1st Round of Playoffs Hornets @ Conway Christian 7:00 p.m.
Des Arc Eagles vs Mineral Springs 7:00 p.m.
Carlisle Bison vs Hector 7:00 p.m.
Saturday November 16
Hazen Chamber of Commerce is decorating the town for Christmas, asking the community to please Join them
Tuesday November 19
Big Trash Pickup Day in Hazen
Thursday November 21 Hazen City Council meeting City Hall 6:00 p.m.
Carlisle
By Debbye Harrison
Biscoe EHC readies for fall rally
By Mitzi Osborne
The Biscoe EHC
October meeting was called to order by
President Mitzi Osborne at 10:30 a.m. Eleven members met October 14 at the First Baptist of Biscoe Fellowship Hall. The attendees were, Mitzi Osborne, Bernadette Mosby. Juanita Hutchinson, Barbara Williams, Janis Toll, Barbara Williams, Connie Smith, Debby Priest, Ardie Yates, Karen Golden, Rita Farris, Opal Flippo, and Jackie Fogerty.
The thought was “Life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% is how you react to it.” Charles Swindell, inspirational leader Juanita read the poem “Victory based on 1 Cor 15: 54-57.
Arkansas Press Association
Secretary Jackie Fogerty called the roll and read the minutes. Members reported 429 volunteer hours. Many of those were from the eight members the Prairie County Fair in September. Treasurer Bernadette gave the financial report. Under finished business, the Prairie County Fall rally will be November 13 at the FBC at Biscoe. The theme is Any Way You Slice It EHC is Best! Registration begins at 9:30 with meeting at10 in the Morning refreshment will be served as well as lunch. There will be a pie contest. New Business discussed in November Thanksgiving
Celebration. November 20 at the white River Dairy Bar at 11:00 a.m.Then at FBC Biscoe for Crative Skills program crafting. Christmas Activities: Party and projects plans were discussed to be finalized at the November meeting.
Connie Smith and Barbara Williams led the creative Skills program. Members painted Nut Crackers. Celebrating October birthdays with Cake and cards were Mitzi and Angie Norman, and Ardie Yates. The November Birthday is Juanita Hutchinson on the 3rd. The meeting was adjourned with everyone reciting the EHC Creed.
Hazen Cemetery Donations
Hazen Cemetery
Donations:
In Memory of: Joy
Strohl
By: Eric and Angelia Greenwalt
In Memory of: Bucky
Sims
The Grand Prairie Herald is an independent publication that has served Prairie County since December, 1901. It is published weekly by Herald Publishing Company
Hazen Chamber plans for annual “Christmas in the Park” event
The Hazen Chamber of Commerce met on Monday, November 4, to discuss past and upcoming city events. Nineteen members were present at the meeting. The next Chamber event will be “Christmas in the Park” which will feature a ferris wheel on which citizens may ride, a parade, and carriage rides. The rides will be free. The event will be held on Monday, December 2 in downtown Hazen from 5:007:00 p.m. with the parade beginning at 7:00 p.m.
In addition, Santa will be in the gazebo with the Gingerbread Man to hear Christmas requests, and there will be a live Nativity Scene. Carolers will perform and local stores will be open for business. Cookies and hot cocoa will be served in the train depot, and the Simmer Down restaurant will be preparing chili and grilled cheese sandwiches to eat. The proceeds from the food sold will go to the Hazen Chamber. The downtown area will be decorated on Saturday, November 16, in the afternoon. Anyone wishing to help is welcome. David Hardke reported
that, despite the rain that moved in that afternoon, the annual Rice Festival was successful. Four food trucks and over 40 vendors selling various items were there for the event. Dee Hare reported that 21 organizations gave out candy to the local children at the Halloween Trunk or Treat. Megan Anderson told the group that the recent beauty pageant had been successful. The next Chamber meeting will be held on Monday, December 9, in the Community Room of Cadence Bank at 5:00 p.m.
