75¢
PC Fair pictures on p. 6.
Volume 120 Number 39 - USPS 225-680
Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Community Calendar of Events Tuesday September 28 Prairie County Health Unit Drive thru Flu Clinic Hazen Methodist Church (East side of Fellowship Hall) 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Hazen High School Alumni Meeting Hazen Methodist Church 6:00 p.m. Friday October 1 Hornets vs Magnet Cove Hornet Field 7:00 p.m. Des Arc Eagles vs Mount Ida Mt Ida Field 7:00 p.m. Carlisle Bison vs Fordyce Fordyce Field 7:00 p.m. Saturday October 2 Prairie County Master Gardeners Pumpkin Sale Hazen City Park East (across from the Community Center) Monday October 11 Columbus Day City & County offices will be closed. Biscoe EHC Meeting First Baptist Church in Biscoe 10:30 a.m.
Community events brought to you by Hazen Chamber of Commerce
Harvest is in full swing on the Grand Prairie. Many thanks to Mason Sickel who provided this picture of farmers working hard.
Hazen School Board lifts mask requirement The Hazen School District is no longer requiring students and staff to wear masks to protect against COVID 19. After hearing from two concerned citizens, a parent - Lance Schulz and Doctor Stephanie Patyk, the Hazen School Board voted to lift the requirement for students and staff to wear masks when on the campus and when they are unable to be socially distanced at Hazen Public Schools. The vote was split with Mason Sickel, Roben Cohen, and Darlene Connors voting against mandating masks and Vicki Skarda, Sandra Penn, and Freddie Rogers voting for the
mask mandate. Board President Ritchie Ingle broke the tie voting to lift the mandate. Also present at the meeting were Principals Tiffany Glover and Mark Price, Superintendent Donnie Booth, and Administrative Assistant Cindy Ciganek. Schulz, who addressed the board first, has two children in the school district and works in the medical field, told the board that masks are dirty and don’t protect children from the COVID-19 virus. He said that children have a natural immunity to the virus, and making them wear masks decreases their oxygen
intake and their ability to concentrate. The masks also increase psychological problems and are dehumanizing. “Masks are medical devices,” he said. He also stated that he had not seen studies in favor of masking. He told the board that parents should make the decision to mask for their own children, not the school district. Dr. Patyk then stood up and introduced herself as a family practice physician who takes care of the community of Hazen. She told the board that there is cure for COVID-19 and that the vaccine is not available for elementary children who need pro-
tection from getting the virus. She said that inperson learning is important for children, and that if a student is masked when around someone tests positive for the virus there would be no need for the student to quarantine. She said that all students over two years of age should wear masks. “I do it for myself and my family,” she said. Patyk said that due to mask wearing, there were no flu cases in the area last year. She stated that studies show that a person wearing a mask has a 50% chance of being protected against the virus, with cotton masks providing 40%
protection. Patyk closed by saying that masks are an inconvenience for children, but so are car seats and sunscreen. We still make our children use both of those things. Superintendent Booth told the board that he put an online anonymous survey on the district’s website about the masks. He presented the results that showed students, parents, community members, and district employees would rather have optional masking rather than mandated masking. Two-thirds of the respondents preferred that the use of masks be optional. (See Hazen Schools on p. 3)
City of Carlisle employees to get bonuses Resolution 342, which designates how federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds will be spent, was passed by the Carlisle City Council at its regular meeting held on September 21. Present were Council Members Anne Anderson, Todd Turner, Larry Flynn, Jon Plafcan, and Kevin Kegley along with Mayor Ray Glover, Administrative Assistant Angelia James, and City Attorney Mike Stuart. The resolution will allow the city to spend an estimated $27,989 on COVID mitigation and prevention, including giving city employees a one-time bonus as a retention tool and providing money for a vaccination incentive to city employees. Full-time employees who worked for the city during 2020 will receive $1000, and regular part-time employees will receive $750. Employees that have left full-time status for part-time status, but worked during the pandemic will receive $500, and any employees hired after May 30, 2021 will receive $250. Employees who have gotten the COVID vaccine and those who get the vaccine by a certain date will get an
additional $500. “We’re going to take care of our people,” Mayor Glover said. The resolution passed unanimously. The city has received over $400,000 in ARP funds so far and will have $130,000 left after the bonuses are paid. The city expects to receive the other half of the ARP funding next July. The council also passed Ordinance 332 and Resolution 341 to allow the city to obtain financing for the construction of a new airport entrance road. Resolution 342 and Ordinance 341 passage was needed which will allow the city to borrow funds to build an entrance road to the Carlisle Municipal Airport. The documentation provided by the city will allow the Bank of England, from which the funds will be received, to get tax exempt interest. Parks Director Ronnie Ashmore reported that peewee football begins next week. Thirty three children have signed up for the program. He also reported that there are broken lights at the city’s tennis court that need to be repaired. He said that the city needs to purchase
