February 22, 2017

75¢

See Page 6 Volume 117 Number 8 - USPS 225-680

Community Events Calendar Thursday February 23 Commodities at Hazen First Methodist Church 10:30am-12:30 pm MG. Workshop, Rose Pruning Lonoke Extension Office 9:00 a.m.

Friday February 24 Hazen Methodist Men’s Annual Shrimp Supper Hazen Methodist Church 4:30 p.m.- 7:30p.m.

Friday February 24 AA Meeting DeValls Bluff City Hall 7:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Monday February 27 Red Cross Blood Drive Methodist Church Fellowship Hall 2:00pm-7:00pm Monday February 27 Hazen School Board Meeting Hazen High School Library 6:00pm- 7pm Thursday March 2 GFWC Meeting Murry’s Restaurant 6:00pm- 7:00pm Monday March 6 Biscoe City Council Meeting 7:00 pm- 8:00pm Biscoe City Hall Thursday March 9 DeValls Bluff City Council Meeting 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm DVB City Hall Sunday March 12 Daylight Savings Time Begins Monday March 20 First Day of Spring

Community events brought to you by Hazen Chamber of Commerce and the

Please call F&M Bank, 255-3042 to list events.

Hazen/DeValls Bluff, Prairie County, Arkansas

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Hazen HIPPY cooks up green eggs and ham The Hazen HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) had their February Group Meeting at the Hazen Community Center on Monday, February 13, 2017, at 3:30 in the afternoon.

Jennie Gates and Linda Strohl welcomed the families to the group meeting as they came in. Each child received a building The Cat in the Hat activity.

Linda Strohl welcomed the families and went over the agenda for the meeting. One of the parent handouts was “10 Reasons Why You Should Read to Your Kids.” We all know reading to our kids is a good thing—but are you familiar with the specific advantages your toddler or preschool-age child can receive by being

exposed to the merits of reading? Below are some benefits the highlights the importance of reading to your child between the ages of two and five: (1) A stronger relationship with you, (2) Academic excellence, (3) Basic speech skills, (4) The basic of how to read a book, (5) Better communication skills, (6) Mastery of language, (7) More logical thinking skills, (8) Acclimation to new experiences, (9) Enhanced concentration and discipline, and (10) The knowledge that reading is fun.

The first children activity was story time. The story “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss was read by Jennie Gates.

Then the group made green eggs, with real eggs and green food coloring.

Can you believe the chil-

dren ate greens eggs?!!!

Then it was door prize time.

The door prizes were, “Green Eggs and Ham” story book by Dr. Seuss.

In Dominique’s class Jacob Swink won, and in Linda’s class Vincent King won. Every child received a goody

bag as they were leaving.

The children who attended the group meeting were: Christina Duncan, William Hickman, Kyle Ladner, Vincent King, Jacob Swink, Cathryn Thomas, and Hayden WhitcombCarrell.

The HIPPY staff would like to thank the City of Hazen for letting us use the Hazen Community Center and to Mr. Kirk King for helping cook the green eggs.

The next group meeting will be on April 10.

PC Quorum Court Red Cross Blood Drive discusses repairs, to be held February 27 radio purchases The Prairie County Quorum Court approved three ordinances, discussed the purchase of new radios for the county, and heard departmental reports at its meeting held on Tuesday, February 14. Justices present at the meeting were Matt Sterling, Bobby Willeford, Ronnie Eans, Mary Sue Roe, Lawrence Holloway, Doyle Sullins, and Tandy King.

Judge Skarda reported that he and the director of the Office of Emergency Management, Sandra Patterson, met with a representative from Motorola to discuss replacing the county’s radios. According to Skarda, the Cross Roads area does not receive radio signals.

Skarda told the justices that he will be receiving information on the cost of replacing the county’s radios sometime next week.

Patterson will look into the possibility of writing a grant to cover the cost of the radios. The City of Hazen has agreed to pay for one of the repeaters that will be needed. The plan to upgrade the radios was approved.

The quorum court members discussed the electrical and plumbing ugrades at the new Des Arc library. Skarda told the group that Daniel Hayley has offered his plumbing services at no cost to the county.

Skarda also reported that the bid on the electrical work to be done on the Des Arc library was due February 16th. He said the work

will continue on March 1.

The repair work on the clock on the Des Arc courthouse has been scheduled according to Skarda. He stated that the last time the clock was repaired was in 2008.

An ordinance presented

by Judge Mike Skarda regarding the lease of equipment was passed unanimously by the court.

In other business, Prairie County Clerk Gaylon Hale asked the court to increase the salaries of Janell Taylor and Mary Hopson from base pay that they areceiving since they are now serving as the chief deputy clerks for northern and southern Prairie County repectively.

