Vol. 2, No. 15
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Virus rate stable in Clark By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor The number of COVID-19 cases in Arkansas continued to grow slowly over the past week, but Clark County actually saw no net movement in its number of cases, remaining at 27 persons who have tested positive. For a few days, that number dipped to 26, but the number jumped back Wednesday to what it had been a week earlier, according to real-time reporting by the state Department of Health. That’s still about 120 cases per 100,000 population, reflecting one of the higher infection rates in Arkansas. But while that per-capita rate ranked third in the state two weeks ago, Clark now has four other counties outpacing it in terms of the
incidence of infection, including Lincoln with 445 positives per capita, Cleburne with 277, Van Buren with 156 and Jefferson with 152. On Monday, most of the statewide growth in confirmed cases of COVID-19 — standing at 1,599 persons infected and 34 deaths as of Thursday morning — was attributed to a new spate of confirmed cases in one particular prisons barracks at the state Department of Corrections’ Cummins Unit. State officials confirmed that 44 of 47 inmates in one barracks had tested positive and were placed under quarantine. That came just two days after the first case of the virus was reported at the prioson. The infected inmates at Cummins Unit were among 130 new cases of the virus reported Monday afternoon in
“We will overcome this challenge like all the rest, and we will continue to illustrate to the rest of the state just what the Reddie Spirit is all about.”
Arkansas. State prisons are still accepting inmates from county jails, but they're being quarantined for two weeks before being placed in general population. Several weeks earlier, sheriffs and state prison officials were advised to take the same precautions that had been ordered for the state’s nursing homes — eliminating visitation, wearing personal protective equipment and checking the temperature of anyone entering the facility and asking them questions aimed at determining if they could have been exposed to the virus. Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson said those guidelines have helped him keep COVID-19 out of
- Chuck Welch, ASU System chief
HSU shifts search to temporary chancellor By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor The chair of Henderson State University’s chancellor search advisory committee announced Tuesday that it will abandon its search for a permanent leader and focus, for now, on hiring someone to lead HSU for the next two crucial years. “Everyone on the com-
See Virus • Page 4
mittee realizes this is not a perfect arrangement, but the committee believes this approach has fewer negatives than the other options,” said Chuck Welch, a former HSU president who’s now chancellor of the Arkansas State University System, which Henderson expects to finish See HSU • Page 4
Easter winds wallop county
This bird’s-eye view of Henderson State University’s president’s home offers striking proof of strong winds that claimed two
Photo/Mike Meeks
This home on the 700 block of South 24th Street of Arkadelphia was one of the few instances where one of the trees uprooted throughout Clark County fell literally into a house, dropping leaves into the home and allowing rain. No one was hurt. Cleanup required a crane, above.
More storm photos, Pages 4-5
What a difference a day makes
Third Street Baptist, like other Arkadelphia churches celebrating Easter (see Page 3), got creative on a
HSU drone photo/Steve Fellers
landmark oaks at the Henderson and 11th street home. HSU’s nearby nursing building also suffered roof damage.
This mammoth oak, left, that fell on Ouachita Baptist University’s campus missed the campus’ signature Tiger statue, above, but another smaller tree did hit the fence surrounding the Tiger and apparently knocked lose a tiger tooth, inset, found during cleanup. Sculpture dental repair is planned.
rainy Sunday, left, with its pastor and musicians broadcasting to dozens of nearby cars of worshipers.
By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor As many as 300 trees were uprooted or toppled in Clark County by the Easter Evening Storm of 2020, about 4,000 families lost power and several homes were damaged, but no injuries were reported locally. Sheriff Jason Watson said the winds were powerful, but there was no National Weather Service notice that a tornado had been involved. “There hasn’t been any indication it was anything but straight line winds,” he said. “It kind of reminded me of the tornado. This was just a mess.” Watson and others were surprised there hadn’t been much advance notice of the strength of the severe thunderstorm that struck about 7:07 p.m. Sunday and inflicted most of its damage in less than an hour. Watson knew the specific time because he had just posted a warning about the storm on Facebook. City and county road crews were already out clearing major county thoroughfares by 8 p.m. As of early Thursday, Entergy had restored electrical service to all but 759 households in Clark County. The largest concentration of outages remained in the southern half of the county, with 453 homes lacking power in the 71743 zip code, which encompasses Gurdon and Whelen Springs. The next highest concentration was in Arkadelphia’s 71923 zip code area, with 247 homes lacking services. Only 31 homes remained without power in Okolona’s 71962 See Storm • Page 4
But Monday morning, right, saw the tent decimated after a storm uprooted the tree that it had been tied to.
