Polk County lifts burn ban, Sevier and Little River still prohibiting 11/01/24
Around half of Arkansas remains under a burn ban as of noon Friday, though some are lifting there’s following widespread rainfall on Oct. 31.
Polk County lifted its burn ban as of Oct. 31, according to the Arkansas Forestry Division. However, most other counties in Southwest Arkansas – including Sevier and Little River – remain under burn bans at this time.
Our rain gauge at the KDQN Studios measured just over one inch of rain between Thursday and Friday morning.
Three DHS students attend Sen. Boozman’s Youth Cabinet 11/01/24
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.
“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 hosts presentation by AEDC regional manager 11/01/24
DE QUEEN – At the Oct. 28 De Queen Rotary Club meeting at Micah 6:8, Arkansas Economic Development Commission Regional Manager for Community Development Dana Poindexter explained some of the activities that the state commission is focusing on and involved with.
Poindexter shared “Our mission statement is: At AEDC, we know economic advancement doesn’t happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success”.
The AEDC is part of the Department of Commerce, and Hugh McDonald is the Secretary of Commerce for the state.
Some of the divisions of the AEDC include: Business Development, Business Finance, Community Development, Grants, Military Affairs, Small Business Entrepreneurship, and Rural Services
Poindexter says that the AEDC is now placing a special emphasis on the Department of Workforce Services to make sure that it’s applicable to current industry needs. “80% of job growth annually comes from growth at existing industries”, Poindexter said.
Poindexter described economic development as selling a product. Community development makes that product more marketable and competitive by helping to make Arkansas communities a better place to live, own and operate a business, and creating a better opportunity for work.
“The AEDC is helping communities develop workforce training, improve infrastructure, enhance the business environment, create suitable sites and buildings, and promote local education efforts”, Poindexter said.
As of the end of September, the AEDC has seen 2023 new jobs created in Arkansas this year with a capital investment of more than $334 million. The average hourly wage in Arkansas is $25.77. The AEDC has assisted industries with 22 incentive packages in 2024, while the Arkansas unemployment rate sits at 3.3%, well below the national average of 4.2%.
In response to questions from Rotarians, Poindexter explained how with housing shortages, the AEDC participates in listening sessions with communities and tries to connect them with any state level resources or local contacts that may help address those challenges. Poindexter reported that the nearby Husqvarna plant in Nashville has been purchased by a property management firm. No list price for the buildings has been shared as yet. The AEDC has helped coordinate training for displaced Husqvarna employees.
Poindexter was introduced by Sevier County Economic Development Director Veronica Ozura, who arranged the program.
Guests at Monday’s meeting included Mayor Jeff Brown.
Club Secretary Tammy Huddleston reported that the Club earned $1,400 for community service projects in conjunction with the recent golf trip raffle sponsored by Hot Springs Village.
Other 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.
HHS Band’s state competition moved to Nov. 12 11/01/24
HORATIO – The Horatio Roaring Lion Marching band will now compete in the Class 3A State Marching Contest on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Originally this event would be held on Nov. 5, but due to rain chances the state contest committee decided to push the contest back a week. Horatio will still perform at 12:45 but instead of Nov. 5 it will be Nov. 12.
If you have already purchased your ticket it will be accepted for the new date. If you have any questions please contact Mr. Stover at jstover@horatioschools.org.
In a message from Horatio Public Schools, the district thanked members of the Lions family for their continued support of the HHS Band!
October Weather Summary for listening area 11/01/24
DE QUEEN – The month of October was extremely dry, bringing county-wide burn bans back into effect. No measurable precipitation was recorded in October until the final day of the month. On Halloween, 0.59 inches of rain was recorded bringing our total precipitation for 2024 up to 39.44 inches.
The coolest morning in October was 35 degrees recorded on the 16th, 17th, and 18th. The hottest afternoon was 90 degrees on the 6th.
Bunyard Broadcasting, Inc. is the official reporting station for the National Weather Service in De Queen.
Story Creek Church hosting Grief Share event on Sunday 11/01/24
GriefShare: Surviving the Holidays is a helpful, encouraging seminar for people facing the holidays after a loved one’s death. Organizers invite all those interested to join them this Sunday, Nov. 3 from 2-4 p.m. at Story Creek Baptist Church located at 231 US-71 Suite #11 (Dogwood Plaza) in De Queen.
The seminar is free of charge. The Survival Guide is a suggested but not required $7 donation. The first fifteen registered will be gifted a Survival Guide.
The seminar features video interviews with counselors, grief experts, and other people who have experienced the holidays after their loved one’s death and who offer practical suggestions and reassurance.
Those attending will gain insight and be prepared for:
·Surprising emotions that may hit over the holidays
·What to do about traditions and other coming changes
·How to handle holiday parties and invitations
·How to survive potentially awkward moments with other people
·Where to find comfort, strength, and hope in a seemingly hopeless time
Attendees will encounter a warm, friendly atmosphere and receive a Survival Guide filled with practical tips, encouraging words, journaling ideas, and exercises for daily help throughout the holiday season.
For more information and to pre-register, you can visit our Story Creek Baptist Church Facebook page or call/text 479-216-3752.
UAEX hosting AI seminar in Hope 11/01/24
By Ryan McGeeney/UAEX
HOPE – Cattle producers looking to learn new skills, brush up on old ones or just expand their beef cattle operations are invited to attend an artificial insemination course Nov. 7-8 in Hope. Registration is $450, due Nov. 4.
The beef cattle course includes in-depth instruction on estrous synchronization, semen handling, pregnancy determination methods and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to practice artificial insemination techniques on live cattle.
The two-day event will take place at the Southwest Research & Extension Center, located at 457 S. Nip-n-Tuck Circle in Hope, Arkansas. The course will begin at 8 a.m. each day. The $450 registration includes lunch.
Charles Looney, extension genetic improvement specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the course will help participants approach cattle management as a holistic business.
“This workshop is more than just an A.I. school,” Looney said. “Of course we train you to artificially inseminate cows, but participants will be exposed to much more in cattle management, such as record keeping, nutrition and herd health.”
Individuals with questions about the seminar should contact Looney at clooney@uada.edu or (870)826-3880.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
Mayor Jeff Brown
State Representative DeAnn Vaught
State Senator Jimmy Hickey
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge
US Senator John Booman
US Representative Bruce Westerman
Previously Reported
Mena man arrested for fatal hit-and-run 10/31/24
MENA – The Arkansas State Police (ASP) arrested a Mena man earlier this week in connection with the hit-and-run cyclist fatality that occurred Oct. 24 in Mena. Darius Sims, 25, was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Personal Injury or Death.
Levi Augusta Givens, 19, of Benton, was killed in the accident.
ASP Special Agents identified the driver with evidence collected at the scene and surveillance footage from cameras in the area.
On Thursday, Oct. 24 around 9:30 p.m., ASP responded to a report of a hit-and-run fatality involving a cyclist traveling on State Highway 8 East near State Highway 375 and Lorelei Way.
Small town pharmacies at risk from PBM undercutting 10/31/24
DE QUEEN – Arkansas lawmakers are taking action against companies accused of reimbursing independent pharmacies below minimum legal rates for their drug costs.
Last month, the Arkansas Legislative Council Executive Subcommittee signed an emergency rule allowing the state to fine pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) up to $5,000 per violation of payments below the national average drug acquisition cost. The Arkansas Insurance Department has already levied nearly $1.5 million in fines against violating PBMs.
PBMs are third-party companies that manage prescription drug benefits for health insurance companies, employers, and other payers, acting as intermediaries between insurance companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers in setting prices for prescription medications.
An official with the Arkansas Insurance Department testified at the legislative subcommittee hearing that the agency was receiving up to 1,600 complaints each day from independent pharmacies.
Renee Logan, owner of Harris Drug & Gifts in De Queen, said the practice by certain PBMs has had dire consequences on smaller, locally-owned pharmacies.
“It's impacted all independent pharmacies nationwide,” she said. “There are pharmacies closing on a daily basis and it's due to these reimbursements. When we're getting paid less than what we have to pay for the medication, it's hard to pay bills.”
Falling reimbursement rates have also impacted retail pharmacy chains like Walgreens and Walmart. For pharmacies that operate on razor-thin margins, like Logan's business, the below-cost reimbursement rates are unsustainable.
“It's a very unfair practice, what these PBMs are doing, when the costs of medications are going up continually like the cost of everything else,” she said. “Yet, their reimbursement to us is consistently going down. It means there's a bigger gap in what we're paying for the medication and what they're paying us.”
Logan detailed more than 7,000 under-cost violations by PBMs against her pharmacy alone so far this year.
“They may range from just a few cents under our costs to $70 or $80,” she said. “It's not just me, it's every pharmacy.”
Logan said she's cautiously optimistic that recent action by Arkansas lawmakers will force PBMs to correct their reimbursement practices.
“Arkansas has been very proactive, one of the better states fighting against the PBMs,” she said. “But it seems like every time the state has [a disciplinary measure] these PBMs find a loophole or just ignore it, and it's hard to get it enforced.”
Logan anticipates the executive rule authorized in September will further highlight the abusive practices by PBMs.
“It will help the state insurance commissioner look into the PBMs' books and give some transparency to see exactly what they're doing,” she said. “They should have fines on top of fines. There's no telling how much [PBMs] will have to pay back.”
Logan said it's vital PBMs begin reimbursing drug costs at mandated minimum levels. Otherwise, she fears communities are at risk of losing their local pharmacies.
“Hopefully it's soon because every pharmacy is struggling to keep their lights on and their doors open right now. That shouldn't be,” she said. “I told someone the other day that I never in my life dreamed that owning a pharmacy would mean thinking about a second job to pay my bills. But that's the reality right now, especially for independent, small town pharmacies.”
Logan said her business has weathered the impact so far thanks to continued support from her customers. She hopes she'll continue to be here for them and anyone preferring a small town pharmacy like hers.
“People don't want to be forced to go to big-box pharmacies. I have so many good customers who are so loyal to me. You don't want to have to send them elsewhere.”
Logan said the community can help by contacting their elected representatives and ensuring these concerns are echoed until the issue is resolved.
Arkansas lawmakers have discussed their next steps if PBMs refuse to pay fines or comply with state law. One potential measure includes increasing dispensary costs to address the financial shortfalls facing pharmacies. The issue is expected to receive more attention when the legislature returns to session in 2025.
Host of Halloween events this evening in listening area 10/31/24
SEVIER COUNTY – Today is Halloween and there a host of local spooktacular events this evening for all those ghosts, goblins, princesses, ninjas and other trick-or-treaters.
That includes the Sevier County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Trick-or-Treat on the Square in downtown De Queen from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Businesses are welcome to set up from 4-4:30 p.m.
In addition, this evening the Cossatot River High School and Cossatot Arts and Crafts Association will present the final night of their Haunted House at the Cossatot Arts Center from 6-10 p.m. The Haunted House is being held in the historic King Schoolhouse at 102 King School Road, just south of Gillham. Cost is $10 for those 13 and up, and $5 for those five to 12-years-old. Concessions will be available.
The sixth annual De Queen Trunk-or-Treat is also scheduled for this evening, from 5-7 p.m. at the De Queen Sportsplex. Follow the De Queen Trunk or Treat page for more information.
Trunk-or-treat events are also being held this evening at the De Queen Church of Christ, Kern Heights Baptist Church and the Horatio High School parking lot (6-8 p.m.).
In Little River County, the Little River Chamber of Commerce will present a Trunk-or-Treat and Family Movie Night this evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Ashdown City Park. The event will include a bouncy house, popcorn, kid pumpkin contest, a (not-so-scary) Halloween movie and a Trunk-or-Treat event.
Sevier County Library Snippets 10/31/24
By Johnye Fisher, Sevier County Head Librarian
November brings lots of helping the communities of Sevier County.
Our Annual Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive is Nov. 1-30. Fred Rogers began the Drive in 1997 as a way to encourage neighborly spirit. Arkansas PBS and Libraries across the state will collect new and gently worn sweaters and winter clothing to share with those in need. Donate hats, scarves, gloves, sweaters, coats, socks, blankets in the month of November.
November is also Food for Fines month for the Library System. Bring any non-perishable food item into the library for a one-dollar reduction per item for overdue fines. We can take donations as well but we cannot accept any items that are expired.
Facts about this November: Daylight Savings Day ends Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. so don’t forget to set your clocks back. Nov. 5 is Election Day. If you haven’t early voted get out there and vote. Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. Thank a veteran for their service! Nov. 28 is Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy family, and friends.
Our after school programming will be a Thanksgiving Story Time Nov. 14 at 4 p.m.
Horatio Library
Thanks to a generous donation, the Horatio Library has many new puzzles for the community puzzle table. Come take a look and choose one to begin. Each Thursday from 3:30-5 p.m. the library will sponsor story time with puppets or reading with Lucas, the Library Dog. A box will be set up near the front of the library for this year’s Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive.
Lockesburg Library
Mz. Wendy at the Lockesburg Library says she has a host of exciting events lined up this November. Keep abreast of our programming on the Lockesburg Library’s Facebook and join us for a month full of learning, fun, and community spirit. Call the Lockesburg Library at (870) 289-2233.
Gillham Library
The Gillham Library will also be collecting new and gently worn sweaters, coats, gloves or toboggans for the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive. We will be having a Story Time Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m. and come by to find out How to Catch a Turkey!
We have Notary services, computers for you to use and make copies, and dominoes every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come on by and see us at 207 W. Second Street in Gillham and for more info call (870) 386-5665.
Accident in Sevier County claims life, leaves two injured 10/29/24
SEVIER COUNTY – A single-vehicle accident claimed the life of a De Queen man over the weekend.
According to the Arkansas State Police, on Oct. 27 61-year-old Alti Lewillon of De Queen was the passenger of a vehicle traveling south on the west end of Johnson Bridge Road when it crossed Highway 70, failed to stop and struck a tree on the south side of the highway. Lewillon was ejected from the vehicle, which then caught on fire.
Two other people, identified as a 33-year-old man and 52-year-old man, both of De Queen, were injured in the accident. Both were transported to the Sevier County Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.
The accident occurred around 5:30 Sunday morning.
The investigating state trooper reported road conditions as clear and dry at the time of the accident.
Longtime mayor of Horatio, Borden Neel, passes 10/29/24
HORATIO – The longtime mayor of Horatio and a beloved member of the community passed away last week, poignantly on his birthday.
Sidney Borden Neel, age 77, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 24 at his home. Neel was the current mayor of Horatio, a position he held for a combined total of 26 years.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the City of Horatio praised Neel for his commitment to both his community and town:
“With heavy hearts, we share the passing of our dear Mayor Borden Neel, a devoted leader, husband, father and grandfather. He was a friend to all that knew him and fiercely loved our community.
In our small community, Mayor Borden Neel was more than just our mayor – he was family. His deep love for our town showed in every decision he made and every hand he shook. Together with his beloved wife, Debbie Neel, who worked alongside him at City Hall, they dedicated themselves to serving and caring for each of us.
We will miss his kindness, his warmth, and his unwavering commitment to our town. Our prayers are with his wife and family during this difficult time. As a community, we will come together to remember and honor his legacy in the days ahead.”
The following is Neel’s obituary:
Sidney Borden Neel was born October 24, 1947, in De Queen, Arkansas. He was a plumber by trade, was the superintendent for the City of Horatio, was retired as a rural letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, served seven years on the Horatio City Council and 26 years as mayor of Horatio. He headed the Horatio Library project, the Edmonson Center, the City Park, Hendrix Field, The Shed, and the Horatio Museum. He was a cattleman, rancher, and farmer and enjoyed cooking, sharing his food, and working in the garden. He was baptized in the Horatio Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Sidney Neel, Jr. and Nora Willie Borden Neel.
Borden is survived by his wife, Debbi Neel; two daughters and sons-in-law, Leslie and Scott Dixon of Fouke, Arkansas, and Sydney and Coy Arnold of Ward, Arkansas; a son and daughter-in-law, Jamey and Renda Lindsey of Horatio; beloved mother of his children, Anita Billingsley of Little River Club; his grandchildren, Jacob and Heather Sims, Ben and Anna Speight, Grace Speight and Will Strickland, Mackenzie and Dustin Grammer, Morgyn Lindsey, Wyatt Lindsey, Chloe Arnold, and Cade Arnold; great-grandchildren, Hallie Sims, William Grammer, Stetson Dixon, Ryder Brown and Bentlee Brown; honorary son, Lloyd Hardaway; honorary grandchildren, Austin Plotner and Sarah Azua; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Neel will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 1, 2024, in the Horatio First Baptist Church with Coy Arnold and Jamey Lindsey officiating.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m., one hour before the service, at the church.
A host of events planned this Halloween across listening area 10/29/24
This Thursday is Halloween and there a host of spooktacular events planned locally that evening for all those ghosts, goblins, princesses, ninjas and other trick-or-treaters.
That includes the Sevier County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Trick-or-Treat on the Square in downtown De Queen from 4:30-5:30 p.m. this Thursday. Businesses are welcome to set up from 4-4:30 p.m.
In addition, Thursday evening the Cossatot River High School and Cossatot Arts and Crafts Association will present the final night of their Haunted House at the Cossatot Arts Center from 6-10 p.m. The Haunted House is being held in the historic King Schoolhouse at 102 King School Road, just south of Gillham. Cost is $10 for those 13 and up, and $5 for those five to 12-years-old. Concessions will be available.
The sixth annual De Queen Trunk-or-Treat is also scheduled Thursday evening, from 5-7 p.m. at the De Queen Sportsplex. Follow the De Queen Trunk or Treat page for more information.
Trunk-or-treat events will be held Halloween night at the De Queen Church of Christ, Kern Heights Baptist Church and the Horatio High School parking lot (6-8 p.m.).
In Little River County, the Little River Chamber of Commerce will present a Trunk-or-Treat and Family Movie Night on Halloween from 6-8 p.m. at the Ashdown City Park. The event will include a bouncy house, popcorn, kid pumpkin contest, a (not-so-scary) Halloween movie and a Trunk-or-Treat event.
ASP investigating fatal hit-and-run in Polk County 10/28/24
POLK COUNTY – On Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, around 9:30 p.m., Arkansas State Police (ASP) responded to a report of a hit-and-run fatality involving an 18-year-old male cyclist traveling on State Highway 8 East near State Highway 375 and Lorelei Way.
The cyclist is believed to have been traveling westbound in the center of the lane when an unknown vehicle struck him. The victim’s bicycle became lodged under the vehicle and dragged approximately 20 to 30 yards before being dislodged.
Anyone with information about this incident should call ASP Troop K Dispatch at (501) 767-8550.
Rain finally on the horizon following weeks of drought-like conditions, high wildfire risk 10/28/24
DE QUEEN – The listening area is expected to receive rain for the first time in weeks, hopefully reducing the extreme wildfire risk across Arkansas.
Sevier County and the broader region has a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms on Wednesday and 90 percent that evening, according to the National Weather Service. Additional chances between 20 and 60 percent are currently predicted between Thursday and Sunday.
Fingers crossed the region receives enough rain to help remedy the extreme wildfire risk across the region and state. Sevier, Little River, Polk, Howard and McCurtain Counties all remain under burn bans at this time. In fact, as of Monday morning, all of Arkansas save the northeast corner are currently under burn bans.
According to the Arkansas Forestry Division, an extreme wildfire risk means fires start quickly, spread furiously and burn intensely. Every fire started has the potential to become large. Officials warn that wildlifes can exhibit extreme and erratic behavior.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, which oversees protection of more than 15 million acres of forestland in Arkansas, said that since Oct. 1, it has suppressed more than 100 wildfires on 1,116 acres. Since the beginning of the year, more than 700 wildfires have burned 15,000 acres in Arkansas.
Early voting continues across Arkansas this week 10/28/24
DE QUEEN – Today marks the second week of early voting ahead of next Tuesday's General and Nonpartisan Elections.
Early voting continues from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Friday, Nov. 1, as well as from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 2., and for a final day on Monday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Voters in Sevier County can cast their early ballots at the Community Building in De Queen's Herman Dierks Park while early voting in Little River County is taking place at the Little River County Election Center located at 349 N. Third street in Ashdown.
Howard County voters can early vote at the Carter Day Training Center in Nashville.
Polls will be open on Election Day from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Arkansas voters are reminded they can cast their ballot at any polling location in their county on Election Day, regardless of which precinct they reside in.
Locally, voters will decide a race on the De Queen City Council between incumbent Ward 2, Position 1 councilwoman Lee Ann Pitchford and challenger Elmyra Brown.
In addition, incumbent Roger Whitmore has been challenged by Ethan Wolcott for the position of District 5 Justice of the Peace on the Sevier County Quorum Court.
In state elections, DeAnn Vaught, the Republican incumbent Arkansas Representative for House District 87, has been challenged by Libertarian candidate Marc Rosson. In the State Senate, Republican incumbent Jimmy Hickey, Jr. is being challenged by Lonny Goodwin, who is running as a Libertarian.
The only statewide race is for Arkansas State Treasurer: Republican incumbent John Thurston has been challenged by Democratic candidate John Pagan and Libertarian candidate Michael Pakko. There is also a race for State Supreme Court Justice Position 1 between Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Karen Baker and Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood.
Nationally, U.S. Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) is seeking re-election against a bid by Democratic challenger Risie Howard.
Finally, voters will also be deciding a new president this election cycle. The race features Republican challenger and former U.S. President Donald J. Trump and current Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. A slew of third party candidates are running, as well. Trump’s vice presidential pick is JD Vance while Harris has chosen Tim Walz.
Sevier County Library Food for Fines, Sweater Drive begins Friday 10/28/24
DE QUEEN – November is nearly here and that means a couple of things: Thanksgiving is just around the corner and so is the Sevier County Library System’s annual Food for Fines program.
Through this yearly initiative, patrons are invited to bring in any nonperishable food item for a one dollar reduction per item in existing overdue fines. Food accepted for fines are for returned library materials only, not for replacement fees of lost or damaged items. The program is part of the library system’s annual effort to address food insecurity in Sevier County, according to Head Librarian Johnye Fisher.
All libraries in Sevier County are participating again this year.
The library system is also once again taking part in the 2024 Mister Rogers Sweater Drive in partnership with Arkansas PBS and Walmart.
The public is encouraged to donate new and gently-used sweaters, coats, jackets, scarves, gloves and other cold-weather clothing articles at any library in Sevier County (De Queen, Horatio, Lockesburg and Gillham). The drive kicks off Nov. 1 and continues through Nov. 30. Every sweater collected will be donated through The Salvation Army of Arkansas or local charities.
Fred Rogers began the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive in 1997 as a way to encourage the neighborly spirit. For more information on this annual effort to help those less fortunate keep warm during the colder months, visit https://www.myarkansaspbs.org/sweater-drive
In other upcoming library events, Fisher is reminding kids in Sevier County that the library system will host a Thanksgiving Story Time event beginning at 4 p.m. on Nov. 14 in the De Queen Library.
For more information, call the De Queen Library at (870) 584-4364.
KDQN Pumpkin Contest entries due today 10/28/24
The KDQN's second annual Pumpkin Carving Contest is now under way. There is absolutely no cost to enter and the contest is open to all ages. All pumpkins must be dropped off here at your number one country studios by 4 p.m. today. Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. Winners will be announced tomorrow morning on the Morning Brew show.
Access reopens at Millwood Lake as AGFC knocks back invasive plant 10/28/24
By Jim Harris
Arkansas Wildlife
Boat traffic has resumed in areas of Millwood Lake that were affected by the discovery of Cuban bulrush, an aquatic invasive plant, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s southwest region fisheries office.
Dylan Hann, AGFC district fisheries supervisor in Perrytown, said a containment boom to restrict the movement of floating pieces of Cuban bulrush near the Millwood State Park access, were modified so boaters can drive through it and reach spots to fish. It’s like a floating oil containment boom used with spills, and this one has been shaped to let boaters navigate through it while preventing the plant from spreading outside of the cove. “It’s similar to the containment that we have at boat ramps on Lake Columbia to prevent another invasive floating plant, giant salvinia, from congregating at the boat ramp and spreading to new waters” he said.
A contractor has sprayed the areas with Cuban bulrush twice this month, Hann said. This has helped knock the plant back, Hann added.
The plant “does produce seeds, so it’s likely going to produce new plants from the seed bank next spring. We’re going to work closely with the Millwood Corps of Engineers staff to make sure we stay on top of it. If we can knock it back next year before it produces seeds, we can get ahead of it,” he said.
Cuban bulrush looks like other aquatic grasses and sedges for much of the year, then around July to August it produces very noticeable seed heads that make it stand out as something clearly different from other lake vegetation. Millwood Lake also has mats of alligatorweed that the AGFC is treating through contractor spraying, and Cuban bulrush has been found growing on top of the alligatorweed, Hann noted. Cuban bulrush is a floating plant and is commonly found growing on top of other floating or emergent aquatic vegetation. It can quickly choke out shallow areas, creating dense floating mats that can block boating and fishing access and displace native native plants that are beneficial to native fish and wildlife, he added.
Cuban bulrush was likely transported to Millwood Lake from another waterbody unknowingly, by plant fragments or seeds hitching a ride on boats or trailers, which is how most invasive aquatic plants are spread to new waters.
The boating and angling public can help with stopping the spread of this and other aquatic invasive species by practicing: “Clean, Drain and Dry.” The public is urged to clean their boat, trailer and equipment after each use, completely drain all water from the boat and all compartments, and dry thoroughly. Also, the public is urged to keep an eye out for any suspicious plants (native or not) and report them to your local fisheries biologists. Be sure to note the location of the sighting and take a photo that includes the roots, leaves and flowers.
If you suspect you’ve come across an invasive aquatic plant, please report it online at www.agfc.com/ans. Reports are used to help AGFC rapidly respond to contain and eradicate, if possible, new invasive species introductions before they can spread and establish.
The discovery of Cuban bulrush in Millwood was made only when an AGFC biologist doing bass sampling recently noticed the unusual pods in the aquatic vegetation.
“There are areas of the lake in expansive backwater sloughs that have Cuban bulrush with no way to effectively contain them with containment booms,” Hann said. “One advantage we had with the state park is it’s an isolated place where there isn’t any Cuban bulrush immediately outside that boom along the dam or along the northwest bank leaving the state park, so we were just trying to keep that area contained,” Hann said.
“The booms are there to help catch floating vegetation. We want it to be contained there and not drift to other parts in the lake. We put out 800 feet of containment boom at the state park.”
Robert Martinez to be inducted into new Arkansas Latino Hall of Fame tonight 10/24/24
NORTH LITTLE ROCK – A Sevier County man is one of just a handful of Arkansans who will be inducted into the inaugural 2024 Arkansas Latino Hall of Fame during a special ceremony this evening in North Little Rock.
Robert Martinez, a rancher residing between De Queen and Horatio, was announced earlier this year as one of five inductees to the new program. Martinez has been progressively realizing his dreams since moving from Chicago in 1980. Inspired by Arkansas’s “Land of Opportunity” slogan, he settled between Horatio and De Queen, embracing a dramatic lifestyle change from city to rural life.
Martinez faced challenges, including establishing credit and credibility, but his perseverance led to significant achievements in agriculture. In 1987, his family was honored as the Sevier County Farm Family of the Year, and later that year, they won the district title.
Martinez’s success inspired many, and today, Sevier County boasts the highest number of Latino farmers in Arkansas. Martinez brings valuable insights into agriculture and regional industry to the many boards he has served and is currently serving such as Little Rock Federal Reserve Board of Directors, University of Arkansas Cossatot Board of Visitors, and Christus St. Michael Hospital to name a few.
