Polk County Pulse March 23, 2022

Pulse THE POLK COUNTY

FREE WEEKLY 1168 Hwy 71 S Mena, AR 71953 479.243.9600

March 23, 2022

Your DAILY News Sources: KENA 104.1 FM & MyPulseNews.com

National Agriculture Week

INSIDE:

Polk County Extension Office brings focus on agriculture

By Trey Youngdahl

MPD Seeking Chargers

Page 24

UARM Bucks Ranked Top 20

Page 16

Water & Sewer Upgrades

Page 2

Sullivan came to Polk County three The Polk County Exyears ago from Little tension Office (PCEO) River County in the operates in our area, ofAshdown area. She has fering our community been working in Exclasses and the opportension for around 24 tunity to participate in, years. She is currently and learn more about the county extension agriculture. agent staff chair and The PCEO is a part agriculture agent for of the University of this county. As part of Arkansas System Coher duties, she provides operative Extension educational programs Service’s statewide netfor people interested work and the Universiin learning more about ty of Arkansas System’s agriculture in our area.

Division of Agriculture Among the commuprovide research-based nity service and outinformation through reach programs Sullinon-formal education van is involved with is to help all Arkansans 4-H. 4‑H is delivered improve their eco“What we do is provide educaby Cooperative Extennomic well-being and the quality of tional programs for agriculture in sion, which is a community of more their lives. They offer services that Polk County,” said extension agent than 100 public universities across help with 4-H youth development, Sherry Beaty-Sullivan. “The cool the nation that provides experiencsoil testing, insecticide recommen- thing about the program is that it’s es where young people ages nine dations, weed ID, produce safety, directed towards Polk County, spe- through 18 learn by doing. animals and forages, money man- cifically an extension office Ag pro“I think people are most familiar agement, parenting, food safety and gram in a different area could look with our livestock programs, but we preservation, and nutrition. completely different.”

See PCEO continued on page 12

2 News

March 23, 2022

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

Improvements being made to Mena’s water and sewer system

By Trey Youngdahl

On March 15, a special city council meeting was conducted after a committee meeting.

The committee meeting started with an issue presented by the health and sanitation committee. The group then considered a resolution authorizing Southern Disposal to adjust its rates due to an increase in landfill rates.

If passed, this would authorize Southern Disposal to increase its rates by 3.3% or 39 cents for residential customers. This was brought forth after the landfill rates were raised from $29.50 a ton to $30.50 a ton, approximately 3.3%. After some delegation, city council member James Earl Turner made a motion to recommend the issue to the full council, which was seconded.

Also discussed during the committee meeting was a consideration of estimates and options from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) in reference to the streetscape project. This project was first conceived back in January when the City of Mena was awarded a 2021 ARDOT Transportation Alternatives Program grant to improve Mena Street. Mena was one of only 47 municipali-

ties awarded such a grant. The city plans to sewer revenue bond for the purpose of fiuse the $296,000 funding to make updates to nancing a portion of the cost of the planning the end of Mena Street. and design phase of the construction of betThe discussion that ensued was whether terments and improvements to the water faor not the improvements would continue to cilities, and providing for the payment of the Ward Creek, next to The Crossing church, or principal and interest on the bond. lead all the way up to the base of the Talimena The floor was passed to Ryan Bohlman, Scenic Byway. The committee agreed that it who opened up a public forum for citizens was best to extend the improvements to the present to share their opinions on the subbase of the byway as opposed to just to the ject. As per Arkansas law, it is mandatory for creek. a public hearing The comlike this to be mittee meeting held any time a adjourned and bond is issued by the special city any kind of state council meeting revenue stream started following like this one. rollcall.

After the hearMayor Seth ing was closed, Smith presented there was an item A on new ordinance conbusiness, which sidered confirmwas a considering the existing ation of an ordiwater and sewer nance authoriz- The bridge over ward creek next to The Cross- system rates. ing the issuance ing Church on Mena Street.

Ordinance No. (Trey Youngdahl/Pulse) 2350-22, of a water and was

adopted by the council, meaning they could continue with the water and sewer revenue bond.

They then moved on to the proposed bond issue in the amount of $530,000 to finance a portion of the planning and design cost in connection with the proposed water improvements.

“What is proposed is that we will be able to close financing on this at the end of April,” Bohlman said. “You would be able to start paying your engineer company, and then as soon as that can all be worked out, we will come back to the council with a long-term bond issue that will pay off this bond issue that you’re proposing and then finance up to $7,000,000 of this portion of the project.”

This would only be Phase One of the project to provide funding to the city to take care of the initial cost of the improvements. Council Member Turner moved to adopt Ordinance No. 2351-22, which was seconded and passed.

Next, the resolution authorizing Southern Disposal to adjust its rates from the previous committee meeting was considered and passed. The meeting was then adjourned.

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

March 23, 2022

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Your Pulse!

Letter to the Editor: To the Editor, Tonight, I attended the City Council meeting for March. At the end of the meeting, Mayor Smith gave his State of the City address and, in that address, he talked about how much had been done around the city, the amounts of grant money the city had received for various projects, and about more projects planned for Mena. It all sounds wonderful, but all the city projects seem to be focused on attracting tourists.

I’m concerned about what they are doing for those of us who live here.

I attend Mena’s First United Methodist Church and the alley behind the church is in horrific shape. This alley is the pathway from our church’s parking lot to the handicap-accessible entrance and is a hazard to those using walkers, canes, and wheelchairs. In 2018 I was using a walker and a cane and trying to get across the alleyway behind our church was incredibly difficult.

While I no longer need the assistance devices, we have others who come to our church that do. Over the past three years, my husband and I have asked Mayor Smith The government of Mexico has filed a lawsuit against several firearms companies (e.g. Smith and Wesson, Colt, Ruger, Barrett, Beretta, Glock, and Century Arms) in the US for firearms that are ending up in the hands of drug cartels. The suit alleges that the companies are intentionally selling dangerous arms to their drug cartels as their target consumer group.

Aside from ridiculous, it is patently untrue. In Mexico there is only one store in the whole country that can legally sell firearms and it is in Mexico City. That the cartels would buy their firearms legally is as idiotic as thinking they would have their buyers have a prescription for the drugs they peddle.

What should be of concern is that this suit was joined by attorneys general of 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia who filed an amicus brief opposing the defendant gun companies motion to dismiss the lawsuit. All of these attorneys general are Democrats. That was not a surprise, but it was telling. That they were so willing to join in a suit from a country rife with corruption at so many levels rather than stand with lawful US companies made their end game transparent. Shame on you. If you ever doubted some politicians have an agenda, think again.

In 2010 our government had a botched operation called Fast And Furious that came to light only after the loss of a brave

more than once about having it repaired.

Repairs were promised each time, but we are still waiting.

The city has money for all the projects at the various parks, the airport, and the college. While I agree that most projects are important to the vitality and economy of the city, I am genuinely concerned with the ability of those who come to our church to be able to enter it safely.

Because of the lack of responsiveness from the city, I am making a public request.

I would appreciate the mayor responding with why the alley has not yet been paved, and when we can expect it to happen. I understand Mayor Smith is a busy man and that his staff is busy as well, but this is a situation that needs to be rectified sooner rather than later. We are members of the Mena community and deserve to have our safety concerns addressed.

Thank you, Mary Meier Border Patrol Agent, Brian Terry. Sadly, his death was the direct result of being murdered by a firearm our own government allowed to get into the hands of criminal drug dealers. I can think of no better reason to secure our borders from the flow of illegal contraband going either direction. To the Mexican government, I say you should secure your own border rather than shifting the blame and filing suit in an effort to hide your own corruption and short comings.

I would think that the time and resources of these state’s attorneys general would be of better use if directed towards the drugs flowing across our border and killing so many of our fellow citizens. Direct their efforts to identify and prosecute straw purchasers or those stealing arms and quit blaming the gun and hold the end user accountable.

The states attorneys general that filed an amicus brief in support of Mexico’s lawsuit are California, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Oregon, Massachusetts, D.C., and Illinois.

Thank you again for allowing me a forum to express my thoughts.

Kindest regards, Ronald Goss, Mena, U.S. Navy Vietnam Veteran, Retired Virginia Beach Police Department

Letters 3

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Letters may be submitted by e-mail to news@mypulsenews.com; mailed to P.O. Box 1450, Mena, AR 71953 or dropped off at 1168 Hwy. 71 South, Mena, AR. A dropbox is provided by the front door for after-hour convenience.

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4 News

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

March 23, 2022

Teaching Children How to Protect Birds in Your Backyard

(StatePoint) Part of being a good environmental steward is passing on this wisdom to the next generation. Here are three hands-on ways parents and grandparents can teach children to protect the birds in their very own backyard.

windows that are highly reflective of open sky, has been proven to substantially reduce the likelihood of bird strikes. Those from WindowAlert feature patterns that give the appearance of slightly frosted translucent glass, but glow like a stoplight for birds. Kids can help select from fun decal designs like snowflakes, butterflies and maple leaves.

The brand also makes a high-tech UV liquid that offers even greater protection when applied between decals. To learn more, PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Halfpoint / iStock visit WindowAlert. com. via Getty Images Plus

Build a Bird Feeder Build bird feeders using natural or recycled materials to teach two earth-friendly lessons in one: the importance of reducing waste and the need to take care of local wildlife. Bird feeders can be crafted from milk cartons, tin cans, mason jars or even natural materials like pinecones. As you decorate your bird feeders, talk to your kids about how birds are not just beautiful, but also a vital part of the ecosystem and how you are offering these creatures a chance to rest and refuel. Fill your finished products with birdseed and choose a safe spot to hang them. Experts recommend bird feeders be positioned either closer than three feet or farther than 30 feet from windows.

Protect Flight Birds in flight are prone to strike windows.

Fortunately, there’s an easy home project you and your children can complete together that will help prevent this from happening.

Applying decals that reflect ultraviolet sunlight to your home’s windows, particularly

Keep a Log Now that you’ve invited birds to your yard and have taken steps to protect them, inspire young naturalists to keep a log of flying visitors. Kids can draw pictures of the birds they see and note their observations. Visit Audubon for Kids at audubon.org for a birding guide, activities, games and additional projects that can help kids learn to identify various bird species by sight and sound.

“Environmental stewardship starts in your own backyard and people of all ages can get involved, including kids,” says Spencer Schock, founder of WindowAlert. “The good news is that turning your home into a refuge for birds is fun, easy, and something parents, grandparents and kids can work on together.”

