75¢
(Hazen students participate in tourney p.3 )
Volume 118 Number 48 - USPS 225-680
Community Events Calendar Thursday January 11 DeValls Bluff City Council Meeting 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. City Hall GFWC Elsie McCain Club Meeting 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Murry’s Restaurant Monday January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day NO SCHOOL Wednesday January 17 Friendship Luncheon DeValls Bluff Methodist Church 11:30am- 2:00pm Thursday January 18 Master Gardeners’ meeting 6:00p.m. - 7p.m. Hazen Library Book Club/Recipe Swap Noon - 1:00 p.m. Hazen Hornet Basketball @ Brinkley 4:00 pm JG ,JB, SG, SB Hazen City Council Meeting 6:00pm- 7:00pm City Hall Friday January 19 Hazen Hornet Basketball Hornets Nest Jacksonville Lighthouse 4:30pm 7G, JB, SG, SB Community events brought to you by Hazen Chamber of Commerce and the
Please call F&M Bank (255-3042) or The Grand Prairie Herald (255-4538) to list events.
Prairie County, Arkansas
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Hazen school board to lease/purchase new bus The Hazen School Board voted to enter into a five year lease to purchase agreement with Central States Bus Sales for one bus at their December meeting which was held on Monday, December 18. Present at the meeting were President David Strohl, Vicki Skarda, Freddie Rogers, Sandra Penn, Davey Williams, and Superintendent William Crowder. The bus purchased from Central States Bus Sales (CSB) can carry 42 passengers, and will be used primarily to transport special education students to and from school. The bus route includes daily trips to Searcy and Biscoe. Crowder said that the district spent $6000 on repairs to the present bus travelling this route this past summer but
that he still doubts its reliability, so a new bus is needed. The agreement with CSB states that the cost to the district will be five payments of $19,911.46 per year for a total of $96,684.15 with an interest rate of 4.35%. Crowder also asked the board to allow him to file a request with the Arkansas Department of Education to start school early in August of 2018. “One hundred ninety one schools have done this already,” Crowder said, “and more days in August could get us out before Memorial Day.” “This allows us a little more flexibility,” he said. Crowder stated that he will get with the district staff members about a possible start date. In other business, the board voted to accept the
resignation of cafeteria worker Holly Calvert and hired Joyce Kee as her replacement effective January 3. The increased work load of the district’s nurse, Kim Anderson, was also discussed. Anderson has requested that the board review her present compensation since she is now serving 150 more students. The high school nurse resigned last summer leaving Anderson to be the nurse school-wide. After the meeting, board members Sandra Penn and Davey Williams were presented with Outstanding Board Member Awards certificates from the Arkansas School Board Association for earning at least 25 hours of accredited school board member in-service training.
Board members Davey Williams and Sandra Penn received awards for ASBA in-service training.
Mid-D Delta now taking home energy applications Beginning on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, MidDelta Community Services, Inc. will be accepting applications for the 2018 REGULAR Home Energy Assistance Program in Phillips, Monroe, Prairie and Lee Counties until funds are depleted. These funds will assist eligible residents with payment on their home heating source only. Elderly and disabled households selected by the Department of Human Services in Little Rock will receive their applications by mail. Applications will be accepted until funds are depleted.
The Regular Home Energy Assistance Program will assist lowincome eligible households with home heating related expenses. The benefit amount is a onetime payment based on household income and size and is sent directly to the energy supplier on behalf of the applicant. All applicants will receive notification, in writing, if application has been approved or denied. Eligible applicants should allow 35 days for processing and payment to the utility company. Payments may not cover an entire month's bill and will not stop shut-offs or disconnect service.
