a barn containing farm equipment at 14 Sabans Road in Conway was destroyed Saturday afternoon What remains of an Allis-Chalmers tractor belonging to Conway resident Pete Hanas after his barn burned to the ground due to a fire that is suspected to have been started by a lightning strike Saturday afternoon What is left of a lightning rod that was on the roof of a barn on Sabans Road in Conway that burned to the ground on Saturday a barn containing farm equipment at 14 Sabans Road was destroyed Saturday afternoon Baker said as a round of thunderstorms passed through Franklin County the old tobacco barn owned by Pete and Lora Hanas was struck by lightning and caught fire “There was a nasty lightning storm that had come through,” Baker said noting that there was no electricity on the property that could spark a blaze said his neighbors reported the fire after hearing the sound of an explosion and he was notified of the fire just after 5 p.m and I think it was a lightning strike,” he explained black smoke coming from the top of the hill as he approached the property Greenfield and Erving assisted on Sabans Road When crews from the surrounding departments were arriving the blaze had destroyed much of the old tobacco barn and the trees surrounding the barn had been scorched the home located on the right side of the barn was not damaged Hanas said the farm belonged to his parents who had purchased it in the early 1900s when they came to the United States from Ukraine but it was used for equipment storage for hay harvesting Hanas said this is a “big loss” for the farm He estimates there to be $500,000 worth of damage especially from the large pieces of equipment which included an Allis-Chalmers tractor and a New Holland baler He said his excavator right next to the barn was spared from the fire “This has all kind of just kept the farm going,” Hanas said of the equipment Baker and Hanas explained the next steps are to involve the insurance company to see what can be covered before a cleanup process gets underway Hanas said this is going to be a “day-by-day” process but he is thankful for the firefighters who came to help “Those firefighters work real hard doing this,” Hanas said Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231 you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users (WPDE) — A basketball coach is in mourning after losing a player to gun violence on Tuesday in Conway Coach Douglas Gause is the girls' basketball coach at Loris High School and has known Ja'Niya Richburg since she was in the seventh grade the city of Conway Police Department responded to a shooting on Horry Street where Richburg took her last breaths in her boyfriend's house Coach Gause spoke with ABC15 to bring insight as to who Richburg was including what she was hoping to do after she graduated this year He called Richburg the "anchor" to her teammates but said he thought more of her as his own daughter She was set to sign papers that guaranteed her future in basketball at a college in South Carolina It is something that still feels surreal to Coach as he processes her sudden death It was on those long car rides home from games and conversations with Gause about getting out of the small town and wanting better for herself Conway police are investigating Richburg's death They have not released any other information involving her death other than that it was a shooting that took place (WPDE) — Conway police arrested Derrick Que'shawn Ashley on Wednesday in connection with the shooting of Ja'Niya Richburg in a Conway home Conway Police responded to the incident Tuesday on Horry Street around 10:53 p.m when a bullet entered through a window in Richburg's boyfriend's home was identified as the victim and later died MORE: 'Her soul has a resting place:' Loris coach mourns player killed in Conway forgery less than $10,000 and careless operation Anyone with information is asked to contact the Conway Police Department at (843) 248 -1790 This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta University head men's basketball coach Dip Metress has announced the addition of transfer guard Ryan Conway to the 2025-26 roster "Ryan is a proven scorer that will make an immediate impact on our program," said Metress "He has an infectious personality that permeates a locker room and basketball court." Conway brings experience at both the Division I and junior college levels he averaged 11.0 points per game while shooting 42% from the field and 41% from three-point range where he averaged 6.4 points per game and shot 40% from beyond the arc and versatility to the Jaguars' backcourt as he enters Augusta as a junior Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here – A Mardela man has been sentenced on drug charges stemming from a lengthy investigation 37-year-old Anthony Conway pleaded guilty in late April to one count of manufacturing cocaine and two counts of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine He was subsequently sentenced to 40 years’ incarceration with all but 20 years suspended five of which is a mandatory minimum sentence The investigation spanned several months and led to multiple arrests Because Local Matters Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker (WPDE) — An 18-year-old died in her boyfriend's home on Tuesday night when a bullet entered through a window according to Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard responded to the incident on Horry Street around 10:53 p.m The victim has been identified as Ja’Niya Richburg Richburg was a senior at Loris High School She said Richburg "was known for her vibrant personality as well as her outstanding achievements in both academics and athletics." READ NEXT: 1 dead after shooting incidents in Darlington County, sheriff says Horry County Schools said they are offering counseling services to any students or staff affected This incident is under investigation by the Conway Police Dept Conway Police said to call (843) 248-1790 if you have any information Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application She shared 59 years of marriage with her late husband She went into the medical field and worked as an ophthalmic assistant and later became Administrator for NH Eye Associates retiring in 2013 after 48 enjoyable years with the practice Alice was very active in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives cheering them on at all their athletic events and dancing to the name bands in her younger years Alice was a longstanding communicant of St Cheryl Conway Martin and her husband Denis Conway and his wife Dina; six granddaughters Elizabeth and