Libertarian Nominee Colt Shelby Announces Bid for Governor
A Franklin County man has announced he will challenge Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in the November general election after receiving the Libertarian Party of Arkansas nomination during the party’s recent state convention.
Colt Shelby said he is stepping into the race to give voters another option on the ballot this fall and thanked supporters who have reached out following the announcement.
“First, I want to thank everyone for the support that I have received over the last week,” Shelby said in a statement. “After being nominated at the Libertarian Party of Arkansas convention, I am stepping up to give you a real choice this fall.”
Shelby said he has surrounded himself with supporters and advisors who share his interest in addressing issues facing Arkansas and encouraged residents to reach out to him with concerns or suggestions as the campaign begins.
“I ask that anyone who has concerns or suggestions to call me, email me or message me,” Shelby said. “We have a lot of work to do, and I hope to have your support to make a change for a better Arkansas in November.”
Shelby is urging supporters to share information about his campaign through his social media page, “Colt Shelby for Arkansas,” as he begins outreach efforts across the state.
Shelby previously made headlines in October 2025 when a Pulaski County judge ruled in his favor in a lawsuit filed against Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders regarding the scheduling of a special election for Senate District 26.
In the lawsuit, Shelby argued that delaying the special election until after the start of the 2026 fiscal session would leave residents of the district without representation during key legislative decisions. Shelby contended the delay violated the constitutional principle of representation, citing concerns of “no taxation without representation.”
The Pulaski County court agreed, ruling that the governor’s proposed election timeline was invalid and determining that postponing the election would violate the constitutional rights of district residents to representation.
Now entering the statewide race, Shelby will face incumbent Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in the November general election as the Libertarian Party candidate.
Obituary: Paul Douglas Ison (1955-2026)
Paul Douglas “Doug” Ison, age 70, of Waldron, Arkansas, passed away peacefully at his home on March 5, 2026.
He was born August 19, 1955, in Mena, Arkansas, to Paul Byrd Ison and Eva Sue (Simpson) Ison. Doug spent many years working as a shipping supervisor for Tyson, where he was known for his strong work ethic and dedication.
Doug grew up in and around Scott County and carried those small-town values with him throughout his life. He loved the simple joys of life, especially bass fishing, hunting, cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks, and spending time with his family. Nothing meant more to Doug than family. Weekend gatherings as the “Grill Master”, filled with laughter, stories, and time spent together were some of his favorite moments.
Doug took great pride in his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and he loved watching his family grow. Those who knew him will remember his love for the outdoors, his loyalty to the Razorbacks, and the way he treasured every moment spent with the people he loved most.
He is survived by his loving wife, Sabrina Ison of Waldron; his children, Matt Ison and wife Nikki, Chad Ison, Bobby Ison and wife Darrian, Nick Ison and wife Cameron, Easton Ison and Rylan Ison; his grandchildren, Tylynn Powell and Taylor, Brice Hodge and Cami, Dax McCullough, Wyatt Ison, and Reid Ison; and his great-grandchildren, Kaizlynn, Kove, Knox, and one great-grandchild on the way.
Doug is also survived by his sister, Carolyn Naylor of Heavener, Oklahoma; his sister-in-law, Sonya Hale and husband Randall; and his brothers-in-law, Ray Jett, Stacy Fowler and wife Lisa, and Josh Fowler.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Eva Ison; his brothers, Eddie Ison and wife Debbie and Donnie Ison and wife Janie; his sister, Mary Jett; his brother-in-law, Jerry Naylor; and his parents-in-law, Bob and Linda Fowler.
A celebration of Doug’s life will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 9, 2026, at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Rickey Hunt, Rev. Konnor McKay, and Rev. Joe Powers officiating. Interment will follow at Hunt Cemetery. Arrangements are being entrusted to Heritage Memorial Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Matt Ison, Bobby Ison, Nick Ison, Easton Ison, Rylan Ison, Brad Jett, Brandon Garrett, and Josh Fowler. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home.
Doug will be remembered for the love he had for his family, the pride he took in watching them grow, and the many memories made during the time they spent together. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the lessons he shared, and the family he loved so deeply. Though he will be greatly missed, the love and memories he leaves behind will continue to bring comfort to those who knew him.
