Ready to garden?

Annuals and perennials

Annuals are often used to give instant color with bedding plants, while perennials may bloom a shorter period of time, but don’t have to be replanted every season.

Plant your seasonal color in a concentrated block of color to make the biggest impact in the garden. Group plants together that need the same conditions— sun, water, and fertilizer needs.

Some perennials like daylilies, asparagus and hostas die back completely to the ground after a killing frost in the fall and begin new growth in the spring. Other perennials like hellebores (Lenten Rose), rosemary and lambs ears are evergreen, but live from year to year.

Annuals for summer color include pentas, angelonia, coleus, scaevola and lantana. If your garden has more shade than sun, consider torenia (wishbone flower), begonias, impatiens, and shade coleus.

In perennials, the milkweeds are especially recommended. Asclepias tuberosa is the showy orange butterfly weed which blooms for months in the summer and is a great host plant for monarch butterflies.

Echinacea (purple coneflower) now comes in a wide range of colors and is a long season bloomer, provided the blooms are dead-headed after flowering.

Hardy hibiscus bloom from June through August, with dinner-plate sized blooms in red, pink, or white.

If you have a shade garden, try heuchera (coral bells) with foliage in almost every color of the rainbow.

Hostas are grown more for their foliage, but they do produce flower spikes as well. When shopping in garden centers for plants, look for Arkansas Diamonds and the Proven Winners logo. These are locally grown plants proven to do well in Arkansas. If there is only one rule for gardening, it all comes back to the basic rule: pick the right plant for the right place.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention that our Master Gardeners’ Annual Plant Sale is an excellent opportunity to buy all manner of plants started by our local Polk County group, or dug from our local gardens, already adapted to our local conditions. The Plant Sale is always the weekend before Mothers’ Day, making the date May 13th, this year.

[Eds. Resource for information: University of Arkansas, Research & Extension.] the garden.

Oakleaf hydrangeas do well in a woodland garden with morning sun and afternoon shade. In the fall, the plants turn fiery red before dropping their leaves. Standard forms grow up to 8 - 10 feet tall, while dwarf varieties get no larger than 3 feet.

The Hydrangea paniculata bloom on the new growth and can take more sun. There are new varieties being developed every year. “Limelight” is particularly popular. It has pale green to white flowers which fade to white.

Old-time church revival meeting, at Calvary Baptist Church, 2100 Hwy. 375 W, Mena. Open to all! Includes guest speakers, music, refreshments and a message. Sunday, March 26, 6 - 7:30 p.m., and Monday-Wednesday, March 27 - 29, 7 - 8 p.m.

2800 Craftsy meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m., 2800 Jerry Lee Dr., Mena. Free to all who are interested in crafting. (501) 617-7261. Visit 2800 Craftsy on Facebookgroups.

Narcotics Anonymous meet at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday, noon - 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 p.m. on Thursday, 7 p.m. on Friday, and 6 p.m. on Saturday at the old bus barn at the Crossing Church. For information call Erica at (479) 234-5289 or Candice at (501) 356-8300.

The Polk County Housing Authority has Rental Vouchers available. They are also in need of Applicants and Landlords. Contact them at 509 S. Morrow, Mena, (479) 394-1565 or polkarhousing.com

First Presbyterian Church will be presenting a study, “The Evolution of the Bible”, in its Adult Sunday School Class on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:45. The class will be conducted by Earl Harrell. Anyone with an interest in this study is invited to attend. Classes will be at the church in the parlor, 904 Church Ave., Mena.

Cakewalk & food sale for the Choctaw Nation Community at the Smithville Nation Senior Center, Hwy. 259 in Smithville, Saturday, Apr. 1 at 4 p.m. There will be Chili dogs, hot dogs, Frito pies and nachos. Fundraiser proceeds go to Smithville Nation Senior Citizens trips. For more information call Ruthie Bohannon (580) 306-8628

GriefShare continues to meet every Thursday from 10 a.m.-noon at First Presbyterian Church Mena for anyone in the community who is

Around Town

grieving the loss of a loved one.