Chloe; as well as five great grandchildren and many cousins She will be deeply missed by family and friends This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors by Rowdy Baribeau LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has reported a fourth case of measles in the state The ADH says the individual was not fully vaccinated and resides in Faulkner County Due to the individual having no record of travel outside the state the case indicates the first case of community-spread measles in Arkansas this year The case visited the following locations while infected: The ADH says there have been no cases identified at daycares or schools Vaccine recommendations have been updated for citizens in Faulkner and surrounding counties (Cleburne The ADH is asking those who were at the two clinics during those specific times and develop symptoms to contact your health provider by phone and state if you were potentially exposed to measles All children six to 11 months of age can receive a dose of the MMR vaccine If children get a “zero” dose of MMR vaccine at six to 11 months of age they should still be vaccinated with two more doses of MMR vaccine at 12 months and during four-to-six years of age Conway tells the world what he really thinks of his old friend I get that everyone is entitled to due process and that Bob [Giuffra] and his firm should be able to represent whomever they want But I told him it was wrong for him to do a favor like that for a guy who is openly trying to destroy our legal and constitutional system — Former Wachtell partner turned political commentator George Conway opened up to Rolling Stone about the schism in his friendship with Sullivan & Cromwell chair Bob Giuffra. Conway shared his frank assessment of Giuffra who served as his best man in his wedding to Kellyanne Conway how appalling is it that Trump — an outright criminal who should have gone to jail for far more than he was convicted of — is using his official power to punish lawyers for representing innocent people he doesn’t like and to deny people the very due process he’s getting And yet there’s [Giuffra’s firm] Sullivan & Cromwell and his firm should be embarrassed.” Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin all evoke the image of the United States’ Founding Fathers but have you ever heard of Major Joseph Hawley the namesake of the Franklin County community was a contemporary of America’s founders with his roots right here in the Pioneer Valley and a new presentation hosted by the Conway Historical Society will explore the man’s life as well as how the “forgotten Founding Father” worked closely with those in the history books Conway resident Philip Kantor will deliver the  presentation at the Conway Historical Society “He basically is never talked about as a Founding Father His contemporaries very much considered him one,” Kantor said “He encouraged people to resolve their differences with the ballot box instead of the cartridge box.” Kantor’s presentation will kick off with Ely’s Insurrection of 1782 who led an angry mob of rioters to Northampton to protest the Massachusetts Constitution was undemocratic to the point that he said he would “rather fight against this authority than against the king of Great Britain according to “Samuel Ely: Forerunner of Shays [Rebellion],” an article in the January 1932 edition of the New England Quarterly journal Ely rallied a mob of rioters to the Northampton courthouse where he was arrested and charged with treason and sedition a group of 130 men traveled to Springfield intending to break Ely out of jail Ely was freed from jail and then was able to escape from the state militia during a skirmish with Ely’s rescuers Kantor will use Hawley’s eyewitness correspondence to talk about the events and how his as well as others’ beliefs of natural rights treason and due process are still relevant today he said discontent even began to spread within the state’s militia “Our taxes are very heavy,” Hawley wrote in a June 7 “especially on the middling people they are much more distressed as well as the exploration of the rest of Hawley’s life which was marred by extreme bouts of depression that left him homebound is a fascinating local story often left untold As part of the tumultuous events of Ely’s Insurrection where he chaired Conway’s 1782 annual Town Meeting “It’s the best part of Conway history and western Mass “[Hawley] was an amazing man that people don’t know about.” “Broken Hints” was intended to be communicated to the Committee of Congress for Massachusetts and asserted that it was “now or never if we can’t otherwise rid ourselves of British taxation and the constitution or form of government enacted for us by the British parliament,” Hawley’s letter to Adams reads “It is evil against right — utterly intolerable to every man who has any idea or feeling of right or liberty.” While Hawley lived long before the age of photography the desk on which he wrote many of these influential letters is still here in western Massachusetts His writing desk is available to be viewed at the Forbes Library For more information about future Conway Historical Society events, visit conwaymasshistory.org Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com of Lower Gwynedd passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday (nee Magurn) Conway.  He graduated from Germantown Academy in 1960 and LaSalle College in 1964.  He married the love of his life in 1963 in his Junior year of college.   They had four children together and Bridget Fick (Patrick).    Jim is also survived by six grandchildren and one great grandchild: Caitlin Brendan and Kaden.  Jim is preceded in death by his parents Jim was an outstanding athlete excelling in football and baseball at Norwood Academy and Gemantown Academy and was co-captain of the basketball team with his best friend his Senior year at GA.   He held many Inter-Ac league titles as an outstanding athlete and went on to play basketball at LaSalle College where he was Captain of their Freshman Team Jim worked briefly for 3M.    In 1967 he started a sales career with Jostens that lasted for 41 years.   He excelled in sales to local high schools but what Jim really excelled in was in building relationships with people.   To say he has many friends is an understatement.  Some of his closest friends today started out as the school administrators who he worked with.   He had an infectious smile and always made you feel like you were the only person in the room.   He was an avid storyteller and loved nothing more than talking about Philadelphia sports the many and varied Philadelphia sports legends of his era the Palestra and Big 5 basketball and always lived by the motto that “laughter is the best medicine”.   