Local News Archive

Trial next month for attempted murder suspect    11/27/24

DE QUEEN – A jury trial is scheduled next month for a Sevier County man accused of wounding a De Queen police officer and leading law enforcement through a multi-county pursuit during an incident last year.

According to court records, 37-year-old Kenneth Lee Smith is scheduled to appear before the Sevier County Circuit Court for a pre-trial hearing on Dec. 5. Smith, who has pleaded not guilty, is scheduled for a jury trial Dec. 16-19.

Charges filed against Smith include aggravated residential burglary, first-degree battery and four counts of attempted murder for the initial incident in July 2023 within a home on 113 Sweet Home Lane near De Queen. He’s also charged with attempted capital murder for shooting and wounding DQPD Lt. Chad Bradshaw during the subsequent pursuit.

Upon a conviction, the range of offenses could see Smith serving up to 40 years or life imprisonment.

Smith remains in the Sevier County Jail on a $1 million cash-only bond.

Smith’s charges stem from an incident that began following a report of a domestic disturbance at the residence on Sweet Home Lane. Upon arrival, the responding Sevier County deputy was met with gunfire and his patrol unit was hit with multiple rounds. Smith then reportedly fled the scene on a motorcycle, leading to the subsequent pursuit.

Smith allegedly fired as pursuing officers. A round struck Bradshaw, who continued his pursuit for some time before withdrawing to seek medical attention. Fortunately, he recovered quickly and fully.

Smith was later located in Little River County with the assistance of dog and horse teams, as well as drones and an Arkansas State Police helicopter. The manhunt lasted several hours before Smith was apprehended without further incident.

OCC Collection Week breaks records in Sevier County    11/27/24

Friendship Baptist hosting 13th annual Thanksgiving Meal tomorrow    11/27/24

DE QUEEN – A local church is gearing up to present its annual Thanksgiving Day meal tomorrow for local families in need. It’s an event members have hosted for over a decade and one which has provided meals to hundreds of people in the area over those years.

Friendship Baptist Church in De Queen will host its 13th Thanksgiving Day Meal on Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, Nov. 28. Meals will be served beginning at 10:30 that morning and continue through 12 noon.

For the past 12 years members of Friendship Baptist Church have spent their Thanksgiving providing meals to others – including those in need and those first responders who work Thanksgiving Day. Now, it’s a church tradition.

Ashley Shelton is a member of Friendship Baptist Church and said the church did not anticipate doing this year after year, or that the need would grow so much.

“We really didn’t’ but it’s a tradition for us now and we really enjoy it,” said Shelton. “It’s how we’ve come to enjoy our Thanksgiving, by helping out those in need. Last year we planned for 400 meals. This year, we’re preparing to give away 450.“

Deliveries will be offered to homebound individuals in both De Queen and Horatio as well as first responders working Thanksgiving Day in Sevier County. As always, the church will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon for those wishing to come by, eat and enjoy some fellowship.

“We don’t want anyone to be alone on Thanksgiving, so come by and join us for the meal or feel free to call and get a delivery scheduled,” said Shelton.

The church anticipates it will give away around 450 meals this year. That means, over the past 12 years, the church has fed well over a thousand people on Thanksgiving Day.

Shelton said it’s a big effort and takes the entire church to make it happen. Members get up early Thanksgiving Day morning for the final preparations. Even the church’s youngest members are there to help make the day a success. The effort has grown so much over the years that even members of other churches will lend a hand preparing or delivering meals. Shelton said anyone who would like to help is of course welcome and greatly appreciated.

“We always enjoy the extra help. If you’d like to help us deliver, we just ask you to show up to the church by 10 a.m.”

Shelton said anyone wishing for a Thanksgiving Day meal delivery on Nov. 28 can call (870) 279-0507, (870) 584-9918 or (870) 847-0439. Organizers ask that when you call you please provide your name, address and how many meals are needed. Leave a voicemail if there is no answer.

ASP: Road rage on the rise in Arkansas    11/27/24

It is no surprise to most that 80 percent of drivers in America admit to experiencing significant anger, aggression or road rage at least once in the past year*. Aggressive driving can be blamed for 66 percent of traffic fatalities, and road rage has been responsible for about 300 deaths since 2013, according to the National Highway and Transportation Administration (NHTSA).

“As the holiday season kicks off this week, people are traveling more and have higher levels of stress,” said Arkansas State Police (ASP) Col. Mike Hagar. “Please help us keep the roads safe by keeping tempers under control. And try to remember what we tell our children as they learn to drive – courtesy is contagious.”

ASP has reported an increase in road rage and aggressive driving incidents over the past year, with expectations for more during the holiday travel season.

So far in 2024, 708 road rage cases have been reported to ASP, with more than 300 of those cases involving weapons.  In 2023, ASP investigated 284 road rage with weapon incidents. So far this year, ASP has arrested 18 individuals, citing Road Rage with Weapon. Another 4 were charged with Road Rage without a weapon.

Heavy traffic, hectic schedules and holiday tension would be a dangerous combination.

“The Thanksgiving holiday season is one of the most traveled holidays. We expect heavy traffic this week through the Thanksgiving weekend,” Col Hagar said. “We want everyone to make it to their destination safely. State Troopers and local law enforcement will be working overtime to ensure our roadways are as safe as possible.”

According to AAA, 80 million Americans will travel this Thanksgiving, exceeding pre-pandemic holiday travel levels. Over 7 million travelers are in the Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas regions, most traveling by car.

“Troopers will not tolerate aggressive driving or road rage,” Hagar said. “Road rage is a lose/lose situation that could cost you your life.”

ASP reminds you that if you encounter an aggressive driver, keep these tips in mind:
• Avoid engaging other drivers, even if they have done something to make you angry, or you have made them angry.

• Put as much distance between you and the other driver as possible.
• Try not to make eye contact with them.
• Never, ever pull off the roadway to confront them. They could have weapons.
• Avoid creating a competitive situation with another driver, even if he is at fault.
• Try not to take another person’s aggressive driving personally.
• If a speeding driver is tailgating you or trying to engage you in risky driving, safely steer your vehicle out of the way.
• Call law enforcement if you believe a driver is following you or harassing you.

Hagar urged motorists not to hesitate to call authorities if they witness road rage. If  you’re a victim of road rage or aggressive driving that puts you or other motorists at risk, please follow through and make a report. Call 911 or, in non-emergency incidents, call *ASP (*277), to be connected to your local Troop Headquarters.

“Please help us keep the roads safe this holiday season by exercising good judgement and giving other drivers the benefit of the doubt,” Hagar said. “As always, buckle up, allow extra travel time, and obey all traffic laws.”

Sevier County Library Snippets    11/27/24

By Johnye Fisher, Sevier County Head Librarian

Well it looks like some cooler temperatures are coming in and just in time for Santa. We have our mailbox set out and will be taking letters for Santa until Dec. 14. We have our annual Big Christmas Stocking up for grabs again this year. So get in here and get your name in the pot for the big filled stocking, always filled with lots of usable items for the holidays!

Our annual Cocoa with Mrs. Claus will be Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. Come visit with Mrs. Claus and hear a great story by Ms. Freda. You will be able to get your picture made in front of our lovely Christmas background and put in a frame to fix up for Christmas. The first 24 kids will get a Christmas bag and craft for home.

The Food for Fines/Canned food drive with ABC Preschool was a hit once again with over 1,000lbs of food donated to Chalice Cupboard! A great big thank you to all those kids and teachers. We couldn’t have done it without you!

The Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive was down this year but we did get some great items to help folks in need. Thank you for helping your neighbor.

From the ladies at the De Queen Library, thank you for your continued patronage, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Don’t forget to call us with any questions you may have we are here to serve you. (870) 584-4364.

Horatio Library

Catherine at the Horatio Library said it’s been a wonderful year at the Horatio Library so far this year. Each Saturday in December the library will be hosting a special Eevent. Dec. 7 is the Horatio Christmas Parade with candy for the kids. Mrs. Claus will be riding in the parade. Be sure to wave. On Dec. 14, the library will have puzzle mania for all- big or small. On Dec. 21, the library will host story time with Mrs. Claus. On Dec. 28 the library will have hot apple sider, cookies and make-your-own snack mix. The domino group will be meeting each Thursday and the Needle Crafters will meet in a special area on Saturdays. Don’t stay home and be bored. Come have fun at your Horatio Library.

Lockesburg Library

The Lockesburg Library and Mz. Wendy would like to express how immensely grateful they are for our library patrons and our Facebook Friends. You inspire us every day. Whether you’re borrowing books, attending events, or engaging with us online, you are the heart of our library. As we move into 2025, we have even more exciting plans and events in store. We can’t wait to share them with you and continue fostering a love of reading and learning. Thank you for making Lockesburg Library vibrant and beloved part of our community. We look forward to another wonderful year ahead with you.

Gillham Library

This year’s Christmas program at the Gillham Library will be held Dec. 14 beginning at 11 a.m., so come out and see Santa and get your picture taken with him. We have some fun things planned for the kiddos.

Don’t wait, come on by and see us. We have some great new books and DVD’s to be checked out. We have a new book by James Patterson “Murder Island”, Paula Munier “Night Woods”, Nicholas Sparks “Counting Miracles” and David Baldacci “To Die For”. The new DVD’s are Deadpool and Wolverine, Bad Boys Ride or Die and It Ends with Us.

