The Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture, Wes Ward, celebrated Arkansas Catfish Month by presenting the state’s proclamation to the Stanley Young family (Gaylon Hale, Yolanda Young, and Becky and Stanley Young). Their restaurant, Murry’s, is one of Arkansas’s seven restaurants featured on the U.S. Catfish Trail. Secretary Ward was joined in the celebration by Shealyn Sowers, Cynthia Edwards, and Amy Lyman from the state Agriculture Department, Rachel Nattin from the Governor’s office, and Prairie County’s own Butch Calhoun.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has officially proclaimed August as Catfish Month in Arkansas. This proclamation celebrates the significant contributions of Arkansas's catfish industry to the state's economy and highlights the importance of catfish farming within our agricultural sector. Arkansas is recognized as the birthplace of warm water aquaculture, with its pioneering commercial fish farms dating back to the 1940s. By the late 1950s, Arkansas had established itself as the birthplace of the commercial catfish industry, a legacy that continues to thrive today.
DeValls Bluff to apply for fun park and fire department grants
By Lisa Mills Correspondent
On August 8th, a town hall meeting was held to discuss applying for a “Fun Park” grant. A resolution to apply for the grant was introduced to the city council at the July council meeting. The resolution did not pass due to several council members having concerns about the upkeep and maintenance of the park if the grant was received, Tanya Childers, with Central Arkansas Planning and Development District, explained to the crowd that the grant is through the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The grant is to develop a public park in the city. It is a 100% grant which means the city will not be responsible for any costs to build the park.
Audience members questioned as to what upkeep and maintenance would include and what the cost would be. Childers explained it would be general upkeep like mowing, weed eating and upkeep of equipment. Someone asked if those duties weren’t already covered by city employees to which a council member said yes.
Several audience members stated that they felt like a better park for the kids was really needed because the current park is in such bad condition that they drive to Hazen. The majority of the audience was in favor of applying for the grant, asking,
“why wouldn’t we apply for free money?”
Council Member Shirley Goff said she realized that she and the other council members who voted against applying for the grant thought it included a water park like a splash pad and that was why they were concerned about the upkeep. Childers replied that there were grants available for splash pads but this was strictly a fun park and could not be used for that.
The meeting ended with the council prepared to re-vote on the resolution to apply for the grant during the council meeting to be held immediately following.
Regular meeting
The DeValls Bluff City Council passed a resolution that failed to pass at the July meeting which will allow the city to apply for a “Fun Park” grant through the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The crowd applauded the decision.
A resolution was also passed to apply for a 50/50 Rural Services block grant for Fire Department equipment. The city’s matching part of the grant would be $9,588.87. If received, the grant will be used to buy a Self-contained Breathing Apparatus and a Jaws of Life.
A third resolution was passed to establish a policy prohibiting the use of excessive force by law enforcement. The policy prohibits the use of excessive force by law enforcement against
individuals engaged in non-violent civil rights demonstrations, as well as bystanders, others in the vicinity, and property owners in the vicinity.
Police Chief Jeremy Murphy reported four arrests and 14 citations in July. He stated that he is waiting to receive several felony warrants from the prosecutor.
A building permit was approved for Forest Wilson for a 12 x 36 mobile home at 835
Connor and Council Members Jackie Adcock, Marie Flanagan, Alice Metcalf, Pam Del
and Shirley Goff were present. Connor presided.
Memorial benches...
Benches have been placed at the Prairie County Museum and in the city park in memory of Gaby DelGiorno and Lynda Andrews. The benches were purchased by Russell and Cheryl Petty, June Whiteside, Terry Mertens, and Kim Jones.
Giorno,
Donna Joy Beedle
Donna Joy Beedle, age 71, died August 9th 2024 in Searcy, AR. She was born April 6th 1953 in DeValls Bluff, AR. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Floyd and Mildred Huggs. She’s survived by her husband of 52 years, Floyd Beedle Jr. of DeValls Bluff, AR; her son and daughter-in-law Glen and Krissy Beedle of Stuttgart, AR ; her son Brent Beedle of North Little Rock, AR; and a host of family and friends. Donna was a teacher for many years and touched countless lives of the children she educated. Services for Donna was held on Monday, August 12th at 2:00 PM at Oaklawn cemetery in DeValls Bluff, a visitation was held on Sunday, August 11th from 5-7 PM at Westbrook Funeral home in Hazen, AR.
December 1, 1956, and they were blessed with two children, Keith and Cheryl. After high school, Floyd enlisted with the United States Army, serving some of that time in Germany.