If you met him only once you were affected by his warm smile.  He had a knack for making people feel good Jim never missed any of his children’s sporting events.   There was no greater “constant” at every sporting event than our Dad.  It was a given that he was there   He was a quiet presence on the sideline or in the bleachers and could always be counted on for a truthful assessment of your effort on the car ride home.  Jim and Ellen spent many summers in Sea Isle City New Jersey with their four children and enjoyed life on the Bay of 46th Place each summer as their children grew older and grandchildren started arriving.  but more important to that was that he made some of the best friends of his life working for Jostens.  It was a unique brotherhood for sure Jim’s legacy will be defined by his infectious smile his genuine interest in hearing other people’s stories and telling stories that poked fun at himself to make others laugh.     His legacy will be defined more greatly Ellen.   Being married for 61 years couldn’t always be easy like Sunday morning but Ellen and Jim did it beautifully together no more beautifully than when they held hands and jitterbugged together.   Simply put there were none better than our parents at the jitterbug at St Anthony of Padua Church located at 259 Forest Avenue there will be an additional visitation from 9:30 a.m with words of remembrance to follow at 10:30 a.m and a funeral mass will begin at 10:45 a.m.  Burial will be private In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Spring House Estates or the Wounded Warrior Project.  Thanks for visiting Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCONWAY (WMC) - Three students from Cross County High School have been taken to a nearby hospital following a crash involving a school bus on Friday The school district says the bus was returning from a college visit field trip when it was involved in a crash on Highway 64 near Conway Three students were taken to the hospital with non-critical injuries A nearby school district is using its school bus to pick up the remaining students and take them back to Cross County High School The cause of the crash is unknown at this time According to Arkansas Department of Transportation Highway 64 Eastbound right shoulder remains blocked Click here to sign up for our newsletter Click here to report a spelling or grammar error (WPDE) — Davion “Chino” Hunt was taken into custody by the Conway Police Department after a search for him began Monday The Conway Police Department asked for the public's help in locating Davion "Chino" Hunt who is wanted in the murder of V'ron Gibbs Monday TODAY: Hartsville man arrested on child sex crimes, eligible for 50-year sentence Hunt was arrested Thursday and was charged with murder possession of a weapon during violent crime and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person Reuben Long Detention Center related to this case There’s a story about Matthew Conway’s college career that helps explain his formula for success—how he’s managed to double-major in chemical engineering and Spanish while also pursuing the Bantivoglio Honors Concentration—and with perfect grades It also explains how the Goldwater Scholar and Eagle Scout has earned multiple awards for his undergraduate research and how he’s managed to serve on the executive board of Rowan’s American Institute of Chemical Engineers chapter while simultaneously serving as captain for the University’s men’s cross country and track and field teams.  And it’s a story the Haddon Township native didn’t share when summarizing his four years at Rowan.     Conway experienced a heartbreaking setback during a weekend training run with his team As he neared the end of a 14-mile-long run he felt pain growing steadily in his foot and almost couldn’t finish the run Tests later revealed he had sustained a serious stress fracture the kind of freak accident that causes immense pain and can end running careers He continued training in the pool and on a bike during his recovery.  When he came back to the sport the following year He ran his best races during his senior year and made it to the NCAA Division III Championship in Indiana.  “It’s really hard to come back and be at that level,” said his head coach Dustin Dimit. “It speaks to him Conway decided to learn the language during eighth grade so he watched telenovelas and read Harry Potter books in Spanish Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.   he had gained enough proficiency that he volunteered to serve South Jersey Mutual Aid Network as its Spanish communication team lead the nonprofit provided food for up to 50 families each week The drive to help others is part of his family’s culture His mother works for Camden’s Charter School Network where she runs outreach programs after school and during the summer His younger brother also works long hours at a summer camp.    “I think the biggest person he seeks to be better than is himself On May 12, Conway will address his fellow graduates during the Commencement ceremony for the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. Following graduation, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.  “I’m trying to be the best I can be,” Conway explained “I constantly want to improve myself The hard work is a symptom of that.”  he wants to run his own research group working in sustainable chemistry He found his passion for the work through his organic chemistry research under Rashanique Quarels and in the Sustainable Design and Systems Medicine Lab run by Kirti Yenkie where he studied the environmental effects of the municipal solid waste stream and recycling What inspires those around him isn’t so much his work ethic or his ability to build on his previous successes constantly working to benefit others.      “I want to create a better world,” Conway said “where we have cleaner air to breathe and fewer diseases.”  