For more information about any of the activities listed below, or the state park, dial (479) 394-2863 or visit the park's website by clicking here.

Wednesday, January 1st

First Day Hike starting at 10:00 am and lasting about 2 Hours. Meet on the north side of Lovers’ Leap. Start New Year’s Day on the right or left foot! Take a self-guided walk or join Park Interpreter Melissa for a mile hike on Lovers’ Leap Trail. After our hike join us by the fire and drink a nice warm cup of hot chocolate or coffee. At the fire you will have a chance to burn your burdens and make New Year’s Resolutions.

Hike Through History starting at 2:00pm and lasting about 2.5 hours. Meet at the end of the campground. Want to see where some of the earlier settlers settled and where they are buried? Join Park Interpreter Melissa as we hike the west side of the Ouachita Trail to the Pioneer Cemetery.

Thursday, January 2nd

Spring Trail Hike starting at 8:00 am and lasting about 45 minutes. Meet at the amphitheater. Join Park Interpreter Melissa for a leisure stroll on this short trail. Terrain is easy, so we will take our time and enjoy what nature has to offer us.

Wonder House Tour  starting at 10:00 am and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet at the Wonder House. Do you ever wonder what the Wonder House is about? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and step back into history to see one of the first vacation homes built in the 1930’s.

Friday, January 3rd

Home Sweet Home starting at 2:00 pm and lasting about 1 hour. Meet at Lovers’ Leap Trailhead. Meet Park Interpreter Melissa for a hike through our neighbors’ homes. Learn of all the different animals and their habitats as we hike at Queen Wilhelmina. We will start on the north side of the Lovers’ Leap trail.

Arkansas Furs starting at 4:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. What animals do we have here at Queen Wilhelmina State Park? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and she will talk about the animals that we have here in the park and you will get to feel their furs.

Tree Cookie Necklaces starting at 7:00pm and lasting about 45 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. What is a tree cookie? Want to remember your visit to Queen Wilhelmina State Park? Join Park Interpreter Melissa as we discover the unique qualities of tree cookies and create tree cookie necklace to take home!

Saturday, January 4th

Finding the Uniqueness starting at 11:15 am and lasting about 45 minutes. Meet at the amphitheater. Queen Wilhelmina State Park is a unique resource filled with special things you can discover while you are here. Join Park Interpreter Melissa to learn unique aspects about our park.

Wonder House Tour starting at 2:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet at the Wonder House. Do you ever wonder what the Wonder House is about? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and step back into history to see one of the first vacation homes built in the 1930’s.

Edible Insects starting at 4:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. Is eating bugs a real thing? Join park interpreter Melissa and see who really eats bugs. If you’re brave enough, you can join the “I Ate A Bug Club!” Bring your appetite and take a bite or come and watch!

Sunday, January 5th

Wonder House Tour starting at 10:00 am and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet at the Wonder House. Do you ever wonder what the Wonder House is about? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and step back into history to see one of the first vacation homes built in the 1930’s.

Arkansas Symbols starting at 2:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet at the amphitheater. Do you know the symbols of Arkansas? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and find out our state drink, cooking vessel, bird and much more!

Ask a Park Interpreter starting at 4:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. Have you encountered something in the park that has left you puzzled? Do you have any park or nature-related questions that you would like answered? Meet Park Interpreter Melissa in the Hearth room an informal meet and greet and get some answers! This program is come and go.

12-30-19 7:28 a.m. KAWX.ORG 

Listen to KAWX in the Mena area on 93.1, or in the Hatfield-Cove-Vandervoort area on 94.9. Listen on the go with a free KAWX app available at the App Store or Google Play. Listen on any smart device with the TuneIn app, or on Amazon Echo. Listen anywhere at KAWX.ORG (Listen Live Tab) or by clicking on the radio below.

As many of you are reflecting on 2019 and setting goals for 2020, we want to remind you of what is ahead for the Arkansas House in the New Year.

In less than 10 weeks, Arkansans will be heading to the polls to cast ballots in the March 3 primary.

This year, the General Assembly passed Act 545 which provides for a March preferential primary election in the years in which the office of President of the United States is voted on and a May preferential primary election in the years in which the office of Governor is voted on.

Fiscal sessions have been held on the second Monday in February on even-numbered years. However, Act 545 states that on years in which the preferential primary is held in March, the General Assembly will instead meet for a fiscal session on the second Wednesday of April.  

This means we will begin pre-fiscal session budget hearings the day after the primary election, March 4.

The hearings are expected to continue through March 12.

Members can begin filing bills for the session on March 9. We will convene on April 8.

In 2008, Arkansans approved Amendment 86 which created fiscal sessions. Only budget bills are to be considered during a fiscal session. If any member wishes to file a bill other an appropriation bill during a fiscal session, then 2/3 of both chambers must first vote on a resolution to allow such a bill to be filed. Amendment 86 is also very clear about keeping these sessions brief.  Fiscal Sessions can only be 30 days long.  They can be extended one time for 15 days only if ¾ of both chambers agree.

We head into this New Year with an optimistic financial outlook. State revenue reports continue to exceed economic forecasts. And the unemployment level is at 3.6%.

Just as you do with your budget, our job in the weeks ahead will be to prioritize spending. As a reminder all of our budget hearings are live streamed and recorded on our website www.arkansashouse.org.

12-27-19 7:52 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

Serving Arkansans: Let Me Help You

Helping Arkansans with problems they have with federal agencies is a top priority for me. When Natural State residents call for help navigating the federal bureaucracy, my staff and I are here to assist however we can.

In 2019, my office received more than 2,500 new requests for help with federal agencies, including assisting 44 Arkansans with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 223 problems with veterans’ disability claims and 26 issues with the U.S. Postal Service. While the need for help is steady each year, knowing about these problems gives me a better idea of what is working and not working in the federal government.

Over the last 12 months, more constituents asked me for help with military records and medals than any other issue. Although this is usually a top request, it accounted for more than 25 percent of the requests for assistance I received. It is not surprising that veterans and their families need help with these issues. It can be overwhelming to try to track down documents that could be at one of several different repositories or to reconstruct files that were destroyed in a 1970s fire. We also get many last-minute requests from families and funeral homes when they need documents to provide proper honors at a funeral or proof of eligibility for burial in a National Cemetery. This is important work and I am pleased that my office has developed expertise with these issues. 

Notable among this year’s casework achievements was obtaining the 70-year-old medals of WWII and Korean War veteran Thomas Vaughns. The 99-year-old served with the Tuskegee Airmen and spent his life in service to others, earning several medals for his dedication to our country. I was honored to present these medals to him during a ceremony at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Mr. Vaughns is a tremendous example of the spirit of our Greatest Generation. 

Other challenging requests my office received included a number of international and immigration issues. The paperwork and processes involved in immigration, visas and passports often require specialized help. In 2019, we assisted with 99 problems involving U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and 97 with the State Department. These included a Northwest Arkansas woman whose citizenship paperwork was lost in the 1980s and a missionary family whose international adoption was hindered by civil unrest in Haiti. I was pleased that assistance from my office led to immigration officials digging further to finally verify that citizenship and allowed the family to bring their child to the U.S. for the first time.

I often hear from Arkansans who spent considerable time trying to get answers from federal agencies. While I can’t make the decisions, we’re here to make sure these problems are examined by the right people. I am proud of the work my office does to help Arkansans each day and I look forward to continuing this important mission in 2020.

12-27-19 2:53 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

State Capitol Week in Review From Senator Larry Teague

December 27, 2019

LITTLE ROCK – The new year is an election year, and thanks to legislation approved during the regular session earlier this year, the primaries in Arkansas will take place on Tuesday, March 3.

Traditionally, Arkansas holds its primaries in May. The legislature passed Act 545 to move up the date, in the hope that presidential candidates will pay more attention to Arkansas voters. In past election years, both major political parties had usually completed their selection of presidential candidates by May.

So as not to mix electoral politics with governing, Act 545 also moved the starting date for the 2020 fiscal session. Usually, in even-numbered years our fiscal sessions begin on the second Monday in February. Now, in years with a presidential primary on the ballot, the fiscal sessions will begin the second Wednesday in April.

Another change in election law will affect organizations that want to place issues on the ballot, such as proposed constitutional amendments or initiated acts. In the past, those groups would get approval of the ballot title from the state attorney general, who would make sure that the ballot title accurately reflected the contents of the measure.

After the attorney general approved the ballot title, the groups would gather signatures on petitions to have their proposals placed on the ballot. Sometimes the attorney general rejected several proposed ballot titles before finally approving one.

Under Act 376 of 2019, the state Board of Election Commissioners will replace the attorney general’s office as the entity that approves ballot titles.

