Resident News Network

Mansfield Students Will Host A Veterans Program and Breakfast

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5:49 pm

Mansfield Students Will Host A Veterans Program and Breakfast

The Mansfield Elementary 4^th grade Students and the Mansfield Junior and Senior High Choirs will be honoring the U.S. Soldiers for Veteran’s Day with a special event next Monday, November 11^th at the Mansfield High School at 9:45 a.m. in the gymnasium. The students will be presenting a program honoring our veterans. They will be performing several songs, and Mansfield Alumni and Veteran Sergeant First Class Doug Escalante will be the guest speaker for the event. Veterans, parents of students, and citizens of Mansfield are all welcome to attend.

Mansfield Parent Involvement Committee along with several area churches will be hosting a free Veterans Breakfast at the Mansfield High School Cafeteria from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m that morning as well. If possible, please call the Mansfield High School at 479-928-1105 to RSVP for the free breakfast to ensure plenty of food for our Veterans.

If you have a picture of a Veteran that you would like to honor during the program, please e-mail Mrs. Kimberly Boyd at kboyd@mansfieldtigers.org.

Young Lady Eagles Basketball Team Preparing for Upcoming Season

Sports

Resident News Network

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5:21 pm

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Young Lady Eagles Basketball Team Preparing for Upcoming Season

Basketball is just around the corner, and at Paris High School, that means that practices are now in full swing for the young Lady Eagles girls basketball team. Paris will open the 2019-20 season with a home game next week, November 14, versus Dardanelle. The very next day, Friday, November 15, the Lady Tigers will host County Line. The first games for both dates is 6 p.m.

I recently sat down with Paris girls basketball coach Dustin Williams, and we discussed the Lady Eagles team this year and their upcoming season. “Our senior high team, we are going to be young but we are going to be athletic. We lost about 80% of our scoring from last year. We’ve got some young talent coming in, and our sophomores are the first team in 30 years to win the junior high girls tournament championship last year, so that was big. Three girls who are back; Jadyn Hart started every game last year as a sophomore, she’s a returning junior, point guard, real good player, good athlete. Harlie Watts is a junior and started almost half of the games last year, and we expect her to come in and make a statement. I’ve seen more growth out of her than I have anyone. Harley is one of those that can shoot the ball real well. She has grown and matured as a player. We’re expecting a big year out of her. Kenleigh Robertson is the other returning starter, started about half of the games for us. Her and Harlie kind of rotated out. She has a real good three-point shot, will be one of two seniors, and her leadership on and off the court is kind of what keeps us going. Has a very good attitude, high-energy kid. We have two newcomers from volleyball. One is a senior, Paiton Forbis, she hasn’t played since her freshman year, but the last three years I have had a girl come out at the end of volleyball for their senior year. Paiton, so far in practice, looks like she has not missed too many beats; she can handle the ball well, she’s a shooter, and she’s another one of those leadership girls that you just have to have in practice, in the locker room. She’s high-energy, high basketball IQ, just a real smart kid. And then, Alyssa Komp, is a sophomore coming out from volleyball. Right now, she’s a little banged up from volleyball season, and we’re resting her, but we expect her to be ready next week when we play Dardanelle.”

What Paris may lack in senior high game experience, the Lady Eagles make up in athleticism. Coach Williams refers to his team as athlete, after athlete, after athlete. “All of our girls are real athletic, determined, and confident players. On the back end we are young. We expect big minutes from Akira Robinson, she’ll be a sophomore, had some junior high minutes, and she’s growing. When her confidence gets there she’ll be ready. She’s six foot, Alyssa Komp is six foot, and Jacee Hart is six foot. Karsyn Tencleve is a good left-handed sophomore and we expect big minutes out of her. We have stressed that we should be 8, 9, 10 deep this year. Some nights we will play 7, some nights 8, 9, just whatever we need to play. This team is young, and there are 8 or 9 girls that could start.”

