Arkansas farmers are expected to receive increased financial assistance through the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs this year. (Photo courtesy of Jenna Martin/Cross County Extension Service.)
Arkansas farmers will get as much as a little over $1 billion in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage program payments starting this month.
The programs will pay out about $13.8 billion to the nation’s eligible farmers for the 2025 crop year. It’s the largest annual payout since the programs were established with the 2014 Farm Bill.
Arkansas farmers received a projected $31 million from the two programs last year for the 2024 crop, said Hunter Biram of the University of Arkansas Extension Service.
Farmers will get close to $840 million from the two programs for the 2025 crop year.
The roughly $1 billion total includes ARC, PLC and ad hoc economic assistance through the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, Biram said.
The payments are projected to cover roughly a quarter of net losses, not production costs, that Arkansas farmers were expected to face from the 2025 growing season.
WYNNE — The Cross County Community Foundation held its annual Giving Tree grant ceremony Tuesday at the Women’s Progressive Club building in downtown Wynne.
Grants were presented during the ceremony to a number of nonprofits and others serving Cross County.
Grant recipients included Second Chance DV SA Shelter, Special Olympics, the Wynne Rotary Club, Wynne Junior High School, Wynne High School EAST and the Odell McCallum Community Center.
Wynne Mayor Jennifer Hobbs accepted a grant on behalf of the city of Wynne to continue to bring spay-and-neuter clinics to the area and support efforts to humanely manage the community’s free-roaming cat population through TNR processes.
Food pantries serving the area, including the Good Shepherd Center, Cherry Valley Food Pantry, Hickory Ridge Food Pantry and the Storehouse Food Pantry, all received grants to help serve their clients ahead of the holiday season.
The Cross county Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee also received a grant that will be used to purchase tents for Youth Ag Day, which is being planned for 2027.
The Cross County Community Foundation presents Giving Tree grants annually, funded through donations to the Arkansas Community Foundation.
Other grant recipients included the F7 Action Network, the American Red Cross, Make-A-Wish Mid-South, the Cherry Valley Volunteer Fire Department, the Cross County Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Miss Polly’s, First United Methodist Church, Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry, Little Sheep Day School, Mending Hearts Child Safety Center and the Women’s Progressive Club.
WYNNE — Living Waters Ministry is getting closer to opening a women’s program in Cross County.
“We were given the old Tri-County Baptist Association building by Backstreet Florist where we’re putting together a women’s facility just like Living Waters. It will be called The Well. It will be formatted the way Jesus met the woman at the well,” said Tommy South. “It will be a place where, first of all, you’re just made welcome and you’re let known that you’re not alone in your struggle. It will be a place where we hope there’s a lot of rededication to life through a Christ-centered program.”
Doug Callahan, the director of Living Waters, said the new women’s unit could be ready sometime in early 2027.
“We’ve been doing that for about a year and a half. We had the building donated and probably a year and a half ago between Morton Baptist Church, First Baptist Church in Marion and Tri-County, we had $20,000 given to us for that building,” Callahan said. “With that $20,000, we supplied the labor and our guys, the only thing we really had to spend money on was the electrical and the plumbing. Adam Love, he came in and helped us on the electrical. Harrison Devazier helped us out a whole lot on the plumbing.
“We just got done doing laminate flooring. It’s all been sheetrocked. With that money that I said was donated, it was an 1,100-square-foot building and we added 1,100 more square feet to it,” he added. “We added two big rooms on. One for a sleeping quarters and one for a classroom. We went in and did all the sheetrock. It was just a shell when they gave it to us basically. Thank the Lord we do have that in the process. I’m going to say months away.”
Living Waters Ministry is about three years old. It’s located at the old Fondren Memorial Bible Church on U.S. 64 west of Wynne.
A warehouse next to Cross Church on S. Falls Blvd. serves as The Storehouse, which Living Waters opened to sell flea market-type items, with the funds benefiting the ministry.
Cross County’s Mick McClanahan competed in the Class 2A state golf tournament Wednesday near Hot Springs. He is pictured with Cross County golf coach Kyle James. (Photo courtesy of the Cross County School District.)
CROSS COUNTY — The Wynne boys golf team finished seventh overall at the Class 4A state golf tournament Wednesday at Harrison, shooting a 240 overall. Harrison won the Class 4A title with a 211 overall.
Wynne’s Presley Smith was 18th overall with a 77. Austin Owens finished 22nd with a 78. Witt Kennedy finished 43rd with an 85, and Jack King finished 66th with a 95.
Cross County’s Mick McClanahan also competed as an individual in the Class 2A state golf tournament at Diamondhead Golf Course near Hot Springs. McClanahan finished 49th out of 72 golfers, shooting a 101 on the day.
CHERRY VALLEY — The Cross County Thunderbirds will be back in the friendly confines of Thunderbird Stadium for their first home conference game of the season.
The T-Birds are currently 0-2 in conference with losses at Marked Tree and East Poinsett County.
Cross County coach Ty Mimbs said turnovers cost the T-Birds the win last week at EPC.
“We were 0-0 going into halftime. It was a back-and-forth battle. We both had some turnovers,” Mimbs said. “Our defense played really well. They made some stops in the red zone as well. It was really a one possession game and we kind of shot ourselves in the foot.
“We had an unnecessary penalty that kind of got us behind the chains and we punted. A few plays later, they end up scoring, taking the lead,” Mimbs added. “We get the ball back, and we end up throwing an interception with a minute left.”
Des Arc
Cross County will have another tough challenge this week in the Eagles of Des Arc. Both teams are 3-2 on the season. Des Arc is 1-1 in conference with a win over Clarendon and a loss to Marked Tree.