Rowan University • 201 Mullica Hill Road • Glassboro ©2025 Rowan University. Consumer Disclosures | University Catalog Read the Notice of Availability of Rowan’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report CONWAY, Ark. (KATV) — In a press conference on Friday, the Conway Police Department gave an update on the investigation into what led up to a deadly mass shooting on April 13th. Investigators have announced that two suspects are in custody and two others are wanted in connection with the shooting Authorities say 20-year-old Ryan Goins of Pine Bluff and 19-year-old Tyler Ferris of Conway are currently in custody Goins faces 11 counts of Aggravated Assault while Ferris is charged with two counts of Capital Murder and nine counts of Attempted Capital Murder Police are actively searching for 21-year-old Keydrick Johnson and 18-year-old Kamarie Johnson of Conway both wanted on charges of two counts of Capital Murder Police say 73 rounds were fired from seven different weapons The shooting resulted in the deaths of Tatayana Penister Mayor Bart Castleberry expressed his condolences to the families of the victims I cannot imagine the loss that the family feels for these two young lives He assured residents that the city is taking steps to prevent such incidents in the future emphasizing that the event was organized by an out-of-town promoter and did not reflect the values of Conway city officials are urging patience and cooperation from the community If you have information on the whereabouts of any of the wanted individuals please contact the Conway Police Department at 501-450-6120 or call 911 (KATV) — Residents of Conway are still seeking answers following a recent shooting at a local park Despite a press conference held by the mayor and the Conway Police Department The community is particularly concerned about why police patrolling the area did not intervene before the shooting began Marshals Office has been promised to help provide clarity Residents are questioning why their calls for help went unanswered on Sunday whether the park's surveillance cameras captured the incident and how the party was allowed to continue for so long without police intervention Several residents believe that lives could have been saved if the police had acted sooner who owns an apartment building across the street from the park on Fifth Avenue I said someone is going to get hurt or killed and they got that on the 911 calls because I call seven times between 2:00 and 7:30," said Gosnell "I left five minutes before the shooting." Gosnell hopes the police department can take control of the investigation and provide more answers to the concerned residents KARK held a press conference to address the public for the first time since the shooting on Sunday Conway Police Chief Chris Harris said in total 11 people were shot He identified the victims killed in the shooting as 24-year-old Tatayana Penister from England and 23-year-old Demetrius Feemster from Little Rock officers were met with a chaotic scene and multiple individuals suffering from gunshot wounds,” he said.  Harris said the shooting happened during a party at 5th Avenue Park which was planned by out-of-town promoters He said multiple people fired more than 100 rounds from at least six different weapons Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry said there was no permit from the city given for organizers to have the party “Had this gone through normal processes through the city this event wouldn’t have taken place,” Castleberry said “Why it (the party) continued to happen and why it was not shut down I understand that there are questions about that and I have questions about that too.” That wasn’t the only question swirling from the community Harris confirmed some officers were patrolling the area prior to the shooting.  “I do know there were a few calls out here before the shooting,” Harris said He said he plans to further investigate that; however many community members had mixed reactions and some thought more could be done.  Pamela Rawlins said the press conference was “all lip service” and “the real issue is holding the city accountable.” “They gave us as much (information) as they could.” She went on to say “I would just like to have some sort of regulations for gatherings.”  “We have different suspect descriptions and different names,” he said “It’s time that someone is held liable for this.” He said they are investigating with assistance from state and federal agencies Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals – The Conway Police Department called a Friday afternoon press conference to give updates on two shootings that took place in the city over a six-day period the week of April 13 Tom Kennedy gave updates on arrests made and warrants issued in connection with the two events The first event took place the evening of April 13 at 5th Avenue Park where gunfire during a large gathering at the park resulted in two dead and nine injured Kennedy said investigators found that 73 rounds were fired at the park from seven different weapons Two are in custody and two additional people have warrants issued against them in connection with the park shooting Kennedy said two are in custody are 20-year-old Ryan Goins of Pine Bluff facing 11 counts of felony aggravated assault and 19-year-old Tyler Antonio Jamel Farris of Conway facing two counts of felony capital murder one count of felony terrorism and nine counts of felony attempted capital murder Warrants issued in the park shooting are for brothers 21-year-old Keydrick Roddrell Johson and 18-year-old Kemaria Tyrone Johnson Kennedy said the two in custody are each facing charges of two counts of felony capital murder one count of felony terrorism and nine counts of felony attempted capital murder each Kennedy added that the terrorism charges come when a “significant portion” of the population is being targeted The second event was at the University of Central Arkansas shooting in a parking lot at 1:05 a.m where a man received non-life-threatening injuries after being shot in the leg Kennedy said three are in custody and an additional person has a warrant issued against them in connection with the event Kennedy said 29 rounds were fired from four guns in the parking lot shooting In custody is 20-year-old Landen Nikolas Miller of Cabot facing one count of felony first-degree battery and one count of hindering apprehension Kennedy added that the hindering charge is a charge for anyone who attempted to protect someone being sought by police Also in custody in connection with the UCA shooting are 20-year-old Christian Scott Van Why of Cabot and 19-year-old Bralaen Raymond Griffin of Austin both facing charges of felony first-degree battery and felony terrorist act Kennedy said a warrant had been issued for 23-year-old Zion Bernard Jackson of Ward facing a charge of felony first-degree battery and felony terroristic act for the UCA incident Chief Chris Harris said the department was continuing its investigation into the shooting and will provide more information when it is available Neither Harris nor Kennedy took questions.  