Baker Hughes

50¢

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

The

Daily Citizen www.thedailycitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

BADGERS LOOKING FOR FIRST WIN

The Beebe football team begins conference play Friday night against Paragould. — PAGE 1B

OFFICIALS: CIA RUNS ELITE AFGHAN FORCE

Current and former U.S. officials say the CIA has an Afghan force to hunt al-Qaida and the Taliban. — PAGE 2A

Company pauses services Official: 130 personnel offered transfer chances

By Warren Watkins warren@thedailycitizen.com A local company connected to natural gas development in the Fayetteville Shale Play has announced a change in operations.

Fred Toney, President of Baker Hughes Pressure Pumping Services, formerly BJ Services, said the com-

OPERATION CHANGE

Company: Baker Hughes Pressure Pumping Services Former name: BJ Services Announcement: Fracing services moved from Searcy

pany had “paused” fracing services out of its Searcy facility, located on South Main Street. Fracing is the process of fracturing gas wells after drilling to stimulate gas production.

“We are temporarily not doing frac

services out of Searcy,” Toney said.

“We’ve taken some of those frac units up to other areas and we’re keeping all the people. Everybody still has a job. We’re moving some of the Baker Services lines in there.”

Baker Hughes has worked for Chesapeake Energy, Petrohawk, Southwest Energy and other operators in the U.S., Toney said. Chesapeake has drilled most of the 629 producing wells in White County.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

Searcy Fire Department testing hydrants

KENSETT CITY COUNCIL

In brief: The city council apparently violated the state freedom of information law in their regular monthly meeting Tuesday by barring the public from part of its discussion of public business.

Next meeting: 7 p.m. Oct. 18 Location: 101 NE First Street

Kensett city council violates Sunshine Law

Public forbidden to hear discussion of public policies

By Erica Sirratt Special to The Daily Citizen KENSETT — The city council apparently violated the state freedom of information law in their regular monthly meeting Tuesday by barring the public from part of its discussion of public business.

At the close of the meeting, the council went into executive session and after the council was back in session Mayor Max McDonald said that the during the executive session the council had considered the pay scale for police officers and the procedures for hiring. The council then publicly voted and approved the measures discussed in executive session.

The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, often called the “Sunshine Law,” makes it illegal for elected officials to discuss public business behind closed doors except when considering specific employees or lists of employees. A 1977 decision by the Arkansas Supreme Court indicated some leeway in allowing closed-door dis-

cussion of policies if they came up during discussion of specific employees.

In other business, sealed bids for street repairs and the renovating of the municipal courtroom were read and discussed. One bid was received by Cox Paving to repair the streets for $83,204.

The roads that will be fixed are East Searcy Street and Norrid Street, the intersection of Cherry and Morris streets, Doniphan and East streets and both sides of the railroad tracks at Searcy and Dandridge streets.

According to the council, who approved the bid, this will take care of the worst streets.

One bid was received to renovate the courtroom for $68,204. The renovations would include refinishing the front of the room, putting sheet rock on the walls, new carpet, lowering the ceilings and a new metal roof.

The city has $33,400 in grant money to fix the courtroom, but it will not cover all of the costs. The council decided to table this bid until they could speak to Bill Mills, who owns the top story of the building. Without knowing if Mills will assist in the cost, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

$12.3M bid accepted for water plant remodel

Study of buffer zone on Little Red River to begin

Eric Meharg, left, inspects a fire hydrant with Casey Howell, right. The Searcy Fire Department is flow-testing hydrants in town through Sept. 30. Citizens should let their water run for a few minutes to ensure it is clear before cooking or washing clothes, officials said. These tests are conducted from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Luke Jones/ljones@thedailycitizen.com

Judsonia Elementary School seeks supportive dads

Watch D.O.G.S. program launch party approaching

By Luke Jones ljones@thedailycitizen.com A local school is searching for fathers of students to support their children’s institution by helping out on campus.

“It’s just a way of getting the dads out and involved,” said Audrey Chandler, a fifth-grade teacher at Southwest Middle School who is heading up the event.

The program, called Watch DOGS (Dads Of Great Students), will kick off Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. in the Riverview-

WATCH D.O.G.S.

When: Sept. 28, 6 p.m.

Where: Riverview-Judsonia Elementary School cafeteria Who: All fathers, stepfathers, grandparents or friends interested in supporting their school

Judsonia Elementary School cafeteria. All fathers are invited, as well as stepfathers, grandparents or friends of students. They will be able to sign up for various on-campus tasks.

WEATHER

Today: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy.

Lows in the upper 60s.

South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Vol. 156, No. 226 ©2010 The Daily Citizen

Riverview-Judsonia has hosted the program for two years previously.

“The first year we had several dads,” said principal Lance Perry. “Last year we had not nearly as many, but this year we would like to have one to two dads per week during the school year.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

By Warren Watkins warren@thedailycitizen.com A low bid has been accepted for a remodeling project for the Searcy water treatment plant, the facility that provides treated water from Greer’s Ferry Lake via the Little Red River to most of White County.

The Searcy Board of Public Utilities accepted a low bid of $12.3 million from Van Horn Construction of Russellville at their regular monthly meeting Tuesday.

Five bids for up to $13.6 million were submitted. Ron Pierce of Garver Engineers said Van Horn Construction has an “excellent” reputation in the industry and has satisfactorily completed work on past Garver projects. The bid must now receive the approval of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.

“It was a good low bid and we’re happy with the contractor who was low bidder,” Dawson said. “Now,

“

WATER PLANT REMODEL

Cost: $12.3 million Construction to begin: By end of year Construction to finish: Summer 2012

we just have to wade through more paperwork.”