Advocacy groups will submit lists of signatures to the Board at the same time as they submit a proposed ballot title. If the Board rejects either the ballot title or the sufficiency of signatures, appeals to the state Supreme Court will be extradited.

Act 376 increases the criminal penalties for petition fraud, changing it from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony.

At least three issues will be on the November general election ballot because they were referred by the legislature during the 2019 regular session. All three are proposed constitutional amendments.

One would permanently extend the current half-cent sales tax that generates revenue for highway projects. It is a temporary tax that is due to expire in 2023, unless Arkansas voters approve the ballot issue.

A second proposed amendment would change the current term limits provision in the state Constitution. It would impose a 12-year limit, but the limit would be for consecutive service and not for a lifetime. Thus, a legislator who served 12 years would have to leave office. But under the proposed amendment, the lawmaker could run again after sitting out for four years.

The third measure, if approved, would change the process for citizens’ groups to have measures placed on the November ballot. It would move up the deadline for submitting signatures to January 15. Currently, the deadline is in early July.

It would no longer allow groups an additional 30 days to collect more signatures. Now, if 75 percent of submitted signatures are valid, they get a 30-day extension. The amendment also would raise the bar for the legislature, which can refer up to three proposed amendments in every regular session. It would require a 60 percent majority in each chamber to adopt a joint resolution with a proposed amendment. Now, the legislature can refer a proposed amendment to voters by a vote of 51 percent of each chamber.

12-27-19 2:40 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

If you have local news tips or would like to place an item on our KAWX.ORG Community Calendar, email us at communityradio@live.com.

The Polk County Quorum Court will meet for the final time in 2019 on Monday, December 23rd at 6:00 p.m. in the Quorum Court Meeting Room at the Polk County Office Complex (old hospital) on Pine Street in Mena.

Commemorating the 75^th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

There was little to celebrate at Christmas in 1944 for American soldiers pinned down by the German Army in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg. Instead of a warm meal and time with family, they were facing record-low temperatures and a shortage of food. The men on the frontlines dug into the snow to defend against the enemy at the Battle of the Bulge and ended up dealing a critical blow to the Nazi regime.

100-year-old World War II veteran Bill Strauss of Salem, Arkansas is one of the brave men from the Greatest Generation who won’t forget that Christmas. Earlier this year, Strauss shared with me his experiences in one of the deadliest battles in American history. He detailed the bitter cold and dire conditions. With lack of sleep and dwindling supplies, he and his fellow troops endured this extreme test of will and resolve.

On December 16, 1944, American soldiers were unexpectedly attacked by Germans forces. The six-week battle demonstrated the commitment, courage and resilience of American soldiers. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called it “the greatest American battle of the war.” It would be the German’s last major offensive in Western Europe in World War II, and it came at a considerable cost. More than 89,000 American soldiers were casualties including 19,000 soldiers killed, 47,500 wounded and 23,000 captured or missing in action.

I recently led a delegation of senators to events commemorating the 75^th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. I was honored to visit with American veterans who fought in the battle and were returning to the land they’d defended. There are fewer and fewer who are able to join, but that doesn’t diminish what they did there or the steadfast way they fought and sacrificed in the name of freedom.

The people of Belgium and Luxembourg have a close place in their hearts for American soldiers who sacrificed their lives on foreign soil. Following World War II, the Belgian people raised money to build a memorial to show their appreciation for the selfless sacrifice of American troops. The Mardasson Memorial was dedicated in 1950. The walls of the star-shaped structure commemorate the battle, paying tribute to the units that fought there and representing the states where those wounded or whose lives were lost hailed from.

This memorial is in need of repairs. That’s why I support legislation that would let experts at the American Battle Monuments Commission oversee its restoration. Maintaining this memorial is critical to ensuring it continues to stand as a monument to the sacrifices made by Americans at the Battle of the Bulge.

We can be proud of the unwavering bravery of the American troops and the Allied Forces whose efforts defeated the German attack and led to the end of the Nazi regime. I was honored to support the Senate-passed resolution recognizing the 75^th anniversary of this battle and honoring the heroism of the troops who helped secure this victory. As we reflect on this occasion, let us preserve the legacy of brave individuals like Bill Strauss and countless others whose courage and sacrifice secured peace in Europe.

12-20-19 4:29 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

State Capitol Week in Review

From Senator Larry Teague

December 20, 2019

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas legislature had a very productive year in 2019. During the regular session lawmakers balanced the budget of state government while cutting taxes and reducing the number of state agencies.

Act 182 of 2019 is an income tax reduction that will save Arkansas taxpayers $97 million a year when fully in effect. About 579,000 taxpayers, those with net taxable incomes greater than $38,200, will see a reduction in their income taxes.

The act also simplifies the tax tables used for calculating your personal income taxes.

Act 808 of 2019 increases the homestead property tax credit by $25, from $350 to $375. It will benefit more than 716,000 property owners by $12.5 million a year.

Act 822 of 2019 lowers tax rates for businesses over the next few years. By 2023 it will save them $40 million a year.

The act also extends a company's ability to carry forward net operating losses. The longer carry forward period will gradually extend to 10 years. Now it is five years. When the new provisions are in full effect, the savings to Arkansas businesses will grow by an additional $70 million a year.

Act 910 of 2019 restructured state government, reducing the number of cabinet-level agencies from 42 to 15. Savings resulting from more efficient operations of state government are estimated to be $15 million.

The state collected more than $7.1 billion last year in sales taxes, income taxes and special taxes on tobacco, alcohol and gambling.

The total available for services was about $5.6 billion after the state made refunds and bond payments, and set aside $360 million for the Educational Excellence and Educational Adequacy funds.

The legislature approved a highway program in two parts. Act 416 of 2019 levies a new wholesale sales tax on gasoline and diesel, which will result in an additional 3 cents a gallon on gas and 6 cents on diesel. The new state rate for gasoline will be 24.5 cents a gallon, and for diesel it will be 28.5 cents.

When fully in effect, in Fiscal Year 2021, this new wholesale sales tax will generate $59 million a year for state highway projects and $12.6 million each a year for both cities and counties. Increases from one year to the next will be limited to 0.1 percent per gallon.

Also, $35 million from new casino taxes will be transferred to state highway projects. The act increases annual registration fees on electric vehicles to $200 and hybrid vehicles to $100. This will generate $1.9 million a year for state highway projects.

The other component of the highway program is Issue One, which the legislature referred to the November general election ballot.

If Arkansas voters approve Issue One, it would make permanent the half-cent sales tax for highway projects that voters approved in 2012. It raised the state sales tax from 6 to 6.5 percent and originally was promoted as a temporary, 10-year tax. It took effect in 2013 and is scheduled to expire in 2023.

The half-cent will generate $293.7 million a year. Cities and counties will each receive $43 million, and the state Transportation Department will get the remaining $205 million each year.

12-20-19 4:25 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

COVE’S 26th CHRISTMAS XTRAVAGANZA A GREAT SUCCESS

Cove’s 26th Christmas Xtravaganza parade and reception with Santa Claus was a great success.

Our parade winners were presented trophies and ribbons provided by Jeanne Jordan.

The “Overall” trophy went to the Coffee Vault’s float and elves.

First place was won by Patrick McDaniel’s float, second place went to Bailey’s ATV, and third place was won by Cody with his “reindeer horse”.

To everyone who participated in our parade: “You helped make it the big success it was”.

We would like to express our gratitude to the men from the Ross Tunnell American Legion Post 249 at Wickes who acted as our Color Guard, and to the Polk County Sheriff’s office for taking the time to provide traffic control.

To the Cove Rural and the Town of Cove Fire Departments: Thank you for escorting Santa!

At the reception, Santa talked with the many children who had waited to see him. The beautiful cakes from Walmart, and the cookies donated by Subway and James Super Save disappeared faster than you could say “Merry Christmas”.

We would like to extend our thanks to our very capable servers, the parade judges, the decorating committee from the Cove branch of the Polk County Library, and everyone else who helped make this event so spectacular.

12-20-19 2:33 p.m. KAWX.ORG

Listen to KAWX in Mena at 93.1, in the Hatfield-Cove-Vandervoort area at 94.9, or anywhere at KAWX.ORG. You can also listen on any smart device with the TuneIn app, or on Amazon Echo.

Arkansas Drivers Reminded to use IDriveArkansas.com for Holiday Travel Information

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) reminds drivers to “know before you go” and visit IDriveArkansas.com before traveling during the holiday season.

Extensive highway improvements continue through the state. With those improvements come work zones. To aid in your holiday travel, ARDOT has been working hard to open as many lanes as possible. Still, travelers will likely face work zones and possible delays due to increased traffic volume.

Overall travel volume for the holiday is expected to rise 3.9% over last year, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). The AAA predicts that more than 104.8 million Americans will travel by automobile between Saturday, December 21 and Wednesday, January 1.

