Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department: William Bivins of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 18 at 8:25 p.m. and released on signature bond December 19 at 4:12 p.m. Bivins was charged with Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.
Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office: Randall Wayne Fletcher of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 20 at 11:41 a.m. and released on bond December 20 at 1:39 p.m. Fletcher was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule VI Misdemeanor <4oz, Obstructing Governmental Operations-Impair, and Refusal To Submit To Arrest Misdemeanor.
Lindsey Thomas Fox of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 18 at 1:49 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 26 at 3:04 p.m. Fox was charged with three counts of Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the Third Degree.
Thomas Doyle Shelly of Central City was booked into Sebastian County Detention Center on December 19 at 6:17 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 20 at 12:28 a.m. Shelly was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule I/II Felony <2g, and Possession Drug Paraphernalia – Felony.
Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department: John Michael Hill of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 23 at 1:03 p.m. and released on signature bond December 23 at 4:16 p.m. Hill was charged with Public Intoxication – Danger to self or others.
Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H: Dylan Matthew Kats of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 23 at 7:59 p.m. and released on signature bond December 23 at 8:38 p.m. Kats was charged with failure to appear – class B misdemeanor.
Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office: Larry Furr, 42 of Scranton, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 12 at 11:59 a.m. Furr was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
William Witt, 34 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 19 at 4:24 p.m. Witt was charged with three counts of failure to appear and hold for another agency.
**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**
With the dawn of a new year approaching, I’ve been reflecting on the closure of 2022.
Over the Christmas holiday, I visited with some folks who deal in a variety of business. One of the common themes were: “end of fiscal year,” “end of calendar year,” and “close of business day.”
As most of you know, I lost my dad in December of 2021. I don’t know how to explain it, but mentally, I have never closed out 2021…yet here we are in 2022, ready to start 2023.
The phrase “at the close of business day” kept popping into my head.
I was doing a Bible study one evening and it referred to the duty of us as Christians to be busy about the Father’s business. Could it be that someone who has been so absorbed in grief has forgotten why they are still here?
Luke 2:49 says And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
Jesus knew his time on Earth was limited. These words are the first in which He reveals his consciousness of his supernatural birth. You and I, if we are spiritually regenerate people, adopted into God’s family, have the same Father as Jesus. In fact Jesus said to his disciples in John 20:17 “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God.” So now we have the same spiritual Father as Jesus. The question then arises: “Must we, as children of the Father, share the perspective of Jesus that “we must be about our Father’s business”?”
Jesus said to his disciples after the resurrection, again in John 20, this time in verse 21: “As the Father sent me, so I send you”.
What then is the business of the Father? Jesuscommanded us in the book of Matthew 28:19-20 by saying “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
My dad’s work is over with here on this earth. Everything God intended for him to do, was done. I am so grateful that for 46 of his 77 years I was blessed to share in that life. God has left you, and me here for a reason…will we squander the days away? Or, will we make them count for eternity?
So, as we close out 2022, let us remember that at the close of the spiritual day, what will have mattered most was if we committed our lives to Christ and were busy about the business of the Father.
LITTLE ROCK — Once the wrapping paper has been thrown away and the last drop of eggnog has been consumed, few people have a use for that evergreen tree that graced their home during the holiday season. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has a new job for those leftover trees: fish habitat.
The AGFC has drop-off locations across the state to let your old Christmas tree have a second life as underwater cover. The small spaces and dense cover offered by fresh Christmas trees make excellent nursery habitat for small fish as well as great places to fish.
Anglers are welcome to remove trees from drop-off locations to create their own fish attractors. Tying the trees to cinder blocks with parachute cord is a popular option to weigh the trees down. Sandbags also are a popular option. By the time the bags and cord deteriorate, the trees will be waterlogged and no longer need the weight to stay on the bottom.
The small branches will deteriorate quickly, so it’s best to sink the trees in groups. The trunks of the trees will last much longer, offering some woody cover long after a single tree’s attractiveness wanes.
Trees should be clean of all ornaments, lights and tinsel before they are dropped off. Artificial Christmas trees should not be used as fish habitat, either.
