The Local Insider

In this episode of The Local Insider , host Brian Cooper sits down with J.B. Jackson, the creator of the viral Facebook page Arkansas Alcatraz . J.B. lives right across the road from the proposed site of a massive new 3,000-bed state prison in Franklin County, Arkansas — a project backed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. What started as a local neighbor's concern quickly turned into a grassroots...

Today's guest is someone who knows the meaning of community service in both word and action. Sheriff Jason Massey has been with the Logan County Sheriff's Department since 2008 and has served as our county's Sheriff since 2019. Under his leadership, the department has not only focused on law enforcement but also on restoring lives and reducing repeat offenses. Sheriff Massey has implemented progra...

On this episode of The Local Insider, host Brian Cooper sits down with Bill Holbert—a man whose life journey has taken him from the oil fields of Odessa, Texas, to the remote jungles of Belize, and now to the heart of Booneville, Arkansas. Bill's story is one of adventure, dedication, and faith. After graduating high school in Basalt, Colorado, he pursued a degree in civil engineering from the Uni...

In this episode of The Local Insider, host Brian Cooper sits down with Arkansas singer-songwriter Ryan Harmon, who took the internet by storm with his unforgettable audition on season 3 of ABC's American Idol in March 2020. Performing his original song "I Knew This Would Happen," Ryan's audition quickly became a viral sensation, racking up nearly 20 million views on the show's official social medi...

Join us for an insightful episode of The Local Insider as we shine a spotlight on Logan County, Arkansas, with special guest Donald Keezer, Justice Of The Peace for District 7. With a deep-rooted connection to the local community and a diverse background that includes military service, Donald brings a unique perspective to the table.   In this episode, we delve into Donald's journey from growing u...

Join us in this heartwarming episode of The Local Insider, where we sit down with Isaac Sirk, a dedicated individual who has spent two decades at the Booneville Human Development Center, a hub for mentally handicapped individuals. Isaac's journey is one of resilience and community spirit.   Highlights from the Episode:   1. Community Impact:    Discover how Isaac has been a pillar of strength at t...

Born in the sun-soaked city of Corona, California, and later transplanted to the charming town of Booneville, Arkansas in 2008, Chad Simpson has been on a remarkable journey that has seen him triumph in both the realm of sports and education.  Chad's story begins in Booneville, where he graduated high school, but it was in this tight-knit community that he would come to understand the true meaning...

**Join us in this special episode as we delve into the heart of Booneville, Arkansas, with our esteemed guest, Chief Ben Villarreal. A true Booneville native, Chief Ben's journey from Booneville High School graduate to Chief of Police in 2019 is a testament to his deep roots in this close-knit community.🌟 **Community Impact**: Chief Ben is not just an officer; he's a community builder. Discover h...

Join us on The Local Insider podcast as we delve deep into Tonya Fletcher's inspiring journey, from her early roots in Branch/Ratcliff to her current roles as an Executive Director and city council member in Paris. Discover the stories behind the Logan County Leadership Academy and the Mainstreet program, and gain insights from her experiences in community building and fostering local leadership....

We have the honor of sitting down with David Cotner, a man whose life journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Born and raised in the charming town of Booneville, Arkansas, David's path took him from serving his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War to becoming a national champion in senior games sprinting. Join us as we explore the inspiring story of a retired manufacturing ma...

Our guest for this episode is Philip Blankenship, owner of Blankenship Wealth Management, a leading local financial planning firm. Philip's journey is marked by his deep roots in southwest Missouri and a passion for helping others. Growing up in Southwest Missouri, Philip's entrepreneurial spirit started early. At 16, he began his journey in management at Sonic restaurants, developing his leadersh...

Tune in to The Local Insider and join the conversation as we delve into the intersection of counseling, therapy, and martial arts with the extraordinary Grand Master Dr. Monty Atchley. Prepare to be inspired as Dr. Atchley takes us on a profound journey, uncovering the depths of the human mind and body. Whether you're interested in psychology, martial arts, or simply seeking personal development,...

