Around Town

2013-04-24

Around Town

For Release 12 noon Wednesday, April 24, 2013

By Billy Ray McKelvy

De Queen Mayor

Utility customers of the City of De Queen will soon see a slight increase in sanitation and sewer bills, but users who irrigate in the summer will get a break.

Sewer rates will increase $2 per month on the minimum, plus an additional 15 cents per thousand gallons on usage. For residential customers, the increase should be less than $3 per month. It was the first rate increase on sewer in eight years, the last increase being in 2005.

But the new rate ordinance restores summer sewer rates which will benefit water users who like to water lawns and gardens. Sewer bills are calculated based on the amount of water used. But water used for irrigation does not go back into the sewer system for treatment.

Now, summer sewer usage (months of April through September) will be determined by the average water consumption for the six-month period of October through March. Customers who have lived at the service address less than 12 months will still be charged for water based on water consumption until the winter average can be determined.

Even after the rate increase, De Queen’s utility bills compare very favorably with other Arkansas cities. Water and sewer customers benefit from having a large customer to share the cost of production. Last year, 71 percent of the water sold by the city was used by Pilgrim’s at its De Queen processing plant.

A notice printed on the latest water bills notifies users that the 2012 Consumer Confidence report on the water system is now available online. De Queen’s water system had no violations in 2012. You can access the report on the state health department web site at www.healthyarkansas.com. It is also available on the city’s web site at www.cityofdequeen.com.

2013-04-17

Around Town

For Release 12 noon Wednesday, April 17, 2013

By Billy Ray McKelvy

De Queen Mayor

The annual spring clean-up kept city crews busy last week.

As usual, there was a large collection of brush plus old appliances to be hauled away. But this year’s electronics drive was smaller than usual. Remember that you can dispose of old electronics any time by taking them to the trailer at the Sevier County Airport.

In addition, all kinds of paper can be dropped off at the county jail any time. There’s also a bin at the jail for plastic which is transported to the Howard County Children’s Center for recycling.

When these items are recycled, they are not buried in a landfill. Sevier County receives some revenue and saves the expense of landfill tipping fees.

Several groups participated in the Great American Clean-up. Litter has been picked up along Collin Raye Drive, Coulter Drive, Stilwell Avenue and Red Bridge Road. Litter is a continuous maintenance item and it will take everyone helping to stay ahead of the challenge.

With warm weather, mosquitoes are beginning to be a problem. The city will soon begin its spraying program for mosquito control. Although the spray can kill adult mosquitoes when they come in contact with it, these pests will never be eliminated. Preventing mosquitoes by eliminating breeding places does more good than spraying.

Citizens can do their part by eliminating standing water and cutting back overgrown vegetation and shrubs.

Some people have reported success with devices that attract and eliminate mosquitoes, but these require fuel to do their work.

In the meantime, the city’s contract sprayer will continue to makes his evening rounds.

2013-04-10

Around Town

For Release 12 noon Wednesday, April 10, 2013

By Billy Ray McKelvy

De Queen Mayor

This is spring clean-up week and the City of De Queen is encouraging all residents to clean up their property before the start of the growing season.

City employees are assisting in the effort by picking up large items, furniture and brush, plus recycling old electronics and paint at the city fire station.

The city is again conducting the Great American Clean-up and Keep Arkansas Beautiful campaign, both of which encourage volunteers and groups to pick up litter along roads and public places.

In the past, these campaigns were always scheduled for Saturday morning. But to make the clean-up campaign more convenient for volunteers, groups may choose their work area and set their own time for the project.

Cub Scouts did their part Monday evening by cleaning Stilwell Avenue from the railroad tracks to Ninth Street. A church group is going to clean Coulter Drive on Saturday.

If anyone is interested in helping to clean up along a section of street, please contact me at De Queen City Hall or call 870-584-3445. Keep Arkansas Beautiful has supplied plastic trash bags, gloves and safety vests for this effort. Participating groups need to also pick up a sign-in sheet to get a list of all members who assisted with the clean-up.

We have a limited supply of T-shirts from Keep Arkansas Beautiful for volunteers. These are available while the supply lasts.

For more information about clean-up week or Keep Arkansas Beautiful, please contact De Queen City Hall.

2013-04-03

Around Town

For Release 12 noon Wednesday, April 3, 2013

By Billy Ray McKelvy

De Queen Mayor

Spring Clean-up Week is scheduled for April 8-12 in the City of De Queen.

Clean-up weeks are scheduled spring and fall each year to help city residents clean their property for the change of seasons.

During clean-up week, city crews will be available to pick up large items and brush for disposal. These items should be placed at the curb for pickup. You may call city hall at 584-3445 to be put on the pick-up list.

With warm weather ahead, mosquitoes will soon be a concern for the city. Although the city sprays to control adult mosquitoes, the public can do more good by helping to prevent mosquito breeding places on private property. Prevention includes eliminating standing water and removing overgrown vegetation.

Electronics and unused paint will be collected for disposal at the De Queen Fire Station. Electronics items are transported to the Federal Correctional Institute in Texarkana for recycling. Because there is no space to store these items, they will be accepted only during the week of April 8-12.

Sevier County has recycling opportunities for paper and electronics. Any kind of paper items may be dropped off in bins at the Sevier County jail on Robinson Road. There is also a bin for plastic items. Old electronics items can be taken to the collection station at the Sevier County airport on U.S. 70 West.

Anyone with old vehicles to be disposed of may contact either Gentry Salvage or Baker Sales and Service. Due to the rising price of scrap metal, these items may have salvage value.

2013-03-27

Around Town

For Release 12 noon Wednesday, March 27, 2013

By Billy Ray McKelvy

De Queen Mayor

Two recent studies present different opinions about the state of public health in Sevier County and an upcoming event is encouraging residents to do something to improve their own heart health.

The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service recently produced its newest edition of the Rural Profile of Arkansas. In the section on health, it is reported that in Sevier County, 86.6 percent of adults are overweight or obese, the highest rate in the state. Pope County had the lowest rate at 52.9 percent, still over half of all adults.

An individual is considered overweight if they have a body mass index of 25 to 30. A BMI greater than 30 is considered obese.

Sevier County fared better in the County Health Ranking, which was released earlier this week. According to that study, Sevier County ranked 10^th when compared with the other 75 Arkansas counties. Benton County was first and Ouachita County ranked 75^th in Arkansas. The study takes into consideration a number of factors, such as mortality, health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors and physical environment. You can find the complete study online at: www.countyhealthrankings.org

Some local health care professionals are trying to promote better health by organizing the Million Hearts Campaign later this year. Million Hearts is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. Million Hearts brings together communities, health systems, non-profit organizations, federal agencies and private partners from across the country to fight heart disease and stroke.

Local Million Heart events will include a 5-K run and an awareness campaign at the annual Senior Citizens Day.

In Arkansas, Million Hearts is being sponsored by the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
28	29	30	1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31	1

Around Town

2013-04-24

2013-04-17

2013-04-10

2013-04-03

2013-03-27

More Articles...

City Directory

De Queen Calendar