75¢
HHS holds prom. (See pictures on p. 6.)
Volume 120 Number 20 - USPS 225-680
Community Calendar of Events Wednesday May 19 National Honor Society Induction 9:00 a.m. Hornets Nest HHS National Honor Society and Beta Clubs Induction 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Hornets Nest Hazen High Academic Awards 11:00 a.m. Neil Schafer’s Retirement 2:00-4:00 p.m. Farm Bureau Hazen High 10th grade virtual Auction HHS Facebook Page May 19 and ends May 26th Thursday May 20 Hazen City Council Meeting Community Center 6:00 p.m. Thursday May 27 Hazen’s 6th grade graduation ceremony Elementary Cafeteria 9:00 a.m. Friday May 21 Des Arc Eagles Spring game 6:00 p.m. Eagle Field Commodities Distribution Hazen United Methodist Church Drive Through 10:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. Community events brought to you by Hazen Chamber of
and the
Please call F&M Bank (255-3042) or The Grand Prairie Herald (255-4538) to list events.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
WRID, NRCS breaks ground on Canal 1000 Board, state and local officials speak on behalf of irrigation project By Leigh VanHouten It is official. On Friday, May 7 the White River Irrigation District (WRID) along with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) broke ground on Canal 1000 just outside DeValls Bluff in Prairie County. With approximately 100 in attendance WRID board members, NRCS representatives, state and other officials spoke on the history and importance this day brought. WRID Board President Dan Hooks kicked off the Bar-B-Q luncheon speaking about the board members of the past that saw the need to bring water to croplands. This will be the first dirt work for the canal construction. Prior work includes a pump station, 7,500 feet of twin 10-foot diameter pipelines and a 70-acre regulating reservoir constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This is a significant move to see the project gain momentum to its goal, which is supplying farmers in portions of Prairie, Monroe, Lonoke, and Arkansas counties with muchneeded water for crops. Those past names include: Jake Hartz, Bill Moorehead, Nickie Hargrove, Donny Davis, Joe Prislovsky, Pete Sickel and many others, both living and deceased. “They were thinking of generations to come. Forward thinkers,” Hooks explained. “They had this vision all the while groundwater was plentiful. A new alluvial well could be drilled practically anywhere. They recognized ground-
water as a declining and unreliable source of irrigation water since farmers have to drill into the Sparta.” These visionaries were working to save two aquifers. “We all know the Sparta is an unreliable source of irrigation in availability, sustainability and cost,” Hooks said. “The foresight and work of these men and women are the things that have kept many board members past and present working to bring this day to the farmers of the Grand Prairie. We made it to this beginning today and with God's blessing we will sometime soon see the completion of this project. Most planning is done, we see where we are going. We have the experience, we have the know-how, we can do this. We can do this because of those shoulders we have been standing on.” Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward was also on hand thanking the group for their persistence to the project. “Everyone is working together,” Ward said. “From the governor down. It is a great day for Arkansas and Arkansas agriculture. I talked with the governor the other day and he knows the importance of the irrigation district.” Persistence was a theme for those involved and NRCS State Conservationist Mike Sullivan thanked the WRID among the many other organizations involved. “We want to thank the White River Irrigation District for their leadership and persistence on
White River Irrigation District (WRID) Board President Dan Hooks kicked off the Bar-B-Q luncheon Friday outside DeValls Bluff marking the groundbreaking of Canal 1000 for the WRID and Natural Resources Conservation Service. this project over the other state, as well as Prairie,” McGilton was years,” Sullivan said other crops, all while told. “At the end of the during the ceremony. reducing their pumping day it is the people. We Sullivan brag about farmers that “This has been a very costs,” get off the farm and are challenging project. If explained. U.S. Army Corp of willing to give up their not for the leadership, Memphis time to make something ingenuity, and persist- Engineers Commander of the rice production of ence of the irrigation District district and their staff, Col. Zachary Miller said the Grand Prairie.” The prime contractor with strong support the WRID had a long be Garrett from the State of and proud tradition with will of Hot Arkansas, Governor Asa the project, since 1996. Excavating, Hutchinson, the The U.S. Army Corp of Springs, with local conwere an tractors John Neukam, Arkansas