The Realtors Relief Foundation is now accepting applications for grants to assist Arkansas homeowners and renters whose primary residences were damaged by recent severe storms To be eligible for the financial assistance homeowners must have sustained damage to their property due to the storms and either pay a mortgage or own the home outright Renters must have been displaced from their storm-damaged residence to qualify Damage to ancillary structures such as fences and detached garages is not eligible for aid Renters who were not displaced from their homes are ineligible for assistance Displaced renters must provide a new lease agreement or temporary housing receipts to be considered for grant funds All applicants must provide proof of residency and include photographs documenting the damage with their application Incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed Applications can be obtained by contacting Independence County Office of Emergency Management Director Bill Johnson at (870) 793-8816 Applications will also soon be available at the Cushman Fire Department (Scroll down for a checklist of required documentation that needs to be filed with the application.) the American Red Cross will open Disaster Assistance Centers this upcoming week in West Memphis and Hardy to discuss eligibility for financial assistance for those affected by the recent tornadoes Individuals seeking information or wishing to register for Red Cross financial assistance can visit www.redcross.org/gethelp or call 1-800-RED-CROSS More information regarding qualifications for Red Cross assistance is also available at the website For those experiencing emotional distress following the severe weather the Disaster Distress Helpline is available at 1-800-985-5990 This service provides free and confidential support The American Red Cross is also accepting donations to support disaster relief efforts Individuals can contribute by visiting redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store Catch CBS News around the top of every hour on 1340 KBTA Pretoria, 21 February 2025 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) advises road users of a road closure caused by flood damage on the R40 national road between White River and Hazyview in Mpumalanga Province. The closure is caused by recent inclement weather conditions in the province. “The closure of the R40 national road is caused by a slip on the road, which is a hazard for motorists. We have barricaded the area with heavy delineators as temporary measures to make the road safe. Concrete barriers will be used to barricade the road before the end of the week. We have also put a temporary Stop and Go until a permanent solution is put in place,” said Mabuyi Mhlanga, SANRAL’s Provincial Manager for Mpumalanga Province. SANRAL advises road users to proceed with caution when travelling on the R40 national road, adhere to road warning signs, reduce travel speed and drive with extreme caution in the heavy rains. JOHANNESBURG - A multi-disciplinary team, including the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the Hawks directorate, has raided a storage facility in White River, south of Nelspruit, where illicit goods suspected to be worth millions were found. Police said the storage facility where the raid was had at least 700 storage facilities. An information-driven operation led law enforcement to one unit where illicit items, including medication, food items, cosmetics and fireworks were found. Spokesperson Donald Mdluli said that the items were allegedly being sold to various spaza shops. "For now, the owner has not been located, however, we've got security guards who are here. If maybe I can paint a picture of this place: it's an area with a lot of storage facilities. There are more than seven hundred - it could be thousands of storage facilities where people store things. However, the intelligence pointed that there were some illicit items that were stored and then distributed to various spaza shops and other stores." Sections Police and Home Affairs officials are continuing to investigate an illegal military training camp in White River with firearms recovered and 95 Libyan nationals facing charges of contravening the immigration act welcomed the arrest of the Libyan nationals who reportedly entered the country with visas acquired through misrepresentation in Tunis “Following a major joint operation by Home Affairs [the] South African Police Service (SAPS) and other law enforcement authorities the department is on the ground ensuring that anyone who breached immigration laws is processed through the court or there will be consequences,” said the Minister in a statement on Saturday Read the full story on ProtectionWeb here Editorial Enquiries: [email protected] Sales Enquiries: [email protected] the son of James “Elmer” and Kathryn (Gates) Green Green was a graduate of Newark High School He later went to work at White Rodgers in Batesville He was a devoted member of the Newark First Baptist Church Green was a wonderful Christian man and loved going to bible Study Green enjoyed hunting and watching westerns He also loved spending time with his dear friends Carolyn Gates Bailey of Tuckerman and Sue Gates Husky and husband of Tuckerman; many cousins; and a lifetime of friends Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Blue Springs Cemetery Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Adam Owens Honorary pallbearers are Jim Murphree and Dennis Green Arrangements by Jackson’s Newark Funeral Home the hue and cry in connection with the arrest of 95 Libyans apparently in South Africa under false pretences and undergoing what is termed “military training” at a Mpumalanga security training facility Freedom Front Plus (FF+) leader and Correctional Services Minister in the GNU (Government of National Unity) maintains the arrests at the Milites Dei Security Services (MDSS) facility in White River again shows “government ignorance” the former Commando officer said in a statement follow “several” Parliamentary questions regarding military training offered by private security companies to foreign groups in the Eastern Cape province “Each question was met with a negative answer,” he wrote “The White River incident offers irrefutable proof that it is indeed the case and government could have something to hide After the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal in July 2021 the FF Plus warned that the country’s intelligence services are not up to standard and should be overhauled “Allowing foreigners to receive military training in South Africa especially if they could possibly be tied to terrorism seriously jeopardises the country’s territorial integrity,” Groenewald stated noting that the 95 people in custody apparently have ties with a group trying to destabilise Africa the people of South Africa could demand that heads roll South Africa simply cannot be allowed to turn into a training base for international terrorist groups endangering citizens’ lives,” he said Another contributing factor to the lacklustre intelligence performance is South Africa finding itself on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list for failing to take adequate action against local money laundering and terror financing The Libyans appeared in the White River Magistrate’s Courts earlier this week and were remanded in custody until their next scheduled appearance on Monday Reports have it the remand decision was taken to allow Department of Justice officials to find an Arabic translator Currently they face charges of being in South Africa illegally having apparently entered the country with visas acquired through misrepresentation in Tunisia according to the Department of Home Affairs The Libyans reportedly arrived in South Africa in April Editorial Enquiries: [email protected] Sales Enquiries: [email protected] at Batesville to Ervin and Karen (Turner) Lambert He was over shipping/receiving at LaCroix and was a Christian and loved his daughter Jadyn will all his heart Kurt loved everyone; he never met a stranger and poured into many lives over the years He was preceded in death by his grandparents Atlee Lambert of Conway and Avery Lambert of Trumann; nephew Aiden Lambert of Batesville; one great niece Rowyn Jones of Trumann along with a host of other relatives and friends at the Qualls Batesville Funeral Service Chapel with Bro Burial will follow in the Cave City Cemetery In the wake of the discovery of the illegal military training camp in White River the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) has said the training conducted there was unlawful as it went beyond the scope of security industry training was the address of a security service provider Milites Dei Security Services (Pty) Ltd (MDSS) “PSiRA has instructed MDSS to immediately cease all training activities and has deployed its inspectorate to physically inspect the premises to ensure compliance,” PSiRA said in a statement together with other government departments was naturally concerned about these activities The Regulatory Authority has taken “immediate steps to conduct preliminary investigations and Read the full story on ProtectionWeb here Editorial Enquiries: [email protected] Sales Enquiries: [email protected] He will be greatly missed by all of his loving family and friends