Local residents experienced the Aug. 21, 2017 solar eclipse in a variety of ways, including homemade glasses above (Josh Collins, Alexis Shannon and Matthew Wakefield), and an enhanced pinhole viewer below (Mark, Jessica and William Stroud). From the Aug. 23, 2017 issue. ...

Above, a crew from Contractor's Specialty Service Company of Little Rock paints lines on the new section of highway at the base of Freeze Mountain. After nearly five years, there is an end in sight to the Highway 5 South construction project. Work on the project, which included a new section of highway and the bridge over Coon Creek, began in October, 2012, and was plagued by a series of delays set off by a ...

Stone County and the city of Mountain View have joined other Arkansas communities in honoring Purple Heart recipients, and now the new bridge over Little Raccoon Creek on Highway 5 South is the first bridge in the state to be designated a Purple Heart Bridge. A dedication for the bridge signs is planned for Nov. 10, according to Stone County Veterans Service Officer William Stroud. This date was chosen to a ...

Vehicles travel south on Highway 5 at Freeze Mountain using the new section of highway opened July 13, marking a milestone in the road project that has been underway since 2012. The new roadway replaces a section known for its s-curves that was routinely a trouble spot during winter weather. From the July 19, 2017 issue. ...

Coty Shawn Penter of Trumann was arrested on July 5, and charged with nine counts of third degree battery after allegedly striking juveniles at a local youth camp. Stone County Sheriff Lance Bonds said that on June 30 deputies responded to Dump Mountain Road in Stone County in reference to an abuse call from a youth camp being held at the Bethel Church Camp. According to the police report, Penter was servin ...

Mountain View City Council has taken the first step in building a new sidewalk on the south side of Main Street between Franklin Street and Peabody Avenue (Highway 9 South), agreeing unanimously to develop specifications and put the project out for bids. The bid process will include taking bids two ways: with the city providing the labor and without the city providing the labor. Councilman Bruce Stevens sai ...

A Stone County man was killed June 22 when the 2002 Ford Explorer he was driving left the roadway and struck a tree. According to a preliminary summary released by the Arkansas State Police, 40-year-old Joshua L. Kellams was traveling east on Highway 14 at Flatwoods when the accident happened around 8:45 a.m. He was ejected during the crash. From the June 28, 2017 issue. ...

Mountain View City Council agreed to create an ordinance establishing a program for trapping, spaying or neutering, and returning feral cats to their colony. A euthanasia clause was added to be used only in emergency situations when recommended by a licensed vet. Tina Holmlund from the Stone County Humane Society spoke to the council about the importance of not only releasing the cats after they are fixed, ...

An old store building holding many memories and history in Big Flat burned May 15, leaving only the outside rock structure. See the May 24, 2017 issue for more on the fire at the old Wynn store building, also remembered as the Farris store. ...

The boat landing at Guion was covered with White River in major flood stage April 30. See the story and photos in the May 3, 2017 issue. ...