Floyd Bedford Calhoun
Floyd Bedford Calhoun was born to Rabern E. and Mary Ethel Calhoun on June 20, 1934. He was the baby of 6 children and grew up in the Des Arc area, attending and graduating from Des Arc Schools in 1956. He married Ila Jean (Morton) Calhoun on
Arkansas Press Association
Member 2023 The 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
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Out of State$30.00/year
Periodicals Postage paid at Hazen, Arkansas 72064
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Editor/Publisher
Roxanne Bradow
Circulation/Accounts
Trudy Johnson
Sports Editor
Mark Buffalo
Correspondent
Lisa Mills
Correspondent
Debbye Harrison
Photographer
Ruth Corley
Floyd was widely known for his humor and antics. From hiding panty hose in friend’s glove boxes for their wives to find, to breaking pliers repeatedly at the John Deere Dealership. Besides his humor, he was also a man of incredible character and strength. He was very generous to those in need, expecting nothing in return. Floyd was a man who also knew how to work hard. He made his living early by logging with his family. Later, he opened a car dealership and a Moline Tractor store. But his legacy was in farming. Floyd proudly planted and harvested 60 crops and left his son and grandson as stewards, there for the future. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, of 59 years, two very special nephews, Mark and Dickie, as well as his parents and brothers: C.A. Calhoun, V.O. Calhoun, Raymond Calhoun, sisters: Anna Bell Patterson and Chlotin Jones.
Floyd is survived by a host of family: His children Cheryl (Billy Wayne) Holland, Keith (Michele) Calhoun, grandchildren Robyn (Chastin) Watts, Tanner (Haley Jo) Calhoun, Emily Holland and Seth Moore, and Bailey (Grant) Staton; great grandchildren Owen, Brady, Bailey Grace, Zane, Cason, Tyler and Robert Dean. Floyd spent the last two years of his life in the Des Arc Nursing and Rehab Unit, cared for deeply by a host of staff there.
Porter Reid Clifton
Porter Reid Clifton, 79, of Hazen passed away into eternity on August 6, 2024. Porter was born to Idran Clyde Clifton and Delta Jewel Beadles Clifton on February 6,
1945 in Akron, Ohio. He was a former HVAC technician, a member of Hazen Masonic Lodge #361, and a Missionary Baptist. Porter was preceded in death by both of his parents; his loving wife of 48 years, Bebe Clifton; sisters, Kathren Haynes and Clarice Ragsdale; and brother, Richard Clifton. He is survived by his son, Reid Clifton (Kelly); Grandchildren, Wesley, Rayne, River, and Noah, all of Hazen. A graveside service was held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, August 8, 2024 at the Hazen Cemetery.
Glenda Ann Moore
Hazen Chamber of Commerce adopts bylaws, elects board of directors
The Hazen Chamber of Commerce met on Monday, August 5, to ratify new bylaws for the group and to appoint a Board of Directors.
The group’s president, Daniel Martin, fashioned the new bylaws from ones adopted by the Salem Chamber of Commerce.
Glenda Ann Moore, age 86, of Carlisle, Arkansas passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at home with her daughter and son-in-law by her bedside. Glenda was of the Christadelphian faith and a Baptized believer in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She is preceded in death by her parents, William T. (Bill) Moore and Pauline C. (Polly) Moore of Carlisle.
Glenda was a graduate of Carlisle High School class of 1957 and a former Lonoke County rodeo queen. Glenda was the widow of Eddie T. Moore of Carlisle; they owned the OTASCO Store on highway 70 in Carlisle, formerly known as the White Castle Restaurant that was owned by her parents, Bill and Polly Moore; later in life, she and her husband owned Eddie’s Tire and Lube, also located on highway 70. She is survived by one daughter, Paula Ann Socia (Charles W. Socia) of Cabot; one grandson, Travis Wayne Socia of Rogers; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. A graveside service for Glenda was held on Friday, August 9, 2024 at 10:00 AM at the Carlisle Cemetery Pavilion. Arrangements are entrusted with Westbrook Funeral Home of Hazen.
After reading sections from the new bylaws, and with some discussion, the Chamber voted unanimously to accept them. The new bylaws require that a Board of Directors be appointed in addition to the present officers. Dee Hare, Jennifer Kelly, and Faye Washington were voted to be the new Board of Directors, contingent upon their acceptance of the position. They will have a two year term.
Jennifer Kelly told that group that $16,000 had been pledged for a ferris wheel to be rented for the Rice Festival, which the Chamber will sponsor on the last weekend in October. The wrestling match held this summer produced a little profit, and the wrestling company was very pleased with the community response and said that they would be willing to come back in the future.
