Author: Jeff Easterling

The curve is no longer flat in our region. Bowie County reports a total of 353 positive COVID-19 cases, with 181 recoveries and 26 deaths. Cass County has a total of 57 cases with 39 recovered and three deaths. Miller County Arkansas reports 237 positive cases, 120 recoveries, and 2 deaths.

The two largest health providers in our region along with Bowie and Miller County Health Authorities have released a joint announcement regarding current conditions locally, and are asking for your support in combatting COVID 19 as we move forward with this very real disease in our community.

Updated Texarkana numbers show that Bowie County reports a total of 340 positive COVID-19 cases, with 181 recoveries and 26 deaths. Cass County has a total of 57 cases with 39 recovered and three deaths. Miller County currently reports 233 positive cases, 112 recoveries, and 2 deaths.

An early morning explosion and fire at the Tyson Foods Plant in Nashville Arkansas has reportedly injured some employees. Emergency personnel and firefighters from around the region are working the scene.

This morning in a long time traditional ceremony with a virtual twist Colonel Stephan York relinquished command of Red River Army Depot to Colonel Jack Kredo. The crowd was small due to pandemic restrictions.

Bowie County reports a total of 340 positive COVID-19 cases and 26 deaths. Due to the recent surge of numbers in Bowie County, efforts have been focused on tracing active cases and they are in the process of updating the number of recoveries. Cass County reports a total of 57 cases with 39 recovered and three deaths. Miller County reports 232 positive cases, 108 recoveries, and 2 deaths.

For the first time since World War II, the Texas State Fair for 2020 is cancelled. Officials are cancelling the fair because of the COVID 19 pandemic. Fair officials are still working to find a way to still have the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and other educational programs.

The decision has been made regarding the 50th Annual “New Boston Pioneer Days” for 2020, and due to the pandemic, there will be no festival this year.

COVID 19 numbers continue to rise around the Texarkana area. Over the weekend, Miller County numbers really jumped putting the total positive cases of COVID 19 in the southwast corner of the state at 220.

For the Texarkana area, Bowie County reports a total of 301 positive COVID-19 cases, with 119 recoveries and 22 deaths. Cass County has a total of 51 cases with 42 recoveries and two deaths. Miller County is at 122 positive cases, from that 98 recoveries and 2 deaths.

Cass County Judge Becky Wilbanks has decided to opt-out of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s order to wear coverings over your mouth and nose when in public places. However, if active COVID 19 cases continue to rise, the order will be revisited.

On Thursday, July 2, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered that starting at 12:01 pm Friday, July 3rd all Texans in counties with more than 20 positive COVID 19 cases are required to wear face masks in public that cover both their mouth and nose, with some exceptions.

The Bowie County Sheriff’s office reports that two correctional officers have been arrested for alleged use of excessive force and falsifying reports. They both voluntarily surrendered themselves and were arrested. Bond was set at $15,000.00 for each charge and both subjects had bonded out of jail.

The latest local numbers from Texarkana Health Authorities are that numbers continue to rise with Bowie County seeing a double-digit increase overnight. Bowie County reports a total of 295 positive COVID-19 cases, with 122 recoveries and 18 deaths. Cass County has a total of 47 cases with 38 recoveries and two deaths. Miller County reports 118 total cases with 97 recovered and 2 deaths.

Get free tickets for tonight’s game (Thursday, July 2) with the Texarkana Twins hosting the Amarillo Sod Dogs in game 3 of the series. After the game, enjoy a free fireworks show at Dobson Field at Spring Lake Park.

First, the Dragon Boats sank, now the Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular scheduled for July 11 has been scheduled due to the COVID 19 pandemic and the ever-changing government orders makes it hard to reschedule, but that is the plan, in the meantime tickets will be refunded.

Bowie County reports a total of 286 positive COVID-19 cases, with 119 recoveries and 17 deaths. Cass County has a total of 47 cases with 38 recoveries and two deaths. Miller County reports 114 positive cases, 95 recoveries, and 2 deaths. Some have asked for some other explanations, we will try to help here.

Bowie County reports a total of 277 positive COVID-19 cases, up 9 from yesterday, with 119 recoveries and 16 deaths. Cass County has a total of 44 cases with 36 recoveries and 2 deaths. Miller County reports 114 total positive COVID 19 cases, 94 recoveries, and 2 deaths.

For the Texarkana area, Miller County reports a total of 111 positive COVID 19 cases, 92 recoveries, and 2 deaths. Bowie County reports 21 new cases from over the weekend making a total of 268 positive cases with 119 recoveries and 16 related deaths. Cass County reports 44 cases with 36 recoveries and two deaths.

With many events being cancelled for COVID 19, the 2020 Fouke Monster Festival is still hoping to take place on August 1, 2020. Originally scheduled for June, organizers are keeping close tabs on numbers, but expect to be able to follow all set guidelines and have a great time.

The City of New Boston Texas host Harvest Regional Food Bank for distribution of free food boxes to area residents on Tuesday, June 30. This will be at the T&P Trailhead Park Pavillion, beginning at 9:00 am. (while supplies last)

On Friday, June 26, 2020, Miller County reports a total of 98 positive COVID 19 cases with 80 recoveries and 2 deaths. Bowie County reports a total of 247 positive COVID-19 cases, with 119 recoveries and 16 related deaths. Cass County has a total of 36 cases with 32 recoveries and two deaths.

It is official, the 2020 Dragon Boat Festival for Texarkana is cancelled due to concerns with the spread of COVID 19. The event was originally scheduled for May and was hoping to reschedule but with numbers of illnesses continuing to rise, it has been decided to cancel for this year, and be back in 2021.

The Texarkana Texas Police Department arrested Bradley Riddle and charged him with Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon, Deadly Conduct, and DWI-2nd after an alleged road rage incident in which Riddle fired a pistol from his vehicle.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued orders to re-close bars in the state and roll back capacity inside restaurants as positive cases of COVID 19 surge across the state. Thursday the Governor “paused” phased reopening of businesses in the state, but this goes a bit further.

Texarkana Arkansas Police report the arrest of the alleged triggerman in the Magnuson Hotel shooting incident Tuesday morning in Texarkana Texas. Michael Wilkerson, 31, was subdued after SWAT officers used a JPX pepper gun to get the suspect to comply.

The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana has received a $200,000 grant from the American Electric Power Foundation to expand and improve the College’s Power Technologies programs.

The number of positive cases continues to rise in counties surrounding Texarkana. Miller County reports a total of 97 positive cases, 79 recoveries, and 2 deaths. Cass County reports 36 cases with 32 recoveries and two deaths. While Bowie County reports 242 positive COVID-19 cases, with 119 recoveries and 16 related deaths.

Governor Greg Abbott has released results of an impact study on the state’s economy of the various U.S. military installations within Texas including Red River Army Depot.

Independence Day, the 4th of July, a celebration of American freedoms, and a big part of that have always been fireworks. There are usually a few great shows around our area, and we wanted to list a bunch of them together in one place.