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Community Events Calendar Thursday March 8 GFWC Elsie McCain Club Meeting 6:00pm Murry’s Restaurant Hazen Hazen Lodge Meeting 7:30pm Lodge Hall De Valls Bluff City Council Meeting 6:00pm City Hall Sunday March 11 Daylight Savings Time Begins Monday March 12 Hazen Chapter # 5 OES Meeting 6:15pm BanCorpSouth Hazen Tuesday March 13 Quorum Court Meeting 6:00pm Annex Building Des Arc Monday March 19-23 Hazen School District Closed for Spring Break Tuesday March 20 PC Master Gardeners Meeting 6:00p.m. BancorpSouth Hazen Wednesday March 21 Friendship Luncheon 11:30a.m.-2:00 p.m. DeValls Bluff Methodist Church 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, March 7, 2018

Primary election filings announced The following candidates have filed to run for various Prairie County offices in 2018. County Judge **Mike Skarda- D County/Circuit Clerk **Gaylon Hale -D County Sheriff **Rick Hickman - D Jerrell Smith - R Assessor **Jeannie Lott - D Treasurer **Tamara Dabney -D County Coroner **Byrum Kelly - D Justices of the Peace **JP 1 - Ronnie Eans - D JP 1 - Lynn Hatcher - R **JP 2 - Lawrence Holloway -D JP 2 - Judy Burnett -D JP 3 - Judy Hinson - D JP 3 - DeWayne Mayher - R **JP 4 - Dennis Tipton - D JP 5 - Louis G. King - R

JP 6 - Buddy Sims - D JP 6 - Ricky Stallings - R JP 7 - Charles Atkins - D JP 7 - Levi Childress - R **JP 8 - Bobby Willeford - D ** JP 9 - Doyle Sullins - D Constables **Des Arc TownshipMichael McIntosh - R Hazen Township- Lamar Coyle - R Hickory Plains Township - Amber Newman -R Lower Hill TownshipBilly Mason- Independent Belcher/Tyler- Jeffery Uhiren - Independent **White River Township - Ronald D. Eans ** - INCUMBENT D- DEMOCRAT R- REPUBLICAN Those filing independent petitions signatures have not been confirmed at this time, and the list could change for independent filings.

HHS band students compete at Solo/Ensemble Contest... Members of the Hazen High School Band brought home 7 Superiors and 3 Excellents after competing at the Solo and Ensemble Contest held at Cabot Junior High East on Thursday, March 1. Superior ratings went to Grace Addison, 7th Grade; Angela Hoover, 10th Grade; Chloe Jackson, 8th Grade; Brittany McLernon, 8th Grade; Ivan Rodriguez, 7th Grade; Delila Smith, 9th Grade; and Cayden Stallings, 8th Grade. Excellent ratings were awarded to Bailey Brown, 8th Grade; Mattie-Lee Owens, 12th Grade; and Jesseka Suggett, 12th Grade.

Hazen School Board discusses district security plans during February meeting The main concern on the minds of the Hazen School Board members at their regular meeting held Monday, February 26, was the safety of the school district in light of the recent Parkland, FL school shooting. Present at the meeting were President David Strohl, Davey Williams, Vickie Skarda, Richie Ingle, Freddie Rogers, Sandra Penn, Superintendent William Crowder, and Principals Tiffany Glover and Clint Williams. Dean of Students Joe Besancon was also at the meeting. Elementary Principal Tiffany Glover told the board that she had spent the last two days trying to find ways to enhance the safety of her buildings. She had enlisted the aid of a security adviser who had given her some advice about problems that needed to be addressed. Glover showed them a door barricade mechanism that is presently being used by the

Clarendon School District to block entrance into classrooms. The barricade is composed of a metal plate that would be drilled into the concrete floors, a metal slot that would be attached to the classroom side of the door, and a metal bar that would connect the metal door slot to the metal slot drilled into the floor. The metal bar would be stored where students could not get it to lock teachers out of the rooms. The school doors open outward into the hallway which makes some other types of door lock mechanisms impractical. The locks would cost the district approximately $60 per door, and Glover recommended that if the test of the mechanism on one of the doors in the elementary school is successful that the board purchase 70 of them. Strohl said that he had talked to Sheriff Rick Hickman about a program to deputize teachers at the school, allowing

them to carry guns. “Is this something that we want to look into?” Strohl asked. According to Glover, some of her middle school teachers had already expressed interest in the 120 hour training. Besancon and Clint Williams said that they would also be trained. Strohl asked Glover to get a list of teachers who would be interested in the training. “I think we need to be really careful who we choose to get trained,” Crowder said. Board member Williams agreed, expressing some hesitation about rushing into arming teachers. “A handgun is a defensive weapon,” he said. “It’s used to buy time until the good guys can get there.” “I still like the idea of a Resource Officer,” he said. The district had a Resource Officer at one time, but the program was disbanded. “I don’t see these teachers going out into the hallway searching. I see

