G (USPS156-140) Vol. 132, Number 21 DeWitt, AR 72042 • 16 Pages • 2 Sections • 75 cents
AROUND THE COUNTY
and raduation Day for the Class of Story Photos 2014 was held Friday, May 16 PageonA8
Serving Arkansas County, Arkansas Since 1882
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Best, Eagle Set to Have Runoff for Arkansas County Judge
NEW HOURS FOR DANA’S HOUSE CLOTHES CLOSET
Dana’s House Clothes Closet (the West Side School Building) has new hours. They will now be open Friday and Saturday from 1:00 - 3:00.
GHS CLASS OF 1964 HOLDS REUNION
The GHS Class of 1964 is holding its 50th Year Reunion on Saturday, May 23 as part of Heritage Days on the west end of Main Street in Gillett, Arkansas. Please stop by our tent and visit with us.
ARKANSAS HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation will be replacing a covert on May 29th at Hershel Rd. on Highway 130. The dead end road will be closed from 9am until 3pm.
BIRTHDAY CALENDAR PROJECT
The 39th year for the Birthday Calendar project is beginning in DeWitt with calendar sales to benefit the DeWitt Hospital and Nursing Home Auxiliary. Tiila Relyea, Birthday Calendar Project Chairman, has worked with Ruritan Club members to make a transition for this fundraising project from the Ruritans to the DHNH Auxiliary. Elaine Simpson is the Calendar Sales Chairman. The project began with the DeWitt Jaycettes in 1975, and it will now be a fundraiser for the Hospital Auxiliary. A recent project of the auxiliary has been to remodel the Chapel at the DeWitt Hospital. To support your local hospital, contact Relyea, Simpson, or any DHNH member to order a calendar. The proceeds will all go to projects that will benefit the hospital and nursing home.
By Kevin Brown The votes have trickled in and… we have a runoff. Even with a low turn out, 28.3%, turns out, the winds of change are in the air. The Tuesday Primary Election in Arkansas County was minimal, yet had a maximal effect. With a total of 2,819 votes, long-term County Judge Glenn “Sonny” Cox scraped in a low 628 nods, at 26.61%, while Ryan Eagle took 708 votes and Thomas “Eddie” Best raked in 1,024, calculating at 30% and 43.39%, respectively. Cox, who was elected in 1993, ran unopposed for 16 years, facing only one opponent in 1998. He now faces defeat after an extended but admirable tenure of 22 years.
“I’d like to thank Arkansas County for 22 years, good years,” Cox said. “Arkansas County is a better place than it was 22 years ago.” Because of the Memorial Day holiday, the Runoff Election will begin June 10th between Eagle and Best. Early voting will be announced. “I thank everybody for getting out and voting,” Best said. “I look forward to a good, honest campaign with Mr. Eagle in the runoff.” Eagle released a public statement on social media saying: “Over the past several months I’ve been overwhelmed by the support of those who have believed in me and my plan for the future of Arkansas County.”
In the Primary, voters had to choose Republican or Democrat. Since all of the candidates were democrats for the judge’s race, citizens had to vote democrat in all other races. Here are the unofficial results from Arkansas County: DEMOCRAT: Governor Lynette “Doc” Bryant: 384 Mike Ross: 1,817 County Judge: Glenn “Sonny” Cox: 628 Ryan Eagle: 708 Thomas “Eddie” Best: 1,024 Justice of the Peace, District 6: Inez L. McLemore: 77 Darrell Bryant: 43
REPUBLICAN: Governor: Curtis Coleman: 58 Asa Hutchinson: 351 Lieutenant Governor: Tim Griffin: 276 Debra Hobbs: 34 Andy Mayberry: 93 Attorney General: Patricia Nation: 65 David Sterling: 138 Leslie Rutledge: 195 State Treasurer: Dennis Milligan: 246 Duncan Baird: 139 Auditory of State: Andrea Lea: 307 Ken Yang: 82 State Representative, District 14: Trent Eilts: 23 Buddy Fisher: 15
DeWitt Post Office Participates in Annual Letter Carrier Food Drive The Dewitt Post Office participated in the annual Letter Carrier Food Drive on May 10, 2014. The week of the food drive the Carriers delivered bags for the residents to fill up with canned goods. What a success this food drive was in the community, the community delivered for this food drive. We collected over 2400 pounds of food. Mr. Sammy and Mrs. Betty Cotner came from The Caring and Sharing food pantry and loaded there pickup truck not once, but twice with all the food collected. A big Thank you to all that donated and to Mrs. Glenda Williams, the local Coordinator.
Roger Watkins, CeCe Blackwell, Glenda Williams, Sharon Young, James Hageman, Audie Lawless, Terry Hawkins, and Larry Childers. Also not pictured that brought in a lot of the food is Karen West and Rai Watkins also took in a lot of food at the window.