Stories from Thursday, November 16, 2023

Chris Ferrell has resigned as Superintendent of the Harrisburg School District as of this past Monday. Details are scarce at the present. The PCDT first heard that Ferrell had not been in charge on November 2. Inquiries made resulted in no new information. ...

County rebuilds bridge.

The Poinsett County Quorum Court approved the giving of bonuses to the the Poinsett County employees at their monthly meeting this past Monday. Full time employees will receive $1,000 and part time employees will receive $500. The vote was unanimous for the bonuses...

The Harrisburg Police Department will host Santa Shop on November 17 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Harrisburg Community Center. All items are $1. Bring your kids (ages 5-12) to shop with the Harrisburg Police Department (No Parents Allowed). Send a list of all of the family members your kids would like to shop for and $1 per item. The items they choose will be wrapped and ready to go under the tree when your kids are finished...

A former police officer was taken into custody after he was accused of stealing over $28,000 from Central Ford Dealership in Trumann. Nicholas Holley is suspected of stealing $28,756 meant for the purchase of a vehicle or for a down payment. On Friday, October 27, officers were asked to meet with a representative at Central Ford Dealership in Jonesboro. ...

The Black River Technical College (BRTC) Agriculture Department recently hosted three guest speakers on the BRTC Paragould campus. One of those speakers was Irrigation Instructor for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS) Mike Hamilton of Trumann...

Rural communities continue to face hazards associated with working in and around grain structures. In 2022 alone, there were at least 42 grain entrapments – the highest number in over a decade – resulting in 15 fatalities1. To help prevent tragic accidents and death, Nationwide and its partners are providing life-saving grain rescue tubes and training to 60 fire departments across rural America through its 2023 Grain Bin Safety campaign. ...

On Saturday, November 18, Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk and Butterball will be hosting their 7th annual Turkey Drive in Lepanto. Malik's family will be handing out 300 Butterball turkeys and additional fixings to those in need in the Lepanto and surrounding communities. Monk will not be on-site due to his conflicting NBA schedule...

Senior Pets rock. There is nothing like having your pet age and go through the years with you. As pets age they develop problems just like humans. There are many misconceptions that exist about our old friends. Hopefully this article will help you realize that things some consider part of old age are a medical problem that needs to be addressed...

With Youth Modern Firearm Season behind us and the firearm deer and duck season on the horizon, I wanted to write about hunting safety to hopefully raise awareness and possibly avoid a fatal accident this year in the woods, duck blind or in the home...

Mayor Jay Paul Woods and partnering Trumann businesses/organizations are sponsoring a food drive during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season. All collections will benefit the Trumann Food Pantry. Please place your non-p food donations in the Food Collection Boxes located at the following partners: Express RX Pharmacy, Southern Bancorp Bank, Evan Dillinger Agency - Farmer’s Union Insurance, Trumann Animal Clinic, Kountry Kustoms Boutique, Ballard’s Flowers and Gifts, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Trumann Municipal Complex Building, East Arkansas Family Health Center, and Old Community House.. ...

As we gather around our tables this Thanksgiving, we encourage Arkansans to take a moment to acknowledge the unsung heroes of this holiday season, our farmers. Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude for the blessings in our lives, and the hardworking men and women who toil in the fields, day in and day out, deserve a special place in our hearts this season. Arkansas farmers are the ones responsible for growing the crops and raising the livestock that grace many of our tables...

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) today introduced the Focus on Learning Act, legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Education to complete a study on the effects of cellphone use in K-12 classrooms on students’ mental health and academic performance...

Farmers & Merchants Bank, a leading regional bank renowned for its commitment to personalized financial solutions, has appointed Dan Hosman of Swift Ditch Farms Partnership in Northeast Arkansas to its board of directors. Hosman, of Jonesboro, leads the large rice and soybean operation with his brother Don and father Melvin (Buddy) Hosman. The family owns precision leveled and recreational farmland in Poinsett and Cross counties...

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has announced that 75 schools in Arkansas have been selected to receive $2,500 each to create calming rooms to address the mental well-being of Arkansas students. Calming rooms provide a space to help students regulate their emotions and often feature items such as soft lighting, tranquil colors, comfortable furniture, positive, inspirational messages, and journals, coloring books and other sensory objects...