UofA Division of Ag offering water management classes STUTTGART, Ark. Producers getting ready for 2018 row crop growing season have plenty of opportunities to sharpen their water management skills through schools being offered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The Division of Agriculture is offering three schools: one for using Multiple Inlet Rice Irrigation, one for soil moisture sensors and the third which is both Surge and Soil Moisture Sensor School that covers surge valve use and layout as well as the basics of soil moisture sensors and how to use them to schedule irrigation. The number of participants for each school is limited to 12-15 people. The rice irrigation schools cover how to use a mobile app and electronic levee files to design for poly pipe in rice fields and how to get the data from the tractor to the app. There is no cost for the rice irrigation school. The $400 cost of the Surge and Soil Moisture school includes eight sensors, a slide hammer installation tool and a manual reader for those that do not have the tools needed to use sensors. Participants construct

sensors and install them as part of the school. Chris Henry, associate professor-Irrigation with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said industry has provided a deep discount on the supplies need to get started with sensors, so that participants can get the tools they need to use sensors effectively for irrigation Surge Valve and Soil Moisture Sensor Schools *March 9, 9 a.m. .- 3 p.m., MARIANNA -- Lon Mann Cotton Research Station, 8 Lee County Road 214. To register contact Stan Baker, 870-2957720, *March 21, 9 a.m. .- 3 p.m., RECTOR -- Rector Community Center, 740 East 9th Street. To register contact Stewart Runsick, 870-857-6875, surge and soil moisture sensor school Multiple Inlet Rice Irrigation App School *March 7, 9 a.m. .- 3 p.m., STUTTGART -Rice Research and Extension Center, 2900 Hwy. 130 East, Stuttgart, Arkansas, to register contact Phil Horton 870-9463231. *March 9, 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., WYNNE -- East Arkansas Community

College, 1790 Falls Boulevard, North. To register contact Rick Wimberley, 870-238-5745. *March 20, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., RECTOR Rector Community Center, 740 East 9th Street. To register contact Stewart Runsick, 870-857-6875. For more information on irrigation, contact your county extension office or v i s i t https://www.uaex.edu/env i r o n m e n t nature/water/irrigation.as px.

them protecting the kids in their rooms,” Ingle said. “Whatever gun you don’t have on you would have to be locked up,” he said. Principal Williams said that safes that only a teacher’s hand could open are available in which to put the guns. Glover told the board that three state troopers, Hazen police officers, and certain staff members all get text messages when anyone from the school calls 911. She also said that Southern EMS has agreed to train all of the district staff in first aid and the use of tourniquets to stop bleeding in the event of a serious injury. Glover also told the board that an active shooter drill was being prepared by both principals. They are working on modifying the Carlisle School District Active Shooter plan to meet Hazen needs. “We have several things in motion,” she said. In other business, the board approved the purchase of fourteen sets of 10 Texas Instruments 84 Plus calculators (8 sets for the elementary and 6 sets for the high school) for $13,532.40, 33 Casio Advanced XJ projectors for the elementary and high school for $26,873.99 (12 elementary classrooms, 1 for the cafeteria, and 20 for the high school classrooms), and 30 laptop computers for the high school teaqchers and 2 laptops for the Pre-K teachers for $29,670.86 out of National School Lunch (NSL) funding. They also approved the superintendent’s recommendation to purchase two display solution with

TeachSmart 3.0 Software packages for the Pre-K classrooms in the amount of $20,351.40 from NSLABC funds. They also approved the purchase of two iStartSmart Pre-K Tablet Classpack wfor $8,070.90 with NSL-ABC funds. The board also voted to pay the Arkansas School Board Association Worker’s Compensation Trust $9,725 to renew the school’s premium for the 2018 coverage period and $2,850.00 for Model Policy Service Contract renewal. Crowder recommended that the board enter into an agreement with Blue Sky Technologies, LLC to provide the fiber optic and CAT6 cabling for the upgrading of the district’s internet system. The total cost of the program will be $76,753.00. Eighty percent of the cost ($61,402.40) will be paid with E-Rate funds, with the district paying for 20 percent ($15,350.60) of the expense. The superintendent also recommended and the board approved a resolution to amend the Municipal Advisor Agreement with Stephens, Inc. to allow the company to give the district a free service that for which it is now paying. The meeting ended with Clint Williams telling the board that Grant Shelman was named to the “All-Arkansas Preps Team” and that one of the Hazen Star Events teams, made up of Kynnedi Mothershed, Reighan McAdoo, and Kolby Fox, will be competing at the National Star Events competition this summer.

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Page 2 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Donald (Donnie) Ray Wiggins Donald (Donnie) Ray Wiggins, 62, of Des Arc, Arkansas with his wife and granddaughter by his side, went to be with the Lord on February 22, 2018 at 8:32 A.M. after a long hard battle with melanoma cancer. He had been at UAMS and Hospice Home Care the last 2 weeks of his life, both in Little Rock. Donnie was a retired carpenter, an avid hunter and fisherman, and a friend to many. He loved God, his family and considered his closest friends his brothers. Donnie was preceded in death by his grandparents, Claude and Gladys Wiggins and Clarence (Bud) and Hassie Neil; his father, Earl Wiggins; his mother, Frankie Neil Floyd and one infant grandson, Lane Nichols. He is survived by his wife and companion of 34 years, Karen Fort Wiggins; one daughter, Amber (JJ) Walicki of Des Arc; two step-sons, Robert (Melissa) Nichols of Brookland, Arkansas, Billy (Stephanie) Nichols of Des Arc; brothers, Randy (Sue) Wiggins of Fayetteville, Arkansas, brother and best friend, Rick Wiggins of Hazen, and brother, Marty (Rhonda) Griffin of Hazen; sister, Vivian Lynette (Mike) Bocage of Elgin, Illinois; stepfather, Elmer Floyd of Hazen; three step-sisters, Romona (Richard) Kell and Kelly (Scott) Lavoie both of Sandwich, Illinois, and Beckey (Dennis) Johnson of Des Arc; one uncle, Ernest (Donna) Neil of Hazen; nine grandchildren, Kirsten (Peeper), Lucas, Hayden, Cole, Chloe, Ethan, Jett, Willow, and Gemma, and a host of other family members. A memorial services was held March 3, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. at Morris Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Des Arc. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made for the care of Willow and Gemma to Karen Wiggins at Farmers &

Merchants Arc, Ar.