Applications for lifeguard positions at McMillan Pool may be picked up at City Hall, 520 Mena Street, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The Hatfield Branch Library is open every Tuesday and Friday from noon - 4 p.m. The library is located at 121 Cemetery Rd. (old Agri building) in Hatfield.

The Cove Branch Library is open Monday and Thursday from noon - 5 p.m. The Library is located next to Cove Town Hall at 5568 Hwy. 71 S.

The Mena/Polk County Senior Center will have The Gator and Friends band performing in Mena every Thursday, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. The Center has an exercise class on Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Contact Trena Looney with questions, (479) 394-5459.

The Cossatot Senior Center in Wickes has meals and activities for seniors. If you need to make delivery arrangements or changes call (870) 385-2373.

Hatfield First Baptist Church “Shepherd’s Closet” Open Wednesdays, 10 a.m. - noon. Large selection of good, used clothing & a limited supply of non-perishable food items. Free to anyone in need.

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at The Crossing Church, 3 p.m., Sundays; at 5 p.m., Tuesdays; and at 8 p.m. Saturdays at the old bus barn. For information call (479) 234-8366 or (479) 216-3786.

“The Women of Country Music,” featuring singer Lana Gail, Ouachita Little Theatre, 610 Mena St., Mar. 31 - Apr. 1, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Apr.

2, 2:30 p.m. Tickets: Adults - $15, Students -$10. Buy in advance at box office or online at OLTMena.org. Tickets also available at the door day of show, but reservations recommended.

The Food Pantry at the Mena Seventh Day Adventist Church is open every first and third Monday of each month, 4 - 6 p.m., located at Fair Grounds Road. For more information, call (479) 437-4018.

American Legion meets every 2nd Tuesday at the Legion Hall in Acorn. Potluck at 6 p.m., meeting follows.

Come play Bingo, Saturdays and Mondays, starts at 6 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m.

Reynolds Gardner Community Men’s Breakfast every Tuesday, First United Methodist Church, Mena, 8 a.m. (full breakfast for small donation). All men from the community are invited to attend.

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at 7 p.m. Fridays at the First United Methodist Church, Ninth Street and Port Arthur. Discussion/Book Study for information call (479) 243-0297.

Bluegrass Jam Session is open to musicians and fans alike. Bring your instruments for an unplugged session to the Daisy Room (behind Janssen’s Avenue Florist & Gifts) the first and third Thursdays of each month, starting at 6:30 p.m. Free event. Some snacks are provided.

It’s easy to have your event listed in Around Town, which will be read on radio stations KENA and KQOR daily. Simply send your Around Town announcement to news@mypulsenews.com or call (479) 243-9600 and let us know about your event! To have it in the Polk County Pulse newspaper, we need to know by FIVE on FRIDAY. We look forward to continuing to serve the community!

Outdoors photographer Price giving program

Mark your calendars, you will want to attend the upcoming meeting of the Ouachita Photography club on March 25, 10 a.m. at the Mena Art Gallery.

Mena resident and nationally known photographer and journalist Steve Price will present a special photography program titled “Quick Tips for Better Photo Composition.”

A full-time outdoors writer and photographer since 1973, Price has specialized in outdoor recreation, wildlife and nature photography, and travel. He is known nationwide for his writing in the freshwater fishing industry and his work as a contributing editor for Field & Stream Magazine, but throughout his career he has written more than 3,500 magazine articles for dozens of publications on all phases of the outdoors.

He has also written 17 books, several video scripts, and hundreds of newspaper and Internet features. His photography has won numerous national and international awards and been used around the world by such organizations as the National Geographic Society, Yamaha Marine Group, ESPN, the BBC, Reader’s Digest, Ford Motor Company, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Walt Disney Corporation, and others. He has traveled widely throughout the world, including five extended trips to Africa and six to South America, and been inducted into both the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame.

The meeting is free and open to members as well as to non-members who may be interested in becoming a Ouachita Photography club.

Researchers receive grant to develop robotic poultry processing

Researchers in Arkansas and two other states will be using a $5 million grant to increase use of artificial intelligence and robotics in chicken processing to reduce waste in deboning and detect pathogens.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture will establish the Center for Scalable and Intelligent Automation in Poultry Processing. The center, led by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will join researchers from five institutions in three states in efforts to adapt robotic automation to chicken meat processing.

