May 2024

Melanie Dawn “Wright” Garrett

Melanie Dawn “Wright” Garrett, age 63, of Plumerville, Arkansas departed her earthly life and went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, May 7th, 2024. Melanie was born on August 7th, 1960, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to the late Billy Gene Wright and Rita Rebecca Alice Tyler Wright. She was a 1978 graduate of Corning High School. In 1980, she started work for Corning Walmart in the shoe department. Melanie relocated to Conway in 1984 and transferred to the Conway store as an invoice clerk. She started with Farmers Fire Insurance Company in Conway in 1997 and remained employed with the company until her retirement in December of 2023 due to illness. She married the love of her life, Kelly Garrett on June 7th, 1997, and they had two sons, Hunter and Hayden.

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Traffic stop leads to arrest

On May 8, 2024 officers with the Corning Police Department made a traffic stop on Jones Street due to the driver driving on a suspended drivers license. During the stop, officers learned that the driver was wanted out of Randolph County. The driver was then placed into custody to be transported to the jail. When the officers attempted to search the suspect he then turned and ran away from the scene. The suspect was then apprehended. 39-year-old Andrew Curtis was booked into the Clay County Detention Center on the following charges: Driving on a Suspended License, Felony Possession of a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, and 3rd Degree Escape.

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LEARNS Act begins to impact educators

The LEARNS Act marks a period in Arkansas education that looks to impact education across the state for years to come. LEARNS was signed into law on March 8, 2023 and includes several significant changes to the Arkansas education system. It has faced criticism and concerns from educators and school associations, particularly in regard to the voucher program, Critical Race Theory and repealing the Arkansas Teacher Fair Dismissal Act.

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Talking in code . . .

Have you ever considered how we take for granted some of the most amazing things in the world? Some things that make that list are gravity, sunrises and sunsets, breathing, good health, opening our eyes in the morning and our mothers. Chances are, if you are blessed and have a good mother, you have taken her for granted at some point in your life.

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JWF named Clay County Farm Family of the Year

The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year Program has honored agricultural families across the state for 77 years. This year, the program has selected a farm family that is familiar with the program. Jeremy Wiedeman Farms of Corning is the recipient of the 2024 Clay County Farm Family of the Year award. Clay County soil runs deep in the bloodstream of the Wiedeman family as Jeremy’s parents, Larry and Mary Wiedeman were the 1984 Clay County Farm Family of the Year, exactly 40 years ago.

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CHS 2024 Arkansas Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest Winners

The following Corning art students are winners in the 2024 Arkansas Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest and were sent their artworks and ribbons. 1st place: Emily Luttrell 2nd place: Maci Browning 3rd place: Destiny Leonard, Katie Zimmer, Emily Selig Honorable Mentions: Bentley Dodd, Antwone Henson, Ashley Espinoza, Riley Coe, Harleigh Hooten, Lyla Arnold, Maisa McCallister, Jasmine James, Cerenidy Small, Aleena Bollinger, Emily Alexander, Ava Goodman, Jayden Curtis, Briseyda Castro, Makenna Shipman, Wyatt Murray.

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