Hooten’s Arkansas Football picked Des Arc to finish second in the 2A-2 following last year’s state semifinal run that ended against Cross County, the eventual Class 2A state champions. The Eagles lost 16 seniors off last year’s team. They will be led this year by senior quarterback Hudson Goodman, who played most of last season with a fractured bone in his leg that he did not discover until basketball season. Other seniors expected to contribute to this year’s team include cornerback C.J. Wilhite, slot back Brayden Knupp and fullback Jamie Collins. The defense includes junior Brady Cain, who is the only returning starter up front.
“They’re good at what they do, offensively and defensively,” Mimbs said. “We’ve got to play disciplined football on defense. They run the flexbone and some of the triple options so we’ve got to make sure whatever structure we’re running we understand who’s the dive player, the quarterback player and who’s the pitch player. If you were to take a play off or you have a bust in your responsibility, then they can expose you.”
Mimbs said he’s glad to be returning to Cherry Valley where the T-Birds have played their best football this season.
“We’ve done a really good job of taking care of business in games at home. Harrisburg, Star City, two really good opponents that are up in a classification,” he said. “I feel like we played our best games then especially versus Star City. And then we played on the road for Marked Tree, EPC and Palestine.”
In junior high action tonight, Cross County plays at Des Arc in seventh-grade and junior high games beginning at 5:15 p.m. Wynne hosts Valley View in eighth-grade and junior high games beginning at 5:30 p.m.
JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas State will be looking to extend a winning streak against the South Alabama Jaguars when the two meet tonight at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro.
Arkansas State has won two in a row in the series. Both were very close. The Red Wolves beat South Alabama 18-16 at home two years ago and then 15-14 in Mobile last year.
Both were decided by Clune Van Andel game-winning field goals.
Arkansas State is 2-3 overall, 0-1 in Sun Belt games after losing a heartbreaker at Louisiana-Lafayette 23-20 last week.
South Alabama is 3-2, 1-0 in Sun Belt play. The Jaguars beat Louisiana-Monroe in their Sun Belt Conference opener 52-35 last Saturday.
VILLAGE CREEK — It’s another busy weekend at Village Creek State Park.
The activities will begin with a Grab Bag Adventures program at 11 a.m. Friday at the Lake Austell playground area. That will be followed by a What’s the Catch? program at 2 p.m. starting outside the visitor center. It will include a paper fish craft. The Storyteller’s Bag will follow at 4 p.m. at the amphitheater. The day concludes with a Checkpoint Challenge at 6 p.m. at the Lake Austell playground area.
Saturday kicks off with an Echoing Footsteps Hike at 8:30 a.m. starting from the Lake Austell boat ramp parking lot. It is a 1.5-mile moderate hike on the Military Road Trail. Wear hiking shoes and bring plenty of water. That will be followed by The Landscape Speaks: A Legacy Hike at 5 p.m. starting outside the visitor center. It is a half-mile easy stroll. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. A Stories and S’mores program follows at 6:30 p.m. at the field/fire ring at Camp Area A. Bring a camp chair, drinking water and your favorite campfire story. The day concludes with Autumn Stargazing at 7:30 p.m. in the same location. Bring a lawn chair, flashlight and insect repellent.
Then, on Sunday, a Big Ben Trail guided hike will be held at 10 a.m. starting outside the visitor center. It is a half-mile moderate hike. Wear sturdy shoes, insect repellent and bring drinking water. A Discovering Nature Journals program follows at 2 p.m. at the Lake Austell playground area. All materials will be provided. Finally, an Erosion in Motion program will be held at 4 p.m. at the amphitheater.
PARKIN — Parkin Archeological State Park will host a Keep Arkansas Beautiful downtown cleanup starting at 8 a.m. Friday.
Park staff will work with local residents and businesses to clean out the downtown Parkin planters, park and corner lots. Volunteers will meet at the park across from the Parkin Post Office.
Vests, gloves and trash bags will be provided.
The state park will also be hosting a Site Tour Hike at 9 a.m. Saturday. The tour will include a view of the mound and moat hand-built by native villagers. Visitors can also watch a 12-minute video on the history of the site and tour the two-room museum filled with artifacts.
A Journal Making program will also be held at Parkin at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Parkin Archeological State Park is located at 60 State Highway 184, off U.S. Highway 64 in Parkin. For questions, call 870-755-2500.
CHERRY VALLEY — Cross County EAST students Max Fisher and Avery Moore are working with Parkin Archeological State Park to help support the park’s preservation efforts.
The students recently met with Station Archaeologist Dr. Bob Scott to discuss how they could use their experience with ArcGIS software and website development to help the park.
The students are working to create a website to document the artifacts recovered from the site, which was a 17-acre Mississippian-period Native American village from A.D. 1000 to 1550.
The students will be using their skills in digital mapping and photography to preserve the history of the park for future generations.
WYNNE — Wynne High School’s Fields of Faith program will be held Wednesday, Oct. 21.
It will be held at Yellowjacket Stadium. Gates will open at 5:45 p.m. with worship starting at 6:30 p.m. The event will include activities, games, food, worship, student testimonies and a message.
Fields of Faith is a Fellowship of Christian Athletes program. Ashley Busby heads up the Wynne High School FCA chapter.
WYNNE — Walker’s Learning Academy in Wynne will host a We’re Strong Together Breast Cancer Awareness Walk on Saturday, Oct. 24.
