Changes are planned for downtown Helena-West Helena including revitalization of the city's Cherry and Walnut Street storefronts into new retail space and community venues Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans. Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism. Lucas Dufalla covers the Mississippi River Basin for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette A 2024 graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick he has worked for news organizations in Pennsylvania and New England He is also a Report for America Corps member 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of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored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 A Phillips County man indicted as part of a conspiracy to traffic firearms pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to.. Dale Ellis covers the federal courthouse beat for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporting on criminal and civil matters that impact Arkansans working from the Pine Bluff bureau before taking up his current beat in January 2021 Dale started in news in 1998 at the Heber Springs Sun-Times where he was a reporter and columnist He has also worked at the Searcy Daily Citizen as managing editor and at the Wynne Progress as managing editor This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC The Helena-West Helena Police Department is investigating a shooting that took place at O'Reilly's HELENA-WEST HELENA (KATV) — The Helena-West Helena Police Department is investigating a shooting that took place at O'Reilly Auto Parts The shooting resulted in the death of one individual the identity of the individual or suspect is unknown and more information will be released as it becomes available Helena-West Helena, AR  (RestaurantNews.com)  In a major development for the Arkansas QSR space, local restaurateur James Jones is bringing the state its first-ever Bumpers The beloved Mississippi fast-food brand continues to gain notoriety and spread its delicious handmade sandwiches Bumpers franchises have been recognized for decades for their unique profitability in small towns and their comparatively low initial investments After over three decades in the food service industry Jones has finalized a franchise agreement to open Arkansas’ first Bumpers location in Helena-West Helena This new drive-thru is expected to open by May of 2025 marking an exciting expansion for both Jones and the Bumpers brand as it pushes out of its home state of Mississippi Jones was particularly drawn to Bumpers’ affordability and approach to franchising which offers him the independence to tailor the business to meet the needs of his community “Bumpers allows me the freedom to use my own team and choose a model that fits my community while maintaining the high standards they’re known for,” said Jones “That flexibility and their recognition of hard work made it the perfect fit for me.” chili cheese dogs and many other hometown favorites Bumpers also offers unique items not found at other fast-food restaurants strawberry shortcake and hot fudge cake deserts fried dill pickles-O’s and Jumping Jack Fries And no one can forget Bumpers’ famous Biggie Bag with hot apple pies As the new restaurant is being painted and outfitted with plans for both drive-thru and dine-in options Jones is excited about the opportunity to bring a new brand to Helena-West Helena and beyond “This is just the beginning,” he said To learn more about Bumpers, visit BumpersDriveIn.com For interest in Bumpers franchising opportunities, email Kat Davidson at monarchfrandev@gmail.com or call 678-485-8413 HELENA-WEST HELENA (KATV) — In Helena-West Helena longtime water issues have given way to sky high water bills Mayor Christopher Franklin called an emergency city council meeting for Wednesday night to address the issue Many residents shared their concerns with their water bills said her water bill went up by over $2,000 and showed KATV the bill she received “I paid my last months water bill of $80 and I got this months water bill of almost $2,500," French said Many residents saying they just want answers I mean it’s just my brother and he is disabled It went from $100 to $800 and that includes sanitation," one resident said saying he also received a high bill and added his mother But Franklin said he is prepared to pay it it is just one less coke I'm going to drink one less hamburger I am going to eat until I figure out how to get her issue fixed because she don’t have it," Mayor Franklin said The mayor says the high water bills boils down to one issue “You know that if you’re a single person living in your house and your water bill is $500 you've got a leak somewhere," Mayor Franklin said Franklin urged residentsto reach out to the city's water department but residents say they have made those calls “Right this moment no one has returned my call No one has come out to check out my problem," said one resident The superintendent of Helena-West Helena Water and Sewer said they will be conducting investigations as to why the bills are so high “Maybe there was a leak on the customers side but it was running through the meter and it was actually still on the copper setter That could cause high usage and actually be our fault," Rose said Rose announced the city's water is at a low point again and expressed the importance of getting a new water well for the city “We have to get this well online or we are going to be in bad shape," Rose said Mayor Franklin said bills will be going back to old rates for the time being and those people who have already paid their bill will receive credit on their next bill HELENA-WEST HELENA -- A $20 million project to repair a 1,600 foot flood wall in Helena-West Helena remained at a.. (KATV) — Water continues to be a problem for the city of Helena-West Helena "We can get spread blame over a lot of people We can certainly fuss about what has happened over the last year and a half or so but that doesn't get us water back," said Andrew Bagley co-owner