LED lights. “If we fix it, we don’t want to just patch it,” he said. The court is presently being used by the newly formed high school tennis team, and they would like to be able to practice after dark. The lights have not been used for several years, and since the school would also like to use the gym for practice when it rains, the city would charge the school for the use of the gym and for the use of the lights on the tennis court. Ashmore said that his department would need to schedule when the school could use the facilities and that he would find out how much it will cost to fix the lights. Kegley presented a slide show to the council showing where standing water within the city was creating a mosquito problem. Durkee Street and 8th Street are major problems, according to Kegley
and Robert Barnes, who could not attend the meeting but who helped research the problem areas. During the report of the Water, Sewer, and Streets Department, the issue of the city’s gravel storage was addressed. The city had received a request to increase rent payments on each of the three plots that the city is using to $70 per month equalling $210 per month. This will cost the city $2520 per year. The council decided to agree to Sumner’s amount for one year, and will try to find suitable land to purchase for storing the gravel in the meantime. The council was told that Randy Phillips was willing to buy the 1000 meters that the city recently replaced for $1 apiece. The council agreed to that amount. They were also told that the city needs to find an
electrical inspector. Inspectors receive around $350 per month to be on call. An inspector will be needed for regular projects and for the new FFA barn that the high school is building. There is also a light pole down at the interstate, and the department will get a price on what it will cost to get it fixed. High grass at the interstate overpass is also a problem. Police Chief Eric Franks reported that his department needs to hire a new dispatcher/jailer to replace the one who is quitting. He said that the two new policemen are presently taking classes at the police academy and would finish those soon. He also asked that the council pass a pay shift differential for people working the night shift. He suggested that night pay (See Carlisle Council on p. 2.)
City of Hazen Halloween drive through sign-up and the Please call F&M Bank (255-3042) or The Grand Prairie Herald (255-4538) to list events.
The City of Hazen will sponsor a drive through Halloween Trick or Treat event this year on Saturday, October 30, in City Park East across from the Community Center. The city is asking for
organizations and churches to join in the celebration. If you would like to participate in the event, you need to sign up with the city by October 26th by calling the city hall at 870-255-4522.
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Page 2 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Grand Prairie observes Constitution Week 2021 Rebecca Jean Hancock
Charles Walter Curtis
Rebecca Jean Hancock, age 29, of Pensacola, Florida, formerly of DeValls B l u f f , Arkansas passed away September 22, 2021 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. Rebecca graduated Forrest City High School in 2010, then she attended UALR in Little Rock, Arkansas where she earned her bachelors degree. Rebecca was a beautiful spirit with a heart of gold, that would help anyone in need. She was loved by family, friends, and strangers. Rebecca enjoyed going to the beach, spending time with family and friends. Rebecca also enjoyed art, pottery, and other outdoor activities. Rebecca is survived by her beloved son, Maverick James, fiance’, Neil Cruz, mother, Tammy Griffin, father, Lance Cooper, and step-father, Ken Griffin, grandmother, Barbara Hancock, two sisters, Hayley Cooper and Gaylon Hendrickson, two brothers, Jacob Cooper and Kenley Griffin, two nieces, Madelyn Lindsey and Shyloh Rose and a host of aunts and uncles. Visitation was from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Saturday, September 25 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen. Funeral services were 2:00 P.M., Sunday, September 26, 2021 at the First Baptist Church in DeValls Bluff. Pallbearers were Jacob Cooper, Kenley Griffin, Ken Griffin, Lance Cooper, Neil Cruz, and Mark Hendrickson. Place of interment will be Oakland Cemetery in DeValls Bluff. Arrangements were by Westbrook Funeral Home of Hazen.
Charles Walter Curtis age 77 of Dardanelle passed away Sunday, September 12, 2021 at Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. He was born September 17, 1943 in DesArc, Arkansas to the late Dovie and Marie Curtis. Survivors include one son, William R. Curtis; brother, Wayne Curtis and wife Billie; ex-wife, Sharon Curtis; nephews, Larry, Timmy, Brandon; grandsons, Garrett Curtis, Anthony Wooten and family and granddaughters, Riley Wooten, Erika Curtis, and Jesse Curtis. He will be laid to rest with his son, Bryan and his daughter, Kim in the Harkey Valley Cemetery. Arrangements by Cornwell Funeral Home and River Valley Cremations Dardanelle. Online Guest Book and Condolences at www.cornwellfuneralhomes.com.
