News

By DAVID PIERCE Times Staff The Osceola City Council will reconsider an ordinance disallowing fowl in the city limits following an appearance before the board by Bill Fountain Monday. Fountain, who has eight chickens on his residential property, explained to the five council members(Sandra Brand was not present) and Mayor Joe Harris that he recently received documentation from city’s animal control that he was in violation of the ordinance...

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently announced that Arkansas will continue its participation in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program into 2025. Last year, the state served 260,000 children through the program. “Childhood hunger is a crisis – across America and especially in Arkansas. ...

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has been awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Accelerated Innovation Deployment Demonstration Program. ARDOT will use this grant funding to purchase additional Lane Blade devices – vehicle attachments that aid in safe and efficient debris removal from the roadway...

Arkansas Northeastern College held its annual Harvest Party at its new facility in Wilson this past week. President Chris Heigle made a special presentation of Gaylon Lawrence and his wife for the donation of the Wilson Manson and former Delta School to ANC...

By SANDRA BRAND Times Editor There has been a new face in downtown Osceola for the past couple of months. Catherine Norvell of Jonesboro has been hired as the new executive director of Main Street Osceola. The daughter of a Presbyterian minister, Norvell was born in Pea Ridge and raised in Jonesboro. A 1995 graduate of the Hurricanes, she earned a bachelor of fine arts with an emphasis in art history from Arkansas State University and a master of history from the University of Memphis...

Votes cast in the 2024 General Election in Mississippi County were officially certified Thursday evening. The commission spent five hours Wednesday and seven hours on Thursday recounting early, election day and absentee votes as well as counting the provisional ballots...

BLYTHEVILLE - The Mississippi County Election Commission has certified the results of the Nov. 5 General Election. After two days of recounting the ballots cast during early voting, election day and adding in absentee and provisional ballots, commissioners announced the final results...

By Joseph Fondren The Osceola Times Contributor WILSON — On Wednesday afternoon, 13 members of the 16-member Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) traveled to Wilson for their fourth quarter business meeting on Thursday; however, they toured the Big River 2 facilities in Osceola and congregated at the Tin House in Wilson before meeting at the Wilson Manor on the campus of the former Delta School in Wilson...

By Joseph Fondren The Osceola Times Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— City of Osceola Fire Chief Peter Hill recently informed the Mississippi County Police, Fire and Safety Committee about the dangerous fires occurring at the county landfill, which is in the city of Osceola’s fire district, and the need for a pumper tanker. ...

Brand/Dunegan retain Osceola seats Unofficial voting results of the votes cast in Mississippi County are: U.S. President, Vice President: Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz (D)............................3,538 Donald J. Trump/JD Vance (R)..............................6,935...

PIGGOTT - The planned coverage of the game between the Seminoles and Mohawks Friday did not come off as planned when the Livestream on Seminole Nation was unable to be streamed due to a lack of signal in Piggott. Therefore this abbrevated story will recap the scoring as it occurred. More particulars about the game will be available on line later in the week...

On Oct. 24 the MissCo Soccer Academy had two teams win their division in the Jonesboro City Stars soccer league. After a 1-0 first half the U12 Girls, sponsored by Las Brisas Mexican Restaurant and coached by Victoria Hatley and Laura Weiss, went on to win comfortably 4-0 with two goals by Wendolyn Lara and one each by Kayleigh Trejo and Evelynn Chino...

Willis Earl Beckett III, 33, of Freeport, TX, passed away on Oct. 29, 2024, at the Jeannie Sealy Hospital in Galveston, TX. Born on Oct. 2, 1991 in Covington, TN, he is the son of Willis Earl Beckett Jr. and Michele Emerson. Willis is survived by his parents, Willis Earl Beckett Jr of Covington, TN, and Michele Emerson of Freeport, TX...

Osceola resident and city councilman Joe Guy, an avid golfer, achieved one of the rarest of accomplishments when he recently scored a double eagle two on a par 5 hole. Guy did so on hole number five at Osceola Municipal Golf Course. Guy hit a 302 yard drive leaving himself about 155 yards to the hole. Guy’s second shot, from that distance with an 8-iron landed on the green and went into the cup. Guy’s achievement was witnessed by playing partner Luther Whitfield and Phil Beall...

Arkansas Northeastern College will host a celebration of Thanks and Giving, Thursday, Nov. 14 at the school’s newest location in Wilson. The event will be held on the The Lawrence Family Campus, 5101 U.S. Highway 61, the location of the former Delta School. The event will begin with a recognition ceremony for the Lawrence family at 6 p.m. in front of the mansion. The main event will be a drop-in from 6:30-9 p.m...

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the state will receive up to $13,535,086.30 as its share of a $1.37 billion settlement with Kroger over the company’s role in the opiod crisis. Arkansas along with 29 other states sued Kroger...

