75¢
Getting in the football spririt. See pictures on p. 6.
Volume 120 Number 42 - USPS 225-680
Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Community Calendar of Events Tuesday October 19 HHS Alumni meeting 6:00 p.m. Thursday October 21 Hazen City Council Meeting 6:00 p.m. City Hall Lunch with the Lions Drive Thru 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Riverfront Park, Des Arc. Friday October 22 Hazen Hornets Homecoming Coronation 2:00 p.m. Parade follows Homecoming Pre-game Festivities 6:00 p.m. Hornet Field Hornets vs England Hornet Field 7:00 p.m. Hazen Class of 1971 50th Class Reunion Nick’s BBQ in Carlisle 5:00 p.m. Des Arc Eagles vs Marked Tree. Eagle Field 7:00 p.m. Carlisle Bisons vs Clarendon Lions Lion Field 7:00 p.m. Thursday October 28 Food Distribution at First United Methodist Church in Hazen 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
The Hazen HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) had their October Group Meeting at the Hazen Community Building on Tuesday, October 12th at 3:30 pm. Linda Strohl and Jennie Gates, the HIPPY coordinators, welcomed the families to the group meeting as they came in. The Hazen Fire Department and Troy Young provided fire safety information for the children and allowed them to explore the fire truck. John Pressgrove and staff from the Arkansas State Forestry Commission Division provided fire information, goody bags and a visit from Smokey the Bear for the children to enjoy. The children who attended the group meeting were: Audrie Sanner, Brynlee Young, Lucy Lisko, MaKay'Lynn Franks, Kate Vernon, Sloane Stallings, Brody and Huntley Prislovsky, Oakley and Joy Gladish, Sophia Duke, Ellie Raper, Emery and Remington Orman, Harper Davies, Emma and Hudson Kerr, Phoebe Rowe, Phoenix Marcum, Penelope Prine and Michael Nickels. HIPPY would like to thank the City of Hazen for letting us use the Hazen Community Center for our meeting, as well as the Hazen Fire Department and Arkansas State Forest Commission for their help making it a fun time for our kids. “We are so thankful for our HIPPY families and their children participating in the HIPPY program this year,” Gates said. (Jennie Gates photo.)
Court adds new hires, raises salaries The Prairie County Quorum Court voted to hire a deputy county attorney and a Victims of Crime Advocate (VOCA) at its October 12 meeting. Two of the justices, Judy Hinson and Rick Stallings were absent from the meeting. Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca McCoy addressed the court stating the need to hire a deputy attorney in Deputy Prosecutor Abram Skarda’s Prairie County office and to hire a VOCA representative after presenting her case to the county’s budget committee in a separate meeting. The state has agreed to fund a part-time attorney for the Des Arc office with the exception of the county providing an office and all of the necessary equipment and supplies. The VOCA position will be paid through a secured grant with the court contributing approximately $10,500 a year toward the salary. The VOCA will work with victims along with other duties. The county’s portion of the money will be paid with American Relief Program funds. The person who fills this posi-
tion will act as a kind of social worker who will work with victims and sit with them in court. He or she will act as a liaison between the victims and the attorney’s office and will be paid $14.25 an hour. “In Prairie County, we have a lot of child victims,”County Attorney Abram Skarda said. “The people in Prairie County deserve to have someone who will do this.” The VOCA employee will work Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and not be on call 24/7. The VOCA grant is long-running, according to McCoy. The court voted unanimously to allow the hiring of the two new county personnel. Justice Hatcher asked about travel reimbursement for the VOCA hire, and McCoy said that she would make sure that it would be taken care of. The intent is to hire someone local for the position. Sheriff Rick Hickman requested that the salaries for the county deputies and jail employees be increased from the present $12 per hour. He said that he is having trouble keeping employees because near-
by locations pay $14 or more an hour. In order to keep the jail’s federal contract which brings in about $500,000 a year, the increased cost of $125,000 to $150,000 a year is worth it according to Hickman. About 30 people will get the raise. The budget committee agreed with the sheriff, and agreed to his request. “We can’t do without the federal contract,” Budget Committee Chairman Lawrence Holloway said. The court voted unanimously to increase the salaries to $19 for deputy and $15 for jail workers. County Agent Amy
Tallent introduced the new people in her office and presented gift bags to the justices in lieu of the usual annual meals. The Des Arc Baseball Association has asked the county to allow the destruction of an old school building at the baseball field in order to make room for more parking. Judge Mike Skarda told the court that the building has no asbestos in it and is made of concrete blocks. The county doesn’t have time to take down the building at this time, but with the court’s permission, they would take it down. The concrete foundation will be
left for the Baseball Association to use. The court approved the destruction. Skarda also asked for permission to put a memorial to veterans in the courthouse park, which was approved. Skarda said that the county road department had hauled less gravel this year, but its expenses had gone up $45,000. “Some pipes we need we can’t get,” he said. The cost of gravel has been going up this year. At the end of the meeting, Skarda announced that he will run for the county judge position again.
DVB Council accepts grant By Lisa Mills At the October 14th city council meeting, a resolution was passed to accept a USDA Rural Development Grant. The $43,000 grant will be used to purchase a John Deere Utility Tractor/Backhoe. The city’s portion of the cost will be $15,513. Mayor Dodson reported that the final portion of the Fun Park Grant application will be to provide a presentation to the state committee on October 29th. He also reported that the grant application process has begun for the Water and Sewer
Department updates. Mayor Dodson reported that roof repairs have been made at the bank building and the Castleberry Hotel Building. He also stated that he had spoken to Martin Stewart, the brick layer who is supposed to be working on the Robinson Building. Stewart said that his crew would be back to work on Monday. Mayor Dodson said he told him if they weren’t, the city would have to consider taking other steps. Sheriff Rick Hickman reported 1 attempted break in, 1 trespassing, 1 disturbance, 1 fender
bender, 1 runaway, 1 medical assistance, and 3 alarm calls. Utility Manager Eric Martin provided council members with a daily report of utility work for the month. Appointed Budget Committee members for 2022 are Alice Metcalf, Marie Flanagan, and Richard Henry. Attending the meeting were Mayor Brian D o d s o n , Treasurer/Recorder Darlene Connor and council members Raymond Watson, Alice Metcalf, Richard Henry, Lalisa Wright and Carol Griffin.
Community events brought to you by Hazen Chamber of Commerce
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and the Please call F&M Bank (255-3042) or The Grand Prairie Herald (255-4538) to list events.
Richardson crowned... Abby Richardson from Hazen was crowned Miss Lick Skillet at the Miss Lick Skillet pageant in Brinkley held on October 9th. (Lisa Mills picture.)
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