Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

New County Judge Hits Ground Running In 1999

Clark County's new judge, Floyd "Buddy" Manning, is getting adjusted to his new duties.

Manning, who won the post in the November General Election, beating former judge Grady Runyan, is working now is keeping the county's roads in as good of repair as possible this time of the year.

But, he is also focusing on February 1, 1999. This, he said, is the target date for all county officials to be able to move back into the 1899 courthouse.

Manning and county officials are working with the state's computer people to get the offices wired to handle the load, as some of the county offices are in direct contact with the state system.

If all keeps going as it has been, he said, there should be no problem moving in on Feb. 1.

However, Manning said, there will be some officials who try and move into their offices earlier than Feb. 1, as this date falls on a Monday, and the offices don't need to be closed.

Once everyone is moved back into the courthouse, he said, a "rededication" ceremony has been planned for March 1 the same date, in 1997, the tornadoes ravaged downtown Arkadelphia and heavily damaged the courthouse.

Manning said the current plans are to have local bands, dignitaries and former members of the Clark County Quorum Court on hand to speak and perform.

More activities will likely be held, but, as Manning said, the celebration is in the early planning stages now.

With less than a month under his belt as judge, Manning managed to salvage a $50,000 grant from the Office of Emergency Services. He said the deadline had passed, but he was able to get a three-month extension on it.

Once the money is in hand, he said, it will be used to replace two bridges and concrete some county roads.

Right now, he said, the road crews are busy hauling gravel in an attempt to keep up with the weather. The crews are taking the gravel to places which have been washed out by either rain or damaged by the freezing weather, and making the repairs as necessary.

"We're just trying to survive the winter," he said.

Manning added the clock has been placed in the tower and is now working. "It really looks nice," he said.