Bank,

Des

Idonia Bock Gray Idonia Bock Gray, age 94 passed away March 2, 2018 at her home near Roe. She was a 1941 graduate of Roe High Scho ol and an a c t i v e member of the Roe United Methodist Church. Idonia and husband, Kenneth, shared the life of farming and she greatly valued the role of a farmer's wife. She was an accomplished seamstress, a wonderful cook, enjoyed gardening and remained an avid Razorback fan through the years. Idonia was preceded in death by her parents, John and Verda Bock, husband, Kenneth Forest Gray, seven siblings; Fletcher Houchens, Cleah Houchens Taylor, Sylva Bock Miller, John Adolf Bock, Warren Bock, Elmer Bock, Nellie Rose Bock Gray and a close sister-n-law, Ferne Gray Bock. She is survived by four children; Kenny Gray and wife, Kandy and Roy Gray and wife, Beverly all of Roe, Linda Gray Jones and husband, Doyle and Lisa Gray Cole and husband, Greg all of Cabot, one brother, Calvin Bock of Roe, 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and a host of nephews, nieces and "Mama Donie" friends. Visitation was from 5:00-7:00PM on Monday, March 5, and funeral services were at 11:00AM, Tuesday, March 6, both at the Roe United Methodist Church in Roe. Obit/guestbook/www.bob nealandsons.com.

Arkansas Press Association National Newspaper Association Member 2018

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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

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On the front page of this week’s Herald, you saw the Hazen School Board story. A major part of this meeting was dedicated to the discussion of school safety and how to make the Hazen School District safer. Wednesday, President Trump held a meeting with members of Congress to talk about gun safety laws. The various news organizations have blown up the airwaves with commentators going over the ins and outs of what the President said during the meeting and what that means or what the President meant. So with all of this going on, we need to stop a second and look at the facts. From my research, here are some things that we might need to know before making major decisions about guns and their use. Most of the information has been taken from a Mother Jones article written in 2013 (https://www.motherjones.c om/politics/2013/01/progun-myths-fact-check/). You may not know that studies on gun violence have been all but stopped by a National Rifle Association backed government restriction on gun studies. According to a 2011 New York Times story, “in 1996, Representative Jay Dickey, Republican of Arkansas, succeeded in pushing through an amendment that stripped $2.6 million from the [Center for] disease controls’ budget, the very amount it had spent on firearms-related research the year before. The Senate later restored the money but designated it for research on traumatic brain injury. Language was also inserted into the centers’ appropriations bill that remains in place today: ‘None of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to advocate or promote gun control.’” (http://www.nytimes.com/2 011/01/26/us/26guns.html? pagewanted=all) 1. The government is not coming to take our guns. America’s roughly 70 to 80 million gun owners (http://www.pewresearch.o rg/fact-tank/2013/06/04/aminority-of-americansown-guns-but-just-howmany-is-unclear/) already have the military and police officers outgunned with 4 million guns in their hands vs. 310 million guns in the hands of civilians. Even though the number of gun owners has gone down, the number of guns owned by U. S. citizens has gone up. 2. Citizens of states with more liberal gun laws are not safer. States with higher gun ownership rates have higher gun murder rates—as much as 114 percent higher than states with lower gun ownership rates. A recent study (http://ajph.aphapublica-

To the Citizens of Prairie County, I, Rick Hickman, would like to thank the citizens of Prairie County for the honor and privilege of serving as your current Sheriff. I would like to officially announce that I am running for re-election for Sheriff of Prairie County. We have made many changes in the past year and will continue making chanes for the better. If you have any questions my number is 870-256-4137, and my door is always open. I appreciate your support and ask for your vote in May and again in November for the General Election.

Rick Hickman, Prairie County Sheriff

tions.org/doi/abs/10.2105/A JPH.2013.301409?journal Code=ajph&) looking at 30 years of homicide data found that for every one percent increase in a state’s gun ownership rate, there is a nearly one percent increase in its firearm homicide rate. Gun death rates are generally lower in states (https://www.theatlantic.co m/national/archive/2011/0 1/the-geography-of-gundeaths/69354/) with restrictions such as safestorage requirements or assault-weapons bans. Sixty percent of adult Arkansans own guns, and there are 15 gun deaths per 100,000 people in our state on average. In the state of New York, 10% of adults own guns, and they average less than 5 gun deaths per 100,000 persons. (http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early /2015/06/09/injuryprev2015-041586.full and https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/p ressroom/sosmap/Firearm. htm) 3. Armed civilians do not stop mass shootings from happening. No (ZERO) mass shootings have been stopped by armed civilians in the past 33 years. But the chances that a shooting in a hospital emergency department involving guns taken from guards was 1 in 5. (http://www.annemergmed .com/article/S01960644(12)01408-4/abstract) The police officers that I have talked to think that arming teachers is a bad idea. And the first time a school employee accidentally shoots the wrong person there will be hell to pay. In the Parkland school shooting 17 people were killed in less than 3 minutes. No one, not even a nearby teacher or administrator with a gun, could have assessed the situation, unlocked a safe with a gun in it, and gotten to the scene to take a good shot in time to prevent the slaughter. 4. Having a gun at home does not make you safer. Owning a gun has been linked to higher risks of homicide (http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/9/1/48.full), suicide (https://academic.oup.com/ a j e / a r t i cle/160/10/929/140858), and accidental death (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs /pii/S0001457502000490) by gun. For every time a gun is used in self-defense in the home, there are 7 assaults or murders (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/m/pubmed/9715182/), 11 suicide attempts, and 4 accidents involving guns in or around a home. Forty three percent of homes with guns and kids have at least one unlocked firearm (http://ajph.apha-