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

Politics 5

March 23, 2022

From the

State House of Representatives

Arkansas is a better place tokansas.org. day than yesterday because of our Unfortunately, Arkansas has teachers. faced a massive shortage of cerWe cannot thank them enough tified teachers for decades. This for their work and the difference doesn’t mean groups of students they make in our children’s lives. sit, unsupervised, in their classIf you’ve ever thought about rooms. But it can lead to schools making a difference in the classending certain advanced or speroom, now is the perfect time to John Maddox cialized courses. act.

And, most often, they hire The Arkansas Department of teachers who have not met the Education and Forward Arkansas are high- state’s requirements for certification. lighting various pathways and financial inAccording to a report by The New Teachcentives to become a teacher. er Project (TNTP), approximately 4 percent Teach Arkansas is an initiative to increase of Arkansas teachers are uncertified, more the number of qualified, certified, and di- than double the national average of 1.7 perverse teachers in Arkansas. As part of a re- cent. But the severity of the problem varies brand, a new website, TeachArkansas.org, widely from district to district. Statewide, 30 was developed. It provides current and fu- districts have a workforce that includes at ture teachers an easily-accessible hub for ca- least 10 percent uncertified teachers. reer resources.

It’s also worth noting that the diversity of At the site current teachers can find pro- the state’s teacher workforce does not reflect fessional development opportunities to in- the diversity of its students, particularly in crease their existing skills and income, high districts with the highest certified teacher school and college students can learn how to shortages. enter the teaching profession, and potential In the 2021 Regular Session, we passed career changers can learn about affordable Act 680 which raises the target average salpathways to the classroom. In many cases, ary for teachers to $51,822. teacher candidates can obtain a four-year The General Assembly is constantly lookdegree plus teaching license at no cost to ing at ways to improve teacher recruiting them! and retention. TeachArkansas.org will guide One-on-one coaching with profession- you through many of the incentives we’ve als trained in guiding current and future initiated over the years. Please share the teachers through paths to licensure or career website to help us recruit the very best for advancement also are available at TeachAr- our students.

Contact Your Legislators!

John Maddox

John.Maddox@ arkansashouse.org 520 Church Avenue Mena, AR 71953 Call: 479-394-6060

Larry Teague

Larry.Teague@senate.ar.gov P.O. Box 903 Nashville, AR 71852 870-845-5303

John Boozman

1120 Garrison Ave. Suite 2B Fort Smith, AR 72901 Phone: (479) 573-0189 Fax: (479) 575-0553

Bruce Westerman 101 Reserve St. Suite 200 Hot Springs, AR 71901 Phone: (501) 609-9796 Fax: (501) 609-9887

From the

State Senate subject.

The state Education Department has partnered with a Salary disparities are one non-profit organization called cause of teacher shortages in Forward Arkansas to address some areas of Arkansas. The a growing teacher shortage in average starting salary for Arkansas. teachers with a bachelor’s degree can vary by as much as They have launched a new $15,000 a year, depending on website – TeachArkansas.org – Larry Teague to recruit new teachers. It also where in Arkansas the teacher is hired. helps current teachers improve The state offers alternatives certifitheir skills by getting certified in new fields, which allows them to advance cation programs for people who want professionally and earn more in salary. a teaching certificate, but a college deThe website emphasizes pathways to gree is necessary. Some communities getting a certificate that will not burhave fewer adults with the academic den the teacher with debt. Also, it outcredentials required for alternative lines virtual courses for students who certification. Those areas tend to experience more severe teacher shortages. may not be able to attend in person.

The non-profit organization interThe campaign outlines how school staff can take advantage of debt-free viewed paraprofessionals and in some tuition to become teachers. This opdistricts, up to 40 percent said that they portunity benefits long-term substidid not have enough time or money to tutes, classroom aides and para-profescomplete the process of getting a cersionals. tificate.

Statewide surveys indicate that four The researchers also found that many percent of teachers are uncertified and potential teachers did not know about another three percent are not certified the opportunities available through in the subject they teach. the state Education Department. Many According to the research, a school assumed, incorrectly, that they would district with a shortage of certified not qualify for financial help. teachers doesn’t sit unsupervised stuThe partnership between Forward Arkansas and the Education Dedents in an empty room. However, those students may be in a classroom partment is working to recruit more that is filled to the brim because two teachers through four basic pathways. classes have been combined under the One is for high school students, and it guides them through higher educaone teacher who is certified.

It may mean that they have class tion programs that won’t amass a lot with a teacher who is not certified in of student debt. Another is for college the subject area. It may mean that cerstudents at two-year colleges and fourtain advanced and specialized courses year universities, and it also guides are not available. students along a debt-free path toward The lack of certified teachers is more certification. severe in some areas of southern and A third path is for professionals who eastern Arkansas, where districts rewant to change careers. They have acported that up to a third of teachers are ademic credentials but not a teaching not certified in the subject they are excertificate. The fourth is for school staff pected to teacher. who are not certified, and who want to teach and increase their pay at the African-American students are more likely to attend classes taught by same time. a teacher who is not certified in the

6 Obituaries Jacquelyn Anne Payette

Jacquelyn Anne Payette, age 68, of Mena, Arkansas, was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Christus Dubuis Hospital in Hot Springs. She was born on Thursday, December 24, 1953, to Joseph and Virginia Stracener in Crosbyton, Texas.

Her first calling was to be a loving mother and homemaker. In 1984, she earned a teaching degree, graduating with honors from Henderson State University. That same year, she began teaching 7th grade English at Mena Middle School. Known to her students as Mrs. Brewer, Jackie loved her job and took it very seriously; many of her former students still speak fondly of their time spent with her. She retired in 2003 and married Don Payette the same year. After retirement, Jackie owned True North Coffee Shop with Don and had a craft business on Etsy.

Being a wife, mother, and grandmother were Jackie’s most cherished activities. She shared her faith often with her family, and they all saw Jesus in her. She regularly spent time in prayer and in the Word. Jackie always prioritized spending time with her grandchildren. Shopping trips, and trips to Cruizzers, the toy store, Crater of Diamonds, Parrot Island, and Mount

THE POLK COUNTY

March 23, 2022 Magazine were the norm. She enjoyed sewing, working in her craft room with her grandkids, gardening, and birds, especially red cardinals. She and Don loved to talk and to travel, frequently taking weekend trips together. They had many wonderful years together as a loving couple.

“There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—A time to be born and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted…A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 4 AMP She is preceded in death by her parents; and a sister-in-law, Ginnie Mooneyham.

She is survived by her husband, Don Payette of Mena; sons, Jeremiah Brewer and wife Susan of Mena, Daniel Brewer and wife Jennifer of Mena; daughter, Jerusha Neufeld and husband Jeff of Mena; twin sisters, Pam Curry and husband Dwight of Mena, Pat Howard and husband Rodger of Mena; brother, Matt Mooneyham and wife Heather of Keller, Texas; ten grandchildren, Noah and Selah Brewer; Sophie, Grace, Ellie, and Caleb Brewer; Fisher, Justice, Holiday, and Levite Neufeld, all of Mena; and a host of other relatives and friends.

It is difficult to wrap up the life of a loved one such as Jackie with so few words, but there is comfort in knowing that we will see her again. “Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.

Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.’” John 11:25 NLT Pallbearers are Jeremiah Brewer, Daniel Brewer, Matt Mooneyham, Jeff Neufeld, Fisher Neufeld, and Justice Neufeld.

Honorary pallbearers are Levite Neufeld, Noah Brewer, and Caleb Brewer.

A service to celebrate Jackie’s life will be held Saturday, March 26 at 2:00 PM at Grace Bible Church in Mena with Dr. Lamar Austin officiating with Intern-

ment following at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Mena. Visitation will be held Friday, March 25 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena.

Jared Ryan Jefferson

Jared Ryan Jefferson, age 35, went to be with the Lord on March 18, 2022, in Hot Springs National Park Hospital with his family by his side.

Some knew him as “Chief.”

Jared graduated Mena High School in 2005 and attended Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was a member of the Tyson Team Family at Tyson Poultry. Jared loved his church family at Covenant of Life Family Church and The Crossing.

Jared was blessed with a large and loving family. He loved his three beautiful children very much. He cherished every moment he had with them. He was very proud of his Native Heritage and his Razorbacks. He grew up loving and playing sports. Jared enjoyed making people laugh. He will be remembered by the testimonies he shared about finding the Lord.

He is survived by his fiancée, Julian Craig, two sons, Brayden and Carter Jefferson; one daughter, Aubrey Jefferson; parents, Bob and Rita Mayo; brothers, Jeff and wife Linda Hicks, Jeremy and wife Rachel Hicks, Jeremiah and wife Angie Mayo; sisters, Christina Johnson and husband Seneca, Cindy Goodner and husband Jim, Gina Wright, Rhiannon Briley, and Alicia Mayo; special grandma, Christine Ludlow; special aunts and uncles; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Jared also welcomed others into his family as his own.

Jared was preceded in death by his father, Williston Jefferson; and a nephew,

Pulse

Gavin Hicks.

A wake service will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Thursday, March 24, 2022, at Beasley-Wood Funeral Home Chapel. Everyone is welcomed to come and share their memories and give brief remarks.

Cremation arrangements are under the care of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.

Online obituary at beasleywoodfuneralhom.com

A Celebration of Life for Richard Billingsley will be held at the Ouachita Center on the UA Rich Mountain campus on Thursday, March 31, from 4-6 p.m. with remarks at 5 p.m.

All family, friends, and co-workers are invited to attend.

March 23, 2022 News 7 Pulse Arkansas businesses to see reduced workers’ compensation insurance rates in 2022 THE POLK COUNTY

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (March 10, 2022)– Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Alan McClain today announced that Arkansas businesses could see another rate decrease in workers’ compensation insurance in 2022.

The Arkansas Insurance Department (AID) approved an average overall average workers compensation voluntary market loss cost level decrease of 10.8% and a drop of 11% for the assigned risk market.

The new rates—for policies renewing on or after July 1, 2022— represent a significant change from last year, which saw a 1.1% decline in the voluntary market and a 1.6% cut in the assigned risk market.

Employers purchase workers’ compensation through one of two markets, the voluntary market and the assigned risk market.

In the voluntary market — the open competitive market — loss costs will decrease by an average of 10.8%, which is the primary component of workers’ compensation rates. Approximately 91% of Arkansas employers receive voluntary market coverage. In the assigned risk market — the market for employers unable to obtain coverage in the voluntary market — rates could decrease by an average of 11%. The continued rate relief in the assigned risk market is particularly good news for new businesses which are often required to obtain coverage through

this market due to their lack of a claims history.