To help motorists find ways around accidents and work zone backups on Interstates, ARDOT has an Alternate Routes feature on IDriveArkansas.com. It displays linkages between the Interstate corridors and secondary routes that motorists may consider when travel is delayed. You can also follow us on Twitter @myARDOT.

12-19-19 8:31 a.m. KAWX.ORG 

For the third year, Arkansas Family Council is accepting nominations for Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple. Last year’s celebration was a lovely reception hosted by Family Council and Governor Asa Hutchinson and First Lady Susan Hutchinson at the Governor’s Mansion.  The top 10 longest married couples were honored with an official letter of recognition from the governor’s office and were entered in the Family Council Arkansas Marriage Hall of Fame.  When this year’s search ends in early February 2020, Family Council will again honor the longest married couples and their families.

“Sharing these couples’ lifetime stories of commitment and faithfulness to each other encourages the next generation that ‘married happily ever after’ still exists. We are blessed and honored to be able to share these stories of forever love,” Jerry Cox, president of Family Council, said. “In today’s society we are surrounded by naysayers of marriage but the married couples we find will prove them all wrong and show that marriage can last a lifetime.”
 
“Marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman,” Cox said. “It is not every day that you meet a couple married over 70 years, and when you do, there is truly something special about that relationship.”
 
Entries for couples married over 70 years can be submitted before February 3, 2020, by sending contact information for both yourself, the candidates for consideration, and marriage date to Ken Yang at ken@familycouncil.org. For more information, please call the Family Council office at 501-375-7000.

12-19-19 8:15 p.m. KAWX.ORG

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s weekly fishing report for Dec. 18, 2019. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please email jim.harris@agfc.ar.gov with information on possible sources for reports about that lake or river. Reports are updated weekly, although some reports might be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions haven’t changed. Contact the reporter listed for the lake or stream you plan to fish for current news. Note: msl = mean sea level; cfs = cubic feet per second.

Click on the area of the state below where you would like current fising information from.

Central Arkansas

North Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas

Northeast Arkansas

Southeast Arkansas

Southwest Arkansas

South-Central Arkansas

West-Central Arkansas

East Arkansas

Arkansas River and White River levels are available at: https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk

For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt

For water-quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality.

12-18-19 4:42 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

On Wednesday Americans United for Life released its 2020 Life List ranking all 50 states from best to worst on how well their laws and policies protect human life. This year Arkansas is ranked in second place, right behind Louisiana.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, "This is great news. Arkansas is the second more pro-life state in the country, and that's something Arkansans should be proud of."

Cox said the ranking is the result of the hard work of pro-life Arkansans. "Since 2012, Arkansas has moved from being the fifth most pro-life state in the country to the second. We've been in the number two spot for three years in a row, now. That's because Arkansans work so hard to defend human life. We've made some really big gains passing pro-life laws in Arkansas, and we've won some major victories in federal court. This year alone we passed 13 laws that protect unborn babies, address physician-assisted suicide, and prohibit public funds from being used to clone or kill unborn children. All of that work is having an impact on our state."

Cox said he considers the pro-life fight a team effort. "We have great legislators who sponsor pro-life bills and who vote pro-life. Governor Hutchinson has signed those measures into law, and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has defended those laws successfully in court. This really is a team effort."

Cox said ultimately this work is about saving lives. "Next year, we estimate that about 500 children will start preschool and Kindergarten because of a single pro-life law we helped pass in 2015. All told, the laws Arkansas passed this year will save more than 600 children from abortion every single year. Today, abortion in Arkansas is at a 40-year low, and teen abortions are at an all-time low. Only two abortion facilities are open for business right now in our state. We're winning the fight to protect unborn children, and the fact that Arkansas is the second most pro-life state in America is proof of that fact. I believe one day soon Arkansas will be the most pro-life state in America."

12-18-19 2:22 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

"There is a disturbing new development in the Hallmark Channel USA debacle, and the network has (again) signaled its capitulation to the LGBTQ agenda. Recently, the longtime family-friendly network aired an ad celebrating same-sex marriage and featuring two women kissing, and also indicated its intention to develop movies that feature LGBTQ relationships.

"Conservative and pro-family groups immediately responded with their adamant disapproval and implored Hallmark to reconsider its decision. Initially, Hallmark did exactly that, pulling the offending ad and apologizing for the distraction it caused. This, in turn, led to a backlash from prominent LGBTQ celebrities and advocacy groups such as GLAAD, causing Hallmark to once again do an about-face. Hallmark subsequently announced its intention to 'better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brands,' and to 'reinstate the commercials.'

"There is a battle for the soul of this country. Every Christian who believes in the exclusivity of marriage being between one man and one woman should be outraged by this. Traditional marriage appears to have lost again. Unless, of course, people of faith let their voices be heard."

12-17-19 8:01 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

NOTE-Dr. Jame Dobson's Family Talk radio program can be heard weekdays at 5:30 a.m. on KAWX 93.1 in Mena or in the Hatfiled-Cove-Vandervoort area on 94.9. You can also listen anywhere at KAWX.ORG, with a free KAWX app, on any smart device with the TuneIn app, or on Amazon Echo. 

SHERIFF’S   LOG

The following information was received from Polk County Sheriff Scott Sawyer for the week of December 9 – December 15, 2019.  The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.  Individuals charged and whose names appear in this column may submit documentation to us at a later date that the charges have been dismissed or that they have been found innocent and we will include that information in this space in a timely manner.

December 9, 2019
Report of a 911 call being made when there was no emergency led to a 13-year-old male being issued a Juvenile Citation for Communicating a False Alarm.  The juvenile was released to the custody of a parent/guardian.
Report from complainant on Hollow Lane near Hatfield of an issue concerning ownership of a vehicle.  Deputy responded.   The matter was determined to be a civil issue.
Arrested was Lukas M. Holliday, 29, of Mena, on a Warrant for Failure to Comply with a Court Order.

December 10, 2019
Report from complainant on Chumley Lane near Shady Grove of being harassed by an acquaintance.  Information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for further consideration.
Arrested was Robert S. Wallace, 20, of Hatfield, on Charges of Possession of Meth/Cocaine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Report of inappropriate conduct led to a 17-year-old male being issued a Juvenile Citation for Terroristic Threatening.  The juvenile was released to the custody of a parent/guardian.

December 11, 2019
Report of a chickenhouse on fire on Polk 94 near Rocky.  Deputy responded.

December 12, 2109
Report from complainant on Highway 71 South near Cove of the theft of prescription medication, valued at $10.00.  Investigation continues.
Report of a missing Oklahoma couple that was believed to be in Polk County.  The couple was located.
Report from complainant on Highway 88 East near Cherry Hill of the theft of game cameras, and damage done to a gate, posts and locks, totaling losses at $292.00.  Investigation continues.
Arrested was Michelle L. Hogan, 38, of Mena, on a Washington County Warrant.

December 13, 2019
Report from complainant on Polk 32 near Cove of the violation of an Order of Protection.  Information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for further consideration.
Report of a dog bite victim while on Polk 624 near Board Camp.  The owner was advised to quarantine the animal for ten days.
Arrested was Stepanie D. Voelkel, 40, of Mena, on a Warrant for Permitting Child Abuse.

December 14, 2019
Report from complainant on Polk 646 near Mena of unauthorized person on their property.  Deputy responded but the suspects had fled.  Information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for further consideration.
Arrested was Thomas R. Lindley, 48, of Ft. Smith, on a Warrant for Theft of Property.
Arrested was Jeffery W. Mitchell, 49, of Hot Springs, on a Charge of Driving with a Suspended Driver’s License.

December 15, 2019
Report of a vehicle in the ditch on Highway 246 West near Hatfield.  Deputy responded.  Investigation continues.
Traffic stop on S. 2nd Street in Cove led to the arrest of Ricky D. Miller, 58, of Cove, on Charges of Driving with a Suspended Driver’s License, No Proof of Insurance and Expired Registration, and Warrants for Failure to Comply with a Court Order and Failure to Appear.
Traffic stop on Polk 31 near Hatfield led to the arrest of Jerry L. Hopper, 43, of Smithville, OK, on Charges of Driving with a Suspended Driver’s License and No Proof of Insurance.
Report from a Mena man of issues involving child custody exchange.  Information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for further consideration.
Arrested was Ty D. Jones, 22, of Mena, on a Warrant for Failure to Appear.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office worked two vehicle accidents this week.

Polk County Detention Center Jail Population: 24 Incarcerated Inmates , with 7 Inmates currently on the Waiting List for a State Facility.

