Support shown for Oak Grove Community Center

PRESCOTT – More than 20 people showed up for a public meeting concerning a grant application for the Oak Grove Community Center Tuesday evening.

The center, in actuality, is the ole Oak Grove Elementary School Building, which is being converted into a community center, or will be if grants are approved. Justice of the Peace Herbert Coleman is spearheading the effort and led the meeting. He told those gathered a public meeting is part of the grant application requirement, as it’s to determine the community’s needs and how the building could be used. He said he’s been working with the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office along with the Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District on the grant. He concluded his opening statement by saying the Nevada County Quorum Court had to approve a resolution to apply for the Rural Development Agency grant.

Rosston Mayor Dale Quarles said he’s working to get things arranged in his community, but is also looking outward to others and a community center would be good for everyone.

Nora Coleman Yarbrough said the center would be a good place for young people to help keep them out of trouble while providing a safe environment, would reduce crime and be a refuge. It would also be good for seniors, she added.

Irene Tidwell chimed in saying the center would provide a meeting place and is historic. She told those gathered her children went to school there and a community center would help the elderly and young alike.

Charlotte Coleman said the center could be somewhere people could come and exercise.

Others commented on how a meeting place is needed because they’re having to use churches now and churches aren’t the best places for meetings. Such a community center could be somewhere school children could do their homework, be somewhere a food program could be established and a place for everyone, young and old, to play games.

Nevada County Judge Mark Glass threw his support behind the project, saying Oak Grove is somewhat of a home to him as his family came from Cale.

Coleman added the center could also be a storm shelter as the exterior is made of cinderblocks filled with concrete and the interior walls are also made of cinderblock.

Oak Grove has already obtained a $15,000 grant for a new roof, and raised $17,000 from local contributions, also for the roof. Coleman said the rafters have already been ordered and should be installed in the next week or so. The grant being applied for, $75,000, is to renovate the building’s interior.