His role includes economic research, policy input, and community development. Martinez also owns Rancho La Esperanza and serves on the Board of Visitors for Cossatot Community College, the Arkansas Farm Bureau, and the Sevier County Farm Service Agency. He played a key role in integrating Cossatot Community College into the UofA system.
The Arkansas Latino Hall of Fame, an initiative by the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, stands as a testament to Arkansas’ cultural richness and community engagement. This groundbreaking event will annually bring together leaders, visionaries, and community members to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Latinos who have significantly contributed to the cultural, economic, and social tapestry of Arkansas.
Through compelling storytelling, vibrant performances, and a shared sense of pride, this ceremony will not only honor individual accomplishments but also serve as a catalyst for building bridges, fostering understanding, and creating a more connected and vibrant community for all.
Martinez will be officially inducted during a ceremony tonight at the Wyndam Riverfront in North Little Rock.
Several dozen Sevier County residents are expected to attend and the induction will be viewable on a PBS livestream.
Martinez and the other four inductees were selected out of a total of 56 nominations. He was chosen for his dedication to his community through his volunteer work and service.
DHS Class of '64 and '65 donate to Christmas 911 program 10/24/24
DE QUEEN – The 1964 and 1965 Classes of De Queen High School recently demonstrated their commitment to giving back to their community. At their recent reunion, held on Oct. 12, alumni raised $500 in funds to donate to Christmas 911, an organization headed by the De Queen Fire and Police Departments that spreads holiday cheer to those in need.
The reunion began with a gathering at The East Room in downtown De Queen, where classmates reconnected and shared memories. Later, they enjoyed dinner together at Mary Pop’s to continue their celebration.
Members of the 1964 and ‘65 Classes said the donation reflects the lasting spirit of community and compassion that defines De Queen High School’s alumni, and hopefully sets a shining example for future generations.
Christmas 911 will utilize these funds to bring joy and support to local families during the holiday season.
Horatio Marching Band earns trip to state competition 10/24/24
HORATIO – A huge congrats are in order for the Horatio Lions Band, who earned a trip to state after an amazing performance earlier this week.
Since late July and early August the Horatio Roaring Lion Marching Band has worked very hard to rehearse and perform their 2024 competition show entitled “A 70s Soundtrack.” Tuesday night the band performed in ASBOA Region II Marching Assessment and received a Division II (Excellent Rating) in Region Performance. Horatio has once again qualified to compete in the Class 3A Arkansas State Marching Assessment that will be held at War Memorial on November 5th.
“As a first year teacher I am more than proud of our students. I am thankful for each of them and I am very proud of the work that they have put in, and we still have more to do! Special thank you to the Horatio Band Boosters, Band Parents, and our Administration. It is a GREAT day to be a Horatio Lion!” – Mr. Stover
Deadline approaches for businesses to comply with CTA 10/24/24
By Drew Viguet
NALC/UAEX
FAYETTEVILLE – The deadline is fast approaching for many businesses across the country to file with the federal government.
The Corporate Transparency Act, or CTA, requires millions of small business entities to disclose details of their beneficial owners through a Beneficial Ownership Information, or BOI, report. The report is filed through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN.
The purpose of the CTA is to reduce financial crimes, such as money laundering, by taking stock of ownership information of businesses that operate within or have access to the U.S. market. The CTA is not new, having been enacted in 2021 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Its reporting requirements went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
Reporting companies must include information identifying “beneficial owners” of the business, including name, date of birth, address, and a copy of some specific forms of identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport.
In addition, companies created or registered after Jan. 1, 2024, must also include personal identifying information about the individuals responsible for the filing. Reporting is done entirely online.
Elizabeth Rumley, senior staff attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, said the CTA is a significant topic not just for those in agriculture, but also for all business owners.
“The CTA is an attempt at cataloguing a national corporate database that tracks U.S. business ownership,” Rumley said. “It’s one of the biggest topics that we have discussed with stakeholders this year, and its reach goes far beyond agriculture. The CTA impacts millions of the nation’s small business entities, and there are just over two months left to report.”
Rumley noted that there are potential significant consequences for failing to comply, including fines or imprisonment.
“There are certain entities that are exempt from filing, but the default assumption of small business owners should be to file, or confirm that they are exempted, by Dec. 31,” she said.
Getting the word out
As the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information, the NALC has made it a key part of its mission in 2024 to spread word of the CTA ahead of the December filing deadline. Part of that approach has been the creation of a CTA factsheet, which is available online on the NALC website. The factsheet was authored by former NALC Research Fellow Caitlin Robb and Rumley.
“Our goal with the factsheet was to condense everything that is known about the CTA — including its history, what it does, who it impacts, how to file, situation examples, and more — into a resource to refer to,” Rumley said. “Through our speaking events and engagements with stakeholders in 2024, we have realized that many have limited knowledge of the CTA or are unaware of it entirely.”
Earlier this year, the NALC also hosted a webinar covering details of the CTA. Kristine Tidgren, director of the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University, or CALT, presented the webinar, which is available to view online. Additionally, CALT has a webpage dedicated to information on the CTA.
“We understand there are many questions when it comes to the CTA,” Rumley said. “These resources should answer a lot of questions and point people in the right direction.”
Legal challenges
Numerous legal challenges regarding the CTA are pending. Recently, an Oregon federal court declined to issue a preliminary injunction in a case where the plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of the CTA.
In March, a federal district court in Alabama ruled that the CTA is unconstitutional, granting plaintiffs in the case summary judgement as a matter of law. The ruling suspended enforcement of the CTA in regard to some specific parties.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in an appeal of that decision on Sept. 27. That process will likely not alter the deadline for businesses to file.
With the deadline to file just around the corner, those who still need to file should plan accordingly, Rumley said.
“The end of the year is approaching fast,” Rumley said. “It’s important to learn more about whether the filing requirements apply to your business, and then make a plan for meeting those obligations to avoid potential consequences.”
Southwest Arkansas' very own legend, the Fouke Monster 10/24/24
With Halloween a week away, we thought there was no better time to take a look at some of the haunted and just plain creepy parts of our corner of the state.
In this local legend, we’re going to look a little further south, at the swamps of Southern Arkansas where for decades something, so it’s been said, has been lurking, hiding and only occasionally making its presence known.
The swamps of Southern Arkansas are a notoriously wild and almost impenetrable expanse. It’s a land seemingly almost forgotten to time itself. And there, around the town of Fouke and the surrounding wilderness, something mysterious and terrifying is said to live.
I speak, of course, of the Fouke Monster. The story of the Fouke monster spans five decades with initial sightings in the early 1970s. The creature is most commonly associated with the bigfoot or Sasquatch of American folklore. A hairy, bipedal seven-foot tall ape-like creature said to have, oddly, three-toes, the Fouke monster has had many run-ins with residents of southern Miller County – if you believe the stories.
The monster came to some fame after it reportedly attacked a man and in his family at their home. Sightings increased from there, with the creature blamed for multiple deaths of large animals in the area. One farmer claimed to see the Fouke Monster run off with a pair of 200lbs hogs tucked under its arms.
Soon after, a series of cheesy docudrama films were made and helped carry the legend of the Fouke Monster to audiences across the nation. I’ve seen the first two movies and they’re full of… um, heart. Nonetheless, the Legend of the Boggy Creek monster was the 10th highest grossing film of 1972. Americans, after all, do love a good Bigfoot tale. Here’s a clip from the movie detailing one of the first reported encounters with the Fouke Monster.
Although most encounters with the Fouke Monster have been peaceful, those who claim to have seen it don’t recommend visiting the surrounding woods alone. Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped the creature from becoming Fouke’s most famous residents. An annual festival is held to celebrate the creature and its legacy in southern Arkansas. The Fouke Monster Mart is a great place to see some history on the monster and maybe even talk to a local or two who claim to have seen it.
And in case you’re wondering, sightings of the Fouke Monster and related kin have been reported aren’t just centered in Miller County. Obviously, the creature doesn’t care much for county lines. Sightings have been reported right here in Sevier County, mostly in the bottoms of Pond Creek. A few folks around the Little River and Rolling Fork rivers have helped make the legend more local with their own sightings of the monster. That includes one story regaled to me a few years back.
A few hunters checking their deer feeder near the Rolling Fork River at the beginning of archery season found the feeder smashed to bits and dragged hundreds of feet from its location. They’re adamant it wasn’t hogs but something much bigger, much scarier and, likely, much hairier. I’ll leave it up to you to decide. But one thing’s certain – talk to someone who’s claimed to have seen the monster and you’ll feel a chill down your spine. And you might just be left wondering if there’s a lot more mystery in them woods than what we know – or even want to believe.
Defendant in Lansdell Family Clinic case scheduled for change-of-plea hearing Nov. 4 10/23/24
TEXARKANA – A change of plea hearing is set for the owner of a local healthcare clinic shut down in 2021 following a federal investigation into claims of conspiracy to distribute opioids and financial fraud.
Tawnya Lee Lansdell was scheduled to appear in court for a jury trial on Nov. 4. Instead, she is now expected to appear in court that day for a change-of-plea hearing. Lansdell has maintained a plea of not guilty since charges were filed against her.
Lansdell was among a number of associated nurse practitioners and pharmacists arraigned in federal court in Texarkana in 2022 on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose.
A superseding indictment filed in April of 2022 added allegations of healthcare fraud and wire fraud related to federal pandemic relief funds.
The only defendant named in the superseding indictment in count one – which alleges conspiracy to distribute opioids – who is also accused of fraud is the lead defendant and owner of Lansdell Family Clinics, Tawnya Lee Lansdell.
Lansdell Family Clinic PLLC and Lansdell Farms LLC were also charged in the superseding indictment in counts alleging fraud. The farm is located in Little River County.
Lansdell's co-defendants include Wendy Wynette Gammon, Shelly Rae Eastridge and Bonita Lois Martin. Their pretrial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12.
Federal prosecutors claim the defendants “knowingly and intentionally conspired to possess with intent to distribute Schedule II controlled substances, hydrocodone and oxycodone, and other Schedule II, III and IV controlled substances, without an effective prescription.”
The dates these offenses are alleged to have occurred range from January 2019 to May 2021 at Lansdell Family Clinics and partnering pharmacies in De Queen, Dierks, Lockesburg and Texarkana.
That investigation came to light in May of 2021 after the DEA received information from the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office over the potential illegal distribution of opioids at these locations. DEA agents raided several area Lansdell Family Clinic locations as well as Pruett’s Pharmacy. No arrests were made at the time but agents seized computers, documents and other items related to the investigation.
Prosecutors are seeking prison time in addition to asset forfeiture of property obtained as a result of the alleged drug trafficking and wire fraud as well as a monetary judgment totaling $325,000.
Most of Arkansas now under high risk for wildfires 10/23/24
DE QUEEN – With most of Arkansas at high risk of wildfires, state officials are asking the public to avoid outdoor burning.
As of Wednesday morning, the Arkansas wildfire map showed over 60 counties at high risk, with 11 counties, all in northeastern Arkansas, at moderate risk. County judges have imposed burn bans in most of the high-risk counties. Those include Sevier, Little River, Polk and Howard Counties.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s Oct 17 map, almost two-thirds of the state’s 75 counties are experiencing moderate to extreme drought. The most intense drought is in five northwest Arkansas counties.
“This weekend kicks off the traditional gun deer season across Arkansas and many people will be traveling to deer camp,” Jaret Rushing, extension forestry instructor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said Wednesday. “Deer camp usually consists of campfires, so it’s important that people keep in mind the danger.”
Among the outdoor burning activities to avoid include:
Burning trash
Open flame grilling
Prescribed burns
Campfires.
Sparks from lawn mower blades, trailer safety chains, hot exhaust pipes and driving on a flat tire can also start a wildfire.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, which oversees protection of more than 15 million acres of forestland in Arkansas, said that since Oct. 1, it has suppressed more than 100 wildfires on 1,116 acres. Since the beginning of the year, more than 700 wildfires have burned 15,000 acres in Arkansas.
The department urged anyone involved in outdoor activities to carry water and extinguish sparks from muzzleloader guns or machinery.
Jacob Hackman, extension forestry specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said starting a fire could be expensive.
“You may be liable for damages caused by an escaped forest fire,” he said.
Arkansas net farm income expected to decline, again 10/23/24
By Mary Hightower/UAEX
Arkansas’ net farm income is projected to decline for the second straight year, a fall cushioned slightly by lower input costs, the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center said in its latest report.
The center, working with agricultural economists from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said in its “Fall 2024 Arkansas Farm Income Outlook” that Arkansas’ 2024 net farm income is expected to drop by 10 percent from 2023 levels and reach $2.96 billion.
Arkansas' net farm income is expected to see a $1.06 billion drop from its 2022 record-high levels. The report also compares the projected 10 percent reduction in state net farm income to the projected 6.2 percent decline in the U.S. net farm income projected by Mizzou’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute.
“Fertilizer and pesticides and fuel oils are going to decline by 9 percent year over year,” said Ryan Loy, extension economist for the Division of Agriculture. “These markets are finally stabilizing. They're coming off these market shocks from COVID, the supply chain issues, the trucker strikes in Canada, and the Ukraine war is kind of baked into the market now.”
The report said total production expenses are estimated to decline 5 percent in 2024, as fertilizer, feed and fuel expenses retreat. An additional 5 percent decrease in production expenses is forecasted for 2025.
Unfortunately, “the decrease in fertilizer, pesticides, fuel oils, and feed expenses are offset by the increase in purchased livestock expenses, which amount to a rise of $1.34 billion in 2025,” Loy said.
Cash receipts
Farm cash receipts represent the total revenue a farm receives from the sale of its agricultural products, government program payments, and private insurance payments.
The report said that in 2024, total cash receipts for Arkansas would decline by 2 percent or $317 million. Livestock receipts increased 5 percent, or $361 million, while crop receipts tumbled 10 percent, or $580 million.
Ironically, 2024’s near-record yields are contributing to lower commodity prices.
Hunter Biram, extension economist for the Division of Agriculture, said that Arkansas had
Nearly a million and a half acres of rice which is the highest since 2020. Yield is near the record set in 2021 at 7,600 pounds per acre.
“The price is the lowest that we've seen since 2021 when it came in right under $14 a hundredweight,” he said.
Corn, which has had the fewest number of Arkansas acres since 2015, is forecast to have a near-record high yield. However, “the price for corn is the lowest that we’ve seen in five years.”
Cotton was in the same boat.
“The acreage is the highest that we've had since 2011,” Biram said. “We've got a lot of cotton acres out there, despite having the lowest price since 2020 and it’s at a near-record yield.”
Arkansas’s 3 million acres of soybeans are projected to have a record yield of 55 bushels an acre, Biram said. “The price for soybeans is the lowest that we've seen since 2019, which is similar to corn.”
Livestock and poultry
However, the low prices that bedevil row crop growers is helping the cattle and poultry industry, which relies on crushed soybean and corn for feed.
Higher egg, broiler, and cattle prices support 5 percent higher total livestock receipts in 2024, the report said, adding that poultry receipts are projected to increase by $287 million, while cattle and hog receipts are also projected higher, by $97 million.
Loy noted that “feed prices declining this year pretty significantly – 18 percent.
“Cattle prices are up 6 percent year over year. Most of the uptick over the last few years is due to the severe drought in the western U.S., which led ranchers to reduce herds,” he said. However, with cheaper feed, cattle prices are “expected to decline again in 2025.”
Government assistance
The report also shows the proportion of government assistance has shifted from primarily market-based programs such as Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage — known as ARC and PLC, to supplemental and ad hoc disaster assistance across this same period.
The Fall 2024 Farm Income Outlook is co-published by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and RaFF at the University of Missouri, which provides objective policy analysis and informs decision makers on issues affecting farm and rural finances. The center collaborates with a number of states to develop farm income projections with local expertise.
“RaFF’s Farm Income Outlook for calendar years 2024 and 2025 is intended to inform policymakers, industry analysts, and agricultural practitioners about the expected profitability of the local agricultural sector and its main drivers. RaFF’s state-level projections complement and add granularity to national projections by the USDA and FAPRI-MU, providing valuable insights on local agricultural trends,” said RaFF Director Alejandro Plastina.
Poker Run in De Queen this Saturday to benefit Children's Tumor Foundation 10/23/24
DE QUEEN – A motorcycle Poker Run, titled #cruisiNForacure, will be held this Saturday, Oct. 26.
The Poker Run will start and finish at De Queen’s Herman Dierks park. Cost is $25 per rider and $20 for each additional rider. Registration/check-in begins at 9 a.m. with kickstands up at 10 a.m.
The last bike in at 3 p.m. Door prizes, raffles, food and vendor will start at 3:30 p.m.
All proceeds will benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation.
Red Ribbon Week begins today, continues through Oct. 31 10/23/24
Red Ribbon Week is celebrated annually from Oct. 23-31 and is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program.
The 2024 theme is “Life is a Movie. Film Drug Free.”
Red Ribbon Week is in honor of Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. Camarena served in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1968 for two years and then joined the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Camarena was detailed to go to Mexico, where he remained on the “trail of the country’s biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers,” according to the DEA. However, in 1985, Camarena was brutally tortured and murdered by drug traffickers that he was investigating in Mexico.
Camarena received two Sustained Superior Performance Awards, a Special Achievement Award and, posthumously, the Administrator’s Award of Honor, the highest award granted by the DEA.
Shortly after Camarena’s death, Congressman Duncan Hunter and high school friend Henry Lozano created the “Camarena Clubs” and the wearing of a red ribbon to show their opposition to drugs. Camarena Clubs and their message quickly gained momentum and members presented Camarena Club Proclamation to then First Lady Nancy Reagan, bringing it national attention, states the description of Red Ribbon Week at www.dea.gov.
The National Family Partnership, with President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan (serving as honorary chairpersons) formalized the campaign in 1988.
According to the DEA, in 2023 the DEA seized more than 80 million fentanyl-lace fake pills and more than 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder.
The 2023 seizures are equivalent to more than 390 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
In 2021, the latest full year of data available, there were 1,427 deaths in Wisconsin related to opioids, Department of Homeland Security statistics show.
So, during Oct. 23-31 every year, people wear red ribbons to represent the pledge to live drug free and to honor the sacrifice of those all who have lost their lives in the fight against drugs.
Red Ribbon Week is an ideal time to talk to children and other loved ones regarding drugs and to empower them with the knowledge to make safe choices. Through awareness and education, the right tools can be given to people to make great decisions.
If you or someone you know is struggling with drug or alcohol issues, please reach out for help.
Here’s a few important numbers when it comes to substance abuse issues and finding help:
•ADHS Mental Health Hotline: (844) 763-0198
•AR Connect: (800) 482-9921
•Suicide: (800) 273-8255
•Poison Control Hotline 24/7: (800) 222-1222
In addition, the Arkansas Regional Prevention Provider for Sevier County (Region 10) is The Harbor House, located at 4425 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 102, Texarkana, AR. Call (501) 517-1862 or email Trena Goings at tgoings@recoveryhhi.org.
Early voting now underway in Arkansas 10/21/24
DE QUEEN – Early voting is now underway in Arkansas. This year’s early voting period falls from Oct. 21 to Nov. 4.
In Sevier County, early voting will take place out of the Community Building in De Queen’s Herman Dierks Park. Ballot booths will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 (the two Saturdays before Election Day) and for a final day on Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Election Day for this year’s General and Nonpartisan Election is Nov. 5.
Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. Location centers in Sevier County on Election Day include:
-De Queen Community Building at 526 E. Haes Avenue in De Queen
-De Queen Church of Christ at 1305 W. Collin Raye Drive in De Queen
-Ben Lomond Community Center at 448 Wilson Creek Road in Ben Lomond
-Lockesburg Methodist Church at 112 Valley Drive in Lockesburg
-J.L. Walker Fellowship Hall at 602 Hazard Street in Horatio
-De Queen/Mena Education Co-op at 305 Hornberg Avenue in Gillham
Voters from all precincts are reminded they can vote at any of these voting centers, regardless of their residency in Sevier County.
A couple of other dates voters should consider (if planning on absentee voting):
-A request for an absentee ballot must be received by Oct. 29. -Absentee ballots must be returned (by mail) to the county clerk’s office by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. -Absentee ballots must be returned (in person) to the county clerk’s office by close of business on Nov. 1.
Sevier County Clerk Renea Bailey and the Sevier County Election Commission are also informing the public of the electoral schedule on Nov. 5 and the days after. Officials will canvass and count absentee ballots from 5 p.m. to complete on Nov. 5. Unofficial results will be compiled and published beginning at 7:30 that evening.
A provisional ballot hearing will be held Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. The final review and counting of provisional ballots will be held from 12 p.m. to completion. If needed, a recounts will be held Nov. 12. The certification of the election will be completed by Nov. 15.
Voters are encouraged to verify their registration, and obtain other election-related information, to the Sevier County Clerk’s Office by calling (870) 642-2852. That information can also be found online atwww.voterview.org and at sos.arkansas.gov.
Sevier County voters will have local, state and national races to decide 10/21/24
DE QUEEN – As Sevier County residents begin heading to the polls today, they’ll have a range of local, state and national races to decide along with two statewide ballot issues.
Local races are limited to a challenge by Elmyra Brown against the incumbent for the Ward 2, Position 1 seat on the De Queen City Council, Lee Ann Pitchford.
In addition, incumbent Roger Whitmore has been challenged by Ethan Wolcott for the position of District 5 Justice of the Peace on the Sevier County Quorum Court.
In state elections, DeAnn Vaught, the Republican incumbent Arkansas Representative for House District 87, has been challenged by Libertarian candidate Marc Rosson. In the State Senate, Republican incumbent Jimmy Hickey, Jr. is being challenged by Lonny Goodwin, who is running as a Libertarian.
The only statewide race is for Arkansas State Treasurer: Republican incumbent John Thurston has been challenged by Democratic candidate John Pagan and Libertarian candidate Michael Pakko. There is also a race for State Supreme Court Justice Position 1 between Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Karen Baker and Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood.
Nationally, U.S. Congressman Bruce Western (AR-04) is seeking re-election against a bid by Democratic challenger Risie Howard.
Finally, voters will also be deciding a new president this election cycle. The race features Republican challenger and former U.S. President Donald J. Trump and current Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. A slew of third party candidates are running, as well. Trump’s vice presidential pick is JD Vance while Harris has chosen Tim Walz.
52nd annual King Art Festival is Nov. 15-17 10/21/24
KING – Area art lovers, get ready: one of the region’s premier art shows is just a few weeks away.
The Cossatot Arts and Crafts Association will present the 52nd annual King Arts and Crafts Festival Nov. 15-17. 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 must be two-dimensional as well as photography and will be divided into both adult and youth categories. This year will see the return of the adult 3D art division as well.
Rules for entry can be found on the Cossatot Arts & Crafts Facebook page or at the website by visiting www.cossatotartsandcrafts.com.
Art-check in will be held Friday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 9 from 12-5 p.m. at the King School House, located on King School Road just south of Gillham off Highway 71S.
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 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.
Saturday is Drug Take Back Day in Arkansas 10/21/24
DE QUEEN – Local and state law enforcement agencies are teaming up this weekend to encourage Arkansans to clean out their medicine cabinets in an effort to make their homes and communities safer. These agencies are organizing more than 300 drop-off locations throughout Arkansas for this year’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The annual effort will be held this Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations across the state. At these events Arkansans are encouraged to bring any unused or expired medications and drop them off, no questions asked.
The Ninth West Drug Task Force and the De Queen Police Department will host an event outside the Walmart store in De Queen. Another event will be held by the Ashdown Police Department at the Ashdown Walmart.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office and Little River County Sheriff’s Office also maintain a year-round collection site
State health experts say that cleaning out medicine cabinets and turning the expired, unused medications over to law enforcement during a Drug Take Back event can go a long ways towards saving lives. Overdoses are on the rise and the figures have been staggering, especially during the pandemic. Law enforcement agencies say it’s more important than ever to properly dispose of these prescription drugs.
Other events and more information on Drug Take Back Day in Arkansas can be found at ARTakeBack.org. Since the program began, over 300 tons of medication have been collected in Arkansas.
Little River County issues burn ban Thursday morning 10/17/24
DE QUEEN – The list of counties in the region issuing burn bans is growing due to an ongoing lack of rainfall across the region.
This morning, Little River County joined the rest of Southwest Arkansas in implementing due to the ongoing lack of rainfall. Other counties with active burn bans as of Thursday morning include Sevier, Polk, Howard, Hempstead, Pike and Miller Counties. Almost all of Arkansas is now under a burn ban, except the northeast corner of the state.
Under thesecountywide bans all outdoor burning is strictly prohibited until further notice.
Nearly all of Arkansas is at a high risk for wildfires, according to the Arkansas Forestry Division.
Typically these bans are enforced until the affected county receives enough rain to remedy the fire threat. Unfortunately, as of this morning, there is still no chance for any precipitation across the region according to the National Weather Service’s seven-day forecast.
Surprise trip for Sevier County WWII vet's 98th birthday 10/17/24
DE QUEEN – Sam Phillips was around 10-years-old when he fell in love with motorcycles.
Sam remembers the exact moment like it happened yesterday, though it was in fact nearly 90 years ago.
One Sunday afternoon, Sam and his siblings were playing outside on their Central Texas farm when a rumbling sound in the distance began to draw near. It was the unforgettable, instantly recognizable growl of a wide-open throttle across the vast Texas landscape.
“One of the neighbors’ sons had a motorcycle and he came riding down the old gravel road in front of our house. He stopped and asked if us kids wanted to go riding. And sure we did,” said Sam. “Well, on that motorcycle, the only place there was for a passenger to ride was on a little metal rack mounted on the back fender. But that didn’t matter to me.”
The brief experience was enough to spark a life-long passion in Sam.
“I got on that fire-breathing monster of a motorcycle and I fell in love with them right then. And I vowed that someday I would own one.”
This was in the midst of the 1930s and the Great Depression. For Sam, life went on until everything changed on Dec. 7, 1941. That day, the Empire of Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and drew the United States into the Second World War.
Like millions of other young men, Sam joined the military during World War II to defend his country. He was just 17-years-old, which required his mother to sign-off on his service in the U.S. Navy. Notably, Sam is one of just two surviving World War II veterans in Sevier County, along with Sterling Daniel. Nationwide, there are less than 70,000 of the 16 million Americans who served.
Sam’s time in the service took him to far-flung places across the Pacific, but his love for motorcycles was always with him.
During 60-day leave following the end of hostilities in 1945, Sam developed another love that would span many decades: for his wife, Helen.
“I was thinking I would make a career of the Navy. But I met a young lady that caught my eye and that ended those plans,” he said, laughing. “We kept the mail carrier hot for the next two years until I let left the service.”
Sam left the Navy in 1947 and they married soon after. The two enjoyed an astonishing 75 years and seven months of marriage before Helen passed away on April 8 of last year.
Back in 1947, Sam was ready to start a family and make his dream of owning a motorcycle a reality.
“I saved my money, all of it, while I was in the service. And when I got out, I purchased me a brand-new Indian Chief, a ‘47 model.”
After raising their three daughters, Sam and Helen began to venture out of town on their motorcycle. They’d hook up a little trailer and head out from Central Texas in whatever direction they felt. Their first big trip was to a motorcycle rally in Vermont. Eventually, they’d travel to all 48 lower states.
“We had more than one motorcycle that we put over 100,000 miles on,” he said.
They rode Hondas, Harleys, Moto Guzzis and others. Yet, that first Indian still has a special place in his heart.
“It really was an awesome machine and I was very proud of it. It started the whole journey for me after seeing the neighbor ride up to the house on that one day back when I was just a little kid.”