My next guest is a graduate of Greenwood High School, who, along with his wife Paula, owns  Black Dog Meat Company in Booneville, Arkansas. Throughout our conversation, we'll explore his journey, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned along the way. We'll also be talking about the importance of quality in the products that he sells and the impact that it has had on his business. James...

My next guest is a Mansfield High School graduate who earned his B.S. at John Brown University, then achieved his Sigma Six Certification from Villanova University. He then worked for the Outdoor Recreation Company of America, or ORKA, where he was VP of Marketing. After seeing a need for news in often overlooked areas of the Arkansas River Valley, he started the Resident Press in 2015. Today he a...

My next guest is from Marble Falls, Texas, where he got his start in automotive repair at the age of 16. He then moved to Dallas before finally moving to Booneville, Arkansas, and opening Certified Auto Repair. On the weekends, he travels home to Hot Springs, where he and his wife, Peggy Sue, own and manage their vacation rental, Dockzilla Lake Hamilton. 

Our next guest was born in Clarksville, AR. He moved to Booneville in the 1st grade after his mother took a job at the then Today's Plastics. He graduated from Booneville High and worked at the Logan County Detention Center. He was later hired at the Booneville PD and, in July 2020, took over as Chief. Since then, he has implemented many projects and programs to immerse the Police Force into the c...

My next guest was born in Virginia and can trace her ancestry all the way back to the Jamestown colony. She later moved to the state of Idaho, where she helped organize the first tea party of Idaho. She is a lifelong learner, teacher, and animal welfare advocate. Please welcome the Die hard patriot, Andi Elliott.  Andi and I discuss various topics, including her family's involvement in the Civil A...

Welcome to The Local Insider Podcast with our guest Allen Wallace. Together with his wife, Jeneen, he founded Off The Chain Paranormal.  In today's Christmas Bigfoot episode, Allen will share his expertise and insights on this mysterious creature and how it has captured people's imaginations worldwide. So join us as we delve into the world of Bigfoot and all things paranormal with Allen Wallace. I...

My next guest grew up in Corona, California. He got his associate's degree from Los Angeles Harbor College and his Bachelor's degree in Business administration at the University of Redlands in Redlands, CA. He is the Director of Sales at PalPilot International based in Tustin, California, and works remotely from Booneville, AR. He was most recently Elected as Alderman for Ward 3 in Booneville.

My next guest grew up in Jacksonville, Arkansas, and graduated from North Pulaski High School. He attained a Bachelor's Degree in English at Lyon College and earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from UALR's William H. Bowen School of Law. After practicing law for some time, he was introduced to law enforcement, taking a reserve deputy position. He has worked at the Logan County, Arkansas, Sheriff's...

This week we sat down with Booneville mayoral candidate Edgar Baker. Edgar and I discussed his experience at the Booneville mayoral debate. We did a deep dive into some of the questions submitted for the debate by the public that we could not include because of time constraints.

As many of you know, local elections are fast upon us. On October 10th, the Booneville Rotary Club held the Mayoral Debate and Pie Auction. We thought it would be a good idea to have the candidates back on the show to discuss their campaign up to this point and to elaborate on their experience at the debate. With early voting starting today, this will be the last public appearance for the candidat...

Hello friends, This week we have a Halloween treat for you. Our next guest is Chase Hayden of Off The Chain Paranormal, a paranormal researcher who, along with his team members, has explored many of the dark and creepy places ghosts like to hang out in Arkansas. They've even conducted investigations at an infamous location just south of Booneville. The Nyberg building, a five-story hospital built...

My next guest is from Sugar Grove, Arkansas. He's a 1999 J.D Leftwich High School graduate in Magazine, Arkansas. He went on to enlist in the US Navy as a Navy Corpsman, serving until 2007. Once back home in Arkansas, he studied biology at UAFS. He has wo