him at the next meeting.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the court broke into sub-committees to discuss other issues including:
resolutions to appoint members to Valley View Fire Board.
an appropriation ordinance for Fund 1002, Employee Insurance Fund. | 2022-01-12T13:16:04Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Steiling appointed to MAPC Committee | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/steiling-appointed-to-mapc-committee/article_84098b94-9eea-5f25-9edb-1d0a328da248.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/steiling-appointed-to-mapc-committee/article_84098b94-9eea-5f25-9edb-1d0a328da248.html |
Defending Arkansas PBS
I read with interest state Sen. Dan Sullivan’s guest column in The Sun on Wednesday, December 29, published under the headline “It’s lawmaker’s duty to vet state funding.”
I doubt I would have understood what he was writing about if I had not previously read a news article in the December 27 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in which Rachel Herzog reported on the December 14 meeting of the Review Committee of the Arkansas Legislative Council and her December 20 interview with Sullivan. That headline was “Arkansas PBS pulls request for educational content after legislator opposes producer’s politics.”
The Arkansas Legislative Council, which includes senators and representatives, wields considerable power when the legislature is not in session. Its Review Committee “reviews agency requests for professional services contracts,” among other things. Sullivan helped put two ArPBS contracts totaling $260,000 on hold by objecting to a potential contractor’s ... Twitter account.
The contracts were said to be lessons to help K-2 pupils “catch-up” after school interruptions because of the pandemic. Funding was to be from a federal grant. The content was expected to be ready for the 2022 fall semester, so there is a time element involved.
“All looked good,” Sullivan posted on his Facebook account, “until I dug a little deeper and examined the background of the program producer.”
Based on his Facebook posts and her Twitter account, the producer in question is Jesse McMahon, who lives in Maine, has written episodes and a backyard activity guide for the PBS Kids show “Nature Cat,” favors mask mandates to protect her two-year-old toddler, and is concerned about climate threats.
Her partner in these contracts is said to be Adam Rudman, who has written for “Sesame Street,” co-created “Nature Cat,” and founded a production company with his brother David Rudman, another “Sesame Street” writer. David is also a Cookie Monster puppeteer!
(To those who didn’t know, including me, “Nature Cat” is, according to PBS Kids, “designed to encourage children ages 3-8 to go outside and explore the outdoors, while learning about a variety of scientific topics along the way.” Sounds like a good fit for The Natural State.)
The two contracts might be reconsidered at a January 28 ALC meeting, giving ArPBS time to meet with legislators individually, according to Herzog’s article.
Actually, I worry more about Arkansas PBS being held political hostage than I do about these two contracts.
Alarmingly, in a January 6 column in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Sullivan claims that, “Under the cover of darkness, Arkansas PBS sought to hire an out-of-state ‘woke’ producer to create television shows directed at our children.”
It concerns me that Sullivan is throwing heavy-handed accusations at Arkansas PBS as state budget hearings get underway in preparation for the fiscal session to begin on February 14.
Both of his columns left me with baffling questions. How does a public hearing of the Arkansas Legislative Council become “the cover of darkness”? How does $260,000 in contracts become a “two-year $4.3 million production”?
If Sullivan wants to convince me that Arkansas PBS should be more transparent, he should be more transparent. Post the documents he’s writing about. Or do a better job of explaining.
One might not realize after reading Sullivan’s columns that Arkansas PBS already has oversight from a seven-member commission appointed by governors with state senate approval. Based on appointment dates, six of the current seven were appointed by Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
The Arkansas Department of Education is a partner in these proposed contracts. All nine on the ADE board seem to have been appointed by Hutchinson.
I’m not saying there is no room for improvement at what I still like to call AETN, the Arkansas Educational Television Network. But I think it does a good job with its mission of providing life-long learning, from preschool to my age.
In both newspaper columns, Sullivan seems to be asking ArPBS to hire Arkansas people, use Arkansas teachers, and involve Arkansas students. Duh! I think it has been doing that for decades. Especially in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education.
Early in the pandemic with schools closed, special lessons created by Arkansas teachers of the year were televised to homes across the state as part of Arkansas AMI (Alternative Methods of Instruction).
“Rise and Shine” was a K-5 summer learning program, also led by state teachers of the year and including virtual field trips to Arkansas locations.
With broadband access expanding, Arkansas PBS and ADE have already launched ArkansasIDEAS (Internet Delivered Education for Arkansas Schools).
And if Sullivan really wants the state to “train our own” content producers, then he should work closely with Arkansas State University to develop a strong, creative, competitive program for educational media. Plus, help increase the Arkansas PBS production budget.
Kitty Sloan | 2022-01-12T13:17:05Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Defending Arkansas PBS | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/defending-arkansas-pbs/article_324ea102-814f-5d97-9d0e-7bae34f33d09.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/defending-arkansas-pbs/article_324ea102-814f-5d97-9d0e-7bae34f33d09.html |
Charles Goad
Charles Norman Goad of Powhatan died at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Jan. 2, 2022, at the age of 64.
Charles was born in Black Rock to Charles Newton and Violet Mae Jones Goad on April 4, 1957. He lived in Lawrence County his entire life. He worked at Frit Industries for several years before having to retire. He was married to Peggy Brandon Goad for 41 years.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Thelma Delois Duncan; and his nephew, William Allison Jones, Jr.
Left to mourn his passing are his wife, Peggy Goad of the home; daughters, Tammy (Adam) Thompson and Amy Goad (Matthew Lakey); brother, William( Margarett) Jones; sisters, Della Meeks, Elizabeth Byrd, Charlene (Ron) Doyle and Joann Smith; grandchildren, Christian Woodard, Daniel Woodard, Chase Guthrie, Amelia Guthrie, Holly Woodard, Dillon Guthrie, Liliann Woodard and Trenten Thompson; and one great-grandson, Grayson Woodard.
Visitation was Thursday, Jan. 6, from 5-7 p.m. at House Gregg Funeral Home.
Funeral services were Friday, Jan. 7, at 10 a.m. at House Gregg Funeral Home with Harold Russell officiating. A private burial was held at Powhatan Cemetery. | 2022-01-12T13:18:24Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Charles Goad | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/charles-goad/article_5d738cbb-6a71-5891-b7b2-69876c36a713.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/charles-goad/article_5d738cbb-6a71-5891-b7b2-69876c36a713.html |
Raymond Wesley Wilkerson
Raymond Wesley Wilkerson, 76, of Imboden, died Jan. 3, 2022, at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis.
He was born in Sharp County to Wesley and Amy Morris Wilkerson on Aug. 9, 1945. He worked for Murphy’s Excavation of Williford for several years. Raymond was married to Bobbie Harris Williams. He was a faithful Christian and member of Independent Christian Assembly of Hoxie.
Left to mourn his passing are his wife, Bobbie Williams of the home; daughters, Rolanda Wilkerson of Kansas City, Robin Gattas of Imboden, and Rebecca Welch of Texas; son, Matthew Glover, Texas; and eight grandchildren.
No service has been planned at this time. | 2022-01-12T13:18:48Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Raymond Wesley Wilkerson | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/raymond-wesley-wilkerson/article_b9a89ec6-e03c-58d4-8fe3-e043409c005d.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/raymond-wesley-wilkerson/article_b9a89ec6-e03c-58d4-8fe3-e043409c005d.html |
Walnut Ridge’s Andrew Prestidge puts up a shot in the Bobcats’ game at Corning on Friday night. Walnut Ridge won the game, 77-54.
Bobcats have winning week
The Walnut Ridge senior boys basketball team entered the week ranked number two in the state for Class 3A.
The Bobcats backed up their ranking by winning three games in conference play, including a convincing road win against third-ranked Osceola.
Walnut Ridge improved to 11-1 on the season with a 77-54 road win at Corning on Friday night.
After trailing 31-30 at halftime, Walnut Ridge dominated the third quarter, outscoring Corning 23-10, to lead 53-41.
Ty Flippo led Walnut Ridge with 25 points, and Jayden Hollister added 15 for the Bobcats, who remained perfect in conference play at 6-0.
Corning won the junior boys game, 49-42.
Walnut Ridge defeated the Rivercrest Colts, 82-55, on Jan. 4 at Wilson.
Hollister scored 21 points to lead the Cats. Flippo had 21 points, and Andrew Prestidge added 11 points.
The second-ranked Bobcats traveled to Osceola and defeated the third-ranked Seminoles 63-45 on Jan. 3.
Walnut Ridge was led by Flippo, who scored 22 points. Hollister chipped in 15 points, and Maddox Jean scored 11 for the Cats. | 2022-01-12T13:19:25Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Bobcats have winning week | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/sports/bobcats-have-winning-week/article_2a9cb59e-3361-5b5f-92d3-2597c47c5fa8.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/sports/bobcats-have-winning-week/article_2a9cb59e-3361-5b5f-92d3-2597c47c5fa8.html |
Hoxie boys earn win
The Hoxie Mustangs defeated Riverside 56-48 in senior boys basketball on Jan. 4 at Mustang Gym.
Hoxie led 27-24 at the intermission before stretching their advantage to 44-33 in the third quarter.
The Rebels made a charge in the final period, closing the gap to four at one point, but the Mustangs withstood the rally and held on for the victory.
Three Hoxie players scored in double figures, led by Mason Woodard with 19 points. Jake Jones scored 15 points, and Seth Brooks added 10.
Riverside won the junior boys game, 58-28. Corey Sullens scored 14 points for Hoxie. | 2022-01-12T13:19:37Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Hoxie boys earn win | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/sports/hoxie-boys-earn-win/article_da050e61-735c-5c0a-86b9-04ffcb285a28.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/sports/hoxie-boys-earn-win/article_da050e61-735c-5c0a-86b9-04ffcb285a28.html |
Virus continues grip on state
JONESBORO — Scientists are seeing signals that COVID-19’s alarming omicron wave may have peaked in Britain and is about to do the same in the U.S., at which point cases may start dropping off dramatically, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.
But the newest report from the Arkansas Department of Health leaves little room for optimism, with 10,874 new known infections found across the state. The numbers were based on the results of about 21,000 tests.
Of those new cases, 665 were in Craighead County. Two more COVID-related deaths raised the county’s total since the pandemic reached the state to 267. The statewide death toll rose by 14 to 9,372.
The state believes 3,997 are suffering from the disease here. Active cases statewide totaled 71,132.
The health department said 1,185 COVID patients were hospitalized as of Wednesday, an increase of 37, and 167 of those patients were on ventilators.
In Northeast Arkansas, hospitals reported 199 of their patients had tested positive for the virus. Fourteen of them were on ventilators.
Greene County recorded 188 new infections and one death Wednesday. Active cases totaled 1,323. Mississippi County reported 143 new cases and one death. The county had 1,072 active cases.
Elsewhere in Northeast Arkansas, Cross County reported 101 new and 432 active cases; Jackson County, 49 new and 250 active cases, Lawrence, 44 new and 254 active; Randolph, 39 new and 249 active; Clay, 25 new and 210 active; and Poinsett, 15 new and 711 active.
Scientists told the AP the omicron variant has proved so wildly contagious that it may already be running out of people to infect, just a month and a half after it was first detected in South Africa.
Dr. Jose Romero, the secretary of health in Arkansas, said Tuesday he doesn’t expect the number of cases to come down here until early February. | 2022-01-13T02:26:06Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Virus continues grip on state | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/virus-continues-grip-on-state/article_13b2b8c2-fca7-5854-b70a-1c278299d1a8.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/virus-continues-grip-on-state/article_13b2b8c2-fca7-5854-b70a-1c278299d1a8.html |
Active COVID cases double statewide
Active COVID-19 cases have doubled since last week, and hospitalizations have increased by 373 in that same amount of time.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson shared those statistics at the opening of his weekly media briefing held Tuesday.
Active cases rose from 32,000 to 64,000 statewide.
Hutchinson announced that $50 million from the American Rescue Plan, approved by the ARPA steering committee, would provide hospitals funding to temporarily increase capacity in response to the rising number of patients.
The proposed plan includes adding 98 COVID ICU beds and 167 COVID medical beds to be funded for 28-45 days based on the recommendations from the Arkansas Department of Health. The hospitals which will receive those beds, according to the governor’s office, are:
St. Bernards Medical Center – Jonesboro
“Omicron is here, it is here and raging across Arkansas, but what we see from the data is this will pass through,” Hutchinson said. “We’ve got to hold the line and make sure we take the actions so we can get through January and February where we expect to see this variant diminish significantly.”
Hutchinson said the schools should continue in-class instruction, and he rejected shelter-in-place recommendations, but stressed that people should be vaccinated and tested.
He also pointed out that a one-day survey conducted Jan. 4, by the Arkansas Department of Health, showed that about 30 percent of patients with COVID-19 in Arkansas hospitals had found out they had the virus because the hospital tests everyone who comes in for any reason, not because they showed symptoms of the virus.
In December the state ordered 1.5 million rapid at-home tests to be available for free to Arkansans. The state has received the first shipment of 211,000 at-home testing kits and is making them available to distribution locations such as public libraries, and public health units. The Arkansas National Guard is assisting in delivery of the tests.
The Department of Health reported 7,756 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and that there had been another 25 deaths due to the virus.
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford announced this week that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to a statement released Monday, Crawford is fully vaccinated against the virus, and he plans to remain in Jonesboro this week, having tested positive last week, adding that he intends to vote by proxy for the week ahead.
Here are the totals of current active COVID-19 cases in Northeast Arkansas counties:
Crittenden – 1,584
Greene – 1,228
Mississippi – 1,010
Cross – 361
Clay – 195 | 2022-01-13T15:10:38Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Active COVID cases double statewide | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/active-covid-cases-double-statewide/article_52e195f4-ec5d-50ad-a36c-b226f5e9df3b.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/active-covid-cases-double-statewide/article_52e195f4-ec5d-50ad-a36c-b226f5e9df3b.html |
Steve Gillespie
Five years!?
I had no idea political loyalty and/or influence evaporates so quickly. Not only that, but anyone who was the spouse, child, parent or sibling, by blood or marriage, of any of those folks would be ineligible to serve as well (until five years had passed).
Contact Steve Gillespie at news@newportindependent.com. | 2022-01-13T15:10:45Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Can politics really be taken out of redistricting? | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/can-politics-really-be-taken-out-of-redistricting/article_55e92136-8dfe-5371-acbb-e20a015c6e17.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/can-politics-really-be-taken-out-of-redistricting/article_55e92136-8dfe-5371-acbb-e20a015c6e17.html |
JONESBORO — District Judge David Boling found probable cause Wednesday to charge a Jonesboro man with multiple drug and firearms offenses.
Hanif Williams, 34, of the 400 block of East Roseclair Street, is charge with simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, possession of meth or cocaine with the purpose to deliver, possession of marijuana with the purpose to deliver, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Boling gave Williams a total bond of $275,000.
In other cases, Boling found probable cause to charge:
Antonio Moore, 40, of Jonesboro, with felony probation violation and contempt of court; $26,000 total bond.
Matthew Kizer, 33, of Jonesboro, with third-degree domestic battery and violation of a no-contact order; $5,000 cash-only bond issued by Judge Tommy Fowler.
Bradley Blair, 26, of Lockesburg, with probation violation; $2,500 bond.
Mario Becton, 36, of Memphis, with felony failure to appear; $25,000 bond.
Michael Giddings, 50, of Jonesboro, with possession with purpose to deliver meth or cocaine greater that 10 grams but less than 200 grams, possession to deliver a Schedule I or II drug not meth or cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver; $25,000 bond.
Tommy Hunter, 47, of Jonesboro, with possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams, misdemeanor failure to appear and fictitious tags; $2,500 bond.
Reginald Lewis, 53, of Jonesboro, with being a felon in possession of a firearm and improper lighting; $2,500 bond.
Jeffery Robinson, 46, of Bono, with possession of meth or cocaine greater than 2 grams but less than 10 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia; $2,500 bond.
Brandi Bennett, 31, of Lake City, with probation violation; $2,500 bond.
Ariel Lamb, 21, of Forrest City, with second-degree forgery, resisting arrest and fleeing; $3,500 bond.
Shelly Lindsey, 43, of Jonesboro, with parole violation and possession of drug paraphernalia; $1,500 bond.
Cassandra Talley, 28, of Blytheville, with theft of property; $5,000 bond. | 2022-01-13T15:12:10Z | www.jonesborosun.com | $275,000 bond given in drug, gun case | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/275-000-bond-given-in-drug-gun-case/article_03e8bd6e-9ae5-5bbd-bcef-88aaac952139.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/275-000-bond-given-in-drug-gun-case/article_03e8bd6e-9ae5-5bbd-bcef-88aaac952139.html |
Library begins distributing COVID tests
JONESBORO — The Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library, located at 315 W. Oak Ave., has received its first shipment of COVID-19 rapid test kits.