Justice Holloway made a motion to approve the request and Justice Sullins seconded the motion which passed.

During departmental reports, Sheriff Rick Hickman gave a list of recent arrests made by the sheriff’s department.

He also told the justices about the recent improvements made to the jail property.

Tamara Dabney, Prairie County Treasurer, told the court that the new computer system being used by her office is working well. She also handed out a copy of the county’s financial statement to those present.

Skarda reported that the county road crew had accumulated 82 hours this pay period.

Tne next qurom court meeting will be held Tuesday, March 14.

Prairie Piecemakers meeting on March 4 Quilting is an art, and for some, that art is being lost. But the Prairie Piecemakers Extension Homemakers Club is making an effort pass along the art of quilting, and sewing, to a new generation by offering a series of quilting classes to youth ages 9-19. The next class will be held Saturday, March 4 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Prairie County Fairgrounds in Hazen.

Participating youth will have the opportunity to make a pillow, wall hang-

ing, or small quilt.

Materials will be provided; they will just need to bring a sack lunch. To register for this free class, please call the Prairie County Extension Office at 870-998-2614 or email smwilson@uaex.edu. This program is open to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.

The American Red Cross will make their regular visit to the Hazen United Methodist Church, 295 North Avenue on Monday, February 27th for the community Blood Drive.

The time will be from 2 pm to 6 pm. It is an opportunity for you to give the gift of life, whether it is a transfusion for a cancer patient, someone facing surgery or the victim of an accident.

It is important to remember there is always a need.

To be a donor, you must be at least 16 years or older, weight at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Also, those who

are 16 years of age must have signed parental consent form. forms will be available at the Hazen United Methodist Church. If you are taking antibiotics for an infection you are exempt. Most other medications are acceptable if they are taken to control a problem. Person’s who have been cancer free for five years will be accepted. A donor card or photo ID are required. Donating blood is quick, easy and may help as many as four patients.

Blood is especially needed this time of year.

Please mark your calendar on Monday, February, 27th for an opportunity to

make a difference for those in need.

The need is constant; the gratification is instant - give blood.

You can schedule an appointment by going to www.redcrossblood.or g and enter sponsor code: FUMCHazen.

Literacy councils need volunteers The Prairie Arkansas Literacy Council (PAL) along with the Literacy Council of Lonoke County have expanded its services, and they need your help to extend the adult and family literacy programs to our local communities.

PAL is looking for enthusiastic tutors and volunteers to provide adult literacy up to an

8th grade level, ESL (English as a Second Language), and family literacy. Volunteers and tutors are needed in all four literacy council locations: Hazen, Des Arc, Lonoke, Cabot, and Stuttgart.

Volunteer duties include helping in our offices and bookstores, volunteering for events, fundraising, and tutoring.

The organization needs volunteers to help at regular times, but it also needs volunteers who are willing to give random amounts of time as well.

All trainings and materials are free and provided by the Literacy Council. For more information, call Cari at 870255-2500, or email info@pal.literacy.org.

5-D Day Weather Forecast For Hazen, AR Wednesday Thursday

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Page 2 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Just a Pinch Recipes

Obituaries Becky A. Beck Becky A. Beck, 88, of Stuttgart died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, at her home.

She was born July 28, 1928, in Brinkley, Ark., to Edward and Flora Smith Moody. She married Donald Beck in 1952 and they farmed in Prairie County until their retirement in 1981. Mrs. Beck enjoyed farm life and was a member of Southside Baptist Church.

She was a past president of the Stuttgart Hospital Auxiliary and was a member for many years.

Besides her parents, Becky was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Beck of Stuttgart; two brothers, James Moody of Idaho, and Joe Moody of Searcy; five sisters, Connie Flickenger of Stuttgart, Alice Keopke of San Antonio, Texas, Jean Harney of Dallas, Texas, Virginia Merrell of Monticello, Ark., and Flosie Duluce of Heber Springs, Ark.; and one grandson, Don Kile Beck of Dallas, Texas.

Mrs. Beck is survived by her daughter, Kathy McNay (Mike) of Stuttgart; one brother, Don Moody (Chris) of California; her granddaughter, Terri McKee (Stanley) of Stuttgart; her grandson, Kevin McNay (Allison) of Little Rock; and three great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Nathan McKee of Stuttgart and Berkley McNay of Stuttgart.

Funeral services are 2 p.m. Monday at Turpin Funeral Home chapel with visitation one hour before the service. Burial will follow in Lone Tree Cemetery.

Member 2017

Arkansas Press Association National Newspaper Association

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

Allyn Wilson Allyn Dale Wilson, 52 of De Valls Bluff, died February 12, 2017.

A l l y n was a former truck driver.