Heath Wharton of Texas and Trey Wharton of Ohio; one sister A memorial service will take place in Texas at a later date Roller Crouch Funeral Home in Mountain View at the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro He was born in Poinsett County on April 12 the son of Luther and Audrey (Volner) Neal and two brothers: Junior Neal and Howard Neal After finishing high school at Harrisburg and graduating from college at ASU in Jonesboro they earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Ag ~ Business Don worked at the Post Office at ASU for many years and retired from there He married Miss Carolyn Ketchum on August 15 and they enjoyed 59 years of marriage together He was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church in Harrisburg There he served as Deacon for over 40 years and taught the Men’s Sunday School class for many years Don was very active in sharing the Gospel with people he knew and those he didn’t know still talking with and praying with people He wanted everyone to know personally the Savior he knew He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and his church family Some of his free time was spent in the woods He went on a mission trip to Guatemala in 1991 and another trip he took was to the Grand Canyon he hiked from the North Rim to the South Rim in two days A time of visitation will follow the service in the Family Life Center Arrangements are by Jackson’s Funeral Home Scots baseball sweeps doubleheader from Principia College – The Lyon College baseball Scots had to wait a day and a half to complete the first game of a SLIAC doubleheader with Principia College due to weather delays on Saturday they swept the Panthers to finish the regular season The Scots finally won the first game 13-3 after it was stopped on Saturday with Lyon leading 10-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning Lyon College won the second game 12-6 and finished their SLIAC season with a record of 20-20 overall and 9-9 in the conference Eli Marcotte homered to center field to give the Scots a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning Landon Swallow doubled to left field to score Ashton Compton for a 2-0 advantage After Principia scored a run in the bottom of the first Marcotte hit a sacrifice fly to score Walker Smith then Garrett Graef stole second base and Andrew James scored on a throwing error Compton hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Graef to make it a 5-1 Scots lead Principia scored in the bottom of the second to make it 5-2 Marcotte homered for the second time in the game Braden Hendrix was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Kooper McCoy then a wild pitch allowed Braden Bramlett to score for an 8-2 lead Bramlett singled to center field to bring in Compton and Smith singled to center to score Bramlett to make it 10-2 Principia scored a run in the bottom of the sixth when play resumed on Sunday afternoon McCoy singled to center field to bring in James and Graef to make it 12-3 Swallow hit a sacrifice fly to plate Logan Lightner for a 13-3 Scots lead Brayden Anderson was the winning pitcher for Lyon College who went one inning and gave up one hit and two runs Anderson pitched four innings and gave up one hit and one run Parker Paschal pitched three innings on Sunday Owen Sanders came in to pitch for one inning and had two strikeouts while not allowing a hit or a run Bramlett doubled to left field to score McCoy in the top of the first inning Swallow singled to center to bring in Bramlett Principia got another run in the bottom of the fifth on a solo homer Marcotte hit a three-run homer to make it an 8-4 Lyon College lead Principia came back in the bottom of the eighth to score a run Slade Inman singled to right field to score Misael Santiago McCoy drove in the final Scots run with a base hit to left field that scored Inman for a 12-5 lead Colton Will picked up the win for the Scots Connor Taylor started the game and pitched 4.1 innings Carter Spraigue pitched 1.1 innings and allowed three hits and one run then Kenny Jennings finished the game by pitching the final 1.2 innings allowing two hits and one run while striking out one batter Scots baseball drops 7-2 game at Westminster the Lyon College baseball Scots dropped a 7-2 decision to the Westminster Blue Jays in a non-conference game in Fulton The Scots (18-20) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning Eli Marcotte reached on an error and scored when Ashton Compton grounded out and the ball was over the bag and out of play for him to score easily Marcotte homered in the top of the third inning to put Lyon College up 2-0 Westminster returned with six runs in the bottom of the third inning Then the Blue Jays added a homer in the bottom of the fifth to lead 7-2 Tyler Davis started the game on the mound for Lyon College and pitched 2.1 innings Patrick Babcock came in to pitch 3.1 innings He gave up four hits and two runs and had four strikeouts Scots baseball drops doubleheader to MUW at Fred Wann Field – The Lyon College baseball Scots dropped a SLIAC doubleheader to the Mississippi University for Women Owls on Saturday MUW picked up an unearned run in the top of the fourth and scored three more runs in the top of the eighth inning to lead 9-2 The Owls added another unearned run in the top of the ninth Lyon College scored two runs on six hits and four errors in Game 1 Swallow led the team with three hits in four at-bats Patrick Babcock was the losing pitcher in the game Tyler Davis came in for one inning of work and gave up a run on two walks Colton Will came in for the next four innings and allowed two hits and one run Brayden Anderson finished the game by pitching the final two innings the Scots scored one run on seven hits and made four more errors MUW scored two runs in the top of the first inning and the score stayed 2-0 through the bottom of the sixth Swallow doubled to left-center to score Slade Inman for the Scots to make it a 2-1 game Hits for the Scots included a 2-for-3 performance from Walker Smith Aiden Connolly was the losing pitcher for Lyon College Connor Taylor pitched the final three innings Spalding takes two games from Lyon College softball on Senior Day – It was an emotional day on Saturday for the Lyon College Softball team who watched their five players say their goodbyes on Senior Day at Howard and Mary House Field and Olivia Orf will be leaving the team at the end of the semester Parents and family members gathered around the diamond to wish them a farewell on a day where the SLIAC’s top ranked team were in town to play the final doubleheader of the year against the Scots Sophie Varela led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk and Skylar Foreman doubled to bring in Varela for a 1-0 lead Orf also came in to score when Brianna Morquecho singled for a 2-0 Scots’ lead Spalding came back to score four times in the top of the second inning for a 4-2 lead Then Spalding scored two more runs in the top of the fourth to lead 6-2 Rebecca Rodriguez singled down the right field line Gabby Thomas came in to run for Rodriguez at second base setting up a triple to right field by Varela The Scots trailed 6-4 and did not threaten again in the game Holzer pitched seven full innings for her final complete game as a Lyon Scot Spalding scored another run in the top of the fourth inning to close the game to 3-2 then took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth Spalding added two more runs in the top of the seventh to lead 6-3 Thomas stole second base and advanced to third on a Bergman groundout Martinez singled to left center field to bring in Thomas and Soni Beene came in to run for Martinez Anna Voth put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up but a pop-out to the shortstop ended the game and the season for the Scots Lyon College finished the regular season 13-27 overall and 7-11 in the SLIAC Scots softball sweeps Principia College in SLIAC doubleheader – The Lyon College Softball Scots swept a SLIAC doubleheader from Principia College on Saturday 7-9) outscored Principia a combined 22-0 in both games Lyon College won the first game 14-0 in five innings and defeated Principia 8-0 in five innings in the second game the scoring started at the bottom of the first inning for the Scots Sophie Varela led off with a single to left-center MK Duffield hit a triple down the right field line to score Varela and Voth Olivia Orf singled to center field to bring in Duffield Orf advanced to second on a throwing error by the Principia catcher Brianna Morquecho reached first on an error Rebecca Rodriguez singled to left-center field to score Orf Emily Martinez walked and took off for second base Duffield was hit by a pitch and scored when Orf tripled down the right field line Skylar Foreman walked and stole second base Martinez singled to left-center field and Foreman scored Martinez advanced to second on a wild pitch Duffield singled and advanced to second on an error which allowed Varela and Voth to score for a 12-0 Lyon College lead Gabby Thomas tripled to right-center field Georgia Holzer was the winning pitcher for the Scots She pitched five innings and did not allow a hit or a run She walked one and had three strikeouts in the shutout In the bottom of the second inning of the second game Orf and Morquecho