The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and U.S. Army Crops of Engineers along with other state agencies traveled to High Falls on the Spring River near Hardy March 5, ahead of the upcoming tourist season to tackle a deadly sinkhole which claimed the life of a Paragould woman in June of 2020.
Although the Spring River, like any other, has spots which can be dangerous, the sinkhole has posed a great danger to river goers since its discovery following the drowning .
Despite signage placed warning river goers of the hole, some have still taken chances according to Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose.
“Every year we put signs up and warn people not to go near the sinkhole, unfortunately sometimes there are some daredevils and there have been some near misses,” Rose said. “Residents that live across the river and here nearby have watched some really close calls. People that come down and have nearly been sucked into the hole again, I am excited this is happening. There is a lot of work that goes into this with different government agencies to get this approved and completed. I’m very glad that it is happening.”
Sharp County Judge Mark Johnson, stood surveying the work being performed and said he was appreciative of the agencies involved.
“I am proud the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is making Spring River more safe,” Sharp County Judge Mark Johnson said. “They’re in the process of filling the sinkhole which has already taken at least one life.”
Johnson said, the AGFC, Commissioner of State Lands, Corps of Engineers in conjunction with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders Office worked together in the repair efforts.
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