There were anxious moments here Thursday as local residents helped lawmen scour the immediate vicinity of this rural hamlet searching for a missing four-year old boy.

But, after about an hour-long search at mid-afternoon, the youngster was returned home to his grandparents unharmed.
“He and his dogs were playing and he just got away from the house,” Hempstead County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy James Singleton said Friday.
Singleton said workers at the Fulton Truck Stop, about three-quarters mile from his grandparents’ residence just off U.S. Highway 67 West, discovered the boy near the business as they aided they search.

“They were out trying to help and he came up behind one of them, and they took him to the truck stop,” he said.
After the recent disappearance and eventual recovery of the body of a three-year old youngster in Chidester, Singleton said lawmen were worried.
“You get that sinking feeling in your stomach when you hear a child is missing,” he said. “But, when it comes out like this, it’s a relief.

“Everybody responded well,” Singleton said. “Citizens around the truck stop helped; volunteer fire departments were on their way, county and Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Highway Police, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission all responded. And, the city’s K-9 unit was called, just in case. Luckily, it all turned out real well.”