Former Police Chief Jimmy Leach retired as Corning’s Police Commissioner on Friday, June 30 with a celebration attended by those wishing him well. The city of Corning hosted a retirement reception in his honor at the M.B. Ainley, Jr. Community Center at 12 p.m. It was attended by his friends, family, city employees, and police officers.
In honor of the Clay County sesquicentennial, the Corning Public Library hosted an essay contest for young writers in the following age categories: ages 7-12 and 13-18 years of age. The winners were announced at the 4th of July picnic on July 1 at Wynn Park. The theme of the essay was “What life was like for a child 150 years ago”.
Prior to the city’s centennial in 1973, efforts were made by J.M. Oliver at the Clay County Courier to discover the true founder of the City of Corning. The name of Hecht City was changed to Corning in 1873, and many believed the city to be named for H. D. Corning, an official of the old St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern RR Company. Oliver contacted a representative, R.J. Maxwell from the Missouri-Pacific Railway for information in 1955. Maxwell stated that they had very little information available regarding the founding of Corning; “however, we do know that the city was named for H. D. Corning, an engineer employed by the construction firm of Mandeville and Allen which built the railroad through that section of Arkansas.”
There’s a new head of law enforcement in town with a familiar face. Blaine McClung is the newly appointed Chief of Police for the city of Corning. Mc-Clung has had extensive involvement as an officer of the law with a total of 10 years of experience in both Clay County and Corning law enforcement agencies.
Queen Heidi Benson, center 1st Alternate- Karsyn Taylor DeRoe, second from left 2nd Alternate/Best Personality Korleigh Glasgow, second from right 3rd Alternate/Best Dressed- Sailor Tibbett, far left 4th Alternate- Kimber Owens, far right .
Queen Maci Brown and Best Dressed, center 1st Alternate- Brooklyn Beck, second from left 2nd Alternate/Best Personality- Kelci Masterson, second from right 3rd Alternate- Eva Tharp, far left 4th Alternate- Kinsley McGonigal, far right .