White river journal, april 21, 2016

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1 SECTION - 14 PAGES V OLUME /Y EAR 109, WEEK 37 (5,672 TOTAL WEEKS)

“A FREE P RESS AND A F REE P EOPLE - A N U NBEATABLE T EAM ” D ES A RC , A RKANSAS (C OUNTY S EAT ) P RAIRIE C OUNTY

P U BLISHED EACH T H U R S D A Y S I N C E 1 9 0 7 THU RSD AY, APR IL 21, 2016

Tollville’s contribution to Henry Ford’s success about 1920 Unknown is what the event or occasion in Tollville was .... might’ve been a holiday, marriage, funeral, Saturday dance on top floor of the Clara, or even a ballgame as Tollville had a baseball team at the time. Most likely, the photographer was standing on the balcony of the Clara (built about 1906) and located at the Stanley & Dorothy Clayton homeplace. The photo would’ve been directly across the road toward where the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and Parish Hall are now located. One thing for certain is that folks in the 1920’s had either inches of dust or inches of mud to deal with when driving on the dirt roads. Note the tire chains on the inset photo. Photo and description courtesy of Judy Toll-Booher of Tollville

Cameras installed in court room, mayor says

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR THURS.,APR. 21,9 & 10 AM Juror Orientation-Courtroom DeValls Bluff 9 a.m. Des Arc 10 a.m.

Reject bids on police cars

THURS., APRIL 21, 12 N Chamber of Commerce F & M Bank

THURS., APR. 21, 4 PM Lady Eagles hosts Riverview

FRI., APR. 22, 4:30 PM Eagle Baseball at England

FRI., APR. 22, 6:30 PM Joy Night at Faith Outreach Ministries

SAT., APRIL 23 DAHS Prom Elementary Cafetorium

SUN, APRIL 24, 6 PM Fellowship Service Family Worship Center Kenny Pasley, Speaker

TUES., APRIL 26, 7 PM Prairie County Fair Board Meet: Fair Building

MON., APRIL 25 Track Meet at England

SUN., APR. 24 10 AM Homecoming at Pleasant Ridge MB Church

SUN., MAY 1, 11:30 AM Johnson Chapel Decoration Day

SUN., MAY 1, 3 PM DAHS Band Concert High School gymnasium

TUES., MAY 3 @ 6:30 PM Band Banquet at Dondies

SAT., MAY 7 Class of 1951 Reunion Sue Margrave home

MON., MAY 9 6 PM Academic Banquet Elementary Cafetorium

TUES., MAY 10, 5:30 PM Athletic Banquet Elementary Cafetorium

WED., MAY 11, 8:30 AM Kindergarten Graduation Elementary Cafetorium

FRI., MAY 13, 8 PM High School Graduation Hinson-Rollins Field If raining, will be held in High School gymnasium

THURS., MAY 19 6 PM Sixth Grade Graduation Elementary Cafetorium

FRI., MAY 20 School Out for Summer Classes resume in August

Obituaries Pg . 4

Mary Ann Cobb, 82, Des Arc Lex Davis, 71, Sherwood Donna Gunnell, 72, Casscoe Kathryn Haynes, 95, Brinkley Junior Johnson, 79, Cabot Kerry McCune, 60, Tontitown Sherylon Mason, 79, Lonoke William Ray, Jr., 45, Lonoke Robert Self, 53, Clarendon Jay Sims, 85, Little Rock Mary Thomas, 82, DeValls Bluff Gail Warren, 57, Brinkley

USPS improves from B- to ADelivery Tracking Chart (Pg 13)

Above is the design that adorns the 2016 Steamboat Days T-shirts. Shirts are white with red and navy blue olors. Shirts are now vailable. Inquire at banks and TJ’s Kountry Kitchen. Chairman T. J. Nelson is at work on this year’s 30th annual event.

Two Clarendon women die in Interstate 40 crash Police have identified two people killed in a fiery wreck on Interstate 40 Tuesday that shut down parts of the highway for hours. Two Clarendon women traveling in a Honda CRV were killed after their vehicle stalled around 9:30 a.m. in the left lane of westbound I-40 near Lonoke. The small SUV was then struck by two Freightliner trucks, the report stated. The women were identified as Linda Brewster, 47, who was driving, and Lora Piggee, 49, a passenger.

The report said the passenger side of the first truck struck the CRV before running off the left side of the highway. A second truck then struck the rear of the SUV. According to an Arkansas DemocratGazette photographer who was at the scene Tuesday, two accidents occurred on the eastbound side of the highway a short time later including one involving an RV. Weather conditions at the time of the wrecks were described as wet and rainy.

“White River Memoirs” on exhibit at museum April 30 Lower White River Museum State Park cordially invites you to attend the exhibit opening of “White River Memoirs” on Saturday, April 30, 2016. This exhibit explores the collective memories of the White River through art and other media. The exhibit will open at 2:00 p. m. with a presentation by photographer, Chris Engholm, whose journey on the river in a handmade canoe inspired the exhibit.