Applicants must continue paying their heating source in the usual manner to avoid a crisis situation. To avoid delay in the application process, households that do not receive an application in the mail must provide proof of all the following which apply to them for the previous month: *Name, age, birthday and SSN of all household members. *Proof of income (check studs, SS Award Letter, SSI, utility allowance, Child Support, TEA, or Alimony) for the previous month. *ID or any document which establishes identity
such as a driver's license, voter registration card, Medical ID, pay stubs, birth certificate * Please provide a copy of BOTH utility bills to verify account number and utility company. Applications will be processed by first come first serve basis. Applicants are asked to come to the community center location (listed below) nearest to where they live. Prairie County DeValls Bluff Community Center Sycamore & Ash Streets DeValls Bluff, AR (870) 998-2005
Monroe County 1.Brinkley Community Services Center Cedar View Apartments 705 West 6th Street Brinkley, AR (870) 734-1236 2.Clarendon Community Services Center 553 N 7th Street Clarendon, AR (870) 747-5610 Phillips County 1. Springdale Community Center 1125 Springdale Rd Helena, AR 72342 (870) 338-3412 or (870) 338-3411 Monday through Thursday 9:00am to 4:00pm
24th annual Agribusiness Conference to be held on ASU campus Feb. 19th JONESBORO Arkansas State University's annual Agribusiness Conference, now in its 24th year, continues to provide timely information and agricultural policy education to farmers, agribusiness professionals, students and educators across the MidSouth. Bert Greenwalt, Professor of Agricultural Economics at Arkansas State University and former resident of Hazen, helped to establish this event in 1995 and has directed it ever since. This year's conference, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, will focus on agricultural real estate, tax issues, the cotton industry, trade policy, the next farm bill, and the agricultural credit and commodity markets. On-site registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. in AState's Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Dr. Lunch will be served in the First National Bank Arena, 217 Olympic Dr., at noon.
Afternoon sessions end at 4:15 p.m. The morning general session features four speakers and a panel discussion: -- Randall Pope, CEO of Westchester Group Investment Management, Inc., will discuss agricultural real estate as an asset class. -- Charlott Jones, CPA and tax manager for Jones & Company, Ltd., will discuss the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and how it will impact agriculture. -- Gary Adams, president of the National Cotton Council, will discuss the U.S. cotton industry and give an update on agricultural trade policy. -- Joe Outlaw, professor and extension economist at Texas A&M University, will give an update on the issues and outlook for the next farm bill. The luncheon speaker, Roby Brock, is the host and executive producer of
Talk Business & Politics. Brock will discuss Arkansas political issues for business and agriculture. Afternoon special-interest sessions include an update on community banking trends and the agricultural credit market, rice and cotton market issues, and poultry and beef market trends. Afternoon speakers include: Julie Stackhouse, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; Greg Cole, AgHeritage Farm Credit Services; Wes Ward, Arkansas secretary of agriculture; Carl Brothers, Riceland Foods, Inc.; Jeff Johnson, Allenberg Cotton Co.; David Newman, Arkansas State
University; Duane Williams, Peco Foods; and Mark Jordan, Arkansas State University. The conference qualifies for continuing education credits according to the guidelines of the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy, Arkansas Certified Crop Advisors and Arkansas Agricultural Consultants, and the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Joining the College of Agriculture, Engineering & Technology to sponsor the conference are: The Judd Hill Foundation, AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, Allenberg Cotton Company, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Bear State Bank, Busch Agricultural
Resources LLC, Farm Credit Midsouth, Glaub Farm Management, Greenway Equipment Inc., Helena Chemical Company, National Land Realty, Ozark Mountain Poultry, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, Riceland Foods Inc., RiceTec Inc., and USA/Arkansas Rice. Admission to the conference and luncheon is free, but pre-registration is encouraged. Detailed conference information and online registration are available at AState.edu/agribusconf. To register by phone, contact the College of Agriculture, Engineering & Technology, (870) 9723221, or email AState_Agribus_Conf@A State.edu.
Des Arc students donate $576 to Heifer Int. Project Des Arc elementary students are helping Heifer International to put a small dent in their mission to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. The 5th and 6th graders of Des Arc Elementary School decided to raise money for Heifer
International this Christmas instead of participating in a Christmas gift exchange at school. The students raised $576.00. They were able were able to give the gifts of clean water, 1 goat, honeybees, and donate $126 to wherever it is needed to help communities around the world.
