SEARCY — Nine months after relocating to be closer to the students it serves, Searcy K-Life is going strong. The ministry, which stands for Kanakuk Life, is an interdenominational Christian organization that reaches Searcy youth through Bible studies, mission trips and after-school activities. On its website, K-Life’s mission is described as “the ability to build relationships with kids and bring the content of God’s word to bear on those rela...

McCRORY — For the residents of McCrory, mosquitoes in May aren’t a reason to break out the citronella candles just yet. Mosquitoes are a reason to celebrate. The 2013 event marks the 28th year for the community’s Mosquitofest, which will be held Wednesday through Saturday in downtown McCrory. Betty Kate Thompson, McCrory Area Chamber of Commerce president and coordinator of Mosquitofest, said the festival started out as a joke.

PLEASANT PLAINS — As identical twins, Destany Standard Lytle and Felisha Standard have often been mistakenly identified. And, at least once, the sisters tried to be mistaken for each other on purpose. “I remember when we were in second grade in Corning, we wanted to take each other’s test, but when it came time to do it, we couldn’t,” Felisha said. “We both started crying and told the teacher we were trying to switch places.”

HORSESHOE BEND — This year, Horseshoe Bend celebrates its 50th anniversary. In 1963, it was incorporated as a town. Five years earlier, this area of northeast Izard County was known as Gobbler’s Knob. It was all forestland except for a few cow pastures. Houses were few, and roads were fewer. In the 1950s, brothers Bill and Dick Pratt purchased land on the Knob.

The dining room may only be open for business on Fridays and Saturdays, but work at the Tamale Factory rarely slows down. Opened in November, the tamale and steak-centric spot owned by George Eldridge and located on his farm is filled on Mondays and Tuesdays with the spicy smell of simmering tamale fillings and the busy hands of tamale cooks Donna Wallis and Shirley Western. On Wednesday, the farm’s focus reverts back to a working hors...

BROCKWELL — The Izard County High School chess team is back on top of its game. The team was able to check back into the top spot at the Class 1A/2A State Chess Championship after a lull in wins. The team won the title in Beebe on April 27. This marks the eighth time the school has won the state title. Steven Walker, who coaches the chess team, is no stranger to winning a state chess title. Walker is a graduate of Izard County, where he was pa...

NEWPORT — Country singer Kenni Huskey of Newport sang her first song on stage in a Christmas pageant when she was 5 years old. “I was born in Newport and moved to Memphis in 1957,” Huskey said. “I got my start in Memphis.” After that initial “gig” of singing in kindergarten, Huskey said, her parents saw the potential she had in show business and started taking every opportunity they could find to get her back on the stage. “We’d wait forever f...

Heber Springs High School Principal Justin Johnston can add one more item to the list of things he’s proud of this year. The school was recently ranked 10th in the 2013 Best High Schools in Arkansas report, released by U.S. News & World Report.

Thousands of students and employees have come and gone from Quitman schools over the years. Organizers of the Quitman School Alumni Association Inc. hope many will return on May 25 for the annual alumni reunion, which will be held from 2-4 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Members of the Class of 1963 will host the event, as well as the class’s own 50-year reunion.

Following are dates for baccalaureate ceremonies and graduations for high schools in the Three Rivers Edition coverage area:

BATESVILLE — Ever since she can remember, Carly Dahl has drawn. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” she said. Dahl is the interim director of the Batesville Area Arts Council. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in printmaking and a minor in drawing from the University of Toledo (Ohio) and was born and raised in Monroe, Mich. She’s been in Batesville for three years.

BATESVILLE — When Ozark Gateway Tourist Council members Cathy Drew and Robert Pest realized that Batesville’s Second Friday Frolic would coincide with National Tourism Week this month, they decided to make the most of it. The Friday event will be an all-day celebration, beginning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 12:45 p.m., followed by a burger and hot-dog lunch, music an arts exhibition and more. Downtown stores will remain open until 7 p.m. for ...

SOUTHSIDE — When Margaret Sydney “Maggie” Ried walks across the stage to accept her high school diploma Thursday night, there may be no one prouder of her than the man who calls out her name. That man will be her father, Roger Ried, principal of the school, which is just south of Batesville. Of course, her mother, Kathy, and 16-year-old brother, Luke, will be there to share the moment with them. Her grandparents, Johnny and Leota Allen of Batesvil...