FREE WEEKLY
JULY 31, 2019
THE POLK COUNTY 1168 Hwy 71 S • Mena, AR 71953 • 479-243-9600
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Andy Riner Announces Candidacy for Circuit Judge From Press Release- Prosecuting Attorney Andy Riner, of Hatfield, has announced his candidacy for Circuit Judge for the 18th West Judicial District. The 18th West Judicial District encompasses Montgomery and Polk Counties. The election will be held on March 3, 2020, and is a nonpartisan judicial election. The position is currently held by Judge Jerry Ryan, who will be retiring when his term ends in 2020. Riner graduated from the William H. Bowen School of Law in May of 2000 and was admitted to the bar in September 2000. In addition to extensive criminal trial practice, Riner has experience in diverse areas of the law, such as juvenile, do-
mestic relations, probate, and other areas of civil practice. He has previously served as an attorney for the Office of Child Support Enforcement, a deputy public defender, a deputy prosecuting attorney, a chief deputy prosecuting attorney, and in private practice. Since 2011, he has served the citizens of Montgomery and Polk Counties as their elected Prosecuting Attorney. As prosecuting attorney, he managed the largest law firm in this judicial district with offices in both Montgomery and Polk Counties. He supervises a staff of three deputy prosecuting attorneys, three law enforcement officers, a victim witness coordinator, hot
-See Candidacy, continued pg. 3
Prosecuting Attorney Andy Riner
Ashley Smith Resigns from Chamber and Mena A&P
Ashley Smith, Executive Director of the Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce has submitted her resignation.
Country Express 1146 Hwy 71 S, Mena
Smith, who spent two years as director will leave her post effective August 7th. In a press release Chamber President Gregg Goss said, “It has been a pleasure to work with Ashley over the past year. She has done an amazing job as Executive Director of The Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce. I know the board members will miss her greatly. I wish Ashley all the best in her future endeavors.” In an interview with Smith, The Pulse asked, during her time as Executive Director, what are some of the achievements of the Chamber is she most proud of, Smith stated, “That would be the progress we made in membership and the contract with the Mena Advertising & Promotion Commission”. Smith noted there are hurdles that the Chamber has overcome, mostly “instituting positive change” by “initiating new ways of doing things that people were not accustomed to”. She is also very proud of the extremely positive feedback she has
(MENA) The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the 18th Judicial West Drug Task Force executed a narcotics search at a residence on Polk County Road 9, just East of Wickes. Polk County Sheriff Scott Sawyer reported that as a of that search, Drug Seizure Inresult Wickes authorities seized drugs, firearms and drug paraphanalia in the County raid. (MENA) The Polk SherScott A. Moran, 47, of WickesWest was iff’s Office and the 18th Judicial promptly arrested and transported to Drug Task Force executed a narcotics the Polk County Detention Center in search at a residence on Polk County Mena. Road 9, just East of Wickes. Moran was charged withSawyer three Polk County Sheriff Scott counts of Delivery of Methamphetamines, Simultaneous Possession of
-See Smith Resigns, continued pg. 3
-See Drug, continued pg. 3
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Pork Chop 3 RIBS Choice 1 Pork Sand. Mashed potatoes, gravy, Choice of 2 Sides of 1 Side $
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(MENA) It was a busy evening for the Mena School Board of Directors at Tuesday evenings monthly meeting. A lot of revisions were made to the various school rules handbooks, most notably at the high school. New principal David Maxwell stated that he has trimmed the handbook to be more effective and efficient on various situations. The board meetings are now being recorded as a matter of record, this comes after the passage of Act 1028 that was passed by the Arkansas General Assembly this past session. An update was given on the various construction projects around the district by District Maintenance Supervisor Danny Minton, Minton said that the lengthy list of projects that was provided by the administration is almost
received from last years Queen Wilhelmina Rod Run saying that “the 2018 Rod Run was so well attended and the feedback was so amazing on it, and I was extremely proud of that because the Rod Run is not an event the Chamber started and to take it over and see what we accomplished has made me very proud.” Smith, who was born in Missouri, moved to Mena when she was 13. She attended college at the University of Arkansas and moved back to Mena in 2007. In 2010 she and her husband bought longtime family business Smiths Foods in Cove, which served the people of southern Polk County and the Watson and Smithville, Oklahoma area since the late 1960’s. They operated Smiths Foods until it’s unfortunate closing in 2018. As for her plans in the near future Smith is, for now, tight lipped. She will announce
Wednesda
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Monday
Mena Board Updated on District Projects
-See Projects, continued pg. 3
Drug Seizure in Wickes
Thursday
1 BrisketChopped Sand
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