publications.org/doi/abs/10. 2105/AJPH.90.4.588), and in one American Academy of Pediatrics experiment, one third of 8-to-12-yearold boys who found a handgun pulled the trigger. MSNBC reported last Thursday that there is a 41% higher chance of homicide in homes with guns, a 244% spike in suicides when compared to gun-free home (from a 2015 analysis), and that people with access to guns were almost 2 times more likely to be murdered if they had a gun in their home as compared to those without guns in their homes 5. Having a gun when you are attacked does not make you safer. A study in Philadelphia found that the odds of an assault victim being shot were 4.5 times greater if he carried a gun. His odds of being killed were 4.2 t i m e s greater.(http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10. 2105/AJPH.2008.143099) A 2017 study of states that have passed conceal/carry laws released by the National Bureau of Economic Research says that violence was 13-15% higher 10 years after the laws were passed than would have been projected if the laws hadn’t been passed. (https://news.stanford.edu/ 2017/06/21/violent-crimeincreases-right-carrystates/) Women are at a greater risk when guns are present. In 2013, more than 5 times more women were shot by husbands, boyfriends, and ex-partners than murdered by male strangers (http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2015.pdf). A woman’s chances of being killed by her abuser increase more than 5 times if he has access to a g u n (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447 915/). One study found that women in states with higher gun ownership rates were 4.9 times more likely to be murdered by a gun than women in states with lower gun ownership r a t e s (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC3456 383/). 6.Semi-automatic weapons and high capacity magazines are a big problem. AR-15’s are not defensive weapons; they are weapons of war. They are used by our military to fight battles in Afghanistan and other middle eastern countries. They have no civilian purpose. They can’t be used for hunting. A Florida doctor told MSNBC that wounds from AR-15’s do so much

damage to internal organs that they can’t be repaired. An organ penetrated by a bullet from a handgun or rifle is not necessarily torn apart by the velocity of the bullet entering a body, and this gives a surgeon time to possibly repair the damage. Over half of all mass shooters have had highcapacity magazines, assault weapons, or both. (https://www.motherjones.c om/politics/2012/07/massshootings-map/), and seventy five percent of the weapons used in mass shootings that have taken place in the past 3 decades (up until 2012) were purchased legally (https://www.motherjones.c om/politics/2012/07/massshootings-map/). 7. In a mass shooting, time is the most important thing. You cannot predict when a mass shooting will occur, but in the event that it does, you need to be able to buy time. You need time to slow down the attacker so that the “good guys” (the police) can get there to handle the situation.. Door locks that prevent a door from being forced open from the outside can buy time. Teaching students and staff what to do in the event of a shooting buys time. You need time to stop any bleeding and to repair the damage done to people who are shot so that they have a chance to live through the experience. High speed bullets do so much damage that the time to repair a wound is nonexistent. Assault weapons take away precious time because they do massive amounts of damage in so little time. I am basically an optimist, and I believe that if people are told the truth they will make good decisions. It’s just that here lately there has been a lot of fear-mongering out there from companies, lobbyists, and organizations that have a vested interest in the sale of guns. We should never make decisions that affect the lives of human beings without being thoughtful and logical. We cannot expect that doing the same thing over and over again will somehow produce a different outcome that is the definition of insanity. But we don’t need to jump in with both feet without taking into account what unintended consequences our decisions might unleash. We need to provide mental health experts in schools and outlaw anything that can kill that many people in so short of a time. Anyway, that’s my opinion.

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Page 3 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Retired teachers hear from Prairie County Clerk at April 17 meeting By Chris Weems Gaylon Hale, Prairie County and Circuit Clerk of Prairie County, was guest speaker at Retired Teachers regular meeting Tuesday, February 20, at Des Arc Dairy bar. She and Helen Holloway who did some trivia questions on persons who have shown great courage and loyality in Black History, presented the program. Gaylon spoke about black politicians, using herself as an example. She spoke about her duties during the first year in office and the fact that after this election, the terms will be four years instead of two years, as now. Thelma Gray, president of PCRTA, presided with

eight members present. After approving the minutes and receiving the treasurer’s report, the president announced the Spring Conference will be April 30 at Southern Oak Country Club in Jacksonville. Prairie County Unit is responsible for decorations. The committee will meet at the president’s home in DeValls bluff, March 30 at one o’clock to plan the decorations. The next meeting will be April 17, at 1:00 p.m., at El Amigo in Hazen. All retired employees of the county school districts are invited to attend for the Dutch-treat lunch and meeting.

The DeValls Bluff Water Department Master Gardeners’ fundraiser “Gardening will be flushing the on the Grand Prairie” set for April 28 entire system next week beginning March 13, 2018.

Master Gardener Janice Sample, brought various gardening implements that are sold at the County 76 meetings for “show and tell”.

