RUSSELLVILLE — Effective immediately, Ozark-St. Francis National Forest officials have announced a temporary shutdown of access to the Whitaker Point — also known as Hawksbill Crag — and Glory Hole trails located in Newton County, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.The temporary shutdown also includes the trailhead parking areas.Big Piney Distrct Ranger Tim Jones says the top priority of the USDA Forest Service is the health and safety of visitors, nearby communities and employees. He adds that he is thankful for this cooperative effort between the Newton County Judge, the Newton County Sheriff and the Buffalo National River to reduce the spread of COVID-19.The Whitaker Point and Glory Hole trails are high-traffic areas experiencing public use inconsistent with social distancing guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.htmlFor a list of closures, more information and updates, visit the websites of the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests at www.fs.usda.gov/osfnf/ or the Ouachita National Forest at www.fs.usda.gov/ouachita. Updates can also be found at the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest at www.facebook.com/ozarkstfrancis/ and Ouachita National Forest Facebook site at www.facebook.com/ouachitanf.
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