Rising water threatens to close deer hunting in portions of AR
By Randy Zellers AR Game and Fish
Hunters heading out for opening weekend of modern gun deer hunting season this weekend are urged to keep a close eye on river gauge readings to ensure the area they are hunting is open. Recent downpours throughout the White River Basin have created a large pulse of water that is expected to exceed flood stage at some gauges, closing all methods of deer hunting until the water recedes.
The current river level forecast for the White River is expected to reach 31 feet at Augusta sometime Friday, Nov. 8. This would close deer season on private land in Flood Prone Zone B as well as the following wildlife management areas and national wildlife refuges: Bayou Des Arc WMA, Departee Creek WMA, Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA, Bald Knob NWR and portions of Cache River NWR. These areas will reopen
Please remember that the cemetery needs donations to continue the upkeep. The donations have been down lately, but please remember the cemetery when you can. All donations are greatly appreciated and can be mailed to: Hazen Cemetery, P.O. Box 92, Hazen, Ar. 72064
to deer hunting when the same gauge falls below 30 feet and the White River gauge at Georgetown falls to or below 19 feet.
Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA also likely will be closed during the Nov. 9-13 permit gun hunt. The river level forecast for the White River is expected to exceed 26 feet at Augusta and 14 feet at Georgetown sometime Friday, Nov. 8. The area reopens to deer hunting when the White River at Georgetown falls below 14 feet. Current projections do not reach these levels until after the conclusion of the 5day permit hunt scheduled for this WMA.
The bottomland hardwood forests of eastern Arkansas offer excellent habitat for large deer populations, but these low-lying areas also can become inundated quickly, pushing deer into smaller areas with less available cover.
This creates a situation where deer may become vulnerable to overhar-
vest, and removes some of the aspects of fair chase. Hunting in flooded areas also increases the chances of game loss as fatally hit deer may run into swift-moving stream or deep areas before hunters can recover their harvest. Flood prone zones include some areas of high ground, where deer concentrate during floods, but these highground sanctuaries also are off limits to deer hunting if they fall within the boundaries of the flood prone zone. Only deer hunting is closed during floodprone zone closures. Seasons and limits for other game animals remain unchanged.
A description of all flood-prone regions and criteria for closures are available at www.agfc.com/hunting/d eer/flood-prone-zones. You may also call the AGFC’s Wildlife Information Hotline at 833-345-0398 for the status of all flood-prone regions, updated each day at 3.p.m.
Wreaths Across America to be held in Carlisle Cemetery
National nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) announced today that the Carlisle Cemetery has once again joined in the mission to Remember, Honor, Teach, as an official location for 2024. This is the third year that the cemetery will participate in this national program which will be observed on December 14 at 11:00 am at the Carlisle Cemetery pavilion.
Wreaths Across America started as a simple gesture of thanks that has grown into a national movement of dedicated volunteers and communities coming together not only to remember the nation’s fallen and honor their service, but to teach the next generation about the value of freedom.
This year, there will be more than 4,800 participating locations placing veterans’ wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day –Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 – with more than three million volunteers coming together.
The goal for the Carlisle Cemetery is to place sponsored veterans’ wreaths on the headstones of all the local heroes laid to rest there, to ensure that the individuals who served to protect the freedoms of our country never be forgotten, and to bring the community together in patriotic commemoration.
“We are forever grateful for the thousands of supporters who dedicate their time, energy and resources to fulfilling our mission all year long,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America.
“These individuals and their communities know the value of remembering the fallen, honoring those who currently serve and teaching the next generation about the sacrifices made for our freedom every day, and because of their con-
tinued support, Wreaths Across America continues to grow and touch new people each year.” Those interested in volunteering for Wreaths Across America or sponsoring a wreath for the Carlisle Cemetery are invited to visit the Carlisle Wreaths Across America Facebook page, wreathsacrossamerica.o rg/ARCRLC, or to contact Jan Pasley or Judi Tarter Jones, WAA Carlisle Co-coordinators, to learn more. National Wreaths Across America Day is a free community event open to all people.