2 News
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
OBU alum to chair its worship arts program By OBU News Bureau
Larry Grayson, a Ouachita Baptist University alumnus who’s been music and worship consultant for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention in Little Rock for the past decade, has joined OBU as chair of the Department of Worship Arts and instructor of music. “We are delighted that Larry Grayson will be joining Ouachita to provide leadership for our worship arts program,” said Stan Poole, vice president for academic affairs. “Our students will benefit from his depth of ministry experience, strong teaching record and extensive network of relationships with churches and worship pastors. He will be a tremendous asset as he models for our students the qualities most needed by churches and other ministry partners.” As chair of the Department of Worship Arts, Grayson will serve on Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts committees as well as recruit prospective students for the Worship Arts Program and advise those who choose the major. Grayson also will teach the department’s worship arts courses and oversee worship arts internships and senior worship projects. He will bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership in the field of worship arts,”said Gary Gerber, dean of the School of Fine Arts and director of choral activities.. While serving the Arkansas Baptist State Convention for 10 years, Larry has formed a positive relationship with the worship pastors in the state of Arkansas and the state music consultants in the Southern Baptist Convention. Grayson had also taught some for OBU as an adjunct professor in recent years. Since 2010, Grayson has served as music and worship consultant for the ABSC, coordinating PraiseWorks and JoyWorks worship arts camps for youth and children, directing the MasterSingers statewide worship choir (including leading two mission trips with the choir to Ukraine) and building camaraderie among worship pastors through RoundTable events, among other responsibilities. “It has truly been an honor serving Arkansas Baptists in this role, and it has been a ministry opportunity beyond what I ever dreamed,” Grayson said. “While
Arkadelphia Bands had planned to host its first-ever Mattress Sale Fundraiser from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at AHS, 401 High School Road, but that’s now postponed to Aug. 1. The fundraising sale will feature brands such as Simmons, Beautyrest and more, with on-site mattresses priced up to 50% below retail. >>> <<< Perritt Primary School, 1900 Walnut St., will host the Arkadelphia Public School District’s Kindergarten Spring Roundup from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 at the school gym. Students entering kindergarten in Arkadelphia schools next fall should attend with parents or guardians. Applications for kindergarten will be available before then in the Perritt office. Parents will be assigned slots for attendance at the roundup and should bring a copy of the child’s official birth certificate, Social Security card, immunization record and a record of a well-child visit since May 1, 2019. For more information, call 870-403-3583. >>> <<< Organizers of the Fordyce on the Cottonbelt Festival, scheduled from April 19-25 about an hour east of Arkadelphia, have decided to Grayson postpone this year’s event, including the Friday, April 24 concert by serving at the ABSC, the constant conver- Grammy Award-winner and Blues Hall of Fame honoree Bobby Rush. sation has been the shortage of trained For more information, check for festival updates at worship leaders to serve our churches. https://fordyceonthecottonbeltfestival.com. Now, I have an incredible opportunity to >>> <<< pour my life into the students at Ouachita through instruction, shared experiences Members of the Dobyville Cemetery Association, overseeing a and meaningful conversations to meet cemetery in the Okolona area, normally meet the last Sunday in April, that need. “My heart’s desire is that every student which will be April 26 this year, but the COVID-19 pandemic has cause the association to cancel its 2020 meeting. Memorials and-or donations who leaves Ouachita with a worship arts degree will be fully equipped to walk into may be mailed to Frances McGill, Treasurer, Dobyville Cemetery Assoany church – any style, any size – and lead ciation, 14300 Chenal Parkway 7001, Little Rock, Ark. 72211. in authentic, biblical worship,” he said. “I >>> <<< am truly honored by this opportunity.” Mena plans to stage its 45th annual Queen Wilhelmina Rod Run Grayson, a Camden native, has served on Aug. 28-29 as 200 street rods and hot rods descend on the town. churches in Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina and Texas, including leading The two-day event features a street dance and three chance for enworship choir, orchestra, contemporary trants to put their cars through their paces. For more information, visit worship and student choirs and engaging in mission trips across the U.S. His longest https://www.queenwilhelminarodrun.com/. >>> Ongoing <<< tenure was serving as worship pastor for First Baptist Church of Lewisville, Texas, Alcoholics Anonymous holds two meetings a week in Arkadelfor 13 years. phia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in AA’s program of Grayson graduated from Ouachita in recovery. The Arkadelphia Group meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the St1975 with a Bachelor of Music Education urgis Building at North 9th and Caddo streets. For more information on degree and from Samford University in 1987 with a Master of Music Education the Arkadelphia Group meetings, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn Group degree. He also attended Southwestern meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays on the front, upper level of Park Hill Baptist Baptist Theological Seminary. Church, 3163 Hollywood Road. For information on that group’s meetFor more information, contact Gerber ings, call 870-230-2975 or 870-260-9277. at (870) 245-5128 or gerberg@obu.edu.
