White river journal, dec 31, 2015

Page 1

Happy

1 SECTION - 12 PAGES V OLUME /Y EAR 109, WEEK 21 (5,656 TOTAL WEEKS)

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR

“A FREE P RESS

MON., JAN. 4 Classes at Des Arc Schools Resume

MON., JAN. 4, 6 PM Regular Meeting City Zoning Board

TUES, JAN. 5 / FRI., JAN. 8 Eagle Basketball Tues-at Augusta Fri-Hazen at Des Arc

THURS., JAN 7 Report Cards go out for Des Arc Schools

FRI,, JAN. 8, 6 PM Turkey Federation Banquet Hazen Armory

SAT., JAN. 9, 3 & 6 PM Movie “War Room” Community Center DeValls Bluff

MON. JAN. 11, 3:30 PM PALS (Parent Advisory) Elem. Cafetorium

January 1 A photo of the construction on the Prairie County Jail addition shows the floor slab had been poured and work laying the concrete blocks has started. A swearing in ceremony took place at 9 a.m. at the Courthouse Annex in Des Arc for elected and reelected county officials. The Grand Prairie National Wildlife Federation Banquet was held at the Hazen Armory on January 9.

January 8 Sixteen County Officials were sworn in at the Prairie County Courthouse Annex on New Year’s morning. Des Arc Elementary School is one of two chosen to attend National Title One Conference. Nancy Brown has been appointed as postmaster at the Des Arc Post Office effective December, 2014.

January 15

Quorum Court Meets Courthouse Annex In Des Arc

MON., JAN. 18 Des Arc Schools Dismissed for Martin Luther King Day

TUES., JAN. 19, 7 PM Des Arc City Council meets in Council Chambers at Des Arc City Hall

Highway improvement project scheduled

P U B LI S H E D E A C H T H U R S D A Y S I N C E 1 9 0 7 THU RSD AY, DE CEMBER 31, 2015

Condensed from White River Journal Files

The Bud and Beverly Newby home, near the Des Arc Bayou bridge, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday, January 14. The only thing the Newby’s were able to escape with was the clothes on their back and their 3-year old Yorkie, Josie. Bill Duerson, who joined the Prairie County Sheriff’s Department in 2008, was recently promoted to Chief Deputy by Sheriff Gary Burnett. Duerson, who has been an investigator for the Department, takes over his new position from Chief Deputy Glynn Holmes, who resigned to join the DeValls Bluff Police Department. An investigation is underway into the burglary

Lions Club Methodist Church

FREE P EOPLE - A N UNBEATABLE TEAM ”

2015 In Review

TUES., JAN. 12, 6 PM

TUES., JAN 12, 12 NOON

AND A

D ES A RC , A RKANSAS (C OUNTY S EAT ) P RAIRIE C OUNTY

THURS., DEC. 31, 8-12 New Year’s Watch Night Singing, Fellowship, Food Fireworks at Midnight First Assemley of God

75¢

at the Jay Hambrick property located on Highway 38 East. Two large twowheel trailers, an ATV, tires and rims and valuable tools were taken. Drake Widener was announced as the new Des Arc Eagle Head Football Coach. Widener was previously a defensive coordinator for the Lonoke Jackrabbits.

January 22 Des Arc Police Chief Darrell Turner retired from the department after 31 years of service. He will be joining the Prairie County Sheriff’s Department staff as of April 1, 2015. The County Library Board set a date for the special election to ask for a One Mill tax increase on real and personal property to be used for the maintenance and operation of the county library system. Linda McIntosh, APRN, FNP of Des Arc was a member of the Hope Medical Mission Team to South Africa. Jim White is pictured with a 105 pound, 54” long White Catfish caught in the lower White River on Saturday, Janaury 17. Arthur Smith of Helena, who has worked for Jim for 14 years, caught the “big kitty”.

January 29 Nick Hill has been selected by the Board of Education as the new Des Arc Superintendent for the 2015-16 school term. Current Superintendent Rick Burns will be retiring at the end of the 2014-15 term. The Republican Party of Prairie County met on Monday, January 26 and elected a third member of the Prairie County Election Commission. Stan

Ferguson of Des Arc was elected to serve as commissioner and Rita Dobson was re-elected as Chairman. World War II Veteran Tomy Gooch, 100, was recognized by France for his service during WWII. On D-Day more than 70 years ago, Gooch stormed Utah Beach in Normandy, France. Gooch is a brother-in-law of the late Prairie County Sheriff, Dale Madden. Also honored was John Arnold who was accompanied to the ceremony by Tonnie Covington Wylie, daughter of Dessle Covington and the late Billy Covington. Also pictured was Rep. Kim Hammer, who was a former pastor of the Lakeside Missionary Baptist Church in Des Arc.

