Rachel Hays, a student at Atkins High School was honored as a state finalist at the Wendy's High School Heisman Awards Banquet.

The Atkins City Council accepted the resignation of Brenda Graves and hired Scott Harper as a sixth Atkins policeman.

The Atkins School Board heard that the building fund exceeded the budgeted amount by $242,366.81.
Jan. 26

Director Grace Berry told the board that the Pope County Library use increased in all areas.

Pottsville School Gym named the George Jones Gymnasium.

Judge Dennis Sutterfield announced his intention to seek the Circuit/Chancery Judgeship in the 5th Judicial District.

Atkins Middle School, Pottsville Elementary, Pottsville High School, and Pottsville Middle School honor rolls announced.
Feb. 2

Atkins, along with most of the state, experienced a significant amount of snowfall.

Twelve members of the Atkins High School band were selected to the Region VII All_Region Bands.

The Pottsville City Council accepted a bid for a 10-ton backhoe from the Trailer Store. The bid was for the amount of $5,879.
Feb. 9

The Atkins City Council voted 4_2 to abolish the Water and Sewer Commission.

The Atkins School Board accepted the low bid for auditorium curtains and carpet totaling $18,638.30.

State Representative Jeff Gillespie announced his candidacy for a second term in District 27.

Juanita Barber announced that she will seek a 10th two_year term as Pope County circuit and chancery clerk.
Feb. 16

Pope County Sheriff Jay Winters announced he will seek re_election for a sixth term, and

County Judge Jim Ed Gibson announced he would run for a second term as Pope County Judge. Bobbye McAlister announced she would run for re_election as Pope County tax collector.

Hector School Board added two class days to the calendar to make up for snow cancellations.

Thomas Hinkerman, former alderman and businessman, died.
Feb. 23

The Atkins School Board ruled to expel a high school student for the remainder of the semester.

Glen Bottoms was arrested and charged with theft by receiving, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Atkins Mayor addresses questions posted in town anonymously.

Blake Cole, Wilson Township constable, announced he would seek re_election. Pope County Treasurer Gail Lutrell announced that she would also seek re_election.
March 1

The Rev. Robert E. Woody was selected as Atkins Citizen of the Year by the People for a Better Atkins.

Representative Bob Johnson announced his candidacy for State Senate, District 25; Karen

Martin announced she would run for re_election as Pope County Assessor; Jack Freeman announced he would seek re_election to the District three Justice of the Peace position on the Pope County Quorum Court.
March 8

The Atkins Planning Commission received copies of the new flood zone maps it had commissioned from Perkins and Associates.

Nell Warren announced she would seek a fourth two_year term as District 2 Justice of the Peace for Pope County; Don Johnson announced his candidacy for re_election as Pope County Clerk.

Dena Johnson was the winner of the Picklefest t_shirt design contest.

Dawnyell Fletcher placed first at state indoor track and field championship.
March 15

Mike Banks, Scott McKown, and Todd Winesburg resigned from the Atkins Police Department.

The Atkins School Board approved a new salary schedule for certified personnel increasing the base salary from $23,500 to $23,900.

The Atkins City Council discussed its retirement program.

Municipal Judge Len W. Bradley announced his candidacy for the newly created Circuit/Chancery/Juvenile Judgeship for the Fifth Judicial District.
March 22

The Atkins City Council heard information about the Community Match Program, which could guarantee the city a local physician in seven years.

Nina Rackley, 1992 Pottsville woman of the year and Pope County Woman of the Year, died.

The Pottsville School Board rehired principals, approved the school calendar for next year and heard about the bid opening for its middle grades complex.

Neil Jackson announced he will seek his fifth two_year term as Justice of the Peace, District 8, of Pope County; Roger Rorie announced his candidacy for the Arkansas State Senate District 25; Mike Hathorn sought the Democratic nomination for the Arkansas House of Representatives, Dist. 24; Edwin Shinn announced he would seek a second term as District Five Justice of the Peace to the Pope County Quorum Court.
March 29

The Atkins City Council voted to participate in a program to pay for medical school for a doctor who would be obligated to practice medicine in Atkins for at least four years.

The Atkins High School Choir qualified to compete at the state level.