The young Lady Eagles will play in a loaded conference this year that is also a veteran conference. “With our youth we are going to be up and down this year. We’re going to take some bumps along the way, but we’re going to be a lot better at the end of the year than we are right now. We are going to make a lot of mistakes early, that is just the transition (from volleyball to basketball). There is going to be several sophomores and juniors on the court at anytime. We’re trying to keep it simple. We expect a whole bunch of minutes from sophomore Jacee Hart, one of the best shots on the team, can shoot it from anywhere.” Coach Williams mentioned Lamar, Fountain Lake, and Jessieville as teams that will be competing for playoff births. The Lady Eagles, even with their youth and inexperience, cannot be counted out. Paris should improve as the season progresses. The goal is to be playing the best basketball of the season at postseason tournament time.

Coach Williams really likes this team for their attitude and work ethic in practice. “This is the highest energy bunch, the best attitude bunch I have been around. I have these girls since they have been in junior high and they have learned to adapt to me, so, it’s a good bunch.”

When I asked Coach Williams about the upcoming conference, he thought the Lady Eagles may be overlooked by the rest of the conference due to their graduation of scoring and experience from last year’s team. “I think when the rest of our conference sees 80% of our scoring gone from last year and a young team returning, they will rank us near the bottom of the conference. Lamar and Two Rivers who do not play volleyball, its basketball 360 over there. For us, after volleyball season, our game reps become very important.”

After talking to Coach Williams, I would not count out the Paris Lady Eagles just because they are young this year. The team will play a tough early season portion of their schedule, and as the young team gets minutes on the floor and the right rotations and chemistry are found going into conference play, the Lady Eagles will show up and be a tough out for any opponent.

One thing is for sure. Albeit young, there is a lot of talent on this team, combined with great attitudes, work ethic, and senior leadership. I look for the Lady Eagles to perhaps struggle a little early, but I see this team picking up momentum and being a force in the conference after the first of the calendar year.

The future for Paris girls basketball is bright. The varsity team is young and talented, and the junior high squad is equally as talented. In a future article, I will highlight the junior high team. Both teams will combine in the next 2-3 years to form a future varsity team that could be a threat to go deep into the state playoffs. Combined with a new conference in 2020-21 that will send the Lady Eagles southwest to play more local schools, with the exception of Cossatot River High School (Cove, AR), the Lady Eagles conference travel schedule will improve at the same time the team becomes more experienced. But for now, it is about a young, talented team that simply needs game experience and playing time together on the varsity level.

Paris fans, go out this season and support this young Lady Eagles team. Their hustle and growth this year will be exciting to watch!

Narcotics Investigation Yields Arrests, Guns, and Drugs

Tammy Teague

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3:24 pm

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Narcotics Investigation Yields Arrests, Guns, and Drugs

Wednesday morning, November 6, at approximately 12:30 a.m., Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted surveillance at a local motel.

The surveillance resulted in a traffic stop. Narcotic paraphernalia was located on the floor board of the vehicle in plain sight. The driver was arrested. The search and subsequent arrest resulted in nearly four ounces of methamphetamine, scales, baggies, an automatic and a semi-automatic pistol being found. All of the guns were loaded. Also seized, several thousand dollars in cash.

The driver was Christian Antonio Arroyo Flores, 23, of Tulsa. Further investigation resulted in a search warrant being obtained and executed for Flores’ hotel room. At the room, two more subjects were arrested, Emily Petty, 26, of Fort Smith and Lyndsey Martin, 18, of Fort Smith. Also found in the room was an additional ounce of methamphetamine, scales, and ledgers.

Homeland security was contacted and an ICE hold was placed on Flores.

Early Birds May Not Always Get the Deer

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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2:19 pm

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LITTLE ROCK — Some deer hunters will sit in a stand from sunup to sundown, but most hunting plans revolve around spending a few hours at the beginning of the day before taking a break to eat and rest, then revisiting their hunting site in late afternoon and sitting until the sun goes down. Both early morning and late evening seem to be prime time for deer hunting, but which one is best?