Arkansas Press Association Member 2020
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
Subscription Rates In Prairie County $20.00/year In Arkansas $25.00/year Out of State $30.00/year Periodicals Postage paid at Hazen, Arkansas 72064 POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Grand Prairie Herald P.O.Box 370 Hazen, Arkansas 72064 Managing Editor/Publisher Roxanne Bradow Circulation/Accounts Trudy Johnson Sports Editor Mark Buffalo Photographer Ruth Corley
Laydean Skinner Echols Davis Laydean Skinner Echols Davis, 85, of Magnolia, Texas passed away August 12, 2021. She is survived by four daughters, Vivian Williams of Magnolia, Texas, Lynn Davis of Miller, Missouri, Janet (Lynn) Cox of Carlisle and Toni Stonehill of Miller, Missouri; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Eula Jean Humbert Eula Jean Humbert, 78 of Hazen, passed away on Thursday morning, September 16 at Baptist H e a l t h Medical Center in North Little Rock. Eula was born June 28, 1943 in Biscoe, Arkansas to Melvin Jones Sr. and Daisy Lee ChambersJones. She was the eldest
child born to this union. Eula was a lifelong member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Biscoe. Eula received her education from the Biscoe Public School System. Eula was a longtime employee of Van Heusen Shirt Factory in Brinkley and Augusta for more than 15 years. Eula was widow of the late Robert Humbert Jr. whom she married in 1961. To this union 21 children were born. Her husband Robert Humbert Jr., her parents Melvin Jones Sr. and Daisy Lee ChambersJones; three sons: Robert Louis Humbert, Derrick Humbert and Jerome Humbert; four daughters: Tina Humbert, Terry Humbert, LaToya Humbert and Jennifer Humbert; three grandchildren: Antwan Humbert, Marquis Campbell and Zaria Mullins; four brothers: Melvin Jones Jr., David Jones, Henry Lee Jones and Otis B. Jones; two sisters: Mary Lena Mayo and Helen Jones all preceded Eula Jean in death. Survivors are: four sons: Robert Humbert III and Jeremy Humbert both of Biscoe, AR; Jeffery Humbert of Bradenton, FL and Deshawn Humbert of Troy, MO; nine daughters: Lisa (Jeff) Love, Christina (James) Sutton, Marilyn Humbert and Barbara (Rodney) Woodie all of Bradenton, FL; Geretha (Curtis) Smith, Sandra (Clifford) Roland, Sherry Larkin and Danielle (Haven) Humbert-Walker all of Hazen, AR; and Tammi (Steve) Mullins of Carlisle, AR; forty-one grandchildren, a host of great grandchildren; two brothers: James (Ostinner) Jones of Chicago, Ill and Cleo (Corliss) Jones of Lonoke, AR; five sisters: Esther “Bird” Stewart and Daisy Mae Jones both of Biscoe, AR; Willie Mae Williams and Gail (Melvin) Campbell both of Hazen, AR; and Lorine Foster of Atlanta, GA a sister in law Maxine Jones of Biscoe, AR; and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services wereheld on Saturday, September 25 at 3 PM at
the DeValls Bluff High school Auditorium, 710 East Sycamore Street in DeValls Bluff with Reverend Jerry Saxton officiating. Interment was at St. Paul Upper Hill Cemetery in Biscoe by Branscumb Johnson & Gilchrest Funeral Home of Brinkley (870) 7342772 email: branscumbfuneralhome1928@yahoo. com and Facebook: Branscumb Funeral Home. Pallbearers: Dewon Humbert, Deven Larkin, Tarrell Penn, Durod Humbert, Keith Humbert, Billy Denham, Mandrell Humbert, Solomon Harvey, Daqual Randall and Deshawn Humbert.
Mc'Kinley Tylah McGee Mc'Kinley Tylah McGee (affectionately known as "Boogie") age 7 weeks p a s s e d away surrounded by her family at Arkansas Children's Hospital Tuesday September 21, 2021. Mc'Kinley was born August 2, 2021 to Faith Crowder and Rodney McGee. She brought so much joy during her seven short weeks here on Earth to her family and those who loved her she was so happy and always smiling. She is survived by her mother and father, Faith Crowder and Rodney McGee, four sisters, Taneea McGee, Mikeyah McGee, Ra'Kyah McGee, Xaniyah Hardnett, and one brother, Rodney McGee, Jr. Also surviving her are grandparents, Shelly Bass and Flossie Jones, great grandparents, Lloyd Bass, Annette Bass and a host of family and friends. She is preceded in death by her grandfather, Joey Crowder and an aunt, Stephanie Crowder. There will be a Graveside service only for Mc'Kinley at the Whipporwill Cemetery south of Des Arc, AR Tuesday September 28, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. with Bro. Mike Edwards officiating.