Dominoes are played every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Notary service available on Tuesdays and we have three computers for your use also and free WIFI. Stop in and see Rhonda and Mr. Bob or call (870) 386-5665

De Queen woman facing felony assault charge after attacking DQPD officer    11/26/24

EDIT: This story has been edited to reflect the fact this incident occurred at Dollar Tree, not Dollar General as we originally reported. We apologize for the mistake and any inconvenience it may have caused.

DE QUEEN – A De Queen woman is facing a felony assault charge after allegedly attacking a police officer and others during an incident at Dollar Tree.

According to court records, an officer with the De Queen Police Department was dispatched to Dollar Tree around 5:45 p.m. on Nov. 14 in reference to a physical fight. Upon arriving, the officer witnessed a man running from the store with a ripped shirt. He and other witnesses identified the suspect as a Hispanic woman still inside the store.

The officer located the woman, later identified as 30-year-old Isabel Rodriguez of De Queen. During the interaction, Rodriguez allegedly spit on the officer’s uniform and then slapped him across the face when he attempted to detain her. He then restrained Rodriguez and placed her into custody.

A victim of the incident claimed Rodriguez threw a bottle of ranch dressing at her face, causing her nose to bleed. The officer also noted scratches on the victim’s face.

The man with the ripped shirt was a bystander and was allegedly attacked by Rodriguez when he attempted to stop the fight.

Rodriguez was transported to the Sevier County Jail where she was charged with a felony count of aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer, as well as misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and third degree battery.

Chamber unveils new Sevier County map    11/26/24

DE QUEEN – There’s no reason to get lost traveling through Sevier County, thanks to a new map unveiled by the Chamber of Commerce this week.

The revamped map features all addressed streets, roads, lanes, drives and highways in Sevier County. It also features larger maps on its reverse side of each of the county’s five municipalities: De Queen, Horatio, Lockesburg, Gillham and Ben Lomond.

The map of Sevier County also details the various fire districts for the county’s eight fire departments. This is a good time to stress the importance of paying membership dues to your fire department, given the increasing challenges they face.

The map includes a beautiful cover photo by local photographer Jason Carlton, titled Autumn on the Cossatot River. The photo depicts the Cossatot River as viewed from the Gillham Lake dam.

The map was last produced in 2018. Sevier County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Suzanne Babb said the new map features a number of changes from the previous edition.

“We have some new streets that were added and there were some names added to other streets. The fire boundaries are on there, and they’ve been updated. There’s been a number of good changes, definitely,” said Babb.

Babb said the map is an important service project for the community. As anyone who has used it knows, Google Maps isn’t always the most accurate. Nor is internet service in rural Sevier County the greatest. More generally, the map will be a useful tool for both visitors and longtime residents alike.

“We’ve had people stop by the Chamber that are either trying to find old home places, or places they grew up, while visiting the area. Some of the names have changed, where they’ve added housing and pushed in roads. They didn’t exactly know where to look,” said Babb.

“We also have a lot of people that are kind of like me, a little old school, and they just like the comfort of having a map with them. So when they get to those spots where they do not get good cell phone coverage, they can’t pull up the Google Maps, and they really appreciate having that hard copy map. It’s probably one of the top questions that we get asked at the Chamber when people stop, do you have any maps?”

The map is produced thanks to support from local businesses, whose donations help offset the cost of printing. Copies can be found at the businesses featured on the map, as well as at the KDQN Studios/De Queen Bee office and the chamber office in downtown De Queen.

Area Christmas parades, festivals just around the corner    11/26/24

DE QUEEN – On Saturday, Dec. 7 communities across Sevier County will be hosting their parades ahead of the Christmas holiday.

The day will begin with the annual Christmas parade hosted by the City of Horatio at 1 p.m. through main street in Horatio. Float line up meet will be held at the Horatio Lions Football Field. There is no sign up required.

Horatio’s parade will be followed by the City of Lockesburg’s Christmas parade at 3 p.m. Sign up forms for Lockesburg’s parade can be picked up and returned to the Lockesburg City Hall by Friday, Dec. 6. Forms can also be obtained by emailing cityoflockesburg@windstream.net.

Area residents are invited to wrap up the day with the Sevier County Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Parade and Festival around the Sevier County Courthouse square in downtown De Queen. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. with vendors, food, crafts and other activities around the square. The parade will begin at 6 p.m.

Santa will be appearing alongside the lighting of the Courthouse before the parade. Chamber officials say with everyone’s help this will be a Christmas parade to remember in our community. The 2024 De Queen Christmas Parade theme is a “Christmas Movies.”

Vendors can sign up by contacting the chamber at (870) 584-3225 or by stopping by the office in downtown de queen.

In addition, De Queen Mayor Jeff Brown will host the annual Mayor’s Tree Lighting cermony on Friday, Dec. 6. The event will be held 5-6:30 p.m. in the new pavilion in downtown De Queen and will include the lighting of the official City of De Queen Christmas Tree. The De Queen High School Jazz Band will perform Christmas music while First United Methodist Church of De Queen will offer free hot cocoa and cookies.

In other area Christmas parades, Ashdown will host its parade on Monday, Dec. 2 beginning at 6 p.m. The Foreman Community Foundation Committee will host the Foreman Christmas Parade and festival on Dec. 7. Activities begin that morning with Breakfast with Santa from 9-11 a.m. in the Foreman Community Center. A Christmas Village will be set up at the Farmer’s Market from 4-7:30 p.m. The parade will begin at 6 p.m. with the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony set for 6:30 p.m.

Check out more details of the Foreman event by visiting the Foreman Community Foundation page on Facebook.

De Queen Schools seeking G/T applicants    11/26/24

DE QUEEN – De Queen School District will be accepting referrals for the Gifted and Talented program until Friday, Dec. 13.

Students in 3rd-12th grade may be referred. Advisors are looking for high achieving and out of the box thinkers.

Please contact Krystal Minchew at (870)584-4311 or at kminchew@dequeenleopards.org.

Arkansas regulators approve Summit gas rate hike     11/25/24

DE QUEEN – Customers of Summit Utilities will see their bills rise beginning next month, following approval of a rate hike by state regulators on Nov. 21.

The Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) will allow Summit to implement a 23.4 percent increase for natural gas to its residential customers beginning in December. The company provides natural gas to around 415,000 Arkansas customers, including residents of De Queen, Ashdown, Mena and Nashville.

The approved rate is lower than the 30 percent sought by the utility company in its initial request. According to the APSC report, average customer bills will rise by around $15 per month. However, state regulators require Summit to provide temporary relief by lowering the cost of winter gas by 17 percent through April 2025. That in effect reduces the cost of the rate hike by around half through the winter months.

Average winter bill totals are expected to be as follows:

–December 2024: $134.46

-January 2025: $174.06

-February 2025: $164.14

-March 2025: $127.32

An additional $4.37 average increase will begin in the spring. That increase was pushed to April by the APSC to assist customers already paying higher utility bills.

Summit said it proposed the rate increase to meet its financial responsibilities following the purchase of CenterPoint Energy’s operations in 2021. The higher rates would also help replace its aging delivery infrastructure and meet higher safety standards, the company said in its filing with the Arkansas Public Service Commission.

“We appreciate the hard work of Attorney General Tim Griffin, APSC general staff, Arkansas Gas Consumers, Inc., and the Hospitals and Higher Education Group, who represented the interests of Arkansas customers,” said Summit chief customer experience officer Fred Kirkwood in a statement. “These new rates mean we can continue delivering the safe and reliable natural gas our customers count on.”

After reversing his initial support for Summit’s rate increase, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said regulators were able to negotiate “an outcome more favorable to Arkansas ratepayers.”

De Queen Rotarians hear about Sevier County’s largest employer, economic driver      11/25/24

DE QUEEN – At the Nov. 18 De Queen Rotary Club meeting at Micah 6:8, Pilgrims Accounting Manager Rotarian Daniel Martinez gave a snapshot of Sevier County’s largest employer.

The company’s vision is to be the best and most respected company in the industry. J.B.S. is the majority owner of Pilgrims with 85% of the outstanding shares. Pilgrims is a global company with 52% of its products staying in the U.S. Pilgrims is the second largest poultry producer in the U.S., and ranks first globally.

Around the world, Pilgrims employs 70,000 team members and produces 210 million four-ounce servings daily.

Martinez described the De Queen plant as part of the company’s case-ready division that primarily packages chickens for supermarkets. In 2023, the local processing plant earned a third-place operational excellence award in the case-ready division. That prompted a visit from the company’s President and Global Chief Executive Officer Fabio Sandri who presented the local plant officials with a check from corporate. Martinez says the cash reward was used to upgrade the cafeteria at the plant and to purchase microwave ovens.

Pilgrims is a safety-conscious company having recently surpassed milestones of 11 million, and then later 12 million, safe work manhours.

The Pilgrims De Queen-Nashville operations employ 1,457 workers who produce 1,275,000 birds per week.

Pilgrims also supports 764 poultry houses locally, including 657 broiler houses, 40 breeder houses, and 37 pullet houses. These houses average growing 6.75-pound birds. Most recently, Martinez says the average bird grown is up near seven pounds.

In 2019, the company invested $54 million to construct a feed mill in Nashville that produces 12,000 tons of feed per week.