The department accepted recommendations from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), which analyzes and recommends rate adjustments in more than forty states.

NCCI based their recommendations on premium and loss experience for policy years 2017 through 2019.

“Arkansas’s lost time claim frequency has decreased substantially since 2005,” NCCI noted in its recommendations, which has contributed to the state’s indemnity and medical loss ratios over this period.

“As Arkansas businesses and workers face the challenges

brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s encouraging to see that workplaces continue to prioritize the safety of our valuable workforce, resulting in lower workers’ compensation rates,” said Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Alan McClain. “I commend the Arkansas business community for its work to make our workplaces safer and in turn, our state a more affordable place to do business.”

The multi-year decreases reflect the continuing efforts of Arkansas employers to maintain safe workplaces, while also having the impact of making workers’ compensation insurance more affordable to Arkansas businesses.

The rate reduction will be effective on July 1, 2022.

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8 Community

by Ethan Nahté

According to the Arkbi website, winter weather and resulting blood drive cancelations severely impacted

Pulse

March 23, 2022

Blood drive will have perks The Arkansas Blood Institute (ABI) will be rolling into Polk County the final week of March and first week of April, with their Turn Up The Volume theme.

Donors will have a T-shirt choice between either a country or rock ‘n’ roll music-themed T-shirt, plus one free ticket to either the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City or the OKC Zoo. To expedite giving blood, donors may schedule an appointment, but walk-ins are welcome. To see the available schedule, visit arkbio.org, search the schedule by zip code and locations will appear with dates and times. In the right-hand column will be a link to the schedules.

Locations include: < Walmart - Mena, March 26, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. < Healthy Connections - Mena, March 28, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. < Mena Regional Health System, March 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. < Cossatot River High School, April 4, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

THE POLK COUNTY

Around Town The Board Camp Rural Volunteer Fire

tion). All men from the community are invited to attend.

and Rescue Department will hold its Annual Pancake

the supply of life-saving blood. New eligibility rules have been implemented. Many veterans, healthcare workers and other civic minded individuals who were disqualified in the past are now cleared to donate again.

Changes include time spent outside of North America and time deferral periods related to piercings, tattoos, blood transfusions, travel to malarial-endemic areas, and accidental needle sticks.

Additionally, many donors are unsure if they can donate with some common health conditions. Diabetes, high blood pressure or thyroid disease are often not obstacles to giving blood. Donors who have received the COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) face no waiting time before giving blood or platelets.

Arkansas Blood Institute has set up a hotline for donors who are unsure of their eligibility. Donors are asked to call 405-419-1538 with questions about their eligibility. Answers to frequently asked questions are listed at arkbi.org/blood-donation/can-i-donate

Breakfast on Saturday, March 26 from 7:00 am until

Knights of Columbus Fish Fry! 204

11:00 am. Due to Covid, the breakfast has not been

8th St., Mena, Fry-Day, March 25, 4-7 p.m. Carry-out

held the past 2 years. Cost is a donation for pancakes,

only.Call ahead to order, (479) 394-7427. Fish, fries,

sausage, scrambled eggs, coffee, orange juice or milk.

hushpuppies, coleslaw, beans & drink. Adults - $12, Kids - $8

Hatfield First Baptist Church “Shepherd’s Closet” Open Wednesdays, 10 a.m.

The Cossatot Senior Center in Wickes

- Noon. Large selection of good, used clothing & a

has re-opened. All meals and activities have reverted

limited supply of non-perishable food items. Free to

to their original schedules. If you need to make de-

anyone in need.

livery arrangements or changes call 870-385-2373.

Narcotics Anonymous meet at 7 p.m.,

The Polk County Housing Authority

Monday; at 7 p.m., Thursday; at 7 p.m. Friday; and

has Rental Vouchers available. They are also in need

at 6 p.m. Saturday at the old bus barn at the Crossing

of Applicants and Landlords. Contact them at 509 S.

Church. For information call Erica at 479-216-7249.

Morrow, Mena, (479) 394-1565 or polkarhousing. com

The Nimble Thimbles Quilt Guild will meet on Monday, March 28, at the First United Methodist Church across from Janssen Park from 1- 4 p.m.

Please bring sewing machine, thread, small cutting mat, rulers, cutters and flat head pins. Bring 2 fat

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at 8 p.m.

Fridays at the First United Methodist Church, 9th & Port Arthur. Discussion/Book Study for information call 479-243-0297.

quarters of contrasting fabric for our second block in the mystery row quilt. You may bring another project you are working on if you wish.

GriefShare continues to meet every Thursday from 10 a.m.-noon at First Presbyterian Church Mena for anyone in the community who is

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at 3 p.m., Sun-

grieving the loss of a loved one.

days; at 5 p.m., Tuesdays; and at 8 p.m. Saturdays at the old bus barn located at the Crossing Church. For information call 479-234-8366 or 479-216-3786.

Live Country & Gospel Music, Tuesday nights at the Daisy Room. Starting at 7-10 p.m. Come “Pick-N-Grin” with us. Everyone welcome.

American Legion meets every 2nd Tuesday at the Legion Hall in Acorn. Potluck at 6 p.m., meeting follows.

Come play Bingo, Saturdays and Mondays, starts at 6 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m.

It’s easy to have your event listed in Around Town, which will be read on radio stations KENA and KQOR daily. Simply send your Around Town announcement to news@mypulsenews. com or call 479-243-9600 and let us know about your

Reynolds Gardner Community Men’s

event! To have it in the Polk County Pulse newspaper,

Breakfast every Tuesday, First United Methodist

we need to know by FIVE on FRIDAY. We look forward

Church, Mena, 8 a.m. (full breakfast for small dona-

to continuing to serve the community!

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

March 23, 2022

Entergy Arkansas eTech offers cash rebates for machinery, chargers Submitted by Entergy LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – Entergy Arkansas will provide cash rebates through its new eTech initiative to customers who purchase one or more electric technologies, ranging from forklifts and cranes to golf carts and electric vehicle chargers.

“We’re taking our commitment to providing safe, reliable service at affordable rates to all Entergy Arkansas customers to a higher level with the greatest efficiencies, while managing greenhouse gas emissions and providing options that customers desire with our new eTech program,” said Laura Landreaux, Entergy Arkansas president and CEO. “It will help manage greenhouse gas emissions while supporting the technology-forward options our customers desire.”

Known as a beneficial electrification program in the industry, eTech will be available to any eligible Entergy Arkansas customer, from residential to commercial. More than 40 utilities across North America provide similar programs, including other Entergy operating companies.

The Arkansas Public Service Commission last week approved the program, in which Entergy Arkansas will provide cash rebates for 14 qualified technologies, including forklifts; truck refrigeration units; school and transit buses; drayage trucks; electrical vehicle chargers; digital billboards; scissor, boom and man lifts; scrubbers and sweepers; golf cars and people movers; cranes; and airport ground support pushbacks, tug and tow tractors,

belt loaders and power units.

“Cash incentives are a great benefit, but customers will also save net costs over the lifetime of their machinery in fuel, operations, and maintenance which would be less with the electric option than they would have been with the fossil-fuel alternative,” said Landreaux.

For example, an electric single class-one forklift can be expected to reduce the total amount of resources used by that forklift by approximately $8,046 using electric power as compared to other resources, such as gasoline, diesel, propane, etc. in addition to a $250-$500 cash rebate for purchasing an electric machine.

The program would also benefit customers who choose an electric vehicle for transportation. Such vehicles are an attractive option for savings because of reduced maintenance, lower fuel cost, less noise, and lower emissions.

For example, charging an EV with a 200-mile range (assuming a fully depleted 66 kWh battery) at a residence will cost about $7 to reach a full charge, based on the Entergy Arkansas rate of 11 cents per kWh. Additionally, an electric vehicle is estimated to save $2,566 over the lifetime of the vehicle in net costs.

Entergy’s eTech EV charger rebate helps defray the cost of installing a home or workplace charger, which amounts to $250 per plug for a level 2 charger and up to $1,500 for a DC fast charger.

Entergy Arkansas customers can access technical and application support and apply now for the rebates at entergyetech.com/ within 90 days of purchase.

News 9

Entergy Arkansas fuel rate increase to impact customer bills Submitted by Entergy

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Although Entergy Arkansas seeks to keep rates among the lowest in the country, higher natural gas prices necessitate an increase to the fuel charge on customer bills.

A filing was made with the Arkansas Public Service Commission last week to increase the Energy Cost Recovery (ECR) rate April 1. The ECR accounts for roughly 9% of a residential customer’s total monthly bill.

The ECR charges appear on the bill as “Fuel and Purchased Power Cost.” It is normally adjusted each spring and fluctuates depending on changes in the cost of fuel used by Entergy Arkansas to generate electricity and wholesale prices paid for additional electricity.

The ECR will increase from $0.00959 per kilowatt hour to $0.01785 per kWh, or from the current rate of just under 1 cent per kWh to 1.8 cents beginning with April 2022 billing. This rate will be effective through March 2023, unless an interim adjustment is needed.

“The total increase that customers could see on their bill will vary based on their individual energy usage and the kilowatt-hours consumed at their home,” said Ventrell Thompson, acting vice president of customer service. “Our estimates show, however, that the average residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours per month will see a total bill increase of 7.5%, or roughly $8.”

Customers received a decreased ECR rate the last two years, and the 2021 ECR rate currently in effect ($0.00959) is the lowest the rate has been in more than 10 years. Natural gas has historically been a lower cost source, officials said. However, natural gas prices were 93% higher in 2021 compared to 2020, according to the industry standard Henry Hub. “At Entergy Arkansas, we carefully plan and invest our resources to provide reliable power and keep rates as low as possible,” said Kurt Castleberry, director of resource planning and market operations.

“Fuel diversity pays off and so does our investment in our nuclear fleet to keep them producing electricity at historically high levels.

“Last year, our nuclear generation sources set a record,” he continued.

“Low cost, emission free power provides about 70% of the electricity our customers consume to help insulate them from the cost swings of natural gas. This kept the ECR rate from going even higher.”

Customers who are having trouble paying their bill have several options available, including The Power to Care, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), level billing, pick-your-date and payment extensions. Call 1-800-ENTERGY to talk with customer service or visit entergy-arkansas. com/bill-help.