He is survived by his daughter, Crystal Whiteside of De Valls Bluff; son, Joey Tenorio of Stuttgart; grandchildren, Alexis and Brandy Wilson, Seath Whiteside, Christopher, Stayden, Christian, Brayden and Austin; great-grandson, Gabriel Franks, and stepdaughter, Donna Hughes.

Allyn was preceded in death by his grandson, Zachary Whiteside.

A graveside service was held Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. in the Flynn Cemetery near Humphrey.

Quote of the Week:

“I don’t want to earn my living; I want to live.”

-Oscar Wilde

Mardi Gras Ready Recipes Big Easy Crawfish Etoufee

by Leah Stacy Take a trip to the Big Easy with just one bite of this lovely dish! I recently made this in my cooking class that I host and everyone loved it! You can buy crawfish tails frozen in most seafood freezer sections. I actually bought mine at Walmart. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup (1stick) unsalted butter 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup peanut oil 4 large onions, finely chopped 4 celery ribs, finely chopped 1 large green pepper, finely chopped 4 Tbsp chopped fresh garlic 2 bay leaves 6 fresh thyme sprigs or 1/2 tsp dried 3 Tbsp worcestershire sauce 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 4 cup chicken stock 3 lb crawfish tails, drained and juice reserved

2 cup heavy whipping cream, salt and black pepper to taste, a couple of dashes of tabasco white rice, cooked 6 green onions, chopped DIRECTIONS 1.)Make a roux by combining the butter, flour, and oil in a heavy pan and cooking over low heat until a dark caramel color, about 15-18 minutes.

2.)Add all the vegetables except the green onions and cook until soft, 5 to 7 minutes.

3.)Add the bay leaves, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper. Slowly pour in the stock, whisking to incorporate it into the roux.

4.)Add the reserved crawfish juice and cook over low heat for about 1 hour,or until no flour taste remains.

5.)Add the crawfish tails and the cream. Mix well.

Season to taste with the salt and pepper and dashes of tobasco cook for 5 minutes more and serve over steamed white rice. ( I like the Calrose rice the

EMS Corner - “Bacterial Meningitis”

By Pam Padget Bacterial meningitis, a central nervous system (CNS) infection, can be difficult to determine.

Meningitis is inflammation of the fluid filled spaces in the brain. Its occurrence is fairly rare and the patient usually survives but recovery will depend on how quickly it is discovered and treated.

In a normal healthy person, the brain and other components of the CNS are protected for an outside attack by an organism. Some of the outside components are the skull, surrounding tissue and skin that prevents easy access to what is inside of the skull. The same is true for the spinal column that protects the spinal cord. Within the CNS there are also extremely tough membranes that cover nearly the entire surface of the CNS. These membranes are the “meninges” hence the name meningitis. I’ll not bore you with the names and functions, just be aware there are three of these membranes, each doing a different job of protecting the brain and spinal cord.

Despite these and other protective mechanisms, bacteria can still occur in the CNS, usually by a specific but unknown point of entry. There are three common ways that allow for bacteria to enter the CNS by way of the central spinal fluid (CSF), a clear thin liquid with a yellow tint, and, there it grows. The three common ways, are upper respiratory illness, bacteria in the blood stream, and

direct inoculation. Direct inoculation is usually related to trauma injury, surgical contamination, or an implanted device.

Upper respiratory infection is the most common means. Once the bacteria has entered the CSF it is able to grow at a high rate of reproduction, patients may present to EMS or the ER within a few hours following the onset of symptoms. At this point, the patient can deteriorate rapidly. If left untreated, death will occur due to sepsis, cardiovascular collapse, or brain herniation.

It is important to advise EMS or the ER that this was a very fast onset of the patient’s symptoms and any medical history of an infection prior to the current onset of symptoms.

A patient may start with a headache in the morning and become unconscious with a high fever in the afternoon. It is hopeful that before this point family or bystanders will have called EMS. It is very important to relate any patient history to EMS providers in order that treatment can start as soon as possible. Fever may be quite high and is present with bacterial meningitis. Patients may also have an altered mental status and stiff neck.

A stiff neck along with other signs and symptoms is almost always a positive sign of bacterial meningitis.

When a patient has a triad of signs or symptoms, “fever, stiff neck, and altered mental status, it is almost

always a sign of bacterial meningitis. Fever is present in 95 percent of these patients, stiff neck 88 percent, and altered mental status 80 percent, all these things add up to possible bacterial meningitis. The best things we can do for these patients is to recognize the disease early, call 911 for medical assistance, and have these patients to definitive care as soon as possible.

The greater the delay the worse the outcome.

