75¢
Another week of Grand Prairie football. (See p. 6.)
Volume 120 Number 46 - USPS 225-680
Community Calendar of Events Thursday November 18 Hazen City Council Meeting City Hall 6:00 p.m. Food Distribution Hazen First United Methodist Church Drive-Through 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. GFWC Elsie McCain Club Meeting Rita Farris Home 11:30 a.m. Friday November 19 Hazen Hornets vs Bigelow 7:00 p.m. Bigelow Field 2nd Round of 2-A State Playoffs Des Arc Eagles vs Gurdon Eagle Field 7:00 p.m. 2nd Round of 2-A State Playoffs Thursday November 25 Thanksgiving Day Friday November 26 Deadline for entry forms for the Carlisle Christmas Parade Every Monday 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Covid vaccine booster offered at Hazen Community Center in Hazen Last Monday of every month at the Carlisle Public Library from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Genealogy Questions & Answers Community events brought to you by Hazen Chamber of Commerce
and the Please call F&M Bank (255-3042) or The Grand Prairie Herald (255-4538) to list events.
Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Quorum Court declares county “pro-life” The Prairie County Quorum Court voted to become a “Pro-Life County” at its November 21, 2021, meeting held at the County Court Annex in Des Arc. Present at the meeting were Justices Levi Childress, Bobby Willeford, Jordan Smith Lawrence Holloway, Lynn Hatcher, Rick Stallings, Judy Hinson, Paul Hooks, and Gary King. The pro-life resolution is in accordance with Act 392 of the Arkansas Legislature, which allows counties to declare themselves to be “pro-life”, and Amendment 68 of the Arkansas Constitution that declares the policy of the state to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth. Several county residents were there to support the passage. There was some discussion among the justices over Resolution 2021-5, even though the resolution only expresses an opinion, according to County Attorney Abram Skarda, and is non-binding with no attached to no rules or regulations. “I’m 110% in favor of this,” Justice Childress
Judge Mike Skarda signs the “pro-life” resolution. said. Smith said that the vote was a “statement of faith,” but Holloway felt that the vote was “political.” “I just want to be careful about what we do,” Judge Mike Skarda said. “I want to do what’s best for the citizens of Prairie County.” The court passed the resolution with Justice Holloway voting “present.” The court also passed two ordinances. Ordinance 2021-6 verifies the tax levies for the personal and real property taxes in Prairie County that were passed in the last election for
2021 taxes that will be collected in 2022. The school millages will be as follows: Hazen 33.83 mills, Des Arc 35.8 mills, Carlisle 42.0 mills, Clarendon 39.4 mills, and Beebe 36.6 mills. Skarda explained that some county residents live in school districts that are outside of the county. The cities of Biscoe, DeValls Bluff, Ulm, Hazen, and Des Arc will collect 5 mills each, with the county general collecting 5 mills, the county road department collecting 3 mills, and the county library collecting 2 mills.
Ordinance 2021-7, which provides for the exchange of equipment for the use of the Prairie County road department was passed unanimously. This ordinance allows the county road department to exchange a working 1997 Ford pickup from the City of Biscoe for an unworking 1996 Chevrolet Silverado pickup. Biscoe needed a working truck to replace one that needs a transmission, and the court agreed to the trade. Judge Skarda reported that there is some scrap pipe still left, but that the county collected $1980.26 for the scrap that it has sold. All of the scrap pipe from Hazen has been sold. The county also received $1635 for four old trucks and still has two big trucks for which there were no bids. There were also no bids on the land near the baseball field that the county wants to sell. The land has been appraised at $35,000. The judge asked county residents to design a Prairie County flag, and Pam Chandler turned in the chosen design. The judge wants to buy the flags to put up at the
entrances to the cities within the county. Justice Hooks asked about changing the speed limit on the portion of Highway 79 that passes through Ulm. The state highway department allows motorists to travel 55 miles per hour through the town. The judge said that he had asked for the speed to be reduced before with no response. County Sheriff Rick Hickman said that his department had used radar down there, but there was nothing else he can do. County Court Clerk Gaylon Hale reported that the work on the courtroom in the Des Arc Courthouse is finished except for the new furniture which has not arrived yet. Work will now begin on the DeValls Bluff Courthouse, and after that, the Des Arc court offices will be refurbished. The county offices are working on the budget for 2022. Justice Stallings asked to be put on the budget committee, and Judge Skarda agreed. The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
DeValls Bluff Council hears project updates
By Lisa Mills At the November 11th DeValls Bluff City Council meeting, Mayor Brian Dodson presented updates on several ongoing projects. Dodson reported that he has received a list of 14 items that have to be completed to begin the upgrade for water and sewer. Dodson also said that work is being done on the inside of the Robinson building, and he has spoken to Martin Smith who reported that the masonry crew and carpenters are scheduled to begin more work. Concerning the “Fun Park” grant, Dodson said a presentation had been made to the state which was the last step in the grant application. Mayor Dodson reported that he had contacted Entergy about installing night watch lights around City Hall. The council passed an
ordinance to establish a City Police Department and hire a Police Chief. This is a required step in the process to be certified to have a city police department. The next step will be to submit paperwork to the state. Mayor Dodson made it clear that this does not mean the city is going to replace the county Sheriff’s Department patrols. This is just another step in the city being certified to have its own Police Department in the future if desired. Sheriff Rick Hickman reported 120 patrols and 9 calls. Calls included 1 theft of property and counterfit money, 1 domestic disturbance, 1 house fire, 1 civil standby, 1 car tow, 1 welfare check and 2 general information. The Fire Department reported 1 house fire, 1 controlled burn, six public assists and two meetings.
Des Arc Alumni to hold 2021 banquet By Rita Dobson
The Des Arc Alumni Association has announced the date for the 2021 Alumni banquet. The banquet will be Saturday, November 27, 2021 at the Des Arc elementary cafeteria. Registration will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the meal to follow. Several classes are planning class reunions for that weekend, and we look forward to visiting with each one. The meal will be $15.00 and alumni dues are $10.00. You do not have
to be a member to attend or enjoy the meal. The 2020 banquet was cancelled due to Covid, and we are excited to continue the tradition in 2021. The Alumni Association was started in 1956, and it’s believed that the only year that the banquet was postponed was in 2020. Alumni President Zach Payne extends an invitation to all former students, current students, and friends of Des Arc High School to join us on November 27.
Man killed in accident near Hickory Plains... One man was killed and another injured when a car rear-ended a tractor on Highway 13 south of Hickory Plains about noon on Friday, November 12. Chuck Wrigley, a local farmer, was driving south on a Née Holland tractor, when a white Honda hit him and seemed to climb up the back of the tractor. Wrigley was taken by ambulance to Springhill with a cut on his head and injuries to his shoulder and arm. The driver of the car had to be extricated by the jaws of life and was pronounced dead at the scene. No police report is available at this time.
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