July 5, 2023 edition

Community

A huge crowd gathered at the White River on Sunday, July 2nd for the annual Steamboat Days Festival in Des Arc. The crowd enjoyed entertainment from the "Legendary Pacers", The Brad Knupp Band, Callie Baxter twirling a fire baton, the Eagle Cheerleaders, and the Eagle Band Percussion section. And absolutely amazing fireworks show was sponsored by White River Entergetics. Free hot dog meals were provided by "Moving Prairie County Forward", and a free grilled chicken meal was provided by the First Assembly of God Church. For more pictures,

see page 6 of this edition. (Lisa Mills photo.)

Monday July 10 Biscoe EHC Meeting 10:00 a.m. Biscoe First Baptist Church

Tuesday July 11 Altheimers Caregiver Group Hazen Senior Center 10:00 a.m.

By Angela Ryland

A successful Lonoke County Meet the Master Event was held in Carlisle recently, at Carlisle United Methodist Church. The primary purpose of the event was to recruit new Master Gardeners by educating the public on who they are and what they do as Master Gardeners. Three people

Please call F&M Bank (255-3042) or The Grand Prairie Herald (255-4538) to list events

joined today and will take the Basic Master Gardener training this fall.

By Lisa Mills

The Des Arc School Board met on June 26th. The board approved several new hires for the 2023-2024 school year. Caroline Brown was hired as a First Grade Teacher. Amber (Abbie) Huffstickler was hired as a Kindergarten Teacher. Tiffany Gehring was hired as an Elementary custodian. Paula Mullett was hired as a summer worker.

The board accepted the resignation of Kindergarten Teacher Rylee Davenport. Superintendent Marc Sherrell reported that the county has backed out of paying 1/3 of the salary for the elementary School Resource Officer. He said the city has agreed to pay ½ the salary if the school pays ½. The board approved a motion to pay ½ the salary.

Ann Wood spoke on Heavenly Hydrangeas. Ann’s presentation was very informative, she

The board approved changes made to the district, high school, and elementary school handbooks. High School Principal B.J. Paschal said one change for high school is that all students who drive to school will be required to purchase a $5.00 parking pass, regardless of where they park. Students will also be required to provide proof of driver’s license and insurance. He said that this is in hopes that more will park in the gym parking lot to relieve congestion on the street. Another change is penalties and the strong enforcement of penalties for the use of tobacco, e-cig, and vaping products. The first and second offenses will result in in-school suspension with a requirement to participate in cessation training, and the third offense will result in

talked about every varity of hydrangea there is. Her talks always motivate you to evaluate

home suspension. The Police will also continue to write citations.

Elementary Principal Cheryl Holland said the changes for the elementary handbook refer to the cut-off time for parents to notify the school if a student needs to be

your landscape to see where you could plant a few more hydrangeas. One Master Gardener and one citizen went home with a Hydrangea

notified of a change in their pick-up or bus ride routine.

they won today. Thank you to our sponsors, Carlisle United Methodist Church for the use of their facility, Bison Builders for an in store gift card. Nick’s Bar-BQ and catfish card, Bennett Realty Company & Ryland Real Estate and Associates for visa gift cards and AW scrubs for a discount hydrangeas. The next Lonoke

County “Meet the Masters” will be held at the Cabot Public Library on July 22, 2023.

members Drew Widener, Brent Calhoun, Johnny Reidhar, Jordan Smith, Billy Hinson, Charlie Brown, and T.J. English. The July meeting will be on Thursday, July 27th instead of Monday, July 24th.

24% 44% 73° 75° 42% 78° 48% 42% 93° 88° 73° 93° 87° 85° 74°

Lonoke County Master Gardeners hold “Meet the Masters” event at Carlisle United Methodist Church

Joyce Marie Williams

Joyce Marie Williams, age 78, of DeValls Bluff went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 28th 2023.