56°
60
39°
36°
32°
54°
30°
27°
17°
20°
20%
80%
60%
10%
0%
Page 2 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, January 10, 2018
John Lee Anderson J o h n L e e Anderson, 45 of Stuttgart, fo r m e r l y o f Chicago, Illinois, d i e d Sunday December 24 at Baptist Health Medical Center in Stuttgart. John Lee was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 21, 1972 in Chicago, Illinois to John Houston and Peggy Anderson. John Lee was raised in Chicago and attended the Chicago Public School System. He attended Crane High School. John Lee relocated to Arkansas to make his home and work in the late 1990’s. John Lee was employed as a Farmer with Larry Porter Farms of Roe, Arkansas for several years. He was formerly an employee of Producers Rice Mill in Stuttgart. His father, grandparents: Raymond Anderson, Operita Neal, Nebraska Houston and Albert Matthews Sr. all preceded John Lee in death. Survivors are his mother Peggy Anderson of Biscoe, AR; his companion of 13 years Robin Freeman of Stuttgart, AR; four sons: Karone Nutall of Chicago, Ill; Jonathan Anderson and Courvoisier Anderson both of Markham, Ill; and Alijah Anderson of Stuttgart, AR; a daughter Alexis Yancey of Stuttgart, AR; four grandchildren: Leah Nutall, Khloe Nutall and Cy’aire Anderson all of Chicago, Ill; and Heidi Mae Freeman of Stuttgart, AR; six brothers: Larry Anderson of DeValls Bluff, AR; Pierre Anderson of Stuttgart, AR; Jeremiah Anderson of Brinkley, AR; Sam Roberts of Little Rock, AR; Amos Tucker and Anthony Tucker both of Kansas City, MO; three sisters: Sabrina
Anderson-Jones of Biscoe, AR; Opal (Contrina) Anderson of Pine Bluff, AR; and Veda Tucker of Detroit, MI; his grandmothers: Maggie Anderson of Hammond, IN; and Ruby Bernard of Chicago, Ill; and a host of other relatives and friends survive him. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 6 at 2 PM at the DeValls Bluff High School Auditorium, 710 East Sycamore Street in DeValls Bluff. Internment will take place at Harrison Cemetery in Biscoe by Branscumb Johnson & Gilchrest Funeral Home of Brinkley (870) 734-2772 branscumbfuneralhome1928@yahoo.com & Facebook: Branscumb Funeral Home. Pallbearers are: Timon Jones, Demonte’ Anderson, Thomas Lee Jones, Cedric Jackson, Keenan Adkins, Lance Adkins, Larry Adkins Jr., and Montique Anderson.
Drake William Jones Drake William Jones, age 17, of Hazen, Arkansas, was called home on Saturday, January 6, 2018. Drake was a member of the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. Drake h a d accepted J e s u s Christ as his Lord a n d Savior. Drake was a Junior at H a z e n H i g h School. He was an honor student who participated in football, baseball, track, quiz bowl, art club, FBLA and many other activities. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish.. He just loved being outdoors in general, and he loved his animals. Drake never met a stranger. He had the most infectious smile and laugh and the most beautiful eyes. He could light
up a room. Drake was always so conscientious and considerate of others. He was always curious and inquisitive. He had so much enthusiasm and strived for perfection in everything he did. He was full of life and he lived his life to the fullest. He was our little buddy, and we were his biggest fans. Drake was preceded in death by his great grandparents, William "Bill" Whitley, Joe and Natha Lee Morrison, and Elsie Marie Garner. He leaves behind his parents, Jason and Cindy Jones; his grandparents, Stan and Sharon Jones and Lynn and Martha Fagan; his great grandmother, Maxine Whitley; his aunt, Jennifer Jones; uncle, Bradley Fagan and a host of great aunts, uncles, cousins, classmates and friends. John 3: 16"- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Drake loved the Lord and his family and friends. And he wasn't afraid to show it. Please join us as we celebrate Drakes life. Visitation will be held at the Hazen High School Gymnasium on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M.. Funeral services will be held at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Hazen on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. Burial will follow at Center Point Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the "Catch A Dream. Org.
Who’s New? Taniqua Penn of DeValls Bluff would like to announce the birth of her son Kayden Ace Penn born December 26, 2017. He weighed in at 6 lbs. and 7 ounces and was 20 inches long. Kayden was welcomed home by his grandparents Shelia Larkin, Anthony Larkin and Rodney Penn.