Carlisle Council _________________________
(Continued from p. 1) should be $2 more per hour and there are usually two people on that shift. After some discussion, the council voted unanimously to increase night shift pay. The council also voted to pay $6,223.80 to Cummins Sales and Service to repair fire truck #3, and gave Mayor Glover permission to approve any other repairs that might be necessary. The members also unanimously passed Resolution #343 which agrees to pay Emergency Vehicle Specials in Conway $33,513.46 for two Arctic compressors to be repaired and upgraded and to purchase a new compressor. The quote also included the cost of a four cylinder cascade The council voted to keep the city’s millage rate the same. Personnel Chair Jon Plafcan told the council that the city’s employee manual needs to be updated, and that the work will begin soon. There have been complaints about the appliances in the Senior Citizen Center, according to Angelia James, but the council was told that there was nothing wrong with them when they were checked. The Lonoke Council on Aging (LCA) is presently using the building, and it was
reported that they have been renting it out without city permission. The council agreed that someone from the LCA should come to the council meetings.
A question about which day Halloween will be celebrated since it falls on Sunday this year. No decision was made. With no other reports, the meeting adjourned.
On Friday afternoon Sept 17, at 4:00 pm, at Biscoe First Baptist Church, bells rang out for 17 seconds to proclaim the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution on September 17, 1787. Grand Prairie DAR ViceRegent Judi Tarter Jones (bottom right) is shown with her pastor, David Rogers, who prepares to ring the bell. DeValls Bluff Mayor Brian Dodson (top right) signs a proclamation which designates the week of September 17-23 as Constitution Week, as Judi Jones looks on. Grand Prairie Chapter Daughters of the
American Revolution member Pam Smith (top left) stands alongside Mayor Ray Glover of Carlisle as he signs the Constitution Week proclamation at the Carlisle City Hall on Friday morning, Sept 17. Thanks to Mayor Dodson and Bro. David Rogers for working with the Grand Prairie DAR in this historic commemoration. .
Letter to the Editor There are questions about why the Rice Festival has been canceled this year. Planning for the festival begins in July. That involves contacting previous vendors, contacting antique farm equipment clubs, applying for liability insurance, contacting possible entertainment, arranging advertisement with newspapers and radio, and contacting sponsors. The most work involves dealing with vendors and the antique farm equipment displays. Prairie County had four COVID cases July 7. By August 2 there were 49 active cases and by August 23 there were 84. This caused grave concern. At the time we would be making arrangements with vendors and equipment owners our active cases were growing rapidly as well as across the state. Vendors are hesitant to commit during uncertain times. To attend an event they build up inventory in anticipation of sales. If they have to cancel for or if the event is canceled, they have to hold the inventory over until the next event. Since the Rice Festival is the last Saturday of October it is commonly one of the last festival events of the year. The vendor would have to carry the inventory over
until next year. This is a financial burden for them. A festival must work very hard to satisfy vendors and keep them happy. If a vendor has a bad experience with a festival, they will not return and that experience will be shared with others. So, concern over the rapidly rising COVID case during the planning stages of the festival and the concern for the health and safety of the public are the reasons the festival has been canceled this year. Yes, active cases of COVID have declined. According to the health department as of September 23 Prairie County is down to 28 active. In a sense we have become numb to even that number of active cases. Remember how alarmed we felt last year when there were even 5 in the county? According to a recent Democrat-Gazette article during the period June 21 this year through September 12 there has been 5,222 hospitalizations due to COVID. We are not through with this pandemic yet but hopefully circumstances will continue to improve and allow us to enjoy the Rice Festival in 2022. David Hardke, Festival chairman
School Election Deadline Those wanting to vote absentee for the Annual School Election may call the Clerk’s office at (870) 256-4434 to receive an application. Early Voting for Annual School Election begins on October 26th during regular business hours at the Des Arc Courthouse and the DeValls Bluff Courthouse and will end on November 1, 2021. Those running for the Annual School election
are: Des Arc School District Billy Hinson – Zone 4 Drew Widener –At Large Position 1 John Reidhar – At Large Position 2 Hazen School District Deborah Carlyle – Zone 1 Roben Cohen – Zone 5 Sandra Penn – Zone 7 The last day to register to vote is October 4th.