According to Jeremy Brown, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Assistant Deer Coordinator, most hunters tend to say they have more success during their afternoon hunts than they do during morning hunts, but that may be a result of hunter preference.

“Most hunters tend to go more often in the afternoons than in the morning,” Brown said. “It’s just more comfortable. It’s going to be during the warmer part of the day, and you don’t have to wake up extra early and try to find your stand in the dark. Because more hunting time is put in during the afternoon, more deer are seen then.”

Brown says deer, by nature, tend to be more active during dusk and dawn time periods, but that doesn’t mean they don’t move at all during the day.

“During the early season and late season, when deer movements are based on feeding areas, both bucks and does are going to get up, eat and drink every 4 to 6 hours, regardless of the time of day,” Brown said. “They definitely move more during the morning and evening, but there’s always a chance to catch a deer milling about, especially near thick areas where they have more cover.”

Around the second week of November, deer movement increases dramatically, thanks to the white-tailed deer’s breeding season. Bucks that normally would stick to a morning and evening routine lose their sense of time and spend their days searching out receptive does.

“Any given doe is only going to be in estrus for about 24-48 hours, so bucks are constantly moving to find them,” Brown said. “If she isn’t bred during that one- to two-day window, it will be another 28 days or so before she comes back into estrus. Having balanced sex ratios in the area you hunt will help increase rutting activity and provide more opportunities to catch a buck roaming during daylight hours.”

During November, Brown still spends more time in the deer woods during the afternoon than mornings, but it’s more a matter of convenience and when he’s able to take a few hours off work to enjoy a hunt.

“If I have my choice, I’m going to stay out as long as possible during the rut,” Brown said. “You can’t get them if you’re not out there, and there’s no telling when a good mature buck will cross your path when the rut is on.”

From the Mayor’s Desk: City of Hartford

News

Tammy Teague

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1:51 pm

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The county-wide cleanup was Saturday, October 12 and went great. The citizens of Hartford and the surrounding area brought 26 loads to the city pick-up point along with nine loads that city employees (mostly Jesse Keeth) picked up for the elderly citizens who have a difficult time doing the work or are lacking a truck or trailer.

The City of Hartford has started brush hogging the alleyways like I mentioned last month. But please don’t forget that from now on the ditches and alleyways will be the responsibility of the property owners.

The city wide clean up plans are still in effect and the first of November we will start in Ward 2.

I want to thank everybody for their cooperation and all of the positive comments from property owners.

-Larry Hall, Mayor

Special Election Set for Dec. 10

Resident News Network

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12:45 pm

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Greenwood Mayor, Doug Kinslow has announced a series of town hall meetings to discuss a tax to offer the town some traffic relief, the next meeting will be held on November 19 and at City Hall. “I want to get people to understand as much as possible what the bond issue is,” said Kinslow. “So that when they walk in the door they know what they are voting for.”

Kinslow explained that the vote will not be for a new tax, but to extend an existing tax that was originally passed to build the police station that sits on Old Hackett Road. The extension, if passed on Dec. 10, will extend the tax 35 years and generate approximately 6.2 million dollars. The total cost of the bypass project is 33 million and, if everything goes as planned, will take between two to three years.

Greenwood is one of the fastest growing cities in the state and as a result traffic through town particularly in the mornings and evenings has become a concern. Kinslow has been working on a plan to reroute much of that traffic that flows on highway 10 during peak hours since taking office.

The proposed bypass would go from the intersection of hwy. 96 and East Center, divert it to the South, through Dr. James Burgess’s property, and empty that traffic onto hwy. 10. The plan also proposes the extension of Main Street down to the new bypass. Kinslow stated that Dr. Burgess has agreed to sell the needed property to the city for phase one of the project. Phase two would the widening of Highway 10 from the area near the Pink Bud Nursing home to Hwy. 71

More than just traffic relief a bypass will ensure that emergency services can reach the east side of town in the event that a bridge were to be damaged or an accident were to block the way for police, fire or ems.

