WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (AP) - Citing budget cuts and weak recruitment numbers, the Arkansas National Guard has asked Gov. Asa Hutchinson for his approval in consolidating two armories into one based in Newport.
Guard Lt. Col. Joel Lynch told The Jonesboro Sun (https://bit.ly/1RPn2o3 ) that a proposal is headed soon to the governor’s office. If approved, the Walnut Ridge and Rector armories will be closed before the Guard’s fiscal year begins in September.
Local officials oppose the closure of the Walnut Ridge armory, which is in Lawrence County. They say it will cost the area millions of dollars in economic activity.
Walnut Ridge Mayor Charles Snapp said up to 70 Guardsmen use the facility and when they train, it’s an economic boost to local restaurants, shops, grocery stores and other businesses they frequent. He said he hopes the governor won’t shut down the armory.
“The armory has been here forever,” he said. “I think it should stay.”
Although the Newport armory has been closed for several years, the state still owns the buildings there, which are newer than the other two armories, Lynch said.
It’s also a better location for recruitment, he said. Lynch reiterated that no decision has been made yet, since the governor will ultimately decide the fate of the two armories.
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Information from: The Jonesboro Sun, https://www.jonesborosun.com
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