Entergy Arkansas also provides tips and programs to make a home more energy efficient, with more information at entergy-arkansas.com/ residential/.

10 News

March 23, 2022

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

Existing COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program Borrowers to Receive an Additional Deferment Submitted by SBA

WASHINGTON – March 15, 2022, Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, directed the Agency to provide additional deferment of principal and interest payments for existing COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program Borrowers for a total of 30 months deferment from inception on all approved COVID EIDL loans.

The extended deferment period will provide additional flexibility to small business owners impacted by the pandemic, especially those in hard-hit sectors managing disruption with recent variants, as well as recent supply chain and inflation challenges amid a growing economic recovery.

Since its inception, the COVID EIDL program, a federal disaster relief loan, has allocated more than $351 billion in relief aid to 3.9 million borrowers, including to the smallest of small businesses from historically underserved, disadvantaged communities.

“Though our small business owners continue to power a historic economic recovery under the Biden-Harris Administration, we must continue to do everything in our power to meet our small businesses where they are with resources to ensure they can recover and thrive,” said SBA Administrator Guzman. “This extended principal and interest deferment will provide financial relief to millions of small business own-

ers – particularly those hardest-hit by the pandemic and related marketplace challenges – so they can continue to pivot, adapt, and grow.”

Key information regarding deferment: • This deferment extension is effective for all COVID-EIDL Loans approved in calendar years 2020, 2021, and 2022. Loans now have a total deferment of 30 months from the date of the Note. Interest will continue to accrue on the loans during the deferment.

• Borrowers may make partial or full payments during the deferment period but are not required to. The SBA recommends using www.pay. gov.

• The SBA will not send monthly SBA Form 1201 payment notices; however, the SBA will send regular payment reminders via email.

• Existing COVID EIDL Borrowers can find account balances and payment due dates in the SBA Capital Access Financial System (CAFS) and learn how to set up an account in the CAFS system by logging in at Capital Access Financial System (sba.gov).

• Deferments may result in balloon payments. The deferment will not stop any established Preauthorized Debit (PAD) or recurring payments on the loan. COVID-EIDL Borrowers with an SBA established PAD must contact their SBA servicing center to stop recurring payments during the extended

•

deferment period. COVID-EIDL Borrowers who have established a PAD through Pay.Gov or any other bill pay service are responsible for terminating recurring payments during the extended deferment period.

After the deferment period ends, COVID-EIDL Borrowers will be required to make regular principal and interest payments beginning 30 months from the date of the Note.

In September 2021, Administrator Guzman announced major enhancements to the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Key changes announced included: • Increased COVID EIDL Cap. The SBA lifted the COVID EIDL cap from $500,000 to $2 million. Loan funds can be used for any normal operating expenses and working capital, including payroll, purchasing equipment, and paying off debt.

• Implementation of a Deferred Payment Period. The SBA ensured small business owners did not have to begin COVID EIDL repayment until two years after loan origination so that they could continue operating during the pandemic without having to worry about making ends meet.

• Establishment of a 30-Day Exclusivity Window. To ensure Main Street businesses have additional time to access these funds, the SBA implemented a 30-day exclusivity window of approving and disbursing funds for loans of $500,000 or less. Approval and disbursement of loans over $500,000 began after the 30-day period ended.

• Expansion of Eligible Use of Funds.

The SBA allowed COVID EIDL funds to be used to prepay commercial debt and make payments on federal business debt.

• Simplification of affiliation requirements. To ease the COVID EIDL application process for small businesses, the SBA established simplified affiliation requirements to model those of the Restaurant

Revitalization Fund (RRF).

Application Process and Fraud Control Enhancements • In addition to the policy enhancements, the SBA has invested in optimized processes and increased capacity to improve the customer service experience for applicants.

Directed by Administrator Guzman to swiftly and drastically enhance COVID EIDL, the revamped management team implemented new processes and performance management, such as prioritizing personnel for COVID EIDL and increasing the average number of applications decisions made. At the time, the SBA accelerated daily processing of loan increases from close to 2,000 applications to more than 37,000 applications. Loan officer productivity also went from 1.86 applications per day to 15 applications per day. As a result of these increased loan review rates, the 600,000+ loan increase backlog was cleared, and new applications were processed immediately.

• At the same time, and to ensure taxpayer dollars are used to support businesses that need COVID EIDL funding most, the SBA increased fraud controls and is working in collaboration with the SBA Inspector General to closely monitor the program.

Further Details for SBA Customers Borrowers with questions can call SBA’s COVID EIDL Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-833-853-5638 (borrowers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or email DisasterCustomerService@ sba.gov for additional assistance. The center is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Multilingual representatives are available. Small business owners may also contact SBA’s Resource Partners by visiting www. sba.gov/local-assistance. For additional information on COVID EIDL, please visit www.sba.gov/relief.

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

By Richie Lawry The baby blue sky and the warmth of the sun pushing away the cool of the morning lifted my spirits. The cold, damp dismal weather of the previous day was a thing of the past as I looked forward to the promise of spring. “Today will be awesome,” I thought, as I prepared for our outing to the Jonquil Festival in Old Washington.

As we drove south out of the Ouachita’s into the flat land of southern Arkansas, the changes were noticeable. The pastures and roadsides were green, and many homes along the road had patches of bright yellow daffodils. Spring was already making its mark, with the white blossoms of wild plum and serviceberry trees dotting the landscape. The soft glow of green-tinged trees promised the glory of rebirth as their buds opened and tiny new leaves unfurled.

When we reached Old Washington, traffic came to a standstill. Thousands of people had converged on the small town. Vendors had set up booths around the old courthouse, and people crowded into the area. After looking around the festival area, we headed into the old part of town, where it seemed that jonquils filled every yard. Each bloom seemed to be lifting its head to the heavens and trying to soak up the sun’s rays.

Old tractors and collector cars filled an open field a few blocks from the courthouse. As I was walking around looking at the vehicles, I heard PUTT whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh PUTT whoosh whoosh whoosh PUTT. The sound was coming from an engine, but it was bizarre. There was no definite rhythm to the sound. I investigated and found a row of trailers with antique stationary engines on them. The unusual sounds they made were the result of their design. The engine fires and then coasts until the speed decreases, and it needs to fire again to maintain its

March 23, 2022

An Arkie’s Faith Hit and miss

average speed. closed the exhaust valve. The piston creThese engines are called hit-and-miss ated a suction that opened the intake engines because they don’t fire or “hit” valve and drew in the fuel/air mixture on every rotation. The engines misfire by with the exhaust valve shut. The engine design. When stationary engines were emitted one loud PUTT as the power first designed in the late 1800s, the tech- stroke spun the flywheel faster. The fastnical problem inventors needed to solve er spin caused centrifugal force to move to make the weight engines toward the usable flywheel’s was how rim again, to keep w h i c h the engine canceled running firing until steadiit slowed, ly under and the varying weight loads. was drawn Your foot b a c k on the Children enjoying the beautiful day amongst the jonquils in front of d o w n , gas pedal Miss Bea’s Cottage in Old Washington. (Photo by Richie Lawry) and the does that cycle rein your car, but a stationary engine needs peated. Under heavy load, it would fire automated speed control. The solution on every other stroke. It would fire every for most manufacturers was the centrif- sixth or eighth stroke when it was just ugal governor. idling.

These machines use ingenious and The first engines appeared around complex governors developed to main- 1890, but by the early 20th century, the tain a constant speed as the loads vary. number of manufacturers was in the Most hit-and-miss engines had a hori- hundreds. These engines cost up to $200, zontal piston with two heavy flywheels but almost every farm had one or two by connected to the ends of the crankshaft. 1910. Although called stationary, the If the motor was spinning at the desired machines were almost always mounted speed, the exhaust valve was held open, on iron wheeled dollies that could be and there was no compression and no en- moved to different places on the farm. gine firing, creating the whoosh, whoosh, For the first time, mechanical power was whoosh sound as the piston idled back available to the small-scale farm. and forth, pushing air in and out of the With these engines came a parade of cylinder through the open exhaust valve. new applications: feed grinders, corn As the wheel’s rotation slowed, the shellers, wood saws, water pumps, and weight was drawn toward the center of fodder cutters became available. Marketthe wheel, where it nudged a lever that ed specifically for the ladies were small,

Joke of the Week:

I accidentally gave my wife a glue stick instead of her lipstick.

She still isn’t talking to me.

Faith 11 one-half horsepower engines to power washing machines, butter churns, even ice cream makers. By the 1930s, hit and miss engines fell out of favor as lighter, more powerful designs became available, and most farms had access to electricity.

Today these engines are prized by collectors who lovingly restore them to perfect running order to show them at historical fairs and festivals like the one in Old Washington. People are fascinated by the ingeniously complicated mechanical works exposed to view. The piston, connecting rod, driveshaft, and flywheel are all open to view as they run. And that PUTT whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh PUTT sound is so alluring.

As I watched and listened to the engines running, I thought about things in my life that are hit and miss. One of those things is my relationship with God. I attempt to create routine and consistency in my life, but I often sacrifice my time with God for consistency in other areas.

I become a hit and miss Christian.

Jesus tells us, “Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. A branch cannot bear fruit if it is disconnected from the vine, and neither will you if you are not connected to Me.” John 15:4 (VOICE) To abide is to continue in a place, remain stable, and be consistent. Abiding is simply spending time together, day in and day out.

A relationship can’t thrive when it is hit and miss.

Gentle Reader, consistency is the key to close relationships in our everyday lives and our spiritual lives. Find time to be alone. Set aside time to spend with God every day without distractions.

James 4:8 (ICB) says, “Come near to God, and God will come near to you.

You are sinners. So clean sin out of your lives. You are trying to follow God and the world at the same time.” Come near to God. Abide in Him. Don’t try to follow God and the world at the same time.

Don’t be a hit and miss Christian.

Replacing windshields in Polk County for forty years.

Give Richie a call at 479-394-9938 Located at 3008 Hwy 71 South

12 News

March 23, 2022 PCEO continued from page 1 have home sciences, photography and all sorts of other community service and outreach programs,” Sullivan said.

Agriculture is a considerably large industry in Polk County. Research conducted by Datausa.io indicates that farming, fishing and forestry occupations are the top-most specialized professions in Polk County. Compared to other counties, we have over five times the normal amount of people in a county our size working in these fields.

“Poultry, timber, cattle, as well as some niche markets, are huge industries in Polk County.”

To get involved with the PCEO, call (479) 394-6018 and explain what you’re interested in. You can email Sullivan at sbeaty@uada.edu.