“We do an annual walk. We do donations and all the donations that we have we donate it to CrossRidge to help women who do not have insurance with free mammograms,” said Leslie Cunningham of Walker’s Learning Academy. “This is something that we love to do to give back to the community. We encourage everyone to please come out. We will have snacks and also we will have gift bags.”
There is no cost to participate, but donations will be accepted to help provide free mammograms for uninsured women at CrossRidge Community Hospital.
“We use it for women who do not have enough health insurance or who don’t have health insurance at all that need the screening. That’s just taking away one more barrier to getting it,” said Joy Shepherd of CrossRidge. “Now, we have some money that’s available to help people that need the help to get the screening mammogram.”
The walk will be held from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Walker’s Learning Academy, 151 Murray Ave., Wynne.
HICKORY RIDGE — Saturday is the 2026 Miss Hickory Fest Pageant.
It will be held at 2 p.m. at the Cross County High School cafeteria.
There will be 32 contestants participating in the pageant. The categories include Baby Miss, Toddler Miss, Tiny Miss, Little Miss, Petite Miss, Young Miss, Teen Miss and Miss Hickory Fest.
Along with a crown, the Teen Miss Hickory Fest and Miss Hickory Fest winners will also receive a free meet-and-greet ticket to meet 2026 American Idol winner Hannah Harper during Hickory Fest.
Harper will be the featured performer during Hickory Fest, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, at Hickory Ridge City Park.
Extension economist Ryan Loy analyzed the cost of war-restricted shipments of fuel and fertilizer. (UADA 2024 file photo)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The surging prices of war-restricted fuel and fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea are expected to cost Arkansas farmers more than $343 million this year — and that’s conservative, according to an analysis from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
The analysis by Ryan Loy, assistant professor and extension economist, was released on Monday. Scott Stiles, extension economics program associate, provided research on the fuel and fertilizer prices. The research is supported by the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence.
“Fuel and fertilizer markets have been under pressure since the beginning of the Iran conflict, mainly because of disruptions at two shipping chokepoints,” Loy said. “Iran has largely blocked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since early March, and in September, the strait has been seeing record low transits of crude oil tankers.
“At the same time, the Houthis resumed attacks on Red Sea shipping in July, adding to the strain on supply chains already hit by the Hormuz closure. Both routes are major corridors for crude oil and fertilizer,” he said.
Loy and Stiles’ price analysis of the diesel that Arkansas farms use for planting, harvesting, irrigation and other functions will be built in to the 2027 Crop Enterprise Budgets. This online tool is used by farmers to determine which crops will keep their operations afloat.
The 2026 Crop Enterprise Budgets, published in November 2025, were based on a diesel price of $2.46 per gallon. Farm diesel is not priced the same way as diesel used on highways.
“Based on weekly farm diesel prices, the 2026 year-to-date average now stands at $3.84 per gallon, and the average since the conflict began — from March 1 through Sept. 30 — is $4.22 per gallon, or 72 percent above budgeted expense,” Loy said. “Farm diesel averaged $4.17 during planting — 69.6 percent above budget — and $4.72 so far during harvest, which is 92 percent above budget.
”When the 72 percent fuel increase is applied to each of the state’s major row crop commodities, it adds:
$34.22 per acre for soybeans
$37.44 for cotton
$40.33 for corn
$49.61 for peanuts
$74.94 for rice
As of Oct. 5, “the current price is $5.47, which is 122.4 percent above budget,” Loy said. “Highway diesel, used in farm trucks and delivery, is even higher at $5.94 currently and has averaged $4.93 over the farm season.”
“We consider this a conservative estimate since we do not weight fuel use toward planting and harvest, when usage peaks,” the two said. “Current harvest diesel prices are also well above the season average used in this analysis.”
Last month, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an executive order which temporarily allows farmers and loggers to use red-dyed diesel in their highway vehicles through late October 2026. The measure is meant to provide some relief on trucking costs over the next few weeks, while the bulk of this year’s added input costs remain.
Fertilizer
Urea is a fertilizer derived from petroleum. It was originally budgeted at $560 per ton for the 2026 season. As of May 2026, prices had increased roughly 39 percent, adding $37.39 per acre for cotton, $43.75 for rice, and $57.40 for corn.
“Combining the marginal increases in diesel and urea brings the estimated cost increases to $118.69 per acre for rice, $97.73 for corn, $74.83 for cotton, $49.61 for peanuts, and $34.22 for soybeans,” Loy said. “Peanuts and soybeans — both legumes that fix their own nitrogen — are assumed to have no urea-related expenses.”
According to the September acreage report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, soybeans were up 860,000 acres to 3.45 million. All rice is down 383,000 acres to 901,000, with long grain down 400,000 acres. Corn is down 50,000 acres to 760,000, cotton is up 40,000 to 560,000, and peanuts are down 8,000 to 40,000 acres.
“Multiplying these acres by the per-acre marginal expense increases gives an estimated total of $343.18 million in additional costs to the state of Arkansas,” Loy said.
This breaks down to:
$118.1 million for soybeans
$106.9 million for rice
$74.3 million for corn
$41.9 million for cotton
$2.0 million for peanuts
Listen to the Oct. 5 episode of the Morning Coffee and Ag Markets Podcast as Loy and fellow Extension Economist Hunter Biram discuss how ongoing shipping disruptions from the Iran conflict continue to raise fuel and fertilizer costs for Arkansas row crop producers.
The Morning Coffee and Ag Markets Podcast is a production of the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the UADA, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About UADA
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, UADA conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
UADA is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three university campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, UADA offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
Researcher Frank Seo talks about the vulnerabilities of the rural economy and what might save communities in hard economic times. (UADA image)
LITTLE ROCK — Reliance on agriculture makes rural communities vulnerable to economic volatility, but strong regional partnerships can help build resilience, according to agricultural economics researchers.