Sam turned 98 this past Monday, Oct. 14. In celebration, fellow members of Kern Height’s Baptist Church organized a surprise trip for Sam last week to see one of Arkansas only Indian dealerships. Tracy Ochoa, a member of Sam’s church family, organized a senior trip to Northwest Arkansas. She knew it was the perfect opportunity to surprise Sam with a visit to Heritage Motorcycles of Northwest Arkansas in Rogers.
Ochoa contacted the dealership and it pulled no stops in making the surprise an awesome occasion.
“We had gone to the Passion of the Christ program over in Eureka Springs and our fearless leader, Tracy, knew that there was an Indian Motorcycle shop in Rogers. All of the people on the bus knew what was going on except me,” he said, laughing. “And when we go there, the dealership threw its double wide doors open and the president and vice president of the company were holding the doors open for me. It was such a surprise. They gave me a royal welcome.”
Sam was showered with Indian memorabilia, including a collector’s tumbler, t-shirt, hat, patches, biker chip and a leather bomber-style Indian jacket.
“It was a kingly gift, worth hundreds of dollars,” he said. “It’s heavy duty, made for winter riding. I so appreciate those fine people.”
Justin Vandevort is the general manager for Heritage Motorcycles of Northwest Arkansas. He said it was an absolute honor to greet Sam last week.
“I mean, just a great guy. And at 98, he seems like a young guy. It was really cool,” said Vandevort. “I’m not sure how much of a heads up we had. But, when they called and said they were going to stop by and told the quick story, we quickly gathered the troops up here and got together a gift box for him.”
The dealership showed Sam some of its vintage bikes and then presented him with the special edition Indian jacket.
“That was kind of on the fly. We were worried it wouldn’t fit him but it fit him well. We said to him you probably ought to have it,” said Vandevort. “It was just so cool. He and I and everyone else got emotional from the experience. It was really special and so awesome to have him stop by.”
Vandevort said the dealership always enjoys the opportunity to give back, from honoring Arkansas veterans to training service dogs for veterans and autistic children.
“If we have a chance to support a cause like that, we’re all in,” said Vandevort.
Although Sam isn’t likely to hop on another Indian motorcycle, he still rides his latest bike to church every Sunday and whenever the weather is nice.
“It’s got all the stuff: automatic transmission, heated handlebar grips, heated seat, power steering… a lot more than that first bike in 1947!” he said. “And the people at church, they all know Mr. Sam and expect to see that motorcycle each Sunday.”
Delight pastor arrested for possession of CSAM 10/17/24
DELIGHT – An Arkansas State Police (ASP) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigation led to the arrest of a Delight pastor for 100 counts of crimes related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Special Agents with the ASP ICAC Task Force executed a search warrant in Delight in reference to two cyber tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children made through the online messaging applications Snapchat and Kik.
During the investigation, agents reviewed digital evidence collected from the search warrant and information drawn from social media messaging apps.
An arrest warrant was obtained for James Vincent Henry, 43, of Delight, on Monday, October 14, 2024. Henry is the pastor of the Crossroads Assembly of God Church in Delight.
At approximately 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, Pike County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Henry, charging him with 100 counts of Possession, Viewing, and Distribution of Child Pornography (CSAM).
Henry was transported to the Pike County Detention Center, where he remains in custody.
Early voting begins Monday in Arkansas 10/17/24
DE QUEEN – In a little over two weeks Sevier County residents will join their fellow citizens in choosing a new president, in addition to deciding a number of local and state races.
Election Day 2024 is 19 days away. However, the Sevier County Clerk’s Office reminds already-decided voters they can go ahead and cast their ballots once early voting gets underway next week. This year’s early voting period falls from Oct. 21 to Nov. 4.
In Sevier County, early voting will take place out of the Community Building in De Queen’s Herman Dierks Park. Ballot booths will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 28 and Nov. 1 (the two Saturdays before Election Day) and for a final day on Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Election Day for this year’s General and Nonpartisan Election is Nov. 5.
Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. Location centers in Sevier County on Election Day include:
-De Queen Community Building at 526 E. Haes Avenue in De Queen
-De Queen Church of Christ at 1305 W. Collin Raye Drive in De Queen
-Ben Lomond Community Center at 448 Wilson Creek Road in Ben Lomond
-Lockesburg Methodist Church at 112 Valley Drive in Lockesburg
-J.L. Walker Fellowship Hall at 602 Hazard Street in Horatio
-De Queen/Mena Education Co-op at 305 Hornberg Avenue in Gillham
Voters from all precincts are reminded they can vote at any of these voting centers, regardless of their residency in Sevier County.
A couple of other dates voters should consider (if planning on absentee voting):
-A request for an absentee ballot must be received by Oct. 29. -Absentee ballots must be returned (by mail) to the county clerk’s office by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. -Absentee ballots must be returned (in person) to the county clerk’s office by close of business on Nov. 1.
Sevier County Clerk Renea Bailey and the Sevier County Election Commission are also informing the public of the electoral schedule on Nov. 5 and the days after. Officials will canvass and count absentee ballots from 5 p.m. to complete on Nov. 5. Unofficial results will be compiled and published beginning at 7:30 that evening.
A provisional ballot hearing will be held Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. The final review and counting of provisional ballots will be held from 12 p.m. to completion. If needed, a recounts will be held Nov. 12. The certification of the election will be completed by Nov. 15.
Voters are encouraged to verify their registration, and obtain other election-related information, to the Sevier County Clerk’s Office by calling (870) 642-2852. That information can also be found online atwww.voterview.org and at sos.arkansas.gov.
Sevier County Library to host Food for Fines in November 10/17/24
DE QUEEN – November is nearly here and that means a couple of things: Thanksgiving is just around the corner and so is the Sevier County Library System’s annual Food for Fines program.
Through this yearly initiative, patrons are invited to bring in any nonperishable food item for a one dollar reduction per item in existing overdue fines. Food accepted for fines are for returned library materials only, not for replacement fees of lost or damaged items. The program is part of the library system’s annual effort to address food insecurity in Sevier County, according to Head Librarian Johnye Fisher.
All libraries in Sevier County are participating again this year.
Speaking of upcoming library events, Fisher is reminding kids in Sevier County that the library system will host a Thanksgiving Story Time event beginning at 4 p.m. on Nov. 14 in the De Queen Library.
For more information, call the De Queen Library at (870) 584-4364.
Break-in at Twisted Tines Outfitters on Saturday, guns and other items stolen 10/16/24
DE QUEEN – The De Queen Police Department is investigating the break-in of Twisted Tines Outfitters over the weekend.
The burglary occurred around 2 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. The suspect(s) broke into the outdoor supply store located just north of the Highway 70/71 junction in De Queen by busting out a window and climbing through. A number of firearms and other items were stolen in the act.
One perpetrator cut themselves while climbing through the shattered window and is likely to have sustained a wound.
Twisted Tines is offering a reward for the capture of those responsible and has praised law enforcement for its investigation.
“I appreciate the local police department for their response as well as ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms),” said owner Tye Barnett.
Anyone with information regarding the break-in is asked to contact the De Queen Police Department by calling (870) 642-2213.
Regulatory battle continues over proposed 23.4 percent gas rate hike 10/16/24
DE QUEEN – The regulatory battle over a proposed and substantial rate hike by Summit Utilities continues in the State Capitol even while the colder months quickly approach.
Last week, Attorney General Tim Griffin asked state regulators to “return to the table” to reevaluate a settlement reached with Summit Utilities to seek a 23.7 percent raise in its gas rates. The about-face followed Griffin’s decision to back the compromise earlier that week after the utility company dropped its initial proposal from 30 percent.
Summit Utilities provides natural gas service to around 400,000 Arkansas households and businesses, including within De Queen. The company is seeking the $87.7 million-per-year 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 (APSC).
The proposal must be approved by APSC regulators before it can be implemented. The commission is scheduled to decide at a Nov. 24 meeting. If authorized, the increase would increase monthly gas bills by an average of $15 per customer.
Comment filings on the APSC show overwhelming opposition to the proposed rate hike.
On Oct. 11, Griffin issued a letter to the APSC explaining his decision to reverse course on the recent settlement.
“Last week, I believed the savings we secured amounted to the best possible deal we could get for ratepayers at that time. Since then, public input through the legislature has created a more favorable environment for ratepayers, and I see an opportunity to secure even more savings for Arkansans,” said Griffin.
Due to concerns and objections to the proposed rate increase, Griffin is requesting the commission to “reject the settlement and allow us to return to the table.”
Quorum Court hears hospital report, changes to district court in 2025 10/16/24
DE QUEEN – The Sevier County Quorum Court met on Monday to hear reports from the Sevier County Medical Center and District Court while also discussing several other items of county business.
The meeting began with a report from the Sevier County Medical Center. The hospital provided reports showing both August and September experienced relatively low patient volumes.
“We expected June and July to reflect that because summer is typically a slower time for hospitals. Instead, our slow time shifted to August and September,” said Acting Hospital CEO Stacy Dowdy.
Nonetheless, the hospital reported approximately $1.2 million in its bank accounts as of the end of September. Mike Branson, who serves on the hospital’s Board of Governors, provided additional information regarding hospital finances.
“Our accounts receivables are around $2 million,” said Branson, regarding money owed to the hospital for services already rendered. “That’s something we need to continue to focus on and it should be closer to $1.5 million.”
He said the hospital has reduced its account payables to $720,000. He said the hospital has used allocated county funds and money from the Sevier County Medical Center Foundation to lower its debt burden.
“We reported $14,000 in net revenue in August which isn’t high but at least means we’re making some money right now,” said Branson. “Currently, we need to emphasize patient levels and increasing them.”
In a later discussion, the quorum court approved the hospital’s request to proceed with its proposal to convert to a 501(c)3 non-profit entity. The transition will allow the hospital to implement additional cost-saving measures – such as removing its APERS retirement system – while also allowing it to seek out grants. The Board of Governors requested that the quorum court vote on the full measure, allowing the process to finalize, at its November meeting.
Sevier County District Court Judge Manya Wood also informed the quorum court of upcoming changes taking place across the state regarding how district courts are administered. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, Wood will serve as a full-time district judge for the State of Arkansas. She, along with Judge Jessica Gunter of Nashville, will serve as the district judges for the newly-administered 36th District of Arkansas. That district includes Sevier, Howard, Little River and Pike Counties.
The basic functions of the district court in Sevier County will remain the same: sessions will continue to be held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, and the local office will remain in the second floor of the Sevier County Courthouse.
Wood detailed some changes that will be implemented beginning next year: the state will cover two-thirds of the salary for the full-time judges with each county/city sharing the additional one-third cost. The move will save the county and city thousands of dollars in costs, Wood said.
In addition, by taking on the full-time district judge’s position, Wood is required under state law to close her long-time private practice in downtown De Queen. Wood has operated her own firm in the city for the past 21 years.
“It’s a bittersweet move, but it also opens a new chapter for me and I’m very excited about that,” she said.
Finally, the quorum court heard from Sevier County Judge Sandra Dunn regarding an audit of funds received by the county through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Dunn reported that all funds were spent as required by law and that no findings were found.
The quorum court also heard a report from Rachelle Ashe, director of the Sevier County Health Unit, regarding the building’s need for either repairs to, or replacement of, its roof. Justices of the peace are expected to return at their November meeting to potentially decide how to proceed on that issue.
Second annual Home Builders Expo this Friday at courthouse square 10/16/24
DE QUEEN – Anyone interested in building their own home or learning more about the process is invited to an event in De Queen this Friday aimed at connecting them with the right experts in the field.
The second annual Home Builders Resource Expo is scheduled for 4:30-6:30 on Friday, Oct. 18 on the Sevier County Courthouse square in downtown De Queen. The event is free to attend and will include door prizes as well as dinner for the first 150 attendees.
Organizers invite you to discover everything you need to know about building your dream home and meet industry professionals who can answer all your questions. They’ve described the event as a one-stop hub for all building needs in the community.
The Home Builders Resource Expo is being sponsored by Tri-Lakes Realty, the Sevier County FRIENDS Economic Development group and Bailey Discount Building Supply.
DAR to host dramatic reading of Declaration of Independence this Friday 10/16/24
DE QUEEN – The Mine Creek – Paraclifta Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution will kick off the celebration for the upcoming Semiquincentennialor 250thbirthday of the United States of America.
This Friday, Oct. 18 beginning at 11 a.m., the public is invited to attend a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence, presented by Sevier County’s Ethan Wolcott, at the Micah 6:8 Coffee Shop. The group hopes to inspire the public to honor our ancestors, who sacrificed everything to win the freedoms and liberties we inherited.
Carrie McGaha is with the local DAR chapter and hopes this Friday’s event fosters more interest for the organization within the community and excitement for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.
To this end, the Mine Creek – Paraclifta Chapter DAR has partnered with the De Queen Lake Trail Committee and the Sevier County Quorum Court to place an AMERICA 250! Historical Marker at the trailhead of the new trail being built at De Queen Lake. Since the trail will not be open until the Spring of 2025, the DAR Chapter is unveiling the beautiful marker at an AMERICA 250! reception immediately following the dramatic reading at the Mercy Meeting & Event Center for DAR members and invited guests. It will then be on display in the window until it can be placed at the permanent location at the trailhead.
“This is kind of like our kickoff, and so at the reception, we have some awards that we want to give to different community members. We have things that we're going to do, and we also want to kind of share some more information about the trail project and the Whole America 250! Project and try to get more people involved in it,” she said. “It’s going to take all of us to really make this a success.”
The trail was chosen because the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is celebrating the 250thbirthday with the DAR Pathway of Patriots, located in Virginia. The Pathway has 250 trees sponsored to honor 250 Patriots who fought in or supported the American Revolution. There is also a website, DAR | Honoring Our Patriots | Pathway of the Patriots(https://honoringourpatriots.dar.org/), which includes a brief biography for each Patriot represented.
As they look ahead, the group – which consists of members in Sevier, Howard and Pike Counties – is encouraging everyone in Southwest Arkansas to honor the Veterans who sacrificed everything in order to preserve our freedoms and liberties.
This America 250! Marker is the only one approved to be located in our region and it is a wonderful opportunity for community members to provide a living tribute to honor their service to this nation, similar to the DAR Pathway of Patriots by sponsoring a tree or crepe myrtle in their memory.
Any Patriot or Veteran who has served honorably may be honored. The De Queen Lake Trail volunteers and local students will be asked to plant the new trees and the Corps of Engineers and the Trail Committee will decide where to plant them. Each sponsorship will be $250 and the Patriot or Veteran will be recognized with a plaque near the area.
As 2026 nears, more information will be available to community members who would like to sponsor a tree or crepe myrtle. All funds will flow through the De Queen Lake Trail Committee and a small portion will help support the Mine Creek – Paraclifta Chapter DAR’s efforts to continue promoting the America 250! celebrations by educating about the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.
The bulk of the sponsorship funds will go towards the purchase of a plaque with the names of those sponsored and maintenance of the trail and area around the permanent historical marker.
Please come out to the Micah 6:8 Coffee Shop and enjoy Ethan Wolcott reciting The Declaration of Independence on Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome!
Donation drive for hurricane victims a huge success 10/15/24
DE QUEEN – Organizers say last week's donation drive to help hurricane victims in North Carolina succeeded beyond all expectations.
Besides literal tons of supplies and essential items for victims of Hurricane Helene, organizers also succeeded in raising over $46,000 in monetary donations. That includes $5,000 from De Queen Auto Group and over $6,500 from a heifer sold twice at McDaniel Livestock in Valliant, Okla. for disaster aid.
Scottie Morris and his wife, Shelly, were among the organizers of the event. He said the response was overwhelming.
“It really was. The county really showed up and brought a lot of stuff to this. It went way more than what we was expecting,” Morris said. “And we still got some money trickling in.”
Morris said individuals from Little River, Howard, Polk and McCurtain Counties also pitched in during the relief drive.
“It says a lot about our county and where we live and the people that are our neighbors. And it's just a good feeling to know that the people around here care as much as they do about folks.”
Items collected ranged from baby formula and dog food to water, nonperishable food, hygiene products among much else.
Other organizers of the local disaster relief drive included the Sevier County Fair Association, De Queen Student Council, the Horatio School District, Horatio Church of Christ, Sevier County 4-H and De Queen Auto Group.
The items will soon be delivered to a church in Shelby, North Carolina. Morris said an area transport company has agreed to deliver the supplies as soon as possible.
“The pastor [in Shelby] has asked us to hold on just for a few days because they got so much stuff coming in. It's coming in faster than they can get it out, but he assured us that it will be used,” Morris explained. “We have a transport company from Mena that contacted me last week and said they would love to take this up there for us. God has just been providing every time we turn around.”
Morris said it's not too late for anyone to provide a monetary donation.
“Monetary donations are the most important thing right now. If you still want to give money, just get with one of the sponsors and just make sure you write the check out to Samaritan's Purse and then we will collect it all and send it as soon as we can.”
Today is real estate, property tax deadline 10/15/24
DE QUEEN – Arkansas residents and property owners are reminded that they have until the end of business today to pay their personal and real property taxes and avoid a 10 percent late penalty.
The Sevier County Collector’s office will be open through 4:30 p.m. today to accept payments. The office will be closed from 1-2 p.m. for lunch.
The office is located at 115 North Third Street in the Sevier County Courthouse.
Sevier County taxpayers are reminded they can use the office’s drop box for payments. Please include your statement and a receipt will be mailed to you. Taxpayers using the drop box are asked not to put cash inside.
The Sevier County Collector’s Office will be closed Oct. 16 through Oct. 18 in order to prepare the delinquent tax list. The office will return to normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 21.
Sevier County Co-op hears another positive annual report 10/15/24
DE QUEEN – The members of the Sevier County Farmers Cooperative enjoyed a brisket dinner and all the trimmings before settling in to hear a good annual report the evening of Oct. 10 at the De Queen High School Cafeteria.
Board member Mike Branson reported that sales are up roughly 20% this year, compared to 2023. Total sales were reported at $6.6 million compared to $5.4 million at this same time a year ago. Pre-Tax income this year is some $84,000, compared to approximately $4,000 at this time in 2023.
Coop Manager Jason Needham attributed some of the financial improvements to upgrading the gasoline pump system at the service station on Lakeside Drive, and adding hardware items and a tack room to the west Collin Raye Drive location. Fertilizer buggies and offering cast-iron cookware, as well as the addition of general poultry supplies, have also been popular items that have attributed to the increased sales.
Re-elected to the Coop's Board of Directors Thursday night included: Tom Wagner, Charles Morris, and Richard Ruth.
Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to win door prizes contributed by the Coop's vendors following the business portion of the evening.
Sevier County Chamber of Commerce board meeting 10/15/24
DE QUEEN – The Board of Directors of the Sevier County Chamber of Commerce met October 9 in the newly-remodeled offices in downtown De Queen.
The Chamber completed the building remodel earlier this year at a cost of $103,172. The Chamber has received contributions from the FRIENDS Foundation, businesses, and individuals totaling around $70,000 thus far to help retire the loan for the renovations. Approximately $33,000 in contributions are still needed to pay off the note that’s due in February 2025. Community supporters are encouraged to donate today by stopping by the Chamber offices on Stilwell Avenue.
The annual Christmas Parade is set for December 7 in downtown De Queen. Santa has announced that the theme for this year’s parade will be: “Christmas Movies”.
In conjunction with the upcoming holiday shopping season, the Chamber plans to promote a Shop Local Campaign for small businesses as well as coordinate a local “Black Friday” event for retailers.
The Chamber Board voted recently to print 8,000 City/County color maps, which will represent the first map update since 2018. Billy Ray McKelvy will coordinate the map project for the Chamber. Formax Company of Missouri was awarded the low bid for printing the maps at a cost of $4,854. Advertising sales on the maps totaling $6,250 quickly sold out that will help cover the costs.
Executive Director Suzanne Babb reported that five new members have joined the Chamber in the past month. They include By Vivienne Alterations, Positively Social, Dunn Hill Farms, Arkansas Human Development Corporation, and Mother Daughter Cleaning Services. The Chamber has now grown to 183 members strong as of October 1. On December 1, 2023, the Chamber had 173 members.
De Queen Public Schools hosting meeting for parents of homeschooled children 10/15/24
DE QUEEN – There will be a meeting on Oct. 17, 2024 for parents of homeschool students within the De Queen School District.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the district administration building located at 101 N. Ninth Street in De Queen.
This meeting will be to provide information about special education services to homeschool providers. If you have questions, please contact the Special Education Supervisor at (870) 584-4312.
De Queen falls to Hot Springs 42-16 at Leopard Stadium 10/15/24
DE QUEEN – The De Queen Leopards went toe-to-toe for three quarters with Hot Springs Friday night before the bigger, faster Trojans finally pulled away in the fourth quarter to post the 42 to 16 5A-South Conference victory at Leopard Stadium.
Hot Springs led 7 to 0 after the opening quarter. Sophomore John Maturino intercepted a Hot Springs pass to set up the Leopards at the Trojan 47-yard line. De Queen marched to paydirt in nine plays, scoring on a one-yard sneak by quarterback Cole Binkley to tie the game at seven.
The Trojans quickly regained the lead on a 97-yard kick-off return for a touchdown following the De Queen score. The Leopards added a two-point safety in the closing seconds of the first half when they tackled the Hot Springs punter in the end zone to make it 14 to 9 at the half.
The Trojans extended the lead to 21 to 9 at the end of the third quarter, before wearing down the Leopards by outscoring them 21 to 7 in the fourth quarter. The lone Leopard highlight of the second half was a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Ulyces Coto, KDQN’s McDonald’s Player of the Game. Coto led all rushers with 82 yards on 15 carries. Binkley threw for 79 yards. The leading receiver was Lance Wise with two receptions for 31 yards. Trent Matthews also had two catches for 30 yards.
Lance Wise led the tackle charts with ten stops. Jake Martin had seven tackles. Coto added six stops.
The Leopards, now 3 and 3 on the season, travel to Camden Fairview to battle the Cardinals Friday night.
Decreased lake levels call for more boater caution 10/15/24
Late summer water levels call for increased boating caution
For the second year in a row, dry conditions throughout most of The Natural State have led to many lakes and ponds sitting at lower water levels than anglers and boaters experienced throughout spring and early summer. The cooling, lower water of fall can concentrate baitfish and bass, making for great fishing experiences, but it also can create a few hazards for boaters unfamiliar with navigating lakes during this time of year.
According to the Arkansas Water Plan, reservoirs and ponds in Arkansas typically lose up to 46 inches of water level during the year through evaporation, with most of that occurring from July through September. These three months also are some of the driest of the year in Arkansas.
Besides lack of rainfall and increased evaporation, many Arknasas lakes see lower water levels to accommodate the influx of water that typically occurs in late fall. A few lakes also see intentional water level drops in winter to combat aquatic vegetation issues or allow neighboring landowners to fix docks and boathouses.
No matter the reason for the reduction, low water levels bring many unseen hazards closer to the surface. Stumps and rock piles that once sat well out of range are within reach of your boat motor’s lower unit and propeller.
“When water levels are low, it’s really important to slow down a little, especially if you’re not familiar with navigating the lake you’re fishing during this time of year,” Jeremy Risley, Black Bass Program Coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said. “Stay near the channel, and if you’re in a lake or river that has navigation buoys, stay inside those markers when you have the boat on plane.”
Risley also suggests using your electronics as much as possible, especially if you have topographic maps and a GPS system available.
“You still want to have a depth finder running so you can see exactly how much water you have to run in, but a lot of GPS units will let you plan your route and stay in deeper water without any surprises. Plenty of highland reservoirs have humps and creek turns with steep banks that can put you in only a foot or two of water within a few seconds if you aren’t paying attention to that map and your depth finder.”
Risley also reminds all boaters to wear a properly fitting life jacket when underway, and to always connect your engine’s kill switch to your person when it’s running.
“If you do hit an obstruction, you may be thrown out of the driver’s seat of your boat or out of the boat entirely,” Risley said. “A life jacket will keep you afloat, even if you’re unconscious, and the kill switch will ensure that your boat doesn’t take off to become a danger to you or others.”
It’s always a good idea to have your life jacket on, even if the boat isn’t under power. This is especially true in fall as water temperatures begin to fall. The sudden shock of an unexpected plunge into cold water can cause a person to involuntarily gasp, drawing in air (and water). The added buoyancy the life jacket offers can mean the difference between life and death.
Visit www.agfc.com/boateredfor more boating safety tips and to learn how to register for one of the AGFC’s Boater Education courses. A boater education card is required to operate a boat on Arkansas waters for anyone born after 1985. Free instructor-led Boater Education courses are available through the AGFC, or you can take the course online for a small fee.
Burn ban expands to Polk County, most of Southwest Arkansas 10/11/24
DE QUEEN – The list of counties in the region issuing burn bans is growing due to an ongoing lack of rainfall across the region.
Polk County joined Sevier County in issuing burn bans in recent days due to the lack of rainfall and some recent above-average temperatures. Other counties with active burn bans as of Wednesday morning include Howard, Hempstead, Pike and Miller Counties. Much of the rest of Southwest Arkansas, as well as all of Northwest Arkansas and the central-western portion of the state, have also issued their own burn bans.
Under the ban all outdoor burning is strictly prohibited until further notice. Both burn bans went into effect on Wednesday.
Typically these bans are enforced until the affected county receives enough rain to remedy the fire threat. Unfortunately, as of Friday morning, there is still no chance for any precipitation across the region according to the National Weather Service’s seven-day forecast.
Courtney's Angels Benefit Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show this weekend 10/11/24
LOCKESBURG – Local organizers are gearing up to host a benefit car show this weekend in Lockesburg to help raise funds for a local woman and her battle against cancer.
In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the fourth annual Courtney’s Angels Benefit Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show will be held this Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Lockesburg City Park.
Registration will begin for entries at 8 a.m. and continue through 10 that morning. At 10 a.m., the benefit begins with an opening ceremony including the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer and announcements.
Judging begins at 10:15 and winners will be announced later in the day. Entry fee is $25 for an individual’s first vehicle and $20 for each additional vehicle they enter.
Awards will be issued for first and second place in a wide variety of categories, from 50’s and older vehicles to the newest car and truck. Rat rods and motorcycles in all classes are welcome. Awards will also include best of show and participants’ favorite. Dozens of trophies will be given away.
Other events scheduled throughout the day include a 50/50 raffle, bounce house, food, drinks and other family events.
This weekend’s fourth annual Courtney Angel Benefit Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show will raise funds in support of Penny Stamps Burgess of Dierks. Burgess is a mother of three and has been an employee of Husqvarna for 31 years. She was diagnosed with cancer in August and has recently started her chemotherapy.
Ethan Wolcott exemplifies 4-H as a Sevier County community leader 10/11/24
As Arkansas celebrates National 4-H Week, we want to highlight one local member who exemplifies the qualities of the organization and the opportunities it provides towards developing the next generation of leaders.
Sevier County 4-H Youth Leader Ethan Wolcott was recognized as a finalist in 2023 for the 4-H Governor’s Award, the highest honor an Arkansas 4-H member can receive.
Wolcott has been a 4-H member for nine years. He initially had a livestock project but switched his project to leadership and community service, which quickly became his passion — so much that he started the Sevier County Community Changers 4-H Club, which focuses on community service.
Wolcott was the club president and organizers say he strived to find ways to serve. In 2022, he raised money to buy fans for Sevier County residents without air-conditioning. He’s also organized Santa for Seniors and been involved with numerous food drives, disaster relief and clothing drives.
Last year, he was inducted into the Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame, an award reserved for one 4-H member who demonstrates high achievement, commitment and service.
