July 20, 2011 Edition

Also in this issue...

WR sells fire truck

Gloria Wilkerson
Staff Writer

The Walnut Ridge City Council discussed selling equipment and upcoming and ongoing projects during their meeting on July 11.

A fire equipment distributor in Wisconsin has bought the fire truck the city put up for sale several weeks ago. The truck was donated to the city by the Walnut Ridge Airport earlier this year to use, sell or sell for scrap metal. The city received $9,200 for the truck, and the purchaser will be responsible for transporting it to Wisconsin.

A problem has arisen with the title of ownership to the city's airplane, which the council plans to sell. The city's name was never placed on the plane's FAA registration after the city purchased it. Aldermen Ed Lawson and Michael "Button" Wallin are working to get the plane properly registered and the discrepancy cleared up, according to Mayor Don House.

Mayor House told the council that the top officials from Integrated Renewal Resources, the railroad tie plant that hopes to locate in the Walnut Ridge/Hoxie area, were in town on July 8.

"They were here for the purpose of expediting their location here," Mayor House said. "Everything continues to move forward with plans for the plant, but there are a lot of hurdles still to cross that take time. No major problems are foreseen at this time."

AEDC to visit WR

Mayor House also informed the council that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission plans to visit the Walnut Ridge/Hoxie area, as well as Randolph and Clay counties, on Aug. 3-4. They will visit planned and current industrial sites in the area while they are here.

Their visit will allow each area to show them what Northeast Arkansas has to offer for future business and industry developments, as well as the quality of life people here enjoy. A reception in their honor has been tentatively set for 3 p.m. on August 3 at First National Bank in Walnut Ridge.

"This, to our knowledge, is the first time the entire commission has visited Walnut Ridge," House said.

In other business:

the council learned the city, the airport commission and the Lawrence County Judge will be working together the last two weeks of July to improve the roads and other aspects in the industrial area of the airport.
aldermen learned that the drainage project for the east and west sides of town are nearing completion, with final inspection scheduled for July 27.
Mayor House presented certificates of recognition to Clarissa Zimmerman and Celena Pugh for participating in the Shadow the Mayor for a Day Program. Clarissa will be a ninth grader at Walnut Ridge High School in the fall, and Celena will enter the sixth grade. The girls attended the council meeting and enjoyed a ride in a fire truck after receiving their certificates.

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