Chrystol Thomas, assistant professor and extension specialist for community economic development in the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University and Frank Seo, assistant professor of rural development and extension specialist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, explored the phenomenon in “Rural Vulnerability in Times of Economic Downturn,” part of “Surviving the Farm Economy Downturn: 2026 Update.”
The two researchers noted two main aspects of the South’s vulnerabilities. First, southern states’ agricultural sectors tend to contribute a higher-than-average percentage to each state’s gross domestic product, or GDP. Additionally, the authors noted how the share of farm related income in total personal and total proprietors’ income “underscores the importance of agriculture to rural communities across the Southern states.”
The agriculture sector, including agricultural production, processing, and Ag Retail, contributes 5.2 percent of the total United States GDP. Among Southern states, Arkansas has the highest percentage of its GDP from the agriculture sector at 10.9 percent. It is lowest in Texas, at 4.1 percent of GDP.
The shares of farm income in total personal income and farm proprietors’ income in total proprietors’ income are also highest in Arkansas, with farm income constituting 1.9 percent of total personal income and farm proprietors’ income constituting 25.5 percent of total proprietors’ income. By comparison, total U.S. numbers are 0.4 percent for farm income and 3.3 percent for farm proprietors’ income. Among Southern states, Tennessee has the lowest rates, with farm income at 0.1 percent of total personal income and nearly zero percent of total proprietors’ income coming from farm proprietors’ income.
Farm income refers to net income generated by farm production after production expenses. Farm proprietors’ income refers to income earned by sole proprietorships, partnerships, and tax-exempt cooperatives that operate farms, excluding corporate farms.
“Agricultural commodities are particularly sensitive to supply and demand volatility caused by external shocks such as weather events, trade disruptions, and fluctuations in global commodity markets,” said Seo. “As a result, rural communities that rely heavily on agriculture are more vulnerable to economic downturns than communities with more diversified economies.”
Seo said, “The concentrated economic structure of Southern rural communities further increases their vulnerability. Although these communities produce a variety of commodities, most income remains focused on a few high-value commodities, including broilers, cattle and calves, cotton and soybeans.”
“A shock to any of these key commodities can have a severe impact on farm income, generating significant economic challenges for these rural communities,” Seo said.
However, there’s a strength within these communities that allows them to survive the turbulence: “microbusinesses” — those businesses with fewer than five employees. These businesses comprise 85-95 percent of all businesses in the United States, according to a report from the JPMorganChase Institute. Businesses of this type are concentrated in the South and employ more than half the workforce in rural areas.
“Yet despite economic strains such as those created by COVID-19, researchers have shown that agribusinesses in rural areas are better able to survive economic shocks due in part to their social capital characteristics such as customer loyalty, tight community networks, and mutual business support, as well as having fewer competitors and relying on internal financing,” Thomas said.
“Value-added enterprises are central to this resilience,” Thomas said. “The processing of raw commodities into higher-value products enables rural areas to capture more income locally rather than exporting raw goods with minimal returns. By moving up the value chain, rural businesses retain a larger share of the farm dollar.”
The authors suggest there are a few actions that can help rural communities increase their resilience.
Rural leaders can strengthen resilience during economic downturns by fostering deep community engagement and building coordinated regional partnerships, the researchers wrote. Firms that also prioritize community ties in conjunction with local inputs or sales are better positioned to manage economic shocks because they cultivate trust, shared problem solving and diversified demand.
“Policymakers can encourage partnerships that connect farmers with agribusiness firms in coordinated blocks, improving access to credit, aggregation, technology and markets,” Thomas said. “Developing efficient local value chains, including local processing and marketing enterprises, reduces profit leakage and generates multiplier effects that sustain employment across agriculture, food services, logistics, and retail.”
The researchers said stakeholders should also address challenges such as broadband infrastructure and monitor the rural financial ecosystem, “especially as consolidation among small banks, which have historically been key rural lenders, reduces credit access.”
The publication was made possible by support from the Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center, under project award Nos. 2021-70027-34722 and 2025-70027-45397, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center is based at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. The Agricultural and Food Policy Center is housed at Texas A&M University.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land-grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
Courtesy of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.
PARAGOULD, Ark. — The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at Arkansas State University will offer a free, in-person Building Your Business Plan workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Generating Innovative Network, 208 N. Pruett St. in Paragould.
The workshop is designed to provide aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners with practical tips and tools for developing a business plan and preparing to start or grow a business in Arkansas.
Robert Bahn, business consultant with the A-State ASBTDC, will lead the session. Topics will include why entrepreneurs should write a business plan, how to begin developing a plan, ways to strengthen an existing plan, considerations related to funding, and a question-and-answer session.
“Whether someone is just beginning to explore the idea of starting a business or is already operating an established company, having a strong business plan gives them a clearer path forward,” Bahn said. “This seminar is designed to help participants think through the decisions they need to make and put those ideas into a practical plan they can use.”
“As we move toward the end of 2026, this is a good time for business owners to start planning for 2027,” Bahn said. “A business plan is not only for startups. Existing businesses can use the planning process to evaluate where they are, identify new opportunities, prepare for growth, and set realistic goals for the year ahead.”
There is no cost to participate, but pre-registration is required.
WASHINGTON — Taxpayers now have a new way to securely access IRS tools and account services through their mobile devices. The new IRS app has replaced the former IRS2Go app. There are several features and self-service options available to help taxpayers access their tax information with ease.
