ILOXI BLUES
(USPS 088-820) Vol. 131, Number 8 DeWitt, AR 72042 • 16 Pages • 2 Sections • 75 cents
AROUND THE COUNTY
The hit play by Neil Simon will be performed by the Montana Repertory Theatre at the Grand Prairie Center. See Page 7A
Serving Arkansas County, Arkansas Since 1882
Thursday, February 21, 2013
CALL Receives $2500 Donation
Cupcake Decorating Class
PCCUA Community Education Dept. will be offering a Cupcake Decorating class March 5 &12 from 5:307:30. The cost is $30.00. Deadline to register is February 25.
Hypertufa Art Class
PCCUA Community Education Dept. will be offering a Hypertufa Art class Saturday, March 9 from 10:00-2:00. The cost is $65, which includes supplies and a light lunch. Register by February 27.
Gospel Musical – Bring Your Praise
Pictured from left to right are: Jimmy Moss, Dean & Katie Jo Price (Almyra Fire Dept.), Jammy Turner (Monsanto Rep.), Carolyn & Ron Knowlton (The CALL Coordinators).
Different Voices. Saturday, February 23 at 6 p.m. at the Greater St. John MB Church 205 S. Adams. Rev. Robert Vanderbilt, Pastor. Proceeds go toward the Kitchen fund. All churches invited.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECOGNIZED
The Quorum Court gave recognition to the Grand Prairie Historical Society for their donation of $3,400 to restore two county record books. A resolution was also passed to allow Judge Cox to apply for a grant of $19,702.65 for the Circuit Clerk to implement the 3rd phase of the book restoration project to image the remaining 203 books dating from 1895 to 1978.
Healthy Heart Summit
Wednesday, February 27th PCCUA-DeWitt Community Room, 12:00-1:00. At 12:00, lunch will be served and a presentation will be given by Ralph Maxwell, D.O. followed by Ja Chambless personal testimony. This event is free and open to everyone in the community but you must register to participate.
on s l i a De t h e t o ve m big i ng c om n ! soo
Dean Price won Monsanto’s “American’s Farmers Grow Communities Award”. This program allows the farmer to name the charity of his choice to receive the donation. Dean won two $2500 donations and chose THE CALL and the ALMYRA FIRE DEPARTMENT to each receive $2500! The award ceremony was held at the Almyra Fire Department on February 13. This generous donation will
be used by CALL to continue their ministry and provide more support services for the foster and adoptive families of Arkansas County. They now have 10 CALL foster or adoptive families and will soon add 14 more families when their training is finished. They plan to begin regular support meetings for these families to help them with their continuing education hours and CPR training that has to be renewed ev-
Smart911, Better Protection and Help for Citizens BY VALENYA FRANKS EDITOR dewitt00@centurytel.net
Judge Glen “Sonny” Cox spent a good portion of the February Quorum Court Meeting discussing the importance of Smart911, a computer program where people go online and enter information about themselves and the members of their household that would be available in case of an emergency call. This would include basic information like phone number (landline or cell phone), home address, number of people in the household and their names. People can also include if there are any disabled or elderly in the household, as well as any allergies members of the house may have. This would help dispatchers to relay important health factors to emergency responders. Currently, Arkansas County does not have the technology to be
a part of Smart911, but Judge Cox hopes to implement it by next year. Due to the rapid loss of landlines, the ability of 911 responders to effectively and properly help people in need is greatly lowered. Smart911 helps to eliminate the handicap that is presented with the loss of landlines. In 1996, Arkansas County had around 16,000 landlines, and today there are roughly 8,000. As of 2012, 83% of 911 calls were made from cell phones, while only 17% were made from landlines. It takes more technology for 911 to track a cell phone call. It is recommended to make system updates every five years. It has been nine years since there has been a software update, and before its recent upgrade, it had been twelve years. Estimated costs for the update are $250,000 to $300,000.
ery two years. This donation will make it possible for the CALL to expand the services we offer our foster families. The CALL (Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime) is a faith based, volunteer ministry that was launched in Arkansas County in May 2010. The purpose of the CALL is to educate, equip, and encourage the church congregations of our county to provide more foster homes. This ministry is
conducted in partnership with our local Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). At any given time, Arkansas County has approximately 50 children in foster care, however, when the CALL was launched, we only had 2 active foster homes to care for them. Due to this shortage, our foster children are
STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 5A
Congratulations Tanner Varnadore!
Tanner’s long awaited transplant was given February 6, 2013. This photo was taken that same day with his bone marrow transplant that was given to him. He wants to thank everyone for their prayers and donations. Tanner asks that you continue to pray for him. He still has a long way to go. The family also sends out their thanks to everyone. Donations are still appreciated. Call Debby Bowlin 946-5511 or Kathy Shepherd 946-5303.
DeWitt Era-Enterprise is moving!! Our new location will be
140 Court Square in DeWitt (the old White Ink building)
De t a ils o the n big m o c om ve i ng soon !