Arkansas Press Association National Newspaper Association Member 2018
The
Grand Prairie Herald
(USPS) 225-680 The Grand Prairie Herald is an independent publication that has served Prairie County since December, 1901. It is published weekly by
Herald Publishing Company P.O. Box 370 111 Hwy 70 E Hazen, Arkansas 72064 Ph. 870-255-4538 Email: heraldpublishing@gmail.com
Subscription Rates In Prairie County $17.50/year In Arkansas - $22.50/year Out of State - $27.50/year Periodicals Postage paid at Hazen, Arkansas 72064 POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Grand Prairie Herald P.O.Box 370 Hazen, Arkansas 72064 Managing Editor/Publisher Roxanne Bradow Advertising RickJohnson Circulation/Accounts Trudy Johnson
Favorite January hoodie. So it's really cold out there. This will keep you comfy. Warm sweatshirt fleece inside and a double layer fabric hoodie. Pre-washed so it's ready to wear. More importantly is the vintage tree design with the big red hog. As always, just a few printed so don't wait to order. Comes in forest green also. pigtrailtrading.com
I know that I should be cheerful during this holiday season, and I am. I had a wonderful Christmas with my two sons, their lovely wives, and my grandchildren in Northwest Arkansas. Oh, and our combined 5 dogs. We opened presents, ate the traditional turkey and dressing, watched Christmas movies, and went to see ‘Star Wars’. We are so fortunate, so blessed. I’ve often said that God never intended for any of us to be wealthy. Still - we have more than enough to be comfortable. We all live in a country of unbelievable wealth and good fortune. But as I see it, this wealth and good fortune comes with a sinister side. The more we have, it seems, the more we forget about those who ‘have not.’ We have become a country where the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the almighty dollar is worshipped above all things. Perhaps it’s in our nature to be selfish. But this is the time that we celebrate the birth of the child who came to earth to teach us that everyone is important, even the lowliest of us. So why are we, as a nation, now discussing reducing Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security (entitlement programs) right after we lowered the tax rates on businesses already flush with cash and the wealth-
iest citizens of this country indefinitely? If you think that I’m kidding, read Senator Dismang’s column in this week’s paper. The state has asked the federal government to allow it to lower the amount of money that a person or family can make in a year to be eligible for the Arkansas Works program that was implemented after the Affordable Care Act was enacted. Presently the amount is 138% of the poverty level. But the state has asked for that to be moved down to the actual poverty rate of $24,600 for a family of four or $12,060 for an individual before an Arkansas citizen is eligible for health benefits. According to the magazine U.S. News and World Report, Arkansas already ranks 50th in healthcare nationally. We are 38th in healthcare access, 50th in healthcare quality, and 48th in public health according to the magazine’s survey. Can we afford fewer people on healthcare? Ultimately, we all pay for the care of the uninsured. Surely taking care of the neediest of our citizens is more important than taking care of those who already have more than they can spend. We have a great country. It has always been great. It is great because it was founded by people who believed in the common good, believed that
all citizens were created equal, and believed that everyone here is entitled (note that word) to the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You can’t have life or pursue happiness if you don’t have a means to stay healthy, or a way to return to health after sickness occurs. In this new year, may we remember that might does not make right, the wealthy are not loved by God more than the poor are, no one is above the law, and what we do for the least of us we also do for that child in the manger. I am adding an addendum to my column this week because, as many of you know, we had a tragedy occur in our community. Drake Jones, a junior at Hazen High School, drowned in a local pond this past weekend. As the principal of HHS, I knew Drake well - not because he was in my office a lot (he wasn’t), but because he spent a lot of time in the art room working on projects and keeping art teacher Terri Taylor-Rollins busy. I liked Drake. I once showed him how to cut onions to put into the spaghetti sauce that the art students were making for their annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser. He was a good student who was well-thought-of by his peers. He was a rare artist/athlete who enjoyed life. He will be missed.
Page 3 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Elementary students attend technology fair in Beebe
Matthew Bokker - Tied for 2nd place at the fall chess tournament. Matthew is in the 4th grade. (pictures courtesy of Pam Chandler)
Four Hazen Elementary School participated in a Technology Fair at the Wilbur D. Mills Educational Cooperative in Beebe on December 14th. The sessions attended by the students included instruction in Digital Art, Camcorder Presentation, Digital Storytelling, Google slides and a web-based design program called Canva. An interactive virtual field trip to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Ontario Canada was also included in the day's activities. The students who went were (back row, left to right): Colton Holloway, Mattie Perry, Rileigh Barnhill, and (front row) Ethan Simmons.
6th grade winners- Austyn Booth and Brandon Addison tied for 2nd place. Both won 4 out of 5 chess matches.
In this picture are 3rd grade winners Jalynn Thomas and Jase Arnett. Jase won 2nd place and Jalynn won 3rd place.
HES students compete in regional chess tournament Students at Hazen Elementary participated in a chess tournament for 3rd - 6th grade students on
November 28th. The chess tournament was held at Wilbur Mills Co-op in Beebe, AR. Students competed in
5 games throughout the day. HES students won 5 of the 12 possible trophies.