Key app features for taxpayers
Taxpayers can securely sign in to the app to access available account information and self-service options, including:
Check refund and amended-return status
View available balance information
Make payments and review payment activity
View select notices and letters
Access available tax records and transcripts
Manage certain profile and communication preferences
Access an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)
How to get the official IRS app
The IRS app is free and available through the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Current IRS2Go users do not need to download a separate app.
Users with automatic updates enabled will receive the IRS app through the normal update process.
Taxpayers can also visit IRS App on IRS.gov for verified links and additional information.
The IRS app does not replace IRS.gov or IRS online accounts
The IRS app is an expansion of mobile access to selected IRS Individual Online Account services but doesn’t replace IRS.gov or IRS online accounts. IRS.gov will continue to provide comprehensive tax information, guidance, forms, tools and services.
Beware of fake IRS apps or links
Taxpayers should use verified IRS links or the official IRS app listings and be cautious of look-alike apps, advertisements and unsolicited messages claiming to provide access to IRS accounts.
The IRS won’t ask taxpayers to provide sensitive personal or financial information through an unsolicited text, email, or pop-up message. Taxpayers who are unsure whether a message or app is legitimate should avoid clicking unsolicited links and use verified resources to locate the official app.
LITTLE ROCK — Summit Utilities (Summit) is joining utilities, businesses, government agencies, and energy advocates across the country to recognize Energy Efficiency Day and encourage customers to take simple steps to reduce energy use and manage household energy costs.
Held annually on the first Wednesday in October, Energy Efficiency Day highlights the benefits of reducing wasted energy, from lower household costs to improved comfort.
“Energy Efficiency Day is a good reminder that small changes at home can add up over time,” said John Ware, senior director of customer development and growth at Summit Utilities. “Simple habits and routine maintenance can help customers get more from the energy they use while keeping their homes comfortable.”
Summit encourages customers to consider these energy-saving tips:
Use a programmable or smart thermostat to better manage heating and cooling.
Seal gaps around doors and windows with caulking or weather stripping.
Replace air filters regularly and keep vents open for proper airflow.
Set water heaters to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help reduce energy use.
Wash clothes in cold water and avoid over-drying laundry.
Use ceiling fans strategically by setting them to rotate clockwise during colder months.
Energy efficiency is a year-round effort, and Summit offers programs and resources to help eligible customers make energy-saving improvements and lower their energy costs. To learn more about available rebates, programs, and services, visit summitutilities.com/residential/residential-rebates-efficiency-programs.
About Summit Utilities, Inc.
Summit Utilities, Inc. owns natural gas distribution subsidiaries that operate in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company operates with a commitment to delivering safe, versatile, and reliable natural gas to businesses and residents in six states through Arkansas Oklahoma Gas, Colorado Natural Gas, Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Summit Natural Gas of Missouri, Summit Utilities Arkansas, and Summit Utilities Oklahoma. Each of Summit’s natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries constructs and operates natural gas distribution systems to support economic development through its commitment to reliability, safety practices, exceptional customer service, and community engagement. Overall, Summit entities serve approximately 625,000 customers and operate more than 23,400 miles of pipeline.
Grace Goff (center) has been named this month’s Wynne High School Ag Student of the Month. She is pictured with, from left, Hillmon Davis and Cross County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members Jeanie Wilson, Jennifer Martin and Stacy Witcher. (Photo provided.)
WYNNE — Grace Goff has been recognized as the Wynne High School Ag Student of the Month by the Cross County Farm Bureau.
Goff was nominated by her ag teacher/FFA advisor Hillmon Davis. She is the 16-year-old daughter of David and Brandy Goff of Wynne.
Goff is a junior and has been in FFA for two years, where she currently serves as president. Her favorite FFA memories are participating in conventions and sharing stories and experiences with state officers.
Her career development event is floriculture. Her favorite leadership development event is extemporaneous public speaking.
In her free time, Goff enjoys making crafts, reading, painting and playing games. She is currently working on starting her own business.
After graduation, Goff plans to attend college and major in architecture and design.
ASMSA is a public high school serving academically and artistically motivated students from all backgrounds from throughout the state of Arkansas. About 250 students in the 10th, 11th and 12th grades attend classes and live on the Hot Springs campus in a residential community of learning unlike any other in the state.
“From college-level coursework and research to the arts as well as leadership opportunities and the experience of living and learning alongside other highly motivated students, ASMSA allows students to challenge themselves in ways that can truly shape their future,” said Jason Hudnell, director of external affairs at ASMSA. “We are excited to open another application cycle and encourage students and families to take a closer look at what ASMSA has to offer and see if it might be the right fit for them.”
The school was recently named the top public high school in Arkansas for the fifth straight year and No. 58 in the nation by Niche.com, a website that provides in-depth profiles on thousands of colleges, school districts and individual K-12 schools across the nation. ASMSA was also named the best public high school for college prep in the state.
Enrollment is tuition-free, and housing, meals and books are provided to all students at no cost by the state of Arkansas.
Students apply to ASMSA through a competitive admissions process that evaluates high school coursework, ACT/SAT/CLT scores, responses to essay questions, recommendation forms and other accomplishments. Finalist candidates are invited to attend Interview Weekends in April. The process is similar to application to selective colleges and universities.
ASMSA received a large number of applicants during the 2026-2027 academic year application process. More than 367 students completed the application process for the 111 open slots. The number of available spots vary from year to year based on the number of graduates and other factors.