According to a report by the Arkansas Department of Transportation commuting trends in the study area revealed that over 60 percent of workers in Greenwood travel daily to employers in the Fort Smith area. Furthermore, over 1,500 residents east of Adamson Creek travel through Greenwood to employers in the Fort Smith area.

Construction of a Greenwood bypass has been discussed for many years. The 1996 Greenwood Master Street Plan considered such a project as /(necessary for the continued orderly industrial growth and development on the south side of Highway 10.” Greenwood Bypass Study, adopted by the Commission in 2007, provided several alignments for a potential Highway 10 bypass. According to the study the lack of connectivity results in high traffic volumes on Highway 10. This causes long peak hour delays and makes employment in Fort Smith more difficult to access. “In future years, delays are expected to further increase along with the duration of peak periods,” states the report. In future years, volumes are expected to exceed capacity at the intersection of Highway 10 Spur and Highway 71. Southbound traffic on Highway 71 turning left at Highway 10 Spur currently yields to northbound traffic before turning. As traffic volumes increase, these turns will become increasingly difficult to make, leading to long delays on Highway 71. Bridges A review of the pavement and bridge conditions was conducted for Highways 10 and 10 Spur to determine if any deficiencies are present. The International Roughness Index (IRI), crack rating, and rutting were used to evaluate the pavement. The pavement for both routes is considered poor, and therefore qualifies for preventative maintenance according to the Department’s Preventative Maintenance Plan. No bridge sufficiency ratings were low enough to warrant replacement. Pedestrians and bicycles Presently, the only sidewalks on Highway 10 are within the Central Business District (CBD).

A multi-use trail is provided in the neighborhoods surrounding the CBD. The City of Greenwood Master Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Plan includes an expanded system of trails to serve most neighborhoods, including a trail crossing of Adamson Creek. Improvement alternative

A bypass would: Provide a second route across Adamson Creek, system connectivity through Greenwood and southeastern Sebastian County would be greatly improved. Residents would have an improved route to reach employment opportunities, and the risk of a temporary roadway closure would be lessened. The new route would divert most through traffic and some local traffic from Highway 10 through the CBD. This diversion would ensure adequate operations on existing Highways 10.l

In 2016 the Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization predicted that the largest population growth in the area is expected to be in Greenwood with a 153 percent projected increase by the year 2040. All this adds up to a population of approximately 24,495 by 2040, which is shocking considering that the current number is just 9,666. A bypass will not only get the traffic moving through town but may open up new areas of the city to the south for the development of not only residential but commercial properties in Greenwood.

The final town hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 5, at 6pm.

These meetings will be open to the public and will be an opportunity for citizens, and any interested party, to be updated and informed on the upcoming December 10^,special election regarding the bond issues to finance the traffic relief project in Greenwood. These meetings are for discussion only and are non-voting meetings.

Mayor Kinslow is also scheduled to meet with Focus on Greenwood at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. in the Farmers Bank Community Room.

Ty’s Story: Former Charleston Great Ty Storey Returns to Razorback Stadium to Play His Former Team, Part 1

Sports

Resident News Network

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3:55 am

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Ty’s Story: Former Charleston Great Ty Storey Returns to Razorback Stadium to Play His Former Team, Part 1

Note to Readers: This is part one of a five part series on Ty Storey’s return to Fayetteville to play against his former team as quarterback of Western Kentucky University. The series will conclude on November 10, the day after the Razorbacks game with Western Kentucky. The Resident Press would like to thank Ty Storey, Steve Cox, the University of Arkansas, the University of Tulsa, Western Kentucky University, and others for making this series possible.