The plant in De Queen was first opened in 1954 under the banner of Maplecrest Poultry. The company then became Mountaire Poultry. Then in 1981 Bo Pilgrim’s company purchased the facility. J.B.S. took majority ownership in 2017.

The local 219,621 square foot facility produces 1.2 million birds per week.

Martinez says that all parts of the bird is used in various productions. Claws are becoming popular food items in China and in Mexico. The feathers are used for pet food products.

Pilgrims top two customers are Kroger’s (203 million pounds per year) and Cosco (51.5 million pounds per year).

The total economic impact that Pilgrims has locally is over $131 million annually. That includes an $87.5 million payroll and $37.5 million for grower payouts.

Martinez says that Pilgrims strives to be a good corporate citizen having recently donated $480,000 for a splash pad at Herman Dierks Park and $225,000 to construct a walking trail at Sevier County Medical Center. Pilgrims made a significant donation toward the turf at Leopard Stadium, and recently agreed to purchase 25 flags from the Rotary Club’s annual flag fundraising project in conjunction with patriotic holidays.

In response to questions from Rotarians, Martinez says that most of the workers at the De Queen plant reside in Sevier County. However, a bus transports 54 employees daily from Texarkana.

The company offers a $2.75 per hour incentive bonus based on attendance.

The construction cost of a new poultry house is in the $475,000 – $500,000 range.

Upcoming activities that the De Queen Rotary Club will be involved with include: sponsoring the Club’s annual 5K run on the Pilgrims-sponsored walking trail at the Sevier County Medical Center on November 23, and ringing the bells for the Salvation Army at Christmas time.

De Queen teams split wins at Kevin Helms Classic      11/25/24

DIERKS – The De Queen senior teams split a pair of contests at the Kevin Helms Classic in Dierks Friday night. The Lady Leopards remained undefeated on the season with a convincing 62 to 28 victory over the Lafayette County Lady Cougars, while the Leopards suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the England Lions 81 to 59.

The De Queen girls scored 24 points in the opening quarter and added 23 more in the second quarter to pull away from Lafayette County 62 to 28 to improve to 5 and 0 on the season. The Lady Leopards outrebounded the Lady Cougars 42 to 25 and forced 21 turnovers. Shalyn Lyle, our McDonalds Player of the Night, led the way with 20 points, including 17 in the first half. Shalyn hit four – three-point shots, collected three rebounds, recorded three steals, and dished out three assists. Landri Liggin was also in double figures with 14 points, including 11 in the first half. Coach Bret Burgess substituted freely in the second half with the sportsmanship rule invoked.

In the boys contest, England jumped out to a 38 to 25 halftime lead and the talented Lions cruised to the 81 to 59 victory over the De Queen boys. Sam Graham and Cayden Lindly scored 16 each, while Konnor Shelton added 15. The Leopards fell to 2 and 1 on the young season.

The Leopards are off this week for the Thanksgiving break. The Lady Leopards take a long road trip to Warren on Monday afternoon at 4:00 to take on the Lady Lumberjacks. Airtime with Greg Revels is set for 3:45 on your #1 Country 92.1.

Omar Cruz, Sarah Morphew mark best times at Rotary 5K      11/25/24

DE QUEEN – Thirty-three-year-old Omar Cruz of De Queen crossed the finish line first to claim the Rotary 5K title Saturday morning at the Pilgrims walking trail on the campus of the Sevier County Medical Center.

Cruz finished with a time of 20:04. Cruz says he enjoyed the course, but described the hill on the south side of the hospital as challenging. Cruz won a Thanksgiving holiday turkey.

The winner of the women’s division Sarah Morphew also took home a Thanksgiving turkey.

The youngest runner was Hank Young who earned first choice at the dessert table and grabbed Banana Nut Bread. Every runner, as well as the De Queen High School Interact Club members who assisted with handing out water along the route, took home desserts to enjoy for the holiday. Rotary 5k T-shirts were also presented to participants.

Club President Michael Collins gave an inspired effort finishing the race in 52:08. Although he was lapped by every other runner in the field, Michael easily beat the target time of one hour that won himself a friendly wager and earned the Rotary Club a $100 donation.

The Rotary Club would like to thank this year’s sponsors of the 5K including the presenting sponsor De Queen Auto Group. Other sponsors include Zahir and Carla Kamruddin, Chandler Funeral Home, UA Cossatot, Diamond Bank, The De Queen Bee, First State Bank, Miscellanea JB, Spike and Susan Dunlop, AMS Global, Shelter Insurance Woods Agency, Housing Authority of Sevier County, Edward Jones, Wilkerson Funeral Home, Bailey Discount Building Supply, Church of Christ, KDQN Radio, Southwest Arkansas Accounting Services, Walker Family Clinic, Farm Credit Services, and Amp Fitness & The East Room.

Gov. Sanders announces $204m in water, wastewater projects      11/25/24

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced an additional $204 million in financial assistance for water and wastewater projects for 45 entities. The projects serve more than 198,627 Arkansans in 28 counties.

“My administration has prioritized investments in Arkansas’ water system and today’s announcement adds another $204 million to that effort,” said Governor Sanders. “I’m proud to work with our local communities and the Department of Agriculture to ensure every Arkansan has access to safe drinking water.”

“Reliable water and wastewater infrastructure is essential for the sustainability of communities and industries throughout our state as well as the quality of life for every Arkansan,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward.  “We are thankful for Governor Sanders’ continued leadership that will ensure the long-term success of our state.”

Of the new funding, $145,025,170.62 will be provided through loans, while $59,167,217.38 will be offered as grants and loans with principal forgiveness.

Under Governor Sanders’ leadership, the State of Arkansas has administered more than $2.5 billion for water development projects in all 75 counties using state and federal funds.

Area recipients include:

• Little River County RDA in Little River County is receiving a $4,821,382 loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The project serves a current customer base of 7,347. These funds will be used to regionalize with the Town of Winthrop, replace mains, and improve the water storage tanks.

• Hope in Hempstead County is receiving a $3,685,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. The project serves a current customer base of 8,952. These funds will be used to repair or replace wastewater collection lines to reduce infiltration and inflow.

Weyerhaeuser announces expansion in South Arkansas     11/21/24

Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands, has announced an estimated $500 million investment to build a new, state-of-the-art TimberStrand® facility near Monticello and Warren, Arkansas. This investment is expected to create 200 high-quality jobs in the south Arkansas region.

The new facility will expand Weyerhaeuser’s engineered wood products capacity, adding approximately 10 million cubic feet of annual production capacity. Using southern yellow pine as the primary feedstock, Weyerhaeuser will manufacture TimberStrand®, a laminated strand lumber, at the Arkansas facility and will use a biomass-fueled cogeneration system to fully supply the plant’s electrical needs.

“This is an exciting opportunity to grow our EWP business, expand TimberStrand® into the U.S. South and provide an additional outlet for our fiber logs in Arkansas,” said Devin W. Stockfish, president and chief executive officer, in the company’s release. “Of the wood products we produce, EWP has the strongest tie to single-family housing construction activity, and this new facility aligns with our conviction that U.S. housing demand will remain favorable over the long term. In addition, this plant will allow Weyerhaeuser to better serve other customers and end markets in the region, including mass timber applications, and it supports our broader sustainability ambitions. I’d like to thank the state of Arkansas and local officials for working with Weyerhaeuser to site this facility. We look forward to building on our long history in the state and providing new employment opportunities in the Monticello community.”

This is Weyerhaeuser’s third manufacturing facility in Arkansas, in addition to a lumber mill in Dierks and a plywood and veneer plant in Emerson, as well as a seedling nursery and multiple offices. Weyerhaeuser currently employs more than 700 individuals across Arkansas.

“Weyerhaeuser’s $500 million investment is an incredible milestone in Arkansas’s rural economic development momentum,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “This project will be transformational for Southeast Arkansas, strengthening our state’s timber industry and creating 200 new jobs. We are grateful for Weyerhaeuser’s commitment to Arkansas, and we congratulate the local leadership for their hard work in securing this major economic development project.”

Weyerhaeuser plans to source most of its fiber log requirements from company-owned timberlands in the south Arkansas region. The company owns approximately 1.2 million acres of timberlands in the area.

Construction on the facility is expected to begin in 2025 with operations planned to start in late 2027.

De Queen Lions Club radio auction is Dec. 3&5     11/21/24

DE QUEEN – The De Queen Lions Club will present its annual two-day radio auction on Tuesday, Dec. 3 and Thursday, Dec. 5.

The radio auction will kick off at 5 p.m. both nights live in the lobby of First State Bank of De Queen. In partnership with KDQN, the Lions Club is pleased to announce that area merchants have come through again this year with many outstanding items to be auctioned off, including some wonderful Christmas gifts.

Proceeds from the event will go towards the De Queen Lions Club’s many worthwhile community projects and its worldwide mission to address vision problems.

Arkansas law enforcement announce Thanksgiving “Click-it-or-Ticket” Campaign     11/21/24

This Thanksgiving holiday, Arkansas law enforcement is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the State’s Highway Safety Office on a high-visibility Click It or Ticket seat belt awareness and enforcement campaign. From Nov. 25 through Dec. 1, Arkansas State Police Troopers, sheriff’s deputies and local police officers will be working together to reduce the number of fatalities that occur when motor vehicle passengers fail to buckle up by enforcing the state’s safety belt laws.