moved up a base on a wild pitch then Rodriguez doubled to left-center to score both for a 2-0 lead Fallon Lancaster singled to score Rodriguez to make it 3-0 Voth led off with a single to center field Foreman singled to right field to score Duffield and Rodriguez singled to right-center to bring in Thomas Voth singled down the right field line to bring in Varela Orf doubled to right-center to score Voth for a 7-0 Lyon College lead Ohnrie Bergman doubled to right field with one out and Madison DeRoussel came in to run for her Lancaster hit a walk-off single that scored DeRoussel to end the game with the Scots leading 8-0 She walked two and struck out four batters Scots men’s golf ranks 4th of 13 after round one of SLIAC Championships – The Lyon College men’s golf team is ranked fourth of 13 teams after the first day of competition at the SLIAC Championship Tournament at Timberlake Golf Course in Edinburgh John Blake Turner led the Scots with an even par 72 in round one Ryan Kriz was second for the Scots with a one-over 73 in round one Michael Winne shot a 77 and birdied holes three and nine He parred holes four through eight and 10 through 13 Manav Perfecto shot a 77 and birdied holes five and seven For the entire scores from the tournament, go to this link: SLIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND ONE The Scots continue play in round two on Monday and finish the tournament on Tuesday women take 7th at SLIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships – John Paul Morgan was named the SLIAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Year as the Lyon College men’s outdoor track and field team took fourth place and the women’s team finished in seventh at the SLIAC Championships held at Greenville University on Friday and Saturday For results of the entire meet, got to the following link: SLIAC Championships the daughter of Louis and Anna (Largent) Thatcher and they spent fifty-three wonderful years together always making sure her family and home were well taken care of She was a member of the Balch Missionary Baptist Church She enjoyed playing cards with her ladies’ group and cherished the memories made with her friends Weaver was deeply charitable by supporting local and state organizations She was always eager to give back to her community and help those in need Weaver’s greatest joy came from her family and the time she spent with them Weaver is preceded in death by her husband James Anderson “Jimmy” Weaver; three brothers of Newport and Rebecca Sutterfield and husband Interment will be in Balch-Johnston Cemetery Friends may visit the funeral home on Monday from 12:30 p.m Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Adam Sutterfield the Weaver family has asked that memorials be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St TN 38105 or to an organization of your choice Arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Two rural schools in Stone County are moving to break away from the Mountain View School District Little Rock television station KATV reports the Timbo and Rural Special schools took action after learning the Mountain View district was considering closing at least one of their campuses The law redresses the effects of a 2003 state act that led to the consolidation of smaller schools Parents and community members in Timbo and Rural Special are preparing to petition to form their own isolated school districts hoping to preserve the smaller learning environments they value Stone County Judge Stacey Avey told KATV the secession process could be complete by the 2026-27 school year Officials are examining old maps to redraw the former district boundaries The Mountain View School District has postponed its vote on closing Timbo for another year giving the two communities critical time to pursue independence Click here for the full KATV report The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) has served the owners of Milites Dei Security Services (MDSS) with notices of suspension after determining that military training it carried out at its White River facility was illegal During a media briefing on Wednesday 7 August PSiRA CEO Manabela Chauke provided an update on the on-going investigation into the illegal military training camp in Mpumalanga where 95 Libyan nationals were arrested last month Chauke sought to reassure the public that PSiRA’s priority remains “the safeguarding of our citizens and upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism within the private security industry.” Read the full story on ProtectionWeb here Editorial Enquiries: [email protected] Sales Enquiries: [email protected] National Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola has said police intelligence was aware of the White River camp that was training Libyan nationals for quite some time before the facility was raided and 95 suspects arrested In an interview with the SABC on Monday 5 August the National Commissioner said “intelligence picked them up.” “Intelligence has been aware for quite some time they were monitoring as to what exactly is it that is being done on the farm and once they detected what [was] done Read the full story on ProtectionWeb here Editorial Enquiries: [email protected] Sales Enquiries: [email protected] Home | South Africa National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola says the weapons seized at the suspected military training base at White River were legal and certified by the training service provider running the facility Masemola was speaking at White River after he and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu visited the area The 95 Libyans have been charged with the contravention of Immigration Act among other things It is alleged that the facility was initially designated as a security training camp – but military-style training was allegedly being conducted at the facility Police also found dagga and cocaine during the operation Some of the other drugs found in their possession will be sent to the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria to be identified General Masemola and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu address the media on the status of the guns seized at the military training base in White River Lucky Gatsheni says the foreign nationals have been terrorising their community He says some of the suspects used to roam the neighbourhood a community leader in Masoyi near White River has accused the 95 Libyan nationals arrested of terrorism Lucky Gatsheni says the foreign nationals terrorised their community He says some of the suspects used to roam around the neighborhood “I understand that they were here on the farm for the past four months it’s only four weeks since we noticed them on the streets because we know that foreign nationals used to come to our villages they started causing problems in the community they will walk during the night and they will rob people’s cell phones and sometimes they will even hit them.” AVBOB celebrates a milestone by rewarding its members on a large scale MPUMALANGA - After their brief court appearance the ninety-five Libyan nationals arrested in White River have maintained their innocence The group appeared at the White River Magistrate's Court in Mpumalanga They were apprehended during a raid of a military-style training facility The group faces charges of violating the National Immigration Act READ: Military training camp | Masoyi residents relieved after Libyan arrests and drugs during a joint operation with Home Affairs They'll remain in custody until the next court date set for August 5th Pule Letshwiti-Jones spoke to Mpumalanga NPA spokesperson According to the group they came to South Africa for training as security guards They say they are prepared to accept any judgement from the state The entry into South Africa earlier this year of Libyan nationals subsequently discovered at an illegal White River military training camp was detected through intelligence by the State Security Agency (SSA) which shared this information with relevant law enforcement authorities This is according to Minister in the Presidency who was answering a parliamentary question by ActionSA’s Athol Trollip Ntshavheni explained that the SSA played an advisory role to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) the Minister revealed the SSA is working with the Border Management Agency (BMA) and Police to improve biometric controls and border security Read the full story on ProtectionWeb here Editorial Enquiries: [email protected] Sales Enquiries: [email protected] A Mountain View teen died Wednesday afternoon following a two-vehicle accident in rural Cleburne County According to the Arkansas State Police fatality report was driving her 2013 Mini Cooper east on State Highway 92 near Matthews Road when a westbound 2012 Toyota Prius driven by Nathaniel Laverne Franks crossed the highway centerline and into the path of the Mini Cooper resulting in a collision in the eastbound lane while Franks was transported to White River Medical Center for treatment The report noted that rainy weather and wet road conditions were present at the time of the accident At least it is true when it comes to me trout fishing on Arkansas's beautiful White River I had been there twice – once in 2007 and again in 2015 That means it had been