A Nelson Publication accepting news from: GURDON, MALVERN, Arkadelphia, Prescott, Hot Springs, Bismarck, Fountain Lake, Haskell,

Glen Rose, Magnet Cove, Bryant and Benton. We are a magazine covering community progress, Christian testimonies and sports highlights. Online �Current issue�

every Friday on dash. Check out our archives since going digital in April of 2012. See �Oldies� on dash. PDFS, past and present, free to copy. Enjoy the read.

YEAR 9: 2015 ISSUE: DECEMBER 18, 2015 VOL. 233 12 Pages

FirstIssue:May

2007

The Southern Arkansas

TAILGATE NEWSFREE

Merry Christmas! Poetry: Growing Wise, Page 4

MISS ARKANSAS ELE-MENTARY RIDES IN

MALVERN PARADE, P-11

GATE INDEXMaking a DifferenceIN GOD WE TRUST

JOHN’SSERMON

What will you dofor Jesus Christ

in 2016?Page 3

Gurdon Paradein review

Christmas parade goersget special Christmas

treat at Amazing CreationsPage 5

Obituaries: Francis,Smith, O’Steen, Sulton; P-9

Tailgate News Info:Ph: (870) 353-8201Email: jay_nelson_72443

@yahoo.comAddress: 111 East CherryStreet, Gurdon, Ark. 71743

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(Continued on Page 8)

SCAT CAN DRIVE - South Central Arkansas Transit (SCAT) collected 408 cans of food during their "candrive" for 2015. The canned food items were donated to benefit the Red River Baptist Association FoodPantry in Arkadelphia. Pictured, from left, are: Jesse Newborn, SCAT driver; Michelle Nelson, ArkadelphiaSCAT supervisor; Debbie Files, the director of Red River Baptist Association and Joe Burt, associationalmissionary with Red River Baptist. (Charles May photo)

GurdonBoardHonorsChoirs

By JOHN NELSONTailgate News EditorGurdon School Board met in

regular session Tuesday eveningand honored both the GurdonPrimary School and the CabeMiddle School choirs.

Superintendent AllenBlackwell said School Boardmembers had heard a presenta-tion by Darin West, high schoolband director, the month before

Malvern School Board acceptslandscaping bid from Ouachita

COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY TO CHANGE LOCATIONS -The Gurdon Community Food Pantry will distribute at the old AustinCapps Food Center on Walnut Street, across from the First UnitedMethodist Church, instead of at Faith Mission, starting on Monday,Dec. 21, according to Velvet Gonzales, manager. (John Nelson photo)

YOUR HOMETOWN WEL-COMES YOU! US Army healthcare specialist Private JustinTucker will be home in Gurdonfor the holidays. His family andcommunity welcomes this sol-dier home! (photo provided)

By JOHN NELSONTailgate News EditorThe Malvern School Board approved a bid for landscaping around

district buildings from Ouachita Nursery at its regular meeting onMonday, Dec. 14.

Superintendent Brian Golden recommended Ouachita Nursery andsaid he had received three bids for the job.

“They will take care of any and all new school district properties, inregard to landscpaing needs,” Golden said. “In regards to our six-yearmaster plan to improve our physical facilities, we are obviously in prettygood shape.”

Golden noted that oldest school building still in use is Wilson,which was constructed in 1987. In other business, Golden told boardmembers he would like to purchase three used school buses and twonew ones. He assured School Board members the buses will have air