E a g les hol d off Mc Cror y ,
g et home p la y off g ame
By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor
The Des Arc Eagles bounced back from their only conference loss of the season to beat McCrory 38-36 on Thursday night. With the win, the Eagles finish the regular season at 8-2 and secured a home playoff game this week.
Des Arc’s Daviyon Bell rushed for 182 yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries. He also scored four two-point conversions. Hudson Goodman rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Jamie Collins had 40 yards rushing on 13 carries. On defense, Ben Kearby led the Eagles with 12 tackles. Bell,
Dylan Skarda and Tylenn Miller had seven tackles each. Brayden Knupp had six tackles. “McCrory played a heck of a game and played their tails off,” Des Arc coach Brandon Barbaree said. “They played almost mistake free and made it a game that came down to the last play, but our kids fought to the very end and made plays that had to be made. I’m proud of this group and all they have accomplished, even with all the adversity we have faced, from losing a parent, to losing a former player to having some tough injuries. This is a tough and mature team that seems to keep fighting through whatever is thrown at
them.”
The Eagles finish the conference season at cochampions, tied with East Poinsett County, which got the No. 1 seed after beating the Eagles two weeks ago. Des Arc will host the Mineral Springs Hornets in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs.
“They are a super-talented team and have one a huge game against Murfreesboro to end the year,” Barbaree said. “So, they have a lot of momentum. We will have to play mistake-free and come up with big plays offensively and defensively to win this game.”
State Capitol Week in Review
From Senator Ronald Caldwell
LITTLE ROCK – Direct care nurses who work at long-term facilities operated by the state are eligible for a bonus of $5,000. Newly hired nurses are also eligible for bonuses, but the $5,000 would be paid in installments over several months.
The goal is to reduce the state’s use of “travelling” nurses, who are hired through agencies temporarily. Last fiscal year the state paid for about 173,000 hours of contract nursing.
The state Department of Human Services operates the State Hospital in Little Rock for people with mental illness. It also operates the Arkansas Health Center formerly known as the Benton Services Center, a psychiatric nursing home for the elderly and people with disabilities.
The department also operates five Human Development Centers for people with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. They are in Arkadelphia, Booneville, Bradley County, Conway and Jonesboro. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses will be eligible for bonuses, but certified nurse assistants will not.
The department proposed the bonuses, which were approved by the Personnel Subcommittee of the
Legislative Council. The joint Committees on Public Health, Welfare and Labor also reviewed details of the bonus program before it took effect on November 1.
Legislators and DHS officials acknowledged that one-time bonuses would not be an adequate long-term fix for staffing shortages. Higher salaries for nurses at state facilities will be addressed during the 2025 regular session, when legislators consider a new state employee pay plan. The session begins in January.
The state’s top personnel director told lawmakers that nurses’ salaries would be a priority in the pay plan.
In Fiscal Year 2024, which ended on June 30, the state paid contract nurses $4.8 million to work about 70,000 hours at the State Hospital. The state paid $3.2 million for 50,000 hours of nursing at the Arkansas Health Center and $3.24 million for 53,000 hours at human development centers. However, the center at Booneville did not require the use of any contract nurses. In comparison, the cost of bonuses to full-time nurses will total $1.26 million, department officials said.
Legislators have heard from family members of clients at the human development centers about the use of contract
nurses.
No legislator voiced concerns about the quality of care provided by travelling nurses, but several said that fulltime nurses could get to know better the longterm needs of clients. Thus, permanent nurses could provide better care simply by providing continuity of care.
In trying to make salaries of full-time state nurses competitive with travelling nurses, the department doesn’t have to match salaries dollar for dollar. That’s because the state doesn’t have to pay for fringe benefits for travelling nurses. The value of fringe benefits provides an additional 30 to 32 percent to the compensation paid to state nurses, a department official said.
