Second-grade students from Watson Primary School in Huntsville sing Christmas songs at the Madison County Courthouse on Friday.

About 50 chicken growers affected by the closing of poultry company Cooks Venture met Dec. 7 in Green Forest to discuss their legal and financial options. The meeting was attended by Patrick Fisk, Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission director; District 28 State Sen. Bryan King, and Eddie Todd, president of the Mo-Ark Poultry Growers Association and incoming president of Arkansas Farmers Union. The farmers also heard from Tray Kitchens, a Little Rock lawyer who said the growers might have a case against Cooks Venture.

Former chicken growers for Cooks Venture, a Decatur-based poultry company that recently declared it will close, will gather at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Train Depot in Green Forest to discuss their future and, according to one farmer, put together a plan for potential litigation.

As the result of an agreement with the Madison County Quorum Court to purchase a new roll-off truck, fees have been increased at the Recycling Transfer Station in Huntsville and a station in Kingston closed in order to make the Solid Waste Department profitable. Even though County Judge Larry Garrett said he would like to find a way to re-open the Kingston station, he expects the station to close permanently on Saturday.

Polk Square in Huntsville lit up for the Christmas season Friday at the annual Lighting of the Square.

FAYETTEVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA — New River Gorge became the nation’s second national river in 1978, its’ designation following the country’s first national river established in 1972: Arkansas’ Buffalo National River.

In an emotional and sometimes confusing special meeting, the Madison County Quorum Court on Monday night voted to purchase a new Mack roll-off truck for the Solid Waste & Recycling Department that was recommended by department manager Christal Baker last summer.

JASPER — After a town hall meeting last Thursday, proponents of turning public land around the Buffalo National River into a national park preserve said they would step back from the idea. The following day, a website touting the benefits of re-designating the land was taken down. 

JASPER — Nearly 1,200 people — more than double the town’s population — packed the Jasper High School Auditorium on Thursday night to voice concerns and pose questions regarding a proposal to turn the public lands around the Buffalo National River into the Buffalo River National Park Preserve.

The Runway Group of Bentonville is “retracting” the idea of turning federal land around the Buffalo National River into a national park preserve, according to State Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, who represents District 28, which includes Madison County.

Along with establishing a new dog kennel, the City of Huntsville will be revamping its rules and regulations regarding animal control in the coming weeks in order to put more teeth into how it collects stray or nuisance animals.

Faith Thomas was crowned as the 2023 Homecoming Queen. She was escorted Friday night by her father, Danny Thomas.

A coalition floating the idea of making federal lands near the Buffalo National River a national park preserve says the designation would make the area the “most active-use National Park in the country for outdoor recreation.”

Though the Huntsville City Council voted at its last meeting to purchase an acre of land at the Huntsville Municipal Airport for the construction of one new hangar and up to three more in the future, a final decision on the transaction has not been made.

The Madison County Quorum Court took a step toward making a new county jail a reality Monday night by approving an ordinance authorizing a bond purchase agreement with Stephens, Inc., that will fund construction of the facility beginning in November. The court unanimously voted in favor of the ordinance after its third reading by title only.

The Huntsville City Council voted Monday night to purchase an acre of land at the airport for $100,000 for the construction of one hangar and potentially four more if the city follows through on a “step-by-step” plan to buy three more acres from landowner Charles Coger.

Cade Jackson, right, son of Bobby and Tracie Jackson, sold his Grand Champion Steer to Reliable Poultry, represented by Kendall Proctor, left, during the Junior Livestock Sale at the Madison County Fair Saturday night. There were 54 entries in the sale. A special fair section will be published in next week’s Madison County Record.

The City of Huntsville is “executing a demeanor of patience” toward the company responsible for the delay of delivery of a new fire engine purchased in 2021, said Mayor Travis Dotson.

Madison County Judge Larry Garrett informed the quorum court Monday night that bonds for the jail project will be sold on Oct. 31 and he will be ready to sign contracts on Nov. 1.

Madison County Judge Larry Garrett spoke as a special guest before the Huntsville City Council Monday night on the possibility of the city waiving building permit fees for the new county jail.