To speak .
INDEX Feature Events Obits COVID Update Sports Arkadelphian
No. 9
Vol. 3
1 2 3 3 4 4
October 14, 2021
New butcher on the block Aaron Weatherford Contributing Reporter
After a long year of hard work and determination, Arkadelphia’s first butcher shop is now complete and open for business. The Salt & Grain Butcher Shop is now fully operational and is welcoming customers. Owner and CEO James Pruitt has waited a long time for this. Pruitt is formerly a resident of Gurdon, but now resides in the great city of Arkadelphia. “It’s been my dream as far back as I can remember,” said Pruitt. “Owning my own business and doing what I love has been my motivation. I’ve al-
ways considered myself as a great cook and griller when it comes to meat and seafood. I have a great knowledge of how different meats are cooked and prepared. People tend to agree with me about my cooking as well,” Opening the shop, though, came with many obstacles. James bought the vacant building that was formerly Waits Gun & Pawn Video Rental in the summer of 2020. “It needed a complete overhaul,” said Pruitt. “We honestly didn’t know if it was going to be worth it in the long run because of Covid. It changed everyone’s perspective on how
meat prepping and standing in close range would work in such a small area.” Through months of negotiations Pruitt, his daughter Kaleigh, and girlfriend Tamra began the process of putting it all together last fall. Everything was going smoothly until the prices of lumber shot up in early 2021. “Our butcher room is basically brand new and it almost didn’t happen with how much lumber was,” said Pruitt. “Our original
opening date was supposed to be mid-June until lumber prices shot up. We just couldn’t afford
opening day was set for a later date. Before long, James and his crew were back at it a n d
t o spend that kind of money yet.” The building upgrade again was halted and
this t i m e , they wouldn’t be stopped by any mishaps, as the doors opened Sept.
28. “It’s a great feeling to finally be here,” Pruitt said. “We’re the only true butcher shop in the Clark County region and have already gotten so much support.” S a l t & Grain is open Tuesday through F r i d a y from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m and Saturdays from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. You can find the shop at 1318 Pine Street in Arkadelphia across from Los Agaves.
Breaking Budget: The costly repairs to HSU's labs Blanton Matthews Contributing Reporter
It was two years ago this week, Oct. 7, 2019, when professors Terry David Bateman and Bradley Rowland allegedly spilled benzyl chloride in the process of manufacturing methamphetamine in a laboratory on the third floor of Henderson State’s Donald W. Reynolds Science Center. What would follow was a national news circus that made HSU the setup to countless obvi-
ous joking references to the 2008-2013 television drama series “Breaking Bad”. At time of writing, the dust has quite literally settled in the lab space of room 304, now cleaned of toxic chemicals and used as a storage room for old furniture. Where once was a fume hood there is a black garbage bag, puffing up whenever the air conditioner kicks on. Ingo Schranz, a professor in the Chemistry department whose office
is just next to the now gutted room 304, said to The Oracle that while the department is able to manage without for the time being, the emptying of that lab and another nearby room has put considerable strain on himself and his colleagues. “In my opinion, this is a temporary solution,” said Schranz on Friday. “What we lack the most is a storeroom manager and hygiene officer. Preparing reagents, setting up weekly labs, cleaning lab spaces
in addition to finding and ordering chemicals is consuming a lot of time that we could spend working with students.” A story by Debra HaleShelton and Benjamin Hardy for the Arkansas Non-Profit News Network published in the Magnolia Reporter claims the cost to clean up and repair the room only to its current state was $149,917.
Now, a university shackled by financial dire straits experiencing record low enrollment amidst a global pandemic and legal controversy faces the possibility that these labs may never be in use again due to the sheer cost to restore. “I wish we could have resolved this issue without a chemical spill,” said Schranz. Had evidence of dan-
gerous drug synthesis been discovered upon previous searches earlier in 2019, prior to the actual spill of toxic material, the labs could still be in use today. Bateman faces trial later this month. Dr. Martin Campbell, chair of the Chemistry department, was contacted and declined to comment.
Going a little deeper
Photo by Blanton Matthews The damage of two Henderson professors using science labs for the creation of meth has left the rooms in disrepair as the university struggles to find a way to afford the expensive cleaning and repairs.
Photo courtesy of Maya Robles Kaylie Wheeless, Lauren Camp, Aspen Huseman, Maya Robles, Rocio Alferez and Mitti Fairchild join Professor Mike Taylor in a the Tennessee cave.