———Public Notice——— Biscoe Waterworks is a public water system subject to regulation under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Those regulations require the notification of customers whenever a violation occurs. That is the basis for this notice. The violation occurred when the water system failed to retain a qualified, licensed operator for the period of July 2021. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets national standards for drinking water and has established a requirement that certain public water systems must be operated by a qualified operator. The Arkansas Department of Health defines a qualified operator as a person holding an appropriate valid Water Operator’s License based on the type of water system and population served. The system will remain in violation until the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Arkansas Department of Health’s Water Operator Licensing is met. Failure to meet this requirement does not necessarily mean that the water is unsafe or that alternate sources of water should be used. The water system currently has employees enrolled in the required training courses and will test for the required Water Treatment License in September 2021. Should you have any questions concerning this notice, contact the Biscoe Water Department at 870998-2226 or the Engineering Section of the Department of Health at 501-661-2623.
Page 3 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Blurred Vision -
By Nathaniel Bradow
“Thoughts on 9/11”
Our country recently marked the 20th anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers in New York City (i.e. 9/11). It has been 20 years since 15 terrorists boarded three separate planes and crashed them into what they saw as the symbols of American might, a seat of our economic activity and the seat of our military capabilities (the Pentagon). It is hard to believe, gentle readers, that it has been 20 years since that awful act of terror struck our homeland. I was a young 21-year-old college student at the time. I had an 8 am. class that morning and got the news walking down the hallway on my way to class. Everyone was bunched around office doorways and crammed into professors’ offices (we didn’t have cellphones that showed the news yet). As I watched those horrifying images, I remember the first thing that came to my mind was, “The world is about to change and not for the better.” Twenty years removed from those troubling times, I wonder if my prediction was true. Has the world changed for the worse? For a fleeting collection of moments, we Americans truly came together and proved that in times of crisis we can stand united and strong against all foes and against all tragedy. Then things did change. Conspiracy theories (old hat now) began to pop up in dark corners of the internet, blaming 9/11 on everything from the CIA to the Clintons to the Bushs’ oil ties with Saudi Arabia, to bridge clubs in Iowa. A commission was formed. Troops were sent. War was declared on Al Qaeda. The war machine began to roll. The point of the attack in my mind was not to destroy the USA with an act of war. Al Qaeda and ISIS could never accomplish such a thing with a full frontal assault. No country could. One of the double-edged parts of the 2nd Amendment is that everybody has a gun, so even our civilians are make-shift militias. The point was to plant a seed of doubt and distrust in our institutions, our intelligence communities, our leaders, our media, our government, our system as a whole. A seed that has been
allowed to take root and flourish over the past twenty years. We lost almost 3,000 civilian and first responder lives that day. Over the years sickness caused by the dust and debris has taken countless others. We entered into a war that seemed to have no direction, no mission, and no way out. We spent 2.5 trillion dollars and almost 3,000 more lives of our young men and women in the armed forces, not to mention the thousands of others who returned home with pieces of themselves missing both physically and mentally. It has been a long and winding road of improvised explosive devices, strategic air strikes, endless tours of duty for our military and their families, Patriot Acts, surges, withdrawals, nation building, and so on for the American people as a whole. I can’t help but feel that we lost something more on that day as well. We lost faith in the concept of our country. We were scared into believing that foreign terrorists needed to be sought out and destroyed both overseas and within our own borders. We were sent out to spy on our neighbors and distrust those who looked differently, prayed differently, dressed differently, and spoke differently with campaigns such as “See something - Say something.” With the emergence of social media becoming more deeply ingrained in our social construct, divisions, doubts, cracks, distrust, and the 24-hour news cycle began to broaden as well. Now, nothing can be stated as undeniable fact anymore. There is no truth anymore. We have lost that ability to look at the people WE elected to represent us and say, “I trust her or him to do the right thing for the majority of our nation.” We have become a country of “us” vs. the ambiguous “them.” Everything must have an overarching and darker purpose behind it. Rational thought and examination of evidence takes too much time! We have been molded into believing that whatever our guts (which make immediate fight or flight decisions) feel must be the truth. That means that only those
Des Arc Council discusses projects By Lisa Mills
with guts that agree with my gut are to be trusted. Everyone else is the enemy! We have retreated to our respective corners and vowed not to come out until only those with guts like ours become victorious on the great political battlefield of “us” vs. “them.” I don’t remember things being this way 20 years ago. I’m not saying things were perfect. We had divisions. The endless amounts of anonymous opinions were already taking shape in the dark corners of the web. But now the whole thing seems dark and divisive. Back in 2001 after the attacks, there was a saying. “If we change who we are, the terrorists win. Don’t let the terrorists win.” I know there are a lot of different definitions we can use when it comes to “Who we are,” but I like to think the American spirit at heart is a sense of unitedness. If we divide ourselves into little fiefdoms and wall ourselves off from our neighboring states, counties, towns, neighborhoods, households, and ultimately bedrooms, we have let the terrorists win. We have allowed that seed of doubt to sprout into an “Audrey II” of hate and fear that always needs to be fed. The world has changed, and not all for the better. The good thing is that change doesn’t have to be permanent. We can choose to be more trusting. We can choose to look at our neighbors as people with good intentions even if they don’t have the same views as we do. We can choose to be united in our diverse society of one person one vote. We have the power. Let’s choose to make the commitment to that social contract again. Our neighbors are not our enemies. They are our brothers and sisters and gender-fluid persons in arms against the ever-overflowing tide of doubt and mistrust we find ourselves in. Don’t let the terrorists win. We have to find a way to trust ourselves again. To comment, you can reach me at thatbradowguy@gmail.com