On Saturday, November 9, former Charleston and Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Ty Storey will return to Fayetteville as quarterback of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. The Razorbacks play Western Kentucky at Donald W. Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium, and after having transferred from Arkansas last spring, Ty Storey will face his former teammates.

As intriguing as this match-up is, it is not the first time a former Charleston great has returned to Fayetteville to play against his former team. In 1976, albeit in reverse of Storey’s circumstances, former Charleston football player Steve Cox enrolled at the University of Tulsa. Although he had hoped to play for the Razorbacks, he was not recruited by Arkansas. The Razorbacks had All-American kicker and punter Steve Little, and Little had two years remaining on his eligibility. The Razorbacks wanted Cox to walk-on, but Tulsa had recruited Cox aggressively, and Cox chose Tulsa as a place where he could play immediately. As irony would have it, Tulsa played Arkansas his freshman year in 1976. On that September day, Cox kicked three field goals against the Razorbacks to defeat Arkansas 9-3. In 1977, he would face the Razorbacks one more time. The Hogs and their new head football coach, Lou Holtz, would win that day and it was the start of a season that would be Cox’s last at Tulsa. Cox transferred to Arkansas in the spring of 1978. Due to NCAA rules governing student athlete transfers, Cox sat out of the 1978 season, paid his way to school, and waited until he was eligible to play for Arkansas in 1979. He had two years of eligibility remaining when Arkansas awarded him an athletic scholarship to play for the Razorbacks. Cox played under Arkansas head coach Lou Holtz where he was utilized as a punter, a kicker on kickoffs, and a kicker on long field goal attempts. He and other members of the 1979 Razorback football team were honored at Razorback stadium on November 2 as part of the on-field recognition of the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Razorback team that finished the season as tri-champions of the Southwest Conference and played Alabama in the 1980 Sugar Bowl.

Ty Storey’s journey can best be characterized as the opposite scenario compared to Steve Cox. Storey was highly recruited from Charleston high school after setting multiple school and state records during his career with the Tigers. Alabama, Auburn, Louisville and others recruited Storey. Ty chose the Razorbacks his junior year of high school and was an early enrollee at Arkansas in January of what would have been his senior year at Charleston High School. Ty was an outstanding basketball and baseball player, as well, and he gave up those sports his senior year to enroll at Arkansas in January to get an early start on his academic work and to get an early start in the football program. Ty committed fully to be a Razorback.

According to the 2018 Arkansas football media guide, Ty Storey was “an early enrollee who was a consensus four-star prospect by Rivals, ESPN, Scout, and 24/7 Sports. He was the number 6 pro-style quarterback in the nation, number 3 player in Arkansas, and number 165 in the Rivals250 according to Rivals. ESPN listed him as the number 7 player in Arkansas and number 19 pocket passer quarterback in the country. Storey led Charleston to two 3A state championships, earning state championship MVP as both a junior and a senior. Storey was a member of a third Charleston state championship team as a freshman linebacker in 2011. He ended his high school career with 29 consecutive wins, 12,856 yards passing and 154 touchdown passes. The 12,856 yards passing ranks third all-time in Arkansas, and the 154 touchdown passes ranks second all-time in the state. Storey was named Gatorade Arkansas Football Player of the Year in back to back years.”

Storey was recruited by Bret Bielema, but as the years went by, Bielema was eventually fired and current head coach Chad Morris took over at Arkansas. Storey played in an alternating role at quarterback for the Razorbacks in 2018. He was known for his fierce competitive spirit and his toughness with the frequent punishment and hits that he took behind a very poor offensive line.

At the end of the 2018 season, it was apparent that Chad Morris was focused on bringing in transfer quarterbacks for immediate, short term help, as well as recruiting high school quarterbacks for the long term. Storey entered the NCAA transfer portal in the spring of 2019 and eventually transferred to Western Kentucky University.

