County judge calls for action

Mississippi County Judge Randy Carney challenged Sheriff Dale Cook to do more to curtail the county's drug problem during a speech Monday before the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Using his theme for the year, which is "We must be people of action," Carney said he and Cook are close friends, but that relationship is not affecting his leadership, Carney said.

"No one is putting more pressure on the sheriff than I have," Carney said.

While Cook has found some additional funds from different sources to help provide more funding for the sheriff's office, there have not been any "high profile" drug busts, Carney said.

"If he doesn't made a major drug bust in the 24 months of his term, he will be a one-term sheriff. And I'll support that," Carney said.

The judge also outlined progress on projects he spoke of during his electoral campaign, including the county's hospital system, roads, landfill, jail fees, economic development and drug crimes.

He said the county's roads had "glaring" deficiencies, so he replaced the top three employees of the department, bringing back retired road superintendent Don Lasater.

"Seventy percent of our calls are about roads," Carney said of his office. The percentage of calls still tops 70 percent, he said, but now many calls are of a positive nature. "Our road department workers are having people stop them and thank them for their work."

As to economic development, the future is promising, he said.

"We have the best economic developer in the state of Arkansas, Clif Chitwood," Carney said. "There are lots of positive things going on in this area," including the expansion of ART and American Greetings, the ground-breaking ceremonies next month for Beckmann-Volmer and two other industries looking at Mississippi County for more than 800 new jobs.

"In five to seven years, Mississippi County can become the industrial hub of Arkansas," he said.

Because of the amount of drug-related crime, the county needs a drug court system, which is in the works, the judge said, and "as many rehabilitation facilities as it can hold."

While many people claim that the people of the county are too poor to support these efforts, Carney revealed that more than half a million dollars was spent on lottery tickets in Mississippi County alone in the month of January.

"Think of how many patrol cars that would buy. How many loads of gravel that would buy. I would like to have that money to spend on the needs of our county," he said.

The judge also announced the receipt of a grant for $75,000 to establish a recycling program in the county.

He has also met with the mayors of towns in the county, who see a need for a county animal shelter.

"We will work on it. We must be people of action," he said.

Carney said he had spoken to all county officials and employees and urged them to work harder than ever to serve the people of Mississippi County.

"I believe we will do more and accomplish more this year than ever before," he said.

The Quorum Court recently approved the renovations of restrooms, water fountains and carpeting in the two county courthouses, Carney said. "We also want to purchase some microphones for the courtroom so justices can be heard by the widening audience attending the Quorum Court meetings," he said.

"Yes, we have some challenges. But we have good people, good churches, good business and industries, good leaders, a good chamber, good community organizations and good educational opportunities in our county," he said. "I think is an exciting time to live and work in Mississippi County."

dhilton@blythevillecourier.com