Find news from Hazen, Carlisle, and Des Arc in the
Grand Prairie Herald! Call our office at 870-255-4538
At the September 21 Des Arc City Council meeting, several future projects were discussed. Doug Granger, Gas Department Supervisor, spoke to the council regarding the Gas and Wastewater project. The council agreed to use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and have an ordinance prepared for the October meeting. Mayor Garth reported that City Attorney Ginger Stuart is looking over the contract submitted by Scenic Hill Solar to install a solar panel system for the city buildings. Stuart stated that the contract seems standard, but she does have a few questions for the company before the council accepts it. Mayor Garth stated that there have been some complaints about parking on 3rd Street. He asked that the Street Committee look into the problem and report back at the October meeting. A motion was approved to give Police Chief Dewayne Mayher a $1.50 per hour raise effective next pay period. A motion was approved to transfer $$35,000 from the Pay Account to the Gas Account. A motion was approved to look into removing the city’s old building at
Doug Granger addresses the council. the ball park to allow the Ball Association to add additional parking. Allison Cox, the high school EAST Program teacher, addressed the council to explain the new program. She stated that the class is interested in working with the council on various projects. Mayor Garth invited the class to attend council meetings and work meetings to let students see what projects need to be addressed that they might to be able to help with. Ray McVay submitted a written report to the council from Senior Citizen Center Director Leona Travis. The center has a new handwashing sink, convection oven, warming unit, mixer, pots and pans, meat slicer and other kitchen items.
The center is now open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The center is offering various activities and a hot meal. They hope to be open more often soon. Gail King submitted written reports from the Grant Committee, Sanitation Committee and Gas Committee. She also reported that several teams have signed up to work in October on the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Program. If anyone wishes to sign up, registration forms are available at City Hall. Present for the meeting were Mayor Jim Garth, Recorder/Treasurer Chrisanna Knupp and council members Jodie Mayher, Gail King, Anna Beth Fisher, Gary Burnett, Ray McVay and Nicole Fisher.
Hazen Schools___________________________ (Continued from p. 1) Board Member Vicki Skarda said, “I’m here for the health and safety of the children and teachers. Some things said on social media (about the mask mandate) have been upsetting.” “There is no way to know who voted (on the survey),” Sickel said. But he added, “I think first and foremost it’s the parents’ choice (to mask).” The board decided to look at the issue again in the October 18th meeting. In other business, the board passed a resolution to allow the district to conduct business transactions with vendors who may be directly tied to school employees. The board also approved the purchase of six camera systems for school buses from KLC Video Security for $17,316 using Title V (safety) funds. The board also approved the 2021-2022 operating budget and the 2021-2022 ACSIP plan and budget. The district expects to have $5,090,544 in total revenues. Last year’s actual revenues were $5,328,065, with $1,173,337.50 left in the operating fund on June 30, 2021. The ACSIP budget is funded by the federal government and includes costs for the
Alternative Learning E n v i r o n m e n t , P r o f e s s i o n a l Development, and spending in the Title I-V accounts. The board voted to increase security pay for ball games to $45 per night and increased gate worker pay to $30 per night. The district will also pay mentors $300 to mentor young teachers. If there are two mentors for a single teacher, then the pay will be split between the two. The district will enter into a tuition agreement with Easter Seals , paying $10,500 for one student out of Special Education funds. Furniture will be purchased for the elementary library and creative learning lab from K-Log with American Relief Plan (ARP) funds for $14,967.43, and $4,144.24 will be transferred from the operating fund to the building fund in order to be in compliance with the state’s legal balance requirement. Seventy laptops will be purchased from White River Services & Solutions using ARP funds, and 80 air purifiers will be purchased for classrooms and offices from Heza LLC from ARP funds for a
total of $36,128.91. Booth hopes that the air filters will help prevent COVID from spreading. Glover announced that the elementary school has received the outdoor music equipment, but the outdoor P.E. equipment has yet to arrive. She said that the new tardy policy is working. Price told the board that the new chromebooks and cases to be handed out to juniors and seniors are in. He said that the new camera system is a “tremendous upgrade” over the former system. He also said that the warning bell now being used has caused a drop in his students’ number of tardies. Most of the high school’s furniture has been received. The board accepted the resignations of Paraprofessionals Lisa Chambers and Julie Thompson. They then went into executive session from 6:36 p.m. until 6:55 p.m. When they returned Board Members approved a recommendation to pay a staff member $25 per school day to care for a student with needs between 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. With no other business, the meeting was adjourned.