Janet Pitts of Atkins was one of two statewide recipients of a Parent/Community Award at the AGATE (Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education) conference held in Hot Springs.

Clint Beggs announced his candidacy for the House of Representatives, District 27.
April 5

The Atkins Planning Commission expressed annoyance about the State Highway and Transportation Department's reasons for denying two sign permits for Atkins businesses.

Jeremy Bell won the Atkins Macho Miss Pageant, and Thomas McCoy was runner-up.

The Hector School Board voted to rehire all classified personnel and to renew the contract of Anthony Sweeney, high school principal.
April 12

The Atkins City Council decided to go ahead with a retirement plan for city employees.

Chelsia Babson won the Miss Atkins pageant. Junior Miss Atkins was Whitney Winters, and Little Miss Atkins was Kristen Michelle Brown.

The Atkins School Board accepted the resignations of teachers Larry Joe Carter, Carroll Haney, and Sherry Pack.

Phillip L. Hubbard decided to run for constable in the Wilson Township on the Democratic ticket.
April 19

Atkins Elementary Honor Roll was announced.

A one_vehicle accident results in a local fatality.

Hector residents continue to suffer from lack of water.

Hector Junior High and Senior High Honor roll announced.
April 26

Pottsville schools named in Family PC Magazine as one of America's top schools in effective use of educational technology.

Shurell Harris, Atkins High School senior, signed a letter of intent to play basketball at the Central Baptist College in Conway.

The Pottsville City Council authorized Pam Scarber, a local teacher, to form a Pottsville historical society to sponsor Butterfield Days and appropriate $1,000 for festival expenses.
May 3

Pottsville resident, Rene Charles Taylor, was charged with attempted first degree murder after Carroll Don Johnson from Atkins accused him of shooting at him with a .22 caliber rifle.

Dedication Services were held April 30 for the Tommy Gillespie Community Park in downtown Atkins.

Atkins High School Senior Susan Burden signed a NAIA Division I national basketball letter of intent with Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachia, Texas.
May 10

The Atkins School Board hired Charlie Sorrels as athletic director.

Dawnyell Fletcher becomes the first African_American valedictorian of Atkins High School.

Atkins City Council transferred an older police car to the Pope County Sheriff's Auxiliary at the request of Sheriff Jay Winters.

The Hector School Board decided to get on with construction of its new domed middle school.
May 17

A fire that began from child's play destroyed a home and killed two brothers.

Four trophies including two Best In Class provided the highlight for the Atkins High School Band and Choir on a trip to San Antonio.

The Atkins School Board hired Chris Taylor as a seventh grade athletic coach and middle school physical education teacher.
May 24

Dennis Sutterfield was elected to chancery/circuit judge, and Jeff Gillespie was re_elected to the state House of Representatives.

Rachael Hays of Atkins High School met Governor Mike Huckabee at the Honors Day ceremonies at the Governor's Mansion.

Police Chief Rick Martin told the Pottsville City Council that the federal grant to hire the two extra police to put more policemen on the streets was going to run out and the city was obliged to keep the two for a budget year at its own expense.
May 31

Picklefest 2000 was declared a success by People for a Better Atkins.

Many area residents' homes and properties were damaged during a storm.

Primary Election totals were announced. Sutterfield won Circuit/Chancery Judge, Johnson took the Arkansas Senate seat for District 25, Gillespie took the Arkansas House seat for District 27, Ormond took the Arkansas House seat for District 31, and Martin won the race for County Surveyor.
June 7

Lewis McCollum was inducted into the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame.

The Atkins Planning Commission agreed to change the Atkins Zoning Ordinances to help Realtor Robert Rainey get permission from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department to erect billboards on the Rainey Realty property beside I_40.
June 14

The Atkins City Council voted to get bids on a list of streets to be blacktopped and approved an ordinance abolishing sign regulations on a 4_1 vote.

The Atkins City Council gave the go ahead to Jack Truemper of the Public Finance Department of Stephens, Inc. to begin the process of issuing water and sewer revenue bonds to fund repairs of Atkins water pipes and the sewer treatment plant.

