NO DECISION, YET – Major General William D. Wofford, Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard, center, speaks with Sevier County Judge Greg Ray, second from right, and De Queen Mayor Billy Ray McKelvy during a meeting held on Jan. 31 at the De Queen National Guard Armory. The Guard may close the armory this year.
Top commanders with the Arkansas National Guard said the fate of the De Queen National Guard Readiness Center is still undecided during a meeting held in De Queen on Jan. 31.
The meeting was held between Arkansas National Guard Adjutant General Major General William D. Wofford and his staff as well as local government officials to discuss the status of the Readiness Center - known locally as the National Guard Armory.
According to Colonel Keith Klemmer, Chief of Staff to the Arkansas National Guard Adjutant General, changing demographics and rising costs have motivated the National Guard to consider closing the De Queen base and several other so-called Readiness Centers around the state.
“One of the key issues is demographics, population centers have shifted around the state and right now we’re drawing a lot of our recruits right now from the Hot Springs and Ft. Smith area,” Klemmer said.
He added that increasing maintanence and operations costs are also factors in the proposed consolidation. Last year the Department of Defense spent over $18,000 on maintenance to the De Queen facility, located across the highway from the city park, as well as $9,000 in utility costs.
If the consolidation is authorized, the two full-time workers and roughly 22 soldiers reporting to the De Queen base would report to the facility in Mena, according to Klemmer.
He said the building will most likely be given back to the city, which donated use of the building to the National Guard in 1964. Klemmer added that several third-party groups have contact the Guard about the possible use of the building if the local Guard unit is consolidated.
De Queen Mayor Billy Ray McKelvy said the loss will still have an impact on this community, even if it only means the loss of two full-time jobs.
To read the complete article, please see the Feb. 2 edition of The De Queen Bee.
Feb 2, 2012, 10:53
CONTESTANTS in this year’s De Queen High School Pageant are, from left to right, Shely Davis, Rachel Murry, Kelsie Emerson, Kamilla Taylor, Randee Allen, Kolbie Tollett, Marisol Escamilla, Brooke Rose and Kaylee Boyles. The pageant will be held on Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Admission is $5 and proceeds will benefit the junior class.
State lawmakers and forestry commission officials say they are getting closer to restoring the 20 commission firefighting positions eliminated last November, including one of just two such positions in Sevier County.
Sevier and Howard County state representative Nate Steel said on Jan. 31 that the Joint Budget Committee voted to include a proposal to restore the positions in the forestry commission's proposed 2013 budget.
"This is a solid first step in getting Sevier County another forestry ranger," he said.
The Arkansas Forestry Commission - which heads forest fire suppression efforts in the state - announced in November that it would have to layoff 36 employees by Jan. 13, 2012, including David Krantz - one of only two forestry commission employees in Sevier County.
Although the layoffs will affect the fire suppression efforts of numerous counties, local officials fear Sevier County will suffer the hardest with only one ranger in the county. Indeed, two weeks ago De Queen firefighters had to wait over an hour for a forestry commission crew to respond with a dozer to a fire near Bellah Mine Road.
The sole remaining Sevier County forestry ranger was on vacation at the time, and De Queen firefighters had to contact a commission crew from Little River for assistance in battling the forest fire. It took the crew an hour and a half to respond to the fire.
"It's not even fire season yet, so just imagine how long we'll have to wait when Little River County's got their own fires to fight," said Sevier County Judge Greg Ray.
Hopefully local firefighters won't have to wait long, said Steel, if the commission and lawmakers find additional revenue to restore the laid-off firefighters.
"Sevier County's been placed on the top of the list as far as restoring these positions," Steel said. "If any of these positions are restored, I'm confident Sevier County will be the first as it has been deemed most in-need for an additional forestry ranger."
To read the complete article, please see the Feb. 2 edition of The De Queen Bee.
Feb 2, 2012, 10:46
Simmons announces candidacy for sheriff
BENNY SIMMONS
DE QUEEN – Benny Simmons of Sevier County announced today that he will seek the elected position of Sevier County Sheriff and Tax Collector in the May 22 Democratic Primary.