Construction should begin before the end of the year and is slated to be finished by the summer of 2012, Dawson said.

In other business, accountant David Spradlin presented the annual financial audit, which was approved unanimously by the board.

Pierce discussed the buffer zone along the Little Red River, upstream and downstream of the city’s weir on the Little Red River. In the July meeting, a question had been asked as to whether the board should consider studying the buffer zone in case the Health Department required the board to purchase the property in future upgrades to the weir or intake structure. Pierce reported that CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.

JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE German poet, 1749-1832

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

”

The Daily Citizen

LOCAL

Kensett: Law violated

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A

the council wouldn’t vote on the bid.

After receiving a signed petition from the Housing Board and property owners on Mills Street, the council voted to close Mills Street between Birch and Dogwood streets.

This matter was brought up last month but was tabled until the council had heard from the Housing Board.

Police Chief Jim Dwyer asked the council to give part-time police officer Erek Balentine a full-time position as an officer. “He’s been an asset to the police department.� Dwyer said, “He’s made at least 25 drug arrests and between five and seven DWI arrests.�

Dwyer also asked the council to hire Jeremy Bennett, who has 650 hours of SWAT training and over 100 hours of hostage negotiation training. He’s also worked on the domestic violence unit and

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A

“We have contracts other than Chesapeake and those are going to be maintained,�

Toney said. “We’re working out of Searcy but we’re not basing all our equipment there. There are some other operators like Chesapeake coming or like Petrohawk coming in and we have relationships with those operators and will be working for those guys when they show up. Nothing’s closed, we’re just putting things on pause on the frac side.�

Toney said 130 Baker Hughes employees at the Searcy facility were staying in Searcy but that some may choose to relocate. “We have had offered jobs for them to transfer if they

would like to,� Toney said. “Everybody has a choice, and it’s up to the individuals.

Adam Hart, developer of a state-of-the-art flex facility near the entrance of the BakerHughes facility designed to attract gas-related subcontractors, said he had no first-hand knowledge of any decisions made by Baker Hughes. “The tenant we have in our facility is not leaving and they are happy where they are because they work for NOMAC and other oil field groups,� said Hart. “We’re looking at groups who are looking to expand their operations. The energy industry is cyclical and operations and services groups tend to come and go.�

School: Dads sought

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A

Volunteer sign-up sheets will be available for a variety of jobs. “If they can come out on a Tuesday from 12 to one, they can help out with playground duties,� Chandler said. “They can help out with recess duty, making copies for teachers or volunteering in PE. You’ve got to kind of tweak it where dads want to come.� “You have to see what their interests are,� she said. “There’s so much that moms are so involved with and dads get overlooked or just don’t want to come.�

At the party, students will be able to write essays on the subject, “My dad is important to me because...� The first place winner will receive a $25 Hastings gift card. “We’re hoping to get good overall participation,�

Chandler said. Ice cream will

Legislative agenda

worked with police officers in Afghanistan.

The council voted to promote Balentine to full-time status and hire Bennett.

Also authorized was the purchase of a 2001 Ford truck for $4,500 to serve as the new Animal Control truck.

The council also voted to purchase a dart gun for Animal Control.

Even though the council has previously approved large purchases such as this, McDonald said, “There’s not one piece of equipment that we don’t own the title to in the city of Kensett.�

McDonald said all of their city trucks, large equipment and the backhoe are completely paid off.

The next regular monthly meeting of the Kensett City Council will be 7 p.m. Oct. 18. The council meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at 101 NE First St.

Water: Bid accepted

also be served. “It gives the community a chance to be involved, some extra eyes and an extra set of ears for the campus,� Perry said.

Watch DOGS is a national program that began in Jonesboro in 1998. According to www.fathers.com, 1,659 schools in 38 states and New Zealand participate in the program.

Randy Zook, president and chief executive officer for the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, described the group’s legislative agenda Wednesday at an Economics Club luncheon sponsored by the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce. Also pictured at the event, held at Harding University, were, from left, former Searcy chamber president Jim House, current Searcy chamber president Don Harlan and state chamber vice president Kenny Hall. Warren Watkins/warren@thedailycitizen.com

Fracing: Company moves equipment out of county

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A

current Health Department Policy does not require the buffer zone be purchased so long as the utility’s intake structure remains at its current location; however, this policy could change. After some discussion, the board decided to go ahead with the study at the estimated cost of $5,000-$10,000 to identify the property and property owners along the buffer zone.

Utility manager Dan Dawson received approval from the board to allow Garver Engineers to study the capacity of the Honey Hill Pump Station. Dawson said the station takes water from the four million gallon tank on Fuller Lane and fills the Honey Hill tank on West The Baker Hughes facility on South Main in Searcy, is no longer headquarters for Country Club Road which fracing services, according to company officials. The company was formerly BJ serves the majority of the Services and continues to use the BJ Services logo and name. Warren Watkins/warwest end of Searcy. The sta- ren@thedailycitizen.com tion is at maximum capacity during the summer and has run 24 hours a day during much of this summer, Dawson said. Some surplus funds from the water plant expansion project could be used to upgrade the station, Dawson said.

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you never know where color will pop up You’re Invited Thursday, Sept. 23 10am – 5:30pm

Thursday, September 23, 2010 • Page 3A

Drawings Door Prizes Refreshments Gift with Purchase

Winter 2010 Colors & Styles LAUNCH PARTY

1627 E. Beebe Capps, Searcy • 501-268-2290 Mon-Fri 10-5:30; • Sat 10-4:00