75¢
Hazen Methodist Church has Vacation Bible School (See p. 6.)
Volume 121 Number 29 - USPS 225-680
Community Calendar of Events Prairie County Libraries continue Summer Reading Program through August 31 Hazen Senior Center is open from 9:00 a.m.1:00 p.m. daily. Lunch is 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. All Seniors are welcome.
Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie
DVB continues to work on city water system By Lisa Mills DeValls Bluff has water problems. Residents have complained about the city’s water for multiple years, but to no avail. DeValls Bluff Mayor Brian Dobson says that the city is working on the problem, and city says that the water is now safe to drink, although a boil order was issued two weeks ago. At the July 14th City Council meeting, updates were given on the city’s water issues. Recorder/Treasurer Darlene Connor, who presided over the meet-
ing in the absence of Mayor Dodson, reported that Engineer David Hilsdon had spoken to Mayor Dodson and stated that everything is still on track with grant applications for a new system. Connors shared an email that Mr. Hilsdon had sent to KATV regarding his work and asked that their report about high levels of magnesium in the water be corrected to show that it is manganese, not magnesium, that is causing the problem with the water. The Arkansas Water Association (ARWA) has
Riceland members attend ceremony
Tuesday July 19 Hazen School Board meeting HHS Library 6:00 p.m. Des Arc City Council meeting 6:00 p.m.
Thursday July 28 Food Distribution Hazen Methodist Church Drive Through 10:00a.m.-12:00 p.m. Wednesday August 3 American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary meeting 6:00 p.m. DVB Legion Hut 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.
The city’s water has, at times, been as dark as coffee coming out of the lines. Here, Jonathan Swink shows a picture of water coming out of a hose. tested the water and it is safe. Connor said that the ARWA had suggested that a multi-parameter colormeter be purchased to regularly test the chlorine, iron, and manganese levels in the water. The city did purchase this for $2,986.29. ARWA also recommended installing new filters. The city of McCrory has donated two filters they no longer use. The city will only be charged
for the removal of the filters from a building and for the repair of the holes from which they are removed. Connor reported that the city has purchased a keypad security system for the doors at City Hall. Visitors will have to be buzzed into the building by staff. The system was purchased from Advanced Alarm Technologies for $1,853.52. The council approved a
resolution to apply for a “Fun Park” grant from the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism to develop a public play park at the DeValls Bluff City Park. Attending the meeting were Recorder/Treasurer Darlene Connor and council members Richard Henry, Marie Flanagan, Raymond Watson, Lalisa Wright and Carol Griffin.
Judge announces burn ban for county at Quorum Court
City of Hazen Big Items pickup day Thursday July 21 Hazen City Council meeting 6:00 p.m. City Hall
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
(From left to right) Jennifer Cook, Executive Director Arkansas FFA Foundation, Josie Kelly, Past Arkansas FFA State President, and Kevin McGilton, Riceland’s Vice President for government affairs. Stuttgart, Ark. (July 15, 2022): Riceland Foods team members joined Arkansas FFA leaders, educators, supporters, and sponsors at a ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the renovated Fletcher Leadership Center for the future of agriculture education and Arkansas FFA members and FFA advisors at Camp Couchdale located in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Wednesday. Last year, to commemorate the 100th anniversary, Riceland Foods announced a pledge of $100,000 to the
Arkansas Future Farmers of America Foundation during the annual meeting. This donation was used to assist with upgrades to Camp Couchdale, specifically the renovation of the Marion D. Fletcher Leadership Center. As a result of the pledge, Riceland was able to secure the first naming rights to a classroom within the Fletcher Leadership Center. Our cooperative is proud to support Arkansas FFA and hope all who visit Camp Couchdale will enjoy it for many years to come.
The Prairie County Quorum Court was informed of a countywide burn ban at its regular meeting held on Tuesday, July 12, in the Des Arc Courthouse Annex. All of the justices were present, along with Judge Mike Skarda, Attorney Abram Skarda, County Clerk Gaylon Hale, and County Treasurer Tamara Dabney. The burn ban was necessary, according to Judge Skarda due to the prolonged high temperatures in the county coupled with no rain. The judge also said that the highway department will not be grading roads until after the county gets more rain unless it is requested. The county is in charge of 754 miles of road. The judge asked that the mileage allowance for county employees who use their own cars
for county business be increased from 42 cents to 55 cents per mile. Justice Holloway suggested that the rate go up to match the state mileage rate of 62.5 cents per mile, and after some discussion, the higher state rate was approved. Judge Skarda told the court that the county had received $9400 for a car that was damaged by hail and $15,000 for an old dump truck the county sold. He requested that $19,400 of that money be put into the pipe budget and that the remaining $5000 go into the fund for parts and repairs. The court approved the request. New cameras that have facial recognition capabilities will be placed at the courthouses to update the security. The cameras will be paid for from American Rescue Plan money that the county has received.
There were no committee reports, but Dabney told the court that her office is planning to hire a company, Cleargov, to do the county’s budgets. The company will organize and lay out the budgets of the county offices so that they will be in a more readable and understandable form. When asked by Holloway what the cost would be, Dabney said that this year the county will pay $600 for the service. She was unsure of what future charges would be. “I’ve seen their work online, and it’s really good,” she said. Sheriff Rick Hickman said that some sewer equipment had been ordered for the jail. The cost for the system will be $23,000. With no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:18 p.m.
I-40 lane closures
scheduled this week ARDOT maintenance crews began maintenance work along Interstate 40 Sunday night and operations will continue for the next two weeks, excluding Fridays and Saturdays. An inside or outside lane closure will occur on I-40 between Hazen and Biscoe (mile markers 197-202) in both eastbound and westbound directions to allow crews to perform maintenance work including patching potholes, removing trash
and debris from the median barrier wall, and trimming tree branches over the outside lane and shoulder. Crews will work from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each Sunday through Thursday night until Thursday, July 21. ARDOT reminds drivers to slow down and minimize distractions when moving through a work zone. Using a phone in a work zone is unlawful and can result in citations and doubled fines.
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