The recent impetus to automate chicken processing began with the COVID-19 pandemic. The illness spread quickly among workers on the processing line. Since the worst of the pandemic, the poultry industry, like many others, has been having trouble hiring enough workers.

Researchers point out that poultry processing lines began 70 to 80 years ago. Since then, there have been only incremental changes in technology. Today, they say, there’s a need for transformative change.

Robotic hands are not adept at holding a chicken. New technology is needed to prevent dropping slippery meats. Separating the carcasses into cuts of meat is also tricky. For example, human deboners leave about 13 percent of meat on the bones. Automated deboners leave 16% to 17 %. On an industrial scale, that’s a significant loss in value.

Automation can relieve labor shortages, however. It also allows plants to locate in rural areas with a smaller labor force but nearer poultry houses and with lower property costs.

Arkansas’ research will involve scientists from at least three departments within the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science.

The primary focus of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers will be to automate food safety practices. Their hope is to develop robots that monitor processing lines for pathogens like Salmonella and maintain clean and safe spaces and equipment. Researchers also aim to develop hyperspectral imaging to detect plastics in chicken meat.

- FOR SALE -

For Sale: 2001 GMC Sierra, Dark blue, 5.3 L V-6, extended cab, long bed with brushguard. Needs body work, new tires and front end. Nice interior, runs good. (479) 437-3002 or (479) 329-0205

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- YARD SALE -

Large Garage Sale 2409 S. Mena St. March 24-25. Fabric, tools, clothes, electronics. Something for all, rain or shine. T0322

- SERVICES -

Wendell’s Tree Service - Tree Removal and Trimming. Experienced and fully insured for ALL your tree-trimming needs. Call (479) 394-0227 or (479) 216-4328. T0405

Mobile lawnmower repair and repair flats. Minimum, $20 service call. For details, call Bill Duff (479) 216-5204. T0322

Construction, steel buildings, welding, pads, ponds, and roads. Military discounts. Insured. Give RC Customz a call for free estimates at (479) 216-2976. T0426

Daniel’s carpentry and painting and handyman service. Deck and privacy fences, etc. Call (479) 216-1101 or (479) 216-2299. T0329

Tree services, forestry mulching, storm cleanup, stump grinding. Signs and light replacement. Give RC Customz a call at (479) 216-2976 for Free estimate. T0426

Mena Shuttle - Ground transportation to AR and TX airports. Doctor and emergency appointments. Also, light deliveries. (870) 490-1191 T0405

- HELP WANTED -

Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for an experienced CNC Machine Operator. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

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Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for general labor positions. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment

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F.M. Dix Foundry is accepting applications for general labor positions. Applications may be picked up at the office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

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Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for an experienced TIG Welder for a permanent day shift position. The applicant must be proficient in welding aluminum.

Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

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Legal Notice

Kevin Williams; Jason Sullivan; Emily Bevill of UNION BANK OF MENA and Theresa Young of Arvest Bank; you have less than 30 calendar days upon receipt of the four Affidavit of Status and the Affidavit of Complaint to controvert and overcome them IN WRITTEN SWORN AFFIDAVIT FORM UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY to the correct address submitted. Your silence stands as consent to, and tacit approval of, the factual declarations therein contained being established as fact as a matter of law.

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Master Gardeners introduce Yard of the Month project

City of Mena spring clean-up

The City of Mena Annual Spring CleanUp is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 28. City trucks will pick up items you want to dispose of at no charge. This Clean-up service is free for residences within the city limits of Mena only

Please follow the below listed regulations to ensure that the pick-up runs smoothly.

Submitted by Judy Petty

Polk County Master Gardeners are pleased to announce the start of a community project. A Polk County resident will be honored each month as having the Yard of the Month; starting March-November, with December being chosen for best decorated home.

A committee made up of volunteer master gardeners will look at yards that are nominated by community members, to assure they are:

• Well-groomed and attractive

• Regularly mowed and edge

• Weedless flower beds

• Seasonal color

• Regular mulching of flower beds

• All shrubs trimmed

• Insect control

• Green healthy lawn

• Yard must be free of debris, trash cans, recycle bins, etc.

