Visitors to downtown Huntsville will likely notice a new feature atop the Basham Building: a newly-installed replica of a 1920s-era Ford water tank.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., who represents the 4th Congressional District, visited Jasper on Dec. 4 to listen to constituents’ opinions regarding re-designating land around the Buffalo National River and to alleviate concerns about the effects of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE Act) on the area.  

The Huntsville School Board delayed taking any official action on Superintendent Jonathan Warren’s evaluation and contract renewal until the regular board meeting on Monday, Dec. 11. 

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.

Miranda Evans introduces her son, Beckham Evans, to Santa Claus Saturday night at Polk Square during the Huntsville Christmas Parade.

On a recent morning, volunteers at the Loaves and Fishes food pantry, a ministry of the First Baptist Church of Huntsville, filled pickup orders with items from the pantry shelves. The volunteers stayed busy, using small carts to whisk the food out to the clients. They worked off lists containing such items as chicken broth, tuna, grape jelly, peanut butter, sugar, flour, refried beans and flavored oatmeal packets. A single cartload might be filled to overflowing. The pantry had already run out of its Thanksgiving meat supply, said Glenna Dotson, co-director, though several large Thanksgiving meals donated by a Springdale hospital remained for giveaway.

The Huntsville Planning Commission met briefly in regular session Monday night.

The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas has announced it is awarding 32 grants worth more than $3 million to organizations across Arkansas. Together the groups — made up of schools and non-profit, civic and municipal organizations — will work to improve the well-being of people in each of Arkansas’ 75 counties.

The Madison County Public Library, in partnership with the Carroll and Madison Library System, will host free basic digital literacy training workshops for the community to help close the digital divide. 

Huntsville Fire Chief Kevin Shinn recommends caution when heating one’s home as temperatures begin to dip down into the lower 30s and upper 20s and winter just around the corner.

The St. Paul Town Council had preliminary discussions about its 2024 budget during its monthly meeting on Nov. 14. The council also discussed an old church property that has been offered to the city. 

The following felony cases were resolved in Madison County Circuit Court during the month of November.

A local childcare center hit a major milestone recently when it turned 20 years old. 

The family of a Huntsville woman who died in a car wreck in 2022 received her graduation certificate from the Madison County Drug Treatment and Diversion Court in a ceremony held recently at the Madison County Courthouse.

The Huntsville Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday.

A De Queen man accused of killing three family members in 2021 south of Wesley has had his trial postponed until April 22 after it was disclosed that the alleged gun used in the murders was found by a farmer near Conway.

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 on Friday, Nov. 17, at the annual Lighting of the Square.

The Madison County Quorum Court’s budget committee discussed giving potential raises to county employees at its meeting last week. County Judge Larry Garrett said the county is about $2 million under budget and recommended giving raises with at least some of the extra money.

A De Queen man accused of killing three family members in 2021 south of Wesley is scheduled to stand trial beginning Monday in Madison County Circuit Court in Huntsville.