GRAVETTE — The long arm of a backhoe last week began demolition of the old Gravette Medical Center Hospital, making room for a new Walmart Express store which will open on the site in late summer.

The new structure will replace the original 14 bed hospital which dated to early 1955. After expansion to 55 beds in 1964, it served in that capacity until the new 104 bed hospital was erected in 1975. Construction on the new Express will begin as soon as site work is completed.

School News, Pages 8 on 05/11/2011