Page 4 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, September 29, 2021
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1111 Hwy. 70 West 7. CAC @ Mills
Hazen, AR
Westbrook Funeral Home
Go Hornets!!! Go, Fight, Win!!! 115 North Livermore Street Hazen, AR 72064 870-255-3221
1. The contest is open to anyone except employees of the Herald Publishing Company and their immediate families. YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OF AGE TO ENTER. 2. Contest entries must be turned in to the Herald office, 111 Highway 70 East in Hazen,The deadline will be Friday at noon. Entries may be mailed to “Armchair Quarterback, P.O. Box 370, Hazen, AR 72064.” Or you may email your answers to heraldpublishing@gmail.com before 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. 3. To enter, clip out the entry blank and pick the team you think will win from the games listed in each ad. Write the name of the team in the appropriate blank. If you think the game will end in a tie, write “tie” in the blank. For the 20th game, pick a winner and predict a total number of points scored in the game. Total point predictions will be used as a tie-breaker if two or more entries correctly guess the same number of winners. The entry with the most correct game winner predictions wins the $25 cash prize. If a tie still exists after the total point predictions are judged, the prize money will be divided. 4. Each entry must be filled out completely and legibly to be eligible. 5. Contestants who win will not be eligible for the following week’s contest. 6. Only the person whose name appears on the winning entry may claim the prize unless other arrangements have been made and agreed to by the Herald Publishing Company. 7. All entries become the property of the Herald Publishing Company and will not be returned. 8. The name of the winner of each week’s contest will be announced in the following week’s edition of The Grand Prairie Herald. 9. All decisions of the judges will be final. 10. Only two entries per household will be judged. 11. Occasionally, game schedules are changed after the contest games have been selected. If this week’s line-up does not correspond to the games being played, the game or games in question will be voided and the contest will be judged on the basis of the remaining games.
8. Conway @ North Little Rock
Reel Country Liquor 107 Hwy. 70 West Hazen, AR 72064
870-255-3374
9. Danville @ Booneville
Phone (870) 255-2255 and
Farmers Express Phone (870) 255-4815
10. East Poinsett County @ McCrory
SUPPORT THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES 11. Forrest City @ Valley View
14. Glen Rose @ Genoa Central
Supporting the teams and communities of the Grand Prairie each and every day!
101 Park Street, Carlisle, AR
15. Carlisle @ Fordyce
GRAND PRAIRIE VETERINARY SERVICE Charles J. Dulany, DVM
Clinic 870.255.0022 - Emergency 870.552.5026 319 West Madison Avenue - Hazen, AR 72064
ProHeart 6 Heartworm Injections The protection lasts for 6 months! 8a.m. - 5p.m. Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri. Closed on Wednesdays - Closed daily for lunch.
16. Greenbrier @ Morrilton
Chillers Liquor Store 1507 Highway 70 East Hazen, AR 72064 870-255-3651 Beer * Wine * Spirits 17. Hamburg @ Monticello
Billy’s Body Shop and Wrecker Service Hwy. 70 West - Hazen, AR Phone 255-4432 or Nights 255-3983 For All Your Trucking Needs Call the Local Service with the Experience You Need to Get the Job Done Right!
