June 2023

The Commissioner of State Lands Office will begin auctions this year with a major change. Effective July 1, owners of delinquent parcels will not be able to redeem parcels sold at a tax-delinquent auction.

The Corning School Board met in a special called meeting on June 26, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. in the board room with four members present. Kenny Francis was unable to attend. The board approved an office remodel project at the CMS/CHS campus from Smith-Presson Construction for $46,600. This office remodel is part of ongoing school safety improvements for the district school safety plan recommended by the School Safety Commission and the Safe Schools Initiative. This office will be located at the front of the campus where it is easily accessible to visitors and will be a single, secure visitor point of entrance with a secure vestibule. The area will also house the School Resource Officer. Once the project is completed, principals from both campuses will provide the new check-in/check-out procedures and visitor information to all parents and guardians before the first day of school. There being no further business, President Scobey adjourned the meeting.

Black River Area Development Corporation (BRAD) announces Summer Energy Assistance will begin accepting applications on Monday July 10, 2023. Applications will be accepted until it appears funds will be depleted. Residents of Clay, Lawrence, and Randolph Counties must apply for energy assistance at the BRAD Agency in the county which they live. Applications have been mailed to households who were pre-determined by the State of Arkansas Human Services Food Stamp Program to be Elderly & or Disabled. Those applications should be completed, signed and returned to the agency in the envelope provided with the application as soon as the application is received. The three criteria necessary to determine eligibility for Regular Assistance and Crisis Assistance as determined by the State of Arkansas Department of Human Services are: Identification of all adults in the household (all adults must provide a verifiable ID and documentation of their social security number. Residency (the applicant must apply for assistance in the county where they live). Income (a household’s income cannot exceed the income guideline established by the State of Arkansas) and Resources (excluding their home or car, cannot exceed the guidelines for household resources). All applicants must provide proof of income for everyone 18 years of age and older residing in the home. The proof of income must pertain to the month prior to the application. Persons employed must provide all check stubs for the month prior to application. Applicants must provide both electric and gas bills for the applicant’s household unless the home is all electric. Verification of Identity for the person making application must be verified at the time of application. The identity of the head of household must be verified, such as driver’s license, birth certificate and or paychecks containing the name of the person. Applicants must provide social security numbers and birthdates for all household members. Eligibility canno