Trees can be dropped off at any of the following locations until the end of January:
Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Lake – Highway 12 Access, AGFC Don Roufa Highway 412 Access and Monte Ne Boat Ramp Access
Lake Elmdale – Boat Ramp Access
Bob Kidd Lake – Boat Ramp Access
Crystal Lake – Boat Ramp Access
Lake Fayetteville — Boat Ramp Access
North Arkansas
Bull Shoals Lake – Any U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boat ramp
Norfork Lake – Any U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boat ramp
Northeast Arkansas
Jonesboro – Craighead Forest Park Lake Boat Ramp
Lake Bono – Boat Ramp Access
Lake Walcott – Crowley’s Ridge State Park Boat Ramp Access
Lake Charles – West parking lot at Highway 25 Boat Ramp Access
Lake Poinsett — Dam Access Boat Ramp
Batesville — Ramsey Slough Boat Ramp
Central Arkansas
Arkansas River – Riverview Park Access in North Little Rock
Lake Barnett – Reed Access
Lake Conway – Lawrence Landing Access
Greers Ferry Lake – Sandy Beach (Heber Springs), Devils Fork Recreation Area and Choctaw Recreation Area (Choctaw-Clinton)
Harris Brake Lake – Chittman Hill Access
Lake Pickthorne – Holland Bottoms Access
Lake Overcup – Lake Overcup Landing
Cox Creek Lake – Cox Creek Lake Public Access
Lake Hamilton – Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery Access Area
Jack Nolen – Boat Ramp Access at Fire Station
Sugar Loaf Lake – Boat Ramp Access
East Arkansas
Horseshoe Lake — Bonds Access
Wynne Sports Complex Family and Community Fishing Pond
Southeast Arkansas
Lake Chicot – Connerly Bayou Access Area
Cook’s Lake – Potlatch Cook’s Lake Nature Center at 625 Cook’s Lake Road, Casscoe, or the bus lot across from Grand Avenue United Methodist Church in Stuttgart
South Arkansas
Camden – AGFC Regional Office on Ben Lane, next to the National Guard Armory
Upper White Oak Lake – Upper Jack’s Landing
Magnolia – Columbia County Road Department Yard on Highway 371
El Dorado – City recycling center drop-offs: one behind Arby’s and one on South Jackson
Smackover – Recycling Drop-Off Center (these will be transported to El Dorado)
Southwest Arkansas
Bois d’Arc Lake – Kidd’s Landing or Hatfield Access
Millwood Lake – Cottonshed, White Cliffs Recreation Areas and the Millwood State Park ramp on the point
Dierks Lake – Jefferson Ridge South Recreation Area
De Queen Lake – Any U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boat ramp
Gillham Lake – Any U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boat ramp
Lake Greeson – New Cowhide Cove and Self Creek Recreation areas
South Fork Lake – South Fork Lake Access
Terre Noire Lake – Terre Noire Lake Access
Hope – AGFC Regional Office on U.S. Highway 67 East
January 1 marks a new beginning to a calendar year, a fresh start…a clean slate for the next 365 days. But, January 1 is also a day of significance to those who will be taking political office. Locally, the Scott, Sebastian, Franklin and Logan County Courthouses will be hosting swearing-in ceremonies.
Taking office in Scott County: City of Waldron Mayor, (incumbent) David Millard; City of Waldron – Alderman Ward 3, Position 1, Doyle Dickens; City of Mansfield Mayor, (incumbent) Buddy Black; City of Mansfield – Alderman Ward 2, Position 1, Boyd Farmer; City of Mansfield – Alderman Ward 1, Position 1, (incumbent) Julie Thomas; Scott County JP District 5, Jamie Goff; Scott County JP District 4, (incumbent) Linda Vaughn; Scott County Clerk, Tracy McPherson; Scott County Sheriff, (incumbent) Randy Shores; and Scott County Judge Brian Jones.
