By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
To many folks, including this writer, a Dutch oven is simply the biggest thing that comes with a cookware set. To those in the know, a Dutch oven is considerably more.
A true Dutch oven, according to Robin Gabe, of Toltec Mounds State Park near Little Rock, is as much a part of history as pioneers, log cabins and covered wagons.
She and Kim Seabaugh, a seasonal worker at Village Creek State Park, were demonstrating the versatility of Dutch ovens at the Colt Pioneer Days celebration Saturday, on the lawn of the historic William Stone House. Made of cast iron, a properly seasoned Dutch oven can cook almost anything, almost anywhere, according to admirers.
Although they are called Dutch ovens, little is known about their origins. It is said that Dutch merchants used them for bartering. At some point, a flange was added around the top, because Napoleon reportedly disliked ashes in his food. Paul Revere has been credited with standardizing the sizes. It is said that Lewis and Clark carried them. It was considered essential for pioneers, who had limited cargo space.
On Saturday, Gabe and Seabaugh were making cobblers. Seabaugh was also handing out instructions on how to season a Dutch oven, and Dutch oven recipes including biscuits, chicken and rice, baked apples, popcorn, and even some dishes which might have made the pioneers raise their eyebrows, such as deep pan pizza and Texas style nacho dip.
Along with her other information, Gabe had what might be called a "cheat sheet" on how to achieve the desired cooking temperature, if one is using charcoal.
"Say you have a 12-inch oven, and you want to cook something at 350 degrees," she said. "According to the baking temperature chart, you use 25 coals -- 17 under the oven and eight on the top."
The oven is not supposed to sit directly on the coals. Most have three legs, or, as was the case with one of the ovens used Saturday, pegs can be driven into the ground to elevate the oven. Coals may be added or taken away if the cooking is proceeding too quickly or too slowly.
There are some things needed for Dutch oven cooking besides the oven. A thick pair of gloves comes in handy. A "lid lifter" is used to handle the red-hot lid. Long metal tongs help position the coals. A "lid stand" is essential, to keep from having to set the lid on the ground. A chimney starter for the charcoal comes in handy.
It's a far cry from a modern kitchen, but it works just as well, according to Gabe.
"Anything you can cook in an oven at home, you can cook in a Dutch oven outside," she said.
Three St. Francis County communities were among 21 rural Arkansas communities awarded grants from the United States Department of Agriculture last week.
According to a press release from the Arkansas Congressional Delegation, more than $690,000 in community facilities grants from the USDA were announced last week. In St. Francis County, the City of Wheatley received $34,050 for police equipment and an early storm warning system. The City of Hughes received $11,250. The City of Madison received $18,000 for the purchase of police equipment.
In counties surrounding St. Francis County, Lee County received $34,486 for the City of Marianna to purchase police equipment; in Cross County, the Community Enlightenment and Development project in Wynne received $6,950 to purchase a van for the childcare center.
In Crittenden County, Turrell School District #5 received $56,250 for renovation of the community center, the City of Turrell received $18,750 for fire equipment and the Town of Sunset received $38,700 for renovation of city hall. Also in the Delta, in Woodruff County, $70,000, will go to the Town of Patterson to rebuild city hall after damage from a spring tornado. Patterson also received $11,025 to purchase an early warning system. The City of McCrory received $28,135 for fire equipment, an early warning siren and the renovation of city hall. In Augusta, $35,742 will go to purchase police equipment.
Over $690,000 in grants were handed down during the presentation.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
Two men who allegedly robbed the general manager of a Heth truckstop at gunpoint Friday afternoon have been arrested.
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Department reported Dave Merz, 40, of West Memphis, was walking to his vehicle outside the Truckstops of America location at Shell Lake about 1:50 p.m. Friday when he was approached by two black males, one of them wielding a semi-automatic pistol. The two men reportedly took the bank bag, which contained more than $35,000 in cash and checks, and fled south on foot across Interstate 40.
SFCSD Criminal Investigator Herbert Neighbors said Merz, with the help of some Shell Lake workers and residents chased the suspects, catching one of them in a thicket on the south side of I-40 just minutes after the robbery.
When deputies arrived, Merz identified the suspect, James Trice, 25, of Little Rock, as one of two who robbed him in the truckstop's parking lot.
The second suspect, Tyrone White, 27, of Jeanette, was able to escape the crime scene, but was arrested in Forrest City on Saturday when he was taken into custody by Neighbors without incident.
Trice and White are each charged with aggravated robbery. White also faces two counts of failure to appear and Trice is charged with one count of failure to appear.
Neighbors said the bank bag stolen from Merz had not yet been recovered, but officers with the department's Search and Rescue division were expected to search the area with metal detectors this afternoon.
"Nothing has been recovered yet," Neighbors said. "The thicket they were in was so thick that we will have to get Search and Rescue to go over there this afternoon and walk it out."
Over 300 people have already voted in the annual school election set for Tuesday, Sept. 16, in St. Francis County.
The Forrest City and Hughes school districts are each requesting millage changes. The FCSD is seeking a 1.5 mill increase, and Hughes voters are being asked to approve an increase of less than 1 mill.
As of this morning, 320 residents had taken advantage of the early voting option that began on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the SFC County Clerk's office in the courthouse.
Polls will be open on Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at several polling locations throughout the county.
Forrest Citians will soon have a new choice for dining when Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits opens its doors next month on Holiday Drive.
According to Danny Gillian, owner of the new restaurant, opening day should happen by the middle of October.
"If everything goes according to plan, we're hoping to open the doors by the second week of next month," said Gillian.
"It all depends on what the contractors are able to do over the next few weeks, but we're shooting for mid-October to be certain," he said.
According to Gillian, the business will employ 50 to 55 people when it opens, with steady employment numbers between 20 to 25. The restaurant will open at 10 a.m., and Gillian said that a closing time had not yet been set.
"We're going to take a look at the amount of late night business we have and what time other area businesses close, and we'll eventually base it on that. Right now, we're going to be looking at an 11 p.m. close," he said.
"We're really excited about bringing our business into Forrest City, and we look forward to working with and for the people in the area," Gillian said.
Two people were arrested on Turner Road in Forrest City Saturday when police found them inside a vehicle that had been reported stolen in West Memphis.
Grover Key, 31, and Gloria Young, 18, both of Forrest City, are charged with theft by receiving over $2,500. In addition, Key is charged with four counts of failure to appear, and Young is also charged with carrying a knife as a weapon.
Officers with the Forrest City Police Department were notified about 2:45 p.m. Saturday that the vehicle may have been stolen, and after running a routine computer check on the license plate, police discovered the 1995 Ford stationwagon was in fact being reported as stolen by West Memphis Police.
The two suspects are scheduled to be arraigned in St. Francis County District Court this week.
Two meetings are scheduled for tonight in St. Francis County.
The Palestine-Wheatley School Board is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafetorium. The district will present its annual report to the public during this meeting.
The Madison City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at city hall.
On Tuesday, the Forrest City City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m., at city hall, and the St. Francis County Quorum Court is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. at the courthouse.