The library began distributing the kits Wednesday. They are available via curbside pickup only.
To reserve a test kit, call the library at 870-206-9961.
There will be 10 pickup appointments made each hour. Kits will be distributed on Haven Street in front of the bookmobile garage. For the safety of library employees, masks are required at pick up.
Each box contains two tests. One box per person per day or up to three boxes per family per day will be available. An individual can pick up tests once per day.
Instructions on how to use and read the test results are included in the box. The Arkansas Department of Health advises everyone to report their home results. You can do this by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-803-7847.
Those who are feeling sick are advised to visit a doctor for testing rather than the library.
COVID-19 test kits will be available at all locations of the Crowley Ridge Regional Library System and will arrive at branch libraries in the coming week. They will only be available via curbside pickup at these locations, as well.
For questions, call the library at 870-935-5133. | 2022-01-13T15:12:22Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Library begins distributing COVID tests | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/library-begins-distributing-covid-tests/article_479cc639-38a7-5b89-84e2-5e96e8d27e58.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/library-begins-distributing-covid-tests/article_479cc639-38a7-5b89-84e2-5e96e8d27e58.html |
Washington, Williams power Hurricane
PARAGOULD — Jonesboro defeated Paragould 74-43 in 5A-East conference senior boys’ basketball Tuesday, extending its winning streak to 28 games against in-state opponents.
The Hurricane (11-3, 2-0 conference) held the Rams (9-6, 0-2) to 22 points over the last three quarters after trailing 21-20 to end the first period. Jonesboro took a 39-25 halftime lead and held a 61-34 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Jesse Washington finished with 15 points, four rebounds and four steals for Jonesboro, which is ranked second overall and No. 1 in Class 5A in this week’s Arkansas Sports Media poll. Quion Williams was 5-of-7 from the field in scoring 12 points, also adding four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Isaac Harrell hit two 3-pointers while scoring nine points; Kavon Pointer finished with eight points and five rebounds; and Phillip Tillman and Kylen Kelly scored seven points each for the Hurricane.
Jonesboro shot 47 percent from the field and scored 27 points off 26 Paragould turnovers. The Hurricane held a 33-22 rebounding advantage.
Isaiah Jackson scored 12 points and Gavin Hall added 11 points along with three assists for Paragould, which shot 51.4 percent from the field. Caleb Jiles finished with nine points and six rebounds for the Rams.
MARION – Ryan Forrest scored 37 points Tuesday to lead Marion to a 69-40 victory over Nettleton in 5A-East conference senior boys’ basketball.
Jayden Forrest added 12 points for the Patriots (13-3, 2-0 conference). Brandon Anderson netted 13 points for Nettleton (13-4, 1-1).
PARAGOULD – Greene County Tech outscored Batesville 21-9 in the fourth quarter to complete a 65-41 victory in 5A-East conference senior boys’ basketball.
The Eagles (9-6, 1-1 conference) led 21-12 after the first quarter, 36-23 at halftime and 44-32 after the third quarter.
Walnut Ridge 63, Harrisburg 41
WALNUT RIDGE – Walnut Ridge outscored Harrisburg 24-7 in the third quarter Tuesday on the way to a 63-41 victory in 3A-3 conference senior boys’ basketball.
The Bobcats (12-1, 7-0 conference) led 13-9 after the first quarter, 29-21 at halftime and 53-28 at the end of the third quarter. Jayden Hollister scored 20 points and Ty Flippo added 18 for Walnut Ridge.
Grant Henry and Corbin Greyson scored 14 and 12 points, respectively, for Harrisburg.
Walnut Ridge won the junior high game 40-20 and the seventh-grade game 27-11.
HOXIE – Hoxie took an 18-point lead in the first quarter Tuesday and went on to defeat Corning 63-31 in 3A-3 conference senior boys’ basketball.
The Mustangs (4-7, 2-6 conference) led 22-4 after the first quarter. Hoxie carried a 36-17 lead into halftime and a 44-26 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Cade Forrester scored 16 points, Mason Woodard 14 and Sawyer Anglin 13 for Hoxie. Eli Mason led Corning with 10 points.
Corning won the junior boys’ game 50-10, led by Ethan Guthrie and Reid McMasters with 10 points each.
BIC 82, Cross County 67
MONETTE – Four Buffalo Island Central players scored in double figures Tuesday as the Mustangs defeated Cross County 82-67 in 2A-3 conference senior boys’ basketball.
Nicholas Patterson scored 28 points to lead the Mustangs (18-5, 7-0 conference). Caden Whitehead added 15 points, Jack Edwards 14 and Dawson Stewart 14.
Cross County led 12-10 after the first quarter, but BIC came back to take leads of 36-25 at halftime and 58-44 at the end of the third quarter.
Austin Hill scored 25 points, A.J. Beale 23 and Kaiden Taylor 10 for Cross County.
Cross County won the junior boys’ game 55-36, led by Isaiah Huff with 16 points and Andrew Doyle with 10.
Earle 60, Riverside 42
EARLE – Earle improved to 4-3 in 2A-3 conference play Tuesday with a 60-42 victory over Riverside in senior boys’ basketball.
Keshard Harris scored 18 points and Jayden Smith added 16 for the Bulldogs. Earle led 15-9 after the first quarter, 27-21 at halftime and 49-32 after the third quarter.
Easton Hatch scored 24 points to lead Riverside (9-15, 3-4 conference).
Riverside (21-1, 7-0 conference) won the junior boys’ game 48-47, led by Brayeson Timms with 20 points. Thatcher Durham added 15 points and Cash Gillis 13 for Riverside.
MAMMOTH SPRING – Mammoth Spring edged Maynard 37-31 Tuesday in 1A-3 senior boys’ basketball.
Brayden Cray and Andrew Jones scored 10 points each for the Bears (12-12, 6-2 conference). | 2022-01-13T15:13:36Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Washington, Williams power Hurricane | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/washington-williams-power-hurricane/article_9f5a8060-32ee-534e-bd3b-688bf94361d2.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/washington-williams-power-hurricane/article_9f5a8060-32ee-534e-bd3b-688bf94361d2.html |
Women's hunting extravaganza set
JONESBORO — Quail Forever chapters from Arkansas and Louisiana alongside the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center will be hosting a “Women on the Wing Learn to Hunt Weekend Extravaganza” this January.
The event will be open to adult women only and will focus on introducing new hunters to the upland world.
There are only ten spots available for the event and the cost for the weekend is $200 per person, not including lodging.
The weekend will kick off with a seminar and dinner at 6 p.m. Jan. 27 at the nature center in Jonesboro.
The next morning, participants will trek 40 miles northeast to Rector for a learn-to-shoot event at Liberty Hill Outfitters. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, as well as a dinner in Paragould donated by the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation.
The weekend will be capped off with an all-day pheasant hunt at Liberty Hill on Jan. 29.
“Adult-onset hunters are a core part of the R3 (recruitment, retention, and reactivation movement nationwide, and women are among the fastest-growing portion of adult-onset hunters,” said Ciera Rhodes, a Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever farm bill biologist in Arkansas who’s helping organize the gathering.
“This event will be a great chance for women of different skill levels to learn from one another and connect over shared interest in the outdoors and the uplands.”
“Our Women Outdoor Network outreach in Northeast Arkansas has exploded over the last year,” Elizabeth Kimble, education program specialist for the Nature Center and partner on this event added. “That shows us women want to get involved in the outdoors. They want to learn to hunt and feel comfortable doing so. Offering this hunt will help do just that.”
Registration is required for this event and a hunter education course number and a hunting license CID number are required to register.
It’s strongly recommended that participants bring their own shotgun and shells, either 12 or 20 gauge. Hunter education is required regardless of age to participate in this event.
For further information contact Rhodes at crhodes@quailforever.org, or Elizabeth Kimble at elizabeth.kimble@agfc.ar.gov.
To register, visit the Arkansas Game and Fish registration page at bit.ly/3fp9D8p. | 2022-01-14T07:41:47Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Women's hunting extravaganza set | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/womens-hunting-extravaganza-set/article_01b9f39f-e0fb-5a9e-a8f2-f3c501be3d03.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/womens-hunting-extravaganza-set/article_01b9f39f-e0fb-5a9e-a8f2-f3c501be3d03.html |
JONESBORO — An opinion by the state Supreme Court’s Office of Ethics Counsel on Jan. 6 places public defenders in a tough spot, said M. Brian Miles, managing public defender for Craighead, Poinsett, Greene and Clay counties, on Thursday.
The opinion, by Stark Ligon, ethics counsel for the office, states, “The trial attorney confronted with a caseload or workload producing or reasonably likely to produce ethical violations by the attorney should refuse or decline to accept additional court appointments or assigned clients from the public defender office until the trial attorney’s caseload or overall workload is reduced to the level the trial attorney can ethically and effectively handle.”
Miles said he or one of his public defenders could potentially be sanctioned for overloads.
Miles said one of the specialty courts, STAR Court, for people convicted of driving while intoxicated, won’t be manned by his staff anymore.
“We don’t have the personnel to man it,” Miles said
He said no decision has been made about the other specialty courts: mental health; veterans; juvenile drug; and drug.
Miles said for Craighead County he has himself and Scott Davidson as the only full-time public defenders. The office also includes six part-time attorneys who work 20 hours a week.
Miles said his office currently has 728 active felony defendants and picks up between 30-40 misdemeanor cases each week from District Court.
He said the ethics office advised that full-time public defenders be assigned 150 felony cases and 75 for part-time defenders.
As an incentive to work for the public defenders office, part-time attorneys are paid full-time benefits by the state, Miles said.
His office has “always had a high caseload,” Miles said, adding that it makes it difficult to fully investigate cases
He said that if someone is convicted of a felony they can appeal and cite Rule 37, claiming the defendant received ineffective counsel at trial.
The excessive caseloads for public defenders has increased since courts in the state began returning to jury trials last summer after they were suspended in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Gregg Parrish, executive direction of the Arkansas Public Defenders Commission in Little Rock.
“The numbers are staggering across the state,” Parrish said of the caseloads.
He said public defenders are appointed for 87-93 percent of all defendants in Arkansas. That number rises to 97 percent in poorer counties like in the Arkansas Delta.
Parrish said he told the Arkansas Senate Judiciary Committee that adding judges and specialty courts are increasing the work burden for public defenders.
He also advocates pay parity between the public defender offices and prosecuting attorneys offices. Parrish said veteran public defenders often move to the prosecutors offices because the pay is better.
Miles said he hopes the state will increase funding for public defenders to add more and increase pay.
“Salary issues are bogging us down,” he said. “We’ve had eight part-time public defenders leave in the past few years.”
Miles said he and other managing public defenders from around the state plan to meet with Parrish in the near future to discuss the opinion by the ethics office. | 2022-01-14T07:42:06Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Ethics office opinion challenges public defenders | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/ethics-office-opinion-challenges-public-defenders/article_7b363c8c-ae9e-514d-88df-0072bd71fc0c.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/ethics-office-opinion-challenges-public-defenders/article_7b363c8c-ae9e-514d-88df-0072bd71fc0c.html |
Farmlands were still flooded as far as the eye can see near the Cache River on Thursday morning off of Highway 226 near Cash.
Photos by Nena Zimmer / The Sun
CASH — Flooding has been an issue for the residents of the Cache River area since the early 20th century, and it has only gotten worse.
Farmers in attendance at the annual meeting of the Cache River Drainage District of Craighead, Jackson and Lawrence counties had many questions and concerns on Thursday at the Cash Community Building.
Several topics were discussed, with an emphasis placed on ongoing maintenance issues.
Shannon Davis, chairman of the three-member commission that governs the drainage district, asked Brad Hessling, the lead contractor for Hessling Construction, how soon they can begin working again this year.
Hessling said that it was dependent on the amount of snow the area gets this weekend, but they should have a dragline started in a couple weeks.
Joe Christian, CRDD commissioner, reminded everyone in attendance that they could not start work when the river is up. The dragline will start at the south end and go north.
There was also some discussion about miscommunication last year.
“We need better communication with landowners,” Davis said after local farmer Mike Allen mentioned that damage to his property was never repaired after work was done last year.
John Easley, lead engineer from Associated Engineering of Jonesboro, said they hope to run draglines on both sides of the river from east to west from Highway 226 to Highway 91. He noted they will be using four excavators.
Commissioners Davis and Christian reassured the farmers that they were not going to be digging on the banks, and they would work the outside parts first.
They also discussed the Nature Conservancy Project.
Breegan Anderson, spokeswoman for the project, said they were working with Arkansas State University to figure out which ditches to work on.
She said they are already looking for potential funding to help fix ditches around the area and are constantly looking for other funding, as well.
Wayne Carlton asked how their help would affect private landowners and if farmers would have to allow people on their private land after accepting help.
Anderson reassured him that private land would remain private.
Next, Davis stated that Wes Copeland with BA Engineering of Nashville, Tenn., the head engineering firm, had contacted him about the clean-out in Grubbs, as well, stating they would help out where they could.
Christian said they anticipate getting help from government stimulus funding, as well, but pointed out that Jackson County collects no taxes to assist with flooding issues and yet expects the drainage district to maintain that area. He also noted that Grubbs is a choke-point along the Cache River.
Lastly, they spoke about helping farmers install pipes to help with flooding. Hessling said if the farmers would buy the piping that they would help install the pipes for drainage.
Attorney Rhonda Davis said farmers have to understand that nobody wants anything to go wrong, but there will always be issues that they have to face dealing with these matters.
The CRDD was formed in 1916 and includes 39.75 miles of ditches and 120,876 acres. | 2022-01-14T07:42:18Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Flooding main topic at CRDD meeting | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/flooding-main-topic-at-crdd-meeting/article_e04fb11f-183c-50bd-98b0-8ed917c5f9a5.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/flooding-main-topic-at-crdd-meeting/article_e04fb11f-183c-50bd-98b0-8ed917c5f9a5.html |
Thursday was another record-breaking day for the state of Arkansas with nearly 13,000 new cases of COVID-19 reported in state.
After Arkansas recorded nearly 11,000 new cases on Wednesday, the Arkansas Department of Health reported Thursday’s numbers had climbed even higher with 12,990 new cases added.
Craighead and Greene counties saw the largest jumps in cases locally, with 545 new cases reported in Craighead County and 468 added in Greene County.
The active case count in Craighead County rose to 4,203, and statewide the number of active cases increased by 8,214 to reach 79,346. No deaths were reported locally, but the statewide death toll rose by 18 to 9,390.
According to the ADH, 1,251 COVID patients were hospitalized, up 66 from Wednesday, and of those, 170 were on ventilators. In Northeast Arkansas, 205 patients were reported as COVID-positive with 17 on ventilators.
The active case count for Greene County rose to 1,221. Mississippi County reported 227 new cases and 1,202 active cases, while Poinsett County recorded 106 new infections and 767 active cases.
Elsewhere in Northeast Arkansas, Cross County reported 89 new cases and 493 active cases; Lawrence County, 44 new cases and 279 active cases; Clay County, 34 new cases and 235 active cases; Jackson County, 29 new cases and 257 active cases; and Randolph County, 23 new cases and 260 active cases. | 2022-01-14T07:42:24Z | www.jonesborosun.com | New case numbers skyrocket in state | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/new-case-numbers-skyrocket-in-state/article_4a0c52d9-6a58-53f4-ba24-76d3b239b714.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/new-case-numbers-skyrocket-in-state/article_4a0c52d9-6a58-53f4-ba24-76d3b239b714.html |
AAA determines state tournament sites
LITTLE ROCK — State tournament sites in several high school sports were determined Thursday through a vote by the Arkansas Activities Association Board of Directors.
Sheridan was awarded the Class 5A state basketball tournament in March after a runoff vote that also involved Jonesboro. Other schools listed as bidding for 5A basketball included Lake Hamilton, Jacksonville and Siloam Springs.
Magnolia was chosen to host the Class 4A state basketball tournament over bids from Blytheville and Farmington. Valley Springs will serve as host for the Class 3A state tournament at North Arkansas College in Harrison.
Junction City was selected as the host for 2A state basketball after a runoff vote that also involved Rector, another of the seven schools to bid for the tournament.
A site for the 1A state basketball tournament had not been announced as of press time. Little Rock Southwest will host the Class 6A state basketball tournament.
State basketball championship games in all classifications will be played at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs.
Sites for the Class 4A East Region and Class 1A Region 2 basketball tournaments had not been announced late Thursday afternoon. The Class 3A Region 2 tournament will be held in Rose Bud; the Class 2A North Region tournament is set for Carlisle; and the Class 2A Central Region tournament was awarded to White County Central.
