Pulse THE POLK COUNTY
FREE WEEKLY 1168 Hwy 71 S Mena, AR 71953 479.243.9600
December 27, 2023
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Moving Mena Forward seeking input from citizens
INSIDE:
Article and photos by Ethan Nahté
Lyle National Award Winner
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Toys For Tots
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A group of four to five dozen Polk County residents, including business owners and leaders, members of organizations and civic groups, as well as board members and politician such as Mena Mayor Seth Smith, Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison and Arkansas State Rep. John Maddox, were in attendance at the open house that occurred at the Ouachita Center on the UA Rich Mountain campus on Dec. 19. The event was the initial public discussion for Move Mena Forward, a project that addresses the infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians. The audience stood around a large map of Mena and the surrounding area draped across two tables and provided colorful Sharpies.
Dave Roberts, urban developer and senior vice president of Crafton Tull in Little Rock, said, "We're talking about a federal grant that you all are going to apply for. There are two version of this grant. It's called a RAISE grant." The Biden-Harris administration announced $1.5 billion would be available for the 2024 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grant Program. In 2023, RAISE funding supported 162 projects throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands "The one we're going to help you come up with first is a planning grant," Roberts said. "That allows Residents look over the map to proyou to ask for money to plan on pose improvements for pedestrian and what you want to build with the bicycling access throughout Mena. See RAISE construction grant, which is the continued on page 5
First Moon Mountain Sanctuary holiday fundraiser packs The Ouachitas
VFW Honors Veterans
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Article and photos by Ethan Nahté seeing Pharaoh, a rescued miniature horse, standing in a hay-filled The Ouachitas was packed Friday enclosure outside the restaurant, night as Moon Mountain Sanctuary and those who had their photos and Rescue held their first holiday taken with actor Dawn Olivieri at fundraiser in what the Sanctuary the event, it would be a safe bet that is hoping to be an annual event. many of the attendees would like to Judging by the crowd who enjoyed see it become a regular event, too.
As a matter of fact, Olivieri was the person inside the enclosure as it was being erected, throwing out the hay and feed for the horse all while dressed in a skirt and heels. She was not afraid to get in there do it herself. See BENEFIT continued on page 8