Monday Traffic Alert: âStay homeâ if you can
Tracking road conditions in Region 8 By Region 8 Newsdesk | February 15, 2021 at 6:27 AM CST - Updated February 16 at 6:06 AM
JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Officials urged people to âstay homeâ Monday as heavy snow created dangerous travel conditions throughout Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri.
Jonesboro and Craighead County E911 Director Jeff Presley began at 6 a.m. reporting multiple vehicles sliding off into ditches.
Region 8 News viewers also reported treacherous traveling conditions in other parts of the area, including Greene County where road crews were busy trying to scrape the roads clean:
Multiple vehicle accident hwy 49 N of Paragould. Highways deteriorating quickly. @ryanvaughanâ Tim McMasters (@mcmasters tim) February 15, 2021
Icy roads, crashes slow truckers
I-55 issues and reaction from drivers By Monae Stevens | February 11, 2021 at 9:32 PM CST - Updated February 12 at 9:57 AM
BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. (KAIT) - This weekâs winter weather caused headaches for commuters and truckers alike.
Interstate 55 from Turrell to Steele, Mo. saw multiple crashes within a 24-hour period, slowing traffic to a crawl.
While traveling the interstate might have been a bust for 18-wheelers, it was a boon for Loveâs Truck Stop in Blytheville as many drivers pulled in off the road.
âWe typically have 94 parking spots on our parking lot for professional drivers and itâs been pretty full,â said Brad Holifield, general manager for Loveâs.
23rd Annual Have-A-Heart Wish-A-Thon raises $164,931.82
23rd Annual Have-A-Heart Wish-A-Thon raises $164,931.82 By Region 8 Newsdesk | February 11, 2021 at 3:40 PM CST - Updated February 19 at 7:01 PM
JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - The 23rd annual Have-A-Heart Wish-A-Thon helped to raise $164,931.82 for children in Region 8.
People had the opportunity to help make wishes come true during the 23rd Annual Have-A-Heart Wish-A-Thon for Make A Wish Friday.
Your donations will help grant the wishes of children battling critical illnesses right here in Northeast Arkansas.
A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic, more willing, and able to battle their critical illnesses.
Wish kids are some of the bravest and sweetest kids you’ll ever know, and their creativity is the driving force behind some incredible wish experiences.
Yates also says that side roads and county roads are covered.
One more update from Lawrence County Judge John Thomison:
-US-63/main roads in the county are in fair shape.
-Side roads/County roads are covered. Sheriff Jeff Yates says he s seen worse conditions, but still would recommend staying home.â Logan Whaley (@LoganWhaleyKAIT) February 12, 2021
Meteorologist Aaron Castleberry, who was live in the StormTracker, reported just before 5 a.m. that roads were âhorrendousâ between Jonesboro and Trumann.
Adam Jones, who was located on Harrisburg Road just off Interstate 555, described a âsheet of sleetâ covering the roadway, making for a slippery commute.