75¢
New business opens in Hazen. (See p. 6.)
Volume 119 Number 3 - USPS 225-680
Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Prairie County investigation identifies remains of missing person Community Events Calendar Thursday January 30 GFWC Elsie McCain Meeting 6:00 p.m. Murry’s Restaurant
Friday January 31 Hazen Hornets vs England Lions Hornets Nest 7G, JB, SG, SB 4:30 p.m. Carlisle Bisons vs Cutter Morning Star Bison Gym 7G, JB, SG, SB 4:30 p.m.
Thursday February 2 GFWC Elsie McCain/Ruth Barrett Fox & Foreign Exchange Students Meeting Swilly Lodge 2328 Hwy 249 6:00 p.m.
Monday February 3 Chamber of Commerce Meeting 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday February 11 Quorum Counrt Meeting annex Building in Des Arc 6:00 p.m.
Thursday February 13 DeValls Bluff City Council Meeting 6:00 p.m. City Hall
Friday February 14 Valentines Day 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.
Arkansas State Police Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020 Human remains that may be the body of a Cross County woman were recovered on January 25 from a crude grave site about nine miles north of Hazen in Prairie County. Forensics experts at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory have positively identified the body as that of Christy Rooks as of Monday afternoon. The remains and other evidence were seized by Special Agents of the
Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division and Federal Bureau of Investigation Evidence Response Team. State Troopers of the
Earl Parks
Highway Patrol Division, CID Special Agents and FBI Special Agents began investigating at the site on Friday, January 24. Information tied to the disappearance of Christy Rooks, 42, of Wynne (Cross County) led law enforcement officers to farm property and a residence between Des Arc and Hazen where the investigation and evidence recovery began. Rooks’ car, a Nissan Altima, was located by Highway Patrol troopers yesterday in Cabot. Earl Parks, 47, of
Hazen, who was questioned by the state police in connection to Rooks’ disappearance, was taken into custody and charged with being a felon in pos-
session of a firearm. The investigation is continuing. During the course of the Arkansas State Police investigation over the past two days, state troopers and special agents were assisted by the law enforcement officers of the Prairie County Sheriff’s Department, Cross County Sheriff’s Department, Hazen Police Department, Wynne Police Department, and the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Enforcement Division.
Christy Rooks
Des Arc Council hears report on wastewater system At the January 21st council meeting, Sue Ann Calhoun gave the annual report of the wastewater system. Lift Station #1 was replaced in October. Station #4 was replaced in 2018. Both have bypass valves in case of lift station breakdown. Stations 2, 3, 5 and 6 need to be completely replaced and have bypass valves. Nothing on these stations is repairable. Station 2 is 33 years old, Stations 3, 5 and 6 are 41 years old. Station 7 is 16 years old and only needs a check valve replaced. At the wastewater lagoons the erosion problems on the ponds is worse now than when the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality wrote us up. Two areas are close to completely washing through and if they do wash out, we could receive daily fines from the ADEQ until repaired. The chlorination system needs a scale ton record the amounts of chlorine used. After hearing Calhoun’s report, Mayor Garth asked why the engineer that was hired to work on the erosion problem has not done anything. He said he had made numerous attempts to contact him to no avail. Calhoun said she had finally reached him and he said he had sent the mayor a
letter of resignation in 2018. Mayor Garth said he had never received it but that would explain things. Garth said he would get started on the process of finding a new engineer so the erosion problem could be taken care of. As for replacing the lift stations, Garth said “we are replacing them as fast as we can.” Attending the meeting were Mayor Jim Garth, Treasurer/Recorder Chrisana Knupp and council members Rodney Adams, Welton Robinson, Gail King, Ray McVay, Gary Burnett and Anna Beth Fisher. 2020 Committees were approved as follows: Police Department: Gary Burnett and Rodney Adams, Gas Department: Gail King and Gary Burnett, Water & Sewer: Rodney Adams & Ray McVay, Finance: Ray McVay and Anna Beth Fisher, Street: Welton Robinson and Anna Beth Fisher, Ambulance: Gary Burnett and Rodney Adams, Cemetery: Ray McVay and Welton Robinson, Fire Department: Anna Beth Fisher and Gail King, Animal Control: Welton Robinson and Gail King, Parks & Recreation: Rodney Adams and Gary Burnett, Senior Center: Ray McVay and Anna Beth Fisher, Sanitation:
