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See Page 3 Volume 117 Number 40 - USPS 225-680
Community Events Calendar Thursday October 6 Junior High Hornets @ Carlisle 7:00p.m.
Hazen/DeValls Bluff, Prairie County, Arkansas
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson Speaks at Farm Bureau meeting
Friday October 7 Senior High Hornets VS Carlisle Hornet Field 7:00p.m.
Saturday October 8 Movies at the Center Presents: God’s Not Dead 2 6:00 p.m. DeValls Bluff Community Center
Monday October 10 Hazen Chapter #5 OES Meeting Hazen Lodge Hall 6:15p.m.
Tuesday October 11 Prairie County Democratic Party Rally Hazen City Park 5:00p.m.
Thursday October 13 Hazen Masonic Lodge Lodge Hall 7:30p.m. Prairie County Retired Teachers Meeting El Amigo in Hazen 1:00p.m. Prairie County Master Gardeners BancorpSouth in Hazen 6:00p.m. Idlewild Extensions Homemakers Club Meeting DeValls Bluff Courthouse
Saturday October 22 Princess Rice Pageant 6:00p.m. Hazen Community Center
Monday October 31
Community events brought to you by and the
Hazen Chamber of Commerce
Please call F&M Bank, 255-3042 to list events.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Farm Bureau president Luke Hooks presented the John Petrus family a plaque for being chosen as the 2016 Farm Family of the Year. The annual meeting of the Prairie County Farm Bureau was held at the Tollville Parish Hall on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 with President Luke Hooks presiding. Dinner was served by the Tollville church women. Hooks introduced the guest speaker, Governor Asa Hutchinson. Governor Hutchinson stated that agriculture is the number one industry in Arkansas bringing in 16 to 20 billion dollars a year. He stated that Arkansas has an abundance of rice in storage that needs to be exported, and it is his goal to visit with the leaders of
Japan, China, and other countries hoping to open up a global market for Arkansas Agriculture. Governor Hutchinson also spoke briefly about the Grand Prairie Irrigation Project, Arkansas Highways and County Roads, and Rural Education. In closing, Governor Hutchinson commended Farm Bureau on their efforts to lobby against the Arkansas medical marijuana amendment and urged all members to vote against Issue 6 and 7. Hooks thanked Governor Hutchinson for being the guest speaker and stated that a dona-
tion had been made to the Arkansas Hunger Alliance in his honor. Hooks introduced the 2016 Farm family of the year, The John Petrus Family. He then presented them with plaques on behalf of The Grand Prairie Herald and The White River Journal. Ketrina Wallace, Miss Prairie County Rice, also spoke to the group about her activities for this year. Hooks recognized the other special guests which included Ty Davis, Field Representative for US Senator John Boozman, Mitchell NailField Representative for Congressman Rick
Crawford, Camille BennettState Representative District 14, Brent GriffinCounty Extension Agent, Shea Wilson- County Extension Agent FCS 4H, Mike Skarda- County Judge, Rich HillmanVice President of Arkansas Farm Bureau, Jeff Pitchford- Director of Public Policy/ State Affairs Arkansas Farm Bureau, Ken MooreAssistant Director of Public Relations & News Services, Harry WillemsDirector of Organization & Member Services, Autumn WoodOrganization & Member Programs Assistant, Andrew Guffey- Director of Education & Outreach and Steven StrohDistrict Director SE Organization & Member Programs. Hooks presided over the regular meeting. The minutes of the 2015 annual meeting were read by Secretary, Bryan Felty. A membership report was given by Secretary Bryan Felty. Prairie County has a membership quota of 1,227. Memberships paid to date 1,195 which leaves 32 members short of quota. After an amusing introduction by Jackie Prince, Agency Manager Robert Lott gave an insurance report and introduced his staff. President Hooks read
one new resolution, which was passed, then Hooks read the nominations for Board of Directors for the coming year. They were elected by acclamation. Hooks read the nominations for delegates and alternates to represent Prairie County at the state convention. Those nominated as delegates were Luke Hooks and Seth Skarda. The alternates nominated were all board members. Those nominated were elected by acclamation. Then the meeting was adjourned.
Prairie County Democrat Rally The 2016 Democrat Rally hosted by Prairie County Democratic Committee will be held Tuesday, October 11 at 5:00 PM in The Hazen City Park. If the weather is not favorable, the rally will meet in the Community Center. There will be a line up of Democratic Candidates and surrogates that range from the Courthouse to the White House. No entry fee, but donations are appreciated. Everyone is welcome. Refreshments including grilled hot dogs, chips, drinks will be available. Early Voting begins on October 24th, 2016 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 8th, 2016.
