January 2024

Speaking French

Perhaps I find myself a bit tardy in addressing this topic, as it appears the world has sunk into a vortex of opinions, name-calling and debates over which side is the righteous one. From the beginning of taking over my role here at the paper, I vowed to keep this publication apolitical, guaranteeing no side would dominate the conversation. While our weekly cartoons occasionally toe the line, I choose to set aside those that dig too deeply into politics. In a world already fractured, I refuse to contribute to the injury.

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Baltz elected as National Peanut Board’s 2024 Chairman

Greg Baltz of Pocahontas, Arkansas was elected the 2024 National Peanut Board (NPB) chairman this past December. Baltz serves as active chairman from Jan. 1, 2024, until Dec. 31, 2024. Baltz’s tenure has included roles as vice chairman, treasurer and secretary. Baltz and his wife Mary Nell own and operate Running Lake Farms and have been growing peanuts for 13 years. He farms runner peanuts, rice, corn and soybeans.

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Randolph County Petit Jurors for Feb 2024

Circuit Clerk, Debbie Wise, has announced the following named persons were selected, in accordance with Arkansas Code Annotated 16-32-105, to serve as Petit Jurors at the FEBRUARY 2024 term of Randolph County Circuit Court. They are ordered to appear before said Court at 8:30 a.m. on the first day of said term, which will be on the Monday February 12, 2024 to serve as Petit Jurors.

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Randolph County Jail Log

Junior Benjamin, age 40, of Little Rock; hold for another county Wingo Jelk, age 34, of Pocahontas; driving while license cancelled, suspended or revoked-Class U (M) Tate Townsend, age 61, of Maynard; aggravated assault- Class D (F) Bucky Wilson, age 74, of Warm Springs; domestic battering in the Third Degree-Class A (M) Stephen Bradford, age 29, of Imboden; possession of firearm by certain persons (F), possession of drug paraphernalia Ashley Horn, age 30, of Pocahontas; theft of property (M) Justin Schoenfeld, age 34, of Conway; possession of sch 1 less 2 g Shyann Simms, age 29, of Pocahontas; possession of drug paraphernalia Ben Stephens, age 39, of Pocahontas; possession of drug paraphernalia Jack Krygowski, age 56, of Pocahontas; contempt of court (F) Cedric Dixon, age 51, of Pocahontas; petition for revocation Moises Perez, age 21, of Walnut Ridge; warrant FTA Hailey Greer, age 30, of Maynard; hindering apprehension or prosecution (M), driving while license cancelled, suspended or revoked-Class U (M) Ross Kiker, age 39, of Little Rock; absconding (F) Michael Austin, age 20, of Pocahontas; suspicion of murder, disorderly conduct (M)

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Did you know?

Live sports can be wildly entertaining, giving viewers lots of ups and downs to enjoy (or endure). That emotional roller coaster has made live sports, and football in particular, especially popular among television viewers. Data from Nielsen indicates that the National Football league was responsible for 45 of the 50 largest Nielsen-measured sports audiences in 2022. In fact, the top 32 events were all NFL games, with the 2021-22 College Football Playoff National Championship Game between Georgia and Alabama coming in at no. 33 among the year’s most watched sporting events. Even the thrilling World Cup Final between Argentina and France was no match within the United States for the NFL, garnering 22.32 million viewers. By comparison, that year’s Super Bowl between the Rams and Bengals attracted 99.18 million viewers. Curiously, despite baseball’s designation as “America’s pastime,” Major League Baseball did not have a single game place among the 50 most watched sporting events of 2022.

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Here &There

Population growth is considered an important measure of progress in small towns and counties– one wants to feel one’s town isn’t ‘dying’ but growing instead. I remember in past decades, eastern Arkansas (the Delta) towns and counties were the places where the population was larger and the economies were booming.

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Around the Kitchen Table with Nanny

To quote an old song, “The weather outside is frightful.” It has been so cold, so let’s crank up our ovens and bake some simple casseroles that will be easy and filling for our families. EASY ENCHILADA CASSEROLE Ingredients: •1 1/2 lbs ground beef •1 cup chopped onion •1 1/2 tsp cumin •2 cloves garlic, crushed •3 tsp chili powder •1 tsp salt •1/2 tsp pepper •1 cup water •1 (16 oz.) jar taco sauce •12 corn tortillas •1 lb.

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From the Humane Society….

Recent frigid temperatures undoubtedly sent shock waves around the community. January and soon to be February means we are still in the throes of winter and subject to all the weather fluctuations we tend to experience in the midsouth. Take a tip from the Boy Scouts: Be prepared. For the next five weeks of official winter, be prepared.

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