White River Journal, Inc

07/03/2025

Aug 21, 2008 issue (16 pages)
Since WRJ's last post on Sun, 6/29, complete issues from Jun 19 thru Dec 25, 2008 have been found and are now accessible for posting.
The Aug 21 issue is posted today in recognition of the passing this week of Pamela Jean (Griffith) Patton, a lifelong resident of the Crossroads Community, formerly a trusted medical assistant to Dr Gerald Schumann, and later continued dedication to public service with the City of Des Arc, plus Prairie County Judges Butch Calhoun and Mike Skarda - until her retirement in 2008 because of health problems.
Born October 4, 1957, Pam was a member of the 1976 Class of DAHS. Her complete obituary is posted at Garth's Funeral Home.
Reason for extra emphasis on Pam Patton is because WRJ failed her daughter Marsha's request 2 weeks ago to provide a picture of her mother receiving a retirement award. Unfortunately, it was't confirmed until today that the 8/21/08 issue was where it should be. However, WRJ wasn't provided a picture or story of Pam's receiving the award from the County; and therefore her name only appears briefly on Pg 16 in a continuation of Quorum Court News from Pg 1.
The 17 attachments begin with an obituary photo of Pamela.

06/29/2025

LOOKING BACK @ 2008:
This post includes 12 front pages: Jan 17 ... Feb 7, 21, 28 ... Mar 6, 20, 27 ... Apr 10, 17, 24 ... May 1, 8
2008 is the earliest year for which PDF files used in printing the paper can be found . . . and from which these images were made. Otherwise, we could look back to at least 2001 . . . (there might be some chance of eventually finding ... IF, they still exist somewhere).
These 2008 files are also incomplete, with only 8 add'tl front pages, 10 pg 2's, 2 pg 3's, 10 pg 4's, plus a few other pages available for future posting if viewers want to see more of 2008 ?

06/26/2025

JPEG pics of 7/9/15 issue:
As a followup to earlier post today, the 7/9/15 issue is reposted here as 14 Jpeg pictures -- in lieu of screenshots posted earlier. It is a test to find an alternate, and maybe better, way for viewers to read pages.
Hoping these JPEG pictures may be easier to read than "screenshots", but don't know. Thanking you in advance for your feedback.

06/26/2025

We wish to thank Facebook viewers of our June 22 post for their Likes & Comments. Since it is now Thursday, the day issues were normally mailed; we're repeating Pg 1, 7/9/15 . . . plus adding the remaining 13 pages (14 pgs total).
We apologize to those who cannot read screenshots ... hoping to find a better way of sharing.
Please feel free to comment re ability to read, or not read, the pages . . . your feedback is important.

06/22/2025

WRJ Facebook would like feedback re future posting of old Journal issues. Eight pages from 12/24/17 were recently posted, with less than 20 people responding with a "Like/Love" ... (fewer making a comment). Perhaps more would be interested if they knew in advance when & how reliable the posts were going to be ?
Most issues (All weeks / all pages) dating from 2010 - 2017 can be posted via either PDFs or Screenshots . . . and posted on a regular basis (maybe on Thursdays, just as in olden days).
To view earlier years; again, the local Museum has microfilm of 1907-1944. State Archives, on Capitol grounds in Little Rock, has all 110 years 1907 - 2017. The expected, searchable online issues (1907-1930) are on hold because of the recent suspension of federal funding. State Archives can provide WRJ copies of the "digital" copies, but they will remain "unsearchable" until (and if) funding is restored and they are put online.
Most importantly is how well can Facebook viewers read articles ... and see pictures ?? Your comments will be appreciated.
As a 3rd opportunity to check out . . . Pg 1 of Jul 9, '15 issue was randomly picked to post here. Of course, multiple pages or/and different years could be posted upon request.

06/18/2025

Here are 5 more screenshots of pages from the final WRJournal issue Dec 24, 2017, making screenshots of 8 pages available from that issue on Facebook in last 2 posts. That 12/24/17 issue had a total of 16 pages. (More screenshots/pages are available if comment requesting them is made -- and is noticed by WRJ). For those having the free Acrobat Reader app, pages are also available as PDFs in lieu of screenshots.

06/18/2025

WHITE RIVER JOURNAL digitized and online for research:

With the expectation of accomplishing that, beginning with the first 23 years of WRJ's existence, 1907 thru 1930; Arkansas State Archives (Little Rock) picked up the original papers for those years at Journal office May 1, 2024. The process is detailed & time-consuming . . . portions of which were to occur in Little Rock, India, and the Library of Congress. Those issues were estimated to be online by late 2024, which would've provided easy searching for specific items. However, the following email was received from State Archives today:

"The White River Journal was part of the last couple of batches sent to the Library of Congress before President Trump pulled funding to the NEH, prematurely terminating the project. The Director of Arkansas Heritage did not approve state funding for the last batches to be completed, so unfortunately, they will not be put on Chronicling America. We are keeping all digital images of the Journal (here at State Archives) in case we can work something out in the future."

