• Sports Briefs

    Pro baseball DETROIT (AP) — Free agent outfielder Torii Hunter agreed to a $26 million, 2-year deal with Detroit, giving the Tigers a capable corner outfielder coming off an impressive season at age 37. Hunter is from Pine Bluff. A person with knowledge of the …

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  • Construction to start soon on new soccer complex

    City officials hope to open the new soccer complex in time for the fall 2013 season, Batesville Parks Director Jeff Owens said. After the first round of soccer complex bids came in at higher-than-projected estimates, the city had to go through another round of bidding. …

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  • County seeking site for industrial park

    Got a lot of acreage for sale? The county could sure use some. Independence County is actively seeking sites for an industrial park and is inviting the public to make suggestions. The park will need to be 100-160 acres, with easy road access, access to …

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  • Ruddell Hill Fire Department offers free Thanksgiving dinner

    It was just a few years ago Kara Baxter was delivering a plate of food as part of the Ruddell Hill Fire Department’s free community Thanksgiving dinner. The plate had gone to the wrong address, and as Baxter said, “An elderly lady answered (the door). …

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  • GOP leads recounts

    LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The battle for control of the Arkansas House has come down to a recount in Independence County. Recounts Tuesday in Jackson and Poinsett counties left Republican John K. Hutchison with a 45-vote lead over Democrat L.J. Bryant. Poinsett County has as …

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  • Changes reflected in sheriff’s activity report

    The number of cases filed by the Independence County Sheriff’s Office has plummeted, but that is because of a change in the way cases are reported to the courts, Sheriff Steve Jeffery says. At Tuesday night’s respective Batesville City Council and Independence County Quorum Court …

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  • BAAC plans art fair

    The Batesville Area Arts Council will hold a Christmas Art Fair with booths set up by local and area artists from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the BAAC art gallery at 246 E. Main St. “The Batesville Art Gallery on Main has a …

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  • Calico Rock history book goes on sale

    CALICO ROCK — Calico Rock Museum Foundation has announced the publication of a book telling the history of Calico Rock. The paperback, “Calico Rock: A History from 1831-1966,” will be available before Thanksgiving. The book contains 230 pages of historical sketches, personal stories, dates and …

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  • State to make ‘significant’ cuts in services

    LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas would stop paying for thousands of seniors in nursing homes, eliminate an insurance program for low-income workers and cut rates for providers to fill a $138 million shortfall in the state’s Medicaid program, even if lawmakers support a proposal to boost …

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  • NEA & Lights of the Delta pageants call for contestants

    BLYTHEVILLE — Miss Northeast Arkansas and Miss Lights of the Delta pageants, preliminaries to the Miss Arkansas and Miss America pageants, are now seeking qualified candidates. The northeast Arkansas area includes Mississippi, Crittenden, Poinsett, Greene, Clay, Cross, Independence, Randolph, Lawrence, Sharp, Jackson, St. Francis, Lee, …

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  • Thanksgiving dance, potluck set

    NEWPORT — A Thanksgiving dinner potluck and dance will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Silver Moon Banquet Hall, Highway 367 North, Newport, with entertainment by the Jeannie and the Guys band. Admission is $5 and open to all ages. Guests are encouraged …

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  • Calico Rock businesses host Christmas on Park Street

    CALICO ROCK — Several Calico Rock businesses are hosting open house during the Christmas on Park Street celebration on Saturday. Participating merchants are Mitchell’s Park Street Pharmacy, Ozark Emergency Medical Service, Calico Rock Florist, Inner Sanctum, Vital Link, Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop, Community Medical Center …

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