The fringe benefits brings state nurse salaries closer to a competitive level. Recently, the department re-hired seven nurses who had gone to work for contract nursing agencies. State facilities will probably continue to rely on contract nurses, if at reduced levels, in order to maintain staffing levels. Longterm care facilities must have available a certain number of nurses per client, to be licensed and to qualify for federal funding.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PRAIRIE COUNTY, ARKANSAS NORTHERN DISTRICT PROBATE DIVISION IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF TONYA SHANTA ROBINSON, DECEASED 59NPR-24-18
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Last Known Address of Decedent: 801 S 2 nd St., Des Arc, AR 72040
Date of Death: August 4, 2024
The undersigned were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of the above-named Decedent on October 3, 2024.
All persons having claims against the estate must exhibit them, duly verified, to the undersigned within six (6) months from the date of the first publication of this notice, or they shall be forever barred and precluded from any benefit in the estate.
This notice first published this 6th day of November, 2024.
WELTON ROBINSON
803 S 2 ND ST
DES ARC, ARKANSAS 72040
MARY ANN ROBINSON
803 S 2 ND ST
DES ARC, AR 72040
ROBERT M. ABNEY, P.A.
ATTORNEY FOR THE ESTATE
P O BOX 246
DES ARC AR 72040
870.256.4183
Carlisle rallies from 20-14 in 4th to beat Hazen, win 2-A title
By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor
Carlisle rallied from a 20-14 deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Hazen Hornets 2820 on Thursday night at Fred C. Hardke Field. With the win, the Bison clinch the 2A-4 conference title for the second consecutive season. With the loss, Hazen falls to the fourth seed from the conference.
“First off, Hazen gave us all we wanted,” Carlisle coach Gary Wilson said. “Coach Besancon had a good plan. I was really proud of our kids. It was only the second time all year that we trailed in the second half, and this one was in the fourth quarter. I don’t think our kids panicked at all. If you ask them, there was never any doubt that they would find a way to win. I was really proud of them.”
Hazen, which trailed 14-0, rallied to take a 20-14 lead with 11:03 left in the game. The first touchdown came with 4:20 left in the first half. JJ Pinkney scored on a six-yard run. He also added the twopoint conversion to make the score 14-8.
In the third quarter, Carlisle turned the ball over on a bad handoff, giving the Hornets the ball at the Carlisle 30. On the next play from scrimmage, Pinkney went up the middle 30 yards for the game-tying
touchdown with 7:03 left in the third quarter.
Carlisle’s next possession ended with another turnover as Sam Clayton took a pass away from Carlisle’s Gavin Davis in the end zone with 3:14 left in the third.
The Hornets then drove 80 yards with Pinkney scoring on an eight-yard run with 11:03 left in the game. Carlisle’s Lawson Petrus then tackled Pinkney behind the line of scrimmage on the conversion attempt. Carlisle reclaimed the lead at 21-20 with 9:52 left. Ty Tanksley hit Kaidon Clingmon with a pass in the right flat, and Clingmon weaved his way down the sideline for the touchdown.
Jimmy Cham kicked the extra point. The Bison forced the Hornets to punt on their next possession. That led to Tanksley throwing a five-yard touchdown pass to Clingmon with 4 minutes left in the game. Cham’s extra point made the score 2820.
Pinkney, who left the game with an injured ankle on the previous Hazen possession, returned to the game, driving the Hornets into Bison territory.
However, he was knocked out of the game as he threw an interception, which was grabbed by Carlisle’s Gavin Davis. That secured the
victory.
Hazen coach Joe Besancon said he was proud of his team’s effort against the topranked Bison.
“Their effort was tremendous,” he said. “They gave me all I could ask. They left it all on that field. We came up a little bit short. I was really really proud of them.”
Pinkney led the Hornets with 162 yards rushing on 22 carries. Noah Adkins led the Hornets with 14 tackles. Tanksley completed 12 of 21 passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns.