By Chris Weems Prairie County Master Gardeners set the date for “Gardening on the Grand Prairie” for April 28 at the Hazen Community Center, 906 E. Front Street, Hazen, at the regular meeting February 20, at

BancorpSouth. Debora Carpenter, vice-president, presided for the meeting with 14 members and two victors present. The annual fundraiser for Master Gardeners program will have two featured speakers, lunch, door prizes, and a garden

tour, weather permitting. Tickets available from PCMG members are $20.00 each. Registration will begin at 9:30 and the meeting at 10:00 a.m. The first speaker, Jackie Johnson of Dewitt and Stuttgart, will begin at 10:30 and the second speaker will be at 12:30. Linda Price, treasurer, gave the financial report. The chairman announced a Landscape Design Forum March 6, from 9:00 a.m. until after lunch at Lonoke Agricultural Center, 201 E. Hwy 70, Lonoke. She also reminded members of the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show March 2-4, at Arkansas Fair Grounds in Little

Rock. Susan Winkler was appointed food chairman for the food for the luncheon for the fundraiser. Report was given of the group about meeting with Echo Dickson, Agri teacher, and Terri Rollins, Art teacher, to partner with them for use of greenhouse and for the students to be venders at the Gardening on the Grand Prairie event. Janice Sample shared some of her favorite garden tools, an auger used to plant bulbs, plants and seeds, and a hoe that she purchased from County 76. New members lists were distributed. The next meeting will be Tuesday, April 20, at BancorpSouth, when plans for fundraiser will be completed.

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Page 4 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Oh, Dem Golden Tones Of Silence... by Dr. James L. Snyder

"But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto their children's children." (Psalms 103:17) Calvary Baptist Church West North Front Street, Hazen, AR Phone: (870) 255 - 4038 Christian VanHouten, pastor Sunday School: 9:50 AM Worship: 10:45 AM BTC: 6 PM Evening Worship 6:45 PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7 PM First Baptist Church 224 N. Hazen Ave. Hazen, AR 72064 Phone: (870) 255 - 4464 Sunday Service Sunday School: 10:00 AM Morning Worship: 11:00 AM

Last Saturday evening the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly were reclining on the living room sofa enjoying our evening cup of coffee. It is a wonderful way to unwind after a week of activity. No matter how hectic the week was, a few quiet moments with a cup of Joe can put everything in perspective. After an extended time of silence my wife spoke. “Listen. Do you hear that?” “Hear what?” I enquired. “That. Don’t you hear it?” The smile on her face indicated that what she was hearing was rather pleasing. Well, I strained my ears as if they were corn and I still did not hear a thing. Usually, I am up on all the sounds echoing throughout our abode, mainly because I am the source of most of them, but this had me baffled. The more I strained the less I heard. “You don’t hear that?” I put my coffee cup down so I could give all my attention to hearing exactly what she was hearing. It is a proven fact that women hear a lot more than men do. It probably is a genetic thing wives inherit from their mothers. The only

things men inherit from their fathers are “pull my finger” jokes, which only come in handy at family reunions. Then, to my delight, I heard it, too. It was the golden tones of silence whistling through the corridors of our house. Ah, silence, my old friend. For the past week that sound was a stranger within our walls. But now, much to our delight, it had returned and what a return. For the past week, all the Snyder grandchildren had invaded our home front. At last count, there were eight. I can’t be sure because several of them, I’m not sure how many, were running around so much I could not count them. They ranged from 9 months all the way to 13 years. There are two girls and the rest are…well, not girls. When someone said that boys will be boys, they sure knew what they were talking about. It was one glorious sevenday-period of activity, noise and, yes, something I had forgotten, smells. I can never figure out how something so cute and so small can smell…well…so bad. Why is it grandchildren always want to sit on grandpa’s lap when they are

in such a delicate condition? Do they think, as we get older our nose goes into hibernation? Mine hasn’t, yet. Believe me. My wife and I tried packing into those 7 days as much memories as humanly possible. It is a rare time when the grandchildren are all in one place – our place. We enjoyed some great times together and went to some local places of interest, interest to children. For some reason my suggestion of visiting some of my favorite used bookstores did not fly, but the beach was a resounding “Yeaaaaaa.” So, to the beach we went fully attired in the proper swimming gear. As the official family photographer, I could not go into the water. I actually made that rule up, but nobody objected. Everyone was too busy yelling, “Hey, grandpa, watch this,” to worry about my swimming. Once back home I broke out my secret cache of water pistols and the water fight to end all water fights commenced. All I know is that next month when I get my water bill I will wonder who in the world used all that water. Then, I will smile when I remember how in the world it was used.

Money well spent, I assure you. Now, all of that is memory, and oh, what memories. For months, my wife and I will say to each other, “Do you remember what Owen said?” Then we will laugh again. Or, “Do you remember what Simon did?” And the memory will have us in hysterics. In some quiet moment one of us will say, “I was just thinking of what Dylan did at the beach when he they were all here.” And the other will smile and nod remembering the incident. “Remember when all the grandchildren were on the trampoline?” We will and it will be hard to wipe the smile from our faces. Memories are better remembered in silent moments when they can rightly be appreciated. Then my wife said, “Didn’t Tyler and Taylor and Jordan and Olivia seem to enjoy playing with their cousins from Ohio? I’ve never seen them so happy.” In one of those pensive moments I thought about who had the good sense to invent grandchildren. There must have been a quiet moment in heaven when God looked around and said, “It’s too quiet here. What

can we do to liven things up a little?” Everybody looked at each other and the silence got quieter. It was then that God had one of those moments that changes everything. He smiled and looked at everyone and said, “I know exactly what is needed.” Then God created his greatest work, grandchildren. I like what the Bible says along this line. "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers." (Proverbs 17:6). God seems to like the idea of grandchildren. "But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;" (Psalms 103:17). Silence may be golden but it does not compare to the silver trumpet of grandchildren all talking at the same time. Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives with his wife in Silver Springs Shores. Phone 352687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.