Bacterial meningitis is very serious and can be deadly. Death can occur in as little as a few hours, by the same token, most patients recover. On an average there are 500 deaths in the U.S. each year. As with any disease, there are persons at risk and age related complications. Some persons can carry the disease without being sick. There are certain vaccinations that can treat bacterial meningitis. Check with your doctor, as all of these vaccinations do not cover every bacterial meningitis. If you suspect that a patient may have bacterial meningitis, it is important that you seek medical help as soon as possible.

Call the nearest EMS, treatment needs to be started quickly.

Remember, that babies, older adults, or patients with other medical conditions may not have the same symptoms. I lost a best friend to bacterial meningitis, so do not wait to call for help.

The Holy Temple Church invites you to come join us in our annual

Subscription Rates In Prairie County $17.50/year

Black History Month Program

~Keep the Dream Alive~

In Arkansas - $22.50/year

Crock Pot Po’ Boys

by Paula Collier

INGREDIENTS 3 lb beef roast 2 large onions, chunked 1 jar(s) pepperocini peppers with juice 2 pkg mushroom gravy packets 3 Tbsp italian seasoning 2 1/2 tsp black pepper 2 Tbspminced garlic DIRECTIONS 1.)At the beginning of the day, place roast in large crock pot with chunked onions, garlic, pepper and Italian seasoning and about 2 cups of water. Cook on medlow most of the day until the roast starts falling apart and will easily pull apart with a fork. Remove meat from crock pot, saving all the drippings.

Pour in the pepperocini juice from the jar, along with the gravy packets, mix well and let simmer.

Tear apart meat with forks (shredding) and put it into the pot as you are tearing apart the meat.

Discard all fatty parts.

2.)Once meat is in the juices (should thicken up with the gravy packets) let cook about another hour. Serve on harder long rolls...I prefer a french type, crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. The bread soaks up the gravy. It's especially good with some shredded motzarella or provelone on the sandwich...serve the pepperocinis on the side or in the sandwich.

3) For a little more flavor add the peppers (stems removed) during the cooking process. http://www.justapinch.co m/recipes/maincourse/beef/crockpot-poboys-or-italian-beef-sandwiches.html?p=5

Hazen School Menu

FEBRUARY 27- MARCH 3, 2017

Elementary students do not have the sandwich line option. **Menus are subject to change without notice** Hot Line

Sandwich Line

Monday Chicken Fajita Sandwich Pinto Beans Lettuce/Tomato/ Pickle Cinnamon Sticks Mixed Fruit Milk Tuesday Tuesday Popcorn Chicken Hot Dog Ranch Potato Sun Chips Great Northern Beans Lettuce/Tomato/ Texas Toast Salad Apple Wedges Hot Roll Diced Peaches Milk Milk Wednesday Wednesday Country Fried Steak Baked Potato Mashed Potatoes/ Toppers Gravy Tossed Salad Seasoned Carrots Hot Roll Diced Peaches Diced Peaches Milk Hot Roll Milk Thursday Hot & Spicy Thursday Chicken Chilli Potato Wedges Toasted Cheese Lettuce/Tomato/ Crackers Cauliflower/Broccoli/ Pickle Diced Pears Ranch Milk Diced Pears Milk Friday Friday Stromboli Bacon French Fries Cheeseburger French Fries Broccoli/Carrotts/ Lettuce/Tomato/ Ranch Pickle Oranges Mixed Fruit Milks Milk Monday Beefy Nachos Pinto Beans Lettuce/Tomato Salad/Ranch Cinnamon Sticks Mixed Fruit Milk

Breakfast Monday Pancakes Chicken Biscuit Cereal & Toast Fruit Juice Milk Tuesday Breakfast Pizza Cereal & Toast Fruit Juice Milk Wednesday Sausage-EggCheese Biscuit Cereal & Toast Fruit Juice Milk Thursday Sausage & Biscuit Cereal & Toast Fruit Juice Milk Friday Biscuit & Gravy Cereal & Toast Fruit Juice Milk

Sponsored by Herald Publishing Co., Inc.

Hazen Methodist Men’s Annual

Cajun Style Boiled Shrimp Supper Hazen First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall

Friday, February 24

Out of State - $27.50/year Periodicals Postage paid at Hazen, Arkansas 72064 POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Grand Prairie Herald P.O.Box 370 Hazen, Arkansas 72064 Editor Abbi Ross Advertising Rick & Trudy Johnson Publisher/Business ManagerRoxanne Woods Bradow

best) 6.)Garnish with chopped green onions. http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/maincourse/fish/crawfishetouffee.html?p=6

4:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.

