News

Despite a few signs that the Omicron Wave of infections may have peaked in parts of the United States, Covid-19 hospitalization in Arkansas surged yesterday (Wednesday) to a new pandemic high of 1,819. An official at the Arkansas Department of Health noted that because the state in not tracking positive results from at-home tests, the number of infections reported daily by the agency is only “the tip of the iceberg,” and urged Arkansans to continue to take precautions.

Good afternoon, friends of the Mountaineer Echo, and family of NCA. I hope today finds everyone in good health and happy spirits. It is now February, WHAT?? Yes, it is already the second month of 2022. The time is going by so fast, I hope everyone is making memories that will last a lifetime. As for me and my family we are taking each day one day at a time and living it to the fullest.

One of the strangest looking ocean mammals is the manatee. To make it even more unusual, a manatee is not related to any other ocean mammal but is a distant cousin of the elephant. The manatee and elephant even have physical features that are similar. Both mammals are the same gray color with short wiry hair. Manatees have toenails like an elephant and even have a short trunk. Scientists believe that manatees evolved millions of years ago from land to marine animals leaving their much larger cousin the elephant behind. Like other marine animals a manatee, which is sometimes called a sea cow, has to surface to breathe.

It is a sad time for us hunters. The last of the duck season ended Monday. But there is still some of the Canada goose hunting season remaining as you can still hunt them until February 6 in Missouri, February 14 in Kansas. The season is over in Arkansas.

Are you or a loved one not feeling well? Feverish? Starting to cough? It’s hard to know what it is. Is it COVID-19? The seasonal flu? Or is it respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV? All three have similar symptoms, with fever being the most common.