Brookland will serve as the host for the Class 4A state volleyball tournament from Oct 25-27. Rogers will serve as the 6A volleyball host; Greenbrier was awarded the 5A tournament; Harding Academy will be the site for the 3A tournament; and Mansfield will be the location for 2A volleyball. All state finals will be played at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs on Oct. 29.
None of the state baseball or softball tournaments will be played in Northeast Arkansas.
State baseball hosts include Springdale, Class 6A; Hot Springs Lakeside, Class 5A; Nashville, Class 4A; Valley Springs, Class 3A; South Side Bee Branch, Class 2A; and Ouachita, Class 1A. Hosts for state softball include Fayetteville, Class 6A; Hot Springs Lakeside, Class 5A; Nashville, Class 4A; Valley Springs, Class 3A; South Side Bee Branch, Class 2A; and Ouachita, Class 1A.
Brookland will host the Class 4A East Region baseball and softball tournaments for the second consecutive season. Walnut Ridge will host Class 3A Region 2 baseball and softball; Carlisle is the site for Class 2A North Region baseball and softball; and Marked Tree will host the Class 1A Region 2 baseball and softball tournaments.
State soccer hosts include El Dorado, Class 5A; Pulaski Robinson, Class 4A; and Bergman, Class 3A. No bid was received to host Class 6A soccer.
State championship games in baseball, softball and soccer will be played in Benton.
State track and field meet hosts include Little Rock Central, Class 6A; Van Buren, Class 5A; and Quitman, Class 2A. No bids were received for 4A, 3A or 1A track and field.
Russellville will host the Meet of Champions; Fayetteville will be the site for the state decathlon/heptathlon championships; and Lake Hamilton will host state cross country. | 2022-01-14T07:43:06Z | www.jonesborosun.com | AAA determines state tournament sites | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/aaa-determines-state-tournament-sites/article_0fc02c37-199c-5e57-b309-5ea1bc7eb0d1.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/aaa-determines-state-tournament-sites/article_0fc02c37-199c-5e57-b309-5ea1bc7eb0d1.html |
JONESBORO — As the omicron variant of the coronavirus takes its toll locally, St. Bernards Healthcare announced Monday it will host free daily COVID-19 drive-through testing clinics at St. Bernards Auditorium, 505 E. Washington Ave.
The clinics will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday.
The clinic will use the rapid antigen tests and operate in partnership with six members of the Arkansas National Guard stationed at St. Bernards, said spokesman Mitchell Nail.
“Patients will receive nasal swabs from their vehicles under the Auditorium’s entrance awning,” Nail said in an email. “St. Bernards purchased these tests independently of other kits distributed for free throughout the community, but it will not take insurance information from patients. Each person will receive notification of a positive or negative test.”
New coronavirus infections in Craighead County rose by 24.2 percent last week, a Sun review of daily reports from the Arkansas Department of Health showed.
While that increase, an average of 359.4 new cases per day, may be disturbing, neighboring counties felt an even larger spike in COVID-19 cases.
For example, new cases in Greene County rose by 69.6 percent. Clay County had a 148.5 percent increase.
Of our neighbors, only Mississippi County had a reduction in new cases in the seven-day period between Jan. 10 and Sunday. That county had 939 new cases, a drop of 18.9 percent.
Craighead County had three deaths during that period, according to the data.
Cross, Greene, Mississippi and Randolph counties had one COVID-connected death each.
Experts at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Public Health (COPH), in its latest update on trends predicts Arkansas will have a 36 percent in daily new cases over the next 30 days.
Based on health department data through Jan. 9:
New daily cases are expected to average more than 10,000 per day.
We should expect approximately 855 individuals to be newly hospitalized by Jan. 24 and 1,764 by Feb. 8.
The state is expected to reach 85 daily hospitalizations by Feb.8.
The state averaged 8,444 new cases per day from Jan. 10 through Sunday.
“If we all use the simple public health tools available to us we can prevent an Omicron infection. In combination, up-to-date vaccinations (two plus a booster), conscientious mask wearing, and avoiding large groups of people significantly reduce the risk of Omicron infection.”
The health department reported 3,600 new cases on Monday, based on the results of about 9,300 tests. While that seems like a low number compared to previous days, that’s double the number of new cases reported two Mondays ago.
Craighead County had 212 new cases on Monday, third-highest number in the state, behind Pulaski and Faulkner counties.
New case numbers Monday in Northeast Arkansas included: Greene, 61; Cross, 46; Poinsett, 38; Mississippi, 37; Lawrence, 19; Clay, 16; Jackson, 10; and Randolph, five.
Craighead – 2,516 (359.4 per day, up from 333.7 last week); 4,554 active cases (up from 3,906); 267 total virus related deaths (increase of 34)
Greene – 1,097 (156.7 per day, up from 107.8); 1,802 active (up from 1,045); 139 deaths (increase of 1).
Poinsett – 430 new cases (61.4 per day, up from 58.4); 812 active (up from 707); 107 deaths (unchanged).
Mississippi – 939 new cases (134.1 per day, down from 193.1); 1,517 active cases (up from 1,007); 165 deaths (increase of 1).
Jackson – 200 (28.6 per day, up from 24.8); 305 active cases (up from 218); 49 deaths (unchanged).
Randolph – 159 (22.7 per day, up from 20.9); 290 active cases (up from 220); 69 deaths (increase of 1).
Cross –409 (62.4 per day, up from 38.2); 602 active cases (up from 304); 73 deaths (increase of 1). | 2022-01-18T09:52:14Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Testing clinic expands as infections rise | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/testing-clinic-expands-as-infections-rise/article_9604d53e-4a67-558a-a6a5-4bf3009dabf1.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/testing-clinic-expands-as-infections-rise/article_9604d53e-4a67-558a-a6a5-4bf3009dabf1.html |
Bridge work to close CR 963
BROOKLAND — The Craighead County Highway Department will close Craighead 963 at 8 a.m. Monday for approximately two to three days for bridge repair, or until work is finished depending on the weather.
The road will be closed from Craighead 938 to Craighead 936.
Detour signs will be posted to alert the public and motorists are asked to use caution in the area. Commuters should allow for additional travel time.
A notice for the road closure will be on www.craigheadcounty.org on the main page under the heading Road / Bridge Closures. | 2022-01-19T14:45:01Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Bridge work to close CR 963 | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/bridge-work-to-close-cr-963/article_eea99cb1-f102-5676-baf1-a690cd9332a8.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/bridge-work-to-close-cr-963/article_eea99cb1-f102-5676-baf1-a690cd9332a8.html |
Mustangs hand Bobcats first 3A-3 loss
HOXIE — Cade Forrester and Mason Woodard scored 21 points each Monday night as Hoxie knocked off Walnut Ridge 63-52 in senior boys’ basketball, handing the Bobcats their first 3A-3 conference loss of the season.
Haydn Minton added 10 points for Hoxie (6-7, 4-6 conference). After trailing 14-11 to end the first quarter, the Mustangs rallied to lead 28-20 at halftime and 40-34 at the end of the third quarter.
Jayden Hollister scored 17 points and Ty Flippo added 15 for Walnut Ridge (12-2, 7-1 conference).
Valley View 51, Blytheville 17
BLYTHEVILLE — Anna Winkfield scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Monday to lead Valley View to a 51-17 victory over Blytheville in 4A-3 conference senior girls’ basketball.
The Lady Blazers (15-4, 6-2 conference) won their fourth conference game in six days. They led 37-10 at halftime and 51-17 at the end of the third quarter.
HARRISBURG — Manila kept its 3A-3 conference record perfect Monday night with a 57-10 victory over Harrisburg in senior girls’ basketball.
The Lady Lions (19-1, 8-0 conference) led 30-4 at halftime. Sadie McDonald scored 16 points to lead Manila, followed by Olivia May with 15 and Emily Johnson with eight.
Manila (16-2, 9-0 conference) won the junior girls’ game 43-13, led by Madison Tune with 15 points, Chloe Helms with 10 and Bailey Wilson with eight.
RECTOR — Rector extended its winning streak to nine games Monday with a 59-36 rout of East Poinsett County in 2A-3 conference senior girls’ basketball.
The Lady Cougars (16-5, 8-1 conference) have won 15 of their last 16 games. Rector led 10-6 after the first quarter, 27-13 at halftime and 48-20 after the third quarter.
Ellie Ford and Madison Wolfenbarger scored 15 and 10 points, respectively, for Rector. Denissia Gaines scored 10 points for EPC.
Rector won the junior girls’ game 43-29, led by Rylee Wilburn with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Anna Isom and Libby Green added 10 points each for Rector, while Emma Parham scored eight points for EPC.
Rector won the junior B game 21-18.
Highland 40, Brookland 33BROOKLAND – Highland held Brookland to three points in the second quarter Monday and went on to earn a 40-33 victory in 4A-3 conference senior girls’ basketball.
The Lady Rebels outscored the Lady Bearcats 11-3 in the second quarter for an 18-14 halftime lead. Highland led 27-20 at the end of the third quarter.
Emma Hyslip scored 14 points, Emily Trivett 11 and Annabelle Burton eight for Highland. Kinsey Clark scored 12 points on four 3-pointers to lead Brookland (5-10, 2-6 conference).
Brookland (13-2, 7-0 conference) won the junior girls’ game 31-30, led by Evan Polsgrove with 13 points and Chloe Rodriguez with eight. Sadie Meyer scored 15 points to lead Highland. | 2022-01-19T14:46:22Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Mustangs hand Bobcats first 3A-3 loss | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/mustangs-hand-bobcats-first-3a-3-loss/article_92e67e10-94c7-57d5-a99f-fe34a80afba7.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/mustangs-hand-bobcats-first-3a-3-loss/article_92e67e10-94c7-57d5-a99f-fe34a80afba7.html |
HOXIE
Hoxie First Baptist Church will host its monthly food pantry distribution on Monday from 1-5 p.m. A “release of information” form is required, and participants are asked to bring a list of all household occupants’ date of birth of relationship to attendee. Corona virus procedures will apply.
The church is also accepting donations to start a homeless emergency shelter and transition home for the area. Donations may be sent to: First Baptist Church, Hoxie, c/o First Hope Homeless Initiative, 200 SW Lindsay Street, Hoxie, Arkansas, 72433.
Step by Step, a new recovery meeting, will be held on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Hoxie First Baptist Church.
Randy, Snow and Sean Schmidt of Cordova, Tenn., were guests of Stanley and Jewell Schmidt. Sean celebrated his third birthday with a surprise family party.
Emma Prondzinski, daughter of Lee and Laura Prondzinski of Jonesboro and granddaughter of Lanny and Linda Tinker of Hoxie, recently won the “Voice of Democracy Award” for her essay for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She won first place at Jonesboro’s VFW Auxiliary Post #1991 and was recognized at their Dec. 7 meeting. She also won first place in the regional competition and fifth place in the state competition. Emma is a junior at Nettleton School.
The Refuge Recovery Group meets on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. at Hoxie First Baptist Church. Anyone affected by addiction of any capacity is welcome to attend. For more information, visit www.firsthopehoxie.org.
Sympathy is extended to the family of Teresa Campbell who passed away Sunday. Condolences are also extended to families in the community who recently lost loved ones including: Shirley Pillow of Paragould, Judy Fleming of Swifton, Teddy Herriott of Clover Bend, Darrell Rash of Pocahontas and T.J. Ludwig of Black Rock.
Mica Knight and son, Mason, of Paragould, spent the weekend visiting her grandmother, Ernestene “Tommie” Smith, and mother, Sherry Moore, on Sunday.
The ladies of the United Methodist Church have postponed their U.M.W. service from Jan. 23 to Feb. 20.
Terrell and Debbie Downing visited with their son, Kyle Downing, and Luke in West Plains, Mo., on Sunday.
Christy Steele and her mother, Lora Melton, met Caitlyn Steele of Little Rock in Searcy on Sunday for lunch.
Members of the Hoxie: The First Stand participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration held at the Eddie Mae Herron Museum in Pocahontas on Monday. President Ethel Tompkins, Frances Green and Yvonne Taylor were among members who gave a presentation about the Hoxie School integration that took place in 1955.
Lonnie and Katie Smith enjoyed a visit with their son, Owen Smith of Jonesboro, on Thursday. | 2022-01-19T14:46:29Z | www.jonesborosun.com | HOXIE | Features | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/features/hoxie/article_c98354cd-0e7a-59d6-9e6b-c27096e0957c.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/features/hoxie/article_c98354cd-0e7a-59d6-9e6b-c27096e0957c.html |
Michelle Evans of Lynn has announced her candidacy for re-election as Lawrence County Circuit Clerk in the 2022 May primary.
Evans is currently serving her seventh term.
“As your current Circuit Clerk, I have enjoyed serving the citizens of Lawrence County and strive to be helpful by staying educated on the ever-changing laws that relate to the office so that we may assist the citizens of Lawrence County and those visiting.”
Evans’ staff is made up of Deputies Michelle (Mimi) Waldrupe, Katie Watts, Sara Tate and Katelyn Liscomb, all of Lawrence County.
“I, along with my staff, am looking forward to serving the people of Lawrence County for the next term beginning in 2023” Evans said.
Evans is married to Randy Evans. They have two children, Colman Evans and wife Jessica of Strawberry and Tamara Harris and husband Cody of Black Rock. They also have five grandchildren, Zane, Owen, Graham, Cole and Whitley, and one grandchild on the way. | 2022-01-19T14:46:53Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Evans to seek re-election as LawCo. circuit clerk | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/news/evans-to-seek-re-election-as-lawco-circuit-clerk/article_030fc41d-429b-5379-9331-473a229ce1c6.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/news/evans-to-seek-re-election-as-lawco-circuit-clerk/article_030fc41d-429b-5379-9331-473a229ce1c6.html |
Edward Holder
Edward Ward Holder, 86, of Conway, formerly of Jonesboro, passed away Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, at his home.
He was born Feb. 6, 1935, in Randolph County, the youngest child of Redmon and Viola Ward Holder. Edward attended school in Richwoods, Lawrence County. In 1953, he began working at Hubble Shoe Store in Pocahontas. He moved his family to Jonesboro in 1960 and worked at Joseph Footwear for many years. Later, Edward bought The Shoe Box in downtown Jonesboro and established The Shoe Plaza in Caraway Plaza, retiring in 1999.
He was a member of First Free Will Baptist Church in Jonesboro for over 55 years, where he served in many positions, from trustee to Sunday school superintendent. He gave generously and tirelessly to his church. Edward relished time with grandchildren, making each feel special. One of our fondest memories was seeing him leave for church on Sunday mornings with six grandchildren in the cab of a 1984 F150 pickup. They arrived early to “help” Grandaddy with Sunday school superintendent tasks and sample donuts.
He and Joyce moved to Conway in 2007 and joined Woodland Heights Baptist Church in 2018. His hobbies included painting, woodworking, cycling, computers and his favorite, vegetable and flower gardening.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Joyce Forehand Holder, of the home; daughters, Sharon Holder Reynolds and husband Bob of Conway and Beverly Holder Shatzen and husband Herb, of McLean, Va.; nine grandchildren, Sara Hinchey Siems (Tyler), Malia Hinchey Davis (Zach), Stephen Hinchey (Amy), Ellen Shatzen Johnson (Erik), Jill Shatzen Kerr (Preston), Hannah Shatzen, Bobby Reynolds (Christine), Billy Reynolds (Mae) and Chris Reynolds (Erica); seven great-grandchildren; seven step great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His parents, sisters Lucille Davis and Pauline Stone and brothers, Almer Louie, Floyd and Bill Holder, preceded him in death.
Funeral service will be Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 10 a.m. in Emerson Memorial Chapel with Rev. Kevin Barnett officiating. Burial will follow at Lawrence Memorial Park in Walnut Ridge.
Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. prior to the service.
The funeral service will be live streamed. To view, go to emersonfuneralhome.com and a link will be available on Edward’s obituary.
The family asks that attendees wear masks.
For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to The American Cancer Society, cancer.org.
An online guestbook is available at www.emersonfuneralhome.com. | 2022-01-19T14:47:11Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Edward Holder | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/edward-holder/article_301ed174-b4ce-5e01-a2aa-ea9b64ed2f4a.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/edward-holder/article_301ed174-b4ce-5e01-a2aa-ea9b64ed2f4a.html |
Shirley Pillow
Shirley Pillow, 69, of Paragould, died at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro on Jan. 10, 2022.
Shirley was born in Walnut Ridge to John and Cora Ellison Girard on April 3, 1952. She worked as an HR manager. She was a member of Finch Baptist Church. She was married to Les Pillow.