Social Security tries to help recipients with younger children Special to the Dispatch
The federal government has set up a new website to help ensure that extra economic stimulus money goes to Social Security recipients, as well as those receiving Supplemental Security Income, who have children younger than age 17. “It is beneficial to go to this website to ensure that you receive the $ 500 economic stimulus payment per dependent,” Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul said. “I urge you to do this as soon as possible.” People who receive retirement benefits, such as survivors or Social Security disability insurance and did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 and have eligible children under the age of 17, should go to the Internal Revenue online at www.irs. gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economicimpact-payments to enter information instead of waiting for their $ 1,200 economic stimulus payments, Saul said. If Social Security beneficiaries in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, they will have to wait to receive the $ 500 per eligible child. This new guideline also applies to SSI
HSU to ease scholarship requirements Special to the Dispatch Henderson State University plans to match state Department of Higher Education policies to waive requirements for university and state-based scholarship programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Henderson students who had to drop below the required number of hours after March 20 will remain eligible for university and state-based scholarship programs. Students who weren’t enrolled in the required number of hours before March 20 can make up hours in the summer session to regain eligibility. HSU Foundation scholarships will be awarded based on application information submitted, HSU states on its coronavirus site for students, http:// hsu.edu/coronavirus. The waiver includes state-based scholarship funds such as the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.
recipients, especially those with eligible children under the age of 17. To receive the full amount of the economic stimulus payments to which you and your family are entitled, go to the IRS Non-Filers website: Enter Payment Info at www.irs. gov/coronavirus / economic-impact-payments, and enter the information about yourself and your children. Also, any new Social Security or SSI beneficiary who’s become eligible since Jan. 1, who did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019, will also need to visit the IRS Non-Filers website to enter their information. Finally, people who receive retirement benefits, such as survivors or Social Security disability who do not have eligible children under the age of 17, do not need to take any action with the IRS, Paul said. As long as they have received a form SSA1099 in 2019, they will receive the $1,200 economic stimulus payment from the IRS automatically. For SSI recipients who do not have eligible children under the age of 17, Saul said, Social Security will continue to work closely with the Treasury Department
to make these payments automatically. Economic stimulus payments will not be considered income for SSI recipients, and payments are excluded from resources for 12 months, he said. Eligibility requirements and more information on Economic Stimulus Payments can be found at www.irs.gov/en/ coronavirus/economic-impact-paymentinformation-center. Also, visit the IRS at www.irs.gov/coronavirus for the latest information. Updates will be added to the Social Security website on COVID-19 at www.ssa.