February 26th, 2017 2:30 P.M. Holy Temple Church 407 N. Water Street Hazen, AR

Shrimp Plates $20.00 Chicken Strip Plates $8.00 Carryout & Drive-Thru Plates Will Be Available For Ticket Information Contact David Hardke at 870-255-3042 Tickets Will Be Available At The Door

Page 3 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Legal Notices Yesterday evening, Representatives Rick Crawford (AR-1) and Ann McLane Kuster (NH-2) introduced H.R. 1163, the Improving Access to Farm Conservation Act. The bill would improve access to voluntary farm conservation programs administered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides technical and financial assistance to farmers as a means of improving conservation practices on farms in all 50 states and territories.

Thousands of farmers and ranchers voluntarily participate in the wide range of conservation programs offered through NRCS; many of these programs offer a cost-share payment which helps producers with the cost of implementing conservation measures. However, small farmers registered as business entities are inadvertently forced to comply with an annual federal reporting regulation that is time consuming, difficult to navigate, and costly to comply.

“If we want more producers to engage in conservation efforts, we’ve

got to make sure that it makes financial sense for them to do so,” Congressman Crawford said. “While well-intentioned, we’ve learned that the DUNS/SAM reporting requirements pose an unnecessary burden on producers and made it much harder for farmers to participate in conservation programs. Our bill will remove these requirements so that our farmers can focus on implementing conservations strategies, instead of having to worry about complying with costly regulatory mandates.”

“New Hampshire’s identity is deeply rooted in our state’s beautiful open spaces and our rich tradition of agriculture,” said Congresswoman Kuster.

“If we can encourage farmers to protect their farm land in a way that keeps them competitive and in business, that’s a win-win for farmers and our state. It’s commonsense that small family farms shouldn’t be subjected to the same reporting regulations as large Federal contractors, and this legislation will cut red tape for New Hampshire farmers who want to access important voluntary conservation programs.”

While current law provides an exemption for assistance provided to “individuals,” most farmers and ranchers have organized themselves as some form of business entity for tax and liability purposes, and therefore are caught up in this regulation despite the relative modesty of their agricultural operations.

Many of these farmers employ only a handful of employees.

Many of NRCS’ programs offer a cost-share payment which helps farmers with the cost of implementing these conservation measures.

Programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) focus on planning and implementing conservation measures that improve soil, water and plant quality on agricultural land. EQIP can also help producers meet Federal, State and local environmental regulations.

Crawford’s Improving Access to Farm Conservation Act would cut administrative red tape and lift a burdensome regulation that acts as a barrier to entry for similar NRCS programs.

Legal Notices IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PRAIRIE COUNTY, ARKANSAS SOUTHERN DIST R I C T - P R O B AT E DIVISION IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DOLPHIE HAROLD RICKS, DECEASED NO.59S PR-17-5 Last known Address: Springbrook Health & Rehab 92 South Maple Street Hazen, AR 72064 Date of Death October 24, 2015 An instrument dated February 5, 2007 was on the 8th day of February,

People do read small ads

You Did! Call 255-4538

today

2017 admitted to probate as the last will of the above named decedent and the undersigned has been appointed Successor Executrix thereunder.

Contest of the probate of the will can be effected only by filing a petition with in the time provided by law.

All persons having claims against the estate must exhibit them, duly verified, to the undersigned within six (6) months from the 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 the 15th day of February, 2017.

LINDA PERRY S U C C E S S O R EXECUTRIX OF THE ESTATE OF DOLPHIE HAROLD RICKS, DECEASED JERRY KELLY KELLY LAW FIRM, P.A. Attorney for the Estate of Dolphie Harold Ricks, Deceased P.O. Box 390 Highway 70 East Carlisle, Arkansas 72024-0390 (870)552-7513 Arkansas Bar No. 84085

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PRAIRIE COUNTY, ARKANSAS CIVIL DIVISION N AT I O N S TA R MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A- PLAINTIFF VS. No. 59NCV-1656 SHIRLEY CUNNINGHAM; AND THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY CUNNINGHAMDEFENDANTS WARNING ORDER TO THE DEFENDANTS: SHIRLEY CUNNINGHAM and THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY CUNNINGHAM On December 1, 2016, a complaint was filed against you by NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A CHAMPION MORTGAGE COMPANY in the Circuit Court of Prairie County, Arkansas for the purpose of foreclosing on real property in the principal amount of $50,112.11, together with

accrued interest, attorney’s fees, cost and late charges, if any. The above-mentioned real property is described as follows: The land referred to herein is situated in the County of Prairie, State of Arkansas, and is described as follows: Four acres in the Northeast corner, bounded on the East by the property of G.H. Carmack and on the North by Hickory Plains Highway, of a piece of property described as follows: Southwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter in section eleven, in Township four North, Six West, containing four acres more or less.