“The excitement we are seeing from Arkansas families about ASMSA is incredibly encouraging,” Hudnell said. “We are seeing tremendous growth in the number of students and families who are exploring ASMSA as an option for their high school experience, and that tells us that more Arkansas families are recognizing the incredible opportunities available here.”
The application process assists ASMSA in identifying for admission well-rounded young Arkansans who possess a strong sense of character, actively contribute to their communities and seek out the most challenging coursework available to them. Students must submit their completed application no later than March 14, 2027. To learn more about ASMSA’s application process and the requirements for admission, visit asmsa.org/thrive, email admissions@asmsa.org or call/text 501-622-5235.
The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts is one of 17 public residential high schools in the country specializing in the education of academically gifted students with a STEM focus. Located in historic downtown Hot Springs, the school is the early college campus of the University of Arkansas System. For more information about ASMSA, visit asmsa.org or call 501-622-5100.
19-year-old folksinger and rising star of Appalachian banjo, Murphy Campbell, will be featured during a matinee and evening show on Saturday at the Ozark Folk Center during Stringband Music & Arts Festival. (Photo provided.)
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Ark. — Stringband Music & Arts Festival returns to the Ozark Folk Center State Park this weekend, Oct. 9-10, for two days of live music, dance and handcrafted art. The event includes a music show on Friday and Saturday evening at the park’s 1,000-seat indoor music venue, Ozark Highlands Theater, and craft demonstrations, daytime music sets and old-fashioned fun in the Ozark Folk Center Craft Village daily.
The festival lineup includes live music by rising folk music star and old-time banjo player from the Blue Ridge Mountains Murphy Campbell, Kansas-based multi-instrumentalist John Depew, husband and wife old-time music duo Salem Plateau featuring the 2026 Arkansas Old Time Banjo Grand Champion Grace Stormont-McCarthy, the Ozark Folk Center Square Dancers, and veteran Mountain View stringband the Riggsville Ramblers.
Tickets to the festival include admission to evening shows at Ozark Highlands Theater and the Ozark Folk Center Craft Village, which will be open both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Village artisans will be creating items, demonstrating their craft, and selling handcrafted goods. Village shops include Copper Flame Painting, Knives, Pottery, Stained Glass, Leather, Wood Toys, Fiber Arts, Wood Carving, Magic, Old Time Printing Press, Candles, Quilting, Herbs, Jewelry, Paper Craft, Dolls, Brooms, Blacksmithing and Apothecary. Other attractions include Old Time Magic & Medicine Shows, Whiskey & Tango’s Old Time Picnic Swing and live music by talented local musicians beginning at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
The Skillet Restaurant, which is located on-site, will be open on Friday and Saturday during the event and offer Southern cooking to guests from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Advanced tickets to Stringband Music & Arts Festival are $25 for Friday, $35 for Saturday or $50 for both days. Ozark Folk Center Season Passes are honored at this event, and family passes are available for two adults and children under 18. For more information, or to reserve tickets for the show, visit Tickets.OzarkFolkCenter.com. Day-of tickets purchased at the theater or Gift Shop cost $2.00 more.
Music schedule
Friday, Oct. 9:
2-2:45 p.m.: John Depew Trio (matinée set in the Village)
6 p.m.: Theater box office and doors open
7-7:05 p.m.: OFC Square Dancers
7:05-7:50 p.m.: Riggsville Ramblers
8-9 p.m.: John Depew Trio
Saturday, Oct. 10
2-2:45 p.m.: Murphy Campbell (matinée Set in the Village)
6 p.m.: Theater box office and doors open
7-7:05 p.m.: OFC Square Dancers
7:05-7:20 p.m.: Music Roots Ensemble
7:20-8:10 p.m.: Salem Plateau ft. Joseph & Grace Stormont-McCarthy
8:20-9:30 p.m.: Murphy Campbell
If you need a place to stay, The Cabins at Dry Creek located on-site offer a blend of homespun decor, modern comforts and an outdoor swimming pool May through September. Rooms are located near the Skillet Restaurant and Craft Village, and a shuttle service is provided for cabin guests who wish to attend events at Ozark Highlands Theater. To book your cabin room, visit OzarkFolkCenter.com.
About the featured performers
John Depew is a Kansas-based musician, award-winning songwriter, and traveler with a knack for combining traditional sounds with thoughtful lyrics and intriguing musicality. Combining philosophy, farming, adventure and family, John’s songs tackle subjects that are often left behind by the mainstream. He has been described as “a kind of midwestern Nick Drake” (Ted Gioia, musicologist) and jokingly refers to his own music as “progressive old-time.”
Murphy Campbell is an old-time banjo player and singer with deep roots in Appalachia. Western North Carolina is a place her family settled hundreds of years ago. Coming from a long line of mountain folks and ballad tradition, she seeks to draw up the remnants of a lost, modal sound. Her new project, Revenant, consists of over a dozen ballads from her family line and the community they lived within. Preservation meets the present in her efforts to carry on her ancestors’ songs.
Salem Plateau is an old-time traditional Ozark string band centered around the husband-and-wife duo of multi-instrumentalists Joseph McCarthy and five-time Arkansas Country Music Awards winner Grace Stormont-McCarthy.
Riggsville Ramblers are an old-time stringband from Stone County, Arkansas. The inspiration for their name comes from the township of Riggsville, which was formed near modern-day Mountain View in 1819. The stringband is made up of some of Mountain View’s finest veteran performers on banjo, fiddle and guitar.
Ozark Folk Center State Park
The Ozark Folk Center State Park, located in Mountain View, Arkansas, is open seasonally from mid-April to mid-November. The park’s mission is “to perpetuate, present and promote the Ozark way of life in an educational and enjoyable manner.” To learn more visit OzarkFolkCenter.com.