gov/espanol/coronavirus/ as more details become available. The IRS has begun rolling out economic stimulus, or impact, payments, and most people won’t have to do anything; the payment will be directly deposited into their bank account or sent to by check. Be aware, however, that if it’s sent by check, it might take a little longer. Most Americans will receive an economic impact payment that’s based on their income and the filing status on their 2019 tax return. If you haven’t filed your 2019 taxes, your 2018 return will be used.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
News 3
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Let’s check the instant replay No one was injured seriously in this two-car wreck at the intersection of Pine and 12th streets early Sunday afternoon, April 12. This 2016 Honda CRT, driven by Christy M. Byrd, 50, of Brandon, Miss., came to rest against this crosswalk signal pole after it collided with a 2015 Volkswagen Passat driven by Tobey Pentecost, 43, of Arkadelphia. A police reported stated that Pentecost and his wife, Shasta, were traveling west on Pine Street when the saw that the Honda SUV heading north on 12th Street, apparently not planning to stop. The Pentecosts’ VW struck the Honda, which spun around several times before landing against the signal pole. Both Pentecosts told police that the light at the intersection was green as their car approached the interesection. Byrd also contended she had the green light. Officers were able to consult the video surveillance system at the intersection adjacent to Central Primary School and determine that Byrd’s Honda ran a red light and that the light had just turned yellow as the Pentecosts entered the intersection. Both cars sustained extensive damage. No citations were issued, according to the police report. -- Bill Sutley
Time magazine publishes local grocery clerk’s essay Editor’s note: Time magazine put the spotlight this week on those who have become the “unsung heroes of the coronavirus pandemic,” including the essay of a 20-year-old Brookshire’s clerk from Arkadelphia, who’s now a Henderson State University student. This is her essay, as printed online by Time:
By Elizabeth Adair
I have been working at the same smalltown grocery store for four years. It was my first job; I was just a couple months shy of 17 years old when I was hired. In the past few weeks since the virus was declared a pandemic, so much has changed. The world feels like it’s ending sometimes. I used to only work about 15 hours a week — just enough to put gas in my tank and food in my mouth — but when the pandemic happened, they needed more help. Normally I would have said no. But
this isn’t normal. Now I am being scheduled for full-time work as a cashier, an office worker, and in the online ordering department. A lot of it is (watching other people be so fearful). We are telling people, “No, you can’t have two cartons of eggs. You can only have one,” while they hold one child on their hip and their other child holds their hand. We are telling people, “No, you can’t have two packages of toilet paper. You can only have one,” and they look back at us with soft, teary eyes and wrinkled faces and politely accept it and ask for the senior discount. My store manager told me, “I have worked in a store during 9/11 and during Hurricane Katrina, and I have never seen anything like this.” I don’t know if he was exaggerating, but that statement runs through my head every time I park my car to go into my shift. He handed me a sheet of cardstock yesterday
during my shift that said, “Essential Worker: Grocery Store,” just in case we get put on a stay at home order. I’ve never been so afraid of having to show someone a piece of paper. I think the scariest thing about all of this is the fact that there is no end in sight. It would be so much easier if I could reassure my panicking cashiers with, “It’s going to be okay, only one more month and everything will be back to normal.” But I don’t know that, and even then I don’t think things will ever be back to normal. I think there will be long-standing repercussions for these cashiers because most of them are just kids who got a job because their parents told them they needed one. They didn’t sign up for any of this, and my heart breaks for them. No high school student should be such an important pillar of their community, labeled an “essential” and put on the front lines of a pandemic. That isn’t fair.
Adair
Baring Cross Missionary Baptist Church
Creative Easter 2020
Second Baptist Church
Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church
Arkadelphia churches did their best to recreate joyous Easter celebrations Sunday, hampered by coronavirus rules limiting gatherings of more than 10 people. Second Baptist’s Louie Heard, far left, broadcast from a mostly empty sanctuary, but members at home had the option, bottom left corner, to pick up Lord’s Supper elements in advance from a drive-thru outside the church; BCMBC members, above, came in dozens of cars in a pouring rain and tuned into FM 88.1 to hear their pastor; the Rev. Lewis Sheppard, left, and his wife, Joyce, joined other church members in displaying signs created by GPHMBC youth to express their sentiments online; and FUMC Choir Director Bill Higgins offered a pre-recorded solo appropriate for the Holy Day.
