February 10, 2016. Mark that date on your calendar. You might want to add the time, 2:30 p.m., the time on that date when some good news may happen for Westside Eagle Observer country. I added the word "may."
Let me explain: Beginning in December, the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department began a series of notices seeking bids for some 80 construction projects throughout the state. Earlier this month, the Department opened bids for 50 of those projects. An advertisement for the remaining 30-plus jobs was published just last Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Among those projects (note all the capital letters), as indicated by Highway Commission Chairman Dick Trammel of Rogers, is JOB 090441, SULPHUR SPRINGS-SPAVINAW CREEK (OVERLAY) (S) FEDERAL AID PROJECT. THIS PROJECT CONSISTS OF AGG BASE CRS, TACK COAT, ACHM SURF CRS, COLD MILLING, DWY PREP, MAIN OF TRAF, PVMT MRK & MISC ITEMS, ROUTE 59, SECTION 1, COUNTY BENTON. LGTH: 6.40.
Whew. That's a mouthful. I hope I hit all the right letters and abbreviations on the old Underwoood. What this means is that good old Highway 59 from Spavinaw Creek south of Gravette, north to Sulphur Springs, "may" be getting a new overcoat. Make that an overlay, in highway lingo.
The Department will have to review the bid before final approval is given for the project to start, hopefully sometime this year.
The 59 project, along with most of the others planned, was withdrawn for bids last year because of lack of funds. This caused concern not only to local motorists who use the highway but also to the Department which recognized the deterioration of the roadway. Since that time, some appreciated minor patching has been done, but....
The bidding process was reinstated when Congress passed a multi-year federal funding bill, the first in several years. Thanks to the Arkansas delegation members who supported the bill. Now it's wait and see if the "may" is removed and work can begin.
One other project that begs for attention is the narrow bridge near the Crystal Lake entrance off Highway 59. When two semis meet on that narrow, deteriorating bridge I can imagine the drivers grit their teeth. I know I hold my breath when I cross the bridge when meeting another vehicle. Somewhere in the back of my mind I believe it (the bridge) was constructed during the early 1930s when Highway 59 was first paved.
It's a shame the probable good highway news has been dampened by the announcement that Walmart* (note the asterisk) will be closing its first-called Express Stores which later were given the name "Neighborhood Market." These include those in Gravette, Gentry and Decatur. And the move is on the fast track -- only about a week away -- before the end of the month.
Apparently their experiment was a failure and in the process we lost our regular grocery stores. What a shame. I never thought we'd see the day when the good old home towns would be without a grocery store, at least a neighborhood market. Such is corporate America. I wonder if Mr. Sam would have made such a decision, especially in his hometown county.
Gravette has the motto "The Heart of Hometown America" on its water tower, but that label fits all smaller towns and cities such as those in western Benton County. Internationalism maybe is great but it can't compete with that hometown feeling that fights for preservation.
Small towns, like those mentioned, must scrimp and save and sacrifice to provide the services they are expected to provide while meeting the many regulations foisted on them by an ever-encroaching government. Change certainly is not always good. Or desirable. Especially experiments.
Dodie Evans is the former owner and long-time editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 01/20/2016