Arkansas State Parks
Arkansas State Parks is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Arkansas State Parks and museums cover 55,006 acres of forest, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation facilities, and unique historic and cultural resources. Established in 1923, Arkansas State Parks preserve special places for future generations, provide quality recreation and education opportunities, enhance the state’s economy through tourism and provide leadership in resource conservation. Connect with ASP on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and visit ArkansasStateParks.com and ArkansasStateParks.com/media to learn more.
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism
The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism protects and promotes our state’s natural, cultural and historic assets, contributing to a thriving economy and high quality of life. It is made up of three divisions: Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism.
LITTLE ROCK — On Saturday, Oct. 17, from 6 to 9 p.m., the Old State House Museum’s young professional friends group, the Arkansas State House Society, will host an after-hours class on paranormal investigation techniques.
Arkansas Ghost Catchers Rhonda Burton and Linda Howell will provide one hour of instruction and two hours of sample investigation. Prep your EVPs, ghost apps, and orb-spotting cameras for a fun and instructional night about the paranormal in a building that many people are convinced is haunted!
Light refreshments, adult beverages, and soft drinks will be provided. Tickets to attend are $45 each. All proceeds benefit the Old State House Museum’s educational and public programs.
Construction on the iconic Greek Revival building that would house Arkansas’ first state capitol building began in 1833. The structure served numerous purposes until 1951 when the Old State House became the state’s museum dedicated to preserving the history of Arkansas from statehood to today. It is nationally accredited and is part of Arkansas Heritage, a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The Old State House Museum is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1- 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Arkansas Heritage
Arkansas Heritage was created in 1975 and is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. There are eight agencies with unique heritage focuses under the umbrella of this division: Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, the Old State House Museum, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the Historic Arkansas Museum and the Arkansas State Archives.
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism
The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism protects and promotes our state’s natural, cultural and historic assets, contributing to a thriving economy and high quality of life. It is made up of three divisions: Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism.
Raymon E. Pulley passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, at Unity Hospital in Searcy.
He was 95 years old; son for 95, husband for 74, father for 72, and farmer for 63 years. Raymon was born to Lindsey Anderson “Doby” Pulley and F. E. VanLandingham Pulley, April 16, 1931, in Hunter, Arkansas. A few months later, the family moved to the Fakes Chapel Community, just north of McCrory. In high school, Raymon played football for the McCrory Jaguars and was an avid member of the Agricultural Club. He graduated from McCrory High School in 1949. After graduation, Raymon enlisted in the United States Navy, where he honorably served aboard the U.S.S. Kenneth Whiting, out of Alameda, California, and would be stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, during the Korean War. Prior to his departure, he married the love of his life, Mary Lee Johnson, on Oct. 22, 1951.
Upon Mr. Pulley’s honorable discharge, the couple would reside in Little Rock, where he worked for Darrah Feed Company for several months. They moved to Jonesboro, where he earned his Bachelor of Science, with honors, in Animal Husbandry, minoring in Science from Arkansas State College in 1956. The family resided in the Fakes Chapel Community until 1959, when they “moved into town.” Mr. Pulley proudly served as president on the Board of Education for McCrory Schools for nearly a decade. He also served on the Arkansas Association of Conservation in Woodruff County for several terms. He worked tirelessly farming the land for over 63 years. In 2013, the family was honored with the Arkansas Century Farm Recognition from the Arkansas Agricultural Department. His hard work in farming and parenthood brought about the love of flying that he shared with his son. Raymon and Andy would even build their own runway on the family farm. Escaping to the air was Mr. Pulley’s favorite thing to do. Another priority in Raymon’s life was serving in the Lord’s house, studying the Bible, and singing His praises. Parishioners from the Methodist Church lovingly reference his ways of sharing scripture in conversations during times of fellowship and bible study. Service was a lifelong commitment for Raymon Pulley: Faith, Family, and Farming.
He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Mary Lee; daughter, Sharon Carder of Searcy; daughter-in-law, Lyndee Pulley Reed (Dale) of Searcy; son-in-law, Rick Gallardo of Searcy; brother, Jimmy Lynn Pulley of Brazil; sister, Peggy VanDalsem of England, Arkansas; grandchildren, Steven Blaine Jones (Wendy) of Goodyear, Arizona, Laura Noel Rutledge of San Francisco, California, Casey Lee Hawkins (Cody) of Georgetown, Texas, Sarah Elizabeth Gallardo (Adrian) of Searcy, Jonathan Samuel Gallardo of Anaheim, California, great-grandchildren Emily Nicole and Anderson Troy Jones of Goodyear, Olivia Isabelle Gomez, Noah Ivan Gomez, Ricky Macias Gomez, and Raymon Lee Gomez of Searcy.
Mr. Pulley was preceded in death by his brother, Bobby Lee Pulley of Dewey, Arizona; daughter, Marilyn Ann Gallardo of Searcy; son, Robert Anderson “Andy” Pulley of McCrory; son-in-law, George F. Carder III of Searcy; and granddaughter, Katelyn Anderson “Andee” Gallardo of Searcy.
A memorial service for Mr. Pulley will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. at the Methodist Church, 219 North Edmonds Avenue in McCrory. The family requests memorials be sent to Searcy First Methodist Church, 304 North Main, Searcy, Arkansas 72143, and First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 361, McCrory, Arkansas 72101.
Arrangements by Thompson-Wilson Funeral Home of McCrory.
Photo courtesy of the Cross County Rural Water System.
