Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Emmet Scvhool To Remove Pecan Trees For Gymnasium

Five pecan trees will be cut down to make way for a new gymnasium at the Emmet School.

Dr. Gene Ross, superintendent, said the district hopes to advertise for bids later this month, but at this point it really doesn't matter. The building site is wet from the series of storms which passed through and no dirtwork can be done.

In talking about the pecan trees, Dr. Ross said representatives from the Arkansas Forestry Service told him they couldn't be saved. However, once the new gym is built, it is Dr. Ross's hope to plant something around it.

The floor plans for the gym have been finalized, with relatively few changes made. He said the building will have a brick front, but colored block sides.

The district is examining the possibility of adding air conditioning to the structure, but may cut it if funds can't be found and if it proves to be too costly. Dr. Ross said he will talk with State Rep. Percy Malone about an energy grant.

Malone helped Emmet get an energy grant to purchase an air conditioning unit for the school's new library.

Dr. Ross said with a little luck, construction can start in April, but this will depend on the weather. During this time of year, though, the weather is anything but predictable or consistent.

"We hope it will be up by next season," he said, "but it will be tough."

Part of the problem is the old gym floor rested on piers, while the dressing rooms were on concrete. New plans call for the floor and dressing rooms to be on concrete.

However, there is a hole where the old floor was, and this will have to be filled in. Dr. Ross said once the concrete work is done, the playing surface will be covered with wood.

He said the district hopes to be able to buy two clocks for the new gym so it can host tournaments. But, the clocks will have to be purchased from donations because the insurance won't cover their loss.

There was some good news for the district, he said, as the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) was paid for everything it lost in the Nov. 19 fire.

Fund raisers are being held for the purchase of equipment and supplies. At this time, Dr. Ross said, the students are selling candles in a jar for $5 each.

He said interested parents are helping with the sale, but it will take a lot of candles to meet the school's need.

Dr. Ross said there have been some donations made, but many are waiting to see exactly what the insurance company will pay before helping out. He said several people have asked to be let know when a specific amount has been determined needed, so they can help.

Arson claimed the Emmet gym on a damp, foggy night, Nov. 19. Officials said there was little doubt the fire was intentionally set.

Burned clothing at the scene, combined with a report of a burn victim shortly thereafter at Medical Park Hospital in Hope, led officers to arrest and charge Latisha and Richard Matthew Ward with the burning.

The fire was reported shortly after 1:20 a.m., Nov. 19, with Matt Ward being admitted into MPH at 2:01 a.m.

Latisha Ward gave officers a statement in which, basically, she admitted her part of the crime, and told how her husband, Matt, came running from the gym on fire.

The two pled guilty Wednesday, Feb. 5, in a pre-trial hearing, as Matt Ward was scheduled to go on trial Feb. 6.

Until that time, however, Matt Ward had a plea of not guilty on the books, but had been offered plea arrangements of 40 years with 10 suspended.

He accepted an agreement of 40 years in prison with 18 suspended, as did his wife.

According to Matt Ward's attorney, Chuck Honey, his client accepted the deal because he felt he would be convicted and given a harsher sentence because of the burns he suffered the night of the arson.

Both Wards have been taken to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Meanwhile, the people of Emmet are working to rebuild the damage done by the fire.