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Verna Flanigan
HOT SPRINGS — Verna Louise Wigginton Harston Flanigan, 83, of Hot Springs died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Young Cemetery in Charlotte with Troy Henley and Royce Pendergrass officiating. Arrangements are by Qualls Funeral Home of Cave City.
No visitation is planned.
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www.quallsfunerals.com -
Eskel Martin
Eskel Ray Martin, 83, of Batesville died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, in a Batesville hospital.
Born Nov. 29, 1927, in Izard County, he was the son of Hurkles and Lou Eary Martin. He was of the Free Will Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife, Oneda Martin; two daughters, Cynthia Garrison of Texas and Nancy “Tina” Duncan of South Carolina; a sister, Etola Dement of Newark; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Helene B. Martin; and a son, Ronald Martin. -
Search on for missing moon rock
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The moon rock that the state of Arkansas received after the Apollo 17 mission is missing and historians don’t know where to look for it.
The 1.142-gram rock could be worth as much as $5 million. The rock is encased in a Lucite ball and was presented to either Gov. Dale Bumpers in 1973 or Gov. David Pryor in 1976.
Those two former governors and their staffs don’t recall receiving a plaque that apparently came with the rock and several state museums say they don’t have the plaque, either. -
Woman, 83, found dead in home
JONESBORO (AP) — Craighead County Sheriff Jack McCann says an 83-year-old woman found dead in her home appears to have died from a blow to the head.
McCann said a neighbor found Helen Johnson’s body late Wednesday. Authorities had no suspects as of Thursday.
He says the killer appeared to have forced entry into Johnson’s home but nothing appeared to have been taken.
Johnson’s body has been sent to the state crime lab for autopsy. -
Autopsy released in murders
MOUNTAIN HOME (AP) — Authorities have released preliminary autopsy results in the shooting deaths of three people in a rural Baxter County home.
The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office says that 52-year-old Harry D. Svensson shot his wife, Louise, once in the head and then shot his stepson, 20-year-old Victor Robles, in the arm, back and head. The autopsy suggests that Svensson then fatally shot himself in the head.
Sheriff John Montgomery says the shootings likely occurred late Dec. 22, but authorities haven’t yet determined a motive. -
Top 10 area stories of 2010
From politics to economic development, 2010 had its share of good and bad news. For the first time in several years weather conditions were not in the Guard top 10 category, although there was flooding and severe drought. This year 11 stories made the top 10 with two tying for 10th place.
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Man nabbed in AC thefts
ASH FLAT — A Cherokee Village man picked the wrong air conditioner to steal on Christmas Eve.
A surveillance camera mounted near the outside air conditioning unit snapped photos of the theft in progress, clearly showing the suspect along with his Ford F-150 pickup.
Sharp County Sheriff Dale Weaver and Hardy Police Chief Ernie Rose posted two of the photos on websites and released the images to news media, asking for the public’s help in identifying the man. -
Appeal notice filed in school consolidation case
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A group that filed suit challenging the consolidation of the Weiner School District with the nearby Harrisburg school system has filed a notice saying it will appeal a federal judge’s dismissal of the suit.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Kim Kelley, a lawyer for the Friends of Weiner School District, submitted the notice of appeal Tuesday to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at St. Louis. -
Courthouse to close Friday
ASH FLAT — The Sharp County Courthouse will be closed Friday in observance of New Year’s Eve, County Judge Larry Brown said.
The courthouse will reopen Monday, and new and re-elected officials will be sworn in at 8:15 that morning in the main courtroom.
The January quorum court meeting will follow at about 8:45 a.m. in the annex courtroom. -
Church to host event
New Testament Holiness Church will host a New Year’s Eve celebration with singing and preaching at 9 p.m. Friday.
The church is located at the corner of Mark and Davis lanes in Batesville.
The event is open to the public. -
Man with stolen car Tased by deputies on Christmas Day
A man who had possession of a stolen vehicle was taken into custody Christmas Day, but not before he was “Tased” by an Independence County deputy.
Paul Robert Blanton Montgomery, age and address unavailable, is charged in Independence County Circuit Court with possession of methamphetamine and theft by receiving, according to court documents filed Tuesday. Bond was set at $75,000. -
Habitat breaks during holidays; president pleased with support
Roofing, siding, walls and windows — while many people were using their Saturdays the past few weeks to Christmas shop, a group of dedicated volunteers were working on a house for one Independence County family.
Habitat for Humanity of Independence County volunteers are taking off for Christmas and New Year’s Day, but plan to get back to work after that on the house being built at the home of Ralph and Lisa Lewis, 415 Ferrell St. in Batesville. Lunch is typically provided on work days.