Conway police ask that anyone with information call its tip line at 501-450-6135 or 501-450-6130 (KATV) — City officials and law enforcement are vowing to bring those responsible for a deadly shooting at Fifth Avenue Park to justice Mayor Bart Castleberry expressed his condolences to the families of the victims Police Chief Chris Harris provided an update on the investigation revealing that multiple firearms were discharged during the incident "We have confirmed that multiple individuals discharged firearms during this incident," Harris said He noted that the investigation is ongoing and that authorities are following numerous leads one remains in serious condition in the ICU while the others suffered non-life-threatening injuries Chief Harris clarified that the event was not sanctioned by the University of Central Arkansas and that no permit was issued by the city for the gathering He acknowledged community concerns about the police response and stated that his office is actively reviewing the situation "We did not find out about this till late Sunday evening," Harris said adding that the police department is investigating the calls for service received prior to the shooting Mayor Castleberry commended the swift response of local law enforcement and emergency services He also praised Prosecuting Attorney Carol Cruz for her dedication to the case "These parties are going to continue to happen.. MAYFLOWER — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission received the first round of permits from the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction work on Lake Conway’s dam and boat lanes Wednesday and will start work soon on these vital components to the lake renovation AGFC Assistant Chief of Construction Reid Phifer said the boat lane work will begin within the next month “We’ve already notified the contractor who secured the bid for the boat lanes and they are mobilizing to begin work soon,” Phifer said “He was able to get a good look at the work while the lake was low and make a proper bid for the effort He can cut lanes when the water is lower and drive boat lane markers into the lakebed when the water is high so we’re hoping he’s going to hit the ground running and stay busy regardless of water levels.” Conway’s boat lanes will look much different when the project is complete AGFC Fisheries District Supervisor Nick Feltz said the lanes will be 50 feet wide and marked with giant wooden poles driven into the lakebed The finished project will expand the lake’s 23-mile boat lane system to nearly 30 miles of clear paths “The existing lanes are only 20 feet wide in some places and even then have some stumps that could be under the surface if the water drops too low,” Feltz said “The new lanes will be clear and wide enough for boats to be able to pass each other in the lanes at a safe speed.” “We had two public meetings in 2024 to gather feedback on where we could improve the boat lane locations,” Feltz said We focused on moving lanes to maximize straightness and water depth while minimizing the number of live cypress that need to be cut but moved some to gain some distance from the shoreline and boat docks and to minimize erosion Several suggested lanes and lane removals from the public were added to the project and we worked with anglers to prevent the lanes from running on top of known productive areas so boats could come off pad and then move into those areas slowly without creating a wake for kayak anglers and other anglers in these locations Pierce Creek and Gold Creek are two areas where this public input was vital.” Although turnout was lower than anticipated those who did help removed 40 tons of litter and debris from the lake and 25 tons of tires from 9 miles of the lake’s shoreline Gravel was distributed across the lake to create a hard bottom to improve spawning habitat for bream Staff planted more than 600 cypress trees to add future habitat for the lake and they hope to see them get a good start during low-water periods Concrete culverts and more than 80 lean-to structures were placed to create complex cover and cavities for catfish to spawn and predator fish to use as ambush cover But the largest amount of work so far has been the result of Mother Nature and a little patience some substantial changes have slowly occurred in the lakebed Soil monitoring points throughout the lake were evaluated and Feltz estimates a gain of roughly half a foot or more in portions of the lake conservative estimates of soil consolidation averaged 6 inches in areas that are usually less than 4 feet deep,” Feltz said “There are about 1,000 acres of the lake less than 4 feet deep so we’re talking about 800,000 cubic yards of gained reservoir volume removing 6 inches of soil across 1,000 acres would have been impractical but even if it had been clear land we’d be looking at about $40 million of work that nature has accomplished during the first year of drying time.” AGFC Deputy Director Ben Batten said he appreciates the patience anglers and lakeside landowners have shown so far in the permitting process and assures the public that the project is still on track “We are still well within the original 5-year timeline,” Batten said “We knew the lake would fill and drain multiple times during the project and we accounted for those sorts of delays We also knew there would be parts of the lake that would never dry completely particularly in the older ponds and creeks that existed prior to the lake’s construction.” The AGFC is planning a public meeting for a more formal update as activity increases on the lakebed. Updates will be posted at the lake’s web page: www.agfc.com/lakeconway Sign up now to receive the AGFC Wildlife Weekly Newsletter in your mailbox every Wednesday afternoon (Waterfowl Reports are published weekly during waterfowl season and periodically outside the season) Fill in the following fields and hit submit Born to Lyle & Frances Conway on April 25th He received his degree in Aviation Technology at Southern Illinois University It was at SIU that Gary met the love of his life The Vietnam War was raging when Gary graduated The next chapter of his life was serving in the Army on the front lines as a Staff Sergeant for the 1st Cavalry A tranquil place to heal from the horror of the Vietnam War Gary also started his own cross-country trucking company to complement his farming business He later would leave the trucking business to join Riverland FS until his retirement in 2012 he would cheer their wins and bemoan their losses Mornings would find him at coffee with friends solving local while also being perfectly content outside Gary had an unwavering faith in God and his faith only grew stronger