News

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By PAM LOWE Clay County Courier There’s a new location for residents in Corning and the surrounding communities to receive medical care as the Pocahontas Medical Clinic opened its doors for business at 400 West 4th Street approximately six weeks ago. The clinic is in the building owned by Dr.

Monday, August 22, Governor Asa Hutchinson joined catfish farmers from across the state, Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward, and other industry leaders for the Arkansas Catfish Month proclamation presentation at the State Capitol. Among the farmers present for the occasion was Kenny Francis of Corning, an Arkansas Catfish Farmer of the Year for 2022. He and his wife, Danielle own and operate Francis Fish Company, LLC in Corning. Francis purchased the catfish operation from Doyle and Betty Cannady in 2018 and he credits them for pioneering the U.S. catfish industry in this area. The catfish harvest begins in March and runs through October. Francis sells between 10,000 – 15,000 pounds of catfish a week. “I am proud to farm U.S. farm-raised catfish in Arkansas because it is satisfying to know that my fish brings families joy,” said Francis last March after the announcement of being named Arkansas Catfish Farmer of Year. He serves on the board of Catfish Farmers of Arkansas and the Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board.

In 1921 the price of a shave in Clay County was 15 cents, a haircut cost 35 cents and a little baby girl was born to Arthur and Frona White on August 14. Grace White Sheridan celebrated her 101st trip around the sun last week. She celebrated by traveling to Cedarville, Arkansas where her family gathered at the historic Old Rock Schoolhouse. Multiple generations of Grace’s relatives, over 90 family members, enjoyed a day honoring her with good music, fun and food.

The annual West Clay County Field Day was held Monday, August 22, 2022 near Corning. The purpose of the tour was to showcase some of the Extension services on farm demonstration related to agriculture. The first stop on the tour was the corn hybrid demonstration on the Chad Price farm. New corn hybrids were discussed and viewed. The local yield results will be available this fall. This data assists producers in making decisions on what to plant the following year. Stewart Runsick, County Extension Agent, gave an update on nitrogen use in corn and tools the Extension has to monitor and fine tune nitrogen application in corn.

Every year fire department pumper trucks are to be tested for draft capability and pressure tests. ISO points are given for a number of things when a fire department is inspected. A department earns points for things such as training, equipment, testing, and water pressure. The points go towards a department ISO rating and an ISO rating can help decrease insurance rates to homeowners in a community depending on the rating associated with the department.

Clay County elected officials attended the 54th annual Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) Conference in Hot Springs on August 10-12, which had a record attendance this year with more than 850 attendees. Those attending enjoyed a slate of educational breakout sessions. Among the speakers were opening session speaker, Congressman Bruce Westerman, National Association of Counties 1st Vice President Mary Jo McGuire, Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Chris Jones, who could not attend but sent a pre-recorded interview with Legal Counsel Lindsey French, Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin and Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sarah Huckabee Sanders.