Stories by Tom Sissom
RSSPoultry Festival Cooks Up Tropical Fun
A small section of Rogers was transported to the tropics Friday and Saturday as The Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma staged a “Party in Paradise” for the organization’s annual Poultry Festival. Continue reading...
Meetings Increase County Costs
Benton County’s justices of the peace have been busy enough in 2013 they want to add $10,000 to the budget to cover the cost of their meetings. Continue reading...
Ambulance Formula May Be Elusive
Benton County officials have committed to develop a formula to determine the cost of rural ambulance service, but at least one provider said Wednesday he has doubts about the idea. Continue reading...
Panel OKs Ambulance Deal
Siloam Springs Must Now Approve Plan
Benton County’s justices of the peace reached a compromise with Siloam Springs over the 2014 cost of rural ambulance service provided by the city, contingent on the city’s approval and the county developing an acceptable formula to set the level of reimbursement in the future. Continue reading...
County To Continue Ambulance Talks
Benton County’s justices of the peace will continue to discuss rural ambulance service today as questions about Siloam Springs costs of providing service remained unanswered Monday. Continue reading...
Wet Weather Delays Road Work
Plans to increase the 2013 road paving program for Benton County have been hit hard by the wet spring weather. Continue reading...
Gravette Family Keeps Farm Tradition Growing
Farming is a family tradition for Jeff and Melissa Smith of Gravette, one they want to pass on to their two sons. Continue reading...
Benton County Farm Family Named
Farming is a family tradition for Jeff and Melissa Smith of Gravette, one they’re working hard to pass on to their two sons. Continue reading...
County Still Seeks Ambulance Funding
Benton County officials tentatively have agreed to pay for rural ambulance service in 2014, but the county still lacks a long-term funding method for the service. Continue reading...
County OKs Ambulance Costs
Benton County moved closer to resolving the debate over rural ambulance service Tuesday when the Finance Committee voted to accept 2014 budget requests from six of the eight ambulance service providers. Continue reading...
Cities Defend Ambulance Budgets
Siloam Springs and Rogers officials said their reimbursement requests for rural ambulance service are based on their costs and county officials are welcome to look for a better deal. Continue reading...
County Planning Review Continues
Benton County officials continue reviewing planning regulations, but said the process won’t be complete for some months. Continue reading...
County Judge Promotes Music Venue
County Judge Bob Clinard said Thursday it’s “time to move forward” on the Osage Creek Performing Arts Pavilion. Continue reading...
Voters To Decide Fee Issue
Northeast Benton County Fire Department officials hope voters in their emergency medical services district see the virtues of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Continue reading...
Bonuses Approved
Quorum Court OKs Money For County Workers
A crowd of about 100 employees, friends and family broke into applause and cheers Thursday night when Benton County’s justices of the peace approved an employee bonus package. Continue reading...
County To Debate Bonuses
Benton County’s justices of the peace are set to decide on proposed bonuses for employees when the Quorum Court meets tonight. Continue reading...
Delinquent Taxes Net $3.3 Million
Benton County’s school districts and city and county governments recovered about $3.3 million last year in delinquent property taxes from the Commissioner of State Lands Office. Continue reading...
Storm blamed for Springdale death; more severe weather possible Tuesday
Officials say one person was killed in Springdale Monday night when a storm packing winds of nearly 70 mph threw a street sign into the victim's vehicle. Continue reading...
County Goes Wireless For Courts
Benton County’s courthouse is 85 years old, but the judicial system wants to keep pace with 21st century technology. Continue reading...
Courts Building Plans To Be Studied
Benton County justices of the peace advanced plans to study where a new courts building might be located if the county proceeds with the project. Continue reading...
Two Floods Combined
Benton County officials have received some good news about flooding that hit twice in the last month. Continue reading...
Panel Forwards Bonus Proposal
A committee of Benton County’s justices of the peace voted Tuesday to send employee bonuses to the Quorum Court for approval. Continue reading...
Ambulance Problem Still Out There For County
Benton County Judge Bob Clinard said Thursday’s lengthy discussion of rural ambulance service didn’t contribute to solving the problem of how to keep the service available. Continue reading...
Rain Rushes Through County Again
For the second time in three weeks, heavy rain prompted a disaster declaration for Benton County. Continue reading...
Feasibility Study’s Framework Discussed
While moving forward with a feasibility study on a new courts building, Benton County’s justices of the peace also began to define issues the study won’t address. Continue reading...
Flood Damage Likely To Exceed Requirement
Damage from the April 18 flooding in Benton County likely will exceed the level needed to qualify for disaster assistance. Continue reading...