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse Their current lineup of programs include: Annie’s Project March 28 - April 28 This six-session course is a discussion—based workshop bringing women together to learn from experts in production, financial management, human resources, marketing, and legal fields. Cost $50/person.

Deadline to register & pay March 15, 2022. This program will be held at 211 DeQueen St., Mena, AR 71953.

Beef Stockman & Stewardship May 20-21 This program will include information about cattle handling and care, nutrition, environmental stewardship, and herd health. To be held at the Wickes Community Center 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. with a meal provided.

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

March 23, 2022

Arkansas Department of Agriculture hosts Free Tree Fridays

In recognition of National Arbor Day, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division will be hosting giveaways of bare root seedlings at various locations across the state each Friday from March 18 through April 29.

“Adding trees to your yard or to a community forest is beneficial to all Arkansans, and Spring is an excellent time to plant trees,” said Kristine Kimbro, Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator for the Forestry Division. “With these giveaways celebrating Arbor Day, we hope to provide all Arkansans with access to the many benefits trees provide.”

The Forestry Division will be hosting giveaways at various locations across the state. Following

Street: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Hot Springs – Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Avenue: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Arkadelphia – Clark County Conservation District Office, 640 S. 6th St. C: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Friday, March 25 • Dardanelle – Wal-Mart, 1172 AR-7: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Clarksville – The Peach Pit, 101 McConnell Dr.: 1 p.m.–3 p.m.

Friday, April 8 is a condensed list focusing on locations nearer Polk County, along • Texarkana – Four States Fairgrounds, 3700 East 50th Street: with times currently scheduled: Time to be determined Friday, March 18 Friday, April 15 • Conway – Faulkner County Museum Log Cabin, 801 Locust • Berryville – Berryville Square,

News 13 Fountain Park: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Friday, April 22 • Fayetteville – Unitarian Church of Fayetteville, 901 Cleveland Street: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Sheridan – Mad Butcher, 815 Rock Street: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Hot Springs – Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Avenue: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Friday, April 29 • De Queen – Bailey Discount Lumber, 880 East Collin Raye Drive: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Additional locations will be added throughout the month. Visit agriculture.arkansas.gov/forestry/ urban-community-forestry/freetree-friday/ for giveaway locations and times or contact Kristine Kimbro at Kristine.kimbro@agriculture. arkansas.gov.

14 News

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

March 23, 2022

James K. Polk DAR Chapter Article by Cortez Copher Photos by Kay Dye

Ruth Gray being welcomed back after COVID-19 epidemic by regent, Cortez Copher.

The James K. Polk Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, met March 10 with 17 members and four guests attending.

New transfer member from Texas, Lisa Anderson, was introduced and welcomed to Mena. The oldest member, Ruth Gray of Mena, was also welcomed back after a long absence due to the COVID-19 Epidemic.

The guest speaker was chapter member, Carolyn Hanna from Waldron, who gave the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC was a

Lisa Anderson receiving new member welcome gift from registrar, Dotty Kinnun.

394-1938

TIRES • BRAKES • CUSTOM EXHAUST • SHOCKS & STRUTS

Winter Hours: Mon - Fri 8 am - 5 pm

1500 Hwy 71 South, Mena

Owners: Stacy & Julie Nash

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

March 23, 2022

News 15

Packs Gifts for Mena CBOC

voluntary private work relief program through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” that ran from 1933 to 1942.

After the meeting adjourned, the members packed gift snack bags to be delivered to the Mena Veterans CBOC. The next regular meeting will be April

21, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. in the Ninth Street Ministries of the First Baptist Church.

Ladies wishing to know more about the James K. Polk Chapter NSDAR, or who are interested in joining their local NSDAR chapter, may contact the Registrar, Dotty Kinnun, thekinnuns@ gmail.com, or call (479) 437-3111.

First Vice Regent, Ann Garrett, presenting Carolyn Hanna with Certificate of Appreciation.

Front - Cheryl Anglin, Dotty Kinnun, Deonna Williams, Ann Green, Shelly Collins, Brenda Cunningham, Cortez Copher.

Back - Ann Garrett, Era Looney, Julie Wiltrout, and Carolyn Hanna

16 Sports

By Trey Youngdahl

Baseball/ Softball March 28 - Mansfield @ Acorn March 29 - Acorn @ Murfreesboro

Baseball March 29 - Waldron @ Cossatot Softball March 29 - Waldron @ Cossatot March 30 - Cossatot @ Kirby Soccer (boys) March 29 - Subiaco @ Cossatot

Baseball March 24 - Carl Albert State College @ UARM March 26 - UARM @ Carl Albert State College March 28 - UARM @ Bossier Parish Community College Softball March 24 - UARM @ Northern Oklahoma College March 26 - UARM @ Connors State College

Pulse

March 23, 2022

Rich Mountain Bucks ranked in the top 20

Track March 29 - Acorn @ Mansfield

THE POLK COUNTY

The University of Arkansas Rich Mountain’s baseball team, the Bucks, have been ranked in the top 20 in NJCAA DII Baseball Poll.

Thus far, the Bucks have played 21 games during the 2021-2022 season in which they’ve garnered 195 runs, and 28 home runs with a 16-5 win-loss ratio. They have a batting average of .315, an on base percentage, which is how frequently a batter reaches base per plate appearance, of .423%, and a slugging percentage, which is the batting productivity, of .542%.

In their recent double-header

against Redlands Community College, the Bucks were 6-0 in Region II play. They dominated Redlands, winning 10-0 in the first game and 10-7 in the second game, sweeping the Region II series.

This led the National Junior College Athletics Association to rank the Bucks No. 19 in DII. This is more impressive when you consider that the division is made up of 118 other teams, 99 of which they outranked in only their second season as a team.

The Bucks are currently on a nine-game winning streak and will play at Eastern Oklahoma State College on Wednesday, March 23.

Janssen Park bathrooms on hold until July

By Trey Youngdahl Demolition began on the old restrooms at Janssen Park in preparation for construction for more updated replacements on January 19. Now, due to setbacks, the bathrooms may be on hold until July 2022.

Approved by Mena City Council in July 2021, Janssen Park will receive two restrooms. One of the restrooms will be constructed on the north side, and the other one on the south side. A new restroom will also be added at McMillan Park near the pavilion and playground, replacing the long-standing portable toilet.

“I am thrilled with the upcoming construction of new restrooms at both Janssen and McMillan Parks. Especially happy with being able to now have two restrooms at Janssen Park,” Mayor Seth Smith said. “These will definitely be an improvement for citizens and visitors.”

Smith was originally expecting construction to begin on the project in early spring, but now the improvements are projected to be completed in July.

If this is the case, that would mean that citizens attending the Lum & Abner Festival in June of this year will be subjected to the use of portable restrooms, as will the OK Freewheel bicycle tour that will be riding through the area Monday and Tuesday, following the festival. Dozens, if not hundreds, of bicyclists will be camping overnight at the park.

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

Submitted by BoatUS

21 gas-saving tips for boaters

SPRINGFIELD, Va., March 17, 2022 – Gas prices are up. What can boaters do to prepare for a summer of boating?

The 800,000-plus member Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has 21 fuel-saving tips boaters can do to help save on fuel and still enjoy a fulfilling season on the water. While some of these techniques may sound obvious, there may be some you never considered.

Before Heading Out Tune your engine now. A once a year for a tune-up and service will help it run more efficiently.

2. Match the boat’s prop to the boat and activity. Propellers are most efficient when they’re matched to the kind of boat you have and what you use it for (e.g., towing water skiers, fishing). Ask the pros at a propeller shop for recommendations and experiment with different models. The right prop can potentially increase fuel efficiency by as much as 10%.

3. Check your WOT. Take your boat out on a calm day and run wide-open throttle (WOT). The WOT rating is the RPM range the motor should achieve when running at wide open throttle. If it’s not able to reach WOT — or overruns it — you’ve got the wrong prop and you’re not getting the most bang for your fuel buck.

4. Check for propeller damage throughout the season. A dinged or broken propeller will hurt your fuel economy, so regularly inspect yours and replace it if it’s damaged.

5. Keep the prop clean. Barnacles and other growth can attach to the propeller, which will slow it down and impact fuel economy.

6. Keep a slick hull. For boats that spend a lot time in the water, barnacles or stuckon grass can create drag on the hull and make the engine work harder. Boats in warm places will probably need to be cleaned weekly, while those in colder waters may be able to go a month or two.

7. Measure your fuel flow. Install a fuel-flow meter, which can show you in real time how many gallons per hour your engine is burning, and allow you to dial in the most efficient speed for your boat 8. Upgrade your motor — if you can. With the pandemic, engines have been hard to come by, but newer engines tend to be significantly more efficient than older models. The fuel savings alone might 1.

Sports 17

March 23, 2022

not be enough to justify an upgrade, but you’re likely also benefiting the environment. If your vessel is suitable, there are more options for electric and hybrid propulsion than ever before.

9. Join BoatUS. Yes, this is a pitch, but it will save you gas money. Members receive exclusive marina fuel discounts at nearly 400 BoatUS Partner Network marinas across the United States that offer BoatUS members up to 10 cents off per gallon of fuel.

10. Refuel smartly ashore. Most recreational boats in the U.S. are refueled at roadside gas stations, mini-marts and other retailers. It may be wise to enroll in the retailer’s customer loyalty or “cash back” program. Just read the fine print on how your discount is delivered. Your credit card company or grocery store may also offer percentage-based “cash back” program on fuel.

At The Dock Ditch extra stuff. Take stock of what’s onboard; additional weight means more drag. Clean out anything you won’t need, from extra anchors to old, unused lines and tools. Of course this does not include safety gear or necessary ground tackle.

2. Lighten your tanks. Don’t run with a full freshwater or fuel tank unless you absolutely need it. Water weighs 8 pounds per gallon, and some boats have freshwater tanks that can hold 100 gallons, so emptying half can add up quickly. Gasoline weighs 6 pounds per gallon, so if you don’t need a full tank to safely return (you obviously don’t want to worry about getting stranded), lighten your load and bring less. A rule of thumb when planning for fuel use on any outing is you need to have one-third of your fuel to your destination, one-third back home, and one-third in reserve.

3. Avoid excess idling. It’s a common misconception that engines need time to warm up. Modern engines are fuel injected, so when you start them, they’re ready to go in a minute or two.