The Journal issues contain 110 years (1907 - 2017) of history of Des Arc and surrounding communities. All those issues still exist, on microfilm ... at the State Archives, located directly behind the State Capitol building in LR . . . and can be scanned, with individual articles, obituaries, photos, advertisements, etc saved and copied -- at no charge. The Lower White River Museum in Des Arc also has available microfilm for years 1907-1944. There also exists the actual papers for years 1984-2017, full size in bound, hard-cover books, which are in personal possession at present ... but which will be made publicly available in near future. From these, one can search for specific items ... and take their own actual photos with camera or phone (later year pages being in color).

As a bonus to this post, are a few screenshots from the Journal's last issue on Dec 24, 2017. Hoping they can be enlarged enough on devices to see photos and read.

Finally, the Journal still has in its possession countless number of photos of school children & activities on discs from the early 2000's.

04/12/2025

Sharing link to pics/videos of White River at Des Arc April 12, 2025

https://youtu.be/inqYIWuTf64

03/09/2025

OBIT OF FATHER OF REV. JAMIE ALEXANDER:

James Marvin "Jim" Alexander, 82, of Little Rock, Arkansas passed away on Monday March 3, 2025. Jim was born in Heber Springs, Arkansas on April 3, 1942 to the late Evelyn Lewis and Cecil Henry "Slick" Alexander. He attended Heber Springs Public Schools and was a member of the graduating class of 1960 of Heber Springs High School. He went on to play football at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, but because of a second concussion his football career ended. He transferred to the University of Arkansas. When his father died in December of 1963, Jim left the U of A to manage the family owned businesses, Alexander's Restaurant and Esso Service Station, with his brother, Cecil Lewis Alexander. When the Alexander brothers sold both businesses after 32 years of family ownership, Jim and his family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. Jim became the Director of Consultants for the Arkansas Industrial Development Corporation for the State of Arkansas, which was located in the Arkansas State Capitol. In 1980, Jim began his 32 year career as a public finance investment banker and investment advisor with T.J. Raney and Sons. Jim retired as First Vice President with Morgan Keegan in 2012.

Jim was gregarious and took over the room when he entered. He was passionate about his family, friends, Arkansas Razorbacks, sports, bird and duck hunting, cooking, good food, horse racing, people, politics, sharing his opinions, and Heber Springs. Jim was a man of faith who was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church. He is a former member of Heber Springs First United Methodist Church and a current member of St. James United Methodist Church.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents and son Jace J. Alexander, Sr,

Jim is survived by his wife, Jan Jackson Alexander, son Rev. Jaimie J Alexander, grandsons Jace J Alexander Jr, and Jacob J, Alexander, his brother Cecil Lewis Alexander and wife Kathy Alexander, nieces Tracy Hargrove, Brenda Alexander, Lesli Gowen, Christy Lock, sister-in-law Carolyn Tolley and husband Henry Gentry, nephew Matt Tolley and a host of cousins, great-nieces and great- nephews.

A Memorial Service to honor both Jim and his son Jace, will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 2:00 pm at St. James United Methodist Church in Little Rock, 321 Pleasant Valley Dr, Little Rock, AR 72212. A Visitation Reception will be held following

A Service of Burial will be held on Friday, March 21 at 11:00 am at the Heber Springs City Cemetery.

Memorials maybe sent to First United Methodist Church of Texarkana, Arkansas, 400 East Sixth Street, 7184 or St. James United Methodist Church of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Thank you to the dedicated caregivers of Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation and Hospice Home Care.

Photo taken Sept 2, 2010 @ White River Journal office: Dean Walls on left / Jamie Alexander on right

03/03/2025

Short video (less than 2 mins) of large attendance at funeral service of Brenda Williams Sat, Mar 1, 2025 at Gospel Mission Church in Des Arc. Middle of video zooms in on the family showing her mother Geraldene (wearing an orange hat & top) and her husband Danny in wheelchair to Geraldene's right and one row in front of her.

Brenda Williams
Born on Mar 1, 1953, she taught Elementary in Cotton Plant 3 yrs, Des Arc Elem 22 yrs, retired in 2015, enjoyed her grandchildren, and traveling internationally and being substitute teacher up until her tragic death in a car accident on Feb 7. Could be found at Gospel Mission Church in Des Arc every time doors open for 35 years, where she also played the piano.
Funeral service was postponed until her husband and two grandsons who were also in the car were free to leave the hospital.

02/07/2025

Sharing a short scene from movie shown on TCM Sunday night Feb 2. The scene is of Mr. Holland dedicating a song (Beautiful, Beautiful Boy by John Lennon) to he & his wife's son Cole who was born deaf. Mr. Holland (Richard Dreyfus) is a high school music teacher who is conducting a concert to an audience of deaf students.

Mr Holland sings John Lennon song to his deaf son,Cole

01/12/2025

Another snow video: Driving around Des Arc Sat, Jan 11, 2015

Received 4" snow Thursday night (early Friday morning) Jan 10, 2025