Kennedy out on medical leave

Rick Kennedy, managing editor of the Helena World and Monroe County Argus, is on medical leave after suffering a heart attack week before last. Kennedy is currently hospitalized in Memphis.

A 39-year industry veteran, Kennedy has worked at daily and weekly newspapers across Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, and has won numerous reporting and photography awards, including Louisiana Press Association’s first-place award for Best News Story in 1997 while at the Bastrop Enterprise and a GateHouse Media “Best Work” award in July 2018 for a feature story about the Miss Arkansas pageant.

Kennedy’s weekly column is suspended while he recovers, along with the sports podcast he produces with veteran Razorback reporter Otis Kirk.

World and Argus publisher and co-owner Andrew Bagley has requested prayers for Kennedy. “Rick is my friend and colleague. I urge everyone to keep him in your prayers so he can resume his award-winning coverage of city government and his awardwinning graphic design work that has helped make ours among the best weekly newspapers in Arkansas.”

Co-owner Chuck Davis said, “We are rooting for him to get home and get back to what he does best soon.”