Why is Russellville the Hottest Place in the State?
By: Josh Berry
Updated: June 29, 2012
As we approach the nations birthday, it's a Debby Downer and Negative Nancy. Mother Nature is keeping people from their favorite July Fourth pastime, fireworks.
Consistently one of the hottest places around is the Pope County town of Russellville. In fact, it's one of, if not the hottest place in the state.
There are a few scientific reasons as to why it's hot but people in the thick of it have their own theories.
"There's just an overwhelming draft that vortexes around us," said recent college graduate Rebecca Barnett.
She dumbed it down to explain her theory in a less scientific way.
"I think it's the River Valley and it just kinda gets stuck and all the rain misses us," Barnett said. "It hits one mountain and dissolves and by the time it goes to the next mountain, the eastern part of the state and the delta gets the rain and we just miss it all."
That's not the only explanation heating up around town.
"The nuclear plant?" asked Trina Yerby who works in Russellville. She threw out the possibility.
Yes the nuclear plant pops up in nearly every conversation.
Local radio personality for River Valley Radio, Johnny Story has a lot of callers ask, or tell him what causes the heat.
"Why's it so hot in Russellville? I've heard everything from the fact that well Arkansas Nuclear One and Two are here," he explains.
Most people do debunk that theory.
When asked if she thinks the heat is due to the nuclear plant, Yerby responded with, "Not at all, I think it's a low spot."
And a recent college graduate felt the same way.
"I don't think it has anything to do with the heat at all," said Barnett.
Exactly what causes the heat can still be left up to your interpretation. AlI that's for sure is, that it's just hot.