Jaden Elliott led the Bison with 48 yards rushing on 14 carries. Davis caught three passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Clingmon caught four passes for 52 yards and two touchdowns. Gabe Boyle led the Bison defense with 11 tackles. Kolton Bartley had nine.
Early on, it looked like the Bison were going to run away with the game, scoring two touchdowns on one-play drives.
Tanksley hit Davis with a 64-yard touchdown pass with 2:09 left in the first quarter. Cham kicked the extra point. The Bison then forced Hazen to turn the ball over on downs at the Hazen 48. Tanksley
Prairie County Delinquent List for 2023 Real Estate Taxes
I, Rick Parson, Tax Collector of Prairie County do hereby certify that the tax books of Prairie County reflect the foregoing list of Personal Property and Real Estate taxes to be delinquent for the nonpayment of said taxes for the year 2023. This publication was paid for by the Prairie County Collector's office. The amount of this publication is $2298.00.
Carlisle, Des Arc, Hazen get ready for playoffs
By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor
All three of the Grand Prairie Herald area football teams will be playing in the Class 2A state playoffs, which start Friday night. The Carlisle Bison will host the Hector Wildcats. Des Arc will host the Mineral Springs Hornets while the Hazen Hornets will travel to Conway to play the Conway Christian Eagles.
The Bison, who beat Hazen last week to win the 2A-4 conference title, are 10-0. Hector is the fourth seed from the 2A1 conference. The Wildcats ended the regular season at 6-4. Carlisle beat Hector 2720 in the second round of the 2023 playoffs.
“They are coached really well, and their kids play hard,” Carlisle coach Gary Wilson said. “They don’t make a lot of mistakes. They are not going to beat themselves. We’ve got to take care of the ball on offense and tackle well on defense.”
Des Arc finished second in the 2A-2 conference behind East Poinsett County. The Eagles are 8-2. Mineral Springs is 64. They are the third seed from the 2A-3 conference.
Hazen, the only team in the playoffs with a 5-5 record, is the fourth seed from the 2A-4. If the Hornets had beaten Carlisle last week, they would have been the No. 1 seed. They are playing undefeated Conway
Christian, the conference champion from the 2A-1. Hazen and Conway Christian opened the season against each other Aug. 30 with Conway Christian winning 42-14. The score was tied 14-14 at halftime before the Eagles pulled away in the final 24 minutes. Kickoff for all playoff games is at 7 p.m. “They are really good,” Hazen coach Joe Besancon said of Conway Christian. “They are very balanced. They can beat you through the air, and they can beat you on the ground. They are probably the most balanced team in Class 2A, in my opinion. Defensively, they are really big and really physical.”
Arkansas is home to more than 182,000 veterans. As we approach Veterans Day, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank every one of them for their selflessness and bravery. We are also grateful to families of service members and veterans who also serve this nation with their support and sacrifice. Whether they served in times of war or peace, our veterans all share an unwavering belief in the cause of freedom.
The Arkansas General Assembly continually reviews ways to ensure our veterans and their families are well cared for and that our policies make life a little easier for those who call Arkansas home.
In 2017, we passed Act 141 which exempts military retirement benefits from state income tax.
In the 2023 Regular Session, we passed several
pieces of legislation aimed at improving benefits for veterans including Act 395. This act amends the definition of “homestead” for purposes of the property tax exemption for disabled veterans, surviving spouses, and minor dependent children of disabled veterans. Act 201 seeks to have veteran disability benefits excluded as income for eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by directing DHS to seek a federal waiver.
