OCTOBER 2, 2019
FREE WEEKLY
THE POLK COUNTY 1168 Hwy 71 S • Mena, AR 71953 • 479-243-9600
Stay Your DAILY News Sources: MyPulseNews.com & KENA 104.1 Connected! Judge Ellison Elected President of County Judges Association LITTLE ROCK — Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison has been elected by his peers to serve as president of the County Judges Association of Arkansas (CJAA). The election took place Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, at the judges’ fall conference, held in Benton, Ark. Ellison will serve a two-year term. “It is a great honor to serve in this capacity. I truly love the concept of county government as designed in Arkansas. I believe this form of government is what our founding fathers had in mind, a nimble, less intrusive style that only provides the basic services that individual citizens cannot provide for themselves," Judge Ellison said. "Over the next two years, I hope to provide solid leadership to the County Judges Association of Arkansas and share Polk County values and culture to our state. This honor is definitely
a highlight in my career as one of the 75 County Judges in Arkansas.” Members of the CJAA also re-elected Judge Ellison to serve as a Western District representative on the CJAA Executive Board. They also re-elected him to represent the judges on the Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) Board of Directors, a board on which he serves as Vice-President. Judge Ellison is a native of Mena. In addition to serving as president of the CJAA and as AAC Board of Directors Vice-President, Judge Ellison holds an elected seat on the seven-member AAC Risk Management Fund Board of Trustees. Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Judge Ellison to the Arkansas Workforce Development Board in June of 2016. Judge continued on page 7
Lacy Floyd Places High at the AR/OKLA State Fair
Saline County District Judge Josh Newton swears Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison in as president of the County Judges Association of Arkansas.
Arkansans Paying More At The Pump
Another great accomplishment for one of Polk County’s own in the Arkansas Oklahoma State Fair this past week. Lacy Floyd, an 8th grader at Mena Middle School, represented the Mena FFA well as she presented her market goat. Lacy won Reserve Grand Overall Market Goat and is registered to show at the Arkansas State Fair beginning Friday, October 11th. She has racked up quiet the winnings as she received Grand Champion Overall Market Goat at our local Polk County Fair this past August. Good luck to Lacy Floyd as she competes at the state level. Photo submitted
You may have noticed you’re paying more at the pump. That’s because Arkansas motorist have been hit by a new tax that was signed into law earlier in the year that took affect Tuesday. The legislation, by State Senator Terry Rice of Waldron and signed into law last March is set to raise $95 million for roadway funding. Arkansans will have to cough up an additional 3 cents per gallon increasing the states take from 21.5 cents per gallon to 24.5 cents per gallon. If you have a diesel powered vehicle you will pay and increase of 6 cents per gallon taking your cost up to 28.5 cents of tax per gallon. The law states the tax can increase yearly by a maximum of one-tenth of one percent. According to the website for the Institute for Energy Research, motor fuel is one of the most taxed goods in the United States. Pump continued on page 15