January 21st paper sm

Page 1

January 21, 2015

FREE WEEKLY

THE POLK COUNTY

Stay Connected!

1168 Hwy 71 S • Mena, AR 71953 • 479-243-9600

MyPulseNews.com . . . Your DAILY News Source! Blue & You Awards $54,618 to Healthy Sheriff Proposing New $9.6 Million Jail Connections for Emergency Dental Fridays

“It will be my mission

BY MELANIE BUCK City and county officials gathered in the Nidec Room at the Ouachita Center on Friday as part of an informative meeting on the proposal of a new county jail. SouthBuild Team has been chosen to design and construct the new jail. SouthBuild is made up of Spirit Architecture, a design company, and Smith Doyle, a construction management company, both based in Memphis. Jim Langford, of Spirit Architecture, gave the presentaSHERIFF MIKE GODFREY tion to the packed room that included every facet of the project, such as budget, time schedule, floor plans, and a complete breakdown of the estimated $9.6 million facility. SouthBuild utilizes a ‘True Build’ process to conduct their studies; presenting and

to show you how fast I can fill up a 100-person jail.”

-

Republicans Added to Election Commission

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4-5

Seeking More Poll Workers

BY MELANIE BUCK The Polk County Election Commission installed new member, Bernie Mize, on Friday, January 16, 2015, taking the seat of retired Judge Gale Ford. Mize, a Republican, will serve as vice-chair alongside Republican Chair Richard Ray, and Democrat David Ray. Terri Harrison, Polk County Clerk, serves on the commission as well. Chair Richard Ray said, “This is a an historic event. Since 1873, the state of Arkansas has been a democrat majority state and, as of this month, it’s a republican majority state. That means that from a Republican standpoint, all seven of the constitutional offices are Republicans, all four members of the House of Representatives are Republicans, both Senators are Republicans. We look

‘MENA’ Movie Could Star Tom Cruise

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

BY MELANIE BUCK Mena is much abuzz about the possibility of Hollywood coming to town. Published reports indicate that Tom Cruise is getting involved in the project, portraying pilot turned drug and gunrunner, Barry Seal. Doug Liman is set to direct the film about Seal, who reportedly based his operations in Mena and was an American pilot who flew planes for one of the largest-ever covert CIA missions that also spawned the birth of the Medellin Cartel (a Mexican based cartel). When reports first published on the sale of the script in February 2014, Ron Howard had been CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Healthy Connections CEO Tony Calandro accepts a $54,618 grant check presented by Dr. Sygnet Schroeder, Medical Director for Blue Cross and Terry Rhoads, Provider Relations for Blue Cross. Also pictured are Dorene Tapley, Director of Outreach Services, HCI; Deedee Alston, Chief Operations Officer, HCI; Gretchen Cannon, CFO, HCI; Barbara Klutts, OEA Outreach Enrollment Assister Guide, HCI; Dr. Ron Tilgner, Dentist, HCI; Dr. Beasley, Dentist, HCI; and the Healthy Connections dental team.

BY MELANIE BUCK Tuesday [January 20], Healthy Connections, Inc., in Mena was presented a grant from the Blue & You Foundation in the amount of $54,618 to provide emergency dental care and education to residents in Polk County. The Foundation recently awarded a total of $2,674,119 in grants to 35 health improvement programs in Arkansas. “Our grants this year went to programs across the state that address such issues as nutrition and exercise, dental and mental health, and medical professional education,” said Patrick O’Sullivan, executive director of the Blue & You Foundation. Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield established the Blue & You Foundation in 2001 as charitable foundation to promote better health in Arkansas. The Blue & You Foundation awards grants annually to non-profit or governmental organizations and programs that positively affect the health of Arkansans. In its 13 years of operation, the Blue & You Foundation has awarded nearly $22 million to 584 health improvement programs in Arkansas. Patients with no dental insurance that need emergency dental care will be able to receive limited exams, x-rays, and non-surgical extractions. The program will only be available one Friday per month for four months beginCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

1020 MENA ST. MENA, AR 71953 | SINCE 1939

www.washburns.com

Mon-Fri 8:30 to 6:00 Sat 9:00 - 3:00 (479) 394-4332 (888) 394-4332


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.