Joyce was retired from the DeValls Bluff Housing Unit of 30 plus years and still actively over the Oaklawn Cemetery. She attended Morris Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Joyce enjoyed mowing her yard, gardening, sewing, and cooking.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Mamie Hall, Sister, Judy Lott, and her husband of 52 years, Mack Williams. She is Survived by her two Sons Vince (Michelle) Williams of North Carolina and Russell Williams of DeValls Bluff, 5 Grandchildren, LeighAnn Waterman, Cory Green, Caleb Williams and McKenzie Williams of North Carolina and Erin Williams of Stuttgart, and 10 Great Grandchildren. Two Nieces, Kelly (Paul) Chapman of DeValls Bluff, Paula Lott of Stuttgart, and one Nephew, Paul Lott of Des Arc. One Great Neice Haley (Jacob) Crowder of DeValls Bluff, and two great nephews, Gunner and Grayson Lott.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 2, 2023 at 11:00AM at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in DeValls Bluff, visitation was prior to service

beginning at 10:00AM. Interment will be at Oaklawn Cemetery in DeValls Bluff. Memorials can be made to Oaklawn Cemetery, arrangements provided by Westbrook Funeral Home, Hazen, Arkansas

Barbara

LaJean Gunn Felts

Barbara LaJean

Gunn Felts was born on September 9, 1932.

Barbara met her Lord and Savior on the morning of Sunday, June 25, 2023. She was 90 years old.

Barbara was born in Carlisle, Arkansas to Durward Gunn and Ruby Nell Swaim Gunn. She was the oldest of eight siblings. From childhood and throughout her entire life, she was always surrounded by many loving family members. Barbara became the aunt of many nieces and nephews and grafted herself to an extended family that included Gunns, Swaims, Boothes, and Feltses. Having family to love and to serve was a cornerstone of her life.

Barbara married Amos Roland Boothe on November 5, 1953. On July 31, 1954 their only child, Beverly Kaye, was born in Carlisle, Arkansas. During her marriage to Amos, Barbara served as the pastor’s wife while Amos led the congregation at Walters Chapel, north of Carlisle. She did not know it at the time, but the congregants there included her future inlaws, John and Lelia Mae Felts and her future husband, Eugene.

Barbara married Eugene Perry Felts on June 20, 1959. Barbara and Eugene enjoyed many years of camping, traveling, and hosting parties and game nights in their home.

Eugene grew their extended family and their three grandchildren, Kevin, Brad, and Melanie, eventually provided twelve greatgrandchildren, with whom Barbara found immeasurable joy, taking every opportunity to show them how much she loved them. Her husband Eugene passed away on February 9, 2009 at the age of 88. They were married 49 years.

Barbara was a 1950 graduate of Carlisle High School. She was in the first class to graduate at the “new” building on 5th Street. Her name and those of her classmates are still imprinted in the concrete sidewalk there at the old High School on 5th street.

Barbara’s work ethic was respected by all who knew her. Shaped at an early age, her work ethic took root helping her mother and father as a young girl. As the oldest of seven surviving siblings, she worked in the home serving her brother and sisters as a second mom, alongside her mother Ruby. At thirteen, she took her first job away from home, as a live-in housekeeper for an elderly couple. As a highschool student she continued to work as a housekeeper, babysitter, caregiver, movie theater attendant, all before graduation. After graduation, Barbara worked at Young’s Department

Store in Carlisle. Mr. Young recommended her as a nurse to Dr. Gartman’s newly established clinic in Carlisle, where she delivered countless babies, worked many emergencies and cared for both the sick and the dying. From Dr. Gartman’s clinic, she moved to Citizens Bank and Trust (later BancorpSouth). Barbara served as an officer and head bookkeeper at the bank. She retired from banking in 1998 after 31 years. After retirement as a banker, Barbara stayed busy cleaning houses and businesses. She also catered with her good friend, Barbara Loretz. She spent her time keeping her grand- niece, Jordan, and later, her great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Noah and Ava. Barbara also served as an officer and treasurer of the Old Carlisle Cemetery for many years. She enjoyed gardening and canning. She also enjoyed playing cards and board games and cooking, especially with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Perry Felts; her mother, Ruby Nell Swaim Gunn; her father, Durward Gunn; her infant brother Jerry Leyon Gunn; and her sister, Peggy Sue Gunn Elmore. She is survived by her only child, Beverly Kaye Boothe Lee (Sammy); her brother, Danny Ray Gunn; her sisters, Shirley Ann Patterson (Don), Gwendolyn Givens (Jim); Brenda Diane Albright (Don); Debbie Jo Brown (David); her grandchildren, Kevin Ray Smith (Kim), Bradley Kyle Smith (Monica), Melanie Dawn Smith Gross (Bo); her great-grandchildren, Taylor DeLaine Gross, Kayla Rose Alsbrook Moody (Morgan), Katelyn Elisebeth Smith, Gemma Gabriella Smith, Noah Ray Smith, Lydia Grace Alsbrook, Jonathan Reymundo Smith, Dalton Perry Alsbrook, Ava Renee Smith, Bradley Luke Smith, Rhett Augustine Smith, and Ezekiel Quentin Smith.