During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2022 (6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23, to 5:59 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 28), there were 326 passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes across the nation, and 43% (141) were unrestrained. Not wearing a seat belt proved to be deadly at any time of the day during the holiday weekend: 47% of those killed in nighttime crashes were unbuckled, and 38% of those killed in daytime crashes also were unbuckled. These deaths represent needless tragedies for families across America and may have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.

“Buckle your seat belt to stay safe and to stay legal,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “Whether you’re driving cross-country or across town, whether it is day or night, and no matter the type of vehicle, it is essential that drivers and passengers wear seat belts. The bottom line is this: That seat belt may very well mean the difference between life and death. This Thanksgiving, and every day of the year, remember: Click It or Ticket.”

Federal court dismisses all but one charge against Lansdell Clinic owner     11/20/24

TEXARKANA – All but one counts have been dropped against the owner of a former medical clinic originally charged in a federal opioid distribution conspiracy case.

This month, Tawnya Lee Lansdell pleaded guilty in the Western District of Arkansas-Texarkana Division to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The additional four charges filed against her – ranging from healthcare fraud to conspiracy to distribute opioids – were dismissed.

Lansdell owned Lansdell Family Clinic, which operated in De Queen, Dierks, Lockesburg and Texarkana. Federal charges were filed in 2021 following an investigation by local and federal authorities.

According to Lansdell’s plea, in 2020 she and others conspired to commit wire fraud through a scheme to obtain property or money “By means of false and fraudulent pretenses.”

Sentencing is expected within the next four to six months. Lansdell will be ordered to pay $325,200 in restitution to small businesses and financial services as well as $260,246 in restitution to Medicare. She will remain free on bail until sentencing. Sentencing guidelines for conspiracy to commit wire fraud range from probation to 20 years in federal prison.

In a related development, last week the federal court dismissed charges against the other defendants named in the case: Wendy Gammon, Bonita Martin, Shelly Eastridge, Michael Lansdell, Rusty Griffin and Michael Wallace Martin. In addition, the court dropped its indictments against Lansdell Family Clinic and Lansdell Farms, LLC.

The individuals and two properties were named in the original and superseding indictments filed in the original case.

Second lawsuit filed against Sevier County over hospital     11/20/24

DE QUEEN – A lawsuit has been filed against Sevier County by the construction management firm tasked with building the county’s new hospital.

Nabholz Construction Services filed the suit this month in the Sevier County Circuit Court. The litigation names Sevier County as well as Sevier County Judge Sandra Dunn as defendants. Nabholz was contracted with Sevier County in 2020 to build the hospital following the approval of a sales tax increase in 2019. It handled the bidding of the project which included the award of several bids to Nabholz or its entities.

Nabholz received the $2.3 million contract to oversee construction of the hospital, originally slated to cost $24.5 million. In its filings, the company states it has been paid approximately $1.76 million. The lawsuit is seeking the remaining $567,000 plus interest.

At Monday’s meeting of the Sevier County Quorum Court, Mike Branson with the Sevier County Medical Center said the lawsuit was anticipated.

“We expected this to happen and it’s really not a surprise,” he said.

As a result of cost overruns and other concerns, Branson said the county retained a consulting firm to inspect the facility and review records related to construction and building costs.  In early November, the county’s consultant requested Nabholz’s cooperation to allow an audit of records related to construction. Nabholz declined the request and this month it and several of its related entities filed a separate lawsuit against Sevier County.

Cost overruns resulted in a final construction price of over $30 million while delays resulted in the hospital opening months behind schedule. In its filing, Nabholz claims the county made “numerous changes that added to the scope of the project” during the course of construction. The company said those changes expanded construction work and extended completion times.

In a press release, county officials said they expect to prosecute counterclaims against Nabholz related to its claims of completion delays, construction defects and other matters.

“We have a legitimately strong case against some suppliers and we’re not satisfied with some of the work done at the hospital,” said Branson. “We knew this would probably take litigation to resolve.”

The county has filed a counterclaim against Gigerich Electrical, Inc., which filed its own lawsuit earlier this year. The county is claiming Gigerich breached its contract and acted negligently as the contractor responsible for the hospital’s electrical system. Gigerich’s original bid was approximately $3.1 million. To date, the county has paid Gigerich nearly $3.4 million. The action against the Medical Center and Sevier County filed by Gigerich seeks claims of approximately $250,000.

In a statement, county officials stated the “Sevier County Medical Center is an accredited 15 bed, critical access hospital committed to providing medical care and treatment to the citizens of Sevier County and surrounding areas.  Sevier County Medical Center employs more than 80 medical professionals and staff and is fully operational.  The Sevier County Medical Center looks forward to providing the best available medical care to the citizens of Sevier County and surrounding areas.”

Coy Arnold appointed as new Horatio Mayor     11/20/24

HORATIO – The City of Horatio has a new mayor following a specially-called council meeting Monday night.

In a unanimous vote, the Horatio City Council appointed Coy Arnold to serve the remainder of a term held by previous mayor Borden Neel, who passed away on Oct. 24. Arnold was selected over a single other announced candidate, Randy Barnett.

Arnold is the son-in-law of Neel and a former justice of the peace on the Sevier County Quorum Court. Under state law, Arnold will be able to seek reelection following the end of Neel’s term in 2026. A native of Horatio, Arnold recently moved back with his wife and said he’s honored to serve as the city’s next mayor.

“I’ve always loved this town, loved this area. I moved off around 10 years ago, but the last couple years we’ve been back and forth. Now we’re back here permanently, and under a bad circumstance. Borden was highly favored, a great guy, a great mayor,” he said. “I love small town politics. I served on the Quorum Court several years ago and absolutely loved all that and learned a lot. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity and working with all the folks who help make this city run.”

Neel had served as Horatio Mayor for a combined total of nearly 27 years. Neel’s wife, Debbi, has served as interim mayor since his passing on Oct. 24. She took a moment following Monday’s meeting to highlight Neel’s contributions to the city and his love for the community.

“He gave many years because of the love that he had for this town. There was nothing he did that was not for the betterment of the town and of the citizens,” she said. “He was very proud of the Edmondson Center. And then the city park, he got a $25,000 grant for that. The walking trail that’s down there, he and I poured the concrete for that. The Hendricks Field, he has worked on that, and he has been working on a soccer field. That was one of the main things he wanted. He felt that that was something that all of our young people could use, and that was his main thing, to get families together in our parks.”

The city has plans to commemorate Neel and his service to the city in the near future. More details will be shared later.

Leopards Marching Band earns First Division rating at State Assessment     11/20/24

Friendship Baptist to host 13th annual Thanksgiving Day meal     11/20/24

DE QUEEN – A local church is gearing up to present its annual Thanksgiving Day meal for local families in need. It’s an event members have hosted for over a decade and one which has provided meals to hundreds of people in the area over those years.

Friendship Baptist Church in De Queen will host its 13th Thanksgiving Day Meal on Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, Nov. 28. Meals will be served beginning at 10:30 that morning and continue through 12 noon.

For the past 12 years members of Friendship Baptist Church have spent their Thanksgiving providing meals to others – including those in need and those first responders who work Thanksgiving Day. Now, it’s a church tradition.

Ashley Shelton is a member of Friendship Baptist Church and said the church did not anticipate doing this year after year, or that the need would grow so much.

“We really didn’t’ but it’s a tradition for us now and we really enjoy it,” said Shelton. “It’s how we’ve come to enjoy our Thanksgiving, by helping out those in need. Last year we planned for 400 meals. This year, we’re preparing to give away 450.“

Deliveries will be offered to homebound individuals in both De Queen and Horatio as well as first responders working Thanksgiving Day in Sevier County. As always, the church will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon for those wishing to come by, eat and enjoy some fellowship.

“We don’t want anyone to be alone on Thanksgiving, so come by and join us for the meal or feel free to call and get a delivery scheduled,” said Shelton.

The church anticipates it will give away around 450 meals this year. That means, over the past 12 years, the church has fed well over a thousand people on Thanksgiving Day.

Shelton said it’s a big effort and takes the entire church to make it happen. Members get up early Thanksgiving Day morning for the final preparations. Even the church’s youngest members are there to help make the day a success. The effort has grown so much over the years that even members of other churches will lend a hand preparing or delivering meals. Shelton said anyone who would like to help is of course welcome and greatly appreciated.

“We always enjoy the extra help. If you’d like to help us deliver, we just ask you to show up to the church by 10 a.m.”

Shelton said anyone wishing for a Thanksgiving Day meal delivery on Nov. 28 can call (870) 279-0507, (870) 584-9918 or (870) 847-0439. Organizers ask that when you call you please provide your name, address and how many meals are needed. Leave a voicemail if there is no answer.

De Queen takes three from Horatio at Coliseum     11/20/24

DE QUEEN – Defensive pressure was the key as the De Queen teams took all three games from Horatio Tuesday night at the Coliseum in action heard live on your #1 Country 92.1. The Lady Leopards forced 36 turnovers enroute to a 53 to 19 victory. The Leopards took advantage of 30 Lions turnovers in their 57 to 25 win. The De Queen junior high Cubs won the opener 37 to 22.