4. A note on safety: Self-refueling your boat while it’s in the slip at a marina with portable containers may be prohibited due to fire hazard or potential for a spill, and depending on the volume of fuel needed for a fill-up may be impractical. It’s also problematic as the risk of fire and explosion goes up when gas is transported in your vehicle. This type of refueling is better suited to small vessels with portable 1.

tanks that can be removed, filled at a gas station and returned to the boat. Regardless of how you refuel, follow all safety guidelines.

On The Water Rearrange your passengers. Evenly distributing the load aboard your boat is the simplest way to help you boat run most efficiently when the boat’s trimmed, which is roughly parallel to its at-rest waterline and not leaning too far to one side or the other.

2. Get on plane. Most recreational boats run most efficiently when they’re on plane, so once you’re out of the no-wake zone, safely get on plane as soon as you can. If your boat has trim tabs, experiment with the up/down switch to find the sweet spot where your boat moves most efficiently and achieves the best trim.

3. Watch your wake. One sign you’re blowing gas is the size of your wake. While sometimes you have no option, slowing down to no-wake speed saves fuel. It’s a matter of plowing a wall of water rather than efficiently slipping over or through it. Of course, wakesurfers will take umbrage to this tip. We get it.

1.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Try slowing down. Yeah, that’s a hard one for a lot of us, but in addition to stretching a tank of gas, it’s safer. You’ll see more things and have more time to react in the water, such as other boats or approaching traffic.

Reduce wind drag. A canvas or bimini top is great for protection from the sun, but you can improve fuel efficiency while underway by taking it down if you can. Just be sure to bring — and apply — sunblock.

Navigate smartly. The ultimate trick to saving fuel, of course, is running your engine less. Travel to closer destinations or drop anchor somewhere nearer to home to enjoy your fun afternoon on the water. If possible, take the shorter route and route trips in synch with current and tide, and try to avoid a lot of banging into head seas.

Share your angling outings by “buddy boating.” Head out this weekend by inviting the guy in the slip next to you, and then rotate on the next weekend’s angling outing. This fuel-saving technique is especially popular with anglers who fish canyons far offshore. Of course, this also improves your social aspects of fishing life as well.

March 23, 2022

Pulse

It’s Arkansas Peanut Month and Arkansas Agriculture Week

by Ethan Nahté

D

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and Governor Asa Hutchinson proclaim March to be Arkansas Peanut Month and March 20–26 as Arkansas Agriculture Week.

Arkansas ranked No. 7 in the nation in peanut production in 2019, with 33,000 acres harvested, amounting to 171,600 pounds of the legumes.

In 2021, the USDA reported there were slightly more than 40,000 acres planted. Most of the peanut farms are located in the southeastern portion of Arkansas.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, along with Governor Hutchinson and representatives from the peanut industry and other agriculture stakeholders, recognized the contributions peanut producers and the agriculture industry bring to the state Tuesday morning at the state capitol.

Also joining the celebration will be the Skippy mascot and Planter’s mascot, Mr. Peanut.

The Planters plant in Fort Smith is owned by Hormel Foods. The plant

®

AN

18 News

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employees over 200 people.

Skippy Foods is also a part of Hormel Foods. The Little Rock plant has over 160 employees, receives 750,000 pounds of peanuts by rail car each day. producing 3.5 million pounds of peanut butter on a weekly basis, spread amongst 11 varieties.

®

Regarding other major Arkansas crops, rice is the No. 1 crop, contributing approximately 46% of the nation’s supply according to aragriculture.org/ (Arkansas Agriculture) The state is also a major producer of corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat and grain sorghum.

Chickens and cattle are also in the Top 5 Arkansas food crops.

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

March 23, 2022

Hogspore News:

Kindergarten friends forever

Morton Trubletoof says, “I’ve got friends from kindergarten.

Course, I got kept back till I was 15.”

The Annual Beauty Pageant is this Saturday. It’s for girls and young women who have a birth certificate that confirms female. It’s the only rule. The pretty pomp starts at 7 p.m. at the high school, and the audience don’t have to bring their birth certificates, no matter what it originally stated or who they’re identifying as. The auditorium did insist that if you are identifying as a raccoon,

then show your rabies vaccination papers.

There isn’t a favorite pick to win yet, cause the school is still taking applications, till Friday at noon. There’s a $5 fee, but it goes to the Bully Charity fund to facilitate bullies to think about what they’ve done.

It looks like the Russian sanctions are hitting all the communist commerce. I was checking e-mails, and I come to realize that I haven’t received any spam for a few days now, asking me if I wanted to party with some Russian beau-

ties.

Widow Fenster spent St. Patrick’s Day Thursday telling everyone at Larry’s Assisted Living Facility her thoughts, to anyone who would listen.

She also claimed she was Irish.

Larry, the owner said, “She was still bothering folks at 10 p.m.

Our nurse prescribed a dose of Duct Tape in a Bottle and our professional orderlies, Blood and Money, carried the Widow to her room for the night.

If she really is Irish, then she must be from the Leery O’Pinion clan.”

Sunday, Preacher was fishing for souls to baptize. He said, “I notice that the baptismal font

Humor 19 has been dry for too long. I have a new program to get the water flowing again, the Get Baptized on Your Birthday. So, next year family, friends, and fellow flock members can wish you a Happy Bothday.”

National Events: CSABCCBSNBC News announced last week that the Secret Service will not allow Little Caesar’s Pizza to deliver food to the Federal Senate or the White House during the Ides of March.

Mumford Pickens says, “Never date a financial advisor with trust issues.”

Contact at Bobsimpson1947@yahoo.com.

You know you wanna.

20 History

March 23, 2022

U.S. Deputy Marshal

By Ray Shelley

William Leech

In my last article on Heck Thomas, the editor noted William Leech and Ed Stokley losing their lives in the line of duty in Indian Territory.

Leech’s death was unfortunately an accidental shot from the rifle of U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves.

A posseman was a person who had no arrest powers but helped guard prisoners, did the cooking, drove the jail wagon. Their services were paid by the deputy.

Leech had worked as a posseman for Bass for several years.

In February of 1884, Reeves left Fort Smith with a three-man posse: Leech, Floyd Wilson, and John Brady.

On April 9, returning with five prisoners, they set up camp about 150 miles west of Fort Smith just south of the Canadian River which separates the Seminole Nation and the Choctaw Nation. After erecting the tent and securing four of the five prisoners inside, Grayson was sick and was being attended to by his wife, who was there to look after her husband’s illness. Mrs. Grayson and her children slept away from

the camp in a covered wagon.

After relaxing around the campfire and finishing the supper prepared by Leech, a dog, that had previously wandered into camp, and was adopted by Leech, started to eat the food out of the kettle.

Reeves got mad and told Leech, “Stop that dog or I’ll kill it.”

Leech told Bass, “If you shoot that dog, I’ll kill you or your grey horse.”

Bass reached for his rifle. A shot was fired, hitting Leech in the neck.

Reeves and Grayson brought Leech into the tent and did what they could to save him. The next morning, Leech was taken to a doctor 15 miles away. On April 10, Leech passed away.

Bass claimed it was an accident, that he was clearing a jammed cartridge with his pocketknife and the gun went off, striking Leech in the left side of his neck.

On January 18, 1886, Reeves was charged with murder after an almost two-year investigation was completed by U.S. Deputy Marshal G.J.B. Frair.

On June 15, Reeves posted a bond of $3,000 with orders to return for trial on Aug. 2, 1886, at 10 a.m. The trial was postponed until October 12 so both sides could gather their witnesses.

John Brady, under cross-examination, testified that there were words exchanged between Leech and Reeves. Next, Reeves reached for his rifle and found a cartridge had jammed; he was on one knee freeing the cartridge with a pocketknife when the gun went off, striking Leech in the neck. Brady went

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

on to say Leech told him he was way law enforcement played a key hurt bad but thought the shooting role in bringing justice to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). was an accident.

I have a suggestion for you and Several defense witnesses claimed that Leech and Reeves never argued your family to not only learn more of the history but to participate in and always got along well.

All of the prisoners testified that recreating events.

I am a member of the LawbreakReeves picked up his rifle and shot ers and Peacemakers a reenactment Leech.

Mrs. Grayson, on direct examina- group in Fort Smith. They are a tion, testified there were some heat- family-oriented group of histoed words between Leech and the ry-loving Old West fans.

On March 27, they will kick off Reeves over a dog. Reeves picked up his rifle and shot Leech in the 2022 reenactment season with a car show and Western shootouts at neck.

Under cross-examination, Mrs. their town of “Judgement,” located Grayson recanted and said Reeves across the street from the gallows was attempting to clear a jammed at the Fort Smith National Historic cartridge with his pocketknife and the gun went off striking Leech in the neck. She also stated Reeves did everything he could to save Leech.

On Sunday, October 15. the jury returned a not guilty verdict. Reeves was reinstated as a U.S. Deputy Marshal.

The Lawbreakers and Peacemakers will be giving the crowd a Reeves worked as taste of what the Old West was like on Sunday, March 27, near (photo courtesy of Ray Shelley) a deputy marshal Judge Parker’s Courthouse. until Oklahoma statehood in 1907. He was sworn Site at 300 Parker Ave., Fort Smith.

The car show begins at 9 a.m. and in as a Muskogee, Oklahoma police officer, where he walked a beat for the entertainment begins at 10. The show ends at 2 p.m. two years before becoming ill.

If you are interested in looking In 1910, Bass Reeves died. He served 34 years as a lawman, help- into the group and have questions ing to bring justice to a lawless so- call the L&P president Jerry McFerran at (479) 965-5112. If he is unciety. able to answer, please leave a message and McFerran will return your On Another Note Judging from the positive re- call.

This is a great opportunity for the sponse of the U.S. Marshal articles the Pulse has been publishing, there whole family to be a part of preare many of you interested in the serving Western history.

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Classifieds 21

March 23, 2022

CLASSIFIEDS - SERVICES Mobile lawnmower repair. Minimum, $20 service call. For details, call Bill Duff (479) 216-5204.

T0323

Wendell’s Tree Service - Tree Removal and Trimming. Experienced and fully insured for ALL your tree-trimming needs. Call (479) 394-0227 or (479) 216-4328.

T0406 Land Management, Tree Service, RC Customz can handle your construction needs, mulching and more. Military discounts available. Insured. Call (479) 216-2976 for Free estimate.

T0427

Jeremiah’s lawn care. Friendly service & reasonable rates. Call (479) 394-7599.T0427 Tree services, storm cleanup, stump grinding. Signs and light replacement. Give RC Customz a call at (479) 216-2976 for Free estimate.

