Mena begins new year with a new view...

On the morning of Wednesday, January 2nd at the Polk County Courthouse upwards of 100 people gathered for the ceremony to come. Many of those in attendance were there to be sworn in by Judge Danny Thrailkill. Soon after Judge Thrailkill took his seat in front of the packed courtroom and before ceremonies began, he made a short statement regarding the people who took the oath to serve and his pride in them for doing so. After signatures were made to official documents the newly sworn in officials made themselves available to those there to watch this small slice in the annals of Polk County history being made. The ceremony was well attended by family members and friends of officials as well as the public. Congratulations, along with hugs and handshakes were exchanged by many in the room.

Mayor Smith had appointed Tommy Stueart as the new Mena Police Chief and the two were officially sworn in at 12:00am on January 1st.

A veteran of the United State Air Force and a retired Arkansas State Trooper. Chief Stueart has most recently served as Polk County’s Office of Emergency Management Director.

Kris Lyle will be the interim Office of Emergency Management.

Mena Mayor Seth Smith signs his first proclamation proclaiming January as Cervical Health Awareness Month. He is pictured with Visiting Nurses Hospice Core Team: Mayor Seth Smith, Dr. David Henderson, Chaplin Mark Liles, Wendy Parker RN, Megan Neer LPN, Heather Manley Skilled Secretary and La Donna Mohr Aide Coordinator.