OSCEOLA, Ark. — The Osceola police chief has resigned less than two weeks after taking office following controversy surrounding an incident involving a man in a wheelchair.

According to NEA Report, Robert “Bobby” Ephlin resigned from his position as chief of the Osceola Police Department effective Wednesday morning, according to reports from regional media outlets.

Ephlin had been sworn in on March 26 after the mayor dismissed the previous police chief. However, public reaction intensified after an April 6 video circulated on social media showing Ephlin slapping a paraplegic man and placing him in what witnesses described as a choke-hold.

In his resignation letter, Ephlin stated he believed stepping down was the best decision for his family.

Advertisement

“I hereby resign my position as Chief of the Osceola Police Department effective immediately,” Ephlin wrote. “It was an honor to be chosen by you to serve in your administration. However, I feel that at this point, the best thing for me and my family is for me to step away. I am available to assist you in any way that I can to assure a smooth transition. I wish you and your administration continued success with all of the great things going on here in Osceola.”

The man involved in the incident, identified as Danarius Williams, told reporters he was struck and restrained during the encounter.

“He smacked me, he smacked the hell out of me, and then choked me,” Williams said in statements reported by regional outlets.

As of Wednesday, the Arkansas State Police had not commented publicly on whether the agency is investigating the incident.

Advertisement

LITTLE ROCK – A longtime legislator from Russellville has launched a bid to become President of the Arkansas State Senate. Republican Senator Breanne Davis, who has served the area since 2017, announced this week that she would seek the office in an election that will be held by senators at the end of this week’s fiscal session.

“You know, those races are, they’re always close and very nuanced. And it’s something I hope I have the opportunity to do,” Davis told SouthArkansasNow.Com on Thursday. “There’s a lot of work to do. We not only have to be independent as senators and the districts that we represent, but we also have to work really well with the House chamber and we have to work really well with the executive branch. And so just having somebody in that position of Senate president that is able tolbet us be the Senate and push back when we need to and fight for the things that are important, but also know when to work together and try to make things the best that we can for people across the state.”

Davis has been an influential member of the Senate, especially under the leadership of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. In recent sessions, she was the lead sponsor of Sanders’ LEARNS Act, which overhauled the state’s K-12 system by expanding school choice through education funding accounts, increasing teacher pay, and setting new academic and policy standards for schools statewide.

She will be opposed in the race by Senator Ronald Caldwell of Forrest City, who represents several counties in the Arkansas Delta.

Advertisement

“It’d be a huge honor and it’s a unique position, ” Davis noted. “And I hope that I have the opportunity to do it.

ROGERS — Rogers-based America’s Car-Mart Inc., which operates multiple locations across South Arkansas, announced plans to close 42 dealerships over the next week as the company works to address financial and market challenges.

The company disclosed the closures in a Tuesday (April 7) filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but did not identify which specific stores would be affected. America’s Car-Mart maintains a strong presence throughout South Arkansas, including locations in several area communities, making the announcement one that could have local implications depending on which dealerships are selected for closure.

By April 14, the company expects to operate 94 dealerships across 12 states, down from 136 locations. Car-Mart CEO Doug Campbell outlined the decision in a letter to shareholders, employees and customers, citing delays in securing a “non-recourse revolving warehouse credit facility” that would restore the company’s loan origination capacity.

Campbell said the company recently replaced what he described as an inefficient lending facility with a $300 million term loan, the company’s ninth securities transaction. He added that a new loan operating system is already producing improved credit outcomes, but establishing the warehouse credit facility has taken longer than anticipated.

Advertisement

“This is not a singular Car-Mart decision — it requires alignment among multiple counterparties,” Campbell said.

Since releasing third-quarter earnings on March 12, company leaders have determined that resolving the issue may require additional time due to broader market conditions and factors largely outside the company’s control.

“Management continues to work feverishly to put a warehouse facility in place, but considering the extended timeline and environment, we face a binary constraint on capital deployment that limits our ability to serve customer demand,” Campbell said.

For the third quarter ending Jan. 31, the buy-here-pay-here used car retailer reported a loss of $76.71 million, or $9.25 per share, compared to earnings of $3.15 million, or 37 cents per share, during the same period last year. Revenue declined 12% to $286.79 million, down from $325.72 million a year earlier.

Advertisement

The company had already begun implementing a cost-control strategy earlier this year, closing 18 dealerships as part of the first two phases of its restructuring efforts. Those closures reduced the company’s store count from 154 to 136 locations, with anticipated savings expected to begin during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026, which started Feb. 1.

“To be clear, this is a near-term liquidity challenge,” Campbell said. “Our approximately $1.5 billion finance receivables portfolio represents an asset base that management believes substantially exceeds our total recourse obligations, and we are taking these actions to protect that value for stakeholders.”