T0427 Mena Shuttle - Ground transportation to AR and TX airports. Doctor and emergency appointments. Also, light deliveries. (870) 490-1191 T0330

- YARD SALE -

Yard Sale, 205 S. Polk St., Saturday, March 26, 8 a.m. - ??, Multi-family sale: ladies, men’s and baby clothes, and baby items.

T0323

- EMPLOYMENT Preacher Wanted Christ’s Church Cove wants a preacher to fill in twice per month.

For information, call Larry at (405) 406-4727 T0330

- FOR SALE -

1998 16x80 mobile home, 3 BR/2 Bath, Nice condition. Can be moved or can stay.

Pictures and showing by request. $40,000 T0316

- PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE

Public School Choice in Arkansas allows students to attend a public school in a district other than the one in which they reside. The applications must be made

by May 1, 2022, to qualify for provisions under the Arkansas Public School Choice Act of 2013.

Pursuant to standards adopted by a nonresident district may reserve the right to accept or reject applicants based on capacity of programs, class, grade level or school building. Likewise, a nonresident district’s standards may provide for rejection of an applicant based upon the submission of false or misleading information to the above listed request for information when that information directly impacts the legal qualifications of an applicant to transfer pursuant to the School Choice Act. However, a nonresident district’s standards shall not include an applicant’s previous academic achievement, athletic or other extracurricular ability, handicapping conditions, English proficiency level, or previous disciplinary proceedings, except that an expulsion from another district may be included pursuant to Ark. Code Ann § 6-18-510.

Priority will be given to applicants with siblings attending the district. The nonresident district shall accept credits toward graduation that were awarded by another district and award a diploma to a nonresident district’s graduation requirements.

Applications postmarked or delivered to the Superintendent of Schools no later than May 1 for a child to be able to enroll for the fall semester. Transfers shall be granted on a nondiscriminatory basis. Students who have been accepted and enrolled in previous years do not have to reapply as approved transfers remain valid for as long as the student attends public school.

The following districts comply with this public school announcement: Ashdown, Caddo Hills, Cossatot River, De Queen, Dierks, Foreman, Horatio, Mena, Mineral Springs, Mount Ida, Nashville and Ouachita River. (DMESC:22;w288) T0323

Polk County Births Mena Regional Health System MARCH 11, 2022 TO MARCH 18, 2022 Donna James & Spencer Powell of Mena, Arkansas are the proud parents of a baby girl born Mar. 13th Victoria Needham & Jesus Valencia Flores of Wickes, Arkansas are the proud parents of a baby girl born Mar. 14th Parmota Velasquez of Mena, Arkansas is the proud parent of a baby boy born Mar. 16th

WHEN NEWS MATTERS, WE’RE HERE TO KEEP YOU INFORMED. MyP U L S E NEWS.COM

Arkansas realtors receive two awards Submitted by Deedee Alston

Nancy Wright, executive officer for the Mena Area Board of Realtors, was informed that The National Association of Realtors announced Arkansas was one of only 19 states in the nation to receive the President’s Cup and the Triple Crown awards for 2021.

Local Triple Crown Award winners met or exceeded their share of the state’s National Realtor Political Action Committee (RPAC) fundraising goals and local participation criteria.

- PUBLIC NOTICE -

22 Puzzles

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

March 23, 2022

03.23.22

ANSWERS FROM PUZZLES ON 03.16.22

A Humane Society of the Ouachitas PET OF THE WEEK

Hello , I am Tyrone. I am 4 years old. I love to cuddle and be with my people. I am so playful and love adventure. Toys don’t stand a chance with me. I love to play and run. I like to be with other cats. I have not been tested with kids or dogs. I am litter boxed trained, and must be an indoor only cat. I have been neutered and I am up to date on all vaccinations.

Come to the shelter and Meet me today. I want to go home with you!

All animals at HSO are current on their vaccinations and will be spayed/neutered prior to adoption.

If not already spayed/neutered, there may be a short delay between when you select this pet and when they are ready to go home.

HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE OUACHITAS TUES. THROUGH SAT. 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. 368 POLK 50, MENA, AR 479 3945682 WWW.HSOMENA.ORG

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

March 23, 2022

The following information was received from Polk County law enforcement agencies. The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts. Individuals charged and whose names appear in this column may submit documentation to us at a later date that the charges have been dismissed, or that they have been found innocent, and we will include that information in this space in a timely manner.

POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S LOG March 14, 2022 While on patrol, deputies observed a vehicle with expired tags. Leading to the arrest of Yardley Leonard, 27 of Fort Smith on charges of Fleeing in a Vehicle, Possession with Purpose to Deliver, Driving on a Suspended DL, No Proof of Insurance, Driving Left of Center, No Vehicle License, Possession of a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance and a Parole Hold.

A report of an unwanted person on property at a residence on Polk 111 near Acorn led to Chelsea Roba being issued a citation for Criminal Trespass.

Deputies responded to someone being threatened. Information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney for further consideration.

March 15, 2022 Deputies responded to a report of Financial Identity Fraud from a walk-in complainant.

Deputies responded to a report of a battery at a residence on Polk 44 near Mena.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 77 near Ink in reference to a disturbance leading to the arrest of Shawnna Morris, 25 of Mena on charges of Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct.

March 16, 2022 Justin Velazquez, 21 of Grannis was arrested by an officer with the Grannis Police Department on charges of Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree and Unlawful Entry on Property.

Shannon Shaw, 41 of Mena was arrested on a drug court sanction.

Deputies responded to a report of vehicle damage.

March 17, 2022 Justin Velazquez, 21 of Grannis was arrested by an officer with the Grannis Police Department on charges of Criminal Trespass, 2nd Degree Battery, and Resisting Arrest.

Deputies were dispatched to a report of a physical domestic at an address on Polk 19 near Cove.

Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance at a residence on Hwy 8 East near Mena.

March 18, 2022 Timothy Carls, 71 of Mena was arrested on a charge of DWI after a traffic stop.

A traffic stop led to the arrest of Zerquario Reddix, 27 of Louisiana on charges of Possession of a Firearm by Certain Persons, Theft of a Firearm, Furnishing Prohibited Articles and Obstructing Governmental Operations.

March 19, 2022 Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 136 near Cove in reference to a car on fire.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 703 near Mena in reference to a verbal domestic disturbance.

March 20, 2022 Deputies responded to a report of an unattended death at a residence on Hwy 375 W. Polk County Sheriff ’s Office worked 0 vehicle accidents this week.

Polk County Detention Center Jail Population: 20 Incarcerated Inmates, with 5 Inmates currently on the Waiting List for a State Facility.

MENA POLICE REPORTS March 13 A report of theft was taken at a residence on Missouri Avenue.

Nathan Hoover, 21, was served with a warrant after contact at Splash Car Wash.

A report of theft was taken from a walk-in complainant.

March 14 Rodney Morrison, 36, was served with a warrant at Executive Inn. Tabitha Gonyea, 31, was served with a warrant after contact on 4th Street.

A missing person report was taken at a residence on Cole Avenue.

A report of sexual indecency with a child was taken after a report from Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children.

March 15 A report of breaking or entering was taken at a residence on Church Street.

A report of breaking or entering and criminal trespass was taken at a residence on Oak Grove Avenue.

Rodney Morrison, 36, was charged

Police 23 with Aggravated Assault on a Household or Family Member, Assault 3rd Degree, Criminal Mischief, Disorderly Conduct, Fleeing, and Refusing to Submit to Arrest after a disturbance call to North Morrow Street.

Jamie May, 40, was charged with Possession of Meth and Driving with a Suspended License after a traffic stop on Highway 71.

March 16 A report of harassment was taken from a walk-in complainant.

A report of disorderly conduct was taken from Polk County Housing Authority.

Travis Dollarhyde, 33, was served with a warrant at Executive Inn. Donnie Dollarhyde, 48, was served with a warrant at Executive Inn. March 17 A report of financial identity fraud was taken from a walk-in complainant.

A disturbance report was taken in the parking lot of Little Italy.

A report of breaking or entering and theft was taken from a person at McDonald’s.

March 18 A report of Criminal Mischief was taken at a residence on Golihar Lane.

A report of fraud was taken at Walmart.

March 19 A report of criminal trespass and criminal mischief was taken Branding Iron.

Amy Harrison was charged with Criminal Trespass and Disorderly Conduct at a residence on Smith Avenue.

A report of breaking or entering, theft, and criminal trespass was taken at a residence on Church Avenue.

24 News

March 23, 2022

Mena in hot pursuit of Chargers

By Ethan Nahté It’s a fast and furious race to purchase pursuit vehicles. Believe it or not, vehicles are becoming so high in demand it warranted a special city council meeting. The Mena City Council met at 8:30 Thursday morning for a special city council meeting to conduct new business.

The council discussed a proposal regarding an exceptional situation to waive the competitive bidding generally required for purchasing equipment or property such as new vehicles for the Mena Police Department (MPD).

Mayor Seth Smith said, “We had two Durangos in this year’s budget. We ordered them in November 2021. We were notified last month that those orders had been canceled. We’ve been looking for police vehicles all over. It’s a Chrysler deal due to the pandemic and work shortages.”

Chrysler is one of the brands owned by Stellantis North America.

Stellantis also markets Dodge, Jeep and Ram. The company announced in September 2021 that Durango SUV production was ending. The company is in the process of transitioning from fossil-fuels to electric, including the Dodge Durango Plug-in Hybrid later this year, and an all-electric Durango in 2024.

“We found two Chargers in College Station, Texas. They are police Chargers, outfitted for police.”

Smith said.

There were 38 Chargers left on the lot the morning of March 16, and

there were only seven left at the end of the same day, prompting the special meeting.

The MPD does not have a shortage of vehicles. The city attempts to purchase two new vehicles each year and rotate out the older vehicles.

“We like to keep a fresh fleet and not have an exorbitant amount of money in the police vehicles for maintenance.

The council passed Ordinance No. 2352-22 to purchase the two 2021 Dodge Charger pursuit vehicles.

They then considered a proposal to waive the competitive bidding to perform necessary upgrades to both vehicles once purchased, using Dana Safety Supply Inc., in Little Rock, to complete the upgrades.

“Dana will outfit them with things like radios, sirens, lights, and cages to get them ready for service.”

The council passed the proposal, creating Ordinance No. 2353-22.

The city will actually save almost $9,000 on what they had originally approved in 2021. They had budgeted $86,000 for the Durangos. The Chargers, including the upgrades, will come to a total of $77, 130.76.