Thank you cards will be sent out to those who have supported the Chamber , and it was decided that since the chamber’s logo had been changed that new letterhead and envelopes would be ordered.
The next Chamber meeting will be held on August 26th at 5:00 p.m. in the Community Room of Cadence Bank to discuss the upcoming Rice Festival. All are invited to attend.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PRAIRIE COUNTY, ARKANSAS (DEVALLS BLUFF - SOUTHERN) CIVIL DIVISION
TRUIST BANK, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO SUNTRUST BANK, PLAINTIFF
vs. No. 59SCV-24-22
ESTATE OF SAMUEL C. SPEAKS, MELAINE SPEAKS, JENNIFER, SPEAKS, VICKIE SPEAKS, AND JESSICA SPEAKS, DEFENDANTS
WARNING ORDER
TO THE DEFENDANTS:Jennifer Speaks and Jessica Speaks
On April 24, 2024, a complaint was filed against you by Truist Bank, successor by merger to SunTrust Bank, in the Circuit Court of Prairie County, Arkansas, for the purpose of seeking a foreclosure for the real property in question. You are hereby warned to appear and defend by filing an answer or other responsive pleading with this Court within thirty (30) days from the date of the first publication of this Warning Order. Your failure to file a written answer within thirty (30) days may result in a default judgment being entered against you for the relief sought in the complaint.
WITNESS my hand and seal as Clerk of the Circuit Court of Prairie County, Arkansas on this 2nd day of August, 2024. By: Gaylon Hale, Prairie County Circuit Clerk. Deputy Clerk.
Submitted by: WILSON & ASSOCIATES, P.L.L.C., One East Center, Suite 310, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, (479) 521-5820, (479) 521-5543 facsimile
By: H. Keith Morrison (84210), Attorney for Plaintiff
THE STEVIE AND ALISON KEE
Stevie Kee always wanted to raise cattle
The Kee operation is a cattle farming program that has been in operation for twelve years. It began with a $10,000 to $12,000 loan from Farmers and Merchants Bank in Hazen. At that time Kee was leasing only 10 acres of land with 20 head of cattle on it. The business now rents 310 acres and owns 110 acres for a total of 420 acres. The Kees average 600 to 1,000 heads of feeder and stocker cattle. The cattle are fed until they reach roughly 800 pounds, and then
they are sold to a feed yard. The Kees also have a small farm to table operation for their local community supplying fresh beef to families in the surrounding areas.
The family hopes to pass down their operation to their children without the struggles that they had starting it. When the market crashed eight years ago, the operation took a big hit, and it has taken about eight years to recover.
The Kees also hope to obtain more ground so
that they can feed calves and grow the operation. Stevie is family driven and wants to provide a place for future Kee generation to work and grow the operation if they choose to do so.
In 2023 the Kees grew silage to feed their cattle through the 2024 year. They also plant winter wheat to supplement winter grazing for the cattle. University of Arkansas Extension Service analysis is used to check the nutrient content of the hay and silage that they grow.
The Kee children are very involved in the rodeo circuit. Austin, the oldest, rides junior bulls. Austin qualified to go to the Junior World Finals in Las Vegas four times. He is
the 2024 Junior High State Final Champion, finishing 3rd overall. Austin participated in the Junior High National Finals in Des Moines, Iowa in June. Aubrey plays softball and also rodeos. She runs barrels and poles and ties goats. The youngest, Gus, enjoys playing t-ball, calf riding, and he also ties goats.
Aubrey and Gus take time off from the rodeo to play a softball and baseball.
Stevie has been on the Prairie County Farm Bureau Board YFR committee for three years. He has been the vice president of the Teen Rodeo Association for seven years and has sponsored the Hazen Baseball Association for three years.
The Kees are members of the Calvary Baptist Church in Hazen, and Alison has been a kids leader since 2011. She has also been an Advocate for The Call for two years.
In addition to helping with the cattle operation, Alison is also a nurse practitioner for Baptist Health, working in both the Hazen and Lonoke offices.
Alison says, “I have always wanted to be able to work locally in the community and be able to serve and give back with my nursing career.
Working in the local family clinic was a goal I set when I started APRN school and I finally was able to achieve that goal.”
Ingredients:
Shredded cheddar cheese (or cheese of your choice)
Directions: Brown ground beef and diced onion til no ground beef is no longer pink. Add the can of green chiles and ½ cup of enchilada sauce and mix together. Pour ½ cup of sauce into bottom of
Directions: in saucepan, add
and
9x13 pan, dip tortilla into remaining sauce, fill with beef mixture and add sprinkle of cheese before rolling into tight roll. Place seam side down in 9x13 pan and repeat process until pan is full. Top with enchilada sauce and more shredded cheese. Cover
and bake at 350 degrees until hot and bubbly.
