75¢ Landmark Skating Rink disappears from our midst . . .
1 SECTION - 14 PAGES V OLUME 108 (48TH WEEK OF YEAR 108 - 5,631 WEEKS TOTAL)
ACTIVITIES CALENDAR SAT., JULY 11, 8:00 A.M.-NOON “Pride of the Prairie” Pee Wee Football Camp Hinson-Rollins Field
“A F REE 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 UB L I 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 TH UR SDAY, JUL Y 9, 2015
YES Vote for millage increase needed next Tuesday, July 14 Last chance to save libraries at Hazen, Des Arc, DeValls Bluff
MON., JULY 13, 2:30-6:30 PM Local Blood Drive First Baptist Church TUES., JULY 14, 7:30-7:30 Special Election for Tax Increase to Save County Libraries TUES., JULY 14, 12 NOON Des Arc Lions Club Methodist Church TUES., JULY 14, 6 PM Prairie County Quorum Court Monthly Meet MON., JULY 20, 12 NOON Chamber of Commerce F & M Bank MON., JULY 20, 6 PM 2016 Steamboat Days Membership Drive T.J.’s Kountry Kitchen MON., JULY 20, 9 AM Plea Day Hearings DeValls Bluff TUES., JULY 21, 9 AM Plea Day Hearings Des Arc Courthouse MON., JULY 27, 8AM-3PM DAHS Senior registration; Picture appointment times sent by letter THURS/FRI, JULY 30 - 31 Day Camp at Lower White River Museum State Park, Des Arc (kids ages 7-12)
DeValls Bluff Library - now closed for 6 months Important Note: The Regional Library System between Lonoke and Prairie Counties will be dissolved as of January 1, 2016. On that date Prairie County will begin operations as a stand-alone county library system. This past May, the Lonoke County Library board voted to dissolve the inter-local agreement between the two counties which has been in effect since 1990. This action will have a significant impact on the Prairie County libraries, and will inNew Des Arc Library being renovated and forthcoming crease the need for additional funding. That increase in revenue is needed to continue the curicrease on real and personal property in a special election scheduled for rent level of service and operations at all of the libraries in Prairie Coun- July 14, 2015. Passage of this millage would result in the re-opening of ty. The one (1) mill tax rate in local funding has been in place for 25 years, the DeValls Bluff Library, a reinstatement of cut-backs at Hazen and Des but it no longer provides sufficient funding to operate the county li- Arc, and additional services at all county libraries. braries. Prairie County Library Board Chairman, Beth Rogers, stated, “This is a Following voters rejection to increase the county library millage by crucial election for our county library system. I just can’t emphasize one (1) mill in last November’s general election, the DeValls Bluff branch enough how important it is for our supporters to get out and vote for this of the county library system was closed, effective December 31, 2014. In very worthwhile initiative that will have an effect on all of our citizens, addition, the Des Arc Library was cut back from 5 days to 4 days of oper- young and old, for years to come.” ation per week, and employees were reduced at the Hazen Library. The county library board is trying once again to seek a one (1) mill Hazen Library photo unavailable
Election Tuesday
Stubborn skating rink memories slow to incinerate from minds
Absentee ballots are also available at the clerk’s offices. Pg. 7 For a complete explanation of the millage increase Monday evening Des Arc’s Volunteer proposal for the libraries, Fire Department personnel “Controlsee “Letter to the Editor” on Burned” remains of the old Des Arc Skating Dorothy Barker, 77, Searcy Page 2. Rink. What started about 6:00 pm kept Rubye Branch, 95, Wynne most of the 18 volunteers on the scene Michael Coker, Clarendon until 10:00 pm. The fire was under control DAHS Registration enough by then, that two “water curtains” James Gosney, 48, Carlisle Schedule (one pictured above) were left running to 8 am-3 pm Martha Hall, 83, Stuttgart be watched over by DAFD Training Officer, Seniors-Mon., July 27 Edward Henderson, 88, Stuttgt Rick Ford, silhouetted above. The water (Senior Pictures, also) curtains were primarily to protect power Phillis Hollifield, 72, Ohio Juniors-Mon., Aug. 3 lines and the Premier Tax building on west Sophomores-Tues., Aug 4 Samuel Nall, Sr. , 