Hazen School Menu
JANUARY 15 - JANUARY 19, 2018 Elementary students do not have the sandwich line option. **Menus are subject to change without notice**
Cayden Glover (above) and Halley Cossey (below) competed in the Jr/Sr High Tournament that was held at the Wilbur Mills Co-op on November 29th.
MONDAY
MONDAY
No School
No School
No School
TUESDAY Chicken Nuggets Macaroni & Cheese Green Beans Fruit Hot Roll Milk
TUESDAY Hot & Spicy Chicken Potato Wedges Lettuce/Tomato/ Pickle Fruit/Milk
TUESDAY Cereal & Graham Cracker or Pancake & Sausage Sausage & Biscuit Fruit/Juice/Milk
WEDNESDAY Stromboli French Fries Broccoli/Carrots/ Ranch Fruit/Milk
WEDNESDAY Quesadilla Corn Tossed Salad Fruit Milk
WEDNESDAY Cereal & Toast or Egg, Sausage & Cheese Biscuit, Sausage & Biscuit Fruit/Milk
THURSDAY Oven Chicken Sweet Potatoes Blacked Eyed Peas Hot Roll Fruit/Milk
THURSDAY BBQ Chicken Sandwich Pinto Beans Slaw Fruit Milk
THURSDAY Cereal & Graham Cracker or Breakfast Pizza, Sausage & Biscuit Fruit Juice Milk
FRIDAY Fish Sticks Ranch Potato Lima Beans Cornbread Fruit/Milk
FRIDAY Turkey Ham Sub French Fries Lettuce/Tomato Pickle Fruit Milk
FRIDAY Cereal & Graham Cracker, or Biscuit & Gravy or Sausage & Biscuit Fruit Juice/Milk
Sponsored by Herald Publishing Co., Inc.
MONDAY
NEW BOOKS Home Sweet HomeApril Smith Tasty Latest and Greatest Wild Horse SpringsJodi Thomas About that ManSherryl Woods Dead Ringer- B.J. Daniels Dark Horse- B.J. Daniels Rough Rider- B.J. Daniels You say it first- Susan Mallery Venom of the Mountain Man- William W. Johnstone Wolf Hunger- Paige Tyler Hello Again- Brenda Novak Darker- E.L. James Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas- Carolyn Brown The Ghostfaces- John Flanagan The Wanted- Robert Crais Mummy Told Me Not To Tell- Cathy Glass The Demon CrownJames Rollins Nobody’s Son- Cathy
Glass The Silent Cry- Cathy Glass The Siege of Leningrad 1941-1944: 900 Days of Terror- David M. Glantz Beautiful StormBarbara Freethy Now that You Mention It- Kristin Higgins Coat of Many ColorsDolly Parton Into the Night- Cynthia Eden LARGE PRINT BOOKS A Christmas MessageAnna Perry Miramar Bay- Davis Bunn The Girl from VeniceMartin Cruz Smith A Lowcountry Christmas- Mary Alice Monroe Deadfall- Linda Fairstein Merry and BrightDebbie Macomber Same Beach, Next Year- Dorothea Benton Frank The Duchess- Danielle Steel The Identicals- Elin Hilderbrand
Any Dream Will DoDebbie Macomber Dangerous MindsJanet Evanovich Cub Creek- Grace Green Beach Rental- Grace Greene Beach Winds- Grace Greene NEW DVD’S My Dog Skip Sons of Anarchy the final season The Strain season 4 Zoo season 3 Game of Thrones season 7 Hell on Wheels Seasons 1-5 vol. 2 Despicable Me 3 Crash Pad Kingsman: The Golden Circle Logan Lucky Dementia 13 Better Watch Out Home Again Dunkirk Pottersville Ruby’s Bucket of Blood The Man in the Moon The Lego Ninjago Movie Jeepers Creepers 3 Flatliners
Page 4 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, January 10, 2018
State Capitol Week in Review From Senator Jonathan Dismang December 29, 2017 LITTLE ROCK – Many challenges facing state government in 2018 will have a familiar ring, but will take on a modern twist. A good example is Medicaid. The state administers the health care program for people with disabilities, the elderly and low-income families, and since it was created in the mid 1960s state watchdogs have been working to improve efficiency and accountability. The Department of Human Service administers Medicaid, and the department plans to introduce an innovation in 2018 to control costs for home care and personal care, which in Arkansas run about $800 million a year. The department will contract with a software firm to will operate a cloud-based “electronic visit verification” method to reduce fraud. The new system will use technology available on smart phones. About 15 other states are doing something similar to hold down costs in their home care programs. The idea is to make sure that personal care workers have actually visited the homes of Medicaid patients when they file claims for reimbursement.
