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Carlisle celebrates 2023 Homecoming. See page 6.)
Volume 122 Number 43 - USPS 225-680
Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Community Calendar of Events Hazen Senior Center opens daily from 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Lunch is served from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Thursday October 26 Hazen City Council meeting 6:00 p.m. City Hall
The Carlisle High School Crowning Ceremony was held in the Bison Gymnasium on Friday, October 20. The 2023 court was Kirstin Moran and Gavin Richter, Lexi Eaton and Drake Burks, Hayden Parker and Preston Parker, Avery Terry and Holden Jones, Hailey Sullivan and Dylan White, Maggie Crotty and Jackson Cunningham,Taylor Lenderman and Kayleb Elliott, Maid of Honor Laken golden and Co-Captain Devin Cooney, Attendants Isla Spence and Thatcher Wilson, and Queen Emma Kate Clark and Captain Luke Petrus. Ashley and Lucy Golleher provided the entertainment. The homecoming parade followed the coronation ceremony. For more pictures of the 2023 Homecoming Weekend, see page 6 of this edition.
PC Quorum Court continues budget discussion
Food Distribution Hazen Methodist Church 10:00 p.m.-noon Friday October 27 Hazen Hornets tailgate 5:00 6:30 p.m. Hazen Hornets vs Bearden 7:00 p.m. Hornet Field Carlisle Bison vs England Lions 7:00 p.m. Fred Hardke Field Des Arc Eagles @ East Poinsett Co. 7:00 p.m. Saturday October 28 Grand Prairie Rice Festival begins 10:00 a.m. Tuesday October 31 Hazen’s Trunk or Treat Front Street 5:00-7:00 p.m. Community events are brought to you by the Hazen Chamber of Commerce and the
Please call F&M Bank (255-3042) or The Grand Prairie Herald (255-4538) to list events.
The Prairie County Quorum Court met on October 10 with all justices present. The majority of the meeting was spent on questions from Justice Rick Stallings about plans to reduce the county’s budget. As of the end of September, the county was still running a deficit of approximately $600,000. There were no committee reports, but Judge Lawrence Holloway announced that the county-wide burn ban had been lifted. In new business, Stallings introduced an ordinance to ensure that the bond forfeiture funds designated solely for the Sheriff’s Department would not be moved to or spent by any other county fund. The ordinance passed, and a copy of it is in this week’s Herald. Other questions asked by Stallings included the Tribal Assistance Fund
given to the county to support indigenous people which amounts to $50,000 a year and has not been spent. Stallings questioned counting that money as revenue. He mentioned the First Net phone service that is available primarily for first responders. Sheriff Rick Parsons told the court that when disasters occur and phone lines are down, First Net gets the county’s emergency phone service up and running within an hour. Some of his department’s equipment had not been hooked up because it couldn’t be found, but the line for the jail dispatch will be reinstated. Justice Paul Hooks asked if money had been appropriated to pay the Brightspeed phone bill. This phone bill was dropped by the company recently. He also asked if someone from the janitorial staff had been
released to reduce the janitorial cost by $5000. Judge Lawrence Holloway said that the same janitor is doing the work, but that the janitor had asked to be paid less to protect his Medicare retirement payments. Stallings also asked if the county departments are working on their 2024 budgets. He wanted to know if the county offices use the ARBuy procurement program. County Clerk Gaylon Hale said that the country always looks for the cheapest cost when buying supplies. He also asked if the insurance for new employees begins immediately or if there is a waiting period. He wanted to know if the county publishes the ordinances every five years as required by law. County Attorney Abram Skarda said that he will check into when the ordi-
nances were last published. Stallings asked if the county has applied for a grant for opioid assistance or any other programs to reduce county costs. Sheriff Parsons said that he has looked into starting an antiopiod program and that his department has received Narcan from such a program. Justice Gary King asked that Road Department Manager Chuck Hill come to the quorum court meeting every month. He also said that he had heard complaints about the assessor’s office. The assessor’s position was recently filled by Karan Skarda. Justice Hooks questioned the courthouse maintenance costs. He wanted to know if the judge knew what the final costs would be. Holloway said that the
architects keep up with what is spent and will not allow the county to overspend what has been budgeted. Hale added that the county should be receiving the grant money for the repairs very soon. In the public comments portion of the meeting, it was asked if employees who were overpaid during previous months were paying back that money. According to Hale, they are. A citizen was concerned about whether or not the court was planning to partner with AEDD, a special needs training center that covers Prairie County. AEDD had given a presentation announcing an expansion in its programs. The Building Bridges school in Lonoke is presently providing services for Prairie County residents. No partnering with AEDD is planned.
Des Arc Council discusses city gas and water By Lisa Mills The Des Arc City Council met on October 17th with Mayor Roger Scott, Treasurer/Recorder Janice Huffstickler and Council Members Doug Estes, Keith Knupp, Judy Burnett, Nicole Fisher, and Gail King present. Gail King reported that the city’s gas consultant, Michael Lindsey, has been working with the city to make all the repairs and changes needed to meet the Arkansas Pipeline Safety Commission’s regulations. Keith Knupp reminded the council that one suggestion from the commission was to hire someone to keep all the records required because the recordkeeping is very involved, and the city is apparently not in compliance with our records. Mayor Scott stated that Wayne Brewer is currently doing the records. Knupp replied, “but does he have time to keep up
the records while doing his other work. Could we maybe at least hire someone part time?” King stated, “I agree that we do need to hire someone.” Judy Burnett said, “We will have to look at the budget and definitely make sure it is budgeted for next year.” Doug Estes suggested speaking to the person that keeps the records for Hazen to find out what the job entails and what the qualifications would be. Burnett said that sounded like the best idea, and then after meeting with him, look at the budget. Knupp asked Mayor Scott if a new water plant operator was going to be hired, as previously discussed. Mayor Scott said that Tony Bond, who is contracted with the city, was currently handling it along with a Water Department employee. Knupp asked, “How often is he here?” to which Mayor Scott replied, “A lot, and any-
time we call him.” Regarding water and sewer, ordinances were adopted to accept a lower interest rate offer on two bonds owned by the Natural Resources Commission. The rate will decrease on the Water Project bond from 5.40% to 2.85% and from 4.50% to 2.85% on the Sewer Project bond.
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The council discussed updating and enforcing the city’s 2006 ordinance regarding an annual business tax. The ordinance requires all businesses to obtain an annual license for $25, and Section 8 of the ordinance requires all transient merchants to obtain an annual license of $50 before doing busi-
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ness in the city. Knupp asked if transient includes vendors at festivals like Steamboat Days. Doug Estes said the way it reads it sounds like it pertains to all businesses, including festival vendors, regardless of how long they are here. King asked, “Why are we not (Continued on p. 3)
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