FREE WEEKLY
THE POLK COUNTY
January 22, 2020 Stay Connected!
1168 Hwy 71 S ● Mena, AR 71953 ● 479.243.9600
Your DAILY News Sources: KENA 104.1 FM & MyPulseNews.com
Seniors Speak Out During Public Hearing
By Chris Daniel
There was a Public Hearing Tuesday prior to the Mena City Council meeting to allow citizen input concerning two grants that will be applied for on behalf of the City and the Mena - Polk Senior Citizens Center by Western Arkansas Panning and Development District (WAPDD). Tracee McKenna with WAPDD conducted the hearing before a full house at City Hall. Numerous people commented about the many benefits of the Mena - Polk Senior Citizens Center. There were a number of needed updates and improvements mentioned that grant money could be used for that would allow the Center to continue operating without cutbacks, including repairs to the concrete floor that is buckling, updating the heating and air system, enclosing a carport to make room for a larger walk in freezer and pantry, and improving the insulation. The grant would be a matching grant from the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program (ACEDP). The second part of the hearing concerned a separate grant for outdoor recreation projects. Some of the possible uses for this grant included shade at the city pool, trees, updating playground equipment at Janssen Park, additional ball fields at Tapley Park to accommodate 13 and 14 year olds that have no field to use at this time, and a walking trail. This grant would be from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Outdoor Recreation Matching Grant Program. Both grants are in the development stages and will be applied for later this year. Mayor Seth Smith is working with WAPDD and will also be requesting support for the grants from Mena's State Senator and State Representative. Immediately following the hearing the City Council met for their regular monthly session. All aldermen were present,
along with the Mayor, City Clerk/Treasurer, City Attorney and Department Heads. The Council took care of routine business and heard reports from Department Heads. A Resolution was passed in support of the continuation of the one half percent sales tax for highways and bridges, county roads, and other surface transportation. An ordinance was passed approving the application of Little Italy for a private club to be located at their location on Hwy 71 North in Mena. Little Italy will now have to apply to the Department of Finance and Administration Alcoholic Beverage Control Division. The Council approved the purchase of two new police interceptor sedans bought on the state bid. The February City Council meeting was changed to February 18, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. so as to not conflict with an Arkansas Highway Commission Public Hearing in Mena scheduled for February 11, 2020.
Arkansas Highway Commission Approves Bid for Improvements in Polk County
The Arkansas State Highway Commission has approved a bid for improvements to roadways in Polk County, according to Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) officials. The purpose of this project is to resurface selected sections of 3.7 miles of U.S. Highway 71 and State Highway 88 in Mena. Crow Group, Inc. of Morrilton was awarded the contract at $1,881,608.15. Construction is scheduled to begin in two to four weeks, weather permitting. Completion is expected in mid 2020.
County’s Top Spellers Compete (Story on page 10) 1st grade – 1st place: Rajesh Dandikar, 2nd place: Lilly Arender, 3rd place: Brody Ward 2nd grade – 1st place: Amelia Espinola, 2nd place: Adelyn Barton, 3rd place: Channing Wimberly 3rd grade – 1st place: Drew Mabry, 2nd place: Amelia Espinola, 3rd place: Lindsey Munoz 4th grade – 1st place: Ayden Dong, 2nd place: Shooter Davis, 3rd place: Jaylie Brantley 5th grade – 1st place: Ryan Jiang, 2nd place: Adileni Herrera, 3rd place: Ayden Dong 6th grade – 1st place: Ryan Jiang, 2nd place: Brandon Dong, 3rd place: Lacy McEntire 7th grade – 1st place: Bradley Harwood, 2nd place: Yennette Tecson, 3rd place: Elijah Smith 8th grade – 1st place: Shantal Tecson, 2nd place: Kenzie Daniels, 3rd place: Jocelyn Biard