too long and I was in dire need of a "White River fix." I recruited my friend for my "White River 3.0" adventure but the biggest incentive came via recent Facebook posts from friends where I kept seeing pictures of brown trout almost too big to hold for the camera - the Holy Grail for most trout anglers Last week we were barely five minutes into fishing when Taylor's boat rocked a little as McCoy set the hook Seconds later an enraged brown trout exploded like a geyser out of the emerald green water McCoy found himself attached to a foot-and-a-half of fury glistening in the sun looking more like a jewelry box than a fish Brown trout apparently took lessons from the Energizer Bunny because they just "keep going and going and going." Taylor expertly scooped a net beneath the thrashing fish and McCoy's trip was made Little did he know he the process would be repeated many Taylor cut his teeth as a youngster fishing on Tennessee's Caney Fork River As McCoy and I battled trout after trout – it was easy for me to understand why has trout fished all across the United States When I asked him how the White River compares to all the other great places he has been Arkansas's trout fishing is Disneyland Spending more than 100 days a year on the water in addition to his real job with Trout Magnet lures most people would say Taylor is living the dream Smith is the owner of Leland’s Lures - makers of Trout Magnet and Crappie Magnet. He also owns Sore Lip’em All Guide Service Since he is in the business of helping create Trout Magnet lures it is no surprise that Taylor's specialty on the water is fishing Trout Magnets How he fishes them - or teaches you to fish them - is the "Magic Bullet." Taylor kept the boat carefully positioned to drift with the current we were casting the tiny lures suspended beneath a float If you're familiar with "float & fly" fishing Adjusting the Trout Magnets beneath the floats to the proper depth was critical which is where Taylor's extensive knowledge of the White River was invaluable But he said his real secret was fishing the enticing Trout Magnet lures on a 2-pound-test Fluorocarbon is virtually invisible underwater Trout are known as the most finicky and line-shy freshwater fish there is but Taylor's technique and gear helps eliminate the "line-shy" part of the equation You don't just crank a 20-inch trout to the boat on your schedule when you are using a 2-pound-test leader you will get ALL of the fun out of these fights Some sections of the White River require anglers to release every trout caught and those sections require the use of barbless hooks But whether we were in a "catch & release" section or not every fish we boated that day was CPR'd (Caught actually hit a Trout Magnet lure not yet on the market "Most people don't know that they're testing stuff out whenever they're out in my boat," said Taylor "Sometimes we're putting (new lures) through their paces so when it hits the market under the Trout Magnet brand we know that it's going to stand up to anglers of all different skills It's really neat to be able to test that stuff in the boat and put it in the hands of everyday fishermen." Taylor is quick to credit Arkansas biologists for the White River's great trout fishing with rainbow trout being stocked shortly thereafter And what is good for trout is also good for Arkansas's economy According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) nonresident anglers in Arkansas generate an economic output of nearly $180 million a year A good chunk of that is spent at Gaston's White River Resort offering 79 cabins and cottages for rent alongside two miles of riverfront plus a 3,200-foot airstrip specifically for trout fishermen to use Seven fulltime guides work out of Gaston's many of the other guides run businesses of their own "The downside of that is you are at the mercy of the dam and how much water they're releasing so that's the main variable," said Taylor 'When is the best time to come fish.' It's not so much the best time of year to come But the weather and the hydro power (water) releases are the two main variables that we pay attention to - and we really can't predict that very far in advance." Taylor said his favorite time to fish the White River is when two or three Those were the conditions we had last week When you hit the weather and water just right But McCoy and I estimated we caught 30-40 trout in a half-day fishing We actually caught three species of trout three brook trout found their way onto our rods "It was definitely the best day of trout fishing I've ever had," said McCoy founder and president of White River Knives and my wife and I were touring the shop near the company’s headquarters his son Matt set a folding knife on the counter before me I picked it up — it felt lightweight and comfortable instantly noting the folder’s snappy action I recognized the blade profile right away as being the angular sort of drop point common among trapper models, though this only had one blade rather than the traditional two that extend in opposing directions. Curious, I turned to Cammenga Sr., but before the words left my mouth, he jumped in excitedly: “It’s our first folding knife, the Trailhead Trapper!” White River was kind enough to send one over for review and testing I’ve carried it on hikes and trips to town while working in the kitchen or outside in the yard In short: White River Knives has a tremendous reputation for fixed blades, and it’s now turned all of its knowledge and experience toward the pocket-friendly Trailhead Trapper A collaboration with Smith & Sons Knives could easily be passed down to the next generation it may be an expensive option for those seeking a simpler option White River and Smith & Sons have been longtime collaborators Smith & Sons did leather sheaths for White River while White River did blades for Smith & Sons The Trailhead Trapper is a new venture for both companies not long after my wife and I wrapped up our visit to the White River shop Cammenga was headed to the airport to fly to the Smith & Sons headquarters in Louisiana while the deal was already essentially finished it wasn’t truly done until the literal handshake There’s just something about a well-made slip-joint knife The Trailhead Trapper genuinely feels like a knife that your grandfather may have carried It just happens to also look amazing while doing it This knife is precisely 7.5 inches long when opened The drop-point blade is 3.1 inches from the tip to the sharpening choil That leaves 0.2 inches from the choil to the handle It tips the scales at a very modest 2.4 ounces that’s a little less than a standard deck of cards this is definitely no boat anchor weighing down your pocket No sheath is provided for the Trailhead Trapper While some may consider the lack of a clip to be a strike against the knife A clip or other sort of accouterment would detract from the overall aesthetic Something that’s often missing from slip joint knives is a positive half-stop — not so with the Trailhead Trapper It has one of the most secure half-stops I’ve ever experienced as it allows you an opportunity to get your fingers out of the way before the blade snaps fully closed White River’s choice of S35VN for the blade makes perfect sense This is a stainless steel that gets high marks for edge retention and overall toughness it’s a steel that was specifically designed for knives which was no surprise; I’ve had White River knives that I felt could shave electrons from atoms The blade has a 1-inch-long nail nick on the obverse or front side near the spine giving you just enough grip to open the knife easily The scales on this one are Maple and Black Richlite that’s a resin-infused paper material that is exceptionally durable as it makes use of post-consumer recycled paper White River also offers this knife with Natural Burlap Micarta I’ve used it for gutting and processing numerous cardboard boxes with nary a problem Casual knife users may not realize just how awful corrugated cardboard is for a knife’s edge The glue used in manufacturing it hardens like a rock when it dries and other detritus that inevitably ends up inside those corrugations it can almost be akin to slicing up sandpaper The S35VN steel held a great edge and didn’t even need to be touched up afterward Our 2-year-old granddaughter was visiting for a bit Out came the Trailhead Trapper to slice and dice The blade sits at a slight angle to the handle rather than being a straight 180-degree line from end to end This happens to make it particularly adept at food processing chores The knife was also very handy when it came to cutting and trimming paracord We have a popup sort of shed that a windstorm had really done a number on so we had to improvise a new cover with tarps and cordage The Trailhead Trapper was like a laser beam and made short work of the project but a matter of personal preference: I don’t have a lot of experience with Richlite handle scales Most of my knives are some flavor of Micarta providing just enough traction for a secure grip The Trailhead Trapper is the first folding knife produced by White River Knives It is an excellent option for someone who is looking for a slim folding knife that won’t weigh you down and will stand up to whatever you throw its way but it’s going to last a lifetime and more with just