The property is more commonly known 2459 Hwy 38 West, Des Arc, AR. 72040 You are hereby warned to appear and defend by filing an answer or other

responsive pleading with the 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 judgement 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 17th day of January, 2017 Prairie County Circuit Clerk By: Rhonda Cheshier Deputy Clerk Respectfully Submitted, M AC K I E W O L F ZIENTZ & MANN, P.C. 124 W, Capitol Avenue, Suite 1560 Little Rock, AR. 72201 (501) 218-8111 By Brien Saputo (2011255) Attorneys for Plaintiff

Page 4 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, February 22, 2017

State Capitol Week in Review From Senator Jonathan Dismang After a lengthy and impassioned debate, the Senate voted to refer to voters a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit attorneys’ fees in civil lawsuits and limit the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded.

The measure is Senate Joint Resolution 8. The Senate vote is a virtual guarantee that it will be one of the proposed constitutional amendments that the legislature will refer to voters this session. In each regular session the legislature may refer up to three, although it has sometimes referred fewer than three.

This year the Senate and the House each will select a proposed amendment, and SJR 8 will be the Senate’s choice. Both bodies will have to agree on a third proposal.

The proposed amendments will be on the general election ballot in November of 2018.

SJR 8 would limit contingency fees charged by attorneys in civil lawsuits to a third of the net recovery.

Punitive and non-economic damages would be limited to $250,000, or to three times the amount of compensatory damages awarded. The resolution defines non-economic

According to the National Coalition for Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.

In an effort to combat domestic violence in our state, we evaluate our laws throughout the year.

The Regular Session provides us an opportunity to strengthen our existing laws and add new protections.

This week, the House passed two significant measures concerning domestic violence.

HB1420 directs an additional court cost of twenty-five dollars to be assessed if an individual is convicted of domestic abuse or is the respondent on a permanent order of protection.

The money

damages as those that cannot be defined in money, including pain and suffering, mental and emotional stress, loss of life or companionship, visible result of injury and physical impairment.

The Senate also amended HB 1249, which would allow staff at state-supported colleges and universities to carry a concealed firearm if they have a permit. The amendment requires them to take an additional 16 hours of training.

Even if they are licensed to carry a firearm and have taken the required 16 hours of additional training, the amendment would not allow them to take a gun into a meeting at which their job performance, grievances or disciplinary matters were being discussed.

Also, they still could not take the weapon into a child care facility on the campus, nor could they carry their firearm into a dormitory.

Adding the amendment means that HB 1249 must be reconsidered by the House before it becomes law. The House Judiciary Committee would vote on the amended version of the bill, and if the committee advanced it the entire House would vote on the amended bill.

will be used to administer grants to domestic violence shelters.

Last year more than 11,000 Arkansans sought help in a domestic violence shelter. Arkansas has just 32 such shelters across the state.

The number of people seeking assistance in shelters is increasing, but funding is not.

HB1420 paves a way to provide that additional funding without a cost to taxpayers.

This bill places the cost on those committing the abuse.

The second piece of domestic violence legislation we passed this week was HB1534.

This bill allows a judge to issue an order directing a cell phone provider to transfer billing and rights of a cell phone number to

In other news the governor signed SB 125 to allow maternity leave of up to four weeks with pay for state employees. It is now Act 182.

The act will not cost the state money because the leave will come from time donated by fellow workers into a catastrophic leave bank. Employees may use their maternity leave within the first 12 weeks after the birth or adoption of their baby. They will not have to exhaust their annual leave or sick leave in order to qualify for maternity leave.

The Senate approved SB 123 to make permanent a pilot program that requires welfare recipients to take drug tests. In the pilot program, 3,040 recipients were asked if they used drugs, and based on their answers 17 of them were red-flagged.

Of those, 11 refused to take a drug test and lost their benefits for six months.

Another two tested positive and because they refused to go into drug counseling they also lost their benefits for six months. SB 123 was sent to the House, where it was referred to the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

the person seeking protection from domestic abuse.

This legislation aims to not only provide victims of abuse with access to contacts of family and friends but it also protects records on their location.

This legislation currently exist in 6 other states.

In the last Regular Session, we passed Act 873 which created Laura’s Card.

This requires law enforcement officer to provide a resource of information to assist victims and their families when they are called out on reports of suspected domestic abuse.

We will continue to update you on legislation passed through the remainder of the session.

Remember you can watch House proceedings at www.arkansashouse.org.

White River museum holds broom workshop A cobweb broom workshop was held Saturday, February 11 at Lower White River Museum State Park in Des Arc, Arkansas.

Guest instructor Chris Smith of Searcy taught nine workshop participants to make a traditional cobweb broom using twine to attach broomcorn to a wooden handle.

