News

Just like there are different kinds and shapes of snowflakes, there are different kinds of snow storms. From snow flurries to blizzards, winter precipitation can vary from beautiful to dangerous in a matter of minutes. The worst snowstorm in history dropped an amazing 26 feet (7.9 meters) of snow in Iran. In Antarctica, one of the coldest places on Earth, there is a place called the Dry Valleys. Scientists believe that it has not rained in the Dry Valleys in 2 million years and there is evidence that it has never snowed. The North Pole gets snow for up to nine months every year averaging up to 90 inches. To give you an idea of how much snow that is, Shaquille O’Neal is 87 inches tall.

On Wednesday, December 1 Kinetic Windstream held an update on the construction project for Kinetic Windstream. It is a 7.7-million-dollar construction project that will make 1G internet service available to roughly 800 locations within Searcy County. This type of internet is symmetrical which means it could be one gig up or down. The target date for completion is March 31, of 2022. This project is funded through the American Rescue Plan. In the Spring these grants will become available again and another application has been submitted with the State along with the County Judge Jim Harness for another broadband project to make internet service available in about 1600 locations within Searcy County. This project will be bringing Fiberoptic internet directly to residents’ homes. Pictured above (left to right) is Tom Harris Operations manager, Judge Jim Harness, State Senator Missy Irvin, Rob Everett, Alan Thomas Construction Organization, and Darryl Treat of the Chamber of Commerce.

On Saturday, December 3 the Buffalo River Historic Jail and Museum held their grand opening and ribbon cutting just off the square in Marshall. Residents, businesses, and state offices were in attendance to this monumental event. Curator Bob King has worked for 6 years to get this project off the ground. No county funds were spent towards this project but funded by Federal grants and the Historic Preservation Association. Each room has a television that plays different facts about the museum and its different artifacts. Upstairs the wall has been repainted but still holds all of the names that have been carved into it all those year ago. The jail cell itself has been repainted but is in working order. Pictured above is Bob King cutting the ribbon surrounded by members of the SC Chamber of Commerce, SC Judge Jim Harness, Senator Missy Irvin, Mayor Kevin Elliott, Elijah Snow Representative of Senator Boozman, Stetson Painter Representative of Congressman Crawford, SC Sheriff, SC Justices, AEDC representatives, and Stephen Wright Field Representative of Senator Tom Cotton.

Alan Yarbrough, retiring Searcy County School District Superintendent, announced his candidacy as a Republican Candidate for the newly-drawn Arkansas House of Representatives District 27 at the Searcy County Republican Meeting in Marshall on Thursday evening. The district includes Izard, Newton, and Searcy counties, and parts of Baxter and Stone counties.