minimal care White River Knives and Smith & Sons Knives are both family operations It makes sense that they would both turn out heirloom-quality blades But I might just save it for my granddaughter but it won’t be all that long before she’s going to need a good knife for when we go camping and whatnot The Trailhead Trapper is available now from White River Knives The price is the same for any of their Micartas but jumps to $300 if you go with Carbon Fiber Burl scales We reviewed the best pocket knives of 2025 with options for every budget Jim Cobb has been a writer for more than 20 years merging his talents and passions in knives He is also the Editor-in-Chief of Backwood Survival Guide magazine (and sister publication and co-host on the How to Survive 2025 podcast Jarrod Ruggles changed my entire philosophy about fly fishing while treating me to one of my best fishing trips ever Ruggles is one of the fine young anglers that guides anglers for trout on the White River A longtime employee of Gaston's White River Resort he went independent and established himself as a highly consistent and efficient trout catcher in any water condition Rusty Pruitt of Bryant set this trip up with an assist from our longtime fishing partner Bill Eldridge who has been praising Ruggles' fishing prowess for months Ruggles and Pruitt are involved in The Mayfly Project a program promoted by the Arkansas Fly Fishers that mentors children in foster care through fly fishing Pruitt was practically giddy for the opportunity to fish with Ruggles "He uses these little bitty nymphs to catch these great big pigs!" Pruitt gushed Ruggles is a student of the river and its evolving entomology wooly buggers were the primary trout fishing fly on the White River and copper John far eclipse the wooly bugger these days The seemingly impenetrable barrier is fishing them in fast but Pruitt and I are sworn to secrecy about the methods In eight hours on the water between Bull Shoals State Park and Gastons Pruitt and I caught and released at least 30 brown trout but we caught a bunch between 17-20 inches but I caught four others that were between 22-2 1/4 inches We also caught a respectable number of rainbow trout When Pruitt and I fish the White River in January the trout are almost always thin and snakelike These fish bulged like a grandmother's purse "It's all about the caddis hatch," Ruggles said but now we've got awesome caddis hatches." The caddis is a diverse family of fly that spends its larval stage underwater It breaks free of its cocoon underwater and rises to the surface where it becomes a fully formed adult "Dave Whitlock said it takes about 70 years for insect life on a tailwater river to fully develop," Ruggles said This triad of factors fuels the whole cycle We fished a couple of spots near Bull Shoals Dam waiting for the sun to come out and they're getting out of here," Ruggles said "They're going somewhere else where they can catch fish with other stuff." Ruggles said they can't grip gravel as tightly they trout just eat and eat and eat them," Ruggles said "It's like getting a great big bag of mini M&Ms I've caught trout that threw up caddis all over my boat." Rainbow trout like to hit adult caddisflies on the surface Big brown trout prefer to dine on the bottom There is a steep learning curve to Ruggles's fishing method I took about half a day to figure out the mechanics of the cast and then I had to pay special attention to the mend I hate messing around with my line that much but you have to do it if you're going to catch fish Pruitt caught four or five trout while I struggled with my cast and presentation I corrected a bad cast on the water when I got a strike I pulled back to cast and hooked a very strong brown trout that took seven minutes to land The line was virtually entwined in my brain I could tell bottom bounces from strikes without putting pressure on the line I love the way fly line sounds when you set the hook on a fish and then the rod arcs in an angle so severe that it seems sure to break The torque of the rod's backbone is like a resistance weight to a fish The drag will take some starch out of the brute but it will release before he puts enough stress on the line to break it Pruitt and I only broke off only once each One big brown took Pruitt into the backing line on his reel The caddis hatch hit full bloom about 3 p.m Little white flies covered the river's tourmaline-colored surface like Mosaic manna for trout Rainbows slashed the surface everywhere while big browns hit our imitations down low A caddisfly flew up from the surface and landed on Ruggles' hand "We want a word with you about that," Ruggles said "We would appreciate if you wouldn't turn those guys loose They're ..." the caddisfly used a word that describes an anatomical opening Even after the caddisflies are gone weeks from now trout are so tuned in to them that they'll eat caddis imitators for a long time after I have always considered myself an incidental fly fisherman I felt like I had ascended to a place from which I might not return Bryan Hendricks has been the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette outdoors editor since 2005 and all other outdoor activities in The Natural State as well as the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission including the Arkansas Press Association Freedom of Information Award Service to Freedom of Information Award (Associated Press Managing Editors) Reporting on Freedom of Information Issues Award (Society of Professional Journalists) the John Robert Starr Award for Excellence in Journalism and the Arkansas Wildlife Federation Conservation Communicator of the Year Award This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC El material de Associated Press es Copyright © 2025 derechos reservados Associated Press y no puede ser publicado audio y/o video de Associated Press no será publicado reescrito para su transmisión o publicación ni redistribuido directa o indirectamente en ningún medio Ni estos materiales de AP ni ninguna parte de los mismos pueden almacenarse en una computadora errores u omisiones de los mismos o de la transmisión o entrega de la totalidad o parte de los mismos o de cualquier daño que surja de cualquiera de los anteriores IN—The White River has long been a defining feature of East Central Indiana—its waters wind through our communities and providing a foundation for future recreation and economic growth Protecting and enhancing this natural resource is both a responsibility and an opportunity we take seriously at Ball Brothers Foundation Our region is home to the headwaters of the White River and the way we care for it has impact far beyond our own backyard our private family foundation has championed efforts to improve water quality and highlight the White River as an asset for economic development This commitment isn’t new—it stretches back over a century to when the Ball family relocated their business to Muncie drawn in part by the river’s “power and possibilities,” as Frank C The family built their homes along the White River’s banks investing in beautification projects that would benefit the entire community visitors can still walk the boulevard at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens and take in the same river views that inspired those early efforts Muncie has been a national leader in water quality improvement by addressing heavy manufacturing pollution since before the Clean Water Act passed in 1972 While industrial pollution has largely been addressed The Muncie Sanitary District continues to address point source pollutants by separating sewer water from combined storm water lines coli in our waterways while also providing code enforcement to contain sediment run-off from active construction sites across the city East Central Indiana is dominated by agricultural production and precision GPS fertilization practices that have significantly reduced many pollutants to our waterways The stewardship of our rivers and streams are many decades in the making thanks to their collective hard work But how do we measure the success of our efforts BBF was one of several funders that helped to support a large-scale project to assess the river’s health through the White River Report Card The Report Card highlighted both progress and areas needing attention Sediment discharges were identified as a big challenge in our region by the Report Card The results of the Report Card confirmed the vital need to continue supporting efforts to help large landowners and producers to make incremental improvements that reduce sediment and boost the river’s health After two decades of supporting watershed studies in our region we remain compelled to continue boosting watershed planning efforts that span multiple counties recognizing that collaborative planning and implementation across county lines is imperative for long-term impact we’re also focused on promoting the White River as a recreational asset The region is home to Indiana’s longest rail-trail spanning over 60 paved miles across five counties The trail crosses the White River on a series of picturesque pedestrian bridges inviting residents and visitors to connect with the waterway public access to the White River continues to grow new canoe and kayak launches are making it easier than ever to get on the