Simmons is seeking the office after more than 20 years with the Sevier County Sheriff's Office. In those two decades he has earned a reputation of fairness and utmost professionalism.
"I see the office of Sevier County Sheriff as a chance to build a stronger community, and I believe with my past experiences in law enforcement and my familiarity with this community, I would be an asset to the people of Sevier County," said Simmons. "It would be a great honor to serve our community in this capacity."
He is seeking the position held by the incumbent sheriff, Monte Stringfellow.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to serve Sevier County as its sheriff. I want to ensure our deputies and jail staff are trained and held to the highest professional standards," he said.
"I also believe it is vital to maintain good working relations between all local and state law enforcement agencies. In this time of cutbacks and limited resources, we must all work together to guarantee the safety of Sevier County's citizens and the health of our community."
Before serving with the Sevier County Sheriff's Office, Simmons worked 21 years as a supervisor for a large ranch corporation. In this capacity he commonly supervised more than a dozen personnel at a time and developed the leadership skills necessary to run an efficient team.
Simmons has received numerous citations for leadership skills, conduct and discipline since serving with the sheriff's office as a sergeant. He has been recognized by the De Queen/Sevier County Chamber for going "above and beyond" in his duties.
He has also received several good samaritan and meritorious conduct awards, including a citation for his discipline in apprehending a suspect during a 2001 shootout in Sevier County.
Simmons said his philosophy during 20 years of law enforcement experience has always been one of professionalism and fairness.
"My mother taught me to always treat others like we wanted to be treated if we were in their shoes," he said. "I believe that whether you are a preacher, deputy or any public servant, you have to be held to a higher standard. You must act as a role model for your community even when you're not wearing the uniform."
Simmons lives in Provo with his wife, Melanie, of 45 years. The couple have two children, one of which is an investigator with the De Queen Police Department, as well as seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They are members of the McHorse Missionary Baptist Church in Lockesburg.
Besides serving as a Master Mason at the Belleville Masonic Lodge in Lockesburg, Simmons is also a member of the Buffalo Gap Lodge.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding Sevier County, contact Simmons at (870) 584-8010 to discuss the issues.
The public is also welcome to attend a fish fry fundraiser for Simmons on March 10 at the Provo Community Building. Feb 2, 2012, 09:51
Changing hands: Figueroa will be chamber’s youngest and first Hispanic president
TAKING OVER – Rafael Figueroa, owner of Figueroa Insurance Agency in De Queen, will become the next chamber of commerce president during the organizations annual membership banquet next month.
While the 2012 De Queen/Sevier County Chamber of Commerce Banquet will officially mark the end of President Angie Walker's term, the event will also mark the official first day of incoming president Rafael Figueroa, who at only 26-years-old will become the chamber's youngest president, as well as the first Hispanic to take the position.
Figueroa, owner of Figueroa Insurance Agency in De Queen, will officially take over during the banquet on Feb. 21. Although he was born in Mexico City, Mexico, Figueroa has lived in De Queen since he was a year old and considers Sevier County his only home.
"I went to school here, graduated from here, married here and had my kids here and there's no other place I'd like to be," said Figueroa.
Figueroa will take over the chamber with a wealth of business experience, despite his relatively young age.
His mother and father operated a dairy distribution company in Mexico City, and while it provided the family with a decent living it also brought them much stress. Figueroa said his father would be regularly robbed on his way to or from work.
"He got tired of having everything he earned stolen from him, so he decided to move the family to the United States," Figueroa explained.
After moving to the U.S., his parents started working at Pilgrims' and eventually raised enough money to open a new business in De Queen, a furniture store on Stilwell Avenue.
For Figueroa, his parent's entrepreneurship instilled him with a sense of pride for small business owners and the work it takes to be one.
"Helping them at an early age really helped me develop a love to do work with my own hands and to make money for myself," he said.
To read the complete story, please see the Jan. 26 edition of The De Queen Bee.