The Lady Leopards improved to 3 and 0 on the season, blowing the game open in the second quarter. After leading 7 to 6 early, the De Queen girls went on a 25 to 2 run to take a 32 to 8 halftime lead enroute to the 53 to 19 win. The Lady Leopards had four players in double figures. Jessie Lyle and Emma Chambers led the way with 12 each. Landri Liggin scored 11. Shalyn Lyle added 10. For Horatio, Natalie Dorsey scored six.

In the boys contest, the Leopards raced to a 35 to 9 halftime lead and cruised to the 57 to 25 victory. Sam Graham led all scorers with 16. Nolan Ayers, our McDonalds Player of the Night, scored 12, including three-three pointers. Konnor Shelton added nine as nine different Leopards hit the scoring column. For Horatio, Daniel Gideon led the way with 14 points.

The Lady Leopards travel to Hot Springs Lakeside Thursday night while the Leopards take on Acorn in the Keith Helms Classic at Dierks. Toney and Greg will have the play-by-play of the girls contest starting at around 5:30 Thursday on your #1 Country 92.1.

Thanksgiving Day closings     11/20/24

DE QUEEN – Government offices, banks and many businesses will be closed Nov. 28 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Government offices will be closed both Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 in observance of the holiday. That includes De Queen City Hall and the De Queen Police Department.

The trash route will be as follows:

Monday and Tuesday will remain the same, while Thursday and Friday will be picked up on Wednesday.

The Sevier County Courthouse, landfill and satellite waste stations will also be closed Nov. 28-29. The landfill and satellite stations will reopen on Saturday, Nov. 30.

The KDQN Studios and De Queen Bee office will be closed Nov. 28-29. From all of us, have a happy, meaningful and safe Thanksgiving!

King Arts & Crafts Festival now underway, continues through Sunday     11/15/24

KING – The Cossatot Arts and Crafts Association’s 52nd annual King Arts and Crafts Festival is now underway. This event includes the always popular King Art Show as well as a number of other activities on the grounds of the Historic King School House.

This year the King Art Show celebrates its 52nd year of providing the public with the opportunity to enjoy artwork from local and regional artists.

All artists and photographers aged five to 115 are invited to present their work at the show. Art and photography will be divided into both adult and youth categories. This year will see the return of the adult 3D art division as well.

Art-check was held Friday, Nov. 8-9 and judging took place earlier this week.

The show will be open to the public Nov. 15-16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and for a final day on Nov. 17 from 12-5 p.m.

Organizers invite anyone interested in becoming a last minute sponsor for this year’s art show to call Nancy at (479) 216-1537 or Jennifer at (870) 828-0543.

The Cossatot Arts and Crafts Association’s art show in King is one of the region’s top art shows and annually draws in hundreds of artists and art lovers. More information can be found on the Cossatot Arts & Crafts Facebook page or at the website by visiting www.cossatotartsandcrafts.com.

De Queen teams split wins with Dierks during Thursday night basketball     11/15/24

DE QUEEN – The De Queen senior teams split with Dierks Thursday night at the Coliseum in benefit basketball action. The Lady Leopards rolled to a 77 to 48 victory while the Outlaws rallied past the Leopards 48 to 46.

The Lady Leopards had four players in double figures in the 29-point victory. Shalyn Lyle, our McDonalds Player of the Night, led the way with 23 points, seven rebounds, seven steals, and three assists. Landri Liggin scored 16. Emma Chambers and Jessie Lyle added 11 each. The Lady Outlaws had three players in double figures, including Addison Hill with 10.

The full court pressure of the Lady Leopards forced 29 Dierks turnovers.

The Outlaws, after trailing 26 to 22 at the half, rallied past the De Queen boys 48 to 46.

Dylan Moore led Dierks with 11. Jordan  Hill scored 10. Landen Young and Kolton Gadbury added eight each for the Outlaws. De Queen’s Sam Graham led all scorers with 13, including 11 in the first half. Konnor Shelton scored nine. Rowan Sanchez and Luke Dawson added eight each.

It was a tight game throughout as neither team led by more than six points.

Meanwhile, in junior high basketball action Thursday night, De Queen took a pair from Ashdown. The De Queen junior girls pulled away for a 41 to 9 victory, while the Cubs slipped past Ashdown 38 to 35 at Parker Gymnasium.

The De Queen senior teams return to action Tuesday night when they host the Horatio Lions and Lady Lions at the Coliseum.

Horatio native honored by local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution     11/14/24

Submitted by Carrie McGaha/DAR

The Mine Creek – Paraclifta Daughters of the American Revolution participated in the Veterans Day memorial ceremony at the Howard County Courthouse this past Veterans Day.  Horatio, Arkansas native, T Lynn Cox, a female Veteran of the armed services was honored by the Chapter Regent, Elizabeth Wilson Overton, with a Certificate of Award for Distinguished Service and Exemplary Dedication and was given a gift of appreciation.

T currently resides in Howard County but was a former resident of Horatio and the group singled her out for her continued service to the community and for her dedication to preserving the legacy of honoring those who serve in the military of the United States of America.  She joined the army at 22 years of age and completed her basic and advanced training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where she was the Platoon Guide for the 3rd Platoon, 4th Battalion, 13th Infantry.  She was the only soldier in her group to be awarded Advanced Rank and she was placed in the Fast Track Class for being in the top 10 of her class of over 70 soldiers.

She served overseas at multiple duty stations and then opted out of active duty to join the Army Reserves and joined the 755th Adjutant General Company in Texarkana, TX.  At that time, it was one of only three postal units in the Reserves.  While part of the 755th, she was sent into the Bosnia Conflict because the postal unit was sent to Europe for  9 ½ months as a back fill for soldiers down range.   That postal unit was her last duty assignment and she opted to remain inactive for her final three years due to family responsibilities and separation.

Ms. Overton shared the long list of missions that T served in and the numerous awards and achievements that she accumulated during her tenure in the military.  She also pointed out the huge sacrifice that the families of service members make here at home while they are serving overseas, especially the families of female service members.

T passed on her dedication to serving this nation to her son Johnny, who is celebrating his first Veteran’s Day this year after serving for twenty years in the Coast Guard.

The DAR Chapter placed Veteran’s Day signs and flags out at the courthouse in Nashville and handed out Veteran pins, flag pins, 50th Commemorative Vietnam War Veteran pins, flags, and America250 Heritage Messenger Angels to those in attendance.

This past Veterans Day, and every day, they honor and give thanks to all who have served our nation and encourage everyone to remember our servicemembers who made the nation a better place because they served.

The Mine Creek – Paraclifta Chapter DAR is taking this opportunity to promote Women Military Service Members and encourages everyone to honor the women who served our nation by learning their stories of service and honoring them at the Memorial dedicated to Women in Military Service.

From the earliest days of the nation, women have been serving alongside men to gain and preserve liberty, but it was difficult to find them in our history books. There was no repository of women’s service to the United States. That all changed in April 1987.

Not long after legislation authorized the Women In Military Service For America Memorial and ten years before the Memorial would open to the public in 1997, the Register was created. Servicewomen and women veterans were invited to make their military experiences visible by “registering” their service. By completing a simple form with their dates of service, branch of service, awards and decorations, at least one memorable experience, and a picture in uniform, women took their rightful and visible place in history for all time.

For the first time in American history, there was a place to learn about the extraordinary servicewomen who defend or have defended our country.

For more than 30 years, the Memorial has been permanently documenting military women’s experiences and their impact on American, military and women’s history. Visitors are invited to look up servicewomen in the Register, learn about their impact on our collective history, and purchase a print of individual profiles as a keepsake.

If you know a servicewoman or woman veteran, please take advantage of the FREE registration to ensure HER story joins hundreds of thousands of individual stories that make up the Register.  The website is Make HERstory – Military Women’s Memorial www.womensmemorial.org

History is not complete until every military woman’s story is told.

After the ceremony, the DAR Chapter held their monthly meeting at the Carter Day Center in Nashville, Arkansas and wrapped 50 presents to give to Veterans this Christmas.

Winthrop man pleads guilty to rape, receives 50 year sentence      11/13/24

ASHDOWN – James Edwin Cowan, 46, has pleaded guilty to three counts of rape involving his minor children, resulting in a 50-year prison sentence.

As part of a negotiated plea agreement, Cowan was sentenced to 50 years in prison plus 30 years of a suspended  sentence upon release. Under Arkansas sentencing guidelines, Cowan will be required to serve at  least 70% of his 50-year sentence—35 years—before being considered for parole. By that time,  Cowan will be roughly 81 years old, effectively making this sentence a life term.

Cowan was initially charged with 28 counts of rape.

The decision to offer a plea deal was made after significant consideration of the victims’ wishes, as  well as the severe emotional and psychological toll that a trial would have placed on them. This plea  agreement was reached with careful attention to the needs of the victims, ensuring they would not  have to endure the further trauma of testifying in a court trial.

“The safety and well-being of children is always a top priority for our office, and the resolution of  this case reflects that commitment.” Jana C. Bradford, 9 West Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney. “While no sentence can undo the harm done to these young victims, we hope this will provide a  measure of justice and allow them to begin the long process of healing.”

In addition to his sentence, Cowan will be required to register as a sex offender should he ever be  granted parole.

