News

School Board purchases new buses; approves certified salaries The Corning School Board met at 7:00 p.m. on April 11, 2023 with four members present.

Corning Gifted and Talented students traveled to Conway on Saturday, April 1 to the Arkansas Odyssey of the Mind State Finals at Hendrix College. After a long day of Long Term Performances, Style, and Spontaneous competitions the Corning’s Problem 5 Division 1 Team; The Most Dramatic Problem Ever, walked away with the State Championship and are advancing to World Finals at Michigan State University in East Lansing in May. Problem 3 Division 2 Team; Classics . . . Walls of Troy, claimed State Runner-Up and will also advance to the World Finals. The Problem 1 Division 2 Team; Vehicle Pirates and the Treasures, represented Corning well placing third.

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Harper Rorex, a senior at Sloan Hendrix High School is a recipient of the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship. This scholarship is the most academically rigorous scholarship program offered for high school seniors. In order to receive this scholarship, students must have a minimum superscore or composite of 32 on the ACT and a 3.50 academic grade point average. This scholarship pays tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board up to $10,000 per year. Harper is the son of Clifford and Amanda Rorex. He is the grandson of Bob and Cathy Harpole and Terry and Carolyn Rorex and the great-grandson of Ann Ladd of Corning.

The Knobel community came out to an Easter egg hunt enjoyed by local children on Saturday, April 1 that was hosted by residents and the city of Knobel. Those helping with the event included Kelley Vallance, Carley Vallance, Marilyn Jones and Mary Hancock who hid Easter eggs. Tamera Tate and Kim Hobbs who cooked hotdogs, and Marcia Woodhouse and Carley Vallance who registered children for the hunt and prizes. Others who provided refreshments assisted in the egg hunt were Mayor Tim Hobbs, Betty Weese, Anna Russom, Deloris Tyler, Darrell E. Tyler, Jayetta Wilson Tyler, and Tina Stormes. The event was sponsored by the Quack Shack, Walmart - Pocahontas, Stateline Liquor Store, Legacy Equipment of Corning, McDonalds of Corning, Carley Vallance, Carter Cox and Knobel Grocery Store.

By the time I was 16, I had a terrible travel bug. We never had gone any great distance from Clay County at that time. Maybe a trip to Tippah County, Mississippi, when I was 10, or perhaps to St. Louis to visit my Aunt Jean. So, in 1959, when my new bride and I decided to move to San Diego, California, I was ready. We left St. Louis and came to my parent’s house near Corning. From there we headed down US 67, then somewhere near Little Rock we headed west, stopping in SE Oklahoma to visit some of my wife’s relatives. From there on it was open highway - Wichita Falls, Texas, Lubbock, Texas, Roswell, New Mexico, Alamogordo, New Mexico, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Lordsburg, New Mexico, Wilcox, Benson, Tucson, Yuma, Arizona and finally up over the mountains and down into San Diego. I loved it! I am not sure either of us ever slept. I wanted to see more, and in 1962, I got to see SE Asia. Not the same though. But in about 1966 or ‘67 I became an OTR trucker, and I was home. Those were the good years… the open road, little traffic for the most part. Most people were courteous, a few people would speed but it was not much of a problem. I drove for about 20+ years, logging slightly over 2,000,000 miles. I enjoyed it greatly for the most part. I saw every state in the Continental USA except for Vermont. It was a great 20 years, and I retired from it in 1987. Since then I have traveled quite a lot. I don’t like flying, so I had rather drive. We have traveled all over the country doing art shows and it has been fun. But something has happened, especially since COVID. In the early days of the outbreak the roads were almost empty, not only from traffic, but from law enforcement as well. That was understandable, based on the conditions of the times. But the thing I noticed was the speed increased.. greatly increased. 75 mph was ignored, and people were driving 85+. Yeah, I know, cars are safer and tires are better. But not at 85mph. The average public is just not that good.

Hello Clay County Courier readers, Spring is here! However, it hasn’t felt much like it as the days preceding the start of spring saw temperatures well below freezing. With the winter hibernation over, many places that had closed for seasonal repairs are back open again.

LITTLE ROCK – The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved legislation that lengthens prison sentences for violent offenders and requires prison inmates to work harder to qualify for parole. The legislation is Senate Bill 495.