PC19-00889

12-17-19 9:18 a.m. KAWX.ORG 

ATTORNEY GENERAL ALERT: Popular Secret Santa Scam is Back on Social Media

LITTLE ROCK – The Secret Santa/Secret Sister scams are making the rounds again on social media. Save your money, postage and heartache, and keep on scrolling when you spot an offer that seems too good to be true. The scam works by requesting online “friends” to send relatively inexpensive gifts or gift cards to those on an email or social media chain, with the promise that they, too, will receive gifts in the exchange. At the very least, participants will spend money and send gifts without getting anything in return. At worst, scammers use personal information posted on social media to participate, often leading to identity theft.

“The shared post may seem harmless about ‘Secret Santa’ when it comes from your great aunt or a college buddy on social media, but these innocent re-posts are a scam,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “It is important for Arkansans to know there are hidden dangers on social media and no one is safe when it comes to their wallet and personal information.”

Attorney General Rutledge released the following tips for consumers to avoid the Secret Santa scam:

• Consumers should never disclose their personal information to an unknown person online because it could result in identity theft or the opening of other accounts in their name.
• Unfortunately it is unlikely that a consumer will actually receive gifts in response to such a scheme; because if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
• Consult the terms of use for Facebook and other social media platforms as they may prohibit schemes like this one.
• Review guidance available from the U.S. Postal Service because it may be illegal to send the requested gift cards.
• Consumers should safeguard their banking and financial information in order to prevent theft due to scams.
• When using the internet, consumers should ensure that they are using a verified, secure, and encrypted website when sharing any personal or financial information online.

For more information about consumer-related issues, contact the Arkansas Attorney General’s office at (800) 482-8982 or email consumer@ArkansasAG.gov.

12-16-19 8:05 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER

State and local law enforcement agencies in Arkansas will partner with the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this holiday season to save lives by keeping alcohol and drug impaired drivers off the roads. Beginning this week (Friday, December 13th – January1st), Arkansas State Troopers and other law enforcement officers will join together in a high-visibility national enforcement campaign.

“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is a “no excuses” “zero tolerance” operation in which law enforcement officers increase their patrol presence with additional emphasis directed to identifying and arresting drivers who may be impaired by alcohol or drugs.  The campaign also includes an increase in state and national messaging about the dangers of driving impaired.

It is illegal in all 50 states to operate a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.  Avoiding arrest and expenses of court fines and higher insurance rates begins with never getting into the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle while impaired.

Many drivers fail to realize the risks.  During 2018 there were 10,511 people killed in drunk driving crashes, one every 50 minutes, according to the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). 

The analysis of data over a five year span (2014-2018) indicates, on average, 10,000 killed each year, the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing during a single year without survivors.

According to the FARS 2017 database, 45% of the drivers killed in fatal crashes who were tested for drugs, tested positive.  This is why Arkansas law enforcement officers are working with NHTSA to remind drivers that impaired driving is not only illegal, it is a matter of life and death.

“The holiday season should be a happy time for our all our state’s citizens and visitors,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative.  “We cannot underestimate the importance of sober driving and no matter what substance anyone has ingested, if you’re impaired, you should not be driving.”

Something as unassuming as cold medications or an over-the-counter sleep aid has the ability to impair a driver and lead to a DWI arrest.  Anyone taking a new prescription drug or a higher dose of a current prescription drug, should avoid driving until its known what effect the drug may have on the individual.  Any effect could impair a person’s driving ability.  One medication may not directly impair a person, but mixed with a second prescription drug and alcohol could cause impairment.  Any form of impaired driving is illegal.

“Driving impaired is a choice,” said Colonel Bryant. “I encourage everyone to make the right choice and find a sober driver if they have been drinking or ingested any drug that caused impairment.”

State and local law enforcement recommend these safe alternatives to impaired driving:

• If you have ingested an impairing substance, such as alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, sleep medication, or any form of illegal drug, do not drive. Passengers should never ride with an impaired driver. If you think a driver may be impaired, do not get in the car.
   
• If you are alcohol- or drug-impaired, pass the keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you to your final destination or plan to use public transportation or a ride sharing service to get home safely. It is never okay to drive while impaired by any substance.
   
• Have a friend who is about to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs? Take the keys away and arrange to get them home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone– they’ll thank you later.
   
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement. Your actions could help save someone’s life.

For more information about the 2019 Holiday Season Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit https://www/trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/drunk-driving/holiday-season/peak-enforcement-kit or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136. For information on Arkansas’ “Toward Zero Deaths” campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities, visit www.TZDarkansas.org .

12-15-19 9:19 a.m. KAWX.ORG 

Arkansas Stands to Gain With USMCA

Recent data points to an economy that is firing on all cylinders. The country has added over seven million jobs since President Trump’s election, unemployment is at a 50-year low and wages are rising at a rate that far outpaces inflation.

American workers are benefitting, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do more to help them and our economy thrive. Congress has a responsibility to continue to foster an environment that leads to growth and builds on those record numbers.

That is why Congress should move to take up the now-finalized US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), as it has the potential to provide another jolt to our already surging economy.

Our neighbors to the north and south are our natural allies and trading partners, yet our trade policy with them has not been updated in twenty-five years. The president and his team worked hard to get Canada and Mexico to the negotiating table to modernize our trade agreement in a mutually beneficial manner. The administration worked equally hard, across party lines, to ensure lawmakers in the U.S. were satisfied with the deal.

While my colleagues and I continue to review the final text of the agreement, it does hold the promise of being very beneficial for Arkansas. Canada and Mexico are the number one and two destinations for Arkansas’s exports. Arkansas is one of a handful of states that, in recent years, has consistently exported more than what it imported from Canada and Mexico.

The World Trade Center Arkansas—which has played a valuable role in connecting businesses in the state with international partners for over a decade—recently released a report summarizing trade and jobs data for the Natural State.

The center's report underscores the value trade brings to Arkansas’s economy and reinforces the fact that the path to a more prosperous, long-term outlook is through opening additional markets for our farmers, manufacturers and small businesses.

The report notes that as of September 2019, trade in Arkansas supported nearly 350,000 jobs, representing approximately 26 percent of the state's total employed labor force. It points to a direct correlation between job numbers and trade, documenting that trade-related jobs in the state have grown six times faster than total employment over the past few years. Moreover, it underscores just how crucial Canada and Mexico are for Arkansas’s economy.

Natural State exports to Canada amounted to $1.2 billion last year. Our exports to Mexico totaled $870 million in that same time span. Combined, these two countries account for a third of Arkansas’s total exports. Nearly 69,000 jobs in Arkansas are dependent on trade with Canada and another 41,000 are tied to trade with Mexico.

Melvin Torres, the center's director of Western Hemisphere trade, praised Arkansas’s effective partnership with both countries for creating this “symbiotic and successful relationship.” That relationship appears poised to grow with USMCA.

Completion of USMCA stands to boost job creation and bring stability to an uncertain trade environment. A modernized agreement is long overdue, and an array of industries—including manufacturing, technology and agriculture—will all benefit from the certainty it will bring to doing business with Canada and Mexico.

USMCA, along with the recent deals struck with South Korea and Japan, will show the rest of the world that the U.S. is open for business. It will show our trade partners, China in particular, that we negotiate in good faith to reach mutually beneficial outcomes for all parties involved. Most importantly, it upholds the promise of continuing to unlock our economy’s true potential.

12-13-19 4:27 p.m. KAWX.ORG

If you have local news tips or would like to place an item on our KAWX.ORG Community Calendar, email us at communityradio@live.com.

The holidays are a magical time at the State Capitol. Lights illuminate the exterior at night, the halls are draped with garland, and school choirs from across the state serenade us with carols throughout the day.

But there is one particular day in the season here at that stands apart from the rest.  On Tuesday, we celebrated the 5^th year of Christmas in the Capitol. At this event, legislators gather with the Governor, constitutional officers, and state employees as we bring gifts for the more than 4,000 children in Arkansas foster care.

This year was the biggest yet. Several of the children were able to make it the event. And seeing their faces as they open the gifts is a humble reminder of our duty to them as legislators. As Rep. Charlene Fite said, “We love them. And we see a bright, bright future for them.”

Earlier that day, the committee for Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs was given a quarterly report from the Division of Children and Family Services.

Currently, there are 4,362 children in foster care. Neglect and substance abuse are the most prevalent reasons for children entering foster care.

Additional funding for DHS approved by the legislature in recent years has helped to increase the number of caseworkers and decrease the average worker caseload. The average caseload statewide stands at 21 cases per worker. The Division’s goal is 20 or fewer.

Arkansas consistently exceeds the national standard of 40.5% in finding a permanent living situation for children within 12 months removal from their home.

There are 1,502 licensed foster family homes open statewide, providing a total of 3,394 available beds. The ratio of foster home beds to children in foster care was less than one (.78) at the end of the first quarter. The goal is to have at least one foster home bed available for each child.