water—two are already open the foundation is excited to support the launch of a new branding & marketing campaign that celebrates the White River’s role in our region’s identity and creates pride of place in a fun and fresh way Banners celebrating the White River now span the river through Muncie from the city’s east to west sides along with billboards and an advertising campaign featuring a splashy logo that we can all be proud of We’re proud to collaborate with partners including Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District Indiana Department of Environmental Management Protecting and promoting the White River requires a shared vision and we are fortunate to work alongside so many dedicated organizations and individuals who recognize its importance The White River has shaped our region’s past and holds incredible promise for our future The work happening in East Central Indiana has ripple effects downstream What we do here matters for the communities that rely on the White River long after it leaves our region a healthy and thriving White River is an aspiration that is well within reach The Muncie Journal will strive to include the good things that are happening with businesses and non-profits within Delaware County We will focus on three areas: (1) Education (2) Economic Development (3) Quality of Life You'll hear about this project on the radio on four of the radio stations that make up the Woof Boom Radio Group CAVE CITY – While dirt work has already begun at the site for a new bitcoin data mining center in Cave City the high school cafeteria was filled Tuesday night with residents opposed to the project Approximately 150 people turned out for a meeting with representatives of the project helped facilitate the meeting and answer questions chief commercial officer for Artemis Technologies in Fort Worth who also brought pictures of the proposed data center project which is just outside the Cave City city limits Stephens opened by saying he wanted to address “concerns of noise pollution while outlining our commitment to being a responsible neighbor and steward of the community that we’re operating in.” This is the third Artemis location in Arkansas – but the sites in Monticello and Newark are different although there are models like this Cave City site in west Texas and Washington state Stephens said the land was purchased a little over a year ago “The facility we’re going to build here is a 10,000-square-foot high-quality structure designed to enhance Cave City’s aesthetic and economic landscape,” he said There will be approximately six “high-paying” jobs he said this is an air-cooled facility and water usage would equal that of someone’s home noting that its only water usage would be for the employees’ bathroom breaks But when residents questioned how many megawatts of electricity the digital asset mining operation (also called a data center) will use stating it was “internal company information.” we shut down during peak hours to prioritize community electricity needs,” Stephens said Also in attendance at the meeting was Troy Castleberry manager of commercial and industrial accounts for Entergy Arkansas He was asked if the demand for electricity jumps up when the center goes live but we have a special tariff that all these customers are on,” he said those will be the first customers that are interrupted because they are larger blocks of power Castleberry said the substation was upgraded in 2023 but declined to share how much power the center is expected to utilize has addressed noise as one of the residents’ chief concerns with design features such as sound cones on the interior and pressure-relief exhaust to minimize fan noise there will be a 12-foot acoustic fence blocking up to 30 decibels of sound much like a highway-grade sound-dampening barrier and acoustic louvers to block up to an additional 20 decibels “The server rooms will be put in soundproof pods to contain noise,” he went on to say David Mathewson said he lives five driveways down from the site and has been there more than 40 years “You go home and drink your coffee; we’re sitting here listening to the damn thing and it running 24/7 Give me your phone number and I’ll call you at 4 o’clock in the morning when it wakes me up,” Mathewson said One resident said he’d read that people who live close to these centers cannot sleep due to the noise and vibrations of the ground but Stephens said that was not one of Artemis’ facilities “I don’t think you’re going to hear anything.” Another area of concern is property values and Stephens said the data center will be visually appealing and could possibly drive further economic growth in the community “There’s other projects that could come to Cave City you’re on the map and maybe more to come.” Artemis is using local supplies and builders for the project the state Legislature passed laws that not only prohibit foreign interests from owning data centers in Arkansas but also outline how far centers must be from residential structures Stephens said Artemis – who he said helped write the regulations – is following the regulations for enclosed structures The Legislature in 2024 also gave the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission oversight over the operations while allowing city and county governments to have some oversight of the operations bitcoin is a medium of exchange to facilitate the purchase of goods and services While traditional currency is printed/issued and regulated by governments bitcoin is not controlled by the government although it is not widely accepted in the United States There will be a limit or hard cap of 21 million BTC there will be no more bitcoin mined or created The bitcoin mining servers are used to process transactions on the network a person makes a purchase at a retailer with a credit card Those credit card transactions will generate fees for the companies (sometimes passed onto the consumer and sometimes not); that revenue is ultimately taxed by the IRS who serves as president of the Arkansas Blockchain Council owns his own bitcoin mining facility and builds the facilities Blockchain is a database that records transactions and tracks assets within a network but bitcoin is like “digital gold.” Inflation affects the value of paper currency While bitcoin is not popular for American transactions the United States is the third-largest bitcoin holder in the world Smith said there is no outside money put into their investments You come in here and do all this high-faluting talk When you stand up there and say it won’t have any effect on cattle and livestock that is the biggest lie I’ve heard tonight.” “It’s a great place to do business,” Stephens said and one man accused Artemis of thinking Arkansas is “a bunch of dumb hicks.” Smith also addressed the question of “why here?” “There’s excess capacity in areas where there is no industrial infrastructure,” he told the audience Utilities are governed by the Arkansas Public Services Commission but rather go through years of study and hearings With a large number of cattle and chicken farmers as well as watermelon growers in Cave City many wanted to know about the potentially harmful effects on livestock Stephens said the Monticello Economic Development Commission could talk about this as well “but we had this exact meeting with them 2 ½ years ago One resident asked about the effects on birds and endangered bat species in the area “We don’t want to affect any of that negatively,” Stephens said but noted that he had no specific studies done on potential impacts to the local wildlife Sharp County Judge Mark Counts said he was “aggravated” and wanted the chance to share his thoughts the Arkansas Legislature left it up to cities and counties to govern crypto mining An attorney for the Arkansas Association of Counties wrote an ordinance regulating noise levels at such facilities that was eventually passed in Sharp County in July 2023 that this group contacted him about a data center site in Sharp County the only nearby facility was in Jackson County near Riceland Foods Counts said he did not know where the center was but it didn’t take him long to find it once he rolled his vehicle’s windows down – he could hear it “You didn’t hear the grain elevators going you didn’t hear them taking rice off of this truck and running it into a granary,” he said Counts said he spent 26 years in law enforcement and posed a question regarding what noise does to people with mental illness or dementia “I could just imagine somebody living in this community where this noise is and have to listen to that every day,” he said “I don’t think it’s going to be a good thing I went over to the property to see if I could catch anyone They were already pushing dirt over there.” and the few jobs coming to Sharp County will be security guards “This young lady asked where the county commissioner stood on this and I told (Artemis) on the phone I was against it I didn’t want it in Sharp County; I never wanted it in Sharp County if that air cooling doesn’t work and they have to do the water cooling I know Entergy stood up here and said this I talked to subcontractors that work for Entergy … They said they’ll use so much energy that they’ll give them a discount Counts said he appreciated Artemis sending someone to speak to the community but