May 14, 2008 Edition

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Library to move

Leslie Ginn
Staff Writer

On Monday night, Lawrence County Quorum Court members approved a library contract resolution that outlines the details of the main Lawrence County Library moving to occupy part of the Lawrence County Community Building.

The county would then use the present library building, located on Highway 412. According to the resolution, the county must use the building for county purposes only.

Each entity will be responsible for maintenance on their parts of the buildings, including utilities, heating and air-conditioning. The exception will be that the county maintains the entire roof on the former Hutcherson Building. The contract will last for 25 years and can be terminated if either party breaches the conditions. There will be no rent exchanged.

The move is not expected to take place before the beginning of 2009.

Also on Monday, a resolution of support was passed encouraging the Arkansas Parks Department to build a facility to house the historical records previously removed from the Powhatan Courthouse. The records, which have not been available at Powhatan for more than five years, are now stored at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Lloyd Clark, president of the Lawrence County Historical Society, presented information regarding the facility that was to be called the Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives. It would house not only the Powhatan records dating back to 1805, but also others from surrounding areas.

"The money has already been appropriated. It will be about a million dollar facility and a great benefit to this community," Clark said.

Mike Pinkston petitioned the Quorum Court on behalf of restoring Brooms Cemetery, which includes more than 100 graves. Pinkston has adopted the project of clearing the cemetery, but needs county help in improving the road leading to it.

"Families cannot visit the gravesites and vandalism occurs because the cemetery is isolated by the poor condition of the road," Pinkston said.

In other business:

it was discussed that the proposed courtroom addition will probably need to be re-bid. Justices intend to decide on a budget for the project at the next meeting.
Patty Bradley and Doris Whitaker informed the court about standing water found for approximately a block on County Road 547 in front of property owned by the Baker, Whitaker, Bradley and Haynes families.
it was announced that Dan Caspall has been appointed to Work Force Arkansas.

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