To nominate a yard, fill out the form below or pick one up at the Polk County extension office. Each nomination submitted will be given a drive-by judging. The winner will receive a specially designed Yard of the Month sign placed in their front yard for one month, a certificate of recognition signed by a Polk County representative, along with their picture being taken for the local newspapers, the Master Gardener website and Master Gardener newsletter. The nominee must be a resident of Polk County and can only receive this award once a year. March is coming up quickly, so please make your nominations soon and turn them into the Polk County Extension Office.

Polk County Master Gardeners “Yard of the Month” Nominee

Name of Nominee:

Address of Nominee:

Phone # of Nominee:

Please fill out and return to Polk County Extension Office 211 DeQueen St. Mena, AR

* Master Gardeners are ineligible to be nominated.

Materials will not be picked up unless they are placed at the curb-side and separated. Street Department personnel cannot go onto private property to assist in moving items.

It is very important to separate any items that you want to keep away from those that are to be discarded, such as trash cans.

The following items cannot be picked up: concrete, brick, rocks, dirt, shingles, batteries, and construction debris.

Please separate your items to be discarded into 5 distinct piles as follows:

• Furniture — couches, chairs, televisions, window frames, etc.

• Household trash — paper items, etc.

(Please place trash cans, that you wish to keep, to one side so that they will not be disposed of inadvertently.)

• Metal material -- hot water heaters, stoves, appliances, etc.

• Yard waste — tree limbs, shrubs, grass, etc.

• Tires

Note - it is required that all small yard debris, such as small limbs, gum balls, leaves and grass, be placed in garbage bags.

The Mena Street Department will begin pick up in the northwest part of the city and work their way across town following the same routes as Southern Disposal. Trucks will run one to three days after the day of your normal trash pick-up.

The response to this Clean-Up is usually overwhelming, so please be patient if the trucks are running somewhat behind the posted schedule; however, each route will only be covered one time. It is not necessary to call City Hall in order to receive this service.

Polk County Master Gardener Scholarship

The Polk County Master Gardeners is offering a $500 per semester scholarship to a high school senior who is majoring in a horticultural or agricultural type of degree and is planning to start college in the 2023 fall semester.

Following are the items that need to be attached to the application for this scholarship:

1. A permanent high school transcript, which includes the fall semester ending prior to application deadline.

2. Three character references confirming moral character, integ- rity and need for scholarship funds.

3. A separate sheet listing high school activities, offices held, and community/church activities.

4. A letter stating reasons for applying for this scholarship and your goals for the future.

You can pick up an application at the Polk County Extension Office at 211 DeQueen St, Mena, AR 71953. For information call 479-394-6018. Application, reference letters and questions should be taken or sent to the same address. Deadline for returning applications is April 15.

The following information was received from Polk County law enforcement agencies. The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts. Individuals charged and whose names appear in this column may submit documentation to us at a later date that the charges have been dismissed, or that they have been found innocent, and we will include that information in this space in a timely manner.

POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S LOG

March 13, 2023

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 76 W near Acorn in reference to a trespasser. Information has been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney for further consideration.

Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to a violation of an order of protection.

Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to a theft of property.

March 14, 2023

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on 4th Street near Wickes in reference to a possible break-in attempt. Deputies responded to a report of harassment.

March 15, 2023

William Thompson, 64 of Mena was arrested on a charge of Disorderly Conduct.

March 16, 2023

An incident on Hwy 88E near Ink led to the arrest of Holly Robinson, 31 of Mena on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication.

March 17, 2023

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Carter Creek Lane near Mena in reference to an unruly juvenile.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Susie Lane near Mena in reference to a possible theft of property.

March 18, 2023

No reports.

March 19, 2023

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 78 near Potter in reference to a domestic dispute leading to the arrest of Mark Blehm, 30 of Mena on a charge of Disorderly Conduct.

Edward Kilcollins, 48 of Mena was arrested on a Misdemeanor Failure to Appear Warrant.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on W Boundary in reference to a Domestic Disturbance.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office worked 2 vehicle accidents this week.

Polk County Detention Center Jail

Population: 23 Incarcerated Inmates with 17 Inmates currently on the Waiting List for a State Facility.