Lawrence County citizens report large boom

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) - The talk around Lawrence County Wednesday was about a large boom heard in the Walnut Ridge and Hoxie area.

These mysterious booms have been happening for some time across Northeast Arkansas.

Some say it’s earthquakes too small to feel, while others say it’s an explosive called Tannerite.

When a boom happens, local law enforcement receives calls wondering what happened.

Walnut Ridge Police Chief Jordan Cooksey said he is leaning toward the Tannerite theory but knows the booms can catch some people off guard.

“Some people are concerned. I think most everybody is just curious about what the large booms are,” he said. “Tannerite is legal and readily available in most sporting goods stores, and it gets used quite a bit.”

Cooksey said this isn’t the first time this has happened in the county, adding he’s taken multiple reports of similar booms in the past.

“What we have followed up on, we have not seen anything that’s happening in the city of Walnut Ridge,” he added. “It’s mainly happening in the rural county outside of the city limits.”

The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office said they had also received multiple calls about the booms but have not tracked down a specific cause.

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