February 2024

Rogers brings music back to Highway 67

“This place is going to look significantly different,” said JR Rogers, a former state representative and mayor of Walnut Ridge. Rogers, who has been actively involved in the ongoing renovations of the Imperial Dinner Theatre building near Black River Technical College in Pocahontas, is also a locally renowned musician.

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Speaking French

I often find inspiration from social media for my weekly column. Sometimes, I come across things I want to address but choose not to, exercising discretion. However, there are times when I’m more than happy to tackle a subject.

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BRTC Students tour Greenbier

Black River Technical College (BRTC) Career and Technical Center (CTC) Paragould students recently toured Greenbrier’s Paragould plant. Students enrolled in welding and industrial electricity were treated to a tour by BRTC/Greenbrier Welding Instructor Steve Kiker, Greenbrier Plant Manager Tom Hazlewood, and Steel Shop Operations Manager Derick Brandon.

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Food Bank of NEA awarded grant

The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas was awarded a $25,000 grant by the Arkansas Community Foundation Disaster Recovery Fund for disaster relief in Cross County. The grant funds will be used to provide disaster food boxes and personal hygiene items for victims of the March 2023 tornado that ravaged the city of Wynne.

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Patriot’s Pen contest winner

Rylee Kasinger, St. Paul Catholic School student, won first place in the Patriot’s Pen essay contest held by VFW Post #4556. Rylee’s essay also won first place in the VFW District #4 Patriot’s Pen essay contest. Her essay will advance to the Department (state) level contest.

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Randolph County District Court

Cristian Ibarra-Najera, age 30; no drivers license or failure to present DL, open container-nol processed; driving while intoxicated, guilty plea; (4) failure to appear-Class B (M), nol prossed Mindy Sweaney, age 41; failure to pay, dismissed Robert Posey, age 29; (2) domestic battery 3rd degree, not guilty plea William C. Lester, age 32; (3) public intoxication, guilty plea; obstructing governmental operations, guilty plea; fleeing on foot, guilty plea; possession of controlled substance, not guilty plea; (2) failure to appear-Class A (M), not guilty plea; failure to pay, dismissed William Alex McGinty, age 42; driving on suspended or revoked DL, guilty plea; driver license required, guilty plea Terence Brown, age 42; (2) violation of city dog ordinance 2009-15, guilty plea; failure to appear-Class B (M), guilty plea Harvey Key, age 61; city clean up ordinance 2020-16, nol prossed James M. Prater, age 29; (2) failure to pay, dismissed; obstructing governmental operations, dismissed Heather Richey, age 32; possession of drug paraphernalia, not guilty plea Cody Shane Hyman, age 32; 3rd degree assault of family or household member, not guilty plea; criminal trespass, nol prossed Keenan Vonray Tolbert, age 52; careless and prohibited driving, bond forfeit Francis Lorene Stegeman, age 25; theft of property, guilty plea; criminal trespassing, not guilty plea Mark Balos, age 39; 3rd degree assault on family or household member, not guilty plea Darrell Elmer Poe, age 54; no liability insurance-ASP, guilty plea; failure to appear Class C (M), guilty plea; (2) driving on suspended or revoked DL, guilty plea; (2) no liability insurance- local, guilty plea; Colton Robinson, age 23; domestic battery 3rd degree, not guilty plea Samuel Lewis Dodd, age 25; Pocahontas careless-inattentive ord 385, guilty plea Carlton R. Caldwell, age 74, Pocahontas careless-inattentive ord 385, guilty plea Shasta Smith, age 26; theft of property, guilty plea Sarah Nicole Easley, age 28; disorderly

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