Kids in foster care do better in homes, not facilities. We need caring, patient, and flexible foster families who can provide temporary care to kids while we work to get them safely back home to their original families as quickly as possible.

While we need foster homes for all of our kids in foster care, we especially need homes for teens and for sibling groups.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, visit www.fosterarkansas.org.

12-13-19 2:20 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

State Capitol Week in Review From Senator Larry Teague

December 13, 2019

LITTLE ROCK – Canada and Mexico continue to be the top destinations for Arkansas exports, according to the 2019 report by the World Trade Center of the University of Arkansas.

Last year Saudi Arabia was third on the list of foreign destinations, thanks to a 486 percent increase in sales of bombs, mines and ammunition from Arkansas. The spike in sales is attributable to a missile contract between Saudi Arabia and Lockheed Martin, which has a plant in Camden.

The value of bombs, mines and ammunition exported from Arkansas jumped from $169 million in 2016 and $79 million in 2017 to $463 million in 2018, according to U.S. Census Bureau data cited by the World Trade Center. Of that total, $376 million were shipped to Saudi Arabia.

Civilian aircraft continues to be an important component of Arkansas exports, although its value dropped in 2018 compared to the year before. In 2017 Arkansas firms exported $1.5 billion of civilian aircraft overseas, and in 2018 the value of those exports dropped to $995 million.

Agricultural exports from Arkansas were valued at $3 billion last year. Almost half of those products were shipped to countries in the Western Hemisphere -- 23 percent went to Mexico, 15 percent went to Canada and 10 percent went to Haiti.

Hong Kong and the United Kingdom each bought 5 percent of the agricultural products shipped from Arkansas in 2018.

In all, Arkansas exported $6.5 billion worth of goods to foreign nations in 2018.

Exports represent an essential part of the state’s economic foundation. For example, about 26 percent of all Arkansas jobs are supported by international trade. That represents about 350,000 people.

Canada and Mexico are easily the two most important export markets for Arkansas. Businesses in the two countries purchased $2 billion of Arkansas products last year, as well as $276 million in services.

Canada and Mexico account for more than a third of all Arkansas exports, and trade with the two countries support more than 120,000 jobs in Arkansas.

Growth in trade with Mexico has increased dramatically in the past few years, although not as much as trade with Saudi Arabia. In the 25 years since the United States signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, exports from Arkansas to Mexico have increased by 732 percent. The value of our exports to Mexico were estimated to be $870 million in 2018.

Ranked by the value of exported products, Arkansas is 37^th in national rankings of states.

Other important categories of Arkansas exports are transportation equipment, chemicals, machinery and paper. The most valuable farm products exported from Arkansas last year were soybeans, rice, broiler meat and cotton.

The jobs supported by international trade are mostly in small businesses – about 80 percent. According to business groups, those jobs generally pay more and are more secure than jobs in other areas.

After Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia, the greatest amount of Arkansas exports were shipped to France, China and South Korea. The United Kingdom and Belgium followed.

12-13-19 10:45 a.m. KAWX.ORG 

COVE WELCOMES SANTA AND THE HOLIDAYS

The Town of Cove welcomes the holiday season on Saturday, December 14, 2019 with their 26th Annual Christmas Xtravaganza.

The Christmas Parade will start at 2:00 P.M. with special guest Santa Claus.

A reception will follow in the Community Center next to Town Hall at 5568 Hwy 71. At the reception the children will be able to talk with Santa Claus, and the parade winners will be recognized.

For additional information, please contact Cove Town Hall at 870-387-5791 during business hours.

12-11-19 4:46 p.m. KAWX.ORG

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s weekly fishing report for Dec. 11, 2019. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please email jim.harris@agfc.ar.gov with information on possible sources for reports about that lake or river. Reports are updated weekly, although some reports might be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions haven’t changed. Contact the reporter listed for the lake or stream you plan to fish for current news. Note: msl = mean sea level; cfs = cubic feet per second.

Click on the area of the state belwo where you would like current fishing information from.

Central Arkansas

North Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas

Northeast Arkansas

Southeast Arkansas

Southwest Arkansas

South-Central Arkansas

West-Central Arkansas

East Arkansas

Arkansas River and White River levels are available at: https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk

For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt

For water-quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality.

12-11-19 4:28 p.m. KAWX.ORG

The Polk County Election Commission is looking for individuals that would be interested in serving as election workers on Election Day and Early Voting next year for the 2020 elections. Election workers do get paid and are required by law to attend training. If this is something you are interested in, you can pick up application forms in the County Clerk’s Office at the Polk County Courthouse. If you have questions or need more information please come by the County Clerk’s Office or call (479) 394-8123.

12-10-19 KAWX.ORG 

SHERIFF’S   LOG

The following information was received from Polk County Sheriff Scott Sawyer for the week of December 2 – December 8, 2019.  The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.  Individuals charged and whose names appear in this column may submit documentation to us at a later date that the charges have been dismissed or that they have been found innocent and we will include that information in this space in a timely manner.

December 2, 2019
Report from a Mena woman of problems with her 15-year-old son.  Deputy responded.
Arrested was Tericea Pina, 45, of Texas, on a Charge of Criminal Trespass.
Arrested by an officer with the Grannis Police Department was Brandon R. Falls, 34, of Mena, on  Charges of DWI, Driving Left of Center, Public Intoxication, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Firearm by Certain Person.

December 3, 2019
Report of an accident on Polk 26 near Hatfield involving a semi-trailer.  Deputy responded.
Arrested was Cheyenne N. Smith, 25, of Cove, on a Warrant for Probation Violation.

December 4, 2019
Report from a Mena woman of being assaulted by an acquaintance.  Investigation continues.
Report from complainant on Polk 178 near Mena of the theft of two firearms, valued at $400.00.  Investigation continues.
Arrested was George Trivette III, 27, of Mena, on a Drug Court Sanction.
Arrested was Robert S. Williams, 52, of Mena, on three Warrants for Failure to Appear.
Arrested was Benito A. Munoz, 50, of Mena, on a Warrant for Failure to Appear.

December 5, 2019
Report of a break-in at a residence on West Barton Street in Cove.  Deputy responded.  Investigation continues.
Report from complainant on Polk 18 near Cove of the break-in and theft of several firearms, accessories and clothing, all valued at $4,500.00.  Investigation continues.
Arrested was Natalie M. Holliday, 26, of Mena, on two Warrants for Failure to Comply with a Court Order.

December 6, 2019
Report from complainant on Polk 194 near Ink of a cow that had been shot, totaling losses at $850.00.  Investigation continues.
Report from complainant on Highway 8 West near Mena of vandalism done to a shed.  Deputy responded.  Investigation continues.
Citations for Improper Passing and Passing a Stopped School Bus were issued to Calista Treece, 20, of Poteau, OK.
Arrested was Jeffery L. Turner, 47, of Hatfield, on a Charge of Driving with a Suspended Driver’s License.
Arrested was Jessica M. Justice, 29, of Mena, on a Drug Court Sanction.

December 7, 2019
Report of a domestic disturbance on Polk 151 near Hatfield led to the arrest of Austin C. McCulley, 25, of Hatfield, on a Charge of Domestic Battery 3rd Degree.
Traffic stop led to the arrest of Teresa M. Denton, 47, of Mena, on a Charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Traffic stop led to the arrest of Kendall Hopper, 56, of Smithville, OK, on Charges of Driving with a Suspended Driver’s License and Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance.
Report from complainant on Polk 647 near Mena of vandalism done to a cabin.  Investigation continues.

December 8, 2019
Traffic stop on Polk 136 near Cove led to the arrest of Charles A. Gibson, 37, of Waldron, on Scott County Warrants.  Additional information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for further consideration.
Report from complainant on Polk 125 near Rocky of an unauthorized person in their home, and the theft of prescription medication, valued at $200.00.  Investigation continues.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office worked four vehicle accidents this week.

Polk County Detention Center Jail Population: 25 Incarcerated Inmates , with 7 Inmates currently on the Waiting List for a State Facility.

PC19-00871

12-10-19 12:01 p.m. KAWX.ORG

For more inforamtion about any of the activites at QWSP listed below, or the state park, dial (479) 394-2863, or visit the park's website by clicking HERE.

Wednesday, December 18^th

Reservoir Hike starting at 10:00 am and lasting about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Meet at the Reservoir Trail head. Join Park Interpreter Melissa on a hike to what used to be the old water system for the 1898 hotel.

Champion Trees starting at 1:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. Do you ever wonder what the largest tree of its species are called? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and she will talk about the Champion Trees in Arkansas and where their located.

Wonder House Tour starting at 4:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet at the Wonder House. Do you ever wonder what the Wonder House is about? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and step back into history to see one of the first vacation homes built in the 1930’s.