Wolcott has been a 4-H member since 2011 and was a Teen Star, a 4-H Ambassador, a 4-H camp counselor and a two-time finalist for the 4-H Governor’s Award. He and his father started the Sevier County Community Changers 4-H Club, which focuses on community service, Wolcott’s passion. Wolcott has participated in food, clothing and disaster relief drives and has developed leadership skills through community service. One summer he conducted a Be Cool Stay Cool Fan Drive, raising enough money to donate 94 fans to senior citizens in his community.
“It’s surreal,” Wolcott said, shortly after receiving the Hall of Fame award. “I want to use this momentum to continue doing what I’ve been doing — helping my community and sharing 4-H with others.”
Wolcott, 20, graduated last year from Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas where he completed an Associate of General Studies.
And a fact Sevier County can be proud of – of all the 4-H teen leaders in Arkansas, Sevier County can boast two Hall of Fame recipients. In addition to Wolcott, Sabrina Rivas of De Queen was previously inducted into the 4H Hall of Fame.
4-H is the premier youth development program of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service. Programs are offered in every county in Arkansas. To learn more about 4-H, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension.
Local DAR chapter celebrated Constitution Week, hosting upcoming event 10/11/24
DE QUEEN – The Mine Creek – Paraclifta Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated Constitution Week in Southwest Arkansas by passing out 50 pocket Constitutions to each of the area’s six public school districts. In 1955, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution petitioned Congress with a resolution to set aside September 17-23 dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The annual celebration was established when signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on August 2, 1956.
Sevier County Judge Sandra Dunn, Howard County Judge Brent Pinkerton, and Pike County Judge Eddie Howard each signed a Proclamation commemorating Constitution Week and they also signed an AMERICA250! Proclamation, in advance of the upcoming AMERICA250! celebrations.
As a reminder, the public is invited to a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence on October 18, 2024 at 11AM at the Micah 6:8 Coffee Shop in De Queen, Arkansas, to kick off the America250! Celebrations in Southwest Arkansas. There will be a reception immediately following for DAR members and invited guests at the Mercy Meeting & Event Center connected to the Micah 6:8 Coffee Shop to unveil the America250! Patriot Marker that will eventually be placed at the trail head of the De Queen Lake Trail when it is completed, hopefully in the Spring of 2025. This is the only America250! Patriot Marker currently approved to be placed in Southwest Arkansas.
ARDOT statement regarding political signs on highway right-of-way 10/11/24
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) reminds candidates for political office and their supporters that it is unlawful to place campaign signs on highway right of ways in Arkansas.
“There are several Arkansas statutes addressing encroachment and the placing of signs or other objects on highway right of way,” stated ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor.
State laws permit only official directional, informational, and regulatory highway signs on state-owned highway property; the local ARDOT Area Maintenance Office removes all other signs.
ARDOT personnel will remove any “yard” signs placed on the right of way and will contact owners of large “billboard” signs to remove them. Owners can pick up the signs during normal business hours at the nearest ARDOT Area Maintenance Office.
“The Arkansas Department of Transportation encourages everyone to follow the right of way laws to keep the roadsides clear and ensure our highways are as safe as possible,” Director Tudor said.
Burn ban back on for Sevier County, starting today 10/09/24
DE QUEEN – A burn ban will go into effect for Sevier County beginning today after another period of little to no rainfall in the region.
Sevier County joins a growing list of counties across Arkansas issuing burn bans in recent days due to the lack of rainfall and the recent above-average temperatures. Other counties with active burn bans as of Wednesday morning include Howard, Hempstead, Pike and Miller Counties. Much of the rest of Southwest Arkansas, as well as all of Northwest Arkansas and the central-western portion of the state, have also issued their own burn bans.
In an order issued by Sevier County Judge Sandra Dunn Tuesday morning, under the ban all outdoor burning is strictly prohibited until further notice. The burn ban goes into Wednesday.
Typically these bans are enforced until the affected county receives enough rain to remedy the fire threat. Unfortunately, as of Wednesday, there is no chance for any precipitation across the region according to the National Weather Service’s seven-day forecast.
4th annual Courtney's Angels Car & Truck benefit show this Saturday 10/09/24
LOCKESBURG – Local organizers are gearing up to host a benefit car show this weekend in Lockesburg to help raise funds for a local woman and her battle against cancer.
In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the fourth annual Courtney’s Angels Benefit Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show will be held this Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Lockesburg City Park.
Registration will begin for entries at 8 a.m. and continue through 10 that morning. At 10 a.m., the benefit begins with an opening ceremony including the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer and announcements.
Judging begins at 10:15 and winners will be announced later in the day. Entry fee is $25 for an individual’s first vehicle and $20 for each additional vehicle they enter.
Awards will be issued for first and second place in a wide variety of categories, from 50’s and older vehicles to the newest car and truck. Rat rods and motorcycles in all classes are welcome. Awards will also include best of show and participants’ favorite. Dozens of trophies will be given away.
Other events scheduled throughout the day include a 50/50 raffle, bounce house, food, drinks and other family events.
This weekend’s fourth annual Courtney Angel Benefit Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show will raise funds in support of Penny Stamps Burgess of Dierks. Burgess is a mother of three and has been an employee of Husqvarna for 31 years. She was diagnosed with cancer in August and has recently started her chemotherapy.
Sevier Co. Single Parent Scholarship Fund hosting fish fry fundraiser 10/09/24
DE QUEEN – A service group based out of UA Cossatot will host a fish fry fundraiser next week to help local single parents meet the costs of going to college.
The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Sevier County will hold the annual fundraiser Thursday, Oct. 15 beginning at 4 p.m. in the Skilled Trades Building on UA Cossatot’s De Queen campus.
Plates are $10 and include fish, french fries, cole slaw and hushpuppies. Everyone is welcome to either drive-thru to pick up food or eat-in and enjoy the evening’s live entertainment. UA Cossatot is seeking sponsors and more information can be obtained by contacting Madelyn Jones or Erika Buenrostro at (870) 584-4471.
Proceeds will go towards meeting the costs for local single parents wishing to attend college. For more about the organization’s mission, visit www.singleparentscholarship-sc.org.
UA Cossatot Colts will also host a fish fry this Friday, Oct, 5, to raise money for the college’s basketball team.
LITTLE ROCK – The 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide is now available. It offers non-biased, research-based information about three proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot in the state’s upcoming general election.
The guide is published by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Public Policy Center, part of the Cooperative Extension Service.
The Voter Guide was released Sept. 27 and is available at uaex.uada.edu/ballot. Printed copies will be available in county extension offices statewide by the start of early voting, which begins Oct. 21.
The Public Policy Center has provided a voter guide on all statewide ballot issues since 2004. Kristin Higgins, extension program associate for the Public Policy Center, said it’s critical for Arkansans to access non-biased information about the issues that impact them.
“People need information to make a decision, and it can be difficult to find neutral sources of information about statewide ballot issues,” Higgins said. “You’re being asked as a voter to create or change state policy for years to come. The Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide is that source of neutral information, and it also gives people the ability to read the ballot titles when they’re not under a time crunch to make a decision.”
The information contained in the guide goes through a thorough vetting process to ensure its accuracy and neutrality, which includes reviews by legal and subject matter experts, as well as both supporters and opponents of each issue. The guide breaks down what a “for” or “against” vote means for each of the three issues. It also spells out what each issue proposes, helping to parse the language of the ballot titles.
The guide includes reasons why people may support or oppose each of the proposals, and it provides a helpful worksheet for people to record their voting plans and bring with them to the polls.
Higgins said it’s important for Arkansans to use their voting privileges in the statewide election, especially as one of 15 states where citizens can put a constitutional amendment, state law or veto referendum on the statewide ballot for voters to decide.
“Voters have a direct involvement in deciding whether to change state law,” Higgins said. “These state laws affect all Arkansans, so voting in these elections shapes your state and your experiences for decades into the future.”
Organizations can request ballot issue education presentations from extension agents. The Public Policy Center also offers year-round ballot issue education, including a monthly newsletter with updates on upcoming issues.
Oct. 7 was the last day for Arkansans to register to vote ahead of the General Election. Early voting begins Oct. 21.
What’s on the ballot?
Issue 1: A constitutional amendment to provide that lottery proceeds may be used to fund or provide scholarships and grants to Arkansas citizens enrolled in vocational-technical schools and technical institutes.
Issue 2: An amendment requiring local voter approval in a countywide special election for certain new casino licenses and repealing authority to issue a casino license in Pope County, Arkansas.
Issue 3: The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024.
As of this publishing, the lawsuit regarding Issue 2 continues before the Arkansas Supreme Court. Justices also have a lawsuit about Issue 3 to review.
On Sept. 30, Secretary of State John Thurston notified the sponsor of Issue 3, Arkansans for Patient Access, or APA, that their proposed constitutional amendment to expand the state’s medical marijuana program did not have enough valid voter signatures to qualify for a spot on the ballot. State officials contend that signatures should be invalidated because a canvassing company acting on behalf of the sponsor handled campaign paperwork instead of the sponsors themselves.
APA filed a lawsuit Oct. 1 asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to ensure Issue 3 will be on the General Election ballot. Justices told Thurston to count the signatures. On Oct. 4, the Secretary of State's Office reported that enough voter signatures had been counted to qualify the measure for the ballot, but state officials still contend that the proposal shouldn't be on the ballot.
For more information about the 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide, visit uaex.uada.edu/ballot. Contact your local extension agent or the Public Policy Center for more information or to schedule a presentation on the ballot issues.
Second-largest diamond of 2024 found at Crater Park on Sept. 27 10/09/24
MURFREESBORO – On Friday, Sept. 27, a guest visiting Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park found a 2.30-carat white diamond in the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area. This is the third diamond over two carats registered this year and the second-largest diamond registered in 2024.
Eager for the day, the finder arrived at the park when the doors opened at 8 a.m. They rented a basic kit from the park’s Diamond Discovery Center and started out wet sifting, a searching method that involves washing dirt from diamond-bearing gravel through screens of graduated sizes in water. After a few hours of no luck, the guest decided to try surface searching, stating, “If I find a diamond today, it will probably be right here on the surface.”
Many of the park’s largest diamonds are found on the surface. “We periodically plow the search area to loosen the diamond-bearing soil and promote natural erosion,” Assistant Park Superintendent Waymon Cox said. “As rain falls on the field, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals and diamonds near the surface.”
The conditions for surface searching on September 27 were ideal. Not only was it a beautiful sunny day, allowing the sunlight to hit a diamond just right, but the search area had recently been plowed and had received rainfall just two days before.
While walking just west of the covered North Wash pavilion, the guest spotted something sparkling on top of the ground. “From far away it shined so clearly,” they said. “I thought it might be a piece of trash or a bug; it was so much shinier than anything else out there.”
Once the guest walked over and picked it up, they quickly realized it was not a bug or a piece of trash, but a glimmering stone. They stuck the gem in their pocket and had it checked by park staff at the Diamond Discovery Center before leaving for lunch.
Park Interpreter Sarah Reap was at the rock and mineral identification counter when the finder brought their stone up and calmly laid it on the desk. “Even after a few years of working here, I am still surprised when a finder pulls a large diamond out of their pocket so nonchalantly.” Reap said. Moments later, she confirmed it to be a diamond weighing over two carats.
The silvery-white gem has a round, pitted surface and is about the size of a pencil eraser. At first glance, the diamond appears brown, but closer inspection reveals numerous inclusions. These tiny imperfections affect how light passes through the diamond. While the center looks dark brown, the outside of the diamond is clear white.
White diamonds are closest to a pure carbon crystal, while brown diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park are caused by plastic deformation, a structural defect that causes them to appear brown throughout. Almost all natural diamonds have inclusions or blemishes that affect their appearance.
As of this writing, 548 diamonds have been registered by park guests in 2024, weighing more than 82 carats. An average of one to two diamonds are found each day.
Help Keep Arkansas Beautiful with upcoming events in Sevier, LRCO 10/08/24
DE QUEEN LAKE – The 2024 Keep Arkansas Beautiful fall campaign is reaching out to residents in hopes of encouraging a number of cleanup events across the state before the program ends Oct. 31.
A local event has been planned on Oct. 26 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to cleanup the shoreline and work on the Pine Ridge trail at De Queen Lake. Registration, supply pickup and cleanup assignment will be held at 8 a.m. Volunteers will meet at the Oak Grove Boat Ramp for shoreline cleanup and at campsite #40 at Pine Ridge for trail work.
All collected materials should be returned to the boat ramp for proper disposal. After the cleanup, a complimentary lunch will be provided and volunteers will have the opportunity to receive a free t-shirt while supplies last. There will be a water safety giveaway for youth participants.
The Ashdown Holiness Church will host its own cleanup event from 12:30-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19. Volunteers are asked to meet at the church, located at 2310 Highway 71 in Ashdown.
McKenzie McMath-Coronel is the Executive Director of Keep Arkansas Beautiful and hopes every Arkansan lends a hand this month to cleanup the Natural State by either hosting an event or participating in one near them.
“We are in the midst of the Great Arkansas Cleanup,” she said. “It runs through the end of October, and while we do offer some public events, our main goal is to encourage and facilitate individuals across the state in all 75 counties to register their own cleanups with us.”
Groups can range in size from just a single family to 100 individuals or more. The organization provides all the necessary supplies including gloves, safety vests, t-shirts, garbage bags and signage to inform motorists a cleanup is underway. McKenzie said groups are asked to share the number of volunteers and what kind of litter they're seeing in Arkansas' public spaces.
“We also collect on what type of trash and how much trash you collect, and we compile that data into an annual report to show the progress and dedication in the amount of trash that Arkansans pick up,” she said.
The spring 2024 campaign was one of the most successful in terms of volunteers organized and volume of litter removed.
“We cleaned 758 miles of roadway and 109 miles of shoreline with 17,163 volunteers across the state helping us out. So that was about 615 events statewide. Arkansans are dedicated to maintaining their communities and making sure that we continue to facilitate keeping Arkansas beautiful,” explained Coronel.
The Keep Arkansas Beautiful campaign is held in the spring and fall of each year. However, Coronel said the program's end goal is for Arkansans to commit year-round to ensuring their communities are free of litter.
“We really want to help our Kansans take control and, you know, lead the way in maintaining our beautiful state. At the end of the day, we are encouraging people to really take the reins,” she said. “If you live there and you see something is wrong or you see trash on the ground, take the initiative and pick it up.We want to empower Arkansans to be in control of their environments and maintain its natural beauty.
Coronel said the impact of these cleanups is beneficial to the state's tourism and business sectors. To that end, Keep Arkansas Beautiful offers “green grants” to help communities look good year-round.
” Keep Arkansas Beautiful has more than just cleanups that we offer. We give grants to different communities and municipalities for cleanup projects that they might have throughout the year,” she explained.
Another of effort, Coronel said, is directed at childhood education. By teaching children to do better, she hopes the amount of litter plaguing Arkansas will drop as new generations grow up.
“If you can form good habits and understanding of the environment in children, they will grow with those values, and then they will assist when they see family members or classmates. They will step in and say, you need to throw your trash away or let's pick this up,” she said. “Don't throw your cigarette butt out the window. Let's dispose of things responsibly. So our goal is to also help educate the youth of Arkansas so that this issue dwindles out.” Coronel reminds Arkansas high school students beginning with the class of 2026-27 that, under the LEARNS Act, they're required to obtain 75 hours of community service before graduating. Joining a Keep Arkansas Beautiful event is a perfect way to get those hours.
“Those students can earn their hours through us by participating in our cleanups, and we also offer a variety of other opportunities, everything from beautification projects, which can be planting flowers or cleaning off an abandoned wall or painting a mural or doing an education event in your community about recycling or conservation,” she explained. “We have many opportunities for students to learn more about what it takes to keep an environment sustainable and clean than just doing cleanups.
Coronel encourages everyone to get involved in this year's fall campaign by joining a local cleanup or hosting their own. They'll be able to obtain free supplies and promotional materials if they register an effort before Oct. 31. She said it couldn't be simpler to host or join an event.
“I would send them to www.keeparkansasbeautiful.com, and they can click the Get Involved tab. When you click that Get Involved button, our calendar of events will appear, and you can see all of the public events that are happening around the state,” she explained. “If you want to take the initiative and register your own cleanup with us, you can fill out your information and submit that to us, and we will send you all of your supplies a week before your event.”
For more information on the 2024 fall Keep Arkansas Beautiful campaign, including registering your own event, visit www.keeparkansasbeautiful.com.
Chamber's Denim & Diamonds Gala is this Saturday 10/08/24
DE QUEEN – The Sevier County Chamber of Commerce says tickets are still available for its fourth annual Denim & Diamonds Gala, set for this Saturday, Oct. 12, from 6-10 p.m. at the Rocky Hill Ranch Event Center.
Tickets include a meal and an open bar serving cold beer and wine. Tickets are $75 per person and are on sale through the opening of the event for an Early Bird price of $65. Tickets are limited. Organizers say the event will be an entertaining night for all who attend. Attendees must be at least 21-years-old.
Buy your ticket at the door or by calling the chamber office at (870) 584-3225. You can also stop by the chamber office located on Stilwell Avenue in downtown De Queen.
The event will include music and dancing as well as a prime rib dinner. Organizers will also host a live auction as part of the night’s activities.
The Sevier County Chamber of Commerce said this event is designed in part to help bring the business sector and the community together for fun, networking and fundraising for the chamber. Funds raised will be used to continue the chamber’s mission of highlighting Sevier County’s business community and supporting growth initiatives in the county.
Sevier County comes together to help hurricane victims 10/07/24
DE QUEEN – Various individuals, groups and businesses are partnering up this week to help provide supplies to victims of Hurricane Helene.
The hurricane battered the East Coast last week, leaving behind a swath of destruction unparalleled since 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. The death toll has surpassed 200. North Carolina was the most devastated.
Sevier County is pitching in to help the survivors by hosting a disaster relief donation drive throughout the week.
“We’ve had our own natural disasters before and we’ve always gotten help from our neighbors. Unfortunately for the victims of the Hurricane, their neighbors were also impacted. So we feel like it’s upon us to do our part and help them out because at the end of the day we’re all in this together,” said Scottie Morris, one of the organizers of the local effort.
In addition to Morris and his wife, Shelly, organizers include the Sevier County Fair Association, De Queen Student Council, the Horatio School District, Horatio Church of Christ, Sevier County 4-H and De Queen Auto Group.
De Queen Auto Group has pledged it will match monetary donations up to $5,000. Checks should be made payable to the Samaritan’s Purse. More information on the organization's efforts to help hurricane victims can be found here.
Suggested donations include water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies, charcoal and lighter fluid, baby wipes/diapers/formula, hand sanitizer, hygiene products, paper products, flashlights, batteries and other essential items. Those items can be dropped off from 5-7 p.m. at the Sevier County Fairgrounds between Oct. 7-11. Items can also be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Sevier County Extension Office on UA Cossatot’s De Queen campus.
Morris and other volunteers are planning to deliver the items to the impacted region following next week’s drive.
“So far the response has been fantastic and exactly what you’d expect from Sevier County folks,” said Morris. “This really came together because of Vicky Wright. If you want to get something done in Sevier County, you just need to call her because she’ll do it. We’ve got a lot of interest in this effort and we’re just glad everyone’s coming together to help these people in their time of need.”
Texarkana murder suspect re-arrested after stealing vehicle, fleeing and crashing 10/07/24
TEXARKANA – On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at around 5:30 p.m., Arkansas State Police (ASP) assisted the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department (TAPD) in pursuing a stolen vehicle near Garland and Jefferson Avenues in Texarkana.
ASP located the stolen vehicle and the suspect traveling north on Jefferson Avenue. The suspect turned east on Interstate 30, traveling at approximately 95 mph. Near the I-30/I-49 eastbound interchange, the suspect attempted to pass a vehicle in the median and lost control. The suspect's vehicle overturned in the median before resting on its top.
Troopers arrested the driver, a 17-year-old from Texarkana. After receiving treatment and being released from Christus St. Michael Healthcare, the suspect was transported to a juvenile detention center in Pine Bluff.
The suspect was scheduled for trial next month for First-Degree murder in the death of Kendrick Roquemore, which occurred on September 29, 2023, in Texarkana.
He is facing felony charges of Theft of Property and Fleeing. He had previously been out on a $250,000 bond for the murder charge. On October 3, 2024, Miller County Circuit Judge Carlton Jones revoked that bond and added a new $250,000 bond for the Theft and Fleeing charges.
20-year-old accident still spreading message of hunter safety in Arkansas 10/07/24
Jacob Cain was 10 years old when he went on an impromptu squirrel hunt near Arkadelphia in November of 2004. His father, Larry Cain, was nearby clearing shooting lanes for deer season. After an hour or so on a tractor, Larry decided to check on the boy.
He shouted his son’s name a time or two but heard no response. Larry became concerned and went to deer camp, grabbed a few friends and began to seriously search with four-wheelers. It wasn’t long before he heard a weak answer.
Jacob was found with a .22 wound through his foot, although all was well after a trip to the hospital. Larry, a Hunter Education instructor, used the accident as a teaching moment and sent the AGFC an article he wrote about it, which appeared in the November/December 2006 issue of Arkansas Wildlife. He ended the article with these words: “At first I was very reluctant to write this story. As a hunter education instructor, I felt that maybe I had failed and was embarrassed. However, the more I thought about it, maybe another instructor or father can prevent an accident like this from happening. I am certain that Jacob has learned a very bittersweet lesson in gun safety.”
We recently got a call from Jacob, now 30 or so. He also became a Hunter Education instructor and plans to use the accident – and his dad’s article – to teach others.
Jacob, like many other dedicated volunteers, provides a valuable service to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as well as the general hunting public. Thousands of new hunters each year graduate from Hunter Education before taking to the field. The course is required for anyone 16 or older who was born after 1968 to hunt on their own.
Hunters under 16 may hunt with a licensed mentor who is at least 21 if they have not taken the course, and hunters 16 and older may do likewise after acquiring a Deferred Hunter Education (DHE) code through the AGFC’s licensing system (www.agfc.com/license).
“About 50 percent of our Hunter Education graduates still attend the free in-person classes,” Joe Huggins, Hunter Education Program Coordinator for the AGFC, said. “The rest opt for the online course. If you are 10 years or older, you can take the complete course online, including the final examination.”
Hunter Education teaches much more than firearms safety – it also covers all sorts of topics like basic woodsmanship, treestand safety, in-the-field first aid and even hunting ethics.
“Hunters are our best conservationists, and Hunter Education courses help them understand where they fit into the bigger picture of conservation,” Huggins said. “But the most important aspect will always be preparing them for a safe experience they can tell friends and family about for years to come.”
LITTLE ROCK – The top-ranked and two-time defending state champions – Little Rock Parkview were just too much for De Queen as the Patriots pulled away for a convincing 66-7 victory over the Leopards Friday night at War Memorial Stadium.
After Parkview scored in two plays following a De Queen fumble to take an early 7-0 lead, the Leopards shocked the crowd with a ten-play, 80-yard drive capped on a 51-yard pass from Cole Binkley to Ulyces Coto to tie the game at seven late in the opening quarter. But the Patriots recovered an onside kick attempt and scored 25 seconds later to regain the lead, and it was game over, as Parkview went on to score 59 straight unanswered points.
Coto was named our McDonalds Player of the game with 197 all-purpose yards including 50 yards rushing, two receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown, and 83 yards on five kick returns. Coto also had three tackles. Jake Martin led the tackle charts with seven.
The Leopards, now 3 and 2 on the season and 1 and 1 in 5A-South Conference play return home Friday to host the Hot Springs Trojans.
34th annual Hurrah! Festival this Saturday in De Queen 10/04/24
DE QUEEN – The annual celebration of all things Sevier County will be held this weekend in De Queen!
The 34th annual Hurrah! Festival will be this Saturday, Oct. 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Sevier County Museum. The yearly festival is a celebration of Sevier County, its people and their history.
Museum Director Karen Mills discussed the festival and some of the features at this year’s event, including its tribute to Sevier County arts and entertainment.
“I's a celebration of De Queen and, of course, the whole of Sevier County. You know, we're all in this together. And this year, our main thing that we're focusing on is art and entertainment, so we'll have a lot of local entertainment there Saturday, singing off and on from age seven years on up. We've got a little seven-year-old that's going to be singing and playing the piano, and she is going to be singing the National Anthem. Her name is Addison Lamb,” discussed Mills.
“The American Legion will be leading the Veterans Parade at nine to kick it off. Addison will sing the National Anthem, and then she's going to do several songs after that. And then, of course, we have Rachel Parson coming, Jonathan Dill, who is a very accomplished singer, guitar player. And then our featured performer is Edson Perez.”
The event also serves as the primary fundraiser for the Sevier County Museum.
“It's the museum's major fundraiser for the year, and, you know, we're a non-profit,” explained Mills. “It's a big building. Our expenses are pretty high as far as heating and cooling, trying to keep it climate controlled to protect the artifacts and the textiles and all of the paper. We’ve got all these wonderful things that we want to protect. So our utility bills are pretty high. The insurance is pretty high. We try to be as careful with our money as we can, but things are still expensive. And this is our big fundraiser for the year to help us get through, finish out the year and have a little bit of money to get started with for the next year.”
Activities at this year’s festival will include craft and food booths, knife-making demonstrations with Riverside Machine, a veterans parade, live music (including guest singer/musician Alexis from Texarkana) and an open car/truck show.
In addition, everyone is invited to start the day off with breakfast hosted traditionally by the De Queen Rotary Club. Breakfast will be served from 8-10 a.m. at the De Queen Senior Citizens Center. Menu includes bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, eggs and a drink.
Food is always a big part of the celebration and Mills said there will be a lot to enjoy.
“The Rotary Club breakfast is always a must to get your day started because we are going to be busy that day,” she said. “There will be lots of food vendors. We have the Pentecostal Church which is going to be doing hot dogs and chili dogs and nachos. We've got, of course, our funnel cakes from Williamson Church. You can't go to a festival without eating a funnel cake. And we have Old Town Cafe cooking hamburgers. We have a lot of Mexican food that everybody loves and enjoys. It's just going to be a great day. The American Legion will be selling chicken dinners this year and they’ll be free to veterans.”
The car and truck show is always a huge draw for the festival. The museum presents a number of awards and door prizes each year to participants.
The De Queen Lions Club will have a booth this Saturday to collect unused eyeglasses from the public. Those eyeglasses are then provided to members of the community who need a pair but are unable to afford them. The project is part of the Lions Club’s ongoing effort to address the needs of the vision-impaired.
For more information, contact Museum Director Karen Mills by calling (870) 784-0039, or stop by the museum.
The museum is open between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Sevier County comes together to help hurricane victims 10/04/24
DE QUEEN – Various individuals, groups and businesses are partnering up next week to help provide supplies to victims of Hurricane Helene.
The hurricane battered the East Coast earlier this week, leaving behind a swath of destruction unparalleled since 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. The death toll has surpassed 200. North Carolina was the most devastated.
Sevier County is pitching in to help the survivors by hosting a disaster relief donation drive next month.
“We’ve had our own natural disasters before and we’ve always gotten help from our neighbors. Unfortunately for the victims of the Hurricane, their neighbors were also impacted. So we feel like it’s upon us to do our part and help them out because at the end of the day we’re all in this together,” said Scottie Morris, one of the organizers of the local effort.
In addition to Morris and his wife, Shelly, organizers include the Sevier County Fair Association, De Queen Student Council, the Horatio School District, Horatio Church of Christ, Sevier County 4-H and De Queen Auto Group.