Emily Henderson Contributing Reporter
Mike Taylor, chair of Henderson’s department of Communications and Theater Arts, has explored caves in the southern United States for around 35 years. After hearing about an interesting pond in an underground cave in Tennessee, he brought nine samples back to Henderson for examination. In 2017, Dr. James Engman, a biology professor who had previously done a cave study in Blanchard Springs Caverns, was excited to hear about a “petroleum pond” and the features it had to offer. The two teamed up with six students to dive deep into the unknown. While two of the original members have
graduated, Kaylie Wheeless, Lauren Camp, Aspen Huseman, and Maya Robles as well as Rocio Alferez and Mitti Fairchild are still digging in the dirt for more. The mining and discovery does not come easy or cheap. Each year Dr. Engman selects students to apply for grants in hopes of covering some of the costs. “That’s the only thing that keeps this project going,” Engman said. The students have to travel to the cave and not all the samples can be processed on campus, so the grants help cover those costs. Over the past year, Kaylie Wheeless received a grant from the Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) for $4,000. Aspen Huseman received $2,500 from The Nation-
al Cave Karst Research Institute Scholar Fellowship Program. A $10,000 grant from NASA/Arkansas Space Grant Consortium Student Intensive Training (SIT) was given to Lauren Camp. Both Maya and Kaylie will be receiving research funding from the McNair Scholars Program. The team has no idea how long this study will take and have no intention of stopping anytime soon. Each year as students graduate, Dr. Engman offers a spot to new students in hopes of continuing the research. The grants are annual, meaning students will apply for them again next year and hope they receive the funds to continue discovering the unusual.
After one year away, the Arkansas State Fair returns Kolby Reck Contributing Reporter
After being canceled last year due to Covid-19, the State fair will be back on Oct. 15 and continue through Oct. 24. The fair which is held at the fairgrounds in Little Rock, expects big crowds and loads of fun. According to a statement made by president and general manager of the fair, Doug White, “record crowds are expected.” Because of the pandemic last year, and the cancellation of fairs across the country, people have a pent-up desire for exhilarating rides and fried fair foods. This year's fair will include rides and games, food courts, free attractions, fair queen and kids competitions, concerts, exhibits and a livestock show. The youth pageant will be on
Saturday, Oct. 16, and the regionals will take place from Monday, Oct. 18 to Thursday, Oct. 21. The finals will be Saturday, Oct. 23. The livestock shows will run from Oct. 21 to Oct. 24. Big names in music are expected at the fair this year. Country stars Maddie and Tae will perform on Oct. 15 along with Anna Brinker. The hit hip-hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will entertain on Oct. 16 along with rock n’ soul duo Dazz & Brie. New rising star in country music, Riley Green, takes the stage on Oct. 23. These are just a few of the many bands performing. Concerts will take place each day on the main stage and tickets are $25 for deck seating. According to a news release, every concert is free in the standing area with gate admission. Other events will take place at the Bud Light pavilion like
football games and karaoke khaos. Advanced gate admission to the fair can be purchased online at ArkansasStateFair.com. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children. Gate admission during the fair will be $12 for adults and $6 for children. However, you can get a one-day ride band that is good for unlimited rides all day for $30 in advance of the fair. Ride bands purchased during the fair will be $35. General parking will be $10 and premium parking will be $20. What better way to enjoy the fall weather than listening to great music, riding rides, and devouring tasty fair treats? Little Rock welcomes you to experience the thrill of the Arkansas State Fair after a year off from fair traditions.
Info from Weather.com
FRI - Oct. 15 a.m. showers
SAT - Oct. 16 sunny
SUN - Oct. 17 sunny
MON - Oct. 18 mostly sunny
TUE - Oct. 19 partly cloudy
WED - Oct. 20 partly cloudy
THU - Oct. 21 partly cloudy
83o 48
71o 44
74o 44
75o 46
75o 48
73o 48
72o 46
Precipitation: 54% Wind: WSW 11 mph Humidity: 80%
Precipitation: 3% Wind: NNW 9 mph Humidity: 75%
Precipitation: 3% Wind: N 6 mph Humidity: 77%
Precipitation: 5% Wind: SSE 5 mph Humidity: 79%
Precipitation: 6% Wind: NW 6 mph Humidity: 79%
Precipitation: 11% Wind: N 7 mph Humidity: 78%
Precipitation: 3% Wind: NNE 7 mph Humidty: 85%
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