For more information, contact Monica Smith at the Lower White River Museum, 2009 Main Street, Des Arc, AR 72040. Phone (870) 256-3711 E-mail: monica.f.smith@arkansas. gov. Lower White River Museum State Park is one of 52 state parks administered by the State Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

Mayor Jim Garth and city council members met Tuesday night to take care of city business. Visitors present were: Police Chief Rick Parson; Dewayne Mayher; Lee Slagley; Matthew Slagley and Leon Inman Council members present were: Alderman Steve Bryan, Alderwoman Janice Alderman Huffstickler, Bruce Sutton, and Alderman Welton Robinson. Council members Anna Beth Fisher and Alderman Ray McVay were absent. Mayor Garth advised that cameras had been installed in the city’s court room. The cameras were a part of the new courtroom security mandates that had been implemented a year or two ago and were paid for by the courts. He also stated, “I would like for the council to consider purchasing a similar camera system for the utility office.” He added, “Some research has been done on the system and I believe that a camera system with up to four cameras can be purchased for under $400.” Council members approved the purchase unanimously. Officer Wayne Mayher, reporting for the police department, advised there had been 20 traffic violations, six misdemeanor offenses and seven felony offenses in the city the past month. He also stated that

the new bullet proof vests for the department’s officers had been received. Alderman Bryan said that gas prices were stable right now and most of the current usage is coming out of storage. In the water and sewer department, Mayor Garth advised that workers have been looking for leaks. He advised, “A leak in a line from Well #2 caused a shortage that fried some of the electronics (control board) at the water plant.” He said an older control board was installed to use temporarily while the other one was off being repaired. he asvised that the city was looking at having to purchases a new system next year at a cost of around $20,000. Alderman Bryan mentioned a hole that needed repairing by the post office. Mayor Garth added that the cemetery backhoe was back from being repaired. Animal Control: Officer Mayher that one dog picked up was reclaimed by the owner, one citation and three warnings were issued. One dog was adpted. Bids were opened for the two old police cars. The bids were as follows: Leon Inman bid $3777 for one of the Dodge Chargers. Matthew Slagley bid $6500 for the other Dodge Charger. D3 Auto Sales bid $6500 for each

police car. A fourth bid was opened which was also from D3 Auto Sales that revised the previous bid from $6500 to $5500 for each police car. Police Chief Rick Parson advised the council that after much research he believed the cars were worth quite a bit more money. He said that bank loan amount were $9500 for one and $10,000 for the other. The appraised value was even higher than that, he said. Alderwoman Huffstickler made a motion to accept one bid from Matthew Slagley for one of the cars for $6500 and accept D3 Auto Sales bid for $5500. Alderman Sutton seconded the motion. The vote was 3 to 1 and the mayor abstained from voting so the motion died for lack of a quorum. (Alderman Bryan voted no) After some discussion, Chief Parson said he believed that each car could be sold for $9500. Alderman Bryan made a motion to sell each police car for at least $9500. That was approved unanimously. Alderman Bryan made a motion to allow the mayor to advertise for bids on the old rescue van to be opened at the next council meeting. Chrisana Knupp, Recorder-Treasurer

Democratic Women to meet April 28

Judge Mike Skarda reported doing well Prairie County Judge Mike Skarda of Des Arc advised Wednesday that he is feeling fine following another surgery. He is at home after having more rods placed in his hip By Chris Weems and having a large cyst that was against a kidney removed. Prairie County FederaBest wishes for a complete and speedy recovery for tion of Democratic Women Judge Skarda. will meet Thursday night, April 28, at 6:00, at Murry’s Restaurant, as announced by Chris Weems, Club President. With the Democratic Convention and other events, we will have some business to take care of. Interested women are invited to come and meet with us.

Farm Bureau Supports Arkansas Works Arkansas Farm Bureau has announced support for Arkansas Works, the governor’s proposed revision to the use of federal Medicaid reserves to fund insurance coverage for eligible participants. The board of directors for the state’s largest agricultural advocacy organization met Tuesday to evaluate its grassroots policy and determined that defunding Arkansas Works is too large a threat to the state’s budget and rural health care providers. “Arkansas Works is the best path forward for the state’s fiscal well-being and our rural communities,” said Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach, a cotton and soybean farmer from Manila (Mississippi County). “We approached this position with an open mind and open hearts. Our members need secure rural

health care providers and a sound state budget. Those tenants compel us to support Arkansas Works.” Arkansas Farm Bureau policy positions are defined by a grassroots structure that provides direction from members active within each county Farm Bureau. Those policy positions then move through a statewide resolutions process before being voted on annually at the organization’s state convention. “Failure to pass the Department of Human Services budget that includes Arkansas Works funding has broad budget implications,” Veach said. “We looked most keenly at the impact to rural hospitals, the impact to our state’s economic bedrock and the communities that support our farmers and ranchers.

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY IN ARKANSAS: Harvey Joe Sanner, agriculture advocate, talking with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack during the secretary’s visit to Arkansas on Saturday, April 16. Vilsack was speaking at the University of Arkansas on Tuesday.

The Jour nal w elcomes y our input (c omments , s ugges tions, pers onal new s, photos , etc )

New/Renewed Journal Subscribers . . Contact Us: Email: wrjnews1@centurytel.net

Wanda Holloway Jones, Gulfport, MS / Beth Ann Greer Byrd, Little Rock, AR Mail: PO Box 1051, Des Arc, Ar 72040

Tel: 870-256-4254


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White river journal, april 21, 2016 by charles walls - Issuu