Preceding her in death are her parents; brother, John David Girard; and sister, Joyce Hoffman.
Left to mourn her passing are her husband, Les Pillow, of the home; daughter, Asia Pillow, of the home; son, John Lamb, Minnesota; sister, Annette (Jim) Minick, Paragould; sister/niece, Glenda Dulaney, Walnut Ridge; nephew, DJ Clark, Paragould; granddaughter on the way, Avory Jaques; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends. | 2022-01-19T14:47:30Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Shirley Pillow | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/shirley-pillow/article_814ed541-bf95-5a9c-ae57-37cfb4ccc8fd.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/shirley-pillow/article_814ed541-bf95-5a9c-ae57-37cfb4ccc8fd.html |
Thomas “T.J.” Ludwig
Thomas “T.J.” Ludwig, 58, of Black Rock, died on Jan. 12, 2022.
T.J. was born in Walnut Ridge on Sept. 20, 1963, to Charles (Burley) and Diane Pickney Ludwig. He worked as a machine specialist at McDowell Machine Shop. He loved his family, especially his grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Burley Ludwig and Diane Ragsdale; grandparents, Earl and Vella Whitlow; aunt, Shirley Branch; and uncles, Randall Ludwig and Jim Whitlow.
Left to mourn his passing are Kim Blevins of the home; sons, Anthony Ludwig (Stacy Cavaness) of Jonesboro and Jason (Mandy) Ludwig of Black Rock; his grandchildren, Cole, Wesley and Khloe; brother, Chuck (Pam) Ludwig of Annieville; sister, Brandi (Greg) Hall of Black Rock; half-brothers, Larry (Connie) Ragsdale and Donald Ragsdale, both of Black Rock; and step-father, Earl Ragsdale of Black Rock.
Honorary pallbearers will be Mitch Nunally, Shane McGhehey, Mike Spain, Herschel Meeks, Dooder Nunally, Whitney Nunally, Herschel Gilliam, Bryan Taylor, Danny Smith, Charles Bob Moore, Joe Medlock, Brandon Nash and all the friends he made at work and in life.
Visitation will be Monday, Jan. 24, from 6-7 p.m.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. following the visitation.
For lasting memorials, donations may be sent to National Scleroderma Foundation at scleraderma.org. | 2022-01-19T14:47:36Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Thomas “T.J.” Ludwig | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/thomas-t-j-ludwig/article_34bdde9d-10ea-5de0-9e50-e049168c1974.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/thomas-t-j-ludwig/article_34bdde9d-10ea-5de0-9e50-e049168c1974.html |
Bill Markham and his wife, Sandy, recently attended the Cotton Bowl in Dallas after he was selected as a winner in an online sweepstakes hosted by The Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Members of the Walnut Ridge High School homecoming royalty include Makenzie Britton, queen; Allyson Smith, senior maid; Holley Yates, junior maid; Brooke Midgett, sophomore maid; Stephann Petty, freshman maid; and Jacquelynn Reeves, maid of honor. Pages were Cash Baker and Mallie Jean.
Members of the Walnut Ridge High School sweetheart royalty are Kyle Johnson, king; Jake Smith, senior knight; Hunter Flippo, junior knight; Edward Harthorn, sophomore knight; Tyler Fry, freshman knight; and Alex Long, knight of honor. Pages were Taylor Forrester and Dawson Ward.
The Lawrence County Library purchased 83 new books after receiving more than $1,400 through a grant provided by the Libri Foundation with assistance from the Lawrence County Friends of the Library organization. The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization that donates new, hardcover children’s books to small, rural public libraries through its Books for Children program.
Jerry Oliver of Strawberry has retired from the Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Walnut Ridge after 31 years. He was honored with a retirement reception by his co-workers on Jan. 3.
Walnut Ridge Sonic was named one of the top 10 Sonic sites in the nation in August of 2001. According to Terry Burnside, manager, they will be traveling to Las Vegas to compete for the title of the number one Sonic in the nation. The seven crew members competing will be Terry Burnside, Sherry Burnside, Jody Woodard, Amber Martin, Brian Romine, Sheila Woodson and Craig Bass.
The Northeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative hosted a junior high chess tournament Thursday afternoon. Seventh through ninth graders from nine school districts participated. Jack Kent of Walnut Ridge was one of the top players, scoring three out of four possible points.
Zach Witt, a senior at River Valley High School in Strawberry, was chosen as a “Player of the Week” from classification 1A for the week of Dec. 31-Jan. 5 by KATV’s Arkansas Prep Hoops.
Mark and Dr. Shawn Peyton of Jonesboro have announced the birth of their first child, a daughter, born Jan. 14, 2002, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro. The baby has been named Brooke Addison Peyton.
The Hoxie homecoming court includes Jennie Williams and Brett Bookout, pages; Mandy Simms, freshman maid; Lori Mashburn, sophomore maid; Amy Roberts, junior maid; Valerie Linebaugh, queen; and Danna Scott and Connie Porter, senior maids.
Terrell Downing was sworn in as Municipal Court Clerk Thursday at the courthouse. Ances Glidewell and Debbie Downing were sworn in as deputy municipal clerks.
William “Bill” Snapp, aged 77, of Walnut Ridge, died Friday at St. Bernards in Jonesboro, following an illness of several days.
Tom Moore, editor of The Times Dispatch, has been elected president of the Walnut Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce. Other officers include: Gary Smith of Independence Federal, Bill Colston of Arkansas Power and Light and Dave Stevens of Essmueller Mid-South, Inc.
Ann Richardson will be the queen of basketball homecoming at Walnut Ridge High School Friday night. Maids of the court are: Martha Wilson, maid of honor; Dianne Sloan, senior; Debbie Hunter, junior; Natalie Rorex, sophomore; and Lea Helms, freshman. Pages are Emily Doty and Kirby Wilson.
Fred Kellow of Walnut Ridge plans to end his 38-year career as a carpenter this month. He has just completed the home of Charles Mount.
On Jan. 6 the temperature was 68 degrees in Walnut Ridge. On Jan. 10 the mercury plunged to three degrees below zero. Two days later there were four inches of snow on the ground.
Kathy Prater of Hoxie High School and Paula Boyce and Candy Harrell of the Walnut Ridge High School have been named to the All-Region Choir after competition with students from 35 other Northeast Arkansas schools.
Lt. Thomas W. Thomas of Walnut Ridge has been awarded the Army Commendation Medal for heroism in connection with military operations in Vietnam.
Ellen Riddick and Harold Haskins Simpson II were united in marriage Saturday, Jan. 8, in a chapel ceremony at the First United Methodist Church in Walnut Ridge. Reverend James M. Meadors Jr. officiated at the double-ring ceremony. Mrs. Henry M. Rainwater provided organ music.
O.D. Clayton, local automobile dealer, was elected president of the Chamber of Commerce. Other officers elected were Bunk Allison, H.M. Rainwater, R.D. Burrow, Larry Sloan, Alvin Wilcoxson, W.T. Altman, C.C. Snapp, R.S. Choate, Bruce Logan and W.J. McLeod.
The Clover Bend Eagles, coached by Charlie Kirkpatrick, advanced to the finals in the Invitational Basketball Tourney at Arkansas State College before losing to Greenway. Three members of the team made the all-tourney team. They were David Doyle, Ted Winfrey and Chester Warnick.
The Lynn Community Club met at the school Monday night with Wilson Price presiding. Officers were elected for the new year. They are: Bryan Boatenhammer – president, Wilson Price, Mrs. Cleo Stewart, Ottis Lawson and Mrs. V.J. Cameron.
R.B. Warner, well-known public-spirited citizen and public official, was elected president of the Walnut Ridge Chamber of Commerce at the annual election Tuesday night. Other officers elected were Oscar Blackford, Joe Sexton and Buddy Byars.
The M.L. Selsor Cash Store was sold Tuesday to Manford Robert. Mr. Selsor has operated the business since Dec. 1941.
Walnut Ridge grade school – The following pupils had perfect attendance in five-B: Earline Sparks, June Webb, Patsy Wilcoxson, Billy Burns Fisher, Donald Forrester, Stanley Shook, Melba Wallin, Mary Sue McCall, Bobby Richey. Bennie Dickinson, Harold Moore, Jerry Neal Gibson, Mitchell Odom, Edward Smith, Alice Owens, Carolyn Tinker, Johnny Griffith and Hope Waddell.
Lt. Everette Dodd Jr. went to Little Rock Tuesday and successfully passed an examination for a commission as a second Lieutenant in Co. K, Arkansas National Guard in Walnut Ridge.
The County Library Commission was formally organized at a meeting held in Walnut Ridge last week with the group electing Linual Cameron as chairman. Others elected to the board were Mrs. Lawrence Sloan of Strawberry, Paul Logan of Alicia, J.C. Land of Walnut Ridge, I.F. Wasson of Smithville, E.K. Riddick and Judge M.C. McLeod of Walnut Ridge.
Clay Weir Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Clay Weir of Hoxie, has been transferred from the U.S. Army service at Ft. Winfield Scott, Calif., to the underwater Ranging Battery in Ft. Miley, Calif.
Ralph C. Lehman of Hoxie has been appointed postmaster at that place by President Herbert Hoover.
Mesdames J.C. Childers and J.L. Bland entertained four tables at bridge on the night of New Year’s Eve at the home of Mrs. Bland. Refreshments were served at midnight.
Miss Elena Burrow, Mrs. C.E. Burrow and Mrs. Denver Hall entertained Monday night at a bridal shower for Mrs. Henry Rainwater. | 2022-01-19T14:47:43Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Yesteryears | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/opinion/yesteryears/article_3be55f34-6c28-5159-adec-55f9c460c013.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/opinion/yesteryears/article_3be55f34-6c28-5159-adec-55f9c460c013.html |
Walnut Ridge’s Rex Tedder dribbles against a Harrisburg defender in senior boys action on Jan. 11. The Bobcats defeated Harrisburg 63-41.
Walnut Ridge dominated the third quarter against Harrisburg and coasted to an easy 63-41 win over the Hornets on Jan. 11 at Walnut Ridge’s Terry Belcher Gymnasium. The win kept the Bobcats perfect in 3A-3 conference play with a 7-0 record and improved their overall mark to 12-1.
Walnut Ridge led 13-9 at the end of the first quarter and 29-21 at halftime. The Bobcats outscored Harrisburg 24-7 in the third period to extend the lead to 53-28.
Jayden Hollister led Walnut Ridge with 20 points, followed by Ty Flippo with 18.
Walnut Ridge won the junior boys game 40-20, and the seventh-grade game, 27-11. | 2022-01-19T14:47:49Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Bobcats defeat Harrisburg | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/sports/bobcats-defeat-harrisburg/article_ea59e565-99cf-5e11-a84e-84b15df7366b.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/sports/bobcats-defeat-harrisburg/article_ea59e565-99cf-5e11-a84e-84b15df7366b.html |
Drug possession gets man $25,000 cash-only bond
JONESBORO — A Jonesboro man was ordered held on a $25,000 cash-only bond Wednesday after a a district judge found probable cause to charge him with possession of meth or cocaine with the purpose to deliver.
Judge Tommy Fowler set the bond for Stephen Paul Hanna, 63, on charges of possession of meth or cocaine with the purpose to deliver greater than 10 grams but less than 200 grams
Ronald Gray, 25, of Jonesboro, with felony failure to appear; $25,000 bond.
Timothy Coram, 40, of Jonesboro, with third-degree domestic battery, breaking or entering, interference with emergency communications, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct; $25,000 bond.
Timika Mosley, 39, of Jonesboro, with possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams; $10,000 bond.
Kyron Stegall, 24, of Jonesboro, with theft and theft by receiving; $27,500 total bond.
Olajide Roddy, 34, of Jonesboro, with possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams and possession of marijuana; $50,000 bond.
Corey Booker, 48, of Jonesboro, with possession of drug paraphernalia; $3,500 bond.
Raoul Simpson, 57, of Trumann, with possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams, interfering with an ignition Interlock device, driving on a suspended license and no proof of insurance; $7,500 bond.
Lamar Tyler, 42, of Jonesboro, with two failures to appear, failure to comply, theft and possession of an instrument of crime; $28,500 total bond. | 2022-01-20T16:35:51Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Drug possession gets man $25,000 cash-only bond | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/drug-possession-gets-man-25-000-cash-only-bond/article_1d0fee33-ebdd-5b71-bf5a-68f15c7cd1b9.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/drug-possession-gets-man-25-000-cash-only-bond/article_1d0fee33-ebdd-5b71-bf5a-68f15c7cd1b9.html |
Mayor: JPD shift change shifts focus
JONESBORO — Mayor Harold Copenhaver said a new work schedule for Jonesboro Police Department officers is paying dividends for community safety.
Beginning Jan. 1, the patrol division now works 11-hour shifts, putting more officers on the streets at key times.
Copenhaver told city council members Tuesday that police are working harder on traffic enforcement in a city that averages about 350 car crashes per month.
“The additional officers per shift, we’re seeing an increase of – where we had 10, sometimes even as low as eight per shift – up to around 19 officers now a shift,” Copenhaver said. “That’s giving us additional almost 30 cars on our peak time between 3 and 7 o’clock. This has created the opportunity to be more proactive on our policing and policy. It flat-out makes Jonesboro a safer place.”
Two different 11-hour shifts overlap during that 3 to 7 p.m. window.
Copenhaver said police made 1,580 traffic stops in the first 18 days of the new schedule.
The new schedule and implementation of new technology has also helped solve more crimes more quickly, the mayor said.
“For example, a suspect in a shooting was arrested within 24 hours, using what we are now starting, our Real Time Crime Center,” Copenhaver said. “The 911 received a phone call that advised the direction in which a suspect was headed. Officer (Rachel) Anderson spotted the vehicle on her computer, using a camera that our IT department built. Anderson saw the vehicle from this camera, traced back to another camera that contained a license plate reader. From there, JPD could track down the suspect and then made the arrest.
“That was just one success story. But we invested in our technology, not to mention having our officers trained well enough to know how to use it.”
The Real Time Crime Center is helping to provide evidence in 10 to 15 crimes a week, Police Chief Rick Elliott told The Sun Wednesday. He expects that impact to grow as the city’s camera network grows and becomes more coordinated.
The 11-hour shift is modeled after a schedule implemented by Texarkana police, Elliott said. Officers either work four days on followed by four days off or five days on with five days off.
During the council’s brief business session, two rezoning proposals gained final approval, including one that would develop a total of 230 new homes.
Terra Verde LLC plans to develop 29.82 acres of farmland west of Bettie Drive off of North Church Street (Arkansas 141). Currently owned by Roger Watkins Sr. and Sylvia Watkins, the land will be converted from R-1 single family to PDR, planned unit development. The plan is for 115 attached houses.
The other rezoning, requested by Herbert and Sharon Stallings, changes 0.43 acres at 3200 and 3217 Neil Circle from I-2 general industrial to I-1 limited industrial.
The council also heard the first reading and waived the required second and third reading of an ordinance, declaring an exceptional situation. That ordinance waives competitive bidding for fire truck body work on a new pumper truck that was damaged at the scene of a fire last June. G&W Diesel Services of Memphis was selected by the city’s insurance provider to perform the work.
The council heard the first reading and waived the second reading of a proposed ordinance that would waive competitive bidding to buy equipment for 23 new police vehicles. The proposal doesn’t say how much the equipment will cost, but that it has already been included in the price of the vehicles.
A final vote is scheduled for the council’s Feb. 1 meeting.
Council members also scheduled a Feb. 1 final vote on an ordinance proposed by Corey Hudson to rezone 0.4 acres at 5005 E. Nettleton Ave. from R-3 multifamily to C-3 general commercial. | 2022-01-20T16:36:10Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Mayor: JPD shift change shifts focus | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/mayor-jpd-shift-change-shifts-focus/article_e59b2b1e-20c4-5d6b-94f8-2505f37bdbff.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/mayor-jpd-shift-change-shifts-focus/article_e59b2b1e-20c4-5d6b-94f8-2505f37bdbff.html |
Virus infections 14,494 in state; 504 in Craighead
JONESBORO — Coronavirus-related hospitalizations rose by another 113 statewide to an even 1,600 on Wednesday, according to the Arkansas Department of Health, setting a new one-day high since the beginning of the pandemic.
St. Bernards Medical Center had 115 COVID patients in hospital beds, up from 111 on Tuesday, spokesman Mitchell Nail said.
While that’s not a large increase, “any additional person presents a challenge,” Nail said. “The ICU numbers are not changing, nor are the individuals that need ventilators.”
