News

JULY 16

Summer Reading 2024 has come to an end at the Calhoun County Library, with our young readers racking up a record-breaking 936 hours of reading! Our two reading challenge winners, Edward and Byron Coston, received LED light strips for their hard work this summer. They (and their mom) read over 50 hours together! We had so much fun at all of our craft and activity programs, and the teen lock-in was a big success with 13 kids staying overnight at the library. Our Expedition Yeti escape room was a hit, and can still be made available with just a little bit of notice if any groups want to try their luck. With the new school schedule starting soon, the library hopes to be able to provide some more programming during the year. First up is this Friday’s 4-H Changemakers informational meeting, for kids ages 11 and up who like technology and want to get some hands-on experience with coding and robotics. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Summer Reading Program, and to community members Michael Gardner, Becca Starr, Janette Goolsby, Ruth Robinson, and any others whose names have escaped us for their invaluable contributions to the kids’ enjoyment of their public library this summer. We are proud to be part of this community, and are already looking forward to next year’s art-themed summer reading program!

Principals, Policies New for 2024-25 School Year

Camden, Arkansas, July 9, 2024 – Today, at approximately 12:28 PM, SAU Tech security received a report that a man with what appeared to be a rifle was spotted at the far edge of the woods outside the fence at the Arkansas Fire Training Academy (AFTA). County authorities were immediately notified and began searching the area, using a drone to canvass the vicinity. Deputy Director Jamie Goodwin promptly locked down the AFTA, and the main campus followed suit. The AFTA is located approximately three miles from the main campus.

CONWAY, AR (07/08/2024)Randi Scarbrough of Hampton, AR, was named to the spring 2024 Dean’s List at the University of Central Arkansas.

South Arkansas Sun’s very own columnist, Jeri Shire keeps her hot streak alive for the seventh year! Jeri was awarded first place for Best Humorous Column of 2024 by the Arkansas Press Association. Jeri states, ’I’ve won awards every year since Larry took over the paper – except last year when I missed the entry deadline!’

With the new school year approaching fast there is still much to do before the children return for another successful term. Tom Sawyer proves that no loose end is too much for him to tie when it comes to the students of the Hampton School District.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) presented 526 awards to 478 spring 2024 graduates.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – On Sunday, June 23, 2024, Arkansas State Police (ASP) Colonel Mike Hagar briefed the media on the latest developments related to a Fordyce grocery store shooting that occurred Friday, June 21, 2024.

This Fourth of July, I’m going to mess with our family favorite. Well, just a little bit. Instead of baking and preparing strawberry shortcake the traditional way using homemade, baked shortcake biscuits that heat up my kitchen on a hot summer day, I’m taking a shortcut and buying prepared frozen pound cake and creating colorful red, white and blue strawberry mini shortcakes on a stick.