Erma Brown of Stephens and Beverly Cothran of Everton add their experience and insight as board members. Read their bios on the ”About Us” page.
Archive for October, 2009
Rural Community Alliance welcomes new board members
Saturday, October 31st, 2009Fun Park public hearing in Jacksonville
Friday, October 23rd, 2009Talitha Hardin, Michelle Ragland and daughter attended the Outdoor Parks and Recreation hearing in Jacksonville that was required for Fun Park Grant applicants. Talitha and the Community Services Focus Group submitted the grant application in August. Talitha made a compelling case for Leslie needing a Fun Park. Applicants will be notified in December.
Revitalization Focus Groups Meet
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009Focus groups met at City Hall at 5pm on October 20, 2009 with 26 participants present. Rural Community Alliance staff Dorothy Singleton and Renee Carr facilitated the meeting.
The Community Services Focus Group is moving forward enthusiastically, having met on October 1 and October 15 at the Phoenix Resource Center. They provided minutes outlining their ideas. Initial members are Joseph Mays-Group Leader, Janet Breckenridge, Wilbert Easterling, Lillie Mae Parker, Rufus Thomas, James Tyler, and Julia Ware.

Members of Economic Development Focus Group discuss ideas.

Youth Development Focus Group members pose with eldest participant.

- Education Focus Group engaged in discussing school and community.

Sharing ideas for Dermott
Lead Hill, South Lead Hill, Diamond City residents surveyed.
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009At the end of the survey was the following question:
Please share below any ideas you have that would benefit the community. This idea can be social, cultural, economic, education, city beautification, or any other category you choose. Following are the ideas included in response to that question:
Create better classrooms for students in old gym and Buildings C and D.
Sidewalk from Grand Avenue to the lake.
More available knowledge of activities happening in area. Many do not know of events so do not attend.
Clean up properties along highways, upgrade store fronts—curb appeal.
Dance hall, skating, rink or swimming pool for kids.
Have recreation for all ages.
Classes for adults such as sewing, crafts, photography, auto repair, exercise, etc.
Apartments in the Lead Hill area!
We need playground equipment in the local parks.
Need better education, more jobs so people don’t have to go so far to work.
We need a working Chamber of Commerce.
All of the above are very important to our community. It will take all people coming together to get all of this done, or even part of it. A few can’t do this alone. WE NEED TO PULL TOGETHER.
Government grants for after school, holiday child care programs—very important for working families. Musical education for anyone: draws community together. Habitat for Humanity, thrift store where building materials can be donated or purchased. Good grocery store. More restaurants.
Tourism is not the answer. Generally it is a quick fix. A financial band aid that does not produce stable and constant employment. It brings people in who will destroy the area. It brings a whole different lifestyle that I don’t believe the folks living here will want to deal with. Crime will rise. Personal freedom will diminish because of the element brought in. I believe the focus should be more on small businesses and not destructive industries.
School needs to focus more on education and less on sports. I know sports can be a great thing. However, when it is looked upon as the most important thing it takes away from the future.
Announce town hall meetings for concerned residents or print a newsletter to inform us of what is happening in our community.
City beautification has helped a great deal.
Would be nice to have sign language classes to be able to communicate with some of the people here that are hearing impaired. I know of 2 families that are hearing impaired.
We need peace and safety restored to Diamond city like in 2007 and 2008. A city divided cannot move forward.
Put lights in park, skate park, walking trail with lights and benches, streets chip-and-sealed in Diamond City.
Recreation center for youth.
More electives in school—home ec, photography, photoshop, life math
Dogwoods, redbud trees
More factory jobs
I would like to see a drive-thru such as a Sonic. It would give more jobs for the kids. It would also be good for our town. We need more than one gas station. A pharmacy would be great. It would be easier for people to not have to drive all the way to Harrison for our medicines.
There was once talk about a skate park for the kids—what happened to that? There is nothing in Lead Hill or Diamond City for kids to do. You can’t expect families to move or visit here if there is nothing for kids to do.
I believe we are wasting city money by having town cops. There is never anything going on here that the county can’t handle and these cops in Lead Hill and Diamond City run around picking on the kids and harassing the adults. Spend our money somewhere else to keep these towns alive!!
The community needs more services and housing, daycare for children and an after school program for working parents of school age children to give kids a place safe and fun to go to instead of home alone or running around unsupervised.
This is a beautiful, quiet community, but we could really use some growth, new businesses for the unemployed, a grocery store that has a larger selection of meats and poduce, a farmer’s market, more activities at the arena and lake. Better county roads in the entire Lead Hill area.
Make the parks actually fun. Add a place where teenagers could hang out after school.
Better education, more jobs, beautify the community.
Get school children more involved in what is going on in the area, such as parades and community organized events.
Make city government fair and not the “who you know” system. Allow police to do their job and support them. Have local police. Support the fire department. Allow some city monies to pay volunteers—The next fire put out could be your home! If your home is robbed, do you want to wait for the police to come? It won’t stay low crime and a retiree town if no local police! Support the kids—keep them busy!
It would be great to build a place fun for the kids. Where kids of all ages can gather and hang out. Were parents, grandparents, etc., can know they are safe and there are no drugs, drinking, or tobacco use, and there is adult supervision.
A fast food resaurant.
Need something to keep the kids busy so the money doesn’t go to Harrison. Also so the older kids don’t have to drive to do something—anything—other than sports.
I think there should be more social things for our youth. We could benefit economically if we had better restaurants and create more jobs.
More factory jobs.
Board member Thomas Scott passes away.
Saturday, October 17th, 2009Board member Thomas Scott of Altheimer passed away. He was a board member, pastor, entrepreneur, and community volunteer. A beautiful home going service was held October 17 at Gaines Street Baptist Church in Little Rock. His valuable input will be missed on our board. Our condolences are extended to his wife, Audrey, his children, and extended family.
Dermott Annual Chamber Luncheon
Thursday, October 15th, 2009Leslie group tours botanical garden
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009Alice McBee, Linda Craig, Leota Holsted, Laurie Gross, and Lavina Grandon toured the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks at Fayetteville. After a sunny day enjoying the beautiful Botanical Garden, they came back inspired to plan garden projects for Leslie that will enhance the natural beauty of their town.