Banner-News StaffSeveral local schools and businesses will be closed Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day.All Columbia County offices will be closed Monday. In addition, the Columbia County Landfill will be closed on Saturday, May 25.Waste Corporation of America will run its regular garbage...

Joe InscoreBanner-NewsThe Magnolia City Council approved an ordinance Thursday afternoon with Alltel Wireless to build a cell phone tower on city property.The council voted unanimously to approve the lease for the tower — located on the north side of the old Jaycee building at 235 S. Fredrick...

Banner-News StaffThe Emerson PurpleHull Pea Festival has announced Shreveport television legend Bob Griffin will be the Grand Pea Marshall of the festival’s 2013 “Million Tiller Parade.”The parade will begin at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 29, the same day as the festival, and wind throu...

Joe InscoreBanner-NewsThe 2013 Memorial Day Ceremony will be moving to the Columbia County Fairgrounds this year as the service has outgrown its previous venue at the Columbia County Courthouse, according to the Columbia County Memorial Day Committee.This year's ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10:...

LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas lands commissioner is reminding residents that they have until May 31 to assess their personal property.Lands Commissioner John Thurston says people who don’t have their property assessed by the deadline are subject to penalties.The taxes are important to...

NEW YORK (AP) — The nation’s record-low teen birth rate stems from robust declines in nearly every state, but most dramatically in several Mountain States and among Hispanics, according to a new government report.All states but West Virginia and North Dakota showed significant drops over...

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — After lengthy and wrenching debate, local leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have voted to open their ranks to openly gay boys for the first time, but heated reactions from the left and right made clear that the BSA’s controversies are far from over.The Scouts&r...

Margaret Dismukes, 94, of Magnolia, died Thursday, May 23, 2013, at her home. Services are pending with Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. of Magnolia.

Ruby L. George, 89, of Haynesville, La., died Thursday, May 23, 2013, at Willis Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, La.  Funeral arrangements are pending with Henderson Funeral Service of Magnolia.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office reports the following activity:•David Marriott, 46, of Magnolia, was arrested Tuesday for violation of probation. His bond was set at $10,000, and he will appear at the next available court date.•Chikita Chappel, 36, of Magnolia, was arrested Wedn...

The average retail price for a gallon of gasoline in Arkansas increased 6.5 cents in the past week to $3.41 per gallon. The national average increased 8.9 cents in the past week to $3.67 per gallon.Prices in Arkansas are 14.4 cents higher than one month ago and 3.3 cents higher than a year ago. Nati...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Reading, writing, arithmetic — and PE?The prestigious Institute of Medicine is recommending that schools provide opportunities for at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day for students and that PE become a core subject.The report, released Thursday, says only a...

To submit your church or group event to our community events calendar, bring your information by the Banner-News office at 130 S. Washington Ave.; mail it to P.O. Box 100, Magnolia, AR 71754-0100; email it to news@bannernews.net; fax it to (870) 234-2551; or call (870) 234-5130.FRIDAY - May 24Magnol...

To submit your church or group event to our community events calendar, bring your information by the Banner-News office at 130 S. Washington Ave.; mail it to P.O. Box 100, Magnolia, AR 71754-0100; email it to news@bannernews.net; fax it to (870) 234-2551; or call (870) 234-5130.FRIDAY - May 24Magnol...

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Arkansas scored the go-ahead run on a squeeze bunt by Tyler Spoon in the eighth inning and tacked on two more insurance runs in the ninth to beat LSU 4-1 at the Southeastern Conference tournament on Thursday.Arkansas right-hander Ryne Stanek (9-2) earned the win, giving up...

BOSTON (AP) — Drew Stubbs and Mark Reynolds drove in three runs each and Cleveland had 16 hits in the Indians’ 12-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in manager Terry Francona’s return to Fenway Park on Thursday night.Francona, let go by Boston after the 2011 season, got a standing ovati...

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Robert Griffin III’s rehab started with a “cry festival.” Then came a special new passcode for his cellphone and a chance to hash things out with coach Mike Shanahan.There’s also been a Twitter rant about political correctness, some flak about all th...

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — The head of the European golf tour apologized for using the term “colored” during a live television interview Thursday in which he was reacting to the spat between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia.European Tour CEO George O’Grady said that “m...