“This case underscores the critical importance of protecting vulnerable children from abuse and  holding those who commit such heinous crimes fully accountable. The commitment to justice in this  case, though it cannot undo the damage done to the victims, serves as a step toward their recovery  and a message that such crimes will not be tolerated,” said Bradford.

De Queen City Council mulls 2025 budget      11/13/24

DE QUEEN – The City of De Queen has begun work on its 2025 budget and it’s likely to be a fairly conservative one.

Last week, De Queen Mayor Jeff Brown presented the City Council with a $9.7 million budget – down nearly $2 million from 2024.

“That’s because we budgeted the big sewer line project at Pilgrim’s this year and right now we have no big capital projects for 2025,” Brown explained.

New purchases requested in next year’s budget include two new Dodge Durangos for the De Queen Police Department. Once outfitted, the two vehicles are expected to cost around $62,500 each. The police department is also seeking new computers and related equipment to outfit its new vehicles, and $58,000 for a 100kw Generac power system.
Brown is asking the council for $20,000 to install a sound system on street lights located in the downtown area.

“We could use it to issue public service announcements, pipe in during the Christmas parade and other festivals in the downtown. We think it would be a handy feature to have,” he said.

The parks and recreation department is seeking funds to replace lights on fields one and four at the De Queen Sportsplex, and install new swings at the nearby playground.

The street department has requested $360,000 to repave South Fourth Street/Rockefeller Avenue from Coulter to the Sevier County Fairgrounds. The department said it also needs a new brush truck for a total of $225,000.

The water department is seeking $226,800 to cover inspections required by the Arkansas Department of Health as well as some new equipment and a half-ton truck. Sanitation is seeking $50,000 to purchase new dumpsters for use in the city.

Brown has proposed a six percent raise for all city employees.

The city council is expected to vote on the budget at its December meeting.
In some other discussion, several city residents in attendance expressed concerns regarding traffic and other issues within the city.

Elmyra Brown said more work needed to be done to clear debris from the creek on Collins-Coulter Drive to address flooding issues in that area.

She also expressed concern regarding fast traffic from Pilgrim’s on Lake Street, which includes three school bus stops, she said.

Brown proposed installing speed bumps in that area. The mayor said the city was against installing additional speed bumps due to damage they can cause vehicles. He said the city would install additional signage to remind drivers to slow down.

Teri Hart expressed similar concerns regarding traffic on Elberta Street behind Tires Plus. She said high speed traffic poses a risk to the many pedestrians who use the street.
Tarazzo Kelly, who was also in attendance at the meeting, said the offenders were most likely “youngsters who just need a talking to.”

Mayor Brown said he would have the police department focus on speeding incidents in those areas in hopes of addressing the issue.

The De Queen City Council is scheduled to meet again on Dec. 3 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall.

OCC shoebox collection week is Nov. 18-25      11/13/24

HORATIO – The 2024 Operation Christmas Child 2024 Shoebox Collection Week is Nov. 18-25. Volunteers have been transforming empty shoeboxes into gifts of hope filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and articles of clothing for children in need worldwide.

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way so that missionaries and volunteers can share the Good News of Jesus Christ.   And, it all starts with the help of a shoebox filled with gifts.

Since 1993, more than 220 million children in over 170 countries and territories have received a shoebox gift. These children as well as those who hear the Gospel at shoebox outreach events share their faith with friends and family who, in turn, disciple others.

Collection Week – November 18 – 25, 2024

Local Drop-off Site

Horatio First Baptist Church

211 Hazard Street, Horatio, AR 71842

Mon, Nov. 18: 5-7 p.m.

Tue, Nov. 19: 5–7 p.m.

Wed, Nov. 20: 4-6 p.m.

Thu, Nov. 21: 5-7 p.m.

Fri, Nov. 22: 5-7 p.m.

Sat, Nov. 23: 10 a.m. to 12 noon

Sun, Nov. 24: 3-5 p.m.

Mon, Nov. 25: 9-11 a.m.

For additional drop-off sites, collection dates and hours, and directions to the drop-off sites, go to samaritanspurse.org/occ and select Drop-off Locations.   For area questions, contact Jim Herman at occjim.herman@yahoo.com .  Please deliver your shoebox gifts to a drop-off site as soon as possible during collection week.

January trial date set for man in abuse of corpse case      11/12/24

DE QUEEN – A January trial date has been set for a Lockesburg man accused in 2022 of improperly disposing of a newborn child that did not survive birth.

Matthew Hallmark, 22, is scheduled to appear in the Sevier County Circuit Court on Dec. 12 for a pre-trial hearing. If he maintains his plea of not guilty, he will appear before a jury for a two-day trial now scheduled for Jan. 21-22.

Hallmark appeared in court Oct. 31 for a pre-trial hearing and was granted a continuance in his case proceedings.

Hallmark, who is a resident of Lockesburg, was charged with abuse of a corpse following the death of his baby son in November of 2022. In Arkansas the offense is a felony and can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a report on Nov. 7 of 2022 regarding a baby being born at a home in Lockesburg. After further investigation, authorities discovered the baby, a boy, did not live and was disposed of. Deputies and Investigators with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office located the baby in a nearby dumpster. Hallmark and the child’s mother, a juvenile at the time of the incident, were arrested that day.

Hallmark has since posted a $50,000 bond.

Sevier County Chamber announces holiday promotions      11/12/24

DE QUEEN – With Christmas just around the corner, the Sevier County Chamber of Commerce is launching a couple of campaigns hist holiday season to encourage residents to shop at home.

That includes “Black Friday – Sevier County Style.” The chamber said local small businesses are missing out on Black Friday shoppers the day after Thanksgiving as many head to out-of-town big box stores. This year, Sevier County Chamber of Commerce hopes to change that with a promotion it’s calling “Black Friday – Sevier County Style.”

On Friday, Nov. 22, participating stores will hold their big sales events early, keeping the holiday spirit local.

Small businesses are invited to join the chamber’s media campaign to keep holiday shopping local. Businesses are encouraged to send their Black Friday promotion flyers by Nov. 15 to dqchamber@gmail.com.

Member Benefits:

• Your flyer will be shared across social media, website, radio, and newspaper
• Flyers will be featured on both the Sevier County Chamber & Sevierly Strong Facebook pages for sharing, plus the Chamber website
• Exclusively for Sevier County Chamber members, with no participation fee

The second promotion is titled “Blackout Holiday Bingo.” The chamber said this initiative is a fun way to engage current customers and potentially get new ones to local businesses.

How it Works:

1. The Sevier County Chamber will promote BLACKOUT HOLIDAY BINGO across media outlets.
2. A downloadable bingo card with participating businesses and their name or logo will be published for shoppers.
3. Shoppers visit each business to get a custom sticker for the square from that store.
4. Completed “blacked out” bingo cards are dropped off at the Chamber office—one entry per person.
5. Weekly drawings will pick winners from individual squares, with prizes ready for pickup at each business.

Participation Details for Businesses

1. Eligibility: Must be a Sevier County Chamber of Commerce member with a public storefront or office in Sevier County.
2. Prize Requirement: Provide a prize to be held at your business for winner pick-up. Prizes should be:
   • At least $25 retail value for a business name on a square
   • At least $50 retail value for a business logo on a square
3. Cost: Free for Chamber members to participate!
4. To Join: Email your prize description to dqchamber@gmail.com by Nov. 20 to be included in this festive community event.

“Let’s make this holiday shopping season local, fun, and rewarding for all in Sevier County!” said the chamber in its most recent newsletter.

Area farms inducted into Century Program      11/12/24

Last week, state officials inducted another 41 farms into the Arkansas Century Farm Program.

The Arkansas Century Farm Program recognizes Arkansas farms of 10 acres or more owned by the same family for at least 100 years. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture established the program in 2012 to highlight these families’ contributions to the agriculture industry and our state. The program is voluntary, and there is no cost for participating families.

Agriculture is the largest industry in Arkansas and contributes more than $24.3 billion to the state’s economy annually. Arkansas has 38,000 farms, and 95 percent are family-owned.

“Our family farmers are the backbone of our state and that’s especially true for our Century Farm families,” said Governor Sanders. “We often talk about farming in terms of economics, which is absolutely critical and very important considering it’s one of Arkansas’ largest industries. But the importance of farming goes much deeper than that. It’s part of our heritage. It’s part of our history and it’s part of our basic survival. Thank you for keeping our country fed, our state growing and our communities strong.”

“The Arkansas Century Farm Program exists to recognize and honor the Arkansas farm families that, for generations, have dedicated their lives to serving others and providing the food, fiber, fuel, and shelter that we all depend on every single day of our lives,” said Secretary Ward.

With the addition of today’s inductees, there are 645 Arkansas Century Farms throughout the state. The 41 newly inducted farms are located in the following counties: Arkansas, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Clay, Columbia, Conway, Craighead, Cross, Desha, Franklin, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Logan, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Ouachita, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Prairie, Pulaski, Searcy, Union, Van Buren, and White.

Farms from the listening area include:

• Howard County M and M Timberlands Farm (Est. 1919)

• Pike County Kirkham Farms (Est. 1898)

• Polk County Mos and Mos Farm (Est.1891)

Applications for the 2025 class of inductees will open in February 2025 and close in May 2025. More information on the program and previous inductees can be found on the Department’s website.