And just as fate had it in Steve Cox’s time when the the Tulsa schedule included Arkansas his first year, the Western Kentucky schedule includes a game with the Razorbacks on November 9, and Ty Storey will have the same chance against Arkansas that his predecessor Steve Cox had in 1976. Two Charleston Tigers who seem to have a commonality with history and the University of Arkansas.

This week, Resident Press is publishing a five-part series starting today through Sunday, November 10 chronicling the journeys of Cox and Storey, their parallels and their differences in their transfer experiences, and both to and from the University of Arkansas. The series will document the experiences of both Ty Storey and Steve Cox, and how Razorback Stadium has become a crossroads of destiny for the two Charleston greats. But, perhaps more importantly, it is a story of the people of Charleston, and the important roles they have played in both players’ lives.

I had the pleasure of interviewing both Steve Cox and Ty Storey, and you will not want to miss their interviews. Both players are proud of their Charleston heritage, and both were proud to play for the University of Arkansas. In a time where college athletes do not always behave or seem to appreciate the opportunities that have been given to them, Ty Storey and Steve Cox are a breath of fresh air.

Both players have two things in common; they both played their high school football in Charleston, Arkansas, and both are and forever will be Tigers. One is a story of great success during and after college, and the other is a story that is yet to be written or concluded. “Ty’s Story” will conclude the day after the Arkansas vs. Western Kentucky game and will include game coverage and photos. You will not want to miss it!

Today is the 150th anniversary of the game of college football. On this date in 1869, Princeton and Rutgers played their historic first college football game. Ever since that historic November day, fans of the game have followed their teams and collegiate heroes across this great nation. “Ty’s Story” is about two college football heroes who had their start in the same small, western Arkansas town. It is also about and for the people of Charleston, Arkansas. I hope you enjoy it.

Tomorrow, in the second installment of the “Ty’s Story”, Steve Cox tells his story.

Local Century Farms Honored

News

Tammy Teague

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5:10 pm

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Governor Asa Hutchinson and Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward inducted 46 Arkansas farms into the Arkansas Century Farm Program at the State Capitol on Monday, October 28th. Among those, two from Scott County and one from Sebastian County.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Century Farm Program recognizes the state’s rich agricultural heritage and honors families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years.

The Beaty Old Homeplace, established in 1889, and Sehorn Farms, established in 1919, were two of the Century Farms honored in Scott County. The Reding Farm, established in 1886, was honored as a Century Farm in Sebastian County.

“Thanks to all who came out to support farmers and the Arkansas Century Farms Program,” proclaimed Hutchinson.

In order to qualify as a Century Farm, the legal owner of the property must apply for the program. The farm must have been owned by the same family for 100 years or more by the end of the calendar year. Also, the land under consideration must be 10 acres or more of the original farm and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

Auditor of State Andrea Lea said “Congratulations to the 2019 Arkansas Century Farm Inductees. Thank you for your contributions to the agriculture industry. You are part of what makes Arkansas a great state!”

Century-Farm-honored — District 21 State Representative Marcus Richmond joins Governor Asa Hutchinson in honoring the Sehorn family.

Applications for Arkansas Governor’s School Now Open

Networks

Tammy Teague

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4:29 pm

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Applications for Arkansas Governor’s School Now Open

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (November 5, 2019)–Eligible individuals interested in attending the 41st Arkansas Governor’s School as a student may apply online.

Details and the application form are available at www.atu.edu/ags. More information may be acquired by sending e-mail to ags@atu.edu.

Deadline to apply to be an Arkansas Governor’s School student in summer 2020 is Jan. 21, 2020.

Arkansas Tech University will host the 41st Arkansas Governor’s School July 5-Aug. 1, 2020, in Russellville.

“Students selected to attend will enjoy a once-in-lifetime summer program designed to spark their curiosity, engage them intellectually with other students and teachers from around the state and explore scholarly and artistic concepts in fun, grade-free environment,” said Dr. Robin Lasey, director of Arkansas Governor’s School.

