By JOE MAY | The Southern Standard

The Arkadelphia Board of Directors held a brief meeting Tuesday night with few items on the agenda.

Dr. Patricia Wright, director of the Family Community Enrichment Center, addressed the board for an annual update on the center’s activities. As of last July 28, she noted that the center has been in existence 25 years and she has been the director since the beginning.

Wright said the center serves families from all over Clark County. She noted that the Arkadelphia Head Start Program is headquartered in the center, as is the Clark County Adult Education Program. In addition, she said that the center contains a food pantry.

Wright noted that the center serves people of all races and nationalities and will assist those wanting to learn computer skills or those who need assistance with housing. Earlier in the day, she said the food pantry passed out 175 boxes, which equals out to about 425 people who were helped.

The North 23rd Street center, which she said is in constantly in need of volunteers, is funded by grants, donations and building use fees.

In other business, the board:
• Heard City Manager Gary Brinkley say that the new airport hangar is nearly done and will be dedicated soon. A ribbon cutting ceremony is slated for Feb. 23.
• Accepted a bid of $3.19 per square yard for slurry seal on city streets from Vance Brothers at the motion of Directors Jason Jones and Keith Crews.