Fiscal distress declared

By Jamie Brunk jamieb@nwanews.com

LITTLE ROCK ó The unanimous Arkansas State Board of Education vote came as no surprise ó the Decatur School District was officially classified as being in fiscal distress. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Trash rates could go up

By Janelle Jessen janellej@nwanews.com

DECATUR ó The rising cost of fuel could cause Decatur residents to pay more for their trash service. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

‘Save our School’ fundraiser planned

By Janelle Jessen janellej@nwanews.com

DECATUR ó A ìFun in the Park ñ Save our School Fundraiserî is planned for July 19 to help raise the money needed to keep Decatur schools open. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Farmers’ market open at Veterans Park

By Janelle Jessen janellej@nwanews.com

DECATUR ó The first farmersí market in Decatur was held last Friday in Veteranís Park. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Jack Reeves to sing at benefit for Decatur’s school system

By Janelle Jessen janellej@nwanews.com

DECATUR ó A benefit concert, featuring country western singer Jack Reeves, will be held July 19 in Veterans park as part of the Fun in the Park ñ Save our School Fundraiser. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Barbecue activities planned

By Janelle Jessen janellej@nwanews.com

DECATUR ó The application deadline for the Miss Decatur Barbecue Pageant and the Tiny Tot Contest has been moved to July 24 and plans for the annual fun run and parade have been set. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Gentry considers Decatur annexation

By Randy Moll randym@nwanews.com

GENTRY ó A forced annexation of the Decatur School District into a neighboring district yet this summer was not viewed by the Gentry School Board as beneficial for students. When the Arkansas State Board of Education makes its decision July 31 regarding annexing Decatur Schools into a contingent district, there would be little time for students or staff to prepare. Gentry teachers return to prepare for classes August 7, and Decatur students would have only about two weeks before classes are set to begin. The Decatur School District was categorized as in fiscal distress by the state board on Monday. The state board, at its Monday meeting, also declined to force the Greenland School District to annex into a neighboring district. Greenlandís school board relinquished its authority to the state in order to keep the district open. In regard to the Arkansas Department of Education recommendation that Decaturís school district be annexed into a contingent school district, the state board could do nothing but leave t - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Decatur pet owners urged to follow city’s ordinances

By Janelle Jessen janellej@nwanews.com

DECATUR ó Police chief Terry Luker wants to make sure pet owners in Decatur are aware of city ordinances and take preventative measures before their animals get into trouble. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Norman completes NACA academy

By Randy Moll randym@nwanews.com

GENTRY ó Warren ìBudî Norman, the cityís animal control officer, recently graduated from the National Animal Control Association Training Academy in Little Rock. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Students plan fundraisers to save Decatur’s schools

By Janelle Jessen janellej@nwanews.com

DECATUR ó Students, with the help of parents and community members, are working hard to help raise the money needed to keep Decatur schools open. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Police Beat

By Keith Smith Gentry Police Chief

Welcome Readers, Today I had several topics to cover, sort of an ìinformational buffet,î if you will. However, something new came to me this morning and I felt it to be an important law enforcement issue. I saw in the Northwest Section of the Democrat-Gazette, where two examples of ìquestionable hiresî were covered. I certainly feel for the agencies involved, and I also understand the position they are in with respect to their employee. Having read the article in question, I felt a need to expand on the topic and perhaps shed some light on how hiring police officers takes place and even make a suggestion or two. Background checks on prospective ìnew hiresî are routinely conducted any time an agency in Arkansas plans to hire a new police officer. I have heard and have been monitoring certain recent events surrounding a few officers from both area and distant police agencies. According to news articles I have read, and having some knowledge of how other local agencies process prospective new hires, background c - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Herndon concert tickets being sold by merchants

By Randy Moll randym@nwanews.com

GENTRY ó The Main Street Gentry Chamber of Commerce has announced that a Ty Herndon concert will be a featured event at the Oct. 11 Fall Festival. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008