again stated that he is not in favor of this project in this community One resident asked if the community had any recourse whatsoever – a petition or any other action – to stop this data center from happening and Schulz said he was told by Attorney General Tim Griffin that as long as this company follows the rules the community cannot circumvent this center “I’m not saying all the people that live on West Center Street can’t file a lawsuit – I’m not a lawyer He said the attorney general told him that if he wanted to build a fast-food place and half the people in Cave City think the food is unhealthy and he could build what he wanted as long as he followed the rules Stephens said computer processing is only growing both here in the United States and internationally “I think of it as a big opportunity for the state of Arkansas,” he said although some commented it was more of an opportunity for a “big check” for Artemis 95 Libyan nationals were arrested at an underground military base in Mpumalanga last month. All were charged with contravening the Immigration Act. The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) has confirmed that the training base was illegal and never accredited by authorities. The trainers were reportedly not accredited but used military ranking. Thabiso Goba, EWN Reporter says an accredited camp was used as a front for this underground base. The 21-year-old is accused of the murder of Sandton teacher, Kirsten Kluyts. The alleged underworld crime boss Nafiz Modack is on trial on charges relating to the murder of top cop Charl Kinnear and money laundering. The unions are engaging with members before they embark on formal negotiations next month, where they will be requesting a double-digit increase. Pastor Mboro appeared on video wielding a machete at a school, and five were arrested in connection with this. 300 shacks were gutted in a raging fire nearly a month ago in the Kenville informal settlement, and the situation is still dire for many community members. John Kani, Theatre legend, and former colleague of Chiume says she was the most incredible person and broke the ceiling in the roles she played. Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview. Be one of the first to try our new activity feed Paddle and portage fish-filled waters past wild cascades to the greatest of lakes A swift channel just above Chicagoance Falls The White River Paddling Route ends on Lake Superior (Steve Howe) you can’t beat the 52 miles on the White River between White Lake Provincial Park and Lake Superior in Pukaskwa each with a signed and mapped portage trail so you can skip any you choose Most paddlers will walk at least half the drops a 1.4-mile mandatory portage around 100-foot Umbata Falls and its hydropower plant spend five days paddling through forested canyons and camping on granite ledges beside roaring rapids before a four-mile lake paddle across Superior Build in extra days in case winds or surf delay your lake travel Looking for more challenge? Run the longer, swifter and more remote Pukaskwa River (go in May or June). Fill any extra time fishing for “jack” (Northern pike), “pickerel” (walleye) and rainbow trout. For that you’ll need an Ontario Outdoors Card ($10CAD) and a separate fishing license ($21-$76 CAD; 800-387-7011; mnr.gov.on.ca/en) Map Crismar White River Wildwater; $13CAD; (905) 852-6151; chrismar.com Permit Via Pukaskwa National Park; (807) 229-0801; pc.gc.ca Guide & Gear Naturally Superior Adventures; naturallysuperior.com Shuttle McCuaig Marine Services; $110CAD; (807) 229-0193; mccuaigmarine@shaw.ca Map & GPS databackpacker.com/hikes/1395748 Online Trip Planning ExtrasGet There Pukaskwa National Park lies on Highway 17 between airports at Sault Ste Marie (250 miles south) and Thunder Bay (428 miles west) You can get supplies in the town of Marathon Travel Contacts Ontario General tourism info: (800) 668-2746; ontariotravel.net  Thunder Bay (major airport city)>>Motel: Travelodge Airlane (Close to the airport and Canadian Tire); (807) 473-1600>>Transportation: Budget Rental Car (best prices our scout found); (807) 473-5040>>Supplies: Canadian Tire (Fuel tackle.);1221 Arthur Street West; (807) 475-4235>>Groceries: Safeway; 1015 Dawson Rd;(800) 723-3929 ‎ Marathon (Pukaskwa National Park gateway)>>Supplies: Canadian Tire (fuel 3 Peninsula Rd (in the mall); (807) 229-2900 >>Groceries: D H Foods Ltd 3 Peninsula Rd (in the mall); (807) 229-0641 ‎>>Restaurant: Rumours Coffee House; 3 Peninsula Rd (in the mall Even though Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said there is no need for citizens to panic following the discovery of an alleged military training camp situated outside White River in Mpumalanga some security experts believe South Africa is under siege and that citizens are no longer safe which has caused quite a stir in local communities and the country at large was being used by Libyan nationals allegedly for basic military training the Mpumalanga police raided the camp and arrested 95 Libyans after receiving information about the activities taking place there The camp was licensed for security training which was conducted by accredited private company Milites Dei Security Services (MDSS) ‘military-style training’ to those who fancy adventure after matric and fitness training to young people who want to join the French Foreign Legion drawn from the country’s security clusters during which he called for calm and assured residents there is no need to panic as they are on top of the matter he did not rule out the possibility of the existence of other secret camps in the province and other parts of the country Mchunu confirmed that the training facility is illegal in terms of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority’s (Psira) regulations The owners had applied for a security training licence but the activities taking place there contravene Psira’s acts and regulations A high-profile police delegation led by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu visited the facility, and provided some feedback about what they had found there. Read more more on Lowveld media website. #mpumalanga nelspruit militarybase “All indications are pointing to this being more of a military training facility than an ordinary security training centre which is cause for concern,” said Mchunu when he addressed the media He also revealed that the Libyan nationals allegedly entered South Africa in April on study permits but they all had misrepresented themselves when applying for their visas The media raised some concerns with Mchunu about several serious criminal cases which have been reported at the Masoyi Police Station The Libyans are believed to be behind some of these cases Mchunu did not answer whether the 95 Libyan nationals will face immediate deportation or will remain in custody until the SAPS is satisfied there are no further criminal charges to be added against them mention that police investigations will continue and they will leave no stone unturned “We are saying that because a violation of the application processes has been identified According to a statement released by the Department of Home Affairs the Libyans’ visas were obtained with ‘misrepresentations’ in Tunisia meaning they are in the country illegally and can be deported you think of deportation and we would want them to be out of the country as soon as possible but we will follow due process and discussion,” said Mchunu Psira’s chief Sam Chauke said yesterday that they are also of the opinion that the owners of MDSS might have broken the laws by turning their facility into a military training camp Lowvelder has since established that Psira intends to suspend MDSS’ security training licence saying the matter is in the hands of authorities who are still busy with investigations The police ministry stressed that it is also of the view that MDSS might have flouted Psira’s regulations the owners of MDSS referred the media to their legal team Lowvelder has since learnt from a reliable source that MDSS does not own the piece of land or the farm on which it was operating it is owned by a black-owned trust known to Lowvelder Attempts to get comment from the trust’s directors were unsuccessful at the time of publishing Read original story on www.citizen.co.za WHITEHALL, Mich. — When summer arrives, West Michigan’s beaches come to mind, often accompanied by visions of picturesque lighthouses. One such spot is the historic White River Light Station in Whitehall where you can admire its beauty and stay at the 150-year-old White River Light Station "It's a working vacation," said Sable Lighthouse Keepers Association Executive Director Jack Greve "You get to live at the White River Light Station for a week." For those intrigued by the idea of being a lighthouse keeper the station has a dedicated volunteer program "We do have volunteers that have been with us for 20-plus years," Greve said The White River Light Station boasts a rich history once serving as a bustling lumber operation that helped transport building materials to Milwaukee and Chicago due to Lake Michigan’s unpredictable waters leading to the establishment of this light station a variety of individuals have managed the light station including a family of 13 who lived in its modest quarters Frances Johnson served as the