a.m. Marcus Trouten, 29 of Searcy, was arrested in connection with local burglaries and vandalism according to Des Arc Chief of Police Darrell Turner. A search of a patch of woods located off Calhoun Street, an alleged backpack was retrieved. Contained inside was stolen property that was later determined to have been taken from the Des Arc United Methodist Church and the Family Worship Center. Lady Eagles Track team places Second at the 1A-4A Indoor State Track held at the Tyson Center on the University of Arkansas campus at Fayetteville. Kirby Smith received the Outstanding Athlete award.

February 5

Keith Knupp, Des Arc’s fire chief for 20 years and who will retire Feb. 28, was honored by fellow firefighters at a retirement reception held at the United Methodist Church Family Life Center. Don Harvey will be the new fire chief. Harold Kirk and Nicholas Kirk and Harold’s daughter, Amanda’s two children, Gabi and Gabe, all escaped from their burning residence, unharmed about 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning. The home was located on Fourth Street, between Gordon and Claire. Amanda was at work at the time of the fire. Pictured on Page 14 are photos of Winter white’s always magic transformations. President’s Day delivers 1.75 inches of sleet/snowprise and followed with 1” snow Tuesday night.

Phase 3 of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) clean up of the in-ground contamination at Sanner Oil Co. began this week. Merchants and Planters Bank is pleased to announce that Paul Dickson has been promoted to President of the Des Arc Market. At a meeting of the Library Board Committee at the Hazen Public Library, it was the decision of the board to postpone the special election scheduled for April, 2015.

February 12 Thanks to a good samaritan, a Sunday fire at Patterson Hardwoods caused minimal damage. Jesse Tackett, who was headed out for breakfast early Sunday Morning, Feb. 8 spotted smoke coming out of a shed. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene around 7:00

February 19

CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

Corderro Earls

Officer Earls is “Officer of Year” at Searcy

On December 14, the Searcy Police Department had their annual Christmas party where they recognized employees for their outstanding work throughout the year. Officer Corderro Earls was recognized as the department’s overall “Officer of the Year Award”. Corderro Earls is a Detective for the Searcy Police Department. He has been in law enforcement since December of 2007. He is a graduate from Des Arc High School and has an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice. His favorite part about working as an officer is the job allows him to be a light to someone’s life and have the children in the community look up to him. His favorite part about working for the Searcy Police Department is that it is a family he can always depend on to help him or anyone in a time of need. Chief Eric Webb said “I have watched Detective Earls grow as an officer. I believed he had potential to be a leader, and it has been a pleasure to watch him grow into the confident police officer and leader that he is. I am very proud of him and his dedication to the police department and his fellow officers.”

The Arkansas State Highway Commission has approved a bid for improvements to a roadway in White County, according to Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) officials. The purpose of the project is to construct approximately 4 miles of two lanes for State Highway 13 in a new location between State Highway 16 and U.S. Highway 67. McGeorge Contracting Company, Inc. of Pine Bluff was awarded the contract at $16,284,376.29. Construction is scheduled to begin in two to four weeks, weather permitting. Completion is expected mid-2017.

Obituaries Pg . 3

David Bisbee, 57, Stuttgart Price Hancock, 14, Stuttgart Donnie Hughes, 36, Lonoke Virginia Jackson, 78, Brinkley Opal Mathews, 84, Lonoke Carl Owens, 79, Cabot Juanita Pierce, 87, Stuttgart Charles Price, 84, Des Arc Maud Warden, 85, Stuttgart

Retirement Reception: Debra Whitson, fifth from left, and pictured with her ‘work family’, was feted with a retirement reception hosted by the Des Arc Farmers and Merchants Bank and held in the bank lobby on Friday, December 11. Debra retired after 28 years in banking; 12 years with F&M. Pictured front left to right are Tyler Cox, Priscilla Prince, Mary Weatherley, Lisa Kassler, Debra, Amber Guillioun, Leah White, Donna Parchman, branch vice president, and Daivd Hardke, president. Back row, left to right: Carmen Doepel, Casey Ingle, Kelly Gilmore, Gary Hudson and Lee Ann Crisel, both with the parent bank, the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Stuttgart. T he J ournal w elc omes your input (c omments , s ugges tions , pers onal new s , photos , etc )

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

Charles L. Rogers, Enid, OK

& Margie Steward, Burleson, TX

Mail: PO Box 1051, Des Arc, Ar 72040

Tel: 870-256-4254


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.