Visitation was held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at Westbrook Funeral Home, 183 N Livermore St, Hazen, AR 72064. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 2, 2023 at Walters Chapel, 25 Red Oak Ranch Rd, Carlisle, AR 72024, with interment immediately following at Old Carlisle Cemetery, 729 Raborn Rd, Carlisle, AR 72024. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Old Carlisle Cemetery at P.O. Box 972, Carlisle, AR 72024.

By Leigh Van Houten

The White River Irrigation District (WRID) continues to make progress on construction of the Grand Prairie Irrigation Project. The district has nine separate segments under construction, all in various stages of work totaling approximately 10 miles.

“We are working in increments from the constructed reservoir at Webb Lake Road to south Chudy Road, near the Hazen Airport, totaling about 10 miles of canal,” Dennis Carman, WRID director and chief engineer, said.

Carman describes four miles of canal as complete or substantially complete. WRID will complete an additional four miles of canal by mid-August and will immediately start construction on an additional four miles of canal and 35 miles of irrigation pipeline after harvest.

The entire project, once complete, will bring water to farms in portions of Prairie, Arkansas, Lonoke and Monroe Counties.

“We anticipate all Phase 1 canal segments to be completed by next spring,” Carman explained, of the current six miles of dirt work being done. “The district is working with landowners to coordinate timing and working around harvest of planted crops as much as possible. If we have good construction weather the rest of this year, Phase 1 will be substantially complete and ready to receive water.”The county road crossing work is expected to begin in August, with five crossings total in this phase of construction.

“We will wait until crops are removed before we start construction on these crossings. We do not want to hinder crop harvesting and are scheduling our work as closely as possible to minimize interference with farming activities,” Carman says.

Canal segments include siphons to carry drainage water under the canal, and off-take pipes that will provide a means of distributing water from the canal to cropland. This substantial work is being done ahead of the dirt work so the dirt moving team can move in and begin without disruption.

Currently, 15 tractors and 25 dirt pans make up the team, with more to be added in the coming weeks.

“Our dirt moving team is moving 10 to 15 thousand cubic yards of dirt per day,” John Neukam, WRID construction manager, said. WRID is fully funded

for the first 12 miles of canal construction and 50 miles of irrigation pipeline that will distribute water to the farms. When completed, about 40,000 acres of irrigated cropland will be served by Phase 1.

“This is a big project and will eventually serve 250,000 acres of heavily irrigated cropland. This project will provide water for our region that has experienced ground water decline as significant as any of the western state declines you read about,” Lynn Sickel, WRID board member, said.

“This project has been a long time coming with a lot of hard work by a lot of people and agencies,” Dan Hooks, WRID board president, explained.

The Corps of Engineers helped fund the pump station, large pipelines, and regulating reservoir to lift the water out of the White River. NRCS is providing cost-share for the canal, pipelines, and a lot of prior on-farm work. Lastly, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Division has provided the District with the loan authority to match the federal funding.

“As a citizen of this state and country, it’s good to see federal and state agencies working together to help our local district solve a major problem. It’s sure exciting to see this all come together,” Hooks said. “They tell me water will be delivered to this part of the project in 2025. I believe them.”

In addition to being fully funded for Phase 1, the project is partially funded for Phase 2, which will include an additional 25,000 acres of irrigated farmland west of the Hazen airport to Carlisle.

“We anticipate doing some work on Phase 2 in 2023, but most Phase 2 work will be done in 2024,” Carman said. “WRID has signed agreements with NRCS

totaling approximately $60 million and WRID will borrow from the Natural Resources Division for the necessary match money. We are making great progress. This year is a major opportunity for growth, and I am very optimistic about where we are going. We are keeping things under budget and that in turn will result in affordable water delivery to the farms.”