De Queen Auto Group has pledged it will match monetary donations up to $5,000. Checks should be made payable to the Samaritan’s Purse. More information on the organization's efforts to help hurricane victims can be found here.
Suggested donations include water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies, charcoal and lighter fluid, baby wipes/diapers/formula, hand sanitizer, hygiene products, paper products, flashlights, batteries and other essential items. Those items can be dropped off from 5-7 p.m. at the Sevier County Fairgrounds between Oct. 7-11. Items can also be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Sevier County Extension Office on UA Cossatot’s De Queen campus.
Morris and other volunteers are planning to deliver the items to the impacted region following next week’s drive.
“So far the response has been fantastic and exactly what you’d expect from Sevier County folks,” said Morris. “This really came together because of Vicky Wright. If you want to get something done in Sevier County, you just need to call her because she’ll do it. We’ve got a lot of interest in this effort and we’re just glad everyone’s coming together to help these people in their time of need.”
Hwy 41 railroad crossing project expected to continue through Monday evening 10/04/24
HORATIO – State officials are informing the public that this weekend’s closure of Highway 41 between Horatio and Winthrop has been extended to three days to allow crews time to complete repairs to the railroad crossing at Neal Springs.
The closure will take place Saturday, Oct. 5, Sunday, Oct. 6 and finally Monday, Oct. 7. Work will begin at 7 a.m. each day and continue to 7 p.m.
Through traffic on Highway 41 at the railroad crossing will be closed both days. Canadian Pacific-Kansas City (CPKC) Railroad received authorization from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) to close the crossing in order to remove the concrete crossing and 150 feet of track panel. A new section of track panel will be installed, along with a resurfaced curve and crossing.
CPKC stated in its application that it plans to install a new rubber crossing system and asphalt approaches.
Due to the limited number of bridges in that area, the only proposed detour over the Little River is Highway 71. Commuters traveling north on the affected route can take the 41/234 Junction east through Winthrop to Highway 71 and then go west at the 71/24 Junction to head to Horatio, or continue north on Highway 71 to reach Lockesburg and De Queen.
The Highway 41 railroad crossing will remain accessible to emergency response vehicles and local traffic only. There is no anticipated impact on Horatio Public Schools as the work is expected to begin and complete before the start of the new school week on Tuesday (Horatio’s four-day schedule is Tuesday-Friday).
This weekend marks the popular 34th annual Hurrah! Festival in De Queen, which draws out many visitors from across the region. Those traveling from Little River County and further south are particularly advised to reconsider their routes due to the work on Highway 71.
“Voice of the Leopards” Jay Bunyard calls 400th De Queen football game 10/03/24
DE QUEEN – The weather was great and the crowd was growing as “Voice of the Leopards” Jay Bunyard stepped into the booth for his 400th consecutive football broadcast for De Queen the night of Sept. 27.
It was Homecoming night and the stands were filing up ahead of the coronation ceremony ahead of kick off. Moments after the ceremony, Bunyard and several others were called down to Bill Blackwood Field for a surprise recognition. The crowd roared when Bunyard was honored for calling his 400th straight football game. He was presented with a plaque from De Queen Schools, a proclamation from Arkansas State Representative DeAnn Vaught and a football signed by the entire football team.
“I was very honored,” said Bunyard in his usual humble fashion. “I appreciate De Queen Schools for the team-autographed football and plaque, as well as De Queen Vaught for the House of Representatives citation. It was a privilege to share the limelight with Arkansas Education honorees Jason Sanders, Beau McCastlain and Tammy Lites.”
The cherry on top was a thrilling 39-13 Leopards victory over visiting Hope during De Queen’s Homecoming game. The win pushed the Leopards up to 3-1 on the season and marked the first conference victory since 2018.
“Homecoming was very nice,” he added. “And to top it off with a big Leopards victory made it a most memorable night.”
Perhaps surprisingly, there haven’t been many close calls in Bunyard’s 38 straight seasons as the “Voice of the Leopards.” There is one memorable event years back that forced a last minute vacation reshuffle. In 1998, he and his wife, Teresa, booked a trip to Cancun Thanksgiving week. The Leopards had a remarkable 14-0 season, earning a trip to the state championship game in Little Rock the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
“We made the decision to cut the vacation short and fly back on Thursday instead of Saturday, in order to call the game,” he said. “But other than that, I’ve been blessed with good health. I can’t even remember a bad cold on a football Friday night.”
Bunyard’s experience announcing Leopards football decades goes back almost a decade before he officially started taking track. He called around 50 games on a tape-delayed basis prior to starting the streak in 1987. He said a lot has changed since that first broadcast and his 400th this past Friday night.
“I had a classmate send me a cassette tape this summer with the recording of a game I’d called in 1978,” he explained. “Although I was decent for a 17-year-old, I was still pretty bad. I learned to put more enthusiasm into it as the years went by.”
Bunyard said he’s had the honor to work with many other broadcasters over the years in the press box.
“I remember the first live broadcast in Mena to start the 1987 season, Steve Cole was with me then,” he said. “We had promos recorded from Razorbacks greats Greg Thomas and Tony Cherico. Steve and I thought we were big-time.”
Other announcers like Scott Packnett and Travis Blakney came on as students and developed into partners. He counts 17 different broadcast partners over the years, averaging around two to three years.
“It takes a commitment to be there every Friday night,” he explained. “There’s family time, deer camp, etc. When I think of that 2-3 year lifespan for a broadcast colleague, that’s when I stop and think about me hitting 400 was a pretty cool accomplishment.”
For years Bunyard called games alongside Grant Smith and now calls games alongside Greg Revels and Toney Stowers.
“I’m having as much fun with them as I have ever had,” he said. “Also, I’ve always tried to give kids a chance to work at it. That’s why I sure enjoy the DQTV partnership.”
Bunyard counts many memorable moments over the past 400 games. For instance, leaving at daylight and getting home at daylight to call playoff games like Highland, Wilson Rivercrest, Osceola and other locations in the other far-flung corners of Arkansas.
“Of course, other standouts are victories against that old rival from across the Saline River, the Nashville Scarppers. The Leopards topped the Nashville team in 1989, 1993, 1998, 2011 and 2017.
On another occasion, a car took out a telephone pole outside the stadium while Bunyard was calling a game at Lakeside.
“I called the game on Coach Gary Segret’s office phone looking out the window in his coach’s office,” he said, laughing. “Also, I’ve been in better treehouses than the press box at Lewisville. I literally felt like that if I stepped wrong, I’d fall through a hole some 20 feet to the ground!”
Bunyard reserves special praise for the press box at Leopard Stadium. “It’s always been the best. Shanna Pinkerton is doing an awesome job preparing meals for us now.”
Bunyard credits so much of his knowledge and interest in Leopards football and its history to one of his mentors: the famed late editor of The De Queen Bee, J.R. McKinley. Bunyard said those were big shoes to step in when he took over the mantle of preserving Leopards football history.
“ I've been a bit concerned about preserving the history of Leopards football,” he admitted. “I picked J.R. McKinley's brain as much as I could while he was with us. I have piles and piles of notes and statistics that would mean nothing to anyone but me. But one of the reasons that I thought we needed to purchase the De Queen Bee was to protect those archives. When the Leopards are winning, there's absolutely no better ‘football town’ than De Queen.”
No surprise, Bunyard has no plans to retire or any particular goal he’s trying to reach in terms of a broadcast streak. When asked about the future, and particularly about hitting the 500 mark, he responded, “Why not?”
400 consecutive Leopards football broadcasts is an amazing achievement to note in De Queen and demonstrates a devotion to one’s school that’s hard to match. For this author, whose four years experience in broadcasting (and not a day in calling sports) is a minuscule drop in the proverbial bucket, it’s an inspiring accomplishment and one the entire community should be proud of.
Hunters haul 181 alligators from Arkansas waters during recent season 10/03/24
Arkansas hunters managed the second-highest harvest of alligators on record during the last two weekends in the sloughs and swamps of The Natural State. The 181-alligator harvest falls short of last year’s record effort of 202 alligators checked, but maintains the overall upward trend in what is still a relatively new opportunity for hunters.
Amanda Bryant, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Herpetologist, said she was pleased with the healthy harvest, particularly the hunt’s higher-than-normal success rate.
“Typically we see about one-third of public land tags filled, but this year we had 54 percent success rate on public land,” Bryant said. “And 96 percent of the private land quota was filled.”
This year’s weather may have increased the harvest, as Hurricane Helene may have caused a few hunters to check an alligator during the first weekend who normally would have held out for a larger one.
“Most unfilled alligator tags are because people hold out for a larger alligator than what they’re seeing, but maybe some of the forecasted rain had people more willing to take a little smaller alligator,” Bryant said. “Then the last weekend turned out pretty nice after all, and we continued to see decent numbers taken throughout the end of the season.”
Cody Gourley of Amity was one of those hunters whose patience paid off when he wrestled a 12-foot, 6-inch beast to the side of his boat on Millwood Lake during the second weekend of the hunt.
“We went out the first weekend and saw 70 to 75 gators per night, but we just couldn’t get close enough to a big one to make it happen,” Gourley said. “I tried to use a harpoon on one or two, but I couldn’t get it to stick. The second weekend, I was getting to the point that any alligator would have been good for me. My uncle said we should hold out until midnight that Saturday night before we looked for a smaller gator. At about 9:30, we saw this one and knew it was in that larger category.”
Gourley says he rigged up a snare for his second weekend, using instructions from the AGFC’s website.
“The snare was a much more intimate experience,” Gourley said. “We had to be right there within 8 feet of that gator before I could loop on the first snare. Then once we snared it, it was a fight.”
Gourley said he was in a 14-foot boat to be able to reach backwaters other hunters couldn’t.
“When the gator came up and I saw just how big it was, I was shocked,” Gourley said. “We couldn’t even get it in the boat, so we had to float it beside us as we made our way back to the ramp. It was unlike any hunt I’ve ever been on.”
Biologists have received a few calls from local anglers who were concerned about the alligator population in Millwood becoming too large, and Bryant says the harvest on the lake was encouraging.
“We had eight public tags for Millwood this year, and six of those were filled.” Bryant said. “It’s great to see so many of the tags being filled here, and hopefully it’s a step toward reducing the perception of human-wildlife conflict in this area.”
Bryant says increased harvest, especially on private land, has contributed to fewer nuisance calls in south Arkansas in the last few years.
“We see a strong relationship between the added harvest opportunity and lower nuisance calls,” Bryant said. “Some of it may be because people are more accustomed to seeing alligators now than they did 20 to 30 years ago, but a lot has to do with the private land hunt enabling landowners to handle the nuisance alligator on their own during the hunt.”
This year, Alligator Management Zone 1 (southwest Arkansas) and AMZ 3 (southeast Arkansas) tied for the most alligators harvested.
“Usually Zone 3 has the most harvest, but this year was evenly split at 87 alligators each,” Bryant said. “Alligator Management Zone 2 [south-central Arkansas] had seven alligators checked.”
Alligator hunting is by permit only in Arkansas. The AGFC issued 50 public hunting permits through a public draw system, with hunting allowed only on designated areas of certain WMAs, lakes and rivers in south Arkansas.
Alligator hunting on private property is managed through a quota system. Anyone may purchase a private land alligator hunting permit, but hunting season ends early if the quota for the alligator zone is met. This year, all zones remained open during the entire hunting season.
Alligator hunting in Arkansas is open from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise during the last two weekends each September. All alligators must be snared or harpooned by hand and subdued before being dispatched. Visit www.agfc.com/alligator for more information.
Port strike will have likely have impact on Arkansas exports 10/03/24
By Mary Hightower/UAEX
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that consumers shouldn’t expect food shortages in the near term because of the port strike; however, economists say a long strike could prompt changes on grocery shelves and at the checkout.
Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association went on strike Tuesday after it and the United States Maritime Alliance failed to reach a settlement by the Sept. 30 deadline.
The strike has shut down ports along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, key to the movement of U.S. cotton, meat and poultry exports. These commodities are important for Arkansas, which is No. 3 in the U.S. for broilers and cotton, No. 24 in cattle and calves, according to the 2024 Arkansas Agriculture Profile.
USDA said that “our analysis shows we should not expect significant changes to food prices or availability … we do not expect shortages anytime in the near future for most items.”
USDA also said that bulk shipping of products such as grains would be unaffected by this strike. Bulk grain loading facilities typically operate with their own employees or with different labor unions.
Cotton and shipping
“Cotton is entirely dependent on containerized shipment,” said Scott Stiles, an extension economics program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 20 percent of the U.S. cotton crop has been harvested.
“Eleven-point-eight million bales of the 2024 crop are projected to be exported,” Stiles said. “I would conservatively estimate that 55 percent of the 11.8 million bales would be shipped out of ports affected by this strike.”
Stiles said that some shipments bound for Asia can be diverted to the West Coast.
“The East Coast has largely handled cotton shipments to markets such as Turkey,” he said. “If the strike is prolonged like the last one in 1977 that lasted six weeks, will Turkey switch its cotton purchases to Brazil or West Africa?”
U.S. export sales of cotton are already off to the slowest start since 2015, Stiles said, and any “interruption in the U.S. ability to export only makes this situation worse.”
Eight-six percent of U.S. cotton demand is attributed to exports.
“Producers have watched market prices slide from 85 cents in February to 66 cents in August,” Stiles said. “Prices have recovered recently to the 73- to 74-cent area but have stalled as it became apparent that the port labor dispute would not be resolved by the Sept. 30 deadline.”
December cotton futures closed 52 points lower today to settle at 73.09 cents per pound.
Meat and poultry
Should the strike be prolonged, consumers could be seeing changes.
“Approximately 20 percent of broilers are destined for export markets,” said Jada Thompson, poultry economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. With the volume of ocean-bound freight that runs through East Coast ports, the strike “could have very real consequences either in spoiled products, lost revenues, or additional, unexpected storage costs.”
James Mitchell, a livestock economist with the Division of Agriculture, said, “this could have a significant impact on beef and pork trade flows. Beef trade to Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, and Honduras, for example, is affected, accounting for approximately 12 percent of beef exports through July 2024. The Caribbean makes up 4 percent of pork exports through July 2024.”
The strike “doesn’t impact all beef and pork exports uniformly. We export a wide variety of products to many different places. And those products are all valued differently,” he said. “The dollar impact will depend on which types of products are affected, the quantities, and the value of those specific export products.”
Neal Springs RR crossing on Highway 41 to close Oct. 5-6 for repairs 10/02/24
HORATIO – Officials are informing the public of a two-day closure of Highway 41 south of Horatio this weekend to allow crews time to complete repairs to the railroad crossing at Neal Springs.
The closure will take place Saturday, Oct. 5 and Sunday, Oct. 6. Through traffic on Highway 41 at the railroad crossing will be closed both days. Canadian Pacific-Kansas Southern (CPKS) Railroad received authorization from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) to close the crossing in order to remove the concrete crossing and 150 feet of track panel. A new section of track panel will be installed, along with a resurfaced curve and crossing.
CPKS stated in its application that it plans to install a new rubber crossing system and asphalt approaches.
Due to the limited number of bridges in that area, the only proposed detour over the Little River is Highway 71. Commuters traveling north on the affected route can take the 41/234 Junction east through Winthrop to Highway 71 and then go west at the 71/24 Junction to head to Horatio, or continue north on Highway 71 to reach Lockesburg and De Queen.
The Highway 41 railroad crossing will remain accessible to emergency response vehicles. There is no anticipated impact on Horatio Public Schools as the work is expected to begin and complete within the weekend.
This weekend marks the popular 34th annual Hurrah! Festival in De Queen, which draws in many visitors from across the region. Those traveling from Little River County and further south are particularly advised to reconsider their routes due to the work on Highway 71.
PCSO deputy cleared in August fatal shooting 10/02/24
GLENWOOD – West Judicial District Prosecutor Jana Bradford has determined that the use of lethal force by a Pike County Sheriff's Deputy was justified in the officer-involved shooting on Aug. 29 which resulted in the death of a Pike County woman.
The Pike County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) asked the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Arkansas State Police (ASP) to investigate the shooting.
On Thursday, August 29, 2024, the PCSO responded to a location on Highway 84 West near the Pike County community of Glenwood following reports of a woman with a knife. The woman, later identified as Jennifer Provence, 43, did not comply with a deputy's commands to drop the knife. The deputy fired his service weapon, hitting Provence, who died from her injuries at the scene.
ASP CID prepared an investigative file and submitted it to the prosecuting attorney, who determined the use of deadly force was consistent with Arkansas laws.
De Queen Rotary Club hears presentation on AR Latino Hall of Fame 10/02/24
DE QUEEN – At the Sept. 30 De Queen Rotary Club meeting at Micah 6:8, Jorge Gonzalez of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the upcoming Arkansas Latino Hall of Fame induction ceremony of which a Sevier County man will be one of the five honorees. The North Little Rock Chamber is sponsoring the event.
Robert Martinez of Horatio will be inducted as part of the inaugural class of the state’s Latino Hall of Fame at a sold-out dinner on Thursday, Oct. 24 at the North Little Rock Wyndam Riverfront. The venue seats 400.
Four individuals, including Martinez, along with one group will make up the inaugural class of five members. Approximately 50 Sevier County residents are expected to travel to North Little Rock to attend the event. The induction ceremony will be available for viewing on the P.B.S. livestream. There is also a Spanish news outlet that plans to show the event via Facebook live.
Gonzalez thanked Daniel Martinez and Veronica Ozuru for their service and participation on the statewide Latino Hall of Fame board.
Gonzalez said that there were 56 nominations for the inaugural class. Besides being a successful rancher in Southwest Arkansas, Gonzalez said that Robert Martinez stood out to the selection committee because of his dedication to the community that’s been demonstrated through his volunteer work and service on various boards, committees, and nonprofit entities.
“Robert has served with CHRISTUS St. Michael’s board in Texarkana, on the Federal Reserve Board for the St. Louis region, on the U of A Cossatot board, Farm Bureau board, St. Barbara’s Catholic Church board, and he was instrumental in bringing the Mexican Consulate to Little Rock, which regularly sends a mobile office to Southwest Arkansas to assist Hispanic residents”, Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez was introduced by Rotarian Daniel Martinez, who arranged the program. Daniel is Roberto’s great nephew.
Club Secretary Tammy Huddleston reminded members that the Rotary Club is hosting a Golfing Outing Raffle now through October 21st. The grand prize will be a golfing package for four people on any course at beautiful Hot Springs Village. Tickets are just $25 each, with only a total of 200 tickets offered for sale. All proceeds will go toward the many worthwhile local projects of the De Queen club.
The drawing will be held live on KDQN 92.1 on Thursday, Oct. 24. See any De Queen Rotarian to purchase a ticket and help out a great local cause.
Guests at Monday’s meeting included Carter Berkelman of the Housing and Urban Development based in Little Rock.
Deadline to register to vote this November is Oct. 7 10/02/24
DE QUEEN – The deadline to register to vote for the November General Election is fast approaching. If you are not already registered, you have until Monday, Oct. 7 to turn in your registration form. The General Election and Nonpartisan Runoff Election will be held on Nov. 5.
Early voting begins on Oct. 21. Polls for early voting will be open between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Early voting ends at 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to the election. In Sevier County, all early voting will take place in the community building in De Queen’s Herman Dierks Park.
Submitting your voter application at a state agency, in a voter registration drive, or through the U.S. Postal Service does NOT guarantee your registration. You should follow up on the status of your registration just as you would on any other personal business matter. Before considering yourself a registered voter, you must receive an acknowledgment of your registration from the county clerk. Feel free to call your county clerk and inquire about the status of your application. You may also check your voter registration status online by visiting www.voterview.org.
Voter registration applications may be found at sos.arkansas.gov. If you are registering to vote by mail you must provide either your driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number on your Arkansas Voter Registration Application, or check the box in #9 on the application to indicate that you do not possess either a driver’s license or Social Security number.
U.S. Sen. Boozman discusses fire department regs, Israel and govt spending 10/02/24
DE QUEEN – U.S. Senator, John Boozman recently took a moment to join us on KDQN and weigh in on a number of topics ranging from the government funding deadline to American support for Israel in its ongoing conflict against terrorism in the Middle East.
Lawmakers averted a government shutdown last Thursday, just days ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline. The negotiated legislation pushes the funding crunch to December, right before Christmas and a new Congress and president take office.
Boozman said it was vital lawmakers work together to avoid a full government shutdown like that seen for 35 days in the winter of 2018-2019. Boozman hopes the temporary spending bill will help Congress advance a more fiscally conservative budget into the new year.
“This is really important because when you shut the government down, it would involve defense, it would involve all of the agencies that do so much, that would have to scramble around. For instance, you're working in a meat processing plant and the person that certifies the meat can't come in because they're off the payroll. The military would not get paid unless we pass a special law saying that they're going to get paid,” he said. “Once the election is over, regroup and get together and pass something that is responsible. We're $35 trillion in debt. We have to make sure that whatever we do respects the American taxpayer's money, which this is. It's not my money. It's not anybody in Congress's money. This is the taxpayer's money.”
Boozman also addressed a proposed update to regulations enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that he believes would restrict the ability for fire departments to operate in their communities. These regulations focus primarily on increasing the amount of annual training within fire departments and mandating they regularly replace older equipment.
Concerns have arisen less over the proposed changes themselves, but rather the cost and administrative effort it would take to adopt them. Fire departments across the state and nation are already struggling to fill positions and balance budgets. Boozman said it's a concern he hears increasingly from first responders in Arkansas.
“About 80-90% of our firefighting in Arkansas is done by volunteer fire departments. I don't know of any group that does a better job of stretching their dollars further. But when you have to mandatorily retire a truck because it's got a certain age on it when it's perfectly fine, those are the kind of things that they're very concerned about,” said Boozman. “The feeling is amongst the fire departments that we would lose many of our departments. We're engaging with OSHA and a number of other senators and congressmen. The Arkansas delegation is involved greatly and so we're going to push back and make sure that they understand the unintended consequences of some of the actions that they're trying to do with the new rule.”
Finally, Boozman expressed his desire to see continued U.S. support for Israel in its regional conflicts in the Middle East. That situation escalated early last week after Israel responded with aerial attacks against the Lebanese-based terrorist group Hezbollah. Hezbollah has reportedly fired over 10,000 rockets into Israel since Oct. 7, 2023. Those attacks have displaced more than 60,000 people in northern Israel.
Boozman said Israel needs U.S. support to ensure its victory and survival as the region's sole democratic state.
“This is one of our greatest allies. They're the shining light in a very troubled part of the world, the only democracy in the region and for so many reasons we need to be very, very supportive of Israel. And we have been. We can be proud of that,” he said.
“But we need to make it such that there's no question. They shouldn't have to worry or be concerned that we're not going to be there for them. You can imagine if somebody shot a rocket from a thousand miles away into one of our communities what the reaction would be from the United States, rightfully so.”
Alternating lane closures begin today on Hwy 71 near Lockesburg 10/01/24
LOCKESBURG – Alternating lane closures are scheduled on Highway 71 near Lockesburg daily from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from Tuesday, October 1 through Sunday, October 27.
Weather permitting, lane closures will be in place on Highway 71 from the intersection of Highway 71 and Highway 24/371 (E Main Street) in Lockesburg, extending 4.5 miles south to Johns Branch Creek. The alternating lane closures will allow crews to perform pavement preservation work.
Traffic will be controlled with cones, flagging, and signage.
Drivers are urged to use caution while traveling in the area.
September weather report for the listening area 10/01/24
DE QUEEN – The month of September brought some much-needed rainfall and some relief from burn bans, triple digit temperatures, and heat advisories that we encountered during the month of August.
6.03 inches of rain were recorded at the KDQN studios during September, bringing our total precipitation for 2024 up to 38.85 inches. We measured 3.86 inches of rain on Sept. 11.
The coolest morning was 50 degrees recorded on the 9th and 10th. The hottest afternoon was 92 degrees on the 6th and 7th.
Bunyard Broadcasting, Inc. is the official reporting station for the National Weather Service in De Queen.
Leopards winning streak continues after victory against Hope 09/30/24
DE QUEEN – With De Queen Catherine Socash and her homecoming court looking on, the De Queen Leopards pulled away from Hope 39-13 in the 5A South Conference opener Friday night.
The Leopards offense scored touchdowns on their first four possessions of the night to race to a 26-13 halftime lead. The Leopards rolled up 441 yards in total offense on the night.
Meanwhile, the Leopard defense was credited with six quarterback sacks as they held Hope scoressless in the second half.
The victory snapped a 38-game conference losing streak dating back to the 2018 season. Afterward, Toney Stowers caught up with victorious Head Football Coach Richard Bell.
Our McDonald’s Player of the Game was quarterback Cole Binkley, who rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries and threw for 77 yards and a score.
The Leopards are riding their first three-game winning streak in 15 years, dating back to the 2009 season. However, De Queen hits the road to Little Rock this Friday night to take on the two-time defending state champions – the Parkview Patriots.
DE QUEEN – It was a big day Friday for De Queen High School Homecoming Queen Catherine Socash and her court. Following the parade through downtown De Queen and School Drive, and the pep rally at the high school, Queen Catherine and her court were presented at Leopard Stadium Friday night prior to the kickoff with Hope.
KDQN’s sidelines reporter for the Leopards, Toney Stowers, had the opportunity to present the bouquet and football tot he queen since he was named the 2024 Loyal Leopard Award winner as presented by the Athletic Booster Club. The 2023 homecoming queen Alexa Monroy crowned this year’s queen prior to kickoff Friday night.
Tonight is De Queen High School's 2024 Homecoming 09/27/24
DE QUEEN – Tonight is homecoming at De Queen High School!
Activities have been scheduled throughout the week ahead of this evening’s ceremonies, where Catherine Socash will be crowned as the 2024 DHS Homecoming Queen. She’ll be escorted byMacaden Smith and nine De Queen High School homecoming maids.
Those maids, and their escorts, include:
Alize Bahena and Trenton Matthews Ashley Hernandez and Lance Wise Jordan West and Cole Binkley Katelyn Ponce and Kanen Billingsley Lizaneth Gutierrez and Ulyces Coto Marlene Tellez and Henry Campuzano Noelia Munoz and Philip Chang Stephanie Villeda and Esteban Alvarez Vianey Dominguez and Juan Penaloza
Adleigh Lawrence and Silas Carver will serve as the ceremony’s attendants. The DHS Student Council selected Disney Magic for this year’s homecoming theme.
The De Queen Leopards Football team will play its homecoming game against the Hope Bobcats this evening with kickoff at 7 p.m.
The 2024 Homecoming festivities will begin at 1:45 p.m. on Friday with a parade in downtown De Queen around the Sevier County Courthouse square, continuing down School Drive at 2:15 p.m. for kindergarten through 12th grade. The afternoon coronation ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the DHS Coliseum followed by a pep rally. The evening ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Leopard Stadium before the Leopards vs. Bobcats game starting at 7 p.m.
Leopards look to increasing winning streak to 3-1 against Bobcats tonight 09/27/24
DE QUEEN – The Leopards hope to carry on their hard-fought winning streak tonight as they host the Hope Bobcats and De Queen High School’s 2024 Homecoming Ceremony tonight at historic Bill Blackwood Field.
The Leopards broke a 27-game losing streak after defeating Horatio 35-0 on Sept. 6. They earned another victory in a 19-18 nailbiter contest against visiting Lafayette County on Sept. 13. They hope to increase their record to 3-1 on the season (after the season opening loss to Mena Aug. 30) when they host the Bobcats this Friday.
