News

Taylor named Poplar TCC Teacher of the Year

Candy Taylor, Vocational Resource Educator in the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District has been selected as Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center Teacher of the Year. Taylor has 32 years of teaching experience working with special education students with Individual Education Plans and with students with 504s. Prior to teaching in the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District, Candy taught in the Rector, Piggott, and Corning school districts in Arkansas, and in the Doniphan school district in Missouri.

Read MoreTaylor named Poplar TCC Teacher of the Year

Hop Alley Rally draws big crowd to downtown

Downtown Corning was the place to be on Saturday, May 20 as Growing Corning Together held the third annual Hop Alley Rally. Last Saturday, long time Corning residents were reminded how busy the heart of Corning in the downtown area was in years’ past as people and families turned out to celebrate Hop Alley. A younger generation saw firsthand what the downtown area could be with a successful revitalization. In its current condition it’s hard to believe that in 1942, when Chas. L. Bailey’s curiosity prompted his attempt to estimate the traffic flow through Hop Alley one Saturday as he sat in a rear window of his tin shop, that he clocked 1,781 people who passed by a fixed point in Hop Alley in an hour.

Read MoreHop Alley Rally draws big crowd to downtown

ACAAA celebrates Community Action Month

Little Rock, AR - May 1, 2023, marked the 59th year since the Community Action Network was established to help American families and communities overcome obstacles to poverty. Over 1000+ agencies and state associations across the country are working every day to create opportunities and transform the lives of their neighbors making communities stronger and helping families across the US thrive. This year, Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association, Inc., a proud member of the Community Action Network, recognized the occasion with a storytelling project entitled Thank You for Giving Community Action a Hand. The project was spearheaded by state agency head start programs. Children from the programs created pieces of handprint art that delightfully illustrated a small token of thanks to Arkansas legislators and symbolized the collaborative spirit that guides Community Action and legislators toward processes that cultivate social and economic mobility across Arkansas. The collection of artwork was presented to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on May 19 at the state capitol. “Each May, during Community Action Month, we reflect on the impact that state agencies have on Arkansas families,” said Tomekia Moore, Interim Executive Director of Arkansas Community Action Agencies. “Community Action continues to promote social and economic mobility for all Arkansans through needed services that bridge disparities and lessen hardships experienced by Arkansas families.” Community Action Agencies serve 99% of all American counties with life-changing services to help families achieve financial stability. All agencies are locally controlled and represented by the private, public, and low-income sectors of the community. “We are proud of our communities’ participation in the development and oversight of our programs”, said Moore. “Their engagement helps us to be more effective in our approach by determining the needs of Arkansas families.” To celebrate the continued suc

Read MoreACAAA celebrates Community Action Month

Goldie Fairchild

Goldie Fairchild, 96, of Sand Rock, AL passed away May 23, 2023 at home. Mrs. Fairchild was born July 10, 1926 in Knobel. She was a homemaker who enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, laughing, telling stories, singing and loved country music.

Read MoreGoldie Fairchild

Regional Job Fair Scheduled for June 8

Several local economic development partners will co-host a regional job fair at Black River Technical College in Pocahontas on Thursday, June 8 from 9am to 2pm. The NEA Intermodal, Randolph County Chamber of Commerce and Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce will cohost the event, which will give job seekers access to available jobs throughout Northeast Arkansas.

Read MoreRegional Job Fair Scheduled for June 8

Old friend returns to Hop Alley

Hop Alley in downtown Corning had a familiar visitor come to call when C.A. O’Daniel attended the third annual Hop Alley Rally on Saturday, May 20. The first Hop Alley Rally occurred on Saturday, May 18, 2019. In the months prior to that first event, people who remembered the alley and had experienced some of its history, shared their stories of Hop Alley. One such person was C.A. O’Daniel. C.A.’s family lived in Corning when he was growing up. In fact, Marylea Vines wrote about him and mentioned his family in her column, Rambling Vines in 1985. She wrote, “C. A. O’Daniel, from Pasadena, Texas, stopped by The Courier to renew his subscription. He and members of his family, including three of his sisters, were here for the 4th of July. These people are family of the late Mr. and Mrs. Cal O’Daniel and lived around here for years. I remember back in hard times...some of you think it is hard now... when the O’Daniel kids, especially C. A. and Myrtle, would pick wild blackberries and bring them to town to sell at any price, even a thin dime looked big back then. Myrtle is a little older than me and C. A. is just a few months younger then me and has 17 grandchildren!”

Read MoreOld friend returns to Hop Alley