Thursday, December 19^th

Critter Tree starting at 10:00 am and lasting about 1 hour. Meet in the Hearth Room. Join Park Interpreter Melissa in decorating our nature Christmas tree outside on the east lawn beside the restaurant. Kids will be allowed to help stand up the tree by using ropes. We hope to make several ornaments for the park critters to enjoy this holiday season.

Wonder House Tour starting at 2:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet at the Wonder House. Do you ever wonder what the Wonder House is about? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and step back into history to see one of the first vacation homes built in the 1930’s.

Edible Insects starting at 3:30 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. Is eating bugs a real thing? Join park interpreter Melissa and see who really eats bugs. If you’re brave enough you can join the “I Ate A Bug Club!” Bring your appetite and take a bite, or come and watch!

Friday, December 20^th

Spring Trail Hike starting at 11:15 am and lasting about 45 minutes. Meet at the Amphitheater. Join Park Interpreter Melissa for a leisure stroll on this short trail. Terrain is easy, so we will take our time and enjoy what nature has to offer us.

Christmas Crafts starting at 2:00 pm and lasting about 2 hours. Meet in the Hearth Room. Join Park Interpreter Melissa as we make Christmas ornaments and decorate our Christmas tree upstairs in the lobby.

Christmas Tree Art in the Park starting at 7:00 pm and lasting about 1 Hour. Hearth Room It is time to express yourself! We all have an artist inside, and Queen Wilhelmina is the perfect place to get inspired. Join Park Interpreter Melissa and paint a picture of the Christmas tree in the Hearth Room.

Saturday, December 21^st

Home Sweet Home starting at 11:15 am and lasting about 1 hour. Meet at the Lovers’ Leap Trail head. Meet Park Interpreter Melissa for a hike through our neighbors’ homes. Learn of all the different animals and their habitats as we hike at Queen Wilhelmina. We will start on the north side of the Lovers’ Leap trail.

Christmas Caroling starting at 2:00 pm and lasting about 45minutes. Meet on the north side of the Lodge. Join Park Interpreter Melissa to make a ‘joyful noise’ while singing Christmas Carols on one of her Holiday Trailer Rides around the park. Temperatures could be brisk, so be prepared to dress warmly! Free Hot Chocolate will also help take the chill off! Space is limited, so reserve your spot today! $5.00 per person. Kids 5 and under are FREE!

Christmas Caroling starting at 3:00 pm and lasting about 45 minutes. Meet on the north side of Lodge. Join Park Interpreter Melissa to make a ‘joyful noise’ while singing Christmas Carols on one of her Holiday Trailer Rides around the park. Temperatures could be brisk, so be prepared to dress warmly! Free Hot Chocolate will also help take the chill off! Space is limited, so reserve your spot today! $5.00 per person. Kids 5 and under are FREE!

Christmas Caroling starting at 4:00 pm and lasting about 45 minutes. Meet on the north side of the Lodge. Join Park Interpreter Melissa to make a ‘joyful noise’ while singing Christmas Carols on one of her Holiday Trailer Rides around the park. Temperatures could be brisk, so be prepared to dress warmly! Free Hot Chocolate will also help take the chill off! Space is limited, so reserve your spot today! $5.00 per person. Kids 5 and under are FREE!

Music on the Mountain starting at 6:00 pm and lasting about 1 hour. Meet in the Hearth Room. Come join the Wendell Randal and friends’ band. They will be playing a variety of music that will help get you in the spirit of Christmas.

Sunday, December 22^nd

Wonder House Tour starting at 10:00 am and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet at the Wonder House. Do you ever wonder what the Wonder House is about? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and step back into history to see one of the first vacation homes built in the 1930’s.

Dutch Oven Demonstration starting at 2:00 pm and lasting about 1 hour. Meet at the Pavilion. Are you in need of a tasty treat for this weekend? Stop by Queen Wilhelmina picnic area to find out how much better dessert is cooked over a fire! Park Interpreter Melissa will be using the state vessel – a Dutch oven – to cook-up a simple and delicious dessert. Come by for a taste.

Bird Bingo starting at 4:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. This is not your ordinary bingo game. In this game of bingo, you will learn about the birds of Arkansas. If you are interested in birds, then you will enjoy this game. Join Park Interpreter Melissa for a fun filled game of Bingo.

December 23^rd

Bird Watching starting at 10:00 am and lasting about 1 hour. Meet at the north side of Lovers Leap. Whether you’re a beginner or pro at birding, join park interpreter Melissa as we hike to the observation deck. We will be watching for birds along the way. Bring your binoculars and we will see how many birds we can identify.

Christmas Games starting at 1:30 pm and lasting about 3 Hours. Meet in the Conference Room. Join Park Interpreter Melissa for a fun filled afternoon of Christmas games! This will include our annual game of bingo.

Ouachita Strings starting at 6:00 pm and lasting about 2 hours. Meet in the Hearth Room. Come join the amazing Ouachita Strings band. The Ouachita Strings band will be playing a variety of music that will help you feel the spirit of Christmas.

December 24^th

Critter Tree starting at 10:00 am and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. Join Park Interpreter Melissa in decorating our nature Christmas tree outside on the east lawn beside the restaurant. We hope to make several ornaments for the park critters to enjoy this holiday season.

Santa Stop starting at 2:00 pm and lasting about 2 hours. Meet in the Hearth Room. Santa is making a special stop to visit Queen Wilhelmina State Park before he starts delivering his toys. So, have you been naughty or nice this year? Ask Santa for yourself and see what he says.

12-9-19 8:59 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

Mena Police Reports from November 24, 2019 - December 7, 2019 

November 24 & 25, 2019

Officers responded to a call at a local business regarding former employees were seen on the property authorization.  No charges were filed.  Suspects were cautioned to stay away.

November 26 & 27, 2019

Two juvenile females were cited for shoplifting and the case was referred to juvenile authorities

Officers responded to a call regarding a stolen vehicle. The following day, the vehicle was found in Idabel, OK.

Lane Keene, 21, of Mena was charged with public intoxication.  The arrest followed a call regarding a prowler.

Report was made of a vehicle being vandalized while it was parked at a local motel.  Case pending.

Wesley Powell, 37, of Supulpa, OK was stopped by officers in Sebastian County.  He had an outstanding warrant from Mena.  Officers drove to Fort Smith and turned him over to Polk County jail. 

Crystal Baker, 32, of Texarkana for shoplifting.  She was additionally served outstanding warrants.  The arrest followed a call to a local store.

Aaron Tash, 33, and Rebecca Wisnoski, 32, both of Mena were served outstanding warrants.  The arrests followed a traffic stop.

November 28, 2019

Jacob Woddell,26, of Mena was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Caddo Parish in Louisiana. He was jailed awaiting Louisiana officers to come get him.

November 29, 2019

Nelda Plymale, 20 of Mena was charged with shoplifting after officers responded to a call at a local retail store.

A Mena man reported that fraadulent charges were made on his debit card  in Norman, Oklahoma.  Case is pending further information.

November 30, 2019

Jeremiah J. McCog, 40, of Mena was charged with DWI, failure to stop after an accident, refusal to submit to a BAC, having no insurance and having no vehicle tags.  The arrest followed a traffic stop.Timothy Roberts, 32, of Mena was charged with battery, interference with emergency communications, and fleeing.  The arrest followed a call to a local residence.

Timothy Robertson, 32, of Mena was charged with battery, interference with emergency communications and fleeing.  The arrest followed a call to a local residence.

Daniel Roberts, 28, of Mena was charged with shoplifting, fleeing, and driving on a suspended license.  In the same incident, Jamie May, was charged with criminal trespass and possession of methamphetamine.  The arrest followed a call from employees at a local business.

December 1, 2019

Sylvano Lewis, 19, and Bo Meyer, 20, both of Mena, were charged with shoplifting after a call from a local retail store.

Mykos Pierce, 19, and a 14-year-youth, both of Mena, were charged with shoplifting,

Anna Denton, 26, of Mena was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, simultaneous possession of a firearm and drugs and was served two outstanding warrants.Levi Cottman, 29, of Mena was arrested on two outstanding warrants.

Mark Blehm, 27, of Mena was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

December 2, 2019

Timothy, 32, of Mena was served an outstanding warrant.

December 3 & 4, 2019

James Cochran, 36, of Hatton was served an outstanding warrant.

December 5, 2019

Report was made of someone breaking into a vehicle on the parking lot of a local church.  No suspects at this time.

December 6, 2019

Winnie Cotter, 59, of Wickes, was charged with shoplifting after a call from employees at a local business.

A Mena man reported that someone had broken into his house and stole an Xbox, two controllers, and 8 video games.  Case is pending

December 7, 2019

Adam Todd, 28, and Tori Veal, 26, both of Mena were charged with disorderly conduct.  The arrests followed a call from a local man.