HICKORY RIDGE — All customers on the Cross County Rural Water System in Jackson, Craighead and Poinsett counties are under a boil order.
The utility, based in Hickory Ridge, said Fisher in extreme southern Poinsett County is excluded from the boil order. The statement did not say why the boil order was issued.
It states that customers in those counties should boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing food.
It will remain in effect until the Arkansas Department of Health rules the water is safe for consumption.
WYNNE — The deadline to pay personal and real estate taxes is Oct. 15, one week from tomorrow.
Cross County Tax Collector Kristy Davis said there are some things to remember.
“Please make sure you look over your statement and make sure that everything that you know that you have is on that statement,” Davis said. “We don’t know everybody’s property or what belongs, names and things like that.
“We have had a lot of phone calls. I know the mail has been crazy. No fault to our local post office, but we’ve had a lot of mail stuck over in Memphis,” she added. “If you have mailed your payment, we will take your payment and it will not be delinquent as long as it is postmarked by Oct. 15.”
Davis said it’s not wise to wait until the last minute.
“We have had a lot of phone calls asking about their balances or how much they owe because either people misplaced their statement. Some people didn’t receive a statement. Not because I didn’t send them out. Again, they’ve been caught up in the mail somewhere,” Davis said. “Please don’t wait until the last day to call because I cannot guarantee that every phone call will be taken.
“I know I’ve had a lot of personal messages on my cellphone and phone calls,” she added. “I do not ever mind. But, again, on the 15th, I cannot guarantee that I can get to everybody. I don’t want anybody being missed, so I’d rather if you could please try to be prepared before the 15th that would be great.”
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon is estimating that the Google data center coming to the Crittenden County city will generate more than $20 million in new annual revenue for the city.
The mayor said the additional funding is expected to include $4.5 million for the city’s general fund, $3.8 million for the library fund, and $1 million for road infrastructure per year once the data center is fully constructed.
That’s expected to be sometime in 2029.
McClendon said those figures do not count the approximately $70 million the West Memphis School District is expected to receive.
West Memphis officials have authorized a 65% abatement of real and personal property taxes over a period of 30 years to Google for the data center.
The Wynne Lady Jackets claimed their third straight 4A-4 conference championship with a sweep of Harding Academy Tuesday at Yellowjacket Arena. (File photo/Camille Brewington Photography.)
WYNNE — The Wynne volleyball Lady Jackets have claimed their third straight 4A-4 conference championship in volleyball and are now just one match away from going unbeaten in conference for three straight seasons.
The Lady Jackets downed Harding Academy in straight sets Tuesday night at Yellowjacket Arena, 25-13, 25-12, 25-20, to improve to 16-4 overall, 9-0 in conference.
Wynne fell to Harding Academy in junior high, 23-25, 25-26, 16-18
In varsity play, Ella Reed was 15-for-15 serving with three aces, three kills, 22 assists and 18 digs. Lia Bunch had two aces and was 34-for-35 hitting with 10 kills and six digs. Clara Davis was 13-for-14 serving with two aces, nine kills and 14 digs. Laekyn Smith had three kills and three blocks. Alyson Moore had four kills and four digs. Saaniyah Tucker was 9-for-10 serving with an ace, two kills and four digs. Blair Huddleston was 14-for-14 serving with three aces, nine digs and was 5-for-6 in perfect serve receive receptions. Landry Lovell had two aces, one kill and eight digs.
The Lady Jackets were able to win a conference title under three separate coaches, Codie Zeigler, Shatel Gaines, and current interim coach Blair McClanahan.
The Lady Jackets have also cracked the top five in the Arkansas Volleyball Network’s Class 4A standings.
Wynne is ranked fifth, moving ahead of Zeigler’s Jonesboro Westside in the rankings. The rest of the top five are Brookland, Bauxite, Baptist Prep and Harmony Grove.
The Lady Jackets will wrap up their regular season next week with matches at Paragould Monday and their conference finale at Forrest City Tuesday.
WYNNE — There’s an early season showdown for the Wynne Yellowjackets this week as the Jackets play the four-time defending 5A East champion Valley View Blazers.
Wynne has not beaten Valley View since the 2022 season and has been outscored by the Blazers 100-3 in the last three years. They have not even scored on Valley View since 2023, and that was only three points.
However, Valley View saw its long 5A East winning streak end Friday at Harding Academy and will enter Friday’s game at 3-2 overall, 1-1 in league play.
“You kind of never get a true alignment on what they’re doing but it’s gap sound so it’s tough,” said Wynne head coach Randy Coleman. Valley View playing on the road, Valley View fighting through a bunch of injuries. We knew that was going to be a tough game for them.”
Wynne is also 3-2 overall, but the Jackets are 2-0 in league play with dominant wins over Brookland and Greene County Tech.
Photo courtesy of Carla Wehmeyer/Arkansas State University Athletics.
JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas State will have a short week. The Red Wolves suffered a heartbreaking last-second 23-20 loss at Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday.
The Red Wolves will play tomorrow night in Jonesboro. They’ll take on South Alabama. The Jaguars are 3-2 overall, 1-0 in Sun Belt play. ASU enters the game with a record of 2-3, 0-1 in conference play.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Former Alabama and Texas A&M head football coach Dennis Franchione has died.
Franchione had been battling cancer. He was 75.
Franchione began his career as an assistant coach at Kansas State, and then worked at four lower-level schools before spending more than 20 years as an FBS head coach. He had stints at New Mexico, TCU and Texas State in addition to Alabama and Texas A&M.
He was announced as a nominee for the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame in June.
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