$1 MILLION BOND EACH…Batesville couple officially charged with stalking, kidnapping and rape of a 12-year-old from South Carolina
From Press Release and official court documents A Batesville couple is behind bars in Independence County after allegedly stalking, kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl from South Carolina. Independence County Sheriff Shawn Stephens presented the case against Brandon Britten, 31, and Sierra Britten, 28, to a circuit judge Friday. The couple has since been formally charged. Brandon Britten is charged with traveling for the purpose of an unlawful sex act with…
UPDATE to story regarding Evening Shade couple charged with child physical and sexual abuse crimes that ran in July 29 edition
By Tammy Curtis, from press releases and court documentation EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an update to a story published in our July 29 issue. At that time, a probable cause affidavit detailing the allegations against Scott Ewing had been filed, but court documents outlining the basis for the charges against Summer Wolfe-Ewing were not yet available. Because of the disturbing nature of the allegations involving children, the Spring River Chronicle will not…
Body found at Hoxie church identified as that of Salem man
From police and press release information James Frey, 34, of Salem has been identified as the deceased person located in Hoxie. According to a press release, the Arkansas State Police are investigating the death of a Salem man whose body was found in Hoxie on Tue. Aug. 11, 2026, near the Faith Tabernacle Church in Hoxie. A call came in to the Lawrence County E-11 around 3:15 to the Hoxie Police Department…
Sammy Kershaw and Confederate Railroad to headline 2026 Cave City Watermelon Festival
Tammy Curtis, Managing Editor The countdown is on for one of northeast Arkansas’ most anticipated summer traditions. The 2026 Cave City Watermelon Festival returns tomorrow, July 23-25 at the Cave City Park, bringing three days of live entertainment, family activities, contests, food, carnival rides and, of course, some of the sweetest watermelons in the country. Watermelons have already begun filling produce stands throughout Cave City, signaling that festival week has arrived. Each…
Fulton County sex offender arrested again
From Court and police records Timothy Dean Clark, 57, of Mammoth Spring, who is a registered Level Three Sex offender out of Fulton County, was arrested at Bass Cat Boats in Midway in Baxter County on May 28. Court documents state that Baxter County Sex Offender Coordinator Deputy Tanner Anderson, was contacted by Clark’s parole officer that there was a felony warrant for Fourth Degree Sexual Assault for Clark. Tanner went to…
