August 2009 – Foreman, Arkansas

More of the great outdoors is coming to town

Foreman officials have been very busy lately with several new projects. One of the most exciting is the recent announcement that the city has obtained funds to develop approximately 40 acres on North Malden Street for a city park. The new park project is the result of the efforts of several area individuals. Special recognition is due State Senator Barbara Horn and former State Representative Ken Cowling who both worked diligently to help secure more than $400,000 for the project. Total funds include a $220,000 grant from Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, a $48,300 grant from the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Program and a $150,000 grant from the State General Improvement fund.

The monies will be used to develop the land, which the city already owns, for use as the city’s outdoor recreation area. Along with beautiful landscaping and lots of trees, the new park will feature playground equipment, a picnic area and a baseball/softball field. The addition of a second ball field for city use is particularly exciting as it is one of the requirements for hosting the annual state softball tournament. Foreman’s own Lady Gators have won the state tournament five years in a row, and city residents are eager to now be able to bid to host the competition that they have dominated for so long.

New community center gets official funding

Foreman residents will soon be able to enjoy a new, fully appointed community center thanks in part to a $250,000 grant provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also commonly known as the federal stimulus bill. The funds were approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administered by the grants division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC).

The new community center will be located in the old city hall building which also once served as a car dealership before being purchased by the city. City Hall operations, which included a public computer lab, were forced to evacuate the building after flooding caused extensive damage. Although the city hall was relocated, the public computer lab could not be replaced, and the original structure remained in the city’s possession as officials hoped to one day renovate and redevelop it for public use. With the news of the block grant award, that hope will soon become a reality.

In addition to a large forum suitable for meetings and other public functions, the center will also house a brand-new computer lab to replace the previous one lost in the flood.

No definitive completion date has been given, but plans are now underway to start work on the project with construction set to begin in the near future.

Foreman Fire and Rescue acquires new rescue truck

Foreman volunteer fireman are excited about the department’s recent acquisition of a 2009 Chevrolet 3500 one Ton truck to replace its current search and rescue vehicle. The new truck provides the department with state of the art equipment to aid in emergency and rescue operations.

The truck is equipped with rear-mounted directional spotlights and floodlights, a heavy-duty front bumper system including a winch and a heavy-duty utility bed that will be used to house the department’s extrication system, popularly referred to as the ‘jaws of life’, as well as a full array of emergency rescue equipment.

Funds for the new truck were provided by a combination USDA Rural Development grant and loan. Of the $42,000 total, $23,000 is in the form of a grant with the remaining $19,000 specified as a loan that will be repaid to the program by the city.

The truck was purchased at Royal Chevrolet in Foreman, and graphics and equipment installation were provided by Little River County deputy Glen Hankins of Hankins Custom Signs.