HELENA-WEST HELENA – It’s one of those deadly hot days in the Mississippi River Delta, the kind that gave the region’s famed blues musicians more reason to shuffle and moan.

Only a handful of people walk the downtown streets. One woman among them shouts as she hurries into an air-conditioned building: “Not a good time to visit the Delta.”

The Arkadelphia City Board passed three resolutions Thursday night: one concerning a 5 mill tax against personal property, one that adopts the Clark County Hazard Mitigation Plan and one applying for a parks improvement grant.

The first ordinance was the third and final reading of a 5 mill tax against real and personal property – a resolution the Clark County Quorum Court requires the board to pass each year.

On Saturday night, SGFF won the 2008 Economic Leadership Award from the Arkansas Citizens First Congress and the Arkansas Public Policy Panel. The award is “in recognition of your leadership, dedication, commitment, and positive impact on personal and community assets.”

Clark County leaders spoke in front of a group of state representatives and senators Monday night at the DeGray Lake Lodge about economic development. The meeting was the first of two, with a second taking place today at Henderson State University dealing with highway.

“We’re on the brink of something big, and we wanted to share with them the good news,” Dr. Johnnie Roebuck, state representative, said.

A National Historic Landmark, the church was built by a black architect and was pastured by Rev. Elias Camp Morris, the first president of the National Baptist Convention USA, now the largest and oldest African-American religious organization in the country.

Several junior high and high school students from Clark County attended the “What’s Next” education forum at Ouachita Baptist University’s Walker Conference Center on Saturday.

A grant from the Helena Health Foundation in the amount of $75,000 has been given to Main Street Helena to be used in the development of the Court Square. Court Square is a one-block city park that will be located between the Phillips County Courthouse and the Federal Building in downtown Helena.

Ouachita Baptist University will soon have a “front door” entrance sign thanks to a $54,000 grant awarded to the university, President Dr. Rex M. Horne Jr., announced Tuesday.

One of the nation’s largest and most prestigious awards programs in the financial services industry today announced Arkadelphia-based Southern Bancorp is a semifinalist for $5.5 million to scale up their success. Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are special purpose financial institutions skilled at creating opportunities and economic growth in difficult markets across the nation.

The Helena Health Foundation in partnership with the Delta Area Health Education Center held a groundbreaking Monday for an outdoor walking track, children’s playground, fitness stations, and pavilion to be constructed on the grounds of the Helena Health Wellness Center.