We started the first week of August out of state for a little scheduled R&R. Upon our return, we found ourselves at our father’s bedside as he lived out his final days and ultimately perished from cancer he didn’t know he had until the beginning of this summer.
Following his death came a period for bereavement. Our absence from the news desk was extended beyond the typical three days generally allotted for the death of a relative, as we were very close to our beloved father.
All that said, August has been as jam-packed for our personal lives as it has for the quantity of news items of late. The Arkadelphian’s news website has been inactive for several weeks. To catch our readers and ourselves up to speed, we dug through our inbox, scanned the inky pages of the Southern Standard, and phoned local officials to fill you (and us) in on the highlights of August.
We’ve likely omitted something noteworthy from the following report as we’re still catching up and will be for days to come.
— Joel Phelps, editor
Police & Fire
Sheriff Jason Watson reports that off-duty deputies witnessed a high-speed car chase on Witherspoon Road, but for once no criminal activity was involved. Rather, the deputies were providing security and blocking traffic for a Hollywood film crew as it taped the car chase as well as a stunt scene or two on the old Ouachita River bridge at Arkadelphia’s easternmost point. While there were no famous talent in town for the shoot, the upcoming movie is said to be titled “Turnbuckle” and stars Kate Beckinsale and Terance Howard.
In Gurdon, a pair of masked burglars spent about half an hour before dawn Monday, Aug. 18, cutting their way into the rear of the Dollar General and using a grinder to bust open the safe and make off some $7,000 richer, the sheriff reports. The burglars are believed to be responsible for a rash of DG break-ins reported in Southwest Arkansas from TexARKana to Hope.
Courts & Justice
In mid-August, an Amity man was sentenced to 90 years in prison for 30 counts of child porn possession. Ethan Tanner Fagan, 33, was arrested following an investigation by Arkansas State Police. Further investigation revealed Fagan had possessed AI-generated images depicting child pornography, including acquaintances and other individuals from Clark County and surrounding areas, as well as an exchange of pornography between Fagan and an individual in Ohio. Clark County Prosecutor Dan Turner represented the state in the case.
Government
The controversial saga of which ambulance provider will bag an exclusive contract for 911 services in Clark County continued in mid-August with a meeting of the Quorum Court. It’s no surprise that the decision will come down to two providers: the Hope-based conglomerate Pafford Emergency Services and the Arkadelphia-based Valor EMS. Both companies submitted RFQs to the county judge’s office, which was to hand over those sealed applications to a seven-citizen committee that will weigh each company’s qualifications and make a recommendation to the county’s 911 board.
Members of the Selection Committee, which will recommend its choice in ambulance provider to the 911 board, are as follows: Jim McClanahan, a registered nurse; Elisha Cone, a nurse practitioner; Dr. Noland Haygood, an Arkadelphia physician; David Fenocchi, an Arkadelphia fireman; Dr. Terry DeWitt, an OBU professor and athletic trainer; Charlie Archer, a first responder; Mark Manning, a CPA; and, serving in a non-voting advisory capacity, is Dr. Joshua Keith, chief medical officer for CHI-St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs. Clark County Judge Troy Tucker has cautioned Pafford and Valor representatives against contacting members of the committee, and urged citizens to refrain doing so, as well.
The Arkadelphia Board of Directors held its annual retreat on Aug. 16. The agenda included discussions about water/wastewater master planning, sanitation rates, and department alignments.
Education
The 2025-2026 academic year began Aug. 13 in Arkadelphia. While the official student headcount will be announced once non-attending students’ names are dropped from the roster, enrollment is reportedly down at the beginning of this year. Local schools are not immune to a nationwide trend of declining K-12 enrollment due to more school choice options.
JUST IN: The Arkadelphia Board of Education will be asking voters to support a millage increase in a special election this November. In a nutshell, voters living within the Arkadelphia Public School District will decide whether or not to support a 3-mil increase for 30 years. The millage would fund a new Arkadelphia High School. We’ll have a full story on this later today.
In Gurdon, head football coach Kyle Jackson came under fire for a post he reportedly made in social media thread, telling his Go-Devils to be prepared to be tougher because the team was about to lose two players to his Glock 9mm if they drove their ATVs loudly by his residence again. Jackson was reportedly hit with a 10-day suspension for the post.
Universities
Ouachita Baptist University’s M.A. in counseling program was awarded a four-year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration totaling more than $1.1 million. The grant is part of HRSA’s Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program and will be used to remove financial barriers for students and expand opportunities within the program, with 85% of the grant’s funds going directly to the students, including nine stipends designed to offset wages lost during clinical training.
Award-winning music educator Carl McCraney joined Henderson State University’s music faculty as an adjunct professor of trumpet. McCraney, a Henderson alumnus, is starting his 30th year of teaching. He is currently the junior high band director at Lakeside Public Schools, where he also conducts the high school jazz band.
Agriculture
Clark County farmers have been busy the past few weeks with the 2025 harvest. According to the USDA 2025 Arkansas Crop Data, reported acreages in Clark County include 3,778 acres of soybeans; 2,234 acres of corn; 2,218 acres of long grain rice; and 224 acres of cotton. It’s worthy to note that two local farms’ crops that spill into Hot Spring County include acreage not included in this report.
Where do local crops go?
Cotton is transported to PPF Gin and Warehouse in Cooper, Texas, and most corn and soybeans are hauled to Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. on the Arkansas River north of Pine Bluff. Corn is hauled to either Pilgrims in Nashville, Arkansas, Tyson in Fulton, or Foster at Emmet.
What’s next for row crops?
Farmers use the fall and winter to take soil samples, apply lime to adjust the soil pH (if needed and the budget allows), and often to prepare the beds for next year’s crop. Farmers also make equipment repairs and plan what and how much to plant for 2026.
— Information gathered by Amy Simpson, Clark County Extension Agent