Hazen school board elects officers and approves 2016-1 17 school budget The Hazen School Board held their monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 26 at the Hazen High School Library. Board members in attendance were Sandra Penn, Vicki Skarda, David Strohl, David Williams, and Freddie Rogers. Also in attendance were Superintendent Nanette Belford, Cindy Ciganek, Sarah Snider, High School Principal Roxanne Bradow, and Elementary Principal Tiffany Glover, and Elementary Assistant Principal Clint Williams. The first order of business was to re-organize the board and elect officers. The board unanimously voted to re-elect David Strohl as the school board president. David Williams will serve as the new vice president, and Vicki Skarda will be the new board secretary. 2016-17 School Budget After the election of officers, Belford presented the operating budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. The beginning balance for 2016 was listed as $1,245,734 as opposed to the 2015 beginning budget of $1,229,363. The district expects local ta revenue to go up by approximately $15,000, other revenue to be dimished by approximately $46,500, and state foundation aid is expected to go down from $2,435,596 to around $2,383,432 this
school year. The district will also receive an additional $12,494 from the state for declining enrollment last year. Other state aid is predicted to go from the $111,664 received by the district last year to $2,530 this year and unrestricted federal aid to decrease from $6,525 last year to $3,358 this year. Despite the funding cuts in some categories, the district expects to receive over $48,000 more in total revenues this year than last, with an overall budget of $5,148,951 for 2016-17. In expenditures, the budget shows that certified salaries and benefits are budged to go up this year by $93,632. Classified salaries and benefits are budgeted to go down by $18,573. Transportation expenditures will go up this year, and the amount expected to be transferred into the building fund will be down this year from $298,719 to $197,871. Belford stated that the money put into the building fund will be used for roof repairs in the Neel building and the old gymnasium. Belford expects to transfer more more money into the building fund at the end of the year. Thebonded debt payment will be $357,019 this year. The 2016-17 ending balance is expected to be $1,250,000. Other Action Items The board approved the purchase of thirty-nine
laptop computers for the elementary teachers from NSL funds in the amount of $28,787.85. They also approved the superintendent’s recommendation to renew the purchase of a one year subscription to Renaissance Learning in the amount of $12,584.50. The costs for this will be covered by the NSL funds for both high school and elementary schools. The superintendent’s recommendation to purchase a one-year subscription to Apex learning software for grades 9-12 that will cost $9,125.00 and will be covered by NSL funds was approved. The Apex program will allow students to make up failed course work and practice for standardized testing. The superintendent’s recommendation to enter into a contract with Davidson Facilities Consulting, LLC for services of MAster Facilities Planning in the amount of $3000 was approved. The superintendent’s recommendation to purchase a recorder and other necessary equipment to expand surveillance at the elementary school was approved. The $17,674.10 will be paid using the Title VI-REAP Funds. The superintendent’s recommendations to purchase seventy Chromebooks, seventy Chromebook management licenses, and thirty
power adapters for high school student from Howard Technology was approved. The $19,402.80 cost will be covered using NSL funds. The high school and new gymnasium will be updated at a later date. The Superintendent’s recommendation to to participate in the Arkansas Public School U n e m p l o y m e n t Compensation Account through the Arkansas School Board Association was approved. The ACSIP Plan and Budget as well as the Statement of Assurances were approved. The 20162017 Standards for Accreditation Statement of Assurances was also approved. Information Items Elementary Principal Tiffany Glover reported that 233 grandparents attended the Grandparents Day gathering that the elementary held on September 16. Glover also updated the board on the upcoming Pre-K Pumpkin Patch field trip, the Planet X exhibition visiting the elementary school, and informed that board on a new Hazen Elementary School app being developed. Ms. Bradow informed the board about HistoryMaker Bob Nash visiting the school on September 30, the University of Arkansas representative visiting the school on the 29, and
the college day for seniors on October 11. Superintendent Nanette Belford told the board that at that time there are presently 636 students enrolled in the Hazen School District. Belford also updated the Board on Hazen High School’s golf team recently winning district. The team will attend the state games in Camden in October. Belford also stated that the present facilities plan for the district includes putting a roof on the old gym which will cost $235,017, of which the state will provide 30%. The plan also includes the replacement of the roof on the Neel building at a cost of $709,000, of which the state will pay $219,000. Personnel The Superintendent’s recommendations to accept the resignation of Beth Rogers as the elementary library/media teacher was approved, and Jaime Skarda was hired to take her place. Skarda is a former teacher at Hazen elementary school and helped fill a critical position at the school district. The hiring of Skarda must be approved by the comissioner of the Arkansas Department of Education because Skarda is the daught in law of board member Vicki Skarda.