Previous work includes two miles of canal and the Downs Road crossing, which is located just north of Highway 70 between Hazen and DeValls Bluff. WRID refers to this portion of the project as Canal 1000. This work included 700,000 cubic yards of dirt work and the first county road crossing, which was completed in 2022 at an approximate cost of $5 million.

Prior work includes a pump station at DeValls Bluff, 7,500 feet of twin 10-foot diameter pipelines and the regulating reservoir constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Additional work is planned to start this fall.

The US Army Corp of Engineers has made funding available to complete the power pump station, which will include a new Entergy substation near DeValls Bluff.

“The Corp, NRCS, Natural Resources Division, and WRID are all sharing the cost and working well together to make this project happen to solve the water problems of the Grand Prairie region,” Carman said.

“Additionally, our federal delegation, state legislators, and local officials have all been vital to our success. We are doing great on timing with our schedule of progress, and we anticipate funding to continue. If things continue progressing as they have over the past two years, we have every reason to believe water can be delivered in 2025.”

Prairie County to participate in state broadband expansion

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.

(June 26, 2023) – Today, the Arkansas Department of Commerce, along with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, announced that Arkansas will receive $1,024,303,993.86 from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The funds will be used to expand broadband access in Arkansas and address affordability and digital skills needs throughout the state.

“This announcement will be transformational for Arkansas,” said Governor Sanders.

“With more than $1 billion now at our state’s disposal to fund broadband access, we will finally be able to close the digital divide between rural and urban Arkansas. This puts every part of our state on an equal playing field and unlocks a world of potential for businesses, schools, and everyday Arkansans.”

The priority for Arkansas’ allocation of BEAD funding will be to address the lack of broadband access at an estimated 215,000 homes and businesses located throughout the

state. Funds can also be used to improve highspeed internet at vital community anchor institutions such as hospitals, libraries, and schools. Arkansas’ workforce will also benefit from funding to improve digital skills.

“These funds are an economic game changer,” said Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Hugh McDonald. “As a small rural state, we have too many households and businesses that are not connected to broadband. This affects our bottom line –from education and skills development to entrepreneurship and opportunity. Broadband is no longer a luxury; it is an absolute necessity for individual upward mobility as well as to develop strong and vibrant communities that will attract business and industry to the state.”

The Arkansas State Broadband Office, housed within the Arkansas Department of Commerce, will administer the BEAD funding allocated to Arkansas.

Representatives Laurie Ringler and Glen Howie met with Prairie County representatives about the project on Friday, June 9, in the Courthouse Annex in Des Arc to discuss broadening the access to internet within the

county. A committee will be formed to pursue the project.

In accordance with BEAD program requirements, the Broadband Office must submit to NTIA a five-year action plan and other documentation by the end of 2023 before funding will be released to the state.

The Broadband Office, working under the leadership of Governor Sanders, will ensure that plans for BEAD funds address the priorities of the state and include opportunities for feedback by local communities. Use of BEAD funds will also be subject to legislative review and appropriation.

The Arkansas State Broadband Office, housed within the Arkansas Department of Commerce, was created in 2019 to coordinate the state's broadbandrelated activities. The office’s Arkansas Rural Connect Grant Program provides funding to assist in the deployment and improvement of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved communities. The state's broadband goal, as articulated in its broadband plan, is to get universal access to broadband at speeds of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. For more information, visit www.broadband.arkansa s.gov.

Arkansas State Senate Report

By Senator Ron Caldwell

LITTLE ROCK –The secretary of Human Services told lawmakers that the Arkansas Medicaid program would continue to reimburse assisted living facilities at the higher rate they were getting during the Covid-19 pandemic, at least until November.

Meanwhile, the Department of Human Services (DHS) continues to review the entire Medicaid system, and will recommend methods of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the program.

Last year during the fiscal session, legislators approved special language in the appropriation for DHS. The special language requires the Department to study and explore methods to increase reimbursement rates for assisted living facilities that care for people enrolled in Medicaid, under a program known as Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver. DHS hired a consultant, produced a detailed report later in 2022 with suggested new rates for assisted living facilities. The report takes into account staffing ratios of licensed practical nurses, certified nurse aides and personal care assistants who work directly with residents.