In a special note regarding tonight's game, it will mark the 400th consecutive broadcast of “Voice of the Leopards” Jay Bunyard! Despite some illnesses over the years, re-arranged vacations and other hurdles, Bunyard has not missed announcing a Leopards game in the past 38 years!
De Queen and Hope
The Series
This Friday’s matchup between the Hope Bobcats and the De Queen Leopards is the 42ndmeeting all-time between the two schools. The Bobcats have claimed 29 victories, while the Leopards have been victorious 11 times. There has been one tie in the matchup over the decades. That was a 7-7 tie to open the 1953 season. That was the only blemish on the De Queen record that season as Coach Ben Burton’s Leopards finished 10-0-1.
The first meeting between the two schools was back in 1930, when Hope blanked De Queen 12-0.
The Leopards and Bobcats played annually from 1947 – 1969. In that last meeting in 1969 before a 43-year lapse in the series, Hope defeated De Queen 28-0. De Queen’s last victory over Hope before the 43-year lapse in contests came in 1965 when quarterback Murray “Tuffy” Neely led the Leopards to a 7-0 win over Hope.
From 1949 to 1959, the Leopards lost only 18 games combined during those 11 seasons. Five of those 18 losses came at the hands of the Bobcats.
Many Leopard fans will argue that the 1957 club was the best team in De Queen football history. Although Arkansas didn’t have state play-offs that season to determine champions, the Leopards did roll to a perfect 12-0 season, and outscored their opponents by a combined margin of 331-66 in those 12 games. Which opponent gave De Queen their toughest game? You guessed it. The Leopards slipped past Hope 13-12 on September 20, 1957.
One year later in 1958, the Leopards finished 9-1. The only blemish on their record that year was a heartbreaking 6-0 loss to Hope in the second game of the season. So, Hope has always been a pesky opponent.
After a 43-year lapse in the series following the 1969 season, the Leopards and Bobcats resumed playing annually again in 2012 when Hope and De Queen became members of the 5A-South Conference.
Since the rivalry resumed in 2012, Hope has claimed nine of the twelve victories. De Queen wins came in a three-year span from 2016 – 2018. Hope has won the last five encounters.
In 2016, Hunter Earney rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns as the Leopards whipped Hope 35-7. Drew Dykes threw for 106 yards and ran for two scores.
In 2017, Marquez Ester rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns while Earney added 114 yards on the ground and a touchdown as De Queen rolled to a 40-14 victory over the Bobcats. Rolando Sotelo and Mack Carver also ran for touchdowns as the Leopards rushed for 377 yards on the night.
Then in 2018, The Leopards prevailed 21-14 in overtime during a downpour at Leopard Stadium. Ironically, this win over Hope marks the last Leopards 5A-South Conference victory. More details are available on this contest in “This Week in Leopard History” elsewhere in tonight’s program.
Since that first meeting between De Queen and Hope back in 1930, it’s been a spirited Cat Fight despite the long 43-year lapse between games in the series. Tonight’s contest should be memorable as well!
Deadline approaching to register to vote in Arkansas this November 09/27/24
The deadline to register to vote for the November General Election is fast approaching. If you are not already registered, you have until Monday, October 7 to turn in your registration form. The General Election and Nonpartisan Runoff Election will be held on November 5.
Early voting begins on October 21. Polls for early voting will be open between the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on Saturday. Early voting ends at 5:00 pm on the Monday prior to the election.
Submitting your voter application at a state agency, in a voter registration drive, or through the U.S. Postal Service does NOT guarantee your registration. You should follow up on the status of your registration just as you would on any other personal business matter. Before considering yourself a registered voter, you must receive an acknowledgment of your registration from the county clerk. Feel free to call your county clerk and inquire about the status of your application. You may also check your voter registration status online by visiting www.voterview.org.
Voter registration applications may be found at sos.arkansas.gov. If you are registering to vote by mail you must provide either your driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number on your Arkansas Voter Registration Application, or check the box in #9 on the application to indicate that you do not possess either a driver’s license or Social Security number.
Provo community to host 37th annual Kids Rodeo this Saturday 09/27/24
PROVO – Organizers will present the 37th annual Provo Kids Rodeo this Saturday, Sept. 28 beginning at 10 a.m.
The rodeo will feature a variety of events for youth aged up to 16-years-old. These include mini bull riding, horse speed, horse barrel, horse pole bending, a boot race and stick horse competition for the little ones, and much more. Rodeo registration begins at 9 a.m.
Other activities include live music and a calf scramble.
Chicken dinner plates will be on sale beginning at 5 p.m. for $10. The meals are being provided and prepared by Pilgrim’s.
All events will take place at the Provo Arena, located at 112 Community Road, Lockesburg, AR 71846.
For more information check out the 37th annual Provo Kids Rodeo event page on Facebook.
Legacy Academy hosts Scholars Induction Ceremony 09/27/24
Submitted by Ben Wright/Legacy Academy
LOCKESBURG – Legacy Academy held its Scholar Induction Ceremony on Thursday, September 19 inducting four new Scholars into their final stage of learning at Legacy Academy. Legacy Scholars are Rhetoric level students, sophomores to seniors.
Each year, selected Sophomore students are inducted to join other upper level students. This year’s newly promoted Scholars are:
● Jude Gallagher
● Olivia Lofton
● Jacob Martinez
● Manolo Vázquez
In this ceremony, Legacy Academy recognized these students’ status as role models and upperclassmen, and the school now becomes a stronger entity as these students signify their commitment to upholding the values of the Christian faith in their school in sight of their peers, their teachers, their families and God.
After accepting a charge from school founder, Chad Gallagher and signing their own honor pledge, students were given their navy blazers – which become part of their formal uniform – by their parents. The navy blazer is the culmination of their career at Legacy Academy and signifies their new role as leaders on campus. Parents then laid their hands on and prayed for their children at the culmination of the ceremony.
Earlier in the ceremony, the new Rookies were set in (K-2nd grade), new Protégés were promoted (3rd-6th), and the new Apprentices (7th-9th) were recognized. The entire school body took part as existing students in each rank joined the new inductees to re-affirm each of their charges.
Founder Chad Gallagher said, “We had a great night celebrating Scholar Induction, and setting in our students as Rookies, Protégés, Apprentices and Scholars. We are so thankful to have a school community that values the heart values above all else and that celebrates young men and women upholding these standards in their daily lives. These special events are important milestones for our students – at whatever age – as they commit publicly and in their hearts to honor God and to follow His purpose for their lives. We are proud of them and we are committed to securing for them a bright future of hope, faith and joy.”
Legacy Academy is a Classical Christian school in Lockesburg, AR built upon a values-based system of education and development as outlined by the Bible–the inerrant Word of God. In addition to academic excellence, Legacy develops students of integrity, character, and confidence who are aware of their individual purpose, worth, and societal responsibility.
Lockesburg FBC Sportsman's Supper, Fall Revival begins Saturday 09/27/24
LOCKESBURG – First Baptist Church of Lockesburg will host its annual Sportsman’s Chili Supper and Fall Revival beginning this weekend.
The Sportsman’s Chili Supper will be held this Saturday, Sept. 28 beginning at 5 p.m. at the church, located at 3466 S. Camellia Street in Lockesburg. The event will include drawings for guns, fishing equipment and other sports items.
The Fall Revival will be held 6:30 p.m. each night Sept. 28-Oct. 2. Don Whitt will be the evangelist while music will be provided by Jamie Parker. A Sunday morning worship will be held 10:45 a.m.
For more information contact First Baptist Church of Lockesburg by calling (870) 289-2121.
Unique eatery and fixture of downtown De Queen to celebrate 15th year 09/24/24
DE QUEEN – A cornerstone of downtown De Queen will celebrate its 15th anniversary next month.
Chad and Jessica Gallagher opened the doors to Stilwell's Restaurant Oct. 1, 2009. Located at the intersection of Stilwell Avenue and Third Street on the southeast corner of the Sevier County Courthouse Square, Stilwell's has become a fixture of downtown De Queen with its selection of coffee, sandwiches, desserts and other menu items. The restaurant was also an early leader in the revitalization of De Queen's downtown – an effort that has breathed new life into the city's most historical district.
The restaurant features an exposed brick wall highlighting its vintage provenance. Photos of De Queen a century ago grace another wall while the rest of the interior creates a coffee shop atmosphere one would expect only in a bigger city.
It's no coincidence Stilwell's was opened in downtown De Queen. For Chad Gallagher, the restaurant was part of his hope to see this area of town thrive.
“When we opened Stilwell's, we purposely chose to be downtown because we've just long held that our downtown districts can either be an asset or they can be a real detriment. There is no such thing as neutral for them,” he explained. “Across the state we've seen communities really ramp up their downtowns and get across that tipping point and see those areas thrive. We always wanted to do our part to contribute to that effort and I think that Stilwell's has been a good anchor business for the downtown over the last 15 years.”
Of course, offering visitors a unique dining experience was another major goal in opening the restaurant. This included offering items made from scratch and recipes crafted by his mother-in-law, Angelea Talley.
“She ran Stilwell's for us initially and did an amazing job. She came up with recipes and put hours and hours of work for the first five years in getting the restaurant going and set up,” he said. “In starting Stilwell's itself, really what was in our minds and our hearts was to offer the community something that was a little different than what we already had. We have a lot of other great restaurants and hardworking restaurant families serving the community, so we wanted to offer something a little bit different.”
In addition to Jessica's mother, Chad credits his long-time manager Cindy Lofton as well as Ken George, who has run the restaurant's kitchen for the past decade.
Chad said the restaurant's success is also a testament to the support of Stilwell's customers, many of whom are daily patrons.
“Our customers have been faithful and loyal and we have fantastic customers who come by every day in addition to those who drive out of town once a week just to have a meal at Stilwell's,” he said. “It really is humbling. We just try to work hard every day to make sure that we are meeting their expectations and doing good by them.”
At 15 years, Stilwell's is also by all accounts De Queen's longest-opened restaurant with the same owners. Some have been around longer, but have seen their ownership change in those same years.
“The restaurant business is a tough business. It takes a lot of time and the profit margin is actually really narrow. So we're really pleased to say we're still going strong and excited about the future,” said Chad. “When I think about celebrating 15 years, it's to look back and say, you know, small business can work in a small town community. It just takes committed people who work hard and great customers that appreciate it… it's been a winning combination.”
Chad said the restaurant's success has also contributed to another of the family's goals: supporting local youth and faith-based charitable initiatives.
“We want to show gratitude by trying to support those efforts, to be good partners, build a better community – whether that's by providing a meal for a funeral, supporting a local event or project, or donating to the fair,” said, who along with his wife founded Legacy Academy in 2017. “We love that Stilwell's has afforded us the opportunity to try to jump in and support the amazing stuff people in Sevier County are doing.”
The restaurant will mark its 15th anniversary with a small celebration on Oct. 2. While it will be a regular day for the restaurant, the Gallagher's invite everyone to come by, even if just to say hello. The KDQN Morning Brew Crew will be live on location from 10 a.m. to 12 noon with the Number One Country Treasure Chest in addition to on-air spotlights on Stilwell's and the restaurant’s history.
“We're excited to have everyone come by and hang out with us, it'll be a fun time,” said Chad.
Hurrah! Festival returns Oct. 5 in celebration of local history 09/24/24
DE QUEEN – The annual celebration of all things De Queen is just over a week away.
The 34th annual Hurrah! Festival will be Saturday, Oct. 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Sevier County Museum. The yearly festival is a celebration of De Queen, its people and their history. The event also serves as the primary fundraiser for the Sevier County Museum.
This year's theme will focus on a tribute to Sevier County arts and entertainment.
Activities at this year’s festival will include craft and food booths, knife-making demonstrations with Riverside Machine, a veterans parade, live music (including guest singer/musician Alexis from Texarkana) and an open car/truck show.
In addition, everyone is invited to start the day off with breakfast hosted traditionally by the De Queen Rotary Club. Breakfast will be served from 8-10 a.m. at the De Queen Senior Citizens Center. Menu includes bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, eggs and a drink.
Vendors are encouraged to reserve a booth at this year's festival. Booths will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. To reserve a booth, or for more information, contact Museum Director Karen Mills by calling (870) 784-0039, or stop by the museum.
The museum is open between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Hunters check 1,231 deer during Arkansas' early buck hunt 09/24/24
Arkansas bowhunters harvested 1,231 deer during the state’s first statewide early buck hunt earlier this month. The jump-start to deer season was added during the biannual regulations-setting process this spring to offer hunters the opportunity to pursue a buck still “in velvet.”
Ralph Meeker, deer program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said the hunt’s harvest was within the range expected by biologists when the hunt was announced.
“When we look at historical harvest for the first three days of archery season, hunters typically check between 2,000 and 4,000 deer, depending on the weather,” Meeker said. “But a lot of those deer are does, so when you look at only the buck component of that harvest, it’s around 800 to 1,500 antlered deer.”
Arkansas’s regular archery season has traditionally begun on the fourth Saturday in September.
Meeker says the results of Arkansas’s first statewide early deer hunt also fall fairly close to those found in Tennessee and Mississippi, two neighboring states with similar hunts.
“We had great weather during the hunt, and a lot of hunters were able to enjoy a cooler morning in the stand than anticipated,” Meeker said.
While many hunters enjoyed harvesting an early deer, the timing of this year’s hunt did fall slightly outside the peak time for the deers’ antlers to be shrouded in velvet.
“After talking to meat processors and hunters I know, I’d estimate that only about 10 to 15 percent of the bucks were still in velvet and I’d lean closer to that 10 percent side,” Meeker said. “The hunt is set for the first full weekend in September, and this year it happened to land on the latest possible calendar date for that criteria. As the calendar rotates, we’ll begin to see earlier hunts in future years. We see several bucks “in velvet” harvested in the first few days of the urban hunts, which typically open Sept. 1.”
The hunt also shouldn’t take much of the excitement out of the opening weekend of regular archery deer season, as many hunters still have tags and freezers to fill.
“I think a lot of hunters had to choose between early bucks and doves this year, so they’ll still be out there for the statewide archery opener,” Meeker said. “There are still a good number of people who archery hunt to just harvest a deer. The early hunt mainly attracts those die-hard bowhunters, so I think we’ll still see a lot of people in the woods for archery season. It also was a great opportunity for hunters who wanted to get out in the woods a little when they made their first trip to deer camp to clean up, plant food plots and get ready for the rest of the season. It was nice to give those folks a choice.”
Regular archery season in Arkansas is Sept. 28-Feb. 28. Visit www.agfc.com/deer for more information.
Arkansas property tax payment deadline is Oct. 15 09/24/24
DE QUEEN – Arkansas residents and property owners are reminded that they have until Oct. 15 to pay their personal and real property taxes and avoid a 10 percent late penalty.
The Sevier County Collector’s office will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each weekday Oct. 1-15 to accept payments. The office will be closed from 1-2 p.m. each weekday for lunch. The office will also be open Saturday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon to accept payments.
The office is located at 115 North Third Street in the Sevier County Courthouse.
Sevier County taxpayers are reminded they can use the office’s drop box for payments. Please include your statement and a receipt will be mailed to you. Taxpayers using the drop box are asked not to put cash inside.
The Sevier County Collector’s Office will be closed Oct. 16 through Oct. 18 in order to prepare the delinquent tax list. The office will return to normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 21.
Over eight pounds of cocaine seized in Hempstead Co. traffic stop 09/24/24
HOPE – A Texas man is facing felony charges in Southwest Arkansas after he was arrested on suspicion of trafficking more than eight pounds of cocaine.
On Sept. 17, at approximately 7:42 a.m., Arkansas State Police (ASP) stopped a grey 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer around the 28-mile marker on Interstate 30 East in Hempstead County for a traffic violation.
Troopers searched the SUV and found three bricks of cocaine wrapped in tape in a baby wipes box. When weighted, the suspected cocaine totaled 8.4 pounds. Street value, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, equals $420,000.
Troopers arrested the driver, Chris Alvarado, 32, of Dallas, Texas, and transported him to the Hempstead County Detention Center. Alvarado is charged with Felony Trafficking of a Controlled Substance.
AAA associate director speaks at De Queen Rotary 09/24/24
DE QUEEN – At the Sept. 23 De Queen Rotary Club meeting at Micah 6:8, the Associate Executive Director of the Arkansas Activities Association, Steve Roberts, called the Triple A the most misunderstood organization in the state.
Roberts is a former successful head football coach at Southern Arkansas University as well as at Arkansas State University. He also played college football tight end for legendary De Queen native Coach Buddy Bob Benson at Ouachita Baptist University. Roberts explained that the Triple A’s role is to simply administer the rules that its member schools adopt.
Roberts said that every member school from 1A to 7A gets one vote. It takes a two-thirds vote to change the Association’s constitution. Bylaws can be changed with a simple majority vote. The state legislature can also pass laws that the Triple A must adhere to. “The schools make the rules”, Roberts said.
Roberts addressed a couple of frequently asked questions like why does De Queen compete in Class 5A in football, but in Class 4A in all other sports? There are about 200 schools that play football. However, there are some 320 school districts that compete in some sport other than football. The biggest 16 schools that play football are in 7A. The next 16, based on enrollment, are in 6A. The next 32 schools, including De Queen, are in 5A.
Roberts explained that the classifications are based on enrollment over a three-year average. On October 1, school districts will submit their enrollment numbers for grades nine through eleven. School districts want to show as high of an enrollment as possible to the Arkansas Department of Education as that also determines their funding received.
Another frequently asked question is why is De Queen in the same conference as a Little Rock school? Roberts explained that the schools voted to have four eight-team conferences in Class 5A. Little Rock is closer to De Queen geographically than the next option, a Pine Bluff school.
The Arkansas Activities Association is making a strong effort to publicize the importance of students participating in a school activity besides academics. Roberts said that surveys show that students involved in an activity have higher grade point averages, have better attendance, score higher on the A.C.T. test, and have fewer discipline referrals. A student involved in a school activity has a 99 percent graduation rate compared to 89 percent for students not participating.
The Triple A project for this school year is to call attention to the mental health crisis that students are experiencing. Fourteen percent of senior high students have contemplated suicide. Forty percent describe themselves as severely depressed. Roberts said that the Triple A is making an effort to inform students that it’s ok to talk about it. They should seek out a coach, an administrator, a teacher, or a counselor to talk it out as to what they’re going through.
Roberts was introduced by Rotarian Jason Sanders, Superintendent at De Queen Schools, who arranged the program. The two worked together on the football coaching staff at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia.
Daniel Martinez was inducted as a new member. Daniel is employed at Pilgrims in De Queen. His Rotary classification is Poultry Industry. Daniel was sponsored for membership by Rotarian Veronica Ozura.
Club Secretary Tammy Huddleston reminded members that the Rotary Club is hosting a Golfing Outing Raffle now through Oct. 24. The grand prize will be a golfing package for four people on any course at beautiful Hot Springs Village. Tickets are just $25 each, with only a total of 200 tickets offered for sale. All proceeds will go toward the many worthwhile local projects of the De Queen club. The drawing will be held live on KDQN 92.1 on Thursday, Oct. 24. See any De Queen Rotarian to purchase a ticket and help out a great local cause.
Guests at Monday’s meeting included Ken Madden and Lee Ferguson of Searcy, and Lance Pinkerton.
Special youth deer hunt at Dierks Lake Nov. 2-3 09/24/24
DIERKS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Dierks Lake Project Office, is accepting applications for a youth deer hunt at Dierks Lake on Nov. 2-3.
Seven permits will be issued to hunters ages 6-15. Applicants must submit a completed form by Oct. 12, available at the Dierks Lake Project Office, 246 Jefferson Ridge Road, Dierks, or by calling (870) 286-2346. A random drawing and hunter notification will occur on Oct. 16.
Participants must have guardian consent and be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 21 years old, who has completed hunter education and holds a valid Arkansas hunting license. Youth hunters are limited to modern guns, must provide their own firearms and be skilled in their use. Access and hunting blinds will be provided.
This event promotes conservation, outdoor interest and ethical hunting while improving the local deer herd.
It's Homecoming Week in De Queen 09/23/24
DE QUEEN – It's homecoming week at De Queen High School!
Activities are scheduled throughout the week ahead of this Friday's evening ceremonies, where Catherine Socash will be crowned as the 2024 DHS Homecoming Queen. She’ll be escorted alongside nine De Queen High School homecoming maids.
The De Queen Leopards Football team will play its homecoming game against the Hope Bobcats this Friday, Sept. 27. Homecoming festivities kick off with Spirit Week beginning today and continuing through Friday.
The DHS Student Council selected Disney Magic for this year’s homecoming theme. Spirit days include:
Monday- “Marvel Monday”(Dress as your favorite Superhero)
Tuesday-“Disney Day” (Dress as a Disney Character)
Wednesday-“Wreck-It Ralph-Construction” (Dress in construction gear)
Thursday-“Inside Out Color Wars” (Dress in your designated class color for Color Wars Day.) (Yellow-Kinder, 4th, & 8th; Green-1st, 5th, & 9th; Red-2nd, 6th, 10th; Blue-3rd, 7th, & 11th; Purple=12th)
Friday- “Beauty & the Beast-Homecoming” (dress in black and gold for the Leopards).
The school dress code will apply to Spirit Week.
The homecoming festivities will begin at 1:45 p.m. on Friday with a parade in downtown De Queen around the Sevier County Courthouse square, continuing down School Drive at 2:15 p.m. for kindergarten through 12th grade. The afternoon coronation ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the DHS Coliseum followed by a pep rally. The evening ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Leopard Stadium before the Leopards vs. Bobcats game starting at 7 p.m.
Partnership brings threatened species back to Cossatot River 09/23/24
By Randy Zellers/AGFC
UMPIRE — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission last week released 80 leopard darters into the wild thanks to the help of many partners at the state and federal level, as well as Conservation Fisheries, LLC, a private hatchery specializing in propagating rare and threatened species.
According to Chance Garrett, fish ecologist for the AGFC, this release is the first of two scheduled for the Cossatot River in western Arkansas this year and is the first historical reintroduction effort of leopard darters anywhere.
“We plan to release another 250 leopard darters in early October,” Garrett said. “All of the fish were grown from broodstock that originally came from the Mountain Fork River which flows from Arkansas into Oklahoma.”
The leopard darter was added to the Endangered Species Act’s threatened status in 1978. It is only found in Oklahoma and Arkansas and has seen substantial declines in its remaining populations.
“They originally thought it was only found in Oklahoma, but some populations were found in the Rolling Fork and Cossatot after its listing,” Garrett said. “Those two populations are thought to no longer exist, so this effort to re-establish them is extremely important.”
Garrett says if the effort is successful, it may change the way the species is managed in the future.
“This is actually the second year of the project,” Garrett said. “The first year we saw low survival at the hatchery level, but those fish that did survive were added to the broodstock for this year’s effort. The people at Conservation Fisheries have been doing this sort of work longer than I’ve been alive, so they’ve really been a key source of information on how to move forward with the project with the success we’ve seen so far.”
Additional partners in the effort included Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Arkansas State Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service representatives from Oklahoma and Arkansas, USDA Forest Service’s Ouachita National Forest, and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
The fish, all measuring only an inch or two at stocking size, were transported from the hatchery to their final destination in under a day.
“They left the hatchery in Knoxville, Tennessee that morning, and Jeff Quinn, AGFC Rivers and Streams Program supervisor, and I met them in Memphis,” Garrett said. “Then I drove them to the Cossatot on the other side of Arkansas by 6:30 p.m. or so.”
Once at the river, the fish had to be tempered to the water they would call home.
“It’s similar to how you’d add fish to an aquarium at home,” Garrett said. “They’re in bags, so you have to let them slowly acclimate to the temperature of the river water by floating the bag in it. Then you let some river water in to help them adjust slowly to the chemistry of that location. After a while, they’re ready for the final release.”
Staff worked well into the night to make sure the fish had the best chance possible of surviving. The morning after the release, they scanned the pool where the fish were introduced.
“We found some still in the pool, but the rest had already dispersed,” Garrett said. “Hopefully we’ll see them in future survey efforts. I’ll be out there as much as I can to keep an eye out for them. Ultimately our goal is to see some spawning activity in spring.”
With a little luck, perhaps the partnership can turn the tide for one of the longest-standing members of the Endangered Species Act.
USACE hosting special youth-only deer hunt Nov. 2-3 09/23/24
ASHDOWN – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office, is accepting applications for a youth deer hunt at Millwood Lake on Nov. 2-3, 2024.
Eight permits will be issued to hunters ages 6-15. Applicants must submit a completed form by Oct. 8, available at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office, 1528 Highway 32 E, Ashdown, AR, or by calling 870-898-3343.
A random drawing and hunter notification will occur on Oct. 10. Participants must have guardian consent and be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 21.
Hunters must provide their own firearms and be skilled in their use. Access and hunting blinds will be provided to ensure a safe and successful experience.
This event promotes conservation, outdoor interest, and ethical hunting while improving the local deer herd.
“We are the 22” recruiting to help local veterans 09/23/24
By Ethan Nahté/The Mena Star
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, utilized to raise awareness. There are different organizations and phone numbers to call for help, 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.”
Do not let fear hold you back.
“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.”
Another member at their booth set up at The Elks BBQ Cookoff and Toys for Tots Car Show added, “It doesn't matter whether you are a male or a female veteran, we're still there for you.”
Sevier County Hospital cleared in $6.25m ARPA audit 09/18/24
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas' Legislative Joint Auditing Committee has cleared the Sevier County Medical Center (SCMC) of any misuse of the $6.25 million in federal funding the hospital received in 2022 to help open its doors.
The committee announced its findings on Sept. 12 during a session at the State Capitol. Several officials with the Sevier County Medical Center were present for the hearing, including Sevier County Judge Sandra Dunn, SCMC Director Stacy Dowdy, SCMC Board Member Mike Branson and Hospital Treasurer Greg Revels.
The Arkansas Legislative Audit (ALA) focused its review for a period primarily between December of 2022 – when the funds were first awarded – to December of 2023. In its findings presented last week, ALA determined that nearly all of the funds were spent in accordance with the approved guidelines established when the grant was approved.
The only discrepancy was $77,228 in funding which has not yet been spent. ALA informed the hospital it has until Dec. 31 of this year to expend the remaining total. Otherwise, the remaining $6,172,722 showed no signs of misuse, misappropriation or any other improper handling.
“This is really encouraging for the hospital and one less thing hanging over our heads,” said Dowdy. “Just because you have an audit, it doesn't mean it's a bad thing. You don't expect to get $6.25 million dollars and not get audited. However, that just shows everyone, the hospital and the community itself, that monies were spent accordingly, like they were supposed to be spent.”
The grant was awarded to the hospital in December, 2022 to aid in purchasing items necessary to open the hospital. The funds were provided through the American Rescue Plan Act, which was designed to help the country recover from the negative economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant, as outlined by the state legislature, only allowed funds to be spent on hospital equipment and supplies – not construction costs or any other expenses.
Dowdy said the hospital would have struggled to open its doors in January of 2023 without that ARPA funding.
“Without that grant, we might not have got our feet underneath us and got up and running like we did,” said Dowdy. “We had quite a few setbacks with the hospital being built during COVID, construction delays, and money wasn't coming in as it needed to. Having that extra funding to help with equipment and supplies really pushed us forward.”
The audit into the grant was initiated by Sen. Jimmy Hickey, Jr., in late 2023. At the time Hickey said he requested the audit after hearing concerns from a fellow senator that the hospital was behind on paying some of its construction-related bills after receiving the $6.25 million in ARPA assistance.
The audit was performed by the ALA, which performs routine audits on all publicly-funded entities in the state, including cities and counties.