Bonus Proposal Still Under Consideration
A proposal to give bonuses to Benton County employees survived Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting, but some justices of the peace said they will weigh the cost of ambulance service and possible raises in 2014 before making a final decision. Continue reading...
Panel To Discuss Service
Special Meeting Set Regarding Ambulance
Benton County’s ongoing debate over rural ambulance service will be the topic of a special meeting Thursday of the Quorum Court’s Finance Committee. Continue reading...
Cottrell Set to Retire
Dennis Cottrell is ready to walk away from work and get on with life. Continue reading...
Panel: Use Reserve for Ambulance Service
A panel of Benton County’s justices of the peace recommended Thursday the county pay $924,394.23 out of reserve for rural ambulance service in 2014, with a future funding method yet to be determined. Continue reading...
Panel: Use Reserve For Ambulance Service
A panel of Benton County’s justices of the peace recommended Thursday the county pay $924,394.23 out of reserve for rural ambulance service in 2014, with a future funding method yet to be determined. Continue reading...
Officials Hope To Make Ambulance Decision
Meeting Will Be Held Today
Benton County officials need to make some decisions about rural ambulance service, Justice of the Peace Patrick Carr said Wednesday. Continue reading...
Panel OKs Study For New Building
A proposed new courts building took a small step forward Tuesday when the Benton County Quorum Court’s Public Safety Committee voted unanimously for a $65,000 study on the project. Continue reading...
More Precincts Coming
State Passes Bill Limiting Sectors To 3,000 Voters
The number of voter precincts in Benton County will increase by the end of 2013, after having been reduced just last year. Continue reading...
New Legislation Could Help Veterans
Veterans seeking work in Arkansas have a better chance now of landing a job with the passage of legislation giving employers legal protection if they adopt a veterans preference policy. Continue reading...
State Could Help With Storm Damage
Benton County officials expect to qualify for state disaster aid even as they continue to assess the damage caused by last week’s flooding. Continue reading...
Some County Voters To Decide Ambulance Fee
Voters in northeastern Benton County will decide July 9 if they will pay $100 a year per household for ambulance service instead of $40. Continue reading...
Comptroller Recommends Update
County Reviews Written Credit Card Policy
A small problem with some of the 67 credit cards available to Benton County elected officials and employees has prompted a look at a written policy for use of the cards. Continue reading...
Ryan Resigns Position
County Planner Cites Distance From Family
Putting his family first, Chris Ryan resigned as Benton County’s planning and environmental director Tuesday. Continue reading...
Finance Committee To Look At County Bonuses
Benton County’s Personnel Committee voted 4-1 Monday to send proposed employee bonuses on to the county’s Finance Committee. Continue reading...
Work Continues On Planning Regulations
Benton County’s review of planning regulations has cleared one hurdle — review by the Quorum Court’s Legislative Committee — and has been returned to the Planning Board. Continue reading...
New Courts Building Makes Agenda
Benton County’s justices of the peace will hear a pitch for a new courts building when the Quorum Court’s Public Safety Committee meets April 30. Continue reading...
County Revives Issue
Ambulance Service Discussion Continues
Benton County’s justices of the peace are about to be handed a $1 million ambulance bill. Continue reading...
Panel Endorses Fee Vote
Special Election Could Happen To Decide On Ambulance Costs
Benton County officials endorsed a request Tuesday for a special election to raise the ambulance fees charged by the Northeast Benton County Fire Department from $40 to $100 annually. Continue reading...
Cleanup Help Sought
Volunteers Needed For Annual Event
Benton County’s spring cleanup is set for Saturday, and county officials are looking for people willing to give up some time to help out. Continue reading...
Mayors Upset With Legislature
Area mayors expressed dissatisfaction with local legislators Thursday, saying they had promoted “unnecessary” bills and failed to safeguard the interests of the cities. Continue reading...
Panel Approves Road Plan
Quorum Court To Review Spending Extra $1,520,000
Work on county roads will get a boost under a plan endorsed Tuesday by the Benton County Quorum Court’s Committee of the Whole. Continue reading...
County Officials Eye Reserve Money
Having nearly $15 million in reserve may be a good problem to have, but Benton County officials have plenty of solutions that would spend some or all of that money. Continue reading...
Planners OK Business Expansion
Plans to expand a wireless light manufacturing operation on Arkansas 12 east of Rogers won the approval of the Benton County Planning Board on Wednesday despite some neighbors’ concerns about traffic and drainage. Continue reading...
Panel OKs Road Plan
Justices Of The Peace Vote To Spend $1.1 Million From Reserve
A panel of Benton County justices of the peace endorsed an expanded 2013 road work plan Tuesday, voting to recommend the county spend about $1.1 million from the $14.2 million being held in reserve. Continue reading...
