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Slovak celebrates it’s anniversary. (See page 6.)
Volume 121 Number 7 - USPS 225-680
Community Calendar of Events Wednesday February 16 Sow Be It Gardening (adult Program) Carlisle Public Library 4:00p.m.
Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie
AR Senator Crawford visits with Carlisle Council By Debbye Harrison Arkansas State Senator Ronnie Crawford visited Carlisle February 7 to introduce himself to his new constituents. Following the recent redistricting of voters, Crawford will now represent the eastern part of Lonoke County. He was greeted by Mayor Ray Glover, members of the City Council and other con-
cerned citizens. He especially enjoyed seeing Randy Shoemake, his former roommate in college. Crawford, who has been in politics for ten years, has represented the counties in eastern Arkansas beginning with Prairie and covering the state to the Mississippi River. He is a native of Wynne and his background is in farming.
Senator Crawford with Mayor Glover.
Hazen School Board given four day school proposal
Thursday February 17 Hazen City Council Meeting City Hall 6:00 p.m. Creation Station (Childrens Program) Carlisle Public Library 4:00p.m.
Senator Crawford with Sonny Moery.
DVB Council updated Elsie McCain on Hilsdon contract
Club meets DeValls Bluff Dairy Bar 11:00 a.m. Monday February 21 Presidents’ Day Local & County Office are Closed Thursday February 24 Food Distribution Hazen Methodist Church Drive Through 10:00 a.m. Monday February 28 Hornet Baseball @ Mayflower 4:30 V/JV 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.
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
By Lisa Mills Mayor Dodson asked City Attorney Mike Stuart to report on his conversations with Engineer David Hilsdon at the DeValls Bluff City Council monthly meeting held on February 10th. Attending the meeting were Mayor Brian Dodson and council members Alice Metcalf, Richard Henry, Marie Flanagan, Raymond Watson and Carol Griffin. Leah Willeford performed the Recorder/ Treasurer duties in the absence of Darlene Conner. Stuart said he and Hilsdon have been working on Hilsdon’s contract with the city, which should be ready to be signed at the March meeting. He also said that the contract will state that if the city
is not awarded the grant to pay Hilsdon, the city will not have to pay him. Stuart said that Hilsdon is moving forward with the grant application. Mayor Dodson reported that a lot of work has been done and work is continuing on the Robinson building. He reported that he is expecting applications for Police Chief that were sent out to come in next week, and he will begin interviews. Sheriff Rick Hickman’s report included 113 patrols and 14 calls. The calls included 1 breaking/entering, 1 trouble at City Hall, 1 theft, 1 possible intruder, 2 subject removals, 2 civil standbys, 2 suspicious vehicles, 1 noise complaint, 2 general complaints, 1 accident and 1 structure fire.
AR Heritage names duck gumbo cookoff food winner Stuttgart’s World Championship Duck Gumbo Cookoff (Arkansas County) was selected as the FoodThemed event winner in the 2022 class of Arkansas Heritage’s Arkansas Food Hall of Fame. On Feb. 7, 2022, the public was invited to attend a hybrid ceremony at Central Arkansas Library System’s Ron Robinson Theater in downtown Little Rock where the winners from across the state were announced and inducted into the hall of fame. Arkansas Heritage also honored chicken as the 2022 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Food of the Year. Throughout October 2021, Arkansans rallied around their favorite selections as more than
2,000 submissions were received from all 75 Arkansas counties for the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame. Winners were selected by a committee composed of Arkansans who are historians, chefs, foodies and food authors. In addition to Hurst, committee members include Paul S. Austin, Jimmy Bryant, Chip Culpepper, Quantia “Key” Fletcher, Cindy Grisham, Montine McNulty, Rex Nelson, Tim Nutt, Kat Robinson, Stephanie Wade, David Ware and Stanley Young. For more information, visit ArkFoodHOF.com or download the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame mobile app on Apple or Android devices.
The Hazen School Board was given information about a possible four-day week for school students for the 20222023 school year at its regular meeting held on February 7. All board members were present, along with Superintendent Donnie Boothe and the Superintendent’s Secretary Cindy Ciganek. High School Counselor Janan Sickel, representing the Personnel Policies Committee, handed out a packet of information to each board member explaining the pros and cons of the change. Surveys were sent out to stakeholders with 268 parent and community surveys returned, 47 staff surveys returned, and 106 surveys were returned from students in grades 7-12. Staff members overwhelmingly approved of the change, with 80.9% of them in favor. One half of the students had no concerns about the change, but around one-quarter of the respondents expressed a concern over the length of the school day and childcare. Parents' responses showed over 69% in
favor of the change, with 47% expressing no concerns and around 25% expressing concern over the length of the school day and childcare. Sixty nine percent of students were in favor of the change with one-quarter concerned about how extracurricular activities would be affected and over one half concerned over the length of the school day. Some advantages listed include better teacher and student morale (allowing for time for doctor’s and other appointments without missing school), reduced discipline referral frequency, improvement of attendance, academic improvement, and reduction in financial costs (including lower fuel costs, utility costs, and a 20% reduction in the funding of school breakfast and lunch programs.) School districts similar in size and demographics to the Hazen district that have gone to a fourday week in Arkansas include England, East End, Atkins, and Norfolk. The increase in the length of the school days allows for the same number of instructional hours.
A town meeting discussing a possible change in the number of school days will take place before the next school board meeting, which will be held on March 14. The date and time will be announced in the Herald and on the school Facebook and website pages prior to the meeting. In other business, they voted to purchase new air units for the elementary counseling room and the nurse’s office, and in rooms 124 and 116 in the high school for a cost of $22,170.06 which will be taken out of operating funds. The board also entered into an agreement with Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare for the remainder of the school year to be paid with ARP ESSER federal funds. The board approved the legal transfer of a Stuttgart student to the Hazen School District. Principals Tiffany Glover and Mark Price were hired for the 20222023 school year, and the resignation of paraprofessional Joyce Kee was accepted. Cheryl Wyatt was hired as a paraprofessional for the remainder of the year.
Quorum court announces vacancy in District 1 position The Prairie County Quorum Court met for a very short meeting on Tuesday, February 8, at 6:00 p.m. with Justice Lawrence Holloway presiding in the place of Judge Mike Skarda. The only business conducted by the justices was to declare a vacancy in
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the District 1 position due to the recent death of Justice Lynn Hatcher. The court passed a resolution to declare the vacancy of the Justice of the Peace in District one with no discussion. The position will be filled as soon as Judge Skarda
can make the appointment. A short report on the status of Judge Skarda, who has not been able to attend the Quorum Court meetings for medical reasons, was given, then the meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
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