The state found 14,494 new infections of the disease on Wednesday, including 504 in Craighead County. Pulaski County had 1,658 new cases, followed by Washington with 1,365; Benton County, with 977; Faulkner, 795; Sebastian, 513 and Saline County, 507.
Active cases statewide rose by 6,439 to 95,377, according to health department data. The state recorded 10 deaths, including one in Mississippi County, increasing the total since the pandemic reached Arkansas in March 2020 to 9,462.
As case numbers grow, the city of Fayetteville has reinstated its requirement to wear a face mask in city-owned buildings.
Wednesday Northeast Arkansas COVID-19 cases by county:
Poinsett – 119 new cases; 772 active.
Mississippi –171 new cases; 1,295 active.
Cross – 126 new cases; 648 active.
Clay – 115 new cases; 439 active. | 2022-01-20T16:36:22Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Virus infections 14,494 in state; 504 in Craighead | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/virus-infections-14-494-in-state-504-in-craighead/article_651cb519-5474-5ff2-876d-0ed77d35cf08.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/virus-infections-14-494-in-state-504-in-craighead/article_651cb519-5474-5ff2-876d-0ed77d35cf08.html |
Buffalo Island Central’s Jaron Burrow drives to the basket as Riverside’s Easton Hatch defends during Tuesday’s game in Monette. Burrow scored 22 points in BIC’s 68-45 victory.
Confident Mustangs keep 2A-3 record perfect
MONETTE — The Buffalo Island Central Mustangs look ready for the stretch run.
BIC closed its home schedule in senior boys’ basketball Tuesday night with a 68-45 victory over neighboring rival Riverside. The Mustangs hold a one-game lead over Rector in the 2A-3 standings with five road games remaining on their conference schedule, including a Feb. 1 showdown on the Cougars’ home court.
Coach Mike Kinard said his team is playing with confidence after the Mustangs’ third victory over the Rebels this season.
“It’s a big rivalry game, the last home game of the season and senior night,” Kinard said. “Luis Reta got to start the game, he just got cleared this past week from an ACL surgery, so it’s basically his first action of the season. He took a charge, made a 3 early in the game, made another 3 later and it was a big lift.”
Reta, one of the team’s seniors, sank one of the Mustangs’ three 3-pointers in a game-opening 11-0 run. Jaron Burrow and Nicholas Patterson made two 3s each in the first quarter as BIC (20-5, 9-0 conference) opened a 25-10 lead in the first eight minutes.
BIC had seven 3s by halftime and a 43-24 lead at intermission. The Mustangs led by as many as 22 points, 36-14, in the second quarter. They held a 53-35 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Burrow, a junior who reached the 1,000-point career mark in Friday’s victory over Bay, drilled three 3s while scoring 17 of his 22 points Tuesday in the first half. He also finished with 11 rebounds.
Patterson, a sophomore guard, also made three 3s and finished with 15 points. Senior center Caden Whitehead finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocked shots.
“They’re confident right now and they’re playing well. It’s fun to be healthy,” Kinard said. “We’re just excited right now with the way we’re playing right now headed toward the last six weeks or so of the season.”
Easton Hatch scored 17 points and Harrison McAnally added nine to lead Riverside (10-16, 4-5 conference).
BIC has won five consecutive games since losing to Brookland in the Northeast Arkansas Invitational tournament. The Mustangs are ranked fifth in Class 2A in this week’s Arkansas Sports Media poll.
Rector (16-5, 6-1 conference) has only one conference loss, a 58-54 setback last month at BIC, although the Cougars have a couple more league games remaining than the Mustangs. Every other team in 2A-3 has at least three league losses as they battle for seeding in next month’s district tournament at Rector.
“We have no losses and Rector just has the one to us here, but we have to go over there,” Kinard said. “There’s still a couple other games out there that either one of us could possibly lose, but it’s shaping up like the game at Rector the week after next is going to go a long way in deciding the top two seeds.”
Riverside (23-1, 9-0 conference) won the junior boys’ game 57-14. Cash Gillis scored 12 points, Thatcher Durham and Brayeson Timms added 11 each, and Kade Laird finished with nine for Riverside.
BIC won the seventh-grade game 29-20. | 2022-01-20T16:37:05Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Confident Mustangs keep 2A-3 record perfect | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/confident-mustangs-keep-2a-3-record-perfect/article_0499a1c6-173b-5f37-995b-0061e6c96df2.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/confident-mustangs-keep-2a-3-record-perfect/article_0499a1c6-173b-5f37-995b-0061e6c96df2.html |
Roundup: Hardaway, Thomas lead JHS
WEST MEMPHIS — Ereauna Hardaway scored 15 points to lead a balanced attack Tuesday night for Jonesboro as the Lady Hurricane cruised past West Memphis 51-32 in 5A-East conference senior girls’ basketball.
Destiny Thomas added 13 points and Bramyia Johnson 11 for Jonesboro (9-6, 3-1 conference) in a rematch of last season’s state championship game. Jonesboro outscored West Memphis 16-7 in the second quarter to take a 32-19 halftime lead and held a 40-28 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Janiyah Tucker scored 14 points and Aniyah Price 10 to lead West Memphis (9-6, 2-2 conference).
Paragould 53, Nettleton 52
PARAGOULD – Shakira Brown scored the go-ahead basket in the final seconds Tuesday to lift Paragould to a 53-52 victory over Nettleton in 5A-East conference senior girls’ basketball.
Carson DeFries scored 22 points to lead the Lady Rams (12-3, 4-0 conference), hitting four 3-pointers. Mikayla Lambert added 10 points and Brown finished with seven.
Paragould led 27-16 at halftime, only to see Nettleton (13-7, 1-3 conference) pull into a tie at 36 at the end of the third quarter.
Briley Pena scored 25 points to lead the Lady Raiders, connecting for six 3-pointers. D’maria Daniels added 16 points.
GCT 45, Searcy 27
PARAGOULD – Kylie Stokes scored 22 points Tuesday night to lead Greene County Tech to a 45-27 victory over Searcy in 5A-East conference senior girls’ basketball.
Sierrah Floyd added 12 points and Emma Bates 10 for the Lady Eagles (11-5, 2-2 conference). GCT led 33-19 at the end of the third quarter.
Marmaduke 68, Bay 23
MARMADUKE – Heidi Robinson scored 23 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked five shots Tuesday as Marmaduke routed Bay 68-23 in 2A-3 conference senior girls’ basketball.
Makenzie Hampton added 19 points for the Lady Greyhounds (26-2, 8-0 conference).
Bean Hoffman added eight points, six rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks for Marmaduke, which led 45-14 at halftime.
JONESBORO – MacArthur took control with a fast start and went on to defeat Annie Camp 51-29 in junior girls’ basketball at Don Riggs Hurricane Gym.
The Lady Cyclones (9-6, 2-2 conference) led 15-3 after the first quarter, 32-17 at halftime and 43-20 after the third quarter.
Diamond Edwards scored 14 points, Nae Nae Daniels 11, Alexia Gomez nine and SheLeah Bevly eight for MacArthur.
MacArthur (1-2) won the junior varsity girls game 42-17. | 2022-01-20T16:37:11Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Roundup: Hardaway, Thomas lead JHS | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/roundup-hardaway-thomas-lead-jhs/article_e436cc00-bc75-5990-baa9-9f9f1fa54ab3.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/roundup-hardaway-thomas-lead-jhs/article_e436cc00-bc75-5990-baa9-9f9f1fa54ab3.html |
Roundup: Hurricane clips Blue Devils in low-scoring contest
WEST MEMPHIS — Jonesboro won comfortably on a night when points weren’t plentiful.
The Hurricane held West Memphis to 14 points in each half Tuesday to earn a 43-28 victory in 5A-East conference senior boys’ basketball.
Jonesboro (13-3, 4-0 conference) trailed 10-9 after a quarter, but came back to lead 21-14 at halftime and extended its margin to 31-20 at the end of the third quarter. The Hurricane forced 22 turnovers, limited the Blue Devils to 31.3 percent shooting from the field and held a 32-26 rebounding advantage.
Jesse Washington led Jonesboro in scoring with nine points, also adding six rebounds and three assists. Amarion Wilson added eight points and three assists, while Kavon Pointer scored six points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Kameron Barnes scored 11 points for West Memphis (10-6, 2-2).
Nettleton 72, Paragould 63
PARAGOULD – Nettleton outscored Paragould 28-16 in the fourth quarter Tuesday to rally for a 72-63 victory in 5A-East conference senior boys’ basketball.
DaVares Whitaker scored 23 points to lead the Raiders (14-5, 2-2 conference). Brandon Anderson added 18 points and Andre Davis 17 for Nettleton, which trailed 30-29 at halftime and 47-44 after the third quarter.
Gavin Hall scored 20 points and Isaiah Jackson added 18 for Paragould (10-7, 1-3).
JONESBORO – Tyree Jackson scored 23 points Tuesday as Blytheville remained unbeaten in 4A-3 conference basketball with a 65-52 victory at Valley View.
Tyree Jackson scored 21 points and Rashaud Marshall added 18 for the Chickasaws (17-3, 8-0 conference). Shamar Marshall and Jeremiah Wells scored nine and eight points, respectively.
The teams were tied at 12 to end the first quarter, and Blytheville led 28-23 at halftime. The Chickasaws extended their lead to 44-35 at the end of the third quarter.
Connor Tinsley scored 12 points, Parker St. Pierre added 11 and Carson Tosh finished with nine for Valley View (6-9, 5-3 conference).
Valley View (14-3, 8-0 conference) won the junior boys’ game 48-32, led by Oliver Barr with 17 points, Gavin Ellis with 13 and Laird Cullen with 11. Travion Anderson scored 13 points to lead Blytheville.
Brookland 42, Highland 38
HIGHLAND – Brookland rallied in the fourth quarter Tuesday to defeat Highland 42-38 in 4A-3 conference senior boys’ basketball.
The Bearcats outscored the Rebels 17-8 in the fourth quarter, coming back to win after trailing by as many as 10 points in the final period. Highland led 12-10 at halftime and 30-25 at the end of the third quarter.
Tyler Parham scored 14 points to lead Brookland (10-7, 6-2 conference). Aidan Roberson grabbed 10 rebounds to go with six points.
HARRISBURG – Manila cruised to a 76-40 victory over Harrisburg in 3A-3 conference senior boys’ basketball Tuesday.
The Lions improved to 12-6 overall and 6-1 in the 3A-3.
RECTOR – Cooper Rabjohn scored 23 points Tuesday to lead Rector to a 63-33 rout of East Poinsett County in 2A-3 conference senior boys’ basketball.
Kameron Jones added 17 points and Lane Stucks finished with 14 for the Cougars (16-5, 6-1 conference).
Rivercrest 52, Hoxie 50
HOXIE – Rivercrest edged Hoxie 52-50 Tuesday in 3A-3 conference senior boys’ basketball.
Braylon Diggs scored 21 points and Carmelo Vasquez 16 for Rivercrest, which led 21-19 at halftime and 36-35 after the third quarter.
Jake Jones scored 14 points to lead four Hoxie players in double figures.
Mason Woodard scored 11 points, while Cade Forrester and Haydn Minton added 10 each.
Rivercrest won the junior boys’ game 59-18, led by Jayden Young with 18 points.
Sloan-Hendrix 72, WCC 42
JUDSONIA – Braden Cox scored 27 points and Cade Grisham added 21 Tuesday to lead Sloan-Hendrix to a 72-42 rout of White County Central in 2A-2 conference senior boys’ basketball.
The Greyhounds (17-4, 5-0 conference) led 27-18 at halftime and 48-28 after the third quarter.
Sloan-Hendrix (17-1) won the junior boys’ game 55-27. Karson Roark scored 17 points, Logan Hill 16 and Hudson Rorex 11 for Sloan-Hendrix.
JONESBORO – MacArthur improved to 19-0 in junior boys’ basketball with Tuesday’s 35-27 victory over Annie Camp at Don Riggs Hurricane Gym.
C.J. Larry and Drew West scored 11 points to lead the Cyclones. Jamarion Nelson led Annie Camp with eight points. | 2022-01-20T16:37:17Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Roundup: Hurricane clips Blue Devils in low-scoring contest | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/roundup-hurricane-clips-blue-devils-in-low-scoring-contest/article_1ecce2e4-3809-5b39-acb4-c708146f8cfa.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/roundup-hurricane-clips-blue-devils-in-low-scoring-contest/article_1ecce2e4-3809-5b39-acb4-c708146f8cfa.html |
Jonesboro rolls past Searcy
JONESBORO — The Jonesboro Hurricane warmed up for this season's final out-of-state test with another 5A-East conference blowout Friday night.
Jonesboro earned its 31st consecutive victory against in-state competition by routing Searcy 84-36 in senior boys' basketball at Don Riggs Hurricane Gym. The Hurricane put up 28 points in the first quarter, including three dunks, and kept going in the second quarter to take a 50-16 halftime lead.
All 12 players who saw action scored for Jonesboro, which is ranked second overall in this week's Arkansas Sports Media poll. The Hurricane (14-3, 5-0 conference) plays Southaven, Miss., this afternoon at 4:30 in the Hotbed Classic at New Albany, Miss.
Quion Williams scored eight of his 17 points in the first quarter to lead Jonesboro's first-quarter outburst. The Hurricane led 28-5 after the first quarter, 50-16 at halftime and 68-30 after the third quarter.
Isaac Harrell sank three of Jonesboro's six 3-pointers to finish with 14 points. Deion Buford-Wesson added 12 points for the Hurricane. | 2022-01-22T11:09:21Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Jonesboro rolls past Searcy | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/jonesboro-rolls-past-searcy/article_df077aac-403d-5295-a6a5-1e04c731b78b.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/jonesboro-rolls-past-searcy/article_df077aac-403d-5295-a6a5-1e04c731b78b.html |
Roundup: Lady Raiders halt 5A-East slide
BATESVILLE — Nettleton stopped a three-game losing streak in 5A-East conference senior girls' basketball with a second-half rally Friday night.
Down four points at halftime, the Lady Raiders took the lead in the third quarter and went on to defeat Batesville 60-54.
D'maria Daniels and McKenzie Williams scored five points each in the third quarter as the Lady Raiders (13-6, 2-3 conference) outscored the Lady Pioneers 16-9 to take a 45-42 lead. Daniels added five more points in the fourth quarter while Williams and Briley Pena combined to make nine of 12 free throws.
Williams scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Nettleton. Daniels, who hit four 3-pointers, was next with 18 points and four rebounds. Pena added 12 points and four rebounds while making nine out of 10 free throws.
Taylor Rush scored 26 points to lead Batesville (4-11, 0-5 conference). The Lady Pioneers led 33-29 at halftime.
MELBOURNE — Kaylee Love scored with six seconds remaining in Friday's game to lift Melbourne to a 45-43 victory over Tuckerman in 2A-2 conference senior girls' basketball.
Kenley McCarn scored 29 points and Love added 11 for Melbourne (19-0, 7-0 conference). Melbourne trailed 19-17 at halftime before taking a 35-31 lead to end the third quarter.
Shanley Williams scored 16 points and Kenzie Soden added 12 for Tuckerman (14-10, 4-3 conference).
Melbourne won the junior girls' game and Tuckerman prevailed in the seventh-grade game.
Wynne 62, LR Mills 32
WYNNE — Derriona Spencer produced 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals Friday night as Wynne routed Little Rock Mills 62-32 in 4A-5 conference senior girls' basketball.
Zahryia Baker finished with 18 points and eight rebounds for the Lady Yellowjackets, who led 37-16 at halftime and 57-20 after the third quarter. Keyana Smith added 11 points as Wynne (13-5, 5-0 conference) tuned up for Tuesday's 4A-5 showdown at Lonoke.
GCT 53, Marion 47
PARAGOULD — Greene County Tech defeated Marion 53-47 Friday night to hand the Lady Patriots their first 5A-East conference loss this season in senior girls' basketball.
The Lady Eagles (12-5, 3-2 conference) led 25-20 at halftime. Marion (14-6, 4-1) led 17-16 after the first quarter.
MAYNARD — Maynard opened a 13-point halftime lead Friday night and went on to defeat Crowley's Ridge Academy 46-26 in junior girls' basketball.
Ryan Gramling scored 11 points to lead CRA. | 2022-01-22T11:09:27Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Roundup: Lady Raiders halt 5A-East slide | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/roundup-lady-raiders-halt-5a-east-slide/article_72e0f583-4f65-524a-be7d-e5b3a3903ce2.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/roundup-lady-raiders-halt-5a-east-slide/article_72e0f583-4f65-524a-be7d-e5b3a3903ce2.html |
Roundup: Raiders edge Pioneers on last-second 3
BATESVILLE — Nettleton's Brandon Anderson drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer Friday night to give the Raiders a 67-64 victory over Batesville in 5A-East conference senior boys' basketball.