Sebastian County: City of Lavaca Mayor (incumbent) Hugh Hardgrave; City of Huntington Mayor, (incumbent) Gary Lawrence; Huntington Alderman Ward 3, Position 2, Stephen Stokes; City of Hartford Mayor, (incumbent) Richard Hartsfield; City of Hartford Alderman Ward 3, Position 2, William Woodard; City of Hartford Alderman Ward 2, Position 2, John Morgan; City of Hartford Alderman Ward 1, Position 1, Mary Radley; City of Hackett Mayor, Louis Kirkendall; City of Greenwood Mayor (incumbent) Doug Kinslow; City of Greenwood Alderman Ward 3, Position 1, (incumbent) AC Brown; City of Greenwood Alderman Ward 2, Position 1, Roger Rainwater; City of Greenwood Attorney, Travis Plummer; Central City Mayor, Terry Wallace; Central City Alderman Ward 3, Position 1, Greg McMahan; Central City Alderman Ward 2, Position 1, Charlie Carpenter; Sebastian County Judge, Steve Hotz; Sebastian County JP District 11, Gerry Ward; Sebastian County JP District 10, Dickie Robertson.
Logan County: City of Scranton Alderman Ward 1, Position 1, William Ahne; City of Paris Alderman Ward 3, Position 1, Robert Wells; City of Paris Alderman Ward 1, Position 1, Jan Faulkner; City of Magazine Mayor, Joshua Scott; City of Booneville Mayor, Edgar Baker; City of Booneville Alderman Ward 2, Position 2, Tina Hunt; City of Booneville Alderman Ward 1, Position 1, Alton Shackleford; Logan County JP District 7, Donald Keezer; Logan County Clerk, April Hice.
Franklin County: City of Charleston Mayor, Mike Baumgartner; Wiederkehr Village Alderman Ward 1, Position 2, Dennis Wiederkehr; City of Ozark Mayor, Roxie Hall; City of Ozark Alderman Ward 3, Position 2, Jerad Cagle; City of Ozark Alderman Ward 2, Position 1, Angela Harris; City of Branch Mayor, Gerald Harris; Franklin County JP District 5, Dennis Fisher.
The Hogs are in Memphis and just concluded a practice session that started at 9:30 a.m. today on the campus of the University of Memphis. The final bowl practice for Wednesday’s game was moved indoors to the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex in Memphis.
Here is a schedule of the final events leading up to the game as provided by the University of Arkansas:
Monday, Dec. 26
9:30 a.m. – Practice at University of Memphis Indoor
BILLY J. MURPHY ATHLETIC COMPLEX
1115 E Getwell Loop St, Memphis, TN 38152
2 p.m. – Student-Athletes Joint Press Conference at DoubleTree Hotel.
Arkansas Student-athletes: KJ Jefferson, Dalton Wagner, Rocket Sanders, Nathan Bax, Simeon Blair, Chris Paul Jr., Hudson Clark, Landon Jackson
Tuesday, Dec. 27
11 a.m. – Head Coaches Joint Press Conference at DoubleTree Hotel.
Coach Pittman will speak first followed by Coach Leipold
Wednesday, Dec. 28
AutoZone Liberty Bowl – Memphis 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Arkansas and Kansas will kickoff on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson.
The new year is quickly approaching, and now that the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season is largely behind us, it is now a time to reflect on 2022 as the year comes to an end. A look back at this year can mean many things to many different people, and all of us will reflect back upon the year in different ways.
So, I thought this would be a great opportunity to not only thank our readers and subscribers who have been so good to us, but also to take a look at this year for RNN Sports and use it as a chance to gain perspective on where we have come from, where we are now, and what the future may have in store.
Taking the liberty to speak on behalf of all of us at RNN, we are all blessed to work for a wonderful owner and founder of our company, Jason Baggett. His vision of creating a publication that focuses on small, local communities has been brilliant and well-received by so many people. He started this company a little more than seven years ago, and it is nothing but incredible to think of where it is today and how many people have been touched by his vision.
On my end, it has been a huge year for RNN as it expanded fully into Logan County by the start of a weekly print edition newspaper that focuses exclusively on Logan County and its surrounding communities. The RNN Logan County Edition has been a huge success, and I want to publicly thank our managing editor, Tammy Teague, who works tirelessly behind the scenes each week to format and process the paper for mailing to our subscribers. Tammy also manages the subscriptions to the paper and is always prompt in her responses to our subscribers’ needs. I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with her each day, and she does a tremendous job for our publication.
