A date has been set for “A Summit of Concerned Arkansans” about the Department of Arkansas Heritage, the state Archives and other issues related to management of the dpartment by Stacy Hurst.

“Saving Our Arkansas Heritage”
is the topic and the meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at the Darragh Center of the downtown library.  It is intended to “discuss the challenges” facing agencies in the Department and “to devise means for addressing those challenges..”

The notice came to me from Friends of the State Archives. Linda Boyle is president, Lynda Suffridge is vice president and Tom Dillard is treasurer. Dillard, a retired historian at UA and former director of the department, has been a leader in criticism of the forced resignation of Lisa Speer, the state archivist, and other issues at the Heritage Department.

Advertisement

According to a release:

The purpose of the meeting is to develop a unified and state-wide response to threats to our heritage. Over the past three years a variety of unfortunate and ill-advised policies and personnel actions have occurred in the Department of Arkansas Heritage which have, when taken together, imperiled the state’s efforts to preserve our heritage, our culture, and our historic places. A series of coerced resignations have threatened the continuation of programs and services which have been decades in development. Arbitrary and uninformed decisions about funding, personnel, office-space matters, etc. have resulted in numerous challenges, especially low morale. 

Representatives of historical, genealogical, archeological, museum, library and preservation groups are urged to attend.

Advertisement

Register by sending an email to arktopia.td@gmail. com or call 501-771-1012. Register as an individual or indicate the group being represented.

I’ve asked for a comment from Hurst. She’s said previously, and has written in an op-ed for the Democrat-Gazette, that the department is operating better than ever.

Advertisement

Be a part of something bigger

As a reader of the Arkansas Times, you know we’re dedicated to bringing you tough, determined, and feisty journalism that holds the powerful accountable. For 50 years, we've been fighting the good fight in Little Rock and beyond – with your support, we can do even more. By becoming a subscriber or donating as little as $1 to our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage and continue to bring important stories to light. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, it's clear that our readers value our great journalism. Join us in the fight for truth.

Previous article Man fleeing police jumps off parking deck; is hospitalized Next article Arkansas unemployment rate unchanged in January