Welton Robinson and Gail King, Wage & Salary: Ray McVay, Gail King and Rodney Adams, Community Awareness: Anna Beth Fisher, Gail
her house waiting for adoption and 2 dogs are at the shelter waiting for selection to Minnesota. Gail King reported for the Gas Committee that
Sue Ann Calhoun King and Gary Burnett, Grant Writing: Gail King and Anna Beth Fisher. The Police Department reported 5 traffic citations and 7 misdemeanor arrests. Gail King reported for Animal Control that 5 dogs have been sent to northern states for adoption since October, one dog was adopted from the shelter, Amy Patterson has 2 dogs at
plans are continuing to replace gas lines beginning in the spring. Pipeline Safety has closed the case on the gas line problems we have had in the past and will be doing annual checks and inspections. For the Community Awareness Committee, King asked if letters could be sent with utility bills informing citizens that properties must be kept in accordance
with a city ordinance and any property owners not in accordance will be notified and the ordinance enforced. Mayor Garth reported that the mosquito truck needs a new motor and Harvey’s had given a quote of $5,540. The council decided to get quotes from other places to replace the motor as well as getting quotes from car dealers for a new truck and then decide whether to repair it or buy a new one. A motion was approved to pay Environmental Process Systems $7,476.38 for an air relief valve. A motion was approved to give a raise for the Zoning and Planning Commission members, as requested by Chairman John Stephens in a letter to the council. The pay will go from $25/mo to $35/mo. Housing Authority Director Mandy Barnes requested by letter that Deon Williams be appointed to replace Joe Bob Robinson on the board. A motion was approved to do so. A motion was approved to re-appoint Jerry Greenwood to the Parks and Recreation Commission for another 5 year term. Circuit Judge candidate Daniel Brock attended the meeting and introduced himself to the
Carlisle School Board hears of new security measures by Debbye Harrison The installation of a new security system was reported to the Carlisle School Board at its regular meeting held on January 13. All members were present. New safety features have been placed on the entry doors at the
Carlisle high school and elementary buildings. Letters have been sent home to elementary parents explaining the new entry procedure. A button has been placed on the outside of the building. Before entering, the button must be pushed, and someone in the office will answer.
NOTICE
The deadline to register to vote in the March 3, 2020 Preferential Primary Election is
The person simply identifies himself/herself and states the reason for entering. Then the door will be unlocked. High School Principal Green also reported about the security changes on the doors at the high school. Jason Stewart, Elementary Principal, reported that Carlisle will host the Lonoke County Spelling Bee. Standards Based Report Cards are being considered by the teachers in grades K – 8 as a way to report more specifically
on a student’s progress. This type of evaluation is being compared to the traditional A, B, C report card. At the end of the year, the faculty will make a recommendation to the Board. Any change in report cards has to be met with Board approval. Principal Green announced that all high school classrooms now have Chromebooks, and he expressed his gratitude to the Board. This allows each student to have all the advantages of classroom technology
every period, he said. Each board member received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Arkansas School Board Association in recognition of School Board Appreciation Month. Insulated cups were presented as gifts by the FCCLA members along with special treats of banners and posters from students and faculty showing their appreciation. The board members dined on chili and chips and a special cake with words of appreciation.
Monday, February 3, 2020 You may register at the Prairie County Clerk’s Office in either of the Prairie County Courthouses in Des Arc and DeValls Bluff during regular office hours. Those who wish to vote by Absentee Ballot for the Primary Election on March 3, 2020, may call the Clerk's Office in Des Arc at (870) 256-4434 to request an absentee ballot application.
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