Founded in 1979 by Gov. Bill Clinton, Arkansas Governor’s School serves 400 selected students from around the state during the summer before their senior year in high school.

Student applicants should demonstrate the intellectual, social and emotional maturity required to thrive in an environment that emphasizes the application of theory in addressing contemporary issues. Students will apply in one of nine disciplines: visual art, choral music, instrumental music, drama, English/language arts, mathematics, natural science, social science or cybersecurity.

Call (479) 968-0391 for more information.

Sheriff Seeks Partnership with Cities

Tammy Teague

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1:54 pm

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It’s the voice you hear on the phone at the height of distress. It’s an emergency, and the person on the other end of the phone is well-trained, professional and ready to assist. They are Sebastian County 9-1-1 dispatchers, and are the go-between you and emergency service providers.

What happens when these dispatchers are over worked, stretched thin, morale is low and turn over is high?

Unfortunately, that is the current situation within the dispatch center of Sebastian County. “Over the years the dispatch center has gotten busier and busier,” shared Sebastian County Sheriff Hobe Runion. In fact, since 2014, there has been a 20 percent increase in the volume of calls. “We’ve continued to get busier, we’ve got to the point where we’re inundated with traffic.”

Originally, a fee was added to landline phone owners for 9-1-1 services. Due to the shift to cell phones, legislators passed HB1564, making financial provisions for 2020. Runion admitted that this will have a positive impact, but cannot say with certainty how much until it goes into affect, January 1, 2020.

“With where we are at now…we are unique in that we have 10 cities and 17 fire departments that we are dispatching for. We are just covered up. We are obligated morally, ethically and legally to dispatch emergency services. We are not obligated to dispatch non- emergency services and calls. We just generally have. We’re glad to be able to do it, but at a certain point and time, it impacts our ability, or could impact our ability, to provide emergency services. That is my concern.”

As a result, Runion is seeking to partner with cities like Barling, Bonanza, Central City, Greenwood, Hackett, Hartford, Huntington, Lavaca, Mansfield and Midland. With this partnership, cities would contribute funds annually based on population to hire two additional full-time dispatchers.

“We just don’t have the revenue in the county…Our county is currently funded through property taxes. And if you live in a city, the vast majority of that goes to them. So, we don’t receive that…”

Runion stated that they will continue to provide emergency services regardless of the willingness of each city. However, without the cooperation of the municipalities, services will be scaled back. “I’m looking at cutting back some of the services we’re providing, and quite honestly a lot of them are services that people take for granted.” For example, if a small town has a police officer working 40 hours, then the other 128 hours a week is covered by the county. Additionally, city police departments currently rely on the county for call forwarding. If no one is available within a city’s department, the call is automatically forwarded to the county. Without an agreement, these and other services would no longer be provided.

Runion stated that he is uncertain about the future of the proposal, noting that three cities have already agreed. He is rallying at city council meetings throughout the month of November trying to drum up support. “The cities have an obligation to their citizens, and if they don’t want to contribute to this, I’m going to have to cut back on some services…we will no longer be able to provide the level of services that they have been accustom too.”

He recognizes that this should have been done in the 1990’s, but it’s not popular. “It’s hard for the sheriff to ask cities for money...But it is what is right for the citizens of Sebastian County and the employees of the dispatch center. I want to partner with the cities, I need help. Incorporated cities have a responsibility to provide a service to their citizens. I feel like them not contributing to this, they are abdocating their responsibility to their citizens.“

The proposal seeks the following funding for the dispatch center:
Barling- $14,514
Bonanza- $1,795
Central- $1,567
Greenwood- $27,948
Hackett- $2,535
Hartford- $2,004
Huntington- $1,982
Lavaca- $7,146
Mansfield- $2,257
Midland- $1015

Huntington Mayor Gary Lawrence has declined to support Runion’s proposal, citing lack of city funds.

“I truly want to be a partner to these cities,” concluded Runion, as he vowed to continue working for the citizens of the county.

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RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK