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August 9, 2017
THE POLK COUNTY
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1168 Hwy 71 S • Mena, AR 71953 • 479-243-9600 ...............................................................................................................................................................................
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The 64 year tradition continues as the Polk County Rodeo kicks off this week! The Rodeo and Fair parade will be held jointly this year and will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening, August 10, in downtown Mena. The ever popular Handicapable Rodeo will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, August 11, at the Andy Risenhoover Arena in the Polk County Fairgrounds. Organizer Wendy Strother said the event is FREE and everyone is encouraged to come out and support these athletes. The rodeo’s first night of action will be Thursday night. Strother encouraged everyone to bring lawnchairs, explaining that one new set of bleachers has been installed on the east side. However, the severely dilapidated bleachers had to be removed on the west side for safety concerns. “We’ve got a small set of bleachers there but we still encourage everyone to bring their lawnchairs.” Strother went on to explain that the Fair & Rodeo Association is working to raise the $50,000 to replace the bleachers like the east side and said that was just another reason for everyone to come out and support the fair and rodeo this year! [LEFT] Father and son team roping duo, George and Stran Strother of Ink, Ark., are among the cowboys and cowgirls expected to compete this weekend. For more information, see pages 1213 inside this issue for times, ticket prices and other exciting features of this year’s action packed event PHOTO COURTESY OF SWEET PEAS PHOTOGRAPHY
Lasso Up a Good Time During the 64th Annual Polk County Rodeo!
Elks Receive National Award for Benevolence
BY MELANIE WADE • news@mypulsenews.com The M ena Elks L odge recently receive d a national award f or their dedicated servi ce to the community. M ena Elks L odge # 78 1 Exhaulted R uler, B rian Thomp son, along CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
Local Businessman & Philanthropist Laid to Rest
BY LEANN DILBECK • editor@mypulsenews.com L ocal b usinessman and p hilanthrop ist Ed S teve nson was laid to rest F riday, August 4, f ollowing a servi ce in which he was honored f or his devo tion to his f amily,
Sales Tax Collections Showing Improvement
BY MELANIE WADE • news@mypulsenews.com Although 2017 sales tax collections f or P olk County are still more than $ 9 ,000 b elow collections this same time in 2016 , monthly collections were up f or the third month in
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August 10-12, 2017
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