The study also takes into account the number of universal workers needed at a facility to clean, cook and perform other duties. The report calculated how much is needed for salaries, as well as for utilities and building costs, and came up with a suggested reimbursement rate of $96.76 a day for each person in the Living Choices program who lives at the facility. However, that suggested rate has not been officially approved yet and assisted living facilities are still getting reimbursed at the rates set for the public health emergency caused by the

Covid pandemic. That is $81.58 a day in urban areas and $85.67 in rural areas.

Owners of assisted living facilities have been asking for higher rates. They say that their costs have gone up, such as when voters approved a statewide increase in the minimum wage. According to the consultant hired by DHS, “because much of the staffing at assisted living facilities is paid at or near the minimum wage level, these increases have a direct and immediate effect on the cost of providing waiver services.”

Also, the pandemic increased demand for aides and nurses across the entire country, and many people on the direct care staff of assisted living facilities moved to other jobs. That led to staff shortages and increased pressure on wages. Also during the pandemic, staff had additional duties to maintain safety and disinfect surfaces more often. The level of care at an assisted living facility is not as rigorous as at a nursing home, because the overall health of residents is better. The special language in Act 213 of 2022, the DHS appropriation that mandates a study of higher reimbursement rates, includes the possibility of setting rates for Living Choices as a percentage of the rates paid to nursing homes that care for Medicaid patients.

Before the pandemic, Arkansas paid $67.25 per day in reimbursement to facilities that care for people enrolled in the Living Choices program.

More than 1,100 people enrolled in Living Choices last year. That is a relatively small percentage of the state’s elderly population who receive Medicaid services, which is more than 45,000 people.

to establish how and when assisted living facilities are to report their costs. The legislature also approved Act 820 of 2023, known as the Fair Reimbursement and Assisted Living Cost Reporting Act. It requires DHS to consider costs incurred by facilities when it sets reimbursement rates for the Living Choices program.

In 2021 the legislature approved Act 626, making Arkansas the first state in the nation to prohibit physicians from performing gender transition procedures on minors.

Since then at least 19 other states have enacted similar laws to prohibit procedures such as hormone therapy and surgery for adolescents under 18 who wish to change their genders.

Legal challenges were quickly filed against Act 626, and on June 20 a federal judge struck the law as unconstitutional. His ruling received national media attention and it probably will be referenced in the legal challenges filed in others states against their laws that seek to prohibit gender transition procedures for minors.

The law is called the Safe Act, which stands for the Arkansas Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act. It passed the Senate by a vote of 28-to-7 and the House of Representatives by a vote of 70-to-22. The governor at the time vetoed it, saying it went too far by denying care to adolescents who were already receiving medical treatment. The legislature overrode his veto.

Since the Safe Act was passed in 2021, Arkansas has elected a new governor and a new attorney general. The current governor criticized the federal judge’s ruling and the current attorney general said that the state would appeal it.

By Mitzi Osborne

The beautiful yard of Billy Patterson of Biscoe was the setting of the Biscoe EHC Jne meeting for their program “Outdoor Entertaining”. The twelve members present were Ria Farris, Bernadette Mosby,

way back in time. An antique quilt on the iron bed was hand sewn in postage stamp size pieces thus called Postage Stamp quilt. Sitting on the stove was a 1944 Jackson Bayou EHC cookbook (former name of Biscoe EHC).

received on Mothet’s Day at the church she was visiting with her son.

The new EHC year begins July 1, so membership forms, annual dues, and program leader forms were collected to turn into the

Darlene Sickle, Debby Priest, Karen Golden, Janice Corpier, Janis Toll, Connie Smith, Mitizi Osborne, Brenda Prince, Juanita Hutchinson, and new member Liz Bell. Billy

After the tour members gathered at the Biscoe First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall for the Mexican potluck followed by the business meeting.Members reported 270 volunteer

Prairie County EHC and AEHC. Biscoe EHC now has 14 members.

The June birthday was Berbadette Mosby who also won the door[prize. There are 3 birthdays to celebrate next month:

led the group on a tour of his yard, flourishing flowers, a rock garden, several colorful bottle trees, his family shoe tree, large boulders, antique equipment... all with its story! During a sit-down rest, the gracious host served lemonde, homemade cookies and pecan pie. Next on the tour was hos little one room cabin on the property. It is furnished with all antiques, like stepping

hours, $14.54 was donated to the community service project, “A cup of Joe for Joe’. Secretary Janice Corpier read the minutes which were approved as read.