History of Veterans Day      11/11/24

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

In 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the Veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Take Care of a Veteran This Veterans Day

If you have the chance, go into a military community during Veterans Day to experience the true spirit of this observed holiday. Even if you don’t live near a military base, your community likely has special events or festivals to honor your local military members.

Here are a few ideas to honor veterans in your community:

Stop by the local VFW – Most communities have a local military gathering place like the VFW or American Legion. Stop by and shake the hands of local veterans. They love for visitors to come in and say hello!

Honor deceased vets – Today is about honoring all vets, including the ones who have passed away. Stop by a cemetery to clean up vet gravesites or place flags on their site.

Get involved – There are tons of local and national nonprofit organizations dedicated to taking care of our military vets. Find one whose mission resonates with you and volunteer your time. Operation Gratitude is always looking for help to fill care packages for active duty troops as well as wounded heroes and vets.

Keep them company – If you’re out and about on Veterans Day at a restaurant — many give out free meals to vets — and see a veteran eating alone, ask if you can sit with them.They might just love the company. You can also stop by a VA home to see how you can help out.

Veterans Day is all about honoring those who served. If you see one, thank one. They probably don’t hear it enough, and Veterans Day is the perfect opportunity to express your gratitude.

De Queen’s American Legion Post strives to make a difference      11/11/24

The American Legion has strove since its inception to advocate for and honor the memory of both living veterans and those long gone.

The American Legion Charles E. Brown Post 54, headquartered here in De Queen, has sought to do just that through an effort to find the rightful home for a number of footstones its members have found over the years.

The group has managed to locate the graves of around three dozen veterans named on the markers. Community help has always been appreciated.

The effort stretches all the way back to markers that have been found belonging to veterans of the U.S. Civil War. Those names include:

-J.H. Allison from Gillham, who passed away in 1916

-John Warfare of Cossatot

-Jesse Anderson of Chapel Hill, who passed away in 1899

-James P. Wilson of Oak Grove, who passed away in 1905

-H.C. Williamson, who passed away in 1921

-William E. Dudley, who passed away in 1915

The American Legion said veterans who are not members could use this project as a means of becoming involved with the organization.

Ricky Hendricks is a veteran of the local National Guard Unit, Charle Company 153 headquartered in De Queen. He served in Iraq between 2004 and 2005, earning two Purple Hearts during his deployment. Hendricks has been commander of American Legion Post 54 for several years.

The local Legion post has been very active in the community in recent years. Hendricks said the local group does what it can to help local veterans, from providing free meals to connecting them to mental health support to providing ways to be more involved in their community.

“We try to help veterans anyway we can,” he said. “We set VA grave markers for veterans at no charge, and we’ve done over a hundred now. We also do honor guards at funerals, with rifles and bugles. If a family of a veteran can’t get the military to come out and provide this service, they can reach out to us through their funeral home.”

Hendricks encourages more veterans, particularly younger people who served, to join the American Legion.

“As long as you have at least one day of federal active service, you’re eligible to join the Legion,” said Hendricks. “We’d love to have anyone who’d like to join us to come be a part of this post and support other veterans.”

American Legion Post #54 meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Legion hut on Eighth Street in De Queen.

Anyone interested in learning more about the American Legion can contact Rick Gregory at (870) 381-7974 or Ricky Hendricks at (870) 584-8051.

The American Legion is the largest U.S. veterans organization with more than 1.6 million members who strengthen the nation through programs, services and advocacy for those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, youth and communities.

“We are the 22” seeks to provide support to veterans      11/11/24

There are different organizations and phone numbers to call for help when facing a mental health crisis, including some that are geared specifically for groups of people that might require intervention specialists who have a similar background.

Cameron Pinson, the recruiting director for We Are The 22 and the group’s Region 3 lieutenant, is one of those who works alongside interventionists to assist Arkansas veterans and military personnel.

“We’re a vet-to-vet, peer-to-peer suicide intervention group,” Pinson said.

“We show up 24/7/365 anywhere in the state. A two-person team will get in front of a vet anytime they’re in crisis. We run a dispatch line very similar to 911. When you call you get a live person. Everybody in our organization has been in the military. We’re just tired of losing brothers and sisters.”

The veteran suicide intervention group is the only one of its kind in Arkansas, and they stated they are the only ones in the U.S. that are vet-to-vet.

Since the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization began in May 2017, they have responded to over 500 veterans in suicidal crisis.

“We are 100% veteran-based organization. We’re the only ones showing up in person. There’s nobody else in the United States doing what we’re doing. We don’t have a home base per se. We’re all volunteers spread out across the state. We’re broke down into five regions at the moment with a total of 122 personnel across the state.”

Being spread out actually comes in handy if an intervention team is needed somewhere quickly and they don’t have to drive from central Arkansas to the far corners or clear across the state. We Are 22 is seeking volunteers in Sevier County and the surrounding region.

“We are definitely in need of responders in this area. Our long-term goal is to have two responders per county in every county in Arkansas.”

What are they seeking in recruits in addition to having a military background? Pinson said, “We do a new responder training to be qualified for the organization. We do require an honorable discharge or medical discharge. We do background checks, shelter meetings, events, copies of all paperwork for their service needs, build a file on them and get them started.

“The application process is online at WeAreThe22.org/. You can go on there and there’s couple of hyperlinks.”

Click the “Get Involved” drop down and select from the choices. Pinson said he’ll be the one to get in contact with applicants.

Behind the name

For those who are unaware of what the organization’s name refers to, Pinson explained, “The 22 stands for 22 veteran suicides every 24 hours. We Are The 22 — we’ve all been there, we’ve all dealt with it, and understand the struggle. We can relate and talk more openly. That’s how we got our name.”

Unfortunately, over the past few years that number for veteran suicides has grown, making the need for suicide intervention groups to recruit and spread the word even more dire.

“The number is actually running about 38 to 40 a day right now. The last time they done a study was [either] 2014 or 2016 I think, and that’s when they come up with 22 a day, I think. The number’s grown substantially.”

For veterans in crisis

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, please call 911. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. This information is beneath the first link on the We Are The 22 website.

If you or a veteran in Arkansas is in need of help, or need someone to talk to, the We Are The 22 crisis line is 1-855-932-7384.

Pinson reiterates, “We’re available 24/7/365. We can do a phone response to talk to somebody on the phone anytime of the day, anywhere in the world. We’ve had some responses in another country, and some in Europe. Call and reach out. We’re always here to help.”

“It’s okay to not be okay,” Pinson said. “We’re living in a society where we’re trying to break that stigma and spread awareness. Mental health is a big thing in the world. I’ll sit and talk to somebody else about my struggles any day of the week, and everybody in the organization will.”

Cossatot River, UA Cossatot to host Veterans Day programs      11/07/24

DE QUEEN – UA Cossatot will host its annual Veterans Day Breakfast on Monday, Nov. 11.

All area veterans are invited to come by the UA Cossatot De Queen campus between 8:30-10 a.m. that morning for a free breakfast and celebration of this most honorable holiday.

The college will also host the American Legion Post 54 Color Guard and feature patriotic music by the De Queen High School Choir.

State Representative DeAnn Vaught will be the event’s guest speaker. Breakfast will be all-you-can-eat. Door prizes will also be awarded. All veterans from the area are invited to attend.

The Cossatot River High School Future Farmers of America chapter will host its 11^th annual Veterans Day breakfast this Friday, Nov. 8.

All area veterans are invited to come by the Cossatot River Ag Building between 7:30-10:30 a.m. for a free breakfast prepared and served by Cossatot River FFA officers.

Closings for Veterans Day      11/07/24

DE QUEEN – Government offices, banks and some businesses will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day.

That includes the City of De Queen and the De Queen Police Department. The municipal trash pick-up schedule for the week of Nov. 11 will be as follows:

Monday will be picked up on Tuesday.

Tuesday will be picked up on Wednesday.

Thursday and Friday will remain the same.

In addition, the Sevier County Courthouse and Landfill will both be closed on Nov. 11 in observance of the holiday. These facilities will reopen with regular operating hours on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Sen. Boozman hosts Youth Cabinet, three De Queen students selected      11/07/24

LITTLE ROCK – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) launched the eighth year of his Congressional Youth Cabinet on Tuesday at the Old Statehouse Museum in Little Rock. The meeting brought together 114 high school juniors who were selected from public, private, charter and homeschool students across the state for their involvement and leadership in their communities. Among those attending were three from De Queen High School.

“The Congressional Youth Cabinet benefits Arkansas students and families as well as their communities by promoting a healthy public policy dialogue and developing the next generation of leaders in our state. I am pleased to welcome this group of bright young people to contribute their ideas and experiences as we explore legislative solutions to the issues that interest them most,” Boozman said. “Their enthusiasm for enhancing their own understanding of civic engagement and helping shape the future of our state and country is inspiring.”

The Congressional Youth Cabinet is a non-partisan program that gives students insight and experience with the legislative process. The students will attend meetings throughout the year and work in teams to select and research national issues. In the spring, the students will present their policy recommendations to the senator.

The following local students were selected to participate in the Congressional Youth Cabinet for the 2024-2025 school year:

Tristan Marrufo – De Queen

Kyle Williamson – De Queen

Miley Byler – De Queen

Rotary past district governor visits De Queen club      11/07/24

DE QUEEN – At the November 4 De Queen Rotary Club meeting at Micah 6:8, Past District Governor Emil Woerner of Bryant reviewed Rotary Basics for the local club members. The De Queen Rotary Club sponsored Woerner’s Bryant Club in 2006.

