F (USPS156-140) 6 0) V Vol.l 133, 33 N Number b 1 DeWitt, AR 72042 • 16 Pages • 2 Sections • 75 cents
irst Baptist Preschool 2014 Christmas Program
Serving Arkansas County County, Arkansas Since 1882
Story and Photos on Page B1
Thursday, January 1, 2014
2014 Year in Review
AROUND THE COUNTY
CHRISTMAS BREAK
The schools of the DeWitt School District will be dismissed December 22-January 2 for Christmas Break. Classes will resume at the regular time on Monday, January 5, 2015. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, everyone!
BERRY PRECOON SUPPER
The Berry Pre-Coon Supper Reception to benefit the Marion and Carolyn Berry Scholarship Fund will be held January 10, 2015 from 3:30-6:30pm at the Berry Farm Shop in Gillett. Live music by the Wing Walkers. Tickets are $30.00 each with checks payable to Marion and Carolyn Berry Scholarship Fund, ASU Foundation, P.O. Box 1990, State University, AR 72467. For more information call Ben Noble at 501-722-9473 or Gabe Holmstrom at 479-409-3329.
DEWITT ERA ENTERPRISE HOLIDAY HOURS
The DeWitt Era-Enterprise will be closed Wednesday, December 31st through Friday, January 2nd. We will return to normal hours on Monday, January 5th.
THE GILLETT FARMERS AND BUSINESSMEN’S CLUB
The Gillett Farmers and Businessmen’s Club will host the 72nd Annual Coon Supper on Saturday, Janaury 10, 2015. The Coon Supper will be held in the Gillett Elementary Gymnasium (313 S. 6th Street, Gillett, AR 72055). The doors will open and the meal will be served at 6pm with the program beginning at 6:30pm. Menu will be the same as last year: coon, babyback ribs, brisket, rice, sweet potatoes, and cake.
The bicentennial time capsule is buried on the southeast corner of the Court Square
By Terrye Seamon JANUARY 2 •DeWitt’s proposed 2014 budget is still on hold due to raises mandated by state legislature for Southern Arkansas County District Court judge and clerk. •The Pine Bluff Jefferson County EOC will administer the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program in Jefferson, Grant, Cleveland, Lincoln, and Arkansas counties in order to help assist those struggling financially with the home energy and heating bills. JANUARY 9 •Acres of Help is voted Best of DeWitt’s Volunteer Group of the Year. •Laura Essex is voted Best of DeWitt Young Volunteer of the Year. •The DeWitt City Council passes the 2014 budget without allocating funding for the Southern Arkansas County District Court deputy court clerk position. •A bicentennial time capsule is buried on the southeast corner of the Court Square. JANUARY 16 •Dana Horton is voted Best of DeWitt’s Educator of the Year. •Thomas “Eddie” Best and Justice of the Peace Ryan Eagle announce their candidacies for Arkansas County Judge. •New hours are set for the St. Charles post office: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. •The 71st annual Gillett Coon Supper is held in Gillett. •The health department warns that the flu is causing severe illness and death in adults between the ages 25-50 years old and recommends vaccination. JANUARY 23 •Johnny Davis is voted Best of DeWitt’s Entrepreneur of the Year. •Arkansas County Judge Glenn “Sonny” Cox announces that he will run for reelection. •Former U.S. Ambassador Alan Eastham, former resident of Dumas, speaks to the DeWitt Rotary Club. JANUARY 30 •Seven-year-old Justin Ross is diagnosed with Acanthamoeba, a microscopic amoeba that causes severe infections of the eye, skin, and central nervous system. •Pam Castaneda is voted Best of
DeWitt’s Good Neighbor of the Year. •DeWitt Hospital and Nursing Home is reported to make a significant impact on the local economy by providing 149 jobs, $18,237,468 in total revenue and a total income of $8,0202,680. •The DeWitt School Board approves the upgrading of technology in the school district. •The DeWitt City Police Department receives two new patrol cars. •Faith Baptist holds Big Buck Banquet with featured guest speaker Brian Womack, owner of High Plains Waterfowl, Inc. FEBRUARY 6 •Warren A. Jennings is voted Best of DeWitt’s Citizen of the Year. The Acres of Help charity organization holds a very successful fundraising banquet, helping raise more than $140,000 for those in need. •Regina Mannis announces that she will seek re-election for her fourth term as Arkansas County Assessor. •DeWitt High School senior Christen Earhart is chosen as Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen of the Year. •DeWitt High School senior Storm Archambeau is one of seven students in Arkansas to receive the 2014 Horatio Alger State Scholarship. •The DeWitt Chamber of Commerce holds the Best of DeWitt Banquet and honors the Best of DeWitt. FEBRUARY 13 •The Monsanto Fund donates $2,500 to Gillett Elementary School. •The Essex family makes a donation of food and supplies to the DeWitt Animal Shelter in memory of their daughter Loma. •The St. Charles Community Store is purchased by High Plains Waterfowl Group and will be converted into a hunting ministry. FEBRUARY 20 •Sarah Merchant announces that she will seek re-election as Arkansas County Circuit Clerk. •Local DeWitt High School FFA chapter celebrates National FFA Week. •DeWitt High School Senior Cody Fox signs a national letter of intent to run for Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. Fox holds DeWitt High School’s records in 1600M, 3200M and
Cross Country. FEBRUARY 27 •DeWitt Mayor Ralph Relyea and alt.Consulting receive state commendations as the Farm to Fuel strategy expands and progresses. •The Southern District Court of Arkansas County sues Arkansas County and City of DeWitt. MARCH 6 •Lightning strikes Dana’s House and causes extensive damage to the thrift store, kitchen, recreation room, computers and van. •Diana Merritt is named the new GED instructor on the DeWitt Campus of PCCUA. •Students of DeWitt and Gillett Elementary Schools participate in the Read the Most from Coast to Coast literacy awareness activity. •DeWitt’s Lauren Johnson makes the roster of UAM’s women’s golf team. •Author Kathryn Lee Lemonds holds a book signing for her book Furry Blessings: A Sign from Heaven at DeWitt Publishing. MARCH 13 •The DeWitt Campus of PCCUA hosts their 6th Annual Mardi Gras Ball. •The Arkansas Highway Commission approves bid for improvements in Arkansas County. •Local 4-H clubs hold annual banquet and awards ceremony. •Miss Arkansas visits DeWitt Elementary School. •Almyra native Representative David Hillman announces that he will run for a second term in the Arkansas House of Representatives. •DeWitt’s Robert “Eddie” Weaver, a sophomore at UAM and a debate student, is a top competitor in the LAU-Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Classic debate tournament. MARCH 20 •The Affordable Care Act deadline quickly approaches with Arkansas’ plan being the first plan nationwide to use Medicaid funds to purchase private insurance. •Arkansas and PCCUA is recognized for statewide efforts in community college student success. Continued on Page A2