Arkadelphia city manager gets rave review from board
It took the Arkadelphia Board of Directors nearly three hours to rate City Manager Gary Brinkley’s job performance as “between good and excellent.”
Clark County Jail Bookings: Aug. 24-31, 2026
The following people have recently been booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Crittenden Street in Arkadelphia
Twin Rivers plans candlelight vigil for World Suicide Prevention Day
Twin Rivers Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center will host a Candlelight Vigil on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, beginning at 7:30 p.m., on the grounds of the Clark County Courthouse
Advertorial: Ankton & Bailey to Host Clark County Community Town Hall
Clark County residents are invited to take part in a Clark County Community Town Hall hosted by Justice Michael L. Ankton, candidate for Clark County Judge, and Amber Bailey, candidate for Justice of the Peace District 2, on Thursday, Sept. 3, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Dawson Education Cooperative in Arkadelphia.
Hal Bass to address Democratic Women
Dr. Hal Bass is professor emeritus of political science at Ouachita Baptist University and a frequent political commentator on PBS Arkansas Week
Beefing up dinner without the big price tag
If sticker shock has you reconsidering whether that T-bone belongs in your shopping cart, an extension meat specialist and a culinary expert have a few ideas to help keep beef on the table
Highlights from Arkadelphia’s city board retreat
Highlights from the 2026 Arkadelphia Board of Directors retreat held Aug. 15
Arkansas Advocate: Nearly $150 million awarded in rural health program funding
Arkansas awarded $149.3 million in federal funding to 50 projects to support rural healthcare efforts statewide, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Thursday
Arkansas Advocate: House Armed Services chair urges defense industry to rebuild stockpile
South Arkansas is a hub for defense contracting with Lockheed Martin, L3Harris and Raytheon facilities all located in the Camden area
Dispatch Desk: Man arrested for drunk-dialing 911
The following incidents were gathered from reports filed Aug. 17-23, 2026, at the Arkadelphia Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office
13 weeks of GriefShare sessions start Aug. 31
Arkadelphia’s First Baptist Church will offer the grief support ministry, GriefShare, for 13 weeks starting Monday, Aug. 31, for anyone who has experienced the loss of a spouse, child, family member or friend
Okolona under boil order
Effective 11:17 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, Okolona Waterworks was placed under a boil order by the Arkansas Department of Health
Poll: Cotton behind, Sanders not far ahead
Sen. Tom Cotton and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders are definitely still the favorites to win in November. But the election just got more interesting.
Will El Niño bring winter precipitation?
The current hot weather pattern in Arkansas is not driven by El Niño; however, it may bring much-needed precipitation at the end of the year.
Dispatch Desk: Police probe 2 reports of car theft on North 10th Street
The following incidents were gathered from reports filed Aug. 10-16, 2026, at the Arkadelphia Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office
Flock Safety cancellations a drop in the bucket
At least six Arkansas communities have stopped using Flock Safety public surveillance and license plate reader cameras since July 24, but will a backlash ever occur regarding modern life’s other, much bigger privacy encroachments?
All the News that Fits: HSU, OBU move-in days on horizon; sawmills coping with poor market
Here’s a look at headlines around the area and state for Friday, Aug. 14, 2026
Clark County’s labor force at 9,900 in June; jobless rate climbs to 5.3%
Clark County’s unemployment rate for June 2026, not seasonally adjusted, was at 5.3%, according to a preliminary county-by-county report released by the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services
Clark County Jail Bookings: July 28-Aug. 10, 2026
The following people have recently been booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Crittenden Street in Arkadelphia
Child Safety Center sets date for annual fundraiser
The Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center has set the date for its 2026 Denim & Diamonds fundraiser benefitting children and families impacted by abuse
Arkansas Advocate: Petitions for Arkansas direct democracy proposal fall short, secretary of state says
All signatures submitted in favor of putting on the November ballot a proposal to strengthen Arkansas’ initiative and referendum process were tossed because none of them were countable under state law, the secretary of state’s office announced Thursday
UADA sheds light on muscadines and more for grape, wine lovers
By the time Lee Ann and Russell Matson had reached the end of their first season as vineyard keepers, they knew they needed some help
States Newsroom: Number of unauthorized immigrants hit new high of nearly 16 million in 2024, report says
The unauthorized U.S. immigrant population grew to its highest level ever by mid-2024, increasing to 15.8 million after hovering at about 11 million since 2010, according to data released by a nonpartisan think tank that tracks migration
Arkansas’ smoking ban just turned 20. Can the state find common ground on public health again?
Just 20 years ago, trying to avoid smoke in Arkansas was an onerous task
We’re not going to balance the budget
Let’s be honest: The federal government probably will never balance its budget again, so eventually there will be a debt crisis. Times will be harder, and Uncle Sam will not be able to bail us out.
Chasing cats after hours offers sweat-free summer angling opportunity
Arkansas weather has finally reached the melting point for even the most dedicated daytime anglers, but there’s still a way to supply a late-summer fish fry with tasty fillets
Clark County Jail Bookings: July 20-26, 2026
The following people have recently been booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Crittenden Street in Arkadelphia
Got a teen starting high school this fall? Family life expert has some tips for parents.
Parents should prepare to be intentional and ask their high school students a lot of questions
Dispatch Desk: Waitress loses tips and phone to thief who asked for a glass of water
The following incidents were gathered from reports filed July 20-26, 2026, at the Arkadelphia Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office
Arkansas Advocate: An Arkansas community founded by Italian immigrants becomes a flashpoint over ICE
Immigrant advocacy group boycotting 127th annual Tontitown Grape Festival
23andMe reaches settlement over nationwide data breach that affected 48,000 Arkansans
A settlement was reached between 42 states and 23andMe, a genetic-testing company whose data breach impacted some 6.9 million Americans
Arkansas schools can apply for fresh fruit and vegetable program funding
The program reimburses schools for fresh fruits and vegetables served free to students in grades K–6 during the school day, outside of breakfast and lunch meal periods
Save on back-to-school spending during tax-free weekend starting Aug. 1
Arkansas families planning for back-to-school shopping can take advantage of the 2026 Arkansas Sales Tax Holiday, which runs Aug. 1-2
Henderson enrollment surges again; freshman class grows 33%
Henderson State University welcomed one of its largest first-time freshman classes in school history and increased overall student enrollment for the third straight year on Fall 2026 census day
Arkansas Advocate: Judge denies Entergy’s effort to block news outlets from publishing details about data center agreement
U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky on Wednesday denied Entergy Arkansas’ request for a temporary restraining order that would have prohibited the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Arkansas Times from disclosing details about Entergy’s agreements with Altitude Capital LLC, a Google subsidiary being used to set up the data center
Troy Keeton
Troy’s career in auto mechanics spanned nearly six decades. After the 1997 tornado destroyed his Arkadelphia garage, Troy rebuilt his business near his home in Mt. Zion.
Ruth Harvell
Ruthie was an accomplished student-athlete who dedicated 35 years of service to Peake Elementary School
Effie Porter-Johnson
Effie spent many years in Chicago, eventually relocating to Gurdon in search of a slower and more peaceful way of life