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Thida man found dead
A Thida man reported missing by his wife Friday night was found dead inside his workshop next to his home, according to Deputy Ben Keener with the Independence County Sheriff’s Office.
Keener said he was dispatched to the home of Fred and Brenda Guinnip on Ball Road around 9:20 p.m. after Brenda Guinnip returned home and couldn’t find her husband.
Keener said when he arrived at the residence a short time later Scottie Armstrong, a family friend, advised that 46-year-old Fred Guinnip had been found in a shed where he had hanged himself. -
Board sets special meeting
MELBOURNE — The Melbourne School Board will hold a special meeting at 6 tonight in the district office board room.
Members will look to hire a math teacher and special education teacher, Superintendent Gerald Cooper said. -
Ozarka offers opportunity to obtain bachelor’s degree
MELBOURNE — Ozarka College will officially open its University Education Center next spring pending final approval from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education Coordinating Board, but students don’t have to wait until then.
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All of state under fire danger
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Forestry Commission says the entire state is under a moderate or high risk of wildfires, with the greatest danger in the state’s southwest.
The agency says eight wildfires were put out Monday and Tuesday, and that 50 acres had been burned.
Burn bans are in place in 35 of the state’s 75 counties. Most of the affected counties are in the state’s west, central and southeast regions. -
Ex-Yarnell’s employee sues
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A former employee of Searcy-based Yarnell’s Ice Cream Co. has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the company violated federal law when it closed.
The lawsuit by Shane Habisreitinger says the company provided no advance notice before shutting down June 30 and laying off about 200 workers — including about 150 in Searcy. The lawsuit asks for class-action status and for 60 days of unpaid wages and benefits. -
Recruiter arrested for assault
JONESBORO (AP) — Police in Jonesboro say an Army recruiter is charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly tried to strangle his girlfriend.
Quincy Demorse Cabiness, 36, of Jonesboro was arrested near his home early Sunday.
A judge found probable cause Monday to charge Cabiness with the felony. Bond was set at $10,000.
Police say Cabiness grabbed the woman by the throat and threatened to throw her off an apartment balcony.
The Craighead County Jail said Tuesday that Cabiness had been released. There was no indication whether he had an attorney. -
Judge: Convicted killer was fit for trial
VAN BUREN (AP) — A man sentenced to execution for the 2001 murder and mutilation of a woman at a transient camp in Crawford County in 2001 was competent to stand trial, even though psychological tests revealed him to be mentally retarded and could result in the death sentence being overturned, a judge has ruled.
Circuit Judge Gary Cottrell’s ruling was entered Friday and followed a five-day hearing in March, in which defense lawyers argued that the mental state of Rickey Dale Newman, 53, wasn’t properly considered at his trial. -
Suspects released
Three men apprehended as suspects in an alleged bank robbery at the Batesville Citizens Bank on St. Louis Street Tuesday morning have been released, according to the Independence County Sheriff’s Office.
Detective Robert Moser said this morning the three Newport men, one 19-year-old and two 20-year-olds, were intercepted at the bank around 10 a.m. They were released a short time later.
“They appear right now to be victims of false accusations by someone, for whatever reason,” Moser said. “There was no evidence at the scene to indicate a robbery was evident.” -
Sorghum grower to speak Sunday
ASH FLAT — Benson Hardaway of Batesville will present “Producing Sorghum” during the Sharp County Historical Society’s summer quarterly meeting, said Ina Gill, publicist.
The program begins at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Community Room of First National Banking Co. in Ash Flat. Parking and the entrance are in at the rear of the building.
Hardaway, who makes molasses at his sorghum mill in Strawberry, will tell how to grow cane, make sorghum and market the finished product. -
Soldier, not rides, excites boy
It wasn’t the bumper cars, Ferris wheel, cotton candy or lemonade that most excited 8-year-old Hunter McKinney at the Independence County Fair Tuesday night.
It was Tyler Brewer.
Peering up at Brewer, a soldier with the U.S. Army National Guard, 8-year-old McKinney had no reservations standing in front of the Dippin’ Dots ice cream booth on the carnival midway and starting a conversation with the 18-year-old dressed in his combat uniform. His family was none too surprised, either. -
Davis, Moeck to trade vows
JONESBORO — Eric and Janie Davis of Jonesboro have announced the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Lyndsey Davis, to Jeremy Moeck, son of Ray Moeck of Long Island, N.Y., and Liz Moeck of Batesville.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Patricia Scott of Walnut Ridge and the late Larry Scott and Michael and Patsy Davis of Cherokee Village. -
DHS introduces new website
Arkansas Department of Human Services has launched a new website, humanservices.arkansas.gov, in order to make its services, programs and initiatives easier to access and understand.
Visitors to the site will find maps and directions to the department’s county offices, information about dozens of programs, a portal to apply online for public assistance and additional resources.
