Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

News From Gurdon And Surrounding Community

MUSICAL GENIUS -- Andrea Morrison accepts one of the awards she won at the Gurdon Band Banquet, held May 8, at the Gurdon High School cafetorium, from school board member Stan Escalante. Morrison was voted most likely to become a band director and outstanding brass. Other winners from the GHS band on the night were: Ginger Minton, Melanie Wilson, Terry Blake, Andrew Wilson, Cassie Lynn, Heather Griffin and Teresa Blake. GMS winners were: Shea Griffin, Brad Weems, Steve Purifoy, Lyndi Escalante, Annie Otwell, Darcy Kitchens and Becky Giles. Sixth grade winners were: Ruby Vaden, Becky Stevens, Mike Baird, Tara Hunko, Brandon Williams, Kristopher Lunsford, Kelly Runyan, Barak Gills, Tracy Coplen and Amber Webb.

TOP HAND -- Debbie Jackson, a member of the Gurdon Future Farmers of America club, was named the Star Chapter Farmer at the FFA banquet, held Tuesday, May 6, at the Gurdon High School cafetorium. The Star Greenhand was Kelli McKinnon, while members of the parliamentary, forestry, forestry, crops, meats, agri mechanics and land teams, along with the greenhands and chapter farmers, were given awards.

FIRST GRADUATION -- Eleven children in the Gurdon Head Start program received graduation certificates during ceremonies held Thursday, May 8 at the Gurdon Day Care Center. Those in the program were: front row from left: Robbie Young, Courtney Walker, Leslie Martinez and Eric Pickle. Middle row: Chris Adams, Josh Pickle, Christine Nichols and Shaquanda Walker. Front row: Brittani Curtis, Candis Purdy, Sha Mitchell, Crystal Penny and Andrew Trevino. Also on hand were Alex Miller, Greg Penny, Brianna Harper, Garrett Hughes and Alejandro Rodriquez. Graduates not present were Raivyn Amos and Damond Threadgill.

PROJECT UNDERWAY -- After more than five years of planning, the Gurdon Rural Water project is finally underway. The contractor's crews began working at digging the trenches and laying pipe last week. Nearly 50 miles of pipeline will be put in place before the project is completed. Once done, nearly 400 more area residents will have a safe and reliable supply of drinking water.

AVIAN ORIENTED -- Craig Viscardis, wildlife biologist with International Paper Co., presented an environmental program for students in the second grade at Gurdon Primary School Thursday, May 8. The program included how to make paper and, what seemed to be everyone's favorite, making birdhouses.

TOP CITIZEN -- Tameka Harper was honored with a citizenship award during Gurdon's awards assembly, held Tuesday, May 6, in the new gym. Amanda Calley took home the Horizon Bank Scholarship, while Terry Joe White earned Hoo Hoo honors. April Simpsons was bestowed the McDonald's Scholarship.

DIAMOND DANDIES -- Baseball season has begun for little leaguers in the Gurdon system. However, some of the finer points of the game are still being learned by the players. On Monday, May 5, in the Farm League, Mike's Automotive posted a 4-0 win over TAC Equipment, while Jif-E-Mart blanked Calley's Fina by the same score. On May 8, Mike's Automotive had to come from behind for a 7-4 win over Jif-E-Mart, while TAC Equipment had an easy time with its 12-1 win over Siplast.

DOWNTOWN PLANS -- Harry Thomason, a noted television producer and Arkansas native, has unveiled his view of Arkadelphia's future, with a display of what he thinks the city should look like after rebuilding from the March 1, tornadoes. Thomason, producer of Designing Women and Evening Shade, presented a model which would have Arkadelphia reconstructed in turn-of-the-century design, with gas street lights and 15-foot wide sidewalks, with electric trolley cars. According to his plans, the trolley would be the only mechanized vehicle allowed in the 500 and 600 blocks of Main Street. The model was crafted by a team of Hollywood designers, while being built at the Walt Disney studio. So far, reaction to the plan has been positive from residents. The mock-up is on display at the Arkadelphia-Clark County Chamber of Commerce, and can be seen during regular business hours.