88, Stuttgart side of property. Other volunteers returned Freshmen-Wed., Aug. 5 Alice Sneed, 68, Stuttgart at 5:00 am Tuesday to turn water curtains EighthGrade-Thurs.Aug 6 Lewis Sullivan, 91, Lonoke Seventh Grade Orienta- off and pick up fire hose. The Des Arc Fire Department normally tion and Open House-TBA R.K. Thomas, 61, N.Little Rock includes 20 volunteers, divided into two DAES Open House-TBA squads (exterior squad under Captain Leon Moon and interior under Captain Brad Knupp). Don Harvey became Fire Chief after Keith Knupp retired Feb. 28 this year after 27 years, 20 as Fire Chief. Terry Gen1. Would you like to see photos on interior pages in try also moved to Assistant Fire Chief. Fire instead of black & white? And see them up much closer & clearer? Department volunteers receive $10 total from the City for each actual fire or fire 2. Would you like to know you can read WRJ each Thursday ... without drill, very unlike professional fire deworkhaving to wait days or weeks to receive in the mail? ing for a salary. When a fire is called in to 911, all volunteers are simultaneously alerted by pager. From their individual locations, whatever the hour, personnel head immediately to the fire trucks, of which there are three: the new Peterbilt, Mini Pumper and the ‘97, plus a Rescue Van. The van holds additional equipment such as chainsaws, air packs and a cascade air system that can recharge air packs in the field. The Fire Department has recently purchased 10 pagers by which half of the volunteers can communicate directly with both police and ambulance personnel. “The pagers are working out so well, that purchasing an additional 10 is anticipated.” The fire took an extraordinary amount of time to burn, not so much because of It’s so easy! If you’re a paid-up subscriber and have internet access on computer, tablet “stubborn skating rink memories” as Brad or smart phone; just contact the Journal for FREE access to our online version. Above Knupp remarked when leaving the fire image shows miniature front pages representing complete issues for last four weeks only. Monday night, but because of a mixture of Actually online as of this date are today’s July 9, 2015 paper, plus all 15 issues going back the wood and large amounts of tin (from to March 26, 2015. roof), which slowed the burning. Countless personal memories of the Devices currently being used to read include: 60% computer, 29% smart phone, 11% tablet.
Obituaries
On Tuesday, July 14, voters will go to the polls to vote on a millage increase of 1 mill to support public libraries in Prairie County. Polls will open at 7:30 a. m. and close at 7:30 p.m. On Page 12 in this issue, readers will find an Election Proclamation that advertises the polling sites in the county. Early voting began Tuesday, July 7, at the courthouse in Des Arc and DeValls Bluff, and will continue through Monday, July 13. Early voting will be done during regular business hours at the clerk’s office which is 8 am to 4:30 p.m.
LIVING COLOR
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skating rink, including romances begun and perhaps ended here, go back 65± years to circa 1950, when Robert Edwards constructed the arched roof structure of lumber he milled from trees he cut. - primarily for his three daughters and their friends. The rink was never air-conditioned, with the only ventilation coming from wood “windows” which could be propped open. Becoming owner/operators of the rink 1971-1978 were Urchie (James) Walls and her sons, Jim and John. Seven years later, it was sold to Leroy and Glenda Gales and converted for use as Burgess Furniture Store about 1993. The building was finally purchased by Treyson and Krista Burgess who continued the furniture business for several years after that. Its “final solution” began March 5 this year when heavy snow and wind collapsed front portion of the roof. The city of Des Arc, to which it was donated by Treyson and Krista Burgess, demolished the building June 25, and control-burned the remaining bulk of debris July 6. End of this “Landmark” story? Yes! But stay tuned for what/when, if anything, comes next.
View north from Main Street Additional photos Pg 13
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