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4 News
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Storm Continued from page 1
zip code, and apparently all Amity-area homes in the 71921 zip code served by Entergy had had their power restored. Entergy crews were predicting informally that all power in the local area would be restored by week’s end. South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative reported Wednesday that its crews were making progress getting power restored, noting that SCAEC was waiting on Entergy to bring back online its substations affecting Clark County east of the Ouachita River, Vadeen, Whelen Springs, Gum Springs, South Fork, Okolona, Delight, Murfreesboro and Antoine. Beyond the Arkadelphia area, significant property damage was also reported in several other counties, with Entergy counting 128,145 customers lacking power in its initial estimates on Monday. Entergy’s president and CEO, Laura Landreaux, compared the widespread power outages in south Arkansas to back-to-back ice storms in December 2000. Although no tornadoes were sighted in Arkansas, the state storm front on Easter Sunday produced tornadoes in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia, with the death toll at 34 in six states as of Tuesday. Arkadelphia city officials said downed trees damaged homes and blocked several roads. On Monday there were trees down across Arkansas 7, Feaster Trail, Main Street and Twin Rivers Drive, which leads to Arkadelphia’s Baptist Medical Center. Most of the damage in Arkadelphia occurred in residential areas, where trees fell on homes
HSU Continued from page 1
joining by Jan. 1, 2021. The chancellor will replace Acting President Elaine Kneebone, who served as university counsel, until last July, when President Glen Jones stepped down after seven years as president. Welch said in a letter to campus posted online that the current coronavirus health emergency has made the search committee’s work more challenging than ever. “From our inability to conduct face-to-face interviews, to prospective candidates being unable to apply because of the
and caused roof damage. A city official, communications director Keith Beason, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that one of the city's tornado sirens had fallen on the SuddenLink building at Pine and 26th streets. "It's somewhat operational, but we probably can't use it for a little while," he said. "We still have the one near our fire station downtown." The storm uprooted two large oak trees in front of the HSU president's home, but the home escaped significant damage. Henderson’s nearby nursing building had enough shingles blown off that a roofing crew was making significant repairs on Wednesday. Gurdon was one of the hardest hit areas in the county, with two structures being flattened by trees and winds that police Sgt. Toby Garner estimated at 70 mph. One of the flattened structures was a vacant building, but another was a mobile home on Maple Street. At the last moment, the home’s occupant, Christy Stewart, decided that she needed to get out. “Luckily, the people got out just a couple of moments prior to the tree flattening that,” he said. ”If they had stayed in that trailer, they probably would have been dead.” Stewart was looking for a new home to rent on Wednesday. In Arkadelphia, Mike Meeks reported that his home and that of a neighbor on South 24th Street were both hit by a single falling oak tree, with one fork of the tree in his house and another fork in a neighbor’s home.Four other trees were down in his neighborhood. “It was chaotic there for about 24 hours,” Meeks said. We stayed there and just hunkered down in the back of house. I’m just glad no one was hurt. Stuff can be replaced.”
significant impact on their current campuses, we are faced with a challenging decision as to how we proceed,” Welch said. As a result, the search committee held a remote meeting last week to discuss four options: • Proceed with the current search and conduct all interviews virtually. • Delay the search until fall 2020. • Delay the search until spring 2021. • Select a chancellor for a maximum two-year period to ensure HSU can navigate massive change over the coming months. Welch said he committee overwhelmingly agreed on the final option. “Hiring a long-term leader without appropriate campus interaction and engagement is not
Virus Continued from page 1
the local Detention Facility. “What we’ve done from the beginning is we’ve shut off visitation,” Watson said. “And anyone who enters on the detention side gets their temperature checked and the same questions asked. Anything we can handle over the phone, we try to.” The severe cutback in activity by local courts, eliminating any kind of activity — such as a jury trial — that would cause the need for 10 or more people to gather in a courtroom, has helped in terms of reducing in-out traffic at the jail, Watson said. The lack of court activity, as well as the state prisons’ acceptance of taking prisoners already destined to move there, has helped reduce the population at the local jail to about 30, which allows for more social distancing in the “pods” where inmates live in the local lockup.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Dispatch photos/Bill Sutley
Tree debris even greeted visitors at the entrance to downtown Arkadelphia at Clinton and 10th streets on Monday. The remains of a fallen tree were gone by the next day.