Obituary: Elizabeth Jane White (1944-2026)
Elizabeth Jane White, better known as Jane, age 81, of Waldron, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith.
Jane was born on August 10, 1944, in Lubbock, Texas, to Robert Morris Moore and Audrey Juanita Moore, whose maiden name was Bennett.
Jane devoted her career to social work, where she spent many years caring for and advocating for others. She earned her bachelor’s degree and carried her compassion and servant’s heart into both her professional life and her community.
A faithful and devout Catholic, Jane was deeply involved in her community and church. She volunteered at the Scott County Senior Center and served as a board member. In her younger years, she enjoyed square dancing and fellowship with friends. Jane loved playing bridge every Friday and was known for her joyful spirit and the laughter she shared with others.
Above all, Jane cherished time spent with her family. She was proud of her close-knit family and treasured every moment shared together. Jane especially enjoyed time with her brothers and loved celebrating family milestones and gatherings. She was also a devoted Razorback fan and took great pleasure in watching Arkansas football and basketball.
Jane is survived by her devoted husband, Richard Leslie White; her brothers, Mike Moore of Virginia and Patrick Moore and wife Melonie of Alabama; her children, Elizabeth Hendrix of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Kyle Moran and fiance’ Christy of Russellville, Arkansas, and Scott Moran and wife Haley of Conway, Arkansas, step children Stephanie White of California, Troy White and wife Julie of upstate New York and Michael White and wife Sandy of Oklahoma as well as her sisters in law Cathy Galloway of Mena, Arkansas, JoAnn Swanson of Mena, Arkansas and Jim White of Florida.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Ben Moran, Owen Moran, Nick Shaw, and Daniel Shaw. Jane also leaves behind a host of step grand children and great-grandchildren, extended family members, and friends who will cherish her memory.
Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Morris Moore and Audrey Juanita Moore; her brother-in-law, Robert White; and her sister-in-law, Gerry Moore.
Jane will be remembered for her kindness, her faith, her laughter, and the love she shared with everyone who knew her. Her legacy lives on through the many lives she touched.
A Mass will be recited at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. with Father Les Farley, officiating.
Robert “Pappy” Crouch Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Bonanza
Bonanza, Arkansas — March 9, 2026
Robert Crouch has officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of Bonanza, pledging a campaign focused on common-sense leadership, transparency, and putting the people of Bonanza first.
A longtime member of the community, His Wife Rebecca and he found their forever home back in 1997 in Bonanza and have loved every moment, Robert Served 25 years with the Sebastian County Sheriffs Office( retired)and the last 3 years on the City Council, My decision to run comes from a desire to see Bonanza thrive while preserving the small-town values that make it special.
“Bonanza is home. It’s where we live, where we raise our families, and where neighbors still look out for each other. I’m running for mayor because I believe our town deserves leadership that listens, works hard, and is accountable to the people.” —Robert “Pappy” Crouch
Arkansas poultry industry takes estimated $200 million hit after winter storms
The winter storm that hit Arkansas in late January caused an estimated $200 million in damage to the state’s poultry industry, according to a preliminary report from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The March 3 report, “Preliminary Assessment of Statewide Poultry Industry Damage in Arkansas from the January Winter Storm, 2026,” was authored by Frank Seo, James Mitchell and Ryan Loy, all economists for the Division of Agriculture.
The weather event, which brought as much as 12 inches of snow and 2 inches of sleet in some areas, was especially damaging to poultry houses and other structures. The authors gathered data from eight poultry integrators operating across the state, who reported total bird mortality losses valued at approximately $12.08 million and structural damage estimates ranging from $172.33 million to $202.06 million.
According to statewide survey data collected by Cooperative Extension Service agents, 241 poultry houses were destroyed during the storm, and an additional 91 poultry houses were damaged.
The report estimated $26.83 million in foregone farmer income from the lost birds and $21.74 million in lost economic output under a one-year disruption scenario. Of that amount, about $5.83 million represents value added, meaning income that would have gone to farmers, workers, businesses, and governments in Arkansas, Seo said.
The estimated statewide economic impact of the lost poultry production capacity was $48.26 million, representing the combined effects of “reduced poultry production capacity and associated disruptions across supply chains and household spending,” the report stated.
