Thursday, October 30, 2014 DeWitt Era-Enterprise • dewitt-ee.com
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LOCAL NEWS Quorum Court Monthly Meeting By Terrye Seamon “I really don’t know where to start except to say that I’ve been awakened many a time at 3:00 in the morning, but this time it was 3:25, and the dispatcher from Stuttgart said the courthouse annex is on fire,” Arkansas County Judge Glenn “Sonny” Cox told Quorum Court members at their monthly meeting October 14. The fire, which took place on the morning of September 23, was the result of arson. “It was a sad day, but it was even sadder when we learned that it was arson. That made it really hard to swallow,” Cox said. At first Cox thought that they would be able to salvage part of the building, but two-thirds of it was already gone, and it resulted in being a total loss. Life does go on though. Cox said that it could take up to 24 months to rebuild the building, and an architect out of Little Rock has already been hired. In the meantime, Cox and his crew have rented office space for the next two years and relocated to 302 South College in Stuttgart. Conditions are kind of close and cramped and the word “togetherness” takes on a whole new meaning, but Cox remains hopeful. “We are doing the best we can,” he said. Even though the fire completely destroyed the 911 operations center, Cox said, “We had 911 back up and running in twenty minutes.” He explained that Century Tel’s central office rerouted 911 calls to Stuttgart’s three police lines. The way the temporary system is set up, the call goes to a primary line where it is programmed to pick up on the fourth ring. If it’s not picked up, then there is a click, and it rolls over to the second line, rings four more times, clicks again and rolls over to the third line. He went on to say that if all three lines are busy, someone calling 911 can get a busy signal. When the 911 system is operating properly, the system just stacks up the callers and keeps ringing so 911 personnel can call them back. Members of local 4H Clubs and county Extension agents from the Cooperative Extension Service were present at the meeting for Judge Glenn “Sonny” Cox to sign a Proclamation declaring October as National 4-H Month in Arkansas County. The main goal of the organization as outlined in the proclamation is the development of youth into “active citizens and leaders of tomorrow.” Arkansas County Treasurer Charles Horton reported to the Court that currently the county has a total of $2,772,057.16 compared to $2,623,448.53 this time last year. Sheriff Allan Cheek reported that there were 81 prisoners in the adult detention facility and five juveniles in the juvenile facility. He reported that the work crew picked up trash along county roads, assisted with the cleanup and remodeling of Stuttgart City Hall, in addition to working at the Stuttgart armory and the baseball complex in DeWitt. Cheek also updated the Court on the progress of the new K9 officer reported on at last month’s meeting. Since that meeting, the County has had to look at two different dogs because plans fell through concerning the training of the dog. Cheek said that both dogs were too aggressive when it came to training them. The sheriff ’s office has plans to pick up the new dog, which will be trained in patrol, tracking and drugs, November 4, and the K9 deputy will go through training November 10. Cheek said the dogs are already trained, and the K9 deputy is required to go through training on how to handle the dog in order not to undo the dog’s previous training. This dog will cost $8, 450, which is approximately $3,000 more than the original dog they were going to purchase. Cox and Cheek explained that the money will be paid upfront and then donations will be earmarked to go back into the fund used to purchase the dog. “We are looking forward to getting this dog. I think it’s going to be excellent for the schools, for the jails cause it’s new, it’s fresh.” And hopefully, Cheek said, it won’t have multiple handlers. Ruby Allen, recycling coordinator, shared with the Court the recycling center hub at Jefferson County is up and running now with a covered drive-thru recycling center where items are unloaded for you. DeWitt currently takes their E-waste recyclables there, but Waste Management currently takes paper and plastic recyclables to Little Rock. Allen said that future plans may include changing to Pine Bluff, and this will offer a welcomed alternative down the road. “It has given us the opportunity to grow,” Allen said. The Court considered three ordinances amending the budgets of several funds and creating a new fund for the rebuilding of the Stuttgart courthouse lost in the fire. The Jail and Operations and Maintenance Budget was amended in the amounts of $19,400 and $8,450 for a transport van and the new K9 dog. The Courthouse Maintenance budget was amended in the amount of $9,800 for new air conditioning systems in both the DeWitt and Stuttgart courthouses. The Election budget was amended in the amount of $17, 089.35 for reimbursements received from the state for the purpose of primary and runoff elections. Court members also passed an ordinance establishing a new Arkansas County Courthouse Annex Fire budget in the amount of $500,000 received from insurance for the reconstruction of a new building and equipment. The November Quorum Court meeting will be Monday, November 10 instead of November 11, which is Veteran’s Day. November 10 will also be the first round of budget hearings for 2015, and the second round of budget hearings will be November 25.