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a 3.7 magnitude earthquake registered approximately 1.25 miles east of Steele, Missouri on Saturday, Nov. 2. The quake occurred at 10:44 p.m. at a depth of 7.2 miles. The quake was felt in the Missouri towns of Steele (2 miles from the epicenter), Hayti and Caruthersville (both 11 miles from the epicenter). Other Missouri towns which felt the quake include Kennett and Portageville...

The National Cold War Center will present the Cold War Conversation Friday, Nov. 1 at The Ritz Civic Center in Blytheville. The program will begin at 6 p.m. Gary Powers, Jr. will be this year’s guest speaker. Powers is the son of U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, author and commentator on Cold War issues. ...

By DAVID PIERCE - Times Staff Repair and renovation of the county courthouse in Osceola took a giant step forward Tuesday as the quorum court earmarked funds from a county land sale to the project. A little more than $1.4 million was generated from the sale of county-owned land on South Division in Blytheville. The justices moved to channel those dollars to upgrade the deteriorating courthouse...

The First Baptist Church in Keiser will hold a trunk-or-treat Thursday, Oct. 31. The trunk-or-treat will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. in the church’s parking lot. First Baptist Church and the First United Methodist Church in Osceola have partnered to host a Community Trunk-or-Treat Thursday, Oct. 31...

A Celebration of Thanks and Giving will be held Thursday, Nov. 14 at Arkansas Northeastern College’s newest location in Wilson. The event will be held at The Lawrence Family Campus, 5101 U.S. Highway 61. A recognition ceremony for the Lawrence family will begin at 6 p.m. in front of the mansion. The main event will be a drop-in from 6:30-9 p.m...

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) produces a Weekly Viral Respiratory Disease Report for clinician. The report provides information on Influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) activity in the state. The report show for week 41 Arkansas has reported “minimal” or one out of 13 for the influenza-like-illness (ILI) activity. Hospital Emergency Department visits reported through Syndromic Surveillance were at 1.59% for ILI, 1.36% for COVID-like-illness (CLI), and 0.08% for RSV...

By STEVE KNOX Times Staff OSCEOLA - When Dave Stickler was a young man, he loved to fish. “I grew up fishing in streams, ponds, rivers and lakes where we lived,” Stickler recalled. “I really loved to fish and the reason I loved it was my Dad taught me. It was something we shared and it was special.”...

By DAVID PIERCE - Times Staff Monday, the Osceola City Council passed a resolution adopting updated police and city jail policies. The measure stems from a civil lawsuit filed by Pete Edwards who claimed the city was liable for the actions of a former police officer who shot him in 2019. The shooting left Edwards paralyzed and the city agreed to settle Edwards’ claim for $3.75 million...

On Thursday, Oct. 17, Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed a residential search warrant in Leachville after receiving a National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) cyber tip...

OSCEOLA, AR / ACCESSWIRE / October 16, 2024 / Envirotech Vehicles (NASDAQ:EVTV), a leading innovator in the electric commercial vehicle industry, has announced the addition of Jason Maddox and Elgin Tracy, high profile leaders with decades of experience building and running multi-billion dollar businesses, as President and Chief Operating Officer, respectively...

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY — Public officials and economic development leaders throughout Mississippi County gathered Tuesday with representatives from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) for a mayor’s summit focused on future growth in the region...

The American Red Cross, through its Community Adaptation Program, partnered with The Help Center in Joiner, to officially open its new facility to expand the center’s food pantry. The ribbon-cutting event was held Thursday, Oct. 10 at The Help Center at First Baptist Frenchman, 7301 S. Highway 61, Joiner. The new building will offer the center more than 2,100 square feet of space to better serve the community with healthy and nutritious food...

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) produces a Weekly Viral Respiratory Diseases Report for clinicians. The report provides information on influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity in the state. In week 40, Arkansas has reported “minimal” or one out of 13 for the influenza-like-illness (ILI) activity level indicator determined by data report to ILINet...

By DAVID PIERCE - Times Staff Members of the Osceola School District administrative staff appeared before the school board Monday to review the annual report to the public. Three of the five district principals Pam Smith, North Elementary; Evet Holmes, Carroll Smith Elementary; and Dettris Poole, high school; discussed each of the campuses’ statistics including enrollment, teaching staff (certified versus non-certified) and non-classified personnel. ...

We want to keep you informed about a recent incident concerning student safety. Due to ongoing social media threats nationwide, federal authorities are closely monitoring social media for any concerning activity. Yesterday, they identified a phrase that prompted an investigation. ...