Connie Fields, executive director of the Atkins Housing Authority, resigned her position.
June 21

Atkins native Norris Church Mailer (Barbara Davis) returned to the River Valley to read from her novel, Windchill Summer.

The Atkins High School Board approved high school student handbook changes, which will change the number of credits required for graduation from 21 to 24.

The Hector City Council heard a lengthy presentation on the importance of preventing contamination of water systems from John Hitchock of the Arkansas Department of Health.
June 28

The Pope County Library Board heard reports of well_attended story time programs and other increased library use by young people.

Firemen from the Pea Ridge, Moreland and Atkins Fire Departments responded to a fire at Michael and Belinda Martin's house on Happy Valley Road, north of Atkins.

The Atkins School Board hired Brian Cossey as head boys’ basketball coach and girls’ fast_pitch softball coach.
July 5

Mary Stevenson and Vicki Bensley attended the 44th annual National Leadership Forum on the Harding University campus.

The Atkins Red Devils were voted by coaches of the 5AAA Conference to finish fourth, as was stated in Hooten's Arkansas Football magazine.
July 12

Stephen Kent was awarded yard of the month.

The Pottsville School Board hired three new employees, Laura Sorrey, special education teacher; Jennifer Curry, business teacher; and Richard Davis, part_time custodian.

The Atkins Planning Commission decided to begin the process of creating a sign ordinance with a timetable of three months.
July 19

The Hector City Council voted to raise the salary of Water Department Clerk Ginna Strickland and City Bookkeeper Bob Harris by 50 cents.

Russellville Entergy officials urge customers to conserve electricity whenever possible due to the July heat wave.
July 26

The Terry Bull Family of Hector was named the Pope County Farm Family of the Year.

The Atkins Area Chamber of Commerce discussed and prioritized the group's projects for the remainder of the year.
Aug. 2

The Atkins Planning Commission decided to recommend that Atkins adopt an ordinance covering signs similar to the ordinances Dardanelle and Russellville have.

"Unsightly or Unsanitary Conditions" inside the city limits were defined at Pottsville's City Council meeting.

One calf was found nearly lifeless and another already dead at the Atkins Sale Barn; the animals did not belong to the owner of the Sale Barn.

Atkins School registration dates were set.
Aug. 9

Five people filed for the election to the Atkins School Board position.

Alderman Ronnie Staggs resigned from the Atkins City Council.

The Atkins School Board hired nine new employees and accepted the resignation of four employees.
Aug. 16

The Hector School Board instructed Superintendent Tommy Thompson to get on with building plans.

The Pope County Historical Association established a scholarship honoring Kathleen Tucker Hollabaugh.

The Appleton 4_H club donated 19 car seats to the Arkansas State Troopers who planned to distribute them to needy individuals.
Aug. 23

The Pottsville School Board voted to spend a total of $131,396 on improvements to the physical plant.

Mayor Cecil Riley told the Hector City Council that the city would face a financial crisis and some hard decisions in November when its federal grant from the Community Oriented

Policing Services program expired and could result in the laying off of one of the three police officers.
Sept. 6

Dryness added to the severity of local fires.

A boil order was issued for Atkins residents from north of Highway 64 to the interstate and east of Highway 105 to the city limits due to a water main breaking next to the Catholic Church.

A possible funnel cloud damaged a Pottsville farm.
Sept. 13

More than 1,200 people attended the funeral of Atkins High School Senior, Stacy Potts, who died from injuries after the 1992 Dodge Caravan she was driving was hit by a train.

The Atkins School Board voted on the table discussion of adopting drug testing of students until board members studied a policy that has been approved by the courts.

The Atkins City Council appointed Larry Darter to fill a vacancy on the council resulting from the resignation of Alderman Ronnie Staggs.
Sept. 20

Hayleigh Boyer, 6, daughter of Jennifer and Brent Boyer, fell from a ride at the Pope County Fair and sustained painful but not serious injuries.

As a result of Stacy Potts' death, the Atkins City Council sought input about the public's feeling about city action on railroad crossings.

Pope County Democrats chose Don Bourne to fill the municipal judge position vacated by

Dennis Sutterfield who was elected to the newly created circuit/chancery judgeship in the Fifth Judicial District.