Woerner opened the meeting by presenting Polio Plus Society certificates and pins to Greg Revels and Z.Z. Kamruddin in appreciation of their $100 annual financial commitment to fight Polio until the dreaded disease is eradicated worldwide.

There are just a handful of Polio cases left. They’re centered in a mountainous region near the Pakistan and Afghanistan border where the terrain and political concerns make it difficult to get Polio vaccinations into the area.

The Bill Gates Foundation continues to match Rotary contributions two-to-one in the fight to eradicate Polio. The Rotary Polio Plus campaign is the world’s largest public health initiative ever. Since the inception of the Polio Plus campaign in 1985, more than 2.5 billion children have been vaccinated against the terrible disease.

Woerner reported that membership in Rotary has grown to 1.3 million members involved with 46,000 clubs around the globe.

The De Queen Club is part of District 6170 that encompasses south and western Arkansas.

Rotary was founded in Chicago back in 1905 by Paul Harris. The 2024-25 Rotary International President is Stephanie Urchick of Pennsylvania. Her theme for the year is: “Magic of Rotary”. The Rotary motto is: “Service Above Self”.

The Vision Statement of Rotary is: “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”

Rotary International has seven areas of focus: Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention; Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene; Maternal and Child Health; Basic Education and Literacy; Community Economic Development; and Environment.

Woerner was introduced by Rotarian Z.Z. Kamruddin, who arranged the program. Kamruddin, also a Rotary Past District Governor, currently serves as the Membership Attraction Committee Chairman at the district level.

Guests at Monday’s meeting included De Queen Mayor Jeff Brown, Quinn Smith of Bailey Discount Building Supply, Chloe Cunningham of the Arkansas Arts Council, and Vanessa Weeks, the Howard County Economic Development Director.

Upcoming activities that the De Queen Rotary Club will be involved with include: posting flags around Sevier County in honor of Veteran’s Day on November 11, collecting items for Operation Christmas Child boxes, and sponsoring the Club’s annual 5K run on the Pilgrims-sponsored walking trail at the Sevier County Medical Center on November 23.

Donald Trump wins presidential race, local incumbents overcome challengers      11/06/24

DE QUEEN – Donald Trump is set to be President of the United States again after an overwhelming win against Democratic challenger and current Vice President Kamala Harris Tuesday night.

Defying the odds, the 45th president is set to be the 47th after Trump’s stunning victory. He will be only the second U.S. president to serve two nonconsecutive terms. Supporters have described Trump’s win as the most incredible political comeback in American history.

As of Wednesday morning, Trump was leading 277 to 224 for Harris in regards to the electoral college votes. There were several swing states still counting ballots as of press deadline, but all were leaning towards Trump.

Voters in Sevier and Little River County both joined in their overwhelming support of Trump for the office. Of the 4,735 votes cast in Sevier County, 3,767 were for Trump (79.5 percent). Harris received 861. In Little River County, 3,737 votes were cast for Trump and 1076 for Harris.

In other federal races, Bruce Westerman was reelected to another term as the U.S. Representative for Arkansas’ 4th District.

In state elections, Republican Jimmy Hickey, Jr. has been reelected as the District 4 State Senator. Republican DeAnn Vaught was also reelected Tuesday night as the District 87 State Representative. She had been challenged by Libertarian Marc Rosson. She received just under 82 percent of the vote in Sevier County, totalling 3,871 votes to 720 for Rosson.

In Little River County, Vaught received 3,930 votes to 798 for Rosson.

Arkansas voters approved both Issue 1 and 2. Although Issue 3 was on the ballot, legal action blocked it from appearing officially e and any votes cast for it did not count.

Locally, it was a good night for incumbents as Lee Ann Pitchford narrowly won her reelection bid for the Ward 2, Pos. 1 seat on the De Queen City Council. She received 510 votes to 447 for her challenger, Elmyra Brown (53.3 to 46.7).

Roger Whitmore, the incumbent Justice of the Peace for District 5 on the Sevier County Quorum Court, won out over challenger Ethan Wolcott. Whitmore received 297 votes to 250 for Wolcott.

Sevier County Clerk Renea Bailey said voter turnout did not reach a record level – that was marked during the last presidential cycle, in 2020, when local voters approved Sevier County’s wet measure. However, early voting was incredibly strong this year with just under 41 percent of Sevier County voters casting their ballots early. Nearly 64 percent of Sevier County’s 7,404 registered voters turned out for this year’s election.

In Little River County, local races included for a seat on the Foreman City Council. In that race, Roger Quilty edged out George Rankin with 217 votes to 154. In the Foreman School Zone 1 race, Emily Buchanan took a narrow win with 110 votes to 107 for Jeremy Woods.

The Foreman Millage increase request was defeated 713-376.

Stacy Dowdy named new CEO of Sevier County Medical Center      11/06/24

DE QUEEN – The first hospital built in Arkansas in over 40 years now has a new administrator.

Last month, the Sevier County Medical Center Board of Governors approved Stacy Dowdy as the hospital’s new CEO. Dowdy had previously served as the Medical Center’s Chief Nursing Officer and, since June, as its interim CEO.

Dowdy is a graduate of Horatio High School and attended UA Cossatot as well as Arkansas State University, where she achieved both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. She worked for 10 years at a local physician’s clinic before transferring to Howard Memorial Hospital for five years. She and her husband, Wes, have two daughters.

Dowdy was hired as the Sevier County Medical Center’s chief nursing officer in October of 2021. In that capacity, she helped recruit staff and prepare the hospital for its opening in January of 2023.

Dowdy said her clinical background and familiarity with the area will be beneficial to her new role as the hospital’s lead administrator. Nonetheless, she realizes there will be more to learn and that the hospital’s challenges aren’t over.

“There are things that I don’t know, but I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and learn and stand beside the rest of our employees here and make this hospital the best that it can be,” she said. “We have to remember that this was the first brand new hospital built in our state in 40 years. There was no manual on how to do this and we’re learning every day.”

Like many involved with the hospital, Dowdy expressed cautious optimism regarding the sustainability of the Sevier County Medical Center. The hospital faced a financial crisis earlier this year. However, a number of cost-cutting measures were imposed and officials focused on raising revenue. Currently, the hospital is operating in positive fiscal territory, if just slightly.

Dowdy praised the support of local officials, the broader community and the hospital’s staff for ensuring its survival during those critical times. The hospital received hundreds of thousands in private donations and financial assistance from the county.

“We would not have been able to do that without the help of our quorum court, the [SCMC Foundation], members of this community. It was a beautiful thing to see all of those people come together because they didn’t wanna see the hospital struggle or to close. Having a critical access hospital in a rural community is very important and it can mean life or death in some situations.”

County and hospital officials have also praised the efforts by hospital employees to maintain a high standard of care even while staff levels were trimmed and salaries were reduced.

“Everybody has pulled together,” said Dowdy. “They’ve taken on multiple roles and pulled together. We could not have done it without the employees here and a lot of them have been here from the beginning as well. This is their home too and they want to see this hospital succeed.”

Dowdy was serving as interim CEO when a Legislative audit determined the hospital had properly used a $6.25 million federal pandemic-era grant received just before it opened its doors. The audit report was issued in September. It was an encouraging report, said Dowdy, just to demonstrate that the hospital was allocating funds under established guidelines. The Bee reported on that story in its Sept. 19 edition.

“We knew all along that it would be,” she said. “But, just having it out there that, hey, we’re cleared, the money was spent like it was supposed to, that’s just one more thing off of our shoulders as we try to turn this hospital around and make sure that it is a success.”

Dowdy also discussed the hospital’s future goals, such as its effort to convert to a non-profit critical access facility while also continuing to broaden the services it provides.

“We are in the midst of converting to a non-profit organization and in doing so, it’s going to open up some doors for state grants. And of course, we’re always looking for growth by adding on services and how to better serve our community.”

Sevier County DHS launches gift program for local foster kids      11/06/24

DE QUEEN – With the holiday season here, the Sevier County Department of Human Services is once again organizing its annual project to provide gifts to all area foster children in-need.

The agency is seeking the community’s help in ensuring all foster children in Sevier County receive a gift this Christmas.

In total, the department is providing serves over 50 Sevier County children in need – a figure that will likely raise by Christmas.

Organizers are asking anyone interested to contact them starting this week to request a child or children to sponsor this Christmas. The Department of Human Services will provide volunteers with information specific to each child. Gift cards are also welcome.

Those participating in the gift program are asked to turn their gifts in by Dec. 13. Participants are encouraged to wrap the gifts before dropping them off, though the office is able to assist if needed.

For more information, contact the Sevier County Children and Family Services staff at (870) 279-1731 or (870) 253-2539.

Listening area narrowly avoids tornadoes, severe weather      11/05/24

The listening area seems to have avoided significant damage following last night’s storm system which spawned tornadoes across Oklahoma and into Northwest Arkansas.

Video on social media appears to show a tornado between Idabel and Broken Bow in McCurtain County Monday evening, but the National Weather Service has yet to confirm the scale of the tornado. No major damages, injuries or fatalities have been