The annual Fall County-Wide Clean up will be held Saturday, Oct. 19. This is a time where each city/town that would like to participate can rally together and encourage residents to do some “Fall clean-up” The county Landfill will be free that day to individuals. Any municipality will receive a 50% discount. Landfill hours will be from 7 a.m.-12 p.m. that Saturday...

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Public Service Commission approved a general rate adjustment for Black Hills Energy to reflect critical infrastructure investments that meet the growing demand for energy while also supporting continued resilience of the Arkansas natural gas system...

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas-based Lexicon, Inc. has announced the promotion of Jimmy Stokley to vice president of Production for the Lexicon Fabrication Group. With a remarkable 29-year career in the structural steel and bridge fabrication industry, Stokley brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role...

By DAVID PIERCE Times Staff The Mississippi County Quorum Court said no to Cryptic Farms LLC’s proposal to locate a digital asset mining facility in Mississippi County. Justice Neil Burge, substituting for County Judge John Alan Nelson who was not present at the meeting, did receive a motion and a second for approval but as roll was called each of the nine justices present voted against the resolution...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The 100 Families Alliance Initiative in Mississippi County was launched at Arkansas Northeastern College on Sept. 24 with a luncheon in the Governor’s Ballroom. A large group of community leaders and representatives from different organizations were invited to learn about the initiative and what it can do for the community...

Arkansas Heritage recently recognized recipients of Small Museum and Arkansas Heritage grants at its headquarters in Little Rock. These grant programs provide awards to Arkansas’s small history museums, historical societies, historic houses and sites, and military museums. ...

By SANDRA BRAND Times Editor An Osceola man has been found guilty of capital murder in the death of Tiana Robinson. A jury of his peers found Reggie Matthews, 41, guilty Thursday afternoon in circuit court at the Mississippi County Courthouse. He was found guilty of shooting Robinson five times on Sept. 6, 2023 causing her death...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times The Osceola School Board met for nearly an hour and half in executive session Wednesday, Sept. 25. When the members emerged there was just one order of business remaining, promoting Toshiba Pugh to assistant superintendent...

ALMA, Ark. — The Alma (Arkansas) Police Department reports a significant development in its investigation into the 1995 kidnapping of 6-year-old Morgan Nick from a Little League ballfield. Morgan was kidnapped from the parking lot of the Alma Little League ballfield at approximately 10:45 p.m. on June 9, 1995. A suspect description was provided, as was the description of a red truck with a white camper shell that was allegedly involved...

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) arrested 3,421 violent fugitives, including 216 for homicide, 803 for assault, and 482 for weapons offenses, during the latest phase of its high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative called Operation North Star FY 2024 (ONS FY24)...

By SANDRA BRAND Times Editor An Osceola man has been found guilty of capital murder in the death of Tiana Robinson. A jury of his peers found Reggie Matthews, 41, guilty Thursday afternoon in circuit court at the Mississippi County Courthouse. He was found guilty of shooting Robinson five times on Sept. 6, 2023 causing her death...

By SANDRA BRAND -Times Editor Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders recently appointed Becton Bell of Wilson to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. His term will expire June 30, 2026. He replaces Joe Christian. Becton and his brother, Ross Bell, operate Bell Planting Company in Wilson. He also serves as the mayor of Wilson...

By STEVE KNOX Times Staff The bridge replacement on both Highway 77 and Highway 140, which was to have begun Monday, Sept. 23 has been pushed back to Tuesday, Oct. 1, according to Logan Hardin with the Arkansas Department of Transportation. Hardin disclosed in an email distributed Monday morning, the decision to postpone the bridge work had been reached due to the potential for additional and possibly heavy rain forecast from a Tropical system which could impact the area later this week...

By SANDRA BRAND Times Editor “You get a line and I’ll get a pole. We’ll go down to the old crawdad hole...” The sun was shining this past weekend and the fish were biting down at Osceola’s newly stocked pond. Hybar CEO Dave Stickler purchased the land southeast of Osceola which includes the old fishing pond. His crew spent the past few months working countless hours to pre-pare the pond for fresh fish from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission...

By SANDRA BRAND - Times Editor An Osceola man charged with murdering his former girlfriend is on trial this week at the local Mississippi County Courthouse. The trial of Reggie Matthews, 41, of Osceola began Monday with the beginning of jury selection. Extra security was put into place around the courthouse...

By DAVID PIERCE Times Staff In Monday’s meeting of the Osceola City Council, the five members present authorized almost $161,000 in purchases for the Osceola Police Department. The four purchases include upgrades to the camera and fire alarm systems, a narcotic analyzer and tray transport and service cabinet...

The City of Osceola announced, in a press release from Mayor Joe Harris, Jr. Tuesday morning, the creation of the Osceola Educational Improvement Task Force (OEITF). The task force will be led by Mayor Harris, members of his staff and in partnership with local stakeholders from industry, education and community development...