last female lighthouse keeper at this site in Michigan the responsibilities of a lighthouse keeper are quite manageable The living accommodations include a full kitchen essentially providing a studio apartment for the week "A lot of the creature comforts you can expect in any normal household," Greve confirmed The allure of the White River Light Station extends beyond its accommodations The area's natural beauty allows for plenty of time to explore as guests have the freedom to enjoy the scenic lighthouse views during both morning and evening hours The application process takes only about 30 minutes and a membership to become a volunteer is just $90 This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy The Mpumalanga police earlier today uncovered what seems to be a military base situated on a private farm outside White River and which was being used by Libyan nationals The discovery of this suspected military training base has led to the detention of 95 Libyan nationals who were found in the camp at the time of the police raid According to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli they received intelligence about the activities on this farm and zeroed in on it unannounced The military base is fully equipped with state-of-the-art training apparatus Mpumalanga police commissioner Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi says he convened the Provincial Joint Structures (ProvJoints) about two days previously after he received intel about the suspected camp “The police worked together with the ProvJoints structure including the Department of Home Affairs and other role players like police intelligence “We take any threat to the security and stability of our province and country very seriously This operation demonstrates our commitment to acting swiftly and decisively against any activities that could undermine our national interests and ensure the safety of our citizens because that is our primary mandate,” he adds He confirms the detained Libyan nationals are currently being questioned by the relevant authorities but applauds the police for acting swiftly need to be ahead of such activities so that we leave no space for such people to come on our shores undetected and do as they please We will go to the drawing board and tighten all the lose screws,” adds Macie the police appeal to the community of Mpumalanga to come forward with information about similar or related activities taking place within their areas Read original story on www.citizen.co.za The product recommendations on our site are independently chosen by our editors doesn’t turn out the lights and go into hibernation during the dreary days of winter the burg on the banks of the White River in the north-central part of the state can be a bustling place The town’s nickname — “The Trout Capital of the USA” — should provide a hint: winter trout fishing the river’s big rainbows and browns will be stirring The secret is out: If you want to catch a trophy trout Take it from Donald Cranor, a life-long resident of Cotter, who now guides and owns a resort, Cranor’s White River Lodge He has fished the White since he was old enough to tag along with his dad and quickly made a name for himself by getting people into giant trout Many of those fish are caught during the cold of January when fair-weather anglers are staying warm at home “We’re a bucket-list destination for trout fishermen,” said Cranor, 58. “We catch trout year-around but some of our biggest fish will come in winter.  “A lot of that has to do with less fishing pressure and less food in the water And a big part of it is that the brown trout are spawning and the trout will move in to feed on their discarded eggs.” The brown trout will spawn in fanned-out redds (nests) they make in the gravel shoals The eggs that weren’t fertilized will drift downstream in the current and the rainbows and other browns will move in to feed on them Cranor will position his boat below the redds he spots and drift with a bead rig The nests will often be found in the middle of current on the gravel shoals so that the eggs can get the sunlight they require The three-way drift rig features a 6-inch drop line with a bell sinker attached and an 18-inch section with a hard-plastic bead threaded onto the line several inches above a bare hook That bead imitates the size and color of the eggs drifting downstream Cranor uses a bell sinker and chooses the size based on the current to get the bead skimming over the gravel without getting hung up Cranor often finds his best bead fishing during the full moon phase of January, when much of the brown-trout spawning takes place. If that method isn’t working, he will often go to jerkbaits like the Booyah Flash Point or the Rebel Tracdown Minnow especially when there are winter shad kills being flushed into the White from Bull Shoals Lake Fly fishermen find success using egg and bead patterns Because the section of the White that Cranor fishes is about 15 miles below Bull Shoals Dam there will often be consistent power generation because of the need to heat homes There are no guarantees, even when conditions are ideal. But the White has an impressive track record for producing giant trout. The Arkansas state-record rainbow (19 pounds, 1 ounce) was caught on the White in 1981, and many large brown trout are taken from it each year Cranor’s Facebook page is filled with photos of clients who have caught and released trophy browns and rainbows during the winter months Cranor remembers a winter trip several years ago when the White River showed off in front of national television cameras As Cranor guided legendary angler Bill Dance for a segment of his “Bill Dance Outdoors” television show, Dance caught and released a rainbow that weighed 12.25 pounds on a Rebel Tracdown Minnow Dance has returned several times to film trips chasing the White’s trophy browns Cranor and other guides on the White emphasize catch-and-release for the big fish that are landed And they stress safety when fishing during the winter months gloves and headgear go a long way toward staying comfortable in the cold “Our winter trout fishing business is growing like crazy,” Cranor said “More and more people are realizing that January February and March are a great time to target big fish.” Brent Frazee is a fish head who lives with his wife Jana and two yellow labs Millie and Maggie on a private lake in suburban Kansas City but he gets the biggest thrill from catching big bass and crappies He worked for The Kansas City Star for 36 years before retiring in 2016 he won more than 65 awards for his writing and photography The best online fishing resource to learn and stay current on the latest fishing gear INDIANAPOLIS — The White River is central Indiana's main water source but it takes work to make sure the river is clean A group of volunteers is doing their part by examining the streams that flow into the White River The River Assessment Field Team samples the White River's creeks and streams for bacteria, nutrients, and water chemistry once a month. The results are published online and are used by government agencies to gauge the White River's health and pollution levels particularly some impairments due to bacteria and nutrients," said Kelly Brown of the White River Alliance which organizes the River Assessment Field Team We wanted to spend time collecting data to understand." The volunteers sample water from a wide variety of White River tributaries between Gosport and Anderson RAFT started analyzing the streams in 2021 and several volunteers have made it a regular part of their monthly routine You don't want to just sit around the house," said Gary Wilhite who has attended nearly every RAFT session for the past three years A lot of the younger people who come out here are just committed to environmental issues or want to get involved in something." Brown said their work is a big responsibility because government agencies often do not have the time to sample smaller bodies of water This is 70 percent of our water in Indianapolis," Brown said "What it's like in the streams impacts what we have to do to make it clean enough to drink It's really nice to do something that is about the larger community and the larger environment." If you are interested in volunteering with RAFT, you can find upcoming water sampling events at this link. KARK the White River crested Wednesday in Woodruff County The flooding left some homeowners taking boats to their homes Preller said the water was three feet higher She said she’s not going through that again His home is eight feet higher off the ground now Not everyone in Woordruff County was as lucky “We have homeowners that are displaced right now that had enough warning to get their belongings to higher ground,” Gray said The river flooding usually happens days after northern Arkansas sees flash flooding but some of the worst local flooding is on farmland “Farmers are already in an economically drastic position and to add this on top of it is certainly a challenge,” Gray stated Preller said he was able to drive to his home Monday he believes he will be able to make the drive again on Friday The challenges seem to be worth it for those who call the river home River life is great 99% of the time,” Preller said 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