WARREN, Ark. – Bradley County Extension Service agents gave their annual report to Bradley County Quorum Court Monday night.
Staff Chairman John Gavin and Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Michelle Carter described the various programs they and their staff had conducted.
Gavin said the County Extension Council is comprised of 20 members. In agriculture, programs were given on beef and forage producers, pesticide trainings, brucellosis vaccinations, fire ant demonstrations and trapping tomato pests.
Top photo: Extension Agent-Staff Chairman John Gavin gave an overview to the Quorum Court Monday. Photo by Tim Kessler.
He said the Bradley County Fair had a good premium sale with $25,000 raised. The Extension Service also sponsored the All-Tomato Luncheon and Tomato Packing Contest during the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival.
Carter said two archery teams were established, with one to compete on Wednesday. Broiler barbecue contests were held at the county, district and state levels. A lifeskills workshop was held in the summer. The Great Outdoors Day was held in conjunction with Calhoun and Cleveland counties. Other activities included a canning salsa workshop, University of Arkansas at Monticello planetarium visit, B-Day with guns, bait casting and bicycles, carpentry workshop, bereavement blankets, hunter’s education class, gingerbread workshop, swimming party and pumpkin workshop.
First Baptist Church added two 4-H clubs. A group went to the State Capitol and visited with state Rep. Jeff Wardlaw and state Sen. Ben Gilmore. Warren Bank and Trust sponsored the 74th annual 4-H banquet. There were several food preparation workshops and Carter trained other Extension agents. A total of $400 was donated to local charities through Extension programs.
In other action:
- Bradley County Medical Center CEO Leslie Huitt was accompanied by Administrative Assistant Brenda Bryant, Human Relations Director Brooke Hatch and Compliance Officer Leanna Williams.
Huitt explained that the hospital started on a master plan about a year ago, using a consultant team. She noted that a grandfather clause allows the hospital to be classified as a critical access hospital. However, if a new hospital is built, it would have to be located 35 miles from the nearest hospital. A new hospital or repairing the current facility are under consideration through the master plan. No decision has been made yet but Huitt invited the Quorum Court to an informational meeting at the hospital at 6 p.m. April 3.
- JP Gwen Bullard thanked the Quorum Court for their prayers during a recent medical incident. She said she had to access the hospital emergency room and “had a very pleasant experience,” thanking the hospital staff present at the meeting.
- County Judge Klay McKinney said he would bring recommendations for several pieces of business before the court during a called meeting soon.
He said county road crews picked up trash along 120 miles of county roads in the past month.
Arkansas Department of Transportation has placed 2,500 tons of milling materials on county roads. County crews have patched 25 miles of roads.
A wooden bridge on Bradley 8-South has been replaced by a 38-foot concrete bridge done for $49,500 under a contract with Southern States Construction. The last wooden bridge in the county in the Union Hill area will be replaced soon.
McKinney said work on the bell tower is almost complete. The lights on the tower can be adjusted in brightness and can be programmed in a “rainbow” of colors. Some painting and placement of computer cables is left to do. A dedication of the bell tower will be held in April.
The front property of the courthouse is being resodded. McKinney said it will be completed before the Pink Tomato Festival.
A grant will be sought to replace some window panes in the courthouse. The Old County Clerk Building will need to be rewired in the future.
McKinney and Sheriff Herschel Tillman will travel to Northwest Arkansas to view some county jails to get ideas about creating a jail in Bradley County.
- In the Sheriff’s Office report, $5,655 was collected in the Municipal Court Virtual Justice Fund in February. Circuit Court collections included $100, service fees; $695, fines; $95, Ordinance 291 (bond fund); and 28 cents, 10 percent bond account interest.
There were 21 transports totaling 1,549 miles, 56 papers served, 15 tickets/citations issued; 23 inmates currently incarcerated in other jails and one inmate on an ankle monitor. The total amount paid for housing inmates was $20,634.27 in February.
- The Tax Collector’s Office reported taxes collected in February were $1,975.64, real estate; $539.17, personal property; and 27 cents, checking account interest.
Delinquent taxes collected were $25,179.05, real estate, and $45,920.10, personal property.
With Baptist and DMH in talks, could be one more final nail in the coffin for BCMC if the appropriate upgrades aren’t made.