Poppyseed chicken
Ingredients: 4 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and shredded ( I have used rotisserie chicken as well)
sleeve of ritz
powder
Directions: In mixing bowl, combine soup, sour cream, 1 tsp poppyseeds, Worcestershire sauce and spices. add cooked chicken and stir well. Pour mixture into a 9x13 baking dish. Mix crushed crackers, melted butter and remaining tsp of poppyseeds together and top chicken mixture with cracker mixture. Bake at 350 degrees til hot and bubbly and crackers are
browned. Serve with cooked white rice.
Worcestershire sauce
Directions: Place frozen green beans in crockpot, top with bacon pieces. Mix brown sugar, butter, and seasonings together and pour on top. Set crock pot to high and cook for 2 hours or low for 4 hours. Can also
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church has pasta fest
The members of the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Slovak held their annual fundraising pasta meal for folks of the Grand Prairie. People from all over the county and beyond came to enjoy pasta with meatballs in red sauce or with creamy chicken alfredo. A large table held all kinds of sweets for purchase, and “all you can drink” wine was available with the purchase of a special memorial wine glass.
Hornets open fall camp with 23 players
By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor
The Hazen Hornets opened fall training camp with 23 players last week, according to coach Joe Besancon.
A year ago, the Hornets finished 8-3,
finishing second in conference play but falling in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs after winning the state title in 2022. “It’s going OK,” Besancon said. “We’re still trying to develop some kids and trying to
find out who is going to help us in what spot.”
Besancon said his team got a break with the heat subsiding late last week.
“It’s a good thing, but it’s also a bad thing,” he said. “That first game, it’s probably
Eagles have good first week
By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor
Des Arc coach Brandon
Barbaree said the first week of fall camp went well for his team.
“We’ve got 30 kids and they were all here,” he said. “That kind of
makes you feel good. I thought our energy level was really high. We went early in the morning, so the heat didn’t get to us, but we also had some good weather days too, so it was a really good week.”
Barbaree said his team is much more physical than it was a year ago.
“We had a couple of move ins,” he said. “Our kids have brought them in and we look so much more physical with size up front. We’re going to be really big up front on offense and defense.
That’s gonna help quite a bit.”
That bodes well for Des Arc, which runs a runoriented offensive scheme.
“We don’t want to put the ball in the air too much,” Barbaree said.
“If we’re able to move people up front, we’ll have a good chance to be successful.”
Des Arc will scrimmage Lonoke on Aug. 22 at James B. Abraham Stadium in Lonoke. The Eagles open the season Sept. 6 at Hazen.
going to be 110 degrees out there. You like it when it feels cool outside, but you know what is going to happen that first game. It does [hurt conditioning].”
As far as the roster size, Besancon said his team got hit hard by school choice with several players he was
counting on transferring out of Hazen.
“I think we lost four starters to school choice,” he said. “We’re having to revamp our offensive line. We had that all penciled in, then school choice. We lost a few kids here and there. We’ve got to throw some young kids
in there that we weren’t really having to expect to put in there. They are going to have to play a key role.” Hazen will play Little Rock Episcopal in a scrimmage game on Aug. 23. The Hornets open the regular season Aug. 30 at Conway Christian.
Bison have high numbers during first week of camp
By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor
Second-year Carlisle
Bison football coach Gary Wilson said his team has 31 players after the first week of fall camp.
“That’s the highest number we’ve had since I’ve been here, especially to start a year,” Wilson said. “It was a really good first week.” Wilson said there was one day that his team ended practice poorly. The next day, they came ready to work.
“We did not end practice well at all,” he said.
“It was kind of a frustrating day. Then we did what I thought real-
ly good teams do. They came back the very next day and had a great practice. We didn’t back up a bad practice with another bad one.
“It was a really good week for us.”
Wilson said most of team’s schemes are installed because of the work done during the summer.
“We’ll add things here and there to it,” he said.
“Right now, we’re polishing it up. We could go out and play tomorrow if we need to. We’re just trying to sharpen everything up.”
Carlisle will host Yellville-Summit for a scrimmage game on Aug. 20 at Fred C.
Hardke Field. The Bison open the season Aug. 30 at Drew Central in Monticello. Wilson said his team is looking forward to playing Yellville in the scrimmage.
“What I’ve tried to do it find us a scrimmage game and a non-conference game against someone we wouldn’t normally play, just to give the kids someone different to line up against,” he said. “To me, it was always fun to play someone you didn’t really know anything about. I think our kids are looking forward to it and I’m pretty excited about it.”