The Raiders (15-5, 3-2 conference) took a 64-63 lead inside the final two minutes on a basket from DaVares Whitaker. Batesville (4-13, 0-5) tied the game with 1:09 to play when Wes Lange made one of two free throws.
Nettleton held the ball for the final shot, with Whitaker passing to Anderson on the wing for the winning basket.
Whitaker scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help Nettleton earn its second road conference victory this week. Anderson added 12 points; Andre Davis had 11 points and five rebounds; and Jeremiah Turner scored nine points.
Batesville led 26-21 after the first quarter and 41-36 at halftime. The teams were tied at 49 to end the third quarter.
John Thomas Morgan scored 16 points to lead Batesville. Lange and Logan McSpadden added 10 points each for the Pioneers.
MANILA — Manila held Hoxie to 13 points in the second half Friday to pull away for a 64-37 victory in 3A-3 conference senior boys' basketball.
The Lions led 17-13 after the first quarter and 28-24 at halftime. Manila stretched its lead to 46-32 at the end of the third quarter and outscored Hoxie 18-5 in the fourth.
Brayden Nunnally scored 19 points, Jake Baltimore 18 and Luke Kirk 13 for Manila (13-6, 7-1 conference). Cade Forrester scored nine points for Hoxie.
Manila won the junior high game 60-26, led by Carson Baltimore with 13 points and Gavin Weatherly and Kohner Gann with 11 each. Corey Sullens scored 11 points for Hoxie.
Blytheville 69, Highland 28
BLYTHEVILLE — Blytheville extended its winning streak to 12 games Friday with a 69-28 rout of Highland in 4A-3 conference senior boys' basketball.
The Chickasaws broke the game open quickly, leading 21-7 after the first quarter, 46-17 at halftime and 59-26 after the third quarter. Tyree Jackson scored 19 points to lead Blytheville, including 14 in the second quarter.
Jeremiah Wells scored 12 points and Rashaud Marshall 11 for Blytheville (18-3, 9-0 conference).
PARAGOULD — Kameron Barnes scored 18 points Friday night to lead West Memphis to a 46-31 victory over Paragould in 5A-East conference senior boys' basketball.
Keiarras Townsend added 10 points for the Blue Devils (11-6, 3-2 conference).
Paragould (10-8, 1-4 conference) led 25-24 at halftime after outscoring West Memphis 12-8 in the second quarter. The Blue Devils led 33-29 after the third quarter.
Isaiah Jackson scored 10 points to lead Paragould, followed by Gavin Hall with six.
Marion 47, GCT 32
PARAGOULD — Marion pulled away from a halftime tie Friday night to defeat Greene County Tech 47-32 in 5A-East conference senior boys' basketball.
The teams were tied at 20 at halftime. Marion (16-4, 5-0 conference) outscored GCT 13-2 in the third quarter to take a 33-22 lead.
Trumann 59, Westside 42
TRUMANN — Trumann earned its first 4A-3 conference victory of the season Friday by beating Westside 59-42 in senior boys' basketball.
The Warriors fell to 11-5 overall and 3-3 in the conference.
BIC 68, Marmaduke 38
MARMADUKE — Caden Whitehead and Jaron Burrow both finished with a double-double Friday night as Buffalo Island Central kept its 2A-3 conference record perfect with a 68-38 rout of Marmaduke in senior boys' basketball.
Whitehead scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Burrow added 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Mustangs (21-5, 10-0 conference).
BIC built a 22-8 lead in the first quarter. The Mustangs led 31-13 at halftime and 45-24 after the third quarter.
Jason Mathis scored nine points to lead Marmaduke.
Marmaduke won the junior boys' game 39-17.
RECTOR — Cooper Rabjohn scored 22 points Friday night to lead Rector to a 58-46 victory over Cross County in 2A-3 conference senior boys' basketball.
Jacob Johnson added 14 points for the Cougars (17-6, 7-2 conference).
MAYNARD — Maynard edged Crowley's Ridge Academy 37-36 Friday in 1A-3 senior boys' basketball.
Maynard outscored CRA 12-8 in the fourth quarter to rally for the victory. Maynard led 19-18 at halftime and CRA held a 28-25 lead after the third quarter.
Jace Elms scored 14 points and Burkley Blankenship added 10 for CRA.
Maynard won the junior boys' game 49-38. Talon McMillon scored 14 points for CRA.
OSCEOLA — Rivercrest edged Osceola 78-75 in 3A-3 conference senior boys' basketball Friday.
Richard High scored 17 points to lead Osceola, followed by Daylen Love with 15 and Terrance Nimmers with 15. | 2022-01-22T11:09:33Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Roundup: Raiders edge Pioneers on last-second 3 | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/roundup-raiders-edge-pioneers-on-last-second-3/article_57e281e4-fc84-5f64-9285-aacdefec005e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/roundup-raiders-edge-pioneers-on-last-second-3/article_57e281e4-fc84-5f64-9285-aacdefec005e.html |
Jonesboro routs Searcy, rallies past Southaven
JONESBORO — Jonesboro continued its winning ways in 5A-East conference boys' basketball Friday night before adding another out-of-state victory to its résumé Saturday afternoon.
The Hurricane erased a 10-point second-half deficit Saturday to defeat Southaven, Miss., 55-46 in the Hotbed Classic at New Albany, Miss. Jonesboro held Southaven to 19 points in the second half while limiting the Chargers to 26.9 percent shooting from the field in the last two quarters.
Jonesboro (15-3) improved to 5-0 in the 5A-East with Friday night's 84-36 rout of Searcy at Don Riggs Hurricane Gym. A trip across town to Nettleton is next for the Hurricane on Tuesday, followed by an early league showdown at home next Friday against Marion.
While Jonesboro shot only 32.8 percent from the field against Southaven (19-4), the Hurricane grabbed 24 offensive rebounds while producing a 53-30 overall rebounding advantage. The Hurricane had a 17-4 advantage in second-chance points and scored 19 points off 21 Southaven turnovers.
Jonesboro trailed 27-21 at halftime after being outscored 17-8 in the second quarter. The deficit reached 10 points, 33-23, with 6:27 left in the third quarter, but Jonesboro rallied to take a 38-35 lead at the end of the period.
The Hurricane led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Quion Williams scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Hurricane. Isaac Harrell scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds; Deion Buford-Wesson produced 10 points, five rebounds and three steals; Amarion Wilson had nine points, four rebounds and four assists; and Kavon Pointer chipped in with eight points and eight rebounds.
Jonesboro, which was No. 47 in the MaxPreps national rankings recently, is 4-3 against out-of-state competition with victories over teams from Missouri, Tennessee, Florida and Mississippi.
The Hurricane earned its 31st consecutive victory against in-state competition in the rout of Searcy. Jonesboro put up 28 points in the first quarter, including three dunks, and kept going in the second quarter to take a 50-16 halftime lead.
All 12 players who saw action scored for Jonesboro, which is ranked second overall in the Arkansas Sports Media poll.
Williams scored eight of his 17 points in the first quarter to lead Jonesboro's first-quarter outburst Friday. The Hurricane led 28-5 after the first quarter, 50-16 at halftime and 68-30 after the third quarter.
Harrell sank three of Jonesboro's six 3-pointers to finish with 14 points. Buford-Wesson added 12 points for the Hurricane. | 2022-01-23T08:19:46Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Jonesboro routs Searcy, rallies past Southaven | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/jonesboro-routs-searcy-rallies-past-southaven/article_df077aac-403d-5295-a6a5-1e04c731b78b.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/jonesboro-routs-searcy-rallies-past-southaven/article_df077aac-403d-5295-a6a5-1e04c731b78b.html |
JONESBORO — A woman’s sixth arrest for driving while intoxicated since 2015 on Saturday got her a $10,000 cash-only bond Monday from District Judge Tommy Fowler.
Fowler found probable cause to charge Dorietha Lambert, 37, of the 3100 block of Meador Drive, with felony DWI, operating a vehicle during a DWI suspension, obstructing governmental operations, no proof of insurance, careless and prohibited driving, speeding and improper lane change.
According to a probable cause affidavit, “When asked to exit, Lambert lost balance. She then refused to identify herself when asked. An officer attempted to give Lambert field sobriety tests on the scene but she was unable to perform most due to an injury.
“Lambert refused to provide a breath sample therefore a search warrant was obtained for her blood. It was determined that Lambert had a suspended drivers license, no insurance for the vehicle, and she failed to register the vehicle. When checking Lambert’s driving history, it revealed that she has had five prior DWl convictions since 2015.”
In setting the cash-only bond, Fowler called Lambert “a danger to the public.”
Dewayne Franklin, 24, of Mesquite, Texas, with possession of a Schedule I or II drug not meth or cocaine with purpose to deliver and fleeing; $75,000 bond.
Travis Clark, 33, of Jonesboro, with second-degree assault on a family or household member. Clark pled guilty and received a 10-day jail sentence.
Reggie Henderson, 19, of Jonesboro, with robbery, theft of property and misdemeanor theft and third-degree battery charges; $35,000 bond.
Justin McQuay, 58, of Jonesboro, with possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia; $10,000 bond.
Brian Nelson, 28, of Jonesboro, with probation violation and driving on a suspended license; $15,000 bond.
Christopher Wagner, 43, of Jonesboro, with possession of meth or cocaine greater than 2 grams but less than 10 grams, possession of marijuana and obstructing governmental operations; $45,000 bond.
Stephen Warren, 49, of Egypt, with third-degree assault on a family or household member; $1,500 bond.
Shaun Woods, 44, of Paragould, with possession of meth or cocaine greater than 2 grams but less than 10 grams, possession of marijuana and felony and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia; $15,000 bond.
Raymond Wright, 24, of Jonesboro, with third-degree assault on a family or household member; $1,500 bond.
Jennifer Stanford, 39, of Bay, with residential burglary; $35,000 bond.
Desmond Thomas, 22, of Jonesboro, with probation violation and fleeing. Thomas pled guilty and received a 45-day jail sentence.
Keyanna Watson, 24, of Jonesboro, with second-degree domestic battery; $35,000 bond. | 2022-01-25T13:35:28Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Sixth DWI gets woman $10,000 cash bond | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/sixth-dwi-gets-woman-10-000-cash-bond/article_dc6fcc2a-b609-599b-9393-44cf9f7d8608.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/sixth-dwi-gets-woman-10-000-cash-bond/article_dc6fcc2a-b609-599b-9393-44cf9f7d8608.html |
JONESBORO — A former Douglas MacArthur Junior High School teacher who resigned after sending inappropriate Snapchat photos to students and was later charged in a separate case on a child pornography case, pled guilty to that charge, according to court documents.
Blake Aaron Davis, 38, was sentenced to five years of probation by Circuit Judge Cindy Thyer. He was also sentenced to time-served in jail.
As part of his probation, Thyer ordered Davis to wear an electronic monitoring device for 120 days. He must also register as a sex offender.
Davis was ordered to pay $1,225 in fines and courts costs.
On Monday, Davis pled guilty to one count of distribution, possession or viewing child pornography, the document said.
Twelve counts of distribution, possession or viewing child pornography were dropped by prosecutors, according to court documents.
“Def(endant) has a zero criminal history score. With seriousness level of this charge assigned by sentencing guidelines, State’s recommendation is within the guidelines. In addition, State verbalized basis for recommendation – one device only although multiple were seized; fewer images than state originally believed – state is now pursuing only one; level of cooperation; nature of images; the recommendation for def(endant) to be required to address issue as paperwork reflects; and he has served more time in jail (over six months) than he would serve with a CCC sentence. Def(endant) is required to register as sex offender and to follow all other conditions within the order,” Thyer wrote on Monday.
Thyer issued a sentencing order in the case later in the day.
Davis was released from the Craighead County Detention Center on Monday, where he was being held on a $250,000 bond.
Davis was arrested on July 15, 2021, after Jonesboro police officers with the Internet Crimes Against Children Division and Street Crimes Unit executed a search warrant on a home in south Jonesboro.
Chad M. Green, Davis’ attorney, he was satisfied that his client received no additional jail time.
“Obviously, we would have rather had the charges dismissed,” Green said.
He said his client possessed only eight questionable images. Green said none were on Davis’ computer that was seized at his arrest.
Davis resigned from the Jonesboro School District in January 2020 for sending inappropriate photos to students.
Jonesboro Public Schools Superintendent Kim Wilbanks said at the time of Davis’ resignation, as a professional educator and a teacher, it is important to maintain appropriate conduct at all times.
“The social media exchange with students crossed that line,” she said.
Wilbanks said that had Davis not resigned at the time, efforts would have been made to terminate his employment. | 2022-01-26T07:23:59Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Ex-teacher gets 5 months' probation in child porn case | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/ex-teacher-gets-5-months-probation-in-child-porn-case/article_9b7888bd-78f2-5c78-8faf-30ca074e1184.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/ex-teacher-gets-5-months-probation-in-child-porn-case/article_9b7888bd-78f2-5c78-8faf-30ca074e1184.html |
Shellie Graham voices her opinion on personal and vacation time accrual rate changes during the Craighead County Quorum Court meeting Monday night at the Craighead County Annex in Jonesboro.
JONESBORO — Not everyone was happy with the new emergency ordinance to amend and update the Craighead County Employment Policy that was addressed and passed by the Quorum Court Monday night.
The emergency ordinance amended previous ordinances and updated the policy for personal and vacation time accrual rates. The changes are now in effect starting with the Jan. 11 pay period.
When Craighead County Justice of the Peace Josh Longmire asked why they were going back to Jan. 11, Craighead County Judge Marvin Day explained the date was chosen because it was the first pay period of the year.
However, the affected pay period didn’t appear to be the main issue of concern when the discussion was opened up to the public and the vacation time accrual rates came into question.
Andrew Stricklin once again told the court that he felt that this would be seen as a bad move to both employees and the public.
Day explained they were trying to remain fair, and that the more an employee worked the more time they would accrue.
County employee Shellie Graham did not agree.
“Why are we were being penalized?,” Graham asked. She noted that she had worked for the county for many years and had always accrued time even while on vacation.
Justice Steve Cline explained that with the new ordinance the accrual rate changes from .08 to .09 so that if employees had two weeks vacation before, then it should be about the same now without employees accruing time off while they are on vacation.
Graham reiterated that she had always accrued time even while on vacation and didn’t understand the changes.
Day explained “It is hard for people to understand accruing vacation while on vacation.”
After a little more discussion, the emergency ordinance was passed by the Quorum Court. Motion to pass the ordinance was made by Cline and seconded by Williams. The vote was unanimous among the justices in attendance.
Other items on the agenda that passed without further discussion included:
a resolution to appoint Stan Whitaker to the Valley View Fire Board.
an appropriation ordinance to create Fund 1002, Employee Insurance Fund, which will be used to track insurance income and expense as Craighead County will be self-insuring in 2022. | 2022-01-26T07:24:21Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Quorum Court discusses personal and vacation time accrual rates | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/quorum-court-discusses-personal-and-vacation-time-accrual-rates/article_fff2aebc-452e-5b6d-b7ed-1a5d7b29fd02.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/quorum-court-discusses-personal-and-vacation-time-accrual-rates/article_fff2aebc-452e-5b6d-b7ed-1a5d7b29fd02.html |
JONESBORO — After setting new records for three consecutive days, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 dropped Tuesday, the Arkansas Department of Health reported.
However, the number of those patients who have to rely on ventilators rose. Hospitalizations dropped by 32 to 1,785 statewide, while 233 were on ventilators, an increase of 18. The number of COVID patients in Northeast Arkansas hospitals rose by one to 261 and 15 were on ventilators, a reduction of two.
The state reported 7,943 new cases Tuesday, including 262 in Craighead County.
Active COVID-19 cases went down statewide by 3,742 to a total of 89,572. A total of 24 more deaths have been reported due to the virus, bringing the statewide total to 9,556. No deaths were reported in NEA.
Although officials are still hopeful COVID-19 cases are decreasing, they say hospitalizations are a lagging indicator of those numbers dropping, and additional beds may still be needed at some hospitals in the state.
Based on COVID-19 cases by age data it shows that cases in every age group are declining, which Gov. Asa Hutchinson said is a good sign that new case rates are going down in most age groups of Arkansans.
Mississippi –86 new cases; 969 active.
Cross – 50 new cases; 543 active.
Some of the lesser populated counties in Northeast Arkansas have seen fairly large spikes in numbers in recent days. A health department report showed that some area nursing homes have seen a resurgence of cases.