Congressional Engineers Delegation, the U.S. instrumental partner in of DeWitt, and Dale of Army Corps of the construction of the Shook, Casscoe/Stuttgart, doing Engineers, Arkansas pump station. “Today is just another most of the dirt work. Department of Agriculture and NRCS, step,” Miller said. “We Garrett’s representative this project would never see many projects hit on hand said the work have progressed to this roadblocks and it dies. should begin June 1 and That tells me a lot could run for six to eight point.” Over the past several about the men and months, depending on months, Arkansas women that have been weather. After the luncheon, NRCS has received $48 associated with this They were those in attendance million in federal funds project. to be used with local visionaries from many could see NRCS working funding available to years ago. This will go to mark the centerline construct several seg- down as the important of the coming construction. ments of the project and project it is.” Money was secured Kevin McGilton, with pipelines so the irrigation district can begin Riceland Foods, was also through a NRCS grant delivering water, on hand explaining along with loans from Arkansas since he took his posi- the according to Sullivan. “Overall, this project tion with the company, A g r i c u l t u r e will greatly reduce the he was aware of two Department. The WRID rate of groundwater major projects, including will administer the conwithdrawal and allow the WRID irrigation tract and NRCS will share construction farmers to continue to project. “Those are the future of inspection duties. be productive, growing more rice than any rice on the Grand
DeValls Bluff appoints Bryan Dodson to be city’s interim mayor By Lisa Mills At the May 13th DeValls Bluff City Council meeting, the first order of business was to appoint an interim mayor to fulfill the current term. Council member Richard Henry nominated Brian Dodson. The vote was 4 yes and 2 no. Council member Carol Griffin nominated Darlene Connor. The vote was 2 yes and 4 no. Brian Dodson was appointed. Attending the meeting were Treasurer/Recorder Darlene Connor and council members Marie Flanagan, Raymond Watson, Richard Henry, Alice Metcalf, Carol Griffin and Lalisa Wright. The 2020 Arkansas
Legislative Audit Report for the Water and Sewer Department was presented, showing no findings. Building permits were approved for Amanda Robinson for a house and garage remodel and a camper to rent during hunting season. Sheriff Rick Hickman reported 126 patrols and 34 calls answered. Calls included 20 disturbances, 2 alarms, 2 medical alarms, 1 domestic call, 1 fire call and 8 general info calls. There were no Fire Department or Utility Department reports. On April 12th, Fire Chief Kelly Hutchinson presented three bids for “Jaws of Life” equipment. Emergency
Bryan Dodson Vehicle Specialists’ quote was $27,338.97. Municipal Emergency Services quote was $60,965.36 and Extrication Xtreme LLC’s quote was $24,720.52. Per home
visits with each council member, Extrication Xtreme’s quote was approved. Council Member Alice Metcalf reported that she has received numerous complaints about the Corp of Engineers getting water from the city. She said that she has checked into the matter, and the Corp does pay the city for their water usage. She also said that a Corp employee told her that someone had stolen a large tool from their property. She said that this person needs to realize that they have
stolen from a Federal agency and could be in big trouble, so they need to return the tool immediately. Metcalf said that she tells everyone who comes to her with a city matter that they need to contact City Hall when they have a concern. She said that she is happy to help citizens with their concerns but everyone needs to realize that neither she nor any other council member can fix problems, and a lot of concerns that citizens have can be resolved by contacting City Hall.
Three locals graduate from Ouachita Baptist By Rachel Gaddis
Commerce
Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie
Brittney Hubbard of Biscoe, Leah Miller of DeValls Bluff, and Michael Bell of Stuttgart graduated were three of 364 graduates of Ouachita Baptist University who were celebrated from the class of 2021 during its 134th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 8. Hubbard graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sociology. Miller graduated with
a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology, and Bell graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration/management. The ceremony was held outdoors at Cliff Harris Stadium on Ouachita’s campus, with Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita president, presiding over the commencement exercises. The ceremony also was livestreamed at www.livestream.com/obu for those unable to attend.
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