Lower White River Museum State Park is offering a loom knitting workshop Saturday,

March 4 at 10 a.m. This simple alternative to traditional knitting is perfect for those intimidated by knitting needles.

Discover the joy of making a homemade scarf on your own knitting loom in this hands-on workshop.

A yo-yo quilt workshop is also scheduled for Saturday, March 11 at 10 a.m. Celebrate National Quilting Month with this easy introduction to quilting. Use a yo-yo maker to

Crop insurance deadline Feb. 28 PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Feb. 28 is the deadline for Arkansas producers to make all crop decisions for spring crops.

Dr. Henry English, director of the Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, reminds growers that they have until Feb. 28 to apply for Whole Farm Revenue Protection and insurance coverage on corn, cotton, grain sorghum, peanuts, rice and soybeans.

Current policyholders have until then to make any make changes to their existing policies.

Arkansas tomato growers can also purchase crop insurance even though fresh market tomatoes are not a row crop.

Tomato growers must make similar decisions, but they have until March 15 to do so, said Dr. English.

Farmers must notify

their crop insurance agent in writing by Feb. 28 to cancel their crop insurance. If producers do nothing, their current level of insurance will roll over. Now is not the time to be canceling crop insurance, says Dr. English. With changing weather patterns, the opposite is true. Crop insurance provides protection against crop production losses due to natural disasters such as drought, excessive moisture and decreases in revenue.

A list of crop insurance agents is available at all U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Centers or on the Risk Management Agency website. Producers can also use RMA’s online Cost Estimator to obtain an estimate of their premium amount due.

sew fabric puffs perfect for quilting and other crafts.

For more information or to register, contact Monica Smith at: Phone (870) 256-3711 E - m a i l : monica.f.smith@arkansas. gov.

Lower White River Museum State Park is one of 52 state parks administered by the State Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

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Classified Ads

THE RATE FOR CLASSIFIED READER ADVERTISING IS $7 FOR 25 WORDS OR LESS, PLUS 10 CENTS PER WORD FOR EACH WORD OVER 25. THE RATE FOR CLASSIFIED DISPLAY ADS IS $5.50 PER COLUMN INCH (NON-COMMISSIONABLE) FOR AREA BUSINESSES. THE DEADLINE FOR CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING IS NOON ON MONDAY OF THE WEEK OF PUBLICATION. THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL $2 SERVICE CHARGE FOR ALL CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING NOT PAID IN ADVANCE.

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Unless vehicle is claimed within 45 days the owner and/or lien holder waives all rights, title, and interest in the vehicle and its contents and consents to the sale of the vehicle. Vehicle will then be sold for towing and storage fees.

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Page 6 - The Grand Prairie Herald - Wednesday, February 22, 2017

4-H H spends day at the Capitol Capitol was held two years ago, in 2015. Brian Helms, director of stakeholder relations for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the purpose of the event was twofold: both to expose members of 4-H to the Capitol and the mechanics of the legislative process, and also to familiarize legislators with the widespread importance and popularity of the 4-H program, which serves all 75 counties in Arkansas.

Lt. Gov Tim Griffin told the crowd that in his life he’s never seen a larger crowd in the rotunda and earned a big cheer from Columbia County contingent.

Griffin, referring to the Tufts study results included in the Senate resolution and pointing to his own green tie, said “the study shows that folks who wear green … in the long Angela Hoover, Prairie County Extention Agent Shea Wilson, and run. are better citizens.

Aleigha Smith at the conference on Thursday, February 16th.

More than 400 4-H members from throughout Arkansas arrived at the State Capitol Building Thursday morning to hear from Governor Asa Hutchinson and other elected officials before touring the grounds, meeting with some of their respective legislators and attending readings of the 4-H Day resolutions in the House and Senate.

Speaking to the hundreds of 4-H members who assembled a the Arkansas Association of Counties headquarters, State Auditor Andrea Lea

said the visit was an opportunity to get a taste of the legislative processes that affect their lives.

“You guys are the future — I know you hear that all the time,” Lea said.

“But you are. You’re the ones who will make policy in the future. But you can also make a difference right now, where you are, when you visit your legislators.”

After visiting with Lea, the 4-Hers took the short walk to the state Capitol building to visit with their elected officials and tour the grounds.

The first 4-H Day at the

They’re more involved in your community. You care what’s going on. The fact that you’re here right now is Exhibit A.” Referring to the 4-H pledge, State Senator Bruce Maloch told the crowd, “I challenge and encourage each of you to keep that clearer thinking. That greater loyalty and that larger service as 4-H prepares you to not only make a better living but make a better life.”

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, addressing the assembled 4-H members in the Capitol Rotunda, emphasized the importance of

the members’ future participation in government and the economy in Arkansas and beyond.