For example, Manila Nursing Center reported 53 residents and 30 staff members had tested positive for the virus in the previous 14 days.
At Corning Therapy and Living Center, no residents were reported to be infected, but 10 staff members had tested positive for the disease in the past 14 days.
The Springs of Jonesboro reported 30 residents and 30 staff members had been infected, while Craighead Nursing Center reported three residents and 18 staff members had tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 14 days. Three residents and eight staff members of Lakeside Nursing Center of Lake City were also reported to have recently tested positive.
Steve Gillespie contributed to this report. | 2022-01-26T07:24:45Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Virus hospitalizations decline | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/virus-hospitalizations-decline/article_7f870b9a-4923-554e-9f2f-9ded1a710aa7.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/virus-hospitalizations-decline/article_7f870b9a-4923-554e-9f2f-9ded1a710aa7.html |
When I was growing up, and had occasion to be featured in the newspaper, the clipping would undoubtedly find it’s way to the refrigerator and eventually a memory book of some sort.
I recall many times that friends, especially at church, would proudly bring me their newspaper in case I needed an extra copy. I also remember that our bank would clip anything out that involved their customers, and mail them a laminated copy. Sometimes it was a surprise when that envelope came in the mail because whoever had that job obviously read the paper with a fine tooth comb.
I was a bit of a scrapbooker as a teenager saving ticket stubs, photos, cards, and of course bits of news, to remember my high school days. Those two giant books remain tucked away in my hope chest with other keepsakes, including my cap and gown and my glass from prom and a box of notes passed in class that for some reason I felt the need to hang on to.
When my children were born, I continued on my scrapbooking path, though I put a lot more creativity into designing the pages to chronicle their young lives than I did my own. In addition to baby books, scrapbooks and photo albums, I have folders full of awards, special assignments I wanted to keep and, of course, a clipping from every time they have been featured in the newspaper.
As I have worked nearly 25 years in community journalism, many things have changed. One thing that hasn’t is that we like to save and share newspaper clippings, though that has evolved to include digital shares, as well.
It always makes me smile to be scrolling through Facebook and see a clipping from one of our Northeast Arkansas papers pop up with “Look who made the paper!”
It might be information about a new business, a photo from a local basketball game, a birth announcement or a feature story or photo.
Whatever the clipped item is, seeing that someone took the time to save it and share it is gratifying for several reasons.
First, and foremost, it lets me know that people are still reading newspapers, and for that I’m truly grateful.
Second, it gives me a sense of fulfillment of our main responsibility as a newspaper, which is covering our community.
Last, it gives me hope that there is a strong future for newspapers in Northeast Arkansas, and beyond.
My inclination to this day when I see a friend, or especially a friend’s child, featured in the newspaper is to get out my scissors or take a screenshot and share the clipping with them.
Someone asked me about the future of community newspapers recently, and I told them that the future is the same as the past – producing news that belongs on the refrigerator.
Gretchen Hunt can be reached at ghunt@thetd.com. | 2022-01-26T14:12:17Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Newspaper clippings | Times Dispatch | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/newspaper-clippings/article_06831269-35ae-53db-afa3-05a4ea4b771f.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/newspaper-clippings/article_06831269-35ae-53db-afa3-05a4ea4b771f.html |
Von Gill of Powhatan was the winner of a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The bike was the prize of a fund-raising raffle hosted by Downtown Walnut Ridge. Proceeds from the raffle will go toward building a Guitar Walk, honoring recording artists who played along Rock ‘N’ Roll Highway 67 in the 1950s and ’60s.
Hillcrest seventh-grader Meridith Helms was crowned the overall champion at the 2012 Lawrence County Spelling Bee held at Hoxie School. First runner-up was Jacob Mondy of Hoxie; and second runner-up was Kierce Due of Sloan-Hendrix.
Black Rock High School students Sarah Penn and Jason Harper have been selected as Wendy’s High School Heisman nominees. Penn is the daughter of Joe and Fawnda Penn, and Harper is the son of Chris and Sarah Harper.
After 13 years of shows and education in the fine arts, the Front Street Theatre in Walnut Ridge is closing its doors. In 1988, Carrie Mae Snapp was inspired to create a fine arts center while watching the Phil Donahue show. “The planets aligned when Dustin Hoffman spoke of creating a storefront theater,” said Snapp. She described the creation of the theater as a ‘do-it-yourself’ project.
Beth Sheets was honored as queen of the Walnut Ridge High School basketball homecoming, celebrated Friday.
William Baptist College Coach Carol Halford collected her 300th career win Thursday evening as the Lady Eagles topped Missouri Baptist College. William President Jerol Swaim presented Halford with a plaque commemorating the milestone win during a post-game ceremony.
Brianna Segraves was crowned queen at Hoxie High School’s homecoming festivities on Jan. 11.
Jonathan Wichman, a freshman at Walnut Ridge High School, has been elected to serve as Arkansas FCCLA vice president of programs for the 2002-2003 school year. He is currently the District 3 president.
First National Bank of Lawrence County honored bank teller Dorothy Moseley with a reception Friday afternoon on the occasion of her retirement, which was official on Dec. 31, after 16 years of service. At the reception, Milton Smith, bank president, presented her with a pearl pin.
Dr. James Little retired Jan. 17 after practicing optometry in Walnut Ridge since 1956.
Cody Maxie and Randi LeBlanc were named king and queen at the Hoxie Winter Formal on Saturday night. Ericka Swindle and Blake Passalaqua were runners-up.
The Walnut Ridge Junior High Quiz Bowl team recently won the 2A District Quiz Bowl and will compete in the 2A junior finals in February. Team members are Adam Hogan, Lauren Jones, Laura Freeman, Ryan Sluder, Jack Kent, Chance Weeks, Trey Holloway, Ryan Belcher and Ben Engelken.
Georgia McClain has retired after serving the First Presbyterian Church of Walnut Ridge for over 35 years as sexton.
Lisha Drake, an eighth grade student at Strawberry Middle School, took first place honors in the district level Hoop Shoot on Jan. 11. She made 21 out of 25 free throws and will go on to compete at the state level in February.
The Arkansas National Guard reports that Danny Joe Robb, son of Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Robb of Walnut Ridge, was recently promoted to the rank of Captain.
One of Lawrence County’s newest residents was born last Tuesday in an ambulance during a snowstorm. The six-pound, three and a half ounce baby girl is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Fortson of Walnut Ridge, Route 2.
The new owners of Lawrence County Abstract Co., Inc. are Dick Jarboe of Walnut Ridge and Jerry Flippo of Hoxie. The two bought the firm from Fleer Harris, who will continue to be associated with the firm as abstractor. The change was effective Jan. 1.
A country club-type establishment, chartered as the Walnut Ridge Golf Club, is the goal of interested local residents, who met here Monday night and made plans for the future. Bill N. Cate is chairman of the membership drive, aided by Harvey Rogers and Marlin Wilcoxson. Tom Hilburn, chairman, and Benson Hart and Rachel Rainey comprise the building and loan committee. The club is headed by Buster Spotts, chairman; Gene Hart, treasurer; Wendell Kimbrough, secretary; and J.T. Williams and John Worthen, board members.
Eight band students from Walnut Ridge High School have been named to the All State Band. They are Daniel Humble, Beth Dame, Rhonda Smith, Paula Boyce, Claude Smith, Sandy Marlin, Sam Ponder and Daniel Midkiff.
Fluoridation of all water in the Walnut Ridge system was brought about Tuesday after representatives from the Arkansas Board of Health inspected and approved the new system. Marvyn Jones is manager of the City Water Works.
Dr. J.C. Land of Walnut Ridge was elected president of the Lawrence County Medical Society for 1947 at a meeting held in the office of Dr. T.Z. Johnson; Dr. C.D. Tibbels of Black Rock was elected secretary; Dr. T.C. Guthrie of Smithville, censor; Dr. W.W. Hatcher of Imboden, delegate to state society.
Dr. R.S. Faircloth is expected to return tomorrow night following a vacation visit to Havana and Nassau.
Hoxie High School – The following is a list of students exempted from mid-term examinations: Joe Richardson, Wanda Fern Hardin, Ralph Tilley, Dwain Austin, Everette Butts, Mary Lee Henry, Jean Songer, Mary Ann Cato, Margaret Hendrix, Bernice Dunkin, Lavon Jones, Alice Cochran, Joan Richardson and Maxine Longmire.
The annual meeting of shareholders of the First National Bank was held in the director’s room of the bank Tuesday night. Reports were read and directors elected were J.E. Krone, D.L. Moore, J.H. Myers, J.F. Sloan, Larry Sloan, N.F. Sloan and A.W. Williams. The directors re-elected J.E. Krone as chairman of the board.
The Lawrence County Defense Council Monday afternoon approved the application of 19 men to serve as tire inspectors for the Tire Rationing Board. They are Clyde Mathis, M.V. Neece, L.H. McLeod, A.D. Futrell, Everette Webb, Fred Elkins, E.J. Phillips, all of Walnut Ridge; Mrs. Bernice Scruggs, Roy Flippo and Walter Porter, all of Hoxie; C.W. Allen, Portia; Rudy Baker, Smithville; E.O. Blanton, Strawberry; J.L. Casper, Lynn; Sloan Rudy, Albert Beeler, Imboden; J.N. Wells, Black Rock; Ores Davis, Powhatan; and L.E. Madison, Alicia.
Mrs. M.C. McLeod has been in Hot Springs with her daughter, Mrs. Rudy Baker, of Smithville who is taking a course of baths to effect improvements in an arthritis condition.
W.C. Yeager, editor of the Imboden Journal, was a business visitor in Walnut Ridge Tuesday.
The St. Louis Cardinals, 1932 baseball champions of the world and pennant winners in the National League, will play an exhibition game against a picked group of stars from Northeast Arkansas at the Hoxie ballpark April 5.
A large hay barn at the edge of town owned by L.A. Sloan burned about 6 p.m. today. The barn was valued at $2,500 and the contents at $1,000.
J.H. Meyers, cashier of the First National Bank of Black Rock and Lawrence County representative in the Arkansas Legislature, was elected president of the bank to succeed Hon. Clay Sloan, who resigned because of ill health. | 2022-01-26T14:12:35Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Yesteryears | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/opinion/yesteryears/article_ad70f028-e32b-5baf-9526-46e32eb01b2a.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/opinion/yesteryears/article_ad70f028-e32b-5baf-9526-46e32eb01b2a.html |
Hoxie’s Mason Woodard goes up for two as he is defended by Walnut Ridge’s Rex Tedder on Jan. 17. The Mustangs won the game, 63-52.
Mustangs hand WR boys first conference loss
The Hoxie Mustangs defeated Walnut Ridge 63-52 in senior boys basketball on Jan. 17 at Mustang Gym. It was the Bobcats’ second loss of the season and their first loss in 3A-3 conference play.
The Bobcat held a 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Hoxie rallied to take a 28-20 lead into halftime. The Mustangs maintained their advantage in the second half, leading 40-34 after three periods, then outscoring Walnut Ridge 23-18 in the final quarter to record the win.
Cade Forrester and Mason Woodard each scored 21 points to lead Hoxie, and Haydn Minton added 10 points.
Walnut Ridge was led by Jayden Hollister with 17 points, and Ty Flippo with 15. | 2022-01-26T14:12:59Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Mustangs hand WR boys first conference loss | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/sports/mustangs-hand-wr-boys-first-conference-loss/article_1881ee22-d228-5292-b2ae-d6eb6f87edfe.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/sports/mustangs-hand-wr-boys-first-conference-loss/article_1881ee22-d228-5292-b2ae-d6eb6f87edfe.html |
Patrick Lewellyn Long of Newport departed this life on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, at the age of 50.
He was born May 24, 1971, in Newport, the son of Jessie Thomas and Paula (Mitts) Long. He was a 1990 graduate of Newport High School, where as quarterback, he helped lead the Newport Greyhound football team to the 1989 State Championship game. Patrick was a NASCAR fan, who also enjoyed fishing and listening to hard rock music, especially Metallica. His greatest love was spending time with his daughters and grandchildren.
Patrick is survived by two daughters, Jazzmine Baney and husband Steven of Ft. Lee, Va., and Emily Long of Newport; his parents, Tom and Paula Long of Newport; one brother, Kevin Thomas Long of Springdale; three grandchildren, Kambree, Keleshee and Leland Shawn Baney; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and a lifetime of friends.
Friends may visit at the funeral home on Thursday from 6-8 p.m.
Funeral services are 2 p.m. Friday at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Bryce Shelton officiating. Interment will be in Sandhill Cemetery.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Kenny Thaxton, Ike Harcourt, Jay Simmons, Vidal Swanson, Chris Shoffner, Donnie Stapleton and Jeremy Decker. Honorary pallbearers are Kevin Long, Ginger Carlyle, Timmy Davis, Tom Layton and Kelly Cantrell.
An online guestbook is available at www.jacksons fh.com. | 2022-01-27T00:48:34Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Patrick Long | | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/patrick-long/article_6cce8180-069b-5655-86cc-3bd532d045d5.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/patrick-long/article_6cce8180-069b-5655-86cc-3bd532d045d5.html |
Vicki Ann Milliken
Vicki Ann Milliken, 68, of Judsonia, passed away Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Unity Health in Searcy.
She was born July 24, 1953, in Newport, to the late Kermit and Ima (Shelton) Harrison. Vicki was a longtime hairdresser and enjoyed crafting. She loved Christmas time and making bows and the best fudge.
She is survived by her husband, Ricky Milliken; children, Jerry Evans (Sylvia) and Terry Evans (Lea Ann); step-children, Randy Bridges (Cheryl), Cathy Spurlock (Steve) and Karen Hughes (Rick); grandchildren, Jacob Evans, Ross Evans, Briley Evans and Thomas Evans, six step-grandchildren; a brother, Dale Harrison (Linda); and a sister, Glenda Davis.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her second husband, Jim Bridges and a brother, Gerald Harrison.
Visitation was Wednesday from 5-8 p.m.
Services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 27, at the Powell Funeral Home Chapel in Bald Knob. Interment will follow in the Shady Grove Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Powell Funeral Home Bald Knob-Judsonia. An online guestbook is available at www.powellfuneralhome.net. | 2022-01-27T00:48:46Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Vicki Ann Milliken | | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/vicki-ann-milliken/article_ef31a536-0bde-5f4e-9c32-8f2a5d29ef30.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/vicki-ann-milliken/article_ef31a536-0bde-5f4e-9c32-8f2a5d29ef30.html |
While the number of new cases in the state saw an increase of 6,561 on Wednesday, according to the Arkansas Department of Health, the number of active cases declined by almost as much.
According to numbers released Wednesday afternoon, the total active case count had dropped 5,347 to stand at 84,225 total active cases.
In Craighead County the active case count dropped to 2,930, a decrease of 257 cases from Tuesday’s total.
Data from the ADH showed 18 more deaths statewide, bringing the statewide total up to 9,574. Two of those deaths were reported in Northeast Arkansas, one each in Craighead and Randolph counties.
Hospitalizations went up 34 statewide to 1,819, but the number on ventilators decreased by 10, from 233 to 223.
In Northeast Arkansas, the number of COVID-positive patients increased by five to 266, with the number on ventilators increasing by one to 16.
The largest increase in new cases locally was in Craighead County, where 187 new cases were reported. This total was a decline from the 262 new cases reported for the county on Tuesday.
Greene County saw 95 new cases reported, followed by Mississippi County with 89 new cases.
Wednesday Northeast Arkansas COVID-19 case numbers by county:
Greene County – 95 new cases; 1,554 active.
Jackson County – 42 new cases; 328 active.
Mississippi County – 89 new cases; 884 active. | 2022-01-27T11:18:59Z | www.jonesborosun.com | 6,561 cases added statewide; active case count declines | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/6-561-cases-added-statewide-active-case-count-declines/article_f0a305a5-dcd5-5b5d-9a57-f1e4714dbef9.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/6-561-cases-added-statewide-active-case-count-declines/article_f0a305a5-dcd5-5b5d-9a57-f1e4714dbef9.html |
Texas man gets $25,000 bond
JONESBORO — A Texas man was given a $25,000 bond Wednesday after a judge found probable cause to charge him with possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Special Judge Mike Smith made the finding against William Kight, 38, of Brownwood, Texas, who was arrested following a traffic stop at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Ozark and Southwest drives.
Christopher Boren, 33, of the 20000 block of Senteney Drive, Helena, with possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing governmental operations and driving on a suspended license; $20,000 bond.
Edward Washam, 50, of the 1600 block of West Matthews Avenue, with possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams; $2,500 bond.