County officials were confident the audit would clear the Sevier County Medical Center and provide some positive news for the hospital, which is showing encouraging signs of financial sustainability (as reported in last week's edition of The De Queen Bee). Officials were also encouraged by the sole finding in the audit: that a small percentage of the grant funds has not yet been spent.
“We're just glad that the audit report was accepted and it was my impression that all was found to be appropriate and legal with regard to the hospital's use of the grant funds,” said Sevier County Judge Sandra Dunn. “We believe the matter is completed. Hospital personnel are searching their records to see if there were expenses not previously reported under the grant that would be eligible for reimbursement with the remaining $77,000.”
Horatio superintendent addresses school safety concern earlier this week 09/18/24
HORATIO – Officials with the Horatio School District are reaching out to members of the Lions family to inform them of an incident involving a suspicious communication earlier this week.
In a letter to the public, Horatio Superintendent Gayla Youngblood said the district was aware of a rumor circulating in regard to school safety that involved a text message shared throughout the community.
Youngblood said local law enforcement officials established there was no basis of truth in the message.
“Please know that the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We take every precaution to ensure a safe learning environment and always act swiftly on any information we receive,” she said. “Our school safety plan includes secured entrances, visitor management systems at front offices, a school resource officer, surveillance systems, routine safety drills, mental health support and armed personnel at both campuses.”
Youngblood said parents and guardians play a crucial role in helping the district maintain a safe school environment.
“While we are doing everything possible to ensure safety within our schools, we know that it is a shared responsibility,” she said. “Encourage your child to speak up if they see or hear anything. Regularly monitor their online conversations and activities. If you notice anything concerning, report the information to school administration. We will immediately begin an investigation and notify law enforcement.”
Today marks start of bear archery season for Zones 1-2 09/18/24
Bear hunters have few changes to worry about going into the 2024 bear season, with the most substantial difference being the elimination of shooting bears wearing telemetry collars.
This is the second year for bear hunting in Arkansas’ Zone 3 and 4. Zone three includes Sevier County south of Highway 70, the southern half of Howard County and all of Little River. Sevier County north of Highway 70 has historically been open to bear hunting as a part of Zone 2 (which also includes the entirety of Polk County).
Local zones, dates and regulations:
Zone 2
Archery season opened Sept. 18 for Zone 2 while the state’s new Alternative Firearms season (Formerly muzzleloader) will be Oct. 19-27. A special youth modern gun bear hunt will be held Nov. 2-3.
Zone 2’s modern gun hunt will be Nov. 9-30.
Zone 3
Zone 3 does not yet feature an archery hunt, Alternative Firearms season or special youth modern gun hunt. Zone 3 is limited to modern gun, set for Dec. 21-27 (or earlier, if five-bear quota is reached; it was not in 2023). Hunters must call (833) 345-0398 the evening before the hunt to check the harvest number.
The statewide bag limit is one bear, either sex, by any method.
Here are a few others things to remember as you head out for Arkansas’s bear archery season, which opens today(Sept. 18) for Zones 1-2.
Necklace No-No
It is once again illegal to harvest any bear that is wearing a radio telemetry collar. At 2 inches wide, the leather collars are obvious when in the field, and with nearly all bear hunters harvesting their bear within archery range, there’s no mistaking a collared bear for one with no neckwear. This change actually is a reinstatement of a former regulation.
During the last two years, the AGFC has gathered baseline data on how hunting influences bear populations in newly opened areas. Arkansas held its first modern-day bear hunt in Bear Zones 3 and 4 during the 2022 hunting season, and information about harvest needed to be unbiased. Since protecting bears with collars introduced bias into the harvest, the restriction against taking a collared bear was lifted for those two years.
“We have a lot of time and taxpayer dollars invested in every bear that we collar,” Stacey Clark, assistant chief of wildlife management for the AGFC, said. “The trapping process can take days, and the information we gain through winter bear den health checks is invaluable in managing the species. We also want to make sure we do what we can to protect the female bears, as they are your producers of the next generation of bear cubs. Since all bears outfitted with radio collars are female, protecting them falls in line with our management strategies.”
Most collared bears also have an ear tag to help identify them, but many other bears sport ear tags without wearing a collar. These bears were nuisance bears that found their way into people’s backyards and had to be relocated. As long as they don’t have the collar, the bear is legal to harvest.
Get a Permit Both residents and nonresidents must have a bear permit in addition to a valid license for big game to hunt and check a bear in Arkansas. Resident bear hunters will need a Sportsman’s License (license code RS or CS) as well as a free Resident Bear Permit (RBT). Nonresidents must purchase a Nonresident Bear Permit (NRB), which costs $300 and must have a valid Nonresident Annual All Game Hunting License (NBG) for an additional $410. Both resident and nonresident hunters under 16 years old do not need a license to hunt, but they do need the proper youth bear permit. The Youth Resident Bear Permit (YBT) and Youth Nonresident Bear Permit (YBTN) must be obtained before pursuing a bear. Both of these permits are free.
All bear permits are available through the AGFC’s new license system online, through license vendors and through the AGFC’s mobile app.
Bear permits were introduced last year to better evaluate hunter participation and success throughout the state.
Pulling Teeth (and Hair)
Successful hunters must submit a premolar tooth from the bear they harvest as part of the checking process. This isn’t a new requirement, but it is often overlooked during the excitement of tagging a bear.
When a hunter initially checks their bear, they will receive a packet in the mail from the AGFC within a few days. They will have seven days from the arrival of that packet to pull and return a premolar tooth to the AGFC. The tooth enables biologists to age the bear and match it up with data collected during the checking process.
Clark says the easiest time to pull the tooth is immediately after harvest.
The tooth packet also will include a separate envelope for a hair sample. While this is voluntary, it takes only seconds to collect. Hair samples should be pulled from the bear’s hide, not cut, as the hair follicles are the portion of the sample most needed.
An instructional video on how to collect these samples is available at the AGFC YouTube Page.
Who Likes Liver? In addition to tooth and hair samples collected from harvested bears, the AGFC is asking hunters who take a bear this season to contribute to ongoing research concerning the presence of pesticides and other chemicals that may be present in portions of Arkansas and their effects on the bear population in The Natural State. Anyone willing to participate can drop off a section of the bear’s liver to one of the AGFC’s chronic wasting disease drop-off locations for testing.
The locations of all CWD containers are available and updated at www.agfc.com/CWD.
“We only need a sample about the size of a baseball,” Clark said. “Just place it in aluminum foil and take it to one of those freezers. They can add their information to one of the CWD tags and we can process it from there.”
In addition to liver samples, any hunter who shoots a bear that has signs of mange should call the AGFC’s Wildlife Hotline to report the incident.
Visit www.agfc.com/bearfor more information on bears and bear hunting in Arkansas.
Third annual Rocky Comfort Pecan Festival is Oct. 19 09/18/24
FOREMAN – One of the area’s newest festivals returns next month in celebration of fall and the local pecan industry.
The third annual Rocky Comfort Pecan Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Foreman Community Center. Events kick off at 9 a.m. and continue until nearly midnight.
The Rocky Comfort Pecan Festival was founded in 2022 to celebrate the rich history of the Foreman area and to promote the pecan industry in Little River County. The event saw a huge growth in interest over the past two years. More than 5,000 guests and 73 vendors attended the 2023 celebration.
A ton of activities are planned for this year’s festival including a cornhole tournament, beauty pageant, competitive arm wrestling, a haunted escape, street dance and more. A classic car and tractor show will also be featured on site. Music is planned for all day in addition to a craft fair, food court and farmers market.
Vendors are currently being sought for next month’s festival. A 12×12 space is available for $25 and $100 for vendors requesting electricity.
A QR code linked to the vendor application can be found on the flyer placed in various locations throughout Southwest Arkansas. The flyer can also be found on the upcoming events page at www.kdqn.net.
For questions or more information, contact Debi by calling (903) 417-2233.
Tickets on sale now for Sevier Chamber Denim & Diamonds Gala 09/18/24
DE QUEEN – The Sevier County Chamber of Commerce says tickets are now available for its fourth annual Denim & Diamonds Gala, set for Saturday, Oct. 12, from 6-10 p.m. at the Rocky Hill Ranch Event Center.
Tickets include a meal and an open bar serving cold beer and wine. Tickets are $75 per person and are on sale through the opening of the event for an Early Bird price of $65. Tickets are limited. Organizers say the event will be an entertaining night for all who attend. Attendees must be at least 21-years-old.
Buy your ticket at the door or by calling the chamber office at (870) 584-3225. You can also stop by the chamber office located on Stilwell Avenue in downtown De Queen.
The event will include music and dancing as well as a prime rib dinner. Organizers will also host a live auction as part of the night’s activities.
The Sevier County Chamber of Commerce said this event is designed in part to help bring the business sector and the community together for fun, networking and fundraising for the chamber. Funds raised will be used to continue the chamber’s mission of highlighting Sevier County’s business community and supporting growth initiatives in the county.
County officials lift Sevier burn ban, again 09/17/24
DE QUEEN – Sevier County’s burn ban has again been lifted, and this time local officials hope it will be permanent.
Matt Webb, coordinator for the Sevier County Office of Emergency Management, announced on Monday that the countywide burn ban was no longer in effect. He said the decision was made following consultation with the chiefs of Sevier County’s fire departments.
He also reported that the majority of Sevier County had received between 4-6 inches of rain in recent weeks, drastically lowering the risk of wildfires.
The county lifted its burn ban on Sept. 9 only to reimpose it the day after due to several fires that became uncontrolled during the interval. At that time, rainfall had been spotty across the entirety of Sevier County. Last week, rainfall had totaled over four inches in De Queen while almost none was reported in and around Paraloma.
Conditions improved enough since last week to merit lifting the burn ban, said Webb.
However, residents are urged to exercise extreme caution if burning as the risk for out-of-control fires is still present. Anyone who suspects they see an uncontrolled fire is advised to contact 911 immediately.
Second apparent assassination attempt against Trump on Sunday 09/17/24
PALM BEACH, Fla. – A second apparent attempt at assassinating former president and 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump was narrowly averted on Sunday at his home in Palm Beach, Fla.
According to the U.S. Secret Service, an armed individual was arrested on Sunday within the Mar-a-Lago golf course and resort owned by Trump. The suspect was identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii.
Routh allegedly hid within Trump’s private golf course for 12 hours while lying in wait for a chance to assassinate the former president. He was spotted by agents with the U.S. Secret Service, who fired on Routh before he fled the scene. Routh did not open fire nor was he injured during his discovery.
He was later apprehended on a nearby highway following an eyewitness tip.
A loaded SKS-type rifle and other items were found stashed in what authorities described as a “sniper’s nest” Routh had established on the president’s property.
Routh has an extensive criminal history in North Carolina, including a 2002 conviction for illegal possession of an unregistered machine gun.
Routh appeared in court on Monday where he was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The FBI is investigating Sunday’s incident as “an attempted assassination” of the former president.
Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday night to praise local law enforcement and the U.S. Secret Service for doing “an incredible job” to keep him safe. He pointed to rhetoric from the Biden-Harris administration as responsible for the second attempt on his life.
Routh’s suspected motives remain unclear at this time. According to social media posts made public by nationwide news outlets, Routh was initially a supporter of Trump in 2016 but later turned against the former president in part over foreign policy concerns. Routh reportedly traveled to Ukraine at one point where he tried and failed to raise a volunteer force against the invading Russians.
Sunday’s apparent assassination attempt follows another attempt made against Trump in July. Trump was speaking at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania when a gunman opened fire. A bullet grazed Trump’s head while an attendee, 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, was killed while shielding his family. Two other spectators were critically wounded.
The gunman, Thomas Matthews Crooks, was killed by Secret Service agents tasked with protecting the former president.
The incident resulted in an immediate investigation into the failures of the U.S. Secret Service to prevent the assassination attempt. That failure sparked tremendous outrage and the eventual resignation of the Secret Service director.
BLM to host horse adoption clinic in Idabel, Okla. 09/17/24
IDABEL, Okla. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold a two-day wild horse and burro event Oct. 4-5 at the Idabel Rodeo Arena in Idabel, Okla.
The event begins Friday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will feature 150 animals for adoption. Adoptions take place for a second day on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
As part of the program’s efforts to find every horse and burro a good home, BLM now offers up to $1,000 to adopt an untrained animal. This incentive will be offered for every animal in Idabel. In 2021, BLM announced additional steps to secure the health and safety of animals through the Adoption Incentive Program, including conducting inspections of wild horses and burros within six months of the adoption date.
Animals offered at the event are adult and yearling horses along with burros that once roamed free on public lands in the west. BLM periodically removes excess animals from the range to maintain healthy herds and to protect other rangeland resources. The Adoption and Sale Program is essential for achieving these important management goals. Since 1973, BLM has placed more than 280,000 of these animals in approved homes across the country.
BLM staff will approve applications onsite. To qualify:
Applicants must be at least 18 years old with no record of animal abuse.
Homes must have a minimum of 400 square feet of corral space per animal, with access to food, water and shelter.
Corral fence must meet height requirements:
Adult horses – 6 feet
Yearlings – 5 feet
Burros – 4.5 feet
Trailers must be stock type, covered, with swing gates and sturdy walls/floors.
BLM staff will be on hand to provide more information and assist with the short application process.
The Idabel Rodeo Arena is located at 1001 Northwest Ninth Street, in Idabel. For more information, call toll-free 866-468-7826 or visit www.blm.gov.
Arkansas rural fire departments encouraged to apply for grants 09/17/24
LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division is now accepting applications for wildland fire suppression kits through September 30, 2024.
The Forestry Division has requested, through a United States Forest Service grant, to provide 85 kits this year to rural volunteer fire departments across the state. Since 2014, more than 757 wildland fire suppression kits have been distributed.
Volunteer fire departments are the primary partner to Forestry Division crews in wildfire response and suppression, but they are often in need of specialized equipment and gear necessary for safe wildfire suppression. The necessary equipment and gear in the kits include: lightweight wildfire-resistant coveralls, wildland gloves, rakes, backpack water pumps, and leaf blowers.
Rural volunteer fire departments are encouraged to apply online, but paper applications are available upon request. Applications are scored according to specific criteria to include the population of the fire district, the number of square miles covered, the average number of wildfires a department responds to annually, and other factors.
The selected departments will be notified in November and kits will be delivered in the spring of 2025 or as soon as supplies are received.
Patriot Rail funds new wheelchair ramp for local American Legion Post 09/12/24
DE QUEEN – Local members of Patriot Rail gathered with American Legion Post #54 to officially commemorate a new feature at the veteran organization's meeting hall in De Queen.
Patriot Rail recently funded and installed a new wheelchair ramp at the American Legion hut on Eighth Street. Ricky Hendricks, commander of Post #54, said the Legion is extremely grateful for this effort by Patriot Rail.
“It's a blessing for us, because we have a lot of older veterans and they need an easier way to get inside than having to climb steps,” said Hendricks. “This is a really great donation and we're very thankful.”
The American Legion was also gifted a sign by Tri-Lakes Services of Gillham.
The American Legion will be providing free meals to veterans at the upcoming Hurrah! Festival in De Queen on Oct. 5. Meals will be available to the public by donation.
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.
“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.
Riley Carlton named September Student of the Month by De Queen Rotary 09/12/24
DE QUEEN – At the Sept. 9 De Queen Rotary Club meeting at Micah 6:8, Kimberly Martinez was inducted as a new member. Kimberly is the Executive Secretary for the Complex Manager at Pilgrims in De Queen. Her Rotary classification is Poultry Industry. Kimberly was sponsored for membership by Rotarian Veronica Ozura.
Riley Carlton was honored as the De Queen High School Senior Student of the Month for September as selected by the DHS administration. The daughter of Jason Carlton and the late Melanie Carlton, Riley Cate is a member of National Honor Society and the FCCLA. She also serves as Treasurer of the Student Council, and is the Chief Photography Editor for Journalism and the Yearbook.
Riley is involved in taking college classes as part of the Leopard Launch program at De Queen High School. She currently has 27 hours of college credit and will graduate with an Associate’s Degree in May.
Riley Cate is a member of Unity Baptist Church in Texarkana, where she is very active in her youth group. She also plays bass guitar for the Worship Team.
Riley’s future plans are to attend the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, where she plans to pursue a career in Nursing. In fact, she was just notified earlier Monday morning that she had been accepted at UCA!
When questioned about why she wanted to be a nurse, Riley said: “The nursing profession is about helping people, love, inspiration, and compassion. And, it offers a great opportunity to lead others to Jesus Christ.”
Riley Cate was introduced by Rotarians Audrey Chandler, DHS Principal, and Jason Sanders, De Queen Schools Superintendent.
Assistant Club Secretary Madelyn Jones announced that the De Queen Rotary Club will be hosting a Golfing Outing Raffle now through Oct. 24. The grand prize will be a golfing package for four people on any course at beautiful Hot Springs Village. Tickets are just $25 each, with only a total of 200 tickets offered for sale. All proceeds will go toward the many worthwhile local projects of the De Queen club. The drawing will be held live on KDQN 92.1 on Thursday, October 24th. See any De Queen Rotarian to purchase a ticket and help out a great local cause.
Guests at Monday’s meeting included Eddie Halter and Jason Carlton.
Vendors need for annual celebration of all things De Queen 09/12/24
DE QUEEN – Vendors are needed for the annual celebration of all things De Queen.
The 34th annual Hurrah! Festival will be Saturday, Oct. 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Sevier County Museum. The yearly festival is a celebration of De Queen, its people and their history. The event also serves as the primary fundraiser for the Sevier County Museum.
This year's theme will focus on a tribute to Sevier County arts and entertainment.
Vendors are encouraged to reserve a booth at this year's festival. Booths will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. To reserve a booth, or for more information, contact Museum Director Karen Mills by calling (870) 784-0039, or stop by the museum. The museum is open between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
COSL announces results of regional tax auction 09/12/24
LITTLE ROCK – The recent auction of tax-delinquent properties in Howard, Montgomery, Pike, Polk and Sevier Counties raised over $215 thousand dollars, the Commissioner of State Lands announced.
The regional auction drew 60 registered bidders, who purchased 29 of 29 parcels for $215,938.92. Results were as follows:
The auctions offered real estate parcels with taxes delinquent since 2019.
“We only auction a fraction of the parcels certified for delinquent taxes,” Commissioner Tommy Land said. “By far, most owners redeem their property by paying the delinquent taxes. Naturally we hope property is redeemed if the owners want to keep it, but it is vital that the parcels return to the county’s active tax rolls.”
The COSL office forwards taxes and interest to the county, whether that money is collected through redemption or sale.
“Last year, the Commissioner of State Lands Office sent more than $21 million to school districts and county governments,” Land said. “Of that, $281,882.76 went to these five counties, helping fund everything from roads to schools.”
Those turnback amounts were:
Howard County: $48,473.55.
MontgomeryCounty: $34,054.12.
Pike County: $22,583.37.
Polk County: $76,384.66.
Sevier County: $100,387.06.
Auction sales are final.
Unsold parcels may be redeemed online at www.cosl.org, using a credit or debit card, or owners can call 501-324-9422 to request a Petition to Redeem. Redemption does not grant ownership; it simply makes the taxes current.
Parcels that did not sell at the public auction will be available after 30 days and can be purchased through an online auction by viewing the Post-Auction Sales List at www.cosl.org.
Planned power outage for Little River SWEPCO customers begins tonight 09/11/24
ASHDOWN – SWEPCO is reaching out to its customers in Little River County to inform them of a planned outage beginning Wednesday night.
The outage is scheduled to begin at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11 and is estimated to span approximately six hours. Affected communities will include Ashdown, Wilton and Ogden.
The temporary outage has been scheduled to allow SWEPCO crews time to complete a planned transmission project.
Countywide burn ban reinstated in Sevier 09/11/24
DE QUEEN – The Sevier County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) said it was forced to reinstate the countywide burn ban, less than 48 hours after it was lifted.
That's due to the expectation of further dry conditions the rest of the week and after two fires around De Queen over the past 24 hours. The burn ban was initially lifted on Monday after parts of the county received significant rainfall. However, other parts of Sevier, particularly the east and southeast parts of the county, received little to no rainfall.
At this time, outdoor burning is again prohibited unless a permit is obtained from Sevier County OEM.
The public is urged to continue to use extreme caution and to call 911 if they suspect they see an uncontrolled burn.
The entire state is listed as being at “moderate” to “high” risk for wildfires, according to the Arkansas Forestry Division.
Arkansas counties with active burn bans at this time include Yell, White, Prairie, Ouachita and Union.
SCMC to convert to non-profit status 09/11/24
DE QUEEN – The Sevier County Medical Center is on the path towards becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit critical access hospital.
A motion to convert the hospital to a non-profit was unanimously approved during Monday’s meeting of the Sevier County Quorum Court. Officials said the decision, which has been discussed for several months, is part of the hospital’s efforts to reduce costs, raise revenue and reach a position of financial sustainability.
The non-profit designation will allow the hospital to secure additional funding through grants. It will also allow the hospital to tailor a more flexible staffing plan and offer 401k retirement plans to full-time employees.
Other recent efforts include trimming staff levels, broad salary cuts, and focusing on the hospital’s most profitable services, such as its swing-bed program. These measures were taken after the new hospital announced in April that it was teetering towards financial collapse. The non-profit designation is one of the last measures the hospital sought to reverse its fiscal situation.
Since those steps were taken, the hospital has shown consistent break-even or even slightly positive monthly revenue reports. The hospital board announced on Monday that it had approximately $1 million cash on hand. Outstanding debts continue to be paid off and officials are working with contractors to discuss efforts to met the hospital’s construction-related debts.
Board members and members of the quorum court also took a moment to praise the efforts of hospital employees to cutting costs and raising revenue without negatively impacting the quality of care.
De Queen Schools urging families to complete meal forms 09/11/24
DE QUEEN – De Queen Public Schools is making a last minute effort to encourage its families to turn in their school lunch forms by this Friday, Sept. 13.
The form can be found online at www.dequeenleopards.orgor picked up in person at the administration building or your child's campus. The information collected helps qualifying families ease their financial burden by providing their children with free or reduced cost meals.
The forms also play a critical role in determining the amount of funding De Queen Public Schools receives for essential programs and resources. These funds go towards early intervention programs, after-school enrichment programs, updated technology, free ACT vouchers, school resource officers, tutoring, paraprofessionals and many other resources that benefit the entire district and its students.
The information is confidential and even families that do not qualify can help secure necessary resources by submitting these forms. The district stresses that cooperation by its families will help De Queen continue to create a supportive and enriching learning environment.
For more information, contact the district administration office by calling (870) 584-4312.
BKMC to host Hoorah City Bikes & BBQ this weekend 09/11/24
DE QUEEN – A Southwest Arkansas motorcycle club is organizing a big get-together later this weekend in hopes of making De Queen a hot sport for enthusiasts while raising money to help local children in need.
Brothers Keepers Motorcycle Club (BKMC) Chapter 34 will present “Hoorah City Bikes & BBQ” this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13-14, at the Sevier County Fairgrounds in De Queen. The event will include a BBQ cookoff with a total of $1,500 in cash and prizes for the top pitmasters.
BKMC members “Chef” and “Sidestreet” recently joined us to discuss the event and their hopes of making Sevier County a hub for motorcycling in the region.
“We have so many great roads to ride around here, from the lakes to the Talihena Drive to Hochatown and others,” said Chef. “De Queen is strategically located right in the middle and we think we can make this a hub for all the enthusiasts out there.”
Chef said Hoorah City Bikes & BBQ hopes to do that by bringing riders together from across the region for the big event this weekend.
Other events the weekend of Sept. 13-14 include performances by Lane Bricker and Edson Perez, as well as a Friday night glow ride for motorcycles and SXS/ATVs. Vendors, concessions, a poker run, live/silent auction and a low rider truck show will be held this Saturday. Games for kids and the whole family will be offered as well.
Proceeds from the event will be used to purchase Christmas gifts for children in Sevier County who otherwise may go without. Last year, BKMC Chapter 34 provided Christmas gifts to 127 local children. Chef anticipates the need this year will be even higher.
For more information, contact Chef by calling (903) 748-9347. Those interested in entering a BBQ cookoff team can find the registration page by searching for “Hoorah City Bikes & BBQ” on event page on Facebook or by checking out the Brothers Keepers MC 34 Facebook page.
37th Provo Kids Rodeo is September 28 09/11/24
PROVO – Organizers will present the 37th annual Provo Kids Rodeo Sept. 28 beginning at 10 a.m.
The rodeo will feature a variety of events for youth aged up to 16-years-old. These include mini bull riding, horse speed, horse barrel, horse pole bending, a boot race and stick horse competition for the little ones, and much more. Rodeo registration begins at 9 a.m.
Other activities include live music and a calf scramble.
Chicken dinner plates will be on sale beginning at 5 p.m. for $10. The meals are being provided and prepared by Pilgrim’s.
All events will take place at the Provo Arena, located at 112 Community Road, Lockesburg, AR 71846.
For more information check out the 37th annual Provo Kids Rodeo event page on Facebook.
SCMC receives recognition from American Heart Association 09/10/24
DE QUEEN – Sevier County Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze recognition for its commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing a specific type of heart attack known as an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), known to be more severe and dangerous than other types of heart attacks.
Each year, about 285,000 people in the U.S. experience this type of heart attack, caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery. Nearly 40% of people who go to the emergency room with acute coronary syndrome are diagnosed with a STEMI. Like all heart attacks, this requires timely treatment to restore blood flow as quickly as possible.
Recognition as a STEMI Referring Center is designed to showcase hospitals of every size on the front lines of care that do not have 24/7 cardiac catheterization lab availability but work in collaboration with emergency medical services to ensure patients receive guideline-directed STEMI and NSTEMI care.
“Effective and timely care is crucial for patients experiencing a STEMI heart attack. The American Heart Association’s guidelines call for specific interventions for these patients both in-hospital and post-hospitalization,” said Abhinav Goyal, M.D., MHS, FACC, FAHA, American Heart Association volunteer, professor in the Department of Cardiology at Emory School of Medicine with a joint appointment in the Department of Epidemiology and chief quality officer for the Emory Heart and Vascular Center.
The STEMI Referring Center award is earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to getting patients the most up-to-date research-based care for STEMI as outlined by the American Heart Association.
“Sevier County Medical Center is dedicated to improving the quality of heart care, and the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program helps us achieve that goal,” said Stacy Dowdy CEO. “The program puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, so patients have the best possible chance of survival.”
Help fight food insecurity through Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry 09/10/24
DE QUEEN – Arkansas’ deer season officially kicked off this past weekend with the state’s first-ever early buck-only archery hunt. The state’s general archery season opens back up Sept. 28 and one statewide organization is using the interlude to remind hunters in Arkansas how they can join the fight against food insecurity.
Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry helps families in need by providing food pantries with fresh protein sourced right here in Arkansas' deer woods. The group's mission, said President Ronnie Ritter, is to transform a renewable resource into food for the hungry. And more hunters from Southwest Arkansas are needed to meet what organizers say is a growing need.
“Primarily what we do is, we get hunters to donate their deer to participating processors, they field dress it, they grind it into burgers, and then we give it to local food pantries, homeless shelters,” said Ritter. “We're trying to infiltrate this area down here and get more hunters and processors involved.”
The organization recruited Prime Country Meats in Sevier County a couple of years agoas one its newest participating processor. Deer can be dropped off at any participating facility, processed and then picked up by the organization and distributed to local food pantries. There is no cost to the hunter.