Home care and personal care workers are paid to visit Medicaid patients to help with household needs like personal hygiene and preparing meals. After the new verification system is in place, the smart phone of the home care worker will record and transmit a log of its location and the times it was at particular locations. Computers can verify that the phone has actually been at the home of the Medicaid patient, and for how long. The system will work even if the home is out of cell phone range, because modern phones have clocks and GPS that continue to work even when the device is not in range of a cell tower. After the worker gets back within cell phone range, a record of the visit will be transmitted to monitors. After difficulties implementing a new computer system, the department has a digital verification system in place that in 2017 removed about 80,000 Medicaid recipients from the rolls. For example, the department now checks a recipient’s income by accessing files at other agencies. It also checks whether an Arkansas recipient is receiving Medicaid benefits from another state. State officials expect
o t h e r changes in t h e Medicaid program in 2018, when they learn from federal agencies whether proposed reforms for Arkansas Works will be approved. Arkansas Works is the expanded Medicaid program that Arkansas implemented after passage of the federal Affordable Care Act. The state administers Medicaid, but because the federal government provides the vast majority of its funding, changes in eligibility or level of service in Arkansas Works must first be approved by the federal government. The department has asked for approval of a plan to reduce eligibility from 138 percent of the federal poverty level to 100 percent. Also, the state wants to add a requirement that some recipients work, look for work or take job training in order to qualify for Medicaid. When the legislature convenes in a fiscal session in February, one of the most important bills to consider will be the appropriation that authorizes Medicaid funding. Passage of the funding measure will require a 75 percent majority in each chamber of the legislature.
WATER CONTAMINATION LAWSUIT
Prairie County retired teachers unit celebrates Christmas Prairie County Retired Teachers Unit celebrated Christmas with the annual pot-luck Luncheon at DeValls Bluff Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. June Whiteside and Lynda Andrews decorated the Hall with the Christmas motif. Each table had an angel as the centerpiece. Thelma Gray, president, presided for the short business meeting. Helen Holloway, devotional leader, gave a
reading, "Remember Why We Have Christmas." There were 16 in attendance including three visitors, Lula McDonald, Clemmie Jackson and Carolyn Foster. Members who went to Branson reported having an enjoyable time with the beautiful weather. There were eight on the trip. The minutes were approved and the treasurer's financial report was received, The president
announced that the Area VI Conference will be in Jacksonville in May. After the business meeting, the group sang Christmas Carols and the meeting closed with Maryanne Williams singing "Mary Did You Know?" Members brought nonperishable food which was taken to the Prairie County Food Pantry. The next meeting will be at the Dairy Bar in Des Arc, Tuesday, February 20 at 1:00 o'clock.
By law, Fiscal Sessions can only last 30 days (45 days with a 3/4 vote to extend), so members work weeks in advance drafting appropriation measures in order to ensure our sessions are brief. That preparation begins in budget hearings. Beginning January 9, the Joint Budget Committee will hold a series of meetings designed to begin the process of outlining a budget for the next fiscal year. The Fiscal Session begins February 12. Budget hearings will begin with the Department of Finance and Administration presenting its annual forecast and recommendations for a balanced budget by the Governor.
Over the course of the next few days, the committee will hear budget requests for Higher Education Institutions, Department of Education, the Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Department of Correction and the Department of Community Correction, commonly referred to the “Big 6”. In the following weeks, members will review budgets for all state boards, commissions, and agencies. Six months into this fiscal year, general revenue is now $74.5 million or 2.8% above this time last year. The most recent general revenue report showed revenue for
December 2017 was 11.5% more than December 2016. This report and revenue forecast from economists will help us guide our decision making process in the months ahead. Although legislation during the Regular Sessions typically attract more attention, it is important to remember the impact our budget making process has on our day to day lives. The decisions we will be making show the priorities we make as state. Appropriations fund everything from classrooms to health care. Members can begin filing appropriation bills and identical resolutions on January 8.