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Obituary Sarah Baxter Sarah Lorrine Mannis Baxter, age 81, of Sherwood, formerly of DeWitt, died October 20, 2014. She was born September 10, 1933 in DeWitt to Henry and Treva May Mills Mannis who preceded her in death. Also preceding her were her husband, Lynn Baxter and sons. Billy and Donnie Baxter. Survivors include children: Yuvonne Cook of Little Rock, Diane Bell of Devers, TX, Susan Nicar, Terry Baxter, Roger Baxter all of Dayton, TX, Lynn Baxter III of North Little Rock, Kay Ham, Cynthia Baxter of Dayton, TX, Treva Ables of Bay City, TX, Kathy Fernandez of San Antonio, TX; siblings: Steven Mannis of DeWitt, Charles Mannis of Brownsville, TX, Susie Kay of McFarland, TX, Audrey Mannis and Ricky Mannis of DeWitt, Carol Mannis of Stuttgart; 33 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren. Graveside services were 11:00 AM, October 22nd, at Thompson Cemetery by Essex Funeral Home.
Obituary Franklin Wood Franklin Delano Wood age 81 of Springdale passed away Wednesday, October 22, 2014. He was born March 11, 1933 to Jessie and Mellie Hynum Wood in Reydell, AR. He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Dixie Carver Wood of Springdale; one daughter Gail DeLancey and Steve of Springdale, and one son Steven Wood and Jean of Cabot. He was blessed with eight grandchildren, Bradley Steven DeLancey and Lily, Adam Delano DeLancey and Porsche, Allison Lynne DeLancey and Chuck Morter, Christina Brookes Wood, Shelby Reagan Wood, Matthew Douglas Wood all of Springdale, Kristin Marie Williams and Jeff of Ward, and Brooke Ann Mayhew and Brian of Colcord, OK, and six great grandchildren Rylee Jane Williams, Charles Wesley Mayhew, Owen Wayne DeLancey, Riley Reed DeLancey, Fletcher Delano DeLancey, and Logan Wayne Williams. Delano is also survived by one brother; Johnny Wood of Stuttgart, two sisters Evelyn Theis and Henry of Conway, Carole Carver and Amos of Gentry. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Raymond, Darl, Rufus, and Billy Ray; sisters Ora Wood, Irene Wood, Inda Sieber Young, Gladys Trussell, and Shirley Keaton. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict as a Military Policeman. He was a lifelong farmer, member of Elm Springs Methodist Church, charter member of Benson Lake Hunting Club, Cub Scout Pack 74 Troop Leader and served on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas County Farm Bureau and the Arkansas Trappers Association. He was an avid hunter and fisherman that always cherished his time spent in the outdoors. Funeral services was held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 25, 2014 at Essex Funeral Home Chapel with burial in DeWitt Cemetery by Essex Funeral Home.
Obituary Marjorie Ross Marjorie Victoria LaRose Ross, 70, of Gillett died October 22, 2014. She was born June 18, 1944, in DeWitt to Joe LaRose and Vernice Irene Fuches. She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister Zandra and one brother Fred; and one granddaughter Addison Grace Ross. Margie is survived by her husband Thomas George Ross; three children Vernice Brinton and Butch Ross (Janel) both of Gillett and Thomas Ross, Jr. of DeWitt; three brothers Ted (Kay) Weir of Gillett, Tim Weir of Hartford, MI, and Richard (Dawn) Weir of Cloma, MI; five sisters Marie Clouse of Millburg, MI, Connie Cannon and Pat (Hartley) Collins of Hartford, MI, Sheila Garcia of Penbrook Pines, FL, and Teila White of Stevensville, MI; seven grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews. Funeral services were 2:30 October 25 at Essex Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Gillett Cemetery by Essex Funeral Home.
DeWitt Era • 946-3933 Thank You I would like to say thank you so much for all the prayers, visits, cards, phone calls and acts of kindness shown to me while I was in the hospital and since I have gotten home. Thanks to our children for all your help. A very special thank you to Dr. Burleson and staff for your great care. May God bless each and everyone of you.
Dan Patterson
Lauren’s Garden
Mums Are Blooming! -Turnip Green Seed -Fall Vegetable Plants (Cabbage, Broccoli, Lettuce) and Seeds - Pumpkins - Gourds - Hay Stalks - Straw Bales - Pansies -Fall Blooming Flowers
Open Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m.- Noon Call: AJ 946-5446 Jackie: 946-6182
Ferguson Rural Health Clinic Dr. Ralph Maxwell & Suzette Boyd, APN
Open Mon. - Thurs. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. 870-946-3637 Taking New Patients - New Born to Geriatric Care - Pre Employment Drug Screening - School Physicals - DOT Physicals by appt. only -
Walk-ins accepted • Appointments preferred Open during lunch
We need you! These animals were picked up by the DeWitt Animal Control Officer this week. If one of these dogs belongs to you or you would like to find out about adopting one, please call the Animal Control Officer at 946-6307.