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Miss Merry Christmas pageant winners. (See page 6.)
Volume 122 Number 46 - USPS 225-680
Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie
Wednesday, November 15, 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. Tuesday November 14 Election Day Go Vote Thursday November 16 Hazen City Council meeting 6:00 p.m. City Hall Friday November 17 Carlisle Bison vs Hector Fred Hardke Field 7:00 p.m. Des Arc Eagles vs Bigelow Bigelow Field 7:00 p.m. Saturday November 18 Hazen Chamber of Commerce and Community Christmas Decorating 11:30 a.m. City Gazebo November 20-24 Local School Districts will be closed for Thanksgiving Holidays
DeValls Bluff Oakland Cemetery restoration... The Oakland Cemetery on Prairie Street in DeValls Bluff was recently given a facelift, with the fall cleaning and restoration of some of the old headstones that were in need of repair. The conservation effort was guided by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program which provided the pictures so that the Herald could share them with you. More pictures of the project can be found on page 6 of this edition.
DVB Council approves hiring grant writing service By Lisa Mills The DVB City Council met on November 9 with Mayor Thelma G r a y , Recorder/Treasurer Darlene Conner, and Council Members Shirley Goff, Carol Griffin, Alice Metcalf, and Pam Del Giorno present. Fire Chief Glen Gladish asked the council to approve hiring a grant writing service to apply for grants for the Fire Department. The fee is $5,000 per year and allows for one free writing and writing others are half price. Gladish said the department needs to apply for a grant in January to replace the brush truck and that using this service will improve the chance of approval. Council Member Alice Metcalf asked Bookkeeper Leah Woodall if the city could not apply for the grant through Central Arkansas Planning. Woodall said that they do not do a lot of these type grants and don’t do this one. Metcalf asked Woodall if the money is available in the Fire Department Fund to which she replied, “yes,
they are quite a bit under budget.” A motion was approved to hire the service. Police Chief Jeremy Murphy reported that the dog shelter needs to be back up and running because stray dogs are becoming a huge issue. He said that the budget committee is working on a budget for the shelter for next year, but donations are being taken now. “Little Rock and Jacksonville Animal Services have offered donations of houses, food bowls, fans, blankets, and other items.” Goff asked Murphy about someone to take care of the dogs. Murphy said that is what is being discussed in the budget meetings because there is no need for a shelter if the city doesn’t hire a dog catcher. Mayor Thelma Gray reported that two ladies from Hazen had recently looked at the bank building that is for sale. Woodall stated that they were from the Prairie County Library Board. Gray said she hasn’t heard back from them yet, but they did seem very interested. Woodall reported that the council members
have received the 2022 audit report. The only finding is in the Fire Department fund where the former Fire Chief allegedly embezzled fundraising money and possibly misused the department’s credit card. She stated that all the information has been turned over to the
Prosecuting Attorney and charges have been filed. The auditor is aware the situation, she said. No action was necessary, as it is just required to be noted in the minutes that the council has received the report. Police Chief Murphy reported four arrests
and four traffic citations in October. Fire Chief reported that the old Excursion needs to be sold. A motion was approved to advertise to accept sealed bids. A building permit was approved for Nancy Roach on East Brinkley Street for a 16x12 building.
HIPPY learns about leaves
By Linda Strohl The Hazen HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) had their November Group Meeting at the Pavilion across from the Hazen Community Building on Monday, November 6, 2023, at 10:00 in the morning. Samantha McDonnel and Linda Strohl welcomed the families to the group meeting. Each child received a make a Scarecrow Stickers sheets and a bag for the leaf hunt. The sticker pages entertained the children while waiting for others to arrive. We
started about 10:10; the first activity was a leaf hunt. The children’s instruction were to find different kind of leaves. They also had to take their parent with them on the leaf hunt and to make sure to go slow so their parent could keep up. After the leaf hunt, they made several leaf rubs of the leaves they had found. Other leaf activities consisted of a leaf reef with a turkey in the center and giving a picture of a person hair made of leaves. Upon on leaving all the children received a goody bag, a storybook, and their own Leaf book
to color. The children who attended the group meeting were Innosence Jimmerson, Zander Moore, Kennedy Nall, Bryson Penn, Waylon Sooter, Roland Stallings, and Jacey Tipton. The next HIPPY Group Meeting will be December 18, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. the theme is going to be Grinchmas. HIPPY is still enrolling for the 2023 – 2024 school year. Contact us at Facebook.com/Hazen Hippy or call 501-7439247, 501-516-6224. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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.
Skarda in regional tourney... Cache Skarda, a 3rd grade student at Hazen Elementary School, recently placed third at the Fall Regional Chess Tournament held at Wilbur Mills Coop.
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