Campbell said the 42 locations selected for closure represent approximately 31% of the company’s total store count but serve about 18% of its customers.

“We did not make this decision lightly and are taking these steps because they are the right thing to do for the long-term health of this business,” he said.

Advertisement

The company expects to record a non-cash charge of approximately $14 million tied to assets at the closing locations. Additional cash charges related to employee layoffs and lease exit costs are also anticipated, though the total amount has not yet been determined.

Officials said affected customer accounts will be transferred to nearby dealership locations or to the company’s central support team. Customers will still be able to make payments through the company’s digital payment platform, which currently handles about 65% of transactions remotely.

Campbell added that company leadership will continue reviewing its dealership network and could make further adjustments if necessary.

“The buy-here-pay-here model is durable, and the credit quality improvements we have built over the past two years are real,” Campbell said. “The actions we are taking today are designed to protect what we have built and position Car-Mart for the future.”

Advertisement

Shares of America’s Car-Mart (NASDAQ: CRMT) closed Tuesday at $12.46, up 15 cents, or 1.22%. Over the past 52 weeks, the company’s stock has traded between $11.04 and $62.72.

ROGERS — Steve Womack announced the passing of his wife, Terri Lynn Williams Womack, who died Sunday at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville following a brief illness. She was 68.

In a statement released Sunday, Congressman Womack reflected on their life together and expressed gratitude for the support his family has received.

“Sunday afternoon, Heaven welcomed an angel. My wife of 41 years, Terri Womack, went to live in eternity with Jesus,” Womack said. “My heart is broken and that space remains without her presence. I take comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering in pain and is at peace evermore. Her legacy of love will live in the hearts of all who knew her. Our family appreciates the outpouring of prayers and support. You have all honored her in such a special way, and we are eternally grateful.”

Terri Womack was born November 2, 1957, in DeWitt, Arkansas, to H.D. and Deanie Williams. She graduated from DeWitt High School in 1976 and later attended the University of Arkansas. She married Steve Womack on August 4, 1984, and the couple recently marked more than 41 years of marriage.

Advertisement

She dedicated more than 35 years to public service, working in various court systems across Northwest Arkansas. Her career included serving as Chief Clerk to Rogers Municipal Judge Tom Keith. When Keith was elected Circuit Judge, she became his case coordinator. She later worked for Benton County Prosecutor David Clinger before returning to the Circuit Court, serving under both Judge Keith and Judge Robin Green. She retired from public service in 2019.

Outside of her professional life, Terri Womack was known for her love of landscaping and cooking, often testing new recipes on her family. She was also devoted to her pets, including her miniature schnauzers, Auggie and Cooper.

Family was central to her life. As the mother of three sons, she embraced the active, hands-on lifestyle that came with raising boys and later cherished time with her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Lynda. She is survived by her husband; her children, William Owens of Rogers, Bradley Womack of Rogers, and Phillip Womack of Rogers; and four grandchildren: Liam Owens of Rogers, Kaden Womack of Pea Ridge, Luka Owens of Rogers, and Mazzie Clementine of Rogers. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Advertisement

Funeral services will be Tuesday January 27th.

ROGERS – America’s Car-Mart has announced the closure and consolidation of several Arkansas dealership locations as part of a broader cost-control and footprint optimization strategy aimed at improving long-term performance.

The company confirmed that five Arkansas locations were consolidated during Phase 2 of its SG&A Cost Control Strategy, which was completed in January 2026. These closures bring the total number of consolidated stores nationwide to 18 across two phases.

The Arkansas locations affected include:

• Hope, Arkansas – customers will now be served by the Texarkana, Texas dealership

• Malvern, Arkansas – customers redirected to Benton, Arkansas

• Russellville South, Arkansas – customers now served by the Russellville, Arkansas location

• Springdale East, Arkansas – customers redirected to Fayetteville, Arkansas

• Van Buren, Arkansas – customers now served by Fort Smith, Arkansas

Company officials said customers previously served by the consolidated locations will continue to have uninterrupted access to vehicle sales, service, and collections through nearby dealerships.

Advertisement

Doug Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer of America’s Car-Mart, said the realignment reflects a focus on operational efficiency and disciplined capital allocation while maintaining customer service standards.

“These decisions are never easy, and we approach them with deep respect for our associates, our customers, and the communities we serve,” Campbell said in a statement. “By realigning our footprint, we can operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the high level of service our customers expect.”

The Arkansas closures are part of a larger regional consolidation that also affected locations in Alabama, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas. Car-Mart said it will continue evaluating its store network as it modernizes operations and concentrates resources in higher-performing markets.

The company emphasized that it remains committed to serving Arkansas customers and maintaining a strong presence in the state through its remaining dealership locations.

Advertisement