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Carlisle FCCLA attends Leadership Conf. (See page 6.)
Volume 122 Number 50 - USPS 225-680
Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Community Calendar of Events Hazen Senior Center opens daily from 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Lunch is served from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Tuesday December 12 Caregiver Support Group Hazen Senior Center 10:00 a.m. Thursday December 14 DeValls Bluff City Council Meeting City Hall 6:00 p.m. HES & HHS Christmas Concert 6:00 p.m. Hornets Nest Sunday December 17 Hazen Methodist Church Christmas Program 6:00 p.m. Thursday December 21 Hazen City Council Meeting 6:00 p.m. City Hall Food Distribution Hazen Methodist Church 10:00 a.m.-Noon Monday December 25 Christmas Day
Luminaries, anyone?... The Hazen Chamber of Commerce spent last week preparing for the Christmas in the Park luminary event that was held on Monday, December 9, in downtown Hazen. The date was moved from Saturday until Monday to avoid bad weather. These Hazen students helped the chamber members fill the 2000 luminary bags that were placed all around the center of town. Pictures of the events will be put in next week’s Herald for all to enjoy.
Des Arc’s Berry Insurance sold to Lennox A long time Des Arc business changed hands, Friday, December 1. After more than 60 years of insurance business and service to the citizens of Des Arc and surrounding communities, the A L Berry Insurance Agency, with Sarah Berry Ward as owner, sold to Lennox Insurance, a company owned by Holden Smith of Paragould, Arkansas. Sarah worked for her dad, A L Berry, since the 1980s, and became the full owner in the early 1990s. This company has spent its entire span serving its customers and being a part of the community. A L was the Des Arc Christmas parade grand Marshall one year, served the City Of Des Arc as city treasurer for
New owner, Holden Smith, with Sarah Berry Ward. more than 25 years, supported local sports groups, and in 2011, the
agency won “Business of the Year” for Des Arc. There was always an
open door policy with A L and Sarah to find ways to help others. The
A L Berry Insurance Agency was the oldest insurance agency in Des Arc, and was an icon of the community. Holden also purchased the Smith-Taylor Insurance Agency, owned by Brock & Jennifer Zimmerman. The new agency, Lennox Insurance, will be housed in the current A L Berry Insurance Agency location at 222 Main St., in Des Arc. Sarah would like to thank all of her customers for their years of trusting her to take care of their insurance needs and also thanks Rita Dobson, who had been with her for more than 20 years as they worked to serve the people of Des Arc. (Courtesy of Susan Haskins.)
Prairie County QC receives legislative audit The audit results for Prairie County (December 31, 2022) were released on December 7, 2023, by the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee of the Arkansas Legislature. The report states that “The prior report was not reviewed by the Quorum Court and documented in the
minutes, as required by Ark. Code Ann. § 10-4418. The audit committee found that Restricted Road Fund monies were used to purchase a vehicle for the Office of E m e r g e n c y Management totaling $17,000, in noncompliance with Ark. Code. Ann. §§ 26-79-105, 27-
70-207. The report states that, “The Quorum Court is required to approve by ordinance an annual budget for all operating funds, and county officials are required to operate within and manage the budget, in accordance with Ark. Code Ann. §§ 14-20-103, 14-14-1102. Although
the annual budget was approved as required, due to a lack of management oversight, the General Fund beginning budget balance and anticipated revenues were inflated, which resulted in inflated budgeted expenditures and overspending.” The report continues, “As of December 31, 2022, the
General Fund cash balance was $61,648, but due to continued overspending, had declined to a deficit cash balance of approximately $9,889 as of October 2, 2023.” The next Prairie County Quorum Court meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 12, in the courthouse annex in Des Arc.
Community events are brought to you by the Hazen Chamber of Commerce and the
Penn receives Masters Degree... Please call F&M Bank (255-3042) or The Grand Prairie Herald (255-4538) to list events.
Congratulations to Logan Penn, the son of Stephanie Jones of DeValls Bluff and Avery Penn (deceased) on receiving his Masters Degree in Physical Education from the University of Monticello Arkansas on Friday December 8, 2023.
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