The Pottsville School Board approved a 2000_2001 budget calling for spending $5,698,245 for operations.
Sept. 27

Jeremiah Boone, a senior at Dover High School and member of the Pirates Football team, was found dead at his home, and the cause of death was unknown.

The Hector water system scheduled to link to the Tri_County Regional Water District system in about two weeks.

The burn ban, which had been in effect since Aug. 7, was lifted according to Pope County Judge Jim Ed Gibson.
Oct. 4

The Atkins Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend to the city council that no railroad crossings in Atkins be closed.

Brandy Smith was crowned as Atkins High School Homecoming Queen.

Railroad crossing signals were on the agenda of the Atkins City Council.
Oct. 11

Bobby Joe Fletcher was elected to the Atkins School Board over Paul Wayne Duvall 324 to 274 in a runoff election.

The Hector School Board voted to allow up to four weeks additional maternity leave to allow a teacher to spend more time with her six_week_old baby.

The Atkins City Council decided not to close any city railroad crossings but to work to get more crossing lights and crossbars.
Oct. 18

The Atkins School Board elected officers for the coming year, inspected the campus, and decided to take no action on additional stipends for teachers.

Former Alderman and civic leader, Stanford Sweeden Austin, 81, of Atkins died Saturday, Oct. 14, 2000, at his home.
Oct. 25

The Atkins Fire Department responded to a house fire at Jim Sellers' residence on NW 17th Street.

The Pottsville City Council heard a report on the success of the Butterfield Days festival held in downtown Pottsville.

Grace Berry, library director, reported to the Pope County Library Board that Jeanette Oldham was hired as the new children's librarian.
Nov. 1

Pope County voters had only one national race and one state_wide race to decide in the general election.

James A. Rodgers of Yell County was arrested by Atkins Police Officers after receiving a tip from The Medicine Shoppe that an individual had presented a forged prescription from a doctor in Fort Smith.

"Art in Atkins 2000" opened with a reception at the Train Depot.
Nov. 8

Atkins Red Devils defeat Dover 28_21 in their last game of the season.

Large voter turnout caused waiting at the polls.

The Hector School Board scaled back its school building plans to keep costs withing its projected budget.

Atkins Police Officers discovered a fully operational clandestine meth lab enclosed in two plastic tubs in the trunk of a car after stopping a couple for operating a vehicle with fictitious tags.
Nov. 15

Hundreds of grateful citizens and veterans turned out for the Veteran's Day Celebration of Freedom parade and ceremony held in Atkins.

The Atkins City Council heard some figures about plans for replacing pipes for the central city water lines.

The Atkins School Board President Charles Henry appointed a committee of board members to come up with a policy for drug testing students.
Nov. 22

The Atkins City Council gave two city employees compensating raises and added to the police and fire department budgets.

The Atkins Area Chamber of Commerce began decorating the town with festive banners and ornamentation.

Pottsville Middle School, Hector Senior High, and Hector Junior High honor rolls announced.
Dec. 6

The Atkins Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny the rezoning of property sought by Robert Hearne for building a drive_in movie theater on Southeast Fourth Street.

Longtime Atkins businessman James A. Carfagno, Sr. died.

The Atkins Fire Department responded to a house fire at the home of Jennifer Owens at 406 NE 1st St.

Dean Pickle and Specialty Products had the winning float in the Atkins Christmas Parade, Atkins Elementary School took second place, and Atkins High School won third place.
Dec. 13

The Atkins City Council appointed Alderman Raymond Pearce as city building coordinator.

The Atkins School Board decided to think about the drug testing policy submitted by a committee headed by board member Robert Hearne until next month.
Dec. 20

Emma's Grocery and Rackley Furniture both reported break_ins.

Ron and Linda Freeman on Highway 64 West won the People for a Better Atkins Christmas lighting contest, Duane and Glenda Luter on Highway 64 East won second place, and Mark, Gail, and Moira Murdoch on Avenue Four won third place.

The River Valley was covered with ice during a winter storm, leaving some without power.

The Hector City Council heard from Mayor Cecil Riley that discussions had started with Tri_County Regional Water Distribution District General Manager Harry Willard concerning Tri_County's possible take_over of the city's water system as a means of saving money.