in his final years of life and their sons Brad (Brittany) Conway of Morton his brother Jim (Barbara) Conway of San Ramon He enjoyed the time spent with his grandchildren Noah Conway You are now resting in the arms of our loving Father Visitation will be an hour prior to the service from 10:00-11:00 a.m Memorials can be made to the First Christian Church of Monmouth or Western Illinois Animal Rescue (WIAR) McGuire & Davies Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text CONWAY, Ark. – Officials with the Conway Police Department provided a Tuesday update on the Sunday shooting that left two people dead and nine others injured Conway Police Chief Chris Harris identified the victims killed in the shooting as 24-year-old Tatayana Penister from England and 23-year-old Demetrius Feemster from Little Rock Harris said the shooting happened during a gathering at 5th Avenue Park during a party that was planned by out of town promoters with one in serious condition and eight others with non-life-threatening injuries Though some witnesses said they thought the party was a college event officials with the University of Central Arkansas confirmed that they were not involved in the planning of the event Harris confirmed there wasn’t a permit issued from the city of Conway for the event Officials have not made an arrest in connection to the shooting Conway police are working with university authorities and Arkansas State Police during the investigation About Akin Leadership Client Value Awards & Accolades All Locations Boston Dallas Fort Worth Houston Irvine Los Angeles New York Philadelphia San Antonio San Francisco Washington, D.C. Hong Kong Singapore Geneva London Abu Dhabi Dubai Telecom, Media & Technology Telecom, Media & Technology Policy Government Contracts Space Law & Policy Autonomous Systems & Advanced Mobility Emerging Technologies Transportation Policy & Regulation Telecom, Media & Technology Telecom, Media & Technology Policy Government Contracts Space Law & Policy Autonomous Systems & Advanced Mobility Sean began his legal career as an associate in Akin’s regulatory and policy section. J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2009 B.A., William & Mary, magna cum laude, 2003 Roth Confirmation Hearing Shines Spotlight on Broadband Access and Spectrum Issues Read More FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for March 2025 Open Meeting Read More Akin Expands TMT Practice with Addition of Former FCC and NTIA Counsel Sean Conway in Washington, D.C. Read More Senate Commerce Committee Focuses on Broadband, Auction Authority and National Security at Trusty Confirmation Hearing Read More Trusty Confirmation Hearing at the Senate Commerce Committee Focuses on Broadband, Auction Authority and National Security Read More FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for April 2025 Open Meeting Read More FCC Voted to Adopt New Items on GPS, NG911 and 911 Location Accuracy at Its March 27 Open Meeting Read More View All Insights Meet Our People Inside Conway's Spring Oak Senior Living facility staff have created a memorial to Ja'Niya Richburg atop the grand piano inside the lobby was a senior at Loris High School and worked as a resident caregiver for about a month before her life ended on April 29 Richburg was killed after a bullet went through the window of an Horry Street house and struck her Loris junior forward/center Ja’Niya Richburg (14) tosses a one-handed pass during a win over Green Sea Floyds at Loris High School on Dec Conway police have made an arrest in the shooting death of Loris High School basketball star Ja'Niya Richburg tributes continue to pour in for the popular 18-year-old CONWAY — When Kristal Brisco first met Ja'Niya Richburg at the Spring Oak Senior Living center about a month ago the popular 18-year-old sat in front of Brisco's desk for a job interview hoping to start work as a resident caregiver wasn't used to teens applying to work there But she said she saw the Loris High School senior's passion for helping others "She was that 18-year-old who would dust herself off leave her problems at the door and come in ready for work Richburg would only end up working at the center for about a month. She died April 29 when a bullet went through the window of her boyfriend's Conway house and struck her, according to the Horry County Coroner's Office. Few details have been released about the shooting, but it happened shortly before 11 p.m. in the 1700 block of Horry Street, Conway Police said Conway Police on May 2 announced they had arrested 19-year-old Derrick Que’shawn Ashley of Conway in connection with the shooting He was arrested May 1 on other charges and is being charged with murder according to a police department news release there's been an outpouring of tributes for the teen was known for her vibrant personality as well as her outstanding achievements in both academics and athletics," Horry County Schools said in a news release "The loss of a student impacts the entire school community; therefore Loris High School is offering counseling services to any student or staff member who may be affected by this tragedy." Brisco described Richburg as someone with an "uplifting Brisco quickly became Richburg's "work mom," and the teen would frequently tell her about her hopes after graduation. Richburg was on the A-honor roll, and she was a standout basketball player who just scored her 1,000th point this year While known for her work ethic on the court Richburg was just as dedicated to the center she attended to the residents' meals and schedules took them on walks outside and helped them shower even picking up overtime at the front desk Richburg also hoped to work on the weekends when she came home from college "She had a lot going for herself," Brisco said adding that her life was taken far too soon the staff and residents of Spring Oak have continued to keep her memory alive A large portrait of Richburg in her bright red "North-South All-Star Game" basketball jersey sits on the front desk staff created a memorial to the aspiring teen a jar of black ribbons to wear in her honor and a poem in remembrance of her titled "Until We Meet Again." Brisco said her heart goes out to Richburg's family and she hopes to connect with them soon about the impact that Richburg made on the center "It's been hard on all our residents because they loved her," Brisco said "They asked if they could pray for her before breakfast yesterday  Follow Nicole Ziege on Twitter @NicoleZiege News tips/online questions: cperry@postandcourier.com Delivery/subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Conway County