Aaron Miller, 27, of Mena was charged with battery.  The arrest followed a call to a local residence.

Raistan Turner, 24, of Hatfield, was charged with DWI (drugs) after a call regarding an accident.

12-9-19 4:28 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

Monthly revenue reports help to give us a picture of the state’s economy.  The reports show us if Arkansans are making more, spending more, and if businesses are doing well. Recent reports have created an optimistic outlook.

Five months into the fiscal year, general revenue for the state continues to exceed expectations. In fact, more gross general revenue was collected this November than any November in state history. November collections totaled $515.2 million. That is $23 million more than November 2018.

Sales tax collections are contributing to the increase in general revenue. This month, the revenue from sales tax was $9.1 million or 4.5% above last year. On a year to date basis, sales and use taxes are 3.1% more than Fiscal Year 2019.

Legislation passed in the 2019 Regular Session began requiring online retailers to collect and remit taxes on in-state purchases. That legislation went into effect in July of this year.

To date, there has been $104.2 million more in gross general revenue collected than this time last year.  That is a 3.9% increase.

Individual income tax collections are $73 million above this time last year.  We anticipate income tax revenue to decrease next year as new legislation lowering income tax takes effect. The top rate for income tax will drop from 6.9% to 6.6% on January 1, 2020. It will drop again to 5.9% on January 1, 2021.

Corporate income taxes are also showing an increase from last year.

All of these increases reflect our low unemployment rate and healthy consumer confidence. The unemployment rate in Arkansas is 3.5%, just slightly below the national average.

By monitoring the state’s revenue closely, we are able to create a budget that best serves the needs of the public. Budget hearings for the next fiscal year begin March 4. We convene for the 2020 Fiscal Session on April 8.

You can review the monthly revenue reports at www.dfa.arkansas.gov.

12-6-19 4:23 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

Standing With Hong Kong’s Pro-Democracy Protesters

Hong Kong, a bustling international business hub and one of the world’s most significant commercial ports, is often wrongly assumed to be under the full control of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Less than 25 years ago, Hong Kong was still a British colony. It was handed back to China under a policy known as “one country, two systems”—which suggests that while there is only one China, Hong Kong would retain its own economic and administrative systems. The arrangement allows for Hong Kong to function as a separate entity while the rest of mainland China is governed by the communist system administered by Beijing.

As a result, the citizens of Hong Kong enjoy many liberties denied to those of mainland China. For instance, they have the right to assemble, the right to unfettered access to the internet and freedom of speech.

Now, those rights appear to be slipping away.

In early June, protesters took to the streets in Hong Kong to denounce attempts from China’s communist regime to institute the same brutal surveillance state it uses to oppress its citizens.

The resulting police crackdown enflamed the already high tensions. Now, parts of Hong Kong look like a war zone as the violent response of government forces has led to chaos.

The choice for the U.S. on this issue is quite simple. We must stand up for American values. We must stand with the people of Hong Kong.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation, signed into law by President Trump, that supports the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong by giving Washington additional tools to respond to PRC belligerences.

Specifically, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act—which I proudly co-sponsored—authorizes additional sanctions for Chinese and Hong Kong officials tied to human rights abuses. It also requires the State Department to review the special autonomous status the U.S. grants Hong Kong on an annual basis.

This new law has not gone over well with the authoritarian regime in Beijing, which would like nothing more than for the rest of the world to look the other way while it cracks down on the people of Hong Kong who are simply seeking to preserve the freedoms they have been promised. 

The Communist Party of China would like the world to believe that these organic protests are somehow being orchestrated by outside interests. In response to the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, the regime sanctioned several American nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations it accused of being behind the protests. It is the latest in a long line of propaganda efforts to deflect responsibility for the violence.

The regime needs to perpetuate the idea that these organizations are fomenting unrest because the reality is detrimental to its ability to maintain its authoritarian control. Unfortunately for the regime, the truth is much more troublesome. The people of Hong Kong simply want to preserve their rights. The regime wants to continue to chip away at those freedoms while hiding the real story from the mainland citizens it already oppresses. 

Standing with the people of Hong Kong is the right thing to do. I am pleased that President Trump, in signing the bill into law, recognizes our policy decisions regarding China go well beyond trade. Beijing needs to understand that our desire to finalize a better trade deal does not mean we will turn a blind eye to human rights abuses.

12-6-19 4:06 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

Every year during the holiday season, school choirs from all across Arkansas come to the State Capitol which has been beautifully decorated for the holiday season, to sing and to spread Christmas cheer.

Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston invites you to come, listen, and enjoy the music!  Choirs will be performing in the State Capitol rotunda from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, December 9th through 13th and December 16th through 20th. The public is welcomed and invited to attend.

The Mena High School Spotlight Singers will be performing at 1:00 p.m. on December 13th. For those unable to be there, there will be a livestream and the link to watch it is below.

Video of each performance will also be streamed live,

courtesy of the Arkansas House of Representatives,

at https://www.arkansashouse.org.

Photos will be posted to the Secretary of State's Flickr page

at https://www.flickr.com/photos/arsecofstate/albums.

The Schedules for the two weeks of performances are below.

For the complete schedule of schools performing December 9th - 13th, click HERE.

For the complete schedule of schools performing December 16th - 20th, click HERE.

12-6-19 3:40 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

State Capitol Week in Review From Senator Larry Teague

December 6, 2019

LITTLE ROCK – More than 2,000 people attended a series of meetings that the legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Retirement held in 11 cities across Arkansas earlier this fall.

Estimates are that about half of those in attendance were members of the state Teacher Retirement System.

Many of them expressed concerns about changes approved in 2017, which retirement officials concede were the result of difficult decisions. Retired teachers are living longer, so the system can expect to pay out more in lifetime benefits.

Also, the return on the system’s investments could no longer be maintained at 8 percent. When the assumed rate of return was lowered to 7.5 percent, it necessarily meant a lengthening of the system’s period of unfunded liability.

Another change made in 2017 was to lower a benefit stipend from $75 to $50 a month. That took effect last July. There was no change to the cost of living adjustment of 3 percent a year. According to the director of the Teacher Retirement System, no changes are expected in the foreseeable future in either the stipend or the COLA.

The Arkansas retirement system is 80 percent funded, which is better than the national average of 72 percent. The amortization period is 28 years.

Retirement experts recommend keeping the period below 28 years, and the Arkansas system is aiming for 18 years.

The market value of the system’s assets, as of June 30, was $17.6 billion, compared to $16.7 billion on June 30, 2018.

A question asked during the committee meetings was whether to expect legislators to try to merge the various public retirement systems. The audience was told that no bills have been filed or proposed. Arkansas has a separate retirement system for judges, state employees, highway department employees, police and firefighters.

As of September, the teacher system was paying monthly benefits to about 50,000 retirees. Their annual benefits are a significant contribution to the local economies of Arkansas cities and towns, because they receive a total of about $1.2 billion a year.

According to a presentation made at a recent Board of Trustees meeting, their average annual benefit is $23,558.

Of the retirees, 28 women and three men were older than 100. There were 976 retirees between 90 and 99 years old, of whom 803 were women and 173 were men. The oldest retired teacher is a woman who is 108 years old.

Revenue Report

For the first five months of the current fiscal year, the state’s net general revenue is up 4.5 percent over the same period last year.

One contributor to the healthy increase was personal income tax collections. They were up 5.9 percent, which means more people are working and getting paid more.

Another factor has been an increase of 3.1 percent in sales tax collections, which means people are spending more.

Revenue forecasts are used to set budgets for state government agencies. So far this fiscal year, revenue is 3.8 percent above official forecasts.

November was a good month for the Arkansas economy, judging by revenue statistics. Net general revenue for November was 6.1 percent more than last year and 3.7 percent above the forecast.   

12-6-19 10:47 a.m. KAWX.ORG 

Fly the United States Flags at Half-Staff Saturday, December 7, 2019 in Honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day occurs on December 7 of each year, designated in memory of the lives lost in the 1941 attack and to remember that we enjoy freedom thanks to their sacrifice.The attack claimed the lives of 2,334 servicemen and servicewomen and wounded another 1,143.

On Pearl Harbor Day, the American flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset to honor those who died as a result of the attack on U.S. military forces in Hawaii. Some organizations may hold special events in memory of those killed or injured at Pearl Harbor.

12-6-19 10:40 a.m. KAWX.ORG 

For more information about any of the activities listed below, or the park, dial (479) 394-2863, or visit the park's webiste by clicking HERE.

Friday, December 6

Arkansas Symbols starting at 2:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. Do you know the symbols of Arkansas? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and find out our state drink, cooking vessel, bird and much more!

