Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council informed of rock incident

A rock throwing incident was brought before the Prescott City Council, with the victims saying something should be done.

The council met Monday, March 15, and heard from Roy and Monica Snowden of Delight. According to Roy Snowden, the couple was traveling down Highway 19 by Mama Max's Diner Saturday, March 13, when they heard something hit the grill of their car. After pulling into the car wash behind Curry's Donuts and Things, a truck came by and they heard something hit it.

He said they realized someone was throwing rocks and yelled for them to quit. "Someone could get hurt," he said. "Those bushes need to be cut down."

Ann Jordan, with the Prescott Police Department, said the incident occurred at the house by Mama Max's, and there was a similar incident last year at this location. At that time, she said, someone threw a rock through a car window.

This house, she added, is vacant and has been. The police reportedly have the name of the juvenile who threw the rocks and were to talk to his father, explaining the situation.

Glenn Vasser, city attorney, said the Snowdens could sue the boy's parents for criminal mischief and make them liable for his actions. The could be taken to small claims court for civil damages, while criminal charges could also be filed.

Jordan said the house needs to be torn down because it's not in liveable condition and officers have been called to the location for a number of reasons.

Vasser reminded the council it has the authority to condemn the property and have it razed. The city has such ordinances on the books wherein property owners can be notified of the city's intent to condemn a piece of property and tear it down. If the city cleans the property up, the owner can be held liable to make payment for the work done.

In other business, Perry Nelson, water superintendent, said crews for the rural water project have been working on Highway 24 toward the Highway 53 junction. About 58 miles of water line has been lain, and the project, he said, is about 52 percent done.

Because of the recent rains, Nelson said, the crews are making more of a mess than they were before. However, before the city signs off the project, the property must be cleaned up.

So far, though, the crews are ahead of schedule and both stand pipes are up, painted and lettered. At this time, he said, fences need to be put around the stand pipes.

Nelson said he doesn't know when people along the system will get water because the contractor is in control of this and isn't ready. At the earliest it will be summer before anyone gets water.

Once the pipes are in place and the pumps have been installed testing will have to be done. This means the lines will have to be filled, checked for leaks, flushed, disinfected and flushed again before they can be put into use. The company's deadline to complete the job is October.

Nelson said the current customer count is around 400, as people signed up after the deadline when the construction actually began. The cost of the project was $3.2 million.

Mary Godwin, executive director with the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce said the sidewalk project is in its slow stages, but going well. Crews have been working on drainage along Second Street, but the majority of the sidewalks themselves are in.

Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, she said, has had several conversations with the contractor and the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department about what to do on Highway 371, a state highway. The state wants to leave it like it is, but this would cause a dip and car doors would still hit the curb. Chadwell wants the drainage area raised flush.

The state, though, gets the final word in how the construction will be completed.

Godwin said there are several events coming up the Chamber is involved with. Glenda Friend will be at the Prescott-Nevada County Library on March 30 to discuss period clothing and textiles, with the Chamber handling the refreshments. This event is sponsored through the Depot Museum.

The Chamber banquet, she said, is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6. It will again be held at the McRae Middle School cafetorium and start at 6 p.m. with the auction.

Tickets, she said, are $15, and people are being asked to buy them early so the Chamber will have an accurate head count for the meal.

This year's banquet will have a 50's theme, and will focus on entertainment. Encore of Southern Arkansas University will be on hand to keep the crowd entertained.

The auction, Godwin said, funds the Chamber's activities throughout the year. Some people are under the impression the Chamber is funded by the city and county, but this isn't the case.

After the banquet, she said, the Chamber will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. About 500 children and their parents attend this event each year. It will be held Saturday, April 10, from 10 a.m. until noon. In the event of rain, the hunt will be held in the Potlatch Building.