Evening Worship: 6:00 PM Wednesday Service Adult Bible Study and Prayer 7:00 PM Children's Program 7:00 PM "HYPE" Youth 7:00 PM

St. Peters Episcopal Church Highway 86, Tollville, AR. Worship Service: 9 AM Sunday School: 10:30AM

Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship: 10:45 AM Immanuel Baptist Church Pastor Bill Ricks Highway 13 North, Carlisle, AR. Phone (870) 552 - 3100 Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship:11 AM Sunday Evening: 6 PM Wednesday Evening: 7 PM

Worship 11 A.M. Rev. William Brown - pastor Holy Temple Church of God in Christ Elder James Clark, Pastor Sunday School: 9:30 AM Worship Service: 11 AM

70 West of DeValls Bluff, AR Sunday School-10:00 a.m. Sunday Preaching -11:00 a.m. Sunday Evening-5:00 p.m. Wednesday Night-7:00 p.m.

Center Point Missionary Baptist Church RR 1, Center Point Road, Hazen, AR Pastor Gary Malone Sunday School: 10 AM Worship: 11 AM BTC: 6 PM Worship: 7 PM Wednesday Youth Night 7 PM

First United Methodist Church 211 North Hazen Avenue, Hazen, AR Phone (870) 255 - 4657 Pastor Deanna McCormack Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service: 10:55 AM Hazen Church of Christ 204 Adams Street, Hazen, AR. Phone (870) 255 - 3633 Sunday - Bible Study: 10 AM Worship Service: 11 AM Sunday Night: 6 PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7 PM Family Christian Fellowship 603 W Washington Hazen, AR. Pastor Scott Skarda 501-516-5971 Sunday: 10 AM, Wed, 7 PM Merredith Memorial Church of God in Christ Sunday School: 9:30 AM Worship: 11 AM New Bethel MB Church RR1, New Bethel Road, Hazen, AR. Pastor Bro. Freddie McCann Sunday School 10am / Choir Prac. 4:30 / BTC 5pm / Worship Svc 6pm / Wed Night Youth Mtng 6pm / Men's Bible Study 2nd Tues 6:30 / Ladies' Bible Study 3rd Tues 6:30 Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Pastor Joe Mills 7474 Highway 86 North, Hazen, AR Sunday School:10 AMService:11 AM BTC: 5 PM Sunday Night: 6 PM Wed. A.C.E. at 6:30 PM & Bible Study: 7:00 PM Prairie Chapel MB Church Center of North Washington & Woodlawn, Hazen, AR. Rev. Oscar Washington Pastor Sunday School: 9:30AM Worship: 11AM Wednesday 7 PM Bible Study Carlisle Pentecostal Church of God Scott & McDonald Sts., Carlisle, AR. Phone 501-438-1643 Pastor Daniel Strength Sunday School: 10 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11 AM Sunday Evening Service: 6 PM Wednesday Evening Service: 7 PM Mt Zion MB Church Rt 2 Carlisle, AR Rev. Nelson Watson, Pastor Sun. School 9:45 A.M. Worship 11 A.M. Wed Prayer & Bible Class 7 P.M. First Pentecostal Church of Prairie County 3201 Hwy. 70 E., Hazen, AR (870) 255-9177 Pastor J N Holmes Sunday 10 A.M. Wednesday 7 P.M.

Herald Publishing Co, Inc. The Grand Prairie Herald

Publisher/Manager - Roxanne Bradow Editor/Advertising - Rick and Trudy Johnson Editor - Abbi Ross Phone: 870-2554538 P.O. Box 370 Hazen, AR 72064 E-mail us at heraldpublishing@gmail.com Visit us at www.herald-publishing.com

First Baptist Church 319 Court St., P. O. Box 25, Carlisle, AR Phone (870) 552 - 7732 David Lee - Pastor Sun School: 9:45 AM Worship: 11 AM Awana: 5 PM Worship: 7 PM First United Methodist Church 215 East Third St., Carlisle, AR Phone (870) 552 - 7789 Rev. Curt Doering, Pastor

Landmark Baptist Church 517 East Third, Carlisle, AR. Phone (870) 552 - 3568 Pastor Albert Young Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship: 10:45 AM BTC 6 PM - Worship 7 PM Wed. Evening: 7:30 PM

Jehovah Community Temple Church 710 Sycamore St, DeValls Bluff, AR Elder Ronnie Mosby Sunday 10:30 AM Monday Bible School 7 PM Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Alan Minton HWY

Zion Lutheran Church Hwy 79 PO Box 158 Ulm, AR 72170 Phone: 870-241-3778 email: zionlutheran@hotmail.com Sunday School at 10 am Worship at 11am Bible study: Wed at 5:30 pm

