Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Dickey Stumps For Road Bill

Saving a road bill for this area brought U.S. Rep. Jay Dickey to Prescott Friday afternoon.

Visiting with people at the Nevada County courthouse, Dickey said a road bill is on hand to fund improvements for U.S. Highway 371, also known as Rosston Road, all the way to Magnolia.

A total of $3 million has been set aside for a series of projects in this area, out of a total $40 million budget. The original bill has passed both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. It is now in conference, where the committee will decide on compromises for the bill.

Then, it will again be returned to the House and Senate for another vote. The $3 million for this area, he said, is under attack in the conference. "I hope we can hold it, but the people in the northeast (U.S.) Are fighting it," he said. "We're trying to hold onto the entire $40 million, but we're faced with projects with funds being reduced."

Dickey urged those on hand to write, call, fax or e-mail the two Arkansas Senators, Dale Bumpers and Tim Hutcheson, telling them to fight for the project and overall budget.

There are nine total projects in the 4th Congressional District, he said, and it is important to keep them well funded. None of the projects will be lost if the budget is cut, but they will be reduced in scope.

State Rep. Percy Malone was also on hand to speak on behalf of the road budget. He said these projects would benefit the infrastructure of the area.

South Arkansas, he said, has lost people during the past 10 to 20 years. These projects could help attract better paying jobs and keep them here.

"Of all things, Arkansas is a donor state," Malone said, adding this means the state gives more tax money for federal projects than it receives. On the other hand, the northeast states are receiver states, taking in more than they give. "I urge you to call the senators to protect this money. We're not asking for more than our fair share. We haven't gotten this in the past few years."

Malone added Nevada County has a strong industrial recruitment effort and group. These federal road projects can only enhance the efforts of economic development for the area. "This is very important to economic viability," he said. "I'll do all I can to help bring better paying jobs and improve the infrastructure of the area."

Dickey, returning to the microphone, said Hutcheson is on the conference committee while Bumpers isn't. However, he said, Bumpers can influence the democrats on the panel and fight to keep the money in South Arkansas.

"Another point to the bill," he said, "is if the entire $40 million can be put into the program in this district, it will free other money for other projects such as building a bypass and overpass in Prescott.

"It would be different if we were asking for them, but we're only trying to get our share."

Getting our share, as he put it, would mean increasing the return from 90 cents to 93 cents on the dollar, and mean another $80 million per year for Arkansas for six years. This money, he said, would go to the highway commission along with being used for the I-49 and I-69 projects.

"They will bring more prosperity to South Arkansas," he said. "The people from central and Northwest Arkansas look at us as being a dependent part of the state. We're trying to put people to work, get them off the welfare roll. It's a double win, and there's no better way than highway construction."

Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown said under the plans for this project, portions of Hwy. 371 would be three lanes in places all the way from Prescott to Magnolia.

With passing lanes on 371, Brown said, the highway will be safer and open the area up to more traffic.

This, he said, means there will be more traffic in Prescott as well, and congestion problems at the railroad and bank.

However, these problems could be alleviated by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD), by doing a count and learning the area's need for a bypass.

"We need to work together," Dickey said. "We need to write letters, one page, handwritten, or call Washington, D.C.

"Ask others to write letters as well. We need to support the Highway Transportation Bill. It will make a difference in our lives and the opportunity to stay in Arkansas. This could come down to how and when the letters get to the senators."

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor also urged people to write the letters and let them know what's going on back home. "They are interested in what's happening in Arkansas," he said. "The ISTEA bill is good for Nevada County. You need to tell them (the senators) to do their part to get our money."

Dickey said the letters need to be in before May 24, when the conference will make a decision. The letters from home, he said, can keep people from changing their minds and can make a difference.

"I saw the TRIO program change at 2 a.m. with 30 seconds of comments," he said. "We kept the program and saved it. The same thing can happen at this conference. Letters help let them know they are accountable to the folks back home."