Dozens of volunteers turned out to help rake up debris at Ouachita, including Sydney Motl, an OBU-bound Arkadephia High senior, her mom, Lori Motl, left, and dad Casey Motl, right.
desirable,” he said. “Hiring during the fall semester is poor timing for prospective candidates. Simply announcing a one-year delay in the face of significant budget cuts and challenging financial times, as well as critical decisions facing the university, could be difficult. This leaves us with the prospect of naming a short-term leader for a definitive time period to continue to stabilize the university and set us on a positive path forward.” Henderson got hit with a leadership-damaging double-whammy last July: A projected surplus turned into a $4.9 million deficit, and then Jones resigned unexpectedly. Since then, Henderson was forced to borrow $6 million from the state, provided it’s repaid by next June 30 — a deadline that Henderson is seeking to extend. Henderson’s finances face increasing scrutiny since the Joint Legislative Audit Committee refused to approve the school’s last two audits, seeking further answers about what happened beyond millions in unpaid student debt piling up. Welch said the search advisory committee will meet again soon to discuss
its next steps in implementing option four. “We do not have a definitive timetable, but we understand the need to make decisions as quickly as possible,” he said. :I will regularly communicate with you as we progress, and I always welcome your input.” Welch said he understood the decision might be disappointing news to many on campus, as well as alumni. “We will overcome this challenge like all the rest, and we will continue to illustrate to the rest of the state just what the Reddie Spirit is all about,” he said. Henderson’s move from a president to chancellor signals a significant loss of local governance as the school moves from an independent entity, governed by its own Board of Trustees, to one of six ASU System schools. Henderson’s first-ever chancellor will act more as a chief executive officer for the local campus, reporting directly to the ASU System president. As part of HSU joining the ASU system, Welch proposed expanding the system’s board from five trustees to seven, with
the initial two appointments made by Gov. Asa Hutchinson having“specific familiarity with Henderson State.” The local Board of Trustees for Henderson would be disbanded at the end of 2020, and a Henderson Board of Visitors would be appointed by the governor, pursuant to legislative approval. The Board of Visitors would serve in an advisory role and serve as a liaison to the ASU president and board. In its ads for a chancellor, the committee has stated its preference for a “visionary, inclusive, decisive, creative, courageous and progressive leader to further strengthen and develop the institution.” Specific requirements include an earned doctorate or recognized terminal degree, a minimum of five years of executive-level leadership experience with progressively increasing responsibilities and a demonstrated record of success. Welch will make the ultimate decision on Henderson’s next chancellor,
consulting with a 14-member committee, which includes faculty, staff, students, representatives of both the Faculty Senate and Staff Senate, and alumnicommunity representatives. They are, along with their affiliations: • Fred Worth, Faculty Senate • Leah Sexton, Staff Senate • Lane Neely, Student Government Association • Laura Storm, Ellis College of Arts and Sciences faculty • Nathan Campbell, School of Business faculty • TaLisha Givan, Teachers College faculty • Christopher Golston, staff • Jennifer Holbrook, staff • Carolyn Hatley, staff • Kamryn Harris, student representative • Rita Fleming, Executive Council representative • Marc Miller, School of Business dean • Chris Wewers, alumnicommunity representative • Alvin Futrell, alumnicommunity representative
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Thursday, April 16, 2020
News 5 A pair of Feaster Trail walkers, from left, Su;zanne Sorrrells and Rachel White, found they had to take a detour onto Twin Rivers Drive on Monday afternoon at the sharp curve just across from Courtyard Gardens Health and Rehabilitation Center because of the damage from the storm Sunday night. By late Tuesday, city crews had disposed of all the limbs and debris from one of the hardest hit tree strikes in Arkadephia, making the popular recreation trail open for walkers, bikers and skaters once more.
This sign for Stonegate Center, a restaurant-office shopping area at the corner of Caddo and 26th streets, took a beating in Sunday’s storm. This home in the Manchester community east of Arkadelphia, left, barely escaped damage from this falling oak tree. Below, this Entergy crew from Little Rock was one of dozens working throughout Clark County working to restore power and sometimes having to work around downed trees just to do so.
This oak tree ended up leaning “lightly” on this house at 325 Cherry St. on Monday after Sunday evening’s storm, also disturbing freshly laid sod in the yard there.