and publisher of The Helena World Bagley said three wells have been pumping at a limited capacity and as of September 23 over half of that treated water is being lost to leaks in the system A new well is in the works but a timeline is unclear "We have been in a race against time to get that well done before these wells simply couldn't pump enough anymore and we didn't make it So we are out of water as of yesterday afternoon," Bagley said Bagley said the water issues could lead to more rate increases, which has caused residents to verbally express their concerns The sad truth of the matter is we have got to have some local skin in this game because nobody is going to come in like a knight in shining armor on a white horse and pay for all of it," Bagley said "You are looking at over the course of time to get this system where it needs to be probably somewhere in the neighborhood of over $100 million to do the Helena and West Helena water and sewer," Bagley said The unhoused shelter is just one of the places in town that does not have water We are not able to clean," Wes Barringer said a facility manager for Anchor Mission Ministries Barringer said there are three separate facilities in town Barringer said the facility was able to send some of their residents to the local high school that offered showers to community members We are having to use washcloths and buckets of water and just kind of just getting by doing the best we can," Barringer said Bagley said he does not want people to give up on Helena-West Helena "We are a place with immense potential that in many ways is on the brink of some successes on the economic and community development front but you can't do anything without water," Bagley said "It's in the state's best interest to get this right because the state can never meet its full potential if Helena and the Delta doesn't reach its full potential," Bagley said If you are interested in donating water to the unhoused shelter, Anchor Mission Ministries, you can contact them by clicking here One person was killed and two more injured in a crash on the U.S 49 bridge over the Mississippi River at Helena-West Helena on Monday according to an Arkansas State Police report policing and breaking news for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette his articles focus primarily on crime and law enforcement efforts in Pulaski County although he reports on other parts of the state as well Severe Weather: Donate to the Arkansas Disaster Relief Program The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has received a $43.9 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Bridge Investment Program for rehabilitation of the U.S Highway 49 Mississippi River Bridge between Helena-West Helena This project is a collaborative effort between ARDOT and the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) for the rehabilitation of the Helena Bridge The Helena Bridge is a critical Mississippi River crossing of local This Mississippi River crossing is nearly one mile long and is currently rated as being in “poor” condition The Helena Bridge Rehabilitation Project includes structural and general repairs to bring the bridge into a state of good repair The project also will increase the load rating of the bridge and give it a service life of 20 to 25 years That extended service life would allow ARDOT and MDOT to monitor existing regional transportation needs and plan for future capacity needs paving the way for a new Mississippi River crossing that would respond to the unique conditions of the New Madrid Seismic Zone A letter of support for the grant application was signed by Senator John Boozman Highway 49 crosses the Mississippi River and is a critical piece of our nation’s infrastructure,” said Congressman Rick Crawford “The bridge connects the eastern part of Arkansas to Mississippi where US-49 ultimately ends near the Port of Gulfport producers and shippers would have to find alternative ways to move agriculture and other manufactured goods between these states and to and from the port This investment will allow for structural repairs and will establish a monitoring system to prevent it from becoming unusable in the future.” “This grant award is the result of partnership and collaboration between Arkansas and other regional stakeholders,” said ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor “It’s critical that we care for our existing infrastructure and ultimately extend the lifespan of a road or bridge when possible Thank you to the USDOT for recognizing the significance of this project and choosing to invest in this critical link between Arkansas and Mississippi.” “The Helena Bridge serves as an important transportation link between Mississippi and Arkansas,” said MDOT Executive Director Brad White “We’re appreciative of USDOT for this grant award and for our partnership with ARDOT on the project This wise investment will drive economic growth in the area and increase safety for decades to come.” The project’s total estimated cost is $56.6 million ARDOT and MDOT will split the remaining cost evenly next steps include working on project design and construction plans Media Contact: Ellen Coulter [email protected]501.765.9117 Central Office:501-569-2000 Water service was restored Tuesday for about 4,500 West Helena residents who had been without water since Sunday LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — An Arkansas woman is one of 1,499 convicted criminals granted a commuted sentence by President Biden was found guilty in April of 2017 of stealing $10.5 million in federal funds from a summer feeding program A federal judge sentenced her to more than 12 years in prison $3 million in restitution and to forfeit several of her properties was sentenced to 14 years in prison and ordered to pay $3 million in restitution Waits has not been granted a commuted sentence A total of 13 defendants were sentenced for their involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain USDA program funds intended to feed children in low-income areas