As sports director, I have also been blessed to work with great photojournalists and photographers that have expanded our ability to cover not only more regional communities, but Razorbacks athletics, as well. James and Selena Shelly of Lavaca, and Ronni Tate Young of Charleston have covered high school athletics and Razorbacks football and basketball for us this year by bringing you great images from the sidelines and from courtside. With their contributions, we expect to bring you even more action from the University of Arkansas in 2023.
RNN Sports photographer, Ronni Tate Young (in blue jacket), photographs the Hogs’ mens basketball game vs. UNC Asheville (Cell phone photo contributed to RNN Sports by Lesa Tedford)
Another big development for RNN Sports was the addition of contributing writers and photojournalists from the communities of Booneville, Magazine, and County Line.
Contributing Booneville athletics stories to RNN Sports is longtime sports writer and Booneville sports historian, Glenn Parrish. Glenn is a virtual encyclopedia of Booneville sports history, and as director of communications for the district, he has unique access to the Bearcats’ programs. He brings inside information to our readers on everything Booneville, and it has been a pleasure having him on our staff. On a personal note, I have become good friends with Glenn, and it has been great visiting and working with him this year.
Serving the Magazine community is the district’s director of public relations and social media, Jonathan Gipson. Jonathan has been a contributing writer and information source to RNN Sports on Magazine sports and school district news. I first met Jonathan on the play-by-play broadcasts of the Paris Eagles baseball season approximately a year ago. Jonathan has college athletic experience in the sports information realm, and he brings a high level of professionalism to both his on-air broadcasts, as well his print media contributions. We at RNN Sports are thankful to have him aboard!
In 2022 we also added the County Line school district to our coverage, thanks to the work of County Line High School yearbook sponsor, Celia Looney. Celia is an avid photographer and is at all of the County Line events. Her contributions to RNN Sports have brought Indians coverage to our readers, and like so many who have contributed to RNN’s success, we are deeply indebted to her for her contributions.
On a personal note, one of, if not the greatest benefit of working with RNN Sports is meeting you the readers, as well as the coaches, administrators, and fellow media colleagues who cover high school and collegiate athletics. The reach has been to local, state, and even national outlets that include Hooten’s Arkansas Football publication statewide, as well as ESPN and their coverage of Razorbacks sports. Our sports photos have been used by statewide news publications, and we have a very strong social media presence that brings our fans sports photos and coverage on Facebook and Twitter. And of course, our stories can be found on the RNN website at residentnewsnetwork.com
It is a dream-come true for me, and I owe all of it to RNN and our owner, Jason Baggett.
So, what lies ahead for RNN Sports? The honest answer is, “who knows?” If you had asked me this question a year ago, I would have never guessed how far we would progress in just one year. One of the great aspects of working for RNN is the latitude that we are given to explore, take calculated risks, and to follow our passion and instincts. And every employee and contributor for our publication possess great love for sports, writing, and promoting the communities of western Arkansas. It is a great group, and I am privileged to be a small part of this great organization.
We launched the Logan County Edition weekly newspaper approximately eight months ago, and its subscriptions total skyrocketed almost immediately. In a very short time, the Logan County Edition was equaling or surpassing other RNN publications that are in more densely populated markets. That is all because of you, our readers and subscribers, and we cannot express enough how grateful we are for our readership and your patronage. If I had a crystal ball to look into RNN’s future, I think it would show the sky being the limit as to how far this publication can go in 2023…all thanks to you!
So, on behalf of everyone at RNN, we wish you a safe, happy, and prosperous new year! Thank you for your wonderful support in 2022, and we look forward to following our passion of bringing you the only publications that focus on LOCAL news and sports in the River Valley!