18. Harrisburg @ Walnut Ridge
PARTS WORLD OF HAZEN 106 E. Front St. P.O. Box 690, Hazen, AR 72064
Jimmy & Ginger Shelman OWNERS Phone: 870-255-3737 Fax: 870-255-3793, Home: 870-255-3449
19. LR Catholic @ Bryant
ARMCHAIR Contest Entry Form
QUARTERBACK 1. ________________
12. _______________
2. ________________
13. _______________
3. ________________
14. _______________
4. ________________
15. _______________
5. ________________
16. _______________
6. ________________
17. _______________
7. ________________
18. _______________
8. ________________
19. _______________
9. ________________
20. _______________
10. _______________
21. _______________
11. _______________
Total Points ________
THE PRAIRIE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY Proudly supports all the football teams of The Grand Prairie!!! 20. Riverview @ Newport
The Grand Prairie Herald COVERING ARKANSAS’ GRAND PRAIRIE Phone: 870-255-4538 P.O. Box 370 Hazen, AR 72064 E-mail us at
ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACK FOOTBALL CONTEST P.O. Box 370•111 Hwy 70 E•Hazen, AR 72064 Name: ________________________________________ Address: _____________________ Phone: __________ City: ___________________ State & Zip: __________
heraldpublishing@gmail.com Visit us at www.herald-publishing.com 21. Warren @ Star City
Page 5 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Hazen School District is taking applications for the following positions: Part-time LPN, Maintenance worker, and School Bus Drivers. Applicants must be able to pass a background check, a Child Maltreatment check, and drug screening. Applications are on the School website: www.hazen.k12.ar.us. Send resume and application to the District office address below. Bus driver applicants must have a CDL. Hazen School District 307 N. Hazen Ave. Hazen, AR 72064
Come see Charlie Gerren at
Gwatney GMC Buick
in Sherwood by Sam’s. Contact 501-681-9121 or the office at 501-945-4444. We sell New and Used vehicles.
Call for Bids PRAIRIE COUNTY IS ACCEPTING SEALED BIDS FOR THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES: 1987 - TWIN SCREW MACK ( 1 BAD CYLINDER), 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP, 1996 DODGE RAM PICKUP (BAD TRANSMISSION), 1996 CHEVROLET PICKUP (BAD TRANSMISSION), AND 1990 DODGE RAM PICKUP. SEALED BIDS MUST BE TURNED IN TO THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE ANNEX OFFICE BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021, AT 605 HWY 38E, DES ARC, AR 72040 PRAIRIE COUNTY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS.
CALL FOR BIDS
Adam Bowman, MP 6142 Repair - Remodel New Construction Dependable Service Free Estimates Family Owned and Operated Call: (870) 256-5230
Bright yellow 2008 corvette convertible, 48,000 miles. The car can be seen at the jail in Des Arc.
A minimum bid will be required. Send bids to: Prairie County Sheriff’s Department 200 Courthouse Square, Suite 101, Des Arc, AR 72040.
Free Ads for Free Stuff If you’re giving it away, we’ll give you an ad for
free Call 2554538
call 870-830-2410.
Junk/Antique Yard Sale Yard Sale October 1st and 2nd, 6 miles down Hwy. 249 North. Furniture, Browning left-hand cross bow, fishing tackle. camo, tools, deer feeder, old/trunk, 2 butane tanks, oxygen bottle, 3
Serving the Entire Grand Prairie
knuppinc@hotmail.com
For Sale For sale 100 gallon Butane Tank. Please
Bowman Plumbing
Heating, Air Conditioning, Electrical Keith Knupp 501.516.8285
The future of Hazen's recycling program is uncertain at this time due to the lack of help needed to run it. Central Arkansas Planning and Development is the facilitator of the program and they are currently accepting applications for parttime employment. They hope to reopen the program as soon as the positions are filled! If anyone is interested in applying for the positions, they need to contact CAPDD in Lonoke, Arkansas at 501-676-2721 and ask for LeAnn. The city of Hazen is sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.
wheeler tires, kerosene lamps, flags, picture frames, paintings, toys, kitchen items, bedding, hundreds of books, movies, collectibles, clothes, shoes odds and ends and free items.
Page 6 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Annual Prairie County Fair provides fun for everyone The Prairie County Fair was in full swing last week with exhibits, contests, and a demolition derby held on its last day. Here are some pictures of the activities that went on at the exhibit building last week. A lot of work goes into putting the fair together, and lots of locals get involved to make it successful.
Southeast AR Fair Queen...
Abby Richardson was crowned Miss Southeast Arkansas District Fair Queen. She is 19 and is the daughter of Tammy Gaddy and John Richardson. Abby is a 2020 Hazen High School graduate, and she is a Registered Dental Assistant. As Miss Southeast Arkansas, Abby reigns over Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lonoke, Ouachita, Prairie, and Pulaski Counties.
Chambers Nursing and Rehab Center * Private Rooms with Baths * 24 Hour Nursing Service * Rehab-Therapy
* On-Site Beauty Salon * Daily Activity Program * Church Service Regularly
Medicaid - Medicare - VA - Private Pay
(870) 552-7150 “Since 1945”
Hwy 70 - Carlisle, Arkansas “We offer extremely reasonable and affordable private pay rates”
Bobby Glover, President & CEO