Cale residents enjoy holiday party
By Staff, 12/9/19 9:57 AMCALE – Christmas came early to the Cale Community as the city held its annual Christmas party Saturday night at the Cale City Hall.
It was an informal gathering of current and former residents, giving everyone a chance to chat and catch up with one another on what’s been going on in their lives. Five tables were laden with food and drink, and anyone who left hungry did so at their own fault as there was plenty of dishes to choose from, not to mention two tables filled with noting but desserts.
Janie Franklin kicked things off, thanking everyone for coming, and noting this year’s attendance was down from last year’s when the place was packed. She recognized those attending for the first time, those who traveled the furthest and whoever killed a deer. The first timers and travelers were given tubs of popcorn, while the deerslayer got a set of antlers. The Grinch award went to the youngest one there, Lucas Gosvenor, who received a Grinch hat and a stuffed reindeer.
William Worlow, mayor of Cale, told the crowd there’s a lot going on in Cale people don’t know about. He said the city council has been good this year and the city was approved for a $50,000 grant from the Arkansas Parks and Tourism Department to upgrade the park equipment, add benches and a sidewalk. He’ll be meeting with the project engineer next month to discuss the plans.
In addition, another grant was applied for through the Arkansas Forestry Commission to upgrade the community’s fire equipment, while a third grant is being sought through Rural Services to purchase a used fire truck to replace the 50-year-old one the city is currently using. Worlow said the city needs better ways to fight fires, and the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office has helped with these grant applications.
Worlow said he hopes to get the trails around the park repaved this spring, and to use some highway funds to do this, pave the lot at the Post Office and pave down Lake Road as far as the money goes. “I’ve learned if you don’t ask, you don’t get.” He added the community will apply for more grants in the spring for fire protection equipment as Self Contained Breathing Apparatus is needed for the firefighters.
He said the Post Office has been painted with a new floor installed and doors put in. This spring, he continued, plans are to paint City Hall and the fire station.