Wonder House Tour starting at 3:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet at the Wonder House. Do you ever wonder what the Wonder House is about? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and step back into history to see one of the first vacation homes built in the 1930’s.

Home Sweet Home starting at 4:00 pm and lasting about 1 hour. Meet at the Lovers’ Leap Trailhead. Meet Park Interpreter Melissa for a hike through our neighbors’ homes. Learn of all the different animals and their habitats as we hike at Queen Wilhelmina. We will start on the north side of the Lovers’ Leap trail.

Hearth Room Chat starting at 7:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. Have you ever wondered why we are called Queen Wilhelmina State Park? Join Park Interpreter Melissa as we gather around the fireplace and learn why we’re called Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

Saturday, December 7

Ouachita Walk starting at 11:15 am and lasting about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Meet on the west side of the Ouachita Trailhead. Join Park Interpreter Melissa and enjoy a serene fall walk on top of the mountain to catch a glimpse of the changes the season brings with it. This will be an easy hike for all ages.

Wonder House Tour starting at 2:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet at the Wonder House Do you ever wonder what the Wonder House is about? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and step back into history to see one of the first vacation homes built in the 1930’s.

Arkansas Furs starting at 3:00 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. What animals do we have here at Queen Wilhelmina State Park? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and she will talk about the animals that we have here in the park and you will get to feel their furs.

Magic on the Mountain starting at 7:00pm and lasting about 1 hour. Meet in the Hearth Room. December can be a magical time of year. Come join our special guest Russell Turner as he performs his award-winning magic on the mountain.

Sunday, December 8

Wonder House Tour starting at 10:00 am and lasting about 1 hour. Meet in the  Wonder House. Do you ever wonder what the Wonder House is about? Join Park Interpreter Melissa and step back into history to see one of the first vacation homes built in the 1930’s.

Reservoir Hike starting at 2:00 pm and lasting about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Meet at the Reservoir Trailhead. Join Park Interpreter Melissa on a hike to what used to be the old water system for the 1898 hotel.

Touch Table starting at 4:00 pm and lasting about 45 minutes. Meet in the Hearth Room. There will be different things that you can see and touch. Join Park Interpreter Melissa for a fun, interactive way of exploring things found in our park, and find out what they are.

12-5-19 6:47 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

The Polk County Election Commission met Wednesday in the Polk County Courthouse to draw for ballot placement positions for contested races in the 2020 Primary Election which will be March 3rd. The results are listen below.

US President—Democratic Primary

Position 1-- Michael Bennet

Position 2-- Julian Castro

Position 3-- Joe Sestak

Position 4-- Tom Steyer

Position 5-- Tulsi Gabbard

Position 6-- John K. Delaney

Position 7-- Cory Booker

Position 8-- Kamala Harris

Position 9-- Joseph R. Biden

Position 10-- Steve Bullock

Position 11-- Elizabeth Warren

Position 12-- Michael R. Bloomberg

Position 13-- Mosie Boyd

Position 14-- Pete Buttigieg

Position 15-- Amy Klobuchar

Position 16-- Marianne Williamson

Position 17-- Bernie Sanders

Position 18-- Andrew Yang

US President—Republican Primary

Position 1-- Bill Weld

Position 2-- Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente

Position 3-- Donald J. Trump

State Representative—District 21—Republican Primary

Position 1-- Representative Marcus Richmond

Position 2-- Jim Reynolds

State Supreme Court Associate Justice Position 4—Non Partisan Judicial General Election

Position 1-- Judge Morgan “Chip” Welch

Position 2-- Barbara Womack Webb

Court of Appeals Associate Judge District 04 Position 2-Non Partisan Judicial General Election

Position 1-- Emily White

Position 2-- Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Potter Barrett

Circuit Judge District 18 West, Division 01

Position 1-- Patrick McDaniel

Position 2-- Prosecuting Attorney Andy Riner

Mena School Board, Position 1

Position 1-- Brandyn Gortemiller

Position 2-- Todd Aynes

Mena School Board, Position 2

Position 1-- Robert Hines

Position 2-- Calvin Cummings

12-5-19 6:31 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

Governor Asa Hutchinson has directed that the state flag of Arkansas fly at half-staff from sunrise, Thursday, December 5, 2019, to sunset, Friday, December 6, 2019, in tribute to the memory of United States Navy Storekeeper 1st Class John W. Craig of Monroe, Arkansas.

Petty Officer Craig was aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Japanese fighter pilots torpedoed the ship, which capsized. Petty Officer Craig and 428 other crewmen perished. DNA analysis allowed the identification of Petty Officer Craig's remains, which had been buried in a cemetery in Hawaii. After 78 years, his body has been returned to Arkansas, where he will be buried in his final resting place at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.

The people of Arkansas are grateful for the sacrifice of Petty Officer Craig and the surviving members of his family.

The Governor declared December 6, 2019 as John W. Craig Memorial Day in Arkansas. The proclamation can be viewed HERE.

12-4-19 8:06 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s weekly fishing report for Dec. 4, 2019. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please email jim.harris@agfc.ar.gov with information on possible sources for reports about that lake or river. Reports are updated weekly, although some reports might be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions haven’t changed. Contact the reporter listed for the lake or stream you plan to fish for current news. Note: msl = mean sea level; cfs = cubic feet per second.

Click on the area of the state below where you would like current fishing information.

Central Arkansas

North Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas

Northeast Arkansas

Southeast Arkansas

Southwest Arkansas

South-Central Arkansas

West-Central Arkansas

East Arkansas

Arkansas River and White River levels are available at: https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk

For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt

For water-quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality.

12-4-19 3:41 p.m. KAWX.ORG 

If you have local news tips or would like to place an item on our KAWX.ORG Community Calendar, email us at communityradio@live.com.

SHERIFF’S   LOG

The following information was received from Polk County Sheriff Scott Sawyer for the week of November 25 – December 1, 2019.  The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.  Individuals charged and whose names appear in this column may submit documentation to us at a later date that the charges have been dismissed or that they have been found innocent and we will include that information in this space in a timely manner.

November 25, 2019
Report from complainant on Rodgers Street in Cove of an attempted break-in.  Deputy responded.
Report from complainant on Polk 301 near Cherry Hill of problems with an acquaintance concerning a business deal.
Arrested by a trooper with the Arkansas State Police was Crystal R. Donelson, 45, of Hatfield, on a Warrant for Failure to Appear.

November 26, 2019
Report of a domestic disturbance on Gamma Lane near Mena led to the arrest of Bryan M. Terry, 37, of Mena, on two Body Attachment Warrants.
Arrested was Tony P. Foster, 34, of Cove, on Warrants for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Failure to Appear.

November 27, 2019
Report from complainant on Polk 76 East near Acorn of a missing person.  The individual was later located.
Report from walk-in complainants of issues regarding child custody exchange.  Deputy responded.

November 28, 2019
Report of a disturbance on Polk 189 near Mena.  Deputy responded.  Information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for further consideration.
Report of an individual that refused to leave a business on Edgewater Lane in the Shady community led to the arrest of Tericea Pina, 45, of Texas, on a Charge of Criminal Trespass.
Report from complainant on Polk 90 near Acorn of vandalism done to a vehicle.  Deputy responded.
Report from a business on Industrial Lane near Mena of unauthorized individuals on the premises led to a 14-year-old male being issued a Juvenile Citation for Criminal Trespass.  The juvenile was released to the custody of a parent/guardian.  Additional information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for further consideration.

November 29, 2019
Report of the discovery of an abandoned ATV, ramps, tools and a deer stand on Polk 35 near Hatfield.  Investigation continues.
Arrested was Jennifer L. Tyler, 45, of Cove, on a Warrant for Failure to Comply with a Court Order.
Arrested was Becky M. Stroud, 49, of Mena, on a Warrant for Failure to Appear and three Warrants for Violation of the Arkansas Hot Check Law.

November 30, 2019
Report from a Mena woman that her juvenile son had ran away.  The juvenile was located and returned to his mother.
Report from walk-in complainant of issues regarding child custody exchange.  Information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for further consideration.
Report from complainant on Polk 15 near Cove of an individual that refuses to return a vehicle to the owner.  Investigation continues.
Request from complainant on Powell Lane near Acorn for a welfare check on an elderly family member.  Deputy responded.
Report of a possible ATV accident on Polk 26 near Hatfield.  Deputy responded.  No accident had occurred.

December 1, 2019
Report from complainant on Dogleg Lane near Big Fork of a missing family member.  Investigation continues.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office worked three vehicle accidents this week.

Polk County Detention Center Jail Population: 28 Incarcerated Inmates, with 16 Inmates currently on the Waiting List for a State Facility.

PC19-00849

12-2-19 5:01 p.m. KAWX.ORG