couple charged in $2 million Home Depot theft schemeby Thomas Farrar (KATV) — A Conway couple has been arrested for their alleged involvement in an organized retail crime ring Attorney General Tim Griffin announced at a press conference have been charged with felony theft by receiving The arrests were made after authorities with the Attorney General's Special Investigations Division and other law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant in Cleveland The investigation was initiated after Home Depot's Corporate Investigations team provided intelligence on a suspected organized retail crime scheme targeting Home Depot stores nationwide criminals were purchasing items from Home Depot’s website using gift-card information they had obtained from Home Depot stores "The criminals scanned the gift-card information and then returned the gift cards to store displays." Griffin explained that the operation involved purchasing an estimated $2 million in merchandise fraudulently using more than 6,000 gift cards The merchandise was then shipped to an address in Cleveland and sold through numerous online shopping platform accounts law enforcement recovered electronic and consumer goods valued at over $116,000 with many items linked to other retail outlets The recovered merchandise filled two large moving trucks and is now stored at a secure location two computers and three cell phones were seized for examination in the digital forensics lab "Arresting this couple is a good first step but we have only scratched the surface when it comes to uncovering the full scope of this organized retail crime operation," Griffin said He expressed gratitude to the investigators and collaborating agencies and Home Depot's Corporate Investigations team for their efforts in combating organized retail crime in Arkansas Griffin emphasized the importance of continued investigation and collaboration "This is a big win in our fight against organized retail crime in Arkansas and this outcome would not have happened without the legislature and the Governor supporting the addition of a dedicated ORC investigator to my Special Investigations Division." – Witnesses say a fun event became anything but in Conway after a shooting broke out over the weekend leaving two people dead and several injured Officials with the Conway Police Department are investigating a Sunday evening shooting at 5th Avenue Park that left two dead and nine injured Police said that the people who were injured in the shooting have been taken to area hospitals and are currently considered stable Nyla Stewart said she and her friends were at the party when they heard gunshots and started to run Jerreace Morman remembers the panic he felt knowing his son was there “My heart goes out to the families because my son came home and people lost people and it’s not comparable.” He was not the only parent rushing to hear from their child Kimberly Rodgers says her son was at the party and couldn’t sit still until she heard from him “There’s nothing like knowing you have a child somewhere in possible danger,” she said Morman said no parent should have to go through this “There are guns everywhere and that creates what we see now a situation where our kids are not safe,” Morman said Stewart said she thought the party was a college event In a statement from the University of Central Arkansas officials said they have not received confirmation that UCA students or anyone in the UCA community were involved in the shooting School officials also noted that they were informed of promotional events that included an unauthorized UCA logo and clarified that the university did not authorize the use of the brand University officials added that they were not involved in planning or hosting any weekend events “We believe the promotion was meant to persuade UCA and other college students to attend and falsely align universities with various parties and activities,” the statement said UCA did not authorize the use of the logo and was not involved in the planning or hosting of these events.” “It makes you not want to go outside to be at parties or events anymore because they don’t know how to act,” she said Conway police have yet to make an arrest and have not given any details on the possible suspects University officials said the University of Central Arkansas Police Department is working with the Conway Police Department during the investigation The city’s police are also getting assistance from state police HI and passed away at 12:13pm on Easter Sunday He was a true laid back “local boy” from Pearl City HI who lived the Aloha Spirit and was a cherished son and friend who lived a full and meaningful life Mike was the beloved son of the late James Richard and Lorretta (Amamalin) Conway He was also preceded in death by his brothers Peter Wayne Bertulfo and James Patrick Conway Jaymsana Conway; his dedicated brother Timothy (and sister-in-law Edie) Conway; and his kind-hearted sister-in-law Lorina Bertulfo and nieces will forever treasure the memories they shared with him Mike’s formative years were spent in the sun-kissed landscapes of Pearl City and Honolulu where he graduated from Maryknoll High School He dedicated his professional life to the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki as a Landscape Supervisor where the tropical beauty and tranquility of the gardens he tended - and the guest tours he gave - were a testament to his meticulous work ethic and passion for nature which he often shared with his dad Known for his love of NFL and college football Mike never missed a chance to cheer on his favorite football team Whether the team was enjoying a winning streak or facing a challenging season relishing the calmness of the greens and camaraderie of the game His approach to life was refreshingly straightforward he found a profound sense of peace and contentment Mike was also content in solitude—reflective of his simple and independent nature He will be deeply missed not only for the love and laughter he brought into the lives of those who knew him but also for the humility and an admirable appreciation for the little things in life that often mean the most His gentle spirit and enduring smile will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him we celebrate the life of a man who was not only rooted in the love of his family and the beauty of nature but also in the hearts of everyone who cherished him and may his memory continue to inspire us all Palmer Funeral Home - River Park Chapel is providing the family with support and assistance during this period of remembrance and grief