Treasurer Bernadette Mosby gave the financial report which was filed for audit. President Mitzi Osborne presented Darlene Sickel with her EHC 50 year pin form the state office. As an eye opener, Juanita showed a prayer box she

Liz 26th, Karen 30th, and Janice 31st. July’s program is a recipe swap. Members are to prepare dish accompained with a copy of the recipe. The program for August is a Community Service Day. Members decided on their activiry with Barbara Williams as the program leader. New annual community service projects begin in July. That project was discussed and will continue next month as unfinshed business.

After a time of socializing, members adjourned with the Homemaker;s Prayer.

Biscoe EHC meets the second Monday of each month at 10:00 am at the Biscoe First Baptist Church Fellowship Ha.. You are welcome to visit/join.

Biscoe EHC visits Patterson home

Lady Eagles coach takes assistant job at Vilonia

By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor

After a successful fouryear stint as the Des Arc Lady Eagles basketball coach, Ryan Smith is leaving to become an assistant coach for the Vilonia Lady Eagles. Smith came to Des Arc after winning state championships at Riverview High School in Searcy. He is going to a program in Vilonia which played for the Class 5A state champi-

onship last March.

“I love the community, athletes and staff at Des Arc,” Smith said. “I enjoyed my experiences as the coach. We had a great run, and I will treasure this place as it has a special place in my heart.”

Smith was 68-27 during his time as coach of the Lady Eagles. His best two teams were the first two. In 2020, the Lady Eagles went 23-9 and advanced to the

state semifinals. A year later, the Lady Eagles went 22-2 and lost in the state semifinals.

During the 2022-23 season, Des Arc went 18-6 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 2A state tournament.

Des Arc superintendent Marc Sherell said the district will start looking for a new coach quickly with the start of school less than two months away.

Carlisle hires veteran band director to lead program

D ulany plays for T riple

Crown T eam G ermany

By Mark Buffalo

Sports Editor

With the departure of band director Alicengrace Allen to Beebe High School, the Carlisle School District hired a veteran band director, who is entering his 30th year as a teacher.

Patrick Matarazzo has been the band director the previous 24 years at Lonoke High School. He was recently hired to replace Allen by the Carlisle School Board.

“I’m super excited,” Matarazzo said. “I can’t really put it into words. The community of Carlisle — I’ve seen bits and pieces of it with us playing football the first game of the year — but the people I’ve met that I had never met before since it was announced that I was going to be here are super awesome.

“I met a board member yesterday [Thursday] and I had no idea she was a board member,” Matarazzo said. “I was at the store and I opened the door and this lady came out and she was talking to another lady. She turned around and looked at me and said ‘you’re the new band director, aren’t you?’ I had no idea who she was.”

Matarazzo said the two of them carried on a conversation for a few moments.

“I told her the same thing — the people here are super nice,” he said. “The kids are really nice. They are really eager to do anything that I’m asking them to

do. I’m tickled pink. It’s almost like my first year teaching.

Carlisle High School

principal B.J. Greene said the district was sad to have Allen leave but felt fortunate to get Matarazzo to replace her.

“First and foremost, we were truly sad of the news that Mrs. Allen was hired on by Beebe to lead their band,” Greene said. “Mrs. Allen has built our band into a great program, which when we started looking for a new director we knew we wanted to try to find a director that has experience in being a director.

“We honestly feel that Mr. Matarazzo fell into our lap. There was no way we could have found a director that has been in the business as long as he has. So, once he applied, we were quick to get him in. He had done an incredible job for Lonoke, which is evident by how talented the kids he has put out.

We are extremely excited to have him in Bison gold.”

Greene said Matarazzo has hit the ground running in Carlisle.

“I don’t believe there has been a day I have been at school that he was not been at the school working,” Greene said.

During his time at Lonoke, Matarazzo taught high school band. He also taught some at the junior high/middle school. He also taught high school choir.

Matarazzo got his

teaching start at Stamps High School. He was there for five years after graduating from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

Matarazzo grew up in North Little Rock, graduating from North Little Rock Ole Main High School in 1982. He was in the army for four years before going to UAM.

Matarazzo said he started as an accounting major at UAM then switched to instrumental music his second semester.

“I had a full band and full choir scholarship while I was there,” he said.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree from UAM, Matarazzo has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. Matarazzo spoke highly of his predecessor.