The meeting adjourned and the mayor left the room to call Mena Chief of Police Tommy Stueart, who then called the dealership in the College Station area.

In a matter of minutes, the chief returned Smith’s call, notifying him that two of the Chargers were officially being held for Mena.

The city will send people to pick up the vehicles and drive them to Dana.

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Pulse

Westerman holds mobile office events Submitted

In the coming weeks, U.S. Congressman Bruce Westerman office will be hosting several Mobile Office events across Arkansas’ Fourth Congressional District. If you are experiencing a problem with a federal agency, come meet with a field representative from Westerman’s office at an event in your area.

The events begin April 5 but will focus more on Polk and surrounding counties April 13 and 14 His staff will be available to help you with a wide range of issues including, but not limited to, Social Security benefits, Veterans Affairs claims, Medicare/Medicaid, international adoption, visas, and the IRS. Below is a list of Mobile Office events coming to regions throughout the District. No appointments are necessary.

If you are in need of assistance, Westerman encourages you to attend an upcoming Mobile Office and share this information with your fellow community members.

Mobile Offices are intended to make it more convenient for you to directly meet with a member of his staff.

Questions about the upcoming Mobile Office events, or any other constituent services, may be directed to Westerman’s Hot Springs District Office at (501) 609-9796.

April 13 Yell County Courthouse 101 East 5th Street Danville, AR 72833 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Mansfield City Hall 200 North Sebascott Avenue Mansfield, AR 72944 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Scott County Courthouse 190 West 1st Street Waldron, AR 72958 12:45 p.m. -1:45 p.m.

Polk County Courthouse 507 Church Avenue Mena, AR 71953 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Montgomery County Courthouse 105 Highway 270 East Mount Ida, AR 71957 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

April 14 Pike County Courthouse 1 Courthouse Square Murfreesboro, AR 71958 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Howard County Courthouse 421 North Main Street Nashville, AR 71852 9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Sevier County Courthouse 115 North 3rd Street De Queen, AR 71832 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Little River County Courthouse 351 North 2nd Street Ashdown, AR 71822 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Hempstead County – Hope City Hall 206 W Ave. A Hope, AR 71801 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

March 23, 2022

3 spring hacks to prep the inside of your home for warm weather

(StatePoint) With warmer weather on the way, it’s time to deal with the associated household hassles of the season. Here are three hacks that will help you create a healthy, comfortable home during the months ahead: Beat the Heat Beyond having your HVAC unit serviced and changing your air filter regularly, you can beat the heat at home with a few smart strategies.

One change you can make today that will also reduce your carbon footprint is to swap out your heat-emitting incandescent light bulbs for cool LEDs. Likewise, appliances that are not in use but plugged in could be generating unnecessary warmth, so unplug when you can. Finally, use shades and blinds strategically to block out the sun and prevent a greenhouse effect indoors.

Banish Flying Bugs Fruit flies, gnats and flies tend to proliferate indoors in the warmer months. Not only do these creatures come with a serious ick factor, they can harm your houseplants and even put your family’s health at risk

by carrying germs from dirty surfaces to clean ones.

A safe and easy way to defend against buzzing invaders is to plug Zevo Bug Traps into outlets around your home, especially in areas where these bugs enter your home and gather, like garages, entryways, covered porches, trash cans, drain pipes and kitchens. Rather than relying on chemical insecticides, they use multi-spectrum light technology that bugs find irresistible. Once attracted, flying insects are trapped in a super-sticky adhesive backing.

Each trap cartridge offers continuous defense for up to 45 days or until it’s full. When you’re done with a cartridge, simply throw it in the trash and slide a new one in, with-

News 25

out ever having to touch the dead your home’s infrastructure and bad bugs. Pair these traps with Zevo for you. Mold can cause a number home bug sprays, which are pow- of allergic reactions and can someered by estimes even be toxic. sential oils, However, you can reduce for whole the risk of mold formhome proing by managing your tection. To home’s humidity. Use learn more fans and other ventilaabout detion in bathrooms and fending the kitchen when showyour home ering, running the dishFree your home of buzzing invaders against in- with easy-to-use bug traps. washer and doing other sects, and tasks that invite humidfor trapity. Test the humidity of ping tips, visit zevoinsect.com. various rooms in your home with a hygrometer and use a dehumidifiMaster Mold er where needed. According to the Thriving in warm wet environ- EPA, the ideal indoor humidity is ments, mold is something to watch between 30 and 50%. out for at home, especially during Employing warm weather hacks at spring and summer. Much more home can help you maintain clean, than an eyesore, mold is bad for comfortable spaces, all season long.

26 Education

March 23, 2022

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

and the UniForesters for the Future Scholarship Application Period Monticello versity of Arkansas System

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division and the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) are pleased to announce that applications for the Foresters for the Future scholarship are now being accepted. The scholarship will provide $4,000 per semester, for four years, to an incoming freshman pursuing a forestry degree at UAM’s College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources.

Applications will be accepted through June 15. Students interested in the scholarship can find more information on the UAM website at uamont.edu/academics/CFANR/index.html.

“Arkansas has nearly 19 million acres of forests with over 12 billion trees,” said State Forester Joe Fox. “This scholarship is a wonderful opportunity for a future forester to obtain a quality education and move into a dynamic and rewarding career field.”

The scholarship program was established

by Act 399 of the 2021 Regular Session of the Arkansas General Assembly. The underlying legislation, House Bill 1389, was sponsored by Representative Ken Bragg and Senator Ben Gilmore and was signed into law by Governor

Hutchinson on March 17, 2021.

“The forest industry in Arkansas is a vital contributor to the state’s economy. It is imperative that we maintain a healthy forest and right now there is actually a shortage of professional forestry graduates,” said Representative Bragg. “It is the intention of the Foresters for the Future Scholarship to increase interest and opportunities for students to pursue a degree in forestry and natural resource management.”

UAM and the Forestry Division hope the scholarship will entice students to pursue forestry as a career.

“The forestry industry is a pillar of Arkansas’s economy that impacts every area of our state,” said Dr. Peggy Doss, UAM Chancellor.

“The Foresters for the Future Scholarship will support our efforts to attract and to retain a diverse group of future foresters and to prepare them for a career path that offers extensive job opportunities in the wood products industry.”

“This scholarship is a tremendous opportunity for our students,” said Dr. Michael Blazier, Dean of the UAM College of Forestry, Agri-

culture, and Natural Resources and Director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center. “Not only does it provide substantial financial aid to help them study for a career in forestry, they get a wide range of internship options for onthe-job learning with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division.”

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture and forestry to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation. Visit agriculture.arkansas. gov/. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, a University of Arkansas System Center of Excellence, brings together interdisciplinary expertise through a partnership between the University of Arkansas at

Division of Agriculture.

The College and Center are headquartered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus, but their programs range statewide with the mission of developing and delivering teaching, research, and extension programs that enhance and ensure the sustainability and productivity of forest-based natural resources and agricultural systems. Academic programs are delivered by the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources through the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, research is administered by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and extension and outreach activities are coordinated by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello offers all of their programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and are Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employers.

THE POLK COUNTY

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Vandervoort Elementary School Perfect Attendance 3rd 9 Weeks (2021-2022) Kindergarten: Heidi Holbrook, Jase Tabor First Grade: None Second Grade: Madison Holbrook, Jonathan Tabor Third Grade: Dakota Barrett, Joey Wade, Brody Ward, Timothy Williams Fourth Grade: Makenzie Butler, Falynn Ward Fifth Grade: Gracelee Burk, Daniel Madrid, Ava Parker Sixth Grade: Brody Creel, Izaiah Dixon

March 23, 2022

Education 27

Mena School Board introduces new Louise Durham Elementary principal Submitted by Mark Hobson

The March Meeting of the Mena School Board was held on Tuesday evening, March 15, at the District Administration Building.

As usual the meeting began with the Superintendent’s Report. Dr. Lee Smith introduced the board to Mr. Curtis Black. Black will be the new Principal at Louise Durham Elementary for the 2022/2023 school year.

Also as a part of the Superintendent’s Report Mr. Danny Minton updated the board on numerous projects around the district. These included the installation of drainage boxes at Bearcat Stadium, a new sidewalk is under construction at Mena High School and new wash bays are in production at the remodeled Ag Barn. A new energy audit is in process to verify the savings from switching to LED lighting. Plus the new ION filtering system and new warmers are being installed at Louise Durham.

Dr. Smith then asked the board to consider continuing to use C.R. Crawford Construction as the district’s construction manager. The company has performed above expectations in the past and there are numerous projects on the horizon.

The board approved.

Dr. Smith then updated the board on the recent 2020-2021 audit. He was pleased to report that the audit was clean and no problems were reported.

Next on the agenda was the consideration of a resolution on school choice capacity. The state requires that no district may gain or lose over 3% of its population to school choice. That would translate to 51 students for the Mena School District. After a brief discussion the resolution was passed. The school choice deadline is May 1, 2022.

The board then approved the purchase of a 2018 Blue Bird school bus from Masters Transportation in the amount of $67,732.00.

Mena High School Principal Mr. David Maxwell then petitioned the board to approve a change in the honors policy. The request was to drop foreign language as a requirement for students to be eligible for high honors since it is no longer required by the state for the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship. The change was approved by the board. MHS will continue to offer foreign language through Virtual Arkansas but it will not be required to graduate with honors.

The board was then notified by Dr. Smith that the USDA has denied the extension of the free

meals program and the application process will return for the 2022-2023 school year.

Next was a proposal to acquire Arvest Purchasing Cards for use by employees for approved expenses. The goal being to alleviate the need for employees to make purchases and be reimbursed after the fact. That resolution was approved.

Assistant Superintendent Bridget Buckley then presented the recruitment and retention plan for the district. That plan was approved.

The district’s financial report was approved after Smith declared that the district remains in solid financial condition and is on target to finish the year as expected.

Personnel changes are always last on the agenda. The board accepted the resignation of Amy Montgomery and approved the hiring of Celeste Ashcraft to replace her as Assistant Principal at Mena High School. Abigail Tilley was hired for the Mena Middle School and Mena High School choir position. Stacy Salisbury will be a half time dyslexia specialist. Zen Valensia will fill a new position as wrestling coach and also assist with football in addition to teaching duties at MMS. Avanlea Chaney will fill the counselor’s position at Louise Durham and Aarika Cox will move from her current position to one as RTI Parapro.

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March 23, 2022

THE POLK COUNTY

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