The loss of production is estimated to reduce economic activity enough to support about 44 fewer full-time-equivalent jobs across the Arkansas economy, Seo said.
“The biggest statewide hit is lost household income, especially grower pay and related wages, because that is what ripples into local spending,” Seo said.
Between bird mortality and loss of production capacity, the report estimated a loss of $3.83 million in lost tax revenue to city, county, state and federal governments.
Because the poultry industry is deeply enmeshed with other associated industries, the actual economic impacts will be felt across a broad swath of the economy. The report lists 20 industries likely to experience economic losses from the storm damage fallout, including transportation, grain farming, veterinary services and more.
Seo said that any effects on consumers would likely be limited to regionally sourced products.
“While the report does not model prices directly, any effects are more likely to be localized and uneven rather than a uniform statewide spike, since integrator supply chains can shift production across regions,” Seo said.
On a positive note, the reconstruction and repair of damaged facilities is estimated to generate between $292.92 million and $343.45 million in economic activity, in turn generating between $29.76 million and $34.90 million in estimated tax revenue. Associated industries are also likely to benefit from reconstruction efforts, including transportation, wholesale machinery sales, restaurants and more.
Seo said that the report’s findings highlight an infrastructure resilience issue for the poultry industry.
“Commercial poultry production depends on continuous power and environmental control systems, including heating, ventilation and automated feeding,” Seo said. “The prolonged cold temperatures, snow and ice loads, and widespread power outages associated with the winter storm demonstrate how quickly infrastructure failures can cascade into production losses, reduced household income, job impacts and broader economic effects across the state economy.”
This poultry industry analysis follows an earlier report that estimated the economic impact of the January storm on other aspects of the Arkansas agricultural industry, including an estimated $24 million loss to the state’s cattle industry.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice
LITTLE ROCK – Some key legislative changes have been enacted to provide the Arkansas State Police (ASP) with a 29% drop in high-speed pursuits from 2023 – 2025. During that time, high-speed pursuits fell from a high of 622 to 432 annually, according to ASP Director, Colonel Mike Hagar. The reduction is primarily due to recent legislative changes and a messaging campaign focused on aggressive intervention.
Acts 734 and 735 of 2023, elevated fleeing from police to a Class D felony charge, formerly a misdemeanor, if the driver exceeds the posted speed limit. Act 822 of 2025 made it a felony for suspects to exit a moving vehicle while fleeing, known as a “tuck and roll”, a tactic where suspects jump from a moving vehicle to escape. This move often occurs during police pursuits and would force officers to stop the chase to secure a driverless vehicle. ASP leaders met with state prosecutors in early 2025, to request that felony fleeing charges no longer be dropped or reduced during plea deals, ensuring more severe consequences for suspects.
Other policies and operational factors have also contributed to the reduction in high-speed pursuits. ASP shifted its pursuit strategy to mandate ending chases as quickly as possible. Troopers were instructed to use Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI), also known as a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuvers as soon as they determine that a suspect is fleeing. While total pursuits have decreased, the percentage of chases ending in a ramming maneuver rose to 52% in 2025, compared to 29% or less in years prior to 2023. The addition of 120 new troopers has allowed for more proactive enforcement without increasing the overall number of successful fleeing attempts.
Troopers used the ramming technique or PIT maneuver 225 times in 2025, the highest usage since 2016. Col. Mike Hagar, who has led the state police since 2023, said earlier this year that the tactic is the most effective way troopers have of swiftly ending pursuit and that the agency’s use of it won’t change, even if the number of pursuits falls.
In 2023, new ASP public service announcements went out urging drivers to pull over immediately when they see blue lights in the rearview mirror, framing it as a necessary action and warning that fleeing from law enforcement is a felony offense in Arkansas. These announcements detailed increased fleeing penalties and the agency’s messaging campaign that troopers will stop and arrest fleeing drivers by force if necessary. “Fleeing from police is a selfish act that puts innocent motorists at risk and has grave consequences,” Col. Hagar stressed. In 2004, the number of pursuits by state troopers fell to 432 from 553 chases, a decrease reflected in the influence of the changes in the law.
Unfortunately, fatalities from chases have occurred, the overall trend is toward fewer, shorter, and more controlled pursuits due to aggressive and proactive enforcement of the new laws.