A niche publications editor with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette died Monday in a hunting-related accident in Arkansas County.
James K. Joslin, 46, of Stuttgart was hunting in a rural area near Lodge Corner and Bayou Meto when he fell from a hunting stand, according to Arkansas County Coroner Cooper Essex. Joslin died at the scene.
Joslin told a person about 3:30 p.m. Monday that he was going hunting, Essex said.
Joslin's body has been sent to the state Crime Laboratory for an autopsy, but Essex said Joslin's death was accidental.
Officials with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission also are investigating the death since it occurred during a hunting activity.
Joslin's death was at least the fifth in a hunting-related activity in Arkansas since July 1, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Two of the deaths, including Joslin's, involved falls from hunting stands. The other three involved a firearm discharge.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said four people died from hunting-related activities in 2014-15, three people died from hunting-related activities in 2013-14 and four people died from hunting-related activities in 2012-13.
Joslin was editor of the Tri-Lakes, Three Rivers and River Valley & Ozark zoned editions of the Democrat-Gazette.
An Arkansas native and graduate of Arkansas Tech University, Joslin worked at newspapers in England, Stuttgart, Russellville and Pine Bluff before joining the Democrat-Gazette. He was a page designer with the Democrat-Gazette from 2007-09. He joined the zoned editions editorial staff in 2011 and was promoted to editor in 2012.
"James had a heart of gold and was always worried about the needs of everyone else," said Staci Miller Franklin, niche publications director for the Democrat-Gazette. "On his vacation day [Monday], he texted his staff to make sure they were doing OK. James treated everyone like family, and that's what we will miss the most.
"He was full of love, life and hunting or fishing stories. I can't imagine anyone ever meeting James and not loving him."
Funeral arrangements are pending.
State Desk on 01/20/2016