Local News

POTEAU, Okla. (AP) — Poteau police are investigating the death of an Arkansas man who was run over by a train.
Investigators say an engineer and conductor operating a Kansas City-Southern train saw a body on some railroad tracks about 2 a.m. Sunday and tried to stop the train but couldn’t in time. The victim was identified as 31-year-old Derek Scoggin of Waldron, Ark.

Old Independence Regional Museum will continue its popular story time for toddlers and preschoolers this fall, volunteer coordinator Amanda Nikkel said.
“Make plans to join us for stories and crafts,” she said.
Story time begins at 10:30 a.m. on the following Fridays: Sept. 10, Sept. 24, Oct. 8, Oct. 22, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10.
“This program is free and pre-registration is not required, but groups of five or more are asked to call ahead,” Nikkel said. “Children must be accompanied by an adult.”
For more information, call the museum at (870) 793-2121.

When 7-year-old Eli Reasons asked his mom if they could visit the Gulf Coast and help clean it up after the oil spill, Amy Reasons told her son they could not afford it.
“He asked if all the waterways were connected. I told him that ‘yes, in one way or another, all waterways are connected,’” Reasons said.
To raise awareness about the importance of keeping all waterways clean right here at home, Reasons said she and Eli will present the first annual Reasons Music Festival on Sept. 10 at Riverside Park in Batesville.

Beginning Steps, a free program provided by the Batesville School District to support parents of newborn babies, will have its regular monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Friday.
It will be held in the conference room of the education/risk management office of the White River Medical Center’s Collier Annex Building.
All parents and their newborns up to age 6 weeks are welcome. Attendees will receive a free baby gift. For information and directions call (870) 793-0627.