August 2024

QC holds August meeting

The August meeting of the Clay County Quorum Court consisted of a short agenda as justices met in Corning at the Western District Courthouse on Monday, August 19, 2024. Justices Brad Green and David Cagle were not in attendance. After the meeting began with its usual procedures, it advanced with the business slated for the monthly meeting. Under New Business, the quorum court passed Ordinance 2024-05 an appropriation ordinance to amend the 2024 Clay County annual budget, Ordinance 2023-23 and amendments there too to appropriate professional development recognition payments and for other purposes. Following the passage of Ordinance 2024-05, the panel adopted its emergency clause.

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Extension Service hosts fish fry and interpretative event

Prior to the August Quorum Court meeting on Monday, Aug. 19, the Clay County justices and county administration met at 5:30 p.m. at the Black River Trap and Skeet Club where Stewart Runsick and Christin Holmes presented the annual Clay County Extension Service interpretive event and fish fry. Attendees enjoyed a fish dinner with trimmings prepared by Jim Clifton and Todd Watson. The Extension agents highlighted some of the programs and provided training on the Overview of Clay County Revenues and Expenses & Role of County Government. Extension agent Ben Holcomb was also in attendance.

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Full Circle

Words spoken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his inaugural address. We, at that time, maybe only thought there was a possibility that we had something to fear. That fear would come to a head on December 7, 1941, when we were plunged into a worldwide war by an attack at our naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Fear is a controlling factor, one that has motivated people as well as the lower animals since the beginning of life on our world. Kerry and I have a dog, he is a very good boy, and his name is Elliot. He is somewhere near 10 years old or more. He has been in our life for a bit over 9 years. Elliot has known great fear in his life. He works every day and has for those 9 years to overcome his fears. I doubt that he ever will. But tonight, I watched him as he lay on the daybed in the living room watching TV, with his buddy, Spirit, whom, I might add, was his rescuer. But tonight, he was lying at Kerry’s feet with his butt snuggled into her calf and her other leg folded against his back, and he was so content and relaxed. His butt and back were covered. I wonder how many of us never reach that contentment of having our ‘back and butt’ covered? With a dog, that is the position and place of safety and relaxation. Those are the two points that they fear will be attacked, and if they have someone to protect them there, they are content.

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Dodd garden yields giant cucumber

Joe Dodd of Knobel brought this giant cucumber by The Courier, that he just picked from his garden on Tuesday August 13th. The garden has been tended by Leah Dodd, Mike Dodd and Joe Dodd. He said he had never seen one quite this large in his lifetime. He might just enter it in the county fair.

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The Lowe Down

One of my favorite lines from the movie, “You’ve Got Mail” by Nora Ephron was sent in an email by the character Joe Fox played by Tom Hanks to Kathleen Kelly performed by actress Meg Ryan. If you’re not familiar with the 1998 movie, the pair met in a chatroom and fell in love via the Internet. Joe wrote to Kathleen, “Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.” If anyone should ever tell you that there is no power in the written word, they’ve never been touched by a song, prose, a moving eulogy, rousing political speech, sermon, book or newspaper column. If you’ve ever received a love note, then you know the thrill that writing can bring to a lovesick heart.

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BRAD forced to reassess senior meal program

Recent economic conditions have forced the Black River Area Development Corporation (BRAD) to reassess their senior meal program. The funding for this program comes through the East Arkansas Area on Aging, which has been returned to pre-pandemic levels. During the pandemic BRAD received more Federal and State funds to expand their nutrition programs, and now that the pandemic is over those funds are no longer available. Additionally, the current rate of inflation has significantly increased the cost of food, supplies, and operational expenses. BRAD Executive Director Rhonda Ahrent explained, “Despite our best efforts to absorb these costs, it has become unsustainable to maintain our meal program at its current capacity. After careful consideration and exhaustive evaluation of our budget for this program after the funding cuts, we see no option other than reducing staff and services until the funding is increased. This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the impact it may have on the individuals and families who rely on our services.”

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What You Do Really Matters

I recently wrote a 30-day devotional, Quantum Pearls: Finding Spiritual Wisdom in the Mundane Moments. Each daily devotional has a Biblical scripture that is followed by a personal story and some lesson I have gained from the scripture and story.

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State Capitol Week in Review

LITTLE ROCK – More than 3,000 families applied for Education Freedom Accounts during the first week of August, bringing the total number of applicants statewide to 15,365. The Internet portal for applications had been closed over the summer and re-opened on July 29, when about 12,000 applications had been approved.

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