River Valley Radio

River Valley Radio’s Misty Hale talks with Dardanelle Mayor Jimmy Witt about several changes and projects underway around the city. Witt explains the new camera-based technology being installed at some of Dardanelle’s busiest stoplights — and why the cameras are not Flock cameras or license plate readers. He also discusses a new sidewalk project along Quay Street, work underway on the city’s water...

📚 Dardanelle High School is once again among a relatively small group of Arkansas high schools earning an A in the state’s latest school letter grades. Dardanelle Primary also made a jump from a C to a B, while district leaders say the focus is on spreading the same high expectations and strong instructional practices across every campus. Misty Hale talks with Superintendent Dr. Jamie Burris abou...

Johnny Story sits down with Leslie Walton from River Valley Food 4 Kids to talk about Foodstock 2026. What began as a fundraiser to help fill backpacks with food for local children has grown into a free community celebration — and this year, Foodstock is marking its 10th anniversary. River Valley Food 4 Kids will host Foodstock on Oct. 3 at Depot Park in downtown Russellville, bringing back family...

Misty Hale and Aaron Thomas are back with a busy Monday edition of River Valley Radio’s Five O’Clock Drive Time News. This episode brings new details on the Pottsville pursuit that prompted a school lockdown, an upcoming fundraiser for the Latimore Tourist Home, a gas main break and house fire in Russellville, and the return of Police Beat — complete with hitchhikers, flying aluminum on I-40 and a...

A Russellville landmark is getting closer to a new chapter — and an upcoming auction could help push the restoration effort forward. Friends of the Latimore Tourist Home is working toward another major preservation grant, but the group will need to raise matching funds first. An Art, Antiques & Collectibles auction Oct. 2-9 will help support that effort, with a preview night planned Oct. 6 at...

Misty Hale talks with Spencer Daniels, a bear specialist with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

The annual celebration will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 , with live music, food, vendors, a car show, Civil War reenactments, free carriage rides, tours of the historic Potts Inn Museum and plenty of activities for kids. Listen to Johnny Story talk with Jessie Young about the event's plan and purpose. Butterfield Day celebrates Pottsville’s history and its connection to the histo...

🏁 “General Lee is kind of a state of mind.” John Schneider had plenty of stories to tell ahead of his return to the River Valley — from growing up going to small-town fairs and meeting heroes like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty to The Dukes of Hazzard, his country music career and why General Lees tend to just show up wherever he goes. And yes, he plans to find a cor...

Music and interviews from the acts headlining the Pope County Fair in 2026.

🎶 Jason Campbell and Dem Boys will take the stage Friday night at the Pope County Fair ahead of The Bellamy Brothers — and for Campbell, every song in the set has a reason for being there. Campbell, a longtime River Valley musician and songwriter, says the show will mix original music with country favorites from the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s that helped shape him and the band. He also talks with...

🏈 Hector is 3-0 after another gutsy finish. Danville took a 19-18 lead with 3:27 left Friday night, but the Wildcats answered fast. A big Hudson McAlister-to-Cayden Manrique pass set up McAlister’s go-ahead touchdown, and Easton Pruitt sealed the 24-19 win with an interception on Danville’s final possession. 💪 “These kids do not have an ounce of quit in them.” Read the full game story, stats and...

Blind and visually impaired veterans in the River Valley may be eligible to receive Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses at no cost through a nationwide program designed to help veterans live more independently. The glasses can read text aloud, identify objects, help with navigation and assist with everyday tasks using voice commands. 👓 Locally, Chaplain Paul Northcut with Cross & Shield Ministries is...

Hear from Hector head coach Tyler Gilliland as he breaks down the Wildcats’ gritty 52-40 comeback win over Conway Christian. Gilliland talks about overcoming an 18-point deficit, the toughness and conditioning that fueled Hector’s second-half surge, the Wildcats’ unconventional rushing attack and the key plays that turned the game, while also looking ahead to next week’s home matchup with Danville...

Russellville Junior High School teacher Mickey DuVall says his greatest challenge as a math teacher is not necessarily teaching algebra. It is convincing students that they are capable of learning it. That focus on confidence, persistence and problem-solving has helped earn DuVall recognition as one of 15 finalists for the 2027 Arkansas Teacher of the Year award. Listen to our conversation with Du...

Pope County Chief Deputy Shawn Harris says Tuesday afternoon’s jail disturbance involved about six inmates, but authorities believe only two or three were actively participating. Harris said inmates flooded the cell block, damaged a surveillance camera and telephone, and claimed they had weapons. Everyone complied when officers entered, and a search found no weapons. No officers, jail employees or...

Pope County jail officials say mental-health needs are becoming a growing issue inside the detention center. Capt. Rowdy Sweet told county officials the jail is seeing more inmates dealing with mental-health concerns, addiction and withdrawal — and officers are often the ones left trying to manage situations they aren’t licensed to handle. The county is now looking at expanded mental-health servic...

Good news for local communities! Pope County could soon be distributing new AEDs to Atkins, Dover, Hector, Pottsville and Russellville after receiving grant funding from Arvest Bank. AEDs can be lifesaving during sudden cardiac emergencies — and having updated equipment nearby can make a huge difference when seconds count.

Deja vu? A proposed incentive tied to a future Texas Roadhouse project in Russellville is headed back to the full City Council with a recommendation for approval. The $58,810 agreement would reimburse Russellville TR LLC for eligible site-development costs. Supporters say the city could recover that amount in less than a year through new sales-tax revenue, while critics have questioned whether eco...

Russellville’s new recycling drop-off center is getting closer to opening. The bins are in place at 1801 S. Knoxville Ave., but city officials say they’re still waiting on a few final pieces for the gate before the site can officially open. Once it’s ready, the city plans to roll out an education campaign showing what can — and can’t — go in the recycling bins. Glass recycling will also be availab...

Good news on Prairie Creek: bridge components are now being installed, and Russellville officials say the project is still moving toward a goal of finishing before school starts. City leaders also talked about traffic headaches downtown, especially around Commerce and Main, while Parkway remains closed. Public Works says they’re still adjusting the signal timing and working through the detour issu...

Russellville officials are considering a temporary data center committee and a moratorium on data center projects through Jan. 1, 2028. Mayor Fred Teague emphasized there is no current data center project before the city. Council members say the proposal is about setting “guardrails” now, before any company comes forward.

The Texas Roadhouse incentive agreement got a 4-2 vote from the Russellville City Council — not enough for a final approval. Mayor Fred Teague said he hopes the developers bring the item back in July, when the two members absent Thursday would be in attendance. But the developer says it is up against a property-closing deadline. Read what happened at Thursday’s meeting: https://www.rivervalleyradi...

💛 “Let’s build a support system to help you know that you aren’t alone.” For new and expecting moms, postpartum depression and anxiety can make hard moments feel permanent. They are not. We spoke with Christy Renfroe of ChoiceCare about free local support for River Valley families — and about the Safe Haven Baby Box at Russellville Fire Station No. 3, a private emergency option meant to protect n...

Johnny Story talks with Bill Teeter about the District 44 runoff election set for June 30th.

Johnny Story talks with Nikki Phillips about the District 44 runoff election.