She maintained her innocence through the trial saying in a KATV interview after the verdict came out: "I am innocent,” Mills proclaimed outside court Walking into this I had little faith in the justice system." saying she was medically susceptible to COVID-19 Rain: 7am to 7am: .00  Month: 1.51 Year: 25.00 Recorded temps:  High: 68 Low: 46 Police investigate homicide outside of Helena-West Helena O’Reilly’s (Courtesy of Tommy Reed) A suspect involved in a Helena-West Helena homicide triggered a barricade situation at the Phillips County Detention Center on Tuesday while being processed by authorities the inmate managed to gain access to an unidentified object He then barricaded himself inside the processing area prompting officers to deploy pepper spray to subdue him The individual was subsequently transported to a local hospital for medical treatment no other individuals were injured during the incident Helena-West Helena Police Chief Vincent Bell confirmed that the inmate is connected to a fatal shooting earlier that afternoon The shooting occurred at the O’Reilly Auto Parts in West Helena after a dispute at a nearby motel the victim ran to the front of O’Reilly’s where he was fatally shot in the doorway Chief Bell did not release additional details regarding the victim and suspect’s identity or the possible motive for the shooting Helena-West Helena Mayor Christopher Franklin and Chief of Staff James Valley were found in contempt of court on Thursday after.. A $2 million cryptocurrency mine in Helena-West Helena is one step closer to becoming a reality WEST-HELENA (KATV) — After the arrest of eight Helena dispensary workers Arkansas has been acquired by Dark Horse Cannabis Eight Helena dispensary workers arrested for fraudulent medical marijuana sales This acquisition will turn the dispensary into Speakeasy Set for a transitional period before relocating the West Helena location will be the site of the temporary dispensary before moving to Brinkley permanently The move to Brinley will offer the West Helena patients a better customer experience as well as promote growth within the community of Brinkley by bringing new jobs "Our move to Brinkley will give us an opportunity to enhance the customer experience and foster brand loyalty," said Casey Flippo "We are committed to providing our customers with the high-quality products they deserve ensuring they feel valued and supported in their cannabis journey." The store acquisition and new location emphasize the company's future growth strategy reinforcing Dark Horse's commitment to expanding its footprint in key markets while delivering exceptional value to its community Arkansas State Police (ASP) have released more information about the shooting saying that 2 men were involved in a shootout ASP says that 21-year-oldFredrick Coleman 'verbally confronted' another man 21-year-oldNathaniel Harvey in the Exxon convenience store Witnesses at the scene told ASP that Coleman shot Harvey as he was leaving the store Harvey then grabbed a gun from his vehicle and shot Coleman multiple times Both men were left in critical condition after being air-lifted to Regional One Hospital in Memphis TheHelena-West Helena Police Department has asked ASP'sCriminal Investigation Division to investigate the shooting Late Monday night a shooting occurred at the Exxon gas station in Helena-West Helena The Helena-West Helena Police Department confirmed they were at the scene a little before 9 p.m Witnesses tell KATV there were multiple shooters The police department has not said how many and if anyone was injured We will update this story as more information is released As many as 4,500 Helena-West Helena residents were without water Monday after two large-scale leaks over the weekend Helena-West Helena and Wynne were both earmarked for $4.5 HELENA-WEST HELENA -- Saeed Rose is the superintendent of Helena-West Helena Water and Sewer The mayor of Helena-West Helena and his chief of staff have been found in contempt of court for violating a court order upheld by the Arkansas Supreme Court regarding their salaries First Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Christopher Morledge filed a court order in Phillips County Circuit Court holding both HWH Mayor.. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content View Membership Levels © 2024 Johnson Media Group - Design & Maintenance by Elite Custom Gifts Please enter your username or email address to reset your password © 2024 Johnson Media Group - Design & Maintenance by Elite Custom Gifts A West Helena man was killed in a single-car crash Sunday in DeWitt Daniel McFadin is a general assignment reporter who has been with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since October 2022 and has also been a writer covering NASCAR for Frontstretch — which is not affiliated with the Democrat-Gazette — since 2014 Daniel also has and continues to be involved in podcasting at the newspaper The Arkansas Department of Transportation has received a $43.9 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation for rehabilitation of the U.S Highway 49 Mississippi River Bridge at Helena-West Helena The project is a collaborative effort between ARDOT and the Mississippi Department of Transportation The funds come from the DOT’s Bridge Investment Program Senator Tom Cotton and Congressman Rick Crawford Highway 49 crosses the Mississippi River and is a critical piece of our nation’s infrastructure,” Crawford wrote READ ALSO: UA Little Rock Unveils New Website Tracking Over a Century of Little Rock’s History Copyright © 2025 Arkansas Money and Politics A Phillips County woman who admitted to the straw purchase of two firearms from a Helena-West Helena pawnshop in the summer of 2020 pleaded guilty Friday to one count.. Gilcreast introduced himself to the high school football scene in a big way Southern hardware distributor House-Hasson Hardware has substantially increased its warehousing square footage through the acquisition of Bostwick-Braun's facilities in Helena-West Helena and in northern Indiana