March 9 Magnolia Police report the arrest of 24 year old Will Gantt of Magnolia. The arrest stems from the execution of a search warrant at teh Quality Inn. Gantt is charged with 2 counts of possession of a schedule 2 narcotic with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphanalia, and forgery in the second degree. Police also report teh arrest of Brandi Ward from teh Walker reek area on a felony warrant for residential burglary. Magnolia Police also report that 53 year old John Marvin Greer of Magnolia has been arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine, fleeing, resisting arrest, posession of drug paraphanalia, fictitious tags, and no proof of insurance. All of hte charges stem from when officers tried to stop Greer's vehicle for the fictitious tags.
March 9 The Magnolia hospital Auditor said that the hospital lost 3.2 million from operations in 09. The good news, the hospital has decreased expenses and now has gone from 256 full time equivalent employees to 240. Bill Couch said that the losses came from bad debts and charity care which together amounted to around 5 million dollars on the year. The good news is that for the first 4 months of the current fiscal year, the hospital has been in the black 3 out of 4 months and year to date is still in the black. For January the hospital had a profit of $165,749. Cathy King, Cheif Financial Officer, said that the February costs will be higher due to items related to the move into the new building. Darrell Chatelain reported that the asbestos abatement team is working on the old building currently and that it will take from 6-8 weeks to finish, then the building will be torn down. He estimated that teh demolition and costruction of the new parking lots will be complete around the end of August.
March 9 There is a Lakeside water association meeting at 6:30pm at the water office on March 9th.
March 9 Ther eis a lenten soup luncheon from 11:30am to 1:00pm on March 10th. It will be at First Presbyterian Church. Orders are $7.00. You can call 234-2601 for telephone orders beginning at 10am, but please fax group orders by 5pm March 9th to 234-2551.
March 9 There will be a town hall meeting for "Underage Drinking and Drug Abuse" from noon to 2:00pm at the SAU Reynold's Center. The speaker will be Jason Pye and lunch is compliments of HEALTH Coalition of Columbia County. Seating is limited so RSVP at 235-3789, by fax 235-3755 or email Melinda.Harrell@arkansas.gov.
March 8 The filing period for candidates in the May Primary ended at noon Monday. Just before the period ended, Denny Foster, the Columbia County Sheriff appointed by the Qourum Court, filed as a republican candidate for Columbia County Judge, he will face Incumbent Judge Larry Atkinson, a Democrat. For Sheriff there are 3 candidates: Johnny Hayes, Mike Loe and Bret McMahen, al Democrats. For JP District 4, the candidates are Democrats Penny Cook and Tony Young. For JP District 10 Christine Durham and David Graham, both Rebublicans for Magnolia South Constable Donald F. Baker; Jiley McCaskill Jr. and Scotty Young. Running unopposed with be Sandra Cawyer for Tax assesor, Cindy Walker Tax Collector and County Treasurer, Marion Barnard.
March 8 There will be a special Stephens board of Educaiton meeting Monday, March 8th at 5:00pm in the High School Library.
March 8 There will be no Magnolia City Council Meeting today. Instead, the regular March council meeting will be held the 4th Monday in March, March 29th at the regular 5pm time.
March 8 The Waldo City Council will meet Monday, March 8th at 6pm in the Waldo City Hall.
March 8 The SAU baeball team won all three of their games in the Heffington Optical Classic in Springfield, Missouri. The Muleriders whipped the host team, Drury University, 10 - 0 Friday night, and they beat Missouri University of Science and Technology 15 - 9 Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, the Muleriders banged out 19 hits in a 15 - 4win over Saint Cloud State. Cannon Lester continued his hot hitting with three hits, including two solo home runs. Lester set three school career records over the weekend; he is now the career leader in hits, runs scored and total bases. Lester is also closing in on th school record for doubles and home runs. Jake Astor, Pat Johnson and Gavan McCauley also had three hits apiece Sunday. Nick Paschal hit a grand slam, and Brandon Choate had a three run double. Dan Bream pitched 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Bryan Dixon finished to earn his first save. The fourth ranked Muleriders improved to sixteen and three for the season. they begin conference baseball action at home this weekend againt Harding University. All of SAU's conference baeball games will be broadcast on Magnolia's Country 99.1 an dat www.magnoliaradio.com.
March 8 The SAU softball team was scheduled to open conference play over the weekend at Arkanas Tech University in Russellville. But eleven Lady Muleriders are down with the flu, so they have rescheduled the series for March 23rd and 24th.
