Vol. 2, No. 19
Thursday, May 28, 2020
ainy day assistance considered for HSU
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a e e ray near addo alley is o en or all o your watery needs as r ansas and the rest o the nation in re o ening during the corona irus andemic
W here ( and if ) to v acation By P ete T u b b s Interim E ditor in Chief Summer is supposed to be a relief. It’s supposed to be a time where kids are overjoyed to be out of school and to play with friends. It’s supposed to be a time when families can be together. Of course, this being the hellish year of 2020, nothing is as it was, and that includes summer. The world is terrified, rightfully so, but that hasn’t stopped some places reopening. That means some families will be taking advantage of this fact and going on vacation. No one knows at this point if the worst is behind or ahead of us. If one decides
to take their family on vacation, that’s their choice, and no one can fault them for it. We all want things to be normal again, and what is more normal and enjoyable than a family vacation? Although some places remain closed, there are many options for fun away from home. Popular theme parks Disneyland and Disney World in California and Florida, respectively, remain closed until further notice. A popular park that is much closer to home, however, will open very soon. Magic Springs and Crystal Falls will officially reopen its gates on June 1. Its guidelines and precautions
include “re-doubled, rigorous sanitizing protocols and social distancing efforts, as we follow the guidance of state health agencies for 30% of capacity within the Theme Park and 50% of capacity within the Water Park,” according to their website. A more natural staple to summer fun is America’s beaches. While some remain closed, it may be surprising to learn just how many are open. Most of Florida’s beaches are open for business. While crowds of more than ten people are frowned upon, there are certainly sandy shores abound for traveling families. For more leisure beach
seekers, Gulf Shores, AL has been a sanctuary for decades. As of Thurs. April 30, all of their beaches are open as well. Right down the coast from Gulf Shores is Orange Beach, and while that city is certainly adhering to CDC guidelines, their beaches are no longer closed either. While Arkansas doesn’t have an ocean, it does have many lakes that can be better than seas if used properly, and most of them are open. If your family has a boat or can successfully rent one, the open water is a great place for fun and relaxation with family and friends (socially distanced, of course) during the hot weather. While most lakes are
open for recreation and fun, many campgrounds and marinas are closed or heavily shuddered. Be sure to check the website to whatever lake you plan to visit before making definite plans. While it is ultimately up to parents when deciding whether to brave the new world we live in today, it’s important to remember to socially distance, wash you and your kids’ hands, and wear facemarks when at all possible. The world has changed, and our ideas about run and recreation have to change along with it. Enjoy your summer, have fun, and be careful.
By P ete T u b b s Interim editor in chief The Arkansas Legislative Council recommended approval for $825,000 in assistance to Henderson State University from the state’s rainy day fund. A legislative subcommittee will take up the recommendation for final approval today or tomorrow, according to an e-mail sent to HSU’s faculty and staff by acting president Elaine Kneebone. If the assistance is approved, Henderson will not need to proceed with furloughs for 12-month staff as planned. The assistance isn’t free, however. According to that same e-mail, “any improvement in state revenue appropriations through the end of the fiscal year will be repaid by Henderson.” Although this is good news, Henderson State still expects its state funding for the next fiscal year to be reduced by $1-2 million, and furloughs are still possible for the month of July onward. The Arkadelphia Dispatch will continue to report on this developing story.
heerleaders selected at r adel hia
The Arkadelphia High School cheerleaders for 2020-21 have been announced. The group includes the following: Blaise Batson, Bailey Boyles, Kennedy Campbell, Audrey Cordero, Anna Derby, Taylor Echols, Kyla Elgas, Avery Garner, Kirstin Hall, Hope Howerton, Caitlyn McGough, Madison Morris, Hannah Moss, Reyna Rogers, Gracie Simpson, Emily Talley, Haedyn Taylor and Sarah Vidal
urdon ity all recei es Coronav iru s u p date f or cou nty, state old ress rom news a er By Sherry K elley ayor o urdon Thanks to a grant from the Cabe Foundation, the Gurdon City Hall is the new home of an antique Chandler and Price Letter Press from the old Gurdon Times newspaper. This hardworking beauty was a very popular choice for printers in the 1800's and 1900's. The press is aesthetically pleasing, featuring a big wheel and treadle. The doors at the Gurdon Business Center were too narrow, so we moved it through the double doors at the Gurdon Municipal Building. It looks fantastic in the entryway of City Hall. Thank you to Mike McKenzie for the loan of a pallet jack. Our city workers also used a forklift and roller system. Now we are cleaning it up and have plans to mount issues of the Gurdon Times on the wall behind the press. A spotlight on the machine, a coat of contrasting paint on the wall, a plaque describing the history of the Gurdon Times and other signage will complete the display. Thank you to Anita Cabe and the late Norman Montgomery. It is quite the thing. My mom, Mary has begun
cleaning the soot and decades of dirt off of the press. If you have an old copy of the Gurdon Times suitable for framing that you would like to donate please let me know at 870-406-1396. There is a new purple facade on Main Street. Everyone says that they like the shade of purple on the large 11 x 60 facade above the former Bill's Dollar Store. The next step for this project is a gold sign with the Gurdon Public School's "G" and some outdoor lights. I am surprised and grateful that the first phase of the revamp is completed. This project was a challenge. Last Thurs. I had an interesting go with our bucket truck. There are power lines Clark County in front of the facade and 3 active it was pretty scary. Learncases ing the ins and outs of the paint sprayer was a bit of an ordeal. Thank you to Amy Woods for her expertise. The next morning we braced the awning from below so that I could stand on it while painting. The rain prohibited any further progress until Mon. I reached as high r ansas e artment o ealth as I could on Mon. and then here are three acti e cases o in lar ounty as o this morning, according to the r ansas e artment o on Tues. we used a forklift to ealth he county has re orted total ositi e cases, with reco ered here ha e been negati e tests in the finish. I'll begin working on county o deaths ha e been re orted r ansas has re orted , total cases here are , acti e cases in the the sign next week. state, with , reco eries and deaths through mid morning See G u rdon
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