“Arkansas impacts the globe,” Hutchinson, an alumnus of the Benton County 4-H program, said. “We impact the world, and the global marketplace is importance to us. We sell our agriculture all over the world.

“Wherever you are, we’re going to impact the world,” he said. “We’re going to impact the globe, and you can do it from Arkansas.”

For more information on

4-H, contact your county extension office or visit www.uaex.edu.

Sara Beth Toll shown introducing Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

Between the Lines

by Brenda Blagg, Arkansas Press Assoc.

Arkansas FOI Coalition.

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. The law isn’t quite what it was when first enacted and signed by Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller in 1967, but it still stands as one of the best “sunshine” laws in the country. And it still opens most meetings and records of government to the people those governments serve here in Arkansas.

At least, it does for now.

As happens every two years, the law is under attack in the Legislature.

Fifty years since the FOI Act became law, perhaps too many people take it for granted.

Before the law, citizens weren’t guaranteed they could even observe a meeting of a city council or a school board or get access to records kept by any government, even though the governments exist to serve their citizens. Their accessibility changed with the current law’s passage in 1967.

Oh, there had been another, older law in place in Arkansas that purported to open up government, but it was toothless. It allowed governing boards to shut down citizen access at will.

Their meetings and records were declared to be open — unless they chose not to open them.

Generally, they chose not to open them.

That law, one of many ushered in nationwide after World War II, proved to be little better

than no law at all.

Arkansas and other states nevertheless owe a debt to the WWII veterans who came home from that war intent on having a say in their governments. After fighting and seeing friends die to defend their freedoms, they demanded a voice in state and local affairs.

They’re the ones who cracked open the doors of government, which had too often been conducted in secret. They pushed for what became known as “sunshine” laws, laws designed to let the public see the conduct of public business.

It took a while for some of these strong advocates to get into public office and in place to alter the laws to really open up government to the people being governed.

It happened in Arkansas in 1967. Three individuals, two of them Democratic legislators and the third the state’s Republican governor, get most of the political credit for passage of the law.

Gov. Rockefeller considered the law his most enduring legacy. His passion for open government arose from personal experience.

The first Republican elected to the governor’s office since Reconstruction had learned firsthand during his campaign how unwelcoming the Democratically controlled courthouses and city halls could be in Arkansas.

He and his supporters were reportedly refused access to public informa-

tion like voting records and other data. So he was well conditioned to support a stronger freedom of information law when it was presented to him.

The bill’s lead sponsors were Sen. Ben Allen, a Little Rock lawyer, and Rep. Leon Holsted, a North Little Rock druggist. They accomplished a near impossible feat.

After much negotiation and grandfathering in numerous exemptions to the law, they passed the bill without a single dissenting vote.

Both remained strong advocates for open government throughout their legislative service, as have many other lawmakers over the 50 years since.

Much of the impetus for the 1967 law’s passage came from journalists, led

by Robert McCord, then editor of the North Little Rock Times and president of the Arkansas chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, then known as Sigma Delta Chi. McCord is widely recognized as the “father” of the Arkansas FOI Act, although he always emphasized the role other journalists played, too.

Journalists not only were key advocates for the 1967 law but also helped draft the language of it.

To this day, journalists are vocal supporters. The Arkansas Press Association and the Arkansas FOI Coalition, made up largely of journalists, continue the advocacy.

They are engaged now in fighting

more proposed exemptions to the law in an era when such attempts to weaken it come frequently.

Also critical to the stability of the law has been the role of the courts, specifically the Arkansas Supreme Court. The law got a quick legal test soon after its passage.

McCord and a reporter for his newspaper sued after the North Little Rock mayor and city council members met privately with the city’s attorney. Then as now, the law did not exempt such meetings from the FOI law.

McCord prevailed. In a 1968 opinion, written by Associate Justice George Rose Smith, the court set the precedent that successor courts have followed ever since to uphold the law.

“It is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner,” wrote Smith. “We have no hesitation in asserting our conviction that the Freedom of information Act was passed wholly in the public interest and is to be liberally interpreted to the end that its praiseworthy purposes may be achieved.”

Well said. May that belief — and the Arkansas FOI Act — endure.

Brenda Blagg is a freelance columnist.

She is a founding member of the Arkansas FOI Coalition. E-mail comments or questions to brendajblagg@gmail.com.

The HHS Art Club hosted a movie night at the Hazen First United Methodist Church on Friday, February 17.

The students, with help from sponsor Terri Rollins and parent, Barbara Hoover, created homemade pizzas and origami cranes before watching a movie.

Twenty-nine students attended the non-denominational event. The group plans to hold a movie night once a month.

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