the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to Alzheimer’s research in his name Fortune 100 company files for new project under ForgeLight Ventures name A new data center development could be coming to the city of Conway in Arkansas The unnamed company aims to invest $1 billion in developing a 300,000 sq ft (27,870 sqm) data center building and ancillary support buildings Further phases of development are possible in the future Further details are yet to be shared on the project is located some 30 miles north of Little Rock The facility will be located along Lollie Road The data center would represent the largest capital investment in Conway’s history executive vice president of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce/Conway Development Corp “This project is at a historic scale for us,” he said the project would create around 50 new jobs the project will be granted a 65 percent tax abatement for 30 years the project may use treated water from the Tupelo Bayou Wastewater Treatment Plant – though this isn’t confirmed yet The company behind the ForgeLight affiliate is not known at this point though was said to be a US-based Fortune 100 company – which likely suggests it could be one of the large hyperscale developers Gates said that local officials and economic developers began discussions with the mystery company about a year ago and the project remains in the “very early stage.” Arkansas has a small data center market, and none of the US hyperscalers currently have developments in the region. Local ISPs Brightspeed and Windstream have facilities in the state Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCEDAR RAPIDS Iowa (KCRG) - There’s sometimes shame and stigma connected to mental illness and many religions are working to dismantle those old ways of thinking That work gained intensity for the Archdiocese of Dubuque when a priest died by suicide in November Dennis Conway led two parishes in Cedar Rapids- St Archbishop Thomas Zinkula wrote in a message to the public “Based on correspondence near the time of his death Father Dennis clearly was suffering from an acute mental health crisis.” The archbishop and a priest who worked alongside Conway are now talking about how the church has changed its views on mental health and how their faith has guided them through grief Aaron Junge and Conway graduated one year apart from Xavier Catholic High School in Cedar Rapids Their connection continued with Junge serving as the associate pastor at Immaculate Conception and St “He poured himself out for these two parishes,” Junge said “I think the first thing that people would have encountered with him was just his really great intellect,” Junge said Communicating the death in November to the parish and community at large fell to Archbishop Zinkula “The more we can just be honest about it and more transparent rather [than] try and hide these kinds of things It’s an openness about mental health struggles that society there’s been a deepening of-an understanding of-psychology and underlying causes of mental illness,” the archbishop said The Archdiocese of Dubuque is even starting a new support strategy for parishioners who are suffering “Our diocese as a whole has recently commissioned a mental health task force to raise awareness [and] provide education about medical health [and] mental health resources available,” Zinkula said Future priests go through psychological testing before entering the seminary And attending to their mental wellness as a practicing priest “I’ve worked with certainly a mental health professional myself and have a spiritual director which is someone that you meet with as a priest regularly to talk about your own prayer life So I do that monthly as well and just talking with friends,” Fr Junge says Conway’s death has opened up more conversations about mental wellness especially for those in a religious vocation “The fact that it catalyzed prayer and conversation around the overall mental health of priests and religious is God bringing good from a very tragic situation.“ by Ashley Luningham | Rowdy Baribeau President of the University of Central Arkansas provided new information on the shooting that occurred on April 19 on school grounds authorities are searching for a second suspect connected to the shooting Davis said in a statement the suspect's name has been shared and confirmed they are not a current or former student at the university Police are actively searching for the second suspect and more information will be shared when it becomes available Conway Police are investigating a shooting that happened at the University of Central Arkansas parking lot near Donaghey Avenue and Bruce Street One person was shot and the victim was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries Police do have one suspect in custody in connection with this incident According to a statement released by UCA officials To read that statement, click here – Officials with the Conway Police Department are investigating a Sunday evening shooting at a park that left two dead and nine injured According to a post on social media Officials have not released any information on possible suspects or the names of those who died Police are asking the public to avoid the area while the investigation is ongoing They are also asking that anyone with information about this incident contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 501-450-6130 You may speak with any available detective please leave a message and someone will return your call Thanks for visiting (KATV) — The Conway Police Department confirmed that 11 victims were shot at 5th Avenue Park on Sunday night KATV was on the scene Sunday night just after the news broke: Police continued to maintain a heavy presence at the park into Monday morning Conway Police have not confirmed the identity of the victims nor have they named a suspect in the shooting They are expected to host a press conference in the coming days to give further details The gathering at the park was advertised on social media as a social event hosted by the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) and the University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff (UAPB) Both universities have released statements saying that they had no official involvement in the gathering UCA released the following statement saying their logo was used in unauthorized promotions for the event: UAPB officials confirmed that the school had no connection to the gathering KATV has collected police dispatch audio from the moment the shooting was first reported: Updates will be provided as they become available.