Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Okolona has community center feast

The crowd came Saturday evening from Okolona, Gurdon, Arkadelphia and from relatives living various other places. But their purpose was the same, eat a spaghetti dinner at Okolona Community Center and be supportive of the town's efforts to raise money for its continued improvement.

Francis McGill, a Clark County Quorum Court member who is in charge of the refurbishing project, said at the dinner, "We have been given wall and door material from the old Presbyterian Church here and we have already worked hard to make considerable improvements on the structure that used to be the old school cafeteria.

"Our high school closed in 1985, so we have used this as the community center for sometime, but the refurbishing project really started whole-heartedly last year. Our plans are to make this place more energy efficient than it already is and continue with our structural improvements. We want it to last a long time."

According to McGill, plans also include making the community center handicap accessible. Her husband, Bob McGill, also of Okolona, said the center's bathrooms have been redone, but some additional plumbing is needed.

"We have put in a new refrigerator and other kitchen equipment," he said. "We need siding, or at least some good paint for the outside."

Francis McGill said the structure has also been roofed during the past year. The building is rented out for various community functions.

Although the fund raising dinner was to last from 4-7 p.m., McGill said a "good crowd" of what appeared to be at least 150 had already arrived to eat and show support for the project.

If anyone is interested in renting the Okolona Community Center, McGill said they may contact Mayor James Paul. City Council members are: John Hornsby, Leah Rhodes, Hezzie Barton, Sue Muldrew and Vicky Davis.

The next Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at the Okolona City Hall.