Many of us spend the holidays relaxing and sharing in goodwill with friends and family. But some bad actors use the holidays to take advantage of people’s generous spirits. Scammers frequently target the older and other more vulnerable members of our communities. They pretend they are from Social Security or another government agency to steal your money or personal information. Caller ID, texts, or documents sent by email may look official, but they are not. Fraudsters are calling to verify information about the 2023 cost-of-living adjustment for people who get benefits. Remember, this adjustment is automatic and a beneficiary does not need to verify anything. Social Security won’t ask you to provide information or money to get your benefit increase. Know that how we do business with you doesn’t change because it’s the holidays. We may email or text you about programs and services, but we will never ask for personal information via email or text. Recognizing the signs of a scam can help you avoid falling victim to one. These scams primarily use the telephone to contact you, but scammers may also use email, text messages, social media, or U.S. mail. Scammers pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain your trust. Scammers say there is a problem with your Social Security number or account. Scammers pressure you to act immediately. Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way. Know what to look for and be alert. Scammers don’t take days off and neither should you… when it comes to making sure you identify suspicious communications and report it. If you receive a questionable call, text, or email, hang up or don’t respond and report it at oig.ssa.gov/report. Scammers frequently change their methods with new tactics and messages to trick people. We encourage you to stay up to date on the latest news and advisories by following SSA’s Office of the Inspector General on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook or subscribing to receive email alerts.
Todd Eric Rood of Blueball, Arkansas passed from this life, Wednesday, December 21, 2022 in Booneville, Arkansas. Todd was born August 14, 1970 in Torrance, California to Dale Eric and Sharon (Limbocker) Rood. He was 52 years old.
Todd enjoyed hunting and fishing, being in the outdoors and just having fun. He was a big guy with a big personality who just enjoyed life. He especially loved spending time with his pride and joy his daughter, Aubrey Beth. He cherished every minute, every memory he had with her.
Todd leaves behind to cherish his memory, one daughter, Aubrey Beth of Jasper, Arkansas, his girlfriend Lisa Crenshaw of Booneville, Arkansas and a host of cousins, extended family and friends he loved dearly.
Todd was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Sharon Rood.
Todd’s celebration of life will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 23, 2022 at the Egypt Freewill Baptist Church in Blueball, Arkansas with Rev. Tom Garrison officiating. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Todd’s pallbearers will be Chris Vaughn, Damon Vaughn, Dakota Vaughn, Scott Stark, Wendell Limbocker, Mark Campbell and Steve Earls. Honorary pallbearers will be Jeff Vaughn, Michael Leyden, Jeffery Meier, Darin Meier, Ronnie Meier, Tim Reif, Dean Rood and Greg Rood.
Todd’s visitation will be Friday, December 23, 2022 at the Egypt Freewill Baptist Church in Blueball, Arkansas from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
‘Tis the season to help save lives by donating blood and taking home a holiday-themed long-sleeved T-shirt!
Donors who show their giving spirit by donating blood will receive their choice of holiday-themed long-sleeved T-shirts. Choices include the “Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins” version, inspired by the classic Christmas movie “Elf”, or the festive “Be A Deer” T-shirt.
Join Mansfield and Huntington Community for a blood drive with Arkansas Blood Institute from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., on Thursday, January 5, at the Mansfield First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.
Arkansas Blood Institute is the local, non-profit blood supplier, supporting the inventory for patients in more than 40 hospitals, medical facilities, and air ambulances statewide. Anyone who is healthy and 16 years old* or older can give blood.
Blood donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives. Appointments can be made by calling 1-877-340-8777 or visiting arkbi.org.
Temperatures have plummeted today in Paris and the surrounding River Valley communities. The day began with temperatures in the mid-40s, and by 4 p.m. today, most communities were reporting temperatures in the mid-teens.
In Paris at approximately 2:30 p.m., the power in the city went out for a second time. Earlier in the day, the power went offline very briefly and was later followed by an outage that lasted approximately 90 minutes. RNN spoke with Paris mayor Daniel Rogers, and the mayor reported, “Our electric crew is out looking for what caused the outage. They are confident that it is something minor, and once identified it should be a quick repair. It’s one of eight circuits throughout the city that is out, so hopefully they will find the issue very soon. We will let our residents know if it is something worse than expected shortly.”
In a matter of just a few minutes after the mayor made his comments, the power was restored for the residents of Paris. At publication time for this story, the temperature in Paris was 12 degrees with light snow.
RNN will keep you up to date with the latest information if future events develop. RNN updates will be published on social media and on our website at residentnewsnetwork.com