St. Rose Catholic Church Highway 70, Carlisle, AR. Phone (870) 552 - 3601 Father Shaun Wesley Saturday: Spanish Mass 6:30 PM Sunday School: 9:45 AM Sunday: Mass 11:00 AM United Methodist Church of DeValls Bluff Highway 70 West, DeValls Bluff AR. Pastor Deanna McCormack Sunday Morning Worship: 9 AM Friendship Lunch: 3rd Wed. of Month, 11:30 AM First Baptist Church of DeValls Bluff P. O. Box 358 Highway 70 West, DeValls Bluff, AR. Phone (870) 998 - 7118 Pastor Bill Bruce Sunday School: 9:45 AM Morning Worship: 11 AM Worship: 5 PM Wednesday Evening: 7 PM Mount Olive MB Church Highway 70, DeValls Bluff, AR. Rev. Joe L. Pumphrey Sunday School: 9:30AM Worship Service: 11 AM

102 West Front Street 870-255-3954

Peppers Lake Church of Christ Hwy 302, SE of DeValls Bluff, AR. Sunday - Bible Study: 10 AM Worship: 11 AM Evening Service: 6 PM Wednesday - Bible Study: 7 PM Union Chapel FreeWill Baptist Church Metcalf Road, Rt.1, DeValls Bluff, AR Elder Sylvester Swanigan Sunday School: 9:30 AM Worship Service: 11 AM Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church Highway 86, Slovak, AR. Fr. Shaun Wesley,Sunday School: 9:45 AM Mass: 8:30 AM Thursday Holy Hours 5:00 pm and Mass at 6:00pm Biscoe Baptist Church Biscoe, AR. Pastor David Rogers Sunday School: 10 AM Worship Service: 11 AM & 7 PM Training 6 PM Wed. Serv. 7 PM St. John's Lutheran Church Fifth and College Streets, Stuttgart, AR Phone (870) 673 - 2858 Rev. Andrew Toopes, Pastor Worship: 8:00 am-10:15 am Sunday School & Bible Class: 9:15 AM Radio - KWAK 10:15 AM Sundays www.stuttgartlutheran.com First Assembly of God Hwy 33 and U.S. 70 Biscoe, Arkansas Sunday Services: 10:30 A.M., 6 P.M. Wednesdays WNYG, Kids Club, Bible Study 7 P.M. St. John's Baptist Church Biscoe, AR 870-998-2777 Sunday School 10 A.M.

Jacobs & Company, CPAs, P.A. Joshua D. Jacobs, CPA PLLC Tax & Accounting Services

Jacobs Law, PLLC

101 Highway 70 East, Hazen, AR 72064 Phone: (870) 255-4175 Fax:(870) 255-4176

Page 5 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, March 7, 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

The Prairie County Library System is seeking a minimum wage parttime (19.5 hrs. per week) clerk/floater. Job duties include but are not limited to: all duties of the clerk position, filling in at any Prairie Co. Library as needed and performing story-time/children’s programs. Must have high school diploma/GED, clean background check, pass drug test, dependable transportation and work well with people and small children. Pick up an application at any Prairie County Library. (3-7-18 2tc)

Bowman Plumbing Adam Bowman, MP 6142 Repair - Remodel - New Construction Free Estimates Dependable Service Family Owned and Operated (870) 256-5230

HERITAGE AGRICULTURE OF AR AT CARLISLE is seeking an Accounts Payable person. Must have good accounting skills, computer skills, be a people person and be able to multitask and work in a fast pace atmosphere. Serious inquiries only. Please call 870-552-7557 or stop by 1420 WEST PARK STREET CARLISLE, AR to pick up an application. Needing someone who can start as soon as possible.

To Whom It May Concern: A Kia Forte VIN # 3KPFK4A79HED66587 was picked up on 2-1518 at the I-40 WB Mile Marker 193 Exit at the request of Hazen Police Department. This vehicle is in the possession of Rick’s Automotive & Wrecker Service, 801 Hwy 70 W, Hazen Ar, 72064, (870) 255-3305. Towing, storage,& administrative costs are accruing as legal liability of the owner. Rick’s Automotive & Wrecker Service claims first priority possessory lien on the said vehicle and its content 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 in 45 days and constitutes a waiver by the owner and lien holder of all right, title, and interest in the vehicle. To take possession of this vehicle, you must appear during normal business hours, Mon-Fri, 8am5pm, provide proof of ownership and pay all associated charges. (03-07-18/ 2tc) ______________ To Whom It May Concern: A 2002 Mit. Laser VIN#JH3AJ26E82U046 234 was picked up on 2-17-18 at the I 40 WB Mile Marker 187 at the request of the Hazen Police Department, This vehicle is in the possession of Rick’s Automotive & Wrecker Service, 801 Hwy 70 W, Hazen Ar, 72064, (870) 255-3305. Towing, storage,& administrative costs are accruing as legal liability of the owner. Rick’s Automotive & Wrecker Service claims first priority possessory lien on the said vehicle and its content 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 in 45 days and constitutes a waiver by the owner and lien holder of all right, title, and interest in the vehicle. To take possession of this vehicle, you must appear during normal business hours, Mon-Fri, 8am5pm, provide proof of ownership and pay all associated charges. (03-07-18/ 2tc) ______________

