August 6, 2014
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THE POLK COUNTY
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512 Seventh Street • Mena, AR 71953 • 479-243-9600
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Town Hall Scheduled Regarding Pursuit of $100 Million State Prison Facility
BY LEANN DILBECK The Arkansas Board of Corrections and the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) are requesting any interested communities to submit “Expressions of Interest” to donate property for the location of an estimated $100 million correctional facility to initially house 1,000 maximum-security inmates. The new state prison would generate 250 new jobs that average $12.75 an hour plus benefits. The facility will have an annual operating budget of approximately $19 million. ADC plans to construct the facility in a manner that it can be expandable to approximately 2,000 beds, at which time it will employ 500 with an annual operatCONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Gubernatorial Candidate Asa Hutchinson Visits Mena
BY MELANIE BUCK Arkansas Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Asa Hutchinson visited industrial businesses in Mena Friday as part of CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 [LEFT] Bob Martin, Erick Martin, State Representative Nate Bell, local Hutchinson Campaign Coordinator Bill Beam, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Asa Hutchinson, Scott Vacca, Ashley Vacca, and Gar Eisele on a tour of local industrial business, Sterling Machinery.
Cossatot River Names New Superintendent
BY MELANIE BUCK Cossatot River High School has announced Donnie Davis as the new Superintendent for the 2014-2015 school year. School Board President Randy Sellers stated, “We’re very fortunate to get him. He has 40 plus years in education and we’re very excited.” Davis graduated from Kirby High School before receiving his Bachelors Degree in Education for Math and Science and then his Masters Degree in Secondary Administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. After college, Davis came back home to begin his career. Teaching math and science at Kirby for five years, he became principal for another five CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
It’s Time for the Polk County Rodeo! BY LEANN DILBECK The Polk County Fair & Rodeo Association invites all cowboys and cowgirls of any age to one of the county’s largest events – the 2014 Polk County Professional Championship Rodeo – this weekend at the Andy Risenhoover Arena at the fairgrounds. For over 60 years, the event has attracted thousands delivering action-packed, high-octane, family entertainment and according to Wendy Strother, this year will deliver all that plus a touch of pink! There will be a 50/50 cash pot fundraiser each night to help raise money for both cancer research and needed repairs at the rodeo arena. The $1 chance tickets for this fundraising event will be available at the gate nightly and the winner will receive a 50/50 split. Proceeds from Thursday and Saturday night sales will be for much needed repairs to rodeo facilities but Friday night sales will go to the American Cancer Society through the Polk County Relay for Life. Friday night is also being billed as “Tough enough to wear pink night” where contestants and spectators are encouraged to wear pink to showing their support for cancer awareness. Both the fair and rodeo parade have been combined into one for this year, which will be held Saturday, August 9, at 4 p.m. Advance tickets are available until Thursday at Union Bank, Polk County Farmers, Food Fast, Country Express, First National Bank in CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
1020 Mena St. • Mena, AR 71953
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