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Prairie County libraries continue kids’ programming. (See p. 6.)
Volume 121 Number 26 - USPS 225-680
Community Calendar of Events
Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Des Arc citizens hear information on grants
Friday July 1 Carlisle Public Library Summer Reading Bash 10:00 a.m. Sunday July 3 City of Des Arc Fun Day starts at 5:00 p.m. Fireworks Over the River Des Arc Park 9:00 p.m. Monday, July 4 Federal Holiday All county offices and banks will be closed. The Herald will be out a day later than usual. Tuesday July 5 Prairie County Master Gardeners Meeting DeValls Bluff Court House 12:00 p.m. Tuesday July 12 Quorum Court Meeting 6:00 p.m. Annex Building Des Arc Thursday July 14 DeValls Bluff City Council Meeting 6:00 p.m. City Hall Tuesday July 19 City of Hazen Big Items pickup day 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.
By Lisa Mills On June 21, Des Arc citizens and city leaders attended a public meeting to hear information about available grants for which the city can apply. The meeting was attended by a fairly large crowd of citizens along with Mayor Jim Garth, council members, Fire Chief Don Harvey, and Police Chief Dewayne Mayher. Conya Spencer with the Central Arkansas Planning and Development District in Lonoke spoke to the crowd about various grants available to the city. One grant is through Arkansas Parks and Tourism for outdoor recreation. Spencer noted that the city received this grant last year which was used for new playground equipment and improvements to the park, but it can be applied for each year. Some suggestions from the crowd (including some children) included a skateboard and bicycle park, a basketball court and a splash pad. Council member Gail King stated that a splash pad was considered when applying for the grant last year but it was a 50/50 grant, not a 100% grant, and the city’s cost would be around $30,000 plus the
ongoing cost of operating it, so it was decided to do the 100% grant for the playground instead. Someone asked if money from this grant could be used for needed improvements at the baseball fields. Spencer said it can for certain items, and it could be discussed
that the best option is if someone would donate a piece of property for it. If land is donated, the value of the property can be used as an advantage in applying for a grant. Several people agreed that the idea of a skateboard/skate/bicycle park was a good idea.
Another grant idea discussed is for an emergency center for the Fire Department. Fire Chief Don Harvey presented the mayor, council members and Spencer with designs and early cost estimates that he has been working on. (Continued on page 4.)
Holloway wins judge run-off
Justice of the Peace Lawrence Holloway won the race for Prairie County Judge over Brad DeVore by 44.7% in the Prairie County 2022 Primary Election Run-off vote. Both candidates ran on the Republican ticket.
Carlisle Council purchases new firetruck, asks for monthly budgets The Carlisle City Council met on June 21 with only Todd Turner absent. The Council voted unanimously to buy a Spartan firetruck which will be designed
Means, Taylor join AR state troopers Zachary Means, a graduate of Carlisle High School, and Chance Taylor, a graduate of Hazen High School, have recently graduated from the Arkansas State Police Recruits Program. They received their trooper commissions during a graduation ceremony held in the rotunda of the state capitol. The graduates were among an initial field of 227 applicants who were tested and interviewed during 2021. On January 23rd this year, Means and Taylor were among 38 recruits assembled at the state police training academy in Little Rock to form Recruit Class 2022-A and began a rigorous 21 week-long training stint. The graduates received 1,160 hours of specialized instruction in the academy classrooms and through practical training exercises outside the classroom. The graduates were sworn under oath as Arkansas State Troopers by North Little Rock District Judge Randy Morley.
to put that into the grant application. In response to the suggestion of a basketball court, King said that one had already been suggested. An EAST student has designed a plan for a court and a place for it is currently being discussed. She stated
Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Garner, Deputy Director of Enforcement for the Arkansas State Police and Jami Cook, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety addressed the class. State police senior command staff, troop and company commanders, the training section cadre and Arkansas State Police commissioners were among those attending the graduation. The recruit graduates and their first post assignments are listed as follows: Zachary Means, 24, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop E, Desha County. Gavin Chance Taylor, 21, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Monroe County. Over the next month the new troopers will begin reporting to their respective assignments across the state. They will receive an additional 5 – 9 weeks of instruction working alongside a Field Training Officer.
and built to specifications set out by the Carlisle Fire Department and state regulations. Mayor Glover was hesitant to spend that kind of money without knowing if funds would be available. Attorney Michael Stuart encouraged the Council to go ahead and order the firetruck without depending on the receipt of any money that might come from the insurance settlement. It has been two years since an insurance claim was filed on the old truck, and it could be several more years before a settlement is reached on the claim.
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He reminded them that in the year between ordering and receiving the firetruck, two notes should be paid off which will free up about $5,400 per month for the loan payment. The truck will not be delivered for a year, and the city will not be charged for the firetruck until it is received. The price is expected to be a little above $500,000. There is also a possibility for a grant, and COVID money can also be used for the firetruck, Stuart told the council. Fire Chief Seidenschwartz reminded the Council that if a fire truck was not pur-
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chased soon, any IOS inspection could mean that Carlisle’s rating could be lowered and all citizens and businesses would have to pay at least 20% higher fire insurance rates. Another firetruck is necessary to stay in compliance. In addition to voting to purchase the firetruck, the council also voted to go into litigation to collect the insurance money on the old firetruck if necessary. The Parks and Recreation Department announced that baseball season was over and that football registration would start soon. The (Continued on page 4.)
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