All donated meat is distributed free and is usually donated to food pantries in the same county. It is served at churches, children's shelters, rescue missions and community food banks. Ritter said he works with many feeding agencies across the state and the number one commodity they need is protein.
“If you ask food pantries what they need, it's meat,” said Ritter. “It's been harder lately for them to get it, too.”
Ritter hopes to encourage more hunters in Arkansas to consider donating one or more of their legally-harvested deer to Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry. He particularly addressed those hunters who aren't always interested in filling all their tags.
“Somebody that wants just a deer for their family, go out and shoot another and donate because there's a lot of needy folks out there all across the state,” Ritter said.
Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry has provided more than four million servings of meat for food pantries across the state since its founding in 2000. The group, he said, has received generous financial support over the years in its mission to transform an abundant white-tailed deer population into a renewable food source for the hungry.
For more information on Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry, and to find out how to join the fight against food insecurity, visit www.arkansashunters.org or call (501) 282-0006. Prime Country Meats, the participating processor in Sevier County, can be contacted by calling (870) 784-5040 or by checking out their Facebook page.
Three processors are also participating in Little River County: Little River Processing, Sivley’s Deer Processing and Cuttin’ Up Processing.
De Queen Rotary hosting Golfing Outing Raffle 09/10/24
DE QUEEN – The De Queen Rotary Club will be hosting a Golfing Outing Raffle now through Oct. 24.
The grand prize will be a golfing package for four people on any course at beautiful Hot Springs Village. Tickets are just $25 each, with only a total of 200 tickets offered for sale. All proceeds will go toward the many worthwhile local projects hosted by the De Queen Rotary Club.
The drawing will be held live on KDQN 92.1 FM on Thursday, Oct. 24. See any De Queen Rotarian to purchase a ticket and help out a great local cause.
The Battle of Sevier County tonight at Leopard Stadium! 09/06/24
HORATIO – Sevier County’s two football teams will battle it out on the gridiron this evening for the first time in more than three decades.
The Horatio Lions will host the De Queen Leopards tonight for the two teams first match up since 1992. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
De Queen and Horatio both boast a healthy football tradition, but except for a two-year span in the early 1990's, one has to look back 70 years to find teams from the two schools meeting on the gridiron.
From 1922 until 1954, Horatio and De Queen faced each other 23 times and the two schools resumed the series in 1991 and 1992. The two teams did play a pre-season, four-quarter game in 1996.
In those 25 games, De Queen was the winner 16 times and Horatio won the remaining nine. From 1921 to 1933, Horatio enjoyed a slight edge in the rivalry but since then De Queen has won 12 of 13 meetings.
In 1928, Horatio began a four-game winning streak which coincided with consecutive undefeated seasons for Horatio.
Results of the De Queen – Horatio series, listed by decade, are as follows:
1920's:
1921 Horatio 7-0
1922 De Queen 3-0
1925 Horatio 48-6
1926 Horatio 7-6
1927 Two Games De Queen 21-7 and 27-6
1928 Horatio 18-6
1929 Horatio 19-0
1930's
1930 Horatio 12-6
1931 Horatio 19-0
1932 De Queen 7-0
1933 Horatio 14-0
1934 De Queen 21-0
1936 De Queen 40-0
1937 De Queen 20-0
1940's
1941 De Queen 6-0
1942 Horatio 14-0
1947 De Queen 19-0
1948 De Queen 12-6
1950's
1951 De Queen 40-7
1952 De Queen 50-13
1953 De Queen 48-6
1954 De Queen 59-0
1990's
1991 De Queen 43-20
1992 De Queen 20-0
Local races in Sevier County, important election dates 09/06/24
DE QUEEN – Voters will have two local political races to decide this year, one in De Queen and another in Sevier County.
Sevier County Clerk Renea Bailey said her office is still finalizing ballots for the 2024 General Election, but that two local races will be featured this November.
They include a race between incumbent LeeAnn Pitchford and challenger Elmyra Brown for the position of Ward 2, Position 1 on the De Queen City Council.
In addition, Ethan Wolcott is running against incumbent Roger Whitmore for the position of District 5 Justice of the Peace on the Sevier County Quorum Court.
We’ll share the full ballot, including state and national elections as well as local unopposed candidates, in our next edition.
The Polk County Clerk’s office has provided a list of municipal candidates in Polk County for the 2024 general election. All are unopposed except for a race for the Ward 1, Position 1 seat on the Mena City Council. The unopposed municipal candidates for southern Polk County include:
COVE
-Position 1 – Janet Henry
-Position 2 – Charlotte Crump
-Position 5 – Darris Burk
VANDERVOORT
-Position 1 – Robert A. Hartley
-Position 2 – Jason Boyette
-Position 3 – Brittany Phillips
-Position 4 – Nicholas Dean Phillips
-Position 5 – Aaron Anglin
WICKES
-Position 1 – Larry (Randall) Watkins
-Position 2 – Scotty Ray
-Position 3 – Mary Ferguson
-Position 4 – Maricela Avila
-Position 5 – Katherine Chambers
GRANNIS
-Position 1 – Melissa Zanzeberg
-Position 2 – Chris Frachiseur
-Position 3 – Deborah Neal
-Position 4 – Billy Richardson
-Position 5 – Bryce Brower
Voters should note a few upcoming dates regarding the November General Election:
-Deadline to register to vote, either in-person or by mail, is Oct. 7.
-A request for an absentee ballot must be received by Oct. 29.
-Absentee ballots must be returned (by mail) to the county clerk’s office by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5.
-Absentee ballots must be returned (in person) to the county clerk’s office by close of business on Nov. 1.
-Early voting begins Oct. 21 and continues through Nov. 4.
-The General Election is scheduled for Nov. 5.
For more information, such as specific early voting times and voting centers for each registered voter, by visiting www.voterview.ar-nova.org.
Lockesburg FBC Sportsman's Chili Supper is Sept. 28 09/06/24
LOCKESBURG – First Baptist Church of Lockesburg will host its annual Sportsman’s Chili Supper and Fall Revival this month.
The Sportsman’s Chili Supper will be held Sept. 28 beginning at 5 p.m. at the church, located at 3466 S. Camellia Street in Lockesburg. The event will include drawings for guns, fishing equipment and other sports items.
The Fall Revival will be held 6:30 p.m. each night Sept. 28-Oct. 2. Don Whitt will be the evangelist while music will be provided by Jamie Parker. A Sunday morning worship will be held 10:45 a.m.
For more information contact First Baptist Church of Lockesburg by calling (870) 289-2121.
Horatio School Board meeting Sept. 10 09/06/24
HORATIO – The Horatio School Board is scheduled to meet in regular session on Tuesday, Sept. 10 beginning at 6 p.m. in the Horatio High School Library.
The meeting will begin with building reports and a report from Superintendent Gayla Youngblood. The district will also present its annual Report to the Public.
The board will also discuss the Reading Plus initiative and other items related to student achievement.
Under new business, the board will discuss Crase training for staff, information regarding the Sept. 16 Win Day (the Mondays set aside by the district through its new four-day school week for tutoring and other student opportunities), the 2025 fiscal year budget and student transfers.
The board is scheduled to vote on approval of several routine reports regarding monthly bills and enrollment figures.
A personnel session is scheduled for the end of the meeting to discuss resignations, reassignments and new hires.
The meeting is open to the public.
Sevier County Premium Sale raises $102k for youth livestock exhibitors 09/05/24
DE QUEEN – The Sevier County Fair Association has finished tallying the totals of the 2024 Sevier County Premium Sale and the final numbers are nothing short of impressive.
Richard Van Voast, president of the Sevier County Fair Association, said a total of exactly $102,000 was donated to Sevier County youth livestock exhibitors during the Fair Premium Sale on Aug. 16. The sale is held each year to recognize and award the best livestock exhibitors of the Sevier County Fair.
Local individuals, farms and businesses “purchase” animals shown during the fair. However, these animals stay with the youth who showed them and the purchase price is given as a donation to help cover expenses and the purchase of next year's animal. In addition to the big purchases (detailed in the Aug. 22 edition of The De Queen Bee), youth received dozens if not hundreds of smaller “add-on” donations.
“Every penny goes back to those kids, the fair board does not keep a single penny,” said Van Voast. “Eighty-three young people received money from the premium sale. So, that gives them the opportunity to purchase animals or whatever it may be for the following year, pay the feed bills, the vet bills. I mean, when you got these animals, you have fans go out, electrical problems, plumbing problems.You buy a lot of feed for these animals, so it is a stimulator to our economy around here.”
All in all, $102,000 is a figure Sevier County can be proud of, said Van Voast.
“Breaking the six figure mark, that's a testament to Sevier County and everybody out there who supports these kids,” said Van Voast.
The Premium Sale has averaged high between the high $90,000 mark to just above six figures over the past several years.
“It's absolutely incredible how much local support there is for these future leaders of Sevier County,” said Van Voast. “I have to say, too, the caliber of young people from this county is beyond comparison. Judging by the state and national champion exhibitors from Sevier County, I feel certain that we have to be in the top, if not the top, of the counties in the state with not only champion livestock but also champion kids.”
Van Voast stressed so much of the success of each year's fair is due to all the support from Sevier County.
“The support given to these young people is an investment into the future of Sevier County that will multiply and ensure that this county can continue to be a stronghold in rural Arkansas and the way of life we all love,” said Van Voast. “And that's made possible by each of our sponsors.”
In honor of this year's fair sponsors, organizers will present a “Sevier County Fair Association Thank You Coffee” at the newly-renovated Sevier County Chamber Office on Sept. 17. Everyone is invited to come by between 7:30-10 a.m. for coffee and donuts to meet the folks who support the fair and receive recognition for their own support of this long-running Sevier County tradition.
Catherine Socash to be crowned 2024 DHS Homecoming Queen 09/05/24
DE QUEEN – The De Queen High School Student Council has announced Catherine Socash as the 2024 DHS Homecoming Queen. She’ll be escorted alongside nine De Queen High School homecoming maids.
The De Queen Leopards Football team will play its homecoming game against the Hope Bobcats on Sept. 27. Homecoming festivities will kick off with Spirit Week beginning Sept. 23 and continuing through Sept. 27.
The DHS Student Council selected Disney Magicfor this year’s homecoming theme. Spirit days include:
Monday- “Marvel Monday”(Dress as your favorite Superhero)
Tuesday-“Disney Day”(Dress as a Disney Character)
Wednesday-“Wreck-It Ralph-Construction”(Dress in construction gear)
Thursday-“Inside Out Color Wars”(Dress in your designated class color for Color Wars Day.) (Yellow-Kinder, 4th, & 8th; Green-1st, 5th, & 9th; Red-2nd, 6th, 10th; Blue-3rd, 7th, & 11th; Purple=12th)
Friday- “Beauty & the Beast-Homecoming”(dress in black and gold for the Leopards).
The school dress code will apply to Spirit Week.
The homecoming festivities will begin at 1:45 p.m. with a parade in downtown De Queen around the Sevier County Courthouse square, continuing down School Drive at 2:15 p.m. for kindergarten through 12th grade. The afternoon coronation ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the DHS Coliseum followed by a pep rally. The evening ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Leopard Stadium before the Leopards vs. Bobcats game starting at 7 p.m.
City of De Queen declines request to privatize waste management 09/05/24
DE QUEEN – The City of De Queen will continue to operate its own sanitation services for city residents following a discussion that began earlier this summer.
Tuesday night, the city council declined to make a motion to transfer trash pickup services to a private contractor. The issue was initially raised by Jackson Walker, owner of JW’s Dumpster Service, during the council’s July meeting. Walker had approached the city with the prospect of allowing his company to takeover waste management for residents and businesses within the city limits.
Currently, that service is handled entirely by the City of De Queen’s sanitation department.
Several council members expressed their concern over the additional cost a private waste management would impose on city residents. Residential customers are currently charged $9 for trash pickup. Walker said he would have to raise that to $16.
“My worry is for those on fixed incomes, particularly the elderly,” said Alderwoman Kathy Richards.
Alderman Jeff Holcombe seconded her concern.
“I can’t justify going this route because it’s not in our citizens’ interest if they have to pay more for no extra benefit,” he said.
Mayor Jeff Brown also explained that the city could not contract with Walker’s company without going through a bid process – a process, said Brown, that would not ensure Walker received the bid.
Walker said he understood the council members concerns and asked they he be kept in mind if the city ever decided to privatize its waste management.
“I don’t want to do anything if it’s not in the best interests of the city,” he said.
However, Brown, as well as council members Richards, Holcombe and Rick Pruitt, praised Walker for his initiative and his goal of expanding his enterprise. Walker, who is just 19-years-old, operates a growing dumpster rental and waste collection operation throughout Sevier County.
Several nearby cities similarly sized to De Queen have gone with privatized waste management services, including Mena and Nashville.
In other business, the council approved a request from Mayor Jeff Brown to apply for a new development grant. The grant, if received, would provide funding for the city to continue updates to its wastewater system.
The council then approved the city’s 2022 Proprietary Funds audit conducted by the Arkansas-based firm PRZYBYSZ. There were no significant findings within the audit.
The council then approved two budget amendments, including $10,000 to repair a section of the Walmart Parking lot that had to be torn up recently to access a leak on the raw water line leading from the Cossatot River to the city.
The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 1.
De Queen physical therapist, business owner recognized with national award 09/05/24
DE QUEEN – A local physical therapist and business owner will be included in the forthcoming Nationwide Registries Women of Distinction 2024 Honors Edition.
Heather Williams, PT, DPT, was informed last month of her inclusion into the organization’s 2024 Honors Edition. Williams is the owner of the De Queen-based PEAK Therapy.
According to the Nationwide Registries Women of Distinction, Williams was selected for “demonstrating superior expertise, leadership and professional excellence in her field. Her dedication and tenacity set the standard in the industry. Representing the state as one of the best in the country requires tenure, experience and a proven track record. There is humble yet strong will embedded inside her drive to succeed.”
The organization said that during its vetting process Williams was noted for consistently maintaining a positive peer rating throughout the years. Inclusion was based on several factors such as academic history, feedback from clients as well as years of service, community involvement and overall contribution to the betterment of society.
Williams said she was both surprised and honored to be a recipient of the award.
“I’m proud that they found me and that they did their homework. I’m honored because I take pride in what I do and I’m glad that other people can see that,” Williams.
Williams just celebrated her eighth year of operating PEAK Therapy. The occasion, along with inclusion into the 2024 Honors Edition, are both significant achievements for Williams and her clinic.
“We’ve been here for eight years. When we opened I wasn’t thinking of the business side, but really just being able to offer [physical therapy] services so I feel pretty proud that it’s survived eight years and that we still have a lot to add,” said Williams.
According to a press release, the Nationwide Registries Women of Distinction seeks to recognize expert women in every major industry. The group said it’s dedicated to highlighting the professional accomplishments and stories of today’s best and brightest women in business.
Horatio Elementary battling food insecurity through Backpack Program 09/05/24
Sevier County schools band together to support Lions coach injured in car accident 09/04/24
HORATIO – The Horatio Lions family is rallying around one of their own after a beloved member of the Lions coaching staff was critically injured in a car accident last month.
Jack Stuard, a baseball coach and teacher for Horatio, was severely injured in the August accident. Coach Stuard will require a number of surgeries and a lot of time to heal.
Organizers will host a hamburger fundraiser this Thursday before the start of the Horatio and De Queen junior football game to help raise funds for Stuard’s recovery. The event will begin at 5 p.m. at Leopard Stadium. Cost is $8 for a hamburger dinner with chips.
Stuard just marked the start of his second year with Horatio Public Schools as an assistant baseball coach and teacher. Superintendent Gayla Youngblood hopes everyone will find time to come out to the fundraiser and support the Stuard family in its time of need.
“It's only his second year at Horatio Schools but he instantly became a part of the Lions family,” said Youngblood. “He's been so good with kids on the field, in the classroom, and he just bonded instantly with everyone in the community. We'd love for everyone to come out and support Coach Stuard and his family after this terrible automobile accident.”
Youngblood said Stuard is on the path to recovery, but hopes everyone can make it out to the fundraiser to help him and his family during their trying time. “He's doing better but there's still a long way to go and a lot of recovery. We appreciate De Queen Schools for letting us host the fundraiser there. It goes to show you how we pull together in Sevier County when someone's in need,” said Youngblood.
De Queen Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Richard Bell took a moment to share his own encouragement for Leopards fans to come out Thursday and support Coach Stuard.
“Coach Sprick and Coach Higgins in Horatio had called me and spoke about doing a fundraiser before the game was a great idea,” said Bell. “They'll be set up right there by the concession stand. I really encourage all of Sevier County to come out and support this coach and his family because these are tough times and he's got many surgeries to come.”
Despite some rain, Sevier County burn ban remains in effect 09/04/24
DE QUEEN – Sevier County finally received some rainfall this past weekend, but local fire officials said it was not enough to lift the countywide burn ban.
The county has been under a burn ban since Aug. 15 and hopes were high that enough precipitation would fall over the Labor Day weekend to warrant lifting it. However, what did fall was isolated and just not enough, said Sevier County OEM Coordinator Matt Webb.
“Some parts of the county got a pretty good rain, other parts hardly any at all,” he said. “It’s still too dry to justify lifting the burn ban.”
The official NOAA rain gauge at the KDQN Studios/De Queen Bee offices recorded .63 inches of rain over the whole weekend. Other parts of the county, particularly east and south of De Queen, reported closer to a quarter of an inch. West of De Queen, towards the Oklahoma state line, one resident reported nearly 1.7 inches in his rain gauge.
Several more counties have joined Sevier in implementing burn bans over the past couple of weeks as dry conditions persist: Ouachita, Union, Bradly, Chicot, Lincoln, Jefferson, Prairie and Independence.
There is a slight (30 percent) chance for rain this evening, according to the National Weather Service.
The lack of more rain is disappointing, but the cooler temperatures are certainly a relief compared to the triple-digit highs and daily heat advisories throughout much of August. Highs over the next week are expected to remain in the 80s and lows will begin to drop down into the 50s.
Thanks to Jay Bunyard, we have a summary for August’s weather:
“It was a hot, dry month as De Queen topped the century mark in temperature readings on five different days in August. The hottest afternoon recorded was 104 degrees on Aug. 18. We recorded a temperature reading of 103 degrees on the 6th. During the month of August, only 0.15 inches of rain were recorded at the KDQN studios, bringing our total precipitation for 2024 up to 32.82 inches. We measured rainfall on only three of the 31 days. The coolest morning was 62 degrees recorded on the 20th. Bunyard Broadcasting, Inc. is the official reporting station for the National Weather Service in De Queen.”
According to historical data from the National Weather Service, the average rainfall for Sevier County in August is 2.59 inches.
Early deer hunt offers new opportunity for bowhunters 09/04/24
Arkansas hunters will be able to hunt many private and public properties for deer earlier this year than anytime since the AGFC was established in 1915, thanks to a new buck-only archery season scheduled Sept. 7-9.
For the last two decades, bowhunters participating in special urban archery hunts were able to climb a tree to start their season on Sept. 1 to help control deer herds in a few locations around the state, but this year’s early hunt is the first designed specifically to enhance the hunting experience by offering the ability to harvest a buck “in velvet.”
Each winter, bucks shed their antlers as testosterone levels decrease following their annual mating season (known as the rut). Beginning each spring, they begin to regrow a new set of antlers, which are covered in a soft, velvety coating to protect the antler tissue until it hardens into bone. By mid-September, most bucks will rub the velvet loose on the base of small trees, exposing the rack they’ll be sporting through the upcoming rut. For some hunters, chasing deer in velvet is an added challenge and opportunity to enjoy their passion, but until this year it was an opportunity rarely realized.
“Years ago, deer season opened on Sept. 15 for one season and I was able to get a deer in velvet then,” Bill Jones, AGFC commissioner from Pine Bluff, said. “I’ve taken deer in a few other states during velvet seasons and those really have added some excitement to my hunts. As a Commission, we’re really wanting to open up more opportunities for Arkansans.”
No Girls Allowed We’re talking about the deer here. Women are just as welcome to join in the hunt. (In fact, women are the fastest-growing segment of the hunting community).
“Bucks only,” is the first rule of the new archery hunt. Unlike urban hunts where the goal was population control, the new buck-only bowhunt is about increasing opportunity and generating some early excitement for hunting season. During the hunt, all hunters may take one legal buck, whether it is still in velvet or not. This buck counts against the hunter’s seasonal bag limit, so those fortunate enough to fill a tag only have one buck remaining in their statewide limit.
License Check Before heading to the field, it’s always smart to make sure you have your licenses in order. Any valid license that includes a deer tag is legal for the early buck hunt.
For anyone planning to check their deer through the AGFC app or online system, it’s also important to make sure the deer tags for your license are activated. Simply log into the system on the app or at agfc.comand check your account. If deer tags are present, you’re ready to go.
Kyle Curry, assistant chief of Information Technology at the AGFC, said the smartphone app has been improved for this year to help check deer, even if you don’t have a signal. Where to Go The special early buck hunt is only available on private land, AGFC-owned WMAs and AGFC WMAs listed as Leased Lands WMAs in the 2024-25 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook. Many WMAs cooperatively managed by the AGFC but owned by other entities, such as the USDA Forest Service and U.S. Corps of Engineers, are off-limits during the hunt, as are federal wildlife refuges in Arkansas. Additionally, any WMA that had a stipulation where you had to harvest and check a doe before you were eligible to harvest a buck will be off-limits to the early season hunt to maintain the integrity of the “earn a buck” rule on those areas.
McCurtain County Free Fair begins today, continues thru Saturday 09/03/24
IDABEL, Okla. – Don’t miss the annual McCurtain County Free Fair beginning today and continuing through Saturday at the fairgrounds in Idabel, Okla.
Entries will open in the O.H.C.E Building and the Commercial Building Tuesday and all entries will be due by 7 p.m.
Watch the 11 contestants compete in the Miss McCurtain County Pageant this evening at 6:30 in the Larry Binkley Building.
Make plans to enjoy a spectacular carnival Wednesday through Saturday from 6-11 p.m. nightly at the McCurtain County Free Fair this week at the fairgrounds in Idabel.
Southwest Arkansas offers great snorkeling adventures 09/03/24
Strapping on a mask and snorkel may seem to many like the stuff of a tropical vacation with sandy beaches and coral reefs, but Southwest Arkansas hosts many miles of rivers and streams and supports some of the most diverse fish, crayfish and mussel populations west of the Mississippi River.
Fortunately, the heat and humidity are beginning to subside. However, that doesn’t mean it’s too late to check out the amazing aquatic experience available in this corner of the Natural State. There’s still plenty of time to get the snorkeling gear and dive into one of the area’s waterways for an exciting underwater adventure.
Tools of the Trade Equipment for freshwater snorkeling need not be complicated:
A well-fitting mask or goggles is the only true requirement. Insider tip: A little saliva smeared on the inside of the lens helps prevent fogging, or purchase a little bottle of defog such as SeaDrops.
The addition of a snorkel isn’t necessary, but allows a more leisurely and successful experience – floating motionless, face down in the water while breathing lets fish and other creatures go about their business, allowing the underwater world to unfold beneath you.
An old pair of tennis shoes works well to protect tender feet on rocky-bottomed streams. For lake explorers, upping the game with a pair of snorkel fins (shorter and lighter than scuba fins) facilitates an occasional dive in deep pools.
Floating on the water’s surface is a great way to get a heck of a sunburn – donning a long-sleeved quick-dry shirt is a game changer. If floating is a challenge, check into a snorkel vest. A U.S. Coast Guard life jacket is designed to keep your head above water while a snorkel vest offers customizable buoyancy while floating horizontally in the water.
For the cold-natured or those exploring cold-water streams, a wetsuit holds in body heat and adds buoyancy allowing a more pleasant experience.
A dry bag is a game changer for snorkeling and other water activities. Tuck essentials such as your phone, keys and wallet into the flexible, waterproof container for safekeeping.
Location, Location, Location. Our region offers some of the state’s best bets for clean, clear water. Late summer, when there’s been little rain, is an ideal time to go – sediment settles to the bottom of the stream, increasing visibility.
My personal favorite is the Cossatot River, particularly in the Cossatot River State Park/Natural Area east of Wickes. Other great locations within a short drive are the Little Missouri River, Caddo River, Lake Ouachita and DeGray Lake.
Here’s another tip: walk along the bottom as little as possible to prevent stirring up dirt and debris. Ease into the water, swim slowly and stop frequently, exploring the different components of the habitat – calm pools, rocky riffles, submerged vegetation, and eddies or calm water created behind large rocks or logs. Different creatures lurk in the varied locales.
Underwater Arkansas Arkansas’s fish population is rich and diverse – 243 species ply the state’s waters. The smallest – the least darter – maxes out at 1.8 inches long while the largest – the alligator gar – can grow to 8 feet and reach 350 pounds.
For those who would like to take a deep dive – pun intended – in The Natural State’s fish population, “Fishes of Arkansas” is the tell-all book with robust information on the range, habitat and biology of the state’s fish. Seven of the state’s fish species are endemic and live nowhere else: Ouachita madtom, Caddo madtom, beaded darter, strawberry darter, paleback darter, and the Ouachita Darter.
Snorkelers will find more than just fish while exploring Arkansas’s watery habitats – amphibians, turtles, aquatic insects, crayfish, freshwater mussels, and snakes along with aquatic plants and rocks of all shapes and sizes.
Checkered Madtom Small, secretive madtoms – 13 species in Arkansas – hunt by night and lurk beneath cover during the day. Watch for the checkered madtom in Ozark streams and Lake Norfork and Bull Shoals Lake. Breeding males guard nests under large, flat rocks by blocking the entrance with their swollen head and lips. Photo by Dustin Lynch, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.
Creole Darter Some of Arkansas’s showiest native fish are diminutive darters. The blue member of this species in fact lends its name to the Lockesburg Darters of local athletics fame. One of the most beautiful of the 50 or so species found in Arkansas is the Creole darter, a common inhabitant of the Saline, Caddo, Ouachita and Little Missouri rivers. Creole darters feed on aquatic invertebrates and reach a maximum length of about 2½ inches. Photo by Dustin Lynch, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.
Ouachita River Crayfish About 60 species of crayfish live in Arkansas, more than in any state west of the Mississippi River. One commonly encountered species in southern Arkansas, including the Saline River, is the strikingly patterned Ouachita River crayfish sporting striped sides and spotted claws with orange tips. Photo by Dustin Lynch, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.
Red River Mudpuppy This large, fully aquatic salamander forages at night for crayfish, mollusks, fish and other small animals. Mudpuppies nest in spring and summer; females guard the eggs until they hatch. Unlike many salamanders that transform from larvae in the water into adults on land, mudpuppies are aquatic their entire lives. Photo by Dustin Lynch, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.
Razor-backed Musk Turtle These turtles found in southern Arkansas seldom travel on land and spend most of their lives in creeks and rivers. The common name refers to the prominent keel in the middle of the shell. They feed on mollusks, crayfish, dead animals and vegetation. Photo by Dustin Lynch, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.
Get Involved Arkansas boasts an abundance of water, from the mighty Mississippi to unnamed, ephemeral creeks that can be hopped across. These rivers, streams, bayous, creeks and springs provide drinking water, recreation, vital habitat for fish and wildlife, and water for irrigation and industry.
Human activities, such as damming streams and pollution, damage The Natural State’s waterways. Help turn the tide and get involved with AGFC’s Stream Habitat Program. Receive training in water-quality monitoring, riparian area management, fish and wildlife habitat improvements, best management practices and streambank maintenance and restoration techniques. Learn more: https://www.agfc.com/education/stream-habitat-program.