By Chris Weems
Constitutional amendment sought to approve casinos
There is a pending lawsuit on behalf of the City of Biscoe and Prairie County residents concerning sewage contamination of the Biscoe and East Prairie County water systems which occurred in September of 2017. If you or someone you know became sick or suffered damages as the result of the water contamination, please contact: John Doyle Nalley, Attorney Lovell, Nalley & Nalley Phone (501) 315-7491 E-Mail: johndoylenalley@hotmail.com
Randy Hall, Attorney Hall & Taylor Law Partners, PLLC Phone (844) 885-2948 E-Mail: randy@littlerocktriallawyers.com
The citizens’ group Driving Arkansas Forward today launched an effort to generate additional funding for Arkansas highways through a constitutional amendment to legalize a maximum of three casinos in the state. The group asked the Attorney General’s Office to certify the popular name and ballot title of The Arkansas Casino Gaming and Highway Funding Amendment of 2018. The amendment allocates 65 percent of all casino tax revenues to the State Highway and Transportation Department Fund to pay for needed improvements to the state’s roads and bridges.
Farm Equipment & 748+/- Total Acres
Row Crop and Recreational Property Located just west of the Little Red and White River in White County. LD and Peggy Vaughn Farm
Thurs., Jan. 18, 2017 @ 10 A.M.CST
Land will sell @ 1 P.M. 344 Hwy. 323 S. Searcy, AR 72143 | White County
TRACTORS, FIELD EQUIPMENT, EXCAVATOR/BACKHOES/DOZER, POWER UNITS & TRAILERS 748 +/- Total Acres • 7 Tracts
The property is only 5 minutes southeast of Searcy, Arkansas. ONLINE BIDDING: WWW.PROXBID.COM • 877-505-7770 Terms: REAL ESTATE: NON REFUNDABLE Down Payment of 10% due day of auction with closing in approximately 30 days. Joey Cain, Lic. #2041 P.O. Box 137 | McCrory, AR 72101 Phone: (501) 258-5518 | Email: Joey@lynncain.com www.lynncain.com Jeramy Stephens, ALC - Partner/Managing Broker Cell: (870) 672-3250 | Office: (855) 384-LAND Scott LaFerney, Executive Broker | Cell: (501) 268-4640 www.nationalland.com
For more information on the equipment or the land, please visit lynncain.com or nationalland.com.
www.LittleRockTours.com | 501-868-7287 or 1-800-933-3836
Upcoming TouRS Mardi Gras-Shreveport Style at Sams Town Casino February 3 • 2 Days • $250
Natchez Spring Pilgrimage April 3 • 3 Days • $495
Spiritual Springtime in DC Cherry Blossoms, the NEW Bible Museum & National Geographic’s Holy Sepulchre 3D Experience April 8 • 6 Days • $995
Havana Nights Coach and Cruise Featuring: Key West, Florida & Havana, Cuba May 5 • 8 Days • $1,385
Holland, Michigan & the World Famous Tulip Festival May 7 • 6 Days • $895
Two Nation Vacation Featuring: Canadian Rockies, Glacier National Park, Calgary Stampede & Lake Louise July 9 • 15 Days • $2,750
Starry Nights Deep in the Heart of Texas Featuring: Big Bend National Park, the McDonald Astronomical Observatory, Historic Fort Stockton & Fort Davis, Terlingua Ghost Town & more! November 1 • 7 Days • $1,325 Price based on double occupancy & include all transportation, hotels/cruises, many meals, all admissions & all taxes. In-route pick ups available.
The amendment authorizes no more than three casinos statewide, with no more than one in any county. The casinos would be placed only in counties that meet specific population and economic criteria. Potentially, casino revenues could bring in an
additional $45 million per year for Arkansas roads. In addition to the 65 percent of tax revenues dedicated to highways, 22.5 percent of revenues would go to the city where the casino is located and 10 percent to the county where the casino is located.
Page 5 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, January 10, 2018
INMAN DENTAL CLINIC Thomas G. Inman DDS IDC
PO Box N 513 N. Williams Street Carlisle, AR 72024 Ph: 870-552-3500
Tim VanHouten Kitchen and Bath
870-255-5126
Cultured marble, flooring, custom showers, and countertops
Free Estimates 20 Years Experience
Bowman Plumbing Adam Bowman, MP 6142 Repair - Remodel - New Construction Free Estimates Dependable Service Family Owned and Operated (870) 256-5230
The Hazen School District is currently seeking energetic people who love children to work as paraprofessionals in our special education department. If interested please apply at the Hazen School District superintendent's office. Applications may be picked up there or found online on the Hazen School District website.
Free Ads for Free Stuff 3333333333
Ads must be 25 words or less and must be placed in person, by mail, or by telephone.