Brandon Dawson, 39, of Leachville, with possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams; $10,000 bond.
Robin Prine, 39, of Cherokee Village, with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, interfering with an ignition Interlock device, driving on a suspended license and obstructing governmental operations; $25,000 bond.
Jana McFadden, 40, of Paragould, with driving while intoxicated fifth offense; $2,500 bond.
Gyeon Porter, 27, of Jonesboro, with probation violation and misdemeanor failure to appear; $2,940 total bond.
Ty Welch, 62, of Jonesboro, with probation violation; $3,500 bond. | 2022-01-27T11:19:27Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Texas man gets $25,000 bond | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/texas-man-gets-25-000-bond/article_b41262e6-abb6-5d64-b0dd-1c18b1c1c693.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/texas-man-gets-25-000-bond/article_b41262e6-abb6-5d64-b0dd-1c18b1c1c693.html |
Why had he been unable to control a coronavirus pandemic now killing 2,000 Americans a day? Why was he unable to contain an inflation eating up the wages, salaries and savings of American families at a yearly rate of 7 percent? Why was he unable to secure a southern border that 150,000 illegal immigrants were crossing every month?
Fourth, the trend for democracies is toward transferring more and more power to central governments, not less. Under President Calvin Coolidge, the U.S. government share of GDP was 3 percent. | 2022-01-27T11:20:03Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Is Biden right? Does the left own the future? | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/is-biden-right-does-the-left-own-the-future/article_d709897a-1672-56a1-82e4-8f4adf9e78a9.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/is-biden-right-does-the-left-own-the-future/article_d709897a-1672-56a1-82e4-8f4adf9e78a9.html |
Jonesboro’s Ereauna Hardaway drives into the lane as Nettleton’s Akyria James defends during the first half of Tuesday’s game at Raider Gym. Hardaway scored 14 points and also played a key role defensively in the Lady Hurricane’s 48-26 victory.
Hardaway leads Lady Hurricane past Lady Raiders
JONESBORO — Jonesboro coach Jodi Christenberry would rather not have senior point guard Ereauna Hardaway defend the opposition’s top scorer all over the court, given Hardaway’s responsibilities on offense, but sometimes she considers it a necessity.
Tuesday night was one of those occasions.
Hardaway was Jonesboro’s primary defender on Nettleton senior guard Briley Pena. After scoring 10 points in a close first half, Pena did not score in the second as the Lady Hurricane pulled away for a 48-26 victory at Raider Gym.
“I don’t really like having E do that kind of work all game long, especially having to bring the ball up the court and all that,” Christenberry said, “but tonight I knew that she would need to be the one who got that part done.”
Hardaway also led Jonesboro (11-6, 5-1 5A-East) offensively with 14 points, including 10 in the second half.
Up 18-16 at halftime, the Lady Hurricane outscored the Lady Raiders 10-1 in the third quarter to go up 28-17.
Their lead remained in double figures throughout the fourth quarter as they made 10 of 14 free throw attempts.
Jonesboro limited Nettleton (14-8, 2-4 conference) to four field goals in the second half, all in the fourth quarter.
“Defensively I thought we did a decent job. We didn’t do everything that we wanted to do,” Christenberry said. “I thought we got out a little too much on some of the kids that we didn’t really want to, but all in all we made them hit contested shots all night and we did a pretty decent job on Pena. She’s what makes them go, so that’s who you have to stop.”
The teams were tied 6-6 after the first quarter and Jonesboro led only 18-16 at halftime after Pena hit a 3 in the final minute of the second quarter.
Hardaway opened the second-half scoring with a 3-pointer. Bramyia Johnson also made a 3 as Jonesboro opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run.
“The first half we stuck to our plan. We kind of slowed it down a little bit and kept it close,” Nettleton assistant coach Ty Huggins said. “The second half we came out and got a stop right off the bat, but we couldn’t find the bucket at the end of that. They started getting a couple of buckets and the lead stretched out, and we couldn’t come back from it.”
Hardaway scored seven points in the fourth quarter; freshman guard Allannah Orsby added five of her 10 points in the final period; and junior guard Jazma Hooks scored five of her nine points in the fourth quarter for Jonesboro.
Senior guard D’maria Daniels scored seven of her 11 points in the fourth quarter to lead Nettleton.
Both teams play at home Friday. Jonesboro and Marion will battle for the 5A-East lead, while Nettleton plays Searcy on homecoming.
The Lady Raiders will play the second game of the varsity doubleheader because of homecoming festivities. | 2022-01-27T11:20:22Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Hardaway leads Lady Hurricane past Lady Raiders | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/hardaway-leads-lady-hurricane-past-lady-raiders/article_0400b560-d4fa-552a-a528-4c11bf5c3e3c.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/hardaway-leads-lady-hurricane-past-lady-raiders/article_0400b560-d4fa-552a-a528-4c11bf5c3e3c.html |
Jonesboro’s Isaac Harrell lines up a 3-point attempt during the first half of Tuesday’s game at Raider Gym. Harrell scored 22 points in the Hurricane’s 82-66 victory.
Hot-shooting Hurricane too much for Raiders
JONESBORO — Jonesboro had too much firepower for Nettleton even on a night when Hurricane head coach Wes Swift was disappointed in his team’s defense.
The Hurricane hit 13 shots from the 3-point line Tuesday night at Raider Gym in rolling to an 82-66 victory, its 20th in a row against 5A-East conference opponents.
Junior forward Isaac Harrell hit four 3s on the way to 22 points for Jonesboro (16-3, 6-0 conference). Junior guard Deion Buford-Wesson also sank four 3s while scoring 17 points and senior guard Jesse Washington connected for three 3s and 15 points.
Senior guard Quion Williams drilled two more 3s in adding 14 points for the Hurricane, which will play Marion on Friday for the 5A-East lead.
“I thought tonight we were a lot better offensively than we were defensively. Tonight is probably the most disappointed I’ve been in us defensively,” Swift said. “Credit to them for driving the ball downhill, as we knew they would. We gave up way too many free throws tonight, so I’m disappointed in that, but love our energy. There’s a lot of good tonight, but in the whole scheme of things I don’t know that we got better overall.”
Jonesboro made eight 3s, four in each quarter, in building a 44-21 halftime lead. The Hurricane led by as many as 29 points, 72-43, in the fourth quarter.
Nettleton (15-6, 3-3) avoided the application of the sportsmanship rule by scoring 45 points in the second half. The Raiders finished with the second-highest point total yielded by Jonesboro all season.
Nettleton coach Aaron Deaton was pleased with his team’s effort after a rough start against the state’s second-ranked team overall.
“You can talk about it in practice, you can throw eight guys out there, but you can’t simulate it. Obviously we have the utmost respect for their program and Coach Swift, the job he’s done, and they’re just so athletic, just get up in you,” Deaton said. “I thought after the first 10 minutes of clock time, once we finally calmed down and stopped over-dribbling, we were good. I thought the second half offensively was probably the best we’ve played.”
Washington scored 11 points, connecting for three 3s, as Jonesboro took a 22-8 halftime lead. Buford-Wesson hit three more 3s in an 11-point second quarter.
Both Washington and Harrell had 13 points by halftime, combining for more points than the Raiders had as a team in the first half.
“You had Isaac, you had Jesse, you had Deion all making shots. When we have that many people making shots from the perimeter, we can be really good,” Swift said. “Our whole conversation at halftime was about the 21 points we had given up. We felt like 10 of them were just off of us not communicating and we were really disappointed in that.”
The teams traded runs in the third quarter, Jonesboro outscoring Nettleton by a point in the period to lead 67-43 going to the fourth quarter.
DaVares Whitaker scored 23 points to lead the Raiders, 14 coming in the second half. Andre Davis scored 12 of his 19 points in the second half and Brandon Anderson scored all 11 of his points after halftime. Whitaker finished with seven rebounds and Curtez Smith led the Raiders with eight.
Deaton said he was proud of his team’s response to adversity in the second half.
“It was a fork in the road. You’re either going to come out and battle, make it close, or they’re going to boat race you by 50,” Deaton said. “I was proud of those seniors – Brandon Anderson, DaVares Whitaker, Andre Davis, who probably had the best game of his career, and Jeremiah Turner. Those guys just decided we weren’t going to get blown out. You want to win the game, but I felt like we got better in the second half.”
The first half of conference play ends Friday with both the Hurricane and Raiders playing at home. Nettleton will host Searcy for homecoming, with the boys teams playing before the girls in the varsity doubleheader.
Jonesboro and Marion are ranked first and fourth, respectively, in Class 5A in this week’s Arkansas Sports Media poll.
“You’re going to have two teams sitting at 6-0,” Swift said. “We kind of have the pressure on us because we’re trying to protect home floor.” | 2022-01-27T11:20:28Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Hot-shooting Hurricane too much for Raiders | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/hot-shooting-hurricane-too-much-for-raiders/article_0fe12d6e-2db5-5568-ad91-ba6d6461067d.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/hot-shooting-hurricane-too-much-for-raiders/article_0fe12d6e-2db5-5568-ad91-ba6d6461067d.html |
Library to celebrate Festival of Light
JONESBORO — The Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library, 315 W. Oak Ave., will celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Festival of Light from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Festival of Lanterns is traditionally held on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year as part of the end of the celebration.
For this event, the library has hosted two lantern-making workshops as part of the After-school Hangouts in the Children’s Library where kids created colorful lanterns out of recyclable materials.
The CCJPL Adult Services Department staff have also created paper lanterns for the celebration.
“I wanted the public library to start a new tradition to help brighten up a typically cold and dreary time of year," Stephanie Sweeney, CCJPL program coordinator for the children’s library said.
"Lunar New Year is celebrated in many parts of the world and the library can act as a community gathering place to learn something new and celebrate together. Patrons are invited to the library on Feb. 1st for the Festival of Lights to hang their lanterns outside the library and enjoy the magical glow they cast on the night."
DIY lantern kits are available for pickup in the adult services area of the library. Included in the kit are paper lanterns and electric lights.
"Anyone and everyone in the community is invited to make and hang a lantern and make a wish for a fantastic year to come," Sweeney said. "With the help of the community we can grow this into a truly magical yearly event.”
For more information, contact the library at 870-935-5133 or visit www.libraryinjonesboro.org/events.
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Grisham leads Greyhounds past Bulldogs
A-State's Raffo expects improvement on the mound
State awards $400,00 to airport | 2022-01-28T16:21:43Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Library to celebrate Festival of Light | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/library-to-celebrate-festival-of-light/article_39cc8d8f-1bf6-5998-9b1a-cffdd7dfc1e9.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/library-to-celebrate-festival-of-light/article_39cc8d8f-1bf6-5998-9b1a-cffdd7dfc1e9.html |
Lady Greyhounds earn 30th win, 2A-3 crown
RECTOR — Marmaduke held off Rector 64-57 Thursday night in senior girls’ basketball to clinch the 2A-3 conference regular-season championship.
The Lady Greyhounds (30-2, 12-0 conference) started fast en route to a 15-5 lead after the first quarter. Marmaduke held leads of 26-18 at halftime and 45-41 after the third quarter.
Heidi Robinson made 12 of 13 free throws while leading Marmaduke with 26 points, six rebounds and four assists. Bean Hoffman was 7-of-8 at the free throw line while producing 16 points and four assists. Maranda Bear added nine points and seven rebounds.
Chancey Henry, Shelby Hensley and Justis Joiner all made key 3-pointers in the second half for the Lady Greyhounds, who have won eight in a row.
The loss ended an 11-game winning streak for Rector (18-6, 10-2 conference). Madison Wolfenbarger scored 23 points and Carly Rodden added 11 for the Lady Cougars.
Rylee Wilburn hit a runner with 2.3 seconds remaining in the junior girls’ game to lift Rector to a 30-29 victory. Karrin Henderson scored 12 points and Wilburn added seven for Rector (8-8, 6-4 conference). Cali Barnett scored 11 points for Marmaduke.
Rector won the seventh-grade game 17-16.
WILSON — Sadie McDonald scored her 1,000th career point Thursday night as Manila rolled past Rivercrest 57-32 in 3A-3 senior girls’ basketball.
McDonald scored 14 points to lead the Lady Lions (22-2, 11-1 conference) to their third consecutive victory. Madison Hitchcock scored 13 points, Olivia May added 12 points and Emily Johnson contributed eight points along with 14 rebounds.
Janaysia Thomas scored 11 points to lead Rivercrest.
Manila (19-2, 14-0 conference) clinched the 3A-3 championship in junior girls’ basketball with a 51-33 victory. Madysen Deeds scored 24 points to lead Manila, followed by Chloe Helms with 10 and Lucy Farmer with eight.
WALNUT RIDGE — Hoxie edged rival Walnut Ridge 38-33 Thursday in senior girls’ basketball.
Jaecie Brown scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Lady Mustangs (13-5, 10-2 3A-3 conference). Blaze Lorren added 12 points while Ellery Gillham finished with nine points and nine rebounds.
After trailing 15-8 to end the first quarter, Hoxie outscored Walnut Ridge 10-1 in the second quarter for an 18-16 halftime lead. The Lady Mustangs led 32-27 after three quarters.
Alex Jones scored 17 points for Walnut Ridge (6-12, 5-7).
CORNING — Corning built a 14-point halftime lead Thursday night and went on to defeat Clay County rival Piggott 51-36 in 3A-3 senior girls’ basketball.
The Lady Bobcats (14-4, 8-3 conference) outscored the Lady Mohawks 20-7 in the second quarter to lead 36-22 at halftime. Corning’s lead was 15 points, 44-29, at the end of the third quarter.
Whitley Bolen scored 21 points and Presley Martin added 10 for Corning.
Piggott won the junior girls’ game 21-19.
POCAHONTAS — Morghan Weaver scored 16 points while Hadden Lieblong added a double-double during Valley View’s 54-33 victory over Pocahontas in 4A-3 senior girls’ basketball Thursday.
Lieblong scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Lady Blazers (17-5, 8-3 conference). Anna Winkfield contributed 10 points and six steals.
Valley View held leads of 13-4 after the first quarter, 26-16 at halftime and 45-25 after the third quarter.
Gracie Martin scored 17 points and Jordyn Priest added 12 for Pocahontas.
Valley View (15-2, 9-1) won the junior girls’ game 46-15.
SOUTHSIDE — Southside edged Brookland 49-44 Thursday to keep its 4A-3 conference record perfect in senior girls’ basketball.
Olivia Allen scored 22 points to lead the Lady Southerners (21-1, 10-0 conference). Southside led 37-34 at the end of the third quarter after trailing 15-11 after the first quarter and 26-23 at halftime.
Stella Parker scored 18 points and Kinsey Clark added eight for Brookland.
Brookland (15-3, 9-1 conference) won the junior girls’ game 32-19 as Evan Polsgrove scored 15 points and Macy Slater added nine. Brookland also won the seventh-grade game.
JONESBORO — Highland edged Westside 47-43 Thursday in 4A-3 senior girls’ basketball.
The Lady Rebels led 19-18 at halftime and 33-28 after the third quarter.
TRUMANN — Trumann defeated Blytheville 52-19 in senior girls’ basketball Thursday to extend its winning streak to six games.
Chelsy Jones scored 14 points and Kayde Jones added 11 for Trumann (9-10, 7-4 conference). The Lady Wildcats led 13-4 after the first quarter, 31-9 at halftime and 43-17 after the third quarter.
PLEASANT PLAINS — Three Tuckerman players scored in double figures Thursday as the Lady Bulldogs routed Midland 61-31 in 2A-2 senior girls’ basketball.
Kenzie Soden scored 16 points, Shanley Williams 15 and Ansley Dawson 12 for Tuckerman (17-10, 7-3 conference). The Lady Bulldogs made eight 3-pointers in the first quarter while taking a 29-8 lead.
Tuckerman led 47-16 at halftime and 61-24 after three quarters.
Tuckerman also won the junior girls’ game 42-14.
ARMOREL — Mammoth Spring rolled past Armorel 66-30 on Thursday for its 20th victory of the season in senior girls’ basketball.
Megyn Upton scored 20 points for the Lady Bears, who led 23-14 after the first quarter and 43-19 at halftime. Brynn Washam added 18 points while Sara Crowe and Chevelle Graves finished with 10 each for Mammoth Spring (20-6, 6-0 conference). | 2022-01-28T23:24:59Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Lady Greyhounds earn 30th win, 2A-3 crown | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/lady-greyhounds-earn-30th-win-2a-3-crown/article_3b85f444-2408-5623-83dd-38931f9cadf5.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/lady-greyhounds-earn-30th-win-2a-3-crown/article_3b85f444-2408-5623-83dd-38931f9cadf5.html |
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