Train collision claims life of Polk County man

Editor’s Note:

OLT’s Wednesday Night at the Lyric is this week, showcasing “West Side Story” on July 14 at 6:30 PM. Admission is free and concessions are available for purchase.

Mena Police Department reports for the week of July 4th through July 10rd, 2021:

Polk County Circuit Court – Criminal Division

After many years of service, our time and temperature display stopped working here at the Cooperative in Mena. We have acquired a new sign, and with the new sign many of you have been asking about the mascot being displayed. So, we wanted to take the opportunity to let you

On Saturday, May 15, 2021, a Deputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office stopped a white Jeep driven by Samuel Leon Bissell, age 40, of Mena. During the stop and a subsequent search of the vehicle, Deputies found approx. 113 grams of Methamphetamines, loaded syringes, scales, pills, approx.…

Law enforcement professionals from local police forces to sheriff’s departments, state police and federal law enforcement agencies leave home each day not knowing what challenges they will experience, but ready to face danger head on in order to make the communities they serve safer.

The Arkansas legislature enacted several new pro-life laws during the 2021 regular session.

When an officer is killed, it is not only a loss to the agency, it’s a loss to our entire state.

From when you can drive in the left lane to regulating autonomous cars, the 93rd General Assembly made several changes to laws regarding our roadways. This week, we want to update you on these upcoming changes. Act 1090 states a vehicle shall not be driven upon the left lane of a multilane h…

Congratulations to Abby McIntyre, recipient of the Rachel Norman Memorial Choir Scholarship. Abby is a senior at Cossatot River High School and plans to attend Henderson State University in the fall and major in vocal music education. She is a 6 year member of the Cossatot River Choirs and a…

$3,000 Grant Will Help the Library Work with Proprietors to Promote

Fiscal issues took center stage during the final week of the legislative session.

A major key in keeping our community fire safe is awareness and education! With this thought in mind, the Mena Fire Department is working with National Fire safety Council, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to provide fire prevention materials for our community through their Annual F…

Spring-like weather is back, and so is the Master Gardners’ annual Plant Sale!

City of Mena Mayor Seth Smith signed a proclamation on Friday, April 16, declaring April 26th through April 30th, 2021 as Reentry Awareness Week for the City of Mena. On March 23, 2021, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed a state proclamation representing the support given by state offic…

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge encourages Arkansans to clean out their medicine cabinets and bring any unused or expired medications to one of more than 250 Prescription Drug Take Back Day drop-off locations. This year’s Drug Take Back Day in Polk County is scheduled for April 24 from 9 a.…

Nidec Plant Manager Jim Stroope and his leadership team provided Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge a detailed tour of the facility last Thursday during her visit to Mena.

Last week, the Rich Mountain Bucks softball and baseball teams were in action. On Thursday, Bucks Softball hosted 11th ranked Seminole State.

April 9, 2021

"Many things and many people contribute to making Mena a special place. In 2021 Southwest Artists will celebrate its 76th year of contribution to making this part of Arkansas unique. It began in 1945 when Artists and Artisans living in Southwest Arkansas began getting together to paint and b…

The Easter Bunny visited downtown Mena on Saturday to the delight of the numerous boys and girls who visited him at Suzie Q’s. Parents had a good time with this impromptu photo opp. Goodies were given to children and a bunny rabbit stuffed toy with basket was given away. This was part of the…

Despite a national pandemic and directives placed on Arkansans and other states, the real estate market has remained strong in Polk County. Since last spring of 2020, Polk County has been trending more towards a seller’s market according to local brokers and agencies. “We are most definitely…

Polk County Clerk, Terri Harrison has announced that she will not be seeking re-election in 2022. “After great thought and consideration and much prayer, I have decided that I will retire and not seek re-election at the end of this term,” shared Harrison. “I do believe that for everything th…

The Mena City Council met last week in a special meeting and voted to accept a $6.6 million dollar loan from the USDA with an interest rate of 1.25 percent for forty years. According to Mayor Seth Smith, the urgency in signing the agreement was to secure the interest rate, which may increase…

LITTLE ROCK – The legislature has approved a broad reform of the laws governing water providers, a measure that sponsors have been working on for the past four years.

Close to 500 bills have been signed into law so far during the 2021 Regular Session.

Mena Water, Acorn Water, and Freedom Water customers will soon receive notices of an Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) violation regarding the treatment of the water shared Charles Pittman, General Manager of Mena Water utilities.

We are very lucky to get a doctor and orthopedist of Dr. Bean’s caliber to our system,” MRHS CEO Jay Quebedeaux told the group in his introduction. “He has had very successful practices his whole career.”

The Rich Mountain Conservation District (RMCD) held a tree planting day on March 16th, 2021 at the Cossatot River School Outdoor Classroom. Personnel from the RMCD, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Arkansas Forestry Division discussed the importance of trees and forestry i…

Opioid addiction is a major problem nationwide, and we are no different here in western Arkansas. We have seen lives ruined, families damaged, and numerous deaths associated with the abuse of narcotic pain killers. The odds are very high that everyone reading this knows someone who has a pro…

Polk County Library Teams Up with Cossatot River School District to Expand Access to Ebooks and Digital Audiobooks

The following information was received from Polk County Sheriff Scott Sawyer for the week of March 15, 2021 – March 21, 2021.  The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.  Individuals charged and whose names appear in this column may subm…

Mena Police Department reports for the week of March 14th through March 20th, 2021:

The 2021 Ouachita Expressions award recipients are: Best in Show, “Textures” oil by Carolyn MacMahon; First Place, “Dragon” Blown Glass by Marvin Gentry; Second Place, “Summer†Sisters” Pastel by Anita Bogard; Third Place, “Oak Leaf  Topper” Wood by Stephen Knott; Honorable Mention,  “Hanging…

Annually, Governor Asa Hutchinson and First Lady Susan Hutchinson traditionally host an event recognizing Arkansas’ most outstanding high school seniors from around the State. From the Class of 2021, Acorn High School proudly selected Jayden Quebedeaux and Corryn Holland for this honor and t…

Mena Downtown Partners president, Linda Ostman, advises that more activities will be coming back to downtown.  She emphasized that safety guidelines are a part of this planning.  On Friday and Saturday, April 1 and 2, Easter comes to downtown.  For both days, visitors are invited to visit pa…

During the March 23, U of A Cooperative Extension Service Interpretive Event, Polk County Quorum Court members were presented with a review and accomplishments of the Polk County extension office. 

Arkansas’ mask mandate came to an end on March 31, 2021. Since July 2020, the mandate required adults to wear masks in all indoor areas with non-household members present if it can’t be assured people will stay 6 feet or more away from each other. Masks are now longer longer required statewi…

Razorbacks ranked for first time since 2018

Due to extreme weather conditions, this week’s edition of The Mena Star will be delayed to subscribers as well as single copy distribution. We appreciate the support of our readership and look forward in continuing to serve you in 2021.

Little Rock, Ark. — Feb. 14, 2021 — The Electric Cooperatives of