“What she [Allen] was able to do during Covid — in this part of the state, Carlisle has one of the biggest bands in size,” he said. “The kids really accomplished a lot the last couple of years. The kids are ready to go to the next level.

“I’ve been with the band four times. I get that impression from them. They are ready to step it up a notch and move forward from where they’ve gone the last couple of years.” Matarazzo has four children, two of which are with his wife Emme. The children are 33, 19, 4 and 1 years old.

date of the first publication of this notice, or they shall be forever barred and precluded from any benefit in the estate. This notice first published this 28th day of June, 2023.

Estate of THERESA LISKO MCCASKILL, Deceased

Hazen lefty softball pitcher Lexi Dulany, daughter of Jeff and Cherie, played for Triple Crown Team Germany in the 18U TCS International Challenge in Westminster, Colorado. The Challenge is designed to give outstanding softball players the chance to represent their ethnic heritage in an international-flavored softball event comprised of 30 teams drawn from players all over the USA. Actual international softball opportunities can be available to some of these players in future. Players are selected from recommendations, articles, and videos.

According to TCS Germany Coach Mark Stoicheff: "We wanted Lexi as her being lefthanded adds a dimension that we had

lacked in 2022, and we were not disappointed. She is a very capable pitcher with a large amount of upside potential, not to mention a fine lefthanded hitter.

I would not be at all surprised to see her in Division 1 after high school. She has not only the talent but the work ethic and the personality that next-level coaches will seek for their programs."

The Challenge is only in its 3rd year, but has been discovered and followed in person by some of the very top-end college coaches, such as Mike White of Texas and also Heather Tarr of both the University of Washington and Team USA.

With a large 18U field, the event has recently included 16U and a 14U division is anticipated in coming years.

Looking ahead, Coach added:

"It is clear to me that we not only want to have her with us again in future, but that we NEED such a vital player if we want to take our efforts at future Challenges to a higher and more successful level. We had a very large roster, from a dozen states, coast-tocoast this year that'll be slimmed down by about 20% next year, and we know after her performance in this event that Lexi will be able to be relied upon considerably more going forward. With such a large, basically college-sized, roster, players mostly did not play as much as they're used to in travel or high school, but I can tell you that won't be a problem for Lexi in future events."

New CHS band director looking for instruments to be donated

By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor

New Carlisle High School band director Pat Matarazzo is looking for donations of used band instruments for the program, which he took over recently for Alicengrace Allen.

“Do you or someone you know have a used band instrument sitting around that is not being put to good use?” Matarazzo said. “Why not donate it to the Carlisle Bison Band Program”

Matarazzo said the program will take the used instrument and clean it,

repair it, and put it in the hands of a student that wants to be in band.

“All patrons of the program that made a donation will get a tax deduction form for their donation,” he said.

Instruments being accepted are flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, french horns, electric pianos and bass guitars.

“All electric keyboards and bass guitars need to be in working order,” Matarazzo said. “If possible, please take the opportunity to provide a student the experience of learning to play a

band instrument.”

Matarazzo said this is part of a three-year plan he has for the Carlisle band program.

“We want to start band in the sixth grade versus the seventh grade,” he said. “That’s one of the motivations for doing this horn drive, so kids can get an instrument to play on to see if they like it or not, to carry on when they get into the seventh, eighth or ninth grade.” For more information, contact Matarazzo at pmatarazzo@carlisle.k12 .ar.us or call him at (501) 765-0424.

having claims against the estate must exhibit them,

verified, to the

within six (6) months from the

c/o Lisa B. Shoalmire, Attorney at Law 1820 Galleria Oaks Drive Texarkana, Texas 75503

New Carlisle High School band director, Patrick Matarazzo, is pictured with his previous band in Lonoke. (Submitted)

The City of Carlisle is now accepting applications for a seasonal position with the Mosquito Department. This will be for 3-4 hours per evening at $15.00 per hour. Duties include driving/spraying for mosquito control and other as assigned. Applicant must have a valid Arkansas driver’s license. Applications may be picked up at the Mayor’s Office at 215 S. Court or printed from our website at www.carlislear.org. Deadline for applications is July 8, 2023. City of Carlisle is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Des Arc is filled with fun during annual Steamboat Days