ACT 137 adds consideration of national certifications toward initial occupational licensure and extends the application of the Arkansas Occupational Licensing of Uniformed Service Members, Veterans, and Spouses Act of 2021 to spouses. The act also eliminates the one-year limit for veterans to apply service education, training, or certi-
fications toward initial occupational licensure. ACT 649 repeals the deadline by which students must apply for school transfers under the Public School Choice Act of 2015 for children of uniformed services families and allows a child to be eligible for enrollment in the public school of his or her choice if certain conditions are met. We will continue to study policies that support our veterans and their families. We encourage Arkansans to consider ways they can support our veterans this Veterans Day and throughout the year. There are numerous volunteer opportunities across the state. Medical facilities, VA hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics need volunteers to perform a wide range of duties. You can find links to resources for our veterans at veterans.arkansas.gov.
Hazen participates in chess tourney... Chess tournament for elementary was Nov. 8th and high school was November 9, at the Wilbur Mills Co-op. 6th grader Cam Seely won 2nd place.
and constitutes a waiver by the owner and the lien holder of all right, title, and interest in the vehicle.
To take possession of this vehicle, you must appear during normal business hours, Monday-Friday 8am5pm, and provide proof of ownership and pay all associated charges. Please contact us immediately at 870-255-3305 if you wish to pick up the above-mentioned vehicle.
Rick Wiggins, Owner
Rick’s Automotive and Wrecker Service.
To Whom it May Concern. A 2012 Ford 150 VIN# 1FTMF1CF9CKE05790 , The above mentioned vehicle was towed to our lot on November 11, 2024 per request of Hazen Police Department, and was towed to storage lot of 1111 Highway 70 West in Hazen. The initial fee due is $250.00, and additionally The storage fee due is $50.00 per day and continues to accumulate daily. The administrative fees due are $150.00 for the processing of the lien, the processing of a stolen vehicle report by our Police Department and the processing of certified letters sent to the owner and lien holder (if any) via mail. The above amounts do not reflect the 11% tax that is due upon releasing the vehicle. Tower storage & administrative costs are accuring daily as legal liability of the owner, Rick’s Automotive & Wrecker Service claims first priority lien on the said vehicle and its contents for all such charges. The vehicle and its contents will be dismantled, destroyed, or sold at public sale to the highest bidder if not claimed within 45 days and constitutes a waiver by the owner and the lien holder of all right, title, and interest in the vehicle.
To take possession of this vehicle, you must appear during normal business hours, Monday-Friday 8am5pm, and provide proof of ownership and pay all associated charges.
Please contact us immediately at 870-255-3305 if you wish to pick up the above-mentioned vehicle.
Rick Wiggins, Owner Rick’s Automotive and Wrecker Service.
Des Arc holds “Miss Merry Christmas” pageant
Sr. Mrs. Merry Christmas: Queen Sue Price and Grand Supreme Ruth Bullock Richards.
Mrs. Merry Christmas: Queen Shawna Parnell, 2nd Runner up Cindy Price, and 1st Runner up Adrienne VanHouten.
Miss Merry Christmas: Kaitlyn Barbee.
Teen Miss: Queen Lilly Hinson, 1st Runner up Brylee McIntosh, 2nd Runner up Camryn Buckner, 3rd Runner up KalliJo Willeford.
Debutante Miss: LillyAnne Anderson
Young Miss: 1st Runner Up Aubree Berg, 2nd Runner up Lynleigh Fisher, Queen Emerson Parker.
Little Miss: Queen Aubrey Cox, 1st Runner up Leila Ruffin.
Petite Miss: Queen Makenna Greenwalt, 1st Runner up Josie Bernard, Grand Supreme Azlee Wever.
Tiny Miss: 2nd Runner up Nora McFarlin, 1st Runner up Claire King, Queen Kendall Ann Calhoun.
Mini Miss: 3rd Runner up Addie Wever , Queen Winter McCane, Grand Supreme Ila Marshall, 2nd Runner up Emerson Lloyd, 1st Runner up Hesslynn Treadwell.
Baby Miss: 3rd Runner up Merritt Jackson, 1st Runner up Katie Beth Calhoun, 2nd Runner up Caroline Cook, Queen Harlow Treadwell, Princess Tressie Sayger.