THE CITY OF HAZEN IS ACCEPTING SEALED BIDS ON A 2011 SCAGGS 26 H.P. COMMERCIAL GRADE, ZERO TURN LAWNMOWER. CAN BE VIEWED AT COMMUNITY CENTER ON FRONT ST.. WILL OPEN BIDS AT HAZEN CITY HALL ON 03/16/18 AT 1:05PM. ____________ City of Des Arc is accepting bids for mowing at Tom Roe Riverfront Park area for the 2018 mowing season. Mowing will begin during the month of April, 2018 and will end when the city determines that mowing is no longer needed. Copy of contract can be picked up at the city Hall showing area to be mowed and maintained. Sealed bids should be sent to Mayor’s office, P.O. Box 389, Des Arc, AR. 72040 or brought by City Hall, 107 So. third street. Bids must be received by noon, March 20, 2018. Bids will be opened at the regular council meeting on March 20, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Jerry Greenwood at 870-2565408. City of Des Arc reserves the right to reject any or all bids. _______________ City of Des Arc is accepting bids for cleaning and maintenance of the Park rest rooms and playground area at Riverfront Park beginning April 1, 2018 and ending October 31, 2018. Copy of contract can be picked up at City Hall. Sealed bids should be sent to Mayor’s office, P.O. Box 389, Des Arc, AR. 72040 or brought by City Hall, 107 SO. third St. Bids

must be received by noon, March 20, 218. Bids will be opened at the regular council meeting on March 20, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. For more information, Please contact Jerry Greenwood at 870-256-5408 City of Des Arc reserves the right to reject any or all bids ____________ City of Des Arc is accepting bids for mowing within the areas listed below North Prairie County Water Extension Area 1. Mowing around the Centerpoint water tank 2. Mowing around the Hickory Plains tank 3. Mowing around the Four Mile Corner Booster Station. City Of Des Arc Water System Area Mowing around water tanks and sewer pumping stations. Copy of contract can be picked up at City Hall. Sealed bids should be sent to Mayor’s Office P.O. Box 389, Des Arc, Ar. 72040 or brought by City Hall, 107 So. third St. Bids must be received by noon, March 20, 2018. Bids will be opened at the regular council meeting on March 20, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Jerry Greenwood at 870256-5408.City of Des Arc reserves the right to reject any or all bids. ____________ City of Des Arc is accepting bids for a 1990 Ford Ranger pickup. Please contact Jerry Greenwood at 870-2565408 with any questions or to make arrangements to look at the vehicle. Sealed bids should be sent to Mayor’s office at 107 So, third St, Des Arc, AR. 72040. Bids must be received by noon, March 20, 2018. Bids will be opened at the regular council meeting on March 20, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. City of Des Arc reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Chambers Nursing & Rehab Center Carlisle, AR

C.N.A.s all shifts Full time and part time 8hr and 12 hr shifts available

Transport Aide

Contact: Phone # 870-552- 7150 Email: cnhc@cebridge.net Competitive Pay & Insurance available Chambers Nursing & Rehab Center Carlisle, AR

Housekeeper Phone # 870-552-7150 Email: cnhc@cebridge.net Competitive Pay & Insurance available

Page 6 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Casondra Sims’ class listens to Mrs. Chris Weems and she reads. They are: Jordan Barnhill, Bronlynn Craig, Kadance Edwards, Twylla Harsson, Brynden Hick, Austin Kee, Jacoby King, Abigail Owens, Lillian Saygar, Slayden Whiteside, and Gabby Ballard. Lisa Martin’s kindergarten class sit quietly. They are: Makenzie Taylor, River Clifton, Mason Cameron, Harper Cook, Ta’Marion Pinkney, Skylar Uekman, Kylie Heinmiller, Kayelah Whitcomb, and Jacob Swink.

HES reads to honor Dr. Seuss

Tamara Griffith’s class pay attention to the story. They are: Layne Perritt, Trace Martin, Corbin Sanders, Bailey Gerety, Pierce Henderson, Xavier Butler, Ta’Kyren Strong, Payton Glover, Lydia Zeferjohn, Jacob Geisler, Gabriella Jenkins, and Luna Horton.

Hazen School Menu MARCH 12 - MARCH 16, 2018

Elementary students do not have the sandwich line option. MONDAY Cheesy Rice & Chicken Spinach Salad/Ranch Sweet Peas Hot Roll Fruit/Milk

MONDAY Burritos Chicken Fajita Sandwich Bake Potato Pickle Spear Fruit/Milk

MONDAY Cereal & Toast or Honey bun Sausage & Biscuit Fruit Juice/Milk

TUESDAY Chicken Nuggets Macaroni & Cheese Green Beans Hot Roll Fruit

TUESDAY Hot & Spicy Chicken Potato Wedges Lettuce/Tomato/Pickle Fruit

TUESDAY Cereal & Graham Cracker or Pancake & Sausage Sausage & Biscuit Fruit

WEDNESDAY Stromboli French Fries Broccoli/Carrots/Ranch Fruit/Milk

WEDNESDAY Turkey Ham Sub French Fries Lettuce/Tomato/Pickle Fruit/Milk

THURSDAY Chicken & Wild Rice Sweet Peas Tossed Salad/Ranch Hot Roll

THURSDAY BBQ Chicekn Pinto Beans Slaw Fruit/Milk

FRIDAY Fish Sticks Ranch Potato Lima Beans Cornbread Fruit/Milk

FRIDAY Meatball Sub Sunchips Tossed Salad Fruit/Milk

WEDNESDAY Cereal & Toast or Egg, Sausage & Cheese Biscuit, Sausage & Biscuit Fruit/Milk THURSDAY Cereal & Graham Cracker or Breakfast Pizza, Sausage & Biscuit FRIDAY Cereal & Graham Cracker, or Biscuit & Gravy or Sausage & Biscuit Fruit Milk