Park Elementary has announced their December Students of the Month. Front row: Natalie Boshears, Callie Morgan, Quinn Johnson and Connor Green Middle row: Karson Hayes, Avery Nelson, Kash Barber, Brody Dillon, Emercyn Liles, Jaycie Hollis and Noah Gaines. Back row: Westen Melton, Blaze George, and Cash Leach Not pictured: Skylar Hill, Laiken Guthrey and Matthew Brady The word for December was CARING.
Dear Santa. I am eight years and and I am in the second grade. i would like to have a new basketball for Christmas my other one burned in the school It was brown. Please bring me a blue and white stripe. also bring me a saucy doll, a weebles marina and a cowgirl shirt. Don’t forget to fill my stocking and I have a baby brother, bring him something. Thank you, Santa, Shana Brewer.
James Timothy Hogan, 68, of Corning, AR., passed away December 10, 2023 at Corning Therapy and Living Center. Mr. Hogan was born June 14, 1955 in Lake Geneva, WI. Mr. Hogan was a laborer at the sawmill for Blacks Lumber Co., he loved collecting Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars and also watching professional wrestling. He was of Church of Christ faith.
This time of year people become nostalgic as they watch holiday movies. They remind us of simpler times when character and traditional values mattered. We can rely on a happy ending and that good will win out in the end. We become blanketed in a secure feeling as we reminiscence about childhood memories at Christmas. The movie, “White Christmas” is playing in the background as I write this week’s column. Bing Crosby is singing “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” to servicemen that won’t be home for Christmas during World War II. Here’s a bit of trivia, many people get the movies, “White Christmas” and “Holiday Inn” confused because they both feature the song, “White Christmas” and Bing Crosby. “Holiday Inn” was the first movie to feature the song in 1942 and Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds and Virginia Dale. Irving Berlin wrote that song and 11 other songs for the movie. The film received a 1943 Academy Award for Best Original Song with “White Christmas.” The movie, “White Christmas” came out in 1954 with Crosby and costars, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen playing the Haynes sisters. You may remember the duet they sang, “Sisters, sisters. . . There were never such devoted sisters.” Crosby and Kaye dressed as the sisters and also sang it as well. My favorite song from the movie is sung by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney called, “Count Your Blessings”. A verse goes “When I’m worried and I can’t sleep. I count my blessings instead of sheep. And I fall asleep counting my blessings.” Counting our blessings instead of fretting about our daily problems is good advice for all of us.
On Thursday December 7, 2023, the Clay County Detention staff noticed Head Jailer Tammy Miller- Spears take a female inmate into a employee restroom. The female 38-year-old Ashley Lewis of Corning was in the process of being booked into the detention center. All personnel knew this was not policy or procedure. Also, part of a conversation between Tammy Miller- Spears and Ashley Lewis was overheard in the booking room over a camera with the ability to monitor verbal interactions. Tammy Miller-Spears and Ashley Lewis knew each other from both living in Corning. Immediately after these interactions, Tammy Miller-Spears clocked out and left the deten- tion facility. Sheriff’s Department personnel reviewed the camera footage and audio and then notified the Corning Police Department of what was suspected to have had occurred at the detention center. The Corning Police Department went out east on US 62 and made a traffic stop on Mrs. Miller-Spears for doing 71 in a 45 MPH speed zone coming into Corning. Consent to search was asked for and granted. A substance that tested positive to be methamphetamine was found in the vehicle. 55-year-old Tammy Miller-Spears was taken into custody by the Corning Police Department for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was then transported to the Corning Police Department then the Clay County Detention Center. A probable cause hearing was held in Corning on Friday, December 8, in front of Circuit Judge Charles Moody where he set a $20,000 bond. Mrs. Miller-Spears was also terminated as Head Jailer of the Clay County Detention Center.
Jerry Wayne Little, 81, of McDougal/Pollard area, passed away Friday, December 8, 2023 at St. Bernard’s Hospital. Mr. Little was born September 28, 1942 in Campbell, MO. He loved gardening, canning, fishing, beekeeping, working in the orchard, spending time with family. He was an avid hunter and trapper. Mr. Little was a retired farmer and a member of the Clay County Drainage Board. He was a member of True Light Missionary Baptist Church in McDougal, AR.
Young entrepreneur Loreli White started her business, Loreli’s Ice in 2018 with the assistance and support of her parents, Sarah and Matt Garmrath. Five years later the teenager has now expanded her business to a location at 506 W. Laurel Street, called Loreli’s Ice-d Coffee & More. A ribbon cutting for the new location was held on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 9 a.m.
Bob Lockwood, 87, of Corning, AR., passed away Friday, December 8, 2023 at NEA Baptist Hospital. Mr. Lockwood was born May 23, 1936 in Corning, AR., Mr. Lockwood was a retired loan officer at First National Bank. He loved camping, going to the lake, spending time with family, gardening, watching the Razorbacks. He was a member of the Lions Club. He was of Baptist Faith.
Santa Claus is a big fan of reading and made a stop at the Corning Library on Wed. Dec. 6 during the Itty Bitty Story Time. Briar Jean Bippus was excited to tell Santa what she and her brother, Zeb want for Christmas.
The Corning Bobcats may soon have a new home thanks to 12.7 million offered by the state if voters agree to assist in the project by approving an increase of 5 mills on the March 5 ballot. The millage would help fund 38% of the project not funded by the state.