33333333333 Items listed in free ads must be given away free of charge. Free ads will run in paper for one week.
33333333333
The Grand Prairie Herald would like to include more Carlisle and Des Arc news in our newspaper. We have a long history of covering news about the Grand Prairie, which also includes Des Arc, Carlisle, Stuttgart, and surrounding areas. So, if you have news to tell, a picture that you would like to share, or some information that needs to get out, call us at 870-255-4538 Monday, Tuesday, or Friday, or leave a message on our machine. We want to hear from you!
Find your Prairie County news in the Grand Prairie Herald each Wednesday. For subscriptions call 870-2 2554538 or come by the office at 111 Highway 70 East in Hazen
Chambers Nursing & Rehab Center Carlisle, AR
Dietary Dept Contact: Heather Mealler Phone # 870-552-7150 Email: cnhc@cebridge.net Competitive Pay & Insurance available
Chambers Nursing & Rehab Center Carlisle, AR
L.P.N.s/R.N.s Treatment Nurse 7p.m.-7a.m.
C.N.A.s all shifts
Full time and part time 8 hr and 12 hr shifts available Contact: Phone # 870-5 552-7 7150 Email: cnhc@cebridge.net Competitive Pay & Insurance available
Got a child away at college? Help them feel a little closer to home AND SEND THEM SOME WEEKLY MAIL with a subscription to The
Grand Prairie Herald
A subscription costs only $25 a year for anyone living out of the state or $20 a year for anyone living out of the county and it makes a thoughtful gift. Call 255-4538 or come by the office at 111 Hwy 70 East in Hazen to start your gift subscription
Page 6 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Students should take the FAFSA process seriously The federal government requires many students who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to verify the information on the FAFSA. The students are chosen by the U.S. Department of Education. Used to apply for most federal and many state student aid programs, the FAFSA asks detailed questions about the income and resources of students. Parents are required to provide their information as well if their children are dependent students. Students are considered dependent if they are undergraduate students under 24 years old, not married, have no dependents of their own, are not veterans or were not orphans or wards of the court until age 19. The college or, in some cases, an agency working with the college will contact students to let them know if their data is being verified. Students and parents need to take that process seriously, according to KHEAA, a public, nonprofit agency established in 1966 to improve students’ access to college. Students chosen for verification cannot receive their financial aid until they have completed the process. As soon as they are contacted, they should provide any information that is required. Putting it off will only lead to frustration if the process isn’t finished when classes are ready to start. If students have decided not to attend a college that asked them for verification, they should let the college know so it will stop requesting information.
Black History Commission to sponsor workshop on “African Americans in Arkansas Rural History” February 3 The Black History Commission of Arkansas (BHCA), an advisory board of the Arkansas State Archives (ASA), will sponsor a workshop, “African Americans in Arkansas's Rural History,” on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. Ninth Street, Little Rock,
announced Stacy Hurst, director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage. The workshop will feature lectures from four speakers: Chelsea McNutt: Arkansas Rosenwald Schools Dr. Simon Hosken: The Hospital in the Cotton Field: Desegregating Hospital Access in the
Delta Dr. Cherisse JonesBranch: The Negro Division of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation Carmen Lanos Williams: Black Landowners in Rural Arkansas This free event is open to the public, but guests must register online by Monday, Jan. 29: https://2018bhcaevent.eve
ntbrite.com. Teachers who attend the event will receive up to four professional development hours. The Black History Commission works to raise awareness of the contributions and impact that black Arkansans have had on the state’s history, and sponsors two annual workshops devoted to black history that take place in February
and June. BHCA also administers a grant program that provides support for preservation and public programming projects related to Arkansas’s black history. ASA is located at 1 Capitol Mall, Ste. 215, Little Rock. For more information, visit archives.arkansas.gov or call (501) 682-6900.
Do You Really Want YOUR Ad to stand
~OUT~ From the rest? Ask about our color rates! It might surprise you how a f fo r d able it is...
Ca l l u s at... 8702554538 fo r a Quote Chambers Nursing and Rehab Center * Private Rooms with Baths * 24 Hour Nursing Service * Rehab-Therapy
* On-Site Beauty Salon * Daily Activity Program * Church Service Regularly
Medicaid - Medicare - VA - Private Pay
(870) 552-7150 Hwy 70 - Carlisle, Arkansas
“Since 1945”
“We offer extremely reasonable and affordable private pay rates”
Bobby Glover, President & CEO